Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript
Newly-appointed Secretary Of State Elizabeth McCord is immediately faced with a maelstrom of complex political challenges, and an international hostage situation is her top priority. ...
(man singing islamic call
to prayer over loudspeaker)
(prayer continues in distance)
(door bangs) man: Call the american embassy.
(speaking arabic)
Call the state department.
You can't do this.
Call the american embassy. (men shouting in arabic)
I don't understand--
What'd he say?
He said, "don't be a fool. You're gonna die here."
Dr. Mccord. Yeah.
Hey, can I talk to you about my thesis?
Uh, sure-- during office hours.
Yeah, your office hours don't really work for me.
Thing is, I don't really want to write about the cold war.
You're aware that the class is called
"postwar politics and the cold war."
Yeah, but I feel like it's been done.
That's why they call it history, jake.
Thing is, my theory is that
We are living through a new cold war.
All right, compare and contrast to the original
And convince me.
Great. Also, I'll need an extension. My parents
Are coming to town and they're very needy.
Oh. My husband bought tickets
I mean, normally, I love the opera, but I got to tell you,
It's been a hell of a week, and the thought of sitting
In a dimly lit room with a bunch of people
Singing at me in italian--
It's just gonna make me fall asleep.
I thought we were telling each other our problems.
No extension.
Enjoy your parents.
Man: What aquinas was trying to say
In summa theologica is that existence
And essence are separate things, right?
That's the whole notion behind catholic transubstantiation.
Now, luther though a thomist
By definition, departed from him
In significant ways. Honey?
Their eyes are glazing over.
They're just listening to you 'cause you're so cute.
Girl: No way.
I hated religion before I took his class.
Now I'm totally caught up.
He's brilliant.
Wow. Well, do you mind if I just
Steal his brilliance for a minute?
Yeah, sure.
So, how am I supposed to develop a cult following?
Oh, I think you'll figure it out.
Hey, listen. Did you remember you got to cook tonight?
'cause I'm going into dc.
Right, the spy reunion. Yes.
And since I'm the only one who can talk about work,
I get to be
The center of attention.
You're always the center of attention with me.
Really? Tell that to your cult following.
Woman: You wouldn't recognize the cia.
George is the only one on a middle east desk right now.
Man: Libya.
Lebanon. I'm staring at screens
Of abandoned factories and oil wells,
Listening to chatter about the world cup.
I mean, they could at least have
Pastured me somewhere interesting.
He loves that desk job. They didn't pasture you.
They just didn't feel like
Risking your life in the field anymore.
There was no evidence that my cover was blown.
He never looks back.
And you guys should talk.
They both got africa.
Do you know how volatile
That place is gonna be? Yes!
That is like the disco
Of global hot spots.
Oh, yeah. Why don't you call
Our, uh, former boss and complain
To him about your desk job?
Oh, I did. George!
You called potus about your desk job? I... I...
I gave it a shot, okay? I mean, he ran
The place for 12 years, I figured
He's still invested in personnel, so...
He never called back.
Imagine that.
How is the, uh, bucolic life going?
It's great.
We're teachers.
We're parents.
We're horse owners.
Mmm. Ooh! Oh, my!
And every morning we wake up,
That's all we got to be. (phones buzzing)
That's a shock.
Well, this can't be good.
The, uh, secretary of state's plane
Just went down over the atlantic.
Henry: Hey!
I thought we said no gadgets at the table.
And then the kids never came to the table.
Besides, it's Saturday.
Oh, yay!
No rules Saturday?
Reporter: Vincent marsh, of course, began...
Hey! Dad, can you turn it off?
What? My screen is competing with your screens?
Repeating what we know so far--
The secretary of state vincent marsh's plane disappeared
Off the coast of florida.
He was headed to caracas, venezuela.
Mom, do you think it was terrorism?
No.
I think people shouldn't fly in small planes.
Is that a resort destination? Jason: Exactly.
When will you guys acknowledge the obvious conspiracy around us
At all times? Seriously?
You had to wind up the anarchist?
Sorry.
(horse snorts)
I thought you were gonna do something relaxing today.
Well, this relaxes me.
It wouldn't stop ringing, so I answered it.
Well, who is it?
Some lady says it's the president's office.
Pta?
The United States.
Well, that's a prank. Hang it up.
Just take it. She sounds serious.
(siren chirps nearby)
(horse snorts)
(dog barking in distance)
(vehicles approaching)
Man: The death of vincent marsh is catastrophic on many levels.
It's a bad time to be without diplomatic representation.
Because of the peace talks with iran
And president shiraz's upcoming visit to the u.S.?
So you understand why I can't
Waste any time on this decision.
I want you to step in.
Step into what?
Secretary of state.
(laughs)
Y... (laughs)
You're joking.
Um, I don't mean
You're joking, but you can't be serious.
Obviously you're serious, I just...
Why?
I recruited you for the cia.
I trained you as an analyst.
I know how you think, how you work.
I trust you.
Give us a minute, will you?
Secret service agent: Yes, mr. President.
I wanted to nominate you
Right after I was elected. I was talked
Out of my choice by...
Well-meaning advisers.
Vincent marsh was always running for office.
You have no such ambition.
You quit a profession you love for ethical reasons.
That makes you the least political person I know.
You don't just think outside the box.
You don't even know there is a box.
(quiet laugh)
I believe I can effect real change in the world.
I want you to help me do that.
I know you won't let me down.
I realize you'll need some time
To discuss this with your family.
I'll give you the rest of the day.
But I won't take
No for an answer.
(door opens)
(door closes)
Woman: The king of swaziland sits here.
Madam secretary, you'll be across from him.
I've charted out all ten of his wives by their names and ranks.
Basically, it's a seniority system.
You look like you have a question.
Um...
Yes.
Why are we doing this?
The chart?
The dinner.
Why are we entertaining the king of swaziland?
Man: It was on vincent's agenda.
It was important to him.
Woman: The press loves stuff like this.
The guy's flamboyant, exotic.
Polygamist.
We're not using that word. We're not?
What are we calling it?
It falls under
Cultural diversity.
I see.
Well, is it important
To have all the wives? You think maybe
We could've cut it off at say three?
How much is this costing, nadine?
You want me to get you the figures on that?
Yes. And also
The updated information on the aids epidemic in that country.
Madam secretary? It's the czech ambassador.
He says it's urgent.
What could be urgent over there?
Guess we'll find out.
Let's pick this up
After lunch, okay?
Elizabeth: Hey, blake, on a scale of one to ten,
How much does nadine hate me?
Oh, I think that one goes to 11.
They all hate me as much?
No. It's a mixture.
Why don't you hate me?
Because you hired me.
I might have inadvertently reversed those.
Probably should've brought my own staff.
Probably.
But you know what, their boss had just died.
I couldn't just clean house like that. Yes, ma'am.
Meeting with the chief of staff
And the secretary of defense
In half an hour.
Oh, that's russell jackson
And gordon becker, respectively.
Blake?
I know their names.
Yeah. Yeah.
Hello, pavel.
(men shouting in arabic nearby)
(man pleading in arabic)
Stay away from the door!
(grunting)
(guard yelling in arabic)
(man pleading in arabic)
(guard shouts in arabic) (bangs bars)
(metallic clattering)
What are they gonna do-- kill that guy?!
Sit down!
Don't draw attention.
(blows landing, man screaming)
(man shouting in arabic)
Elizabeth: Two american kids arrested and imprisoned
In syria for attempting to join fatah ash-sham.
Ethan and tyler cole,
Brothers from hartford, connecticut.
They have an activist web site called "one free earth,"
The basic gist of which is "war bad, peace good."
So they join a jihadist group to drive home this point.
Ash-sham isn't a jihadist group.
It has jihadist elements,
But their immediate goal is to overthrow
The syrian government, which I think we can all agree,
Isn't a paradigm of virtue.
I stand corrected.
These kids are peace-loving freedom fighters.
Elizabeth: They're using facebook
And instagram to demonstrate poverty
And poor treatment of women.
Doesn't make them geniuses,
But it certainly doesn't make them jihadists.
Where does this come from?
(sighs)
That's how we communicate with syria these days.
Any idea what the syrians think they're up to?
President nussir's completely opposed to shiraz's visit
To the u.S.
He sees it as a threat to his authority.
The syrians want to prove that they still have teeth.
So they grab two hapless kids and throw them in prison?
Who had no business being there.
What's the urgency?
They're gonna execute those kids in a week.
Oh...
(sighs) has it hit the news cycle?
Elizabeth: No.
We're just learning of it ourselves.
What do you recommend?
I know some people on the ground.
I'd like to proceed through back channels
What do you mean, "back channels"? Not an official op.
I think it's safer and faster
Just to work with the people I know.
Trouble is, I don't know the people you know.
No, we have to do it my way.
Keep it within the company.
All right.
I'll get in touch with the parents
And stress the importance of non-communication.
Good.
I think we're done here.
Jackson: We got you the name
Of a stylist, right?
A stylist?
You're going to find it useful.
It's a tough transition.
I-I really don't think it's necessary.
It's coming from the top.
Conrad...?
The president wants me to have a stylist?
As chief of staff, when I speak,
I am generally speaking for the president.
Image is a big part of the job.
You know, actually, as long as we're on the subject--
Somewhat-- of speaking to the president,
I'd like to brief him on the syrian kidnapping.
No.
It's premature.
It's a volatile situation.
I don't want him being caught off guard
If it hits the press.
It's not going to hit the press,
'cause I'm telling you to make sure it doesn't.
I'll do my best.
I know you have
A friendship with the president.
But you're in a system now.
Trying to take advantage of that
Would be ill-advised.
How would I take advantage of that?
By going around me.
Woman (voice wavering): Tyler... He's, uh, the ambitious one.
He has this idea he's going
To change the world with his blog.
He majored in arabic studies.
He speaks farsi and arabic, fluently.
He's a brilliant kid.
I can't believe he's stupid enough
So I assume you tried to talk them out of
Making this trip?
We didn't even know about it.
See, we were sending ethan to europe for graduation,
He asked tyler to go with him.
I mean, we knew they would go as far as turkey,
But we had no idea they'd cross into syria.
Ethan's not political at all.
He wants to play music and pick up girls.
It doesn't matter whose fault it is.
So, then, there's no reason to believe
That they were somehow trying to join
The syrian opposition movement?
No. Absolutely not.
Neither one of them knows how to mow a lawn,
Let alone... Handle a weapon.
It should be easy enough to explain.
And tensions are easing up
In that part of the world, right?
Not in syria.
I mean, we have to go
Through a third party.
If the state department is gonna take this on,
It's gonna have to be
Completely undercover. If?
It has to go up the chain of command.
So far, I've been given the green light
To pursue a negotiation.
But if anything were to get out in the press,
It would greatly jeopardize our efforts.
But you're gonna have to work with us.
We need to take down
Their blog, their facebook page,
And we need to ask
That you have no communication
Through social media yourselves.
But how-how do we take their pages down?
We don't even have the passwords. We can handle that.
You're asking us to go underground? Elizabeth: Yes.
And trust you with our children's lives.
That's right.
But... But isn't there a power to speaking out?
Mr. Cole, free speech has landed us
Where we find ourselves right now.
It's a constitutionally protected right,
Not a global one.
As your sons are finding out
The hard way.
Oh, god...
I have two teenagers.
They're smart,
Self-confident and articulate,
As we've raised them to be.
My son is a self-proclaimed anarchist.
(laughs)
I could see him doing something like this.
And if it were my son
Where tyler and ethan are today?
This is how I would handle it.
Okay.
Okay.
Who already have their rooms at harvard and yale picked out
Or these athletes who are too dumb to breathe.
Henry: That's pretty dumb. Elizabeth: Not to mention
A bad situation for an athlete.
The teachers are completely unimaginative rule-followers
Who are totally threatened by original thought.
Elizabeth: Okay.
Let's play a game called
"name one positive thing about your school."
There are, uh, three hot girls.
Henry: Dude, that's three things.
I feel better already.
You know, I seem to remember
That you hated your former school, too.
Yeah, but for totally different reasons.
Henry: Such is the lonely
Journey of the anarchist.
I'm not complaining. Elizabeth: And yet it sounds
Exactly like complaining.
What about you?
Everything's fine.
Come on. Do you want to hear
The details of me missing my boyfriend?
Ooh! I vote no.
You remember how excited you were
About that french literature class?
It's fine. Can I be excused?
Henry: Yes.
Did you want to hear more of that?
Maybe I should go talk to her.
Just give her some space.
Okay.
Or not.
Elizabeth: Did we do the right thing?
We absolutely did the right thing.
What are we talking about?
This. The job. The move.
Yes.
The kids will adjust.
It's only been two months.
And you're sure that I didn't push us into this?
Jason is thrilled to be living even closer
To the dark halls of conspiracy.
Ali hated living
On a horse farm.
Okay, and now she misses her boyfriend.
Yeah. If we were home, she'd be dramatically upset
About something else. She's 15.
Do you hear what you just did?
You just called it "home."
That place.
Where we used to live.
Honey, it's gonna take some time
Before it stops feeling like home.
And... Are you really happy at georgetown?
Are you kidding me? I love georgetown.
Being a religion professor at a jesuit university?
It's like being a beatle. (snorts)
So we're fine?
We're fine.
Totally fine?
Totally fine.
We used to have sex more often.
We had sex this weekend.
But we used to have weeknight sex.
Stop overthinking things.
I've got too much of it? Because I know some men,
They're turned off by women in positions of power.
I totally love
Women in power positions.
Huh?
I'm completely attracted
To your masculine energy.
Tell me what to say.
(phone buzzing)
What is it?
It's an encoded text.
Oh, it's from george.
Saying what?
He's outside.
Come inside.
I can't. Your place is probably bugged.
George, they sweep it every day.
Come on.
(breathing heavily)
How'd you get by my security detail?
I know those guys.
I gave the detail leader his first job.
Well, that's unsettling.
I'm taking my life in my hands here,
And you're the only person I can trust.
You look terrible.
Have you even slept?
Listen to me.
Vincent marsh's plane crash
Was not an accident.
I have reason to believe
That someone inside had it arranged.
Inside what?
The company.
Marsh had some operation going in venezuela.
Money laundering, drugs,
Arms dealing, something.
But the guy was dirty.
What's the evidence, george?
I decoded some of his personal correspondence
And uncovered a bank account in caracas.
He was on his way to meet someone.
Do you know what happens when that gets out?
That someone inside the white house
Has gone completely off the grid?
You think I'm nuts.
It's just a lot... It's a lot to process, george.
That's all.
Henry: Hey, buddy.
Everything okay?
Hank.
Where'd you come from?
The bedroom. I live here.
Oh.
Do you want to come in and have a drink?
I'm sorry.
(sighs)
Boy, I shouldn't have come.
This... This didn't happen.
Understood?
What didn't happen?
Be careful, bess.
♪
Matt: Who's she in there with?
Oh, I'm not at liberty to say.
Well, I got a tip from security.
It's the director of the cia.
Can't confirm or deny.
Uh, just so you know?
There's a tradition of sharing
Information in the outer office.
Oh.
Well, (clears throat) in that case,
I heard you guys tongued
In the supply closet at the christmas party,
Because you're both with other people.
Matt: Look, is she going to fire us?
Because I need to get my résumé in order.
Blake? I'm roxanne majidi.
I have an appointment with the secretary.
Blake: The secretary is busy.
Hey, why don't we all take a seat
And think our private thoughts.
Munsey: The prison holding the two boys
Is located 20 miles outside of damascus
In a rural area.
Mostly abandoned warehouses and farms.
But our team on the ground made a positive I.D.
They're working with people inside.
How big is the team?
Four guys, special ops.
The prison is low security.
One helo, in and out,
Under cover of darkness, clean and simple.
Barring unanticipated complications.
Yeah, barring those.
And there's no reason
To think that these kids are somehow cia?
Absolutely not.
We haven't flagged them anywhere.
And the fbi says they haven't either.
All right.
The chief of staff has told me I can sign off.
So, this is the official go-ahead.
Alert me two hours out.
Yes, ma'am.
How's george doing by the way with the new desk job?
He's a good analyst.
A little high-strung, but I think he'll settle in.
Good.
He's doing good work.
He just needs to take a breath.
He's not really a breather.
That is an understatement.
Hey, listen to me.
If there is any reason at all
To pull the plug on this op, do it.
We can't afford a black hawk down moment.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Madam secretary?
Yeah? This is roxanne majidi,
The latest addition to our staff. I see.
In what capacity?
I was sent by the chief of staff.
Mr. Jackson says I'm to be
Your personal appearance specialist.
Okay, I have no idea what that means.
Your stylist.
Oh. (laughs)
Well, I-I'm sure that you're
Very good at what you do.
But, um, I don't need a stylist.
Madam secretary,
I just do as I'm told.
But I was sent by the chief of staff.
He was pretty insistent.
The way he conveyed it to me,
You don't have a choice in the matter.
See, here's the problem.
I've never met a situation
Where I don't have a choice in the matter.
Well... You know, why don't we find
Another time for you to swing by?
It's a very busy day here. Uh, why don't
You grab your stuff and, uh, we'll be able to talk...
Madam secretary?
We need to review your statement
About the king of swaziland visit.
Okay. Yeah.
I have a rough first draft.
I'm still working on the adjectives.
Right now, you're "happy" and "excited."
Well, I have to get something to the press
By tomorrow. Can I be "resigned"
And "conflicted"?
You can never be either of those things.
You can be "eager" and "optimistic."
No, she can't be eager. That's too jimmy carter.
Can I be "cautiously optimistic"?
Well, that's for more serious world events.
You can be "forward-thinking." you know what?
I'll do the writing, thanks. Can we maybe just
Throw in something of substance here?
Maybe a reference to global health issues
Or developing economies? Yeah, I just don't
Think now is a good time for substance.
Okay.
What if I'm grateful
For the opportunity to expose the world
To a variety of cultural differences
As we move toward a more
Global-thinking society?
That's really good.
Should I write it down for you?
No, I'm the writer. I... Just as long
As our roles are clear.
Because it's my job, it's not yours...
Thanks... Madam secretary?
We have a problem.
It has to do with operation stupid kids.
That's what we were calling it.
Before it went bust.
Now we're calling it operation never happened.
The intel on the prison location was bad,
And when the special forces made their way inside the structure,
They found goats.
Is that code for something?
No, ma'am. Actual goats.
It was disinformation.
The good news is that there were no casualties
And no goats were harmed.
It's just not helpful.
I was supposed to be alerted two hours out.
What the hell just happened?
Apparently they saw a window.
They felt they had to move.
That is not the cia director's call.
Blake? Where the hell is he anyway?
Mr. Munsey is busy cleaning up the mess on the ground.
Yeah, well, that is nothing compared
To the mess he's gonna have to clean up with me.
Nadine: And this just came in.
We are american spies
Captured and rightfully
Imprisoned in damascus.
Our objective was to overthrow the government.
We intend to commit
Acts of terrorism against the syrian people.
When did this come in?
About an hour ago.
It was sent as an encoded e-mail directly to our office.
Unfortunately, it comes on the heels
Of our unsuccessful attempt to liberate the prisoners.
Well, we were given disinformation on the location.
Nothing disastrous, but now they have some leverage.
And this is obviously their next move.
What do they want?
Ultimately, they want us to call off the peace talks.
What if we don't respond?
They'll release the video. This thing goes viral,
It's on the first hour of every morning talk show
With compare-and-contrast profiles to the boston bombers.
Not the worst outcome I could imagine.
No, I agree.
That's the best-case scenario.
Worst case, nobody buys the phony confession
And then the world has to stop
While we negotiate their release.
That's why we have to act now under the radar
While we still have some latitude.
Your failed attempt wasn't under the radar?
Excuse me, that was your failed attempt as well.
Nobody's placing blame.
Sir, this is not how I would've
Proceeded left to my own devices.
There's too many things that can go wrong.
We need to take direct action.
How direct?
Just me and the guy that can get it done.
A guy I can't really ask about.
Yes, sir.
Sir, we can't afford to get involved in this.
And the most important peace talks in recent memory.
We're already involved.
Keep it at bay.
Let the syrians know we're gonna disavow the kids,
Deny the validity of the video.
By the time it gets out, if it does,
Shiraz's visit is over,
In the middle east, the syrians look like
Fringe lunatics, the kids are...
Troublemakers who shouldn't have been there in the first place.
And if the kids are executed?
Same story, sadder outcome.
Sir, let me get in front of this.
I know how to handle it.
Sorry, bess.
You gave it a shot.
Now I have to go with russell.
Elizabeth: It's my job to advise the president.
How am I supposed to do that when I can get
Any time alone with the president?
How many e-mails did you send him?
Fifteen.
And...
Every time I got a reply from russell jackson's office.
What about texts?
He does do texts.
He refers me to russell jackson.
Well, babe, you're new at the job.
You'll figure something out.
I don't have time
To figure something out.
Why? What's going on?
I can't tell you.
Okay.
Let me take the socratic approach.
(laughs) why did you take this job?
Because who wouldn't take this job?
Hey, wise guy, I'll be socrates.
Answer the question.
I think I left the company too soon.
I had some unfinished business.
And I feel like I let conrad down.
I don't want to do that again.
You feel like you're letting him down now?
By not insisting that he do the right thing.
And what's the right thing?
You know, there's a reason why they killed socrates.
He told me that we could effect real change in the world.
That's what I signed up for.
Then you have to figure out a way to take action.
Thomas aquinas said,
"if the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship,
He would leave it in port forever."
Aquinas also said,
"sorrow can be alleviated by a good sleep,
A bath and a glass of wine."
Which one of those worked?
(hinges squeaking)
(footsteps echoing)
Well.
It has been a long time.
Thanks for coming.
What can I say?
I've missed you.
What's it been-- eight years?
Yes. Chechnya.
(whistles)
Such a paltry little rebellion by today's standards.
What's your title these days?
Still cultural attaché.
I need to broker a deal
On the ground... In syria.
What kind of deal?
Two american kids imprisoned for espionage.
I'm sorry. I really am a cultural attaché now.
For the last couple of years.
No double-dipping in the spy pool.
You must still know people.
Bess, I'm telling you, I'm fully legit now.
State department.
I can get you caviar and vodka.
I like it here, okay?
I can't risk going back to russia.
It's a pigsty.
My kids are on the fast track for ivy leagues.
Let me ask you something.
And his family out of chechnya during the revolution?
You did, of course.
Using field officers on the ground
Who risked their lives to do so.
I took responsibility for that.
No, I haven't forgotten.
These kids are gonna die.
Just as your cousin
And his family were going to.
So you're cashing in your chips?
No.
I am appealing to your humanity.
And if that doesn't work, I'm reminding you
That the secretary of state can have any foreign diplomat
Removed off of u.S. Soil for any reason.
I am feeling very... Humane.
Dalton: Let's call it a nightcap.
That way I don't have to yell at you for breaking protocol
And waking me up.
Yes, sir.
In fact, texting my wife?
(laughs) I'd call that obliterating protocol.
We've remained friends.
We talk sometimes.
I know she stays up late.
Fine.
You have my attention.
I made an unofficial move on the situation in syria.
Why would you do that?
To save the lives of two innocent kids
Who aren't that much older than mine.
That's just the first reason.
You tried before.
Let me ask you something.
Why did you give me this job?
I told you why.
You said you didn't want
A politician in this post.
Well...
This is me not being a politician.
I didn't uproot my life and my family
To come here and sit in endless staff meetings
And plan parties for potentates.
I came here to do the job
That you said only I could do.
So for god's sakes, conrad, let me do it.
I'm waiting.
You said I think outside the box.
Well, from where I sit,
You are in a dangerous box of appeasement
And I'm showing you the way out.
Step it out for me.
We do nothing,
The syrians execute those kids
Just to make a point.
That you knew about it and did nothing?
That's a genie I can't put back in the bottle.
My job is to advise you
On matters of foreign policy,
And I'm advising you.
This is a risk you can't afford not to take.
I know the right people, we have to do it my way.
Trust me.
You'd better be right about this.
Or yours could be the shortest term
In state department history.
Elihu b. Washburne, under president grant.
11 days.
I looked it up.
But I take your point.
Anton: It's going to be $2 million u.S.
It's going to be half that.
(speaks russian)
One and a half. Close of business.
I can make that work.
First installment with confirmation
That the kids are released.
Second installment after they've landed.
(speaking russian)
It needs to be u.S. Dollars
In a third-party account.
No. It's going to be that amount
In the form of medical supplies
And food.
Distributing relief among the suffering masses.
I don't think it's enough.
Okay, then tell them this:
We won't sanction them into the stone age.
The tide is turning,
And they do not want to be isolated
No one misses syria if it completely self-destructs.
I think they're taking it.
Congratulations.
You just bought yourself two stupid american kids.
I'll believe it when they're in the air.
You stay on it, okay?
Anton: Yes, ma'am, madam secretary.
Nadine: It's all right
To address his wives by their first names.
But be advised they probably won't have much to say.
Most of them don't speak english.
Unless you to speak swazi.
French, german, arabic, farsi...
Year of spanish, high school.
So you'll just smile a lot.
That was a new york times reporter
Who just got off the phone with
The timgot the coles to make a statement?
The times got them to give
A two-hour interview. (sighs)
Elizabeth: What did you say? Jay: I said no comment.
And say a lot of things at an elevated level.
But when are they going to run it?
Tomorrow.
Oh. Buried in the back?
Jay: Depends on how big
Of a news day it is.
Is that personal image consultant
Still in the building? Yeah, she's got an office
Tell her I want to see her right away.
(people talking excitedly)
Hi. Congratulations on your new position.
Thank you.
Where are you guys from?
We're from minnesota.
Ah, the land of 10,000 lakes, right?
But it's actually more like 15,000.
Yes, ma'am. Can we get
Our picture taken together?
Actually, that's fine.
That'd be great. Thank you.
I need you to step back.
Good? Good?
Okay. Thank you!
Enjoy your stay.
Madam... Madam secretary!
Reporter: The response to secretary mccord's look
Has been positive, most people saying...
She's showing a little bit of leg.
And it looked like she went
And changed her hairstyle, too!
I kind of like it.
Reporter 2: ...Issued no statement
As to why the secretary felt the need
To modernize her look.
Reporter 3: Secretary of state...
I can't believe that with everything going on
In the world, this is the news.
But a new outfit isn't really a global event.
Well, I-I guess it is now.
This is the most you've been in the news
Since the confirmation hearing.
Yep.
(phone buzzing)
(exhales)
♪
♪
♪
Good morning.
Good morning.
I didn't realize
We had an appointment.
You want to tell me how those kids got released?
I guess the syrians
Saw the error of their ways.
So that would be a "no."
I got the president to sign off.
How could you do that without my knowledge?
I-I don't know.
By blatantly circumnavigating your authority?
You'd better learn how to work with me
Instead of around me.
My first choice, as well.
I used your stylist, didn't I?
I think you'll find
I make a much better ally than opponent.
Same here.
I'm going to chalk
This one up to rookie enthusiasm.
But going forward?
I won't be so forgiving.
(exhales)
Nungunde: It is an honor
To visit your beautiful country.
And its most beautiful secretary of state.
Elizabeth: We're very happy to have your highness
And his royal family.
Nungunde: And what about your family, madam secretary?
Do you have children?
I do. I have a son
And two daughters. Ah.
A nice, small family.
Well, I-I just have the one husband.
(laughing)
(all laughing)
Nungunde: Yes.
I am honored to have 23 children.
Wow.
That sounds like a lot of work.
Well, I am blessed with wonderful partners.
Elizabeth: Your highness,
If I could take a moment
To discuss with you a matter
Of international importance?
Of course.
I know that you're aware
That the aids epidemic
Has continued to grow in your country
Despite its decline in other developing nations.
Early on in your reign,
You took great steps to address it,
But lately it hasn't been at the forefront
Of your political agenda.
Certainly, a man of your education
And obvious love of family understands
The importance of this issue.
We would like to work with you
To bring it back to the top of your list.
It would be an honor to do so, madam secretary.
I'm sure that you can enlist the help of your wives--
Majaha...
Sibhale...
Lindelwa...
Nomcebo,
Nolwazi,
Siviwe,
Temily, dzeltwe,
Andiswa
And bongeka.
(people whispering)
A woman's perspective is such an important thing...
And you have no shortage of that.
Daisy: That exchange with the king
Is already trending, madam secretary.
Twitter is blowing up. People love it.
Matt, prepare a statement for tomorrow.
We may have to call a press conference.
I'm already on it.
Do you want this to become an issue?
Yes!
I think we've spent enough time on my look.
World health, education, war on women...
How do you want to frame it?
Jay: It's a strong message. It'll play well in the polls.
Not that I, you know, care about polls.
Car is waiting for you outside when you're ready.
I'll tell security to stand by.
Thanks, blake.
Nice work, madam secretary.
Thank you.
Ooh...
Hey.
How long have you been here?
You know, if you wanted to come tonight,
I could have gotten you an invitation,
Because I
Happen to know people in the...
What's wrong?
George is dead.
(gasps)
What happened?
Single-car collision
Into a telephone pole.
No witnesses.
That wasn't an accident.
I know.
Captioning sponsored by cbs
(prayer continues in distance)
(door bangs) man: Call the american embassy.
(speaking arabic)
Call the state department.
You can't do this.
Call the american embassy. (men shouting in arabic)
I don't understand--
What'd he say?
He said, "don't be a fool. You're gonna die here."
Dr. Mccord. Yeah.
Hey, can I talk to you about my thesis?
Uh, sure-- during office hours.
Yeah, your office hours don't really work for me.
Thing is, I don't really want to write about the cold war.
You're aware that the class is called
"postwar politics and the cold war."
Yeah, but I feel like it's been done.
That's why they call it history, jake.
Thing is, my theory is that
We are living through a new cold war.
All right, compare and contrast to the original
And convince me.
Great. Also, I'll need an extension. My parents
Are coming to town and they're very needy.
Oh. My husband bought tickets
I mean, normally, I love the opera, but I got to tell you,
It's been a hell of a week, and the thought of sitting
In a dimly lit room with a bunch of people
Singing at me in italian--
It's just gonna make me fall asleep.
I thought we were telling each other our problems.
No extension.
Enjoy your parents.
Man: What aquinas was trying to say
In summa theologica is that existence
And essence are separate things, right?
That's the whole notion behind catholic transubstantiation.
Now, luther though a thomist
By definition, departed from him
In significant ways. Honey?
Their eyes are glazing over.
They're just listening to you 'cause you're so cute.
Girl: No way.
I hated religion before I took his class.
Now I'm totally caught up.
He's brilliant.
Wow. Well, do you mind if I just
Steal his brilliance for a minute?
Yeah, sure.
So, how am I supposed to develop a cult following?
Oh, I think you'll figure it out.
Hey, listen. Did you remember you got to cook tonight?
'cause I'm going into dc.
Right, the spy reunion. Yes.
And since I'm the only one who can talk about work,
I get to be
The center of attention.
You're always the center of attention with me.
Really? Tell that to your cult following.
Woman: You wouldn't recognize the cia.
George is the only one on a middle east desk right now.
Man: Libya.
Lebanon. I'm staring at screens
Of abandoned factories and oil wells,
Listening to chatter about the world cup.
I mean, they could at least have
Pastured me somewhere interesting.
He loves that desk job. They didn't pasture you.
They just didn't feel like
Risking your life in the field anymore.
There was no evidence that my cover was blown.
He never looks back.
And you guys should talk.
They both got africa.
Do you know how volatile
That place is gonna be? Yes!
That is like the disco
Of global hot spots.
Oh, yeah. Why don't you call
Our, uh, former boss and complain
To him about your desk job?
Oh, I did. George!
You called potus about your desk job? I... I...
I gave it a shot, okay? I mean, he ran
The place for 12 years, I figured
He's still invested in personnel, so...
He never called back.
Imagine that.
How is the, uh, bucolic life going?
It's great.
We're teachers.
We're parents.
We're horse owners.
Mmm. Ooh! Oh, my!
And every morning we wake up,
That's all we got to be. (phones buzzing)
That's a shock.
Well, this can't be good.
The, uh, secretary of state's plane
Just went down over the atlantic.
Henry: Hey!
I thought we said no gadgets at the table.
And then the kids never came to the table.
Besides, it's Saturday.
Oh, yay!
No rules Saturday?
Reporter: Vincent marsh, of course, began...
Hey! Dad, can you turn it off?
What? My screen is competing with your screens?
Repeating what we know so far--
The secretary of state vincent marsh's plane disappeared
Off the coast of florida.
He was headed to caracas, venezuela.
Mom, do you think it was terrorism?
No.
I think people shouldn't fly in small planes.
Is that a resort destination? Jason: Exactly.
When will you guys acknowledge the obvious conspiracy around us
At all times? Seriously?
You had to wind up the anarchist?
Sorry.
(horse snorts)
I thought you were gonna do something relaxing today.
Well, this relaxes me.
It wouldn't stop ringing, so I answered it.
Well, who is it?
Some lady says it's the president's office.
Pta?
The United States.
Well, that's a prank. Hang it up.
Just take it. She sounds serious.
(siren chirps nearby)
(horse snorts)
(dog barking in distance)
(vehicles approaching)
Man: The death of vincent marsh is catastrophic on many levels.
It's a bad time to be without diplomatic representation.
Because of the peace talks with iran
And president shiraz's upcoming visit to the u.S.?
So you understand why I can't
Waste any time on this decision.
I want you to step in.
Step into what?
Secretary of state.
(laughs)
Y... (laughs)
You're joking.
Um, I don't mean
You're joking, but you can't be serious.
Obviously you're serious, I just...
Why?
I recruited you for the cia.
I trained you as an analyst.
I know how you think, how you work.
I trust you.
Give us a minute, will you?
Secret service agent: Yes, mr. President.
I wanted to nominate you
Right after I was elected. I was talked
Out of my choice by...
Well-meaning advisers.
Vincent marsh was always running for office.
You have no such ambition.
You quit a profession you love for ethical reasons.
That makes you the least political person I know.
You don't just think outside the box.
You don't even know there is a box.
(quiet laugh)
I believe I can effect real change in the world.
I want you to help me do that.
I know you won't let me down.
I realize you'll need some time
To discuss this with your family.
I'll give you the rest of the day.
But I won't take
No for an answer.
(door opens)
(door closes)
Woman: The king of swaziland sits here.
Madam secretary, you'll be across from him.
I've charted out all ten of his wives by their names and ranks.
Basically, it's a seniority system.
You look like you have a question.
Um...
Yes.
Why are we doing this?
The chart?
The dinner.
Why are we entertaining the king of swaziland?
Man: It was on vincent's agenda.
It was important to him.
Woman: The press loves stuff like this.
The guy's flamboyant, exotic.
Polygamist.
We're not using that word. We're not?
What are we calling it?
It falls under
Cultural diversity.
I see.
Well, is it important
To have all the wives? You think maybe
We could've cut it off at say three?
How much is this costing, nadine?
You want me to get you the figures on that?
Yes. And also
The updated information on the aids epidemic in that country.
Madam secretary? It's the czech ambassador.
He says it's urgent.
What could be urgent over there?
Guess we'll find out.
Let's pick this up
After lunch, okay?
Elizabeth: Hey, blake, on a scale of one to ten,
How much does nadine hate me?
Oh, I think that one goes to 11.
They all hate me as much?
No. It's a mixture.
Why don't you hate me?
Because you hired me.
I might have inadvertently reversed those.
Probably should've brought my own staff.
Probably.
But you know what, their boss had just died.
I couldn't just clean house like that. Yes, ma'am.
Meeting with the chief of staff
And the secretary of defense
In half an hour.
Oh, that's russell jackson
And gordon becker, respectively.
Blake?
I know their names.
Yeah. Yeah.
Hello, pavel.
(men shouting in arabic nearby)
(man pleading in arabic)
Stay away from the door!
(grunting)
(guard yelling in arabic)
(man pleading in arabic)
(guard shouts in arabic) (bangs bars)
(metallic clattering)
What are they gonna do-- kill that guy?!
Sit down!
Don't draw attention.
(blows landing, man screaming)
(man shouting in arabic)
Elizabeth: Two american kids arrested and imprisoned
In syria for attempting to join fatah ash-sham.
Ethan and tyler cole,
Brothers from hartford, connecticut.
They have an activist web site called "one free earth,"
The basic gist of which is "war bad, peace good."
So they join a jihadist group to drive home this point.
Ash-sham isn't a jihadist group.
It has jihadist elements,
But their immediate goal is to overthrow
The syrian government, which I think we can all agree,
Isn't a paradigm of virtue.
I stand corrected.
These kids are peace-loving freedom fighters.
Elizabeth: They're using facebook
And instagram to demonstrate poverty
And poor treatment of women.
Doesn't make them geniuses,
But it certainly doesn't make them jihadists.
Where does this come from?
(sighs)
That's how we communicate with syria these days.
Any idea what the syrians think they're up to?
President nussir's completely opposed to shiraz's visit
To the u.S.
He sees it as a threat to his authority.
The syrians want to prove that they still have teeth.
So they grab two hapless kids and throw them in prison?
Who had no business being there.
What's the urgency?
They're gonna execute those kids in a week.
Oh...
(sighs) has it hit the news cycle?
Elizabeth: No.
We're just learning of it ourselves.
What do you recommend?
I know some people on the ground.
I'd like to proceed through back channels
What do you mean, "back channels"? Not an official op.
I think it's safer and faster
Just to work with the people I know.
Trouble is, I don't know the people you know.
No, we have to do it my way.
Keep it within the company.
All right.
I'll get in touch with the parents
And stress the importance of non-communication.
Good.
I think we're done here.
Jackson: We got you the name
Of a stylist, right?
A stylist?
You're going to find it useful.
It's a tough transition.
I-I really don't think it's necessary.
It's coming from the top.
Conrad...?
The president wants me to have a stylist?
As chief of staff, when I speak,
I am generally speaking for the president.
Image is a big part of the job.
You know, actually, as long as we're on the subject--
Somewhat-- of speaking to the president,
I'd like to brief him on the syrian kidnapping.
No.
It's premature.
It's a volatile situation.
I don't want him being caught off guard
If it hits the press.
It's not going to hit the press,
'cause I'm telling you to make sure it doesn't.
I'll do my best.
I know you have
A friendship with the president.
But you're in a system now.
Trying to take advantage of that
Would be ill-advised.
How would I take advantage of that?
By going around me.
Woman (voice wavering): Tyler... He's, uh, the ambitious one.
He has this idea he's going
To change the world with his blog.
He majored in arabic studies.
He speaks farsi and arabic, fluently.
He's a brilliant kid.
I can't believe he's stupid enough
So I assume you tried to talk them out of
Making this trip?
We didn't even know about it.
See, we were sending ethan to europe for graduation,
He asked tyler to go with him.
I mean, we knew they would go as far as turkey,
But we had no idea they'd cross into syria.
Ethan's not political at all.
He wants to play music and pick up girls.
It doesn't matter whose fault it is.
So, then, there's no reason to believe
That they were somehow trying to join
The syrian opposition movement?
No. Absolutely not.
Neither one of them knows how to mow a lawn,
Let alone... Handle a weapon.
It should be easy enough to explain.
And tensions are easing up
In that part of the world, right?
Not in syria.
I mean, we have to go
Through a third party.
If the state department is gonna take this on,
It's gonna have to be
Completely undercover. If?
It has to go up the chain of command.
So far, I've been given the green light
To pursue a negotiation.
But if anything were to get out in the press,
It would greatly jeopardize our efforts.
But you're gonna have to work with us.
We need to take down
Their blog, their facebook page,
And we need to ask
That you have no communication
Through social media yourselves.
But how-how do we take their pages down?
We don't even have the passwords. We can handle that.
You're asking us to go underground? Elizabeth: Yes.
And trust you with our children's lives.
That's right.
But... But isn't there a power to speaking out?
Mr. Cole, free speech has landed us
Where we find ourselves right now.
It's a constitutionally protected right,
Not a global one.
As your sons are finding out
The hard way.
Oh, god...
I have two teenagers.
They're smart,
Self-confident and articulate,
As we've raised them to be.
My son is a self-proclaimed anarchist.
(laughs)
I could see him doing something like this.
And if it were my son
Where tyler and ethan are today?
This is how I would handle it.
Okay.
Okay.
Who already have their rooms at harvard and yale picked out
Or these athletes who are too dumb to breathe.
Henry: That's pretty dumb. Elizabeth: Not to mention
A bad situation for an athlete.
The teachers are completely unimaginative rule-followers
Who are totally threatened by original thought.
Elizabeth: Okay.
Let's play a game called
"name one positive thing about your school."
There are, uh, three hot girls.
Henry: Dude, that's three things.
I feel better already.
You know, I seem to remember
That you hated your former school, too.
Yeah, but for totally different reasons.
Henry: Such is the lonely
Journey of the anarchist.
I'm not complaining. Elizabeth: And yet it sounds
Exactly like complaining.
What about you?
Everything's fine.
Come on. Do you want to hear
The details of me missing my boyfriend?
Ooh! I vote no.
You remember how excited you were
About that french literature class?
It's fine. Can I be excused?
Henry: Yes.
Did you want to hear more of that?
Maybe I should go talk to her.
Just give her some space.
Okay.
Or not.
Elizabeth: Did we do the right thing?
We absolutely did the right thing.
What are we talking about?
This. The job. The move.
Yes.
The kids will adjust.
It's only been two months.
And you're sure that I didn't push us into this?
Jason is thrilled to be living even closer
To the dark halls of conspiracy.
Ali hated living
On a horse farm.
Okay, and now she misses her boyfriend.
Yeah. If we were home, she'd be dramatically upset
About something else. She's 15.
Do you hear what you just did?
You just called it "home."
That place.
Where we used to live.
Honey, it's gonna take some time
Before it stops feeling like home.
And... Are you really happy at georgetown?
Are you kidding me? I love georgetown.
Being a religion professor at a jesuit university?
It's like being a beatle. (snorts)
So we're fine?
We're fine.
Totally fine?
Totally fine.
We used to have sex more often.
We had sex this weekend.
But we used to have weeknight sex.
Stop overthinking things.
I've got too much of it? Because I know some men,
They're turned off by women in positions of power.
I totally love
Women in power positions.
Huh?
I'm completely attracted
To your masculine energy.
Tell me what to say.
(phone buzzing)
What is it?
It's an encoded text.
Oh, it's from george.
Saying what?
He's outside.
Come inside.
I can't. Your place is probably bugged.
George, they sweep it every day.
Come on.
(breathing heavily)
How'd you get by my security detail?
I know those guys.
I gave the detail leader his first job.
Well, that's unsettling.
I'm taking my life in my hands here,
And you're the only person I can trust.
You look terrible.
Have you even slept?
Listen to me.
Vincent marsh's plane crash
Was not an accident.
I have reason to believe
That someone inside had it arranged.
Inside what?
The company.
Marsh had some operation going in venezuela.
Money laundering, drugs,
Arms dealing, something.
But the guy was dirty.
What's the evidence, george?
I decoded some of his personal correspondence
And uncovered a bank account in caracas.
He was on his way to meet someone.
Do you know what happens when that gets out?
That someone inside the white house
Has gone completely off the grid?
You think I'm nuts.
It's just a lot... It's a lot to process, george.
That's all.
Henry: Hey, buddy.
Everything okay?
Hank.
Where'd you come from?
The bedroom. I live here.
Oh.
Do you want to come in and have a drink?
I'm sorry.
(sighs)
Boy, I shouldn't have come.
This... This didn't happen.
Understood?
What didn't happen?
Be careful, bess.
♪
Matt: Who's she in there with?
Oh, I'm not at liberty to say.
Well, I got a tip from security.
It's the director of the cia.
Can't confirm or deny.
Uh, just so you know?
There's a tradition of sharing
Information in the outer office.
Oh.
Well, (clears throat) in that case,
I heard you guys tongued
In the supply closet at the christmas party,
Because you're both with other people.
Matt: Look, is she going to fire us?
Because I need to get my résumé in order.
Blake? I'm roxanne majidi.
I have an appointment with the secretary.
Blake: The secretary is busy.
Hey, why don't we all take a seat
And think our private thoughts.
Munsey: The prison holding the two boys
Is located 20 miles outside of damascus
In a rural area.
Mostly abandoned warehouses and farms.
But our team on the ground made a positive I.D.
They're working with people inside.
How big is the team?
Four guys, special ops.
The prison is low security.
One helo, in and out,
Under cover of darkness, clean and simple.
Barring unanticipated complications.
Yeah, barring those.
And there's no reason
To think that these kids are somehow cia?
Absolutely not.
We haven't flagged them anywhere.
And the fbi says they haven't either.
All right.
The chief of staff has told me I can sign off.
So, this is the official go-ahead.
Alert me two hours out.
Yes, ma'am.
How's george doing by the way with the new desk job?
He's a good analyst.
A little high-strung, but I think he'll settle in.
Good.
He's doing good work.
He just needs to take a breath.
He's not really a breather.
That is an understatement.
Hey, listen to me.
If there is any reason at all
To pull the plug on this op, do it.
We can't afford a black hawk down moment.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Madam secretary?
Yeah? This is roxanne majidi,
The latest addition to our staff. I see.
In what capacity?
I was sent by the chief of staff.
Mr. Jackson says I'm to be
Your personal appearance specialist.
Okay, I have no idea what that means.
Your stylist.
Oh. (laughs)
Well, I-I'm sure that you're
Very good at what you do.
But, um, I don't need a stylist.
Madam secretary,
I just do as I'm told.
But I was sent by the chief of staff.
He was pretty insistent.
The way he conveyed it to me,
You don't have a choice in the matter.
See, here's the problem.
I've never met a situation
Where I don't have a choice in the matter.
Well... You know, why don't we find
Another time for you to swing by?
It's a very busy day here. Uh, why don't
You grab your stuff and, uh, we'll be able to talk...
Madam secretary?
We need to review your statement
About the king of swaziland visit.
Okay. Yeah.
I have a rough first draft.
I'm still working on the adjectives.
Right now, you're "happy" and "excited."
Well, I have to get something to the press
By tomorrow. Can I be "resigned"
And "conflicted"?
You can never be either of those things.
You can be "eager" and "optimistic."
No, she can't be eager. That's too jimmy carter.
Can I be "cautiously optimistic"?
Well, that's for more serious world events.
You can be "forward-thinking." you know what?
I'll do the writing, thanks. Can we maybe just
Throw in something of substance here?
Maybe a reference to global health issues
Or developing economies? Yeah, I just don't
Think now is a good time for substance.
Okay.
What if I'm grateful
For the opportunity to expose the world
To a variety of cultural differences
As we move toward a more
Global-thinking society?
That's really good.
Should I write it down for you?
No, I'm the writer. I... Just as long
As our roles are clear.
Because it's my job, it's not yours...
Thanks... Madam secretary?
We have a problem.
It has to do with operation stupid kids.
That's what we were calling it.
Before it went bust.
Now we're calling it operation never happened.
The intel on the prison location was bad,
And when the special forces made their way inside the structure,
They found goats.
Is that code for something?
No, ma'am. Actual goats.
It was disinformation.
The good news is that there were no casualties
And no goats were harmed.
It's just not helpful.
I was supposed to be alerted two hours out.
What the hell just happened?
Apparently they saw a window.
They felt they had to move.
That is not the cia director's call.
Blake? Where the hell is he anyway?
Mr. Munsey is busy cleaning up the mess on the ground.
Yeah, well, that is nothing compared
To the mess he's gonna have to clean up with me.
Nadine: And this just came in.
We are american spies
Captured and rightfully
Imprisoned in damascus.
Our objective was to overthrow the government.
We intend to commit
Acts of terrorism against the syrian people.
When did this come in?
About an hour ago.
It was sent as an encoded e-mail directly to our office.
Unfortunately, it comes on the heels
Of our unsuccessful attempt to liberate the prisoners.
Well, we were given disinformation on the location.
Nothing disastrous, but now they have some leverage.
And this is obviously their next move.
What do they want?
Ultimately, they want us to call off the peace talks.
What if we don't respond?
They'll release the video. This thing goes viral,
It's on the first hour of every morning talk show
With compare-and-contrast profiles to the boston bombers.
Not the worst outcome I could imagine.
No, I agree.
That's the best-case scenario.
Worst case, nobody buys the phony confession
And then the world has to stop
While we negotiate their release.
That's why we have to act now under the radar
While we still have some latitude.
Your failed attempt wasn't under the radar?
Excuse me, that was your failed attempt as well.
Nobody's placing blame.
Sir, this is not how I would've
Proceeded left to my own devices.
There's too many things that can go wrong.
We need to take direct action.
How direct?
Just me and the guy that can get it done.
A guy I can't really ask about.
Yes, sir.
Sir, we can't afford to get involved in this.
And the most important peace talks in recent memory.
We're already involved.
Keep it at bay.
Let the syrians know we're gonna disavow the kids,
Deny the validity of the video.
By the time it gets out, if it does,
Shiraz's visit is over,
In the middle east, the syrians look like
Fringe lunatics, the kids are...
Troublemakers who shouldn't have been there in the first place.
And if the kids are executed?
Same story, sadder outcome.
Sir, let me get in front of this.
I know how to handle it.
Sorry, bess.
You gave it a shot.
Now I have to go with russell.
Elizabeth: It's my job to advise the president.
How am I supposed to do that when I can get
Any time alone with the president?
How many e-mails did you send him?
Fifteen.
And...
Every time I got a reply from russell jackson's office.
What about texts?
He does do texts.
He refers me to russell jackson.
Well, babe, you're new at the job.
You'll figure something out.
I don't have time
To figure something out.
Why? What's going on?
I can't tell you.
Okay.
Let me take the socratic approach.
(laughs) why did you take this job?
Because who wouldn't take this job?
Hey, wise guy, I'll be socrates.
Answer the question.
I think I left the company too soon.
I had some unfinished business.
And I feel like I let conrad down.
I don't want to do that again.
You feel like you're letting him down now?
By not insisting that he do the right thing.
And what's the right thing?
You know, there's a reason why they killed socrates.
He told me that we could effect real change in the world.
That's what I signed up for.
Then you have to figure out a way to take action.
Thomas aquinas said,
"if the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship,
He would leave it in port forever."
Aquinas also said,
"sorrow can be alleviated by a good sleep,
A bath and a glass of wine."
Which one of those worked?
(hinges squeaking)
(footsteps echoing)
Well.
It has been a long time.
Thanks for coming.
What can I say?
I've missed you.
What's it been-- eight years?
Yes. Chechnya.
(whistles)
Such a paltry little rebellion by today's standards.
What's your title these days?
Still cultural attaché.
I need to broker a deal
On the ground... In syria.
What kind of deal?
Two american kids imprisoned for espionage.
I'm sorry. I really am a cultural attaché now.
For the last couple of years.
No double-dipping in the spy pool.
You must still know people.
Bess, I'm telling you, I'm fully legit now.
State department.
I can get you caviar and vodka.
I like it here, okay?
I can't risk going back to russia.
It's a pigsty.
My kids are on the fast track for ivy leagues.
Let me ask you something.
And his family out of chechnya during the revolution?
You did, of course.
Using field officers on the ground
Who risked their lives to do so.
I took responsibility for that.
No, I haven't forgotten.
These kids are gonna die.
Just as your cousin
And his family were going to.
So you're cashing in your chips?
No.
I am appealing to your humanity.
And if that doesn't work, I'm reminding you
That the secretary of state can have any foreign diplomat
Removed off of u.S. Soil for any reason.
I am feeling very... Humane.
Dalton: Let's call it a nightcap.
That way I don't have to yell at you for breaking protocol
And waking me up.
Yes, sir.
In fact, texting my wife?
(laughs) I'd call that obliterating protocol.
We've remained friends.
We talk sometimes.
I know she stays up late.
Fine.
You have my attention.
I made an unofficial move on the situation in syria.
Why would you do that?
To save the lives of two innocent kids
Who aren't that much older than mine.
That's just the first reason.
You tried before.
Let me ask you something.
Why did you give me this job?
I told you why.
You said you didn't want
A politician in this post.
Well...
This is me not being a politician.
I didn't uproot my life and my family
To come here and sit in endless staff meetings
And plan parties for potentates.
I came here to do the job
That you said only I could do.
So for god's sakes, conrad, let me do it.
I'm waiting.
You said I think outside the box.
Well, from where I sit,
You are in a dangerous box of appeasement
And I'm showing you the way out.
Step it out for me.
We do nothing,
The syrians execute those kids
Just to make a point.
That you knew about it and did nothing?
That's a genie I can't put back in the bottle.
My job is to advise you
On matters of foreign policy,
And I'm advising you.
This is a risk you can't afford not to take.
I know the right people, we have to do it my way.
Trust me.
You'd better be right about this.
Or yours could be the shortest term
In state department history.
Elihu b. Washburne, under president grant.
11 days.
I looked it up.
But I take your point.
Anton: It's going to be $2 million u.S.
It's going to be half that.
(speaks russian)
One and a half. Close of business.
I can make that work.
First installment with confirmation
That the kids are released.
Second installment after they've landed.
(speaking russian)
It needs to be u.S. Dollars
In a third-party account.
No. It's going to be that amount
In the form of medical supplies
And food.
Distributing relief among the suffering masses.
I don't think it's enough.
Okay, then tell them this:
We won't sanction them into the stone age.
The tide is turning,
And they do not want to be isolated
No one misses syria if it completely self-destructs.
I think they're taking it.
Congratulations.
You just bought yourself two stupid american kids.
I'll believe it when they're in the air.
You stay on it, okay?
Anton: Yes, ma'am, madam secretary.
Nadine: It's all right
To address his wives by their first names.
But be advised they probably won't have much to say.
Most of them don't speak english.
Unless you to speak swazi.
French, german, arabic, farsi...
Year of spanish, high school.
So you'll just smile a lot.
That was a new york times reporter
Who just got off the phone with
The timgot the coles to make a statement?
The times got them to give
A two-hour interview. (sighs)
Elizabeth: What did you say? Jay: I said no comment.
And say a lot of things at an elevated level.
But when are they going to run it?
Tomorrow.
Oh. Buried in the back?
Jay: Depends on how big
Of a news day it is.
Is that personal image consultant
Still in the building? Yeah, she's got an office
Tell her I want to see her right away.
(people talking excitedly)
Hi. Congratulations on your new position.
Thank you.
Where are you guys from?
We're from minnesota.
Ah, the land of 10,000 lakes, right?
But it's actually more like 15,000.
Yes, ma'am. Can we get
Our picture taken together?
Actually, that's fine.
That'd be great. Thank you.
I need you to step back.
Good? Good?
Okay. Thank you!
Enjoy your stay.
Madam... Madam secretary!
Reporter: The response to secretary mccord's look
Has been positive, most people saying...
She's showing a little bit of leg.
And it looked like she went
And changed her hairstyle, too!
I kind of like it.
Reporter 2: ...Issued no statement
As to why the secretary felt the need
To modernize her look.
Reporter 3: Secretary of state...
I can't believe that with everything going on
In the world, this is the news.
But a new outfit isn't really a global event.
Well, I-I guess it is now.
This is the most you've been in the news
Since the confirmation hearing.
Yep.
(phone buzzing)
(exhales)
♪
♪
♪
Good morning.
Good morning.
I didn't realize
We had an appointment.
You want to tell me how those kids got released?
I guess the syrians
Saw the error of their ways.
So that would be a "no."
I got the president to sign off.
How could you do that without my knowledge?
I-I don't know.
By blatantly circumnavigating your authority?
You'd better learn how to work with me
Instead of around me.
My first choice, as well.
I used your stylist, didn't I?
I think you'll find
I make a much better ally than opponent.
Same here.
I'm going to chalk
This one up to rookie enthusiasm.
But going forward?
I won't be so forgiving.
(exhales)
Nungunde: It is an honor
To visit your beautiful country.
And its most beautiful secretary of state.
Elizabeth: We're very happy to have your highness
And his royal family.
Nungunde: And what about your family, madam secretary?
Do you have children?
I do. I have a son
And two daughters. Ah.
A nice, small family.
Well, I-I just have the one husband.
(laughing)
(all laughing)
Nungunde: Yes.
I am honored to have 23 children.
Wow.
That sounds like a lot of work.
Well, I am blessed with wonderful partners.
Elizabeth: Your highness,
If I could take a moment
To discuss with you a matter
Of international importance?
Of course.
I know that you're aware
That the aids epidemic
Has continued to grow in your country
Despite its decline in other developing nations.
Early on in your reign,
You took great steps to address it,
But lately it hasn't been at the forefront
Of your political agenda.
Certainly, a man of your education
And obvious love of family understands
The importance of this issue.
We would like to work with you
To bring it back to the top of your list.
It would be an honor to do so, madam secretary.
I'm sure that you can enlist the help of your wives--
Majaha...
Sibhale...
Lindelwa...
Nomcebo,
Nolwazi,
Siviwe,
Temily, dzeltwe,
Andiswa
And bongeka.
(people whispering)
A woman's perspective is such an important thing...
And you have no shortage of that.
Daisy: That exchange with the king
Is already trending, madam secretary.
Twitter is blowing up. People love it.
Matt, prepare a statement for tomorrow.
We may have to call a press conference.
I'm already on it.
Do you want this to become an issue?
Yes!
I think we've spent enough time on my look.
World health, education, war on women...
How do you want to frame it?
Jay: It's a strong message. It'll play well in the polls.
Not that I, you know, care about polls.
Car is waiting for you outside when you're ready.
I'll tell security to stand by.
Thanks, blake.
Nice work, madam secretary.
Thank you.
Ooh...
Hey.
How long have you been here?
You know, if you wanted to come tonight,
I could have gotten you an invitation,
Because I
Happen to know people in the...
What's wrong?
George is dead.
(gasps)
What happened?
Single-car collision
Into a telephone pole.
No witnesses.
That wasn't an accident.
I know.
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