04x17 - Phase Two

[bunniefuu]

(PEOPLE SPEAKING ARABIC)

A cyber att*ck is no longer
a question of if, but when.

Mr. Al Nasri, what I'm offering you...

Salman, Salman, please.

You are tenacious, my friend.

I prefer to think of myself
as passionate about my work.

I will make with you a bargain.

You will consult Al Nasri Financial

to strengthen our cyber defenses...

if you can tell me why I'm bringing

American fast casual dining
to the Kingdom.

Because in five years,

single women will drive
themselves to work,

and there will be more movie screens

in Jeddah than in Midtown Manhattan.

Because you see
the new Saudi Arabia...

government transparency,
education reform, trade.

Honestly, my daughter
just loves their milkshakes.

But I like what you said.

Welcome to the new Saudi Arabia.

Hey, you're missing some
primo huevos rancheros in here.

- Brain food.
- (NEWSWOMAN SPEAKING ON TV)

Eggs are brain food?

Too bad we don't have
a National Merit Scholar

to ask about that.

- Please stop.
- Wait.

Isn't our son
a National Merit Scholar?

Well, wouldn't his school

have some kind of formal
ceremony recognizing him

as a National Merit Scholar?

I did well on a standardized test.

I didn't sequence the human genome.

Oh, look, you're being celebrated

for all your hard work,
and a $ , scholarship...

thank you... that is
nothing to sneeze at.

So, get over here and feed

that National Merit Scholar brain.

Oh, look, it's your
new best friend again.

The bombing four months ago
that k*lled an American

and many others is yet
another tragic consequence

of Secretary McCord
and the Dalton administration

aiding and abetting those
that would do us harm.

REPORTER: Are you implying
that the Dalton administration

- is negotiating...
- It's unbelievable.

We invited this guy into our home.

I like to think he remembers
that night fondly sometimes

when he's sunning himself on a rock.

- (CHUCKLES)
- CARLOS: Well, look, Trevor,

who is Hezbollah's patron state?
It's Iran.

Elizabeth McCord naively
trooped off to Tehran

to negotiate a nuclear deal,

and she gave away
our sanctions leverage.

She promised us peace,
and look what we got.

And now she's back with the so-called

"Phase Two" of the negotiations.

That's why I've introduced legislation

to undo this disastrous Phase One,

and to stop Phase Two in its tracks.

That guy has one of
the most punchable faces

- of all time.
- Well, yeah, but I mean,

he kind of has a point.

I mean, the b*mb k*lled
a lot of people,

and then the deal just
let billions of dollars

flow into a hostile regime.

I mean, what do...
what do we get in return?

- Here we go.
- I'm just saying

it seems like Phase One left a lot
of important issues unresolved.

Well, that's because it did.

By design.

Okay, so Morejon's not entirely wrong.

ELIZABETH: Iran was one month away

from having a viable nuclear w*apon.

One month.

That would have posed
an existential thr*at

to Israel, Europe and,
ultimately, the United States.

And the scale of the w*r
that it would've

taken to prevent that...

Well, let's just say
instead of college,

right now, you might well
be thinking about the draft.

That's what we got in return.

So, you're welcome.

The fact that these talks
are happening at all,

kind of history-making.

We'll see.

What, you think they might not work?

Iran is still prevented
from being fully integrated

into the global banking system,

stifling our economy
and costing billions

of dollars a year.

This must be addressed
first and foremost.

And it could be, Minister Esfahani,

if Iran is willing to facilitate
a lasting cease-fire in Yemen.

- These people have had...
- It is your Saudi friends

who are pulling the strings
in the ongoing Yemeni conflict.

The shipload of anti-aircraft missiles

in the Gulf of Aden,

and the pounds of C-

intercepted by
the Bahrani authorities?

We all know your Quds Forces
directed those shipments.

Minister, arming the rebels
in Yemen can only lead

to more v*olence.

If you want to de-escalate

the situation in Yemen,

then a public statement
from Saudi Arabia

pledging to do just that

would be viewed favorably in Tehran.

Well, Minister,
the United States insists

that Iran first
respect the sovereignty

of its neighbors.

I'm afraid the United States
lacks the credibility

to lecture anyone

on honoring a nation's sovereignty.

Ask our neighbors, the Iraqis.

Bess, we're thinking
of punting the Phase Two talks

until after the midterms.

Sir, we need to press on.

Morejon, he-he's just grandstanding.

RUSSELL: Well, to hear
the talking heads on cable news

tell it, we've got Iranian extremists

implicated in the m*rder
of an American citizen

while you're airlifting
billion-dollar gift baskets

into Tehran.

Our allies in Congress
were skittish to begin with.

- This doesn't help.
- I'm already booked on Trevor Vance's show

to get our side out there.

Meanwhile, the Saudis... you remember,

our allies, the Saudis...

are all spun up over this arms
deal you're slow-rolling

to placate Iran.

The Saudis will get

- their precision-guided missiles.
- When?

Give me three more months.

I'll tell them that-that
the deal is hung up

with our lawyers

at the Political-m*llitary Affairs

and the folks at DSCA.

Which is actually semi-true.

But besides, they will get
greater security

if we are able to pull off

- the Phase Two talks.
- Yeah, well, something tells me

they won't see it that way.

Morejon certainly won't.

He's close to wrangling enough votes

to scuttle any deal we make.

Backing off till after the midterms...

gives us room to maneuver.

If we postpone the talks,
Iran will walk.

And if they do, it all but guarantees

they'll continue funding our enemies.

- And how are the talks going?
- Slowly,

sir.

We are negotiating with
a long-time adversary, Russell,

not microwaving soup... it takes time.

Which I hope I'm making
clear is not on our side.

What might speed up the process?

Okay, my team has
flagged an inducement

that we think could grab
the Iranians enough

to force some real concessions.

Access to SWIFT interbank
communications network.

You want to just let them back

into the international banking system?

They are desperate

to bring their economy in
from the cold.

So this could allow us
to demand serious concessions

in exchange.

All right, Bess, but
you're on the clock here.

- Yes.
- Longer this drags out,

the better chance these talks get

pulled down around our ears.

Yes, sir. Thank you,
Mr. President, Russell.

Yeah. (SIGHS)

GENERAL WINFIELD:
So, I hear you've pared back

some of your off-campus activities.

More time for my students.

Well, that is good news.

Because one of your proposals
has gained some traction

with the board.

Oh, yeah? Which proposal is that?

Some additional funding
has made launching

a m*llitary ethics department

a viable option.

Well, that is great news.
I think it'll be

an invaluable asset to our program.

"Today's battle space
ranges from cyberspace

"to outer space.

"It is vital to give
tomorrow's commanders

"the ethical tools they need

to make sound decisions
in a rapidly changing world."

That was some memo you wrote.

Two years ago.

Academia.

Worse, government-funded academia.

We'll need an interim chair.

You're at the top of our list.

Oh, I'm flattered you would
think of me, General,

but I really am looking forward

to getting back to teaching full time.

Oh, I just assumed

since it was your idea,
you'd want to lead the charge.

A perfectly logical assumption.
Nevertheless, I...

Give me a couple of days
to think about it.

Absolutely.

Thanks.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Good news and bad news, ma'am.

You know what? Let's be Zen

- and call it all just news.
- Fair enough.

Uh, neutral news item number one:

the Iranians responded well
to the prospect of being

reintroduced into the
SWIFT banking system.

You think they'd be open
to cutting off financial support

to their proxy forces, like Hezbollah?

They didn't leave the table
when I broached it,

so we'll call it a start.

Okay, good work.

- Ma'am.
- Um...

So what's the, um,
you know, other news?

Yeah, um, the Saudi
ambassador showed up

without an appointment,
and he does not look happy.

Well, I'll deal with that.

You keep at it with the Iranians.

Yes, ma'am.

Madam Secretary.

Prince Asim. Come on in.

I needn't remind the United States

of the importance of honoring

its commitments to
its long-term partner.

The United States has always valued

its alliance with Saudi Arabia.

And yet, you delay sending us

essential defensive weapons,
all in an effort

- to placate the Iranians.
- First of all, there's no delay.

Our lawyers are simply
reviewing the contracts.

They have to do that every time
we make an arms deal.

Three more months have
mysteriously been added

to the delivery timeline.

How is that not a delay?

I assure you we are not naive
to the thr*at Iran poses.

If you do not give us
the weapons we need,

then you are not only naive,
but complicit in that thr*at.

You have the right to self-defense,

but you have no right
to barge into my office

and demand U.S.
precision-guided munitions

on your timetable.

During your misadventure in Iraq,

it was Saudi Arabia
that opened its bases

and airspace to you.

Free of charge, no less.

Perhaps you have forgotten
who your true friends are.

I assure you, we have not.

Excellent.

His Majesty will be pleased

to hear these delays
are being resolved,

and the missiles will be
on their way very soon.

Good day, Madam Secretary.

Anyway, the moral of the story is

you try to make peace
in the Middle East,

everybody gets mad at you.

At least one of us had a good day.

Mm, to tell you the truth,

I think I'm gonna pass on that job.

Why?

The ethics department was your idea.

They literally got the memo.

It's... dealing with staffing
assignments and budget requests.

(SIGHING): Uh...

You remember

how mind-numbing
college bureaucracy can be.

Not to mention the petty politics.

Faculty senate made the Middle East

look like child's play.

Exactly. So, just think

I want to just focus
on teaching for a while,

avoid the headaches.

Is that the whole story?

(SIGHING): Well,

maybe I'm feeling a little burnt
after my experience at CIA.

(PHONE RINGING)

I-I'm just not so hot

to jump back
into a leadership position

where you're getting it
from all sides.

I have thoughts. Hold on.

Yeah?

Send him in.

Mike B. is here.

(GROANS)

ELIZABETH: Hey, Mike.

To what do we owe the
pleasure, or alarm?

You want some tea, or something?

Can't stay. Gordon's waiting.

Listen, the news will
probably break tomorrow,

but I wanted you
to hear it from me first.

I got a tip from a source

at the D.C. District Court.

You're being sued.

- What?
- HENRY: By whom?

MIKE: The parents of Jim Dawson,

the American k*lled
in the Riyadh bombing.

They're suing you for
the wrongful death of their son.

I'll-I'll call you tomorrow.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(EXHALES)

MIKE: Basically, the suit claims

that Elizabeth facilitated a deal

which led to funds
being freed up to go to Iran.

Those funds made
their way to Hezbollah,

whose operative may have paid

for the bombing that k*lled
Jim Dawson, which is,

- on its merits...
- Absurd.

- (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
- The legal term is "spurious."

But in any case, sovereign
immunity shields Elizabeth

from legal liability.

I can certainly understand
the family's anger,

but if the suit is a nonstarter,

what do they hope to gain by it?

I can't imagine these people
are taking out a second mortgage

to keep a $ per hour
firm on retainer.

Someone's behind this.

So I'll put together a list

of deep-pocket donors
with an axe to grind

against the president.

Long list.

There's, uh...

also the matter
of what Jim Dawson was doing

in Saudi Arabia.

Jim Dawson was a, uh,
cyber security consultant

for a handful of companies
from Algiers to Abu Dhabi,

and he was one of ours.

Dawson was a spy?

Yeah. Six years, Special Operations

right out of high school.

E.O.D. attached to a SEAL platoon.

Spent the last eight at the agency

infiltrating extremist money networks.

So his cover was blown?

Do we think this was an assassination?

Yes, but, uh,
Dawson wasn't the target.

Salman Al Nasri.

He's an entrepreneur,
used his billions

to fund a variety
of progressive initiatives.

The attackers were ideologues

motivated to strike
at the "decadent West."

CIA thinks our man was just

in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Well, speaking of being in the
wrong place at the wrong time,

Elizabeth... and I cannot stress
this enough... do not get served.

And that is the sum total

of your vaunted
and costly legal advice?

Taking the summons,
plus the wrong judge,

leaves you open to be deposed.

A deposition means

you go on record declining
to answer their questions

on national security grounds,
so, yeah.

Yeah, Morejon could spin your silence

as putting the Iran deal over
the family of a dead American.

Dead at the hands
of Iranian-backed t*rrorists.

Yeah, which just adds
more fuel to his fire

to k*ll your deal in Congress.

So... if you don't want
that to happen...

Don't get served.

To be clear: we are sitting
in the White House,

in front of the president,

and you're telling
me to dodge the law.

Now she's getting it.

(INHALES)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Oh, uh, I-I'm sorry. I can come back.

Uh, no, stay. Please, come in.

Auspicious timing.

Have you met Lyle Belkin?

He's one of our visiting professors.

Well, good to meet you.

I read your book on
Sherman's March to the Sea

and the birth of total warfare.

- Very nice work.
- Thank you.

And you are the famous
Mr. Madam Secretary.

(CHUCKLES) That's one of the
titles that I proudly hold.

I hope she's got her wicker shield.

I'm not following you.

Ancient Persian soldiers were
famous for their wicker shields,

as I'm sure you know.

The media seems to think

she's fighting
for the Iranians now, it's...

Sorry, bad joke.

Is that what that was?

WINFIELD: Uh, Lyle was just

expressing his interest in the
interim ethics department chair.

He dropped in to share
some ideas about the curriculum.

Well, then, it is auspicious timing,

because I came by to say

that I'm interested in the job myself.

Oh.

Well, that's excellent.

You should both prepare
a short presentation

with your vision for the department,

and why you think you'd be
the best person for the job.

I'll set up interviews
with the board immediately.

Great.

May the best man win.

I'm looking forward to it.

Lyle.

ELIZABETH: The deal that
we have in place now

caps Iran's enrichment
at four percent,

which is nowhere near the % level

they would need to build a b*mb.

Americans are objectively safer,

thanks to Phase One,

and Phase Two will just
build on that good work.

Now, I wonder if the family of
Jim Dawson would agree with you.

Uh, can we roll that tape?

We give these people money
and they use it to att*ck us?

Uh...

He was the best son
a father could w...

I just don't understand.

And what do you say to that
family who's lost their son?

It's a terrible loss.

My heart truly breaks
for the Dawson family.

Well, Senator Carlos Morejon asks

if this isn't the inevitable result

of making deals with Iran.

Isn't what you call "peace,"
really appeasement?

Well, you know,
at the height of the Cold w*r,

Ronald Reagan negotiated
the START treaty

with the Soviet Union,
drastically reducing

both nations' nuclear stockpiles.

Now, if we could negotiate

with the greatest adversary
this country has ever faced,

at a moment of maximum peril,

I think we can do the same
with a regional power like Iran.

Forgive me if this is difficult,

but some say you have lost
clarity when it comes to Iran,

due to your own painful experiences.

Who says that, exactly?

Well, several sources.

Well, you're implying

that there's a chorus
of critics out there

who are concerned about
my ability to reason clearly.

Can you name one?

Please, just answer
my question, ma'am.

Actually, I would say that witnessing

the horrors of terrorism firsthand

gave me absolute clarity

on the need to protect
the American people from it.

I'm also absolutely clear

that v*olence should
only be resorted to

when every other option
has been exhausted.

I wouldn't wish

how I came to that clarity on anyone.

Even those who treat
questions of w*r and peace

as just another
Washington gotcha game.

But thank you
for your concern, Trevor.

Well, that is all the time we have.

DAISY: Well, I think it's safe to say

that people heard the other side
of the argument. (CHUCKLES)

You okay, ma'am?

Yeah, I'm fine.

You don't really talk much
about your time in Iran.

He wanted to go there.

I went there.

Yep. You sure did.

- Elizabeth McCord?
- Sir, get back.

g*n!

- Whoa.
- MAN: What?

(SHOUTS, GRUNTS)

Show me your hands!

- Let me see them!
- I'm a process server.

I'm a...

process server.

I'm a... (GRUNTS) process server.

Bad news, ma'am.

We're trying to rise above labels now,

and calling it all just "news."

Yeah, have fun with that.

AGENT: g*n!

DAISY: Someone from the crowd
recorded it on their cell.

The cable shows

- are playing it on loop.
- Ow.

With the oh, so original title
"Tacklegate."

You know, how about
we just retire "blankgate"

as a construction altogether?

- I'm sorry.
- BLAKE: So I'm guessing

that no one's talking about
the secretary's appearance

on Trevor Vance's show?

No, because they're all
too busy watching me

running away from the family of a man

who was k*lled by
Iranian-backed terror.

Which is exactly what POTUS
was afraid of, by the way.

More, um, "news," ma'am:
uh, you're trending.

#SecretaryOfEscape.

Also, no more hashtags.

I'll tell everyone.

Let me see your hands!

ELIZABETH: It looks a lot worse
than it really was.

- I'm a process server.
- Right?

Well, I hope so,
'cause it looks pretty bad.

- (CHUCKLES)
- (SIGHS)

You're supposed to be on my side.

Well, hey, what kind
of ethics professor would I be

if I wasn't honest, right?

I don't know.

What kind of ethics professor
wants to be

head of the ethics department

just because some guy
made a cr*ck about his wife?

Hey, it's not that simple.

Okay, it's not entirely that simple.

(SIGHING): I... just...

Lyle rubs me the wrong way.

But...

Look, we have a real opportunity here

to help future leaders learn

how to deal
with enormously complex issues.

I-I'm just not certain

that Lyle is the right guy
to head the department.

That you suggested
they create in the first place.

Well, hey. Hey.

What-what is your argument?

Just that you said you wanted

to spend more time in the classroom.

You felt b*rned by the CIA.

The point is, you wanted one thing,

and then, this guy Lyle shows up,

and now you want something different.

I am perfectly happy
with whatever you pick.

Just make sure that you are, too.

Hey, Dad.

- Hey, kiddo.
- Hey, Jace.

Brutal takedown, by the way.

Was it a thing, at school?

It wasn't not a thing.

(SIGHS)

I am sorry that my work drama

impacts your life.

It's... fine.

But listen, if you can't make it
to my, like, my dumb ceremony

'cause you're all wrapped up
in work, then it's

- totally fine because...
- (LAUGHING)

Hey, do you remember the
last time you got an award

at school? Because I do.

Third grade, perfect attendance.

(CHUCKLES) And I didn't miss that one.

Would've been too ironic,
for starters.

And nothing is going to make me miss

seeing my National Merit Scholar

get his... medal? Certificate?

Possibly both.

Well, whatever it is, the point
is, she's gonna be there.

- Cheering from the crowd loudly.
- (WHISTLING)

- Oh, God. I so regret excelling.
- Whoo!

- (BOTH LAUGHING)
- Aw.

- Mr. President.
- Bess.

The work you and your people
did to secure Phase One

was laudable and crucial to
global security, but if Morejon

gets the votes to k*ll Phase Two,

he will put in language that
undoes the nuclear safeguards

guaranteed in Phase One.

That puts millions of lives at risk.

I won't do it.

We're pushing the Phase Two talks

until after the midterms.

Sir, this opportunity to cut
a meaningful security deal

with Iran won't come again.

Which means that sooner or later,

we will be sucked into

a Sunni-Shia w*r that will
engulf the entire Middle East.

Either we make the deal now,
or no deal gets made.

Then no deal gets made.

It pains me, too, Bess.

But we have to look
at the bigger picture.

Understood, sir. Thank you.

I hear you're something
of a bowman, General.

You know, I've been
sh**ting Hoyt for years.

Good weight, fast,
and almost no hand shock.

Uh, the string angle on my
old Bear suits me better.

Let me know when you're free.

An old friend has a lease
out near Rockingham.

Thanks to you and the committee
for your time, sir.

It was our pleasure.
We'll be ready for you

in just a moment, Henry.

Thank you, General.

You think I'm laying it on
a little heavy, don't you?

Well, there's nothing wrong
with shared interests.

An instructor back in Hamburg

had a favorite Grant quote:

"He who continues the att*ck, wins."

You took the field officer course

at the German m*llitary Academy?

Class of ' .

Yeah, uh, made some buddies
over at Hahn Air Base.

Oh, man. (CHUCKLES)
We used to have some times.

Uh, how about that? Good for you.

WINFIELD: Professor McCord.

Come on in.

Oh, you got to be kidding.

What's wrong?

The...

Oh.

Ma'am, if you'll wait here a moment

while we secure the entrance?

No. No.

No more dodging.

- Babe.
- It's okay. I'll be fine.

I'll meet you in there, okay?

It's time to tackle this head-on,

metaphorically speaking, Matt. Okay?

No need to att*ck me.
I'm an officer of the court.

No, no, I... Look, I-I want
to apologize for yesterday,

and I hope you're
not in too much pain.

Eh, this is nothing.

One time, a meth dealer
ran over me with his Camaro.

Oh, my God, that's awful.

Besides, I should be thanking you.

(SCOFFS) I'm confused.

I linked the video of
your people tackling me

to the website for my
legal services company.

My business doubled overnight.

Oh... Well, good for you. That's...

I'm Elizabeth.

- Joel. (CHUCKLES)
- Joel.

So should we do this thing?

- Oh, yeah, right.
- (CHUCKLES)

Elizabeth McCord,
you have been served.

Thanks, Joel.

You have a good one.

ELIZABETH: Just want you
to know that your mom

is very proud of you.

Yeah, I think the whole
auditorium knew that.

Alison, how's the Stu... uh, Mike?

How did you, uh...

The middle one let me in.
Damn it. I pressed the thing.

Mike B. is here.
Congratulations on your award.

So nice of you to stop by.

Again.

Hey, Mike. Guess this isn't
a social visit again.

Can we talk in there?

Yeah.

I know. I know.
I let myself get served. Sorry.

Yesterday's news.

I found out who's covering

the Dawsons' considerable legal fees.

Yeah? Who is it?

You're not gonna like the answer.

I traced the money through
a series of offshore companies

and subcontractors,
all the way back to its source,

and arrived at a trust

controlled by a powerful Saudi family

with close ties to the government.

You're kidding.

I told you you wouldn't like it.

Do you have hard proof
it was the Saudis?

Not like a sworn affidavit,
but give me time.

A purported ally sabotaging
the American Secretary of State.

It's... unbelievable.

What's a little backstabbing
among friends, right?

- Let me call you back.
- (SCOFFS)

Madam Secretary, what
a pleasant surprise.

You're being played by the Saudis.

Excuse me?

Someone very powerful in Saudi Arabia

is paying the law firm

- representing the Dawsons.
- That's ridiculous.

It is. It also happens to be true.

They're trying to derail
the Iran talks,

and they are using you

and our legislative process
to do the dirty work for them.

But you already knew that,
Senator, didn't you?

Well, you know the old proverb:

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Well, that's interesting
that you think

of the Secretary of State
as your enemy.

More interesting still
that you assumed

I meant you and not Iran.

You stood in my house and talked about

preserving American
sovereignty and safety.

What happened to that guy?

Don't you lecture me about patriotism.

Oh.

Saudi Arabia may not be
perfect, but they're our ally.

I know exactly what I'm fighting
for, Madam Secretary. Do you?

And who I'm fighting against.
See you around, Carlos.

That Morejon.

Every time I think that guy
might be all right,

he pulls some opportunistic,

weaselly maneuver.

It's like: patriot, weasel,
patriot, weasel.

No, I think it's more like:
weasel, weasel, briefly patriot,

- weasel, weasel, weasel, weasel.
- (LAUGHS)

You're probably right.

Anyway, you never told me the
details on your presentation.

How'd it go?

Well, like I said, it was okay.
It's Lyle that's the problem.

- What do you mean?
- (SIGHS)

Well, there's this
officer training course

that's offered by the German m*llitary.

It's very prestigious.

Lyle said he took it in

and hung out with some
officers at Hahn Air Base

during that time.

It was an oddly specific detail.

I-It bumped me, the way he said it.

So I did a little digging.

Turns out there's no record of Lyle

graduating and finishing
his coursework at the academy.

A-And yet he puts it
on his official CV.

- Wow.
- Yeah.

Wow.

So are you gonna turn him in?

(SIGHS) I don't know.

Exposing him is not a small thing.

But integrity's kind of
the point, right?

Yeah, but from the start,
I've had it in for the guy.

(STAMMERS)

There's something about him
that just bothers me.

Yeah, I feel that way about,
like, everyone right now.

- (CHUCKLES)
- Except you.

Listen, I got to, I got to get back,

but you just...

do what you think is right.

Okay.

Right.

MIKE: Were you aware that Hezbollah

was laundering money
to avoid U.S. sanctions?

In accordance with my position

as an executive officer
of the United States,

I invoke executive privilege

and refrain from answering
any questions

that pertain to my
official duties as such.

Were you aware that the release
of money frozen

as a part of the sanctions
against Iran

could be directed
to known t*rror1st groups?

In accordance with my position

as an executive officer
of the United States,

I invoke executive pr...

It's a rote answer. I got it.

Do we really need to keep doing this?

After the fiasco
with the process server?

Yes, you definitely need to practice

staying on script.

Fine, go ahead.

Okay. Did you...
You know what I can't stand?

Betrayal by an ally.

The capriciousness
of our legal system.

People with pet ferrets.
It doesn't matter.

This is where we are.

Jim Dawson's family
lost their only son.

And they have no idea
what really happened.

You're right, and that's sad.

But it's not our problem.
Let's get back to work, okay?

But, see, it is my problem.

The deal is dead.

This lawsuit is whatever it is.

But that family doesn't
deserve to be...

manipulated by people

hiding in the shadows.

They are not going
to get their son back,

but they deserve some peace.

They deserve the truth.
I owe them that.

Feel better?

Yeah.

Good, 'cause you're never
saying any of that.

Actually, I think I am.

- I'm still billing you for this.
- Yep.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Mr. Dawson. Elizabeth McCord.

I-I apologize for showing up
at your door like this,

but I have some information
about your son.

I think we ought to call our lawyer.

KAREN: Who is it, Bob?

ELIZABETH: Hello, Mrs. Dawson. Grace.

She says she's got
information about Jim.

Can I...

Please.

Come in, Madam Secretary.

ELIZABETH: This doesn't happen often,

but the president has
approved the release

of certain classified information

about your son's death.

I don't understand.

Jim helped companies
with their computers.

Mrs. Dawson,

Jim was a decorated operative
for the CIA

working on extremely sensitive
national security issues.

He never said anything
about any of this.

ELIZABETH: I know
it's a lot to take in.

He had to hide that side
of his life to protect you

and families like yours.

Jim was a hero who d*ed
in service to this country.

I know it doesn't bring your son back.

You want us to drop the lawsuit.

- Don't you?
- Sweetheart.

No. No, honey, no. She's using us.

Can't you see that? You
politicians are all the same.

You only pretend you care when
there's something you need.

Mr. Dawson, I agree with you.

Politics can be an ugly business

and if you want to sue me,
absolutely, that is your right.

It's true.

I shake a lot of hands
I'd rather not shake.

But the unique privilege of my job...

is that I get to see the difference

that people like your son

make in the world.

On behalf of a grateful nation,

I want to thank you for Jim's service

and offer my deepest condolences.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you for telling us
about our Jim.

How'd you do it?

Do you want to just get it over with

and move into our garage?

When did you start
running voluntarily?

Today.

As you know, I've always maintained

that exercise is stupid and painful,

but clearly I know nothing

because the Dawsons
are dropping the suit.

So again, how did you do it?

That's not what I went over there for,

but that's good news, I suppose.

You suppose?

It's unequivocally good news.

In fact, they're releasing
a statement thanking you

for whatever it is you did.

The word on the Hill is
Morejon is still trying

to cobble together votes,
which he won't get

once it leaks that the former

Saudi deputy minister
of education is paying

to manipulate a grieving,
American family.

You found hard evidence?

Sometimes it's like you
don't even realize

you're insulting me.

(SIGHS)

Anyway, the point is,

you can now restart your
little peace talks.

You're welcome.

About that, um, is there
a friend rate or...?

(LAUGHS) There is not.

You, Elizabeth McCord,
are an exhausting client.

Yeah.

Going to see that family
was reckless and stupid.

You know, you asked me how I did it.

I wasn't trying to do anything,

just what I thought was right.

I already said. Stupid.

Ugh.

- Hey. Out.
- Hmm? Oh, yeah.

Lyle. Hey.

We need to talk.

In a bit of a hurry.

General Winfield has some
pictures of antlers

he wants to show me.

Look, I know you didn't complete

the m*llitary Academy
of the German Armed Forces.

Their records show that you enrolled,

but you didn't complete
your coursework.

And you're gonna do what
with this allegation?

Have this conversation with you.

So I'll just step aside
and you can get the job.

- Is that it?
- Or you could consider it an

opportunity to correct your oversight.

And no one has to know?

Not if you resolve the issue.

I don't see why they would.

(SIGHS)

One point.

I failed my last final by one point.

I mean, there's a retest
the next week,

but I'd already booked my
flight back to the States.

Then one day I looked up.

It was five years later and
no one had even mentioned it.

Oh, man.

That's tough.

I'm sure a lot of us
would probably have done

the exact same thing.

Why are you doing this?

I got the distinct impression
you didn't like me.

I don't.

- Well, I didn't.
- (CHUCKLES)

I can come on strong, I know.

That cr*ck about your wife...

Was not great.

But your book
about Sherman's March was.

You didn't have to do this, Lyle.

You're the real deal.

Even if not everything on your CV was.

That's very decent of you.

- Ethical, dare I say.
- Hmm.

Thank you, Henry.

Madam Secretary.

I've heard a troubling rumor
about the late James Dawson,

specifically in regards

to who he was really working
for while in the Kingdom.

Prince Asim, thanks so much
for making the time.

Sending unauthorized spies
into our country

is yet another example of
the U.S. abusing a trusted ally.

We both know that every country
does exactly that

to every other country,
so you feigning outrage tells me

you really must be getting
hounded at home

about closing this m*ssile deal, huh?

So we're being brutally honest
with each other now?

What are trusted allies for, right?

And in that spirit,

we know that someone closely
connected with your government

has been funding the Dawsons'
lawsuit against me.

Madam Secretary, you misunderstand.

His Highness remains
cognizant of the need

for our continued cooperation.

You mean you still want our
precision-guided weapons.

Yeah, don't worry.
You-you'll get them...

as soon as your government brokers

an immediate cease-fire in Yemen.

You must know that such a message

will cause great
consternation to His Majesty.

Hmm.

And therefore, even
more to the messenger.

I'm putting you in a rough spot.

I know.

But, truth be told,

I haven't really been in a great
spot, either, the last few days,

so cease-fire for missiles.

That's the deal.

I will take up your proposal
with the king.

And I look forward to the
announcement of the cease-fire.

Thanks so much. You have a great day.

Welcome to the first meeting of
the m*llitary Ethics Department.

Okay, well, obviously, we're
just getting up and running,

so I wanted to open the floor
and get a sense of your hopes

for the new department.

Well, first of all, congratulations.

So well deserved.

If I could just raise
a small housekeeping issue?

Sure. Absolutely.

I understand Lyle Belkin
has taken a sabbatical.

I'm assuming that means
his parking space

will be available.

His parking space?

FACULTY MEMBER: Um, point of order.

I made a request to
Facilities months ago

for a closer spot, so...

O-Okay. Okay.

(STAMMERS) Well, I was
hoping to talk about

some bigger-picture issues
this morning.

Of course. Of course.

So you'll be taking it yourself then?

FACULTY MEMBER: To the
victor go the spoils.

All hail Henricus Rex.

No. (STAMMERS)

Okay, can we circle back

to the parking space issue later?

Yeah? Okay.

ESFAHANI: "Iran commits to financial

"transparency and accountability,

"greater monitoring and transparency

of Iranian w*apon transfers
to non-State actors."

And to insure this, Iran
will accept an inspection

and verification regime.

Is that acceptable?

It is debatable.

It's a start.

Okay.

In the spirit of cooperation,

the IRGC has information

on the whereabouts of
one of your citizens

that it would like to share.

Amina Shaloubi

of the Washington Chronicle?
She was abducted

by Boko Haram over a year ago.

Your intelligence services
will find the information

regarding Ms. Shaloubi's
location reliable.

The United States appreciates
Iran's assistance

in this matter.

(EXHALES LOUDLY) Gentlemen,
I'm glad you're back.

All right, shall we?

♪

♪