Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 5, Episode 15 - Between the Seats - full transcript
Come on.
Cook your signature dish.
It's perfect for family dinner.
What is your problem?
Sure. There's nothing better
than pitting family
against one another in a contest
to guarantee a stressless
and loving meal.
Hey... whatever it takes
to get us all together,
I'm down with that.
Thank you.
Uh, and I think you will find
my mandarin orange chicken miraculous.
Mmm, thanks.
Do you want one?
Dad!
Yes. She wants one.
What?
We said no campaigning.
Exactly. (COUGHING)
Waffle potato pancakes.
Hey...
Oh, thank you, that was very subtle.
Waffle potato pancakes,
always Yukon Gold,
always hand shredded.
And thank you.
Thank you to my brilliant
and lovely sister
for not cooking, so that we might
truly enjoy this meal. (CLAPPING)
HENRY: Yes. Thank you.
Well... it is my signature dish.
Thank you, thank you.
Now dig in.
Okay.
Um... c-can we say grace?
Oh, we don't do that, sweetie.
Well, why not?
Yeah, we'll talk about it
at home, okay?
It's fine with us.
But not with the man
who never takes off
his John 3:30 bracelet.
Well, that's about faith.
And this is personal.
I-I'm happy to talk about this later.
I just don't think we should casually
participate in a ritual
we haven't defined for ourselves.
Well, Annie casually
participated in saying grace
at Gwendolyn's house,
and she liked it.
This really isn't the time
or the place to discuss it.
Exactly. So in the meantime,
if she wants to say
a prayer and be thankful,
it wouldn't hurt anyone.
And I think that this should
be a family meeting for another time.
What if the McCords say grace
and, Annie, you can join in?
What if you two don't put
me on the spot like this?
Mandarin chicken, anybody?
I'm not campaigning, just asking.
Do you remember the prayer
you said at Gwendolyn's house?
Soph.
ANNIE: Yeah.
"God is great, God is good.
Let us thank him for this food."
There we go. Amen.
Amen.
Annie, do you want chicken?
Yes.
Yum.
HENRY: Okay, what,
these-these are vegan, right?
(PEN CLICKING)
I can't get past it.
You should really try.
Was it really such a big deal
that his eight-year-old daughter
wanted to say
a prayer before dinner?
What, he can't participate
in anything until he's defined it?
What-what is that?
Babe, a lot of couples have struggles
around the role religion is
gonna play in their lives.
Yes, of course.
Remember us after Stevie was born?
Yes, but the difference is,
you... are a sane person
who is willing to listen
and respect the fact
that your wife was
still working through
some issues about organized religion.
Yes, and you were able
to understand that it was
important to me to have the kids
get some exposure to it.
Fine.
Maybe Will and Sophie...
just haven't had that talk.
Still... he couldn't
just do it for Annie?
Have the-the big talk later?
I don't know.
You can't just put your kid
in the middle of a scene
like that to defend some
vague... you know...
...principle.
So you're just deliberately
not getting involved.
Bingo.
Because you think that I'm-I'm
too parental with Will?
Correct.
Well, I was, actually...
sort of like his parent.
And I feel a responsibility
to help when he...
does these things that are...
Yeah, but then you just
talk in that tone of voice,
and he gets angry and defensive,
and he can't take in a word you say.
...so extraordinarily stupid.
Maybe you should talk to him.
Uh, no.
He respects you.
You could give him
some... religious advice.
Babe, he's a grown man.
It would be a perfect time for you
to trot out your old pal Aquinas.
I'm not gonna talk to him
about his adult behavior.
It wasn't all that adult.
Stop it.
Look... you're going away tomorrow.
Why don't you join me in this bed
and we can not talk about it?
Okay.
(MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
You move that State Department
folder one more time,
and I will turn your stay
on the seventh floor
into a horrifying fever dream.
Thank you.
You'd think the Defense
Department would be
a little more secure.
(CHUCKLES)
You know what? I'm
actually kind of relieved
I don't have to go to
Afghanistan with this crowd.
The signing of the Afghanistan
Rebuild-Renew Agreement
would be the event of the
year if we can pull it off.
Hey! Leave it! Thank you.
You're right. It could get tense.
(CHUCKLES) Still got a lot
of details to work out
with President Sharza
about the spending
of this $10 billion aid
package we're sending them.
Yeah, well, they've done
everything they promised
in terms of meeting
their human rights benchmarks
and allowing the Taliban
to be a part of the government.
So, they'll be tough,
but it'll work out,
because it's $10 billion
and they need it.
And Gordon Becker
will get that drawdown
on close to 90,000 troops.
Still no women allowed
in government, though.
That must have been a hard
concession for M-Sec to make.
You have no idea. Majority of Afghans
wanted the Taliban
involved in the government,
and they weren't willing
to budge on that.
Oh, well. Just give 'em
another hundred years or so.
(SIGHS)
Oh!
Hey, someone's a little
overeager for the trip.
Okay, okay. I-I got that thing
for my mom first, remember?
I'm arriving in Kabul a day late.
Oh, right.
KAT: What thing?
Her 70th birthday.
Oh, that's quite a thing.
Yeah, her mosque is
throwing her a party,
and I'm her surprise gift.
Oh. (LAUGHS) But you're also arriving
with a real gift for her, right?
Of course he is. His one
and only mother is turning 70.
Okay. I've got to write
M-Sec's remarks
for the signing in Kabul.
I'm only one man.
Remarks for Kabul, useless
unappreciated gift for Mom...
see what I'm saying?
Well, maybe don't go
with something so useless.
Or maybe just wait
for another birthday.
I mean, she's probably
gonna live forever, right?
Damn it. Okay,
I-I'll get the work done,
and then I'll pick up a gift
at the airport.
Hey...
Oh, yeah.
'Cause nothing screams "thank
you for giving me life"
like something from the airport.
Jewelry!
They sell jewelry at the airport.
NINA: Wow... how did this happen?
Ah! You did this, didn't you?
No. It's not my job anymore.
This is Secretary of Defense Becker
putting out a big spread
as a power move.
Good luck with that. He's on our turf.
Yeah, our turf, but now
we're all gonna talk
about the food and who supplied it.
Genius.
Yeah. It's gonna leave
a pretty big mess to clean up.
I'll manage. So, wait, you were a part
of this Afghan deal from
the beginning, right?
Is it weird not to be
going on this trip?
No. I mean, policy keeps me
pretty busy.
Not too busy to remember to ask you
if you set up a lunch date
in Kabul for the secretary
and Amina Salah.
Amina Salah... the former
Afghan minister of education,
who lost her job in the peace deal
that Secretary McCord championed?
Yeah. Lunch is confirmed for Tuesday.
Okay, now you're just showing off.
Yep.
Okay, everyone. Fill your plates
and find your seats.
And we can thank
Secretary Becker when he arrives
for this generous spread.
I-I... Gordon, I hear you.
But there's been relative peace
in Afghanistan for over a year,
and contrary to our biggest concerns,
Taliban has not taken
over the government.
Then you haven't heard me.
'Cause the hardliners
are already pushing back
on the conditions we put on 'em
to receive the aid package.
They're not gonna leave $10 billion
sitting on the table.
This is last-minute posturing.
Look, I can admit,
the deal's turned out
better than I expected,
but it's a fragile peace.
I know.
We've lost some good people
to green-on-blue attacks.
Well, we've lost far fewer soldiers
than an all-out military attack
would have cost us.
I-I know that.
I-I understand the
benefits, Elizabeth.
Believe me, I'm on
the side of the deal.
Nobody wants the troops
home more than I do.
I know.
It's just my job to
anticipate the problems.
And you're very good at it.
Hoping that this briefing
maybe puts some of
your concerns to rest.
Wow. Where'd this come from?
People got to eat.
MATT: There's so many pretty colors.
I agree.
It was hard to choose which ones.
Hmm.
I love crafts, I just never
seem to have the time.
Me, too.
I was in the hospital for four months,
so I had time to sew this.
Uh, well, not sew.
That's, um, that's with a needle.
Uh... (SPEAKS PASHTO)
you, um, you braided them.
Uh... yes. Braided.
Well, whatever you
did, they're amazing.
And your heart's all better now?
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
All better.
Ah. Yes. All better.
Mm-hmm. Farhana will be able to lead
a normal life.
I'm s... I'm... I'm her chaperone.
I'm with an organization
called Heart Train.
Oh, I know Heart Train.
Do you?
Yeah, you guys do amazing work
bringing children to the U.S.
for cardiology procedures.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, actually, I gave you
a shout-out last year,
in one of the secretary's speeches.
That's on our website.
Really?
Yes.
Ah.
We... Really, that meant so much to us
to have the Secretary of State
highlight our work.
Good.
I...
Highlight?
Oh, um...
It's like, um...
when you shine a light on something,
to see it.
Except you... we use words.
Oh, I say "we" because, um,
I write all the secretary's speeches.
So many ways to say one thing.
I'm very happy I got to come
here for my heart.
But I find the United States too much.
And I miss my family.
Well, you're going back
to Afghanistan healthy.
And you've learned a new language.
I'm afraid I will forget.
No one in my village talks English.
But I can't wait to be home.
And have my mother make her piti.
The bean soup?
I love piti.
My Ade makes the best.
Um... excuse me. Sir? Hi.
Hi. Hi.
Hi.
I was wondering if you could
open this window shade.
Um, I need some natural light
for my selfie
or my skin looks blah.
Okay.
Yeah? Okay.
Kids these days.
(GASPS) Oh, oh, n...
don't worry about it,
don't worry about it, it's just, uh,
a little turbulence.
I hate turbulence, too.
This is only the second time I fly.
Well, I promise you, you'll be fine.
Well...
That's perfect.
(GRUNTS)
I'm sorry.
Uh, it was lovely meeting you both.
And I-I really do, uh,
appreciate the work your
organization does, Leslie.
Oh, thank you so much.
Yeah. Come visit us sometime.
(LAUGHING) All right.
I wish you good health
and a delicious piti.
(SPEAKS PASHTO) Mr. Mahoney.
I want to give you this.
To remember me.
You can put it on your backpack
or give it to your wife.
Wow. Really?
This is... This is great.
I-I'm not married,
but my girlfriend will love it.
Thank you. I mean...
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
You guys, the line's moving.
Oh, please go ahead.
SHARZA: This timetable
for the rebuilding of schools
is impossible.
Well, Mr. President, you have lamented
on more than one occasion
that the destruction
of the schools has been crippling
to your next generation
and future economy.
SHARZA: That is true.
ELIZABETH: If we could get a
sense of how many schools
we're talking about,
that would be helpful.
That could be quite a...
(CRYING) Matt Mahoney! Matt Mahoney!
I know him! Please!
Please, please, Matt Mahoney!
I know him. Authorized personnel only.
Please. Please.
Move away from the gate.
Matt Mahoney! (SPEAKING PASHTO)
Farhana?
(GATE BUZZES)
Are you okay?
Ma'am, stop. _
You have to move away from the gate.
Farhana! Farhana!
You need to move away from the gate.
Slow down, what's happening?
_
Okay, open the gate.
Under whose authority?
Secretary of State.
Do it now! Come on.
Come on, come on, come on,
come on. Hurry up.
MARINE: Stop! This is
United States property.
Move away, or we'll call the police.
(YELLING IN PASHTO)
I don't know what you're saying!
Who are those guys? What's going on?
They're going to kill me
because of you.
(MAN SPEAKS PASHTO) Farhana!
♪
So we're talking about an
honor killing? You're sure?
Yes. That's what she says.
And I saw her family, uh, three men,
they tried to grab her.
I mean, we had to let her in.
Oh, my God, I can't believe
this... it's all because of me.
JAY: Just because you
talked to her on a plane?
Yes. I mean, no. Th-They made it
look like more, but it wasn't.
DAISY: Apparently
there was an American
teenage girl sitting behind them
coming to visit her FSO dad,
and she made a video of them chatting
and turned it into a romance.
MATT: It's all shot
between our two seats.
Sh-Sh-She called it
"Between the Seats,"
and edited and narrated it
into this total lie.
KACI (ON VIDEO) Maybe Cupid and
his arrow, like, totally exist,
or maybe it was Saturn
being in Capricorn
that brought these two strangers
on a plane together.
Whatever.
It didn't take long
for him to get the hot Muslim girl
to drop her guard
and dig his vibe and let him
buy her a drink.
It was a club soda!
I-I-I held it while
she changed her shawl.
...that make love bloom, and
this dude knew all the tricks.
I opened that for Leslie,
her chaperone!
Matt, calm down.
And then it happened.
Aw. Is it the beginning?
Or just, like, a thing on a plane?
Can love that starts
in the clouds last?
We may never know, but wait...
I'm not married.
KACI: Well...
not much of a proposal, dude,
but good luck, lovers!
I wasn't hitting on her.
She told me to give
the bracelet to my wife,
and I was explaining
right afterwards...
I said my girlfriend...
JAY: Sit down, just breathe.
It was turbulence.
That's why she touched me.
She was scared.
She didn't mean to.
Thank you.
I can't believe I opened
my window shade
for that social media
fake video person.
How did Farhana's family
even see this?
Facebook. There's an Afghan youth page
that's very popular.
The girl from the plane
sent it to her friend
in Kabul, who posted it right away.
It had 5,000 hits
before we even left the airport.
This is a nightmare. Look, honor
killing is against Afghan law.
We can just report
the threat to the police.
That won't help.
Farhana's from a very rural
village called Asadabad.
I mean, it is tribal
and the hard-line Taliban,
the Salafi jihadists,
they are in charge there.
JAY: All right, here's the problem.
Farhana is 17 years old,
that means she's a minor,
and we can't keep her
unless she asks for asylum,
which apparently she's refusing to do.
MATT: She doesn't
want to go to America.
She wants to be with her family.
I mean, she did until they
decided to kill her. Oh, my God.
JAY: Not to pile on, but there's
another complicating factor.
Farhana's uncle is the governor
of Samangan Province
and a good friend
of President Sharza.
That could be good, though.
(STAMMERS) Maybe the uncle
could get me in touch
with Farhana's family.
I could explain
the whole thing to them.
We could track down, uh, uh,
the chaperone from
Heart Train, Leslie,
she could back up the story.
I don't think they'd be receptive
to hearing from you right now.
We have to try.
Okay, I have, uh, seen the video.
Ma'am...
No, don't worry,
Matt, I know it's baloney,
but I did move up
my meeting with Amina.
Just think we could probably
use her perspective,
and since we've already
hit a few speed bumps
with the Rebuild-Renew Agreement,
I'm gonna need a private meeting
with President Sharza ASAP just
to avoid any negative impact
that this could have
on the negotiation, okay?
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
No, no, don't-don't beat yourself up.
There's no way that you
could have anticipated this.
I should have. I know the culture.
I know that there are
cameras everywhere now.
I'm-I'm a representative
of the State Department.
ELIZABETH: Matt.
We'll do our best to remedy this.
I was just saying that I-I...
if I met with the parents,
I could explain everything.
Okay, I'm gonna run that by Amina,
and we'll see what she thinks.
Daisy, you do whatever
you can to make sure
this doesn't become a bigger story.
Thank you, guys.
Let's go.
Come on.
Yeah.
Ma'am, uh, we're already
coloring way outside the lines here.
I don't know how long we can keep her.
Well, we're gonna keep her
until we can't.
Okay?
Yes, ma'am.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Hey, look who's here.
Hey.
Yeah, I went out for a walk and...
I guess this is where I ended up.
Elizabeth's in Afghanistan, right?
Yup. You want a beer?
Oh, does the Pope wear a dress?
(CHUCKLES)
WILL: I wanted to apologize
for the other night.
You guys are dealing with
the whole religion issue, huh?
Yeah, I guess.
Out of nowhere.
I mean, I've always been open to it.
Thanks. Sophie's always
been rigidly opposed.
And we never
talked about it much at all
until last month
when I looked into sending Annie
to a private Catholic school,
purely for the educational benefits,
and Sophie completely freaked out.
Accused me of wanting
to cloister her away
with antiquated religious ideas
about the role of women in society,
something, something, and its
inherent poisonous patriarchy.
You would've thought
I wanted to boil her in oil.
(CHUCKLES)
I had barely recovered
from that, and now suddenly
she's fine with saying grace
at the family table.
What is that about?
Yeah.
(SIGHS)
No, I'm, I'm asking.
What is that about?
Well, I can tell you what
it's not about... religion.
Mm.
I mean, come on,
is that the only thing you guys
have been fighting about recently?
Because the tension
in the air seemed a little
thick to be just an argument
about saying grace.
Yeah. We fight all the time.
We always have.
The thing is, the making up...
used to be a lot more fun.
Have you guys tried counseling?
No.
Why not?
Well, it just feels like
the beginning of the end.
I mean, does it ever work?
Elizabeth and I have done it.
(IMITATES EXPLOSION)
The soul mate unicorn couple,
themselves?
(CHUCKLES)
What is it Joseph Campbell
says about marriage?
It's not an adventure
or a journey or a-an affair.
It's an ordeal.
Then we're on the right track.
(CHUCKLES)
Seriously, when you're stuck,
a third party's perspective
can be helpful.
But if they're qualified to do that,
by which I mean not me
and definitely not your sister.
All right.
If it worked for you guys,
I guess it's worth a try.
To saving the ordeal.
Yes, I saw the video.
Our government does everything
it can to ban social media,
but we both know repression
only feeds innovation.
This girl's family sends her
for a life-saving operation
in the United States.
Now they want to kill her
for talking to a man on the plane,
in the presence of her chaperone.
Even if the parents are ambivalent,
they get pressure from the community.
Honor killing is a
marginalized custom,
mostly found in the
more rural provinces
where it can't accurately be policed.
Some of our research indicates
there has actually been
an uptick in the practice
since you helped forge the deal
with President Sharza's
government and the Taliban.
Well, that contradicts the information
the State Department received.
Honor killings are reported
to be significantly down.
It was a benchmark
that the Afghan government had to meet
in order to qualify
for the aid package.
The Rebuild-Renew Agreement.
I am aware.
How do you get your information?
I work with an organization that
tracks women's social issues.
We have government contacts and NGOs
on the ground who keep us informed.
So you know that this agreement
could be monumental
for both our countries.
Keeping Farhana at the embassy,
I'm afraid that we are putting
the deal in jeopardy.
On the other hand, letting her go...
Could cost her her life.
Sorry to interrupt, ma'am,
but President Sharza is asking
to see you immediately.
SHARZA: You can't just take one
of my governor's nieces
and lock her up in the embassy.
This will not stand, Madam Secretary.
First of all, we didn't take her.
Farhana Radi came to us
asking for protection
from an honor killing,
a practice that is outlawed
in your country.
Yes. It is easy to be disgusted
by such a barbaric practice.
We have made progress,
but it's a strenuous process.
I'm aware of that.
But isn't, isn't this
the perfect opportunity
to take a strong stand?
Hardly. I'm fighting day
and night to hold together
the deal you brokered
having the Taliban as
part of my government.
Your actions with this girl put me
and my government
in a precarious position.
And we are working on a solution.
There is no time.
The story of the U.S.
Secretary of State
allowing one of her staff
to kidnap an Afghan girl
and keep her in the embassy
is all over the news.
And until this catastrophe
is resolved,
consider the entire
Rebuild-Renew Agreement on hold.
Mr. President,
I urge you to reconsider.
This agreement is the solution
to so many problems
for both our countries.
Not to mention you'd be walking
away from $10 billion
in economic aid.
If you don't release
the girl to her family,
the Taliban will seize the moment
and paint a picture
of my government as weak.
Then it will be only a matter
of time before they take over.
Then what will happen?
We will end up once again
mired in war and terrorism,
and I cannot allow that.
_
_
Amina was right.
While Afghanistan has improved
its numbers in terms
of verified honor killings,
the true numbers are underreported.
I got in touch with some contacts
on the ground there...
NGOs and medical examiners...
and the truth is,
the Afghan government gathers
its info from police departments
and medical examiners.
And, big surprise,
these government employees
aren't always pressured
to be absolutely accurate
about the cause of death
for many young women.
So, if you release Farhana
and she were to die
at the hands of her family,
there's a good chance it'll
be reported as something else.
Right. Thank you, guys.
Sure thing, ma'am.
Yes, ma'am.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Thank you both.
Um... I am incredibly grateful
for the opportunity.
_
_
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
I speak for the Afghan government
as well as for my brother
when I say...
this has gone far enough.
My niece has to be returned
to her father and family immediately.
Uh, if I may say something?
Please.
As you know, I was once
minister of education.
I know this young man,
Matthew Mahoney,
quite well from my trips
to United States
and from his work here
with Secretary McCord,
and I can vouch for his character,
as well as the fact that Farhana came
to the United States Embassy
out of fear for her life.
And that is the only reason
that she was allowed to enter.
She is not being kept
against her will.
(TRANSLATING)
_
_
If you will allow Mr. Mahoney
to explain, you will see
how the truth has been manipulated.
There's no need.
We just want to take Farhana
home to her mother,
who's waited all these months
to see her.
She wants to nurse
her daughter back to health.
Her father is angry.
Oh...
But he would not hurt her.
No one would.
We just want to take her home.
AMINA: Yes, yes, I
understand, but please
take a moment to watch and listen.
Now, the reason why the
video is so confusing
is because of what
the narrator is saying.
The girl who is taking the video.
But what she is saying
is not what is happening.
The music makes it seem
romantic, but it's not.
KACI: They say it's the little
things that make love bloom,
and this dude knew all...
When I turn the sound down...
...you can see it's
just two people talking.
Three people, actually,
because Leslie, the chaperone,
is just over here,
out of sight.
You explained it very well.
You did a good job.
I think I was talking too fast.
I felt like I was rambling.
I've never had to save
anyone's life before.
(EXHALES) Listen.
My brother is a very emotional man,
but he's calmed down now.
He's convinced by your explanation
that nothing bad happened.
Really?
Yes.
He only requests that you make
a public statement about this,
much as you did here,
so that his family can
defend her honor,
and the community will be satisfied.
That can be arranged.
Matt can even record the statement,
and it can be submitted
to the same Facebook page
which posted the video to begin with.
And the Secretary of State
must issue a statement
to this effect as well.
She would be happy to.
This will satisfy my brother.
Farhana.
Great news. I spoke with your family.
They understand what happened now.
JAY: This is good.
You're safe to go.
Your father and uncle are coming
to pick you up in an hour.
They said your mom's
really excited to see you.
No. That's not possible.
MATT: But it is.
I was there. They believed me.
Uh, it's gonna be okay.
(WOMAN SPEAKING PASHTO)
That is my mother.
Just now.
She said, "Don't come home.
They will kill you."
A 17-year-old girl.
I mean, it's excruciating
to see her in terror
of the people she loves.
It's medieval.
HENRY: Well, not entirely.
There's the Napoleonic Code,
which allowed husbands to murder
their unfaithful wives.
That wasn't abolished in France
until 1975.
Modernization is a sluggish train.
Yeah. To some cultures,
it's the enemy.
They see the rest of us
as having sold our souls
to technology
and wanton creature comforts.
Well... I have to figure out
how to bolster the faction
of this government
that sees it as the key
to moving forward.
Otherwise,
the Taliban is gonna take over
and start exporting terrorism again
with the U.S. as its main target.
(DOORBELL RINGS OVER PHONE)
Is that the doorbell?
Yeah.
The belly dancers are here.
(ELIZABETH LAUGHS)
All right, thanks for talking.
I love you.
Love you, too. Bye.
Man, you were so right.
Religion?
Definitely not the problem.
"He must increase,
but I must decrease."
I wear the bracelet,
but the lesson of humility
sometimes eludes me.
Tell me about it.
You're talking to a fighter pilot.
There were days when I thought
pretty highly of myself.
Yeah. Well, when I'm working,
I have to be confident and in charge.
It seems I don't always
successfully tone that down
when I walk in my front door.
Oh, yeah.
Transition between professional life
and home life can be... bumpy.
Yeah.
(LOG CRUMBLING)
You know,
the Romans, of all people,
had a pretty good recipe
for checking the ego.
After military victories,
they would parade generals
through the streets in chariots
with a slave standing behind them,
holding a golden crown
over their head,
all the while whispering
into the hero's ear,
"Remember, you are mortal."
(CHUCKLES) Oh, that is good.
I'll try to remember that
for my next marriage.
Yeah, turns out she's not
interested in counseling.
She's interested in
getting me the hell out.
Oh, God, I... I'm so sorry.
Well, maybe she just needs time.
No.
Listen, I-I get it.
It's-it's the right course
of action right now.
We need to...
need to get Annie out
of the middle of all this.
How's she doing?
(CHUCKLES) Well, she's not happy.
But she knows she'll see me every day.
I'm-I'm taking her to school
in the morning.
And by the time I left,
Sophie and I were, were already
being nicer to each other,
just knowing there was even
a temporary solution.
By the way, uh, I'll only need
a place to stay tonight.
I'll, I'll find a hotel tomorrow.
No.
You'll stay here as long as you need to.
But...
Wow. (CHUCKLES)
Shouldn't you run that by El jefe?
I'm channeling her.
Trust me,
if I let you check into a hotel,
I'll be checking in right behind you.
Thanks.
Is there perhaps a room where
she won't be able to find me?
(CHUCKLES)
ELIZABETH: President
Sharza put a clock on it.
If we don't hand Farhana over
to her family by midnight,
the agreement is off the table.
The Taliban is flexing,
and Sharza can't stand up to them.
Well, he can't afford to.
Public outcry will only embolden them
to make a play for control
of the government.
(PROTESTERS CHANTING)
Sharza says that Farhana
will be safe with her family.
He has her uncle's word.
What's that worth?
I have no idea.
With all the publicity,
there will be a lot of eyes
on Farhana and the Radi family.
They can't very well kill her
when everyone's watching them.
No, they'd have to wait
at least a news cycle.
How can I send her back to her family
when her own mother says
that they want to kill her?
Madam Secretary, we need to get
you and Mr. Whitman secured
in the embassy's bunker immediately.
What's going on?
What happened? What happened?
It's just a precaution.
(SIGHS)
Well...
(INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION)
What's going on?
A mortar hit
just outside the perimeter
of the RSM base north of the city.
Launched by Salafi jihadists.
Three marines were badly injured.
And it's all about the girl
you're keeping in here.
We're not keeping her.
We're providing temporary sanctuary.
Well, that sanctuary
is not only jeopardizing
our whole agreement
with the Afghan government,
it's about to get more
of our troops killed.
You can't save every
woman in Afghanistan.
I'm not trying to save every...
This girl is a victim
of her own culture.
And that's not
what we're here to address.
And now the Afghan government
has met all our criteria.
We're steps away
from getting out of this mess,
and you want to throw
it all away based on principle.
We have a moral obligation to...
Let me tell you.
Let me tell you something.
Let me tell you what I think
this is really about.
This is about you letting
your judgment become clouded
over the guilt you feel
because of the concessions
you made to get here.
It was never a perfect deal.
I said that from the beginning.
But it was always a better alternative
to an all-out ground
war with the Taliban.
And with that better alternative,
you knew there'd be collateral damage
to Afghan women.
So, this girl now is a symbol?
A gesture, an apology for you?
American service people
do not deserve to die for this girl.
You need to turn her
back over to her family.
And let's get this agreement
back on track.
We need to get our troops home.
I heard about the marines.
We've reached the end of
the road with Farhana.
I... we can't put any more
American lives at risk.
Not to mention the deal
we're here to make.
I understand.
No, the loss of this deal
could topple the government
and put my country
squarely under the thumb
of the Taliban.
And then... who knows
how many will be killed?
At least, if Farhana wanted asylum,
no one could accuse us
of keeping her against her will.
No, she still insists
she doesn't want it,
this is her home.
Well, then,
I can't justify this
situation any longer.
I...
I'm out of moves.
I mean, uh, I mean, anything you got,
I'm open, I...
That...
keeps me from sending
this girl to her death.
All right.
You may not like it.
But you did say anything.
Demonstrators in front
of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul
were dispersed by local police today
in the aftermath of a mortar attack.
Are you serious?
The mortar was apparently...
An arranged marriage?
This is the, the best
the United States of America can do?
Well, it's the best
the United States can do
in Afghanistan. Matt, the guy's older
and of higher status
than Farhana's family.
It's a big plus... He's 20 years older.
He's got two small children.
And what? Farhana's just
supposed to be his slave now?
You know? Stuck in his house,
raising his kids?
She's 17 years old.
Unfortunately,
Afghan law gives the age
of consent as 16 for girls.
As does Alabama, Connecticut, Montana.
Yeah, the difference is,
uh, girls from Alabama
won't get murdered
by their families
if they refuse to get married.
DAISY: It's not so out
of the norm here.
57% of girls are married
before they turn 19.
You can't compare their customs
to what we know.
Don't you have a daughter?!
Don't you have a daughter?!
Look, 50 years ago,
my mom left Pakistan,
and one of the main reasons
she chose to go
was to avoid an arranged marriage.
50 years ago.
This is still happening.
(SCOFFS)
What do you think Farhana wants?
What she wants is to live, okay?
Yes.
And be accepted
by her family, and I'm sorry,
but this accomplishes both.
They can kill her anyway,
and you know that.
I mean, anything can
happen when we leave.
Where's the secretary? I
want... I want to talk to her.
Hey, Matt, it's over.
M-Sec's in there with
President Sharza right now
trying to get this deal back on track.
She's telling him
that Farhana's gone back...
Wait, wait, no, no.
Far-Farhana's already gone?
DAISY: She just left.
Farhana. Farhana.
(PANTING)
I'm sorry.
I just...
It is God's will.
My parents say this is a good man,
and... it could be a good life for me.
(EXHALES)
I just wish...
Farhana? Come, your
family is arriving.
Goodbye, Matt Mahoney.
(GATE BEEPS, UNLOCKS) (SIGHS)
(WHISPERING)
(MAN MUTTERS IN PASHTO)
ELIZABETH: You're smiling.
I hope not ironically.
I could genuinely use
some good news right now.
The Afghan government
has agreed to shore up
the Violence Against Women law
and they have invited
Amina Salah to be
part of an independent
watchdog group...
to advise and inform them.
(LAUGHING) Oh, good.
An independent watchdog group.
Just to make sure no one
gets the mistaken notion
that an intelligent, qualified woman
is in their government. Again.
Look who's being ironic.
I feel like we take turns.
(CHUCKLES)
♪
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
We are here to announce
that with the signing
of the Afghan-United States
Rebuild-Renew Agreement,
the United States
will immediately begin
troop withdrawal.
(SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENS IN DISTANCE)
ELIZABETH (IN DISTANCE) Anybody home?
In here.
(SINGSONGY) Surprise.
Henry told me.
How was Afghanistan?
Harrowing.
Speaking of...
have you looked in the mirror lately?
(CHUCKLES) Oh, ho-ho-ho.
If the name of the game
is beat up on Will,
I'm way ahead of you.
I didn't mean it like that.
Just worried about you.
And disappointed in me.
No.
No?
Come on.
(SIGHS) I'm...
Just... talk to me.
I'm not gonna... scold.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
What the hell did I know
about how to be married?
I was 13 when my role models died.
It-it just...
it just looked like
you find someone
who doesn't drive you crazy,
and then you have dinner,
talk about work, watch TV.
Or you-you play Scrabble.
Sometimes go on vacations. They...
...they made it look easy,
I guess, and...
the minute my marriage wasn't easy,
I-I thought
I was doing it wrong, or...
she was.
They fought plenty.
Uh-huh.
Sure.
Come on.
Mm, nothing serious.
Who forgot to get the bread.
Who left the lights on.
(LAUGHS) Why are your
parents visiting again?
Will.
You were younger, so you
idealized them more.
Or paid less attention.
Well, you figured it out.
Somehow.
Henry and I
often joke that we were fixed up
by a couple of romantic idiots
in their 20s.
Happened to work.
That's because you work at it.
That, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(TAKES DEEP BREATH)
I don't know, Will.
Marriage is...
a mystery.
And a miracle...
And an ordeal.
That is
exactly what Henry says.
Right.
You guys did do some bonding.
We did, yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry if I...
...parent you.
It's not my job anymore,
and I'm gonna let it go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
(SIGHS)
So, where is everybody?
They all went to dinner.
They said they'd bring you back
some lasagna from Mark's.
(SIGHS)
What are you getting?
Um...
I'm not hungry.
I can't. I can't take it.
I can't just stand here
and watch you waste away.
I'm gonna make eggs. You like eggs.
(CHUCKLES) You... you're doing it.
With cheese, right? Oh. No, please.
At-at least let me.
Here, you... you shouldn't cook.
(LAUGHS) Oh.
Fine, you can help.
Just don't get any shell in there.
And that is not parental.
It's just advice.
Okay, I'm gonna back off now.
Just happy to have you here.
You can stay with us
as long as you need to.
Thanks.
So, like, how long are we talking?
Just...
Shouldn't be more than a decade.
(LAUGHS) Stop.
Huh?
Maybe just a few years.
You've got so much room.
I was thinking Sunday.
Cook your signature dish.
It's perfect for family dinner.
What is your problem?
Sure. There's nothing better
than pitting family
against one another in a contest
to guarantee a stressless
and loving meal.
Hey... whatever it takes
to get us all together,
I'm down with that.
Thank you.
Uh, and I think you will find
my mandarin orange chicken miraculous.
Mmm, thanks.
Do you want one?
Dad!
Yes. She wants one.
What?
We said no campaigning.
Exactly. (COUGHING)
Waffle potato pancakes.
Hey...
Oh, thank you, that was very subtle.
Waffle potato pancakes,
always Yukon Gold,
always hand shredded.
And thank you.
Thank you to my brilliant
and lovely sister
for not cooking, so that we might
truly enjoy this meal. (CLAPPING)
HENRY: Yes. Thank you.
Well... it is my signature dish.
Thank you, thank you.
Now dig in.
Okay.
Um... c-can we say grace?
Oh, we don't do that, sweetie.
Well, why not?
Yeah, we'll talk about it
at home, okay?
It's fine with us.
But not with the man
who never takes off
his John 3:30 bracelet.
Well, that's about faith.
And this is personal.
I-I'm happy to talk about this later.
I just don't think we should casually
participate in a ritual
we haven't defined for ourselves.
Well, Annie casually
participated in saying grace
at Gwendolyn's house,
and she liked it.
This really isn't the time
or the place to discuss it.
Exactly. So in the meantime,
if she wants to say
a prayer and be thankful,
it wouldn't hurt anyone.
And I think that this should
be a family meeting for another time.
What if the McCords say grace
and, Annie, you can join in?
What if you two don't put
me on the spot like this?
Mandarin chicken, anybody?
I'm not campaigning, just asking.
Do you remember the prayer
you said at Gwendolyn's house?
Soph.
ANNIE: Yeah.
"God is great, God is good.
Let us thank him for this food."
There we go. Amen.
Amen.
Annie, do you want chicken?
Yes.
Yum.
HENRY: Okay, what,
these-these are vegan, right?
(PEN CLICKING)
I can't get past it.
You should really try.
Was it really such a big deal
that his eight-year-old daughter
wanted to say
a prayer before dinner?
What, he can't participate
in anything until he's defined it?
What-what is that?
Babe, a lot of couples have struggles
around the role religion is
gonna play in their lives.
Yes, of course.
Remember us after Stevie was born?
Yes, but the difference is,
you... are a sane person
who is willing to listen
and respect the fact
that your wife was
still working through
some issues about organized religion.
Yes, and you were able
to understand that it was
important to me to have the kids
get some exposure to it.
Fine.
Maybe Will and Sophie...
just haven't had that talk.
Still... he couldn't
just do it for Annie?
Have the-the big talk later?
I don't know.
You can't just put your kid
in the middle of a scene
like that to defend some
vague... you know...
...principle.
So you're just deliberately
not getting involved.
Bingo.
Because you think that I'm-I'm
too parental with Will?
Correct.
Well, I was, actually...
sort of like his parent.
And I feel a responsibility
to help when he...
does these things that are...
Yeah, but then you just
talk in that tone of voice,
and he gets angry and defensive,
and he can't take in a word you say.
...so extraordinarily stupid.
Maybe you should talk to him.
Uh, no.
He respects you.
You could give him
some... religious advice.
Babe, he's a grown man.
It would be a perfect time for you
to trot out your old pal Aquinas.
I'm not gonna talk to him
about his adult behavior.
It wasn't all that adult.
Stop it.
Look... you're going away tomorrow.
Why don't you join me in this bed
and we can not talk about it?
Okay.
(MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
You move that State Department
folder one more time,
and I will turn your stay
on the seventh floor
into a horrifying fever dream.
Thank you.
You'd think the Defense
Department would be
a little more secure.
(CHUCKLES)
You know what? I'm
actually kind of relieved
I don't have to go to
Afghanistan with this crowd.
The signing of the Afghanistan
Rebuild-Renew Agreement
would be the event of the
year if we can pull it off.
Hey! Leave it! Thank you.
You're right. It could get tense.
(CHUCKLES) Still got a lot
of details to work out
with President Sharza
about the spending
of this $10 billion aid
package we're sending them.
Yeah, well, they've done
everything they promised
in terms of meeting
their human rights benchmarks
and allowing the Taliban
to be a part of the government.
So, they'll be tough,
but it'll work out,
because it's $10 billion
and they need it.
And Gordon Becker
will get that drawdown
on close to 90,000 troops.
Still no women allowed
in government, though.
That must have been a hard
concession for M-Sec to make.
You have no idea. Majority of Afghans
wanted the Taliban
involved in the government,
and they weren't willing
to budge on that.
Oh, well. Just give 'em
another hundred years or so.
(SIGHS)
Oh!
Hey, someone's a little
overeager for the trip.
Okay, okay. I-I got that thing
for my mom first, remember?
I'm arriving in Kabul a day late.
Oh, right.
KAT: What thing?
Her 70th birthday.
Oh, that's quite a thing.
Yeah, her mosque is
throwing her a party,
and I'm her surprise gift.
Oh. (LAUGHS) But you're also arriving
with a real gift for her, right?
Of course he is. His one
and only mother is turning 70.
Okay. I've got to write
M-Sec's remarks
for the signing in Kabul.
I'm only one man.
Remarks for Kabul, useless
unappreciated gift for Mom...
see what I'm saying?
Well, maybe don't go
with something so useless.
Or maybe just wait
for another birthday.
I mean, she's probably
gonna live forever, right?
Damn it. Okay,
I-I'll get the work done,
and then I'll pick up a gift
at the airport.
Hey...
Oh, yeah.
'Cause nothing screams "thank
you for giving me life"
like something from the airport.
Jewelry!
They sell jewelry at the airport.
NINA: Wow... how did this happen?
Ah! You did this, didn't you?
No. It's not my job anymore.
This is Secretary of Defense Becker
putting out a big spread
as a power move.
Good luck with that. He's on our turf.
Yeah, our turf, but now
we're all gonna talk
about the food and who supplied it.
Genius.
Yeah. It's gonna leave
a pretty big mess to clean up.
I'll manage. So, wait, you were a part
of this Afghan deal from
the beginning, right?
Is it weird not to be
going on this trip?
No. I mean, policy keeps me
pretty busy.
Not too busy to remember to ask you
if you set up a lunch date
in Kabul for the secretary
and Amina Salah.
Amina Salah... the former
Afghan minister of education,
who lost her job in the peace deal
that Secretary McCord championed?
Yeah. Lunch is confirmed for Tuesday.
Okay, now you're just showing off.
Yep.
Okay, everyone. Fill your plates
and find your seats.
And we can thank
Secretary Becker when he arrives
for this generous spread.
I-I... Gordon, I hear you.
But there's been relative peace
in Afghanistan for over a year,
and contrary to our biggest concerns,
Taliban has not taken
over the government.
Then you haven't heard me.
'Cause the hardliners
are already pushing back
on the conditions we put on 'em
to receive the aid package.
They're not gonna leave $10 billion
sitting on the table.
This is last-minute posturing.
Look, I can admit,
the deal's turned out
better than I expected,
but it's a fragile peace.
I know.
We've lost some good people
to green-on-blue attacks.
Well, we've lost far fewer soldiers
than an all-out military attack
would have cost us.
I-I know that.
I-I understand the
benefits, Elizabeth.
Believe me, I'm on
the side of the deal.
Nobody wants the troops
home more than I do.
I know.
It's just my job to
anticipate the problems.
And you're very good at it.
Hoping that this briefing
maybe puts some of
your concerns to rest.
Wow. Where'd this come from?
People got to eat.
MATT: There's so many pretty colors.
I agree.
It was hard to choose which ones.
Hmm.
I love crafts, I just never
seem to have the time.
Me, too.
I was in the hospital for four months,
so I had time to sew this.
Uh, well, not sew.
That's, um, that's with a needle.
Uh... (SPEAKS PASHTO)
you, um, you braided them.
Uh... yes. Braided.
Well, whatever you
did, they're amazing.
And your heart's all better now?
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
All better.
Ah. Yes. All better.
Mm-hmm. Farhana will be able to lead
a normal life.
I'm s... I'm... I'm her chaperone.
I'm with an organization
called Heart Train.
Oh, I know Heart Train.
Do you?
Yeah, you guys do amazing work
bringing children to the U.S.
for cardiology procedures.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, actually, I gave you
a shout-out last year,
in one of the secretary's speeches.
That's on our website.
Really?
Yes.
Ah.
We... Really, that meant so much to us
to have the Secretary of State
highlight our work.
Good.
I...
Highlight?
Oh, um...
It's like, um...
when you shine a light on something,
to see it.
Except you... we use words.
Oh, I say "we" because, um,
I write all the secretary's speeches.
So many ways to say one thing.
I'm very happy I got to come
here for my heart.
But I find the United States too much.
And I miss my family.
Well, you're going back
to Afghanistan healthy.
And you've learned a new language.
I'm afraid I will forget.
No one in my village talks English.
But I can't wait to be home.
And have my mother make her piti.
The bean soup?
I love piti.
My Ade makes the best.
Um... excuse me. Sir? Hi.
Hi. Hi.
Hi.
I was wondering if you could
open this window shade.
Um, I need some natural light
for my selfie
or my skin looks blah.
Okay.
Yeah? Okay.
Kids these days.
(GASPS) Oh, oh, n...
don't worry about it,
don't worry about it, it's just, uh,
a little turbulence.
I hate turbulence, too.
This is only the second time I fly.
Well, I promise you, you'll be fine.
Well...
That's perfect.
(GRUNTS)
I'm sorry.
Uh, it was lovely meeting you both.
And I-I really do, uh,
appreciate the work your
organization does, Leslie.
Oh, thank you so much.
Yeah. Come visit us sometime.
(LAUGHING) All right.
I wish you good health
and a delicious piti.
(SPEAKS PASHTO) Mr. Mahoney.
I want to give you this.
To remember me.
You can put it on your backpack
or give it to your wife.
Wow. Really?
This is... This is great.
I-I'm not married,
but my girlfriend will love it.
Thank you. I mean...
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
You guys, the line's moving.
Oh, please go ahead.
SHARZA: This timetable
for the rebuilding of schools
is impossible.
Well, Mr. President, you have lamented
on more than one occasion
that the destruction
of the schools has been crippling
to your next generation
and future economy.
SHARZA: That is true.
ELIZABETH: If we could get a
sense of how many schools
we're talking about,
that would be helpful.
That could be quite a...
(CRYING) Matt Mahoney! Matt Mahoney!
I know him! Please!
Please, please, Matt Mahoney!
I know him. Authorized personnel only.
Please. Please.
Move away from the gate.
Matt Mahoney! (SPEAKING PASHTO)
Farhana?
(GATE BUZZES)
Are you okay?
Ma'am, stop. _
You have to move away from the gate.
Farhana! Farhana!
You need to move away from the gate.
Slow down, what's happening?
_
Okay, open the gate.
Under whose authority?
Secretary of State.
Do it now! Come on.
Come on, come on, come on,
come on. Hurry up.
MARINE: Stop! This is
United States property.
Move away, or we'll call the police.
(YELLING IN PASHTO)
I don't know what you're saying!
Who are those guys? What's going on?
They're going to kill me
because of you.
(MAN SPEAKS PASHTO) Farhana!
♪
So we're talking about an
honor killing? You're sure?
Yes. That's what she says.
And I saw her family, uh, three men,
they tried to grab her.
I mean, we had to let her in.
Oh, my God, I can't believe
this... it's all because of me.
JAY: Just because you
talked to her on a plane?
Yes. I mean, no. Th-They made it
look like more, but it wasn't.
DAISY: Apparently
there was an American
teenage girl sitting behind them
coming to visit her FSO dad,
and she made a video of them chatting
and turned it into a romance.
MATT: It's all shot
between our two seats.
Sh-Sh-She called it
"Between the Seats,"
and edited and narrated it
into this total lie.
KACI (ON VIDEO) Maybe Cupid and
his arrow, like, totally exist,
or maybe it was Saturn
being in Capricorn
that brought these two strangers
on a plane together.
Whatever.
It didn't take long
for him to get the hot Muslim girl
to drop her guard
and dig his vibe and let him
buy her a drink.
It was a club soda!
I-I-I held it while
she changed her shawl.
...that make love bloom, and
this dude knew all the tricks.
I opened that for Leslie,
her chaperone!
Matt, calm down.
And then it happened.
Aw. Is it the beginning?
Or just, like, a thing on a plane?
Can love that starts
in the clouds last?
We may never know, but wait...
I'm not married.
KACI: Well...
not much of a proposal, dude,
but good luck, lovers!
I wasn't hitting on her.
She told me to give
the bracelet to my wife,
and I was explaining
right afterwards...
I said my girlfriend...
JAY: Sit down, just breathe.
It was turbulence.
That's why she touched me.
She was scared.
She didn't mean to.
Thank you.
I can't believe I opened
my window shade
for that social media
fake video person.
How did Farhana's family
even see this?
Facebook. There's an Afghan youth page
that's very popular.
The girl from the plane
sent it to her friend
in Kabul, who posted it right away.
It had 5,000 hits
before we even left the airport.
This is a nightmare. Look, honor
killing is against Afghan law.
We can just report
the threat to the police.
That won't help.
Farhana's from a very rural
village called Asadabad.
I mean, it is tribal
and the hard-line Taliban,
the Salafi jihadists,
they are in charge there.
JAY: All right, here's the problem.
Farhana is 17 years old,
that means she's a minor,
and we can't keep her
unless she asks for asylum,
which apparently she's refusing to do.
MATT: She doesn't
want to go to America.
She wants to be with her family.
I mean, she did until they
decided to kill her. Oh, my God.
JAY: Not to pile on, but there's
another complicating factor.
Farhana's uncle is the governor
of Samangan Province
and a good friend
of President Sharza.
That could be good, though.
(STAMMERS) Maybe the uncle
could get me in touch
with Farhana's family.
I could explain
the whole thing to them.
We could track down, uh, uh,
the chaperone from
Heart Train, Leslie,
she could back up the story.
I don't think they'd be receptive
to hearing from you right now.
We have to try.
Okay, I have, uh, seen the video.
Ma'am...
No, don't worry,
Matt, I know it's baloney,
but I did move up
my meeting with Amina.
Just think we could probably
use her perspective,
and since we've already
hit a few speed bumps
with the Rebuild-Renew Agreement,
I'm gonna need a private meeting
with President Sharza ASAP just
to avoid any negative impact
that this could have
on the negotiation, okay?
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
No, no, don't-don't beat yourself up.
There's no way that you
could have anticipated this.
I should have. I know the culture.
I know that there are
cameras everywhere now.
I'm-I'm a representative
of the State Department.
ELIZABETH: Matt.
We'll do our best to remedy this.
I was just saying that I-I...
if I met with the parents,
I could explain everything.
Okay, I'm gonna run that by Amina,
and we'll see what she thinks.
Daisy, you do whatever
you can to make sure
this doesn't become a bigger story.
Thank you, guys.
Let's go.
Come on.
Yeah.
Ma'am, uh, we're already
coloring way outside the lines here.
I don't know how long we can keep her.
Well, we're gonna keep her
until we can't.
Okay?
Yes, ma'am.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Hey, look who's here.
Hey.
Yeah, I went out for a walk and...
I guess this is where I ended up.
Elizabeth's in Afghanistan, right?
Yup. You want a beer?
Oh, does the Pope wear a dress?
(CHUCKLES)
WILL: I wanted to apologize
for the other night.
You guys are dealing with
the whole religion issue, huh?
Yeah, I guess.
Out of nowhere.
I mean, I've always been open to it.
Thanks. Sophie's always
been rigidly opposed.
And we never
talked about it much at all
until last month
when I looked into sending Annie
to a private Catholic school,
purely for the educational benefits,
and Sophie completely freaked out.
Accused me of wanting
to cloister her away
with antiquated religious ideas
about the role of women in society,
something, something, and its
inherent poisonous patriarchy.
You would've thought
I wanted to boil her in oil.
(CHUCKLES)
I had barely recovered
from that, and now suddenly
she's fine with saying grace
at the family table.
What is that about?
Yeah.
(SIGHS)
No, I'm, I'm asking.
What is that about?
Well, I can tell you what
it's not about... religion.
Mm.
I mean, come on,
is that the only thing you guys
have been fighting about recently?
Because the tension
in the air seemed a little
thick to be just an argument
about saying grace.
Yeah. We fight all the time.
We always have.
The thing is, the making up...
used to be a lot more fun.
Have you guys tried counseling?
No.
Why not?
Well, it just feels like
the beginning of the end.
I mean, does it ever work?
Elizabeth and I have done it.
(IMITATES EXPLOSION)
The soul mate unicorn couple,
themselves?
(CHUCKLES)
What is it Joseph Campbell
says about marriage?
It's not an adventure
or a journey or a-an affair.
It's an ordeal.
Then we're on the right track.
(CHUCKLES)
Seriously, when you're stuck,
a third party's perspective
can be helpful.
But if they're qualified to do that,
by which I mean not me
and definitely not your sister.
All right.
If it worked for you guys,
I guess it's worth a try.
To saving the ordeal.
Yes, I saw the video.
Our government does everything
it can to ban social media,
but we both know repression
only feeds innovation.
This girl's family sends her
for a life-saving operation
in the United States.
Now they want to kill her
for talking to a man on the plane,
in the presence of her chaperone.
Even if the parents are ambivalent,
they get pressure from the community.
Honor killing is a
marginalized custom,
mostly found in the
more rural provinces
where it can't accurately be policed.
Some of our research indicates
there has actually been
an uptick in the practice
since you helped forge the deal
with President Sharza's
government and the Taliban.
Well, that contradicts the information
the State Department received.
Honor killings are reported
to be significantly down.
It was a benchmark
that the Afghan government had to meet
in order to qualify
for the aid package.
The Rebuild-Renew Agreement.
I am aware.
How do you get your information?
I work with an organization that
tracks women's social issues.
We have government contacts and NGOs
on the ground who keep us informed.
So you know that this agreement
could be monumental
for both our countries.
Keeping Farhana at the embassy,
I'm afraid that we are putting
the deal in jeopardy.
On the other hand, letting her go...
Could cost her her life.
Sorry to interrupt, ma'am,
but President Sharza is asking
to see you immediately.
SHARZA: You can't just take one
of my governor's nieces
and lock her up in the embassy.
This will not stand, Madam Secretary.
First of all, we didn't take her.
Farhana Radi came to us
asking for protection
from an honor killing,
a practice that is outlawed
in your country.
Yes. It is easy to be disgusted
by such a barbaric practice.
We have made progress,
but it's a strenuous process.
I'm aware of that.
But isn't, isn't this
the perfect opportunity
to take a strong stand?
Hardly. I'm fighting day
and night to hold together
the deal you brokered
having the Taliban as
part of my government.
Your actions with this girl put me
and my government
in a precarious position.
And we are working on a solution.
There is no time.
The story of the U.S.
Secretary of State
allowing one of her staff
to kidnap an Afghan girl
and keep her in the embassy
is all over the news.
And until this catastrophe
is resolved,
consider the entire
Rebuild-Renew Agreement on hold.
Mr. President,
I urge you to reconsider.
This agreement is the solution
to so many problems
for both our countries.
Not to mention you'd be walking
away from $10 billion
in economic aid.
If you don't release
the girl to her family,
the Taliban will seize the moment
and paint a picture
of my government as weak.
Then it will be only a matter
of time before they take over.
Then what will happen?
We will end up once again
mired in war and terrorism,
and I cannot allow that.
_
_
Amina was right.
While Afghanistan has improved
its numbers in terms
of verified honor killings,
the true numbers are underreported.
I got in touch with some contacts
on the ground there...
NGOs and medical examiners...
and the truth is,
the Afghan government gathers
its info from police departments
and medical examiners.
And, big surprise,
these government employees
aren't always pressured
to be absolutely accurate
about the cause of death
for many young women.
So, if you release Farhana
and she were to die
at the hands of her family,
there's a good chance it'll
be reported as something else.
Right. Thank you, guys.
Sure thing, ma'am.
Yes, ma'am.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Thank you both.
Um... I am incredibly grateful
for the opportunity.
_
_
(SPEAKS PASHTO)
I speak for the Afghan government
as well as for my brother
when I say...
this has gone far enough.
My niece has to be returned
to her father and family immediately.
Uh, if I may say something?
Please.
As you know, I was once
minister of education.
I know this young man,
Matthew Mahoney,
quite well from my trips
to United States
and from his work here
with Secretary McCord,
and I can vouch for his character,
as well as the fact that Farhana came
to the United States Embassy
out of fear for her life.
And that is the only reason
that she was allowed to enter.
She is not being kept
against her will.
(TRANSLATING)
_
_
If you will allow Mr. Mahoney
to explain, you will see
how the truth has been manipulated.
There's no need.
We just want to take Farhana
home to her mother,
who's waited all these months
to see her.
She wants to nurse
her daughter back to health.
Her father is angry.
Oh...
But he would not hurt her.
No one would.
We just want to take her home.
AMINA: Yes, yes, I
understand, but please
take a moment to watch and listen.
Now, the reason why the
video is so confusing
is because of what
the narrator is saying.
The girl who is taking the video.
But what she is saying
is not what is happening.
The music makes it seem
romantic, but it's not.
KACI: They say it's the little
things that make love bloom,
and this dude knew all...
When I turn the sound down...
...you can see it's
just two people talking.
Three people, actually,
because Leslie, the chaperone,
is just over here,
out of sight.
You explained it very well.
You did a good job.
I think I was talking too fast.
I felt like I was rambling.
I've never had to save
anyone's life before.
(EXHALES) Listen.
My brother is a very emotional man,
but he's calmed down now.
He's convinced by your explanation
that nothing bad happened.
Really?
Yes.
He only requests that you make
a public statement about this,
much as you did here,
so that his family can
defend her honor,
and the community will be satisfied.
That can be arranged.
Matt can even record the statement,
and it can be submitted
to the same Facebook page
which posted the video to begin with.
And the Secretary of State
must issue a statement
to this effect as well.
She would be happy to.
This will satisfy my brother.
Farhana.
Great news. I spoke with your family.
They understand what happened now.
JAY: This is good.
You're safe to go.
Your father and uncle are coming
to pick you up in an hour.
They said your mom's
really excited to see you.
No. That's not possible.
MATT: But it is.
I was there. They believed me.
Uh, it's gonna be okay.
(WOMAN SPEAKING PASHTO)
That is my mother.
Just now.
She said, "Don't come home.
They will kill you."
A 17-year-old girl.
I mean, it's excruciating
to see her in terror
of the people she loves.
It's medieval.
HENRY: Well, not entirely.
There's the Napoleonic Code,
which allowed husbands to murder
their unfaithful wives.
That wasn't abolished in France
until 1975.
Modernization is a sluggish train.
Yeah. To some cultures,
it's the enemy.
They see the rest of us
as having sold our souls
to technology
and wanton creature comforts.
Well... I have to figure out
how to bolster the faction
of this government
that sees it as the key
to moving forward.
Otherwise,
the Taliban is gonna take over
and start exporting terrorism again
with the U.S. as its main target.
(DOORBELL RINGS OVER PHONE)
Is that the doorbell?
Yeah.
The belly dancers are here.
(ELIZABETH LAUGHS)
All right, thanks for talking.
I love you.
Love you, too. Bye.
Man, you were so right.
Religion?
Definitely not the problem.
"He must increase,
but I must decrease."
I wear the bracelet,
but the lesson of humility
sometimes eludes me.
Tell me about it.
You're talking to a fighter pilot.
There were days when I thought
pretty highly of myself.
Yeah. Well, when I'm working,
I have to be confident and in charge.
It seems I don't always
successfully tone that down
when I walk in my front door.
Oh, yeah.
Transition between professional life
and home life can be... bumpy.
Yeah.
(LOG CRUMBLING)
You know,
the Romans, of all people,
had a pretty good recipe
for checking the ego.
After military victories,
they would parade generals
through the streets in chariots
with a slave standing behind them,
holding a golden crown
over their head,
all the while whispering
into the hero's ear,
"Remember, you are mortal."
(CHUCKLES) Oh, that is good.
I'll try to remember that
for my next marriage.
Yeah, turns out she's not
interested in counseling.
She's interested in
getting me the hell out.
Oh, God, I... I'm so sorry.
Well, maybe she just needs time.
No.
Listen, I-I get it.
It's-it's the right course
of action right now.
We need to...
need to get Annie out
of the middle of all this.
How's she doing?
(CHUCKLES) Well, she's not happy.
But she knows she'll see me every day.
I'm-I'm taking her to school
in the morning.
And by the time I left,
Sophie and I were, were already
being nicer to each other,
just knowing there was even
a temporary solution.
By the way, uh, I'll only need
a place to stay tonight.
I'll, I'll find a hotel tomorrow.
No.
You'll stay here as long as you need to.
But...
Wow. (CHUCKLES)
Shouldn't you run that by El jefe?
I'm channeling her.
Trust me,
if I let you check into a hotel,
I'll be checking in right behind you.
Thanks.
Is there perhaps a room where
she won't be able to find me?
(CHUCKLES)
ELIZABETH: President
Sharza put a clock on it.
If we don't hand Farhana over
to her family by midnight,
the agreement is off the table.
The Taliban is flexing,
and Sharza can't stand up to them.
Well, he can't afford to.
Public outcry will only embolden them
to make a play for control
of the government.
(PROTESTERS CHANTING)
Sharza says that Farhana
will be safe with her family.
He has her uncle's word.
What's that worth?
I have no idea.
With all the publicity,
there will be a lot of eyes
on Farhana and the Radi family.
They can't very well kill her
when everyone's watching them.
No, they'd have to wait
at least a news cycle.
How can I send her back to her family
when her own mother says
that they want to kill her?
Madam Secretary, we need to get
you and Mr. Whitman secured
in the embassy's bunker immediately.
What's going on?
What happened? What happened?
It's just a precaution.
(SIGHS)
Well...
(INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION)
What's going on?
A mortar hit
just outside the perimeter
of the RSM base north of the city.
Launched by Salafi jihadists.
Three marines were badly injured.
And it's all about the girl
you're keeping in here.
We're not keeping her.
We're providing temporary sanctuary.
Well, that sanctuary
is not only jeopardizing
our whole agreement
with the Afghan government,
it's about to get more
of our troops killed.
You can't save every
woman in Afghanistan.
I'm not trying to save every...
This girl is a victim
of her own culture.
And that's not
what we're here to address.
And now the Afghan government
has met all our criteria.
We're steps away
from getting out of this mess,
and you want to throw
it all away based on principle.
We have a moral obligation to...
Let me tell you.
Let me tell you something.
Let me tell you what I think
this is really about.
This is about you letting
your judgment become clouded
over the guilt you feel
because of the concessions
you made to get here.
It was never a perfect deal.
I said that from the beginning.
But it was always a better alternative
to an all-out ground
war with the Taliban.
And with that better alternative,
you knew there'd be collateral damage
to Afghan women.
So, this girl now is a symbol?
A gesture, an apology for you?
American service people
do not deserve to die for this girl.
You need to turn her
back over to her family.
And let's get this agreement
back on track.
We need to get our troops home.
I heard about the marines.
We've reached the end of
the road with Farhana.
I... we can't put any more
American lives at risk.
Not to mention the deal
we're here to make.
I understand.
No, the loss of this deal
could topple the government
and put my country
squarely under the thumb
of the Taliban.
And then... who knows
how many will be killed?
At least, if Farhana wanted asylum,
no one could accuse us
of keeping her against her will.
No, she still insists
she doesn't want it,
this is her home.
Well, then,
I can't justify this
situation any longer.
I...
I'm out of moves.
I mean, uh, I mean, anything you got,
I'm open, I...
That...
keeps me from sending
this girl to her death.
All right.
You may not like it.
But you did say anything.
Demonstrators in front
of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul
were dispersed by local police today
in the aftermath of a mortar attack.
Are you serious?
The mortar was apparently...
An arranged marriage?
This is the, the best
the United States of America can do?
Well, it's the best
the United States can do
in Afghanistan. Matt, the guy's older
and of higher status
than Farhana's family.
It's a big plus... He's 20 years older.
He's got two small children.
And what? Farhana's just
supposed to be his slave now?
You know? Stuck in his house,
raising his kids?
She's 17 years old.
Unfortunately,
Afghan law gives the age
of consent as 16 for girls.
As does Alabama, Connecticut, Montana.
Yeah, the difference is,
uh, girls from Alabama
won't get murdered
by their families
if they refuse to get married.
DAISY: It's not so out
of the norm here.
57% of girls are married
before they turn 19.
You can't compare their customs
to what we know.
Don't you have a daughter?!
Don't you have a daughter?!
Look, 50 years ago,
my mom left Pakistan,
and one of the main reasons
she chose to go
was to avoid an arranged marriage.
50 years ago.
This is still happening.
(SCOFFS)
What do you think Farhana wants?
What she wants is to live, okay?
Yes.
And be accepted
by her family, and I'm sorry,
but this accomplishes both.
They can kill her anyway,
and you know that.
I mean, anything can
happen when we leave.
Where's the secretary? I
want... I want to talk to her.
Hey, Matt, it's over.
M-Sec's in there with
President Sharza right now
trying to get this deal back on track.
She's telling him
that Farhana's gone back...
Wait, wait, no, no.
Far-Farhana's already gone?
DAISY: She just left.
Farhana. Farhana.
(PANTING)
I'm sorry.
I just...
It is God's will.
My parents say this is a good man,
and... it could be a good life for me.
(EXHALES)
I just wish...
Farhana? Come, your
family is arriving.
Goodbye, Matt Mahoney.
(GATE BEEPS, UNLOCKS) (SIGHS)
(WHISPERING)
(MAN MUTTERS IN PASHTO)
ELIZABETH: You're smiling.
I hope not ironically.
I could genuinely use
some good news right now.
The Afghan government
has agreed to shore up
the Violence Against Women law
and they have invited
Amina Salah to be
part of an independent
watchdog group...
to advise and inform them.
(LAUGHING) Oh, good.
An independent watchdog group.
Just to make sure no one
gets the mistaken notion
that an intelligent, qualified woman
is in their government. Again.
Look who's being ironic.
I feel like we take turns.
(CHUCKLES)
♪
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
We are here to announce
that with the signing
of the Afghan-United States
Rebuild-Renew Agreement,
the United States
will immediately begin
troop withdrawal.
(SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENS IN DISTANCE)
ELIZABETH (IN DISTANCE) Anybody home?
In here.
(SINGSONGY) Surprise.
Henry told me.
How was Afghanistan?
Harrowing.
Speaking of...
have you looked in the mirror lately?
(CHUCKLES) Oh, ho-ho-ho.
If the name of the game
is beat up on Will,
I'm way ahead of you.
I didn't mean it like that.
Just worried about you.
And disappointed in me.
No.
No?
Come on.
(SIGHS) I'm...
Just... talk to me.
I'm not gonna... scold.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
What the hell did I know
about how to be married?
I was 13 when my role models died.
It-it just...
it just looked like
you find someone
who doesn't drive you crazy,
and then you have dinner,
talk about work, watch TV.
Or you-you play Scrabble.
Sometimes go on vacations. They...
...they made it look easy,
I guess, and...
the minute my marriage wasn't easy,
I-I thought
I was doing it wrong, or...
she was.
They fought plenty.
Uh-huh.
Sure.
Come on.
Mm, nothing serious.
Who forgot to get the bread.
Who left the lights on.
(LAUGHS) Why are your
parents visiting again?
Will.
You were younger, so you
idealized them more.
Or paid less attention.
Well, you figured it out.
Somehow.
Henry and I
often joke that we were fixed up
by a couple of romantic idiots
in their 20s.
Happened to work.
That's because you work at it.
That, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(TAKES DEEP BREATH)
I don't know, Will.
Marriage is...
a mystery.
And a miracle...
And an ordeal.
That is
exactly what Henry says.
Right.
You guys did do some bonding.
We did, yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry if I...
...parent you.
It's not my job anymore,
and I'm gonna let it go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
(SIGHS)
So, where is everybody?
They all went to dinner.
They said they'd bring you back
some lasagna from Mark's.
(SIGHS)
What are you getting?
Um...
I'm not hungry.
I can't. I can't take it.
I can't just stand here
and watch you waste away.
I'm gonna make eggs. You like eggs.
(CHUCKLES) You... you're doing it.
With cheese, right? Oh. No, please.
At-at least let me.
Here, you... you shouldn't cook.
(LAUGHS) Oh.
Fine, you can help.
Just don't get any shell in there.
And that is not parental.
It's just advice.
Okay, I'm gonna back off now.
Just happy to have you here.
You can stay with us
as long as you need to.
Thanks.
So, like, how long are we talking?
Just...
Shouldn't be more than a decade.
(LAUGHS) Stop.
Huh?
Maybe just a few years.
You've got so much room.
I was thinking Sunday.