Designated Survivor (2016–2019): Season 1, Episode 21 - Brace for Impact - full transcript

Previously on Designated Survivor...

Abe Leonard asserts Al-Sakar
was not responsible

for the attack of the Capitol.

The jackals are at the
door, Mr. President.

I think we're really close
to cracking this thing.

Your lead investigator is missing.

The man who tried to
kill you is still alive.

And the mole in the White
House remains unknown.

I am relieving you of your
command, effective immediately.

- What?
- General, you are fired.

You kill my family...



I kill yours.

Jason...

It's all working.

Everyone's focused on the FBI, not us.

Where is Hannah?

On assignment.

I want every container
opened and searched.

- Get your hands behind your head!
- Hands behind your head!

On the ground right now!

Hands above your head! Get on your knees!

- You don't understand!
- Now! On the ground!

Put your hands where I can see them!

Get on the ground! Do it!

- Okay.
- Get on your knees!



I said get on the ground! I'm
not gonna ask you again!

Get back, or I'll detonate it!

Get back, or I'll blow it!

Put your guns down! I mean it!

- Stop. Nobody fires.
- Get back!

Get back!

Go, go!

Go back! Up the stairs!

Get out of the way!

Come on!

- Freeze! Let me see your hands!
- Hold it right there!

Sir.

What have you got?

The FBI has her in custody.

I want to talk to her
as soon as possible.

Yes, sir.

I already told you... I had
nothing to do with this.

I woke up in the back of the van...

What about the schematics we
found in your apartment...

the structural blueprints to the garage?

You parked your van right
under a load-bearing beam,

which is exactly where you'd want to park

if you want to take the building down.

Hannah.

Thank God you're okay.

Get those cuffs off her right now.

She's a lead suspect
in a terrorist attack.

- The hell she is. Let her go.
- Under whose authority?

The president of the United States.

Yeah, right.

He wants her in his office ASAP.

Yeah.

Dan, I got the White House on the line.

You were saying?

You all right?

They killed Jason.

All right, we have to tell
the president what we know.

They wanted to blame me for an attack,

so they planted evidence in my apartment.

They called the FBI,

said that I'd be in the
garage with a bomb.

We're interrogating the suspects
that we arrested on the freighter.

They're giving up intel on the cells.

What about Lloyd?

The only link that we've managed to find

is between the ship

and a defunct subsidiary
of Browning Reed.

It's not a smoking gun.

So what? You need to bring
that bastard in, Tom.

I agree, sir.

There's no point in bringing him in today

if we have to let him out tomorrow.

We need to play this the same
way that we did MacLeish.

Well, look how that turned out.

Sir?

I agree with them.

Especially given the fact that we don't know
who the traitor is in the White House.

Bring him in.

Our target is Patrick Lloyd.

We believe that he is responsible
for the bombing on our Capitol.

He currently resides on a 100-acre
horse farm west of Warrenton, Virginia.

We should assume he is heavily armed.

He killed our friends, and
he killed our leaders.

We will take him alive,

and we will make him pay for
everything he took from us.

Is everyone clear on that?

Yes.

All right. Let's move out.

Is there an FBI conspiracy in
the Kirkman Administration?

It's very concerning,
Nate... very concerning.

I mean, what we now know, it casts doubt

on everything the president
has ever told us.

How are we supposed to trust him?

Come in.

What have you got?

So far, we've identified
cells in Montana, Arizona,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

Now, the FBI's Joint Terrorism
Task Force on Domestic Threats

is moving teams into position
so we can coordinate the raids,

not tip them off.

You know, I read their "manifesto."

It was ridiculous.

They use just the right
amount of historical quotes

to try and make themselves
sound legitimate.

They're not political.

This is a power grab
...an attempted coup.

Where are we at with Lloyd?

Tactical team's en route.

We'll have him in custody
within the hour.

I want updates as soon as they come in.

Yes, sir.

Great work, Director Foerstel. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President.

That's an excellent
argument, Senator Bowman,

but I'm sure my next guest
will probably disagree...

recent White House chief
of staff Aaron Shore.

Thank you, Nate.

So, what do you say to all
the Americans out there

who are worried about a
government conspiracy?

I'd say that President Kirkman is

probably the most honest
man I've ever met.

And I think you and Senator Bowman

are both trying to score political points

over matters of national security.

Are you saying this story
isn't true, then, Mr. Shore?

I'm saying I haven't been fully briefed,

and neither has the senator,

so neither one of us should be
making any kind of accusations.

Well, the fact remains...

if these are matters
of national security,

the president should just say so.

But so far, he's said nothing.
That's a disservice.

Knowing the president as well as I do...

I'm sure if he's holding
on to any kind of secret,

it's for the safety of
the American people.

If anyone is doing a
disservice here, it's you.

Stay tuned tomorrow, folks.

This story's not going anywhere.

- Moore.
- It's Wells. You have eyes on Lloyd?

Yeah, he's still in the house.

All right, good.

Hold your position. We're en route.

Copy.

_

LOZANO HAS THE PACKAGE.
READY TO PROCEED.

INPUT REPLY: EXECUTE.

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE SENT

UNKNOWN NUMBER: EXECUTE

Agent Wells! Perimeter's locked down.

All clear here.

We got nothing here too.

I want a list of every plane,
truck, car, ship, helicopter

registered to Browning Reed
or their subsidiaries,

and I want it tracked now.

That means FAA,

- it means state DMV,
- Agent Wells!

it means ATL, law enforcement.

Whatever you have to do, you get it done.

- Agent Wells.
- Yeah.

Virginia highway patrol said

they spotted a vehicle
registered to Lloyd

driving south on the interstate.

Open the walkie.

Agent Wells!

I got a Patrick Lloyd sighting
at a traffic stop in Chesapeake.

TSA says they got eyes on him

over at Raleigh-Durham International.

They're now saying his
credit card was just used

at a bus station in Pittsburgh.

I got a hit on his ATM
card... in Plano, Texas.

Shell game.

Damn it!

Everyone's asking when
the next briefing is.

Well, until I can give them
something more than a "No comment,"

I'm gonna stay away from the press

for as long as possible.

How's that working out for you?

And I'm gonna start
locking my office door.

Oh, that's not gonna slow me down.
Trust me.

What do you want, Abe?

A White House comment.

I already gave your story a "No comment."

Haven't we done this before?

I feel like it's, like,
"Groundhog Day" with you.

Al-Sakar was yesterday's story.

I'm talking about tomorrow's edition.

A "No comment" is not
gonna cut it this time.

It's a good movie, though.

Mr. President.

Major flag for you, sir.

What is it?

Abe Leonard is running a story claiming

that FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood

was arrested in the Oval for
the murder of Majid Nassar.

He says the White House covered it up.

I mean, how do you want
to respond to this?

Tell Mr. Leonard I want to see him.

Sorry?

Set up a meeting... face-to-face.

Thank you.

I can't get through to him.

He's needs to address
the Abe Leonard story.

I know you want Tom to
behave like a politician,

but that's just not who he is, Emily.

He is the president of
the United States, Alex.

He needs to defend the office.

Yes, I know, and he
will... in his own way.

How long are you in town for?
I miss our lunches.

I got to head back tonight.

I'm just gonna grab a bite with
a friend at The Hay-Adams.

And, Emily?

It's gonna be okay.

Right.

How did he get by us?

Don't know.

The working theory is that
the traitor tipped him off.

And, unfortunately, we're still
no closer to finding him.

We need to freeze his assets...
bleed the son of a bitch dry.

Contact Treasury. We'll have
an executive order drafted.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
- Thank you.

Every president has a defining crisis.

You, Tom, have had several.

But you are going to weather this.

Because one way or another,
it's all coming to an end.

And in the meantime?

Brace for impact.

Well, at least I'm
getting better at that.

ESTABLISHING SECURE CONNECTION...

SIPRNET
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

_

Ritter.

It's Chuck. Get to Hannah's office now.

MARK FARRELL
LIEUTENANT - THE UNITED STATES NAVY

UNITED STATES
UNIFORMED SERVICES

What is it?

Okay, remember the hack that was used

to deliver the Majid Nassar video?

Yeah. That attack destroyed half
the computers in the West Wing.

Also left behind a serious
digital footprint.

Now, working under the assumption

that our traitor was responsible
for that hack, as well,

I've been keeping an eye
out for that same code

in case it was used again.

Our traitor just accessed SIPRNET.

The Pentagon? What for?

I don't know. He's not in the mainframes.

Looks like he just
wanted to create an I.D.

An I.D. for who?

FARRELL, MARK
LIEUTENANT

Sir? Aaron Shore.

Thank you, Ava.

Mr. President.

Aaron. Great to see you again.

- You as well, sir.
- Please.

I saw you on television earlier.

I really appreciated what you had to say.

You know I'll always protect you, sir.

I know, which is why I've asked you here.

What I'm about to tell you
is strictly classified.

We know that there's a
traitor in the White House.

We haven't been able to identify him,

but we know he was involved
in the Capitol bombing

and was instrumental
in having me appointed

as the Designated Survivor.

You were part of President
Richmond's staff.

Do you have any idea who this could be?

So, it wasn't Langdon?

Langdon's in custody.

The person we're looking for

is actively destroying
evidence of the conspiracy.

I know this is a lot to take in.

But I would like you to go
back over your records,

see if anything stands out.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Aaron, we don't have a lot of time.

I'll get right to it, sir.

He created an I.D. for Lozano
to access the Pentagon.

What?

You need to alert Pentagon
Force Protection right now.

It's already done. We've
sent over his picture.

They're locking the building down now.

Yeah, but the Pentagon's 583 acres.

That gives him plenty of places to hide.

THIS ELEVATOR
IS RESTRICTED ACCESS

Mr. Leonard.

Tom Kirkman.

Mr. President.

Please.

Thank you.

So, Seth told me about the
story you wanted to run.

Mr. President, if you think you're gonna

get me to back down,
you're wasting your time.

And you can send all the goons you want,

but I'm not staying silent.

Well, I don't know exactly
what you're talking about.

I haven't sent anyone anywhere.

In fact, I've been perfectly
clear with the FBI...

I will not tolerate any
intimidation of the press.

Besides, apparently, if I want,
I can just throw you in jail.

Are you threatening me?

No. The opposite.

I'm trying to tell you
that I won't do that.

I'm not gonna try and
make you do anything.

Okay.

I am asking you... please,
just hold your story.

Are you saying it's wrong?

It's incomplete.

Well... how about you fill
in the blanks for me?

I wish I could.

Unfortunately, it's a matter
of national security.

Can I ask you a question, Mr. President?

Yeah.

If you were sitting on a story
about a government cover-up,

would you trust a word
the president said?

Maybe not.

But do you honestly believe

if a president was involved in a cover-up

that he'd be stupid enough

to sit across from a
journalist such as yourself?

My favorite president
is Franklin Roosevelt.

I wanted to show you something.

When do you think this picture was taken?

I expect during the war.

Any idea when it was published?

Just after the president passed away.

You see, during the war, there
was an understanding...

It was more important to
project American strength

than describe the president's frailties.

The press had the photos, but
they chose not to use them.

Now, you might not think
that we're in a war,

but I promise you that we are,

and if you publish that
article, it's going to make it

that much more difficult for us to win.

Now, I honestly wish I could tell
you what I know, but I can't.

So... here we are.

You're gonna have to make a choice...

whether you believe me or not.

General Cochrane.

Well. You're not the cable repairman.

How are you handling retirement?

It's not retirement.

It's house arrest.

Well, you didn't leave
Kirkman a choice there.

I don't blame Kirkman. He
did what he had to do.

Well, that's quite the reversal.

Opinions change.

What are you doing here, Aaron?

There's a traitor in the White House.

And I'm looking into anyone
with high-level access

who had any involvement

in choosing the Designated Survivor.

That's not a long list.

Can you help?

Why me?

You served eight years
in the White House...

NSC, military office, Joint Chiefs.

No one knows more about security access

than you do.

I need these systems
back online right away.

Pentagon Force Protection.
This is Powell.

This is FBI Agent Hannah Wells.
Have you found Lozano yet?

No. And we're having trouble
with our security system.

All of our surveillance cameras
are being scrambled somehow.

But we're working on it.

TRANSFER LOCATION REQUIRED
PORT NUMBER...

Let me tell you something about
the man you're looking for.

Before the CIA, he worked for
the Pentagon for two years

in the Counterintelligence
Field Activities Office.

He knows every single
corner of that building.

You need to get those
cameras up and running.

We have to find him.

TRANSFERRING...

COMPLETE

I met with General Cochrane.

He helped me put together
this list of staffers

inside of the Richmond Administration

that fit the criteria
we're talking about...

high-level access,

involvement in choosing
the Designated Survivor.

Great work.

Get these to Agent Ritter
as quickly as possible.

Yes, sir.

Mr. President, I do have to say...

I couldn't have done this
without the general's help.

I don't think he had anything
to do with the attack.

Neither do I.

In pursuit of suspect,

heading towards Georgetown Rail Yard.

Send backup.

It's not over.

No victory...

without sacrifice.

Hey, Dennis!

I think Dennis stepped away.

You know, as far as gatekeepers go,
there's a lot to be desired here.

I think maybe it's time
to trade up, Seth.

You know, you should just
move in at this point.

I prefer the view from
my side of the street.

What do you want, Abe?

Look... I want you to tell the president

I thought long and hard
about what he said to me.

I'm going to honor his request.

But...

not indefinitely.

I'm... speechless. I
don't know what to say.

Not the best quality
for a press secretary.

Well, let me just say "thank you."

That'll work.

Don't think for a second
I'm going soft here.

I'll still be kicking your
ass all over the schoolyard.

You know where to find me.

Hannah.

Hey, Chuck.

Oh, my God. Are you okay?

Yeah.

Can I get you a...

hospital?

Or something?

They already checked me out.

Did you guys find out why
Lozano was at the Pentagon yet?

Hopefully, we'll get answers soon.

Yeah.

Do you want me to stay?

No.

No, Foerstel needs you.

But check in as soon as you can.

Yeah.

Hey, before I forget... I wasn't...

you know, snooping around or anything,

but you got about a
thousand unread e-mails.

Yeah, I've been busy.

There's one from Jason Atwood.

I thought you'd like to know.

Thank you.

The operation is still viable.

Right now, I'm brooming any connection

between you, Browning Reed,
and the Capitol mission.

Then I want to know why there were
two federal investigators on my property.

Don't worry about it. I'm on it.

Soon, there'll be no
paper trail whatsoever.

And Agent Wells is contained.

Everything is proceeding as planned.

And you're sure

that the FBI has no idea what's coming?

- We have operational control.
- Good.

Just make sure that the narrative
is what we want it to be.

We are so close.

We might not have the presidency,

but you can be damn
sure that before long,

we will have the country.

Mr. Whitaker.

Can I have a word, please?

Come in.

Deputy Director Atwood?

I'm Agent Hannah Wells.

Yes... from Chicago.

Agent Merritt tells me to tell you...

that he's still very pissed at you.

Sir, Agent Merritt and I
didn't always see eye-to-eye.

He also tells me that you disobeyed

practically every order he gave you.

No, sir... only the
orders worth disobeying.

He also says that you were
one of the best agents

he's ever had...

which is why he's mad at you for leaving.

Well, like I was saying,
he was a-a great boss.

Agent Wells...

in all honesty, will you
cause me any trouble?

Probably, sir.

Welcome to D.C.

We are so close.

We might not have the presidency,

but you can be damn
sure that before long,

we will have the country.

And that's it.

That's everything.

I am very sorry for keeping
you in the dark for so long.

But I didn't feel like I
had any other choice.

I hope you can forgive me.

I understand, Mr. President.

Same here, sir.

So, Whitaker made you
Designated Survivor?

Yes, as Homeland Security Advisor,

he was well-positioned

to carry out a number of
operations for Lloyd.

Where's Lloyd now?

We're still searching for him.

But as the most wanted man on the planet,

it's just a matter of time.

In the meantime,

the FBI raided cells
from his organization

across the country.

They've arrested over 200 people,

seizing firearms, bomb-making materials,

including explosives...

the same kind that were used
at the Capitol bombing.

Seth...

it's time to tell the
American people the truth.

Absolutely... I'll inform the networks,

make sure they clear some time.

I don't want to speak from the Oval.

I want to address Congress
...a joint session.

Thank you... all of you.

For everything.

Let's get back to work.

Yes, sir.

Aaron, can I borrow you for a moment?

Sir?

What are your plans?

I'm still figuring that out.

I'd like you back here
at the White House.

This is where you belong.

I appreciate the gesture, Mr. President,

but... my position's been filled.

And Emily's doing a fantastic job.

I couldn't agree with you more.

We'll find you another position.

Frankly, sir, none exist.

Then I'll make one up.

Aaron, I want you here. I'll
draft you if I have to.

But I won't take "No" for an answer.

What do you say to that?

I say I serve at the
pleasure of the president.

Good.

'Cause legally, I actually
don't think I can draft you.

Welcome back.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

You ready for tonight?
Happy with your speech?

I better be.

I wrote it myself this time.

Well, I'm proud of you, son.

And I'm going to be even prouder

when I watch you from my seat tonight.

I wanted to talk to you about that.

Yeah.

This is gonna be the first
time since the attack

that the entire government
will be under the same roof.

Now I have to make a decision...

who to leave behind.

I can't think of anyone I would want more

to be my Designated Survivor than you.

You know, I used to think that
being Designated Survivor

was a punishment... a joke.

Me too.

Not anymore.

No, not anymore.

It would be my honor, Mr. President.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

members of Congress,

my fellow Americans.

At the very beginning of my presidency,

in the shadow of that
terrible, fateful night,

I spoke to you,

and I promised absolute transparency,

absolute truth.

I betrayed that pledge

in an effort to protect
an ongoing investigation

by the FBI and the Secret Service.

But tonight, I speak to you
with a lightened heart

because I can finally tell you the truth

about what really happened to us.

A recent article written

by one of our nation's
most respected journalists

was correct...

Al-Sakar did not attack our Capitol.

Even though at the time,

overwhelming evidence
suggested just that.

We can tell you now,
with absolute certainty,

that this horrific act was carried out

by a domestic terror group,

led by a man named Patrick Lloyd.

Lloyd and his followers believed

that American greatness
was in its decline

and that somehow, we were no longer heirs

to the generations that pushed
back the tide of fascism,

put men on the moon,

and relegated the Berlin Wall
to the pages of history.

In short, these people believed

that our best days were behind us

and that they, themselves,

knew better how to remake our country.

They were wrong...

in every possible way.

They debased the American
Dream and disrespected

the incredible sacrifices made by so many

to build and sustain our nation.

And even though the fabric of America

may have been frayed by
their violence and hatred,

I stand here rejoicing in the fact

that it was never torn.

In a time of unprecedented fear,
we did not abandon one another.

Nor did we abandon our ideals,
our sense of community,

our commonalities.

From the first responders
who answered the call,

racing into the flames
when tragedy struck,

to the men and women who
fulfilled their civic duties

by casting their ballots

even under the threat of attack,

our better angels have shined through.

Now, I know that there are times

when our country appears to be divided,

but I have seen the one thing

that will bind us together forever...

love.

Love of country, love of
hope, love of dreams,

love of life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.

I am a husband, I am a father,
and I am a son of this nation,

and never before have I been
more proud, more optimistic.

And I do not need you to tell me
that you feel the same way, too,

because I can see it in your eyes

and hear it in your hearts.

As Saint Paul admonished us,

"Let us not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good."

You see, America is not
just simply a country,

nor is it the sum of its 50 states.

It's an idea...

a bold and righteous idea,

a guiding light that can
never be extinguished.

So let us say to the rest of the world...

we welcome your friendship
and extend an open hand

to anyone who wants to make
lives freer and better.

And to those who oppose us, I
can only simply warn you...

your days are numbered,
for our time has come!

I say again, our time has come.

And to the American people, let me say

that it has been the
privilege of my lifetime

to serve you,

and I promise to continue serving

until I am asked of service no more.

Thank you for the honor.

God bless you.

And God bless these
United States of America.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for everything.

Thank you very much.

Hey!

Daddy!

Little pea!

Oh, my gosh! What are you doing here?

- Leo!
- Mom brought us.

I couldn't keep them away any longer.

Oh, my gosh. I missed you so much.

You look so pretty.

Excuse me, sir. Ma'am.

What is it, Mike?

You're needed in Command Ops right away.

I promise I'll be right back, okay?

- I love you.
- I love you, too, sweetheart.

I'll be right back.

I'm sorry.

Mr. President.

- At ease.
- Yes, sir.

What's going on?

Sir, we know what Lozano was
accessing at the Pentagon.

He hacked the Defense Department's
most highly classified server.

What does that mean?

It means every single aspect

of our country's defense superstructure

is now vulnerable... troop movements,

intel on our nuclear arsenal,
identities of our covert assets.

Oh, my God.

We think that Lozano sent
the data to Patrick Lloyd.

Lloyd could hold us to ransom,

sell off the information in
pieces to the highest bidder,

even militarize the intel himself.

Are we any closer to finding him?

No, sir.

He has the resources to get himself
anywhere in the world

without setting off any trip wires.