04x13 - Reading the Signs

[bunniefuu]

ELIZABETH: Let me try it again.
Ayu-bowan.

Good, but don't forget the “U.”

Ay-u-bowan.

- Ayubowan.
- I don't...

I don't get it, doesn't the Sri
Lankan president speak English?

Oy.

What? Am I being
culturally insensitive again?

Because I screw up with Piper,
like, ten times a day.

ELIZABETH: As a matter of fact,

President Nandasiri
does speak English.

But it's traditional
for foreign dignitaries

to be greeted in their native tongue.

And in Sri Lanka, the
primary language is?

Sinhala. Okay.

I've actually been practicing,
too, just in case.

Singhala Danna naa.

Which means?

"I don't speak Sinhala."

(CHUCKLES) Mom,
I'm actually very surprised

that you're not delaying this
trip until Dalton is reinstated.

Um, Russell told me that
he's gonna be back in action

in, like, a few weeks.

Well, while the president
is recuperating,

it's important for the
international community

to understand that the U.S.
has not missed a step.

Which means...

nothing is postponed.

But if Acting President Hurst
signs off,

you're just letting her
take the victory lap.

I don't get it.

You know, sometimes I worry that
Russell Jackson is your mentor.

Yeah, you know, I, uh,
I hate to say it,

but I think she's got a point.

I'm not crazy about the optics.

Kids, in public service

and in life, it's not about
who gets the credit.

Although, I got to say,
babe, that I know

China's trying to make a
deal with Sri Lanka, too,

and the fact that you
b*at 'em to the punch,

- that is really hot.
- JASON: Yeah, yeah. You know...

- Oh, was it?
- ...and it's, uh, it's all part

of a larger strategy to push
back on their expansion

into the Indian Ocean.

Okay, clearly, I talk about
work too much at home.

ALISON: I'm home!

- In the kitchen!
- Here. Oh, look at her.

- Hi. Aw.
- Hi, guys.

- You're back.
- I missed you.

Okay, you guys saw me two weeks ago.

- I don't care.
- JASON: Yeah, I...

I didn't think you'd be home
until, like, spring break.

I'll only be here

for a couple of days.

Yeah.

Uh, small issue with your room.

I'm actually kind of
using it as a gym.

- What?
- Well, you know, I'm trying to get...

swole for Piper.

- Ooh.
- Gross! Do that in your own room.

No, I almost threw out my back

moving all the weights into yours.

Okay, I'm gonna let
you handle this one.

HENRY: All right. Come
on there, Jack LaLanne.

- Let's go.
- Jack La-who?

- Yeah. Come on.
- Bye. Love you. Really?

Good day. Where are we on Indonesia?

They love our soybeans,
we love their knitwear.

Negotiations continue apace.

The secretary's comments
at the Model UN conference?

Uh, "May you continue
to be more functional

than your real-world counterpart."

In progress.

(CHUCKLES) Okay,
our main event today is

the Sri Lankan president,
Tarindo Nandasiri,

arriving at the White House
to meet with the secretary

and Acting President Hurst.

With him will be his
minister of national policies

and economic affairs, his chief
of staff, and his tasseographer.

Lunch is scheduled...

MATT: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow down there, speedy.

His tasseo-what now?

Tasseographer.

Someone who reads tea leaves.

Like a psychic?

His name is Ranuga, and he
prefers "metaphysical advisor."

I'm sure he does.

- (CHUCKLES)
- JAY: Let's just remember

to be respectful,

no matter what we personally believe.

Which is that it's all just a bunch

of pseudo-mystical nonsense

designed to fool the gullible?

KAT: Tasseography has been practiced

for over , years, all right?

You can't just discount it
out of hand.

So you're saying
Ranuga's the genuine article?

Oh, no, no. Him I'm
discounting out of hand.

Yeah, I don't trust anyone
who sells out their talents

to the highest bidder.

And Ranuga only has one client:

President Nandasiri.

Got to wonder how much
he adjusts the message

to keep the money flowing.

Well, as long as he adjusts
his message on our trade deal

to make President Nandasiri happy,

- it's good for us as well.
- Mm-hmm.

ALISON: Seriously,

you're not being fair.

I know, but then my plans changed.

If you want to go, you should go.

Don't make me feel bad about it.

Lucinda...

Everything okay?

- You heard that, huh?
- Yeah.

I'm having roommate issues.

Lucinda? Thought you guys were tight.

We were. We are.

Sometimes we're so tight,
I can't breathe.

At first it was great. You know,

we got along, we had a ton
of stuff in common...

- What happened?
- Well,

I joined a few clubs and
started making other friends.

But Lucinda,

it's like she just wants to
hang out with me all the time.

Well, have you talked to her about it?

She says she knows it's a problem,

but she doesn't do anything about it.

I just... need a break.

(SIGHS) You think I'm
being harsh, don't you?

No. (CHUCKLES)

My first year in college,

my roommate was so homesick,

he cried himself to sleep every night.

I mean, I-I liked the kid, but...

(SIGHS) I felt uncomfortable,

so I asked to be transferred.

And then, of course, I
ran into him on the quad

a couple months later, and
he'd joined the debate club

or something, he had friends.

It just took him a
little longer to adjust.

I sort of felt bad that
I didn't hang in there.

So you do think I'm being harsh.

I think it's okay for you

to want to spend time
away from your friend.

Just remember to be kind, too, okay?

Mr. President, welcome
to the White House.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

The pleasure is mine, Madam President.

Wonderful to see you again,
Madam Secretary.

Mr. President.

Uh, ayubowan.

We had thought that Mrs.
Nandasiri would be joining us.

She has flown to New York
to do some shopping.

There'll be nothing
with a designer label left

in the city by the time she is done.

(CHUCKLES)

(CHUCKLES)

Ceylon tea leaves from our country.

That's very thoughtful of you.

Why don't we get out of
the cold and have a cup.

That's a great idea.

Mmm.

You have many treasures in
your country, Mr. President,

but I confess, your tea
might be my favorite.

(CHUCKLES) We'd happily
give you a lifetime supply

in exchange for use of that quote.

(LAUGHS)

May I have some more
leaves first, please?

- Of course.
- Ah.

Ranuga is going to
grace us with a reading.

He will tell you things
about yourself you never knew.

TERESA: I look forward to whatever

you have to say.

In truth,

I say nothing.

I am merely the earthly chalice

the spirits have chosen

to fill with their wisdom.

They speak through me,

that I may bring good tidings
to all who are in this room.

Well, speaking of good tidings,

we have some of our own

regarding the trade agreement.

Uh, my team has been negotiating
with Scott Goodman of KronicDM,

and I've just learned
that he is on board

and eager to get to work.

I very much enjoyed his Super Bowl ad.

(LAUGHS) - JAY: The other U.S.
companies we've contracted

specialize in wholesale
connectivity. Wireless.

But Scott will provide that
last mile of connection as well.

TERESA: Upgraded landlines for
your homes and businesses.

He's agreed to contract
out some of the work

to the top three Sri Lankan telecoms.

And there's some other
small changes, addendums

- which we'll address...
- (CLEARS THROAT)

(QUIETLY): Mr. President.

What is it, my friend?

(RANUGA WHISPERING)

Are you sure?

(SIGHS)

I'm afraid, um, we have a problem.

What kind of problem?

The spirits have withdrawn
their blessings.

We cannot move forward
with this trade agreement.

WOMAN: Thanks for scheduling
our call so quickly.

I have an asset in the Taliban.

Someone I trust.

He says a rogue splinter group
has broken off.

They aren't happy with the deal

the U.S. and Afghanistan
brokered with their leaders,

and they're determined
to disrupt the peace.

Did he say how?

They've acquired
a major cache of weapons,

which includes dozens
of surface-to-air missiles,

and they intend to use them
on NATO helicopters.

Nafisa, what do you need us to do?

Sign off on using funds to
help counter the new thr*at.

We'll have to read in
the g*ng of Eight.

We'll get back to you.

Thank you.

We're already over our Af-Pak
budget containing the Taliban.

I'm sure the g*ng of Eight
will be thrilled

to authorize funds for this.

I understand you have
great respect for Ranuga,

Mr. President, but
is it possible that,

in this particular
instance, he's mistaken?

I do not have the skill
or the unique connection

to the spirit world as Ranuga does,

but he's never been wrong before.

All we're saying is
that his gift appears

to be one of... interpretation.

Not at all.

He's speaking for Nuveena,

my late grandmother and
the matriarch of the family.

Nuveena also had the gift of sight.

Ever since I was a baby,
she told me that,

one day, I would lead our people.

And now I'm the president.

I would never dream
do against her wishes.

But if your grandmother wants
what's best for your country

and its people, Mr. President,
this trade agreement

will change so many lives
for the better.

Perhaps Nuveena's telling me
that I'm moving too quickly,

that I should open my eyes
and see what else is around us.

Mr. President,

if you mean the Chinese...

China is our neighbor.

They've invested quite a bit
in Hambantota.

Because they want control
of your deepwater ports.

Nuveena may feel that I was
too dismissive of their offer.

If so, this would be the
time to reconsider.

JAY: And this is the East Room,

the largest room in the White House.

It's primarily used for dinners
and press conferences.

And roller-skating.

I hear children laughing.

I hear the wheels
slapping the wood floor.

It's true.

It's true that, uh,
Teddy Roosevelt's children

and Amy Carter were known
to... roller-skate in here.

Yeah, it's also true that that
information's readily available

through newspaper articles, brochures,

biographies, several documentaries,

White House tours,

and on numerous websites.

Those are all ways
to receive information, yes,

but they are not the only ways.

There is so much more to the universe

than that which we can touch.

- Shall we?
- BOTH: Yeah.

Who is the man with the "L" name?

Uh...

my brother's name is Logan.

You are avoiding his calls.

Uh, only 'cause he's boring.

RANUGA: Next time he
calls, speak with him.

He may surprise you.

And I sense a sadness,

a terrible loneliness.

Oh, that's probably just me.

No, you are childless.

Yeah, okay. I'm aware.

This person has a family, friends,

and yet they feel alone.

What, me?

(CHUCKLES): Oh, I am not lonely.

Your love will return to you.

I just said that I'm not...

Wait, wait. Which love?

I mean, 'cause there's been a couple.

The one who will be a
father to your little girl.

May I see the room
with the dishes now?

I would like to take a selfie
with Grace Coolidge's portrait.

Of course.

So this love... can you describe him?

So, I walk into
the briefing with Morejon,

and the first thing I notice is:
there's no chair for me.

I have to ask for one.

(SCOFFS)

Say what you like
about Carlos Morejon,

- there is no one more petty.
- Right? Whatever.

I'm-I'm happy to play along.
Haze me as much as you want.

But when I tell you that
there's a t*rror1st thr*at

against our troops in Afghanistan,

and we need funds
to expose and end it,

then stop playing games and join
the adults in the real world.

Did you say that?

Well, I was,
I was a little less combative,

but you know, I-I lose my temper
with these bureaucrats.

(SIGHS)

As it turns out,
it's all for nothing, because

not only will they not
release the funds to S.A.D.,

but they're proposing
phased spending cuts

over the next decade,

which Morejon was more
than thrilled to tell me about.

- ALISON: Hey.
- ELIZABETH: Hey.

I just wanted to say good night.

- Good night.
- ELIZABETH: Hey, listen,

I carved an hour out of my morning,

so, you want to have breakfast?

I'm actually gonna head back
first thing in the morning.

Oh.

I want to get back to
the dorm and see Lucinda.

- We should talk.
- That's a good idea.

Let me know how that goes, okay?

Me, too.

Your father forgot to fill me in,

but he's gonna take care
of that right now.

Sounds good.

- Night.
- ELIZABETH: Good night.

(STAMMERS)

SCOTT: What is it

the spirits don't like about
KronicDM's offer exactly?

Are they particularly fond of dial-up?

Don't want to leave it behind?

It's a complicated situation, Scott.

ELIZABETH: We were
hoping that you might

- be able to sweeten the deal.
- How about this?

Nandasiri has two days
to get his ghosts in line,

or I hop over to the Maldives,
make that the go-to spot

for tourists who want to lie

on a beach and stream
the new Star Trek.

Madam Secretary,
Alison's on the phone.

She says it's urgent.

Excuse me.

Honey, are you okay?

Yeah, but something's happened.

- Wait. What's wrong?
- ALISON: I walked into

the dorm, and Lucinda
was on the floor,

- and I couldn't wake her up.
- ELIZABETH: Oh, my God.

Did you call ?

Yeah, but,

there was an empty bottle
of pills and vodka on the floor.

I think she tried to k*ll herself.

Oh, baby, I'm so sorry.

♪

Thanks. The doctor is
still in with her parents.

(SIGHS)

This is all my fault.

Hey.

- It's nobody's fault.
- Come on.

Okay?

Here they are.

Any news?

- It's good.
- She's stable.

Oh, thank God.

Alison,

if you hadn't come back
early this morning...

Situation could have been
so much worse.

- Ah, great.
- (SIGHS DEEPLY)

Thank you. I'm starving.

Sorry that took me so long.

Got a little sidetracked.

My brother Logan called, and
out of curiosity, I answered.

- And?
- Oh, it was the usual.

Investment strategies,
blah, blah, blah.

- Bond market, blah, blah, blah.
- Mmm.

Logan's a money manager,
so, in other words,

he definitely did not surprise me.

So in case you were still
in doubt, Ranuga's a scammer.

Well, that may be true,

but he's the cleanest
scammer I've ever seen.

Oh, come on.

I've been scouring
INR's files on the guy,

and everything else I

- (SIGHS)
- can get my hands on.

There's no arrests,
no outstanding debt,

no offshore accounts.

Well, I reached out to a buddy
at the FBI, and nothing.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

What about his family?

Maybe the rotten apple's
a little deeper down

- in the barrel.
- Funny you should mention that.

I just came across
a wedding announcement

for his sister Sachi.

- Mm-hmm.
- She got married about six months ago.

(TYPING)

The groom lists his occupation as...

"businessman."

Ishara Singhe owns the fourth
largest domestic phone company

on Sri Lanka... Dandu Telecom. Boom.

That's got to be it.

Ranuga said the spirits were on board

with the trade agreement
initially, but...

That was when the U.S.
companies were only providing

- "points of presence."
- Strictly wireless.

- Uh-huh.
- Ranuga must have thought

that his family's company
was in jeopardy.

It was.

KronicDM was only gonna bring
in the top three telecoms.

At number four, Dandu
would have been shut out.

Scott Goodman needs to broaden
the deal to include them all.

- Think he'll go for it?
- (SIGHS)

Well, I hear his people are
already making storyboards

for next year's Super Bowl ads.

- Fade in on a Sri Lankan beach.
- (CHUCKLES)

STEVIE: Hey.

- Hey.
- Hey.

We, uh... we made dinner.

It's chili.

- Oh, great.
- You didn't have to do that.

No, we wanted to.

How's Lucinda?

She's gonna be fine.

Her folks are taking her back to
Michigan once she's discharged.

How you doing?

Um... I'm exhausted.

I just... want to go to bed.

ELIZABETH: Well, have
a bowl of chili first.

- JASON: Yeah.
- Come on. You haven't had anything to eat today

- that didn't come out of a...
- I just want to go to my room.

vending machine. I know, but just
one little bowl, Ali. Come on.

(SIGHS)

I think that she should
stay home for a while.

Maybe even take an
incomplete on a semester.

Well, if that's what
she wants to do, yeah.

She doesn't know what she wants.

She can barely function, Henry.

Well, then, let's give her
a couple of days

to figure it out, okay?

Come on. It's okay.

ELIZABETH: So Scott Goodman

is on board to broaden
the telecom deal.

That's very good news.

Now it's just about
figuring out how to get word

to the spirits
that the coast is clear.

Yeah, we've been talking about that.

If we confront Ranuga about his lies,

he could double down out of fear

of losing his relationship
with Nandasiri.

And we can't go to
Nandasiri without proof.

If he truly believes
that Ranuga's in touch

with his sainted grandmother,
he'll find a way

- to discredit us.
- KAT: And there's more.

Minister Chen just arrived in
Ottawa, Nandasiri's next stop.

So the Chinese are taking
another run at him?

And all they have to do
is compromise a little

on fishing rights or whatever,

and they walk away with everything.

KAT: Mm-hmm.

There has to be a way
to thread this needle.

Ma'am?

We do have a suggestion,

and it would require you
to be somewhat covert.

What do you have in mind?

Uh...

We appreciate you coming in

on such short notice, Mr. President.

It is no problem.

I'm sorry we could not come to terms.

Well, it occurred to us that you,

and consequently the spirits,

didn't actually hear
the complete details

of our agreement with Scott
Goodman the other day, and...

And we're hoping that after
you get all that information,

including a few new enticements,
you might change your mind.

It is not my president's mind
that needs to be changed.

It is the spirits who have spoken,

and they are at one
with the universe and stars.

I agree that money
is a transitory thing

of no use to the dead,

but can we perhaps
consider the idea that

their descendants might like some?

ELIZABETH: Scott Goodman would still

upgrade the infrastructure of
the hard-line phone services,

but we got him to agree to
use only local labor to do it.

TERESA: Independent contractor
agreements

will be drawn up
that are very generous

to all the Sri Lankan
telecom companies.

ELIZABETH: And that includes, uh,

Jaffna Telecom, Mendis Telecom and...?

- Dandu?
- Dandu.

If only my grandmother
were not so stubborn.

Your grandmother
is stubborn, Mr. President,

but also a wise, kind woman.

And let us all remember

that new information often opens
exciting avenues of discovery.

I must return to the hotel

and meditate on this new development.

I will ask Nuveena and the
spirit world for guidance.

Of course. And why don't you take this

adjusted report, just in case
the spirits need clarification?

Yes, that is a good idea.

ELIZABETH (LAUGHING): And then,

at around : , we got the call.

- No.
- Oh, yes.

(LAUGHS): Oh.

Grandma Nuveena has blessed
the deal once more.

Wow. Nicely done, babe.

STEVIE: Wow.

Noodle, you okay?

I was going to text Lucinda,
but then I remembered

she doesn't have her phone
in the hospital.

I, uh... I reached out
to her mother, Alison,

as a... just to check in.

And she told us that Lucinda

was treated for anxiety and
depression in high school.

That her parents thought
she had it under control.

She's been dealing with this
issue since before you ever met.

I'm gonna go grab a sweater.

- Can I, can I go play the...?
- Yeah. Just minutes,

- then homework.
- JASON: All right.

(HENRY SIGHS)

You remember my first
boyfriend at Lovell? Brody?

Oh, yeah, he was a nice kid.

Something like this happened to him.

He seemed fine, and then...

mid-terms sent him
into this kind of...

an anxiety spiral.

And he started, like,
drinking too much, and...

driving too fast, and...

I don't know. This one time,

we were out together,
and I just... I...

I got really scared.

Um...

I thought... I told you about this.

I am % sure you never told us.

- He was drunk driving?
- ELIZABETH: I'm surprised.

- You just called him a nice kid.
- Okay.

This is obviously why
I never told you.

Anyway, he dropped out, and, um,

he went to work for this NGO
that digs wells in Africa,

and he's still in Malawi,

and he's very happy from what I hear.

- ALISON: Jason!
- Oh, God. What did he do?

You broke my night-light!

You used my room without my permission

to make your stupid gym,
and you broke my night-light.

No, I didn't.

You moved every piece
of furniture in my room,

- and now it's cracked.
- HENRY: Okay, here, let me...

You backed a chair into it.

Let me see. Maybe I can fix it.

Or we can get another one.

I don't want another one.

I've had this one forever.

You know,
it doesn't even work anymore.

You don't care
about anyone but yourself.

STEVIE: Jason, just say you're sorry.

No, she's acting crazy.

HENRY: Apologize to her.

Fine, you know what? I'm-I'm sorry

I broke your stupid night-light

that hasn't worked
in, like, ten years.

Oh, my God. Please forgive me.

- I hate you!
- Hey! Hey.

That's enough. That's enough. Stop.

You are a moron, Jason.

Well, she's calmed down, and I
think I can fix the night-light.

You know it's not about
the night-light, right?

Ali has had issues

with anxiety at school.

There was that project
she couldn't even get started.

I read an article

about these kids in California.

They got stressed out,

felt like they had nowhere to turn,

and then one after the other,

they...

There's a term for it.

S-su1c1de clusters.

Alison's upset about her friend,
but she doesn't seem suicidal.

Alison didn't think
Lucinda was suicidal.

Lucinda's parents didn't see it.

We didn't see it with your dad.

I don't know.

Maybe I'm worrying too much.

That's better
than not worrying enough.

Hey, Noodle.

What are you doing up?

Bad dream.

(SIGHS): Well,

Mom's been looking for an excuse

to make her famous
bacon banana pancakes, so...

Thanks.

But I gave up pork.

Oh.

Lucinda showed me
this documentary about pigs

and how social they are.

They're smarter than dogs.

Well, she sounds like
a very thoughtful young woman.

She is.

And a good friend.

How could I not see
that she was so unhappy?

(SIGHS)

Is that how it was for
you with Grandpa?

Yeah.

For months after,

I would go over
conversations we'd had.

I kept thinking
there was something I missed.

Uh, a moment where I could have
broken through

and changed his mind.

And he never asked for
help about anything,

but I still felt like I let him down.

And what was hardest

was that I was really angry at him

because he never told me
what was going on.

He never even gave me
a chance to stop him.

Because if you would have known,

you would have done anything, right?

Yeah, just like you
would've done anything

to help Lucinda.

(ELIZABETH SIGHS)

Look at you two snuggle-pies.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Morning. Good morning.
- Hi. Mmm.

You want me to make some breakfast?

Yeah, but just nothing with bacon

'cause, uh, Ali and I are
giving up pork, right?

- (CHUCKLES)
- ELIZABETH: What?

Pigs b*at three-year-olds
on cognition tests.

Did you know that?

No, I didn't.

Sort of sorry I do now.

Okay.

Oatmeal and berries and whatever.

Um, I think I'm actually
gonna head out.

ELIZABETH: So soon?

I mean, if that's what you
want to do, that's okay,

but are-are you sure
that's what you want to do?

'Cause you could always stay
a little longer.

It's an option.

Yeah, I just want to get back.

Okay.

- (KNOCKS)
- Dr. McCord.

- Yeah?
- Two surface-to-air missiles

were launched at a pair of Lakotas

ferrying supplies to Logar province.

- Did they hit the targets?
- One of them

suffered rotor damage

but was able to make it back
to base with no injuries.

It was a close call.

(SIGHS) Okay.

Call Senator Morejon's office.

Tell him we've had an escalation.

I need to brief the g*ng
of Eight as soon as possible.

- Okay, you got it.
- Okay.

- Hey.
- Hey.

So, uh...

you know, I was thinking about...

what that psychic said.

About you being sad and childless?

Just childless.

- Daisy was sad.
- Right.

I was just wondering,

that thing that Ranuga said
about your brother,

um...

- if it turned out to be true?
- Why?

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

Like, if he's right

about my brother
calling and surprising me,

you're gonna hop on the psychic train

and start thinking he's right
about you, too?

(LAUGHING): Or Daisy?

Or you and-and, uh...

You and Daisy?

You're hoping
you're Daisy's lost love.

JAY: Hey.

We've got a problem.

Oh, come on.
What do the spirits want now?

A pony?

It's not Ranuga. It's the Chinese.

They heard our agreement was shaky,

went back to Nandasiri,
and now they piggybacked

a telecom agreement on it, too.

So much for waiting
for Nandasiri to get to Ottawa.

Chen must have called

- and backed off fishing rights.
- JAY: Nope.

Nandasiri just caved.

Two months ago, that was a nonstarter.

What changed his mind?

If this deal falls through,

then the Chinese will have bested us

in the Indian Ocean.
We'll be out in the cold.

Reach out to Ephraim Ware

and put Intelligence on this.

President Dalton

is back in three weeks.

I'll be damned if the Chinese
are gonna turn Hambantota

into mini-Hong Kong on my watch.

Yes, ma'am.

Hey.

I'm so glad you're
out of the hospital.

Me, too. It sucks.

What was I thinking?

I mean, I know what I was thinking.

My therapist says I need to stop

"minimizing my suicidal ideation."

I'm really sorry you
had to find me like that.

I-I'm just glad I got there.

Eh, in time.

On the bright side, you'll be
the only freshman with a single.

(CHUCKLES)

But I'm gonna miss your sock puppets.

- (LAUGHS)
- And you.

Well... (CHUCKLES)

I got to go.

Take care.

You, too.

♪

Hey.

I thought for sure you'd be sleeping.

I'm obsessing over

what I'm gonna say to the
g*ng of Eight tomorrow.

Okay. Let's hear it.

Don't you have enough with saving

our Indian Ocean trade position...

Trying not to obsess about Ali, so...

So you just want a distraction.

I don't know.

Sometimes I think the whole
job is just a distraction

from worrying about the kids.

Is that weird?

Mm... kind of.

Anyhoo, distract me
with your eloquence.

Okay. "Mr. Chairman,
as a taxpayer and a citizen,

"I recognize this body provides
an essential check

"on the overreach of executive power.

It's an awesome responsibility..."

All right, listen, it doesn't
matter what I say at this point.

They're not gonna change their minds.

I need to think outside the box.

I need to come up with a move

that they're not gonna see coming.

You know what?

I'm gonna call Ali
before it gets too late.

I thought you said you
didn't want to obsess.

Every time I think about her
alone in that dorm room,

I just want to run and go get her.

Babe, if she needs us, she will call.

(PHONE VIBRATES)

(LAUGHS)

Oh, sh**t. It's Ephraim Ware.

Ha-ha.

Mr. President, thank you
for meeting with me.

Of course. Would you like some tea?

No, thank you.

If this is about the
agreement with the Chinese,

their foreign minister made
an offer I couldn't refuse.

(CHUCKLES)

Minister Chen is very... persuasive.

How else to explain

why you gave them unfettered
fishing rights,

so your people will have to
compete with foreign vessels

in their own waters?

In exchange, the Chinese promise

preferential tea market access.

Tea manufactured at
a Chinese shell company

built in Sri Lanka, with
% of the profits going

directly to an offshore
account in your name.

Minister Chen offered you a bribe.

How dare you accuse me.

You're in a financial free fall.

Due in large part to you

and your wife's spending habits.

But you cannot trade your
country's sovereignty

in exchange for a personal
bailout from the Chinese.

We negotiated a fair deal,
Mr. President.

One that benefited both our countries.

One that was blessed by Nuveena.

And the business with the
Chinese, that's gonna come out,

and there is nothing either
of us can do to stop it, so...

What if I walk away from the Chinese?

Can't we put this horrible
misunderstanding behind us?

You consult with the spirits.

I'll talk to the acting president.

You settling back in all right?
You need anything?

You're gonna laugh.

Try me.

Lucinda's mom accidentally
took the wet/dry hand vac.

(CHUCKLES)

Well, I'll tell you what,
you can take my upstairs one

when you come home.

When's that gonna be, by the way?

I don't know.

Ma'am. Acting President Hurst
is asking to see you.

Let me call you back.

I'm just about to walk into class.

You call me tonight, okay, baby?

You promise?

Yeah, I promise.

I love you.

I can't tell you how many times

I've come into this office and
seen Conrad on that very spot,

working out a problem.

It's a good spot.

I wanted to thank you personally

- for saving the Sri Lankan deal.
- Oh.

And let you know that we won't

be going forward with it after all.

- Why not?
- There's been too much dishonesty

from Nandasiri... too much
double-dealing on their part,

too much compromise on ours.

But if we walk,

- Sri Lanka will close with China.
- I know.

But I can't sign my name to this

if I don't believe
they'll hold up their end.

So, let me build guarantees
into the agreement

that will keep Nandasiri in line.

Elizabeth...

When we were in Russia,

you advised me to walk
away from Salnikov

because it was not
good for our country.

You were right, then.

I'm right, now.

This deal is not good for our country,

and as acting president,
that is my decision to make.

Thank you, ma'am.

JAY: I'm just gonna say it:
Teresa Hurst spiked this deal

to flip off Dalton because
he won't back her

- in the next election.
- No.

She was genuinely for the deal

until Nandasiri pulled a fast one.

Her gut told her to
walk away... I respect that.

Either way, we still
failed to hold the line

in the Indian Ocean.

Not necessarily.

How's it going with our bilateral

trade agreement with Indonesia?

KAT: Fewer overinvested

grandma ghosts than Sri Lanka.

- We are almost closed.
- Right. Reach out.

See if they're interested in
upgrading their telecom systems.

In exchange for better access to
deepwater ports off Jakarta?

- We're on it.
- (CHUCKLES): Yes, ma'am.

Um, Madam Secretary, could I
ask you a personal question?

- Fire away.
- (KNOCK ON DOOR)

- Ma'am. Sorry.
- Yeah.

Rangua called and left a word for you.

Ranuga? Okay, let's get him back.

No, I was being literal.
He left "a word" for you.

(SCOFFS)

You were saying?

I was just wondering if
you were thinking that,

when the time came, you might run.

FLETCHER: Compelling remarks,

and I understand
your concern, Dr. McCord,

but you're saying
no service members were hurt

- during the att*ck.
- That's correct.

And drones in the area took them out,

along with at least three
members of the splinter group.

So what's the issue?

The issue is the safety
of American troops

as we move towards a full drawdown,

and the possibility that these rogue
elements will be emboldened by...

Isn't this a problem for
the Afghan army now?

But we need to work with them
if we want it done properly.

CARLOS: Frankly, I-I
think that this incident

speaks to much larger
concerns in your department.

Dr. McCord, I don't think
President Dalton

made a wise decision when he
put you in charge of S.A.D.

I think your long friendship
has colored his objectivity.

(SCOFFS)

President Dalton asked me
to do this job, and I accepted

because we both thought that
I would be good at it.

But I cannot do the work I was
hired to do without partners

in congress who will back it up.

Dr. McCord, I think we're done.

We're done when I say we're done.

I'm going to resign

as the director of
Special Activities Division,

and I just hope that my successor

is more to your liking,

and receives the funds and
the freedom to do the job right

because what's at stake is
the lives of American soldiers,

and a peaceful future for
the people of Afghanistan.

Now we're done.

- LEE: (SCOFFS)
- You...

Your loss, Sri Lanka.

- Secret file. Yep.
- Secret file.

Ah, enjoy your continuation

of slow downloads and dropped calls.

(DRINK POURING)

- What's going on here?
- JAY: We're saying farewell

to the Sri Lanka deal...
months of negotiations.

You just got here, so
you don't feel our pain.

Yeah, but I can empathize
like nobody's business. Hit me.

- (LAUGHS)
- Oh, guess who called.

My brother.

Aren't you back to ignoring him again?

- I am, but he left a message.
- And?

Uh, Logan's been stuck in a bad
marriage for almost ten years.

They finally decided
to separate. Surprise.

Oh no, don't look at me like that.

I still think Ranuga's
a scammer. And you?

Don't go acting like
this means anything.

If you really want something
in this world,

you got to just own it.

Who cares what the spirits say?

- Yes, ma'am.
- Besides,

if anything's worth a risk
in this life,

it's a second chance at love.

Thank you for the drink.

What did she mean by
a second chance at...?

Oh, come on. Daisy? Again?

What happened to, "it's all
pseudo-mystical nonsense"?

What if I'm wrong?

When have I ever been
right about anything?

Maybe we're meant to be, man.

Can I ask you a question?

- Mm-hmm.
- Are you in love with her?

'Cause if you are, then go for it.

But if this is really
just you being afraid

of spending the rest
of your life alone,

Daisy and Joanna deserve better

than just being your
ready-made family.

DAISY: Hey.

I'm about to update the gaggle.

Any changes to the
secretary's statement

on the Sri Lankan deal?

JAY: Just keep it simple.

"We're sorry the agreement
couldn't come together.

Sri Lanka is a wonderful country
with a very generous people."

That's what I got.

What?

Do I have something on my face?

No, no. I was just, um...

- Daisy, Oliver Shaw on the phone for you.
- Thanks.

At first, I thought he meant run,

as in run for president.

And then I realized, no,
that's not it at all.

Then what does it mean?

I think that Alison is more
unhappy than she's letting on.

I can feel it, Henry.

And you can call it projection
if you want,

but I think it's mother's intuition.

Father's intuition, too. I've
been thinking about her all day.

Then let's run and get our daughter.

Oh, come on, Noodle. Pick up.

HENRY: She's still not
answering the phone?

No. I just spoke with her RA.

She hasn't seen her since breakfast.

She missed her afternoon classes.

- Okay.
- I am officially worried.

They know I've been calling her.
She's not picking up.

Well, it's either call her again
or call the cops at this point.

Okay, okay, okay.

Wha... uh, Noodle?

Uh, where are you?

Home. Where are you guys?

- (MOUTHS)
- What?

We're-we're, um, at a restaurant.

Is everything okay? Um...

Not totally, actually.

I was trying to pretend like
everything was okay, but...

Hang on, I'll put you on speaker
so Mom can hear, too.

Hey, baby.

I was just saying that I kind of
started to feel overwhelmed,

so I went to the admin's office,
and they said

that I could finish

two of my classes online
and commute for the other two.

So, I was gonna ask if maybe I could

live at home for a little while?

ELIZABETH: Yes!

- Of course. Yes.
- You know, whatever.

Great. When are you guys
gonna be home?

(STAMMERING) An hour?

An hour? That's pretty far for dinner.

Well the... the-the place
had really good reviews.

- Sorry, can I speak to... Thank you.
- Yeah.

Hey, uh, do you guys think
I could sign up for, like,

the YMCA gym for,

like, bucks a month?

- I promise I'll go.
- STEVIE (LAUGHS): Wow.

'Cause you have all that free time

since Ali broke your game controller?

Yeah. I want a new one by the way.

ALISON: Oh, yeah. Right after
you replace my night-light.

- Hey, would...
- JASON: Okay, I got to go. Bye.

Well, once again,
our soon-to-be empty nest is,

ironically, at full capacity. (SIGHS)

Just the way I like it.

Big, noisy house filled
with the people I love.

HENRY: I like that, too.

HENRY: Okay.

ELIZABETH: Okay.