Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 3 - The Essentials - full transcript

Before we return to the mat
for our next down dog,

lets take a nice juicy
breath here in warrior two.

Mm... ah...

In the hustle and bustle of life,

it is so easy to forget
what really matters,

what's essential.

And nothing is more
essential than breathing.

Shut up.

Senator Morejon, if your colleagues

and President Dalton can't
come to some agreement

on the budget, there will be



a partial shutdown of
the federal government

in a matter of days.

Tens of thousands of
employees will be furloughed,

and many important government
services will be reduced

or halted altogether.

Tell us why that would be
necessary, in your opinion.

Look, no one wants a shutdown,

least of all me, but the hard fact is,

President Dalton is a spending addict.

And, like any addict,
he needs an intervention.

Shut up.

Looks relaxing.

I'm multitasking.
Women are famous for it.

How's the meeting prep going?



I'm numbing my feelings
with unhealthy substances.

Men are famous for it.

Oh, that sounds like a lot more fun.

- You want to talk about it?
- There's no good way to spin it.

What am I gonna say?
"Hey, Director Haymond,

"you know that Russian kid
I stuck my neck out for?

Turns out he's got a
drug problem. Whoops."

On the other hand, Dmitri fooled a series

of trained interrogators.

You can't say he's not a good spy.

Haymond doesn't strike me as

a "glass half full" kind of guy.

Well, he knows how messy
intelligence work can be.

He'll appreciate you taking it to him,

handling it like a grown-up.

That, or he'll bounce
Dmitri out of the Agency,

- and me along with him.
- More time to spend with the kids.

You're really looking at the
bright side this morning, huh?

Well, it beats brooding

over the fact that this creep
wants to gut my department.

Even if POTUS doesn't let him,

I'll still probably have to furlough

thousands of employees.

Critical work all over
the globe will go undone,

raising the likelihood of an
otherwise preventable disaster

by, like, a thousand percent.

Plus, I hate his dumb, stupid face.

Well, at least you're
handling it like a grown-up.

Hang in there.

Yeah, you, too. I got to get dressed.

- Call me after, will you?
- Yeah.

Hey, that's...

We all have feelings we have to eat.

I'm still gathering recommendations

from all departments, desks,
embassies and consulates

on non-essential
personnel to be furloughed

in the event of a shutdown.

- That's fun.
- Oh, you have no idea.

You know, all I can do
is follow the guidelines

of the Office of Management and Budget,

but people here are acting like I'm

the great and powerful Oz.

And I... Sorry.

I will have a final
report to you shortly.

- Okay.
- Um...

oh, also, I had to move Daisy's
baby shower up to tomorrow.

That's good... with the shutdown looming,

I think it's better sooner than later.

That's what I thought. There'll be cake,

uh, champagne and sparkling cider.

Oh, sparkling cider,

the carob chips of beverages.

Gifts?

Uh, individual gifts are welcome,

but we are pitching in to get her a crib.

I invite you

- to only $62.
- Noted.

Hey, there's not gonna be
any baby games, are there?

No. You think Daisy likes games?

Deep down, it's my conviction that nobody

normal likes baby shower games.

I mean, don't get me wrong,
I like a good baby shower

just like anybody else,
but I just can't stand

- all the... frippery.
- Excellent word choice, ma'am.

- I thought so.
- Good morning, ma'am.

- Good morning.
- Jay is in your office,

- ready to brief you on the overnight developments.
- Oh, good.

Oh, and regarding Daisy's shower,

I have some pretty lively
recommendations for games

- that I think would be...
- She hates games.

- Oh, uh...
- We all do.

- But...
- I want to start

with the riots at the
refugee camp in Lebanon.

Regarding the 70-some-thousand

Syrian refugees packed into this camp

in the northern Bekaa Valley

that's designed for
about half that number,

tensions have been brewing,
and last night they boiled over.

We have people on the
ground there, right?

Yes, ma'am. There's a team
charged with bringing electricity

to the camp, and they're fine.

From what I've read, it sounds like

lack of electricity is what's
underlying most of the issues

that led to the riot.

The whole place runs on generators,

and fuel is expensive,
so it's dark at night.

Then the criminals come out.

Yeah, then the women are
terrified to leave the tent

and go to the bathroom, which contributes

to unsafe sanitation practices,

which leads to cholera.

Have they had an outbreak yet?

Not yet, but it's a matter of time.

Thousands of people crammed into a camp

where not one feels secure.

It's... It's a powder keg.

So is Lebanon.

If this camp melts down,

whether it's due to disease outbreak

or jihadis exploiting
the people's discontent,

it wouldn't take much for
the whole country to blow up.

The last thing we need
is another civil war

in the Middle East.

I want to talk to the
project manager on the ground.

Let's get those lights turned on.

And don't tell me that
they'll be furloughed

if there's a shutdown.

They are contractors,

and, under the guidelines,
their activities

are considered non-essential.

Unbelievable.

Deadline for budget negotiations

is end of day tomorrow.

After that, we're most
likely in shutdown mode.

Well, then, we'd better work fast.

So, what, exactly, do we do in there?

Well, I take notes from Russell.

You just sit quietly

until he or I need anything.

I can do that.

Also, pretend to take notes,

but really be watching
Morejon and his staffers.

See how they're reacting,
write down your impressions.

Russell might quiz you later.

Wait, what? Oh, man.

Look, I get it.

You're in the room
everybody in the country

is talking about.

You want to do a good job.

It's nerve-racking.

But your biggest asset in there is that

nobody thinks you matter.

Got it?

That's oddly reassuring. Thanks.

Good morning, everyone.

Please be seated.

Let me start by saying that

as much as we may disagree,

we owe it to the American people

to negotiate in good faith.

I'm hoping we can do that this morning.

With that in mind, have you, uh,

had the opportunity to
review our latest proposal?

We have indeed. Mm-hmm.

A new auditing mechanism
for the Pentagon?

Everyone in this room knows that
that is a political non-starter.

They also know that if you really want

to achieve significant
long-term savings,

DoD's the place to start.

No-bid, cost-plus contracts
for multibillion-dollar

weapons systems the generals
aren't even asking for?

I mean, come on, members
of your own caucus

have complained about this for years.

If we tackle this together, I'm confident

that we can get the
deficit reductions you want

and the clean continuing
resolution I want.

With all due respect, Mr. President,

I just don't see much
here to move the needle.

Well, Senator,

for the sake of the American people,

I would encourage you to look harder.

I am not going to lie to you, Henry,

- this looks pretty bad.
- And I take full responsibility.

You understand a breach of
this kind is a firing offense.

I do.

But Dmitri was honest with me,

and that speaks well of him...

all things considered.

And, obviously,

he's an invaluable resource

to our intelligence community.

Arguably, he won a war for us.

And, as you know,

we're trying to thwart Russia's efforts

in Afghanistan... he'll be
an important player in that.

First we arm the mujahideen
to fight the Russians,

now the Russians are
arming them to fight us.

It's a hell of a business we're in.

So, where's Petrov now?

I ordered him to stay at home.

I'm having him call in sick

until we figure out our next steps.

Well, here's the dirty
little secret that no one

in the spy game wants to admit:

this job takes a toll.

You can ask any of my ex-wives.

We have contingencies
for cases like Petrov's.

I can get him a bed in a facility

not far from here... very discreet.

We'll get him cleaned
up and assess from there.

Thank you.

We'll keep this between us.

You just come up with
some plausible reason

he'll have to be off
the job for a few weeks.

- Will do.
- But, Henry,

if Petrov's issues come back to haunt us,

I-if he compromises American
security in any way...

It's on me.

I understand.

Oh, hi.

I'm not allowed to talk about it.

Of course not. Officially.

But a heads-up among friends...

It's mostly not even up to me.

The OMB has set out strict guidelines...

Mostly not up to you.

Which means there's a
teeny bit that is up to you.

I can work with that.

No, no, no! I don't like lemon.

Okay.

Matt, Daisy, I am really sorry,

but my hands are tied
by these guidelines.

The best thing that could
happen for all of us...

and by "us" I mean the United States,

would be to avert this
shutdown altogether.

Yep, that's what you say to somebody

- who's about to get furloughed.
- Nadine...

there's a personal
call for you on CONVYD.

Not a moment too soon.

Who is it?

Your son, Roman.

Oh. Thanks.

Wait, so Nadine and her son

are talking again?

How should I know?

Though I should probably call my mom,

'cause I'm gonna have
to move back in with her.

Uh...

- Hey, Mom.
- Hi, Roman. Hello, Shindy.

- Hi, Nadine.
- Well,

this is a nice surprise...

Well, speaking of surprises,

I'm glad you're sitting down because...

you're gonna be a grandma!

Real...

Oh, well... Oh,

that's wonderful.

Oh, God, Shindy, how far along are you?

Four months.

I'm just so happy for both of you.

But, Mom, we were also calling
because we actually need

- a little favor.
- Oh, okay.

So, what are the odds

of getting the camp hooked up

to the Lebanese power
grid in two days' time?

Frankly, ma'am, not good at all.

We've done our part.
The camp is good to go.

But the Lebanese
government didn't calculate

the capacity issues

correctly, and their grid
is overtaxed as it is.

We're trying to resolve the problem,

but the bureaucracy here is

fairly challenging.

It's a complete nightmare.

Well, I'll speak to
the Lebanese government

at the highest level

and see if I can't get this
straightened out for you.

I appreciate that, ma'am.

My team and I are willing to stay

until the mission is complete.

Even if there is a shutdown in D.C.

Well, that is noble of you, Valerie,

but I don't think That'll be possible.

Permission to speak freely, ma'am.

Go ahead.

I started out in the
Army Corps of Engineers.

Did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I noticed you received a
commendation for your service.

Yeah.

For building schools that
stayed empty in Kandahar

until they were blown up by the Taliban.

Clinics in Fallujah with
no doctors 'cause the money

got siphoned off.

I got into this line of work
to help people, you know?

You wouldn't believe
what the folks around here

have been through.

In terms of engineering,
powering up this camp

is complicated but completely feasible.

It's just the politics;
it's always the politics.

Apologies, ma'am.

Long night.

No, no, I appreciate your candor.

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

Meanwhile... you and
your team stay safe, okay?

Will do, Madam Secretary.

The purpose of government
is to manage core issues,

not to create more government.

This out of control
spending is imperiling

our nation's future.

Our CR gives the American people a signal

that we understand that.

That's the problem

with this whole discussion, Senator.

You're talking about signals.

I'm talking about actual people's lives.

Yes, Mr. President, you've been
moralizing at us all morning.

Well, this has all been most

illuminating.

Let's circle back in the morning.

Thank you.

Any takeaways?

Besides the fact that
POTUS's proposal is DOA

and Morejon is even less likable

in real life than he is on TV.

Whenever Russell says
something is "illuminating,"

what he's really saying
is that he doesn't like

what's being illuminated.

Meaning?

Meaning he doesn't think

Morejon is negotiating in good faith.

If I were you, I'd start
calling some temp agencies.

You're gonna need another job soon.

- Dr. McCord.
- Hi, Talia.

Uh, what are you doing here?

I'm looking for your brother.

He's not answering his phone.

You mean you don't
know where he is either?

Wait, what are you talking about?

When was the last time you saw him?

Two days ago.

Why didn't you call me?

He told me he was going away for work,

that it was secret

and that you knew about it.

He couldn't even bring his phone.

He left it in his room.

Are you telling me this isn't true?

He's not on a mission.

_

If he lied to both of us,

he could be shooting up heroin somewhere.

I should have never let
him keep taking those pills.

I shouldn't have helped him get them.

- I...
- Stop it.

- This is not your fault.
- Of course it is.

Everything he did,

everything he endured

was for me.

Th-This is how I repay him.

- We'll find him, okay?
- How?

We can't track his phone.
We can't call the police.

He's been calling in
sick for work every day

just like I asked.

And believe it or not,

calling in sick to
the CIA is not so easy.

He's not using his own phone.

At the very least, they'll have a record

of the phone he's been calling from.

We can start there.

I would love to be able to tell
you we could connect the camp

to our electrical grid within a few days,

but, regrettably, it's
an impossible timeline.

The electrification
project has been going on

for six months, Mr. Ambassador.

This is Lebanon we're talking
about, Madam Secretary,

not Switzerland.

Well, how about you at least try?

So, you're browbeating me for
my government's dysfunction

while yours is about to shut down?

Fine. We're screwed up, too.

You got me.

Now can we talk about solutions?

It seems to me

you have two choices: buy
more time or buy more people.

Meaning figure out a way
to keep my team on the clock

or bribe the right guys in Lebanon.

Not me, of course. I...

want to help, Madam Secretary.

I'm just paying you the
respect of being honest.

Okay. More money.

See what I can do.

Thank you.

Well, it wasn't their mistake,
sir, it was your mistake,

so can you correct it or not?

All right, so your answer,

in so many words, is no.

Got it. Yes. Thank you so much.

Bad time?

I can come back.

No, it's fine. Please come in.

Lower yourself onto my couch.

My son, Roland, and
his girlfriend, Shindy,

are gonna have a baby.

- Hey, congratulations.
- Yeah. Thanks.

I'm actually really thrilled about it.

I'm just so annoyed

it doesn't show.

So, you and Roman are...

Talking again, yeah.

Yeah. Here and there.

He just told me about the baby today.

So, what was that call about?

They're relocating

to the Bay Area to have the baby.

Uh, Roman got a job offer there.

But apparently, Shindy's
name matches someone

on the no-fly list.

Well, doesn't sound so hard to clear up.

But if I don't get this
resolved before the shutdown,

then, by the time the shutdown is over,

she may be too pregnant to fly.

- What are you gonna do about it?
- I'm gonna hump it over

to Homeland Security and
plead the case in person.

The things we do for love.

Anyway...

what's up?

So, um...

about the shutdown...

- Oy.
- I know, I know.

Just don't let them furlough
me because I'm pregnant, okay?

They won't say that's why,

but That'll be why.

You should be so lucky.

You could sue and never
have to work again.

Yeah, well, I want to work.

My career is important to me.

I mean, I'm just gonna
take a couple weeks of leave

and I'll be right back at it.

First of all, no, you won't.

Those first few weeks with the baby...

Are, like, super precious and magical,

so everyone keeps insisting.

Well, my experience was a little more

like the opening sequence
to Saving Private Ryan.

Way to sell it.

But you'll get through it.

And you will love that child so much,

you won't know what to do with yourself.

That's what I'm afraid of,

losing myself.

My career, everything I've
worked for, just subsumed.

It's true. Things will change

and some things will fall away.

Drunken brunches, for example.

But then other things
will take their place,

other richer things.

That's how life works.

So take it while I can get
it is what you're saying.

That's my two cents.

Mr. President.

Just getting some fresh air.

Also contemplating going back to smoking.

Wow. Budget negotiations
going that well, huh?

I've had more fun fighting off a snake

in a Vietnamese rice paddy.

But it's the job I signed up for.

So, Russell told me about your troubles

with the refugee camp in Lebanon.

Yeah. All we have to do
is turn on the lights.

We do that, most of the
issues inside the camp go away.

But if they fester, we could see

Sunni radicalization...

And in a country with such
a volatile mix of faiths...

wouldn't take much for
the whole place to blow up.

Sir, I remind you, every
single cabinet secretary

has trooped through here
asking special dispensation

for programs much closer to home.

He's right.

HHS, Veterans Affairs,
Education, Interior.

If the shutdown comes,
there's lots of Americans

are going to be hurting.

No, I understand, sir,
but we're just talking

about designating a few
contractors as essential.

And how would it look

when Morejon holds up a picture of a sad,

furloughed park ranger next to
some Syrian refugee and asks,

"Who does Dalton care about more?"

All right, Russell, no need to pile on.

Try sitting across from Morejon all day.

See what it does for your mood.

Look, Bess, I agree with you.

I mean, you'd think that
a little bit of money

or a little bit of extra time
for the team on the ground

wouldn't be too much to ask, but...

...today it is.

No, I understand, sir.

I'll find another way.

Well, we'd better

get back to it.

Give 'em hell, Conrad.

Look, Ms. Tolliver,

I'd love to help, but
these vetting protocols

are in place for a reason.

I can't just make an exception for you.

I'm not asking for special treatment.

I'm asking you to rectify an obvious case

of mistaken identity.

But what if it isn't?

You mean what if

my son's 25-year-old girlfriend

is actually the 60-year-old
wife of a retired,

Burmese Army colonel with ties

to opium traffickers?

Uh, look, I'd have to review
the case more thoroughly.

By which time our
government may be shut down

for who knows how long, and meanwhile,

Myanmar has one of the highest

infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia.

I don't make the rules.

It's been a pleasure, Ms. Tolliver.

Cute kids.

Huh? Oh, uh, thanks.

Madison and Hunter.

Mm-hmm.

You're gonna disappoint them.

What?

You don't believe me,

but you will.

And despite your best efforts,
they're going to resent you.

And that, Mr. Bryant,

will hurt more than you
can possibly imagine.

So much so that

in 20 years, when Madison

or Hunter comes to you

and asks you for a favor,
you will embarrass yourself

doing anything you
possibly can to help them

as I am now.

This is the phone he called from?

According to Langley, yeah.

He could be anywhere.

What do we do now?

We find him.

Come on.

Help you?

Yeah, we have kind of an odd request.

We're looking for a missing
person. We think he might've

showed up on one of
your security cameras.

You think maybe we could
look at the footage?

Yeah, that's not happening.

Come on, man, this is really important.

So go get a warrant.

All right.

How much is a room?

Our presidential suite is 60 bucks.

Here you go. Now can we look at the tape?

_

You two looking for a Russian kid?

- Mitya?
- Alexander?

- Mitya?
- Are you in there?

- Mitya... _
- Hey, it's Henry.

Hi.

What do you mean, "Hi"?

Get inside. _

I'm clean. _

Oh, yeah, right. That's why
you're holed up in this dump.

I am clean, it's true.
Look, I knew I had to detox,

and the only way to do
that was to be alone.

So I came out here a few days ago and...

I did it.

Did what?

I puked and cried

and I shivered and
watched a lot of bad TV,

but the point is, I'm better now.

You think the CIA's just
gonna take your word for that?

You think that's a thing
that's gonna happen?

If you want to keep your job,

you need to get your
stuff and come with us.

Hey, look, I-I will take
any drug test you want.

Look, I believe you're
clean right now, okay?

And I know that this
started because you had

some physical pain you
were trying to manage.

But the point isn't just to detox.

I'm a soldier.

I'm not gonna sit around in a circle

with a bunch of soft Americans

and talk about how my
mother didn't hug me enough.

- Although that's true. She didn't.
- Wha...?

- Talia!
- What?

She was a very withholding person.

It could be a factor.

Guys. Hey, guys.

Hey, can you work this out later?

I'm not an expert. Maybe
you have underlying issues

that drove you to
addiction, maybe you don't.

But right now Director Haymond
is getting you a bed in rehab.

A place where your line
of work won't be an issue.

I told you,

I handled it my way, and I am clean now.

Can't you see that I am ashamed?

For what I have done

to you, to my sister? Please.

Please, it is better for
everyone if I can just...

if I can deal with this alone.

Alone and ashamed. That sounds
like a perfect emotional state

to stay sober.

Too bad for you, you're stuck with us.

Come on.

Let's go.

How many cases?

Just one so far.

And it's definitely cholera?

Yes, ma'am.

The clinic at the camp only
has power three hours a day.

I mean, they will never be able

to get it under control with that.

Good evening, ma'am.

- Matt.
- Sorry. I'm sorry.

Uh, I drafted some remarks,
in case of a shutdown.

Uh, an address to the
troops, if you will.

You know, a speech like
this could prove to be...

- "Essential"? Thanks.
- Yes.

- I'm just right in the middle of something.
- That's your word.

Okay, well, um... hey,
I'm always helping!

You guys heard about the
cholera outbreak, right?

- Hi, by the way.
- Yes, ma'am.

We're running out of
time. Here's my pitch:

what about solar?

To power the refugee camp?

No, my home.

Of course the refugee camp.

So-so I take it the meeting

with POTUS didn't go as hoped.

We're on our own.

Here's my thought: if
we can't connect the camp

to a reliable power
source, then how about

we bring a power source to the camp?

If I may, ma'am, that
idea was first broached

when they built the camp,

but deemed not feasible at the time.

Solar technology has improved

even since then.

This assessment is worth reconsidering,

given the circumstances.

But quickly.

- Yeah, if we had time.
- All we need is to find a contractor

who's willing to ship enough solar panels

to power a small city 6,000 miles away,

before the government
shuts down tomorrow night,

for free.

All due respect, ma'am,

but I don't know if we can pull that off.

We are damn sure gonna
try, so let's get on it.

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi, Roman.

I just spoke with
Homeland Security, and...

good news, Shindy.

Your visa application has been approved,

and you are free to travel to the U.S.

whenever you're ready.

Thank you so much, Nadine.

Mom, I can't tell you
how much that means to us.

It was my pleasure.

We've got a great place
lined up in Berkeley.

I hope you'll come out and see us.

Are you kidding? My first grandchild?

You'll have to drive
me away with a stick.

Aw, I just wish you
lived on the West Coast.

You could hang out with us all the time.

What'd I say?

Nothing.

That's...

Yes.

That would be nice.

Nadine?

You're missing the party.

Oh, I'll-I'll be right there.

I have to go now.

Um...

I love you both.

- Love you.
- Bye.

Okay, this next one is from me.

Meaning Blake ordered
it and I signed the card.

It's an honor to serve, ma'am,

even if you inexplicably hate games.

Okay. Now, I-I know
what you're thinking.

"A wet/dry vac? I don't get it?"

But trust me,

even though you're having a girl,

from the minute they eat solid foods

until they go to college, the
place is a complete pigsty,

so... (whispers): you'll thank me later.

Aw. I love it.

Thank you, ma'am.

- Okay.
- Sorry I'm late.

Hey, Jay.

Glad you could make it.

Also... here.

Uh, also, I need to borrow
the secretary for a minute.

Uh...

- A wipe warmer?
- Oh, believe me, it's the most important

baby product you've never heard of.

- Carry on without me, team.
- Thank you.

Okay, here. Just a
little something from me.

Oh!

Come on.

It's adorable.

Ah!

"Diplo Tot."

- So, the good news and the bad news.
- Pardon me.

- Yeah.
- I found a contractor

who can install a small
solar field at the camp,

probably within our time frame

because they're already in the region.

That's fantastic.

They're a new company
whose whole business plan

is using solar to power up refugee camps.

They'd be willing to do the job for free,

just for the publicity.

What's the bad news?

They're Israeli.

And since Lebanon

is still technically at war with
Israel, they're not gonna allow

any Israeli goods, services
or citizens on their soil.

Correct, ma'am.

- That's...
- Bad.

That's a bummer.

Right?

What if they weren't Israeli?

- Ma'am?
- Does the company have

reps here in the States?

Yeah, actually. The guy I was talking to

is here in D.C., hustling for contracts

with Department of Energy and DoD.

That's perfect. I want to talk to him.

Tell Nadine to call Haymond at CIA,

tell him I'm on my way over there,

and then get your guy
to meet me at Langley.

And also, the-the
Lebanese ambassador, okay?

And tell my guys that
I'm on my way down, okay?

Yes, ma'am.

Langley?

Well,

here we are.

It looks like a day spa.

That's the idea.

What are you going to
tell the rest of the team

about where I am?

Well, if we get shut down,

I'll just tell 'em you were furloughed.

If I say you're non-essential,
don't take it personally.

Uh, it's, uh, it's
probably better for them

to take a little break from me.

They think I'm crazy.

Maybe a little.

But you impressed them before.

And you'll impress them
again when you come back.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

But we'll see how I do, right?

Yeah, we'll have to see.

So, let me understand this.

You want us to hand over
proprietary technology,

that we've spent years developing,

to a CIA front company

to install

in a refugee camp in Lebanon,

and we won't even get
any of the credit for it?

That's about the size of it, yeah.

In fact, this meeting
never even happened.

And why would I do that?

And why would we let them do that?

Why would we accept charity
from a country that invades ours?

That destroys our homes
and kills our citizens?

To defend ourselves

from rocket and guerrilla
attacks launched by terrorists

- harbored in your country.
- Gentlemen.

Gentlemen.

We're not here to re-litigate

the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.

We're here to bring light and power

to tens of thousands of
desperate, traumatized people.

Yes, there are secondary
benefits, like...

ensuring stability in your country

and proving that your
product can work at scale,

not to mention having the
U.S. government in your debt.

If the shutdown happens,

I will have to pull my team
out, and there will be no one

on the ground to set up the solar field.

I need you both to help
me help these people.

By working with the Israelis

and the CIA. What a world.

Fine.

Just please

keep this to yourselves.

I have plans this weekend,

and it would be nice to live till then.

So?

We're in.

But don't ask me to shake his hand.

We're not Rabin and Arafat here.

Great.

So are we a go?

It's never an easy ask
with you McCords, is it?

No.

Mr. President, the fiscal
year ends in a few hours.

Either accept our amendments to the CR

or we let the clock run out and
let the American people decide

who to blame for the shutdown.

You want to play that game? Fine.

Our numbers may not be great,

but Congress?

You guys literally poll

worse than staph infections.

Carlos...

I understand that you and
the party feel betrayed by me,

but you're talking about
throwing hundreds of thousands

of people out of work,

delaying Medicare checks,

projecting uncertainty to the world.

Is that what you want?

Mr. President,

I know this might be difficult
for you to comprehend,

but this isn't about you.

It's about loyalty to principles.

Well, I guess that's that.

I did my best.

Now you do your worst.

Meantime, I'm going to continue

serving the American people, so...

if you'll excuse me,
I have somewhere to be.

Y-You're leaving?

But we still have three
hours before the deadline.

And you have my final offer.

Permission to ask an
impertinent question.

Well, you did save my life
that time, so you get one.

Shoot.

Shouldn't POTUS still be in there,

negotiating right up to the deadline?

I mean, where is he going?

You're right. That is pretty impertinent.

Sorry.

No, wait.

You're still on the clock
for a few more hours.

Come on and find out.

So, if you're having
any issues with the VA,

or retiring from active
duty, or if your family

is getting jammed with your bills,

you call that number

and somebody will get it
straightened out for you.

And if you're in a bad place

and you just want to talk to a brother

who understands, you call

and you ask for me.

I give you my word as a
Marine, I will answer that call.

And those phone lines aren't
getting shut down ever.

And that even goes for
you Army sons of bitches.

Hooah.

Hooah.

Now I'll shut up so you all can talk.

What's your name?

Sean Johnson, Mr. President.

United States Air Force.

Thank you for your service.

You're welcome, sir.

- Thank you for your...
- So...

- Pop quiz time.
- Hmm?

What did you learn about
Morejon and those guys

during all those meetings?

That his chief of staff
has a staring problem.

Good to know,

I guess.

What else?

I think Morejon is scared.

Yeah, he should be.

He's the dog that caught the car.

Well...

let's hope you're right...

'cause the Senate just
let the clock run out.

Wow.

Yeah.

Buckle up.

- Thank you, sir.
- Glad you made it back.

You want to know why I brought you here?

Because I asked an impertinent question?

Look, the next few
weeks are gonna be ugly.

People will say, "Ah,
that's Washington for you.

A pox on both their houses."

Meanwhile, Conrad Dalton
comes here every month,

no matter what, and never
talks about it to anyone.

And the reason he's
in that room right now

and not me or Morejon
or some other windbag

is 'cause he understands

that some principles...

really can't be compromised.

Some duties really are sacred.

I wanted you to see that.

Thank you, Russell.

Ah.

Well?

I'll edit the speech on Marine One.

Let's go.

We're really doing this, huh?

Indeed we are.

I've sent out the
department-wide e-mail

to all non-essential personnel.

And per your request, I asked everyone

who worked in the building
who's been furloughed

to gather in the main hall.

Thanks, Nadine.

Any changes to Matt's remarks?

Uh, no. No, I think they
strike just the right tone.

Believe this? Government shutdown.

I mean, what kind of
message are we sending

our friends and allies?

I mean, not to mention our adversaries.

- Ma'am...
- And now I've got to go out and send

thousands of hard-working
men and women home

on indefinite, unpaid leave.

I mean, what are they supposed
to tell their families?

And for what?

I... I'm sorry, I'm ranting.

Well, I know this is not the best time,

but I really need to ask you something.

Sure, yeah.

- Just...
- Thank you.

Well...

...speaking of family,

I'd like to request some

personal leave to spend
some time with mine.

- Of course.
- Thank you.

- Is everything okay?
- Yes.

Yes. Um...

...I'm going to be a grandmother.

Oh!

That's really...

that's wonderful.

- Congratulations. Wow.
- Thank you.

Thanks. Yeah.

My son...

said something to me today that...

...I guess I've been waiting
a very long time to hear.

Whatever you need, we'll make it work.

Thank you.

I mean, that is if you, if
you want to make it work.

Ma'am?

Something tells me you're not
coming back from that leave.

I thought I needed time
to think about it, but...

you're right. No.

I won't be coming back from that leave.

I love public service,
but it's gotten so vicious.

Oh, and this pointless
government shutdown.

Conspiracy mongering.

Careful. You're talking
to a murderess, remember?

Right. Right.

I don't know.

Somehow, we've become
our own worst enemy.

And I don't want to spend the
rest of my career fighting.

Well, I-I've become very dependent

on you, Nadine.

And as much as I'd
like to beg you to stay,

sounds like you know what
you want in your heart.

You're gonna be someone's grandma.

Well, it's, it's very gracious
of you, Madam Secretary.

Well, we made a damn good team.

Yes, we did.

And it has been my
great honor to serve you.

The honor has been mine.

Now brace yourself.

I'm going to hug you.

Oh.

Thank you, Nadine, for everything.

Thank you...

Elizabeth.

- Shall we?
- Mm.

Good evening.

I really appreciate

you all indulging me
here for a few moments

when I'm sure you'd rather be
at home with your loved ones,

figuring out what comes next.

Or at the very least, at
a bar with your colleagues,

cursing the day you turned
down that job on Wall Street

to work in government.

Well, that commitment

is what I want to talk
to you about tonight.

Our work isn't political.

Our work is representing
the interests and values

of the United States to
the best of our ability.

And let me be clear that in that effort,

not one of you are non-essential.

This department and
this nation and the world

will be poorer for your absence.

As for myself, each one of you pushes me

to be better every single day.

And I will be counting
the days until you return,

especially the guy who wrote this speech.

He-He put that line in
the speech, by the way.

All of you,

you chose to be here because
you believed in something

larger than yourselves.

That sense of duty and service is, well,

particularly in today's
egotistical culture,

in my mind, truly heroic.

And so, on behalf of myself

and the people of the United States,

I say to each and every one
of you a heartfelt thank you.

Until we see each other again...

good night and good luck.

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