Designated Survivor (2016–2019): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Enemy - full transcript

Previously on "Designated Survivor"...

I was sitting in my seat,
and then... everything went black.

Chuck: And Congressman
MacLeish in his seat.

This photo was taken six seconds later.

- MacLeish survived.
- Because he wasn't there.

Governor Royce, I am
ordering you to have your police

stop harassing the
Muslim community in Dearborn.

I've been thinking
about my Chief of Staff.

I have decided to go with Aaron.

I would like to appoint
you as my Special Adviser.

Interpreter: I am Majid Nassar.



Al-Sakar annihilated your government.

Whatever cave, cavern,
or hole he's hiding in,

I want you want you to
find me Majid Nassar.

♪ ♪

[Computer beeps]

[Beeping]

[Keys clacking]

Come on, come on. Come on.

[Indistinct shouting]

[Beeping]

- [Pounding on door]
- [Indistinct shouting]

[Grunting]

[Taser crackling]

[Beeping]



[Door creaks]

- Good morning, Mr. President.
- Morning.

Anything happen during
the three hours I slept?

Per your orders,

Pentagon's working around the
clock to find Majid Nassar.

Schools have reopened.

The Dow and the NASDAQ have
both resumed trading.

They're both down sharply.

Well, I guess today's not the
day to check on your IRA.

Where are we at with security?

Law enforcement's still on high alert.

Ports, nuclear plants,

soft targets like
malls and sports arenas.

Here's a long shot... Any good news?

Well, you slept three
hours last night, sir.

Ah, the little things.

Oh, there's one more thing.

Hookstraten insisted on
being the first meeting of the day.

My God, doesn't she ever sleep?

- Morning, Wyatt.
- Morning, Mr. President.

Congresswoman, what a pleasant surprise.

Sir, it's been a whole week

since Majid Nassar
confessed to the Capitol bombing.

The entire country is
on pins and needles.

Where are we on our search?

We're working around
the clock to find him.

As 50% of Congress,

I think I deserve more
than a sound bite.

Well, unfortunately,

you don't have
clearance for more than that.

Sir, every moment that
passes without finding Nassar

is a moment for the American people

to doubt your mettle for this job.

I think this is when you offer
me your full support.

Your boyish sincerity is
your best quality, sir.

I hope you don't lose it.

- I'm sorry to interrupt.
- If you don't mind, excuse us.

Sir.

What is it?

It's Michigan.

More violence against Muslims?

No, but there's about to be.

Governor Royce is using your
Elizabeth Vargas interview

as justification to
start arresting Muslims again.

He claims that your admission
that you were asked to resign

makes you an illegitimate president.

He's re-imposed the curfew and
banned public gatherings.

I'm guessing the Bill of Rights

wasn't on the
governor's summer reading list.

The IAC...

- The Islamic American Coalition.
- Uh-huh.

They're planning a peaceful protest

outside City Hall in Dearborn,

but they have obvious concerns.

The first time, the
violence was Royce's fault,

- but if we let it happen again...
- It'll be ours.

Sir, I think it's
time to tell the governor

in no uncertain terms that we...

What, with another phone call?

No, we tried that. Look
how much good it did.

What if we send a legal observer,

monitor the demonstrations,

make sure the governor doesn't
overstep his bounds?

That's smart. Straight
out of the Kennedy playbook.

Well, we don't have many
friends in the state, but...

I can do it.

It has to be someone we can trust,

and who better than your newly
appointed Special Adviser?

You sure?

Absolutely.

General Cochrane says he
needs to see you, sir.

Fine. Send him in.

Let's get you on a plane now.

♪ ♪

[Sighs]

General, it's barely 7:00 a.m.,

and I've already been ambushed
by the presumptive Speaker,

and I am facing a
potential domestic crisis,

so, please, choose your words wisely.

I don't need to, sir.
We found Majid Nassar.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[Horn honks]

Beth: We consider ourselves blessed

and ask only for privacy at this time.

Man: This was the scene earlier today,

as Congressman
MacLeish, the sole survivor

of the Capitol attack, returned
to his D.C. home,

- accompanied by his wife, Beth.
- Hey, you got a sec?

Yeah.

In other news, on the Hill today...

This is what you want to show me?

MacLeish's empty seat at
the State of the Union?

Jason, he lied to me.

He told me he was in his
seat when the Capitol blew up.

The man spent his entire adult life

in service to his country.

You were supposed to get a statement,

not turn him into a suspect.

He got up at the exact right moment,

like he knew what was coming.

Hannah, there are a thousand reasons

he could have gotten up...

He was bored, he was
thirsty, he needed to take a leak.

But conspiring with an international
terrorist network

to blow up the Capitol?

It's likely not one of them.

Or here's another theory.

Maybe he's not the golden
boy everyone thinks he is.

Have I made a mistake
keeping you on this investigation?

What?

Look, I understand.

If you need time to grieve, if you...

No. I'm fine.

I hope so.

Because impugning
a congressman's reputation,

it's not gonna
bring your boyfriend back.

♪ ♪

[Siren wails in distance]

Mr. Essaway, my name is Emily Rhodes.

I'm Special Adviser to the president.

I just wanted to let you
know I'm on my way to Dearborn

to monitor your protest today.

Ms. Rhodes, I can't tell
you how much we appreciate that.

Governor Royce can't get away

with criminalizing innocent people.

And the president has no
intention of letting him.

- I'll see you soon.
- [Beep]

Hey. Public Engagement said
you're headed to Michigan?

- Yeah.
- Kick Royce's ass for me.

I'll do my best.

Man: Sammy Serafian is
an American operative

who has been in Algeria six years

working under nonofficial cover.

16 months ago, he infiltrated Al-Sakar.

This morning, we
received a message from him

confirming a direct link between
Al-Sakar and the attack.

It says here that he
found an unexploded ordnance

with the same unique signature

as the bomb from the Capitol site?

Yes, sir, confirming without a doubt

that Al-Sakar was behind the attack.

Do we have a location?

Serafian was able to
pinpoint Nassar's position...

A compound in the tri-border
region between Mali and Niger.

Satellite surveillance confirms

multiple vehicles and a heavy perimeter.

- And we think that's Nassar's security.
- Yes, Mr. President.

On your order, F-18s can be deployed

from the U.S.S. Eisenhower.

We'll disable their air defense

and reduce them to a stain in the sand

within a matter of seconds.

Where's Agent Serafian now?

We've lost contact with him, sir.

Chernow: We gave him
24 hours to evacuate.

That was six hours ago.

Sir, if we wait for him to surface,

we may lose our
window to take out the enemy.

And what's the probability

that he's in the compound with him now?

It's high, sir.

So, in all likelihood,
if we bomb the compound,

we'd be killing an American agent.

He knew the risks, sir.

I have to believe,
General, that he's in Algeria

trying to help his
country, not get killed by it.

We have the enemy in our sights,

the man who destroyed all
three branches of our government,

a thousand Americans.

Are we gonna let one man
stand in the way of retribution?

I need your orders, sir.

♪♪

What's it gonna be?

Mr. President?

Sir, your orders?

[Telephones ringing]

We're not bombing one of our own.

Maintain surveillance on
Nassar and keep me informed.

Until Serafian makes
contact, we do nothing.

Understood?

General, understood?

Yes, sir.

Thank you all.

Algeria's agreed to support
us after the bombing, right?

Yes, sir, they did.

Okay, I want you to get President
Bishara on the phone.

- Are you sure it's a good idea?
- I want to try a diplomatic approach.

If we can get them to arrest Nassar
and everyone at the compound,

- we won't need to use our military.
- [Cellphone rings]

We can pull our own men
out as soon as he's in custody.

Yes, sir. Excuse me a
moment. I'll be right there. Hey.

Emily: Looks like I missed three
calls from you while I was in the air.

Yeah, I just wanted to
say, about Michigan...

What about it?

Well, it's a situation out there,

and... and people should be... careful

when they're in a situation, you know?

Aaron, are you worried about me?

What? No. No.

Look, I'm just saying... good
luck out there, all right?

[Beep]

[Beep]

[Sirens wailing]

♪ ♪

[Police radio chatter]

[Tires screeching]

[Indistinct conversations]

[Sighs]

Governor Royce, this is quite
the welcome committee.

Emily Rhodes, Special
Adviser to President Kirkman.

I am here to observe the IAC's protest.

Yeah, I know why you're here,

and I suggest you and your
staff get back on that plane

and return to Washington.

Um, we're here to help, sir.

Yeah, well, as President Reagan said,

the nine scariest words in
the English language are,

"I'm with the government,
and I'm here to help."

Mm.

I got enough to worry about without
you people interfering.

Well, I'm sorry, sir,

but that's not really a
decision for you to make.

I'm here by orders of the president.

Let me explain this again in
a way that you'll understand.

The state of Michigan

is off-limits to Tom
Kirkman, his staff, his plane,

and most of all, his presidency.

Understood?

[Helicopter blades whirring]

- [Indistinct shouting]
- [Camera shutters clicking]

[Indistinct conversations]

[Knock on door]

Um, I'm sorry. I was very clear.

My husband's not up to interviews.

Mrs. MacLeish, I'm Special
Agent Hannah Wells, FBI.

Your husband wanted me to
keep him updated on the case.

Yeah. Okay, come in.

And they keep coming
every day from all over.

Kindness of strangers.

Yeah, well, he's a symbol of hope.

I was lucky. That's all. Morning.

Morning, Congressman.

Last time I saw you, you told
us to keep you updated, so...

Like to show you a couple things.

This was taken during
the State of the Union.

This was taken seconds before the blast.

I don't understand. Where was I?

Well, that's my question, Congressman.

Maybe you were right. Maybe
that is why I survived.

Peter, the whole world doesn't
have to hear that story.

Not the whole world, Mrs. MacLeish.

Just me.

- Oh, God. It's embarrassing.
- It's all right.

Um, but I was at home in
Eugene with the girls.

We'd gone to the mall to
get my oldest a dress

for her winter recital.

I-I just took my eyes off Lexy...

That... that's our little
one... For a second, but...

when I turned around, she was gone.

I-I lost my mind.

I-I must have sent Peter 30 texts.

But 10 minutes later,

a kind woman dropped
her at the security station,

and Lexy was eating an ice cream,

not a care in the world.

Uh, that's when I
heard about the Capitol.

So you think he was trying to call you?

There's no way he would
have ignored my texts.

I'm sorry. Agent
Wells, is there a reason

you're asking all these questions?

Have I done something wrong?

Well, you are the only survivor

of an attack that
killed a thousand people.

So I'm just trying to
find out what happened.

All right.

Thank you.

Hey, Chuck, it's me. I
need you to do me a favor.

Yeah, it's about Peter MacLeish.

[Siren wails in distance]

[Keys clacking]

[Cellphone ringing]

[Beep]

Hello?

Ma'am, this is Agent Ritter.

Switchboard just notified me

that there's a call from an
Immigration Detention Center.

A woman named Maria
Serrano claims you're her lawyer.

Yes. Um, okay, well, have
them put her through.

Yes, ma'am.

Maria: Mrs. Kirkman, it's Maria.

Hey. Maria, what's... How are you?

ICE got me arrested. I'm
going to be deported.

Deported? What? My office...

Well, it's not really my office anymore.

Duncan is now handling your case.

Have you spoken with him?

Yes. He said there's nothing he can do.

Please help me. They took my kids away.

We cannot go back to Honduras.

No, I know. I know you can't.

Um, okay. You got to stay calm,

and I'm gonna get into
this right now, okay, Maria?

Woman: Does the president expect
the governor to just bow down?

Carter, it's been seven days

since Al-Sakar took
credit for bombing the Capitol.

When can the American
people expect a response?

Uh, the president is busy
meeting with his advisers,

and, um... working up a strategy.

Can you be any more specific?

Uh... not really.

- But the president does have a strategy?
- Of course he does.

I mean, he's the president, isn't he?

- So, how's it going here?
- That depends.

Does Kirkman want a second term?

Please, just, uh, let
me answer the question.

I-I can assure you that the White House

takes the situation most seriously.

"Most seriously"? Who
is this guy, anyway?

Carter Dunne,

third Deputy Assistant
to the Press Secretary...

Before the bombing.

Now, as the kids say, The Man.

The Prime Minister of
Great Britain and France

have, uh... pledged
their support, should we need it,

and there are others who
have reached out, as well.

Well, you're gonna have to handle this.

Why me?

Because you're in communications,

and you can form complete sentences.

You're standing next
to me, so go fix it.

- What's the magic word?
- Now.

Not even close.

Not only is Michigan under
attack from radicals,

but our very democracy

is being threatened

by a man who has no right
to call himself president.

Does the man have no shame?

Well, he's got some
nerve, I'll give him that.

As the elected
governor of this great state,

it's my duty to protect its citizens.

Why should I trust the federal
government to protect us

while the fraudulent president

holds its highest office hostage?

Emily, you're on with the president.

I'm watching Royce
now. What did he say to you?

For starters, he's
refusing to let me leave the airport

to observe the protest.

Son of a bitch.

And he's making sure the
cameras capture every moment.

I think it might be
best if I come back to D.C.

Every minute this
plays out on national TV

weakens your position.

No, how weak will our position be

- if I don't even put up a fight?
- Well, if I come back now,

we can rethink our approach and...

No, no, wait. Hold on.

- Wyatt?!
- Wyatt: Coming, sir.

I got an idea.

Just sit tight. I'll get back to you.

[Camera shutters clicking]

Now, I'm sending you with a full detail.

Keep this with you at all times.

You press it,

and six agents will be surrounding
you in seconds.

Mike, a panic button? Seriously?

I'm going to my firm. You
don't need to worry.

The only thing I'll be in
danger of is a few bad lawyer jokes.

Mrs. Kirkman, it's my job to worry.

You're too good.

- [Beep]
- Hold on, ma'am.

[Radio chatter]

Copy that.

Ma'am, the president needs
you. He said it's urgent.

Really? Alex: Federalize the Guard?

I thought we'd decided
that that was a nuclear option.

It was. Governor Royce went there first.

Now, is he within his legal rights?

U.S. Code 12406...

The president can
federalize the National Guard

whenever there is a rebellion

or threat of a rebellion against
the U.S. government.

I think this qualifies.

I thought you were an
immigration attorney.

She aced Constitutional Law, too. Okay.

How do I do this?

You start by declaring a
state of emergency in Michigan.

Yeah, then you notify General Hammond.

He's the Joint Chiefs Chairman
of the National Guard Bureau.

Get me General Hammond.

All right.

Tom...

forcing a sitting
governor to cede power to the feds

creates a monumental precedent.

I know.

But this is a tipping point.

If I let Governor
Royce set up a police state,

how can I stop the other 49 governors

from doing the same thing?

[Door opens, closes]

It's time.

Got General Hammond on
the line for you, sir.

[Beep]

General Hammond, this is the President.

By my command, I am ordering you

to federalize the
Michigan National Guard.

The poor men and women

who attended the State
of the Union address

trusted the federal
government to keep them safe.

You federalized the Guard?

Tom: Royce doesn't know yet.

He may have won the
battle, but we'll win the war.

Lucky for us we have a
standing army at our disposal.

Okay. What's the next step?

General Muñoz will be the
man you'll deal with.

His troops will escort
you past state police.

He'll stay with you the
entire time you're in Michigan.

This will all be over soon.

Thank you for doing this. Goodbye.

[Beep]

Aaron: Sir?

They're waiting for
you in the Cabinet room.

Has the CIA found Serafian?

No, but I have the president of
Algeria on the line for you.

Okay.

Man: [Speaking Arabic]

Interpreter: My domestic
intelligence is certain...

Majid Nassar is not in our country.

With all due respect, Mr. President,

our friends on the ground say otherwise.

We need you to arrest Nassar

and any other members of
the Al-Sakar terrorist group

from the compound.

Man: [Speaking Arabic]

Interpreter: Your
friends must be mistaken.

I'm sorry. I can't be of more help.

Okay, Mr. President.

We expect you'll notify
us if the situation changes.

- Thank you.
- He's lying, sir.

Well, General, we finally
agree on something.

Bishara's own army has radical elements.

They could be feeding him false Intel,

telling him Nassar is not there.

- Maybe.
- Our window to act is closing,

especially now we've tipped off Algeria.

Until we know our Agent
Serafian is safe, we do nothing.

There's still no word, sir.

But he does have 12
hours to make contact.

Cochrane: And if we don't
hear from him within that time,

then we have to assume the worst.

- Meaning?
- Meaning, no matter what,

in 12 hours, we pull the trigger.

I understand. Thank you.

It's about taking control.

They're like a pack of wild dogs.

Exactly. If they sense
fear in you, they attack.

You can't let them intimidate
you, Carter.

Look, there are three surefire ways

for a press secretary
to die a quick death...

You get hostile, you lie, or you guess.

You do any one of those three
things, and you're done.

And when I get a question that
I don't know the answer to?

You deflect. "We're looking into it."

"We don't have a
statement at this time."

"We'll get back to you."

"The President shares your concerns

and is working
diligently to find a solution."

Bingo. Now go tame those beasts.

♪ ♪

As the elected
governor of this great state...

Congresswoman Hookstraten.

Twice in a day. This is a treat.

Still a standoff in Michigan.

The president hasn't forgotten

that Royce and I
are old friends, has he?

Or do I need code-word
clearance for that, too?

We have it under control.

It's just you and I now,
Aaron. We can speak freely.

You first.

The truth is, your man is flailing,

and it's not just
with this debacle in Michigan.

It's on the Al-Sakar front, as well.

That's not very generous, now.

Spare me.

The only reason he's doing anything

is because you leaked that video.

Don't deny it.

I know a political
operator when I see one.

He needed to be pushed,
and you gave him a shove.

Smart man.

So you... you came
here to compliment me?

And to remind you that there
are people in this town

who might appreciate
what an asset you are

in ways that Tom Kirkman never will.

You hitched your wagon to a footnote.

Always a pleasure, Congresswoman.

Aaron.

Alex: Duncan.

Duncan, when we spoke,

you said that you could
handle the heavy lifting on my cases.

And I am.

Plus, I've got Parker doing
depositions for you.

Veda's filing your appeals...

So why is Maria Serrano calling
me from an ICE detention center?

Because Homeland Security
is taking advantage of the fact

that the courts have been closed.

[Sighs] So they're arresting
anyone without a pending appeal.

And, right, when the courts reopen,

it'll be too late for us to file.

- Got it.
- Our hands are tied.

You know what kills me about this?

If she'd just applied for
refugee status instead of asylum,

ICE wouldn't have
even looked at her twice.

If... If I'd just been
here, if I'd been in front of this,

none of this would have happened.

Alex, you didn't abandon them.

You had a change in circumstance

in a summer-blockbuster kind of way.

Okay, but that doesn't
mean I'm gonna give up.

[Sighs] Alex, you've spent
a career fighting for victims,

but you're the First Lady now.

So?

And that has to
count for something, right?

[Cellphone vibrates]

_

[Cellphone vibrates]

_

[Chuckles]

_

[Beep]

[Cellphone vibrates]

[Sirens wailing]

_

[Sirens wailing]

[Tires screeching]

[Indistinct shouting]

Mr. President, Ms.
Rhodes is on the phone for you.

Thank you.

Em?

Emily: Yes, I'm
walking to meet Muñoz now.

Would you like to speak with him?

Yes, please, put him on the line.

General, Emily Rhodes,

Special Adviser to the president.

I have President Kirkman for you.

This is General Muñoz.

General, I wanted to
thank you for taking...

Excuse me, Mr. Kirkman,

but as the commanding officer
of the Michigan National Guard,

it is my duty to inform you

we refuse the order to federalize.

You... you can't do that.

The president has a right to...

The Michigan State Guard stands behind

its true Commander-in-Chief,
Governor James Royce.

[Receiver clicks]

Unbelievable.

- Is it as bad as it looks?
- Worse.

Michigan's on the verge of anarchy.

And General Cochrane's pushing
me to launch an attack

that could kill an American.

And I'm actually considering it.

My God.

I never thought I'd be in a position

to decide who lives or dies.

Oh, Tom, come here. Come here.

Do you remember the first
night that we were here,

when we thought about running away?

- [Chuckles]
- And you said no?

That you felt that this
was something you needed to do?

And I think you were right.

There's too much at stake.

If you listen to your instincts,
you will do the right thing.

Well, all I'm saying is,

it'd be a lot easier if
someone left behind a manual.

- [Laughs]
- I guarantee you,

past presidents didn't have
it all figured out, either.

They were just people like
you, trying to do their best.

♪ ♪

Thank you.

Hey, you came to me.

Did you need my help with Maria Serrano?

[Sighs]

I'm not sure that using
executive privilege

to do your wife a favor

is exactly what our
Founding Fathers had in mind.

What other choices do you have?

I thought of going to
Kimble Hookstraten.

Watch your back.

I know.

Ma'am. Sir, Emily's still waiting.

What would you like to do?

She's on speaker, sir.

Em, it's time for you to
get on a plane and come home.

What? No.

I sent you there to observe a protest,

not intervene in a coup.

Wait. Just hear me out.

Royce is a bully, right? And
how do you beat a bully?

By standing up to him.

We tried that.

Well, what if we try it differently,

change the rules of engagement?

- Offer him a sit-down with you.
- He'll never go for it.

He's made it abundantly clear

what he thinks about my presidency.

He will if it's
presented as his best option.

No, I'm not willing to
try and win a political fight

if it puts you at
risk. It's not worth it.

I appreciate that.

But I think I know a
way to get him to D.C.

I just need you to trust me.

You promise you'll be careful.

Yes, sir.

[Beep]

I can assure you the
president is deeply committed

to seeing the standoff in Michigan
come to a peaceful end.

Woman: Is the president worried
his standoff with Governor Royce

will damage his already tenuous
relationship with the American people?

No, the president has more important
things to worry about.

Man: President
Kirkman doesn't care about

earning the country's confidence?

No, what I mean is,

it's more important to
get rid of Governor Royce

than it is to worry about whether
people like him or not.

The president wants to get rid of Royce?

Is Kirkman planning to
remove a sitting governor?

Does the president expect the
governor to just bow down?

How is the president gonna
get rid of an elected governor?

'Cause I don't think that's
going to happen.

Is the president
planning an armed response?

- Is there any indication...
- Is he leaving?

The Kirkman White House, everyone.

Wow.

[Laughter]

Sorry about that,
everybody. Carter, uh...

Carter wasn't feeling very well.

Uh, who are you?

My name is Seth Wright.

I'm a speechwriter. I
work for the president.

To be clear, the top news story today

has nothing to do with President
Kirkman's standing in the polls

and everything to do
with the Islamophobia

jeopardizing the fundamental
rights of American citizens.

But I'm perfectly happy to answer
any relevant questions,

one at a time.

Yes.

[Indistinct conversations]

- [Beep]
- Emily: Isaac.

Ms. Rhodes, the police
revoked our permit to protest.

They're threatening to make arrests.

I have a hundred people ready
to march on City Hall,

but they're afraid of
what will happen if they do.

I need you to forget about City Hall.

The local police aren't worth the fight.

Ms. Rhodes, no. No, we
can't back down now.

I'm not asking you to.

I'm asking you to take the
fight directly to Royce.

How quickly can you get to the airport?

♪ ♪

_

_

_

[Indistinct shouting]

[Shouting continues]

If you people don't
have a permit to be here,

you need to leave immediately!

[Shouting continues]

I want to speak to the governor!

So this is it? This is
Emily's master plan?

I mean, how long before it
turns into a Selma or Kent State?

Come on, Aaron, you of all people

should acknowledge this
is a brilliant move.

Governor Royce can't incite violence
on national television.

He'll lose the moral high ground.

Well, that's assuming

that bigot cares
about the moral high ground.

Governor, let's go.

Is this really how you want today to end?

With heavily armed soldiers
dragging peaceful protestors

off to jail while the nation watches?

You won't be the hero of that story.

You think you're pretty
clever, don't you?

I have an offer for you.

Send these people home
and fly with me to D.C.

for a sit-down with the president.

Claim his attention as a victory.

Spin it however you want.

Why the hell should I go with you?

Because standing
in the schoolhouse doorway

didn't work for George Wallace,

and it isn't gonna work for you.

[Indistinct shouting]

History will remember you for this.

[Cellphone rings]

Come on, Governor. What
are you gonna do?

Sir, I'm afraid we have a
second mutiny on our hands.

[Indistinct conversations]

We have the F-18s in...

Mr. President, I wasn't
expecting you, sir.

That's pretty obvious, General.

Is it true that you gave the order

to take the Algerian
air defenses offline?

Yes, sir.

I ordered Cyb-Command at Fore Meade

to set a glide path through
Algerian airspace.

Without clearing it through
me or Algeria,

which happens to be one of our allies.

Correct me if I'm wrong, General,

but is that not an act of war?

It was necessary preparation.

For an attack I have not authorized yet.

You tried diplomacy. It failed.

And now you're risking the entire
country to protect one person?

I did what needed to be done.

Well, General, one day,
if you become president,

you can make that call.

But as long as I am and one
of our own is unaccounted for,

we do nothing

that will jeopardize their
safety any further.

I agreed to 12 hours.

These terrorists came to our home.

They killed our people.

Any sacrifices we make

to eradicate them from
the face of the Earth

are sacrifices worth making.

When a snake's in your kitchen,

you don't invite it to
dinner, you cut off its head.

You make a good point, General.

And seeing that this is my kitchen...

I am relieving you of your command,
effective immediately.

- What?
- General, you are fired.

♪ ♪

The president is grateful
you've agreed to speak with him.

Yeah, well, I didn't
have much of a choice.

Look, I know you think I'm
a bad man, Ms. Rhodes,

but the Christians and the
Jews didn't blow up the Capitol

or run planes into the Twin Towers.

Muslims did.

No, sir. Extremists did.

And persecuting innocent
people won't make any of us safer.

[Chuckles] You're just like
your boss, aren't you?

You think you know better

than those of us
with decades of experience.

In the years that I've
known Tom Kirkman,

I have found him to be thoughtful
and reasonable.

If you give him a
chance, I think you will, too.

Rest of this looks
great. Just get rid of those

two paragraphs, move
that up. Should be fine.

Aaron: Did you hear the
rumor? There's a rising star

in the White House Communications office.

That's cold, man. Thank you.

That poor guy is probably
halfway to Dubuque by now.

I was talking about you.

You know, half the press
corps just threatened to forfeit

their credentials if I
didn't hire you as his replacement.

You want me to be press secretary?

Don't look so surprised.

This administration can
use someone like you

standing up there at
the podium every day.

What do you mean, someone like me?

What, you're gonna make me say it?

You're smart. You're
likable. You're quick on your feet.

Okay. By that definition,
so is a Dalmatian. Why me?

You're also the son of Muslim immigrants

at a time when American people

associate the word
"Islam" with terrorism.

Now, as press secretary, you can
help change that perception.

You want to parade me around

as the president's "friendly Muslim"?

If that's what it takes to
start changing hearts and minds, yes.

- Unbelievable.
- Hey, this is Washington.

You seize opportunity when
it presents itself,

whether you like the
motives behind it or not.

[Chuckles]

- Just take the job, man.
- Or what?

You're gonna find somebody
else who looks like me to do it?

Get out of my office.

All right.

I'm moved by Maria's story, but
I don't know what I can do.

Congress is comprised of two people now,

one of whom's
barely out of the hospital.

Even if we could change policy,

it would take months, if not years.

But you were on the Subcommittee

of Immigration and Border Security.

Why don't you just come out and ask me

what you came here to
ask me, Mrs. Kirkman?

If you call Maria as a
witness before your subcommittee

when the new Congress is seated...

And she would be granted immunity,

as long as she's expected to testify.

If I call her to
this hypothetical hearing,

I would be doing so as
a favor to you, ma'am.

- A-And I'd be very grateful.
- A favor that I hope

you would return one
day, should I need it.

So you're saying I'd owe you.

We all want to do the
right thing, Mrs. Kirkman.

But the right thing is seldom free.

[Grunting]

Hey. So, I got your e-mail.

So, this morning,

you were obsessed
with the Capitol bombing,

and now you want to be reassigned?

I went back to MacLeish. You were right.

Everything he said checked out.

He had a good reason for
not being in his seat

when the bomb went off.

I tried to tear his story apart.

I talked to mall security
in Oregon. I got phone records.

I wanted him to be guilty of something

so then I could blame him for
surviving when no one else did!

[Breathing heavily]

You know what the truth is?

The truth is that Peter
MacLeish is just a lucky guy.

He survived, and Scott didn't,

and I need to start dealing with that.

That's fair.

You know, you are a pain in my ass

more often than you're not?

But you are also
passionate and persistent.

And that's what makes you one
of the best agents I have.

I could be just as passionate...

working Cyber
Crimes or Healthcare Fraud.

Send me to Michigan.

I'll work on
civil-rights violations there.

[Sighs] All right.

If you want the
transfer, I'll put in the request.

But do me a favor... you
sleep on this, because I know you.

And you're gonna hate yourself

if you quit just because it got hard.

[Door opens]

[Punches landing]

[Grunting]

[Indistinct conversations]

President Kirkman, Governor Royce.

Welcome to Washington, D.C.

Thank you.

Took some doing, but I
had a very nice conversation

with your Special Advisor,
and I welcome this chance

for an honest and open dialogue.

Well, I think you'll find that I'm
not going to be very flexible on this.

You see, I believe that all Americans,

regardless of race or religion,

should be afforded and protected

by the same inalienable rights.

- If I may...
- You may not.

Governor, you violated the rights

of the citizens of Michigan,

and today you
conspired with the National Guard

to defy a direct
order from the president.

James Royce, I am
placing you under arrest

for treason against the
United States of America.

Marshals.

Reasonable and thoughtful, huh?

♪ ♪

Mr. President, you lied to me.

You said you'd trust
me to fix this, and I did.

He was ready to talk to you.

The governor was
using a national tragedy

to further his own agenda.

He broke the law. He's going to jail.

I told him he could count on
you to be reasonable and just.

[Exhales sharply]

Did you know that during the Civil War,

President Lincoln suspended
habeas corpus

and arrested a legislator

for trying to block Union
troops from going south?

I did what I thought was best.

For yourself.

No. For the country.

And I sent a message to
every other governor who thinks

that they can question the legitimacy
of this presidency.

And anyone who thinks that
they can usurp that

needs to know that they will
face the consequences.

You did a great job,
and I'm proud of you.

And I am starting to realize
more than I ever wanted to

that doing the right thing

doesn't always make you feel good.

Aaron: Mr. President.

Sir, I have an update on Serafian.

Good. So he's safe.

A body was just delivered on
the embassy steps in Algiers.

We're awaiting an I.D.

- Ride with me.
- Sir.

[Keys clacking]

Mr. President, you're here late.

Well, technically, I live here, so...

it appears you're the one who's
here late. Please, sit.

Thank you, sir.

[Breathes deeply]

Aaron told me that you turned down
the job of press secretary.

I did, sir.

It's a shame. I was the
one who offered it.

Sir, with all due respect,

I felt there were other
people far more qualified than I was.

Rosemary Jones, for example,

has three years experience
on Senator Ford's staff...

Carter had a pretty good résumé, too,

and look how that turned out.

Aaron's motivations were political,
but mine were simple.

I was just looking for the
right person for the right job.

Today's crisis was racially motivated.

Tomorrow's could be gun
control, a women's issue.

I just wanted to have someone
on the podium that I respected.

Come on, Seth. Don't make me beg.

Can I count on you?

It would be my honor, Mr. President.

Good.

'Cause if you thought today was intense,

I'm gonna need you tomorrow.

Why? What's going on tomorrow?

I can't tell you, 'cause
it's classified.

But I'll let you know when it happens.

Get some rest.

Thank you, sir. Good night.

Thank you.

[Exhales sharply]

[Knock on door]

I need you to be straight with me.

Arresting Governor Royce...
Tell me that was your idea.

I wish I could take the credit for that.

But that was all Kirkman.

Look, honestly, I-I didn't
think he had it in him.

Still got that bottle?

Yeah.

He's turning into a different person.

I mean, unless I
didn't really know him before.

Look, Emily, this isn't HUD anymore.

Your boss is the most powerful
man in the world.

And he's gonna do things that
you might not agree with.

And you need to be ready for
that, because it is your job,

which, if I haven't said before,

you happen to be pretty damn good at.

Sorry.

I didn't realize you were capable
of giving compliments.

Guess I'm learning a
lot about people today.

And to think I was worried about you.

You were. [Chuckles] I knew it.

Not that worried.

Just... mildly concerned is all.

[Clears throat] Shut up
and pour me a drink.

[Glass clinking]

[Indistinct conversations]

Good evening. Thank you all
for, uh, staying so late tonight.

I know we've called you
in a few times today.

Uh, just a reminder...
My name is Seth Wright.

Uh, earlier tonight, I was
named White House Press Secretary.

You were very tough on my predecessor,

so I know you're
gonna take it easy on me.

[Laughter]

Uh, to be honest, I
didn't want this job.

But we live in a time in
which we're called upon

to serve in ways we didn't anticipate.

None of us is perfect.

But we do our best because
this House is worthy of our best.

We trust our instincts as
we fight our daily fights.

Some we'll win.

Some we won't.

And some we'll only know in time.

But we leave each night

hopeful that today's
sacrifices have been worth it,

that our instincts have
not led us astray...

and that our best has been good enough.

Thanks for indulging me.

While I have you here, a
couple of quick announcements,

and then you can get some sleep.

[Insects chirping]

♪ ♪

[Cellphone ringing]

- [Sighs]
- [Beep]

This is Agent Wells.

Woman: Find room 105.

Wait. Who is this?

Find room 105,

and you'll understand
more about Peter MacLeish.

Hello?

Wait. Hello?!

[Breathing heavily]

[Indistinct conversations]

Mr. President.

- Mr. President.
- Mr. President. - Sir.

[Tom breathes deeply]

Did we get a positive
I.D. on Serafian's body yet?

Yes, sir, it's been confirmed.

That tragedy lands at my door.

I'm sorry.

Admiral Chernow, you are in command.

I would like to proceed with
the attack in Algeria as planned.

Sir?

Admiral... prepare us for war.