03x21 - The Seventh Floor

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("Company" by Stephen Sondheim playing)

- ♪ Bobby, Bobby ♪
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♪ Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba, la-la-la-la ♪

- ♪ Bobby ♪
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- ♪ La-la-la... ♪

(alarm beeping loudly)

♪ ♪

- ♪ Bobby ♪
- ♪ Bobby ♪

- ♪ Bobby, baby ♪
- ♪ Bobby, bubi ♪

- ♪ Robby ♪
- ♪ Robert, darling ♪

- ♪ Bobby, we've been trying to call you ♪
- ♪ Bobby, baby ♪

- ♪ Angel, I've got something to tell you ♪
- ♪ Rob-o ♪

- ♪ Bobby, love ♪
- ♪ Bobby, honey ♪

- ♪ Bobby, we've been trying ♪
- ♪ Darling ♪

- ♪ To reach you all day ♪
- ♪ Bobby baby ♪

- ♪ The kids were asking ♪
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♪ There was something we wanted to say ♪

- ♪ Your line was busy ♪
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- ♪ Bobby, Bobby ♪
- ♪ Fella ♪

♪ How have you been? ♪

♪ Stop by on your way home ♪

♪ Seems like weeks
since we talked to you ♪

♪ Drop by anytime ♪

♪ Bobby, there's a concert on Tuesday ♪

♪ Hank and Mary get
into town tomorrow ♪

♪ How about some Scrabble on Sunday? ♪

♪ Why don't we all go to
the beach next weekend? ♪

♪ Bob, we're having people,
it's Saturday night ♪

- ♪ Whatcha doing Thursday? ♪
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- ♪ Time we get together, is Wednesday all right? ♪
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♪ Bobby, come on over for dinner ♪

♪ We'll be so glad to see you ♪

♪ Bobby, come on over for dinner ♪

♪ Just be the three of us ♪

♪ Only the three of us... ♪

This is why I'm in therapy, Mom.

I'm literally the assistant
to the secretary of state

and you keep asking when
I'm gonna get a promotion.

I... yes, I know.

Yeah, Mom.

Mom, the work I do is very important.

I put in the usual

and a special brioche
for the secretary to try.

Thanks, Keith.

It sounds like I'm in a
bakery because I am in a...

bakery.

Mom, I got to go. Love you. Bye.

(sighs) Moms.

Did you get my e-mail?

Sure.

About Colin Mitchell?

It's in the to-be-read folder.

Colin Mitchell, journalist?

Unjustly imprisoned on
bogus espionage charges

in Sudan for six years?

His parents live in my boss's district?

Jordan, saying everything
in the form of a question

won't make me know
what you're talking about.

Fine, whatever.

Obviously, Congressman
Baskin has been into it

with the Sudanese regime over
the years and, spoiler alert,

they're not awesome,

but an intermediary
reached out to us to say

they might be willing to
make a deal to free him.

And you want State to find
out if they're for real?

Hence my e-mail.

- I'll look into it and get back to you.
- ASAP.

Congressman's way invested in this one.

I'll do my best.

Thank you.

At : p.m.,
the secretary has a pre-call brief

with Undersecretary Albertell
about relations with Japan.

Then at : , she has the call
with Minister Shimabukura.

After that, she leaves
for a personal dinner

with her husband and friends.

His friends. Professor
Lagman and his wife.

M. Sec hates the wife.

So, we'll set the call with the
Mexican ambassador for : .

That should get her out of
most of the main course.

Gracias.

When she gets home,

she'll review the briefing
books for tomorrow.

And that's her day. Anything else?

Uh, actually...

yes.

I ran into Congressman
Baskin's aide this morning.

He said that Sudan reached
out to the congressman

about making a deal for a
journalist named Colin Mitchell.

We've been after them for
years about Colin Mitchell.

Seems odd they would change
their tune all of a sudden.

Baskin's office wanted to know

if we could find out
if they're serious.

Well, it's Sudan,
so they're probably not.

I skimmed through some of his stories.

- He's impressive.
- Yeah.

He's a hell of a reporter. Gutsy.

Arguably, too much so.

Okay. Let's run this through the traps.

Get into it with the special
envoy's office, but, Blake,

Peter Harriman can be...

Hostile?

Territorial.

Ah.

Tread lightly.

(chuckles)

Is this coming from the secretary?

Congressman Baskin asked that...

WOMAN: Yeah.

We don't work for him.

Baskin's just spinning up

'cause he's getting
pushback from his district.

I'll ask again.

Is this coming from the secretary?

Not exactly.

Then come back when it is.

Special Envoy Harriman,

the Sudanese government has
been holding Colin Mitchell

- for six years...
- WOMAN: For six years, seven months,

- and five days.
- PETER: We're well aware

of Mr. Mitchell's plight,
but, hey, welcome aboard.

In the meantime, we're trying
to hold the regime in Khartoum

accountable for conflicts in Abyei,

South Kordofan and Blue Nile State.

All of which have caused

massive population displacements.

And don't even get me
started about Darfur.

Seriously, don't. It's bad.

PETER: Then, of course,
there's South Sudan.

Jessica?

All we're trying to do there

is end a civil w*r and a famine.

Easy-peasy.

The point is, Mr. Mitchell

is, regrettably, one small piece

of a very large, very complicated web.

I understand that,

but do you know if there's
any truth to the rumor

that Sudan is looking
to make a deal for him?

PETER: You don't have the clearance

to know what I know.

But thanks for stopping by.

What about him?

Do I have the clearance to
know what you know, Pete?

You seventh-floor types.

Every few years, Bono
reminds you the Sudan exists

and you're in my ear.

Did the Sudanese government

reach out to you about Colin Mitchell?

Fine.

- Yes.
- BLAKE: See?

Wasn't so hard.

And what did they say?

They said he's sick.

Advanced tuberculosis.

And you didn't see fit
to kick this upstairs?

First of all, the Sudanese
government says a lot of things.

- Did they provide any evidence?
- PETER: No.

And frankly, they're just trying

to scare us into engaging.

Sudan wants out from under

a host of sanctions.

They're betting that we want
Colin Mitchell back so badly

that we'll take them
off the list of nations

that use child soldiers.

They've actually made
some progress on that,

thanks to said sanctions,

but they're not there yet.

In our judgment,
their claims about Mr. Mitchell

weren't credible.

Let's take this to the secretary.

This is a regime that's
committed genocide.

That's on a list of state
sponsors of terror.

- Whose president...
- Is a w*r criminal.

I know about Sudan.

Not like I do.

So, trust me when I tell you

it's not worth stepping
on my toes over this one.

See you upstairs.

Okay, bye.

Hey, hey. Thanks, man.

Oh, no, thank you.

Harriman's a beast and now he hates me.

Well, you didn't have
to get into it with him.

Of course I did.

A guy steps to you like that,
you can't back down.

Haven't you ever seen Lock Up?

Uh, no.

Blake, I need the secretary's
signature on this.

Come see me between : and
: ; we'll get it done. Okay?

- But, but...
- Blake, my boss needs five minutes with the secretary.

Too late. Just gave them away.
Try again tomorrow.

Megan, Megan, don't walk away from me.

M. Sec wants that report
from the working group today.

It's like herding cats.

Then hire a cat-herd. Get it done.

(elevator bell dings)

Good morning, Blake.

Morning, ma'am.

Oh.

♪ ♪

WARE: The purpose of
this meeting is to get

all the relevant agencies up to speed

on the latest developments

in regards to the Virginia Field Force.

FBI Director Doherty

and some of his staff are here

to brief us on their investigation.

Thank you, Director Ware.

I'm gonna turn this over
to Dr. Henry McCord.

He's a religious scholar

- who's been assisting us on this case.
- Good morning.

Our working theory is that
the remaining leaders

of the Virginia Field
Force have made contact

with an Al-Qaeda cell
someplace in Syria.

Both groups share
millenarian philosophies

and VFF has had contact

with another jihadist
group in the past.

What would be their shared objective?

A biological att*ck on Jerusalem.

In order to do what?

To start an apocalyptic
w*r in the Middle East.

Both groups see it as
their purpose on Earth

to do just that.

WARE: The NSA obtained signals
intelligence that confirmed

communication between the two groups.

Last known whereabouts of the
three remaining VFF agents,

including a scientist

with experience in
engineering bio-agents,

was on a freighter bound for Greece.

And from there it's just a
short trip to the Syrian coast.

We've put out alerts to all
of our intelligence agencies

and those of our
partners in the region,

but Syria is a bit of a black box.

WARE: And we know they have designs

on Jerusalem.

So, please, instruct your agencies

to put all available
resources into this.

We'll be briefing the
president this afternoon.

We could be looking
at the big one, folks.

Thank you.

I did underscore the
seriousness of the situation, right?

He's concerned we're not
all sufficiently terrified.

Nope. Message received.

I am deeply, deeply scared.

You want to know a real nightmare?

Our dinner tonight.

Oh, come on, the
Lagmans aren't that bad.

- Not only is he that bad...
- What...

...but the wife...

You're just being overly dramatic now.

Just underscoring the
seriousness of the situation.

- (laughing): Oh.
- That, well... - Excuse me.

That was a one time she did that thing.

Bet you don't miss that
part of being married, huh?

Sorry, what?

Yeah, that was insensitive.

Listen, my first
marriage was a nightmare.

The second one, it's going on years.

How'd a jerk like me get so lucky?

I'm really asking.

Love is... you know, mysterious.

(laughs)

I don't know what the
hell we're talking about.

Sorry. Ever since the heart att*ck,

I'm spilling out all over the place.

I got to go.

So, what do we think?

Are the Sudanese for real
about releasing Colin Mitchell?

They could be.
They could not be, ma'am.

And given the conditions

that he's being held in,

it's highly probable that
Mitchell is very sick.

Your concern is that they're playing us

to undermine our
negotiations on other key issues.

That's correct, ma'am.

NADINE: On the other hand,

if we don't engage...

We've potentially let
a respected journalist,

not to mention an American citizen,

die in a foreign prison for
a crime he didn't commit.

Which is a bad look for us.

Uh, ma'am, if I may?

The Sudanese appear to be very serious,

based on some of the conversations

Daisy's been having.

Sorry, ma'am.

Uh, many media outlets have reached out

looking for a statement
about Mitchell's health.

My guess is Sudan is leaking to them.

They're trying to squeeze us.

PETER: Exactly.

Create public sympathy, make us
look cruel for not engaging.

JAY: Yeah, but the point is

why would Sudan put it out there
if they're not looking to deal?

Why shouldn't we engage?

Respectfully... because of this boy.

He was dragooned into a
pro-government militia.

And when he tried to desert,
this is what they did to him.

Since this photo was taken,

three years ago,

the regime's policy of
recruiting child soldiers

has been drastically reduced,

because of the sanctions that
we drove the UN to impose.

But what we're saying is, no relief

until they've been free of
child soldiers for five years.

They still have two years to go.

So before we abandon

a negotiation strategy
that is yielding results,

think about this boy,
and the thousands like him.

Think about what they
could be made to do again

if we pump the brakes too early.

That's all I ask.

I hear you, Pete.

But engagement doesn't
have to mean agreement.

Let's talk to them informally,

maintain the primacy
of your negotiation,

see what they're playing at.

JAY: There's an open event

at the Sudanese embassy today.

I can make it known that I'll be there,

and see how things shake out.

ELIZABETH: Okay, then.

What?

Okay, my ex-mother-in-law
is here with Chloe.

The word "emergency"
is being bandied about.

Go, go.

There you are.

Hi. Hey, hi, honey,

Daddy's so happy to see you at work.

Pam, what's up? What's going on?

Well, I tried to call, but...

I was in a meeting, is everything okay?

Well, you know about my hip.

Your what?

My hip. The bursitis?

I've been limping since Christmas.

- Sure. Okay, so...
- Well, the specialist said

he could see me in six weeks,
thank you very much,

but then, this morning,
just as I was hobbling

out of Chloe's music class,

his office calls, and asks if
today at noon is convenient.

I said, well, for your
information, it's not, but I...

And Abby is where, again?

She took the train down
to Delaware for a meeting.

Don't you check your calendar?

- I-I was very busy this morning, Pam.
- Okay.

Delaware's, uh, but...

Can't Chloe just go
to the doctor with you?

Well, you might be
comfortable exposing her

to an antibiotic
resistant Staph infection,

but I'm certainly not.

You know what, I'll take her.

How long do you need, two hours?

Oh, let's make it three.

That so-called music class,
man alive, I need a breather.

I was actually on a way
to a meeting myself.

Why don't we all just
ride down together?

Oh, sounds good.

(Sudanese lute playing)

Look.

Wow.

Mr. Whitman.

What an honor to receive
such a renowned visitor.

(laughs)

Tayeb Elkashief.

Thanks for holding the event.

My daughter Chloe loves music.

Indeed.

There is so much more that
unites us than divides, no?

Let's hope so.

Here you go, honey.

Just fry your brain while
Daddy talks to this nice man.

To the matter at hand.

Again, I return to what unites us.

We are as sincere in our desire
to release Mr. Colin Mitchell

as you are in your
desire to bring him home.

That's good to hear.

There's a rumor going
around that he's sick.

Regrettably, that is no rumor.

Do you have proof?

This is from a week ago.

One can only imagine that his condition

has deteriorated since then.

I wanted you to see it first.

What do you mean, "first"?

Before the media does.

What are you trying to do here?

Free my country

from punishing sanctions
we do not deserve.

That's not going to happen.

Then other things will.

If he dies, it'll go badly for you.

But not only for us.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Here, honey. It's time to go.

Daddy needs his phone back.

♪ I've been working
on the railroad... ♪

Just, uh... Daisy! Wait, wait, wait.

Hey, Jay. What's up?

Hi, Chloe.

- Did you get any of my calls?
- Uh...

Doesn't matter.
The Sudanese have confirmation

of Mitchell's poor health.
They're leaking it to the press.

Wow.

Well, I'm glad you're telling
me this before the briefing.

It's gonna be a thing no
matter how you play it,

just didn't want you to get caught out.

Yeah, definitely. Thanks.

Look who you've brought to work.

_

_

_

_

_

_

Okay.

I didn't understand that,
but I understood that.

And she is not on our team.

This is America.

There's a healthy
tension between the state

and the, you know, organs of the press.

"Organs"? Ew.

Anyway, I got to...

You okay?

Yeah, totally.

Oh, God.

(coughing, retching)

Hey, is what I think is going
on with you going on with you?

(exhales)

I don't want to talk about it.

Really.

Well, if it is,

congratulations.

They devour your life.

I mean, they're the best.

Oh, I better go.

JAY: So, how long are you
gonna be in Buenos Aires?

Six weeks. That's why
I texted you back so fast.

You know, my
grandmother still lives there.

In Palermo.

You should pop over and say hi.

(laughs)

Mm. If I did,
you'd never hear the end of it.

I promise, she'd like me
way more than your ex.

Oh, absolutely.

She warned me against
marrying an American.

Turns out, I should've listened.

And there's the, uh, awkward pause.

Sorry, I'm a little out of
practice with all this.

You're doing fine.

My friends have been after me to
get back out there or whatever,

but I don't even know what I want.

Okay, no, sure, no, no.
We all, we all want that, but...

(laughs)

It's complicated, you know?

No está complicado.

(phone chimes)

- Is that you or me?
- I think it's me.

Just ignore it, ignore it.

Please, like you would.

It'll just take a second.

(panting)

Colin Mitchell's family

is going to give a press
conference tomorrow.

To protest the State Department's

handling of the case,

and to plead for their son's life.

Just like Sudan wants them to.

Care to comment?

Really?

Maybe later.

(Jay groans)

Okay.

I just need to send a quick e-mail.

Quick.

(sighs)

Maybe you were right.

This is a little complicated.

No, you were right.

It's really not.

(whispering): Quédate ahí.

♪ Help me, I think I'm falling ♪

♪ In love again ♪

♪ When I get that ♪

♪ Crazy feeling,
I know I'm in trouble again ♪

♪ I'm in trouble 'cause you're
a rambler and a gambler ♪

♪ And a sweet-talking ladies' man... ♪

(groans)

This is why you don't go
outside the chain of negotiation.

(quietly): Oy vey.

You let the secretary's errand boys

wander into something they
weren't qualified to deal with.

Good thing I did.

Since you didn't see fit to mention

that Colin Mitchell is dying.

And so now we've played
right into Sudan's hands.

If Colin Mitchell's family
goes out there and says

that they just want to get
their son back before he dies,

but the callous U.S. State Department

won't help them, what then?

That's exactly why

I reached out to the family

and invited them in
for a talk this morning.

What? Without even consulting me?

Yes.

Because I can do that, Pete.

(elevator dings)

Look, I understand the
chain of command.

That's not the point.

They need to feel heard.

That's the point.

Look, not to be callous,

but this thr*at

of a press conference is a demand

to speak with your supervisor.

I think I have a better chance

of walking them back
from that at this point.

Agreed.

Good.

And of course, I agree with you

that it's important that
we maintain leverage

on the broader issues with Sudan.

Good.

Thank you.

- Okay.
- (elevator bell dings)

Great.

This guy again.

Uh, hi. Nadine, can I talk
to you for a second?

Do you know how hard it was
for me to calm him down,

and today's the one day you decide

to meet me at the elevator?

Sorry, I just needed a quick word.

It's fine.

What's up?

So I had an, uh, unauthorized meeting

with a member of the
foreign press last night.

So, per HR, I thought I should,
you know, disclose contact.

Okay. Um, how long
did this meeting last?

From : p.m. last night until...

uh, two hours ago.

I see.

And, uh, said member was...?

Uh, Sofia Martinez.

Well, thank you for alerting me.

I will make a note.

Thanks, Nadine.

Jay?

Yeah?

Good for you.

(laughs softly)

MIKE: My son has a weight problem.

(sighs)

What?

My son, he's getting fat.

My ex says it's hormones,

but I think she just lets him
eat whatever he wants.

Mike, what are you doing here?

M. Sec wants a word, off the books.

One of your interns let me in,
which should alarm you.

I have a very busy day.

It was lovely seeing you.

Oh, so you, you want me to go?

Please.

Okay, sure.

Absolutely.

The thing is,

I feel like you don't call me back.

That's because I don't call you back.

Yeah, well...

why not?

(sighs) Mike, um,

what we...

shared on election night was...

Crazy.

Surprising.

But, frankly,

you're not my type.

I get it.

The hatchet man mystique, it's sexy,

but it's intimidating.

That's what I'm talking about.

Fine, I like you, Nadine.
I like you and I would like to

- go out with you.
- You sound like a teenager.

Americans have an underdeveloped
language for romance.

Yes or no?

No.

(intercom beeps)

Yes, Maggie?

The family of Colin
Mitchell is here for you.

Thank you, I'll be right there.
I have to go.

(grunts)

Look,

I'll drop the act.

- (scoffs)
- No more "Mike B" show. Just Mike.

Have dinner with me.

Have dinner

and a salad bar with me and my fat son.

I'll think about it.

(softly): You look amazing, by the way.

(sighs)

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell... uh, Claire,

I can't imagine the pain that
you've been going through.

No, Ms. Tolliver, you can't.

We've been patient.

We've done everything you people

have asked of us. And now, we hear

that our son...

is dying.

- Alone.
- And I will be damned

if I don't do everything
I can to prevent that.

So, we are going public.

I understand.

And if it were my son,

I would do the same thing.

CLAIRE: This is our daughter.

Ashley. She's ten now.

NADINE: She's beautiful.

She's forgetting her father.

(voice breaking): Every day,
she remembers him less and less.

And honestly, Ms. Tolliver,

I don't know if that's
good or bad anymore.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell,

Claire.

It's an honor to meet you.

And I wish it were under
better circumstances.

I'm Elizabeth.

This is our lawyer, Bill Freundlich.

BILL: I, uh... (clears throat)

mostly do real estate law.

Welcome.

Please, let's all sit.

And tell me how you
are and what I can do.

CLAIRE: Uh, for starters,

it's nice to hear you ask that,

after all these years.

Mm, look, Peter Harriman...

BILL: He's the special envoy

- for Sudan.
- They know that, Bill.

DON: Peter's been very professional

all these years. No doubt about that.

To be quite honest,
the Chinese government

has been more sympathetic than our own.

The-the Chinese have
reached out to you?

DON: Yes.

We have spoken with them a few times.

Uh, w-what, uh, what did they say?

CLAIRE: Mostly, they just
asked how we were doing,

and what we'd heard from Colin.

And then, they said

that they have a lot of pull in Sudan,

and that they'd try
their best to help him.

Now, I understand you all
are holding a press conference

later on today.

BILL: You can't stop us.

I mean, legally speaking.

CLAIRE: They're aware, Bill. God.

All I ask is for hours.

If we can't make significant headway

in securing Colin's release

by this time tomorrow,

then, yeah, go ahead and
take your story public.

DON: Well, we are going to

hold you to that, Madam Secretary.

(elevator bell dings)

Thanks for coming when I
sent out the Bat-Signal.

That was brutal.

Coffee?

Thank you.

The China piece is weird, right?

Well, they do buy significant
amounts of Sudan's oil

and other resources.

So, they are a player there.

But they normally don't

say much about human rights abuses

or advocate for freedom of the press.

Well, why would they?
They don't have it themselves.

Exactly. Why would they?

Why reach out to the family

of an American journalist
locked up in Sudan?

You're right, ma'am. It is weird.

They do have more levers
to pull over in Khartoum

than we do. You know what?

Let's get into it with Harriman,

see if there's a play

where China can help us
get Colin Mitchell released.

And we have

and a half hours to
make something work.

- Will do.
- (sighs): Okay.

NADINE: Oh,

I didn't get a chance to ask you:

how was the NSC meeting
at the White House yesterday?

The stuff of nightmares.

It's a strange thing,

living your life like normal,

when things are afoot that
could end it at any moment.

Indeed.

But what else can we do?

Nadine?

A word?

Um...

why not?

NADINE: Oh, so many confessions today.

Did you talk to Jay?

Um, about disclosing contact?

What? Did that idiot sleep with Sofia?

Oh, maybe don't quote me on that.

What can I help you with?

I'm gonna need a month off.

Oh, well, that's a long time.

Um... when?

In about six months.

Oh.

I see.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Or not.

Do you want to talk about it?

Honestly, I still have a lot to
figure out, almost none of it

super fun. But thanks.

Maybe we can talk later?

Absolutely.

I'm here.

PETER: I guess I can see
cards that China could play

to get Mitchell freed, I just
can't see why they'd play them.

NADINE: Particularly since he
wrote some unflattering stories

around the Beijing Olympics and
was asked to leave the country.

JESSICA: Here's something.
Remember when

Sudan was trying to develop
the oil field in Abyei?

PETER: Yeah. The sanctions

were keeping them from getting

the drill bit technology they needed.

But, then a year later,

they miraculously
developed it themselves.

And the oil went to China, I presume?

Correct.

We always thought that China
had secretly given them

the technology to get at the oil,

but we could just never
prove it definitively.

What if Colin Mitchell could?

What do you mean?

Look at the timeline.

A dogged investigative
journalist parachutes in

a few months after the
oil field was discovered.

All the other journos

were visiting refugee camps in Darfur.

Colin was in Abyei
when he was arrested.

JESSICA: Locked up for espionage,

his laptop destroyed,

and basically held
incommunicado ever since.

Are we saying that

China might be behind his imprisonment?

They could definitely lean
on Khartoum to do that.

China wasn't checking in
on Colin Mitchell's family

out of the kindness of their hearts,

they were digging

to find out if they knew
what he'd been up to.

Looks like the road

to his release really
does go through Beijing.

Just not in the way we thought.

ELIZABETH: Morning, Matt.

Sit down.

NADINE: Are you up to speed

with the latest developments
on the Colin Mitchell case?

I heard we suspected China
might be behind the arrest.

JACKSON: Yeah.

"Might be."

ELIZABETH: The intelligence community

had to do a rush job,

but their best estimate

is that Colin Mitchell was
reporting on the Chinese efforts

to circumvent sanctions,
so China leaned

on Sudan to have him
arrested and silenced.

NADINE: The secretary
spoke with both China

and Sudan. They deny it.

So, now that there's no upside
to carrying China's water,

Sudan's trying to squeeze us for
concessions they haven't earned.

MATT: And meanwhile,

his family's press conference
is just a few hours away.

So that's where you come in.

The only play we have left

to save Colin Mitchell
is to take control

of the narrative.

In short,

we need a speech.

ELIZABETH: So, with the
Mitchell family at my side,

I need to shine a light

on his treatment,
and put pressure on both Beijing

and Khartoum to release him
immediately.

But if it doesn't work,
then the administration

looks feckless at home and abroad,

and we own the death

of a hero journalist.

So it has to work.

Can you do that?

Today.

Absolutely.

♪ Work, work ♪

♪ Work, work ♪

♪ Work, work ♪

♪ Work ♪

♪ Diamonds all on my ring, player ♪

♪ Gold watches, gold chain, player ♪

♪ Hundred thou' on champagne, player ♪

♪ Yeah, my money insane, player ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm making it rain, player ♪

♪ But I was just on the plane. ♪

(sighs)

Oh, I am so screwed.

(Matt yells)

DAISY: What's wrong?

Writer's block.

Did you try your song?

Oh, I tried everything.

Well, you better get unblocked.

The secretary needs that
speech in, like, three hours.

I know. You don't think I know that?

I mean, Colin Mitchell

is a hero.

Traveling the world,
speaking truth to power.

Meanwhile, w-what have I done
with my life?

A man is dying in a Sudanese prison

and you're making this about you?

MATT: Yes!

That's my process.

I identify with my subject so
I can write about my subject.

Well, go have your process
someplace else, okay?

I have problems of my own.

Hey.

Are you okay?

I'm pregnant, is what I am.

Whoa.

(laughing): Wow.

D-Do, uh, who's the dad?

I wish it were me.

Not because I wish we were
still together, but because

then I'd start every day

with a worthy purpose.

You know?

"I got to go out there,

"get things done.

Daisy and I have a baby."

(chuckles) Unbelievable.

Now you're making this about you, too?

- Oh, come on.
- You know what, go.

- What?
- Come on, get out.

Daisy. Da... Can I just say one thing?

Whoever he is, he's a lucky guy.

But even more importantly,

that baby is a lucky guy.

I feel like he's a guy, by the way.

'Cause he is going to have

the best mom in the whole world.

Thanks, Matt.

Now go. Get inspired, okay?

People are counting on you.

Right.

Congressman, this is Matt Mahoney,

Secretary McCord's speechwriter.

Mr. Mahoney, pleasure.

Thank you for taking the time

to see me on such short notice, sir.

Given the circumstances,
it's the least I can do.

Please, take a seat.

So you want to write a speech about,

uh, Colin Mitchell.

Yes, and any information you might have

would be very helpful.

Well, for starters, Colin Mitchell's

a pain in the ass.

Okay.

He started out writing stories

for his hometown newspaper about how

I wasn't doing this or
that for my district.

And I thought, who in the hell

- does this kid think he is?
- I see.

Next thing I know, he's over in Iraq.

He wrote stories about
how our troops are having

to up-armor their own vehicles

to protect against IEDs
because the Pentagon

wasn't doing it.

Young men and women
coming back to my district

missing arms, missing legs.

I started seeing Colin a
little differently after that.

After Sudan happened, I got to know

his parents, his wife.

They told me stories about Colin.

They, uh,

changed my heart
about the Fourth Estate.

Is that right?

Colin Mitchell is a pain
in the ass, but he's the kind

of pain in the ass that
makes this country great.

His wife Claire told me something

that Colin liked to say.

I've come to believe it myself.

The stories we want to hear the least

are the ones we need to hear the most.

"Sometimes the stories
we want to hear the least

MATT/ELIZABETH: "are the ones we need

to hear the most."

"That is the credo
investigative journalist

"Colin Mitchell has chosen to live by.

"From his earliest as a cub reporter

"in his hometown of
Raleigh, North Carolina,

"to the battlefields of Iraq,

to the streets of Beijing
and Khartoum..."

This is good, Matt.

I mean, this is really good.

Thank you, ma'am.

Colin Mitchell has
spoken truth to power

at home and abroad.

And in so doing, improved the lives

of his fellow citizens and fellow man.

To the governments of China and Sudan,

I say release him now.

To those of you listening today,

do what Colin would do...

hold those responsible for
his imprisonment to account.

For trying to tell a story
some didn't want told,

Colin Mitchell has
paid with his freedom.

We cannot allow him
to pay with his life.

Thank you.

(applause)

Good speech, Matt.

Thank you. Let's hope it works.

(sighs heavily)

And numerous outlets are asking
for a one-on-one with you,

- uh, about your speech.
- Well, that's good.

At least we managed
to make the news cycle.

(intercom beeps)

Yeah, Blake?

BLAKE: I have Minister
Chen for you on SVTC.

Put him through.

Why don't you hang out?

Yes. Thanks, ma'am.

(sighing): Oh, boy.

Mr. Foreign Minister,

to what do I owe the pleasure?

CHEN: These scurrilous
accusations you have

hurled at China in private,
and now in public,

are totally unacceptable
to my government.

Unacceptable or untrue?

If you continue to assert them,

there will be consequences.

- I see.
- However,

as befits our status, it is sometimes

incumbent upon us to
take the high road.

Therefore, in our capacity

as economic partners,

we shall advise our
colleagues in Khartoum

to release Colin Mitchell,

as a humanitarian gesture.

Of course, the final
decision is up to them,

but that will be our
last word on the matter.

Is that understood, Madam Secretary?

Perfectly understood,
Mr. Foreign Minister.

Then good day.

Did I miss something,
or did he just yell at me

and then give us everything we wanted?

I don't think you missed anything.

Huh.

But we are not out of the woods yet.

I still need to get
into it with Khartoum,

and Colin Mitchell is at death's door.

But stand by,

you might need to make
a statement soon.

Absolutely.

Good evening. Five minutes ago,

a specially equipped medical
plane left Sudanese airspace

with journalist Colin Mitchell aboard.

ALL: Daisy, Daisy...

He is described as being in
serious but stable condition,

and is bound for Ramstein
Air Base in Germany

for further medical evaluation.

Now, once he's been cleared,
he will be free,

after nearly seven years,

to return home to his
friends and family

in the United States.

I'll now take questions.

- Yeah.
- (overlapping questions)

I heard you were up here.

Yeah.

My detail hates it.

Sometimes a person just needs

a breath of fresh air, you know?

- Mm.
- (inhales, exhales)

It's something that we
got him back, isn't it?

Yeah...

(voice breaking): ...it really is.

Well, you gonna be okay there?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I'm all emotional. Guess I'm just...

Pregnant.

Who told you?

Experience.

Well, since I'm having a
breakdown in front of my boss,

can I tell you something?

You can tell me anything.

The father is Joseph Garcia.

Well, was.

(softly): Oh, gosh.

Daisy, I'm so sorry.

His parents live in
Connecticut, I guess.

But what am I supposed to say?

Your son and I dated for a
week before he got m*rder*d.

I only knew him by his cover name.

Anyways, here's your grandchild.

Because that's not a
crazy intro or anything.

I think his parents might be
comforted by a grandchild.

Yeah, but what about my parents?

I mean, they're church people.

This isn't exactly what
they had envisioned for me.

I mean, I... guess I always thought

that I may have to do it alone,

but not like alone alone.

Yeah.

You know, maybe every
mother feels that way,

no matter who's in their life.

I mean, at the end of the day,

it's just you and the baby and...

it's my job to protect him.

Or her.

Right... but what if
I'm not up to the job?

Oh, you are.

You are one of the strongest
women I have ever met.

- (scoffs) - Even if you
don't feel like it right now

'cause you're drowning
in a sea of hormones.

(sighs) You have no idea, ma'am.

(laughing): Oh, yes, I do.

(chuckles)

(sighs)

You don't have to go at it alone.

Your parents might be shocked,

but you are literally
the light of their lives

and they'll get over it.

And Joe's parents raised a hero,

so, really, how bad can they be?

Then you got all of us here.

God help you.

Thanks.

It's a beautiful world, Daisy.

(sighs)

And the best ride is
just about to start.

♪ You're broken down and tired ♪

♪ Of living life on a merry-go-round ♪

♪ And you can't find the fighter ♪

♪ But I see it in you so
we gonna walk it out ♪

♪ Move ♪

♪ Mountains ♪

♪ And I'll rise up ♪

♪ I'll rise like the day ♪

- ♪ I'll rise up ♪
- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ I'll rise unafraid ♪

- ♪ I'll rise up ♪
- ♪ Ooh ♪

- ♪ And I'll do it a thousand
times again ♪ - ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ For you, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

- ♪ For you, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
- ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ For you ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ For you ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ When the silence isn't quiet ♪

♪ And it feels like it's
getting hard to breathe ♪

♪ And I know you feel like dying ♪

♪ But I promise we'll take
the world to its feet... ♪

Welcome home, Colin.

Thank you.

♪ Move mountains ♪

♪ For you. ♪