Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 17 - Face the Nation - full transcript

(sirens wailing in distance)

(explosions in distance)

(alarm beeping)

(alarm stops)

(gunfire in distance)

(indistinct shouting)

(gunfire continues)

MAN: You're off to a good start.

(gunfire continues over TV)

Jason, why don't you turn that off now?

- Come on, come get some breakfast.
- JASON: All right, let me...



- That's enough carnage for 7:00 a.m.
- All right, let me save it.

- Hold on.
- Uh, oh, I'll save it for you.

JASON: Well...

Dad... come on.

(laughs) Come on, let's go.

Hey, don't act like you got
some big problem with my game.

You play it, too. Okay.

- Aah!
- Oh, come on!

- Breakfast.
- Oh.

The discovery of hypocrisy.

Bitter moment in any young
revolutionary's life.

Well, kid's got a point, but,
uh, when he's not telling me

how much I suck at
this game, he actually

sometimes tells me
something about his life.



- Right.
- Hey, you okay?

Yeah, I'm good.

'Cause you've been just going nonstop

since you got back from Iran.

Oh, I'm a little jetlagged
still, but I'm good.

I'm fine.

Promise.

I'm just saying, going
back to school is gonna be

a big adjustment after
lying around here all day,

- playing video games.
- Yeah.

Yeah, you should know, dropout.

- Oh, burn!
- Ooh!

Good comeback, Padawan.

ALISON: You know that
if you get kicked out

of two schools in a row,

you have to go to
military school, right?

It's, like, the law.

- Hey, I could handle military school.
- Yeah, right.

Okay, wait. What about,
uh, home-schooling, pal?

Uh, I'll stick with public school.

Oh, come on. Just
think of it. You and me

studying all these great books,

spending hours having
philosophical discussions.

Mm. Shoot me now.

Jason.

JASON: What did I say?

Well, I'm-I'm glad that you're
on board with public school,

because that is where you're going.

Oh, we have that-that,
uh, orientation meeting

- at 11:00, okay?
- Yeah, I know.

Listen, um, I cleared my
schedule out this morning.

You want to take the time off?
Maybe we can go...

I can't. I've got meetings.

Then I've got

meetings after those
meetings, so I got to go.

- Bye, guys.
- ALISON: Bye, Mom.

- Love you.
- STEVIE: Bye, Mom. Love you.

Bye. Ow.

- Nice sensitivity, dumb-ass.
- What...? Dad!

Okay, cut it out, both of you.

NADINE: The desk officer
is waiting to brief you

on your first meeting.

- Ecuador?
- Yes, ma'am.

And Matt and Daisy are here

to have a word with you this morning.

Yes, I'm getting that.

Ma'am, we need to prep you
for Face The Nation.

Can't this morning.

I got a thing at my son's school.

Well, you've been at the center
of everything that's happened.

Unearthing Director Munsey's plot,

thwarting the coup in Iran.

The White House wants
you front and center

to reassure the public
that everything is okay.

- Well, is it? News to me.
- This...

The point is, ma'am, I mean,
if there's a hero in this story,

- it's you.
- What did you just say?

Because what I thought

you said is that I'm the
hero of this story?

Excuse me, ma'am. Daisy
didn't mean to imply...

Excuse me, Nadine.

See, what's confusing

is how you could possibly
say something like that,

just days after you attended
Fred Cole's funeral.

Man who literally threw
himself in front of bullets

to save me.

Which is the very definition of heroism.

You come at me with this

win-the-cycle crap again,
it'll be the last time you do.

You understand?

- Yes.
- Yes, ma'am.

Why is there a nurse in my waiting area?

Oh, she's here to follow up

on the exam you received at Landstuhl.

You kept rescheduling, so I had
someone from Walter Reed

- sent over.
- I had said I would go

- to my own doctor when I had time.
- Mm-hmm.

They needed a follow-up ASAP, ma'am.

It's literally doctor's orders.

Et tu, Blake?

NURSE: You're healing
well, Madam Secretary.

Stitches should be ready
to come out in a few days.

Fantastic.

Are you having any pain, ma'am?

Nope. None.

Then, um, I just need
to draw your blood.

Well, I'm on a tight schedule.

I hope you don't mind if I multitask.

So, what does the CEO

of one of America's biggest
oil companies want

from a peon like the Secretary of State?

Chip Harding is here because he believes

you should be doing more
to help Ashmont Petroleum

secure drilling rights in Ecuador,

as opposed to the Chinese.

ELIZABETH: But the proposed

area of the Amazon is highly sensitive,

which is what our desk officer

for the region is here to discuss.

It's Laura, right?

(clears throat) Uh, yes, ma'am.

Let me first say how thrilled
I am to finally meet you in...

person.

Uh,

you okay there, Laura?

Yeah. Just have a little thing about, um...

blood. Um...

- Oh.
- Very sorry, but I'm fine.

Quite all right.

Why don't we just get right to it, then?

Yes, ma'am. As you may have read

in your briefing book, the
Selva Region of eastern Ecuador

is one of the most bio-diverse
areas of the Amazon,

and indeed the world.

MIKE: Home to... count them...

ten primate species,
including the rare Titi monkey.

- There's an image for you.
- LAURA: Developing it

would be extremely damaging to the

local... um... but also...

But also, it is important to remember

that the Amazon is the
world's carbon sink

where much of the CO2
we produce is absorbed

by the trees of...

- Uh-oh.
- Oh, God.

So embarrassed. Excuse me, ma'am.

(mutters)

- Okay.
- MIKE: Hope she makes it

to the porcelain sink in time.

Why don't you go see if she's okay.

Right, the point being, if a
tract this big is developed,

it will speed up the
deforestation process,

which will ultimately lead to what?

Ocean acidification, species die-offs,

larger and more unpredictable
weather events,

increased climate-driven
conflicts and refugees.

You know, your typical

21st century end-of-the-world buffet.

Got it.

LAURA: Sorry. False alarm.

Ma'am, there are more tree
species in a single hectare

of the Selva region than
in all of North America.

If there's a cure for cancer or HIV,

we will probably find it there.

MIKE: Counterpoint.

Chip Harding donates millions
of dollars each election cycle,

which will either be used for or against

your president.

Just something to weigh against

the sad monkeys and magic trees.

And it is part of our job

to promote U.S. businesses abroad,

but if we want to have a
voice in the decision,

we need to act now.

The Ecuadorians are
planning whether to develop

the Selva within a month.

Oh, plenty of time.

All right, why don't we go see
what we can do for Mr. Harding.

Ma'am.

- Oh!
- Oh. Have fun.

I got it. I got it.

Okay. What are you even doing here?

I'm attending your meeting with Chip...

Chip Harding, ma'am.

Okay, isn't Abby about to
go into labor any second?

- Literally any second.
- So, go, go.

I can handle Harding by myself.

If I need more information,
I'll get it from Laura back...

Brilliant, and she really
wanted to make an impression.

Oh, she did. It's all set.

- Go right now.
- Here.

- Okay. There you go.
- Oh, there. Thank you.

Tell Abby to get the epidural early!

You got it!

Key word: early.

Madam Secretary, I'm busy,
and I'm sure you are, too,

so I'll get straight to the point.

I would love it

if the government would
just get out of our way.

Or better yet, help us out for once.

There's a concept.

What is it that you
feel isn't being done

for the oil industry, Mr. Harding?

The SEC and Justice are
breathing down our neck

about the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Do take a dim view of bribing
foreign officials, yes.

Come on, you know full
well that that's the way

business gets done in
places like Ecuador.

And let me tell you something.

The Chinese aren't wringing their hands

about doing business.

Given that I can't help
you bribe anybody,

what exactly would you like
the State Department to do?

Offer them aid.

Help in developing vital infrastructure.

We do give them aid.

$218 million last year, to
be exact, but it does come

with anti-corruption
safeguards built in.

So, sorry if that's not helping
you grease the wheels.

Look, the Selva's too
valuable not to be developed.

That's just the facts.

Who do you and the president

prefer to see do it... us or the Chinese?

I guarantee you we care

very deeply about what happens
in the Selva region, and I will

bear your concerns in mind when I meet

with the Ecuadorian ambassador.

Thank you so much for coming in.

A great game is afoot, Madam Secretary,

and we can't win it with one
hand tied behind our back.

I hope the president understands that.

Thank you for your time.

You bet.

Everyone okay?

Well, it's not like we have hurt feelies.

Although, that was quite an outburst.

I understand she's been through a lot,

but the fact is, she needs
to prep for Face the Nation.

I'll try to block out some time in
her schedule for this afternoon.

MATT: It's not like we're
being overly dramatic.

Rogue CIA director

starts a coup in Iran under
the White House's nose?

And the only reason it fails is because

she literally puts herself
in the line of fire.

That's a huge story.

Huge.

I'm aware.

And so is the public, but they haven't

seen her since the
funerals three days ago.

And the longer they don't, the
more she's gonna be pulled

into the morass of suspicion and blame.

She needs to tell her story,
and she can't just wing it.

WOMAN: As it says

in your packet, drop-off is
between 7:30 and 7:50,

but there can be a bit of a
line sometimes, so it's worth

- getting here early.
- HENRY: Maybe if we had a different kid.

(woman laughs)

Well, that covers it.

Welcome to Monroe Junior High.

I'd like to revisit the
security issue if I may.

Uh, of course.

Uh, as I mentioned,

student safety is our
number one priority.

We have two full-time

security officers, metal
detectors at every entrance

and a zero-tolerance policy
on weapons and bullying.

Jason will be in good
hands here, Mrs. McCord.

I'm sure he will be.

ELIZABETH: The thing is, I'm not.

I'd like to provide Jason
with a security detail.

- HENRY: Wait. What?
- No, no.

Nothing obtrusive, just one man.

Given who I am and what I do,
I feel that it's necessary.

Will you

excuse us for one minute?

Absolutely.

Do you want to tell me what's going on?

Just what I said.

I think Jason needs extra security.

Well, the threat assessment guys

at Diplomatic Security
don't think he does.

- Well, I'm their boss.
- Not when it comes

to assigning a security
detail, you're not.

Besides, you said you wanted
Jason to have as normal

a school experience
as possible, as did I.

We settled this.

I am fourth in line for the presidency

of the United States.

He doesn't get to be a normal child.

Okay. Is this about
what happened in Iran?

No.

Because if you want to talk
to me, then, please...

Why can't you just back me up on this?

Okay.

I'll tell you what.

I will call Diplomatic Security

and have them send me over
a couple of candidates.

How's that?

Thank you.

I have to get back to work,
so I'll see you tonight.

Professor McCord?

I'm thinking you're the bodyguard.

Uh, call me Henry.

- Come on in.
- Kevin Boyd.

HENRY: You got quite a resume.

Six years doing security at State.

Before that, ten years as
a recon Marine. Oorah.

Yes, sir. Forcecon, 2nd
Division out of Lejeune.

You serve in the Corps?

Third MAW out of Miramar.
I flew Hornets in Desert Storm.

- You know, the original.
- Oorah, sir.

I did a couple tours
in the sequel myself.

Ah, but the question is, has all
your extensive combat experience

prepared you to take a
13-year-old to middle school?

Let's just say, no one will be
taking Jason's milk money.

(chuckles) I'm gonna be honest with you.

This is really less about
an actual security threat

and more about an abundance of caution.

Peace of mind. Copy that, sir.

Let me ask you something.

You saw a lot of action,
so I'm sure you know guys

that came back with issues, yeah?

- You mean PTSD?
- Yeah.

In-in your experience,
how did that manifest?

Well, due respect, sir,
with your experience,

you must have seen
a fair share yourself.

My buddies and I were dropping
ordinance from 30,000 feet.

Now, that's a thing,
but it ain't Fallujah.

I'm just curious how it looked to you.

Well, a lot of guys don't sleep,
temper's on a hair-trigger,

usually they're having flashbacks,

they're hyper-vigilant.

I got a buddy,

can't drive anymore.

Thinks every piece of trash he sees

lying in the gutter is hiding an IED.

Yeah, there's not much you can
do, besides be there for them.

You can try to get them help,

but they're not gonna talk
until they're ready, so...

But just so we're crystal clear
here, sir, I don't have...

Oh, I... I trust you.

Hey, listen, the job is
yours if you want it.

I'm just concerned you're a
little too inconspicuous.

That's usually the deal-breaker.

ELIZABETH: I am meeting with
the Ecuadorian Ambassador

in five minutes. What don't I know?

International conservation
groups have a plan

that would pay Ecuador to turn

the entire Selva Region
into a protected preserve.

So, essentially, they would bribe Ecuador

not to despoil its own rainforest?

That's the idea, ma'am, yes.

And the Ecuadorians have actually

been receptive to the plan.

Well, who doesn't like a bribe?

Okay, but?

So far, no one's been inclined
to kick in the start-up costs,

which are in the low billions.

Especially when the
potential oil revenues

could be a hundred times that.

So what are you pitching me?

Ah...

You want us to do
nothing with the Selva?

Not nothing, Ambassador Calderon.

I'm suggesting that you move forward

with the plan to turn it
into a protected preserve.

(laughs): Please. Your current Congress

would never allot such a large sum

for rainforest conservation.

Maybe coca eradication,
but let's ask our neighbors,

the Colombians, how that's
working out for the environment.

I know it's a stretch,

and, obviously, there
are some trust issues.

To put it mildly.

We're still cleaning up oil spills

American companies caused in the 1970s.

But if I could get the money,
which I am working on right now,

would your government consider
preserving the entirety

of the Selva Region?

If you could match the Chinese offer,

perhaps.

But you can't.

And certainly not within
a plausible time frame.

So, and with all due
respect, Madam Secretary,

we stick with the Chinese.

They're not your friends, you know.

(laughs)

But then... they don't pretend to be.

MATT (like Bob Schieffer):
Madam Secretary,

welcome to Face the Nation.

Thank you, pretend Bob Schieffer.

NADINE: Matt,

not so much with the voice.

- Come on.
- DAISY: Oh, but he's

so sadly proud of it.

Fine. Your loss.

(normal voice): Madam Secretary,

recent events paint a troubling picture

of the Dalton Administration.

Should America be worried about
this president's leadership?

Not at all.

Andrew Munsey was a very capable spy.

He managed to hide his traitorous acts

for quite some time.

But the moment the
president learned of them,

he leapt into action

and saved the nation, and the world,

from a dangerous fate.

MATT: Well, some would
argue that you did that,

first by uncovering the
conspiracy, and second

by your unprecedented trip to Iran.

Come on, he's not gonna ask that.

DAISY: Oh, well,

it's a fair interpretation
of the facts, ma'am.

Uh, fine.

(clears throat)

While I was glad to do my part,

the fact that we are
now on the other side

of a constitutional and
global crisis is a testament

to our president's
courageous leadership.

Madam Secretary, you were present

when Iranian Foreign
Minister Javani was killed,

along with several others.

Yeah. Yes, I was.

Tell me about that horrifying scene.

Who was there with you,

and-and what happened?

(ears ringing)

(gunfire, explosions in distance)

(ears ringing louder)

(explosion, indistinct shouting)

(gunfire)

- Abdol!
- (gunfire continues)

(shouting)

Abdol, stay down!

NADINE: Ma'am?

Ma'am?

Want to give me that again?

- Uh, sure.
- NADINE: Um, you know what?

Why don't we take a break? Okay?

Yup.

(sighs) What the hell was that?

It's five seconds of dead air.

Well, arguably, that was a
little more than that, Daisy.

I understand that, but whatever it was,

it wasn't exactly the
image of calm stability

the White House is looking to project.

I think we should cancel.
We can't risk her

having an incident
like that on television.

You want to tell her that?

Call the show, make
her appearance subject

to availability.

We'll take another run at this tomorrow.

If she's still tentative,

we've laid the groundwork
for a postponement.

- On it.
- Okay.

(water splashing)

(ears ringing, explosions in distance)

(man shouting)

(panting slowly)

ELIZABETH: Jason, this is

- about your safety.
- JASON: Yeah, well, then I'll be safe

at home, because I'm not going.

You guys can't just spring this on me.

You said I'd be a normal
kid at a normal school.

- This isn't fair!
- And yet, this is happening,

so I need you to get your
stuff and get on board.

Kevin, can we have a
couple minutes, please?

Of course.

- Jason, grab your stuff.
- No, no, Dad, I'm not...

Just do it, son.

- I love you.
- Uh-huh.

(sighs)

Well, he's right, babe. It isn't fair.

- Well, life isn't fair.
- Huh.

- In this house, it is.
- I knew it.

I knew you would
make me the bad guy.

And then, you had to pick, like,
the biggest guy on the planet

just to push all of Jason's buttons.

Okay, look, I know that you
have been through a lot,

and that you don't
want to talk about it.

- Don't psychoanalyze me.
- But maybe that's behind

your sudden obsession
with Jason's security...

And don't condescend to me, Henry!

- We don't talk to each other that way.
- If you had seen

what I've seen, you would want him

to have protection, too, okay?

He doesn't need it.

So, we either keep our word
and let him go to school

without security, or he stays home.

Okay, so it's okay for
you not to fight fair.

Is that how we do it now? Is that it?

On this one, yeah. We're not
gonna let your issues...

- My issues?!
- ...force Jason

to be treated unfairly.

- What are my issues?
- Are you ready to talk?

Let's talk.

Fine. I don't have
time for this. You win.

Okay?

And the Italian embassy
wants to honor you

with a dinner on the 24th.

Well, it's worth saying
yes just for the food.

What's this, uh, "subject
to availability" BS

- I'm hearing?
- Russell Jackson, ma'am.

Thanks for the heads-up,
Blake. Uh, which BS

- is that, Russell?
- Face The Nation.

You put a pin in your appearance.

I was wondering why.

Well, since this is the first time

I'm hearing about it, so would I.

I thought it would be better

to leave some flexibility there, ma'am.

JACKSON: Why?

Hey, you don't get

to interrogate my staff, Russell.

But I think they're
just trying to protect me.

(clears throat) In prep yesterday,

I was still a little jetlagged,
but I'll be fine on the day.

And just to be clear,

- I am doing the show.
- Yes, ma'am.

Wonderful.

You have a second to talk

about Ecuador with me?

Sure. Um, Laura, will
you join us, please?

JACKSON: I also hear

we're handing over one of
the biggest oil fields

in the hemisphere to the Chinese?

Got a testy phone call
from Chip Harding, did we?

(sighs) Is there any other kind?

You know the president is committed

to weaning us off Middle Eastern oil.

He's also committed to
preserving the Amazon.

Which is why we are
signatories to RACTO,

or whatever the hell that is.

Rainforests of the Americas

Conservation Treaty Organization, sir.

You're the fainter, aren't you?

(groans): Mm.

(laughs): I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's just that nothing funny
ever happens in this town.

Don't worry. You'll bounce back.

Look, for a few billion dollars,

we can save one of the most

ecologically-important areas on Earth.

If you've got

a few billion dollars
lying around, go for it,

because Congress won't.

And at least Ashmont Petroleum

would be bound by the treaty
to develop the oil field as...

Come on.

We're not seriously falling
back on the mighty RACTO?

...as non-invasively as possible.
Isn't that correct?

Theoretically, sir.

Which is more than the Chinese can say.

Look, I'm all for saving the planet,

but the bottom line is, if
we can't get our company in,

we should at least keep
the Chinese one out.

These are independent countries, Russell.

I don't have a lot of cards to play.

So find more cards.

Thank you, Laura.

Yes, ma'am.

And technically, sir,

I vomited... a little.

Good to know.

(sighs)

Look, Bess, this coup business

is the worst body blow to the
presidency since Watergate.

The public needs to know

their government hasn't slid off a cliff,

which means you need to
go on Face the Nation.

So...

you up for the damn show or not?

Absolutely.

Do you have any ideas
about what I might do,

or are the taxpayers just shelling out

for another one of
Gordon's expensive walks?

(chuckles): Look, saving a little piece

of the Amazon probably won't
matter in the end anyway.

Best to win Dalton some
goodwill with Chip Harding.

How? By getting Justice off his back

so he can go back to Ecuador and...

bribe his way into winning the bid?

Yes. But just in case I'm ever deposed, no.

Yeah, I'm not doing that.

Besides, you literally just
called him a pompous tool.

He really is. Even other
pompous tool CEOs hate him.

Like my friend, Owen Walton.

Pompous tools run the world.

You might as well get
on their good side.

And hope that the tiny sliver
of the Amazon that's left

is protected by RACTO?

The "T," by the way,
stands for "toothless".

There you go.

How can the Chinese purport
to be a responsible actor

in the Amazon when they're not
even a party to the treaty

charged with its protection?

I was being you there.

So tie up China by officially
protesting their non-membership?

RACTO may be toothless,
but Ecuador is a signatory.

China would be forced to respond.

Whew. Talk about poking the bear.

Look, the White House wants to
keep them out of our backyard.

It would take China at least
a year to unstick themselves

from all the red tape.
During which time...

The Selva isn't developed.
And Ashmont Petroleum

gets its ducks in a row
and wins the contract.

So both the Earth and America win.

Until America actually wins.

MAN (in distance): Be advised,
we're losing the fight,

but not by much. Don't
underestimate these terrorists.

(faint gunfire, explosions)

I can't find a break!
I don't have a shot!

It's late.

I didn't even hear you come in.

Just winding down.

By playing a video game you've never

shown any interest in
at 3:30 in the morning?

Yup.

Okay, babe, your Titan is ready.

See? Here, press this
button, get your Titan.

You play this game way
more than you cop to.

(chuckles) Possibly true.

WOMAN: Transferring control to pilot.

Sorry I was such a bitch before.

It's okay.

How was Jason's first day?

It was fine. Everything's fine.

No, it isn't.

- Minister Chen is waiting for you.
- (sighs)

Took a detour from his White House visit

to let us know how pissed he is

about our little Ecuador maneuver?

I'm guessing.

Well, that would be safe guess.

Ma'am, pardon me, but...

you look a little tired.

(laughs) Thanks, Nadine.

No, really. Are you sleeping all right?

- Like a baby.
- DAISY: Oh, congratulations again, Jay.

She's gorgeous. Here's the secretary.

- Abby had the baby. A little girl.
- Oh, oh.

My gosh.

Well, hey, sweetheart.

Hey, boss.

Not you.

What's her name?

Wait for it.

Chloe Elizabeth Whitman.

- What a suck-up!
- Aw.

It's her grandmother's name, jerk.

Hey, come on, honey.

Say hi to the secretary, sweetheart.

Oh, she's...

she's beautiful, Jay.

She's just...

BLAKE: Ma'am.

Minister Chen.

NADINE: Ma'am.

Listen,

you bring her in really soon, okay?

I want to meet her in person.

CHEN: Madam Secretary,

this protest you've lodged with RACTO

is clearly a stalling tactic.

You want to help

Ashmont Petroleum win a
bid they couldn't win

honestly or fairly.

You really want to accuse
Ashmont Petroleum

of being the only
unscrupulous actor here?

I would suggest you tread
carefully, Madam Secretary.

So you're saying that it is not common

Chinese business practice

to get at-at the resources

of developing nations
by bribing their elites?

The West did just that for
centuries, including to China.

Just because it's your turn
now doesn't make it right.

While fascinating,

this philosophical discussion
is hardly germane.

I strongly urge you to
retract your protest.

But there are so many other

fascinating subjects to discuss.

Your currency devaluation,

unfair export subsidies,

intellectual property theft. I mean,

- not to mention
- Madam Secretary...

your labor and environmental...

Can we even call them laws? (laughs)

- More like suggestions.
- Madam Secretary,

this inflammatory performance
will not help your cause

in Ecuador or in any other area.

Perhaps we should talk at a later time.

My-my apologies. Let's...

Let's talk about something
less inflammatory.

How are your children?

They're fine.

Good, good.

Kids are a blessing.

Indeed.

Course, when they look
back at the Amazon

and what we did to it, they'll
think we must have hated them.

Again, ma'am, these remarks...

No, no, it's interesting,

because, you see, if we chop it all down,

we pretty much guarantee
that the planet overheats,

and our kids will live in a
totally destabilized world.

(scoffs) Well, then at least
they'll be able to go to war

with each other over fresh water.

- That'll be kicky.
- Madam Secretary, are you quite all right?

Are you not hearing me?!

Your children and mine will suffer

because of choices we make today.

They will suffer,

and there will be nothing
that we can do to help them!

Is that what you want?!
Is that... (pants)

Will you excuse me for a minute?

(door closes)

(panting): Will you call 911?

I think I'm having a heart attack.

(siren wailing)

46-year-old female presenting

with chest pain, shortness of breath,

sinus tach and hypertensive

on two liters of O2, aspirin and EKG

- on the bus.
- Get her a X-ray,

blood draw and sublingual nitroglycerin,

and take her up to Cardiac Care.

- Elizabeth? Elizabeth, I'm here.
- We're going to take

- good care of you, Madam Secretary.
- How is she?

We're taking her upstairs
to run some tests now.

It's okay,

sweetheart, I'm here.
It's gonna be all right.

Well, the good news is that you're fine.

You didn't have a heart attack.

HENRY: So what was it, then?

Well, uh, most likely a panic attack.

You have got the job for it.

Oh, God.

Is it bad that I wish that I'd
actually had a heart attack?

Now, going forward, I'd recommend

you go easy on the coffee,
take a few personal days.

From what I see in the news,
you've been pretty busy.

HENRY: Thank you, Doctor.

Navy SEALs get this, you know.

You tougher than a Navy SEAL?

Maybe, like, a-a really runty one.

I think maybe I got a
little bit more affected

by Iran than I thought.

But it was one incident,

and it passed and I'm fine.

Look, I know you think
you can tough this out,

but guess what, you can't.

You have got to get help now,
before this really takes hold

- and gets worse.
- I can't just drop everything

- and take a spa day because I'm sad.
- Stop. You don't have to

drop everything; you just
need to talk to someone.

I know. I'm all messed up.

One minute I'm fine,

and then the next I'm furious,

then I'm numb.

Well, considering what
you've been through,

it's totally normal.

(laughs) Really?

Because it feels...

totally crazy.

(sniffles)

The truth is,

I'm just not ready to talk
about what happened yet.

Okay.

- But you heard the doctor, yeah?
- Yup.

You need to take a few days off.

I can't. It would be a whole thing.

So what?

This is your health we're talking about.

I hear you. I do, I really do.

(sniffles)

But we're okay, right?

Yeah.

Sorry I've been screaming at you a lot.

No, it's totally good. It's fun.

(laughs)

- I'm gonna go get Stevie.
- Okay.

Hey.

- Is she okay?
- She's fine. She's totally fine.

Just go in and

- talk to her.
- Okay.

I'll be right there.

Russell, are those for me?
You shouldn't have.

- How is she?
- She's fine.

Good. Then I'll just go in

and convey the president's best wishes.

I said she's fine, Russell.

Tell that to the Chinese.

Thank you for coming.

Hope you're right, Henry. I really do.

But if she's not fine,

then you're not doing her
or your country any favors

by keeping it from me.

Give her these for me, will you?

The doctors concluded the
secretary is in good health

- and was simply exhausted.
- No, they didn't.

Guys, she can't be exhausted.

Ed Muskie was exhausted.

"Exhausted" is Washington code
for complete mental freak-out,

- you 12-year-olds.
- BLAKE: Please, say "exhausted" more.

MATT: Hey, she flew to Iran,

thwarted a coup, then flew home
and went right back to work.

I think America would
understand if she's a little tired.

Mike is, um...

Right.

Right.

Listen, the story the
White House is peddling

is "nothing to see here".

Implying that the secretary

had some sort of breakdown is definitely

something to see.

I'd bet my second house
that Russell Jackson

is at the hospital right
now, trying to find out

if our beloved Bess has
gone around the bend.

He actually is at the
hospital right now.

I just heard from her detail.

MIKE: Look at that... I'm psychic.

And if he decides she is,

she'll be tossed overboard, but quick.

DAISY: Fine, no exhaustion.

We'll just stick to the facts:
she was feeling unwell,

she went to the hospital,
doctors say she's fine.

MATT: And answer any follow-ups with,

"I don't speculate, I'm not a doctor."

See? Now you actually sound like
you know what you're doing.

Oh, drop dead, old man.

DAISY: Okay, the real question is:

do we really think she's actually okay?

Oh, of course she is.

MATT: Based on what, Blake?
The fact that

she bawled out the foreign minister

of our biggest creditor?

NADINE: She's okay until she tells us

she isn't.

Got it?

Obviously, we need to push back
Face the Nation for at least

a couple of days. Meanwhile,

I've got to try to put out
the fire with Minister Chen.

- So let's get back to work.
- (ringtone playing)

That's M. Sec now.

I know what you're all thinking:

"Why is she calling him and not me?"

Well, shame on you, petty, petty people.

Hello.

I'm so relieved the secretary
is feeling more like herself.

Please convey my warm regards.

I certainly will, and thank you
again for your understanding

and for stopping by.

Think nothing of it.

But if the secretary
continues to push forward

with this attempt to stymie

our rightful and lawful
investment in Ecuador...

that, China might not
be so quick to forgive.

Well, I would not presume
to speak for the secretary

on such a serious issue,

but I will certainly
convey your concern.

See that you do.

Because if the secretary's
words were not

a moment of unreason
but rather indicative

of an official attitude toward China...

- I assure you they were not.
- ...then China, in turn,

might begin to feel that
the United States' debt

is a less than reliable
investment for our surplus.

Yes, sir.

Good day, Ms. Tolliver.

Good day, sir.

- Oy.
- Yeah.

MIKE: Wait till you see how inspired

the lowly grunts are by
their unsinkable leader.

Bounces back from a heart
attack the same day.

Imaginary heart attack.
Huzzah, huzzah.

It's better than a real
one, believe you me.

- So are you up for this meeting with Owen?
- Yes, absolutely.

- Glad to have you back.
- Because even though he was in town,

- it took a lot of wrangling
- Thanks, Erin.

to get him into the room under

- such short notice.
- I'm not going to embarrass you.

- Don't worry about it.
- Good, because if it were up to me,

the only person you'd be in a
room with is a psychiatrist.

(laughs) Well, thanks for
the vote of confidence.

I'm withholding that until we
see if your plan actually works.

So, you set?

(ears ringing)

(gunfire)

Abdol!

(shouts)

You good?

- What?
- Are... Are you good to go?

Yes.

Yeah, absolutely. I just...

I'm gonna... Um... One thing...

No, no, I got it. I got it.
I'm... Right back.

Henry?

Yeah.

So...

...turns out, you were right.

Maybe, um,

coming back today wasn't
such a hot idea after all.

Owen, it's been too long.
St. Moritz, right?

- How the hell are you?
- Uh, well, a little confused.

- I thought I was meeting the secretary.
- We were walking in the door,

she got a call from the White
House. Big mess in Russia.

Very big,

very messy. But you
didn't hear it from us.

Nadine Tolliver,

Secretary McCord's chief of staff.

Thank you so much for coming in.

And this is Laura...
something something.

Uh, Vargas. Pleased to meet you.

Uh, look, I-I don't want
to be rude or whatever,

but I've got a gala I'm supposed to

- go to in a little while...
- Oh, Mr. Walton, please.

The secretary had hoped to
discuss an opportunity with you.

The chance for your charitable

foundation to save

over 4,000 square miles of pristine

Amazonian rainforest.

While th-that's an important
number unto itself,

the positive impact on
the health of the planet

would be exponentially larger.

Uh, look, uh, that... This is super cool

and I'm all about the environment.

I mean, my foundation

is already doing this
whole thing with reefs.

Or maybe sharks. But
either way, it's amazing.

You should set up a meeting with them.

Let me put all this another way, Owen.

How would you like to win a Nobel Prize

for sticking it to Chip Harding?

Chip wants to drill down there?

I'm listening.

- Russell.
- Evening, Henry.

Look...

I come in peace.

Good fix you had on the Ecuador thing.

Sounds like your team
handled it well, too.

I shouldn't have doubted you.

Thanks.

I mean, China's not happy.

Yeah, well, they lost.

And because I screamed at Minister Chen.

Nadine calmed him down.

And the vice-president's taking him bowling

or some damn thing.

Summer after junior year of high school,

my big brother Kenny took me fishing

for getting straight A's.

My dad took off when we were kids, so...

Anyway, we were driving back,

at night,

and this drunk hunter

T-boned us with his truck.

I was a little banged up.

But Kenny died at the scene.

Makes it back from Vietnam in one piece,

he dies right there on
the side of the highway

with the paramedics working on him

and the looky-loos slowing down

and gawk.

Anyway, I'm mostly good now.

I won't bore you with my triggers.

Suffice to say I haven't
been fishing in a while.

Here's someone who can keep her mouth shut.

Welcome to the club.

Thanks, Russell.

Take care of yourself, Bess.

I wonder how she's doing.

Well, her last text
said she was resting...

- and bored.
- Oh.

So, Laura, way to hit it out of
the park on your first at bat.

- Welcome to the bigs.
- Yeah.

Oh, uh, he's terrible at sports,

- by the way.
- Don't do... Don't say...

Most of my friends from
grad school are still writing

their dissertations.

- We actually did something today.
- To that rarest

of Washington feats:
actually doing something.

- Hear, hear.
- Yes. - Salud.

I just hope

the media noise about the
hospital visit will die down.

Honestly, I don't think it will

until she does Face the Nation.

If she does Face the Nation.

MAN (over TV): That's a double kill.

(gunfire)

Do you want to tell me about it?

Fred Cole and the guys in my detail

died because I went to Iran.

They died saving me.

They died saving their
country from a war.

They died doing their duty.

They died...

- because of me.
- Babe,

you did not force Fred Cole
to run toward the gunfire.

That was his choice.

And you know he would do it again.

And then there's Abdol.

Javani's son, right?

What about him?

He was there.

He was there in the room, too.

I didn't tell you...

I didn't tell anyone...

'cause I couldn't get to him.

I wanted so badly to protect that boy.

Or at least keep him
from seeing his father

murdered in his own living room.

But I couldn't.

Fred was on top of me.

And I couldn't... get to him.

How in the world is that
boy supposed to go on?

We do all these

horrible things to each other.

And there are always,

always kids in the middle.

Henry,

what have I done to our sweet children?

BOB SCHIEFFER: Madam Secretary,
you made an unprecedented trip

to Iran to save

the nuclear deal between the Iranians

and the United States.

Yes, I did.

And while you were there, of course,

a coup that was eventually,
uh, foiled, uh, began.

You were in the room

when the foreign minister
Javani was killed.

That's right.

Who else was there,
and-and what happened?

We were at Minister Javani's
house when it happened.

Several members of my security detail

were wounded or killed.

Their courage was awe-inspiring,

and I deeply mourn their loss,
as does the entire country.

Minister Javani's son
witnessed his father's death.

As a mother, I would have given anything

to protect that child.

Which is why

I am determined as ever to see through

the nuclear agreement that
his father gave his life for.

Because I think that's our greatest

responsibility in this life:

to leave a safer

and more peaceful world for our children.

SCHIEFFER: Madam Secretary, thank you.

ELIZABETH: Thank you, Bob.