Designated Survivor (2016–2019): Season 3, Episode 6 - #whocares - full transcript

A dying Guatemalan child in a Texas hospital brings immigration to the fore. A mugging opens Kirkman's eyes to the realities of life in the capital

Previously
on "Designated Survivor"...

That there was a plan to make sure
Congressman Peter MacLeish survived.

They built
a bomb shelter.

- Speaker of the House?
- We think you'd be the obvious choice.

I'm honored.
I just don't want the job.

Tom: Maybe we offered him
the wrong job.

What about the Vice Presidency?

Does Leo know...

that the President
might not be his father?

Hookstraten:
It's been a whole week

since Nassar confessed
to the Capitol bombing.



Where are we
on our search?

Recent NSA chatter indicates new attacks,
both at home and abroad.

Nassar could prove to be

an extremely valuable
source of intelligence.

Put down your guns!

We have Majid Nassar.

Notify.
No one coming down now.

Male reporter:
According to the White House,

shortly after 11:00 P.M.,

a team of Navy SEALs
launched a daring raid

into a compound
in Southern Algeria.

While taking great care
to avoid civilian casualties,

the SEALs exchanged gunfire
with the enemy,

- and in the end...
- Here you go.



Majid Nassar,
the alleged mastermind

behind the Capitol bombing,
was captured.

- Heads up.
- Military officials declined

to disclose
where Nassar is being held,

but confirmed he remains
under heavy security.

After a video showing Nassar

taking credit
for the attacks...

Military Intelligence
keeps working on Nassar,

and, still,
he hasn't said a word.

Is there a timetable
for this sort of thing?

When can we expect some results?

Well, maybe today.
Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe never.

We lost a good man
bringing Nassar back alive.

We better
get something for it.

Well, sir, let's focus
on the positive.

The Nassar raid is a win.

Your approval numbers ticked up
another two points today...

- I don't care about approval numbers.
- He doesn't care about approval numbers.

Anne, you look lovely.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

Look, sir,
you may not care

about
your approval numbers,

but you need people's confidence
to be effective.

I also need a Congress.

Well,
governors wouldn't be here

unless they wanted
to give you one.

And you're
giving them a chance

to discuss their issues
face-to-face.

And they all showed up.

Maybe that's
half the battle.

Well,
the open bar should do the rest.

First we'll appoint
a Senate,

and then we'll get elections
on the books for a House.

And remember, sir, they need
this to work as much as you do.

Without a House,
there is no federal budget.

The VA closes,
farmers lose subsidies,

public schools
don't get funding.

Plus, no one wants
to be responsible

for not bringing
this country together.

Ritter:
Looking sharp, sir.

Apparently
I clean up pretty well.

You coming with us
to this thing?

No, sir.
I'm done for the evening.

About to head out.

Nice. Big plans?

Bowling with my brother
and his in-laws,

so... no.

Good luck
with the governors, sir.

- Thanks, Mike.
- Yeah.

Also, sir, when you
meet Governor Rivera,

remember to thank him.

He stepped up to accept
a plane full of Syrian refugees.

It's scheduled to land
in Miami tomorrow.

Okay.

Stop it.

You look breathtaking.

Nice haircut.

- Contacts, too.
- Mm-hmm.

I don't even
recognize you anymore.

Hey.

You think I'm wrong
hosting a dinner

this soon after
the Capitol attack?

You can't invite
50 governors to D.C.

and take them
to Golden Corral.

I like Golden Corral.

So, the White House
is riding high

on this Nassar news.

What's the goal now?

Well,
the goal is to rebuild,

starting
with a full Senate

that can confirm
the president's cabinet.

And what's the plan
for that, exactly?

Sorry, uh,
who are you with?

I came alone.

The Chronicle.
Lisa Jordan.

New White House correspondent.

Yeah, right.
Uh, look, our hope is that

before the governors leave
at the end of the week,

that they'll submit their
appointments for the Senate

and agree
to special House elections.

Reporter:
And the cabinet?

Does the president
have nominees in mind?

Man: The President
of the United States.

O'Neil, I'll get back to you.
Our host has arrived.

Way to enter a room.

Stick with me, kid.

Hey.
Great to see you.

- Congressman MacLeish.
- Mr. Shore.

Ms. Rhodes.
How are you?

Ah, that depends
on how tonight goes.

Indeed.
You know my wife, Beth.

- Hi. Nice to see you.
- Ma'am.

Um, excuse me.
I'm gonna get a drink.

MacLeish: All right.

Guys,
I did want to just say,

I hope you made it clear
to the president

I was saying no to the job of speaker,
not to him.

He knows.

And there's another way
for you to serve,

if you're interested.

Hypothetically speaking,
of course,

how does vice president
sound to you?

Hypothetically speaking?

I-I would be honored.

Tom:
Thank you for coming.

Thank you
for coming tonight.

- You look lovely.
- Man: Good to see you again.

Governor Rivera,
great to see you.

- My pleasure, sir.
- Great to see you.

- How are you?
- My pleasure.

Thank you
for being here tonight.

Nichols:
Mr. President.

Governor Chris Nichols.
Arizona.

Governor Nichols.
What a pleasure.

Thank you for coming
to Washington, D.C.

Oh, this is
a great opportunity

for us to get to know
each other.

I couldn't
agree with you more.

While I have you,
perhaps we can find some time

to discuss what happened
with Governor Royce.

That was a very
difficult situation.

Yes, yes,
I'm sure you can understand

how disconcerting
it was for me

to see one of my colleagues
arrested.

Of course I understand,
but, unfortunately,

Governor Royce didn't
give me much choice.

Mr. President, it's time.

Excuse me.

Perks of a promotion, huh?

You gonna talk to her
or what?

No-fly zone, man.
She's press.

Come on.
This is D.C.

Hours you work,
who else are you gonna meet?

Tom:
Good evening, everyone.

To begin, I simply want
to thank all of you

for being here tonight.

Recently,
our country was devastated

by an unspeakable attack,

and yet I can't think

of a more fitting way
to honor our fallen colleagues

than by re-dedicating
ourselves

to the values and ideals
of this great nation.

I am not the president

you or the rest of the country
voted for.

But I have to believe that
we all want the same thing:

to rebuild the Capitol,
the Congress, the Senate...

To rebuild our country.

I can't do it alone.

Nor would I ever want to.

I can't help but smile
at the irony of that,

because, well,
I'm a registered Independent.

It's nice to hear
some laughter for a change.

But the truth is,
I believe, as an Independent,

I have a unique opportunity

to effect
positive political change,

that I can help
bridge the divide.

And together,
we can find the common ground

that has been missing in
the American political landscape

for years.

If we do this,
if we work together,

I promise you we will be
stronger and better than ever.

This is how we are gonna honor
the incredible sacrifice...

Everybody down!

Alex!

Shots fired
outside the East Wing.

- Alex!
- Go!

- Down!
- Down!

I was on my way home,
heard the shots.

Talk to me.

We believe
there's only one gunman.

We've tracked him
into the park.

- The president?
- Man: Safe.

The whole family is locked down
in the residence.

No one injured.

Man ♪2: You two,
you're with me. Let's go.

Agent down.
Repeat, agent down.

Lafayette Park.

Mike. Mike.

Stay with me.

I'm sorry, sir.
We're still on lock-down.

You need to stay
in the White House.

I get that I can't go
to the hospital,

but can someone
please just get me

an update
on Mike's condition?

I'm on the phone
with the hospital now, sir.

Thank you.

Well, what about
all the governors?

They'll be escorted
back to their hotels

as soon as it's safe.

Seth: That was
the chief of surgery at GW.

Agent Ritter
was hit twice.

Kevlar vest stopped
the first bullet,

but the second one penetrated
his axillary artery.

They're prepping him
for surgery now.

Oh, my God.

Tom: I-I just saw him.

He was going home
to spend time with his family.

I know.

I'm sure
he's in the best hands.

I got to go check
on the kids.

Of course. Please.

Can you explain to me how they got close
enough to shoot at the White House?

AR-15.
Range of 1,800 feet.

Luckily, the windows
are bulletproof.

Sir, we have an update
on the shooter.

His name
is Murad Yamadayev.

He's a Chechen national.

- Is he in custody?
- No, sir. He's dead.

Agent Ritter got him
before he went down.

And do we know
why he did this?

Three minutes before
firing on the White House,

Yamadayev
took to social media,

pledged his allegiance
to Majid Nassar.

Oh, my God.

Al-Sakar's shown us
they can attack the Capitol,

the White House.

What's next?

Tom: I have to be honest.

It's looking like
bringing Nassar back alive

was more of a liability
than an asset.

Sir, I appreciate
your frustration,

but effective interrogation
takes time.

Aaron:
No, we don't have time.

How many more terrorists
like Murad Yamadayev

are out there?

If there are cells
within the country,

we need to know
before they hit us again.

Sir, I believe we can
get answers more quickly

if you were willing to consider
removing him from U.S. soil

to a black site
for enhanced interrogation.

My men can be
extremely persuasive.

Mr. President,

enhanced interrogation
does not work.

Nassar will tell you
whatever you want to hear.

That is your opinion.

We have extracted
actionable intel

that has headed off
multiple threats.

Yeah,
what about Abu Zubydah?

- What about him?
- We had him first.

We used rapport-based
questioning.

We got names, dates,
resources,

turned him over
to the agency,

where you waterboarded him
83 times

and got nothing
but gibberish.

- That is one gentleman...
- An unconfirmed...

A black site
is not an option.

Deputy Director Atwood,

you believe
you can make progress?

Yes, sir. I do.

You've got 24 hours.

Tell whoever's
running scheduling

that I want to see the "ten day book"
for the president,

and have Aaron find me
when he comes back.

Mr. Atwood.

Ms. Rhodes.
What can I do for you?

I was gonna call you,
but since I've caught you,

we would like to begin
the formal vetting process

on a VP candidate.

Sure.
I can get the ball rolling.

Who is it?

Congressman
Peter MacLeish.

I'd appreciate
if you could have your team

forward
all relevant research

to myself
and the chief of staff.

You know,
with all the recent events,

it's gonna take
some time.

I understand that,

but this is a priority
for the president,

so anything you can do
to speed it along.

- Will do.
- Emily Rhodes.

I'll let the president know
right away.

Tom: Yes, Doctor.

Thank you.
Goodbye.

Mike's out of surgery.

Doctor said
it went well.

- Oh, thank God.
- Yeah.

I wanted to tell you,
I-I kept the kids home today.

They're still scared?

We're all still scared.

Tom,
was he shooting at you?

Honestly,
from that far away...

I think he was trying
to hit anything he could.

Secret Service
has raised security

for you and the kids
across the board.

They've extended the perimeter
around the White House.

Hopefully, that'll
reassure the governors.

They're supposed
to come back soon.

Hey, hey.

Emily: I'm sorry to interrupt.
We have a problem.

I just got word that the plane
carrying the Syrian refugees

has landed in Miami,

but Governor Rivera
won't let them off.

What?

The governors
are due back in an hour.

See if you can get
Governor Rivera here

before the rest of them.

- I'm on it.
- Thanks, Em.

- Hannah: MacLeish?
- Yes.

For VP?

They want
to start the vetting.

Jason, you have
to stall this process

until we can figure out
how he fits into all this.

When's the last time you heard
from the mystery caller

that told you
about room 105?

Not since that night.

I'll work
on stalling the vetting,

but in the meantime,

we still have Nassar
to deal with.

Military Intelligence
gave it a shot.

They got nothing.

That's because
Nassar didn't...

He didn't blow up
the Capitol.

That's exactly why
we need you

to get him to admit that
as soon as possible.

Tom: Governor, thank you
for taking the time.

I asked my wife
to join us

because of her
immigration-law expertise.

Ah, yes, I saw Sunday's
"20/20" piece on you.

It made my mom proud.

Governor, two days ago,

you gave permission for
a planeload of Syrian refugees

to land in Florida,
and now...

That was before
a Nassar sympathizer

fired
on the White House.

Today I have protests
across my state.

You and I both know that
the attack on the White House

had absolutely nothing to do
with the people on that plane.

Those refugees
are not extremists.

In fact, they came here
to escape them.

With all due respect, ma'am,
how can you be so sure?

I mean, do we really know
who they are,

whether or not
they have links to terrorism?

Not one of those passengers
has been flagged by DHS.

They've been checked and re-checked
against multiple watch lists.

You'd find
very few U.S. citizens

who could pass
that kind of scrutiny.

They're from a failed state,
a country in chaos.

It's impossible
to properly screen them.

And you cannot guarantee

that one of them
does not intend to harm us.

Ma'am, the people of Florida
are scared.

Governor, in 1980,

Congress passed
the Refugee Act,

empowering
the federal government

to place refugees
across this country.

Sir, that was,
what, 36 years ago?

Times have changed,

and our country must change
with them.

But change does not mean
that we abandon our principles.

If we don't let these people
off the plane...

You'll send in the Guard?

Arrest me?

That's not what
I was going to say.

Please, Governor.

Mrs. Kirkman,
I am not unsympathetic.

In fact,
I'm the child of immigrants.

But it's my job
to represent my people,

not to impose
my will on them.

The answer is no.

Well, Governor Rivera's
a reasonable man.

A reasonable man keeping 300 refugees
detained on a plane.

Well, he's under
intense pressure

from his constituents.
Give him time.

- He'll come back to his senses.
- We don't have time.

We need to find another state
to land this plane in now.

Yes, sir.

Mr. President,
you need to focus

on getting back on track
with the governors.

You know what?
She's right.

Let me make some calls to ICE,
see what I can find.

Okay, thanks.

Tom:
Good morning, everyone.

Please, sit.

Given last night's events,

I cannot begin to tell you
how grateful I am

to see you all
back here today,

because the work
we have in front of us

could not
be more important.

The rebuilding
of our Congress and our Senate

to ensure
that all American citizens

have a voice
in all 50 states.

- This...
- Excuse me, Mr. President,

but with
all due respect,

we can spend
all day here

talking about the issues
that face us,

but the fact is,
we don't know

who we're
discussing them with.

We don't know
what you stand for.

Sir.

Governor Mennuti.

Very nice
to see you again.

The president and I
go way back.

He's a fine man.

But most of these governors
don't know you like I do, sir.

I think this is the perfect
opportunity to change that.

What do you suggest?

Mr. President,
your friend is right.

If we're to recognize you

as the legitimate leader
of our nation,

we need our minds
put at ease.

Answer our questions,
all of them.

And if we're satisfied
with what you have to say,

you'll get
your Senate appointees.

With all due respect,
Governor Nichols,

I'm not on trial here.

You are now.

There is no other president in history
who'd agree to this inquisition.

No president since Lincoln

has faced questions
of his legitimacy.

Enough.
I don't need a history lesson.

This is about
the future.

If we don't get the governors
on board, it's over,

and I'm not talking about
my presidency.

I'm talking about
the country as we know it.

Em, tell the governors

I'll answer whatever questions
they want.

Yes, sir.

Sir, this is
a fundamentally bad idea.

The president does not answer
to state leadership.

Then pretend
I'm not the president.

It seems to be working
for everybody else.

Look, for the last time,
I have no new information

concerning the interrogation
of Majid Nassar,

including his whereabouts

or any information that
he may or may not have provided

and would have
been classified.

- Is there...
- Yes, Ms. Jordan?

Rumor is
Kirkman's on the verge

of losing
the governors' support

and a Senate in the process.
Any comment?

Lisa, you know
I don't comment on rumors.

Thank you very much, everyone.
That's all for now.

Thanks a lot.
Appreciate it.

You are good
at your job.

Of course,
the last press secretary

nearly drowned
from flop sweat, so...

low bar.

I may be
way off-base here.

Did we have a thing
last night?

A thing?

Eyes locked.
Crowded room.

Uh...

Did you think
we had a thing?

I did. But...
I'm romantic like that.

I thought
we had a thing, too.

Uh...

Um, it's just, um,
you're, you know...

Press.

And you're
press secretary,

so you probably think
asking me out would be...

A lapse in judgment.

Well, then, since you answer
my questions for a living,

why don't I
make it easy for you?

Feel like having a drink
with me tonight?

I need statistics
on resettlement programs

in the states with the largest
refugee populations,

so Texas,
California, New York.

Mrs. Kirkman,
a moment, please?

I'll catch up with you.

Yeah?

Ma'am,

your husband's position
with the governors

- is rather delicate right now.
- Mm-hmm.

And it's my belief that...

So you don't want me
to rock the boat.

In a manner
of speaking, yes.

Nor do I.

But there are
300 Syrian refugees

being denied basic human rights
in our country.

This isn't
a political issue.

It's more
of a humanitarian one.

All due respect, ma'am,
but everything is political.

So what do you
want me to do?

Sit down and shut up? Is that it?

No,
I-I didn't say that.

Yes, you did,
and that's okay

'cause that's your job,
but here is mine.

As a wife of 17 years

and an immigration attorney
of 22,

I am gonna counsel
my husband through this.

And if there is
a political fallout,

then I trust
that you can handle it.

The prisoner will be shackled
throughout the interview.

If you need assistance,

guards will be stationed
outside the interview room.

Chow time.

Guess your guy
will have to wait.

Shame.

There'll be no video.

They're keeping your name
off the log.

We've got one shot.
Don't waste it.

I won't.

We have less than 24 hours.

Prisoner is being
transported now.

Man: Keep walking.

Man ♪2: Behind you.

Have a seat.

Hands.

He's all yours.

All right, tell you
how this is gonna go.

We're gonna ask you
some questions.

You're gonna answer them.

The sooner you do,
the sooner we'll be done.

If you do not wish
to speak to us,

other arrangements
can be made.

Look at me.

Look at me.

First, I want to make sure
that you know your rights.

You have the right
to a lawyer.

You have the right
not to speak to us.

You have the right to humane
treatment, to an appeal.

You have the right
to confront your accuser.

But only if you're here,
in the U.S.

We already have an extradition
request for you from Pakistan

for a car bombing
in Karachi.

So, this is
your last shot

to talk in a comfortable,
seated position,

because in Pakistan,
human rights are optional.

Six years ago...

U.S. Maverick missiles

struck an apartment building
outside Barmal

holding
over 100 civilians,

including my wife
and two daughters.

I spent seven days
sifting through the rubble

hoping to find
their remains.

Searched day and night
and found nothing.

I didn't sleep
for one second that week,

nor the week after.

So if you think
you can break me,

I suggest
you re-evaluate your methods.

Tom: I understand that you all
have questions about me.

If I was in your position,

I would probably
feel the same way.

My only hope
is that when we are finished,

that we can all
move forward together.

Mr. President,

would you consider yourself
an impulsive man?

Uh, according
to my wife, no.

So, if you're not impulsive,
can you explain

why you overhauled the Department
of Housing and Urban Development

within weeks of your appointment
as HUD Secretary?

Well,
w-when I was appointed,

it was expected that
I would infuse the department

with fresh, new ideas.

And so you just fired anyone
that didn't get on board?

The department was stagnant.

I needed
community activist leaders,

not civil servants.

President Richmond appointed me
to effect change.

I did it in the most
efficient way possible.

Brownley:
Speaking of change, sir,

why did you fire
General Cochrane?

Was he just a "civil servant"
to you?

The general
was insubordinate.

He advanced a military operation
without my authorization.

And Governor Royce?

I know him, sir.

He is a good man.

He may be,
but what the governor did

was tantamount to sedition.

I'm sorry,
Mr. President.

To be clear, the staffers
at HUD were complacent,

Cochrane was insubordinate,
and Royce seditious.

Perhaps, sir,
you're just threatened

by people
who disagree with you.

Atwood:
We know all about you.

You know,
we've been tracking you

for a long time.

College in Egypt.

Selling Islamic banking systems
in Jordan.

You came to the jihad dance
kind of late.

The Taliban had
already moved to Pakistan.

Hannah: But you're
big-time now, right?

Al Sakar brought down
the temple of democracy.

Did something
no one thought was possible.

And it's already
fired up new recruits.

One of them attacked
the White House last night.

So, explain something to me.

Up until now,

Al Sakar
has always been a leech.

You just attach yourself
to bigger groups.

In 2013,

you took credit for
the Rabat night club bombing,

when it was actually AQIM
that did it.

You want to know
what the truth is?

You don't have the skills
to pull off something

as complicated
as the Capitol attack.

Do you?

Anti-tank mines
with Cyrillic on the outside.

Pakistani lock rings.

Iranian firing pins.

Someone fed me
that info, too.

You think
a small-time organization

can get their hands on such mines
in such quantities?

We blew up
your Capitol

and brought it
to the ground.

No one else.

Mennuti: In defense
of President Kirkman,

I would like to point out
that in a few short weeks,

under the most unyielding
of circumstances,

not only did he
ascertain the identity

of the group
behind the bombing,

but oversaw the operation

which led to the swift capture
of the mastermind himself.

I'm sorry, but that was
good intelligence

and good operations.

It wouldn't have mattered
who was in the White House.

The fact remains that President Kirkman
has no credentials,

no accomplishments,
no real experience.

Nichols: Exactly.

As much as we can appreciate
the position you're in,

I just can't get behind the fact
that you're the president

simply because you were
the Designated Survivor.

Everyone here knows
what that means.

It wasn't an honor.
You were a formality.

And the truth is,
the former president

didn't even want you
in his administration.

So if you weren't good enough
to be the HUD Secretary,

please, from your heart,

can you tell me why you think
you should be my president?

I can't.

Excuse me?

You may be right.

Maybe I should not
be president.

This is getting out of control. Sir,
you need to get in there and fight back.

Fight back how, Aaron?

You can start by reminding them that
you're the President of the United States.

Governor Nichols is right.
I wasn't Richmond's choice for president.

I wasn't anyone's choice.

Richmond didn't want me
in his cabinet.

He didn't want me
at the State of the Union.

That's why I was named
Designated Survivor.

Tell me I'm wrong.

Look, six weeks ago,

I barely remembered
your name.

I didn't know
much about you,

and, frankly, what I did know
didn't impress me.

But, sir, I don't feel
the same way anymore.

Iran, Royce, Nassar.

And what you said
at the Capitol site that day,

that we would rise better
and stronger than ever before.

I believed you.

So don't let those people
bring you down.

I truly believe

you're the only chance
this country has.

What he said.

Come in.

Hey.

- Oh, is it a bad time?
- No. Thank you both.

Aaron.

Thank you.

Mr. President.
Ma'am.

Alex: What's going on?

I got to get back
to the governors.

Emily can't
hold them off forever.

One of the Syrian refugees
is only 30 weeks pregnant,

and she's just gone
into labor.

We need to get Governor Rivera
to let her off that plane now.

Governor Rivera won't
be taking any requests from me.

But this is beyond a request.
This is an emergency.

I understand
what you're saying, Alex.

I've got no leverage
with him.

I need you
to handle it, please.

Okay.

Man:
Shift change in 10 minutes.

Hannah:
You pulled it off,

something that we all thought
was unimaginable.

But you were sloppy.

One of your bombs
didn't detonate,

and a congressman survived.

That must bother you,

not finishing the job.

We will take out
your congressman

and anyone else
we missed.

Because you
want MacLeish dead.

I want them all dead!

Whoever blew up the Capitol
wanted MacLeish to live.

But you don't know that
because you didn't do it.

Why are you taking credit
for something you didn't do?

Alex: Governor,
she's in preterm labor.

Y-You have
to do something.

I'll send in a doctor.

If that baby is born
on the plane,

he or she becomes
an American citizen,

so why not take her
to the hospital,

where she can
deliver it safely?

Fine. She can go.

And the husband,
the baby's father?

Yes. Him, too.

Thank you.

And once
they're off the plane,

it can return
to Istanbul.

But what about
the rest of the passengers?

No.

As we discussed,
they are all registered with DHS.

And as I told you before,
ma'am,

the people of my state
are frightened.

And after Brussels, Paris,
Nice, Washington,

they have a right
to be suspicious.

But what about
the millions of Syrian refugees

that Europe has taken in?

What have they done?

- It's what they could do.
- Uh...

Ma'am, why don't you quit
while you're ahead?

I'll let the family know.

So you didn't
blow up the Capitol,

but you took credit for it

because the actual attackers
wanted to stay anonymous.

Atwood: And the only way
for them to do that

was to contact you,

let you know what type
of munitions they used

so you can convince the public
that it was you.

I'm done here.

That's fine.
We're done, too.

Who's gonna call GID?

About Dena?

Yeah.

- I'll do it.
- Okay.

So, you didn't know that we know
about your other family?

The one
that wasn't killed.

They have such a nice life
in Dubai.

Your boy
with his soccer team,

and your mom getting such
great treatment for diabetes.

The thing is,
if we send you to Pakistan,

they'll also be on a plane
in six hours out of DXB.

I guess mom's just gonna
have to take her chances

- with Pakistani hospitals.
- Yeah.

And who knows?
In her condition,

it's gonna be
a rough flight.

Wait!

He said
he wanted the same thing,

death to America.

And you took the credit

so they could stay
under the radar.

What's his name?

I don't know.

- What is his name?!
- He didn't say.

You're telling me
you signed on to this,

and you don't know
the person who set you up?

You're gonna lose
this family.

You're gonna lose
your mom.

All for someone who's
playing you like a damn fool!

Catalan!

He said
his name was Catalan.

Catalan.

Oh.

Guard.

If you tell anyone...

he'll kill you, too.

Let him eat.

Tom:
Earlier, you asked me

why I thought
I should be your president.

That is a question
that I have wrestled with

every single day and night
since I have been sworn in.

And the only answer
I keep coming back to

is what I told you
last night.

I think
that I can effect change

and promote unity.

Never before in my life have
I felt this more strongly.

The depth of love
that I have for this country

and its survival.

But I cannot do this alone.

Nor can I waste any more time
fighting with you.

We need to move forward
together,

or I need to step down.

Ladies and gentlemen...

this is
your moment to choose,

to decide what side of history
you want to be standing on

when the dust settles.

Thank you.

- It's in their corner now.
- Yeah.

We'll know soon enough.

Those were thoughtful words,
Mr. President.

Thank you.

But if you want us
to get behind you,

don't just tell us
what you're gonna do.

Show us.

I would love
that opportunity.

Then let's begin with
the situation in Florida.

These refugees are emblematic
of a much larger issue.

The threat to our country
from unchecked immigration.

And so we want you
to suspend it

until we feel safe.

Suspend immigration
from where?

Everywhere.

Everywhere?

You understand
what that means?

We're not just talking
about refugees, then.

We're... We're talking
about Australian students,

German scientists,
engineers from India.

Our security
is worth the sacrifice.

And you all
feel this way?

Enough of us to stand
in the way of your Congress,

Mr. President.

So, which do you
want more?

Immigration
or a Congress?

The choice is yours.

A nationwide ban
on immigration?

I can't believe
you really want that.

Please, sit.

Mr. President,
we're not talking permanent.

We're talking
until things settle.

Are you really so scared
of these refugees

that you'd be willing
to leave your own constituents

without a voice
in their federal government?

Sir, our people
are scared.

It only takes one person
to set us back,

and that plane is simply a microcosm
of a much larger issue.

Our borders are compromised
every day.

Foreigners are streaming in
on all sides,

and we need to stop it.

Our country
is not the same anymore.

Not since the terrorists
took down our Capitol.

Just so we're clear.

If I refuse to allow these
people to enter the country,

the rest of the governors
will get behind me?

A majority,
Mr. President.

At that point,

no one would want
to be left out in the cold.

It's the one time in life

I did not want you
to be right.

Honestly, me neither.

But you heard him, Jason.

Al-Sakar didn't
blow up the Capitol.

And who the hell
is Catalan?

We're about to find out.

Nothing.

How can it be nothing?

Let me try
a different spelling.

No results.

Nothing for our entire
terrorist database?

What are we missing?

Maybe he lied.

Maybe
there is no Catalan.

Or maybe Catalan's bigger
than we think.

Maybe he's above
even your clearance.

We have 14 hours
till we lose him.

Emily: Seth told me
what you said to the president.

I think
it was really great.

Hello? Aaron?

- Rare compliment here.
- I-I'm sorry.

What are you reading?

Well, I got...
I know you asked the FBI

to start vetting MacLeish,

but since the president
let it leak

to some of the governors,

I figured
I'd get a head start,

so I contacted
my researcher.

The one who resurrected
Jeffrey Myers?

Yeah.

How's it looking?

Well,
very vice-presidential.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Thank you, Wyatt.

Ma'am.

So, I just
got off the phone

with Governor Baylin
of Missouri.

He says the plane can land
in Jefferson City

and that he will accept
all of the refugees,

even if Florida won't.

What is it?

It's too late.

The plane left 10 minutes ago
for Toronto.

The mother, the father,
the baby can stay.

Everybody else had to go.

Well, who says?

The governors.

Me.

I had to make a deal to keep the rest
of the governors on board.

Wh... I thought
we were on the same page.

We were.
We... We are.

Look, they threatened
to withhold Congress over this.

I had to give them
something.

Tom, those people gave up
everything to come here.

This country
made them a promise.

Alex,
they're going to Canada,

not back to Syria.

They'll still be free.
They'll still be safe.

Yeah, but they could
be free and safe here.

Governor Baylin
is ready for them.

Well, unfortunately,
he's not in the majority.

No, he was standing up
for an American principle.

Who are we
without our principles?

Alex, it was
an impossible choice.

I know, and you had to make it
and you will again,

a-and the choices
will always be impossible.

That's not gonna change.

But y-you will, and I will,
and... this will.

It used to be you and me
against the world.

I have an obligation
to the country.

I took the job!

I'm not angry
with the president.

I am disappointed
in my husband.

I need to call
Governor Baylin.

Aaron: Mr. President.

Please tell me you've got
an update on Nassar.

Not yet, sir,

but the FBI still has
several hours with him.

Then what is it?

Emily:
The FBI has indicated

that the MacLeish vetting
might take some time.

So I had someone do
some preliminary digging,

make sure there weren't
any red flags.

And?

Well, actually, sir,
it's looking really good.

I see no reason
why we shouldn't move forward.

Okay. Great.

You know,
on second thought,

I'd like to get to know
Congressman MacLeish

as a person,
not just a file.

What are the chances
of having he and his wife

over to the White House
for dinner later tonight?

Sure.
I'm sure that could be arranged.

What about Mrs. Kirkman?

I'll let her know.

Thank you.
Have a good night.

Sir.

Mr. President,
are you okay?

It's fine.

Thank you.

Good night.

Ritter.

Mike.
It's Tom Kirkman.

Yes, Mr. President. I know.

How are you feeling?

Lucky.

The pain meds don't hurt,
either.

How are you?

To be honest,

I'm just glad
to hear your voice.

I don't know
how to thank you enough.

You went above
and beyond.

I just did my job.

And it's an honor, sir.

I'm about to watch my Caps
crush your Islanders.

That'll be
all the thanks I need.

Well,
for one night only, Mike,

I'm gonna be rooting
for your Caps, too.

Good night, sir.

Get some rest.

Thank you.

Hey, sorry.
Uh, meeting ran over.

Look, basically,
I have no time off ever.

Uh, but there's

a bottle of sparking cider
on the second floor

if you still want
that drink.

Sounds juvenile. I'm in.

But mind if I get a little business
out of the way first?

I need a comment.

Sure. What's up?
Congress, Al-Sakar, refugees?

It's more
of a personal nature.

Okay.

I have a source claiming

that Leo Kirkman is not
the president's son.

Atwood.

What?

How the hell
did that happen?

No, we're right outside.

All right,
we'll be right there.

- What is it?
- Nassar.

President Kirkman's promise
to rebuild the government

is closer to reality today.

At the close
of the governors' summit,

the White House confirmed
that all 50

had delivered their appointees
to the new Senate

and agreed to hold
special House elections.

This was
the first major step for...

You got your Congress.

Hey.

We've got a ways to go,
but it's a start.

Look,
about earlier today, I...

No.
I get it.

You're always gonna
disappoint someone.

It's a professional hazard,

especially
in your line of work.

I invited the MacLeishes
over for dinner tonight.

I'm vetting him for VP.

I'll just tell them
you're not feeling well.

No.

I'll be there.

Thank you.

Man: Let's go.
Don't move.

Man ♪2: Clear the area!
Medical personnel only.

Full lock-down.

Full lock-down now!

What happened?!

I went in to get
his dinner tray,

and I found him
like this.

They tried to revive him,
but it was too late.