02x04 - Waiting for Taleju

[bunniefuu]

Blake (over speaker): For the 9:30 a.m. National Security Council meeting, you'll need the memo on cyber security...

Yeah.

...which you took home.

Worst bedtime reading ever.

I can get you another copy.

Ha! No need.

Okay, so staff briefing after NSC, then... what?

At 2:15, there's a reception for the departing Finnish ambassador.

I hope he brings that salty licorice.

God, I love that stuff.

We'll look into that for you.

Oh! Hey.

Don't let me forget about Henry's interview on Book TV on C-SPAN tomorrow, okay?

It hath been ordained.

That's a small biblical joke for Henry.

Okay, I'm hanging up now.

Thanks, babe.

You know, you guys should check it out, too.

A Z-SPAN interview on Dad's book about St. Francis that I already hear too much about?

Well, if you actually read your father's work instead of trashing it, you'd know how totally UN-Franciscan that was.

Henry: Oh, word.

I humbly and meekly apologize.

Jason: He was also sort of a revolutionary.

Completely rejected any form of material wealth.

Stevie: He also led the first environmental movement.

Wait, you guys read it?

I'll make you an autographed copy, Noodle.

You're gonna love it.

Ooh. Burn.

Wow, that is one manly breakfast you got there, slugger.

Jason is trying to bulk up for football.

Isn't it cute?

Okay, "cute" isn't exactly what I'm going for.

And slugger's baseball, Mom.

Ooh. Okay.

(phone buzzing)

Stevie, why are you getting a call from the White House?

Oh.

It's Harrison.

He's trying to ditch my caller ID.

I'm not engaging.

Oh.

It's fine.

You're allowed to be relieved.

Good.

'Cause... well, we're just happy that you're making some good choices.

I know.

I totally deserve some bacon, right?

I thought you were vegan.

Bacon is my downfall.

Hey, could you save some for the linebacker?

All right, I'm off to the White House to eat more crow about Russia.

I don't get how that's your fault.

You happened to be in Russia when Ostrov's widow made a power play.

Exactly. I was there.

They're just mad because you made a better president.

Acting president.

Matt: No way, man.

The best ramen is Noodle Noodle Dumpling on H Street.

No, hands down.

Yes.

Oh, sorry, it jammed last time.

I see that.

Well, if you want, I could take a look at it.

Don't have time.

Okay.

I'm not talking to you.

Hey, buddy, can I call you back?

Okay.

Sorry about the printer.

It's fine.

Are you sure?

Okay, I appreciate that you're willing to share an office in spite of everything, but I don't think this is working.

What? Look, you can totally have the printer.

And I don't have to be so loud on the phone.

I just think that we'd both be better at our jobs if we did them separately, now that we're broken up.

Hang on for a sec.

Can we talk about this?

What is there to talk about?

It's over. We need to move on.

Have you seen this?

Matt: Bold graphic.

It's Inside Lowdown.

Their below the fold is cops twerking.

It's bad enough we had to endure Maria Ostrov accusing the U.S. of conspiring against Russia, but this makes it look like some Real Housewives episode.

Daisy: I'll push back.

But it's hard to take a stand against a paper that equates a diplomatic crisis with...

Cops twerking?

Matt: Oh, I was gonna say naked lady mud wrestling.

That sounds fun.

What'd I miss?

"Catfight"? Really?

Nadine: We'll push back on that, ma'am.

Why don't we move into the items of the day?

At least I don't look chinny.

Good morning, Madam Secretary.

The Polar Research Institute of China....

Oh, PRIC.

...began construction on a new weather station in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic.

As long as the station is researching the effects of climate change, like it claims, it doesn't warrant further scrutiny by the Arctic Council.

But if they try and claim drilling rights or lay claim to any of the new waters opening up due to the melting of the polar ice cap...

And we'll be mad because they b*at us to the punch?

Basically.

Daisy: We need to send a cable to the Foreign Ministry cautioning the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.

Elizabeth: Yeah, that's fine. Let's draft it.

So when did you lose the lumberjack look?

Was that new baby or Neo hipster?

Little of both.

Welcome back.

In some positive news, I just got inside word from the Hill.

Looks like our disaster relief bill for Nepal is going to pass tomorrow.

Awesome!

Daisy: Amazing.

Good work.

Hey, uh, who caved?

Senator Fenworth seems to have been persuaded.

Daisy: We don't persuade.

We inform.

Elizabeth: Fenworth. Wasn't he the Tin Man that voted against subsidized school lunches?

Apparently, he was quite moved by his visitation with the Royal Kumari of Nepal.

Daisy: So, seeing all the devastated villages didn't do it, but five minutes with a 12-year-old goddess convinced him?

A 12-year-old goddess who does not speak.

Matt: Oh. The Kumari is mute only when she's in full ceremonial dress and she's inhabited by the goddess Taleju.

Nobody else reads the briefs?

Blake: Ma'am, you should probably leave for the NSC meeting.

Right. They keep starting without me.

Oh, you've got a press meet-and-greet with the Kumari after the vote tomorrow.

I'll be sure to thank her for charming Congress out of its compassion fatigue, all without saying a word.

I'm sure there's a few cabinet members who believe I could learn a thing or two from her. Yeah.

Craig: So, really, cyber security is just the tip of the iceberg.

Jackson: Pretty big tip, let's hope.

Dalton: Let's catch Elizabeth up.

Craig has come up with a new defense initiative.

Go ahead and lay it out.

Of course.

Now, when my grandfather went to the Philippines at the beginning of World w*r II, he was armed with a r*fle that was designed in 1904.

The next years saw a transformation of U.S. Defense that changed the shape of geopolitics forever.

And we pretty much haven't touched it since then.

So while we're still spending billions on aircraft carriers and submarines, we're getting cut off at the knees by a backroom criminal with some malware and a laptop.

Or a weather station in the Antarctic.

That research station was approved by the Arctic Council.

How are we seeing it as an act of aggression?

Exactly.

It's under the radar.

It's cheap.

And for the cost of one weather station, China gets complete access to our satellite communications, and quite possibly shares them with our adversaries on the Arctic Council, who, as you pointed out, didn't exactly protest this thing in the first place.

So, we're thinking China and Russia are working together?

To undermine our global security interests?

Does that seem so impossible to you?

Look, I get shifting our focus to cyber offense after what happened with Air Force One, but b*ttlefield robotics, laser weapons systems?

What about the impact that this is going to have on diplomatic relations?

Well, to that, I would say, Madam Secretary... you've had your turn.

And you see where that led us.

This is a done deal, Bess.

Figure out a way to make it work.

Craig: Looking at our budgetary goals, this is a three-phase process.

First and foremost...

m*llitary transformation?

So, that's our new foreign policy?

It's that damn Air Force One att*ck.

I realize this is a shift in focus, but it's long overdue.

I mean, NASA got a total overhaul, what, 20 years ago?

Meanwhile, Defense is lumbering along with World w*r II-era technology while we're being hammered by cyber att*cks.

So, when you say "shift in focus," what does that mean for State?

Re-prioritizing the budget.

Some programs will be affected.

How long are we talk...?

I can't speak to that.

Jay: Let me understand this.

Initiatives that actually build peace and stability, like trade agreements, supporting education and economic growth, building partnerships and alliances... we're just gonna push some of that aside so we can focus on spying on everyone better?

Nadine: There could be an upside.

We'll have less oversight.

Exactly. Think of this as an opportunity.

You know, we can be creative, fly under the radar, lay groundwork for when things swing back in our direction.

Yeah, until we're all fired for being redundant.

I get that this is frustrating, okay?

But this is what's happening, so we all need to get on board.

Read the proposal and come up with some ideas and solutions.

Thank you.

(door closes)

We'll reconvene after lunch.

(water running)

I'm guessing this is Sterling's work, ma'am?

You know that he thinks that the Chinese research station is a collusion with Russia to intercept our satellite communications?

(sighs)

Thank you.

You think it's a possibility?

Well, put it this way.

I read that one of the projects at the research station is to extract an ice core that's just a little longer than the one extracted by the U.S.

It always comes down to who's got the longer core, doesn't it?

I also think we've done our share of spying on other nations, and I'm not so sure one research station warrants a complete m*llitary overhaul.

But they don't ask me these questions.

They don't ask me either, anymore.

You'll find a way to be heard.

(door opens)

Daisy: I'm sorry to interrupt, Madam Secretary.

Oh, the tablet of doom.

Better make it quick, while we still have a budget.

It's actually somewhat personal.

Oh. Excuse me.

(whispering): Thank you.

One of my contacts at the Chronicle just forwarded a query that's going around.

(door closes)

It seems to... well, it seems to be from someone in possession of...

Spit it out, Daisy.

Someone is trying to sell photos of your daughter and the president's son being... intimate.

What?!

They included one photo as proof, but once the seller gets paid, they're promising more.

More than this?

Everything.

Find out everyone who got this query.

I want a full list. Does Russell Jackson know yet?

I literally just found out two minutes ago.

I want us in front of it with him.

Come on, Henry, pick up.

We can k*ll this, right?

We're gonna do everything we can, obviously, but with the teaser photo already out there...

Teaser photo?

Like an ad campaign?

I'm sorry.

Ma'am, Russell Jackson wants to see you in his office.

He says it's extremely urgent.

So much for getting in front of it.

Jackson: We've contacted every outlet that got the query.

If they make the purchase, they'll feel the full force of the Executive Branch.

But isn't Harrison enough of a public figure that they can claim fair use?

Not if I have anything to do with it.

Half an hour ago, I thought Maria Ostrov was the only thing that could hijack the news cycle and run down our poll numbers.

You thinking this is another hack, like Air Force One?

This wasn't a hack.

The president's son lost his phone last week, didn't bother to tell anybody.

Didn't it have a-a password or...?

Apparently, he thought they were inconvenient.

We need to move forward.

I need you to talk to Stevie, find out what else we're looking at.

God forbid there's video.

And you're gonna talk to Harrison, too, right?

Just so we're clear on who did what?

I don't really give a damn who did what.

Yes, we're talking to Harrison the heroin addict.

We need to corroborate so we can contain the blast.

Get me a report.

Obviously this is a matter we need to treat with the highest degree of sensitivity.

This is a potential criminal act against two people who happen to be related to public figures.

The incident is currently under investigation and we have nothing more to add.

But this is assuming the photos get out.

We're up against freedom of the press on that.

We're doing everything we can to find the source and lock this down.

Legally.

Thank you.

Everybody, sit back down.

I'm not here to tell you what to do in your off hours.

But you know what I'm about to say.

If any of you have any digital evidence on any of your devices anywhere that you don't want everyone to see, now is the time to delete it.

Print out a copy for your private records, lock it in a drawer, but no digital footprint.

Nadine: Okay.

Thank you, everyone.

So... if I'm on Tinder, that's not a... a problem, right?

Um, I would say, unless there's something obscene in your profile then, by all means, date away.

Okay, cool.

It's not weird that I asked you that, is it?

Of course not.

I appreciate the heads-up.

Okay.

I'm gonna...

Yeah.

That was weird.

But how?

Henry: Well, apparently he lost his phone, and it fell into the wrong hands.

Now I know why he was calling from all those other numbers.

Elizabeth: Sweetie, it's completely wrong that this happened, but now we have to deal with it.

Can you tell me what else is on there?

I'm gonna get us some coffee.

Um, what do you mean, "What else"?

Well, the guy, whoever took the phone, sent out one of the photos.

It's already out there?!

Not yet.

"Sent" more like, "proof that there's more."

(groaning): Oh, my God.

You're both in bed, nothing's showing.

But I need to know what else there is so I can manage it.

Um...

I don't know, I-I don't remember.

Baby, I get that this is hard, but the White House needs to know.

Harrison said he was gonna delete them.

He promised me.

I mean, we were just goofing around.

It was not a big deal.

It was one time.

So there is nudity?

Nothing gross.

But, yeah, we were in bed, so yes.

Were you guys...?

I mean, they're... they're gonna probably ask... were you guys doing anything?

Of course not.

It was after.

Thank you.

Mom, I'm sorry.

So am I.

Hey.

Hey.

You remember that weekend at Falls Lake?

Oh, of course.

(chuckles)

Thank God there was no Internet.

This is different.

Is it?

Yes. I work for the president of the United States, who's running for re-election. She can't just pretend she's not aware of that anymore.

And, I mean, how many dumb moves are we gonna give her?

How far does it have to go for her to realize what's at stake?

And not just for her but for all of us.

It sucks that this happened. I get that.

But is it really her job to prevent it?

Yes! Everybody knows you don't put nudie pictures on your telephone.

Cell phone.

Whatever.

(sighs)

This puzzle is ridiculously hard.

What?

If these pictures get out, you know what the world would do to Stevie.

I just hate to see you do it first.

What's that?

Blame her.

Morning. So, I have a draft of that diplomatic cable about the Chinese weather station in the Arctic.

Right.

But... we can do this another time.

Are those doughnuts?

Bagels.

That'll do.

Jay: We're already using "Welcome to the Arctic research community" to say, "Don't even think about drilling up there."

But you really want to try to implicate Russia for letting them in, on top of that?

Just a whiff of it.

Something like, um, "Protecting the diplomatic integrity of... the Arctic is the chief objective of the Arctic Council and the United States. So, you know, don't try anything with Russia."

First of all, Russia's almost as territorial as China is.

There's no way they're gonna share all their new shipping lanes with another superpower once the polar ice cap melts.

I know, right? Total fiction.

Can I ask why we're ringing that bell?

I'm told it'll play well.

You're just in time.

He's introducing Henry.

Madam Secretary, I am so sorry.

Oh, no.

The photo that was sent with the query has appeared online.

Where?

For the moment, a user-generated news site.

Relatively low-profile.

All of the other photos are still under wraps.

But now that word's out...

Daisy: It's only a matter of time till someone buys the rest.

There has to be something we can do.

Nadine: Well, I've reached out to Russell Jackson's office.

We can move your afternoon commitments and make a task force.

Let's not change the schedule. The president wants everything to move forward as usual.

It might be best to reschedule the meet and greet with the Royal Kumari of Nepal.

Why's that?

Um... it's a devoutly religious country.

She's a virgin goddess.

Well, let's just hope the prepubescent virgin goddess who lives in a temple doesn't spend much time on the Internet.

The meeting stays.

Host: There really is so much to mine, isn't there, in this liminal border between the Christian and the Muslim worlds.

Well, it's precisely the blurriness in this moment of transition where we can see the common sources behind so much of our cultural and spiritual conflict.

Mm. Like stumbling onto a wealth of scrolls preserved in a cave.

Well, sure, yeah.

Why don't we open things up to our callers?

Jeff from Fair Oaks.

Jeff: Yes, hi.

Go ahead with Dr. Henry McCord.

Hi, Jeff.

Jeff: Uh, I've been listening to you talk about the moral codes of Christianity and Islam. And I think it's so interesting that you hold yourself up as an expert on morality when all I'm finding online about you is a photo of your daughter rolling around in bed with the president's son.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry. Uh, Jeff, we lost our conne...

No, no, let me finish.

Is that your definition of moral parenting, Dr. McCord?

Is that your definition?

No, no, I'd like to answer that.

You ask an interesting question, Jeff.

I'd like to start by making a distinction that I usually make on the very first day of my Morals and Ethics class.

A lot of people say that morals are how we treat the people we know and ethics are how we treat the people we don't know.

So morals are what make us a good parent, a good friend, a nice neighbor.

But ethics are how we build a society.

That's the true test of our higher self.

But what happens, Jeff, when society is ruled by the subjective morals of, say, you and your family and you choose to project that onto complete strangers is that we all end up with a society that's governed by self-aggrandizement.

So, really, by calling Oh... to make sure you're the first little pedant to jump off your chair and teach me a lesson with smug superiority about your own particular moral point of view when you know precisely nothing of the situation, you've done your part to contribute to the erosion of our entire social fabric.

Pat yourself on the back. Bravo.

Host: Uh, so we are... going to take a break.

I'm gonna go make some calls.

Do I want to know how bad it is?

It's just the one photo.

Somebody leaked it.

The rest are still under wraps.

I mean how bad did I make things for you?

You're still my hero.

No, I'm not. I went off like a hopped up undergrad.

You did what I have been wanting to do all day. Instead, I have to listen to my staff imply that I shouldn't be sitting down with a virgin goddess from Nepal while my slutty daughter is all over the Internet.

Not you.

You have a meeting with a Kumari?

He knows what a Kumari is.

Don't ever change.

How old is she?

12. Almost ready to retire. Okay, I'm getting more "bad news" face. Hold on.

No further news on your daughter, ma'am.

But I just got word from the Hill. It now looks like the disaster relief bill is not going to pass.

(sighs) Henry, I got to go. Bye.

What happened to the Tin Man? I thought we had the Tin Man.

This morning, when the president's numbers dropped, three more senators took the opportunity to flip their positions.

Over a photo sex scandal?

The vote will be up again in January.

By which time thousands of people will have d*ed of exposure and disease.

Well, at least now you have a good excuse to cancel my photo op with the virgin goddess.

The Kumari and her entourage have already arrived.

I will send the press away and break the news privately.

No.

I will tell her.

Thank you.

It is an honor, Kumari.

Kumari is pleased to meet you, Madam Secretary.

We were expecting a bit more press.

I know the honor of the presence of the Kumari brought a great deal of attention to the plight of Nepal after the terrible disaster you've endured.

But unfortunately, support for the additional aid package will not be approved by the U.S. Congress today.

That is not what we were led to expect.

The conditions have changed, unfortunately.

We will revisit the proposal as soon as we can.

I hope you will accept my deepest apology and sympathy for your people.

It is her blessing.

No.

I'm done. No more bad news.

The president has invited you and Dr. McCord to join him and the First Lady for dinner at the White House this evening.

Is that it?

I can try to find some bad news.

No need.

Pretty sure that dinner invitation is bad news enough.

What's up?

Would you close the door, please?

So, I'm trying to delete a file of old photos...

Mm-hmm.

...but ever since I switched to the cloud...

They keep coming back?

Like a bad penny.

I've had this.

Okay, let's go to your cloud preferences.

Did that.

Okay, now select the ones you want to k*ll.

Uh...

Oh. (laughs)

What we're gonna do is, we're gonna create a ghost file.

Um...

I'm not looking, swear.

There's nothing unsavory.

It's just, thought I'd get rid of the hanging chads... so to speak.

Oh, I get it.

You don't want to be looking at these things at 2:00 a.m. after a glass of wine and too much Adele.

Not that I speak from experience.

Scotch and Joni Mitchell for me.

For what it's worth, it's only brutal for the first year.

Okay, can I ask?

How can I be his ideal woman, and five minutes after we break up, he's dating some barista who can't even properly use the possessive apostrophe?

Did you Facebook stalk?

No. A little.

Well, whoever she is, she's probably very simple and very needy, and that's exactly what he wants right now.

You know you could do the same.

That cyber security guy clearly has an eye for you.

No, he doesn't. Does he?

So, that's my problem?

I'm not needy enough?

It's in their DNA. They want to feel like we need them.

You realize the entire feminist movement would have us hung for this conversation.

Well, a fish may not need a bicycle, but...

Gloria Steinem probably never spent Saturday night alone at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Whoa. The good suit, huh?

Oh, I figure, mea culpa dinner with the president.

Yeah.

I don't know that it's your mea culpa.

(shouting): Kids! Pizza!

Don't get me wrong.

That was a spectacular rant, but I haven't heard any fallout.

So, if a tree falls on C-SPAN, does it make a sound?

Is that what you're saying?

Ooh, pizza.

Listen, we're going out to the White House tonight for dinner.

Ooh, Dad's getting called into the principal's office?

What does that mean?

Please. Your epic TV rant?

What epic rant?

Check it out. Dad's a gif.

You've officially made it.

Great.

Jace, are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm just sore from practice.

All right, listen, kids, I don't know how much you know, but something really uncool happened to Stevie.

We know. The picture's everywhere.

I just don't see what the big deal is.

Well, the big deal is that it's a gross invasion of privacy but, unfortunately, something that we may have to deal with 'cause our family's in the public eye and all that.

But we are doing what we can to keep it from moving forward.

Okay? Just... yeah.

Yeah, so just be sensitive, all right?

Alison: Of course. Yeah.

It'll all blow over as soon as a cooler gif comes along.

Hey, guys.

Dude, pizza.

Oh, I'm not doing cheese.

And you're back to vegan.

Elizabeth: Listen, we're going out, so you guys are on your own.

Get to bed on time. I am speaking to you, sir.

Bye.

Good-bye.

Bye.

Bye, sweets.

Okay, who wants to watch a movie?

Oh, I'm down.

Not me.

My mother always insisted that vichyssoise was only for summer, but I find it very comforting.

Oh, we could certainly use a little comfort.

Thank you, Lydia.

Henry: Again, Conrad, I am so sorry for losing it today.

We're all on edge.

How's everybody doing at home?

Holding our breath, I'd say.

Any news on who might have the photographs?

Not yet, which is why we need to be ready for this to get worse... as early as tomorrow.

That sounds ominous.

What are you thinking?

Well, we'd, uh, like to put Stevie and Harrison on the morning news.

Just a short interview as a couple. Get out in front of it.

As a couple?

Lydia: The team thinks it plays best if we see them as two young people in love, regretful for their choices, but laughing it off.

We'd have to hit just the right tone, but our people can work with them.

You are aware they broke up a few weeks ago.

Well, does their relationship status need to come up, really?

Not if they're posing.

Dalton: This thing has put us in a tough spot, Bess.

It's a five-minute interview.

Harrison has already agreed.

Of course he has. I'm sorry, but we all know that Harrison has nothing to lose.

I mean, at worst he's a recovering addict with a hot girlfriend.

But Stevie will be the slut who loses everything.

For crying out loud, Bess, will you help me solve one damn problem that you've caused?

Henry: Okay, Conrad, our kids took naked pictures of themselves in bed.

What on earth does that have to do with Elizabeth?

It's Russia. It's Russia.

I was there when Maria Ostrov seized power, so, suddenly, now everything's my fault.

Do we need to bring matters of state into this?

You opened Pandora's box over there!

Now, I'm Pandora? What'd they do to her?

Chain her to a rock?

That was Prometheus.

Dalton: You had to push your agenda with Ukraine.

Which almost worked!

It was too big a risk!

Last I heard, that's why you brought me in here!

Guys, we're getting off topic here.

All I'm saying is that we need to right the ship.

And I'd love a little cooperation, for both our kids' sakes.

So, putting Stevie on national television to apologize for the horrible crime of being violated... that's gonna right the ship, or is she just apologizing for being sexual? I'm a little unclear.

Lydia: No one is going to think anything less of Stevie.

Well, that's a big relief.

We're just trying to manage the embarrassment.

Oh, Lydia, I think that ship has sailed.

After your outburst today, I'd have to agree.

What?

Now we're blaming Henry for defending his daughter?

Why don't we talk about the fact that your son has an unsecured phone?

Who'd like another cocktail?

I would.

Me.

Well, thank God for Lydia Dalton.

That woman is a first-class WASP.

Never underestimate the power of gin and denial.

(laughs) You know what?

Actually, I would love a nightcap.

While I write my letter of resignation.

Now, come on!

Conrad doesn't want to lose you.

Just let the dust settle.

Henry, I all but called the president's son a junkie loser.

Stevie: Hi.

Elizabeth: Oh, hey. I didn't see you there, sweetie....

(sighs)

It's okay. He is a loser.

And for five minutes tomorrow morning, he will still be my boyfriend.

Elizabeth: No, sweetie.

You're not gonna do that.

I already told Harrison I would.

No, no. Your mom and I k*lled it.

They're gonna come up with another strategy.

I don't want to be strategized, I don't want to be managed.

I don't even care what's true anymore.

Hey.

One of the feminist groups on campus made posters of me like I'm some kind of hero.

And then one of the fraternities went around and put "#TeamMcCord" on all of them.

That stupid photo is everywhere.

Dad's losing it on TV, Jason won't even look at me.

(sighs) I just want my life back.

(groans softly)

(sighs)

I recommend the puzzle.

Well, it's a defense budget proposal.

If this can't put me out, nothing can.

Hmm. (sighs)

Wait a minute.

Oh, hey, Admiral Hill?

Oh, Madam Secretary.

I wonder if I might get a minute with you to go over the budget proposal?

I'm still catching up on it myself, but, yes, of course.

Oh, great. Okay, 'cause I want to show you.

Right here... on page 204, we get into breakdown on specific weaponry.

Yes.

I know what Sterling said... that we're looking to go all stealth and cheap and fast, but what is all this?

It's old-school, heavy-duty m*llitary gear.

It's-it's aircraft carriers, tanks, dozens of choppers.

Sterling knows that he has to sell this to the brass.

And this is what the generals understand.

But it's more than half the budget.

This old ship turns slowly.

(laughs)

Let me ask you something, Ellen.

You agree with Sterling's initiative?

Do I think that Chinese weather station is a spy outpost?

Probably not.

But I do think that this is how wars are going to be fought in the future.

Thank you, Admiral.

Shakya, I'm glad I caught you.

Could I possibly get two minutes with the Kumari?

Shakya: I'm afraid not, Madam Secretary. We are just leaving.

Pramila, can I speak with you for a minute?

I'm sorry.

I want to help your country.

You have one minute.

Thank you.

(door closes)

Pramila, listen to me.

Very soon after you return home, your time as a Kumari will be finished.

But you still have time to help your people.

You still have great power, and I want to help you use it.

Go on.

All I need is your blessing.

If the prime minister comes to you about a building project in the Himalayas, smile upon it.

Shakya: Madam Secretary, the Kumari is a divinity.

She does not rule in matters of state.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

You can do a lot more than they say.

Your blessing could save thousands of lives.

There's my linebacker. You up for a breakfast burrito?

Nah, just, uh, cereal. I'm laying off the protein.

Best way to heal sore muscles.

I'm dropping football.

What?

You just made the team, like, two weeks ago.

I wanted to make friends. These idiots aren't my friends.

Okay, you're telling me that there's not a single kid on that team that's not a jerk?

They made fun of Stevie, Dad, right in front of my face.

And I did nothing.

Makes me even worse than they are.

You just want to smash' em, right?

Yeah.

Just can't stop thinking about it, how great it would feel.

Pretty great.

It would for... maybe an hour.

Here's the thing.

It wouldn't change anything.

And then there's the whole part about you getting kicked out of another school for fighting.

So just letting them talk about Stevie that way, that's the right thing to do?

Jace, every group you're ever gonna be in is gonna have at least one jerk.

And you're gonna have to learn how to deal with them, okay?

Not by quitting and definitely not by b*ating anybody up.

Have a burrito.

Take it out on the other team.

I'm sure I'm just being overly cautious, with all the breaches that have been happening.

Oh, no.

We like overly cautious. Uh, where's the zombie file?

Uh, right here.

I've put it in the trash, like, ten times, but every time I open the application...

Right.

So, what we're gonna do is we're gonna create a ghost file.

Hmm. A "ghost file."

It's kind of surprising... the press coordinator of the State Department doesn't know how to delete a file from the cloud.

I-I probably could have figured it out, but I've been really busy.

No, it's cool.

I mean, yeah, I'll go out with you.

(chuckling): Um...

No, we can go to lunch right now. I've been working on this awesome new encryption software, and I promise to only talk about it for ten minutes tops.

I think I could be free.

Cool. Shall we?

Just so you know, I knew how to do that.

God, I hope so.

Look who's first to school.

Um, Lucy let me in. I hope that's okay, Mr. President.

So what's this proposal?

Yeah. Um...

So, in going over the proposed budget for Craig's m*llitary transformation initiative, I, uh, saw an opportunity where I thought State might be able to contribute, using our diplomatic relations with Nepal.

I proposed to their prime minister the idea of an observatory in the Himalayas. It is a highly strategic spot for optical, infrared, and gamma ray observation.

It's strategic, all right. It's right on the border of China.

Which is why Nepal will never sign off on it.

They've got a relationship to protect.

They also have needs in the wake of the earthquakes.

I've gotten word back from the prime minister that he's open to the idea, provided we pay a yearly fee for use of the land, roughly the same amount we were hoping to approve in the disaster relief bill.

The question, of course, is... budget.

(clears throat)

One... Just one second. Um, for the cost of ten Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, we could invest in the peaceful observation of the heavens with three new telescopes and also answer China's encroachment at the Arctic with a message of our own.

Ten JLTVs, huh?

Yeah.

The budget calls for 400.

I think 390 should do it.

What do you think, Craig?

Well, it's strategic, it sends a message to China, and it's cheap.

What's not to like?

Reach out to NASA.

Get it in motion.

Absolutely, Mr. President.

And, Elizabeth, if I could, uh, get a moment.

Mr. President, I am sorry about my behavior last night. It was totally inappropriate.

Lucy, could you have, uh, Henry come in?

Hello, Conrad.

Hi there.

I wanted to tell you both that there was a breakthrough in this photo situation.

The query letter was traced back to a former Secret Service agent who was released from duty last month.

Seems this was his, uh, way to even the score.

So that's it? The photos are contained?

We've stopped the sale of the photos, and the guy is being held at a local precinct for questioning.

But we're sure they're gone for good?

As sure as we can be.

I owe you both an apology.

I don't think this situation brought out the best in a lot of us.

I'm sorry for the way we handled it.

Thanks, Conrad.

May I make a request?

What is it?

Before you finish questioning this guy, 15 minutes alone with him, off the radar.

You got it.

Well, that was very Godfather.

We thinking piano wire or bare hands?

I haven't decided yet.

Is it wrong that I find it kind of hot?

Don't answer that.

(chuckles)

(siren wailing in distance)

You good?

I'm Stephanie.

I'm Ronald Watson.

I don't really know what to say.

I've been having a bad time.

But that's-that's not an excuse.

I heard about your misdemeanor.

I was kind of surprised that's all you got, actually.

And a fine.

Oh. And a fine.

How much?

$500.

(scoffs)

So that's like, what, half a month's rent? Or... a new camera?

You could have taken your own pictures.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

(sighs) So did you not think about that when you were trying to sell my privacy to the highest bidder?

Was I just... not real to you?

Elizabeth.

Here we go.

Craig.

I wanted to thank you for that proposal on Nepal.

Oh, good. I'm glad it found your support.

It's exactly the way we need to be moving forward.

I'm so glad we're finally finding a way to work on the same team.

Thanks, Craig. Me, too.

Which is why I don't ever want to hear you say it's not my turn again.

We should grab that lunch, though.

Absolutely.

Mr. Sterling, that meeting's in ten minutes.

Ronald: I was mad.

About other things.

Again, it's not an excuse.

I heard that you lost your job.

They said that I was intoxicated on duty.

But I wasn't. I would never do that.

I've worked for three presidents.

Must be hard on your family.

My son's out of the house.

So it's just me now.

How old is he?

He's 20.

Is he in school?

Taking some... time off for the moment.

Look, I don't know what exactly you want from me.

I don't want anything, Ronald.

We're just talking.

I just wanted to get to know you as a person.

So I wouldn't... reduce you to one stupid thing that you did.

See how that works?

Hey.

Hey.

You okay?

Yeah.

I am.