Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - You Say You Want a Revolution - full transcript

(indistinct radio transmission) MAN: Damn.
(car door closes) MAN 2: This is going down.
He's gonna kill us, you know.
He's gonna kill us.
Be cool, Tre.
Hands on the wheel.
(indistinct radio transmissions)
OFFICER: Evening.
WOMAN: Be cool.
You know you're driving with a busted taillight?
WOMAN: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Jesus!
(officer groaning)
(panting)
(groaning)
(approaching sirens wailing) Tre, we got to get out of here.
Tre.
(horn blaring) Tre.
(blaring continues)
Tre!
The Cuban Foreign Minister has arrived at the embassy.
He's just about to start his remarks.
He's just gonna give the party line--
America bad, Cuba good.
It's the reopening of the Cuban embassy in D.C.
after 54 years.
It's historic.
So we're okay with giving the Cubans network airtime
to broadcast propaganda?
I hardly think Foreign Minister Barzan
is gonna use his speech to America bash.
Then why did we decide to skip the ceremony?
Because opening Cuba is controversial
and Madam Secretary felt that...
Didn't trust that he won't go all,
"Blah, blah, blah, the American embargo
is a crime against the good people of Cuba,"
and she'll be standing there looking like the bad guy.
My, my, somebody woke up
on the cynical side of the bed this morning.
I just question the wisdom of negotiating
with oppressive dictators who jail dissidents
and prohibit free speech.
Matt... I know, you've explained your position.
And you have remained steadfast in yours,
which is troubling because I'm headed down to Cuba
in a few days to reopen the American embassy there
and you're my speechwriter.
Ma'am, I can keep my personal beliefs to myself.
How I wish that were true.
ELIZABETH: I appreciate your candor, Matt,
but my Cuba speech is too important
to entrust to a writer who's simply toeing the party line.
Ma'am... It's not punishment.
I know it's difficult to do your best work
when you don't believe in the cause.
I know that I would have a very hard time
writing anything nice about kale.
Which is why I'm thrilled that you will be writing
my remarks for the World Food Prize lunch.
(chuckles)
So, uh...
who-who's going to write your Cuba speech?
I will. NADINE: Here's the ambassador.
On behalf of the people and government of Cuba,
I welcome a new day in U.S.-Cuban relations.
♪ ♪ (applause)
ALISON: It was nothing.
No big deal. You were in a car accident, Alison.
That's a big deal. Okay, look.
Here's the dent. You can barely see it.
Wait a minute.
You-you posted pictures of your accident on social media?
Okay, that's not the... And you're smiling?
Do you think this is funny?
ELIZABETH: What happened?
Alison was in a car accident.
Okay, no. What?
I... I dented the fender
on a concrete barrier
backing out of a tight parking spot at the mall.
I took it in for repairs and paid for it myself.
And told 2,000 of her friends but not us.
I had to find out from Wayne at Accurate Autoworks.
I told him not to say anything.
What? You asked Wayne to lie for you?
No, I just said it's not a big deal, don't tell my parents.
My God.
There was an accident and a cover-up.
It's like having Nixon in our kitchen.
ALISON: Are you kidding? Nixon? ELIZABETH: Okay.
Why don't you go upstairs. Thank you.
Let your dad and me talk, please.
ALISON: Nixon? Really?
There is a case to be made
that she was being responsible.
You know, she took it in to the shop,
paid for the damages herself.
It was a misguided attempt,
but she was trying to be an adult.
But she's not an adult.
And I'm starting to think
maybe she shouldn't come to Cuba.
She shouldn't be rewarded for this.
Well, you know,
48 hours of spotty to nonexistent Cuban Internet
will be more than enough punishment for her.
Besides, I think that getting away
might be good for her, and, you know,
could maybe be good for you, too.
Get your mind off of losing your student.
Yeah.
How'd you sleep last night?
JASON: How about Markes?
It's pretty crazy, huh?
What are you talking about?
It's all over the news--
Markes is resigning.
Senator Markes?
Yeah.
Is resigning?
Yeah.
Senator Gregg Markes is resigning?
Why does she keep asking me that?
Processing the ramifications.
Which are? I-I... I h-have to go.
Here, go. Yeah. I have to go.
(door opening)
Your mom's about to change the world.
(door closes)
ELIZABETH: What's the latest?
So, Markes was...
Was pulled over for driving the wrong way
down a one-way street
and then failed a field sobriety test.
And the woman who he was with...
Who was not his wife. ...had half...
A half ounce of cocaine on her.
And Markes... Then tried to bribe the arresting officer
by telling him that he could give him a big promotion
if he made the charges go away.
And all of that would've been bad enough except...
Okay, let me tell it.
The whole thing was caught on video
by someone who recognized him.
Sorry, Blake, I heard that part on the drive over.
No problem, ma'am.
Being interrupted by you is a pleasure.
But, uh, if I may, what does this have to do
with the State Department?
Okay, what do we know about Markes?
He was a cheater. And a liar.
Heads out of the tabloids, think policy.
He was head of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Wait, so he was the man responsible
for controlling what came up for a vote.
And he stymied us
on Cuba last spring.
And now that he's out of the way, you're going to try...
Wait. Let Blake say it.
You're going to try to bring a bill
to the floor of the Senate and lift the embargo on Cuba.
And how cool would it be to announce that
when we reopen the embassy?
That's in 48 hours.
(laughs) Well, we better get to work.
The entire eastern border of Ukraine is on high alert.
And needless to say, after the cyber attack on his plane,
President Bozek remains profoundly shaken
by the attempt on his life.
JACKSON: I have to hand it to President Ostrov.
It would've been a masterstroke:
decapitate the duly elected leader of the Ukraine,
thereby clearing the way for a full-scale Russian invasion.
We must push back, Mr. President,
and push back hard.
And your recommendation is?
Dispatch U.S. military advisers to Ukraine.
Send a message to the Kremlin
that Ukraine and the U.S. stand united against them.
I'm not sure that's the message
that we want to send at this time, sir.
The Russians will view
the presence of American forces in Kiev
as an escalation that would have to be met in kind.
Sir, this is one of those moments
that defines a presidency.
The Dalton White House must be seen as strong, unyielding.
Help me out here, Russell.
I'm afraid I agree with Elizabeth on this.
I thought you brought me into this administration
to, in your words, "Tighten the reins on foreign policy."
DALTON: Let's set up a call with President Ostrov.
Perhaps a, uh, more personal approach
can do something
to diffuse the situation.
Now, Bess, uh, you wanted to talk about Cuba?
Yes.
Senator Markes' resignation
releases his stranglehold
on Senate Foreign Relations.
The bill to lift the embargo, it's already passed the House.
We just need 60 senators to prevent a filibuster.
You think you have the votes?
Close. I mean, it depends on
how much political capital you want to expend.
JACKSON: It could be done.
Think of the legacy you would leave.
A Cuba open to U.S. business interests,
a-a toehold for democracy
in one of our most bitter enemies.
The optics for your reelection campaign would be good.
Plenty of American flags waving.
Craig? Florida has
29 electoral votes.
Miami is the key to locking those up.
Why alienate the anti-Castro base down there?
Policy aside, the politics
of this are suicidal.
Sometimes politics has to take a backseat
to doing the right thing.
Sir, this is one of those moments
that define a presidency.
All right.
I understand that passions run deep on this issue.
But since it's my call...
Hell, let's make some history.
If you two can put the votes together, let's do it.
Sorry, Craig.
This doesn't seem to be your day.
It's never about me, sir.
I serve at the pleasure of the president.
I can't thank you enough for your support, Senator Armstrong,
and as soon as Madam Secretary gets back in,
I'm sure that she will give you a call herself.
Thanks. Yes.
Hey, we got Armstrong.
Just five more
and we have liftoff.
Micelli's a maybe. He needs a call from the Secretary.
On it. Hey, what's going on?
Well, with Markes out of the way,
the president gave his blessing to lift the embargo
and now we just need to get the votes.
So Madam Secretary is up on the Hill
and we're calling senators, and we've been here all night
and I've had a lot of coffee.
Am I talking fast? I feel like I'm talking fast.
Why didn't you guys call me in?
She's writing the speech.
A speech that just went from perfunctory to historic.
You're right. Sucks to be you.
Lifting the embargo on Cuba is huge.
It could get Dalton a second term.
I have to be a part of this.
She's going to need background and research and imagery.
That's what I do best-- verbal imagery.
You know, to some, a simple schoolhouse whiteboard,
but to those in the know, a referendum on democracy.
I hear you're thinking about voting to lift the embargo.
How can I help?
Minnesotans have a lot to offer the people of Cuba.
Few other Midwestern farming powers share our proximity
to the mighty Mississippi...
Michelle, our kids go to the same orthodontist.
I consider you a friend, you can cut the speechifying.
What do you want?
First dibs.
First dibs?
Specifically $100,000 in federal money to identify
existing and emerging opportunities in Cuba
for Minnesota's agricultural producers.
Dan Sparks is already sponsoring a bill
that would give Wyoming those federal dollars.
Well, that's too bad then, isn't it?
Michelle, I-I really need your vote.
I know you do.
Dan, I need you to drop S.3487.
No way.
I'm giving you my Cuba vote so I can get in there
and scare up some business for Wyoming.
I'm gonna need that money.
Well, Michelle Porter needs it more.
She should've sponsored her own damn bill then.
Come on, there has to be something you need
more than $100,000 to send
a couple of guys down to Cuba a month ahead of the competition?
I really need your help on this.
Have you ever been to the Wind River Mountain Range?
I-I have not.
Neither have millions of other people who love spending
their tourist dollars in national parks.
Getting a national parks designation is a tall order.
How badly do you want this embargo lifted?
JACKSON: The president would love to visit the Wind River Mountains.
He's heard they're beautiful
and worthy of national park status.
How does, uh, next Tuesday look
for a helicopter tour?
(elevator bell dings) I've done a bunch of research
and I jotted down some ideas for your Cuba speech.
I told you... You're writing the speech.
I know, but I have an idea that I wanted to swing by you.
You're adorable.
I am? You disagree with the policy
but you still want to write the speech anyway
because you think it may just have become historic.
And that's adorable?
Yes. In a self-serving,
craven kind of way.
Thank you.
But I'm looking for sincere and heartfelt.
I sincerely want to help you write this speech.
I read your kale remarks. They need some work.
It's a first draft, maybe a second.
I'll fix it, I will. But I have an idea that I think you'll r...
Matt, don't tell me what you're going to.
Show me.
Okay ma'am, that's what I'll do.
Porter and Sparks are firmly in the yes column.
Great. I-I will call Esposito
and Russell and I are double-teaming Thornquist.
Those two votes and that's it, we get it.
Ma'am, uh, your 3:00 is in your office.
Okay, my 3:00 better not be a senator
wanting something shiny in return for a vote.
(door opens) (shutter clicks)
I'm not going to Cuba.
Well, good afternoon to you too, Noodle.
Dad's still mad at me about the car and you'll be busy,
so it'll just be me and him.
He is really looking forward
to spending time with you.
To lecture me on the perils of lying.
You're being unfair.
He's the one being unfair.
Stevie can't go 'cause of her stupid Microloans job
and Jason has standardized tests.
Why do I have to be the only one going?
You know, I'm having a hard time
ginning up sympathy for a kid who is getting
a front-row seat to history. But, Mom...
No. Out.
(sighs) You don't want to lose me as your ally.
And whining is not working in your favor.
Look, your dad
is going through a lot right now.
A student of his committed suicide,
and he's taking it pretty hard.
Well, how would I have known that?
It's not like he tells me anything.
It's not easy for him to talk about,
which is why I'm telling you.
Try to be understanding.
Try and muster some enthusiasm about this trip.
Because whether you like it or not, you are going.
(chuckles)
(laughing, indistinct conversations)
Hal...
you've been avoiding my calls.
I'm trying to enjoy my dinner, Russell. I'd invite you
to join me but we really don't have anything to talk about.
You know Elizabeth McCord?
Hi. I got both of you.
I must be the last vote you need. (short chuckle)
Idaho raises sugar beets.
Cuba's biggest export is sugar. I'm a firm no.
We can keep tariffs on Cuban sugar high.
No way you can keep 'em high enough to protect my farmers.
Now why don't the two of you just skedaddle,
let me finish my dinner in peace.
See, I wish you'd taken my call, 'cause then I wouldn't
have to embarrass you in front of the Secretary of State.
Excuse me? Sugar beets
are the seventh-largest crop in Idaho.
You know what the sixth is, Elizabeth?
No.
Marijuana. Which is still
illegal in Idaho, as I recall.
Russell... And unless you want the DEA doing flyovers
of every farm from Boise to Coeur d'Alene,
you will give the president
your support on this issue.
You know we do all we can to crack down on the pot growing. Do I?
'Cause the press release is gonna say
the federal government had to step in
'cause the state and local authorities
weren't doing their job.
I know you got an election coming up.
Tight race, by the looks of it.
Well...
got to hit the hay if I'm gonna be up
bright and early to vote to lift the embargo.
Russell, I'd have you take care of my bill,
but that might look like you were buying my vote.
Madam.
(exhales)
Cuba and the United States
end 54 years of hostility
on President Dalton's watch.
I can see the campaign commercial.
Champagne,
to celebrate? BARTENDER: Coming right up.
W-What's one of our yeses
doing holding a press conference?
Can you turn that up, please?
BARTENDER: Yes, ma'am.
...'77, Afeni Rahim was convicted
of the brutal and cold-blooded murder
of Chicago PD officer John Burke.
She then escaped custody
and fled to Cuba, where she has lived
for the last 38 years.
Mrs. Burke?
(camera shutter clicking)
My husband was cruelly taken from me
and from his three little girls
nearly 40 years ago.
I would be doing a disservice to his memory
if I did not continue the fight
to bring his killer to justice.
PARISI: Which is why I stand here tonight:
to say, in front of this historic building,
that I will not vote to lift the embargo on Cuba
unless the Cuban government returns Afeni Rahim
to U.S. custody. Thank you.
(sighs)
Afeni Rahim was born Lisa Johnston in 1949
to Karen and Davis Johnston.
She was on full scholarship
at the University of Chicago, where she was radicalized
in the antiwar movement.
She adopted the name Afeni Rahim
after a brief stint with the Panthers,
then fell in with the Black Action Army.
From the mid-to-late '70s the group grew increasingly radical.
They were believed to be behind three bank robberies
before the shootout that got her arrested.
How did she end up in Cuba?
After her conviction and sentencing,
she escaped from the courthouse restroom.
Six months later she turns up in Havana.
The Cubans view her as a hero
of the worldwide proletariat struggle.
We're gonna need a pretty big carrot
to get Cuba to cough her up.
Contact Justice, Treasury, Commerce--
see if anyone has something that we can use as an inducement.
Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
You're gonna be pretty much alone up here.
Keep our coalition together.
No problem. If any
of our yeses start to waver,
don't hesitate to call me.
Yes, ma'am. HENRY: Let's go.
Just let me know how it's going.
Safe travels. Thank you.
Bye, Henry. Bye, Nadine.
ALISON: Okay, Cuba trivia:
Did you guys know that Ernest Hemingway
wrote The Old Man and the Sea in Cuba?
BOTH: Yep. And...
that he donated his Nobel Prize to a Cuban church?
BOTH: Yep. And...
in 1492, Christopher Columbus claimed the island
for the kingdom of Spain and named it...
Isla Juana. Yep.
Is there anything you guys don't know?
Well, that depends.
Are there any car accidents we don't know about?
Dad. I'm sorry, you just set me up for that one.
I know you're catching a plane, you mind if I ride with you?
Oh. No, no. Come, uh, you know
our daughter Alison. Come in, Russell, hi.
Hi. Of course. Can we talk?
Yeah. Why don't you listen to some music, sweetie? I'm not here.
JACKSON: The president's not happy
about the Afeni Rahim situation.
Cuba's supposed to be legacy-making.
Rahim's a distraction.
Plus it means Sterling was right
about this being a bad idea.
Maybe Sterling's behind this.
You're not here, remember?
Oh, I'm just saying... W-Why would Parisi
publicly challenge a president in his own party?
What's in it for him?
A chance to get Afeni Rahim back, right a wrong
done to one of his constituents?
He mispronounced her name at the press conference.
I guarantee he'd never heard of her till yesterday.
And you're suggesting Craig Sterling
found the officer's family
and somehow convinced Parisi to go public
with the demand for Rahim, all to settle a score with us?
He's a politician.
He didn't want the policy.
Sounds paranoid.
Well, people lie all the time.
Oh, my God, Dad, stop.
What? Hey, you're not supposed to be listening.
Yeah, but he wanted me to hear that. Now you're being paranoid.
I seem to be in the middle of a family argument.
Stop the car. I'm getting out.
Just get the Cubans to hand over Rahim.
(low, indistinct conversations)
Hey, I'm looking for Joseph Hoffman.
Right there. Thank you.
Excuse me, Mr. Hoffman.
I'm Matt Mahoney from the State Department.
We spoke earlier this morning?
This thing really happening?
Oh, the embassy reopening?
Yeah, it's really happening.
And you're looking for guys who were stationed there
when we left back in '61?
Yes.
Bunch of old geezers.
Sir, you're currently lifting
more than I can.
I'd hardly call you an old geezer.
(chuckles)
How can I help you,
Matt Mahoney from the State Department?
BARZAN: I regret that you weren't able to attend
our flag-raising in Washington.
It was beautiful.
Truly inspired beginning.
Really? Because I heard it was just another
rehashing of Cuban propaganda.
Spoken like a true imperialist Yanqui.
May I present the Minister of Education, Gladys Castillo.
Oh, nice to meet you.
The Minister of Finance, Hector Varga.
It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.
The Minister of Sugar, Gustavo Rodrigues.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
The Associate Minister of Sugar, Adolfo Menas.
Pleasure to meet you, sir. Uh, ma'am?
Just got off the phone with Justice--
they approve the inducements.
Manuel, I-I need to meet
with your first vice president.
He's a very busy man.
It's about the embargo.
Did you get your hotheaded senator to back down?
Not yet, but I think I might be able to.
By asking us to give up Comrade Rahim?
If this is your intention, I cannot arrange a meeting.
I've got this thing with my speechwriter.
I don't usually like his first draft.
Or his second. But I love his third.
So I've just started telling him
to start with the third draft, you know?
Madam Secretary... I know you're wondering where
I'm going with this. Just...
After six months of dealing with each other,
you and I have a pattern.
You say no, I strategize with my team, come back
with a different approach. And in that time
you've done the same thing and we're closer.
After a few rounds of this, what was once impossible
is suddenly doable, but I don't have that kind of time.
So let's just skip the first two rounds
and get me in to see your first vice president.
I'll see what I can do.
Great. In the meantime...
The Minister of Coal and Mining.
HENRY: Check it out, Noodle.
That is our ride today.
(gasps) A 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible.
Oh, my God, that is way cool!
They haven't had American imports in Cuba
since the revolution so they got
to take really good care of those babies.
Like, if they get in a car accident,
they don't have the parts to fix this. Dad!
What? I wasn't referring to your accident.
Really. I was just making conversation. Sure.
Gracias, senor. Anyway, where are we going?
Okay, here's the best part.
Cuba's a communist country, right,
so they don't allow religion.
But despite that,
these beautiful churches have survived.
We're touring churches?
Yeah, like we did in England. Remember that?
Yeah. Well, that was pretty fun.
Yeah.
Honey, if you want to do something else, we can... No, it's fine.
I just thought you'd be more excited 'cause we had
such a good... I totally am.
Okay. So...let's go?
Yes. And I'm gonna drive, 'cause...
And that was a reference to your accident, by the way.
I know.
Mr. Vice President, thank you you for agreeing to see me on
such short notice.
Manuel tells me
that you wish to amend our agreement?
Why does that not surprise me?
(laughs)
We have an opportunity today
to not just reopen our embassy in Havana,
but to lift the embargo
and end decades of distrust between our two countries.
And what will remove the American boot
from the throat of the Cuban people?
Afeni Rahim.
So the rumors were true.
Manuel's generation makes a compelling argument:
trust the Yanquis.
We must have peace
so we can build an economy and help our people.
But they weren't alive
during the Invasión de Playa Girón.
I was there.
I witnessed firsthand Yanqui treachery.
And now, here you are,
true to your nature,
trying to get us to bargain away our honor.
We currently have three Cuban nationals
in our federal prison.
We're proposing a simple swap.
These three spies for Ms. Rahim.
My dear Madam Secretary, there's nothing simple in this.
The men you just spoke of are soldiers.
They knew the risks when they accepted their mission.
Afeni Rahim, on the other hand,
is a hero of the people
who came to these shores for refuge.
BARZAN: General?
Por favor.
Manuel, I know you worked very hard
on this agreement.
But what kind of revolutionaries would we be
if we sold out our friends for a few pieces of silver?
BARZAN: The current regime has instituted changes which allow
self-employed people to legally run their own businesses.
Manuel, I think we'd like to go back to the hotel, please?
I bet you didn't know
that we have 201 legal self-employment categories.
For instance, number 35-- restaurant owner.
Manuel, please.
This small restaurant, or paladar,
as we call them, is very popular.
I thought you might like to try some local cuisine.
Uh, it's been a tough morning,
and Secretary McCord doesn't have much of an appetite.
No, my dear.
What's on the agenda is a speech where I tell you
that Cuba is thriving with new changes.
But that's a lie.
The average Cuban cannot survive
on the rations provided by the government.
I love my country, Madam Secretary.
And I want to see it thrive,
but that is not possible until the American embargo
is once and forever lifted.
Now, my country may never hand over
Afeni Rahim,
but perhaps Comrade Rahim could be convinced
to return to America of her own free will.
I-I don't understand.
This paladar is owned by none other than
Afeni Rahim.
And that is her.
I trust you have built up an appetite?
It's so graphic.
It's finding light in the darkness.
Mom told me about your student.
She said it's been hard for you.
I'm fine.
Whatever.
Hey, what are doing? What?
Give me that thing. To Instagram when we get back to civilization.
Come here. Do you have any idea
how hard these people have had to work to preserve this?
And you have the audacity to belittle their beliefs.
You have the audacity to... How am I belittling anyone's beliefs?
I'm taking the picture because it's beautiful.
You're taking it to get "likes."
You're becoming someone who I don't even know.
Then maybe you should get to know me.
I'll be in the car.
Afeni Rahim.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm Secretary...
...of State Elizabeth McCord.
I'm aware, and you're here
because my revolutionary brothers
in Havana told your government
to stick it where the sun don't shine.
Something like that, yeah.
Can I have a moment of your time?
White folks are always taking my time.
I have an opportunity
to lift the U.S. embargo, but I need your help.
There are people
who want you to come back to the U.S.
to serve your sentence.
What if I could ensure
that you would be at a minimum-security prison
close to your daughter in Connecticut?
You have a grandson you haven't met.
And you would be eligible for parole in three years.
Wouldn't that be convenient for you?
I simply turn myself over to the Feds,
and you get whatever it is you want.
Not just me.
Don't you think you owe the Cuban people something
for taking you in?
You could singlehandedly improve their lives.
The shooting of Officer Burke?
The Chicago cops and the FBI
had targeted us, declared us
enemies of the State.
They killed my friends, wounded me,
arrested me, planted evidence,
intimidated witnesses.
I did not shoot that cop.
Never even raised my gun.
I'm sorry
that he died,
but two of my comrades died, too,
and nobody is talking about that.
He pulled his gun first.
We weren't looking for trouble,
but that has never stopped a cop
from shooting black folks on sight.
DAISY: The all-white jury
that sentenced you only took 30 minutes
to give you life in prison.
That wouldn't happen today. We might have
terrible Internet, but we get news.
So you tell me-- was it different
for Trayvon Martin, or Eric Garner?
Is it any different
in Ferguson, Missouri, or Charleston, South Carolina?
No?
I didn't think so.
I need all FBI records pertaining
to the arrest and trial of Afeni Rahim in Chicago, 1977.
Like I told your office,
you need to fill out the FOIA request.
You'll hear something in the next three months.
Three months? Do you know what'll happen in three months?
Senator Koester from Missouri will realize
that the Arch is dirty,
and he'll want money to clean it,
but that money was already promised to Senator Tilden,
and if we lose Tilden, we lose Moorehouse
for reasons I don't understand.
So, would you please
get me those records?!
Like I said, you fill out the form, then we can proc...
(crying)
Okay, tell you what.
Maybe I can expedite those files for you.
Oh! Thank you.
I'm sorry. I'm...
(whimpers)
(sighs)
(quietly): Blake, yeah, tell the secretary I got the files.
(water spritzing)
Mrs. Thomas? Uh?
Matt Mahoney. Uh, we spoke earlier on the phone?
Of course!
Oh, I'm so glad you came.
Oh. Bill is inside.
He's been so excited.
Bill?
Mr. Thomas, it's-it's an honor.
My old Marine uniform.
Oh, yeah. What do you think?
MRS. THOMAS: I think I should let out the pants.
(laughter)
It looks... You look great.
Please sit down.
Yeah. Thank you. Oh.
Last time I had this on was the day we left Cuba in '61.
Oh, what was that like? The day we left?
It must have been a madhouse.
Oh, it was, but not for the reasons you'd expect.
There was quite a crowd gathering,
so the Cubans sent a company of militia to protect us.
But the crowd wasn't violent at all. They wanted visas.
No one wanted to be left behind.
We closed the embassy January 3, 1961,
and we sailed out of the harbor that same night.
Many of us had been there for years.
Our lives were there.
We fell in love with the country, the people.
I met the love of my life there. Oh.
I thought, a couple of years,
Castro would be gone, we'd be back.
But it's been 54 years,
and we haven't set foot in Cuba since that day.
Well, that is about to change, sir.
His name was Ivan Kolashkov.
He was my student.
And he killed himself.
And I'm still...
dealing with his death.
He was only 26.
And I know you think that makes him an adult, but...
it doesn't. He was just a kid.
He was smart, driven.
Stubborn.... like you.
And gay... and hiding it from everybody,
including his parents and his friends.
Wow. Yeah.
It's not your fault he killed himself.
You were just his teacher.
I'm having a tough time with this.
I haven't been sleeping well.
Really? Yeah, I've been watching
a lot of Gunsmoke in the middle of the night.
What's Gunsmoke?
(chuckles): It's... an old TV show.
It's a Western.
I liked it when I was a kid.
It's weird to think of you as a kid.
Well, it's weird to think of you as an adult.
I should have told you about the car.
I understand you wanting
to fix the car-- you want to grow up,
you want to have more responsibility--
but...
(softly): don't be in such a rush.
Once you grow up, things get really complicated.
Today I just wanted to go back in time to our trip to England
when touring churches was our thing.
You should wake me up the next time you watch Gunsmoke.
Maybe that can be our thing.
(chuckles): Okay.
So, where to now?
Mm...
it's up to you.
No way!
You're drivin'.
Just don't kill me, cause if you do Oh... (gasps)
your mother will kill you. How do you turn this thing on, Dad?
Afeni.
I thought I made myself clear.
♪ ♪
What she wants more than anything is a soapbox.
This isn't only about justice for herself.
It's bigger than that, and she knows it.
Remind her that she's a revolutionary.
♪ ♪
Under COINTELPRO,
the FBI wiretapped your defense team
and they suppressed forensic evidence
that made it clear you didn't fire
the murder weapon.
Afeni,
based on these findings, Attorney General Cronenberg
is offering you a new trial.
And we will make sure that these files
are splashed across every newspaper
in the country.
DAISY: You're right-- there are
a lot of things that haven't changed since your revolution.
But if you hope to make any difference now,
it won't be here in this restaurant.
Come back to the States, face a jury of your peers,
and you'll have the eyes and ears of the entire nation.
(seabirds squawking in distance)
Our diplomats will be more effective
in responding to American citizens who need help
or when responding
to American citizens who need help? HENRY: When.
But, see, I think "in" is better.
You're right.
"When" implies American citizens
will need help.
But "in" is so...
noncommittal.
Do you think that "in" is noncommittal, like...?
I'm gonna stay noncommittal on that.
(chuckles)
"When" is better.
You're right. Thank you.
Your speech is perfect. (sighs)
And so are you. Here.
What is this?
Alison and I cut our church tour short,
stopped at an outdoor flea market-- she picked it out.
Oh! It's beautiful!
She suggested that... you could wear it today
as a symbol of Cuba's nascent entrepreneurship.
She said "nascent"?
Oh.
Maybe it's an SAT word.
I don't know.
I think we underestimate her.
Maybe.
How do I look?
Like you're ready to make some history.
But do I look hot?
Hot as could be. (laughs)
Thank you...
for your hard work returning a dangerous fugitive to face justice.
Yeah, I wish you'd come to me first
before going public-- we could work something out.
I will keep that in mind in the future.
You don't have a future.
At least not with this administration.
An administration that still controls the party purse strings.
So that reelection campaign you got coming up...
you're gonna be out there on your own.
The president doesn't appreciate being publicly strong-armed,
and neither do I.
Nice talk.
(pats back) See you in there.
Afeni Rahim is in the air, accompanied by federal marshals,
the senate just approved lifting the embargo,
and the president will be signing the bill
as you're giving your speech. We actually pulled it off.
Excellent work. And no surprises coming
out of left field. There is one.
MATT: Madam Secretary,
I'd like you to meet Staff Sergeant Bill Thomas
and PFC Joseph Hoffman.
These were the two Marines that lowered the American flag
when the embassy closed in 1961.
I thought they should be here today when we raise it again.
Gentlemen, it's an honor
to meet you.
I can't imagine two people
I'd rather have here today.
Happy to serve.
Never thought I'd see this day.
Gentlemen, if you'll follow me,
I'll show you to your place.
Nice work.
In case you'd like to introduce them,
I wrote a little something.
It's my third draft.
(Elizabeth laughing)
Today the United States and Cuba begin a new chapter.
We may have different views on many topics,
but we need not feel threatened by our differences.
In the spirit of new beginnings,
the U.S. Senate has just voted
to lift the 54-year trade embargo on Cuba.
(man whoops)
This bold act by President Dalton
should be a symbol
to every Cuban...
that the United States intends to leave the past behind...
Good of you to be here.
I know you weren't in favor of this.
Come on, Russell, at the end of the day
it's a win for the president,
and that's all that really matters.
♪ ♪
(cameras clicking)
(speaking inaudibly)
ELIZABETH: I stand here
not only because of the visionary leadership
of President Dalton and his Cuban counterparts...
but also because
of the passion and commitment of so many others
who have given of themselves
to make this happen.
Today...
...as we once again raise our flag over the embassy,
let's remember the day it was taken down,
and the hardships that followed,
and vow to keep alive the promise of American ideals
that this flag symbolizes.
Freedom from oppression.
Freedom of expression.
And the hope for a bright future.
Thank you.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Still think this is a bad idea?
CROWD (chanting): Free Afeni! Free Afeni! Free Afeni!
Mom...
CROWD: Free Afeni! Free Afreni!
(crowd continues chanting)
(applause)
I'd like to make a brief statement.
♪ ♪
I thought some good Cuban rum might be
the perfect way to toast our victory.
It is. Thank you. (chuckles)
And nothing like a morning shot of rum.
I was thinking later.
Like when it's not...
9:00 a.m.
Drink up.
You're gonna need it.
Henry was right...
about Sterling being behind Parisi's attempt
to scuttle Cuba.
I noticed the two of them getting chummy
at the signing ceremony, so I reached out
to one of Parisi's staffers...
who confirmed a call a few days ago...
between Sterling and Parisi.
Ten minutes later,
Parisi mobilized his whole staff to track down the cop's wife.
But why?
I mean...
what could Sterling
offer Parisi?
Apparently, a cabinet post in Dalton's second term.
Sterling went behind the president's back
and worked directly against him.
If I were a paranoid man,
I'd say Sterling wanted to scuttle lifting the embargo
not only 'cause he didn't believe in it,
but because we did,
and Dalton listened to us.
He wants to be
the only voice in the president's ear,
so he tried to make us look bad.
♪ ♪
I don't think that's paranoid.
(sets glass down)
What do we do now?
(laughs softly)
We bury him.
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