Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 14 - Whisper of the Ax - full transcript

So Jason comes home and tells us

that he is joining the
debate team at school.

We're thrilled.

What better use

of his naturally
argumentative nature, right?

Mmm.

Then...

then he leaves the room,

and Henry turns to me and says,

“Do we really want him
getting better at it?”

I'm sorry, I'm talking
too much about my kids.



Oh, no, because you can't talk
about work, it's understood.

Oh, I can... everybody is.

Ah, you're going before the
House Appropriations Committee

this week, huh?

To defend my budget.

Oh, squaring off with
Chairman Everard Burke.

Mmm, affectionately known on
the Hill as Burke the Ripper.

Every single one of our
outreach programs is under fire.

It's gonna take some fancy footwork.

You'll be fine... you got very fancy feet.

Fancy shoes.

And how's everything else?

Guys, I mean it, how's everything else?

It's fine.



It's great. Thank you
for cooking, by the way.

- Yeah.
- It's a really big treat.

No problem.

I realize it's the only way

to keep spy reunion going.

You and Isabelle don't want to be seen

palling around D.C. hotspots.

Not while you're
investigating Marsh's death.

We're not investigating anything.

- We just can't cook.
- Got it.

All right, let's eat.

Let's.

Ooh, ow.

- Bear up the bum.
- Aw...

- I'm sorry.
- Very sweet.

I didn't do the toy sweep.

Mmm, too bad we couldn't see the kids.

Are they with their dad tonight?

They are.

All week.

Every week.

What?

I just lost custody.

Wha... how?

What?

Why?

The judge decided

that I have a demanding
and high-risk occupation.

- Oh.
- They're better off with their father,

- a banker.
- Come on.

He literally has banker's hours.

Oh, that's outrageous.

Come on, there has to
be some kind of recourse?

I'll keep fighting it.

It's just gonna drag on forever.

I'm so sorry.

Is there anything we can do?

You know a guy with a baseball bat?

Several, in fact.

Out of the three of us,

it's not like it was a
big competition for me.

- Good-bye.
- I love you.

You're always welcome.

Thank you.

Bye.

That was rough.

That was rough.

- Poor Juliet.
- Mmm.

What's going on with the Marsh case?

Have you brought the CIA in yet?

Munsey's on it.

I'll keep in touch.

- Love you.
- Love you.

Really?

The budget is this long?

No, that's just a summary
of your talking points.

The Appropriations Committee's a snake pit.

You can never be too prepared.

Especially when it's being led

by your old friend, Everard Burke.

Let me guess, he's gunning
for the Microloan program.

Exactly.

Burke hates anything that
smacks of a government giveaway.

These loans are an easy target.

Even if we get that money back?

I mean, what part of the word
“loan” does he not understand?

Loans equal liability.

It doesn't help that you're
increasing its budget next year.

Are you saying Chairman
Burke doesn't like me?

Chairman Burke hates you.

Well, don't sugarcoat it.

And why?

Because I can out-drive him off the tee?

Because of your polling numbers.

Your approval ratings are
higher than the president's.

Everybody hates a winner.

Now, see, I thought that saying...

expression... I thought
it was the opposite.

As your policy advisor, I'm
advising you to cut the program.

- Strongly advising.
- Duly noted, Jay.

- Thank you.
- Ma'am, I disagree.

It's one of our most promising programs.

I mean, by providing
small low-interest loans,

we've turned thousands of
women into entrepreneurs.

Prosperity reduces conflict.

Which I think I'm safe in saying
is the whole point of diplomacy.

And that's scripted in your talking points.

All Burke cares about is
the number on the page.

You're not gonna sway him with a
Kumbaya moment. Cut the program.

It'll knock the wind out of his sails,

and the rest of the
budget will fly through.

I know it sounds bloodless,

but you're not gonna
survive your first budget

getting decimated in a public hearing.

Ma'am, Jay has a point.

We have to look at the bigger picture.

Is it reasonable to risk the whole budget

for a single program.

Yes, it is, please don't give up on this.

- We can win it.
- Can we?

Give me an argument, let me hear it.

Gladly... Nhung Chuang.

With a $200 loan,

she organized her entire village
into an agricultural co-op.

Three years ago,

they were surviving off
of government subsidies.

Now they're self-sufficient.

And for the first time,
sending their kids to school.

And there are a thousand other stories

just like hers.

Bring her to the hearing as your guest.

- Oh, c-come on.
- I mean, her testimonial could be

- very powerful. - Does she even have
command of the language?

- I-I doubt it. - Has she ever
even been outside of the village?

- Come on.
- I mean, is she gonna suddenly turn

into William Jennings Bryan

in front of Congressmen and TV cameras?

- No.
- Jay.

Your passion has crossed
over into defeatism.

And it's annoying.

I apologize, ma'am.

I want her as my guest at the hearing.

Put her on a plane,

get her a translator,

prep her as best you can.

We may lose this one, but
we will go down swinging.

Hey, Jay,

your frustration is duly noted.

But this is what we're
doing, so get on board, okay?

I serve at the pleasure, Madam Secretary.

Yes, you do.

Ah, ah, ah, that's... I can... pass that.

Sweetie, what are you doing
just pushing your food around?

We agreed... I cook one night a week,

and we all just get through it.

- It's good.
- I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm just worried about my history test.

- Why?
- What? I quizzed you.

You know your stuff.

Yeah, I know,

but I have this weird
thing on the actual test,

I just... I completely freeze up.

Yeah, it's called not being good at school.

That's not helpful.

And yet my GPA is higher than yours.

Yeah, that's because I don't apply myself.

Oh, like that's some secret.

You've seen it on every report card.

Okay, you know what, go upstairs, study.

We'll clean up.

No, I have homework, too.

- All right. Fine, go. Go apply yourself.
- Okay.

Oh, geez.

Are you done?

Yeah.

See, if you were back in school,

you'd get out of clean up, too.

Hilarious, Dad.

So are you all prepared

- to testify before Congress tomorrow?
- I've been practicing

in front of the mirror, and
apparently I do this a lot.

Which they say makes me look angry and old.

Why didn't you guys tell me about it?

Yes.

- Baby, it's cute, it's cute.
- I'm gonna try and stop it.

- No, it's not cute.
- I like it.

- I do.
- You... that's... you're not

the right guy to ask, I know better.

Seriously, though, I mean,

how-how can they cut
the Microloan program?

Politicians are always yelling

about how they need to get

the developing world off their payroll.

And yet they're not willing

to give people a leg up that they need

when they're starting their own businesses?

It's like, it's not just people, too.

I mean, it's women, it's disgusting.

Well, that's what I intend to tell them.

Without actually calling them disgusting.

Or knitting your brow.

But, honestly, sweetheart, can we just talk

about the school thing, please.

Mom, we're not getting into that.

The deadline for reapplying
to Lovell is coming up.

Well, it doesn't have to
be Lovell, it's the deadline

- for-for any college.
- Oh... my God.

Uh...

It's a good time to talk about it.

Since when did you guys become so obsessed

- with college education?
- All right.

Speaking for myself, it was about the time

I decided to be a college educator.

So all of these guys that
you're about to testify to,

the ones who are, you know,
holding the sword of Damocles

over the heads of women
trying to better themselves,

they all have college educations.

- Right?
- Right, but...

I rest my case.

Okay, but that the sword
of Damocles reference,

I bet you learned that in college.

No, that was probably high school.

Really? Damn it.

Just let her cool her heals,
I'll talk to her this week.

Oh, yes, the Stevie Whisperer.

I'm not saying that.

I'm saying it.

Doesn't bother me that
she always listens to you

- and never listens to me.
- Now, come on.

Just make sure she listens to you.

I will be the Whisperer of Damocles.

Hmm.

We fully recognize the nature

of the terrorist threat,
so despite the lack

of a coherent administration strategy,

this committee is willing to authorize

additional security funds.

Thank you.

I very much appreciate

your thoughtful and substantive
consideration on these issues.

You're welcome.

I'll now turn the floor
back to Chairman Burke.

Thank you. Uh, Madam Secretary,

I'd like to call your attention
to the Microloan program.

For the next fiscal year,
you have increased the budget

by 30 percent.

- That's a big jump.
- It's 30 percent.

You've, uh, shifted funds away

from the Cotton Advisory Committee,

and the Tropical Tuna Commission.

Uh, you've clearly made this a priority.

Yes, I have.

And in deciding, uh, which
programs to prioritize,

I assume you also look into
how well they're managed.

Of course.

We have a rigorous selection process.

The program currently has a
success rate of over 96 percent.

Each one of these loans has the power

to change lives and families.

And in some cases, entire villages.

I have brought with me today
as a guest to the hearing

the woman who embodies the
full potential of this program.

Ms. Chuang.

Uh, we won't be calling you today.

Tell me, who exactly is in
charge of the Microloan grants?

That would be Miles Pendergraff,

he's the Director of the Office
of Development and Finance.

You're correct.

I would like to submit these
photographs for the record.

Please, Madam Secretary,
take a look at these.

Do you recognize the man in these photos?

That would be Mr. Pendergraff.

Those pictures were taken
from a surveillance camera

at the Gold Leaf Casino in Atlantic City.

Do you find his behavior here acceptable?

Well, it is certainly distasteful.

What Mr. Pendergraff
does in his private life

is his own business.

Not if he is gambling
with tax-payer funds.

That's right.

Over the past few months,

thanks to the work of this
committee, investigators

from the Government Accountability Office

have uncovered evidence
that Mr. Pendergraff

has been embezzling State Department money.

Setting up dozens

of fraudulent microloans

to pay for his colorful lifestyle.

And I think it is just
the tip of the iceberg.

So, Madam Secretary,

tell me,

do you still support the Microloan program?

So, I mean, could this
whole thing be getting blown

- out of proportion?
- Not if it's a symptom

of a wider abuse.

I mean, the brazen nature
of this embezzlement...

Yes, sir.

I-I am so sorry.

It's... I-I really...

I'm gonna do everything
I can to make this right.

- I'm counting on it.
- Yes, sir.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

Well, that was fun.

Nothing says sweet dreams

like being eviscerated by the president.

Oh, he'll get over it.

Well, he shouldn't.

I really messed up.

No, your staff messed up.

Well, they're my staff.

Okay.

You don't think they're my
staff because I didn't hire them?

I mean, they are my staff,
and I want to stand by them.

Look, you have to do
what's best for the office,

not some individual person.
I have to stand by them.

Will you turn this off?

I-I tried before.

You wouldn't let me.

Well, I'm gonna let you now.

Come here.

Just sleep, okay?

You'll know what to do in the morning.

Yeah, I will.

Okay.

Okay.

- Is it your view...
- What? No.

- Five more minutes, please.
- I just want to, yeah.

...that Secretary McCord was
aware of this level of corruption?

Secr... You said level of corruption, yes?

Yes.

How could she not be?

This is about as shameless as it gets.

You know, I honestly think
this speaks to a larger defect

in the moral character
of the State Department

under her leadership. How...

Burke had congressional investigators

do the dirty work for him.

Apparently, they were going up
and down the whole department.

- Pendergraff never told us...
- Because he didn't want to get fired.

Done. I want all of his files
seized and brought to the DOJ.

- Next?
- In a stroke

of irony that would teach Alanis Morissette

once and for all the
true meaning of irony...

Jesus. Really?

Excuse me, ma'am.

The problem is budget cuts.

The office of the inspector general

has been whittled down to the bone.

- Which is not an excuse
- The malfeasance is not

- for the oversight.
- the important thing; we can fix

- the Microloan plan.
- No.

We have to eliminate it.

Are you really willing

to stake your whole career on this program?

Because this was about
much more than policy.

This was a takedown.

He's right; Burke had
this in his back pocket.

He's angling for you, ma'am.

Unfortunately, he has a reputation

for being very effective at this game.

Remember Max Cantor?

The guy who was nominated

for director of ICE?

He withdrew because two days

before the hearings, Burke found out that

his tree trimmer was an illegal alien.

How about Louise Campos?

- That's right.
- The congresswoman from Nebraska.

- Same thing. - 'Cause she was
having an affair with the staffer.

Burke was chairman of the ethics committee.

- Ethics, of all things.
- He sent pictures

and sent them to every
voter in the district.

I get that this is a disaster.

What I still don't get is how

everybody in this room missed it.

Madam Secretary, it's 1:00.

Your car is here.

Um, I wasn't aware

you had an appointment
outside of the office.

Due respect,

I think we're in the middle

of a very important issue.

You are so right about that, Jay.

And I have a plan; I'm bringing someone in

to consult on this matter.

Someone who can explain to me

why my entire staff

let me hang myself

in front of a nationally televised

congressional hearing.

Trust me, help is on the way.

I don't understand this whole kale thing.

It used to grow wild in the
backyard when I was a kid.

Now it's the basis for a $20 salad.

What's the matter with spinach?

What did spinach do wrong?

The Mircoloans program
should've actually be canceled.

Spinach needs a PR person.

How is that kale?

Fine.

Dad.

I'm not going back to college.

Okay, I just want to make sure that you're

keeping everything in perspective.

I can't let you derail your life

just to prove your autonomy.

What am I, 12?

- I wouldn't do that.
- Then tell me what your plan is.

Tell me what you're passionate about.

Okay, you get

that you're privileged to be in a position

to find yourself,

that you have the means...

That is so reductive.

You've got to get serious about your life,

otherwise I'm afraid
you're just gonna drift.

You don't want to be a hostess; I get that.

But you need to find what you're into,

figure out what matters to you.

Okay.

I care about microloans.

Maybe I could volunteer

at the... for the program.

This isn't defiance?

Sidling up to an organization

that's mired up in controversy,

that's causing global embarrassment

for your mother? That's not...

No, I, no, I cared about
microloans before that.

Besides, I mean...

given their current situation,

they could probably
actually use a lot of help.

Fine.

Go help them.

Fine.

I will.

Thanks for lunch.

A few hours ago, we got
a hit on Samila Mahdavi,

the Iranian national who was last seen

withdrawing money from Marsh's account.

We found her holed up

in an abandoned Iranian
safe house in Istanbul.

So, what's our next move?

Bringing Samila in.

Small team of highly skilled

black op guys go in,

secure her, transport her
to a clandestine location

- for questioning.
- Are we talking

- about a street grab?
- Yes, ma'am.

Intel is that she moves freely

around the neighborhood,
but mostly at night.

It's only about a six-block radius,

and she has something of a routine,

so it's not a high degree
of difficulty for us.

Turkey's a NATO ally

and mounting an off-the-books ops

on their street without alerting them

isn't exactly a friendly move.

We may have to get into it at
a higher level if it goes wrong.

Let's worry about it then.

- You willing to take the risk?
- To find out

who had the secretary
of state killed and why,

yeah, I think it's worth rolling the dice.

You can proceed.

Thank you.

I'm sure it goes without
saying that the president

wants this Microloan thing put to bed

- before it gets any bigger.
- We're in complete agreement about that.

I hear you're bringing Mike B
in to help clean up the mess.

Nothing gets by you.

Got it.

He's the right son of a bitch for the job.

- You know him?
- Yeah.

We taught together at UVA.

I almost feel sorry for your staff.

Well, a little cold terror

over job security never hurt anyone.

You should have that
embroidered on a pillow.

Good afternoon. Is she in?

I'm sorry, you are...

Michael Barnow. This is Gordon.

You must be Blake.

Uh, yes, um...

- I don't have... Wait a minute.
- She knows I'm coming.

Uh, this is not a
dog-friendly environment.

- It's okay; he's not sensitive.
- No, no, no,

I'm sorry, you can go in there.
That-That's not... No, sir.

I don't know who-who let you up here.

Oh. Whoa.

- Ma'am, I don't know...
- Mike B! - Hi.

You came. Oh, my God.

- And you brought Gordon. Wow.
- Of course.

Come on in, take a seat.

Um, do you want, uh, coffee, tea, anything?

Oh, yeah, a Black Eye from
Otis Beanery would be great.

Black Eye from Otis Beanery, you got it?

- Thanks, bye.
- Hey!

Did we just witness Mike B

going into the secretary's office?

And his dog.

Who is he, exactly?

They call him the Hatchet Man.

And not for his wood-chopping skills.

Rhodes Scholar, brilliant legal career.

Which led to a promising political career

derailed by a scandalous
divorce six years ago.

He makes a profitable living now

as a couch-sitter. He's the guy who moves

into a cabinet member's office

and dispenses cool, calculated advice.

Unaffected by a need to
advance his own interests,

since he has none.

And by cool, calculated advice, you mean...

Firing people.

Okay.

What's a Black Eye from Otis Beanery?

It's a coffee with a
double shot of espresso

from an overpriced boutique on K Street.

Thank you.

I'll be back.

Don't let that dog near my desk.

Either one of them.

This is quite the pickle
you've gotten yourself into,

Madam Secretary, and what's
going on with your staff?

Are they all someone's nieces and nephews?

Where did you find them?

I inherited them.

Tell me you're kidding.

Uh, their boss had just died.

I was new to this world.

Look, they have proven themselves

up to this point, and I...

You're giving me that
“you're an idiot” look.

Because you're an idiot.

You kept someone else's staff

because you didn't want them to be sad?

I mean, these people

are unmitigated chuckleheads.

They should've seen this coming

a mile away from the polling numbers.

To be fair, they briefed me

on the polling numbers before the hearing.

They've been through the roof for months.

Now everyone's gonna want to take you out

at the knees before you can mount a serious

presidential bid in the next
post-Dalton election cycle.

- I have no such ambitions.
- Stick with that story.

Modesty's a good color on you.

It'll play really well in the primary.

I don't. I don't.

Okay, whatever.

Dump your team.

- Now.
- All at once?

No, that-that looks desperate.

One by one,

but start somewhere near the top,

and start today.

All right, let's-let's...

just put a pin in that idea for now.

Bess, I know you have a bug up your parts

about justice and fair play.

And that might have been great

sitting at a desk at the CIA

or as a faculty of some quaint university.

This is Washington.

Kill or be killed.

Adapt or die.

It's that simple.

Mike, I hear you.

I do, and I'm not opposed
to firing my staff.

But I have a bigger plan.

I want to take this fight
straight at Everard Burke.

Okay.

- I'd like that, too.
- What do we do?

You're in a knife fight
with Chairman Burke.

The way to win a knife
fight is to bring a gun

and waste the son of a bitch.

Excellent.

We're on the same page.

She always texts me

when she leaves,

so I guess she's still
in there with Mike B.

It was a pleasure working with y'all.

- I'm sure I'm the fall guy.
- Oh, come on, no, you're not.

No, no, it's me. She
already almost fired me.

Are you kidding?

The PR on this is a nightmare
with a hair stuck to it,

and she almost fired me, too.

She almost fired me first.

Oh, no need to cherry pick.

The smart thing to do is fire us all.

She can't do that.

Can she?

I would.

Well, so much for pacing myself.

Waitress...

Hey.

You have perfect timing.

I'll take everything you got there.

Mm, you're in luck.

These shots are for your table
from the gentleman over here.

- Who is that?
- Kyle Feeney.

He's a staffer for Chairman Burke.

He's the guy who dug up the dirt

on the Microloan program.

That bottom-feeding little twerp.

You-you can send those back.

No, hey, hang on.

He owes us. Just leave them there.

That little twerp found
something we all missed.

So what does that say about us?

See you

at the back of the line, kids.

Wait.

Yes! No... We, no,

we received the online forms,

but we need notarized hard copies.

N-Notarized.

Like, with a notary.

No, no! Pas de cartes.

Uh, notary. How do you,
how do you say notary?

Uh... notaire.

Un-Un notaire?

Oui!

I'm sorry. Please, slow down. I...

Pa... uh, parler slowly?

Lentement.

Can... I'm sorry. Can you take this?

Me? You speak French, right?

- Yes, but...
- Yeah, I'm trying to negotiate

a bank problem in Senegal

with two years of high school French.

It-it's hopeless.

I don't actually work here.

I just came by to see
maybe if I can volunteer?

Nobody works here. They
all heard the program

was getting cut, so they've

gone off looking for other jobs.

It's like rats off a sinking ship.

Which means if you're here to volunteer?

Y-You just got a battlefield promotion.

Uh, just take this call.

Bonjour.

Microloans United?

Puis-je aider?

Hello? yeah, they're not
in the office right now.

- Can I take a me...?
- Oui.

Il a recu Les formes.

- Okay.
- Mais il a besoin

de copies papier.

Un notaire?

Merci. Moment.

Um, he said that that's fine.

He's going to do that tomorrow
and overnight the papers to you?

Ah, great! Good-bye.

Bon. Au revoir!

Uh...

pick out a desk.

I wanted to bring you up

to speed on the changes
we're making in this office.

Mike is suggesting that I fire some...

or all of you.

And I'm considering his suggestions.

For now, I'm putting you all on notice.

That was a big mess.

That was a sack full

of mangled kittens in the hot sun

two weeks old... that's what that was.

Moving ahead, I'm looking

for nothing short of perfection.

That's the bar. Is that clear?

Yes, ma'am.

Great. That's all.

Jay?

Could you stay behind?

You're here for me, right, Alex?

Yeah, Jay. It's protocol.

I-I get it.

I'll have your tablet, sir. And your I.D.

The secretary will see you now.

I first wanted to congratulate you

for ferreting out corruption
within our department.

You did your country a great service.

Thank you.

The intention was not to
take a shot at you, per Se.

Uh, there was a larger goal...

involved.

Kyle!

I'm agreeing with you.

- Okay.
- That's why I'm offering you

a job.

Okay, so what's the going rate

for milk in Kampala?

Okay, and...

does he have access to refrigeration?

Great. Okay.

Well, um, if you could just
send us verification of that?

And we can start to process
your application right away.

Okay. Thank you.

Bye.

How late can you stay?

I want to start exploiting
you as soon as possible.

You mean I actually have this job?

Don't get ahead of yourself.

It's an internship.

I've got the only job left around here.

Okay, but

you don't know anything about me.

I know you speak French.

And you got a pulse.

That'll do.

Well, I think it's safe to
say the op was compromised.

Who could've blown this?

Who even knew this operation was underway?

No one outside this room.

And who else?

I never believed you got as far as you did

with this idea on your own.

Who else?

Look at it from where I'm standing.

The only way this op could've been blown

was if somebody knew about it.

If there was a mole.

And since nobody outside our
inner sanctum knew about it,

I have to look at you.

I have been completely loyal
to you from the beginning.

Did you tell

anybody about our plans? I...

- Juliet?
- Are you crazy?

Juliet made it clear she
wanted nothing to do with this.

Once I signed up, I knew you were

the only person I could trust.

I-I got to ask you again, Bess.

Can we really trust Munsey?

He put too much on the
line for this operation.

If it gets out how badly it failed,

he's not gonna have that job much longer.

And why would he do it?

Why not just stonewall us?

We have to consider everything.

Then there's Occam's razor.

The simplest explanation

is the best.

I can't say I blame you.

But I can't say I'll forgive you, either.

You're still here.

Yes. Why wouldn't I be?

Oh, my God! You think
this is a paid internship.

No, I don't.

Because it so isn't.

Yeah, I-I, I figured...

Okay, good.

On the upside, that means
your mother's budget cuts

won't affect the position.

You know who my mother is?

I do.

And I don't care.

Unlike literally everybody else I've hired,

you want to be here.

That works in your favor.

Great.

Here's some paperwork

you'll need to take to your
school's career services office.

Oh, um, I'm actually not in school, so...

Oh, the, uh,

internship's only available
for college credit.

Uh, like you said.

I'm really happy to be here.

I mean, I really like feeling useful...

No, we have to do it

in conjunction with a
university course. It's, uh...

Otherwise asking people to
work for no compensation is

what the government likes to call slavery.

Well...

can I, can I sign a waiver or something?

No, it's nonnegotiable.

It's part of the program's charter.

I'm sorry.

Barry, come on.

Fill her up.

Jay, man, I think that's a bad idea.

- Aw, come on... What?
- And you've been here all day.

Go home to your wife.

On, believe me, that's...

a bad idea. Come on.

Come on, I'm not driving.

- Give me a break, give me a break.
- Hey!

- Just fill them up, please.
- Okay.

But this one closes you out.

I'll get this one, Barry.

No, no.

I don't want your hospitality.

Hey, what are you mad at me for?

I could've had your job.

I turned it down.

Yeah, well, that doesn't
give it back to me.

Well, you should've made her
cut the Microloans program.

Dude, I begged her.

Burke was just looking for a
reason to humiliate your boss.

She handed it to him.

Former boss And, yes, she did.

But it was only a matter of
time though anyway, right?

I mean, she's out of her depth.

You have no idea.

I told her to fire me
after the document leak.

But... no.

Coming in with the cuddly Vietnamese...

witness...

It was amateur hour.

Yeah, like Burke was ever
gonna let that happen.

He should have let that happen!

She sucked! No English.

Yeah?

No clue what we were doing there.

A shining example

of why we should cut the program.

Do you know how many times I said

- cut the program?!
- Hey, hey, man!

Sorry... man. Sorry, Barry.

Hey, just let it go.

You know, just be happy
you're out of there.

You could work this to your advantage.

I could put in a word with
Burke in terms of staffing.

A guy with your experience
could be a real asset to us.

Oh... man.

You know what? I should be...

I should reign it in.

Don't beat yourself up.

That would leave me a lot of spare time.

See you next time, Barry.

Get home safe, Jay.

Uh, excuse me, Madam Secretary?

Matt and Daisy would like a moment.

Sure.

I think they were hoping

for a moment alone.

Hope in one hand, spit in the other.

- Send 'em in. I mean, your call.
- Send them in.

Yeah. Guys...

Ma'am, we feel the need to speak up

about Jay being fired from the staff.

O-Okay.

- What?
- In point of fact,

Jay was the one arguing
for cutting the program.

We were the ones arguing to keep it.

So if you're going to fire Jay,

- you might as well fire all of us.
- Interesting.

The Spartacus offensive.

You guys realize how
that story ends, right?

You don't know the first
thing about us, Mr. Barnow.

I know everything about you, Maisy.

- Daisy.
- He's combining our names.

Reducing us to a single,
insignificant unit.

I smell daylight burning.

Okay, is your dog named
after G. Gordon Liddy?

Because that explains a lot.

Excuse me, ma'am,

- Ms. Tolliver is also here.
- Ah, it's a solidarity scrum.

Madam Secretary, we've just

received word that Burke's

Congressional hearing is reconvening.

You've been asked to appear.

- When?
- In an hour.

They're calling your witness,

Nhung Chuang.

The committee will come to order.

Ms. Chuang, through your translator...

...please give us your
first-person account

of your dealings with the
State Department-funded program,

Microloans United.

...Microloans United.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

members of Congress.

I am happy to address
the committee in English.

I am from a small mountain village

in Northwest Vietnam.

I worked as a field laborer
from the time I could walk.

When my husband died in a flood,

I was unable to feed my two children.

I moved in with my sister
in a neighboring village.

That is where I heard

about the Microloan Program.

Together, my sister and I

received a $200 loan

to grow vegetables.

And English lessons.

Obviously.

They gave us mobile
phones to manage our money

and taught us how to look up the price

of our vegetables in the market.

We were able to organize
the women in our co-op

and... form a co-op.

Now we have enough money

to build roads and flood channels.

But what I am most proud of

is the new school where
my children are learning.

It is my son, Mr. Chairman,

who taught me English.

Mr. Chairman,

my office has taken swift measures

to address the corruption
inside the Microloans Program,

a situation that was allowed

to develop because of budget cuts

that all but eliminated
the oversight committee.

But as you can see,

there is plenty here worth fighting for.

And I am extremely
proud to lead that fight.

Thank you.

Is your mother's maiden name Weller?

Yes.

Did you attend Yale University?

Yes.

Are you employed by the
Central Intelligence Agency?

Yes.

Do you have access to
classified information

regarding national security?

Yes.

Have you shared

classified information

with anyone outside the Agency?

No.

Does anyone have access

to your secure files?

No.

Have you accepted money

in exchange for classified information?

No.

Do you know anyone who has accepted money

in exchange for classified information?

No.

She passed the polygraph test

and somebody planted a
very sophisticated device

in her bag.

Can we officially disqualify her

- as being the mole?
- Of course not.

I appreciate your loyalty to your friend,

but that's the oldest
CIA trick in the book...

planting a bug on yourself
to divert attention.

- Am I right?
- It's been done.

What about the polygraph?

You're trained to beat those.

Oh, come on, that's ridiculous.

Only the most specialized
field op can do that

and even they can't do it
with any degree of regularity.

I'm not saying it has to be her.

I'm saying we can't take her off the list.

The list being anybody
in the entire Agency.

Including people at the top?

Because, you know, “trust no one.”

Excuse me, Madam Secretary,

- what are you implying?
- Let's not unravel.

We have more immediate problems.

Turkish officials are very curious

about the tourist status
of the dead American.

It's only a matter of time
before they put together

- that he was CIA.
- How much time?

Given that I'm already dodging phone calls

from the their Defense
Minister's office, not much.

We don't have any moves left.

It's time to bring

the president in on this.

I'll think about it.

Well...

Look who I found lurking around,

claiming he still works here.

Oh-oh!

- Hey!
- Yeah!

James Bond. Look at this guy.

Sorry about the tradecraft,

everybody, but it was the quickest way

to get this done.

And to send the message to Burke

that you won't be taken down so easily.

You really lapped it up, Jay,

I gotta say.

I mean, Langley could use a guy like you,

if you ever tire of policy advising.

I don't think most marks
would be as easy as Kyle.

Oh, you'd be surprised.

So...

sorry I couldn't let anyone in on the ruse.

So bringing in Mike B. was a part of it?

Because I gotta tell you, I hate that guy.

Well, from a PR standpoint,

it was the right move.

Gordon! Get over here!

Sorry about that. He's a little

giddy with success. I'll
be in your office, M Sec?

Sure.

Yeah. Come on, let's go.

Mike B.'s just going to hang
around for a little while.

Let's get started.

Actually, I think I am. Put this away...

I can't believe it.

He's going for risotto.

They always lose with that one.

- It's the Waterloo of food.
- Right?

I know. What is the deal?
You can't cook it fast.

- They ought to know it.
- And gnocchi. Gnocchi.

- They never learn.
- They always lose

- with gnocchi, too.
- Well, because you think

it's going to be good but it's not.

In the end, it really is
just doughy potato balls.

- That's what I'm saying.
- That's it.

Hey, you guys. Sorry to interrupt.

- Hey.
- Hey. No, we're just hanging.

What's up?

Yeah, we're just talking about
something really important.

- Yeah, I heard. Uh, potato balls.
- Yeah.

Sit down. What's going on?

I need to borrow some money.

Okay. Well... how much?

About $20,000.

For now.

Wow. Okay.

That's... so much.

I'm applying to Georgetown next semester.

It's actually probably a lot less

with the faculty discount, so...

- Yeah.
- Sub... substantially less.

You're gonna go to Georgetown?

If I'm accepted.

Um, I got an internship

at the Microloans Program,

and I can only do it

if I apply it toward
a college course. So...

- I figured, you know, why not?
- Oh. Oh...

- Cool.
- Yeah, well, whatever we can do to help.

Okay, so...

it's okay with you guys

if... if I go ahead and apply?

- Yeah.
- Whatever. Sure.

No problem.

Okay.

Great.

Just so we're clear...

um, I'm doing this for me.

Not you.

- Absolutely.
- No question.

Great, okay.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Night.

Sleep well.

We're on your side!

That was lame,

that last part. “We're on your side”?

- I know better than that.
- Yeah, just...

- That's not even...
- Yeah, don't...

Take, just... take the win.

Okay?

Ah!

- Nice whispering, Damocles.
- How 'bout that?

- Ah...
- That's darn right.

Wait, hold on.

- No, hold on.
- Really?

Hey.

Don't tell me what you're gonna say.

- I-I gotta to go.
- Bye.

We believe there is a mole

in our own security establishment.

That's why it's risen to your level.

Why am I just learning about this?

We wanted to preserve
plausible deniability for you.

You shouldn't have waited so long.

It was a judgment call, Mr. President.

A bad one, as it turns out.

I've got news for you all.

I had questions about the
Dubai crash at the time.

I assigned a pair to investigate.

They reported to me that
it was an accident...

which implies

that they were hiding the truth.

One of those agents

is dead now.

George Peters.

Who's the other agent?

Stairs.

Hallway.

Down.

Clear!

Closets are emptied.

Computer's wiped. She's cleared out.