[theme music playing]
[reporter 1] President and Mrs. Underwood
are back in Louisiana today,
in an effort to pick up...
[reporter 2] Underwood
is in Las Vegas today,
meeting with leadership
from the Culinary Union...
[reporter 3] ...questions
from undecided voters
in Charleston this afternoon,
the first of three events
the Underwood campaign...
[reporter 4] The First Lady took questions
at a town hall meeting in Casper today.
[reporter 5] That's 12 cities
in half as many days for the Underwoods.
[reporter 6] Meanwhile,
they still trail Conway
by 12 to 14 points in every national poll.
That's a big gap to close...
[reporter 7] ...supporters in Boise
waited an extra two hours
for the president...
[reporter 8] The president's
whistle-stop tour of Ohio will...
[Frank] You're one of the states
that will decide this!
[reporter 9] ...took questions from
undecided voters
in Charleston this afternoon,
the first of three events...
[Claire] Please give a big Boston welcome
to the next president...
[reporter 10] For many Americans,
the question remains,
what would an Underwood-Underwood
White House look like?
Both Underwoods have courted...
So, Arizona, Nevada,
and California on Monday,
then the upper Midwest on Tuesday.
It's not enough. Conway's hitting
way more states than we are.
Well, he's not a sitting president.
He has more time than you do.
Well, then we have to make more time.
We have to get out there.
We've got to shake... [grunts]
[Claire] Francis, are you okay?
- I'm fine.
- Sit down for a moment.
No, no, I'm fine, I'm fine.
Let's continue.
If you wanna add
a fundraiser in California,
we can make that happen.
Uh-huh. Okay.
So?
[Dr. Krebs] I agree with Dr. Saxon
and the medical team.
We should reduce air travel
to once a week.
I'm afraid that's not possible.
You wanted a second opinion, sir.
You have it.
I didn't want a second opinion.
I wanted a different opinion.
[Dr. Krebs] Planes take a toll.
We're concerned
about a sudden organ rejection.
[Frank] I can't win an election
if I can't travel.
You can't win if you're hospitalized.
Thank you, Doctor.
You stay here.
I'll go wherever Conway goes, I'll just...
I'm on the top of the ticket.
It has to be me.
[Claire] We can't ignore
the doctors, Francis.
It's the story we tell.
If I stay here,
Conway prances around the country,
playing up his fighter-pilot image,
and meanwhile,
- I'm stuck here in the Rose Garden...
- I won't risk losing you.
[breathing deeply]
Let's be smart about this.
- I need to project strength.
- So project it.
The air strikes are working, sir.
We've stopped ICO's advance
to the Euphrates.
We've delayed the advance.
We haven't stopped it.
Your own reports say they're regrouping.
I want a decisive blow,
a face, the leadership,
to send a message.
Uh, the Ahmadi brothers are in hiding.
We don't know their location.
Well, your task is to find them.
We've tried, sir.
Our assets hit a wall.
To root them out would require
special forces on the ground.
That is a step I am willing to take.
We don't have authorization
from the Syrians.
Secretary Durant will smooth that out.
I will not be satisfied by blocking
the serpent's path, gentlemen.
I wanna cut off its g*dd*mn head.
[Frank] The Syrians will say no,
and when they do,
see if they'll work
with the Russian special forces.
The Russians do the dirty work,
we take all the credit.
Petrov won't go for that.
Well, he will if we give him back
some of our drilling zones.
Well, that'll take congressional approval.
Doug's laying the groundwork now.
Are you interested in my opinion on this,
or has it already been decided?
I want to move fast,
so unless you have a quicker option,
it's probably best
you keep it to yourself.
- Yes, sir.
- Cathy.
Do we have a problem?
No, sir.
I'll coordinate with Doug.
After a dog's bitten you,
you either put it to sleep,
or you put a muzzle on it.
I've chosen a muzzle... for now.
Hi. I was, uh,
thinking on the way over here
that I don't wanna do
the same speech at every event.
I really think we'll get
more news coverage
if I have a different speech every time.
LeAnn already told me.
I've been working on some variations.
I think, uh, we also need to respond
to what Conway is saying...
at all times.
Start putting pressure on him.
Seth's office is sending me transcripts.
[sighs]
[secretary] There was
an interview query from Time,
a voicemail about some memorial fund.
Senator Halston called
about the meeting on Tuesday.
Wait. The voicemail.
Uh, Laura Moretti,
from the Anthony Moretti Memorial Fund.
- I guess you... donated?
- Cue that up for me.
Just press one when you're ready.
- I'll catch up with you in a little bit.
- Okay.
[on voicemail] Hi, this is Laura Moretti
leaving a message for Douglas Stamper.
I just, uh...
I wanted to reach out to you personally,
to say thank you
for the incredibly generous donation.
It's the biggest donation we've received.
By a lot.
Uh, I don't know
how you found out about us.
Maybe because of
the president's transplant.
But whatever the reason,
it means so much to us,
to me and my children.
Anyway, I...
and I know this is a long sh*t,
but if you're ever free for coffee,
I'd love to thank you in person.
No worries if... if you can't.
Um, thanks again, Mr. Stamper.
Hi, uh, this is Laura Moretti
leaving a message for Douglas Stamper.
I just, uh...
I wanted to reach out to you personally,
to say thank you
for the incredibly generous donation.
It's the biggest donation we've received.
[Claire] Will there be enough time
to get this up on the teleprompter?
They're mostly cuts.
Should be quick.
I'll get it there now.
[crowd cheering in distance]
What did you change?
I took out the paragraph about love.
- That's the best part.
- It was too soft.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Remy] This used to be
a barbecue joint, here.
Frank came a lot before he was president.
What happened to it?
Same thing that happens
to everything Frank touches.
- You mind?
- I do mind.
I haven't agreed to anything yet.
Tell me what you know.
I know Underwood lied
about the money laundering.
I know he met with Lanagin
when he said he didn't.
I know Edward Meechum
doctored travel records,
and I know you were there for all of it.
Then Tusk gets a pardon.
You get Chief of Staff.
- Old news.
- Why'd you quit the job?
I wanted to go back in the private sector.
You just said everything
Underwood touches gets demolished.
I don't like the man.
So what?
Why'd you team up with him again
for the Russia deal?
I don't have to like the people
I work with.
Plus, there was a fortune to be made.
See...
I don't think you give a damn
about the money.
There's a lot more to this
you're not admitting.
But I think you want to.
So, truth is,
you don't have anything solid.
I will get to the bottom of this story.
We can talk now, or you can wait
till you have a team of lawyers
talking to my fact checkers.
I've been threatened by billionaires
and by presidents.
You think an out-of-work reporter
makes me nervous?
I can call the White House right now,
let 'em know you're working on this story.
That's a gamble I took asking to meet.
But my chips...
are on the better part of you prevailing.
The who... the what...
the why, how...
Don't ignore where.
[Freddy] I think it'd be better
if I turn it.
I think...
I think this side is a little better.
- Yes, that's very nice.
- [Frank] Freddy.
- Good afternoon, Mr. President.
- Good afternoon.
- Helen is teaching me the ropes.
- We'll leave you be, sir.
Oh, Freddy?
Why don't you stay back for a little bit?
Thank you very much.
I'll be right there.
It's been a while.
Well, they, uh... moved me
to the flower shop a few months ago.
The basement.
That's probably why
you haven't seen me around.
Never would've guessed that,
well, that this would be my thing.
[Frank chuckling]
I guess you can teach
an old dog new tricks.
[chuckling]
- How's your grandson?
- He's good, good.
- Just started school again.
- Mmm.
- What grade is he in now?
- Sixth grade.
- Getting up there.
- Mmm-hmm.
I... I really should go.
We got a big, uh,
shipment of autumn blooms in.
Well, then another time, I guess, maybe.
[chuckles]
You know, Frank...
I'm gonna be leaving soon.
Helen's husband opened up
a flower shop in Georgetown.
They want me to work there.
Well, are you not happy here, Freddy?
Time to try something new.
Well, is there anything I can do
to convince you to stay?
A raise? Better hours?
I appreciate it,
but I've already told Helen yes,
and... I plan on keeping my word on that.
It's what I want.
Well, I'm gonna miss you around, Freddy.
There's not many people here...
Well, I guess there aren't
that many people here
I'm all that comfortable with.
You know what you should do
before you go?
You should come up here one night
and cook us a rack of ribs.
Now, I realize oven-baked
isn't nearly as good as the smoker,
but you'd make 'em delicious, anyhow.
Ribs? Really?
You want me to cook ribs for you.
Well, sure, just like old times.
What's wrong with that?
I'm just the help, ain't I?
- No, that's not true.
- I tell you I got something good going,
and your first thought ain't,
- "Freddy, congratulations."
- Oh...
It's "make me ribs."
And what's my big send-off?
- I get to cook you ribs.
- No.
Look, you are being
way oversensitive about this.
You're misinterpreting what I meant.
You're right.
It's all my fault.
- I don't know how Claire does it.
- What did you just say?
Is this how you treat her?
She part of the collection, too?
I don't know where
all this is coming from,
but it's extremely ungrateful,
given all that I have done for you.
[sighs] What did you do for me, Frank?
This is the White House.
You will call me "Mr. President"!
You're a m*therf*cker!
Get out!
My bad, my bad.
You're a m*therf*cker, Mr. President!
Governor Conway continues to say
we're not doing enough about terrorism,
but he ignores the fact that
ICO has been stopped in its tracks.
The president is working tirelessly
to combat our enemies abroad,
and what Governor Conway lacks
in his assessment...
is the decades of experience
the president brings...
Do you think you should keep
calling him "the president"?
Well, I wanna emphasize
that we're running mates,
and LeAnn is telling me that
the marriage angle isn't working.
Screw the research.
People want to hear
the real you, a real person.
That's what you gave them
at the convention.
- Ow.
- Sorry.
That was very different.
Exactly. It was very different.
It was honest.
[Yates] And you don't want
to just react to what he's saying.
You wanna offer something.
I have been campaigning
with Francis for 30 years.
You don't ever let the opponent
walk all over you.
If you're getting att*cked,
you fight back.
Fine, but fight back in a different way.
This guy is...
He's all spotlight and surface,
and magazine covers and Twitter.
Don't play his game.
Don't play the game at all, please.
Get beyond the game.
Ow. You know what?
Let's finish this in the morning, please.
I'm sorry.
You're right.
for being a fraud, Governor.
I mean, we all have to be hypocrites,
every now and then.
But if you block this,
I'll send American troops in instead.
You won't send Americans.
Syria won't allow it.
I don't care what Syria will allow.
But wouldn't you rather have it be
Russians in harm's way,
than your fellow American soldiers?
If anyone gets k*lled,
that's going to be blood on your hands.
You want me to tell the Republicans to...
get on board.
Or have the general do it.
Put politics aside and do the right thing.
Did you really think
you'd be able to convince me
by making this call, Mr. President?
I'm ahead by double digits.
I got a message that's working.
You're on your heels,
and you're asking me to help you
[chuckling]
by appealing to my sense of duty?
I've even got you sold on my message.
[laughing]
Well, you shouldn't believe everything
you see on TV.
[man] The governor has
ended the call, Mr. President.
Hmm, let's go.
We're gonna go forward
with our own ground operation.
I'll inform the Joint Chiefs.
Sir, there's another thing.
The Intelligence Committee...
If Conway has someone on the inside...
You're worried about oversight
on surveillance.
There's increased attention.
They dig around,
find out what Macallan's up to...
- Yeah, but I thought we were airtight.
- LeAnn says we are, but still...
The safest thing would be to end it.
[Frank sighing]
[news anchor] Claire Underwood's
been on the move the past two days,
showing up in every state
Governor Conway's held events.
Absent from the trail
has been the president.
Press Secretary Seth Grayson said, quote,
"The president is attending
to the business of government
for the time being," end quote.
But he neglected to say when
the president would resume campaigning,
and there are no upcoming events
currently listed on the campaign website,
leading some to speculate
that the real reason for his absence
may be health-related.
It's been six months since the president
received a liver transplant.
Although he was able
to resume normal...
- What happened to your eye?
- Freddy Hayes.
So I assume he didn't talk.
- I need a way in here, Mr. Danton.
- I've helped you as much as I can.
I know you won't go on record.
I'm not even asking
to put you on background.
All I'm looking for
is whether I'm warm or cold.
What kind of beer is that?
A lager. Some microbrew they had, um...
I don't know the name.
Mind if I try it?
Go ahead.
It's good.
Used to play a drinking game
when I was a teenager...
called Never Have I Ever.
- You know that game?
- You drink when you have.
That's the one.
Or if the president has.
Never have I ever perjured myself
when investigated by a special prosecutor.
Never have I ever
struck a deal with Raymond Tusk...
to perjure himself
in exchange for a pardon.
Never have I ever conspired
to impeach a president
so I could become president myself.
We're gonna need more beer.
[grunting]
- [man] The First Lady is on line one, sir.
- Thank you.
Claire.
Doug called me
about sending in our own troops.
Well, it was that, or sit on our hands.
Conway wouldn't budge.
And what does Cathy say?
I'm more interested
in hearing what you think.
Well, I think... doing something
is better than doing nothing.
[chuckling] How are the events going?
[chuckling] It's hard to tell.
I've done so many, it's all a blur.
There's only one interview left tonight,
and then we're done for the day, but then
there's, uh... seven events tomorrow.
[sighs] How are you holding up?
I called to tell you Tom's not working
on the campaign anymore.
- Did he quit?
- No.
What happened?
We both decided it was for the best.
We don't have to worry about him, Francis.
You sound tired.
Make sure you get
a full night's sleep tonight.
- Francis?
- Yes?
Nothing.
- I'll see you tomorrow.
- Okay, tomorrow.
[grunts]
[Tilden] You're certain Underwood knew?
[Tom] And Walker didn't.
- Could Danton have some agenda on this?
- He has no reason to lie.
- Who's corroborated, besides him?
- No one. That's why I'm here.
I need institutional support.
Legal, research...
a place to work
where my dog won't bark at me.
If you cr*ck this story,
you can do anything you want.
- I'll even make you managing editor again.
- I don't want that.
What I do want... is absolute autonomy.
I build my team, I keep it small,
and I answer only to you.
- How about security?
- Oh, this was just some bad luck.
- I've lost two reporters, Tom.
- Oh, come on, Margaret.
Underwood may be a crook,
but he's not a k*ller.
I don't think so either,
but I don't wanna take any chances.
You just get me the staff I need.
Once this article comes out,
I'm untouchable.
When the White House
starts throwing punches... lawyer up.
'Cause he's gonna throw 'em
at the Herald, not me.
[sighing]
[Frank] Hobby I used to have.
The Battle of the Wilderness.
I spent months building a model of it.
Started another one,
but never finished it.
- Why not?
- I became president.
- Never enough time.
- Hmm.
Does Claire know you asked me here?
No.
It was more than just a fling, wasn't it?
- How did she describe it?
- I didn't ask.
[sighs]
Well, I'm not gonna go into details.
- I respect you too much for that.
- [chuckling]
[inhaling deeply]
When you two came back from Texas...
I had a feeling.
She says... you made her mother laugh.
Yeah, I guess she took a liking to me.
Christ, I haven't seen
that woman laugh in 30 years.
I'm just not a thr*at.
Just someone who didn't judge,
accepted her.
Do you make Claire laugh?
We have a connection.
Yeah... I make her laugh.
I make her feel desired.
I think she feels comfortable
being vulnerable around me.
I have to say,
I'm a bit surprised you're not upset.
- What would that achieve?
- I admire that, Frank.
[scoffing]
I got angry with an old friend yesterday
for calling me "Frank"
instead of "Mr. President."
Just for using your name?
It wasn't the name, I suppose.
It's the fact that he's leaving me.
- Leaving you how?
- New job.
- Hmm. He worked for you?
- Here in the White House.
It's tough for employees
to be your friends.
That's why I decided to end it.
- You decided to leave.
- So that she wouldn't have to ask me to.
And what about your book?
I would never betray her like that.
Thank you, Tom.
- I'll walk you out.
- I know my way out.
But thanks.
Take care, Frank.
[sighing]
Three teams.
North, east, and west.
We'll triangulate
and advance on the center.
Each team will have a field agent
working with local assets
to locate the Ahmadis.
Here's the executive order, sir.
[pen scrawling]
Do you have a preference?
Dead or alive?
Alive, if we can get
intelligence out of 'em.
- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, sir.
You're officially briefing me
on ICO-related surveillance activities.
You never saw or spoke to the president.
This way.
[sighs]
[Frank] Mr. Macallan.
[Aidan] Mr. President.
[Doug] The president's in his residence...
not here.
[Frank] Security.
We have concerns.
[Doug] Conway has people
on House Intelligence.
[sighing] I've got everything masked.
The algorithms for ICO
and the campaign are identical.
It's just a matter
of what variables you input.
[Frank] Give me English.
Uh...
One spoon.
I can use it to stir my coffee...
to eat soup...
to boil heroin.
All they see is the spoon,
not what I do with it.
[Frank] Or we could
just get rid of the spoon.
Shut it down? Well, that would be a shame,
especially after yesterday.
- [Frank] What happened yesterday?
- Beyond happened.
[Frank] "Beyond"?
What your wife said in South Dakota.
"Beyond what's pretty and perfect."
Liberation from convention,
from the past.
Beyond surface, beyond bullshit,
beyond the election.
- Beyond marriage.
- Yes, exactly.
You're not just husband and wife.
You're not just running mates.
You're both and more.
You're what's possible.
The Conways are everything
everyone wants to be.
You're everything
everyone wants to become.
[radio host] The president has been sh*t.
He's had a liver transplant.
And I'm sure everyone here
in Pittsburgh is wondering,
what happens if he dies?
Not to be indelicate, but...
What if I became president?
And that's fair.
Our party chose me because they saw
one half of an indivisible team.
Unconditional support.
- Two people working together for years.
- Supporting each other is one thing.
Experience is another.
You have very little.
I can see from your ring
that you're married.
- Yes. Eighteen years.
- So you know what real partnership is.
We have 30 years under our belts.
Learning from and advising each other?
I'd call that experience.
Okay, so you've got a strong marriage,
but in terms of your qualifications...
What... what I'm saying is that we need
to get beyond husband and wife.
We need to look at the team.
Francis has served in Congress,
in the White House.
I've run a major nonprofit.
I served as ambassador.
We have passed legislation,
developed policy.
We've done all of that together,
every step of the way.
So it's natural
that we would run together.
And I know Francis better than anyone.
So, if he d*ed, to answer your question,
who better to carry out
his plan for America?
[Tom] Manipulation.
Deception.
Corruption.
That translates to abuse of power
and breaking the law.
We know it's true,
but we need corroboration.
People on record,
every fact researched
and checked and double-checked.
Nothing we discuss leaves this room.
Not your friends, not your family,
not the 50 reporters outside that door
who wanna know what we're doing in here.
The second the White House
gets wind of what we're doing...
they start to make this story...
[sighs]
disappear.
The radio interview you did
was spectacular.
It felt good.
I feel like we're finally
tapping into something.
Was it Tom, what you said in South Dakota,
with the couple?
I saw a videotape of it.
The core of it, yes.
And then...
I sort of made it my own.
He should stay on.
- No.
- Not as your speechwriter.
Well, I mean, yes, to the rest
of the world, he can be our speechwriter.
But that's not why he should stay on.
He should stay on because...
he can give you things that I can't.
Look, Claire,
we've been a great team.
But one person...
one person cannot give
everything to another person.
I can't travel with you.
I don't keep you warm at night.
I don't see you the way he sees you.
It... Look, it's not my permission
to give, but...
you'll do what's right for you.
But I want you to know, if you want it...
I know you'll be careful...
and I'll be fine.
I mean, if we're gonna go
beyond marriage, let's go beyond it.
[automated voice]
You have three saved messages.
Message one. September 8th...
Hi, uh, this is Laura Moretti
leaving a message for Douglas...
[automated voice] To save this message,
press eight.
To call back, press five.
- To...
- [phone dialing]
- [line ringing]
- [sighing]
- [soft music playing]
- [indistinct chatter]
I'm sorry.
Uh, my sitter was late, and, um...
- and then there was traffic, so...
- Just relax.
- It's fine.
- [chuckling softly]
It's so nice to meet you in person.
Here.
I don't know why I got them.
I guess I, uh...
- Anyway.
- No, they're lovely.
Thank you.
And, uh... and thank you again...
for that donation.
I just...
I can't tell you how much it means...
You already thanked me
on your voice message
and when we talked on the phone.
- You don't need to thank me anymore.
- [chuckles]
Okay, no more thanks.
I hope this place is okay.
It's nothing fancy,
but I come here a lot.
I like it.
It has a lot of character.
Tony liked greasy spoons like this.
He used to take the kids to, um...
Ben's Chili Bowl every Sunday afternoon
and get them hot dogs.
[sighing] Sorry.
Don't be.
I probably just shouldn't talk
about my husband.
I still get emotional.
You can... if you want to.
Even if I cry? [chuckling]
I wanna know more about him.
Will you close the doors, please?
Where is he?
Twice in two days I've been here.
I know.
So, why am I here now?
I want you back.
I want you back, too.
But...
He understands.
[Frank sighs] have concerns.
[Doug] Conway has people
on House Intelligence.
[sighing] I've got everything masked.
The algorithms for ICO
and the campaign are identical.
It's just a matter
of what variables you input.
[Frank] Give me English.
Uh...
One spoon.
I can use it to stir my coffee...
to eat soup...
to boil heroin.
All they see is the spoon,
not what I do with it.
[Frank] Or we could
just get rid of the spoon.
Shut it down? Well, that would be a shame,
especially after yesterday.
- [Frank] What happened yesterday?
- Beyond happened.
[Frank] "Beyond"?
What your wife said in South Dakota.
"Beyond what's pretty and perfect."
Liberation from convention,
from the past.
Beyond surface, beyond bullshit,
beyond the election.
- Beyond marriage.
- Yes, exactly.
You're not just husband and wife.
You're not just running mates.
You're both and more.
You're what's possible.
The Conways are everything
everyone wants to be.
You're everything
everyone wants to become.
[radio host] The president has been sh*t.
He's had a liver transplant.
And I'm sure everyone here
in Pittsburgh is wondering,
what happens if he dies?
Not to be indelicate, but...
What if I became president?
And that's fair.
Our party chose me because they saw
one half of an indivisible team.
Unconditional support.
- Two people working together for years.
- Supporting each other is one thing.
Experience is another.
You have very little.
I can see from your ring
that you're married.
- Yes. Eighteen years.
- So you know what real partnership is.
We have 30 years under our belts.
Learning from and advising each other?
I'd call that experience.
Okay, so you've got a strong marriage,
but in terms of your qualifications...
What... what I'm saying is that we need
to get beyond husband and wife.
We need to look at the team.
Francis has served in Congress,
in the White House.
I've run a major nonprofit.
I served as ambassador.
We have passed legislation,
developed policy.
We've done all of that together,
every step of the way.
So it's natural
that we would run together.
And I know Francis better than anyone.
So, if he d*ed, to answer your question,
who better to carry out
his plan for America?
[Tom] Manipulation.
Deception.
Corruption.
That translates to abuse of power
and breaking the law.
We know it's true,
but we need corroboration.
People on record,
every fact researched
and checked and double-checked.
Nothing we discuss leaves this room.
Not your friends, not your family,
not the 50 reporters outside that door
who wanna know what we're doing in here.
The second the White House
gets wind of what we're doing...
they start to make this story...
[sighs]
disappear.
The radio interview you did
was spectacular.
It felt good.
I feel like we're finally
tapping into something.
Was it Tom, what you said in South Dakota,
with the couple?
I saw a videotape of it.
The core of it, yes.
And then...
I sort of made it my own.
He should stay on.
- No.
- Not as your speechwriter.
Well, I mean, yes, to the rest
of the world, he can be our speechwriter.
But that's not why he should stay on.
He should stay on because...
he can give you things that I can't.
Look, Claire,
we've been a great team.
But one person...
one person cannot give
everything to another pers
04x11 - Chapter 50
Watch/Buy Amazon
Based on the 1989 novel of the same name about a Congressman and his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.
Based on the 1989 novel of the same name about a Congressman and his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.