Designated Survivor (2016–2019): Season 1, Episode 16 - Party Lines - full transcript
President Kirkman forms an unlikely alliance in the hopes of passing his first bill while Agent Ritter is briefed by FBI Agent Hannah Wells about a new alarming threat to the nation.
Previously on "Designated Survivor"...
President Moss wants to
get back into politics.
Your country needs you,
preferably as Secretary of State.
Work for me.
Emily: You're working
for Kimble Hookstraten?
She's the head of the Republican Party,
and you're a card-carrying Democrat.
I'm looking to redefine
the playing field.
Senator Bowman, you and I have
very different opinions on gun safety.
I will be re-introducing Bill 8180,
which strengthens
federal background checks.
I happen to oppose this bill,
but in the spirit of
bipartisan discussion,
I'd like to put it before the Senate.
- He's hijacking our agenda.
- [Sighs]
Get ready for a fight.
The woman who killed Luke...
I'm going after her myself.
Let her go!
- Hey!
- [Gunshots]
Oh, my God.
[Sirens wailing in distance]
♪
[Beep]
Ritter: Agent Wells,
what do you have for me?
These were found at the
home of Brooke Mathison,
the woman that Charles
Langdon knew as Claudine.
[Beep]
This looks like the Capitol
threat assessment file.
It was created by the same
strategic group at the Pentagon.
It highlights vulnerabilities
at the Golden Gate Bridge...
the Hoover Dam...
the Statue of Liberty.
How many more?
This is all we found.
Langdon didn't say
anything about more attacks.
It's very possible he didn't know.
Then how'd this Claudine
woman get her hands on these?
These are highly classified.
[Sighs] We don't know yet.
Thousands of people
visit these places daily.
These could be rejected
sites for attacks.
Or they could be plans
for attacks to come.
Yeah.
We're combing through Brooke
Mathison's hard drives,
trying to find any clues we can.
I'll tell the President.
He needs to be informed right away.
[Sighs]
♪
♪
We've alerted DHS to a credible threat.
They're sweeping all three sites
without alerting the public.
I want to know the
second they find anything.
We also need to update
emergency evacuation plans
for those three areas.
- Of course, sir.
- [Knock on door]
- Mr. President.
- Yes?
You have the press in five minutes, sir.
Do you need more time?
No, we're fine. We're done here.
Thank you, Mike.
Lily, I'll be right with you.
[Indistinct conversations]
Ladies and gentlemen, the
President of the United States.
- [Camera shutters clicking]
- Kirkman: Thank you, Seth.
Please, everybody, be seated.
- Good morning.
- Audience: Good morning.
As you all know, we have an
incredibly busy day today.
So if we could just get started. Carla.
Mr. President, the Senate has introduced
the first major legislation
of your presidency.
Do you support Senate Bill 8180,
expanding background
checks for gun sales?
Yes, I do.
As I said in the town hall,
I believe that we have a responsibility
to do anything that we can
to reduce the level of gun
violence in our country.
And I think that this bill
is an important step
in that direction.
Are you concerned about
political fallout,
tackling such a polarizing issue
so early in your term?
No, I think passing good
laws is more important
than political posturing.
And even though this issue
is polarizing in some regard,
84% of Americans believe in
stronger background checks.
Joel.
Staying with that,
sir, many observers say
the language of the bill is flawed.
- Can you respond?
- Certainly.
- I think they're right.
- [Light laughter]
Um, but if the Senate
passes the bill to the House,
I will be committed to working
with Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents
to make sure that we pass a law
that will ultimately make us safer.
That's funny. Nobody's
reached out to me.
Well, he's reaching out now.
I want to remind you,
this bill is not about
taking guns away from people.
It's about making sure
they don't fall into the wrong hands
in the first place.
Initial social media
response to the bill is mixed.
Well, they don't call it
a third rail for nothing.
Well, it's still pretty
positive, considering.
We'll make sure the data gets out
on all the White House channels,
make sure people know
that the numbers check out,
and in terms of public engagement,
Mrs. Kirkman is hosting a
roundtable discussion today
with a number of stakeholders.
People, Seth... mothers,
fathers, daughters, sons.
We can never forget that.
Yes, sir.
Uh... I'll go check on Mrs. Kirkman now.
- Okay, thank you.
- Speaking of numbers, sir,
we need to get 51
Senate votes in two days,
which is not gonna be easy.
The language of the bill
is not ideal, as you know.
That's why Senator Bowman picked it.
He's trying to back me into a corner.
Well, nobody puts Baby in a corner, sir.
I didn't think you were old enough
- to know that movie.
- I had to.
But we're gonna get you out of it.
Diane Hunter, the minority leader,
is on her way here shortly.
If anyone's gonna back us
on this, it's the Democrats.
Unfortunately, there's only 46 of them.
Good morning, ma'am. I
was just coming to see you.
- Did you get the briefing memo?
- Yes, I did.
Thank you. Great.
So, we'll be in the Roosevelt Room.
Public Engagement has
put together 12 people...
Men and women from all over the country,
good cross section on age and race,
and each one of them has, unfortunately,
lost somebody due to gun violence.
So it's not gonna be an easy day,
but their stories will remind people
of why this is so important.
And keep pressure on
the Senate for this bill.
Yes, exactly. Although
I wouldn't mention
the bill specifically... Today's
really just about listening.
You don't want to make promises.
Seth, please don't worry.
I have learned my lesson.
That's not what I meant, ma'am.
Oh, yes, it is.
And it's okay... It's your job.
Okay.
Um, there is a pool spray at the top...
A couple of reporters...
But everything's off the
record once the meeting begins.
It's just you and them.
Okay.
You know, when Tom and I
got into the White House,
I had no idea what to expect.
But this [sighs]
talking about things that
really matter to people,
this is exactly what I hoped for.
Thank you for helping.
Thank you, ma'am.
Bringing this bill out of committee
is a pure power move by Bowman.
I mean, he may be new to the Senate,
- but he's no virgin.
- No kidding.
The man resigned from
the governor's office
so he could be appointed to the Senate.
He's trying to jack his national profile
- as fast as he can.
- And it's working.
There's already talk of
a Bowman White House run.
And he's trying to eliminate
his competition, ma'am.
I mean, introducing this
bill without consulting you?
He's trying to take
you out at the knees.
[Chuckles] Yes, well...
as the ranking Republican on the Hill,
I have to be careful
about how to respond.
He's still a member of my party.
Respectfully, ma'am, I disagree.
I think you need to push back...
hard, before it's his party.
Show him.
He's not the only alpha dog in Congress.
[Telephone ringing]
Senator Hunter, thank
you very much for coming.
I believe you know
my Chief of Staff, Emily Rhodes.
Nice to see you again, Senator.
- Likewise.
- Please.
Mr. President, I admired
your statement this morning.
Thank you very much. Let's take a seat.
Obviously, we're counting on the support
of the Democrats in
the Senate on SB8180.
And given your previous
record as Attorney General
of the great state of Massachusetts,
I'm trusting that I can
count on you as an ally.
I am proud to say that Massachusetts has
some of the strongest gun
regulations in the country.
Of course, I'd like to see
universal background checks
as the law of the land.
I understand that this bill
might not go as far as you want,
but I believe that it
starts the ball rolling
in the right direction.
That isn't the only issue.
SB8180 is flawed...
Fatally, some would say.
We will work the language
of the bill in the House...
but if we don't get it past the Senate,
I don't know if we're gonna
get another chance at this.
I agree with you, Mr. President,
which is why I'm willing
to convince my colleagues
to fall in line.
I'm very glad to hear that.
Yeah, but even if every
Democrat in the Senate
votes for this bill,
it's not enough to pass.
You'll still need five Republicans.
Yes, we know it's
going to be a challenge.
You're not just competing
against Jack Bowman here, sir.
This is the gun lobby.
This is the Second Amendment folks.
It's going to be expensive,
and we need to know that
you won't give away too much.
What exactly do you mean?
I mean...
we don't know your red line,
but I can tell you what
we won't tolerate.
If we get a whiff of
tax cuts for the rich
or cuts to Medicare or Social Security,
we will back out of this bill.
You have my word, Senator.
I'm right there with you.
Good.
And good luck, Mr. President.
I'm afraid you're going to need it.
♪
Narrator: Freedom.
It's what makes America great...
A fight that never ends.
And as the brave forces of
the United States Military
deploy to trouble
spots around the world,
Browning-Reed is right
there beside them.
Browning-Reed is
the tip of the spear
when it comes tosecurity strategy.
Browning-Reed was established in 1993.
For its first 20 years in operation,
it was the go-to private
military for the Pentagon.
Yeah, I remember...
Some of their employees
shot up a bunch of
civilians in Afghanistan.
Right, and they bribed
Afghan authorities
to cover it up.
That's charming.
The whole place stunk from the top down.
Anyway, the company
was dissolved last July.
All that's left is some
realestate holdings,
which they're oddly still
paying property taxes on.
One of the properties is
Brooke Mathison's house,
where we found the threat assessments.
They also have property
in Driggs, North Dakota...
30 miles outside of Devil's Lake.
Well, that just looks
like the middle of nowhere.
Right?
So why would Brooke Mathison
fly to North Dakota four times
between February 2011
and September 2015?
We got to find out what's out there.
Yeah, well, not alone. Take backup.
I'm gonna call Jason.
Are you kidding me?
He's a liability. He's not stable.
John, they had his kid.
What would you have done?
I'm just trying to look out for you.
I know he's your friend,
but that doesn't mean
he's qualified to be part of this.
The President gave me direct orders
to use whatever means necessary
to uncover this conspiracy.
I get to choose who I work with, John,
and I choose Atwood.
We'll check in when we get there.
[Sighs]
Mr. President.
Welcome back. How did New York go?
Well, my Russian's a bit
rusty, but we got the job done.
UN Peacekeepers are heading
for Naruba as we speak.
Fantastic. How did you do it?
Some good-old Texas horse trading.
You know, in the end,
we've got a lot more
in common than we think.
Except maybe you and Jack Bowman.
I see where you decided
to throw down on his bill.
Yeah.
Do you think it was a mistake?
Do you?
When I heard that woman
speak at the town hall,
I didn't.
When I talked to the press this morning,
I didn't.
But even the Democrats
don't sound very optimistic.
Welcome to the Hill.
Many men have died on it.
Is that supposed to be a pep talk?
It's a reality check.
The American people like you, Tom.
You're an outsider,
and you don't owe anything to anyone.
But that means
nobody owes you, either.
I'm not very good at
the Washington game yet.
To be fair, you've never
really been in the game.
And as for that bill, well,
the wording is piss-poor,
but it's got the right guts.
And more importantly,
it's the bill you've got.
Forget about how you got here, Tom.
It's just like generals
throughout history.
You don't always get
to choose your terrain.
The only thing that matters now...
is fighting the war
that's in front of you.
And it ain't a mistake if you win.
Then we better get those 51 votes.
Cream?
My father always said a man
only needs two things to live...
- Black coffee and Irish whiskey.
- [Chuckles]
Sounds like your father
must've worked in Washington.
- [Chuckles]
- Please.
No, ma'am, he, uh... he raised cattle
in Northwest Montana for 38 years.
I come by the boots honestly.
Well, for an outsider,
you certainly are jumping right in.
I'm not sure what you mean.
I know you want to
embarrass the President,
make him choke on this flawed bill,
but Congress is a system
with a lot of moving parts,
and that could lead to a lot
of unintended consequences.
Well, I have a majority in the Senate,
Second Amendment on my side.
Seems pretty simple
to me, Madam Speaker.
You know this bill doesn't
threaten the Second Amendment.
And you may have the
majority in the Senate,
but may I remind you
that the country
recently elected a House
that is almost a third Independent.
Even if you succeed
in killing this bill,
we have much bigger priorities -
Tax reform, trade
agreements, national security.
If we want to get any of those
things done in this Congress,
we need a united Republican front.
You're not helping with this stunt.
No, you're right.
This is bigger than background checks.
And I'm not interested in a united front
if it means compromising my values.
Now, I may be new to the
Hill, but so is everybody else.
You're the last of the old
guard around here, Madam Speaker.
So, uh...
So get on board... or step aside.
Hmm?
Thanks for the coffee.
Ma'am.
Republicans with moderate records,
minimal ties to the gun lobby,
and enough time left on their terms
to ride out any backlash.
Hmm, three steps ahead.
I can't take all the credit.
Leg Affairs did the legwork.
And humble, too.
You'll get over that.
Walter Dunlap, I know him.
We shared some classes
together at Cornell.
He's a good guy,
but I swear he cheated his way
through introductory physics.
I wouldn't bring that up.
I'll set the meeting.
Thank you.
Alex: Welcome to the White House.
I know I speak on
behalf of the President
when I say
thank you so much for
your courage and generosity
in coming here to share
your stories today.
Ma'am, will you be discussing SB8180?
- Thank you, pool.
- Uh, no.
Uh... today is about people,
not politics, and I am here to listen.
Okay, if everybody has what they need,
Jake here can escort you out.
We'll let the First Lady get started.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you, Seth.
[Tires squealing]
You don't have an
office anymore, either?
I do, but that would require
getting you White House clearance,
and that would require
a lot of explanation.
Feel like going on a road trip?
Where are we heading?
North Dakota.
What the hell is in North Dakota?
Let's find out.
Emily: Look, Leslie,
I'm not interested in
playing this out publicly.
I just need you to tell
me which Republicans
would be open to a sit-down?
The murder rate in particular
cities in this country
is unacceptable to President Kirkman...
Kirkman: Senator,
I understand and appreciate
your position,
but 84% of the country wants
tougher background checks.
Now, the American people have spoken,
and it's our job to listen.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I'm very sorry to
hear you say that, sir.
Thank you. Goodbye.
Who was that?
Senator Franklin.
We're five Republican votes short.
How are you doing?
Seth said the roundtable went well.
Yeah.
There was this one guy, Mike Dunne.
Two years ago, his wife, Allison...
She's driving back
from the grocery store,
and she accidentally cut someone off.
That man, he followed her
to the next red light,
and he... shoots her dead.
My God. I know.
Tom, we got so lucky when you were shot.
I don't know what I'd do if I lost you.
I know how lucky I am.
You know, the strength
of some of these people
after what they've been through...
it's... it's inspiring.
[Chuckles]
Come here.
You've got to win this.
[Indistinct conversations]
Banker's hours?
Well, it's business.
Does that mean you're buying?
Bartender: Same thing?
I left a bottle in the desk.
I assume you found it.
Uh... I'm working my
first Congressional vote
as chief of staff to the
President of the United States.
That bottle is long gone, Aaron.
Mm.
Speaking of the vote...
Here you go.
I know you're gonna
need a few Republicans,
and I know you're
facing an uphill climb.
That's not exactly a secret.
What if we could help?
Hookstraten?
She's a Republican...
- and she is Speaker.
- Of the House.
How exactly is she gonna
line up senators?
You know there's some
soft spots in the Senate...
Moderates who don't really
oppose background checks.
They're just afraid to cross Bowman.
I'm listening.
If these senators can be reassured
there's a home for them in the party,
someone has their back
come election time...
They might have a reason
to vote the bill through.
And what's in it for Hookstraten?
Think about it.
Vice President.
What do you think?
Did you have this flown in from Ithaca?
Secret Service wouldn't
allow it. [Chuckles]
But someone down there in the kitchen
is working some serious magic
'cause I'd swear this is a Pinesburger.
Three more and you get a free tshirt.
The Pinesburger challenge.
I think it would send me into
a cardiac arrest these days.
30 years ago, when we
were back in Clark Hall,
could you ever have imagined
that the two of us
would be sitting here?
Not in my wildest dreams.
[Chuckles]
And it is an honor to be
here, Mr. President, truly.
But you do know I'm a Republican, right?
I heard a rumor.
Walter, I know you're a good man...
reasonable.
Hell, there's more public support
for background checks
than there is for tax cuts.
- I'm not so sure about Iowa.
- [Chuckles]
But that's not the point.
The language of this bill is so broad,
my people tell me it's a slippery slope.
I know. I know.
We're gonna fix it in the House.
But I have to vote for
the bill as written, Tom.
I can't do it.
Look, I know we go back a long time,
and I may lean toward the center,
but this is politics.
I was appointed by a
Republican governor,
and I can't go rogue
on the first big vote of my term.
Walter, we've got a chance
to do something really good here.
This bill is gonna save lives.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
Me, too.
I brought this bill out of committee
to the Senate floor
to show the White House
that any effort to interfere
in the free exercise
of Americans' Second
Amendment rights will fail.
Senator, the First Lady hosted
a number of victims of gun violence
at the White House yesterday.
Yeah, a blatant PR stunt.
Listen, the White House
has completely
oversimplified this issue.
They're making promises
about safety they can't keep.
Lily: Mr. President...
Speaker Hookstraten.
- Thank you.
- [TV shuts off]
Kimble, how nice to see you.
Thank you, sir.
I know you've got a
Senate vote coming up fast,
so I won't take much of your time.
What I came to tell you is,
with the proper encouragement,
I think a few moderate
Republicans in the Senate
might just vote yes.
What kind of encouragement
are we talking about?
If the Senate gets
the bill to the House,
I will work with you
and other House leaders
to get an amended measure
passed, as you intend.
And I'm willing to say that publicly.
[Chuckles softly]
That's very generous of you.
And courageous, too,
to take on Senator Bowman like that.
Kimble, I have to be honest,
I'm not in a position to
make promises right now.
Obviously, this bill is
incredibly important to me,
but the best that I could do...
Well, I would be very
grateful down the line.
That's all I need to
know, Mr. President.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Kimble?
From the moment I took office,
I've been trying to guess
what you were going to do.
And I have to admit,
I've usually been wrong.
Why are you doing this?
Because I think you're
doing the right thing, sir.
Thank you very much.
[Chuckles]
Hookstraten: Today, I had
a very productive meeting
with President Kirkman regarding SB8180.
I agree with him that sensible measures
to ensure gun safety are long overdue
and that expanding background checks
makes Americans safer.
So I urge my colleagues in the Senate
to pass this bill tomorrow
and get it to the House,
where Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents...
I'd say your meeting
with the Speaker went well.
Let's hope this works.
As the President has said,
let's put country above party
and show the American people
that their Congress is listening.
_
♪
Atwood: So, what do you
think we're really gonna find
all the way out here?
Oil?
[Chuckles] I don't know.
Must be something big
for Brooke Mathison
to come all this way.
We're getting closer to
the belly of the beast,
Jason, I can feel it.
Pull over two miles out.
We'll go the rest of the way on foot.
It's so crazy listening
to you give me orders.
Seems like just yesterday,
it was the other way around.
It's weird for me, too, you know.
No, I mean it. I mean, I'm grateful.
Because I tell you, with
Brooke Mathison being dead,
I thought I'd have closure,
but I realize that's not gonna happen
until all these sons of
bitches are brought down.
♪
Mr. President, I have Senator
Dunlap on the phone for you.
Thank you, Ava.
[Receiver lifts, beep]
Walter. How are you doing?
I'm well, Mr. President.
Just had a long talk with
Kimble Hookstraten about 8180.
- And...?
- And...
she's agreed to provide me
with the political cover I need
to back you up on this.
[Chuckles softly] That's fantastic.
I'm sorry it had to
play out like this, Tom.
I wish I could have just
said yes when you asked me,
but, anyway, I wanted
you to hear it from me.
You can count on my vote.
I really appreciate it, Walter.
This is great news.
Good day, Mr. President.
Good day.
[Receiver clicks]
[Sighs]
- [Knock on door]
- Seth: Hey.
Hey.
Hookstraten got us three Republicans...
Kovich, Duffield, and
Dunlap flipped this morning.
Okay, I never thought I'd use
"Hookstraten" and "friend"
in the same sentence.
Is this, uh, Aaron's doing?
Well, I mean, he knows that we need
to take down Jack Bowman just
as much as she does, so...
Yeah, but for her to wrap her
arms around POTUS like that,
there's got to be
something else going on.
I'm just saying there may or may not be
a pool going in the lower press.
The President hasn't agreed to anything.
Oh, okay.
Alex: Thank you so much,
Senator, for seeing me.
Senator Hunter: Thank
you for reaching out.
Well, I made a promise to Amara Qazi,
and she came to the
roundtable yesterday.
Her 12-year-old grandson was killed
in a drive-by shooting in Chicago.
- 12 years old...
- Yeah.
Without a specific law
targeting gun trafficking,
we're not giving law
enforcement a fighting chance
to stop the flood of weapons
coming into cities like Chicago.
You are preaching to
the choir, Mrs. Kirkman.
You know, I championed this
effort in Massachusetts,
and I would be glad to
lead the charge here,
if and when we have the momentum.
Of course.
And in the meantime, let me say...
I am glad to have a sisterin-arms
- in the White House.
- Well, thank you.
And thank you so much for
your support with this vote.
I hope we'll all be
celebrating tomorrow.
Goodbye.
Senator Bowman: Uh, Mrs. Kirkman...
I don't believe we
formally met. Jack Bowman.
I think you're right. It
just feels like we have.
[Chuckles] Well, this is
Senator Underhill, of Oklahoma.
Pleasure.
Senator Higuera, New Jersey.
Nice to meet you.
And Senator Vandenberg, Tennessee.
Hello.
I must say, I'm
surprised to see you here.
Is the First Lady working Senators now?
Oh, I'm not here for votes.
I was just here to keep a promise
to a woman who lost
her son to gun violence.
Well, I admire your civic spirit.
Good luck in the vote
today, Mrs. Kirkman,
to you and your husband.
Thank you, but this isn't about luck.
It shouldn't be good luck
that keeps people safe
in a movie theater
or a mall or a school.
This is about doing what's right,
and I just hope that 51
Senators can feel the same way.
It was an honor to meet all of you.
Okay, so we need two more.
I was speaking to Leg Affairs today,
and they said we can get Higuera
if you're willing to
talk Medicaid reform.
Medicaid cuts... Absolutely not.
Okay.
Then we're looking at
Harrington from Colorado.
I know his Chief of Staff
from when I worked on the Hill,
so I'll take him,
and Jim O'Malley was in
your Treasury Department.
Do you think he's a possibility?
I'll knock some sense into him.
Good.
Our longest shot is gonna be
Mary-Anne Louis from Alaska.
She's got a moderate
streak, but it is Alaska.
I'll talk to her.
Well, let's just wait on
the big guns for a second
because if we can get
Harrington and O'Malley,
we have our 51.
I smell the barn on this.
Good work, Ms. Rhodes.
I appreciate that, sir,
but our work isn't done
until we have the votes.
We're gonna need
to prepare a statement...
- Up or down.
- I'm on it.
We just lost Engram.
What? Engram's a Democrat.
Says he doesn't like
you aligning yourself
with a Republican speaker.
He can't trust.
Seth: Two steps forward, one step back.
So now we're at 48.
Moss: Unless you're willing
to talk about Medicaid.
No, no, I meant what I said.
We need all three...
Harrington, O'Malley,
and Mary-Anne Louis.
Time for the big guns.
[Sighs]
Son of a bitch.
♪
We should be coming up on it...
Let me see.
Right now.
What the hell?
This is the place.
But where's the facility?
♪
Good to see you haven't changed.
Your office said you were on lunch.
I took a wild guess.
If you wanted to hang out,
you could have just asked.
I'm here for work, Grady.
I need to know where your
boss stands on SB8180.
Mm, that depends on how persuasive
the President is willing to get.
Just give me a number.
O' Malley: Mr. President,
I think what you're doing
for this administration is admirable.
But some of us still have
elections to worry about.
In Texas.
I carried Texas by 60
points last time I ran.
I'd say my endorsement still
carries some weight down there.
Are you promising me your endorsement?
Prove you deserve it, Jim.
Mr. President, you're asking
me to commit political suicide.
No, I'm asking you
to do the right thing.
And sacrifice every other right thing
for this one.
My appointment is up in November.
If I vote for this bill,
I won't stand a chance at re-election.
You want a number? Okay.
The immediate infrastructure
needs of Colorado
exceeds $785 million.
That's a lot of infrastructure.
You're asking what would
help Coloradans overlook
their Republican Junior
Senator's vote for gun control.
We're talking about background
checks for new sales.
It's mild.
Well, if you swing that in the budget,
I think I can swing Harrington.
I'll confirm within the hour.
If you can't find your spine on this...
I may just run for the damn seat myself.
There's no need to overreact.
It's really that important to you?
Oh, I'm not asking for myself.
I'm not even asking for the President.
I'm asking for the country.
And I'm not really asking.
Look, I understand that
this is Washington, D.C.,
and I understand that
you're a politician,
but we have a chance to finally
move forward on this thing,
maybe even save some lives.
If this vote costs you your re-election,
I guarantee you I will find you a place
in this administration.
I have to think about it.
Right.
I know this is hard.
It shouldn't be, but I know that it is.
At the end of the day, all I can do
is ask you to vote your conscience.
♪
Well, it's gonna come down to the wire.
- I did all I could.
- You opened the door.
If this bill passes,
it's probably gonna be because of you,
and the President knows that.
And if it fails...
Well, we thank the senators
who voted yes for their courage
and vow to keep fighting for the issue.
And then we don't talk
about it for a while.
This was the President's cause,
and if it goes down...
let it be his defeat.
Well, what about the vice presidency?
I have no intention of
tying myself to a lame duck.
Look, Aaron...
I respect your loyalty to the President.
The vice presidency was a conversation,
not a blood oath.
And if Kirkman loses...
we're gonna have to do
our own damage control.
Hey, we have a flag.
Did you know the First Lady
was at Dirksen today?
What?
Yeah, she was meeting
with Senator Hunter
about some federal
guntrafficking legislation.
Oh, I know she told me
she wanted to talk to her,
but I didn't think that meant today.
Hours before the vote, Emily.
And she ran into Jack Bowman.
Oh, my God.
They exchanged words.
I got this from someone in my office
who got it from someone on the Hill.
Does the President know?
- No, not yet.
- Okay.
We can't tell him. It's not our place.
Emily, you're the Chief of Staff.
- And she's the First Lady.
- And he should know.
Could you imagine if
there'd been cameras there?
But there weren't, were there?
I haven't heard anything, so
whatever she did, it's done.
We will quietly re-confirm the votes
and hope there's no damage.
[Sighs]
I'm telling you, Foerstel,
there was nothing there.
Foerstel: I just sent you something.
Infrared's got a hit
at those coordinates.
You didn't happen to look down, did you?
What, we were standing on it?
What's underground?
It's an ICBM missile silo.
What?
Yeah, the government
built it in the '70s,
decommissioned years ago
as part of an arms reduction treaty.
Took out the payload,
and the property was
sold to Browning-Reed.
We got to get back
out there and find it.
No.
The sun's about to set.
We're not gonna find
anything in the dark.
All right, then we sleep here.
We head out at first light.
[Sirens wailing, horns
honking in distance]
Just got word from Moss.
O'Malley's in.
I think it's gonna come
down to Mary-Anne Louis.
Yes, sir.
If she votes for the
bill, we have the majority.
If she doesn't...
It's a tie.
And with no VP to break
it, the bill fails.
Drafts of your remarks on the vote, sir.
- Thank you.
- [Gavel bangs]
Woman: The Senate will come to
order for the vote on SB8180.
This bill requires 51 votes for passage.
Mr. Andover.
Aye.
Ms. Azora.
No.
Mr. Bowman.
No.
No surprise there.
Ms. Correia.
No.
Mr. Dunlap.
Aye.
Senator Engram.
No.
Feels like a funeral in here.
It's like none of you have
been through a vote before.
Come on!
You haven't lost yet.
God, this job is making me fat.
- Diet starts tomorrow.
- Yep.
I'm good. Thank you.
Senator Heldreth.
No.
Ms. Higuera.
No.
Ms. Hunter.
Aye.
- Heard about the pizza.
- Hey.
Ms. Louis.
Senator Louis is next.
♪
Ms. Louis?
No.
Damn it.
What's happened?
She didn't have the guts.
Seth: It's gonna be a tie.
Which means we lose.
- Mr. O'Malley.
- Aye.
- Mr. Schiller.
- Aye.
- Mr. Underhill.
- No.
Well, it was a hell of a
lot closer than I expected.
Tom, I'm so sorry.
Emily: I'm sorry, too.
It was my job to deliver, and I didn't.
It was nobody's fault. We all tried.
- Wait, wait, wait!
- What?
Vandenberg voted yes.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, go back.
Rewind it.
♪
Ms. Vandenberg.
Ms. Vandenberg?
Aye.
Vandenberg? I know her.
Moss: She was appointed
to fill her husband's
seat from Tennessee.
He was as red as they come.
[Senators murmuring]
Richard Vandenberg voted
against every gun measure
that came up during
his time in the Senate.
I assumed she would, too.
I guess everybody did.
Good for you.
- Ms. Winston.
- No.
And finally, Mr. Zwick.
Come on.
Aye.
On this vote,
the yeas are 51, and the nays are 49.
- It passes!
- Hey!
We won!
- Congratulations!
- Congratulations to you!
Great work, everyone.
This is unbelievable.
Where's the champagne?
I have some Macallan in my office.
Well, let's get it!
This is a celebration!
♪
I want to meet Senator Vandenberg.
Yes, sir.
Emily, we did it.
[Both chuckle]
We did.
[Chuckles]
To the first of many wins.
Never in doubt.
Reporter: In a tight contest
that riveted and surprised
Washington pundits,
the Senate voted 51 to 49 last night
in favor of a bill expanding
background checks
for gun purchases across the country.
The bill now moves to the House,
where Speaker Kimble Hookstraten
has promised a bipartisan effort
to amend the legislation
and get it passed.
Hookstraten's support
is a promising sign
for the Independent President
as he rolls out his
hundred days agenda.
♪
It's supposed to be right here.
This is crazy.
Wells.
Hannah: Stand back.
[Thud]
[Hinges creak]
You ready?
Yeah.
What could go wrong?
[Water trickling]
[Indistinct talking in distance]
[Cellphone vibrating]
Hey.
Aaron: Congratulations.
They're calling it a big
win for the President.
And for the Speaker.
She took a big risk, and it paid off.
Yeah, well, we're not
feeling so bad about it.
We'll have to do it again sometime.
Sounds like we will be.
Look forward to it.
[Knock on door]
Senator Vandenberg, sir.
Kirkman: Thank you, Lily.
Senator, it is an honor to meet you.
This is my wife, Alex.
I believe you've met.
Briefly, yes.
Please, please, sit.
Mr. President, thank
you for the invitation.
And, Mrs. Kirkman,
thank you for agreeing to be here.
Of course.
I want to thank you for
what you did last night.
Do you mind if I ask, what
made you change your mind?
Change it?
Well, I g... I guess we all assumed
that you would vote the
way your husband would have,
especially Senator Bowman.
Well, he never asked.
I think he just assumed
I felt lucky to be there.
We were lucky that you were.
Richard and I had a happy marriage,
but we didn't agree on everything.
Guns were one of those things.
I heard what you said
about country over party,
Mr. President.
I took it to heart.
And when I saw you stand up
to Senator Bowman yesterday,
Mrs. Kirkman...
it reminded me that I could, too.
I'm sure I'll take flack for it,
but I won't give in,
and you shouldn't, either.
Keep doing what you're doing.
I promise you we will.
♪
This place is like a
Cold War time capsule.
Whoa.
♪
Whoa.
Jason.
Good God.
These look like the bombs
used to blow up the Capitol.
There's enough explosives in here
to blow up three Capitols.
♪
President Moss wants to
get back into politics.
Your country needs you,
preferably as Secretary of State.
Work for me.
Emily: You're working
for Kimble Hookstraten?
She's the head of the Republican Party,
and you're a card-carrying Democrat.
I'm looking to redefine
the playing field.
Senator Bowman, you and I have
very different opinions on gun safety.
I will be re-introducing Bill 8180,
which strengthens
federal background checks.
I happen to oppose this bill,
but in the spirit of
bipartisan discussion,
I'd like to put it before the Senate.
- He's hijacking our agenda.
- [Sighs]
Get ready for a fight.
The woman who killed Luke...
I'm going after her myself.
Let her go!
- Hey!
- [Gunshots]
Oh, my God.
[Sirens wailing in distance]
♪
[Beep]
Ritter: Agent Wells,
what do you have for me?
These were found at the
home of Brooke Mathison,
the woman that Charles
Langdon knew as Claudine.
[Beep]
This looks like the Capitol
threat assessment file.
It was created by the same
strategic group at the Pentagon.
It highlights vulnerabilities
at the Golden Gate Bridge...
the Hoover Dam...
the Statue of Liberty.
How many more?
This is all we found.
Langdon didn't say
anything about more attacks.
It's very possible he didn't know.
Then how'd this Claudine
woman get her hands on these?
These are highly classified.
[Sighs] We don't know yet.
Thousands of people
visit these places daily.
These could be rejected
sites for attacks.
Or they could be plans
for attacks to come.
Yeah.
We're combing through Brooke
Mathison's hard drives,
trying to find any clues we can.
I'll tell the President.
He needs to be informed right away.
[Sighs]
♪
♪
We've alerted DHS to a credible threat.
They're sweeping all three sites
without alerting the public.
I want to know the
second they find anything.
We also need to update
emergency evacuation plans
for those three areas.
- Of course, sir.
- [Knock on door]
- Mr. President.
- Yes?
You have the press in five minutes, sir.
Do you need more time?
No, we're fine. We're done here.
Thank you, Mike.
Lily, I'll be right with you.
[Indistinct conversations]
Ladies and gentlemen, the
President of the United States.
- [Camera shutters clicking]
- Kirkman: Thank you, Seth.
Please, everybody, be seated.
- Good morning.
- Audience: Good morning.
As you all know, we have an
incredibly busy day today.
So if we could just get started. Carla.
Mr. President, the Senate has introduced
the first major legislation
of your presidency.
Do you support Senate Bill 8180,
expanding background
checks for gun sales?
Yes, I do.
As I said in the town hall,
I believe that we have a responsibility
to do anything that we can
to reduce the level of gun
violence in our country.
And I think that this bill
is an important step
in that direction.
Are you concerned about
political fallout,
tackling such a polarizing issue
so early in your term?
No, I think passing good
laws is more important
than political posturing.
And even though this issue
is polarizing in some regard,
84% of Americans believe in
stronger background checks.
Joel.
Staying with that,
sir, many observers say
the language of the bill is flawed.
- Can you respond?
- Certainly.
- I think they're right.
- [Light laughter]
Um, but if the Senate
passes the bill to the House,
I will be committed to working
with Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents
to make sure that we pass a law
that will ultimately make us safer.
That's funny. Nobody's
reached out to me.
Well, he's reaching out now.
I want to remind you,
this bill is not about
taking guns away from people.
It's about making sure
they don't fall into the wrong hands
in the first place.
Initial social media
response to the bill is mixed.
Well, they don't call it
a third rail for nothing.
Well, it's still pretty
positive, considering.
We'll make sure the data gets out
on all the White House channels,
make sure people know
that the numbers check out,
and in terms of public engagement,
Mrs. Kirkman is hosting a
roundtable discussion today
with a number of stakeholders.
People, Seth... mothers,
fathers, daughters, sons.
We can never forget that.
Yes, sir.
Uh... I'll go check on Mrs. Kirkman now.
- Okay, thank you.
- Speaking of numbers, sir,
we need to get 51
Senate votes in two days,
which is not gonna be easy.
The language of the bill
is not ideal, as you know.
That's why Senator Bowman picked it.
He's trying to back me into a corner.
Well, nobody puts Baby in a corner, sir.
I didn't think you were old enough
- to know that movie.
- I had to.
But we're gonna get you out of it.
Diane Hunter, the minority leader,
is on her way here shortly.
If anyone's gonna back us
on this, it's the Democrats.
Unfortunately, there's only 46 of them.
Good morning, ma'am. I
was just coming to see you.
- Did you get the briefing memo?
- Yes, I did.
Thank you. Great.
So, we'll be in the Roosevelt Room.
Public Engagement has
put together 12 people...
Men and women from all over the country,
good cross section on age and race,
and each one of them has, unfortunately,
lost somebody due to gun violence.
So it's not gonna be an easy day,
but their stories will remind people
of why this is so important.
And keep pressure on
the Senate for this bill.
Yes, exactly. Although
I wouldn't mention
the bill specifically... Today's
really just about listening.
You don't want to make promises.
Seth, please don't worry.
I have learned my lesson.
That's not what I meant, ma'am.
Oh, yes, it is.
And it's okay... It's your job.
Okay.
Um, there is a pool spray at the top...
A couple of reporters...
But everything's off the
record once the meeting begins.
It's just you and them.
Okay.
You know, when Tom and I
got into the White House,
I had no idea what to expect.
But this [sighs]
talking about things that
really matter to people,
this is exactly what I hoped for.
Thank you for helping.
Thank you, ma'am.
Bringing this bill out of committee
is a pure power move by Bowman.
I mean, he may be new to the Senate,
- but he's no virgin.
- No kidding.
The man resigned from
the governor's office
so he could be appointed to the Senate.
He's trying to jack his national profile
- as fast as he can.
- And it's working.
There's already talk of
a Bowman White House run.
And he's trying to eliminate
his competition, ma'am.
I mean, introducing this
bill without consulting you?
He's trying to take
you out at the knees.
[Chuckles] Yes, well...
as the ranking Republican on the Hill,
I have to be careful
about how to respond.
He's still a member of my party.
Respectfully, ma'am, I disagree.
I think you need to push back...
hard, before it's his party.
Show him.
He's not the only alpha dog in Congress.
[Telephone ringing]
Senator Hunter, thank
you very much for coming.
I believe you know
my Chief of Staff, Emily Rhodes.
Nice to see you again, Senator.
- Likewise.
- Please.
Mr. President, I admired
your statement this morning.
Thank you very much. Let's take a seat.
Obviously, we're counting on the support
of the Democrats in
the Senate on SB8180.
And given your previous
record as Attorney General
of the great state of Massachusetts,
I'm trusting that I can
count on you as an ally.
I am proud to say that Massachusetts has
some of the strongest gun
regulations in the country.
Of course, I'd like to see
universal background checks
as the law of the land.
I understand that this bill
might not go as far as you want,
but I believe that it
starts the ball rolling
in the right direction.
That isn't the only issue.
SB8180 is flawed...
Fatally, some would say.
We will work the language
of the bill in the House...
but if we don't get it past the Senate,
I don't know if we're gonna
get another chance at this.
I agree with you, Mr. President,
which is why I'm willing
to convince my colleagues
to fall in line.
I'm very glad to hear that.
Yeah, but even if every
Democrat in the Senate
votes for this bill,
it's not enough to pass.
You'll still need five Republicans.
Yes, we know it's
going to be a challenge.
You're not just competing
against Jack Bowman here, sir.
This is the gun lobby.
This is the Second Amendment folks.
It's going to be expensive,
and we need to know that
you won't give away too much.
What exactly do you mean?
I mean...
we don't know your red line,
but I can tell you what
we won't tolerate.
If we get a whiff of
tax cuts for the rich
or cuts to Medicare or Social Security,
we will back out of this bill.
You have my word, Senator.
I'm right there with you.
Good.
And good luck, Mr. President.
I'm afraid you're going to need it.
♪
Narrator: Freedom.
It's what makes America great...
A fight that never ends.
And as the brave forces of
the United States Military
deploy to trouble
spots around the world,
Browning-Reed is right
there beside them.
Browning-Reed is
the tip of the spear
when it comes tosecurity strategy.
Browning-Reed was established in 1993.
For its first 20 years in operation,
it was the go-to private
military for the Pentagon.
Yeah, I remember...
Some of their employees
shot up a bunch of
civilians in Afghanistan.
Right, and they bribed
Afghan authorities
to cover it up.
That's charming.
The whole place stunk from the top down.
Anyway, the company
was dissolved last July.
All that's left is some
realestate holdings,
which they're oddly still
paying property taxes on.
One of the properties is
Brooke Mathison's house,
where we found the threat assessments.
They also have property
in Driggs, North Dakota...
30 miles outside of Devil's Lake.
Well, that just looks
like the middle of nowhere.
Right?
So why would Brooke Mathison
fly to North Dakota four times
between February 2011
and September 2015?
We got to find out what's out there.
Yeah, well, not alone. Take backup.
I'm gonna call Jason.
Are you kidding me?
He's a liability. He's not stable.
John, they had his kid.
What would you have done?
I'm just trying to look out for you.
I know he's your friend,
but that doesn't mean
he's qualified to be part of this.
The President gave me direct orders
to use whatever means necessary
to uncover this conspiracy.
I get to choose who I work with, John,
and I choose Atwood.
We'll check in when we get there.
[Sighs]
Mr. President.
Welcome back. How did New York go?
Well, my Russian's a bit
rusty, but we got the job done.
UN Peacekeepers are heading
for Naruba as we speak.
Fantastic. How did you do it?
Some good-old Texas horse trading.
You know, in the end,
we've got a lot more
in common than we think.
Except maybe you and Jack Bowman.
I see where you decided
to throw down on his bill.
Yeah.
Do you think it was a mistake?
Do you?
When I heard that woman
speak at the town hall,
I didn't.
When I talked to the press this morning,
I didn't.
But even the Democrats
don't sound very optimistic.
Welcome to the Hill.
Many men have died on it.
Is that supposed to be a pep talk?
It's a reality check.
The American people like you, Tom.
You're an outsider,
and you don't owe anything to anyone.
But that means
nobody owes you, either.
I'm not very good at
the Washington game yet.
To be fair, you've never
really been in the game.
And as for that bill, well,
the wording is piss-poor,
but it's got the right guts.
And more importantly,
it's the bill you've got.
Forget about how you got here, Tom.
It's just like generals
throughout history.
You don't always get
to choose your terrain.
The only thing that matters now...
is fighting the war
that's in front of you.
And it ain't a mistake if you win.
Then we better get those 51 votes.
Cream?
My father always said a man
only needs two things to live...
- Black coffee and Irish whiskey.
- [Chuckles]
Sounds like your father
must've worked in Washington.
- [Chuckles]
- Please.
No, ma'am, he, uh... he raised cattle
in Northwest Montana for 38 years.
I come by the boots honestly.
Well, for an outsider,
you certainly are jumping right in.
I'm not sure what you mean.
I know you want to
embarrass the President,
make him choke on this flawed bill,
but Congress is a system
with a lot of moving parts,
and that could lead to a lot
of unintended consequences.
Well, I have a majority in the Senate,
Second Amendment on my side.
Seems pretty simple
to me, Madam Speaker.
You know this bill doesn't
threaten the Second Amendment.
And you may have the
majority in the Senate,
but may I remind you
that the country
recently elected a House
that is almost a third Independent.
Even if you succeed
in killing this bill,
we have much bigger priorities -
Tax reform, trade
agreements, national security.
If we want to get any of those
things done in this Congress,
we need a united Republican front.
You're not helping with this stunt.
No, you're right.
This is bigger than background checks.
And I'm not interested in a united front
if it means compromising my values.
Now, I may be new to the
Hill, but so is everybody else.
You're the last of the old
guard around here, Madam Speaker.
So, uh...
So get on board... or step aside.
Hmm?
Thanks for the coffee.
Ma'am.
Republicans with moderate records,
minimal ties to the gun lobby,
and enough time left on their terms
to ride out any backlash.
Hmm, three steps ahead.
I can't take all the credit.
Leg Affairs did the legwork.
And humble, too.
You'll get over that.
Walter Dunlap, I know him.
We shared some classes
together at Cornell.
He's a good guy,
but I swear he cheated his way
through introductory physics.
I wouldn't bring that up.
I'll set the meeting.
Thank you.
Alex: Welcome to the White House.
I know I speak on
behalf of the President
when I say
thank you so much for
your courage and generosity
in coming here to share
your stories today.
Ma'am, will you be discussing SB8180?
- Thank you, pool.
- Uh, no.
Uh... today is about people,
not politics, and I am here to listen.
Okay, if everybody has what they need,
Jake here can escort you out.
We'll let the First Lady get started.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you, Seth.
[Tires squealing]
You don't have an
office anymore, either?
I do, but that would require
getting you White House clearance,
and that would require
a lot of explanation.
Feel like going on a road trip?
Where are we heading?
North Dakota.
What the hell is in North Dakota?
Let's find out.
Emily: Look, Leslie,
I'm not interested in
playing this out publicly.
I just need you to tell
me which Republicans
would be open to a sit-down?
The murder rate in particular
cities in this country
is unacceptable to President Kirkman...
Kirkman: Senator,
I understand and appreciate
your position,
but 84% of the country wants
tougher background checks.
Now, the American people have spoken,
and it's our job to listen.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I'm very sorry to
hear you say that, sir.
Thank you. Goodbye.
Who was that?
Senator Franklin.
We're five Republican votes short.
How are you doing?
Seth said the roundtable went well.
Yeah.
There was this one guy, Mike Dunne.
Two years ago, his wife, Allison...
She's driving back
from the grocery store,
and she accidentally cut someone off.
That man, he followed her
to the next red light,
and he... shoots her dead.
My God. I know.
Tom, we got so lucky when you were shot.
I don't know what I'd do if I lost you.
I know how lucky I am.
You know, the strength
of some of these people
after what they've been through...
it's... it's inspiring.
[Chuckles]
Come here.
You've got to win this.
[Indistinct conversations]
Banker's hours?
Well, it's business.
Does that mean you're buying?
Bartender: Same thing?
I left a bottle in the desk.
I assume you found it.
Uh... I'm working my
first Congressional vote
as chief of staff to the
President of the United States.
That bottle is long gone, Aaron.
Mm.
Speaking of the vote...
Here you go.
I know you're gonna
need a few Republicans,
and I know you're
facing an uphill climb.
That's not exactly a secret.
What if we could help?
Hookstraten?
She's a Republican...
- and she is Speaker.
- Of the House.
How exactly is she gonna
line up senators?
You know there's some
soft spots in the Senate...
Moderates who don't really
oppose background checks.
They're just afraid to cross Bowman.
I'm listening.
If these senators can be reassured
there's a home for them in the party,
someone has their back
come election time...
They might have a reason
to vote the bill through.
And what's in it for Hookstraten?
Think about it.
Vice President.
What do you think?
Did you have this flown in from Ithaca?
Secret Service wouldn't
allow it. [Chuckles]
But someone down there in the kitchen
is working some serious magic
'cause I'd swear this is a Pinesburger.
Three more and you get a free tshirt.
The Pinesburger challenge.
I think it would send me into
a cardiac arrest these days.
30 years ago, when we
were back in Clark Hall,
could you ever have imagined
that the two of us
would be sitting here?
Not in my wildest dreams.
[Chuckles]
And it is an honor to be
here, Mr. President, truly.
But you do know I'm a Republican, right?
I heard a rumor.
Walter, I know you're a good man...
reasonable.
Hell, there's more public support
for background checks
than there is for tax cuts.
- I'm not so sure about Iowa.
- [Chuckles]
But that's not the point.
The language of this bill is so broad,
my people tell me it's a slippery slope.
I know. I know.
We're gonna fix it in the House.
But I have to vote for
the bill as written, Tom.
I can't do it.
Look, I know we go back a long time,
and I may lean toward the center,
but this is politics.
I was appointed by a
Republican governor,
and I can't go rogue
on the first big vote of my term.
Walter, we've got a chance
to do something really good here.
This bill is gonna save lives.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
Me, too.
I brought this bill out of committee
to the Senate floor
to show the White House
that any effort to interfere
in the free exercise
of Americans' Second
Amendment rights will fail.
Senator, the First Lady hosted
a number of victims of gun violence
at the White House yesterday.
Yeah, a blatant PR stunt.
Listen, the White House
has completely
oversimplified this issue.
They're making promises
about safety they can't keep.
Lily: Mr. President...
Speaker Hookstraten.
- Thank you.
- [TV shuts off]
Kimble, how nice to see you.
Thank you, sir.
I know you've got a
Senate vote coming up fast,
so I won't take much of your time.
What I came to tell you is,
with the proper encouragement,
I think a few moderate
Republicans in the Senate
might just vote yes.
What kind of encouragement
are we talking about?
If the Senate gets
the bill to the House,
I will work with you
and other House leaders
to get an amended measure
passed, as you intend.
And I'm willing to say that publicly.
[Chuckles softly]
That's very generous of you.
And courageous, too,
to take on Senator Bowman like that.
Kimble, I have to be honest,
I'm not in a position to
make promises right now.
Obviously, this bill is
incredibly important to me,
but the best that I could do...
Well, I would be very
grateful down the line.
That's all I need to
know, Mr. President.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Kimble?
From the moment I took office,
I've been trying to guess
what you were going to do.
And I have to admit,
I've usually been wrong.
Why are you doing this?
Because I think you're
doing the right thing, sir.
Thank you very much.
[Chuckles]
Hookstraten: Today, I had
a very productive meeting
with President Kirkman regarding SB8180.
I agree with him that sensible measures
to ensure gun safety are long overdue
and that expanding background checks
makes Americans safer.
So I urge my colleagues in the Senate
to pass this bill tomorrow
and get it to the House,
where Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents...
I'd say your meeting
with the Speaker went well.
Let's hope this works.
As the President has said,
let's put country above party
and show the American people
that their Congress is listening.
_
♪
Atwood: So, what do you
think we're really gonna find
all the way out here?
Oil?
[Chuckles] I don't know.
Must be something big
for Brooke Mathison
to come all this way.
We're getting closer to
the belly of the beast,
Jason, I can feel it.
Pull over two miles out.
We'll go the rest of the way on foot.
It's so crazy listening
to you give me orders.
Seems like just yesterday,
it was the other way around.
It's weird for me, too, you know.
No, I mean it. I mean, I'm grateful.
Because I tell you, with
Brooke Mathison being dead,
I thought I'd have closure,
but I realize that's not gonna happen
until all these sons of
bitches are brought down.
♪
Mr. President, I have Senator
Dunlap on the phone for you.
Thank you, Ava.
[Receiver lifts, beep]
Walter. How are you doing?
I'm well, Mr. President.
Just had a long talk with
Kimble Hookstraten about 8180.
- And...?
- And...
she's agreed to provide me
with the political cover I need
to back you up on this.
[Chuckles softly] That's fantastic.
I'm sorry it had to
play out like this, Tom.
I wish I could have just
said yes when you asked me,
but, anyway, I wanted
you to hear it from me.
You can count on my vote.
I really appreciate it, Walter.
This is great news.
Good day, Mr. President.
Good day.
[Receiver clicks]
[Sighs]
- [Knock on door]
- Seth: Hey.
Hey.
Hookstraten got us three Republicans...
Kovich, Duffield, and
Dunlap flipped this morning.
Okay, I never thought I'd use
"Hookstraten" and "friend"
in the same sentence.
Is this, uh, Aaron's doing?
Well, I mean, he knows that we need
to take down Jack Bowman just
as much as she does, so...
Yeah, but for her to wrap her
arms around POTUS like that,
there's got to be
something else going on.
I'm just saying there may or may not be
a pool going in the lower press.
The President hasn't agreed to anything.
Oh, okay.
Alex: Thank you so much,
Senator, for seeing me.
Senator Hunter: Thank
you for reaching out.
Well, I made a promise to Amara Qazi,
and she came to the
roundtable yesterday.
Her 12-year-old grandson was killed
in a drive-by shooting in Chicago.
- 12 years old...
- Yeah.
Without a specific law
targeting gun trafficking,
we're not giving law
enforcement a fighting chance
to stop the flood of weapons
coming into cities like Chicago.
You are preaching to
the choir, Mrs. Kirkman.
You know, I championed this
effort in Massachusetts,
and I would be glad to
lead the charge here,
if and when we have the momentum.
Of course.
And in the meantime, let me say...
I am glad to have a sisterin-arms
- in the White House.
- Well, thank you.
And thank you so much for
your support with this vote.
I hope we'll all be
celebrating tomorrow.
Goodbye.
Senator Bowman: Uh, Mrs. Kirkman...
I don't believe we
formally met. Jack Bowman.
I think you're right. It
just feels like we have.
[Chuckles] Well, this is
Senator Underhill, of Oklahoma.
Pleasure.
Senator Higuera, New Jersey.
Nice to meet you.
And Senator Vandenberg, Tennessee.
Hello.
I must say, I'm
surprised to see you here.
Is the First Lady working Senators now?
Oh, I'm not here for votes.
I was just here to keep a promise
to a woman who lost
her son to gun violence.
Well, I admire your civic spirit.
Good luck in the vote
today, Mrs. Kirkman,
to you and your husband.
Thank you, but this isn't about luck.
It shouldn't be good luck
that keeps people safe
in a movie theater
or a mall or a school.
This is about doing what's right,
and I just hope that 51
Senators can feel the same way.
It was an honor to meet all of you.
Okay, so we need two more.
I was speaking to Leg Affairs today,
and they said we can get Higuera
if you're willing to
talk Medicaid reform.
Medicaid cuts... Absolutely not.
Okay.
Then we're looking at
Harrington from Colorado.
I know his Chief of Staff
from when I worked on the Hill,
so I'll take him,
and Jim O'Malley was in
your Treasury Department.
Do you think he's a possibility?
I'll knock some sense into him.
Good.
Our longest shot is gonna be
Mary-Anne Louis from Alaska.
She's got a moderate
streak, but it is Alaska.
I'll talk to her.
Well, let's just wait on
the big guns for a second
because if we can get
Harrington and O'Malley,
we have our 51.
I smell the barn on this.
Good work, Ms. Rhodes.
I appreciate that, sir,
but our work isn't done
until we have the votes.
We're gonna need
to prepare a statement...
- Up or down.
- I'm on it.
We just lost Engram.
What? Engram's a Democrat.
Says he doesn't like
you aligning yourself
with a Republican speaker.
He can't trust.
Seth: Two steps forward, one step back.
So now we're at 48.
Moss: Unless you're willing
to talk about Medicaid.
No, no, I meant what I said.
We need all three...
Harrington, O'Malley,
and Mary-Anne Louis.
Time for the big guns.
[Sighs]
Son of a bitch.
♪
We should be coming up on it...
Let me see.
Right now.
What the hell?
This is the place.
But where's the facility?
♪
Good to see you haven't changed.
Your office said you were on lunch.
I took a wild guess.
If you wanted to hang out,
you could have just asked.
I'm here for work, Grady.
I need to know where your
boss stands on SB8180.
Mm, that depends on how persuasive
the President is willing to get.
Just give me a number.
O' Malley: Mr. President,
I think what you're doing
for this administration is admirable.
But some of us still have
elections to worry about.
In Texas.
I carried Texas by 60
points last time I ran.
I'd say my endorsement still
carries some weight down there.
Are you promising me your endorsement?
Prove you deserve it, Jim.
Mr. President, you're asking
me to commit political suicide.
No, I'm asking you
to do the right thing.
And sacrifice every other right thing
for this one.
My appointment is up in November.
If I vote for this bill,
I won't stand a chance at re-election.
You want a number? Okay.
The immediate infrastructure
needs of Colorado
exceeds $785 million.
That's a lot of infrastructure.
You're asking what would
help Coloradans overlook
their Republican Junior
Senator's vote for gun control.
We're talking about background
checks for new sales.
It's mild.
Well, if you swing that in the budget,
I think I can swing Harrington.
I'll confirm within the hour.
If you can't find your spine on this...
I may just run for the damn seat myself.
There's no need to overreact.
It's really that important to you?
Oh, I'm not asking for myself.
I'm not even asking for the President.
I'm asking for the country.
And I'm not really asking.
Look, I understand that
this is Washington, D.C.,
and I understand that
you're a politician,
but we have a chance to finally
move forward on this thing,
maybe even save some lives.
If this vote costs you your re-election,
I guarantee you I will find you a place
in this administration.
I have to think about it.
Right.
I know this is hard.
It shouldn't be, but I know that it is.
At the end of the day, all I can do
is ask you to vote your conscience.
♪
Well, it's gonna come down to the wire.
- I did all I could.
- You opened the door.
If this bill passes,
it's probably gonna be because of you,
and the President knows that.
And if it fails...
Well, we thank the senators
who voted yes for their courage
and vow to keep fighting for the issue.
And then we don't talk
about it for a while.
This was the President's cause,
and if it goes down...
let it be his defeat.
Well, what about the vice presidency?
I have no intention of
tying myself to a lame duck.
Look, Aaron...
I respect your loyalty to the President.
The vice presidency was a conversation,
not a blood oath.
And if Kirkman loses...
we're gonna have to do
our own damage control.
Hey, we have a flag.
Did you know the First Lady
was at Dirksen today?
What?
Yeah, she was meeting
with Senator Hunter
about some federal
guntrafficking legislation.
Oh, I know she told me
she wanted to talk to her,
but I didn't think that meant today.
Hours before the vote, Emily.
And she ran into Jack Bowman.
Oh, my God.
They exchanged words.
I got this from someone in my office
who got it from someone on the Hill.
Does the President know?
- No, not yet.
- Okay.
We can't tell him. It's not our place.
Emily, you're the Chief of Staff.
- And she's the First Lady.
- And he should know.
Could you imagine if
there'd been cameras there?
But there weren't, were there?
I haven't heard anything, so
whatever she did, it's done.
We will quietly re-confirm the votes
and hope there's no damage.
[Sighs]
I'm telling you, Foerstel,
there was nothing there.
Foerstel: I just sent you something.
Infrared's got a hit
at those coordinates.
You didn't happen to look down, did you?
What, we were standing on it?
What's underground?
It's an ICBM missile silo.
What?
Yeah, the government
built it in the '70s,
decommissioned years ago
as part of an arms reduction treaty.
Took out the payload,
and the property was
sold to Browning-Reed.
We got to get back
out there and find it.
No.
The sun's about to set.
We're not gonna find
anything in the dark.
All right, then we sleep here.
We head out at first light.
[Sirens wailing, horns
honking in distance]
Just got word from Moss.
O'Malley's in.
I think it's gonna come
down to Mary-Anne Louis.
Yes, sir.
If she votes for the
bill, we have the majority.
If she doesn't...
It's a tie.
And with no VP to break
it, the bill fails.
Drafts of your remarks on the vote, sir.
- Thank you.
- [Gavel bangs]
Woman: The Senate will come to
order for the vote on SB8180.
This bill requires 51 votes for passage.
Mr. Andover.
Aye.
Ms. Azora.
No.
Mr. Bowman.
No.
No surprise there.
Ms. Correia.
No.
Mr. Dunlap.
Aye.
Senator Engram.
No.
Feels like a funeral in here.
It's like none of you have
been through a vote before.
Come on!
You haven't lost yet.
God, this job is making me fat.
- Diet starts tomorrow.
- Yep.
I'm good. Thank you.
Senator Heldreth.
No.
Ms. Higuera.
No.
Ms. Hunter.
Aye.
- Heard about the pizza.
- Hey.
Ms. Louis.
Senator Louis is next.
♪
Ms. Louis?
No.
Damn it.
What's happened?
She didn't have the guts.
Seth: It's gonna be a tie.
Which means we lose.
- Mr. O'Malley.
- Aye.
- Mr. Schiller.
- Aye.
- Mr. Underhill.
- No.
Well, it was a hell of a
lot closer than I expected.
Tom, I'm so sorry.
Emily: I'm sorry, too.
It was my job to deliver, and I didn't.
It was nobody's fault. We all tried.
- Wait, wait, wait!
- What?
Vandenberg voted yes.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, go back.
Rewind it.
♪
Ms. Vandenberg.
Ms. Vandenberg?
Aye.
Vandenberg? I know her.
Moss: She was appointed
to fill her husband's
seat from Tennessee.
He was as red as they come.
[Senators murmuring]
Richard Vandenberg voted
against every gun measure
that came up during
his time in the Senate.
I assumed she would, too.
I guess everybody did.
Good for you.
- Ms. Winston.
- No.
And finally, Mr. Zwick.
Come on.
Aye.
On this vote,
the yeas are 51, and the nays are 49.
- It passes!
- Hey!
We won!
- Congratulations!
- Congratulations to you!
Great work, everyone.
This is unbelievable.
Where's the champagne?
I have some Macallan in my office.
Well, let's get it!
This is a celebration!
♪
I want to meet Senator Vandenberg.
Yes, sir.
Emily, we did it.
[Both chuckle]
We did.
[Chuckles]
To the first of many wins.
Never in doubt.
Reporter: In a tight contest
that riveted and surprised
Washington pundits,
the Senate voted 51 to 49 last night
in favor of a bill expanding
background checks
for gun purchases across the country.
The bill now moves to the House,
where Speaker Kimble Hookstraten
has promised a bipartisan effort
to amend the legislation
and get it passed.
Hookstraten's support
is a promising sign
for the Independent President
as he rolls out his
hundred days agenda.
♪
It's supposed to be right here.
This is crazy.
Wells.
Hannah: Stand back.
[Thud]
[Hinges creak]
You ready?
Yeah.
What could go wrong?
[Water trickling]
[Indistinct talking in distance]
[Cellphone vibrating]
Hey.
Aaron: Congratulations.
They're calling it a big
win for the President.
And for the Speaker.
She took a big risk, and it paid off.
Yeah, well, we're not
feeling so bad about it.
We'll have to do it again sometime.
Sounds like we will be.
Look forward to it.
[Knock on door]
Senator Vandenberg, sir.
Kirkman: Thank you, Lily.
Senator, it is an honor to meet you.
This is my wife, Alex.
I believe you've met.
Briefly, yes.
Please, please, sit.
Mr. President, thank
you for the invitation.
And, Mrs. Kirkman,
thank you for agreeing to be here.
Of course.
I want to thank you for
what you did last night.
Do you mind if I ask, what
made you change your mind?
Change it?
Well, I g... I guess we all assumed
that you would vote the
way your husband would have,
especially Senator Bowman.
Well, he never asked.
I think he just assumed
I felt lucky to be there.
We were lucky that you were.
Richard and I had a happy marriage,
but we didn't agree on everything.
Guns were one of those things.
I heard what you said
about country over party,
Mr. President.
I took it to heart.
And when I saw you stand up
to Senator Bowman yesterday,
Mrs. Kirkman...
it reminded me that I could, too.
I'm sure I'll take flack for it,
but I won't give in,
and you shouldn't, either.
Keep doing what you're doing.
I promise you we will.
♪
This place is like a
Cold War time capsule.
Whoa.
♪
Whoa.
Jason.
Good God.
These look like the bombs
used to blow up the Capitol.
There's enough explosives in here
to blow up three Capitols.
♪