House of Cards (2013–2018): Season 3, Episode 10 - Chapter 36 - full transcript

Frank needs to deal with Petrov one on one, while Claire tries to preserve the peace-keeping mission. Sacrifices must be made.

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(INDISTINCT VOICE
OVER MICROPHONE)

(CROWD CHATTERING
AND LAUGHING)

FRANCIS: And where are
you from, Mr Brown?

MAN: Sheldon, sir.

I'm a retired police officer.

Well, then I can
only imagine that

Sheldon must be one of the
safest places in this state.

(CHUCKLES)

We do our best.

But my son?
He's a marine,



stationed at Camp Dwyer.

He keeps our country
safer than I do.

Me and my wife were wondering

if he got sent over
to the Jordan Valley,

will that really keep us safer?

Because it sure seems

like the whole
peacekeeping mission

is only making things
more dangerous.

Thank you for that.
May I?

- (AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
- (CHUCKLES)

Well, first of all,
let me say, uh,

how grateful I am, uh,
for your son's service.

I know we all feel exactly
the same way.

And now, let me try to
answer your question.



Have we run into some
difficulties with the Russians?

Yes, we have.

Is there tension between the
Israelis and the Palestinians?

Absolutely.

But that is the very reason

that this mission is
so important.

We have gathered together
a coalition of seven nations

to bring stability to a region

that has suffered
from unrest for decades.

It will take time.

And there may be lives
that will be lost.

But this is not just important

for the Middle East's security,

it's important for the
security of the United States,

and the rest of the world.

And I hope that I have
answered your question.

Now, uh, who's next?

Uh, let's see, here.

Well, how about this
young woman, right here?

Now, I'll give you
my microphone,

but only if you'll promise
to give it back.

He seemed to want to
hang onto it for a while.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

There you are.
Um...

My name is Annie Wietz.

And I'm also worried about what
the officer was just saying.

I want a safe world
for my grandkids. ..

Well, give me back the mike,
and I'll answer your question.

No, sir, I haven't
asked my question yet.

- Oh! WOW.
- (AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Apologies, I'm ahead of myself.
Go ahead.

The covert operation, the one that
caused the Israelis to invade,

was that us?

Because that really
seemed to make

a mess of everything.

- May I?
- Please.

- Thank you. Now, Annie,
is that your name? - Yeah?

Yes, sir.

Now, I have said this
on this matter before,

and I know it may be frustrating,
but it is the truth.

When it comes to covert
operations, by any nation,

or matters of intelligence,
for security purposes,

including the security
of our own soldiers,

I simply cannot comment
on these issues.

But, sir, I'm sorry,

but what's the point of
having us ask questions

if you won't answer them?

- Well, she's got me there.
- (AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

Uh, I can answer any
question but that one.

In fact, I-I hope that
we can ask some questions

about how we're gonna focus
on things right here at home.

How about someone up there
in the cheap seats?

Anyone have a question there?

The situation in Jordan Valley,

it threatens to bleed
across the border.

(SPEAKING ARABIC)

We already have refugees
requesting to enter Jordan.

Forgive me, Prince Ryad,

you may be dealing with
a few hundred refugees,

but we are facing
mortar attacks.

Fourteen in the last two weeks.

None of your people
have died yet.

The last one came within
50 metres of a school.

Your troops have killed over a
dozen Palestinians in house raids.

You expect us not to fight back?

We need the violence to stop.

If it continues, the peacekeeping
mission will fall apart.

And it's our best hope
for long-term stability.

Can you speak to
Hamas and Hezbollah?

Get them to agree
to a cease-fire?

Israel has twice as many
troops in the region

as before the peacekeeping
mission began.

(SPEAKING ARABIC)

No, it is we who are
defending ourselves.

You agreed to
remove 2,000 troops.

If there is a cessation
of mortar attacks,

and if the Russians leave.

A one-third troop
reduction.

That should be enough to
convince your people. No?

Once the troops leave, I
engage them, but not before.

Show some good will.

You'll still have
4,000 troops there.

Because we cannot
accomplish anything

unless we have proof of
de-escalation on both sides.

What about Russia?

CLAIRE: That's a separate issue.
We will tackle that another time.

Can you convey to Jerusalem

the importance of
this troop reduction?

Yes. But no promises.

All right.
Thank you, everyone.

We'll meet again
tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

Eliana,

(DOOR CLOSES)

we need to discuss
the no-fly zone.

Oh, it's only for the Russians,
not the peacekeepers.

They can't stay if they
have nothing to eat.

What are you going to do?
Shoot down a supply plane?

We hope they won't make
us face that choice.

They'll ignore it.

And you're just going
to antagonise Moscow.

I'm sorry, but the no-fly
zone is above my pay grade.

Perhaps your husband can
talk to the Prime Minister.

When are we looking at?

Could be tomorrow,
could be a week.

I'm not a part of those
conversations any more.

REMY: We could
vet the questions.

That doesn't work in Iowa.
It'll piss people off.

Even if we did, it wouldn't
make a difference.

The country's preoccupied
with the Jordan Valley.

We're off message.

In the meantime, we can put
the town halls on hold.

Just do the stump.

I think we should also
postpone the debate.

Dunbar will hit you hard for that.
Say you're dodging.

Well, have Jackie request
the postponement.

- VAUGHN: What's her reason?
- I don't care.

Just as long as
it isn't coming from us.

Talk to her.
Thank you, gentlemen.

FRANCIS: What's next?

Uh, you're slated for
fund-raising calls until 4:15,

then a DOD briefing.

Also, your friend from the
Sentinel called, Tim Corbet.

Thank you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

You know, I can fold
my own clothes.

Took me two seconds.

(SIGHS)

You remember when we shared
a room my senior year?

If I left, like, one sock
on the floor, you'd freak.

I started doing that on purpose,
just to see you flip out.

Yeah, I remember.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Come on, leave it.
Be a rebel.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Hey, sweetie.

Well, tell her, if it wiggles,
it means it's going to fall out.

All right, let me talk to her.

Hi!

Now, listen to me.

I know your mom doesn't
want you playing with it,

so you have to do what she says.

Well, because the tooth fairy

doesn't want
fingerprints all over it.

Okay, I'll do it, but
you have to promise me

that you and your brother will
stop playing with your tooth.

Okay, are you ready?

Well, are you super ready?

(TALKING GIBBERISH)

(CHUCKLES) Okay.
Put your mom back on.

How much of a postponement?

REMY: Until we get
this crisis resolved.

Dunbar will see
right through that.

Not if it's coming from you.

Say you want to focus on
meeting people face-to-face,

not a televised debate.
We'll back you up.

All right,
I'll talk to my staff,

we'll draft some language
and I'll run it past you.

REMY: Jackie?

I wanna talk to you about what
happened a couple weeks ago.

I crossed a line...

Remy, you don't have to.

I want to. I want to
explain myself.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I still have strong feelings.
I'm not going to deny that.

(CHUCKLES)

Maybe a different job, a
different time, different place,

but, uh...

Look,

I've loved people before

and I've learned to let them go.

I'm not gonna put you
in that position again.

It's been hard for me, too.

(SIGHS)

You've got work.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(SIGHS)

I'm glad you said something.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

TIM: Hello?

Tim, it's Frank.

I'm sorry it took me all
day to get back to you.

Eh, no worries. Your plate
must be pretty full.

Well, more than
I'd like at the moment.

Is this a bad time?

I think I can spare
a few minutes for

the President of
the United States.

- Are you good?
- Yeah.

Good.

Uh, last kid got off to college,

so Beth and I are
on our own. Finally.

Yeah, and the business
is strong.

I'm actually, uh, actually

thinking of expanding
to Glenwood Canyon.

Oh, that's great.

Listen, I-I called
because

that, uh, that writer
reached out to me.

You know, the one
doing your book.

Said, uh, he wanted to
talk about the Sentinel.

What'd you say?

I said I was in a rush and
I'd call him back later.

I didn't want to say more
without talking to you first.

Well, he should've checked
with me beforehand.

I don't want him
harassing my friends.

Oh, he wasn't harassing me at all.
He's a nice guy actually.

I-I mean, I'm-I'm happy
to talk with him

if it will help your book.

Well, the book isn't
really about the Sentinel,

so I don't know why he bothered.

But I'll talk to him
and I'll let you know.

Whatever you need, Mr President.

(CHUCKLES)
Oh, stop that.

Hey, listen, uh,
we run a half-price

special for Commanders in Chief,

so, uh, if you're
ever in Colorado

with some time on your hands...

Well, I hope the same goes
for ex-presidents, too.

Nope. Only
sitting ones.

So you better win
that damn election.

I'll do my best.
Nice talking to you, Tim.

You too, Frank.

(TELEPHONE BEEPS)

(DIALLING)

I want to set aside
time for Tom Yates,

in person. Tomorrow.

WOMAN: Yes, sir.

(SIGHS)

Yes?

CLAIRE: Francis? I just got
off the phone with Cathy.

The Israelis are instituting
the no-fly zone.

I'm scheduled to have a call
tomorrow with the Prime Minister.

CLAIRE: They want
to cancel the call.

Let me see if I can get
him on the phone now.

They just sent out a
communique to all embassies.

(INDISTINCT MURMURING)

Good morning.

As you... (COUGHS)

Excuse me,
it's been a long night.

(CLEARS THROAT)
Thank you.

Israel instituted a no-fly
zone over the Jordan Valley

6:00 a.m. today,
Israeli time.

And while I disagree
with this action,

I understand
the reason behind it,

and we must stand with our ally.

Our chief goal remains
de-escalation in the region.

Ambassador Underwood
and the State Department

are working with all interested
parties toward that end.

Our utmost priority is to
guarantee civilian safety...

When are you off to Des Moines?

- A couple of hours.
- Mmm-hmm.

I have to make some
donor calls first.

You have surgery today?

Double bypass.
A triple tomorrow.

But nothing scheduled
for almost a week after,

so maybe I can come out
to Iowa and we can...

What's going on?

This Jordan Valley
thing is a mess.

- Mmm-hmm.
- He's in big trouble.

And then there's
the whole AmWorks thing.

All the baggage from last year.

You having doubts?

I don't know.

Maybe.

That sounds serious.

If there was an ideal time
to walk away,

now is it.

Mmm-hmm. And then what?

Focus on Congress.

Yeah, but you want
more than that.

I could spend more time
with you and the kids.

Well, I don't want
a wife who's miserable

because she turned her
back on the White House.

Look, the thing
about surgery is,

once you're in, you're in.

There's a beating heart
in front of you.

Someone's life. There's
no room for doubt.

So whatever goes wrong,

it's a haemorrhage, or a blood
clot, you deal with it.

You don't get to walk away.

But that's life or death.
This isn't.

It is for you.

FRANCIS: The United States is committed
to diffusing this situation.

We are here for Israel,
we are here for Palestine,

we are here for Russia.
And we are here for...

Ready to go to your meeting?

Yeah. (GRUNTS)

GARY: Come on.

I was thinking,

you know how a while back,

you mentioned the kids
coming out from Ohio?

You want them to visit?

Maybe you don't want them
to see me like this?

Doing my 60 days.

You've been doing great.

I-I'd be thrilled for them to
come out here, meet their uncle.

If that's something
you want to do.

I could hit the couch
for a few nights.

You guys can have the bedroom.

I'll call Sarah.

(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)

WOMAN INTERPRETER: I say to
Israel, keep your airspace.

Keep your no-fly zone.

I will be flying through
it nevertheless.

Shoot me down, if you wish.

Because nothing can stop me

from standing side by
side with my countrymen.

I will embrace the men
who serve this country.

Because I am Russian,

and the Russians do not
abandon their own.

Russian TV, 45 minutes ago.

It could be hot air.

Petrov wants
the world to see this.

He wouldn't put it out
there unless he meant it.

Israel says they're prepared
to enforce the no-fly zone.

They'll never shoot
down a head of state.

Yeah, which means
they'll lose face

and compensate by increasing
their ground presence.

I got Jerusalem to agree to
a pullout, 2,000 troops.

Not if Petrov flies there.

If we downplay Petrov's move
as political theatrics,

I might be able to convince the
Israelis to follow through.

FRANCIS: No, we need to
respond to Russia directly,

not waste our time with Israel.

Israel is our ally.

We're far more likely to
have a productive dialogue

with them than with Russia.

FRANCIS: Yes, but what's
our main objective here?

To get Russian troops
out of the Jordan Valley.

Let's stop poking
around from the sides.

We need to tackle
this head-on.

Open up a line of
communication with Moscow.

Tell them I'm coming to
the Jordan Valley myself.

Sir, I...

I'm going to meet with Petrov face-to-face.
On the ground.

Mr President,
the risk factors of...

I'm well aware.
I want to be notified

the moment that
Petrov is on his way.

You work with the CIA and DOD

to figure out any logistics
and security you have to.

Talk to Seth, let's start
drafting our message.

Cathy, I want to sit down
with you and Defence

and work out bargaining chips.

Thank you, all, very much.

I meant now.

I'm not to be disturbed.

You have a meeting
with Mr Yates.

Have him wait. And tell
him it might be a while.

WOMAN: Yes, sir.

OPERATOR: You're on with
Ambassador Moryakov.

Alexi?

MORYAKOV: You're wasting
your time, Claire.

We can't let Petrov go.

I'm powerless.

Then tell me who we can speak
to, who can influence him.

His mind is made up.

No one would dare
challenge him on this.

All right, then I'll come to New York.
Let's meet with Caspi.

We'll ease Jerusalem's
fears together.

I can't. I'm on
my way to Washington.

What for?

The embassy sent for me.
I'm being recalled.

CLAIRE: Is it because...

I don't know.

Alexi, if you need anything...

(CELL PHONE BEEPS)

OPERATOR: The Ambassador has
ended the call, Mrs Underwood.

Mrs Underwood.

Hello.

Edward?

Wait here a moment.

Yes, ma'am?

What's he doing here?

The President wanted
to meet with him.

He asked me to have
him wait upstairs.

- Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.

If he wants the same
terms as we had before,

I'll smooth it over
with our NATO allies.

It's tough to lose Poland,

but I think that
we can compensate

with anti-missile
subs on patrol here

- in the Finnish sea.
- (DOOR OPENS)

Francis, do you have a moment?

I'll be right back.

Give us a minute.

I think this is a mistake.

You're chasing him. Let
me work with Israel.

You've been working with Israel.

And now there's
a no-fly zone.

One step forward,
two steps back.

Diplomacy takes time.

Iowa is in two months.

You can't let the campaign
drive our foreign policy.

If I don't win in Iowa,
there is no foreign policy.

Excuse us, Mr President.

Let's not talk out here.

If you go to the Jordan Valley,

you have to walk away
with a solution.

And he knows that. Which means
he gets all the leverage.

Well, it's not as if we have
much leverage at the moment.

He's going to want the
peacekeeping mission out.

That's right. And the missile
defence system, too.

And I'm prepared to give
him both if necessary.

What are you talking about?

Don't toss the mission
aside, Francis.

Claire, you're too
invested in this.

The mission is dead.

It was dead the moment
those troops got blown up.

Your plan failed.

I'm sorry, it's my fault.

I approved it.

But now I have to fix it.

Why won't you place faith
in a diplomatic solution?

This is diplomacy.

Sometimes it comes down
to two men in a room.

I have no faith
in the UN any more.

I do have faith in my ability
to negotiate with this man.

Francis, I know you
value my opinion.

Absolutely.
Above all others.

We've both put a
great deal of effort

and thought into how
to handle Russia.

I'd like for this to be a
decision that we make together.

Instead of an
impulsive response...

- (KNOCK ON DOOR)
- Not right now.

REMY: Petrov's in the air.

(DOOR OPENS)

Get Admiral Dale on the line.

Claire, I value your opinion,

I just don't agree
with it this time.

Mr Yates.

The President is going
to have to reschedule.

Thomas.

Can you give us a few
moments, Edward?

Yes, ma'am.
I'll be by the stairs.

How's the book coming?

(SIGHS)

I've hit a bit of a roadblock.

There's a big piece missing.

What is it?

You.

He hasn't mentioned me at all?

Plenty of times.
But it's not enough.

What has he said?

(SIGHS) You're putting me

in an awkward position,
Mrs Underwood.

You don't want to
betray his trust.

He and I have an agreement.

I understand.
I shouldn't pry.

I'll leave you be then.

He said he loves you
more than anything.

That there wouldn't be a
White House without you.

He showed me your first
house, in Gaffney.

Where you planted the tulips.

And he said he was ashamed.

Of What?

That you married him.
Because you deserve better.

(SIGHS)

You should really be in
this book, Mrs Underwood.

I've got a lot of stories
from his perspective.

But not a single one from yours.

Well, he's the one running
for President. Not me.

Yeah.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong.

I think people need to hear
your voice to hear his.

Can we set up
a time? To meet?

Um. I'll think
about it.

Thank you, Thomas.

Mmm-hmm.

Okay.

Seth, this is good, but downplay
expectations even more.

There's no telling what
we'll walk away with.

Yes, sir.

We shouldn't inform the
press until after you land,

for security purposes.

Donald, if anything
should happen to me...

I'm prepared.
But nothing will.

God help us.

Danton will walk you
through the full brief.

Everything's set up in
the Situation Room.

Good luck, Mr President.

Thank you.
I'll be right back.

Now listen,

I know you have reservations
about all this.

You're doing what
you think is best.

Please be careful out there.

I will.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Let's go.

(MACHINE WHIRRING)

- SARAH: Hello? Hi.
- Hi.

- Hi.
- SARAH: Hello.

Wow, you guys really look alike.

(LAUGHS) Hi.

- Oh. Hi.
- (CHUCKLES)

We're a hugging family.

- I see. (CHUCKLES)
- (LAUGHS)

Hi. You must
be Francine.

No, I'm not!

She likes Franke better.

Oh. Well, nice to
meet you, Franke.

- No. (GRUNTS)
- SARAH: Yep.

Oh, my god...
(LAUGHS)

- Careful.
- (LAUGHS)

- That's your uncle.
- Hey, who's that?

Nathan, do you want to give
your uncle Doug a hug?

- Come here, you.
- (LAUGHS)

(BABY TALKING)

DALE: We'll land
in Tel Aviv.

Then take a Special
Forces convoy

from there to the
perimeter of the Valley.

The Israelis will provide air
support until we get to the Valley,

then our helos will take over.

Once we get to the camp, the Russians
insist on ground units only.

We'll pass through
a checkpoint...

FRANCIS: How secure
is this location?

The position is not
fortified to our liking.

It's not blast-proof.

Sir, we're going to ask that you
wear your Kevlar and helmet.

ALL: Sir. Sir. Sir.

GRAYSON: Okay. Mary.

Why were no press allowed to go?

Given the security situation,

we didn't want to put any
press in harm's way,

or risk any hostile elements
knowing in advance.

So the President
has already landed?

GRAYSON:
About 90 minutes ago.

Mark.

What exactly does the
President hope to achieve?

GRAYSON: Ideally we'd like the
Russians to vacate the region.

We can't promise that they will,

but the President hopes
that we can make progress

toward a withdrawal.

Kate.

This could be seen
as an election stunt.

He's trailing
Dunbar in the polls,

so he wants to save the day.

I guarantee you
this is no stunt.

The President is taking extraordinary
measures to end this crisis.

(INDISTINCT VOICE ON RADIO)

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)

Mr President.

You can take your vest
off now, Mr President.

We're safe here.

You trust these walls?

If you're frightened, you
shouldn't have come.

When I was in the KGB I spent
six months in Afghanistan.

This place is a palace compared

to the hole in
the ground I lived in.

Here, you should stay hydrated.

I brought a shipment of
water in on my plane.

Thank you.

So much for the Israelis
stopping our resupply.

I wish we were in the fertile
part of the Valley, though.

I hear it's quite
green and beautiful.

Well, this is better
for pictures.

How do you mean?

Well, if you flew
into a paradise,

it wouldn't be as
effective now, would it?

You do have a flair
for the theatrical.

I can say the same about you,

showing up on
my doorstep like this.

This isn't your doorstep.

You're squatting where
you shouldn't be.

I don't think my men
would see it like that.

Do your men know that
you're responsible

for killing their comrades?

Accusations.

That's how you plan
to convince me?

What do you require to
pull out of the Valley?

That your troops leave as well.

And the entire
peacekeeping operation.

Well, as soon as
your troops withdraw,

I'll make sure the UN
forces do exactly the same.

Hmm. And you scale
back missile defence.

As we agreed to twice already.

That's when we were making
an entirely different deal.

Mmm. The main
difference now is that

we're both standing
in the desert,

and you can't leave
with nothing to show

but sand in your shoes.

I'll agree to the scale-back.
Same terms as before.

How soon can you
mobilise a withdrawal?

Well, the moment UN forces begin
to pull out, we will do the same.

I've had the Pentagon
come up with an exit plan

that we can put into effect
as early as tomorrow.

As for the rest
of the UN forces,

I can reach out to the
Secretary General immediately.

You or your wife.

Well, yes, she would probably
make the call on my behalf.

I don't think she should.

You think I should
make the call?

More than that.

I think she should be gone.

Gone in what way? Gone
from these negotiations?

As Ambassador.

My final condition.

That cannot be on the table.

It is.

And it's
non-negotiable.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Mrs Dempsey.
I'm a friend of Lisa's.

- Max?
- That's right.

Yes. She told me to tell you she's
running a few minutes behind.

Okay, I'll just wait
outside. Thank you.

No, it's chilly. You can
come on up to her room.

Okay.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I just want you to
know, I'm so sorry.

(INHALES SHARPLY)

Lisa told us and our
prayers are with you.

Thank you so much.

She said you and your husband were
like parents to her. I see why.

(CHUCKLES)
Come on in.

- Max, hey,
- (DOOR CLOSES)

sorry I'm late.

Here, I want you
to take that back.

No, no, no, no,
that money's yours.

No, I can't...
I can't take it.

Everyone at the
Fellowship pitched in.

Just give it back to them.

I can't. (CHUCKLES)

You said that you needed the
money for the medicine.

Yeah, sit down.

Sorry, please.

Okay.

What I'm about to tell you
is going to sound fucked up.

But just hear me out before
you say anything, all right?

Okay.

I'm leaving.

And I'm not coming back.

And I have to leave
because I'm in danger.

My name isn't Max.

I don't have AIDS.

Wait, hold on.

Let me finish, please.

I wanna explain everything
to you, but I can't.

The less you know the better.

But listen to me,

if the FBI comes here,
you can't say anything.

You have to tell them
you don't know me.

- The FBI?
- Yes, and if they do,

I want you to contact this man.

His name is Doug Stamper,
and he can help you.

Max. This is crazy.

It's not my name.
I made it up.

I made up everything.
The name,

the girlfriend, the clinic.

No, I was there with you.

I faked it. I had to.

If you're not Max,
then who are you?

Take this.
He will help you.

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

He can protect
you. Please.

I know it's not fair.
Please leave.

Let me leave this with you.

I don't want to have
anything to do with it.

Please, just take it with you.

Please leave.

You're a good person, Lisa.

I'm just not.

And I'm sorry.

What can I offer
you instead of her?

Nothing.

What about a humanitarian
relief fund,

for your allies in Africa?

You can distribute it
any way you see fit.

A few billion dollars?
I'm not that easily bought.

All right, let's say that we
re-examine our base in Izmir.

Congress would never let you.

And realistically,
you're willing to barter

major strategic airfields
on account of your wife?

You can't make this about her.

She was never equipped
to be an Ambassador.

You know that.

I understand.

How could you say no
to your own wife?

But she's blinding you.
I'm doing you a favour.

You're being petty.

The SEAL team you sent,

look how easily
we manipulated her.

Moryakov didn't have
to work too hard.

Did we blow up our own men?

Maybe we did,

maybe we didn't.

But we made her believe that we did.
And she convinced you.

Now, wouldn't you
call that blindness?

You want to kill me now.
I can see it.

I read an amusing article about
a, uh, Civil War re-enactor

who said that your
great-great-grandfather

killed a Yankee soldier
with his bare hands.

When I was in Afghanistan,

we were ambushed
by the Mujahideen.

And the man who shot
me here, and here?

He stabbed me when
his rifle jammed.

I pulled the knife away
and slit his throat.

Yes, I know, you've told that story
dozens of times to the press.

The part I don't tell is

that after I slit his
throat, I kept going.

We strapped his head to a donkey

so it would carry it
back to his village.

I've killed a man
with my bare hands.

It wasn't
make-believe.

Do you think you're capable?

I think you are.

You're ruthless,

like me.

Sometimes we must be ruthless
with those who hate us.

And sometimes we must be
ruthless with those we love.

I don't see why Claire
means so much to you.

Because she means
so much to you.

And if you do this,

I will know you are serious.

Your wife is on the line, sir.

Tell her I'll call her back.

I've told her that twice now.

Tell her again.

Yes, sir.

DOUG: You really don't
have to do that, Sarah.

No, I don't mind.
It doesn't take long.

No, no, let us do it.
You go relax.

I'll move the monsters
in a few minutes.

Okay.

See you in bed.

See you tomorrow.

(SIGHS)

GARY: Wish I could
sleep like that.

You ever think of settling down?

Getting a couple of
these for yourself?

Hasn't ever crossed my mind.

Never?

It's not for me.
A life like that.

You mean, a life like mine?

That's not what I said.

I know you've
always felt that way.

(SIGHS)

The mortgage.
The 9:00 to 5:00.

The wife, two kids, dog.

No. It's just my freedom
is important to me.

(CHUCKLES) I'm freer
than you are, pal.

I stayed in Columbus
because I liked it,

not because anybody made me.

I chose to put down roots.

You've always been
running from something.

Hey, I don't judge you.
Don't judge me.

Listen to your big
brother for a second.

No, the last thing I need
is a lecture right now.

During your whole recovery,

all you kept talking about
was getting back to work.

Over a month I've been here,

using all my vacation
time and then some.

You know, if you
don't want to be here,

then maybe you should go home.

(CHUCKLES) It's not
about that, Doug.

I'm here because you're family.

Because you're more
important than work.

Hey.

If I lost my job because of
you, I'd find another one.

What do you have?
Frank Underwood?

You don't even have that.

You got two pictures on your
fridge, and they're of my kids.

That's not freedom.

Petrov wants a diplomatic
change at the UN.

Me?

FRANCIS: It was
non-negotiable.

Clearly, you didn't say no.

I wanted to discuss it
with you first.

I called more than once.

I wanted to convince myself
to refuse what he asked.

But I couldn't do that.

I told you it was a
mistake to go, Francis.

And the resolution
was a mistake.

And Corrigan was a mistake.

We could tally up all our mistakes,
but we are where we are.

I need to concentrate on what's
in front of me right now.

I am. I'm in
front of you.

The Russians need to leave.
It's as simple as that.

You want me to say this is okay?

No.

Francis, I would've preferred
if you had walked in

and just told me I was fired.

They played you, Claire.

Moryakov was not having
some crisis of conscience.

It was all so that we would
send our SEAL team in.

So that we would
provoke the Israelis.

And I didn't see it, because
I trusted you too much.

I didn't look at it objectively.

Because you're my wife.

Petrov told you that?

Yes.

And you believe him?

I do.

I'll resign.

I wish it didn't
have to come to this.

What do we say?
To the press?

That you want to focus
on the campaign.

That that was
your plan all along.

But I want to see this
crisis through first.

No one will question that.

Tell Petrov.

And I'll

make the announcement
whenever you want me to.

Claire, you were right.

I shouldn't have gone.

That was your decision to make.
Not mine.

Good night.

My decision.

Sometimes I think the presidency

is the illusion of choice.

(CELL PHONE BEEPS)

(SIGHS)

(GRUNTS)

What is it?

I have to go to the White House.

It's the middle of the night.

He's the President.

FRANCIS: Thank you,
Meechum.

Have a seat.

Did I wake you up?

It's fine.

I'm a light sleeper anyway.

If it wasn't you, it would've
been a siren or a dump truck.

(POURING DRINK)

I get woken up in the middle
of the night all the time.

Some crisis
somewhere in the world.

Some situation in
the Situation Room.

YATES: Well, that's
better than a dump truck.

You reached out to Tim Corbet.

I did.

FRANCIS: I spoke to
him a few days ago.

He called to let me know.

So you two are still close.

Not any more.
At school we were.

YATES: I thought he might have some
insight to how you were back then.

Those are formative years.

FRANCIS: More formative
for you than for me.

I learned how to
march and shoot a gun.

That's about it.

I would've been better
off in military school.

Yeah, why is that?

You go from turning tricks

to being on
the best-seller list

before you can legally drink,

it messes with you.

You told me your friend
was the one who, uh...

I lied.

Why? You were
ashamed?

The first time I did it,

I was scared out of my mind.

Knock on the door, it opens,

the guy's in a satin robe.

He's fat.

Stringy hair, combed
over his bald spot.

Beads of sweat rolling
down his cheeks.

I almost ran back
to the elevator.

But you didn't.

No. I needed
the money.

Before I get undressed,

he tells me that
his wife just died.

Car accident.

Says they had plans to visit

Tokyo in the spring.

Tells me about his three kids.

The one that was born
with a cleft palate.

Describes his house
in Westchester,

with a Juliet balcony
in the living room.

Says how beautiful she was.

Tells me he doesn't wanna die.

Never touched me once.

Sometimes it was just sex,
a lot of times it wasn't.

They would tell me everything.
These men.

That access, those stories,

it was an addiction.

I craved it.
I lived for it.

And then you wrote about it.

When I got famous,

(SWISHES)

I had to stop.

I tried and once,
I got recognised.

I wasn't invisible any more.

I couldn't escape myself.

I wish I could
do that sometimes.

Escape myself.

YATES: Is it Claire?

You didn't ask me here to
talk about Tim Corbet.

What's in this for you?

I'm addicted.

To me?

I betrayed her.

How?

I'm not asking
as your biographer.

I'm asking as your friend.

Are we friends?

We can pretend to be.

This isn't pretend.

I'm real.

And you're hurting.

She's hurting more.

Everyone's hurting.

Go home.

You should get some sleep.

And so should I.

Thirty years is a long time.

You've made it this far.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(GIGGLING)

(CHUCKLING)

(GIGGLING)

(GIGGLING)

Again.

Double.

(GIGGLING)

(SQUEAKING)

(SQUEAKING CONTINUES)

- Hey.
- Hey.

I didn't hear you come back.

- I didn't want to wake you.
- (CELL PHONE BEEPS)

Wow.

- What is it?
- The Mid-East bureau.

They say the Russians are
pulling out their troops.

Whatever he did out
there must have worked.

(MOANS)

I wonder what it cost him.

VAUGHN: We ran the different looks
by a couple of focus groups.

These are the three favourites.

CLAIRE: Not this one.

Uh, this one.
What do you think?

I like it.

The hair colour as well?

Do you mind
going back to blonde?

I'd prefer it dark.

The groups in Iowa, in particular,
they like the blonde.

Fine. We'll go
blonde then.

You're popular among women.

We want to push those
numbers as high as we can

and every little bit counts.

You don't have to explain.

We'll do the colour change

after we announce
the resignation.

Thanks, Abbie.

If you don't want to, you
don't have to do this.

It's fine.

The nomination is not
gonna hinge on your hair.

You heard what Abbie said,

every little bit counts.

We'll do what we have to.

Ripped By mstoll