Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 5, Episode 5 - Ghosts - full transcript

With the king of
Thailand's head on it,

don't step on it.

They jailed a French
citizen for that.

Well, French and the monarchy,

they had to know that
was gonna be trouble.

Also,
if the king gives a speech...

everyone's head must be lower
than his feet.

So just lie down.

Sounds like a comfortable place
to hear a speech from.

And just a little wifely advice,

Thailand is a country where
free speech doesn't exist.



Good thing I've got
diplomatic immunity now.

Come on, I'm kidding.

The Thai constitution says

the "king is enthroned in
a position of divine worship."

So even as an advisor to the
president of the United States,

you're a mere mortal.

And you can't
wear white or black.

Wh-What?

Which shirt to meet the king?

I don't know. Blake's still
working on the invite.

So his birthday reception's
a pretty hot ticket?

So, Rochana, she's here
at this conference...

as part of a group, or...?

No, she's just an
invited speaker.



I told her I would be a friendly
religious scholar in the crowd.

That's nice.

So how's, um,

her husband, what's his name?

Richard.
They're not together anymore.

What?

Nothing.

Well, it's just a
recently divorced professor

with a noticeably
attractive author photo

excited to see her old
boyfriend from college.

At a religious conference
in Bangkok

with a bunch of academics.

You say that like it's not
exactly the way to seduce you.-

'Cause that's how I seduced you,

taking you to all those
academic conferences.

No, of course not, because I
wasn't your intellectual equal

who challenged your arguments
with laser-like precision.

I never said that about Rochana.

But you hesitated,
because you could have.

There's only one woman
who ever challenged me

with laser-like precision.

Mike B.

What?

Enough with the meetings.

He does know that
there's no campaign

to actually manage yet, right?

I keep telling him to wait
until after I announce.

And when are we thinking
that's gonna be?

Not for a while.

But we should tell
the kids soon, right?

Yeah. I think that
would be a good idea.

You guys, she's here!

Jason's college counselor.

I just don't want them
to hear it from someone else.

Let's tell them when I get back.

Okay.

Are you okay?

Yeah, it's just...

telling the kids
makes it so freaking...

I know, real.

Yeah, right? Yeah.

Mom, Dad, we're waiting!

We're coming!

Okay, ready to go get talked
into some more debt?

So in spite of my unheeded
reservations

about writing a personal
statement on sea turtles...

Again, it was a metaphor

for an embattled
progressive movement

in a time of rising fascism.

God. Go on.

It seems the improved GPA

along with that perfect
SAT score did the job.

Vassar,

Northwestern and Vonderhauf

all offered scholarship
packages.

That's what I'm
talking about. Wow, hey, man.

Wow. You should be very proud.

Yeah. How much?

Vonderhauf is the highest,

with half tuition and housing
for the first year,

successive years contingent
on academic performance.

Northwestern and Vassar,
closer to 30%.

We should have gone to see Vonderhauf.
It's very cold at Northwestern.

We should have gone down there.
They're all excellent schools.

Of course. Do some research.

Look into campus life,
faculty, class sizes.

This is so exciting.

Yeah. Vassar
used to be all girls, right?

Originally, yes. Great, I'll go there.

Well, now, there's no need
to just... We'll do a little more research.

Well, no, Dad, it's a male
to female ratio.

There's less competition
on the field.

Well, that's solid criteria.

There's an acceptance deadline,

so you'll want to indicate
your choice

by 500 p.m. Thursday,
just go on the website.

We will get right on it.

Gosh, thank you, Colleen.

Such a pleasure,
such a pleasure.

My car, my car's here.

Okay, I got to go.

I'm really proud of you, buddy.

Thank you so much. I'm-I'm happy to fulfill
everyone's status expectations.

He's excited, he is.

It just looks like cynicism.

Congratulations.Thanks.
Thank you.

Good morning.Morning.

Raspberry scone.

Excellent priorities, Blake.

The Human Rights Heroes Luncheon

is asking that you move up
your arrival by half an hour,

which would mean
postponing your greeting

to the newly confirmed
ambassadors.

No, I don't want to
miss that greeting.

Those guys have waited
years to be confirmed.

I'll push back.

I did manage to secure
an invitation for Henry

to the king of Thailand's
birthday reception.

Thanks.

It's no problem.

I didn't really want
my firstborn, anyway.

There wasn't a plus-one
with that, was there?

I can reapproach.

No, no. It's fine. It's...

Ma'am, good morning.

Yeah. I was just wondering
if you saw my remarks

for the human rights luncheon? Yeah, I did.

Well, I can pull back on the
Nelson Mandela if you like.

No, no. It's fine. I'll do
a quick polish beforehand.

Mike B.'s in your office.

Of course he is.

Good morning. How's the future
leader of the free world?

I thought we weren't shouting
that from the rooftops just yet.

Not shouting. Just the dim
roar of a gathering wave

far out on the horizon.

Yeah, not really much
of a beach person.

But this is the very best
kind of wave Money.

A grassroots super PAC
calling themselves.

"Run, Bess, Run" is already
gathering donations

for your campaign.

Try to contain your joy.

This is huge.

It's also indicative of the kind
of support you're stirring up.

Of course, legally, you're
obliged to stay ignorant

of any activities
of a super PAC.

Then why are you
telling me this?

Because it's thrilling.

And it also leads me
to my next topic

The book you're gonna write.
I'm not writing a book.

Of course you are.

Got to tell your story,
start burnishing the myth,

but keep it relatable.

I haven't even told my kids
that I am running.

Who talks to their
kids, anyway? I don't.

I mean, it's 'cause my
ex-wife doesn't want me to,

and I could probably
push past that,

but somehow I don't.

Where were we?

The book that I do not
have time to write.

That is what a
ghostwriter is for.

Lorraine Sheridan,
speechwriter for the annoyingly

progressive mayor in Denver,
is coming by this afternoon

for no more than ten minutes.

I don't have ten minutes.
Everybody has ten minutes.

Think of it as an
investment in your future.

If you decide not to run,

you can always work
it into a book tour.

You good there?
Want me to get you anything?

I'll have Blake get me
a cup of coffee.

Go fix the world.

There you are. Hey. Hi.

Wow.

My gosh, you look just the same.

You look just the same...
You stole my line.

It's good to see you, Roe.

I'm so happy you came. Me, too.

Here, I got us a table.

Thank you.

Wow, that's a beautiful scarf.
Did you get that here?

From a street vendor.
Can you believe it?

I'm sure I paid twice
as much as I should have.

They didn't give you a
discount for being a native?

I've lived away from here too
long. They know I'm a tourist.

I've completely lost
all my bargaining skills.

May I get you something?

Just water for me, thanks.

It's so good to see you.

You, too, Roe.

It's been, what, like, 25 years?

Has it?

Doesn't seem like it.
Maybe 'cause we've e-mailed.

Which reminds me,

thanks to your input,
I got the Stivers Grant.

Now, come on.

Y-You need to take
complete credit for that.

I just reorganized a
couple of your thoughts.

No.

You've always had a way
with words, Henry McCord.

But still not good
at taking compliments, I see.

Thank you.

So how are, Alexander and...?

Lawan. Lawan.

They're both living
in the U.S. now.

Alex is 24, working in a bank,

God help me. Wow.

And Lawan is just starting
her master's in Comp Lit.

Clearly, she's your girl.

Here are my guys.

What a beautiful family.

Yeah.

And Elizabeth. My God.

The Iran deal,
nuclear disarmament.

Yeah. She's doing good work.

See? Things work out
the way they're supposed to.

I'm sorry about you and Richard.

Honestly, it's been great.

I was a little lost at first,
with the kids gone,

but there's this
real liberation to it, too.

You know?

It's like, suddenly, I can get
back to everything I was before.

It's like getting
a second chance.

Look, I get it. You're a working
mom with an enormous job.

In the interest of global
security, I promise you,

this book will have
minimal impact on your life.

Well, I have to admit,
that's a relief to hear.

I had visions of you
following me to yoga class.

No, no. All I want to do
is talk with your family

maybe once, grab a moment
with your chief of staff

and one or two sit-downs
with you, whenever you can.

Well, that doesn't
sound impossible.

Good. 'Cause Mike B.
Didn't say anything,

but if this book means
what I think it does,

I am so freakin' on board.

I appreciate the enthusiasm.

I do. I, um...

Okay. Why don't we... let's,
we'll sit down one more time

and see how things go. Okay? Awesome.

Can I ask you to do
one tiny thing?

And, it's not
homework, I swear to God.

Could you just jot down
one moment when you thought,

"I could be a leader"?

Either because you were mad at
how something was being done,

or-or you just enjoyed
being in charge.

The earlier in your
life, the better.

Okay. Yeah.

Whatever comes to you.

I'll flesh it out into a
chapter, you see if you like it

and then we'll
take it from there.

Does that sound good?

Okay. Yeah.

Well, they almost kicked me out.

Y-you can't
blame me for that one.

What are you talking about?

You confronted the guy. He was,
like, a six-four linebacker.

You called him an asshat,
and I had to...

He kept interrupting class
with nothing to say.

I didn't expect for you
to challenge him to a duel!

Well, I was his T.A. I had...
I had to do something.

Humor was the best way
to defuse the situation.

You did eventually
talk him down.

No pistols fired at dawn..

I still got academic censure.

He didn't even read the essay.

Can you imagine doing that
now... confronting every kid

who goes off without
anything to say? Yes.

Well, we all
let it slide now, don't we?

I suppose we should be thankful

there was no Internet back then.

Yes.

So tomorrow,
you know what time and where?

Yeah, I'm all set.

It means so much to me
that you came here.

I wouldn't have missed it.

Look, I got to...
I got to hit it,

or I'm just gonna get
hammered by this jet lag.

Yeah.

Okay, so I will
wait for confirmation

on the time for tomorrow.

Absolutely. Thank you
for coming in, Ms. Sheridan.

What's she coming back for?

Second interview? I can't disclose that.

Bro, I know
that's Lorraine Sheridan,

big speechwriter,
has her own TED Talk.

Calls herself a shaman

who summons the speaker's
inner voice.

M-Sec's running for president,

and I'm out, right?
You can tell me.

Matt, a White House
run is just a rumor.

Look, I know those remarks
I wrote for the luncheon

weren't my best, but then,
she barely had any notes.

Is that because, they
weren't as bad as I thought,

or because she's given up on me?

What? She seemed fine with them.

Honestly, I... But there was a tone

like you use with the
guy you're done with,

but you just keep him around
so you can have a plus-one

for your friend's wedding.Matt.

Breathe with me.

And know that you are
the shaman chosen

to summon M-Sec's inner voice.

You mean that?

It was meant to be ironic,
but trust me, you're fine.

What was the meeting about?

That I can't tell you.

Why would anyone willingly
submit themselves

to a Bangkok traffic jam?

Surely I must be a tourist.

In fact, I was born here,
and I lived here in Bangkok

until I was eight years old,
and I've always found

the best way to find out
what people are really thinking

is to eavesdrop on the bus.

A few days ago, I was sitting
behind two young men,

and one said to the other,

"I don't work, but I go
to temple four times a day,

"and with what they pay me,

I'll have enough to buy
a scooter in three months."

Paid to pray.

I thought, "What a fascinating
contradiction."

But then, Thailand is a land
of contradiction.

A Buddhist nation that worships
its own king as semi-divine.

We have gathered here

to examine freedom of faith
all over the world,

but this very country imposes
on its people the worship

of a man nowhere recognized
in its Buddhist faith.

Where in Buddhism does it say

one man is more divine
than the other?

Where does it say one man

and his family should be worth
over $30 billion,

while many of his people starve
and beg in the streets?

Many will feel
I should be ashamed

for asking these questions.

But I tell you...

I am ashamed that it has
taken me so long to ask them.

And so, I take this moment
to call for an end

to this family's rule
over Thailand.

Let the monarchy die when our
king passes from this world.

And let the people
of Thailand choose

their own leaders,
not false gods.

60 years in prison? HENRY
I should have known

she was planning something.

There was something
about her, just...

You think that that's why
she wanted you there?

I don't know. Maybe she thought
I could bail her out.

I mean, she is
an American citizen.

There's got to be something
we can do.

She did violate the law against

insulting the king.

We can't interfere.

Well, I can't just

leave her here.
Isn't there something

we can do
through diplomatic channels?

We can make sure

that she's treated well,
has adequate representation.

Beyond that...

I'm sorry, babe. I-I don't mean

to put you
in the middle of all this.

I want to help,

but Thailand is one
of our biggest trading partners.

I can only push

so far, but you...

You still have that invitation

to the king's
birthday celebration.

It's likely they don't know

about your connection
to Rochana.

It... it'd be bold, but you
could ask for a royal pardon.

Are you sure? I don't want
to cause you any trouble.

Officially, you are representing

the president
of the United States.

Unofficially,
if you're lucky enough

to get your moment,
use it wisely.

And, obviously,

we never had this conversation.

I love you.

I hope you told Rochana that.

I love you, too.

You just got accepted
into three schools.

Shouldn't you be coasting?

No. It's this stupid scholarship
application for Vonderhauf.

They want me to write yet another
statement on my life journey.

Like, can't they just
data-mine my social media

like everyone else? That must be so hard...

Filling out all those forms

so that they pay you
to go to their school.

Okay, it's not like I get
the money, you know?

Guys, you ready for
this? Check this out.

Go.

There's
something happening in America.

We're standing taller,
seeing farther.

In the past four years,

the United States has restored
its role as a leader

to nations all over the world,

bringing peace, stability
and a spirit of cooperation

that lifts a torch
to light the way.

My God. Right?

Elizabeth McCord.
She's for all of us.

My God. ALISON You guys,

Mom's actually doing it. I know. I mean,

I sensed it was coming,
but it's like, it's here.

It's happening.

I only wish they would have used
a photo with my new bangs.

Yeah.

Where are you going?

Um, I just got to finish
some college stuff.

I am posting this everywhere.

Please don't.

Dr. Henry McCord.

Elizabeth McCord.

Sukhsant wan keid.

It is a great honor
to meet Your Majesty.

I wish you every felicitation
on your birthday

with many celebrations to come.

If I could also ask
Your Majesty a favor,

not for myself,
but for a friend.

I know that Rochana Arak
deeply offended the monarchy

with her words, but I have
known her for many years,

and I assure you, she wishes
you no harm or insult.

She spoke only of her hopes
for the future of Thailand.

This is not a topic
for His Majesty's celebration.

In honor
of Your Majesty's celebration,

I ask that he release himself
from the burden of resentment,

as the Buddha teaches,
by granting the grace

of his pardon. What better way

to honor His Majesty's birth

than to grant a rebirth
to a fallen daughter,

saving her
from a lifetime in prison?

Dr. McCord?

The Royal Pardon
will be prepared.

He said yes?

His Majesty is susceptible

to the appeal
of pedantic Westerners.

Perhaps it was
his time at Oxford.

When you said "picnic," I rashly
thought we'd be eating outside.

Well, I have something
sort of sensitive to discuss.

No.

Did my wife call you?

No. Why? Did you do something?

Not that I know of, but doesn't
mean that I didn't screw up.

Back to you.

Mike B. Has me writing a memoir.

Why? And...

Well, we'll get
to that in minute.

He's assigned me
this ghostwriter.

You don't need a ghostwriter.

Thanks, but I'm a little busy.

Henry's busy,
he still writes books. Why is this

becoming a referendum
on my time management?

Sorry. I'm sorry. Go on. Okay, so,

he assigned me
this ghostwriter.-

And she asked me to find
a moment early in my life

when I decided I
to become a leader.

And suddenly, you can't
remember your childhood.

Well, the only thing
I can remember is that...

that time in high school when
I led the girls' lacrosse team

on a strike to get better
practice conditions.

That's an interesting way
to remember it.

Think she wants
something younger. What?

What do you mean? Really?

Well, as you explained it
to me at the time,

you led an uprising
to get your bench moved...

Closer to the water cooler,
Closer to the boy's team,

because the boys
weren't sharing. So that you could

chat up all the hot players.

Remember?

No.

I don't remember
it that way, no.

Halfsies?

Sure. Here.

So, you seriously cannot think
of a single instance

where you stepped up

and took on a more difficult
leadership role?

Not a one.

Perhaps the one
which necessitated

you acting as both
mother and father

to a bereft little brother?

That's different. I don't...

I... That was... I...

It was pretty fierce.

So why the sudden need
for a book?

Well, that's the other thing.

Hang on.

I have decided... I am
running for president.

Yes! I knew it

as soon as you said "Mike B."

That was your first clue?
Listen to me.

You are gonna make
a great leader.

You are far too much of a
pragmatist and a centrist

for my taste, but this
country barely deserves

someone as fine as you.

Yeah, you could have just
shut up after "great leader."

That would have been better.

Sorry, Jason's college
counselor is calling.

Jason got three
scholarship offers.

Only three?

Colleen, hi.

What?

What are you doing here?

I managed to get
an audience with the king.

He's granted you a royal pardon.

I'll tell you about it as we
drive, but we need to leave now.

I don't understand.
Why would you do that?

So that you don't have
to go to prison.

So, you're telling me I just

risked my life for nothing?

What are you talking about?
Your message was heard.

And now I'm running
back to the West,

where they'll discredit me
as a heretic.

My God, Henry,
what have you done?

Why would you want to
spend 60 years in prison,

never see your kids again,
never meet your grandchildren?

They're the reason
I did this. They'd rather have you home.

I guarantee it.

They'll understand
when they get older.

The way you understood
when your dad took off?

This is completely different.

I'm trying to make
a better homeland for them.

What is this need for martyrdom?

What does it accomplish?

How can you, of all
people, ask me that?

You lived for self-sacrifice.
The military, the church.

And I learned that this quest
for ideological purity

is a dead end.

Connections with
the people you love,

that's the only thing
that will save you.

Come with me, please.

Please.

I just wanted to do
something with my life.

What are you talking about?

You're one of the most
insightful scholars I know.

You're a revered professor,
you've raised two great kids.

Nothing feels like
it means anything.

I'm lost.

You've been through
some huge changes...

It's deeper than that.

I used to be this girl on fire.

You knew her.

I guess I thought maybe
I could catch fire again.

That girl who was
on fire... was scary.

Is that why you
broke up with me?

We were... we were so young.

We were all testing
the limits of our convictions.

But my point is, that girl,
the one who would stay up

all night arguing
scripture with me,

never letting me off the mat...

that girl was a little scary,
but she was also brave.

You need to be brave
and stay in this fight,

not rot away in some prison.

Hey, Jace?

Yeah, I'm...
I'm having popcorn for dinner.

Can I talk to you for a second?

I got a call from Colleen.

She said that you
never went online

to choose one of
the three scholarships?

Hang on.

Jason... Give us a moment.

You need to take it out. No, no, there's
too many kernels.

It's all... It's gonna burn.

No, no, this is where
you gotta be strong.

It's gonna burn.

Perfect.

Don't tell me that you can time

a bag of popcorn perfectly

but you missed the deadline
on your scholarships?

Okay, I won't tell you that.

Jason... It was a conscious choice.

Okay? I'm just...

I'm not ready to go to college.

What about all those
applications,

and writing all those essays?

You guys railroaded me because
of some stupid test score.

Okay, fine, maybe I got
a little bit caught up in it.

But now I'm thinking
I should just

take a step back, you know,
get my head together.

Been thinking about a year
at a kibbutz in Israel.

They don't eat a lot of popcorn

on the collective farm.

Who's the girl?

There's no girl.

Is this about your scores?

You think you got a perfect SAT,

so you've got to be
a perfect student?

It's not like I haven't
brought home Cs before.

Look... Look...

I saw the ad asking you
to run for president.

What ad?

It ended on a picture of us.

There it was,
all over the Internet.

Nobody even asked me.

My God.

Jason, I'm so sorry.

Did you sign a release or something?
No, no, I...

That's not right.
I will fix that.

I'll-I'll...

Please stop acting like
you can control it, Mom.

It just makes it worse
when you can't.

Just give me a second, I want
to cancel this meeting. No.

And then we'll talk... No, no.

Just keep doing
what you're doing.

I will fully support you
from an avocado farm

outside Tel Aviv.

You and your brother
orphaned so early in life.

Talk about being
tested at a tender age.

It's so touching.

But this
"Operation Hot Guys" story...

I just threw that
in there for fun.

Future world diplomat using
her negotiating skills

to gain access to handsome boys?

It's gold.

So, I threw together a sketch

on how this chapter could go,
if you want to take a look.

Yeah.

Thinking you could do a pass.

Maybe fill in some details,
inner thoughts,

anything else that
comes back to you.

So, is this generally
how this will go?

I'm loving this back and forth;

I-I think this is
going to be great.

Um... Lorraine...

so, you-you've done books
for a lot of candidates.

A few.

How personal does it
need to get?

People don't vote for policy.

They vote for people.

It's not totally logical.

You don't need to know
about your lawyer's childhood

to trust her to represent you.
Right.

But voters need to feel like

they know their
elected officials.

The more you can share of your
personal life, your family,

the more people connect.

Don't worry, I'll
get it out of you.

So, I'm guessing
this isn't a booty call.

How could you let that Super PAC

put my familyin an ad
without giving me a heads-up?

You know the answer to that.

You have to stay out
of the loop on these things.

I'm clear on that, now let me
make it equally clear

that nothing will be done
involving my family

without running it by me first.

That's gonna be difficult.

If "difficult" means doable
but inconvenient,

consider me... inconvenient.

Not exactly breaking news.

And another thing, your friend

Lorraine Sheridan's "chapter"?

It was just my bullet points
in sentence form,

which she then gave back to me
to flesh it out.

That makes sense.

It makes sense because

you sent me a writer
who'd flatter me

into writing this book myself.

I told you I found the best
person to write your book. You.

Okay, this stops here.

No more family stuff,
and no book.

Bess, everybody has a book.

Has that argument
ever worked with me?

Fair point, but here's another
one If you don't...

I'm hanging up now.

Everything's fine.

We're on our way to the airport.

There's a checkpoint.

I have to go, Lawan.

I'll call you as soon as I land.

Everything okay?

It's been a rough night and day,

but she's extremely relieved.

So am I. Thank you.

What are these guys doing?

Get the pardon. I got it.

Is there a problem?

What is... what is going on?
What is... what's happening?

They're trying to arrest me.

What? Hey, I have a pardon
from the king.

Tell them.

The king just died.

What? Wait. They're taking me in.

Hang on. Rochana...

Stop.

I'm an official
of the United States government.

Henry! OFFICER Come now!

There's cheese on that.

Could you not do that?

Sorry, I, forgot about the PTSD.

What are you doing over there?
Um, hiding from Mom.

She found out I blew
my scholarship deadlines,

and now she's threatening
a second talk.

Dude,

do you know how lucky you were

to get those scholarship offers?

Yes, and presumably
I will still be the same

desirable prospect
however many years from now

when Mom's not the president.

Now, what does that have to do

with you going to college?

Okay, everything
I've ever started...

Football, Boy Scouts,
horseback riding...

I-I've always been
a total screwup at first.

And now, if I screw up college,

which, let's face it,
is inevitable,

then I cause trouble for the
president of the United States.

That's very sweet.

In a self-sabotaging
kind of way.

What are you doing?

Making popcorn. Yeah, but what about the,

mass-produced bag with all
the mysteriously delicious

chemical flavoring?

I don't need that.

Really, you don't? Mind blown.

Yeah, well, this is the kind

of out-of-the-box thinking
that is available to you

at America's finest
universities.

You know, I thought
you were gonna be

the one person who'd
support me on this.

Yeah. It's because I dropped out

that I am encouraging
you to stick with it.

All right? It never works out
when you make a decision

out of fear.

Okay, it's not fear.

I'm-I'm-I'm trying to help Mom
by staying out of her way.

Yeah, I think that's just fear
wearing a hat.

The king of Thailand
has just died.

There's, like,
an uprising happening.

Okay, is-is Dad still there? I think so.

Hey, guys, I'm gonna head back
and, work for a bit.

Yeah, it's okay. We-we know.

Yeah. Where's Dad?

If his flight left
on time, he's in the air.

Okay. Bye.

In the hours
since the announcement

of King Chartpong's death
from cardiac arrest,

the country has erupted
into chaos.

A pro-democracy movement
newly emboldened

by the fiery remarks
of Professor Rochana Arak

at a religious freedom
conference in Bangkok

is clashing violently with
the grief-stricken majority

who revere the monarchy with
an almost religious devotion.

Any more news on Henry's arrest?

Nothing yet. Where are we? What's...

They've sentenced
Professor Arak to death.

We'll get him out
of there, Bess.

Should've never let him go
in the first place.

He-he was helping a-a friend.

I mean, nobody could have known

that any of this was
gonna happen. Right?

Right.

Any luck getting through
to our embassy?

I spoke with Ambassador Faraday,

but with all the chaos,

we're having trouble
getting any answers.

The military may be holding
Henry for helping Arak escape.

She wasn't escaping.

She had a pardon from the king.

Which no one cares about now.

Mr. President, Elizabeth,
HUMINT sources in Thailand

have just confirmed.

Dr. McCord is being held

at Chatuchak Prison
outside Bangkok.

What do they
think they're doing?

He has diplomatic immunity.

I realize I have
a personal stake here

and I'm willing to work it
to any advantage,

make a personal appeal
to the minister of defense.

It's an extremely
volatile situation.

Sir, I would advise
an extraction.

Low-key, untraceable black ops.

We have the necessary
assets in place.

Thailand's an important ally.

The decision to violate

their sovereignty needs
to be considered carefully.

Well, not to mention our assets

that we would be burning
on the ground.

It seems to me that diplomatic
pressure should at least

be tried.

We have no idea

how long it will take
for a new regime

to stabilize enough
for a negotiation.

Or if they'd even
be open to them.

I say we get Henry out

and explain later. Do it.

Yes, sir.

Whoa. Hey.

What's going on?

New prison. Move! No, no.

Wait, wait. My
friend, Rochana Arak.

I'm not going any place
till I know where she is.

Dr. McCord, you are going home,

and Professor Arak, too.

Move!

Looks like I'm just in time.

You must be Rochana's daughter.

Thank you so much for bringing
my mother home. Of course.

And you must be Alexander.Yeah.

Mom.

Good conference?

It was pretty good. Was it?

I'm so sorry, babe.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Elizabeth, I can't possibly
thank you enough.

Welcome home.

Thank you, my old friend.

Hey. You're not lost.

Welcome back, ma'am. Hi.

Thailand update. The military
has solidified control

of the country and
they're, how to put it,

less than pleased that we
violated their sovereignty

by freeing Rochana
Arak from justice.

No mention of the fact
that they arrested an advisor

to the president
of the United States,

who... that's right...
Happens to be

the husband of
the Secretary of State?

Didn't come up, no.

Nor the part where
they were planning

to execute an American citizen.

Okay, call, um, NSA Hill
and have her set up a meeting

with the National Security
Council so we can,

I don't know,
figure out our response

to the evolving situation.

Okay? Thank you. Bye. Yes, ma'am.

Ma'am, can I have a word? Yes. Good.

Um, first of all, welcome back.

I'm really glad Henry's okay.

Thank you.

So, what's up?

Okay... yeah. Look,

I-I know you haven't been happy
with my work lately

and I know you've been looking
at Lorraine Sheridan.

And I just want to say
Lorraine is amazing

and I get why you
want an upgrade,

but if I could just
explain myself...

Matt, if I could just stop you
right there.

Um, I'm not looking
to replace you.

I was looking into writing
a book for, like, a minute,

but that's over.

Lorraine does ghostwriting?
Yeah.

How do you, get on
the list for that gig?

You make yourself invaluable
to your overworked boss

by taking each topic
that comes your way

and finding
the beating heart in it,

whether it's a, I don't know,

welcome address
at a trade conference

or honoring your colleagues
on the eve of a shutdown.

I don't know.

Wow.

Maybe I don't
say it enough, but...

I am grateful every day

for the soul and grace
that you bring to your work.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'm sorry. It's just been
a rough couple days.

I know. I'm sorry.

No, that's... we good?

Yeah. Okay.

And, listen, if you ever
do decide to write a book,

I-I'd love to help you out.

I promise I won't be too much
of a diva about the rewrites.

Only when I no longer
need you in the trenches

with me every day. Deal?

Yeah. Okay.

Yeah, deal.

So, that's it?

Three scholarships just...

gone with the wind?

I'm gonna call Colleen tomorrow.

Although she did seem
pretty definitive.

What the hell? I mean...

I think he just got scared.

You know, the whole
White House thing.

The attention, the pressure,

no more privacy.

I know you're having
some of the same doubts.

Listen, when Rochana did that
incredibly dangerous thing

and defended her beliefs

without any regard
for the consequences...

let's just say I got a real
glimpse of my own behavior.

There's no comparison.

I just need
to choose my moments.

You know I'm gonna
need your guidance.

And that's what you're
gonna get, my guidance.

Okay.

Hi. Can I come in?

Yeah. Get in here.Okay.

Easy. Okay, um...

I just wanted to say
that I thought about it

and I'm not going to a kibbutz

next year.

I don't think I'm up
to speed on anything.

I'll fill you in later. No, look,
I'm-I'm gonna call Colleen tomorrow

and I'm gonna see if I can
still get that scholarship.

If you can't,
you're getting a job.

Two jobs. Got it.

And I will try not
to wake up in a dumpster.

Or-or...

you know, get an "F"
on a history paper

about my own mother's
foreign policy.

You're really doing a number
on yourself there, dude.

I know. I-I know.

Look, for a self-declared
anarchist,

turns out
I'm surprisingly concerned

about maintaining
the status quo.

Plus I can't live my
life scared of something

that may or may not happen.

Ali! Stevie! Go get your sisters.

Okay.

So, first of all,
I just want to say

that there's nothing
more important to me

than this family and making sure
that everybody feels safe

and respected.
And that's going to be

even more important than ever
when I announce my candidacy

for president.

Are we allowed to say
that we sort of already knew?

I know. That stupid ad
totally snaked my wave.

The ad was-was kind of amazing.

Yeah, I-I don't approve
of their tactics,

but I do support
their candidate.

Mom!

Wait, wait, wh-what ad?

Honey.

Can I see it? Dad.

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