Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - South China Sea - full transcript

When some environmentalists are trying to reveal what the Chinese are doing to the environment are arrested. Elizabeth tries to get them released but the Chinese refuse. Elizabeth tells the President, she thinks they should turn to Vietnam for help and she thinks the President should accompany her when she goes. Henry's anxious for the FBI to find out if the one he suspects of being the one stalking his family is the one. But he thinks they're dragging their feet. So he sets out to find out himself.

Come on.
Come on, let's move.
Okay, guys,
let's get what we can
and get out fast.
My name is Becca Mason.
My colleagues and I,
with the environmental group
Ocean Relief Foundation,
have managed to sneak ashore
here on Shipwreck Reef.
Until recently,
it was an uninhabited atoll,
home to an
incredibly biodiverse
coral reef.
Like many such atolls,
this reef is
being developed
by the Chinese military.
And by "developed,"
I mean demolished.
You can see
the construction
going on over there.
To build airstrips
and radar stations,
they pulverize the coral
and pave over it
with concrete,
destroying it forever.
Maybe you're thinking,
"So what?
"Who cares about
a little speck
in the middle
of a faraway sea?"
Then consider this:
These reefs
provide one tenth of all
the seafood on Earth,
providing food
for millions of people.
(engine rumbling)
What will happen
when that food is gone?
(sirens wailing)
We're here because
someone needs to act
before it's too late.
We're hoping you'll see this
and that someone will be you.
They're here.
Let's go.
BECCA:
Do we have it?
Wait, guys,
do we have it?!
We're good. BECCA: Let's
get the hell out of here.
(gunshots firing)
Becca.
HENRY: I just can't believe
you didn't mention
Ray Merchant to the FBI,
that's all.
I didn't think it was relevant.
Elizabeth,
someone is stalking
our family.
How could a former student
who is obsessed with you
not be relevant?
He just wanted me to be
his thesis advisor.
Oh, he wanted you to be
a lot more than that.
Okay.
Admittedly,
Ray got a little weird.
A lit...
And don't say,
"Oh, he got a lot more
than that."
Well, he did.
Yeah, okay.
He did.
He's bipolar,
and the school
dealt with it,
and we haven't heard
anything from him since.
You do remember I used to do
this kind of stuff for the CIA.
Can you get
your corner, please?
No, I will not, and
I don't appreciate
how glib you're being
about this right now.
That's your excuse
for not helping.
Okay.
That... was
a little glib.
What did he say to you
when you turned him down?
He said he wanted to
hurt himself and me.
Okay, but you of all people,
you know how wound up
these gifted kids can get.
Exactly.
Do you really think
that a brilliant young guy
with a screw loose couldn't have
pulled off some of the stuff
that's been happening? I don't
know where Ray Merchant is now,
but I doubt an interview
with the FBI
would be very good
for his mental health.
That's not my problem.
The safety of our family
is my problem.
A problem I caused. I...
That's not what I meant.
Yeah, but that's
the truth of it, right?
Someone's threatening our kids,
and it's my fault.
Elizabeth, no one believes
in your work,
in you, more than I do.
Do you know who else
is obsessed with me?
Hezbollah, ISIS,
the Sinaloa Cartel.
Any one of them
would happily murder
our family if it would
further their agenda.
So, you know,
that's fun to live with.
Listen to me.
It's just that, a lot of times,
stalkers have a
personal relationship
with their victims.
I had a bad feeling
about this kid then,
and I still have it now.
(sighs)
Fine.
Y-You want to talk to the FBI,
you can talk to the FBI.
On one condition.
Name it.
You have to put the shams
on the big pillows.
I'm sorry, but glib is the
only way I can deal right now.
Oh, man, that's the worst job
in the whole house.
Yes, I know.
...and Nadine is wondering
how China's taking
of the activists from Ocean
Relief Foundation Thanks.
will impact your trip
to Vietnam.
You mean the Great
Catfish Summit?
It's a $360 million industry
in the U.S.
Vietnam is undercutting our
producers on the world market.
Which is one of the
last impediments
to full normalization
between our countries.
I know why I'm going, Blake.
How's your Uncle Fred the
catfish farmer, by the way?
E-mailing
voluminously, ma'am.
(sighs)
Ooh. In answer
to, uh, Nadine's question,
I see no reason
why the Ocean
Relief situation
would impact my trip
at this point.
Daisy is getting input
from the group
and putting together
a statement.
Ooh, speaking of statements,
have the Chinese made one yet?
Not as yet, no.
Hmm. Well,
that's something.
The South China Sea is one of
the most dangerous flash points
on this planet.
What the hell were those
kids doing out there?
Protesting its destruction,
apparently.
Which they're
not wrong about.
Okay, so, for the briefing,
China's building these bases
to assert its claim that it
owns the whole sea because why?
Oil and gas.
Shipping lanes.
Fishing's pretty good, too.
You guys, 11 billion
proven barrels of oil
underneath the SCS.
That's what China wants.
What are we
even talking about?
Maybe they want control of
the $5 trillion worth of cargo
that passes
through it each year.
$1.2 trillion of which
touches U.S. ports, because,
you know, we buy everything
from China now.
Okay, you want to play
Fun with Numbers? Here.
A population of 1.3 billion
with one of the world's
largest fisheries
in its backyard.
All I'm saying. Oh, and
don't forget to note
that tensions have
been rising dangerously
not just with the U.S.
but with all
of China's neighbors on the sea.
It's a real powder keg.
God, what the hell were
those kids doing out there?
Exactly. Good luck
with the briefing.
ELIZABETH: Well, with any
luck, we might not have
to do a briefing at all.
The Chinese haven't even
released a statement.
I'm sure they're not looking
to set off a confrontation
over an incident
this small.
Besides, Chen and I have a
pretty good relationship.
I'm sure we can
sort this out.
I have the foreign minister
ready for you.
Oh, great. Thank you.
Yeah.
Madam Secretary.
I wanted to reach out to you
about this situation
with the activists because
I think
it's in both our interests
to resolve this...
misunderstanding quickly.
I agree.
Good. So where do we start?
Simply acknowledge
that they were trespassing
on Chinese territory,
and we can go from there.
Well, obviously,
I'm not gonna do that.
Not one country
in the world, mine included,
recognizes the territorial
claims China is making
in the South China Sea.
Then the Western spies
we apprehended
will be tried for trespassing
on our island.
Not only is it not your island,
it's not even an island.
It's a coral atoll you illegally
annexed and paved over.
And, furthermore, "spies"?
Really? Come on, Ming.
We've worked closely together
on a range of incredibly
complex issues.
I think we can handle
some hippies on a raft.
I believe I've made
China's position clear.
You would be wise not to meddle
further in our internal affairs.
Then let me be equally clear:
Those activists were taken
on disputed territory
and, therefore, illegally.
We want them released
immediately.
It seems we have nothing further
to discuss.
Good day, Madam Secretary.
Wow.
Ming out.
Right?
What the hell was that?
Your motorcade is waiting to
take you to the White House.
Good. 'Cause I have
some recommendations
for the president.
MAN:
And after the incident at UVA,
has Mr. Merchant attempted
to... make contact
with your wife
in any way?
Not that we're aware of.
But on social media,
he's been highly critical
of U.S. foreign policy
in general
and of my wife specifically.
"Secretary McCord's legacy:
a string of
epic disasters."
"Secretary McCord
should be ashamed.
So many innocent lives ruined.
#criminal."
Tell me,
did any of his posts contain
direct threats against
the secretary or your family?
Direct threats, no.
Then as much
as I might
disagree with them,
the man's entitled
to his opinions.
Of course. But look at this.
On his profile page,
under "Works At,"
he wrote "I.T. Specialist."
Now, given the technical nature
of the attacks against my family
and his history with my wife,
I would say
that Ray Merchant
has both means and motive.
He might.
As I said,
we're looking carefully
at a range of
potential suspects.
But I assure you, we'll look
at Mr. Merchant as well.
When?
Look, the main thing
is for you and your family
to stay calm...
My family is under attack,
Agent Santangelo.
I asked you
a question.
When are you going to look
into Ray Merchant?
As soon as possible.
Thank you for your time.
Of course.
My regards to
the secretary.
DALTON:
Bess, I'm thinking
you should hold off
on your trip to Vietnam
until things are settled
with China.
With respect, sir,
I disagree.
Oh, I think the
catfish can wait.
But our response
to China's aggression can't.
They're up to something.
I don't... I don't know what.
Best guess?
They're using
this... random event
with these activists showing up
on Shipwreck Reef as...
pretext to go big
in the South
China Sea.
To, what,
leverage us
into accepting their
territorial claims?
Well, why else would
they be so intransigent
when there's
so much at stake?
I mean, maybe they've decided
this is their moment.
So what do you suggest we do?
Well,
go to Vietnam.
Together.
A presidential visit would
certainly send the Chinese
a message that
we're not blinking.
Furthermore, the catfish deal
got hung up in part
because Vietnam was holding out
for a small amount
of lethal military aid.
I propose that if China
hasn't released the activists
by the time
we touch down,
we give Vietnam
the kitchen sink.
Wow. Chen must have really
pissed you off this morning.
You'd think
he'd know better by now.
DALTON:
How does this
comport with
our values?
Vietnam's human rights record
isn't exactly inspirational.
Which is why we'll include
certain benchmarks
that they'll have to meet
to get the hardware they want.
You know,
the last time I saw Vietnam
was at the end
of my second tour of duty.
Well, no time like the present.
You'd not only
be sending
a message to China but
to the Evans campaign as well.
Show that just because you're
running as an independent,
you haven't gone soft
on defense.
Which is something that Evans
is always going on about.
Yeah. Pretty rich coming
from a guy who hasn't seen
the inside
of a recruitment center,
much less a combat zone.
Well, we all serve
in our own way.
Yes.
And you served
with honor.
I mean, if you were
to revisit
some of your old...
I'm not trading
on my military service
for the damn election.
Of course not.
Still,
Bess makes a good point.
China's
pushing us.
We need to push back.
The trip's on.
That'll be all.
Thank you, sir.
Yes, sir.
(door opens and closes)
DALTON: Mr. President,
I'd heard wonderful things
about the progress
your country has made,
but those reports
pale in comparison
to seeing it firsthand.
Thank you, Mr. President.
We felt you would be
more interested
to see Ho Chi Minh City,
which you would remember
from your youth,
than the capital.
If you had told me
when I was
a 20-year-old lieutenant
that all these years later,
this is where I'd be,
I'd have told you you're crazy.
If you had told me
that I would even
survive the war,
I would have told you
you were crazy.
Look at them,
strolling and chatting.
You'd never guess they
fought a war against each other.
Well, our countries
have come a long way.
Yes, but not so far that the
president of the United States
just drops by to say hello.
Again, I do apologize
for the short notice.
No, it's an honor.
But with all due respect,
Madam Secretary,
I'm waiting for the catch.
We came here to discuss
the military aid portion
of the trade deal.
Which we will have
to insist upon
if any deal is
to go through.
The United States
is prepared to lift
the arms embargo entirely.
What's the matter,
catfish got your tongue?
We were prepared for
a much bigger fight
over much less.
Well, here's the catch
you were waiting for.
There are certain
human rights
and civil society benchmarks
that Vietnam will have to meet
in order to get
the bigger ticket
military items.
Dissidents for
destroyers. Mm...
Of course, the
timing of all this
makes me wonder if
this sudden windfall
has something to do
with the activists
China recently detained.
Let's just say that we value
your sovereignty
in the South China Sea
as much as you do.
ELIZABETH:
Sir, you wanted to see me?
Just wanted to say nice work
putting this together.
Thank you.
Yeah.
It was good that
I came here.
Well, I think so.
The city's so
different now,
but the air...
smells, feels the same.
Humidity,
smoke from the
cooking fires.
Just the faintest hint
of jasmine. (chuckles)
Oh, I understand.
I think.
Every time I go back
to the Middle East--
the heat,
the sand in my clothes.
Well...
it brings a lot
of it back.
Not all of it welcome.
Russell's always after me
to tout my service more.
Well, you certainly could.
Got a lot to be proud of.
Don't get me wrong,
I'm proud to have
served, but, uh...
...as for what I
actually did...
One time...
I came this close
to shooting a woman
and the baby
in her arms.
Yep.
I was all jacked up on
adrenaline from a firefight.
Heard footsteps behind me,
so I whirled around,
weapon up, safety off.
I honestly can't tell you
why I didn't pull the trigger.
It sure wasn't
wisdom or heroism
or... leadership.
It was luck.
Flash of a feeling, at best.
And that's the difference
between me living
in the White House
instead of on the street,
like so many guys.
(chuckles)
Listen to the old
marine go on and on.
No, no, it's okay.
I'm... Jet lag.
BLAKE: Mr. President, Madam
Secretary, pardon my interruption.
Blake,
what's up?
Minister Chen is here and wants
to see you immediately.
Well, that didn't
take long.
Guess they got our message.
Minister Chen,
what a pleasant surprise.
Is it?
Did you honestly
think we would let
these outrageous
provocations go unanswered?
Did you
honestly think
we would?
The primary purpose
of my visit is
to remind Vietnam we
have many levers to pull
if they choose to take
our friendship for granted.
That's what you call
your history with Vietnam?
A friendship based
on mutual respect?
That you would
presume to lecture me
on friendship with Vietnam,
when your country
killed millions of Vietnamese,
would be laughable
if it weren't so sickening.
(sighs)
(sighs)
Those activists
are innocent,
and their families
are terrified.
Give 'em back, Ming,
before this goes
any further.
To the contrary,
the Ministry of Justice
has moved up their trial.
Espionage being such
a serious crime.
I warned you not to
meddle in our affairs.
Now there will be
consequences.
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get the... ALISON and JASON: Dad!
I'm here! I'm down here!
What's going on? Why
are all the lights on?
It's like a Stephen King
novel up there.
I don't know. It's...
probably just a power surge.
(alarm whooping)
Dr. McCord, is everything all right?
(screams)
All right, all right,
it's okay.
Hey, easy, easy, easy,
easy. It's okay.
(alarm continues)
♪ ♪
SANTANGELO: We've taken
the house's appliances offline
so they can't be
hacked again.
They shouldn't have been able
to be hacked in the first place.
(sighs)
Did the hackers leave
any signatures
that you can work with?
So far, it's untraceable.
Hmm.
I understand
your frustration.
No, I-I don't think
you do.
We live surrounded
by security,
and yet somehow
these people managed
to essentially get
into our home.
Dr. McCord, with
all due respect,
whoever did this, this
is what they want:
for you to lose confidence
in the people charged
with protecting your family.
Well, with all due respect,
it's working.
Did you look into Ray Merchant?
He's part of our
investigation, yes.
And what did you find?
He's a private
citizen.
I can't share those
kinds of details with you.
No leads, no information
sharing, and yet you expect
the secretary of state
and her family
to stay in a house
that can't be secured.
Do I have that right,
Agent Santangelo?
What the hell has to happen
for you people
to actually do your jobs?
Dad...
(clears throat)
Is everything okay?
Yeah.
Go upstairs.
I'll-I'll be up in a minute.
Again, the house is offline.
Diplomatic Security's
on high alert.
This house is probably
the safest place
the secretary could be.
And what does that tell you?
How was your trip?
So relaxing.
What can I help you with?
I'm hearing things.
Inside or outside
of your head?
A reporter told me he heard
there was a security breach
at your home last night?
Well, then that reporter just
earned himself an exclusive
with me at an unspecified
future date. Why?
Because he's not going
to run that story.
I... I...
(sighs)
My...
family and I are being stalked
by a very capable
individual or group.
Oh, my God.
Well, it is what it is.
But stalkers feed
on engagement.
So if this
becomes news,
then they will have
achieved their goal, which,
in turn, will encourage them
to continue. You see
where I'm going.
I should be able to move him off
without giving anything away.
Yeah. Thank you.
Well, it's a small price
to pay for 20 minutes alone
with our charming and
delightful secretary of state.
She sounds great.
I'd like to meet her someday.
(chuckles)
Oh, more good news, I bet.
Welcome back, ma'am.
Thank you.
China appears to be acting
on its threats.
What's going on?
Well, as you know, the USS
Wayne Morris Carrier
Strike Group
has moved
into the South China Sea.
Now Chinese fighters are flying
dangerously close to our ships.
Boy, I wish I knew what
they were playing at.
Yeah. And, uh, one other thing.
It seems China plans
to recall their pandas from
the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Their pandas?
From the National Zoo.
Yes, ma'am.
I thought they were a gift.
They were on loan,
and, apparently, China
can take them back
whenever they wish.
So, not a gift then.
Okay, thank you.
Holding
our citizens,
buzzing our ships,
taking our pandas.
Can't say they're
not covering their bases.
You tell me there's
fresh coffee in here.
There is.
Also Jay and Tom Murphy,
the head
of the Ocean Relief Foundation.
Ah. Thanks.
(clears throat)
Mr. Murphy,
pleasure to meet you.
I'm sorry it's under
such challenging circumstances.
Thank you,
Madam Secretary.
I was just
assuring Mr. Murphy
that the State Department is
deeply concerned about the fate
of the Ocean Relief members
in Chinese custody.
And I was just about to say
you sure have a funny way
of showing it.
I sense
your disrespectful tone
is meant to goad me
into asking,
"What do you mean
by that?"
Our server.
Well, it was hacked.
Pretty much fried.
Years of files, terabytes
of heavily encrypted data
just-- pfft--
gone, overnight.
Curious timing, no?
Indeed. Have you
spoken with the FBI?
The FBI.
As if they haven't been
harassing us for years.
Look, uh,
Madam Secretary,
we tell the people
what they need to hear.
Okay?
Big corporations
and their lackeys
in government
don't appreciate that.
I-I'm sorry, but are you
kidding me with this?
We're trying to free your
colleagues and-and you come here
and spin out
some paranoid fantasy?
Mr. Murphy,
we're on your side.
Why would we hack your server?
The U.S. and China are business
partners in the South China Sea
just as often as they're rivals.
You're not gonna
let little things
like the health
of the planet
and food security for
millions of people
get in the way of
all that money.
Uh-huh. Got it.
You're pretty self-righteous
for a guy
who sent a bunch
of 20-somethings
into one of the most
dangerous places on Earth.
They knew what
they were
getting into.
Based on my understanding
of the Chinese
judicial system...
I can assure you they did not.
Tell me, uh,
when did your server go down?
Uh...
shortly after we, uh,
lost contact
with Becca and the others.
Mr. Murphy,
thanks for coming in.
We didn't hack your server,
and we're gonna try
and get your colleagues back,
and I will keep you up to date
with our progress.
Thanks for coming in.
Blake.
Well...
he was right about one thing--
the timing is pretty strange.
I think it's safe
to assume the U.S. didn't
hack Ocean Relief,
so that leaves
the most obvious suspect.
Exactly.
You were right, ma'am.
The root kit involved
had all the signatures of the
other Chinese cyber attacks.
Do you think
this is just revenge
for the activists
making the Chinese look bad,
or something more concrete?
Um, Madam Secretary,
if I may...
(clears throat)
Moments prior to their capture,
the activists on Shipwreck Reef
uploaded a couple of video files
to the Ocean Relief's network,
and the Chinese used
a brute-force attack to gain
access to the server,
then initiated a script
to wipe all the files.
They weren't
taking any chances.
Well, can you recover 'em?
I'll do my absolute
best, ma'am.
Great work so far.
Oh, thank you, ma'am.
You know you don't
have to say "ma'am"
after every time, Captain.
Yes, ma'am.
(chuckling): Ah, sorry.
It's just, uh, habit.
And also... nerves.
You're kind of my hero.
Happens to the best of us.
You're on secondment
to Oliver Shaw
from CyberCom?
Yes.
So how come you're not
in Silicon Valley
inventing distracting apps?
I like fighting bad guys.
Me, too.
Okay, obviously, these activists
stumbled on something
some of the Chinese
wanted to keep hidden.
Question is, what?
I got a call from FBI Director
Doherty this morning.
HENRY: Calling to complain
that I yelled
at Santangelo, no doubt.
No, I think
it was for the opposite reason.
It was like
a customer service call.
He wanted to make sure
that I'm satisfied.
Good.
No, Henry, not good.
These are the people charged
with protecting our lives.
We need to trust them.
What if they're not
up to the job, huh?
The FBI and Diplomatic Security.
Do you ever think about that?
No. Because, if I did,
I'd have to quit.
Look, I know that
this Ray Merchant theory
is compelling...
Don't talk to me like I'm crazy.
Then stop acting like it.
The kids were terrified last
night. Do you understand that?
Yes, and you
getting obsessed about it
isn't helpful.
I am not just
gonna sit back and do nothing.
Be better if you did.
Am I embarrassing you now?
You know what?
We're both stressed and tired,
so I'm gonna choose
to believe you didn't mean that.
Elizabeth, I...
No, I got to go.
DAISY:
So, the pack
was all over me about
China at the briefing.
But you'll be happy to know
that the reporter I mentioned
is quietly awaiting his
one-on-one with you. (sighs)
Thank you. Well done. RUSSELL:
We're not sending 'em back.
Russell Jackson,
ma'am.
Who are we not sending back?
What do you mean,
who? The pandas.
Not Tian Tian, not Bao Bao,
not little Bei Bei...
none of them. They're ours,
and they're staying right here,
do you understand?
Technically, they're not ours.
China's thrown the rule book out
the window, so don't talk to me
about "technically." It's time
to draw a line in the sand.
Well, I couldn't agree more.
I'm just... I'm not so sure
this is quite the issue.
Oh, no? Then let me ask
you this: How many people
visit the National Zoo each
year just to see those pandas?
Millions.
That's right.
Millions. So, on top of
all the other humiliations
that China is visiting
upon our heads,
those millions
of voters
are about to watch
us surrender
their favorite
charismatic megafauna--
the very crown jewels
of our National Zoo--
without a single
damn shot!
Not on my watch, lady.
It is not happening.
So...
you want us to stop them?
What do you think
I'm here for?
Well, just... No offense,
Russell, but I...
Don't you think, maybe,
you're-you're letting
the tail wag the panda here?
Oh, you want to make fun?
Mm...
Well, go ahead.
Guess what.
In international relations,
symbols matter.
In elections, even more so.
I'll give you another example.
At the zoo, they've got this
camera set up in their habitat.
Panda Cam. That's right.
One day, very soon,
the Panda Cam will go dark.
And when it does, and kids
all over America start crying
'cause Bei Bei's
not in his little house,
who do you think their
parents are gonna blame?
China gets it, believe me.
Uh, so do I.
I-I...
We're on it.
Wait.
You're a Panda-Cammer, too?
Shut up.
It's relaxing.
It's good for my blood pressure.
Who saw that coming?
(laughs)
A-mazing.
Well,
you heard the man.
Save our pandas.
(chuckling):
Oh, no.
Get on it.
What do you got for me?
Something I shouldn't.
My buddy at the
Bureau came through.
He got me some intel
on your friend,
Ray Merchant.
And?
So, after UVA, Merchant
applied for government work but
couldn't get security clearance.
Problem with his
background check.
Something he could
blame Elizabeth for.
Unable to find work
in the hallowed
halls of government
writing reports
nobody would ever read,
our young misfit
goes back to school again.
Computers this time?
Cyber security, to be exact.
He's two for two.
What else?
You're not gonna
like this one.
What is it?
He got fired
a couple of years ago.
Sexually harassed
a coworker.
Well, he fits the profile
to a tee.
Look... is he your guy?
I don't know.
But you're not wrong
to think that he might be.
What are the Feds
doing about it?
My buddy didn't say,
but I'm sure they're into it.
So now it's time to
let them do their thing.
Okay?
Okay, yeah. Sure.
Meantime, just try to keep
your mind off of it.
How about we grab
a beer tomorrow night?
Thanks, Jose.
DAISY: Did you know that
U.S. zoos pay China
$2 million per year
for the pandas
in our country?
They are worth it.
A quarter of which
is supposed to be
allocated for the preservation
of panda habitat in the wild.
Yeah, they need their
bamboo, don't they?
Yes, you do.
Hey, Blake. Blake.
Sorry.
Here's the thing.
Guess what China hasn't been doing.
Allocating a quarter
of the funds towards
the panda habitat preservation?
Not according to this report
by a consortium
of environmental groups.
Does China accept that?
Nope.
But we did. Well, then,
we can make the argument
that they are in breach of
their half of the agreement.
Therefore, we don't have
to give the pandas back.
That's got to be good enough
for Russell Jackson.
Let's hope so.
(sighs)
By the way, can we talk about
his obsession with Panda Cam?
How weird is that?
Oh, I get it, man.
I am all in... Oh, yes!
You are tired
from your snack
and need a nap in the sun.
Hi. Can I help you?
Uh, Captain Ronnie Baker
from Oliver Shaw's office,
to see the secretary?
Yes, the secretary's
expecting you.
Wait.
You're Ronnie?
Yes, ma'am.
From Oliver's office?
Yes, ma'am.
You don't have
to call me "ma'am."
We're like the same age.
S-Sorry. It's a habit.
Oh, my God.
You're Daisy,
from... from you know.
From his
personal life. And you're Ronnie.
From work.
And texts about work.
"Sorry, I have to take
this text during dinner,
national security is at stake"
Ronnie.
Yep. That's me.
We thought you were a guy.
Oh.
Yeah, no. I just love your
guys's story. (chuckles)
I kind of want
to give you a hug,
but that's weird, right?
Mm...
Oh? Okay.
(both laugh) Aw.
(computer dings)
Oh!
Secretary's ready for you.
I'm going.
Definitely not a dude.
She's sweet.
Madam Secretary.
Oh. Captain Baker.
Were you able to
recover the files?
Yeah... Well, the good news
is they didn't have time
to securely erase them all.
So the hackers overwrote parts
of the files with random data,
so we had some trouble
reconstructing them.
But we found these
among the most recently
uploaded files.
...I mean demolished.
You can see the construction
going on over there.
To build airstrips
and radar stations,
they pulverize the coral
and pave over it with concrete,
destroying it forever.
She seems like good people.
Yeah, she does.
There's not really
anything here, unfortunately.
Didn't you say there was footage
from a second camera, or...?
Yeah. Here it is.
Maybe you're thinking,
"So what?
"Who cares about
a little speck in the middle
of a faraway sea?"
No.
This just looks like
more of the same.
These reefs provide...
Wait, wait, wait.
(video pauses)
Can-Can you make this...
go back?
Yeah.
These reefs provide one tenth
of all seafood on...
Right there.
What the hell is that?
It's a mobile launch pad.
Specifically,
a TAS5450 8x8
special heavy-duty truck.
Designed to deploy Dong-Feng 15
Tactical-Theatre
Ballistic Missiles.
From that position,
China can strike major
population centers
all over Southeast Asia
within minutes.
And effectively demand control
over the entire South China Sea.
This is why
they were being
so aggressive with
the Ocean Relief activists,
why they hacked the server.
They wanted to keep
the world in the dark
until the missiles
could be deployed.
Why didn't we know about this
until now, General?
The launcher was camouflaged
from aerial surveillance.
We could never
get close enough
for ground-level observation.
So you're telling
me we owe this
game-changing
intelligence coup
to a lucky break from
Scooby and the gang?
Unbelievable.
And if the launcher
is already there,
the missiles are only
days away from delivery.
DALTON:
This is a massive escalation.
And China needs to know
that it won't stand.
Madam Secretary, I don't know where
you're getting this information.
From the server
you tried to destroy.
But we'll come back
to the cyber warfare
another time.
You've got bigger problems
right now.
Do I? Because I have no idea
what you're talking about.
And, you know,
it's a good thing you don't.
It was a mistake
that your military
didn't loop you in.
Because...
with your close personal ties
to the American government,
I am sure you could have
told them with certainty
that we will never permit
those missiles to be deployed.
It is not for the United States
to tell us what is permitted.
On your own territory.
But let's... let's put a pin
in the sovereignty stuff
for now.
Because if your neighbors
find out
that you secretly planned to
settle this issue at gunpoint,
I think they would be
more than supportive
of the U.S.'s response.
And what sort of response
might that be?
China's deployment
of that missile launcher
violently upsets the status quo.
And our response, therefore,
will be equally violent
and upsetting.
Indeed...
I am shocked
that I was not made privy
to such a drastic step
on my government's part.
I knew that
you would be troubled.
If I were to offer
some suggestions
to my president as
to how we might de-escalate,
what might they be?
Well, for starters,
we've looked into it, and we're
not giving the pandas back.
Sir, that bogey's coming around
for another pass.
It's coming in too low, sir!
All stations, brace for impact.
(loud boom)
The Chinese pilot
buzzed the Morris,
flew too low and
clipped the tower.
So far, three sailors have died
and 16 others are wounded.
NSC and Joint Chiefs
are waiting in the Sit Room.
I told the networks
that you wanted airtime
to address the nation
later this evening. Good.
Evans already has his campaign
pumping out tweets. The ghoul.
Sir, when I spoke
to Minister Chen
hours before this incident,
he seemed prepared
to accept our terms.
"Seemed" being
the operative word.
(sighs) I'm not saying
China is innocent.
I'm saying...
the wheels turn slowly
over there.
So the leadership
was still digesting
the message we sent Chen
when this incident occurred?
Tragically, yes.
GENERAL KOHL:
With all due respect,
an accident caused
by reckless aggression
isn't much different
from an attack.
They're holding our citizens,
attempting to put missiles
into the SCS.
And now this.
How much more
provocation do we need?
To do what, exactly?
Respond in kind.
A few days ago,
you were lobbying for a
harder line against China.
You really think they've changed
their stripes since then?
Of course not,
but I do think that the pressure
we put on them was effective.
So let's-let's be smart.
I mean, if we can get them
to back down in
the South China Sea,
that is a huge win
for global stability,
but if we stumble in
to some military conflict,
once that starts, no one
knows how that's gonna end.
We have to take a beat
before we retaliate.
Take a beat to do what?
Talk to President Li.
I think China's about to blink.
My advice is we let them.
What makes you so sure
they won't interpret
our restraint as weakness?
Flash of a feeling, at best.
SANTANGELO:
Dr. McCord.
What a coincidence.
Good evening.
Jose called you.
How about we take a walk?
Your friend did you a favor.
Yeah, how's that?
We spoke to
Ray Merchant.
Had a good, long
talk with him.
And, frankly, you were right
to bring him to our attention.
The man has... issues.
But he's not our guy.
How can you be sure?
Is he unbalanced?
Probably.
Still obsessed
with your wife?
Maybe, but this
is what we know:
The night your
house was hacked,
multiple witnesses
put Merchant
at a campsite in the
Blue Ridge Mountains
with no Internet access.
An attack this sophisticated
requires real-time input.
He could have
paid someone.
Possibly,
but I doubt it.
You've seen his house.
Look like he
could afford to?
Let alone hire two
goons to mug you
and steal your
son's computer?
No.
But I'll tell you what
he's more than capable of.
Suing the next person
that shows up
at his front door
asking questions
about his relationship
with your wife.
Suing...
or maybe worse.
I understand.
Thank you.
Go home, Dr. McCord.
Your family needs you.
DALTON: Good evening,
my fellow Americans.
As many of you are aware,
earlier today,
a Chinese fighter jet
struck the aircraft carrier
USS Wayne Morris
in the South China Sea,
taking the lives
of three American sailors
and wounding many others.
I spoke earlier to my
counterpart, President Li,
of the People's Republic
of China,
to voice America's outrage
at this reckless act
and unnecessary loss of life.
President Li expressed sincere
regret over the incident.
More importantly,
he has agreed to several steps
to be outlined in the coming
days to de-escalate the crisis
in the South China Sea
so that another such tragedy
does not happen again.
Many of you are angry.
I share your anger.
There are also some who would
capitalize on this tragedy
to score political points.
It's easy to lash out
when your blood is up.
Easier still to talk tough
when no one's life
hangs in the balance.
But when leading,
whether a platoon of marines
or an entire nation,
history judges us by the wisdom
of our actions.
We will defend our interests,
and our friends and allies
in the region.
And we will hold China
accountable.
But we will not start a war
over one reckless act.
Our thoughts and prayers go out
to the grieving families
of our brave sailors who gave
their lives in our service.
Thank you.
And may God bless America.
(man speaking Mandarin)
They're free!
Hey!
Good.
Chen kept his word.
I mean, they'll still
have to stand trial
at the International Tribunal
for the Law of the Sea.
Well, that's
to help China save face.
Worst-case scenario,
they pay a fine.
And we're keeping the fact
that China tried
to put missiles on the reef a secret?
Again...
saving face.
Well, the main this is
they've agreed to talks
with their neighbors,
and in the interim they won't be
leveling reefs
to build military outposts.
Which, if it isn't exactly
a win for the environment,
is at least a break in
the ongoing catastrophe.
On that buoyant note,
I'm going home.
Good night.
Good night.
Is everything
all right, ma'am?
Good night, guys.
Good night.
(yawning): Night-night.
HENRY:
I wasn't wrong about that kid.
You weren't right, either.
Okay. I should have
trusted you about it.
Yeah.
You should have.
God only knows what you
would have done
if you'd confronted him.
And then what?
Then-then where are we?
What do you want me to say?
Look...
The one thing I try never to be
in my life is powerless.
You and the kids
are everything.
The idea that all we
can do is sit here
and wait for the next
terrible thing to happen,
it makes me feel...
Angry.
Yeah. Angry.
And scared.
Really scared.
I hate it.
I know. Me, too.
♪ ♪
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