01x01 - The Cinderella Thing

[bunniefuu]

[waves lapping]

[indistinct air traffic control chatter]

[radio chatter continues]

[metal groaning]

[alarm blaring]

- [Hal] You want me there on day one.

- [Kate] I should've dry-cleaned this.

[Hal] What's the point?

- [Kate] In waiting a week?

- Yeah.

I will no longer be jet-lagged.

I will be able to focus

and graciously accept your help

getting me on my feet.

But the first week is when you do that.

That's when you get on your feet.

It wouldn't k*ll you to take a couple days

and just like sit here and think.

Figure out the next move.

Maybe it's Kabul.

Maybe that's the next move.

Oh, you think the nation of Afghanistan

is not big enough for the both of us?

- It isn't.

- What the f*ck is this?

- Put a few in my wallet.

- It should say "ambassador."

- Not yet it shouldn't.

- I'm gonna write "ambassador" on there.

[cell phone buzzing]

Hello? Hi. She thinks she has to wait

for the embassy in Kabul to open

before she can call herself "ambassador."

Well, that's really f*cking stupid.

Kate, it's Tim.

He's writing "ambassador" on my cards.

It looks like "ambulance."

[reporter on video]

Off the coast of Iran, a massive expl*si*n

aboard British aircraft carrier

HMS Courageous

has k*lled

at least 25 Royal Navy personnel.

Britain's Ministry of Defence is expected

- to give a statement imminently.

- What the f*ck?

- Tim, hang on a sec.

- Earliest reports indicate the damage

Hello?

- [man] Ms. Wyler?

- Yes.

I have the chief of staff calling

from the White House.

- He's right here.

- Ma'am

- Hey, I'm back.

- Hello?

- Why?

- Yeah.

No, I get them going after us,

but why the Brits?

Kate, they want a briefing.

- At State?

- No, the White House.

Okay. I gotta go.

White House wants Hal to brief.

It'll take me ten minutes

to prep him. I'll call you back.

Katie.

Not me, you.

Hello?

[Billie] Hey.

- Come on in.

- Can your guy make two copies of this?

I made a list of who in Tehran

could order a strike on a British vessel

and who seemed pissed off

- we took their tanker.

- I think they're all pissed off.

But some tweeted about it

and not who you'd expect.

- [Rayburn] Billie.

- We gotta go.

I guess you can share one.

[Billie] This is Katherine Wyler.

She was our number two

in Beirut and Islamabad.

When we seized the tanker last week,

the Iranian regime signaled its outrage

in a couple of unusual ways.

What is she doing?

She knows a lot about Iran. I didn't get

into what we wanted to discuss.

This would be easier

if you each had your own copy.

Have a seat.

Okay.

- How's Hal?

- He's good.

- [Rayburn] He's a good man.

- Thank you.

- Did great work in Afghanistan.

- Sure did.

- We don't have anyone in London.

- Mm-hm.

- A bad time not to have anyone in London.

- Right.

Twenty-five of their sailors get k*lled

because Iran wants to send me a message.

- We don't know it was Iran.

- Whoever it was,

we need someone substantial

to be the ambassador in London.

- He'll be great. He's a great choice.

- I'm sorry?

Hal. And you didn't have to ask me.

- We worked in different countries before.

- We're not talking about Hal.

You're experienced.

You'd signal we're taking this seriously.

You'd be at every funeral, memorial

Sorry, I'm going to Kabul.

We'll take care of that.

They'll love Hal in London.

He's good at all that.

- It's not gonna be Hal.

- Why not?

Because he called

the secretary of state a w*r criminal.

I promised

I wouldn't send him anywhere ever again.

I realize London

has a ceremonial component to it

and you were ready

to do more substantive work in Kabul.

I'm hoping to save a shred of what

we spent 2400 American lives building.

It feels substantive.

- Billie.

- I'm just saying it's hard to imagine.

- She can't imagine it.

- The president is asking you to serve

as ambassador to the United Kingdom.

We have a plane waiting.

We'd like you to get on it.

It is an honor and a privilege.

That's more like it.

It's exactly what they wanna hear. They've

been hosting garden parties for 50 years.

The president

is asking you to take it up a notch.

Mm-hm.

- He picked you because you're experienced.

- He wants an experienced person

- to show up and look sad.

- You're such a f*cking snot.

There was an argument

between Billie and the president

about whether my mission

was to look guilty or just sad.

People d*ed. Showing up matters.

I am an emotional support dog.

- It was probably Iran.

- Please. They're broke.

They don't want to b*mb somebody for

taking their oil. They want the oil back.

- So who?

- Russia, China, !sis.

Russia is not gonna torpedo

a British aircraft carrier.

- Why not?

- Because they're busy.

Takes the focus off Eastern Europe.

Gets the president bogged down

in the Middle East,

makes him look like an assh*le.

It's a British vessel.

You don't wanna consider the possibility

it was att*cked

because someone doesn't like the British?

- My hands are swelling. This is not good.

- Whoever it was, the Gulf is on fire.

The president is sending you to stop a w*r

before it starts, not butter a crumpet.

[man] White House wants you in the SCIF.

We're screening imagery

from the Pentagon, NSA and NGA,

- see if we can figure out who did it.

- I have a guess.

- We're not guessing.

- My guess is Iran.

[Billie] Is the door closed?

[door closes]

- Yeah.

- Still seeing that girl?

Twenty-five British sailors just d*ed.

Gonna tell you something five people know.

You're six. I don't want her to be seven.

- I won't tell her.

- We're gonna lose the vice president.

Like, die?

Resign. Something will come out,

she'll get knocked around for awhile,

then step down. Maybe six months.

- Whoa.

- Yeah. So we need somebody else.

And I have a few ideas.

But one of them

I want you to check her out.

Tell me if I'm crazy.

Her corridor rep is fantastic,

but she's a little

- What?

- I don't know.

- Needs a haircut.

- Pfft. No.

I'm not asking

for "return of the kingmaker."

- Just take a look. Tell me what you think.

- When you call me that, it makes it worse.

- Kingmaker? I'm sorry.

- No, you're not.

You're right. I'm not. I'm asking you

a favor and you're being a pain in my ass.

And you're being a bully. No means no.

You can't say no. I put her on a plane.

She's gonna be your new ambassador.

[Kate] Thank you.

Welcome to London, Ambassador Wyler.

I'm Stuart Hayford,

your deputy chief of mission.

I guess this is what

arranged marriage feels like.

- Gwen Hempill from the Foreign Office.

- Such a pleasure.

I'm so sorry.

What a terrible thing that's happened.

Ambassador Wyler, it is an honor.

Call me Hal. One ambassador is plenty.

- Have the numbers changed?

- Twenty-eight casualties.

Search and rescue is still looking.

Jesus Christ.

This is Frances Munning,

the residence manager.

- Welcome to Winfield House, ambassador.

- Thank you.

Hello, everyone.

[staff] Hello, ma'am.

- And welcome to you, Ambassador Wyler.

- Call me Hal. One ambassador's plenty.

Perhaps Mr. Wyler.

Please. Follow me.

We gonna do this every time?

The house was purchased by Barbara Hutton

shortly before her marriage to Cary Grant.

Big piece of land

for right in the middle of London.

Miss Hutton moved to Winfield

with her young son

just after the abduction

of the Lindbergh baby.

Regent's Park provided,

you know, a reassuring perimeter.

The only private garden in London

larger than Winfield is Buckingham Palace.

Oh, for God's sake.

[reporter on video]

The vice president was missing

from yesterday's Situation Room meeting.

Her office cited schedule constraints,

but there's a growing sense of frustration

among supporters

The president is talking to the PM

at 12:00. He wants her on the call.

- Holy sh*t.

- Fancy.

- Ambassador Vayle wasn't on those calls.

- Yeah.

Everything all right?

I showed them around.

She checked the sheets in the Adams Suite.

- Okay.

- To see if they were on the bed.

Were they?

Yes.

After your call

with the president and prime minister,

you'll go to the Foreign Office

and present a copy of your credentials.

Is the secretary of state

on the call with the president?

Ganon? He shouldn't be.

- Neither should I.

- He's not.

In the afternoon,

you'll visit the Greenwich Naval Memorial.

To lay a wreath

in honor of the fallen sailors.

- Right.

- And at the end of the day,

we'll have a rehearsal for

the official presentation of credentials.

- Why are we doing it twice?

- [Stuart] You can't start work

until you give a copy of your credentials

to the Foreign Office.

Then you'll submit them officially

at Buckingham Palace.

We try to do a dry run with all the gear.

There have been issues

getting in and out of the carriage.

- Carriage?

- Mrs. Vayle split her skirt up the back.

- Then the horses

- Nothing to worry about.

Did you pack a dress, maybe tea-length?

No.

- Pippa.

- We have a stylist.

She'll come by the embassy.

You get a top hat and tails.

This is today? When is the ceremony?

We're not sure exactly, but if we can run

the rehearsal, we'd like to.

So you can photograph it?

Inviting a couple reporters?

- One. She's good, she'll do a feature.

- Push it.

Give them a break.

They need a picture for the website.

- On a horse?

- [Hal] They'll do before and after photos.

First-time ambassador.

Lean into the Cinderella thing.

I am not Cinderella.

I'm here for 30 funerals. The only

tea-length garment I packed is a burka.

I have a black suit

and another black suit,

and I'm not getting dressed

by someone named Pippa

so a women's magazine

can ask who I'm wearing

and what advice I have for little girls.

It's fine. We'll ditch it.

- [Kate] Great.

- We're gonna head over to the embassy.

If you'd like to join us,

sit in on a briefing?

- Sure.

- Okay, Hal?

I think I'm gonna stretch my legs.

My husband was an ambassador for

a long time. This will be an adjustment.

Of course.

- Him tagging along is not

- Copy.

- Let's get the cars.

- [Alysse] She'll need a minute to change.

[Stuart] Uh-huh.

Into?

Something more?

[sighs]

Get your feet off the furniture.

Barbara Hutton f*cked Cary Grant

on this table.

They want you at the memorial at 3:00.

I'll have them call

if we're running behind.

You are no longer in charge

of my movements.

Yeah, but I don't wanna wait for an hour

because no one can find you.

Not great.

Call Darya, tell her to stop saying,

"Afghan women's health."

She has to use words

like "atrocity, dismemberment."

- Who's she talking to?

- I don't know, UNHCR.

Someone in Pakistan.

"Sit in on a briefing"?

It would have been rude of him

not to offer.

You didn't have to say yes.

Did you or did you not ask me

to help get your feet on the ground

or your ass in the saddle

or whatever it was?

Is that okay?

- Better.

- Sure? I can do the pit wash.

You don't need it.

- Is it bad?

- No, it's good.

Oh, my God, stop. Stop.

You're perfect.

f*ck you. Am I okay?

What are you gonna say to him?

The prime minister.

I am a listener on the call.

That is the opposite

of ass in the saddle, Kate.

More than once, I've told you,

when you land in a new post,

there is some wisdom

in spending a week or a month

- with your mouth shut, listening.

- I never did it. It was a dumb idea.

Rayburn is gonna talk about NATO,

but you're here

to patch things up with the Brits.

- Keep the focus tight.

- I'm not doing this the way you would.

That's fine. Just don't do it wrong.

Morning, ambassador. Morning, sir.

Welcome to Embassy London.

We'll show you your office later.

We need to get you on the call

with the president.

Good morning, ambassador. Eidra Park.

Welcome to Embassy London.

CIA chief of station.

- [Kate] You are having a day.

- We are.

These are the latest images

of the carrier.

- From?

- Air Force drones in the Gulf.

And this is yesterday,

HMS Courageous on its way to joint

exercises with us in the Indian Ocean.

They clocked some instability

in a propeller

and diverted to the Royal Navy Base

in Bahrain for repairs.

- Nobody spent a long time planning this.

- [Eidra] No.

- w*apon fragments?

- [Howard] Not yet.

The investigation hasn't ramped up.

- Still pulling bodies out of the water.

- [Alysse] Yeah. I've got her.

The president and the prime minister

will be on in a second.

Thank you.

[woman 1] Good morning.

I have President Rayburn

and Ambassador-designate Wyler

for Prime Minister Trowbridge.

[woman 2] Thank you so much.

I'll connect the prime minister.

- [line beeps]

- [Trowbridge] Mr. President?

[Rayburn]

Nicol, what a f*cking horror show.

[Pensy] Sorry about the wall.

It's frightfully bare.

There was a Jackson Pollock up there.

It was a bit of a zing

among all the old masters.

- The Vayles took most of their art home.

- Mm-hm.

They left the Titian in the drawing room.

Donation to the house.

- Generous.

- Isn't it?

Have you and Ambassador Wyler

arranged for the shipping of yours,

or is that something with which

I could be of assistance?

Our art?

Mm-hm.

Kate's a career officer.

Not a political appointee.

Ronald Vayle, he became ambassador,

because he raised $2 million

for the president.

Like most American ambassadors

in gorgeous European posts.

Goodness.

Kate and I are like British ambassadors.

Lot of experience in crisis zones.

- No art.

- I'm so sorry.

We're okay with it.

Could you direct me toward my driver?

- Pardon?

- Driver of my car.

I'm sorry, you don't have one. Or a car.

Mrs. Vayle purchased a Jaguar

and hired a driver,

but she's had it sent back to the States.

The Jaguar. Not the driver.

Shall I call you a taxi?

Death toll's up to 32, and the president

offered to carpet-b*mb Tehran.

- What did the PM say?

- He was polite but I'm sure he's worried.

I'll try to dial it down when we speak

to the foreign secretary.

That could take a moment.

To get to the foreign secretary.

Secretary of state hasn't called him yet.

And likely won't until he's had a chance

to speak with the Saudis and the UAE.

- Secretary Ganon hasn't called him yet?

- No.

So I can't call him.

Yeah, you really can't call anyone.

The whole thing is not ideal.

This is your wing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ambassador-designate Katherine Wyler.

- Welcome, ambassador.

- Welcome, ma'am.

- Nice to meet you.

- It's an honor, ma'am.

- Nice to meet you. Wow.

- Nice to have you here.

- Morning. There are a lot of you. Hi.

- [Ronnie] Welcome to the embassy.

Ma'am, I have Ambassador Wyler

on the phone for you.

- Would you like to take it in your office?

- Um

It's that one, right there.

Yup.

- I'll connect you.

- Thanks.

[phone ringing]

Hi.

- How did it go?

- Fine. What's wrong?

- You had a driver in Beirut, right?

- Yes.

This place has six gardeners,

and the wife doesn't get a car.

We were not married in Beirut.

I had a driver

because I was a deputy chief of mission.

- None of the wives gets a car?

- I swear to God.

I need to get out,

let people know you're here.

No, you don't.

Neither of us can do anything,

because Ganon isn't calling the Brits

till this afternoon.

What?

Too busy whipping the Sunni coalition

into a frenzy.

He's a f*cking moron.

Well, he's my boss.

He shouldn't be.

- [sighs] Did you call Darya?

- No.

- I will. I will.

- I should be in Kabul.

Ganon isn't repairing

the North Atlantic Alliance.

He's swinging his d*ck

around the Persian Gulf.

Washington doesn't have

a UK problem, Kate.

Washington has an Iran problem.

You're the one with the UK problem.

If you think the foreign secretary

needs attention, call him.

- Ganon would sh*t a live ostrich.

- Why?

Any idea how much planning went into

the batting order on your phone sheet?

It sounds scintillating.

The president calls, the secretary

of state calls, the Pentagon calls.

- Jesus Christ.

- Don't act like it's bullshit.

It's about fundamental respect

for institutional norms.

You're covering Ganon's ass for him.

It's not a betrayal

of rules-based democracy.

You're gonna be in Dennison's office.

Do a pop-by.

Okay. Hal, I gotta go.

Ready to tie the knot?

Robin will memorialize the moment,

if I can locate our spot

We like to do it in front

of Britannia grasping hands with America,

but more and more

we find it's problematic.

Africa as a young naked boy,

and Australia in nothing but a bush hat.

Good afternoon. Mind if I say hello?

Oh, wonderful. Foreign Secretary

Austin Dennison, this is

Ambassador Wyler,

if she's handed over that document.

She's done it, but we've not yet

photographed it, so it may not be real.

- Sir, it's an honor to meet you.

- Pleasure. Stuart.

Good to see you, sir.

Gwen, mind if I steal her for a moment,

or does that muck up your day?

Of course. What a stroke of luck.

- [Austin] Tell Davies to go ahead.

- Ma'am.

- I know.

- Small talk. Weather.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

We're grateful to have you

jumping into the fray.

Of course.

The prime minister was moved,

speaking with President Rayburn.

I believe he's very much

on the front foot.

He is. I know the secretary of state

is eager to talk to you.

I think he just wants to make sure

his ducks are in a row before he does.

The carrier is drifting, I've learned.

Rather unfortunate.

- Which way?

- Towards Iran.

- Oh, God.

- It's quite vulnerable out there.

We need to be sure

we're keeping the temperature low.

I'll inform the secretary of state.

I was just about to brief

the prime minister. Can you join?

- You met him on the phone.

- I'm not sure that's a great idea.

- [Austin] Sorry to disturb.

- Ah!

Not at all, we were due a break.

That or ritual su1c1de.

Ambassador Katherine Wyler,

Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge.

Welcome, welcome.

We hear wonderful things.

- Sir, it's an honor to meet you.

- Ah. Honor to be met.

- Rayburn didn't let you get a word in.

- Ah.

Brilliant of him sending you.

Experienced. Professional. Female.

I am many of those things.

- [Trowbridge chuckles]

- I'm so sorry

You know the last female ambassador

to the Court of St. James's?

- Long time ago.

- Over a hundred years.

- Fifty, but yes.

- What a proud tradition you've had.

Captains of industry spending a year

on holiday whilst we've got work to do.

You and I, I'm sure,

will accomplish things together.

I certainly hope we will.

That's why I'm here.

There's a mess in the Gulf, but you know

the players. You'll be a great help.

We should Let's hole us up

somewhere where they can't find us.

[clears throat]

Good afternoon.

- Good day, sir.

- Hal Wyler. Nice to meet you.

- I'm the ambassador's wife.

- Oh. Oh, not at all, sir.

We're the Metropolitan Police,

here to keep you and the ambassador safe.

And we couldn't be more grateful.

- Is that your car?

- Uh, it is, sir. Yeah.

- Trouble you for a lift?

- Wish I could. Official business only.

Okay, I understand.

- Might I book you a cab?

- Oh, I'm gonna take a walk.

- Nice to meet you.

- You too, sir.

- Sir! Sir!

- [tires screeching]

Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry.

Of course, you drive

on the other side of the road.

The president freaked them out.

They're worried he's gonna

thr*aten to b*mb Tehran.

Then they're really in it.

I'm sure he's trying to make them feel

like he's paying attention.

They want him to keep quiet.

Let the Brits set the tone.

- Okay. Ganon can get into it.

- They want me to handle it.

That isn't great.

This is exactly what Hal did

to Ganon in Tel Aviv.

Blew in and made

the whole American delegation

look like they were sitting around

with their thumbs up their asses.

But this isn't you

charging into the PM's office.

The foreign secretary tracked you down.

That was his idea.

Was it?

Hal.

- Really?

- Yup.

You think your husband?

Pulled me out of a photo op

and dumped me in the PM's lap? Yeah.

Okay. Wow. Impressive.

You say that now. Always comes at a cost.

- Which is what?

- You don't know until you know.

But then you definitely know.

Well, at this point,

they're asking you to step in.

You kind of have to.

[Kate] Mr. Secretary,

the prime minister understands

the att*ck may have been a message for us.

But the president signaled

quite a lot of outrage

when he spoke to the prime minister,

and they're worried he may make

a public statement before they're able

It was a condolence call

for 30 servicemen.

Exactly what was he supposed

to signal if not outrage?

I think what troubled them

was the statement,

"If I find out it was Iran, I swear,

we're gonna light the place up."

I'm sure that's not what he said.

It's exactly what he said.

You got a readout?

I was on the call.

Wasn't I sending you to Kabul?

Sir, no one is more surprised

to find me here than I am.

I don't know, ambassador.

I haven't called the foreign secretary.

You've been at post for an hour and

you talked to the prime minister. Twice.

They want us involved,

but not if we're planning to att*ck

an unstable regime without any evidence.

Inform your friend the PM

that Rayburn's a lot of talk.

He's not planning to "light up"

the Republic of Iran.

They need to hear it from you.

On its face, it's credible.

We have an elderly president

who just lost the House

and we have a young VP who'd be

glad to prove she likes to blow things up.

That is my problem. Not yours.

Not if they can't get you on the phone,

sir, then apparently it's mine.

He'll keep the president

off the air for a day.

- One?

- Doesn't help, does it?

It's not nothing.

They'll appreciate its non-nothingness.

Very close to nothing.

[man] Raymond Braysdale, MP Aberconwy.

[Stuart] Ambassador Wyler, United States.

[inaudible dialogue]

Ma'am, look at me.

Mr. Wyler's here. Does he know Meg?

Don't look over there.

- Does he know Meg Roylin?

- I don't know.

- Is he talking to Meg whoever?

- Roylin.

- Is that a problem?

- She's a Tory operative.

She built the strategy

behind Trowbridge's campaign.

Then he fired her

when the papers started saying

she was the brains behind the operation.

She takes racists

and turns them into lovable guys

you wish had time to coach peewee soccer.

Remember I told you

there would be a price? For Dennison?

[cell phone ringing]

- [Hal] Hey.

- Stop moving.

- How did it go at the Foreign Office?

- You know exactly how it went.

I'll be right there,

but I got someone I want you to meet.

- No. Absolutely no.

- [Hal] Uh-oh.

Bad connection. Come on.

Now you've met my husband.

Pull her.

Really?

Your first media hit in the country

can't be a candid with Meg Roylin.

Pardon us. Thank you, thank you.

Step aside, please.

Pardon us. Step aside, please.

- This way, ma'am.

- Step aside. Metropolitan Police.

- This is a lot.

- This way.

She's not in cardiac arrest.

We're just trying to go.

[Martin] Sir? Thank you, sir.

- Not today.

- So sorry.

Not to worry. I'll call you. Thank you.

- [man] Sir, your name, please?

- Ambassador Wyler, United States.

[camera shutter clicks]

- Are you okay?

- Twitter said it was a thr*at on her life.

We had Meg Roylin coming from one side and

Jamie Taro of the Daily Mail on the other.

I can't have that be the first image

that shows up

when you google

"Ambassador Katherine Wyler."

It says Ambassador Wyler's leaving

the memorial right now. In a police car.

- Clearly she's not.

- Is it, perhaps, the other one?

The other Ambassador Wyler.

We got a call earlier.

Mr. Wyler borrowed a vehicle.

From the police?

Oh. The press office sent a nice piece

about you at the memorial Hang on.

Uh, "U.S. Ambassador Wyler

pays his respects

at the Greenwich Naval Memorial

on his first day as representative

to the Court of St. James's."

[phone rings]

- Hmm.

- [Ronnie] Stuart Hayford's office.

Eidra.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Members of parliament

are canceling visits to Greenwich.

Security concerns raised

by your hasty exit.

It was a misunderstanding.

It's a fast boat. We can't see markings,

but it definitely looks like

the kind Iran's been stockpiling.

sh*t.

- Yeah.

- Why?

Means it's Iran.

Means it's an Iranian boat.

Israeli satellites clocked it

off the coast near Sirik.

- Which is?

- In Iran.

Is that something everyone knows?

It's a very small coastal village in Iran.

They lose track of it here,

but the timing lines up.

- When did this come in?

- Few minutes ago.

- Does State have it?

- Ganon?

- I'm sure he got it when we did.

- You think my day holds?

The Brits asked her to keep the president

quiet until the carrier's in a safer spot.

- And the White House agreed?

- Ganon agreed.

For a day. When there wasn't

real evidence pointing at Iran.

It's not an indictment. It's a boat.

In the right place at the right time.

I should tell Dennison I got the day

before it's gone.

We gotta get you to your town hall.

Your speech.

k*ll it. I hate speeches.

Can you hang back a minute?

The job is like 80% speeches.

- They asked me to slow-roll her clearance.

- Who?

Ganon?

sh*t.

There could be plenty of reasons for that.

Really?

No. He wants to get rid of her.

sh*t.

- Why give her a day?

- Probably thought it'd take that long

to find a reason to get her out,

but now we have her husband

stealing a police car

and conspiring with shady Tories.

Can I use the SCIF?

What do you think?

- Of her?

- Yeah.

I'm impressed. I was dubious at first,

but she turned me around.

I think I'll ditch my plans to move to

a place with better career opportunities

so I can stand by her side

for a tour that'll reinvigorate

the special relationship

and usher in a new American century.

Give her a chance.

I'm not f*cking her, I'm f*cking you.

I'm trying to give you a chance.

[phone ringing]

What happened?

The five people

who know what's going on here

- Yeah.

- The secretary of state's one of them.

Right?

- No.

- What the f*ck, Billie?

- He doesn't need to know.

- He's trying to shitcan her.

- I'm sure he's not.

- She wound up in a sit-down with the PM,

thanks to the husband,

who by the way, Jesus f*cking Christ.

He's a handful, but people love him.

Ganon thinks she's eating off his plate.

The president needs to say out loud

that he asked her to take the lead here.

It's not gonna happen.

It's a test. The president wants to see

if she can handle herself.

- If she's afraid of Ganon

- She's not.

That's the kind of information I need.

It's why I read you in.

Is that why you read me in?

Or are you asking me

to turn her into something?

I don't know. Maybe.

- That's the clarity I'm looking for.

- I don't have a lot of clarity.

I just spent three years building a VP

who could take the torch from an old man

and get us another term.

This was not my plan.

She handles things.

We get people who can campaign.

They can't handle anything

and we're drowning.

Oh, f*ck that. You see an opportunity,

you can't let it go by.

Yeah, I can't.

Who do you think taught me that?

No, "atrocity."

Atrocity. It means "k*lling people

and hacking them up into little pieces."

Darya, if you say "women's health,"

they think they're funding a yoga studio

in Jalalabad.

Listen, I gotta go. Okay.

Ganon's trying to get rid of you.

That was fast.

An apology could take the edge off.

He's trying to keep the Gulf

from boiling over.

I'm not calling him

to say I made an oopsie.

Might be worth it.

Hmm. In a week,

the Brits will have set the tone.

- Ganon won't remember any of this.

- Ma'am

you are not gonna be here in a week.

You're not on the books yet.

Ganon will have to do some explaining,

but he'll blame Hal,

which won't take much convincing.

You called him Hal.

First time.

Sorry.

Everyone does once they really know him.

Guess you got the idea.

I did.

Maybe it's all right.

What does that mean?

You don't seem to be all that thrilled

to be here. It's not Jalalabad.

Someone is sh**ting missiles

at boats in the Persian Gulf.

Even I can get it up

for averting another bloodbath

- in the m*therf*cking Gulf.

- Sorry.

I was just asking.

Who was gonna do the feature?

The rehearsal.

Me in a gown, with a horse.

- British Vogue.

- [groans]

God, I hate this sh*t.

What?

You know who you can't fire?

Cinderella.

I'm not sure if this is the same schedule.

I don't think anything has changed.

Pensy, find Leonard if you could, please.

The article won't be online till tomorrow,

but they'll put pictures on the website.

It's f*cking brilliant.

A media darling by sunup.

- f*cking brilliant.

- [Hal] It is.

Told you you were ready.

You and I did all the things we do

to launch you.

Drop-kicked me

into the center of the action,

so I can make promises I can't keep,

while alienating my superiors

for a strategically insignificant

moment of access.

And now we're distracting

from the clusterfuck with a media splash

designed to make me

more attractive to women.

You're a snob.

Zip this.

And a misogynist.

You're the prime minister's new

best friend and you're gonna be famous.

I should be getting a blow job

for that phone call.

I didn't wanna be famous. You're so famous

nobody wants to work with you.

How is this a $1600 piece of clothing?

It doesn't even have pockets.

Makes your ass look fantastic.

We look good.

[Stuart] Wow.

I'm not a dress person.

- You're faking it spectacularly.

- Okay.

We'll start with candids

for the Vogue spread,

and then some formal portraits for us.

The body count went up, 41 dead.

Yeah.

Oh, ma'am, ma'am.

Uma is outside, whenever you're ready.

- Uma?

- The reporter.

Okay. They may want more help

with the search.

There's a guy

I should call at the Pentagon.

Ma'am, I'll talk to the guy.

And I talk to Uma.

Give me your phone.

His name is Gerald Tober.

He runs maritime search and rescue.

I used to do your job.

It is better than this one.

Ma'am

I am sorry about today.

- You knew the thing with Dennison was

- Don't worry about it.

- Hal makes a lot of magic. Hard to resist.

- Well, next time I'll know.

You won't.

It's like a drug. You can't say no.

It's okay, he'll be gone soon.

- He will?

- Let's get a look at you. It's perfect.

- I think it is. Right?

- Absolutely.

- Let's look at you in the light.

- [Kate] Okay.

Frances?

Mr. Hayford.

Why did you tell me about the sheets?

- You said she checked the sheets.

- In the Adams Suite.

You asked for relevant information.

It's a guest suite.

They don't sleep in the same bed.

[Kate] I don't wanna make your job

any harder than it already is,

but it would be great

if there weren't any sh*ts of me

looking wistfully into the distance

as I caress my own neck.

- Ma'am, could I borrow you?

- Mm-hm.

Is Mr. Wyler leaving?

Yes.

Um

Is he coming back?

He will get me on my feet,

and then he will go.

It is a two-person job.

Mrs. Dursley can plan a menu

without the help of Hal Wyler.

- Yes, but

- The president asked me to do him a solid.

At what point do you think I should have

raised the epic failure of my marriage?

- Ma'am

- This was fun, I feel like we're closer.

I need to step away and change my shoes

because Uma and Pippa think

I'll project more power in a block heel.

- [knocking on door]

- [Hal] Yeah.

You're getting divorced.

No, we're not.

- Does the White House know?

- There's nothing to know.

The ambassador says your

Your marriage is over.

Ever been married?

This doesn't work

if she's getting divorced.

You can't slot someone in the

vice presidency if she's getting divorced.

She'll take me back.

Okay. I gotta talk to Billie.

You work it out with her

and the president

No. You don't tell anyone.

She will take me back.

I

do things that make her want to leave me,

and I will not do them again.

You were here two hours, made one call.

The secretary of state wants to fire her.

I'm a big pain in the ass

but it doesn't work without me.

Okay.

Then tell her. If she wants it, fine,

but I am not sneaking around.

I can't tell her, she'll blow it!

She hates cameras

and microphones and people.

Right now, she is cutting a f*cking ulcer

because she has to make nice

with a reporter.

Then who the f*ck thought

she should be vice president?

She is the one you want.

Not Grace Penn, not me.

No one with the temperament to win a

campaign should be in charge of anything.

It's the most obvious rule in the world.

No one who likes power should have it.

You can't eliminate

every public-facing piece of the job.

That's why we're here.

In a land of hats.

She is a frog in a pot of water.

We have six months.

We can turn the heat up slowly,

and she won't jump out.

But you can't tell her

you're boiling her alive.

This metaphor gives me

a lot of confidence.

Billie says you're good at this.

And I'm good at this, which we all know,

despite the chaos which reigns around me.

We can get her there.

Not if she doesn't want it.

Or you.

Of course she wants me.

She f*cking loves me.

You can't think about it too hard.

It'll break your heart.

[Frances] Step away please, if we could,

while we have the light.

Thank you.

[photographer] To me. That's nice.

Moving on to the carriage now,

if you please.

Thank you. I believe you have enough.

Hey. Psst.

They keep touching me.

That's part of it.

I scratched my face and picked a wedgie.

I think I have lipstick on my ass.

- Nothing.

- Okay.

Hey.

You look incredible.

Shall we go for a ride?

Um yeah.

Mm-hm. Got it.

[Pensy] Look at her.

Just like a princess.

Ambassador.

If you put them back on and walk,

they might soften.

I think it will break my pelvis.

This feels small. Is it a bit small?

- It's a bit roomy in the shoulders.

- Yeah.

Why don't we get Jonathan to take us up

to the van and get the tailor.

- Are my pants a little short?

- We'll take a look at that too.

Okay. How are you doing?

Thank you.

May I fix your tie?

- Yeah. I think I screwed up the knot.

- Okay.

[grunts]

You're perfectly safe. This is very mild.

You'll be yourself in no time.

[suspenseful music playing]

[music continues]