06x02 - Chapter 67

[bunniefuu]

[CLAIRE] I want a Declaration,
Roger. So we can send them in.

- [ROGER] But, Madam President...
- I have the Guard, FEMA and the EPA

mobilized and waiting on
the outskirts of that town.

I just got off the
phone with the refinery.

The leak is well on
its way to burning off.

My understanding is that
the air quality is dangerous.

The levels are somewhat elevated, yes,

- but the winds are in our favor.
- And subject to change.

That's how wind works.

This will all be over in a day or two,

the idea of keeping these
families out of their homes...

This is a prudent precaution

and on my watch, that's
what I want to happen.

I don't think we should
exaggerate the situation.

Do you remember where you were
on election night, Governor?

Because I do.

You were going to lose.

Statistically, there is no
reason you should have won.

Keep the phone away from your mouth
while you're thinking, Governor.

I can hear you breathing.

Yes.

I do believe I need to
declare a state of emergency.

Of course, it's your call.

And I assure you, you
will have the full support

of the federal government.

I promised myself I
wouldn't be like him.

That was textbook Francis, wasn't it?

But he handed me over to
them like a shaker of salt

and now they won't let go.

This is a wound of their own making.

Mr. Vice President?

[MARK] Yeah, come in.

Do you need a moment, sir?

No, no.

What is it?

Okay.

Governor?

[MAN] They said it was fine.

It smelled like rotten eggs
and trash. That's all.

You could smell it
coming out of the faucet.

And then my son, his... His nose
started to bleed and I thought,

- "Is that related?"
- Where is your little boy right now?

Now? He's in triage with his mom.

- He's my heart, that little guy.
- No, I know. I know.

But, ma'am. If I may. You...

You have to tell us.
Is this real or not?

Because at first they said
that we don't need to evacuate,

and then all of a sudden that we should.

I want you to know everything is
going to be all right. I promise you.

[MAN] We were relying on that
plant to keep us informed.

Sir, you and your safety

is the most important thing.

In fact, all of the
families of Bellport,

nothing else matters.

I want to give my thanks
to Governor Olmstead

for his quick and
decisive act this morning

in declaring a state of emergency.

We have FEMA, we have EPA,

the Ohio National Guard.

They're all here.

No one should ever feel unsafe.

In her own home.

[BILL] And how is it you
have no idea, Mark?

- [ANNETTE] It doesn't matter.
- [BILL] Oh, it does matter.

It speaks to this untenable arrangement.

[ANNETTE] Later, I said. Let's
stay focused on our response.

She was all set to sign
the bill this morning.

We had photographers, a press
pool waiting, the whole thing.

[BILL] But she didn't sign it, did she?

[ANNETTE] I'm on my way there now.

Because she was too busy manufacturing
an emergency out of nothing.

[MARK] Look, let's not forget
who escalated this. Okay?

Excuse me?

If we're working together, Bill,

I need to be included
in every decision.

Every one.

[BILL] This conversation's over.

Oh, for God's sakes.

[MARK] I'll join Annette in Bellport.

[BILL] No, you won't.

One of you showing up
on site is bad enough.

- Annette, call me back.
- [PHONE BEEPS]

[SIGHS]

Mark.

Mark, are you still there?

Yes.

Let me talk to him.
I'll circle back.

[INHALES, EXHALES]

Hello, everyone.

My name is Kelsey Stewart.

I'm the deputy press secretary,

and I will be taking
your questions today.

Sarah.

Is it true that Governor
Olmstead was resistant

to declaring a state of emergency?

The Governor did declare
a state of emergency,

and the White House concurs.

Something very wrong
happened in that plant.

Yes.

Arcas has been slow to
provide any details

when it comes to the leak and expl*si*n.

Not to mention the two
lives lost in the accident.

Have they been cooperating
with the White House?

Now that the president is on the ground,

it seems that, yes, they
have been more agreeable.

Uh... That's not the
real question, though.

Somebody might want to ask, where
is Shepherd Unlimited in all of this?

The Arcas Refinery is a subsidiary
of the family's conglomerate.

[WOMAN] Are you saying that the
Shepherds are personally aware

of problems at the plant?

Who is responsible and how

is all the White House and the president

are trying to find out at this point.

[CLAMORING]

Will this have any effect

on the regulatory bill
on the president's desk?

The president will be
speaking on that shortly.

Marcus.

Was the president planning to
divorce the former president

in the days leading up to his death?

Uh, let's...

- Oh. Mr. Vice President.
- Morning, everyone.

I hope Miss Stewart won't mind
me taking a couple of questions.

[CLAMORING]

[WOMAN] Mr. Vice President, one question!

[USHER] Marcus, who's your source?

- [MARCUS] Unnamed officials.
- Nope. We don't do that anymore.

We need names. You have a name?

I mean really, where do you get this?

The former president

spent his last night alive

next to his wife in
the White House. Period.

As for Bellport...

let's not jump to conclusions
before all the facts are in.

What else?

We still going door to door,
but it's really a precaution.

Are there enough beds?

We have a few church basements
and the local jail if we need more.

Whatever hydrogen sulfide there is
left in the air is already dissipating.

[MAN] In a day or two, people will
be back sleeping in their own beds.

[MAN 2] You have to understand,

Madam President,

most everyone overreacts
when it comes to chemicals.

We have years of experience...

And the men who d*ed in the accident?

That's tragic, of course.
They were valued employees.

Members of the community.
There's no way to replace them.

And Bill Shepherd?

- Yes.
- Have you heard from him?

I've kept him informed, as
well as all of our partners.

Bill called me directly. They're
ready to do whatever's needed.

They're important to Bellport.

They built the local stadium. Even
this gymnasium. They contributed...

No, I'm well aware of
the family's philanthropy.

That wasn't the question.

Yes, Mr. Shepherd has been
monitoring the situation closely.

I would like to tour the area.

Is that a problem, Governor?

No, no, not to my understanding.

I was hoping to get you over to...

To where we set up our triage.

It might be best if we
stick to the itinerary...

I'd actually like to see it for myself.

Unless, of course,
you tell me otherwise.

No, of course not.

[MAN] The guard marks
the doors of the evacuees.

Pretty standard procedure.

Stop the car. I think I see someone.

Stop the car.

Madam President, we'll
have someone circle back.

Stop the car now.

Damn it.

Is she safe?

Nothing is 100% safe.

Hello. Anyone here?

[WOMAN] The boy could have lost an eye.

[MAN] That's not how we treat people.

- [WOMAN] How could she?
- [MAN] My God, Elizabeth, stop it.

[ELIZABETH] Am I raising
a daughter or an animal?

[MAN] They're the animals,
the way they att*cked her.

[ELIZABETH] Oh, of course,
take her side. Of course!

It's time she learned about the world.

Pretty girls have a
responsibility to their beauty.

I'll bet she dared those boys.

Shame on her.

Why can't you just do as you're told?

Why, indeed?

Madam President! Madam President.

Madam President...

might be best if we head back.

[CLAIRE] So, the house is safe?

Drink it then.

I thought so.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- But what am I agreeing to?
- I can read it for you.

I can read.

And what's this for?

That lets the app figure out
how we can be most helpful.

It can be tailored to your specific
needs. We want to keep you informed.

We want you to know what
happens before it happens.

You can't trust the
government to do that.

- Hello, my name is Seth Grayson.
- Nice to meet you.

I'm with Shepherd Freedom Foundation,
can I talk to you for a second?

[MAN] Sure thing. I was looking
at the pamphlet saying just...

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[WOMAN] It's the president.

Madam President.

Whose idea was it? To
leave it on his bed?

Not here.

The Shepherd Freedom
Foundation is here to help.

The federal government
is here to help you.

Yes, Madam President.

The only way America's problems
will be solved is through alliances

between government and private
industry, each doing its part.

The Commander in Chief
and I go way back.

We do. And I know I
have the full cooperation

from the Shepherd family.

The blatant disregard for human life
exhibited by companies like Arcas...

Arcas is committed to
the safety of its workers.

And with the help of...

the right kind of legislation,
like the FUTURE Act.

Which is under review at the moment.

Until then,

I am hereby moving the EPA's
Criminal Investigative Division

into the Pentagon,

where it will enjoy the forces
and the resources of our m*llitary.

And they will investigate this disaster.

I swear on my husband's grave, I
will find out what happened here.

Thank you for your support.

I wanted to leave it on your bed.

Don't be thick, thick I can't use.

[MARCUS] Did she actually
ask for a divorce?

- As if that matters.
- And if I'm asked to justify the question?

It was justified the moment
they didn't have an answer.

The last thing the president
wants is to be talking

about the former president.

Let me ask you this.

How did your mother feel

when the president yanked
her hand away like that?

That's none of your
g*dd*mn business, Marcus.

[BEEPS]

[MAN] Recoil? Is that the word you used?

[HAMMERSCHMIDT] Yeah, that's what I see.

- [WOMAN] Are you kidding me?
- [HAMMERSCHMIDT] No.

Are we really gonna waste time
dissecting a gesture between two women?

Nora's right. I was
there. There wasn't a recoil.

I gotta agree with Tom here. For me,

it's Annette Shepherd sort
of manhandling the president

as a sign of victory, and
then I detect a flinch.

A slight flinch, then recoil.

- Recoil? I mean...
- She's trying to separate herself

from the primary source of
the funding for what was to be

- the Francis J. Underwood Foundation.
- This is about culpability.

She went to Bellport to hold
those responsible accountable.

Companies like Shepherd
Unlimited have been hamstrung.

And that's why this bill
on her desk is so important.

Legislation means nothing
without proper enforcement.

Weaponizing the EPA is wrongheaded.

And it does nothing to make...

Instead of ascribing negative
motives to her every action,

why can't we just accept
that President Underwood

was out there being presidential?

She put the fear of God into you
and your new friends, Mr. Grayson.

Being "presidential"
means signing the bill

and modernizing antiquated regulations.

[HAMMERSCHMIDT] As if you would know.

What's that supposed to mean?

Her husband, whose
administration you were a part of,

was about to...

Was in the midst of setting
up a philanthropic foundation.

Her husband was about to be indicted.

- There wasn't even a grand jury.
- I have it on good authority

he was about to be indicted,
and she was about to pardon him.

But she also wanted a divorce.

To save herself. Distance herself.

Because, come on. Are you telling me

she knew nothing of what he was up to?

- If he was guilty, she was guilty.
- [WOMAN] Tom? Tom,

I have great respect for you and
the work you've done at the Herald.

But are you even capable of
defining her on her own terms?

I'm sorry. One minute she's
playing the grieving widow and the next,

- she's riding on the coattails.
- Case in point.

[HAMMERSCHMIDT] This may be
an unseemly thing to say,

but it's quite possible

her husband's death was
the president's lucky day.

[SIGHS]

[ROSEN] You can say
whatever you want in here.

Whatever your feeling, thinking.

I'm questioning your ability.

My ability?

To tell the difference between
justifiable paranoia and...

Do you use the word anymore?

"Madness?"

What do you feel paranoid about?

Myself, maybe.

Why we do what we do and for who?

Who's more evil, Doctor,

the taskmaster or the tasked?

Do you feel like Francis
Underwood betrayed you?

I guess I'm wondering who betrayed him.

Who do you think?

You?

I don't know if these
sessions are helping me anymore.

Why are you trying
to drug me up, Doctor?

I think you should consider it.

Clozapine.

You must know what
that does to a person.

They're a newer class
of antipsychotics, Doug.

The side effects are not as
sensational as some of the older ones.

You don't have to suffer like this.

From my understanding, the side
effects themselves can make you look...

And again, I'm asking you
if you use this word "mad."

Are you f*cking kidding me?

Pardon?

You're gonna talk to me about side effects

while you look at your f*cking clock?

No, you're right. I'm sorry.

We're gonna have to take
this up tomorrow afternoon.

This is a much bigger conversation.

No, I'm talking now.

I'm sorry, but your time is up.

I don't give a f*ck about the time.

Mr. Stamper.

I'm glad that you finally decided
to take advantage of your time here,

but you know the rules.

I'm not going anywhere.

Mr. Stamper, please.

I don't want to have to
call someone, but I will.

This is bullshit.

[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

Your uncle is not happy.

Are you aware of how many of your
sentences start with you quoting him?

He's right.

This circus backfired.

- I thought you were wonderful.
- Your uncle thinks

- we've made a bad situation worse.
- Mom.

Now I'm the face of this thing.

Which we will use to our advantage.

She called us out by name.

We can spin it any way we want.

Work the Congress.

Even if she vetoes the
bill, they can override it.

She overreacted.

- And it made a fool of me.
- I'm telling you,

you won.

She thinks she did.

I know that expression, trust me.

Phew. She can't decide if
she's Lady Macbeth or Macbeth.

- Your uncle takes it from here.
- No.

This isn't personal for me, not
like it is for you and Uncle Bill.

You know he hates the spotlight,

for any of us.

Prefers an old school way of dealing with things.

- I...
- And don't think you know everything.

Because you don't.

Let me talk to Uncle Bill.

He's taken a suite at the Hay-Adams.

Frank's old room.

It's Doug Stamper, Madam US Attorney.

- [WOMAN] How did you get this number?
- Don't hang up.

The next call I expect is from
your lawyer. In my office.

You really shouldn't.

Mr. Stamper,

- this is highly...
- I'm going to recant.

Are you there?

Yes.

I'm going to lay out
how it's going to go.

And you stop me at any
point if I'm wrong.

But I'm going to recant.

Which means you're going
to need a new prosecutor.

Because you're going
to have to recuse yourself

so you can testify against me.

And this call we're on,

is not going to look very good for you.

Anything you say in court
will be ruled hearsay.

And the judge,

if he's in a good mood, is
going to ask for more evidence,

and you and your new prosecutor
aren't going to have any.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

This case isn't going
to make your career.

The case that's going
change your life

is the prosecution of Claire Underwood.

[CLICKS]

[BIRDS CAW]

It's gruesome,

what's gone on here.

I checked all the log books myself.

I spoke with the executive housekeeper.

She interviewed the staff.
Nobody knows anything.

So his ring just appeared
on his bed by magic?

My feeling is, it's not the fact
of it that we should be focusing on.

But...

what it means.

Tell me, Mark. What kind of
people dig up a man's grave

and remove a ring from his cold...

hard finger?

The same people that are generating
this drum b*at about Francis' pardon

and your divorce.

You are daring them.

You've turned it into a spectacle,
and now they will not stop.

Believe me. These people will not rest.

You need to make amends.

For slighting her?

- For identifying them?
- You have to give them something.

- I don't believe in the bill.
- Oh, g*dd*mn it!

This bill. Are you listening?

Do you want to spend the
rest of your presidency

defending your dead husband,

defending his...

deeds?

Because they will make sure that
every waking and even sleeping moment

of your time in the
White House is about him!

[SIGHS]

Make amends for the last hundred days.

Then you can have the next four years.

When you present the scholarship
at the Take Aim Club this weekend,

Annette Shepherd will be there.

She's on the board. They're all donors.

Appear with your old friend...

and sign this bill.

You know, I can help you...

with the Shepherds. I
know how to talk to them.

And please, please explain
to me why you thought...

putting that elevated intern

in front of the press
yesterday serves you.

- Because she's honest.
- I had Mitch Glazer lined up.

- He's got 30 years of...
- Because she's not Mitch.

Because I know you pushed out Sean.

Sean Jeffries had a hard
time telling the truth.

- Your truth?
- Yes, the one that keeps you in power.

And now what?

We've traded his
ambition for her naivete?

I believe her.

And so will everyone else.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

Oh, I'm sorry, do you need me to...

No, no, actually, I was looking for you.

I wanted to apologize for yesterday.

No, please.

- I was happy to have your help.
- Okay.

You know Sean's not coming back, right?

I heard.

The president must see something in you.

What do you think that is?

It was an amazing opportunity.

And I've heard there are some
wonderful candidates for the position.

Yeah.

Well, until then...

why don't you to continue on

as acting press secretary.

Of course. Yes, sir.

And thank you and the president.

Do you believe in her, Miss Stewart?

I do.

I ask because...

I want you to know there
are powerful forces out there

that are invested in seeing her fail.

So you're gonna hear rumors.
You're gonna hear innuendos.

You'll need to stick
to your talking points.

Not get lured off-track with,
what, salacious questions.

I understand.

Right now, I'm thede
facto chief of staff.

So, if you need...

help or advice,

you know where to find me.

- Good luck.
- Thank you.

[CHUCKLES]

[SETH] There's a fire burning in
the Valley outside of Los Angeles.

So, the Foundation sends volunteers
in, we sign them up for the app.

[BILL] How many signed up in Bellport?

In and around the area,
close to 50,000 phones.

But beside the fires, there's
flooding in the Panhandle.

It's been raining for days.

There's a pipeline that's
burst in North Dakota.

And my nephew came up with this?

Well, it's based on
pre-existing technology, but...

he saw the potential.

Essentially they're
handing over their phones,

which as you know, is basically an
extension of the self at this point.

Duncan calls them "the
sarcophagi of our souls."

We'll be crawling peoples' phones.

You get to decide what
people see and when.

Did Frank take this
room because of the view?

Yes, I think he did.

You respected him.

Did you fear him?

Yes.

But you always knew
where you stood with him.

And her?

You never know.

Did the workers at the
plant sign up for the app?

- Most of them did, yes.
- Good.

Good.

I'm glad you're working with us, Seth.

Your perspective, when it
comes to the Underwoods,

my nephew.

I appreciate it.

Retired agents?

They're freelance now.

Working for Nexis Securities.
A lot of guys do it.

Apparently these two have
been on the ground in Gaffney

for the last week or so.

- Hired by who?
- We don't know yet.

But they're making enough so
that one of them just purchased

a second home on the Chesapeake Bay.

They...

broke into your Gaffney
residence, ma'am.

What? Where was Secret Service?

And why wasn't I alerted?

Because no one was alerted.

They left it completely untouched,

as far as anyone can tell.

How did you know anyone was there, then?

An insomniac neighbor who spotted
the light from a phone screen inside.

Taking pictures, I'm assuming.

My, my, my.

Night life in Gaffney
certainly has picked up.

[LAUGHS]

Started when I was a kid.

Whenever the opportunity
would present itself,

I'd slip my hand into a coat
pocket to see what I could find.

A stranger's pocket is
a window into his soul.

And what did you find?

Condoms.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Mints. Keys.

Did you steal what you found?

Not the mints. Because
that would be cruel.

[USHER LAUGHS]

Was that you...

on the way to the airport?

Were you trying to teach her a lesson?

- Talk to Bill.
- Come on.

I already did.

- She's late.
- Yeah, she's the president.

You know, you have a
weakness for strong women.

Oh.

No, really.

You think they need your help.

Really?

- Still?
- No, no.

I chew now.

I just like to...

play with this.

- [CELL PHONE RINGING]
- Wait.

She's here.

Madam President, Duncan Shepherd.

- Oh. Hello.
- [ANNETTE] Claire.

Annette.

I see you've met Duncan.

- Shall we?
- Yes.

Don't ever recoil from me again.

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING, INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- Ain't 50 nifty?
- Mm-hmm.

I think the last time you
dragged me into a bathroom,

it was to show off your hickey.

[LAUGHS]

I don't think your brother
is gonna let up, Annette.

Until he gets his ring
kissed directly, I think.

Reminds me of someone
you were married to.

Oh, no. Bill and Francis
are very different people.

Agreed.

You know I slept with him once.

Your brother?

Your husband.

I know.

Interesting.

Though, come to think of
it, I guess it makes sense.

What does?

That your marriage allowed for that.

Well, it was the '98 campaign.

Francis was facing a robust challenger,

and there you were at
some DC fundraiser or other.

It was at the Union Station,

- East Hall.
- Yes.

And there you were,
dangling your checkbook.

So, it sounds like a favorable
transaction all around.

- Is that what he told you?
- I never asked for details.

I mean, I was curious.

I really was.

He was a good kisser, I'll say that.

But then the rest was so underwhelming.

Felt like he wasn't all there.

Like, he wasn't...

all in, so to speak.

Of course, my first thought, and...

isn't this true of most women?

Was to wonder if it was me.

Was I somehow less skilled
than I like to believe I am?

Well, I can't really
answer to that, Annette.

I can.

It was him.

And...

I bet it was never
very different with you.

Even you.

The blonde goddess.

Even with you. Am I right?

Wow.

It's really only dawning on me now.

The sacrifice you made.

I sort of pity you.

What you must have denied
yourself all those years.

And this is where I tell you
to shut your mouth, Annette.

You don't know anything about marriage,

much less mine.

Tell yourself whatever you want, Claire.

We both know the truth.

He's waiting for you down
the hall in the prep kitchen.

My brother.

I can still do it by the way.

Can you?

[BILL] Well, you missed dinner.

I can have 'em make
you whatever you like.

I'm not hungry.

The secret here is how much

lemon juice you put in.

Balance out the butter.

People and hollandaise.

They think it tastes like money.

- A night at the hotel.
- What where you looking for?

There's nothing in the
Gaffney home of value.

Frank did things.

And you just, what?

Look the other way?

That sh*t you took at me, it's
not like you to be so reckless.

You don't scare easy.

The future of our country is at stake.

Does that sound...

pat to you, naive?

No, not at all.

Do you think I don't have
friends at the Pentagon, Claire?

You may want to make my four
years in office miserable...

All I want you to do
is behave, as promised.

You can dig up a ring or whatever
else you can get your hands on.

But that doesn't mean I won't make
your time a living hell as well.

[LAUGHING]

Raymond Tusk said about you one time,

some dinner we were
at, he just said it...

This is where I'm supposed to be
a little bit afraid of the answer,

- I suppose.
- He said, "I don't know,

whether or not she's a person...

or just playing the part of one."

And I thought it was so strange
at the time, but maybe it's true.

Just...

unreachable.

I know it'll be hard for you.

But you're going to have to
treat me as an equal, Bill.

What did you do with
your husband's will?

[CLAIRE] It was a revocable trust.

All done.

I'm not talking about that one.

I'm talking about the other one.

The new one.

Bet Doug Stamper would love to
see the contents of that one.

What's in there anyway?

That you would go to such lengths

to keep him from it?

Claire Hale has a secret.

Douglas Stamper is meeting
with the US District Attorney

as we speak.

He's out, Claire.

And he's not going back in.

Now, you need my help.

Later tonight,

I'm going to watch you sign that bill

that's sitting on your desk.

"To the dead,

a kingdom means nothing.

They have their requiem and eternity."

That's Macbeth. The opera, not the play.

All you have to do now
is just go on out there

with your oldest, dearest friend and...

hold her hand up high.

Madam President.

You don't really think
the m*llitary is irrelevant?

I watched your confirmation
from my chambers for the UN.

- Wasn't my finest hour.
- Well, he who laughs loudest...

Or is it "laughs last"?

"Last." "She."

- Vincent Abruzzo.
- Ninth Circuit.

I am no good at functions like this.

I tend to find a chair at these things

and sit in it for the rest of the evening.

- Madam President.
- Yes. Well, it's been a pleasure.

Madam President, if I may say,

I'm so glad that we finally
have a woman in the Oval Office.

The arc of history is long, but...

The reign of the middle-aged
white man is over.

The Bill Shepherds of the world
who won't let go, have to go.

Does anyone except you know about
the document that came for him?

[ROSEN] No, of course not.

Because if anyone else gets
their hand on that will...

That is strictly between us.

We only just discovered
that he was missing.

I put a call into the US
Attorney and was just informed

charges have been dropped.

How is that even possible?

I thought I'd lost my phone
a couple of days ago, but...

But now I'm certain that he took
it and reached out to make a deal.

I can have a grand jury impaneled

and we can be taking testimony
from witnesses within a week.

Who do you have?

Secretary Durant?

And others.

I'm sure I don't need to talk to
you about what's right or wrong.

But in my experience,
most people, in the end,

will do whatever they need
to, to save themselves.

Do you think you have
a strong enough case?

That depends on you.

If I'm gonna put myself on the line,
I need to know you're going to win.

This can be a very unforgiving town.

I'm giving you a chance to start over.

- Come on.
- I can offer you immunity

for your testimony.

But, Mr. Stamper, of course,
I can't give you any guarantees

when it comes to your reputation
or that of the former president.

You would have to
testify in an open court.

That is the deal.

I should consult with my lawyers.

Thank you for your time, Mr. Stamper.

[WOMAN] Join us in supporting
the Dallas Scholarship Fund

for Young Women:

Take aim.

Look at these marvelous faces.

The faces of our future.

And I am so, so honored

to be chosen to introduce to you

the President of the United
States, Claire Underwood.

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE CONTINUES]

I look at these brilliant young women

and words fail me.

What's this?

They gave us these.
What are they gonna do?

Yeah, I'm not drinking the water,

no f*cking way, I'll tell you that.

I'll go all the way to Canton
to buy it, if I have to.

And... Mr. Grayson,

what else did he tell you about the app?

Nothing. You can go
online and check it out.

'Cause a lot of people I know signed
up for it even after the president left.

Hmm.

He said...

Mr. Grayson?

Yeah, him.

That they were gonna tell
us what was gonna happen

- before it happens.
- How?

Look, I don't know.

Ithaca's, like, where?

There's one in Greece.

And the other's in upstate New York.

Guess which one I'm from.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

It's a paper, it
comes out once a week.

It was going to happen,

because it happened before.

We complained all the
way to the EPA, but...

whatever.

Only this time the expl*si*n was bad.

And yeah, some guys d*ed.
And the company knew.

They knew.

[SIRENS WAIL IN THE
DISTANCE, DOUG CLEARS THROAT]

[DOOR SHUTS]

[CLAIRE] Welcome home.

Good timing. I just put on coffee.

A little late for coffee.

Well, we have so much to talk about.

I'm glad you're out, Doug.

I don't know what you
were doing in there.

[DOUG SIGHS]

How's the US Attorney?

Secretary Durant's
negotiating her appearance.

And if...

Cathy should somehow be dissuaded?

- Silenced?
- Then it all goes away.

Yes, but they'll still want to know

who knew what, when.

I feel pretty clear.

You think it was me who
asked you to take the fall

- just because I said the words, right?
- He told me it was you.

- He whispered it in my ear.
- And you believed him.

Like you always believed him.

Well, here's what I believe.
Zoe Barnes k*lled herself...

And I expected to be
pardoned for the rest.

Since his death, my
hands have been tied.

[DOUG SCOFFS]

But I believe the universe
has given us a gift.

I don't know what that means.

Well...

We both lost someone

who shaped the course of our lives.

For good, but also for ill.

And now here we are

unexpectedly free.

To take a different tack.

We can do whatever we want, Doug.

And we've been entwined, you and I,

like it or not,

for decades now.

But I think...

we deserve to go our separate ways.

The only problem is we have something
urgent to attend to called Cathy Durant.

And then we can finally be free.

Do what we really want.

Do what we need to do.

What does Doug Stamper want?

Are you trying to erase him?

Because you can't.

I'm not trying to do anything

except be the sitting
President of the United States.

It's wrong to assume

Francis's ambitions directly
aligned with mine, Doug.

The best way to not to be associated
with his questionable deeds

is to do good. That's
what I plan to do, anyway.

[DOUG LAUGHING]

[CLAIRE] Oh, you find
that funny, do you?

Well, it's true.

I never understood what he saw in you.

I mean the outside, sure.

But the inside...

- LeAnn's death.
- No.

You never cared for her.

It wasn't necessary.

And I told him so.

And yet...

Doug, do me a favor.

Close your eyes.

Please.

He wanted you to have them.

For this to happen at
this point in your life,

the prognosis is not good.

I know.

Somebody k*lled Francis,

and yet they don't want him to die.

That last night, the last time we spoke,

was when I declined his
phone call in the Oval Office.

It had been close to two months,
and he was tired of waiting.

So he showed up here in the White House.

Like a thief.

It was terrifying.

He was furious, slurring his words.

"Why can't you do as
you're told, Claire?"

I told the world that
he d*ed in our bed,

but that's not the truth.

I locked myself in my room that night,

woke up in the morning
and found him dead in his.

They k*lled him to shut me up.

I need to bury Francis,
once and for all.

Do you need help signing it?

No. Bill. Shepherd, enough.

I actually have one condition.

Put it back.