02x13 - Invasive Species

[bunniefuu]

I'm definitely putting Middlebury on my list.

Vermont is really cold in the winter.

Which is why I also have UCLA on here.

Hollywood, baby.

(laughs)

Elizabeth: For the first of, I'm sure many times over the next couple of years, I have to ask, what is wrong with UVA?

Yeah, you are a legacy... twice.

Yeah, I got my degree and met the love of my life.

See? Greatest twofer ever.

Mm-hmm.

You should consider Georgetown.

I'm really happy there.

Okay, thank you, McCords, but I would like to go out of state and blaze a new trail.

I know, but do you have to blaze all the way to California?

Yeah. Hey, Jason, you'll consider UVA, right?

We need another Wahoo in the family.

(laughter)

Okay, the nickname itself is reason to cross it off the list.

I'm not going to college, so...

And may I ask why?

Academia's a shell game that only rich kids can win.

It's a student debt factory that imparts no real wisdom or skills.

It's a racket.

That's what I thought, too, until I actually got out in the real world.

We already have a college fund all set aside.

College expenses will outpace anything you've saved.

Do you really want to mortgage your retirement so I can extend my childhood for four years going to keggers and pledging a frat?

Now, that's a good point.

When you put it that way.

How much is in the college fund?

A lot.

Enough so that we could sail around the world? - Heck yeah.

Because I've always wanted to see the Galapagos Islands.

Yeah, heck, we could go on...

You're making fun of me.

A little bit.

You know what? I don't have to take advice from you, Professor.

First, you were a puppet for big business, and now you're working for the m*llitary-industrial complex.

How's that for a twofer?

Well, on the upside, if he does change his mind, I think he's landed on a great topic for his application essay.

Elizabeth: Oh, don't tell me.

Is that the famous East Africa corruption report?

The one and only.

It's finally finished?

Well, it's finally printed out.

454 pages of raw excitement.

We've run the most recent changes by Treasury, Commerce and the CIA.

All that's left is for the White House to sign off.

You know, these interdepartmental task forces seem like a good idea, until you realize how many people need to approve of it before you're finished.

Oh, I ordered pizza from Romano's last night, the delivery guy is concerned about our reliance on anti-corruption agencies.

I have concerns about their crust being too doughy.

Does this report have a title yet?

"Corruption in East Africa and its Negative Impact on U.S. Competitive Advantage in the Region."

That's catchy.

See, I wanted, "China Wins Because They Bribe Everyone," but Treasury sh*t me down.

Ma'am. I have Henry on the phone.

He says it's about his father.

It's important.

Okay, thank you.

Baby, I'm so sorry.

What happened?

I mean, the last time we saw him, he-he seemed fine.

Maureen found him this morning.

At first she thought he just overslept.

He must have d*ed during the night.

Probably a heart att*ck.

(chuckles)

He always said he wanted to die in his sleep... quick and painless.

Yeah, but not yet.

He was too young.

He called me about a week ago.

Just to catch up.

Had a nice long talk.

I'm grateful for that.

♪ ♪

Oh, look at you.

Come here.

Hey, Aunt Maureen.

Good to see you, Elizabeth.

Maureen, nice to see you.

I'm so sorry about Patrick.

Thanks.

Ah, it's been a rough morning, but you're a bright spot in a terrible day.

Oh.

Three SUVs, huh?

I'll have to tell the mourners that parking is at a premium.

Security protocol.

You know, in case someone wants to sh**t her.

Come on, kids, help me out, would you?

Thanks, kid. Good to see you.

All right.

Can I get anybody anything?

Oh, we're good, thanks.

Kids, I can make sandwiches.

Elizabeth: We actually ate on the road.

Maureen, will you come and sit down?

You're just making everybody nervous.

Dad, can we go watch TV?

Sure thing.

No.

Girl: Please?

It's family time.

They can be a family in the den.

Erin, if you finally decide to have kids of your own, you may find there's more to it than giving in to them all the time.

I teach history to high schoolers.

I'm an expert in knowing when a teenager needs to get up and get the heck out of the room.

Okay, go.

Go, you guys. Go ahead.

Um, I think I'm gonna take a walk.

I'll come with you.

Dad, I'll see you back at your place.

Later.

Well, now the grown-ups can talk freely.

Henry and Elizabeth haven't heard your news.

Oh, yeah. Um, me and Stacy are separated.

Oh, gosh, Shane, I'm sorry to hear that.

I really liked her.

Me, too. We just jumped in too fast.

Maureen: Oh, that's what happens when you get married before the ink on your last divorce is even dry.

Wait, who's this? I don't recognize her.

Maureen: That's Debra, Dad's new girlfriend.

Wow. On the mantel. It must be serious.

Maureen: Oh, I wouldn't know.

I didn't like to talk to him about his lady friends.

Not with Mom so recently gone.

Maureen, Mom's been dead for four years.

Well, I still feel her presence in this house.

Now they're together in heaven.

Want to bet the old man's up there giving St. Peter a piece of his mind?

Demanding better conditions and overtime pay for those hardworking angels.

(Maureen laughs)

Well, maybe we should try and get in touch with her.

Well, if by we, you mean me, I have got enough on my plate, thank you.

Maureen, Henry and I can definitely help.

What do you need?

Um... there's the obituary to write, and, uh, I have an appointment tomorrow at O'Flynn and Sons to prepare for the service.

I can go with you to that.

Somebody needs to go to the precinct today to sign the paperwork.

I can take care of that.

Oh, it's Detective Michael Swanstrom.

He was here this morning.

He knew Dad from church.

Of course, Dad hadn't been in a while.

He only went to make Mom happy.

(Henry chuckles)

So, do you want me to pick up dinner?

God, no. People are already dropping off casseroles.

We'll have more food than we know what to do with.

I'll help you clean out the fridge, make some more room.

Oh, Elizabeth, would you do me a favor?

Sure.

Could you get Dad's navy blue suit out of his room?

I... just can't go in there.

Of course.

It's weird, all of us being here without him.

I'm very sorry for your loss, Mr. McCord.

Thank you.

I have some information about your father.

About the way he d*ed.

Wasn't it a heart att*ck?

Um... based on evidence I found at the house, I asked the M.E. to run a toxicology screen.

Your father d*ed of a barbiturate overdose.

What?

He didn't take dr*gs.

There was an empty prescription bottle of hydrocodone in the bathroom trash can.

Hydrocodone is a painkiller.

Yeah, for when his knee acted up.

He refilled it yesterday morning.

Are you saying he took all of them?

Isn't there another explanation?

I'm afraid not.

Your father's death was a su1c1de.

I saw him every day. I mean, he was never down.

Never. He was just himself.

Daddy'd never let on how he was really feeling.

That just wasn't his way.

That's true. Even when he was forced off the union board, it took him years to tell us about it.

That... that broke his spirit.

Maybe he was sick?

Henry: I called Dr. Peterson.

Other than the heart condition, he was in good health.

They made a mistake.

Our dad would never do this. It is a mortal sin.

Henry: Maureen, it's the 21st century.

Everybody knows about depression and what it can do to you, even the Catholic Church.

I'm sure Father Benedict...

You will not tell Father Benedict about this.

No one outside this family is to know anything about this.

You're being unreasonable.

Am I?

Forget about our friends and family for a second.

Dad was the father-in-law to the Secretary of State.

I mean, do you want all our business all over the tabloids?

Oh, no, I-I don't think that they would...

What, it's not important enough to make the news? Oh...

Forget it. Tom, let's go.

I... Where are the kids? Geez.

Walked home an hour ago.

Good night, Tom.

Night.

I'm glad you're here.

Someone has to put her in her place every once in a while.

We're all in shock.

(groans)

See you tomorrow, okay?

Yeah, we'll be here.

All right.

Good night.

Night.

(door opens)

(door closes)

Sorry about Maureen.

Babe, the first time you brought me home to meet your family, you said, "I'm sorry about Maureen."

(chuckles)

Let's just take that as a given.

She's just like my dad... no filter.

Well, speaking your mind is a McCord family trait that you all share.

And our kids have inherited.

How are they doing?

Processing, like the rest of us.

Except Maureen; she's firmly ensconced on her sofa of denial.

Henry, her world has been rocked.

They all need to lean on you a little.

Check on the kids.

Blake: I say again, what wrong with a fruit basket?

No one wants fruit, ever.

Arrange for bagels, lox, cream cheese, the works, to be delivered for breakfast tomorrow.

When we find out what Mr. McCord d*ed from, we'll send a donation in remembrance.

The best thing we can do right now is keep things running smoothly here so the Secretary has all the time and energy she needs to take care of her family.

Good evening, team.

Are we your team?

Well, you are now.

I need you to get to work right away on a new interagency task force.

We're not quite finished with the last one.

Have you read the Africa report, by the way?

I haven't had the time.

I spent the day learning about invasive aquatic species.

What are invasive aquatic...

Little buggers coming over from Asia and Europe, overrunning the North American oceanic ecosystem.

What do you mean, like squid?

Are you mocking me, son?

No, I would, I would never mock.

You think terrorism is the only thr*at to our American way of life?

Wait till the Australian mollusk arrives and sets up house.

With no natural predators, all the river mouths in the Gulf of Mexico will be completely clogged.

Or when the poisonous East Indian algae bloom covers the Pacific coastline, good-bye crab season.

Coastal and marine fisheries are a $70 billion business.

Do you think we can afford to lose that?

All right. Coordinate with EPA tonight.

I want a report to Congress before the weather turns warm.

Most of these critters thrive in a balmy climate.

Well, the secretary is out of town.

I heard, but there's no time to waste.

EPA can deliver the science.

State and Commerce need to jump on the international maritime angle... cr*ck down on smugglers, ramp up cargo and hull inspections.

Otherwise, these invasive species will just keep coming and the U.S. fishing economy will grind to a halt.

Okay, we're on it.

I want an update in the morning.

Should I call the secretary?

Not yet.

Found this in the garage.

It's labeled "important papers."

It's got the will in it, this note that says, uh, he doesn't want a wake.

What?

Yeah, he says it's a waste of time and expensive alcohol.

Good. Who wants to see Grandpa laid out all...

(croaking)

He's dead, John, not a zombie.

Come on, guys.

Um, the will just says everything's split evenly between us kids.

Oh, here's the, uh, his burial insurance policy he got from the union.

I will get that obituary over to the paper.

I'm j-just gonna say that he passed away.

Father Benedict asked if, uh, someone was gonna speak at the service.

Well, that's up to you.

Well, I'd... be too emotional, too sappy.

Dad would hate that.

I thought you might like to do it.

I don't think that I'm the guy to get up and talk about Dad.

Maybe Erin or Shane.

If you change your mind...

I won't.

We're expected at the mortuary at around 11:00.

I'd offer to drive, but, um, I suppose your security detail will still want to follow us through town.

For the last time, it's protocol.

(laughs): Well, it's fine.

I mean, maybe everybody will think Dad's funeral has started early and fall into line behind us.

It won't be so bad, Maureen, I promise.

There's lots of legroom, and they've got bottles of water and candy in the back.

Not going to a prom.

Going to find a coffin for my father.

I'll come along, too.

Maureen: I'll get my coat.

(quietly): Thank you.

20 gauge protective steel with a poplar veneer.

Gloss coffee finish, and an oyster crepe interior.

Grandpa wouldn't want something showy and overpriced.

My father-in-law was a man of simple taste.

He was cheap.

Say what you're saying.

This one is a gloss Cambridge finish, with swing bar hardware.

It's $1,500.

Maureen, what do you think?

Mm.

Let's talk about our life's glory package.

Prayer cards, a memorial book.

(whispers): Uh, a word with you.

Excuse me.

Can we reconsider cremation?

Absolutely not.

It's just, he wouldn't want us to spend all this money on him.

Elizabeth: Well, this isn't really for Grandpa, baby.

It's for us.

You know, so that we can feel like we've given him a proper good-bye.

We have a bit of a problem.

Uh, Mr. McCord allowed his insurance policy to lapse four months ago.

So none of this is covered.

I'm afraid not.

Yeah, you know what, let's just...

...we'll put it on my card and we'll figure it out later.

(sighs)

Hey, John wants to heat up a cheeseburger casserole and contact Grandpa on the Ouija board.

Oh, great, when you reach him, ask him what the password is for his computer.

Why are you trying to go on Grandpa's computer?

I was just thinking, you know.

Why'd he do it?

What made him so sad that he wanted to end it like that.

Leave everything.

Leave us.

Mom said, uh, Debra was his girlfriend.

I figured she might be able to tell us something, so I did an image search on my phone to try and figure out her last name.

And?

(sighs) Her name isn't Debra.

It's Janet Nelson.

She's not from Pittsburgh.

She's an actress from L.A.

This photo was pulled off of the Internet.

Something isn't right.

Okay.

Here's his password.

Classic old person trick.

Mm.

What a day, wow.

So your dad's insurance policy lapsed, so I gave them my card, of course, which annoyed Maureen, holy smoke.

Babe, the kids went through Dad's computer.

They found something.

What do you mean?

(sighs) About seven months ago, he joined a dating site.

A woman contacted him.

Said her name was Debra.

Said all the right things.

They had all the same interests.

He wanted to meet, but she said she couldn't.

She was out of town working on some investments.

Let me guess, she couldn't come home until all those issues were settled.

So, he offered to help out with a loan.

How much?

I don't know the total yet, but there are e-mails on here from the bank.

First it was about cash transfers, then about taking out a line of credit on the house.

It was everything he had.

50 years of hard work and doing without.

It's all gone.

(sighs) He couldn't see a way out.

We were a way out.

We could have helped him.

Your dad admit that he'd been swindled?

Call his children and ask for money?

Live out his life like a burden.

It wouldn't be like that.

No.

But to him it would.

I know, but...

I never thought his pride would mean more to him than his family.

More than watching our kids grow up.

Okay, I'll say it, is there any way we can get back the money?

You're all thinking it.

Maybe not Henry and Elizabeth, but I could sure use my share.

Look, I spoke with Detective Swanstrom and you know, he was sympathetic, but... (sighs) the truth is, most of these scams are perpetrated in other countries.

Maureen: Well, then you're talking to the wrong person.

I mean, hell, you're sitting next to the Secretary of State.

Other countries is her business.

Erin: Could you do anything, Elizabeth?

Pull some strings?

I wish it was that simple.

Well, make it simple.

Call the president. Say it's protocol.

The thing is, that the State Department doesn't really handle these kinds of things.

What my wife is too polite to say is that what you're asking her to do is unethical.

Elizabeth is always saying she wants to help.

We need help.

Maureen... drop it.

Why can't...!

Well, like Shane was saying, you're not counting on that money, anyway.

(doorbell rings)

Hey, guys.

Maureen.

Oh, thank you.

We're so sorry about Patrick.

Maureen: You remember Stan and Barry, right, guys?

Henry: Oh, hey. Hey, guys.

They worked with Dad on the union board.

Come on in.

I'll send you the e-mail address that I want tracked and, I'm, uh, I'm hoping that Oliver Shaw can recommend someone.

Are you sure there's nothing else I can do for you, or your family?

Thanks for holding down the fort.

I'll talk soon, okay?

(phone beeps off)

Any room left in here?

No, um, but we can find some.

And we were downtown, visiting the guys...

Bar, was it Mellon Center?

Sure was.

Yeah, your dad sees a welder we knew, leaving for the day.

The guy doesn't have a coat on.

Says, he gave it to his kid, 'cause he couldn't afford a new one.

Your dad takes off his own coat...

It was vicuna, I remember.

...and he just gives it to the guy.

That's so like him.

Well, we aren't going to take up any more of your time.

My wife has the same kind of heart condition as your dad.

They were always telling each other to take good care, but I guess sometimes there's nothing to be done.

We just assumed he took a heart att*ck.

Was it something else?

The truth is... he was in a bad place, and he couldn't reach out for help.

What Henry means is that our dad was in a bad place because he was so sick.

Maureen, if we can't talk about how he d*ed, then we won't be able to mourn him.

Our dad took his own life.

(all groan)

I'm so sorry.

Well, thank you. It's been very difficult.

And I hope it doesn't change how you remember him.

No.

Of course not.

Thank you so much for coming.

(door opens)

We agreed.

No, Maureen, you insisted.

I'm not gonna treat this like some shameful secret.

I'm not gonna lie about our father.

Can't you keep your high-and-mighty mouth shut for two seconds?

But no, everything just has to be done your way, like we don't count.

Hey, pot, you and the kettle are looking a little black there.

Stay out of this, Shane.

No.

You don't get to decide for the rest of us what we can feel or say.

Yes, I do, because I was here every day, taking care of Mom, taking care of Dad.

I live across town, Erin's ten minutes away...

Yeah, but you were never here.

Maybe Sunday dinners, the Super Bowl. I cleaned the toilets.

I cooked the meals. I took care of him.

If you took such good care of him, Maureen, then why is he dead?

Erin, don't.

No, I am sick of her lording everything over me!

Can we get past this?

No, you are already past this!

You and Elizabeth breeze into town visiting us on your book tour, waving to us from the motorcade.

Just don't think that puts you in charge now, just because she can put the funeral on her credit card!

What's this now?

It was just a temporary fix.

I'm just trying to help.

Trying to one up all of us like usual.

You know what we call her.

Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth... like it's a big secret!

We're not stupid, Maureen.

We're not deaf!

I never called her that.

I didn't! I didn't!

But she did!

Nobody should be calling her that!

When you took up with Elizabeth, you changed!

That's enough!

Turning up your nose at us "yinzers," acting like a new man with a fancy degree and a rich wife!

You are way over the line, Maureen!

You guys are screaming so loud we can't hear the TV.

What's going on?

We're having a family discussion.

Yeah, but it's over. Come on, kids.

If it makes you feel better, we'll leave right after the funeral.

Blow into town, turn everything upside down, then blow right back out again.

What else is new?

Oh, you...

(door slams)

(knocking)

Got a minute?

Not since 1992.

Yeah, it's all right.

Come in.

I went through the East Africa report again last night.

There's been a change since we sent it to you for approval.

The CIA redacted a few lines, classified them.

As is their wont.

The redacted portion is a short paragraph regarding Senator Marc Stone.

He was part of a congressional fact-finding trip to China in 2013.

They visited the Wudang Construction Company.

Wudang is run by the Chinese government and is at the top of our list of corrupt contractors.

You don't say.

Wudang also owns an American subsidiary called KPT Building.

It's based in Arizona.

That's Stone's home state.

CIA has been all over this report since we started compiling it.

Why did they wait until the last minute to classify that paragraph?

Are you asking me a question or is this a setup for an accusation?

I think you sent the State Department on an invasive aquatic snipe hunt.

Then you convinced someone at the Agency to redact the report.

What I do not understand is why.

The CIA did it, so take it up with them.

Or better yet, leave it alone.

Is that an order?

Yes.

I don't take orders from you.

(door opens)

Is that the office calling?

Yeah, but not about State business.

I asked Blake to trace the person who scammed your dad.

You didn't have to do that.

I know.

But it worked.

The scammer lives right here in Pittsburgh.

It's his friend Stan.

(indistinct chatter)

For what it's worth, he's pretty broken up.

I got a full confession in the car on the way over.

Did he say why he did it?

Well, short answer?

He needed money.

His sister's sick.

They're drowning in bills.

Says he read an article about these scammers who were making thousands ripping off older people.

So he trolls the dating site, and happens to come across your dad's profile.

Erin: He knew how generous our dad was.

Thought he'd be an easy mark.

The DA will be in touch.

I'm sorry, folks.

That's that, then.

Hey, Maureen?

Wait.

(sighs)

You're so angry at me.

What can I do to make this right?

Can you give me my father back?

Can you make it like he never did this awful, awful thing?

You know if he had reached out, I would've done anything to help.

Would you?

Of course.

Maureen, just let it go.

(sighs)

I can't stop thinking why he didn't call you, Henry.

I mean, the rest of us, he knew we didn't have any room to take him in.

God knows we don't have any money, but you do.

And then I remembered.

A couple of years ago, I was helping him up the stairs after a few too many.

It was, it was during that bad time when the union had kicked him to the curb.

And he started talking about someone who turned their back on him.

I figured it was a buddy of his.

But no.

He was talking about you.

He said you rejected him.

That you treated him like he was a failure.

He said it was the worst pain he'd ever felt.

Maureen, that... that never happened.

Are calling Patrick McCord a liar?

No, I'm saying that maybe you misunderstood.

No, he was very clear.

It was a while ago.

But it happened.

And at the lowest point of his life, if he reached out to you and you turned your back on him again... that would be the worst thing.

Worse than losing all his money.

Worse than death.

So he didn't even try.

Instead he just... went to sleep.

And we can all say that we would've done anything to help him, that we couldn't see the signs.

We can say whatever we want now, because it's too late.

But I say...

I say he's dead because of you.

You want to go for a walk?

My first year at UVA, I was working so hard to fit in.

I just did not feel like I belonged there.

Well, you were 17, you'd never been away from home.

My dad came to Parent's Weekend.

I showed him the campus, my dorm.

He was his typical self... the room's too small, the water pressure's too low, he wanted to know did they give me a third-class berth 'cause I was a scholarship kid?

Well, your dad, never one to be stingy with his opinions.

There was a big dinner that night, father and son thing.

All the guys in my class were going.

I didn't even tell him it was happening.

That's how nervous I was he'd make a scene.

He'd start quizzing the big sh*ts at my table about how badly they treated their workers.

It seems crazy now, but being embarrassed at that dinner felt like it would end my world.

So, we were walking off-campus to grab dinner in town.

I took a wrong turn.

There we were at the hall.

There was a big banner.

All the guys were going in with their dads.

And they looked like... what they were.

Proper gentlemen.

Young masters of the universe.

I looked over.

My dad had stopped walking.

Looked up at the banner.

All the boys with their fathers.

And I'll never forget the look on his face.

He knew I was ashamed of him.

That's what he told Maureen.

Did you ever talk to him about it?

Yeah, I tried to apologize a few times over the years.

He acted like he didn't remember, but he did.

I keep thinking...

...maybe when he called last week, should I have tried again to say I was sorry and really made him listen?

Do you think maybe that was the opening he needed to ask for my help?

I think he knew you loved him.

And he knew that you'd grow up to be a good man, Henry.

So I think you have to forgive that 17-year-old boy, who was young and thoughtless.

If for no other reason, you'll need the practice to forgive Jason someday when he does something like that.

I think your dad did call for a reason.

Not to ask for help.

I think he needed to know that you two were ending on a good note.

He was saying good-bye to me.

Hey, Dad.

Hi, Jace. You ready?

Yeah, almost.

I'm really sorry about the way I talked to you the other day.

It's okay.

I'm sorry I made fun of you about college.

I don't want to be like you.

(chuckles)

I didn't want to be like my old man either.

I get it.

I mean, like you and Grandpa.

I don't want to be fighting with you when you die.

I'm not gonna let that happen, I promise.

It's true, my dad and I weren't close.

We didn't see eye to eye on... well, anything.

But I want you to feel like you can talk to me.

And I'll listen.

That's really the...

...key to everything.

Father Benedict: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.

Amen.

All: Amen.

Before we begin the commendation, Patrick's son, Henry, has asked to say a few words in remembrance of his father.

(clears throat)

The thing my dad hated second most in the world was a restaurant.

"Why drive to some place and have a stranger cook you food when you can have it better and cheaper at home?"

(scattered chuckling)

The thing he hated most was a wedding.

"Why would you spend all that money when the marriage might not even work out? Stay married for ten years, and then have a party."

Maybe I'm giving you the wrong idea about my dad.

He hated restaurants and weddings, but he loved a good meal.

And he believed in marriage.

He just didn't see the point in all the fanfare.

So I think it's a pretty safe bet that he would not be too happy with what we're doing here today.

My dad was a proud man.

He didn't believe in showing any vulnerability to the world, and he passed that on to all of us.

It mostly served us well, but it robbed us, too.

It robbed us of the gift of... letting someone else lend a hand, the gift of letting someone you love see you at-at your weakest.

Made us hold onto grudges when all we really needed to do... was say...

"I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

I'm looking at my family now, and... I see how proud you are... and how strong you're all trying to be, but I think the best gift that we can give to our father now that he's gone...

...is to admit that our hearts are breaking.

I think it would go better for us if we... could lean on each other...

...and let our hearts break together.

I think he would like that.

And then shape up and pull ourselves together and, Jiminy Christmas, quit that crying.

(chuckling)

Father Benedict: "A song of ascents.

"I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

From whence shall come my help?"

(low conversations)

(people laughing)

Henry, smiling like he doesn't have Oh, I was not smiling.

...a care in the world.

Henry (laughing): I was scared to death.

Yeah, 'cause Dad's car is sinking into the lake.

And Dad says, "Son, what the hell happened?"

And Henry says...

I said I swerved to avoid a cow in the road.

Shane: What?

Come on.

And, no, and Dad...

That's true.

It's true.

And Dad says, "Listen, kid, next time... there's a cow in the road, don't crash the car just..."

Both: "Bring home the steak dinner."

You were the reason he wouldn't let me get a car till I was 18.

No, pal, that was because you stole Mom's car and blew the engine doing doughnuts in the parking lot of the A&P.

Okay, I did do that.

Remember?

With me, unbuckled in the back seat.

Yeah.

I was just checking on the progress with the EPA.

The staff has been in meetings all day.

While you've been in here, checking up on Senator Stone?

You called Marlene Creston, the head of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.

She didn't find anything.

And I still have no idea why you wanted that paragraph classified.

You gonna let it go now?

That's not in my nature.

Okay then.

Stone is an ally of Dalton's, running for reelection on his record, which is spotless, but his challenger is well-funded.

She's going negative, so Stone approved his super PAC and a dark money nonprofit organization to fund it.

KPT Building made a donation to that nonprofit of $100,000.

KPT Building, which is owned by the Chinese government.

KPT Building, which is an American subsidiary of Wudang Construction, which is owned by the Chinese government, yes.

So is this a quid pro quo?

Of course not.

KPT just wants to defeat Stone's opponent, who's for stricter logging controls.

But the Chinese government is still indirectly financing an American election.

And thanks to the vagaries of Citizens United, it's all perfectly legal.

Then why redact the paragraph?

Because if someone with an a* to grind were to read the unredacted East Africa report, they could possibly make a connection between Stone and Wudang Construction.

They could make it look like Marc Stone is in bed with the Chinese.

Isn't he?

He's an honest politician who's been forced to accept dark money so he can continue to play on this new level field.

Don't blame me, blame the Supreme Court for a bad decision.

The president would love to put a stake through the heart of Citizens United, but you know he's not gonna get traction in congress anytime soon.

He'll need a second term and every bit of support in the senate that he can muster.

So, yes, I asked a friend at the Agency to redact that section of the report.

I didn't tell the president about it.

If the contribution ever does become public knowledge, Dalton can honestly say he knows nothing about it.

And what about the secretary?

She's protected as well.

That's our job.

We take the hits so they don't have to.

But you didn't bring me in beforehand, so now I have to tell her.

Do what you want.

Just make sure she knows we're saving American's oceans while you're at it.

Those invasive species really are a menace.

Russell.

In the future, you might consider being more forthcoming with me.

That's not really in my nature, but... noted.

(door closes)

All our bags are downstairs.

Then this is the last one.

I bet you're glad to be getting home, get back to being yourself.

What do you mean?

I don't know, it's just... at home, you would never let anyone talk to you the way that Aunt Maureen does.

Why don't you ever shut her down?

Oh, Stevie, I was so young when my parents d*ed.

Then it was just your Uncle Will and me.

We were away at boarding schools most of the year.

Thanksgivings, just the two of us.

Dinner in front of the TV.

One Christmas, I just...

...stayed at school.

There was this huge snowstorm, and I got snowed in, and it was so... quiet.

I didn't speak to another soul for days.

And then I fell in love with your dad.

(both chuckle)

And he took me home and introduced me to his big, messy, raucous family.

At the McCord house, it was never quiet.

Sometimes they're laughing, sometimes fighting, but it's always loud and on fire.

And if I shut Maureen down, I'd be putting out that fire.

I don't want to do that.

I just want to be a part of it.

You know?

Yeah.

You need any help cleaning out the house...

Erin and Shane and the kids will be around, so...

Well, maybe we'll get lucky and find some cash after the bank takes their cut.

Maybe. Either way, we'll be all right.

I know we will.

Easter?

Oh.

Alison: Bye.

Bye.

(engine starts)

Woman: Bye!

(engines starting)

Man: Later!

♪ ♪

(phone buzzing) _

Elizabeth: It is uncanny.

I mean, Blake knows exactly when it's the best time to get me.

It's just...

(phone line ringing)

I called Uncle Will.

Will: Hey.

Henry: Hey, Will.

Hi. Hey, Will.

Elizabeth: How are you?

Well, I-I could use another three hours sleep.

Henry, I-I am so... so sorry that I couldn't make it out for the funeral.

You know how fond I was of your father.

He was a tough old guy.

Yeah, he was.

Thanks, Will.

Hi, Uncle Will.

Hi.

There you go. Here you go.

Will: Hello, McCords.

Alison: We miss you.

(laughing)

Stevie: Hey, what are you doing?

Where are you?