Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 5, Episode 8 - The Courage to Continue - full transcript
Morning, babe. Hey, babe.
How's the sun victim?
I keep forgetting
it's there and then...
I look in the mirror and
scare myself half to death.
I guess none of us
got enough SPF
when we were kids.
You should use that
for your campaign.
I just might.
How's the world looking?
You know. Droughts.
Sectarian violence.
Mutating bugs.
Maybe you should not begin
every morning with the paper.
It makes you so cranky.
Well, not today, because...
this lion made friends
with a little wiener dog.
There's hope for us all.
You know what hope is
in Creole? Espwa.
Babe, you don't have
to learn Creole.
I'm just picking up
a few bons mots
for my meeting with Haitian
President-elect Claude Galbert,
an agent of democratic reform.
You know, maybe after decades
of mismanagement and corruption,
Haiti's finally
turning the corner,
and I just want to show him
that we're his partner.
And you think getting
your Caribbean mojo on
is gonna do the trick?
It's about showing respè.
Reaching out
across a cultural divide.
Speaking of reaching out,
I got a call from David Clark.
The grim reaper.
I think he prefers
"estate lawyer," but...
Well, I would prefer
eternal life.
What does Mr. Clark want
besides another retainer?
He was doing his annual review
of our estate plan,
and he wants to discuss
some modifications to our will.
All right, well...
I can get Blake
to give me some times.
Laissez les bons temps rouler. Hey.
I'm the only diplomat
around here, pal.
Butchering foreign
languages is my turf.
Yeah, I'll stay in my lane.Good.
I love you. Je t'aime.
362 days ago she told me
she was going to fire me,
as in terminate, discharge.
Yes, and in the
intervening year,
you've solidified yourself
as an indispensable member
of her team. This is Washington.
They dispense
with the indispensable.
Relax. She hasn't said boo
to any of us
about your demise. Demise?
What Matt means is, your
future is not on her radar.
Meaning she's forgotten? Yes, forgotten.
Better? Yes.
Good. Now we have to prep M-Sec
for President-elect
Galbert's visit,
so if you're done
worrying about tomorrow,
let's-let's focus on today.
Indispensable.
This is from an hour ago
inside the presidential palace.
President Dupont
isn't going quietly.
He's alleging election fraud.
In the form
of voter intimidation,
ballot stuffing, and bribery.
Any evidence
that stuff happened? JAY Plenty.
But only on Dupont's
side, and he still lost.
OAS election monitors have
already certified the results.
Yeah, but Dupont is
alleging the monitors conspired
with Galbert to cover up
election irregularities.
He's repeating the allegation
on every media platform.
Of course he is. It's the death rale
of a flailing despot, ma'am.
He's just trying to sow chaos.
Which is why we invited
President-elect Galbert here
for a visit, to help
legitimize Haiti's election
by recognizing its new leader.
Well, that's one reason.
The other is so that
we can assess Galbert.
He talks a good game,
but Haiti is run
by the oligarchs
that propped up Dupont.
They're the real power brokers.
So we need to make sure
Galbert is willing
to stand up to them
and embrace democracy
before we give him
the official blessing.
Exactly. And if he is
the Haitian Jack Kennedy,
then I would recommend,
actually, a photo op
with President Dalton.
And if he's not? Then, after decades
of misrule and bloodshed,
hell, I'd settle for
the Haitian Martin Van Buren.
We'll let you know when
he's wheels down, ma'am.
And, Jay, did you tell Matt
about the...? Was about to.
Matt, in a gesture of good will,
the Dalton administration
and President-elect Galbert
have agreed to a cultural
exchange during his visit. ELIZABETH Yeah.
And you've been paired with
Galbert's speechwriter, so...
He's just gonna bird-dog you
for a few days,
pick up a few pointers.
Yeah, my dance card's
pretty full,
and playing hall monitor
for a field trip...
Where do I sign up? That's the spirit.
Yeah.
72 hours, punk.
Then I get the catapult.
Forgotten?
Thanks, Remy.
Blake would be a good fit.
I'll send you his résumé.
Thanks.
Come in. Hey.
Okay, first, don't panic. Come on.
This is my home. How am I
supposed to just leave?
I've already set up meetings
for you
with a few undersecretaries
here at State.
Except... thank you... I...
I don't want to leave
the inner circle.
My-my family.
My desk. My beautiful,
ergonomically perfect desk.
Madam Secretary has spoken.Yeah.
What if I found another
job on her staff? For example?
Public Affairs? Management?
I tried Protocol.
That was probably
the worst week of my life.
What's your first choice?
I know there's been talk about
adding to the advisory team.
Well, why not me?
I-I've been working with
Kat on the weekends.
I-I've been auditing classes
at Hopkins. It's a big move, Blake.
You'd be one of M-Sec's
closest advisers overnight.
I know.
And I'm not expecting
preferential treatment
because of my
history here. I... Good.
Look, you got a lot of money
in the bank with her, but...
And that-that
gives you a leg up,
but you're still gonna
have to prove your bona fides.
How?
It'll come down
to the interview.
Your relationship
will get you in the door,
but your résumé is lacking.
You'll have to impress her.
Well, good. Well, that'll work.
I-I'm a type A people pleaser.
I'm born to impress. Hey, what
if we did a practice interview?
You've been here for years.
I don't think that's necessary.
Jay, come on, it'll
put me over the top.
You're already over the top.
Please, Jay,
I need to kill this.
When M-Sec sits down with
me, she's got to think
that I am the second coming
of... well, me.
I'm proud of my tenure.
My work. My attitude.
Accomplishments
I can cite chapter and verse.
I... Yes. Okay. Practice interview.
Just stop... selling.
Okay.
Thank you.
Just...
This way.
Secretary McCord.
It is an honor.
The honor is ours,
Mr. President-elect.
We just heard
the Haitian Supreme Court
dismissed Dupont's suit.Yes.
To use an American expression,
I believe
he has run out of road.
Which is a great thing
for the Haitian people.
Congratulations
on your victory.
Might we get acquainted?
It would be a pleasure.Okay.
I would hate
to see the other guy.
The other guy was a
couple of basal cells,
but my doctor kicked his butt.
Matt Mahoney?
Dany Victor. President-elect
Galbert's speechwriter.
Nice to meet you. Look, I'm
a little snowed in over here. I understand.
I won't interfere. No, you won't.
I just want to see how a master
craftsman plies his trade.
Look, we'll set you up
in the National Archives,
and...
Master craftsman?
That speech Madam Secretary
gave last month...
Patriotism versus nationalism.
It was transcendent.
Really? 'Cause that was my baby.
I mean, M-Sec made a
few customary revisions,
of course, but... And
her Brandenburg address
to mark the 25th anniversary
of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"Success is not final.
"Failure is not fatal.
It is the courage
to continue that counts.""...to continue
that counts." Yeah.
Churchill, yes? No, not Churchill.
An amalgam of various snippets
from multiple sources,
including a 1938
Budweiser beer ad.
And you
were not afraid to use it?
Afraid? Courage.
Well, in the context
of the speech, you made it soar.
You know, why don't
you come on back.
I'll show you where
the magic happens.
We did not enjoy good relations
with Dupont's regime.
Looking forward
to a fresh start.
As am I.
Well, that's great to hear,
because your country
is key to the stability
of the Caribbean
and Latin America.
You have the potential to
be a great trading partner
and an ally in the drug war.
Yes, but that will require Haiti
to be treated as an equal.
Over the last 200 years, you've
occupied us. Blockaded us.
Used your resources
as both a carrot and a stick.
We also didn't have a stable
government to interact with.
I'm hoping that you'll help us
write a new chapter
in our relationship.
Good. We've
drawn up a broad list
of NGOs who would like
to help you
build out Haiti's
infrastructure.
No, thank you.
Mr. President-elect, that's
half a billion dollars in aid.
And it comes at a cost.
My country is run by NGOs.
They provide essential
services, yes,
but they only answer
to foreign donors.
NGOs block out
local businesses and continue
our cycle of dependence.
Haiti must become
self-sufficient.
Investment, not handouts.
Okay, but in order to do that,
to attract investors,
you'd-you'd have to crack down
on corruption.
Stop the oligarchs
from looting the treasury.
I intend to usher in a new day,
one that will not see
Haiti beholden
to moneyed interests.
Not NGOs or private citizens.
All right.
Daisy's gonna run you
through the press gauntlet.
If you'll come with me, sir.
Looking forward to working
with you, Madam Secretary.
Me, too.
This is the right play
at the wrong time.
This guy needs
all the help he can get.
He's taking the helm
of an impoverished republic
teetering on the brink
of anarchy,
and his first move is
to turn down outside assistance.
What do you call that?
Leadership.
I read Madam Secretary's
introductory remarks
for President Dalton's
meet and greet
with the president-elect.
Your handiwork?
Yep. Pro forma stuff.
The secretary
will say a few words
and then tee it up
for President Dalton.
Would it be impertinent
to suggest a minor
revision or two?
Bring it on.
You have a comma splice
on the bottom of page two.
It's not technically... A parallel
construction issue
in the second graph.
Okay, but that's... And I think you
should reconsider
the historical
antecedents you cite.
There really is no analog
to the Haitian experiment.
I wasn't looking for an analog.Good.
Because you didn't find one.
But all in all, very competent.
Even if your prose
is a bit turgid.
Turgid?
Why don't I just
give you my notes?
Hey, wait a minute.
Hey. Madam Secretary
wants us pronto.
Come on.
This election was a fraud.
A perversion of democracy
orchestrated by a foreign power.
Now the puppet Galbert meets
with his American master.
The Haitian people won't
stand for this charade.
That's what Dupont
is counting on.
Protests are already
breaking out across the country.
Giving him
the excuse to declare
martial law
and suspend
the Haitian Constitution.
Yeah, meaning Claude Galbert
has just become
president-in-exile.
Yeah, and all his visit here did
was enable an autocratic thug
to consolidate his power.
Blake, let... The White House know
you're on your way.
Yeah.
Claude, as the...
democratically elected successor
to President Dupont, you have
the full and unalloyed support
of the United States.
I appreciate that.
But right now my country
is in chaos,
and I'm 1,400 miles away.
No opposition to Dupont from
the Haitian Parliament?
Dupont just dissolved it.
Excuse me, Mr. President.
My wife is trying to
reach me, Mr. President.
I pray that she's safe.
We've waited a long time
for Haiti to find
its George Washington.
Now that he's arrived,
a dictator is spinning him
as an American operative.
Dupont timed this perfectly.
And even if Galbert
is duly elected,
our public embrace of him
makes it look as though we're
meddling in Haiti's affairs.
Meaning if we want that
government to have legitimacy,
Haiti has to dig itself
out of this mess.
Or at least appear to do so.
So what's our best option?
Well, the oligarchs
are the wild card.
They know that Galbert
will curtail their power.
I'm sure that Dupont has
promised them business as usual.
Maybe we can hurt them
more than Dupont can help them.
The ruling families
have hundreds of millions
of assets stashed in the U.S.
So let's freeze their accounts.
Put their yachts in dry dock.
Seize their mansions.
I'll talk to Treasury. Do it.
Hydropower isn't sustainable
in that portion of Uganda.
No. We were talking
about Bujagali Dam.
Right. Sorry. Um...
so, Eritrea... You mean Uganda.
Sorry. So, authorities
in Mombasa...
Mombasa's in Kenya.
Kampala? Okay.
Why don't we take a break.
This isn't going well, is it?
That's not how I'd put it.
How would you put it?
I've interviewed
a lot of candidates,
and you're definitely...
one of them.
I'm sunk.
Come on, man,
this is meat and drink
for a guy like you.
Beginner's stuff. What...
Tell me what the problem is.
I don't know. I don't usually crack under
pressure like this. Well, how'd it go
with your first interview
with the secretary? I didn't have one.
I was a student of hers at UVA.
She hired me
based on my classwork.
And the finance job? It was a
recommendation from my professor.
Which means I have
zero actual experience
sitting across from
a prospective employer.
My God, what if interviews
are my Waterloo?
Okay, take it easy, Napoleon.
The proposals
that you wrote with Kat
were first-rate. You have the
knowledge, you have the experience.
You just... what you need
is a little self-belief.
"I'm good enough."
"I'm good enough." I'm good enough.
"I'm smart enough." I'm smart enough.
"I don't need
anything else."I don't need anything else.
Except a different suit.
And a power tie.
And a... Whoa.
Can't wear these shoes.
Okay.
"The sanctioned properties
include three estates"
in Palm Beach, a private marina
in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and a warehouse
in Brooklyn storing
"58 antique Ferraris." Whoa.
I will never understand
the filthy rich.
Well, I get it a little.
I'd love to own
a building full of cars.
We do. We call it the garage.
Touché.
Okay, come on.
That's David Clark.
Hi, David.
Greetings, Madam Secretary,
Dr. McCord.
Hope this isn't a bad time.
No, this is great.
So, walk us through it.
I've received correspondence
from the V.A.
You're both eligible
for burial at Arlington.
But we need to make
some decisions.
Why now?
Arlington is filling up.
The only way to reserve space
is to request burial there
in your will,
and file it with the V.A.
If you delay,
you might not have an option
down the road.
All right, well, we need
to talk about this,
and we'll get back to you.
Sooner is better than later.
Thanks.
Arlington.
Arlington.
It just...
doesn't feel right...
taking a space.
It's a military honor. Yeah, that's why
it's a big deal to the families
of people who have served. No, no, no, I...
I totally get it, for you.
It's just... So now you don't want
to be buried with me?
Of course.
I guess.
I mean, does it really
matter where we're...
buried?
Because, you know,
as long as-as we're...
celestially...
together...
It might matter to the kids.
You're right.
Let's let them decide.
Really? I'm not sure
if I agree with that.
Well, they're old enough.
They can figure it out.
I mean, one can drink,
one can vote,
one can drive. One can drink,
two can vote, and
three can drive.
But I-I take your point.
I'm just not sure we
should burden them with this.
You're the one who said that
memorials are for the living.
All right. Family meeting.
Good.
Latte. Brioche.
What do you want? Dany Victor,
President-elect Galbert's
speechwriter,
I want him out of my hair. It's
just a cultural exchange program.
Great. Let's exchange him for
a different piece of culture,
like a statue or a painting,
something that doesn't talk.
Right now Dany is a
man without a home.
His country's on the
verge of civil war.
Doesn't know when
or if he can return.
All he has to distract
himself is the task at hand.
I think it behooves
us to indulge him.
I should've gotten you
an egg sandwich?
Yeah. Yeah.
Matt! There you are.
I have a few thoughts on Madam
Secretary's upcoming address
to the World Bank.Groovy.
Youroffice? Good idea.
I'd know that frown anywhere.
Spill it.
Sanctions are in full effect,
but the oligarchs aren't blinking.
Because we
didn't put a big enough dent
in their wealth, right?
No, ma'am. Problem is,
most of their resources
are scattered
outside of our jurisdiction.
So the United States,
with all its fearsome might,
can't intimidate
a handful of billionaires?
Gets worse. There's no formal
opposition to Dupont left.
Every check on his power's
either dead,
jailed or in hiding.
He even disbanded
the Supreme Court.Morning.
Ma'am, President-elect Javert
is ready for his briefing.
I think you mean Galbert.
Yes.
I'm sorry, what did I say?
Javert, as in Les Mis.
I mean, it is a
miserable situation...
I'm so sorry.
I misspoke. No worries.
I'll, I'll let President-elect
Despair know you're on your way.
Galbert. Despair.
I said "Despair" because
the situation's tragic.
Yeah.
All day.
We'll do a pool spray
in the Oval...
Mr. President-elect,
we have an update.
We've had some success
coordinating a boycott
among Caribbean and
American countries
against Dupont's regime.
How much success?
70% of the associated nations
have signed on
to our emergency sanctions.
That won't do it.
Dupont will simply bribe
the regional holdouts
to act as trade intermediaries
with the other countries.
We're also sponsoring
declarations
to condemn Dupont's
power grab at the U.N.
and the OAS.
Meanwhile, my loyalists
are being shot.
Buried in shallow graves.
This is a purge,
Madam Secretary.
We're doing all we can.
I appreciate that.
But I need to go back.
Let my people know that
I am their rightful president,
and that I won't be silenced.
Respectfully, sir, that's a bad idea.
Dupont's branded you
an enemy of the people.
I know the risks.
But no one said patriotism
was without peril.
You need to give us
just a little more time.
Your sacrifice won't
help your country.
Your survival will.
Madam Secretary.
Excuse me.
I just got word
from a buddy at DoD.
We're planning a major
assault on Haiti.
What? JSOC has already
drawn up plans.
Carrier Strike Two is steaming
towards Port-au-Prince.
Dalton ordered an invasion
without convening the NSC?
Seems like military intelligence
was part of the planning.
The only principal
who wasn't apprised...
Yeah.
I was going
to read you in before
ground forces made landfall.
So you're-you're trying to save
me from the political backlash.
Dupont is in total control
of the military.
We're looking at hundreds
of American casualties,
maybe more.
Being front and center
of something like this is...
it's not... not a great way
to launch your campaign.
I can appreciate that, sir,
but as long as I am part
of this administration,
I have to be able to do my job.
You can't worry about...
protecting me.
Well, you should,
plan on managing the fallout.
Russia will have something
to say about U.S. aggression.
So will China.
If you okay the assault, yes.
But maybe we haven't entirely
exhausted our diplomatic options.
What options?
We have a power-hungry madman
instigating a civil war 600
miles off the coast of Florida.
He's slaughtering dissenters.Yes.
But if we install Galbert,
he risks being seen
as illegitimate.
A puppet regime doomed to fail.
And we will have to do this
all over in ten years.
All true.
So I say again, what options?
Give me 48 hours to get
Dupont to step down.
And if you fail?
Then you send in the Marines.
The men we killed were traitors.
We have saved Haitian democracy.
There has to be a way
to convince him
to abdicate without bloodshed.
Not an easy way.
Dupont is a sociopathic
narcissist.
That sort of
personality disorder
is more likely to
respond to a threat
by digging in
than standing down.
So we don't issue a threat.
We offer an inducement.-
Asylum.
I think his ego's gonna need a
little more stroking than that.
I would be thinking
golden parachute.
A bribe instead
of a prison cell.
I wouldn't call it a bribe.
I would call it... realpolitik.
Now you just need
to find someone
who will embrace a
murderous dictator who's become
an international pariah.
We're not asking Monaco
to harbor a war criminal,
Counsellor Nadeau. No,
Dupont is obviously the second
coming of Charles de Gaulle.
We prefer to think of him
as an exiled leader
in need of sanctuary.
You can call him what you want.
But the presence of his kind
is turning Monaco
into a penal colony.
I think that's a bit hyperbolic.
Really?
Our principality
is less than one square mile.
Now it seems we're teeming
with tyrants, spies,
and strongmen
the world community believes
should be sheltered here.
It's time for us to draw a line.
What does Prince Julien want
to undraw it?
Surely you're not suggesting
His Serene Highness has a price.
I've visited Monaco,
Counsellor Nadeau.
Everything there has a price.
And if the hundreds
of millions Dupont is
going to throw around
in your casinos aren't enough,
let's cut to the chase.
I believe
President Dalton's recognition
of Prince Julien's myriad
humanitarian contributions
might be persuasive.
What kind of recognition?
A ceremony in the Rose Garden.
Some sort of a medal.
Prince Julien favors gold,
by the way.
Of course, he'll remove it
before the Michelin-starred
state dinner.
At least flattery's cheap.
But hosing the White House down
from the trail of grease
won't be.
Where you going?
To rip someone a new one.
That someone wouldn't be
Dany Victor, would it?
That's your name for him.
I call him Monsieur
Bowtie Buttinsky.
Listen, Matt... No. I have to host him.
Fine. But I don't have
to coddle him.
He's like Strunk and White with
rabies, and I've had enough.
Matt, Matt, The Chronicle
just posted a list
of confirmed victims in
last night's crackdown.
Dany's father was on it.
Does he know?
Yes. So go easy on him, okay?
Matt, I've identified
a disturbing tendency in your
writing you should be aware of.
A thematic drift.Dany...
We have to stay on point.
Our words can light
the darkness,
but only if we get them right,
only if we...
I'm sorry about your father.
I'm the first in my
family to go to college,
to work in an office.
It...
it meant everything to my dad.
I can't let him down.
Kids, Mom's home! Let's do this!
No. I-I said don't
wait for me for dinner,
'cause I... W-We didn't.
This is the family meeting
thing, remember?
Right. Good. Yes.
Any word from Monaco?
Still nothing.
His Serene Highness
really living up to his billing.
Won't hustle for anybody.
Come on, come on, come on. Hey, gang.
Hi. Um, hey, is this
gonna take long?
'Cause Rafer and I have
a Call of Dutysession.
Well, that's as good
a transition as any.
Okay, guys, your father and I
are eligible for burial
at Arlington National.
My God. I knew
it wasn't just a
basal cell carcinoma.
We're fine. I'm fine. Everybody's fine.
This is... We're gonna live long enough
to burden your golden years.
That's... funny. We just need to make
some decisions.
Yeah. Solicit your input. So we wanted
to consult with you
about our burial plans.Yes. Because it
matters to us.
You guys should be
cryogenically frozen.
I think that technology
has been debunked.
That's not on the table, pal.
This is about
your presidential run.
You guys are worried about
an assassination attempt.
No. This is about...
It's about planning the future.
And do you three have an opinion
about where you'd like
to visit us when we're...
Is this some kind of, like,
"guilt from the grave" thing?
Like, if we don't visit you
enough... Yeah.
You're gonna haunt our dreams
or something?
What? Nothing to do with guilt.
Because I will be
visiting you every year.
For the first few years.
And-and then it's got
to taper off,
because people might think
you have, like, a weird.
That's not a thing.
Taphophilia. It's a... it's a real thing.
I saw it on Six Feet Under.
I love that show. Why do you know that?
That is so gross.
It's great. It's... It's such a good...
Kids.
Focus.
Arlington.
I'm gonna kick it back
to you guys.
Yeah, same.Yeah. Me, too.
Well, I had hoped that you three
were old enough to
take this seriously,
but, obviously, I'm wrong.
So we will revisit this
at a later date. Okay,
are you sure you're not dying?
Never. Jay, what's up?
I'll be right there.
I have to go deal
with a real crisis.
Dupont said
it couldn't wait.
Well, he understands
it's urgent.
That's a start.
Mr. President.
I reviewed your proposal.
And I think you'll agree
our terms are generous.
We guarantee you and your family
safe transport out
of Haiti into Monaco,
with your personal
fortune intact
and amnesty for your war crimes.
And if I decline your offer?
It's not an offer,
Mr. President.
It's a demand.
Refusal of which will lead
to your forcible ouster.
And pursuant of this demand,
I can never leave Monaco,
nor have contact
with my former associates.
No, sir.
There are restrictions
you must abide by.
Then what you offer me
isn't a sanctuary.
It's a prison.
An expensive, gilded cage.
We can also offer you
an inexpensive one.
My flesh is the flesh
of this nation.
If you uproot me,
I will die anyway.
I refuse your offer.
I am testing your resolve,
and I will find it lacking.
Because overthrowing me
will take many lives.
President Dalton doesn't have
the appetite for that.
Our carrier group
is poised to attack.
Then you should tell them
to prepare for death.
Because my soldiers
will fight to the last man.
And I will lead them to glory.
Hey, Bob.
I-I know.
Weird to see me here this early?
Shouldn't have slipped you
those caffeine pills.
No, no, no.
This isn't the pills.
This is just anxiety.
I'm being fired.
No kidding.Yeah.
It's an up-or-out thing,
which is tragic,
because the thing I'm great at,
the thing I crush
is being thorough,
assimilating information,
organization...
My-my current job.
The promotion is a, is a policy job.
And I love policy.
But it requires
improvisation and creativity.
Hello, not my strong suit.
So the thing I'm good at,
I can no longer do.
And the thing I want to do,
I'm not good at.
The irony is so cruel.
Yes, please. Sorry.
Bob, what do you think?
That you're a nutjob.
But I know you got
what it takes.
Or you wouldn't be here.
What you need is confidence.
Like my ma used to say,
"Hide your light under a
bushel, you walk into walls."
On the other hand,
she also told me sanitation
would be a good field.
Thanks, Bob.
Morning, ma'am. Morning, Bob.
Madam Secretary, I'm
sorry. I didn't realize
you were here already. Been on the phone
for an hour with our Haitian ambassador.
Things are spiraling
out of control.
President Dalton wants
to caucus.
Here's a summary of the
Haitian crisis. Timeline.
Dramatis personae. Yeah, well,
that's probably old information
by now.
But, you know what,
just bring it.
You can brief me
in the car, okay?
Let's go,
bright eyes.Yeah.
Marine battalions will make
landfall simultaneously
at Jacmel and Cap-Haitien,
whose harbors
are both poorly defended.
They'll converge on
the presidential palace
at Port-au-Prince, neutralizing
resistance along the way.
Air support? Of minimal use, sir.
The Haitian Army
is a guerrilla force likely
to embed with the population.
So we anticipate
heavy civilian casualties.
How tight a grip does Dupont
still have on the military?
As long as they believe
he'll maintain the status quo,
they'll fight for him,
particularly if the oligarchs
aren't taking sides.
Well, freezing their assets
didn't work.
What about the generals?
We have even less influence
over them than the oligarchs.
Their funds are in an account
in Honau Banc in Lichtenstein,
an entity we have
no relationship with
or jurisdiction over.
We may have leverage.
What? Honau Banc.
We have leverage.
Got something to say over there?
Yes, you, Blake.
Honau Banc, sir.
A lot of Americans have money.
How would you know that?
Honau Banc is the most private
bank in the world.
Their client list
is a closely held secret.
Not if you're in the
Harvard Assistants' Mafia.
It's a lot less
nefarious than it sounds.
There's no actual
racketeering.Blake.
William Plowder
of Wheaton Strategies.
Ed Katsouris, AB21 Builders.
Midge Luxley. They all have
holdings there
in-in shell companies.
Billions.
Sir, I think...
what Blake is implying
is if we suggest to
these U.S. citizens
that we're investigating the
bank for money laundering...
We jeopardize their
relationship with Honau.
So the bank might be willing
to seize the generals' accounts
to get us to stand down, sir.
Which would compel the generals
to pull their support
from Dupont.
Leaving him isolated
and defenseless.
Elizabeth... I'm on it, sir.
And, Blake...
I don't appreciate people
with something useful to say
keeping it to themselves,
so next time, speak up.
Yes, Mr. President.
So the generals get amnesty
for murdering hundreds
of dissenters.
Yes.
That doesn't sit well with me.
Neither does getting installed
by the mighty U.S.
because they bribed the Haitian
military to switch sides.
I'll take power through a coup.
You were democratically elected.
That doesn't matter if I benefit
from foreign intervention.
This is everything
I campaigned against.
It's not the orderly transition
we all wanted.
But you can make amends
by being the voice of reform
and tolerance.
Liberty. Madam Secretary...
Or you can stand on principle.
Live out your days in exile.
And watch Dupont strangle
the ideals you stand for.
That's your choice.
The military is backing Galbert.
Unfortunately, it looks like
someone gave Dupont
the heads-up.
I just got off with our embassy.
Dupont has barricaded himself in
the presidential residence.
He's got heavy artillery,
and a personal guard
of about 500 men.
So we've either just facilitated
a peaceful transition of
power or set the stage...
For a bloodbath.
Under my leadership,
Haiti has become
a regional power.
With a flourishing economy.
A stable government
that is the envy...
20 minutes of lies
and self-aggrandizement.
It's intolerable.
Patience.
He's stalling until
we button the deal.
Dupont is holding out for safe
passage for his entire family.
Eight sons, four brothers.
No.
First the generals
and now Dupont's family?
They're all murderers.
Will there be no justice?
Without your blessing, sir,
there will be no Haiti.
We have a deal.
Fraud. Intimidation.Yes.
The reported result was...
I am the legitimate president
of this country.
But after a lifetime of service,
it is time to retire.
I congratulate my successor,
Claude Galbert.
I believe the cost of this deal
was too great.
Criminals who
receive absolution,
who walk away with
billions they have stolen.
I think in time you'll find
the price of his exit was cheap.
That depends on whether I have
your country's
continued support.
Of course.
The United States will forever
be in Haiti's debt.
I don't understand.
The Haitian Revolution
bled the French dry.
Napoleon needed money,
so he sold us a tract of land.
The Louisiana Purchase.
Your slave revolt culminated
in the creation
of an independent Haiti.
And it doubled
our country's size.
We are partners then.
Two countries founded on
democratic revolution
with a history of
helping each other.
President Dalton won't forget
that and neither will I.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Dany, congratulations.
No time to rest on our laurels.
There's work to be done.
President Galbert's
inauguration speech.
Getting a jump start.
Good idea,
lot of ground to cover.
Look, I want to show you
something.
The State Department has these
grants for study abroad.
I have to go home to bury my
father and build my country.
No, it's not for... Look.
I petitioned the undersecretary
for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs to rename
one of the grants
in your dad's honor.
The Andre Victor Scholarship.
The worthy recipient will study
in your father's name.
Thank you.
I want to share something
with you, too.
That's not necessary.
You split too many infinitives.
You can be better.
And you dangle too many
participles.
You couldn't be worse.
Madam Secretary,
I'm here for my interview.
Close the door, will you?
Before we start,
I want to apologize.
In the Sit Room earlier,
I know that I overstepped.
And it wasn't lost on me.
Blake, I can't let you
interview.
Okay. I-I understand.
I just, I just want you
to know that, um,
I-I really appreciate
the opportunity that you...
I can't let you interview
because you've been interviewing
every day
for the last four years.
Ma'am?
You have demonstrated complete
commitment to this department,
to the ideal of public service.
And today,
in President Dalton's presence,
you aced your final exam.
So are you not firing me?
Damn straight I'm firing you.
And rehiring you
as my assistant policy adviser,
a job for which
you are eminently qualified.
I-I don't know what to say.
How about "yes"?
Yes.
Now go out there
and pick another desk,
one befitting a senior aide.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Listen,
Clark called me again today
to remind me to get back to him
about Arlington ASAP.-
And he mentioned
that he reached out to you
a few times
in the last couple of months,
never heard back.
Must have slipped my mind.
Yeah, that's kind of
what I figured,
and then I thought about it.
You were the one that wanted
to involve the kids in this.
Don't get me wrong,
it's a good idea.
But it also delayed
the Arlington thing,
so it's taken out of our hands.
Look, I'm not that invested
in-in Arlington,
so if you don't want
to be there,
why don't you just tell me?
What is going on?
Are you freaked out
about the procedure?
What? The procedure.
No. That's...
I don't even...
I forgot about it.
Then what is really going on?
Every year on the anniversary
of my parents' death,
I drive up to Black Top Mountain
where they got engaged.
And I spend the day there
and I find them.
Yeah. I-I know.
And I think it's
a beautiful way to reconnect.
It's the only way.
I've never been to
their cemetery, Henry.
I mean, not since the burial.
Wh... I had no idea.
It's just something about
their names etched in stone.
You know, the horrible
finality of it all. I don't...
Babe, we're all afraid
of d... of dying.
I'm not afraid of dying, Henry.
I'm afraid of losing
the people that I love.
So if you don't visit
their gravesite...
Then the little...
something in me can...
convince myself that
they are still here.
Somewhere.
It's stupid. It's not stupid.
Listen, I've spent half my life
studying religion.
I still don't have the first
idea what happens when we pass.
But what I believe...
in my bones...
is that there
has to be somewhere.
A place where part of us goes.
And I will find you
and the kids there,
because the universe
isn't big enough
to keep that from happening.
I need to get past this.
Yeah.
But you don't need
to do it alone.
Captioning sponsored by.
CBS cares.
How's the sun victim?
I keep forgetting
it's there and then...
I look in the mirror and
scare myself half to death.
I guess none of us
got enough SPF
when we were kids.
You should use that
for your campaign.
I just might.
How's the world looking?
You know. Droughts.
Sectarian violence.
Mutating bugs.
Maybe you should not begin
every morning with the paper.
It makes you so cranky.
Well, not today, because...
this lion made friends
with a little wiener dog.
There's hope for us all.
You know what hope is
in Creole? Espwa.
Babe, you don't have
to learn Creole.
I'm just picking up
a few bons mots
for my meeting with Haitian
President-elect Claude Galbert,
an agent of democratic reform.
You know, maybe after decades
of mismanagement and corruption,
Haiti's finally
turning the corner,
and I just want to show him
that we're his partner.
And you think getting
your Caribbean mojo on
is gonna do the trick?
It's about showing respè.
Reaching out
across a cultural divide.
Speaking of reaching out,
I got a call from David Clark.
The grim reaper.
I think he prefers
"estate lawyer," but...
Well, I would prefer
eternal life.
What does Mr. Clark want
besides another retainer?
He was doing his annual review
of our estate plan,
and he wants to discuss
some modifications to our will.
All right, well...
I can get Blake
to give me some times.
Laissez les bons temps rouler. Hey.
I'm the only diplomat
around here, pal.
Butchering foreign
languages is my turf.
Yeah, I'll stay in my lane.Good.
I love you. Je t'aime.
362 days ago she told me
she was going to fire me,
as in terminate, discharge.
Yes, and in the
intervening year,
you've solidified yourself
as an indispensable member
of her team. This is Washington.
They dispense
with the indispensable.
Relax. She hasn't said boo
to any of us
about your demise. Demise?
What Matt means is, your
future is not on her radar.
Meaning she's forgotten? Yes, forgotten.
Better? Yes.
Good. Now we have to prep M-Sec
for President-elect
Galbert's visit,
so if you're done
worrying about tomorrow,
let's-let's focus on today.
Indispensable.
This is from an hour ago
inside the presidential palace.
President Dupont
isn't going quietly.
He's alleging election fraud.
In the form
of voter intimidation,
ballot stuffing, and bribery.
Any evidence
that stuff happened? JAY Plenty.
But only on Dupont's
side, and he still lost.
OAS election monitors have
already certified the results.
Yeah, but Dupont is
alleging the monitors conspired
with Galbert to cover up
election irregularities.
He's repeating the allegation
on every media platform.
Of course he is. It's the death rale
of a flailing despot, ma'am.
He's just trying to sow chaos.
Which is why we invited
President-elect Galbert here
for a visit, to help
legitimize Haiti's election
by recognizing its new leader.
Well, that's one reason.
The other is so that
we can assess Galbert.
He talks a good game,
but Haiti is run
by the oligarchs
that propped up Dupont.
They're the real power brokers.
So we need to make sure
Galbert is willing
to stand up to them
and embrace democracy
before we give him
the official blessing.
Exactly. And if he is
the Haitian Jack Kennedy,
then I would recommend,
actually, a photo op
with President Dalton.
And if he's not? Then, after decades
of misrule and bloodshed,
hell, I'd settle for
the Haitian Martin Van Buren.
We'll let you know when
he's wheels down, ma'am.
And, Jay, did you tell Matt
about the...? Was about to.
Matt, in a gesture of good will,
the Dalton administration
and President-elect Galbert
have agreed to a cultural
exchange during his visit. ELIZABETH Yeah.
And you've been paired with
Galbert's speechwriter, so...
He's just gonna bird-dog you
for a few days,
pick up a few pointers.
Yeah, my dance card's
pretty full,
and playing hall monitor
for a field trip...
Where do I sign up? That's the spirit.
Yeah.
72 hours, punk.
Then I get the catapult.
Forgotten?
Thanks, Remy.
Blake would be a good fit.
I'll send you his résumé.
Thanks.
Come in. Hey.
Okay, first, don't panic. Come on.
This is my home. How am I
supposed to just leave?
I've already set up meetings
for you
with a few undersecretaries
here at State.
Except... thank you... I...
I don't want to leave
the inner circle.
My-my family.
My desk. My beautiful,
ergonomically perfect desk.
Madam Secretary has spoken.Yeah.
What if I found another
job on her staff? For example?
Public Affairs? Management?
I tried Protocol.
That was probably
the worst week of my life.
What's your first choice?
I know there's been talk about
adding to the advisory team.
Well, why not me?
I-I've been working with
Kat on the weekends.
I-I've been auditing classes
at Hopkins. It's a big move, Blake.
You'd be one of M-Sec's
closest advisers overnight.
I know.
And I'm not expecting
preferential treatment
because of my
history here. I... Good.
Look, you got a lot of money
in the bank with her, but...
And that-that
gives you a leg up,
but you're still gonna
have to prove your bona fides.
How?
It'll come down
to the interview.
Your relationship
will get you in the door,
but your résumé is lacking.
You'll have to impress her.
Well, good. Well, that'll work.
I-I'm a type A people pleaser.
I'm born to impress. Hey, what
if we did a practice interview?
You've been here for years.
I don't think that's necessary.
Jay, come on, it'll
put me over the top.
You're already over the top.
Please, Jay,
I need to kill this.
When M-Sec sits down with
me, she's got to think
that I am the second coming
of... well, me.
I'm proud of my tenure.
My work. My attitude.
Accomplishments
I can cite chapter and verse.
I... Yes. Okay. Practice interview.
Just stop... selling.
Okay.
Thank you.
Just...
This way.
Secretary McCord.
It is an honor.
The honor is ours,
Mr. President-elect.
We just heard
the Haitian Supreme Court
dismissed Dupont's suit.Yes.
To use an American expression,
I believe
he has run out of road.
Which is a great thing
for the Haitian people.
Congratulations
on your victory.
Might we get acquainted?
It would be a pleasure.Okay.
I would hate
to see the other guy.
The other guy was a
couple of basal cells,
but my doctor kicked his butt.
Matt Mahoney?
Dany Victor. President-elect
Galbert's speechwriter.
Nice to meet you. Look, I'm
a little snowed in over here. I understand.
I won't interfere. No, you won't.
I just want to see how a master
craftsman plies his trade.
Look, we'll set you up
in the National Archives,
and...
Master craftsman?
That speech Madam Secretary
gave last month...
Patriotism versus nationalism.
It was transcendent.
Really? 'Cause that was my baby.
I mean, M-Sec made a
few customary revisions,
of course, but... And
her Brandenburg address
to mark the 25th anniversary
of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"Success is not final.
"Failure is not fatal.
It is the courage
to continue that counts.""...to continue
that counts." Yeah.
Churchill, yes? No, not Churchill.
An amalgam of various snippets
from multiple sources,
including a 1938
Budweiser beer ad.
And you
were not afraid to use it?
Afraid? Courage.
Well, in the context
of the speech, you made it soar.
You know, why don't
you come on back.
I'll show you where
the magic happens.
We did not enjoy good relations
with Dupont's regime.
Looking forward
to a fresh start.
As am I.
Well, that's great to hear,
because your country
is key to the stability
of the Caribbean
and Latin America.
You have the potential to
be a great trading partner
and an ally in the drug war.
Yes, but that will require Haiti
to be treated as an equal.
Over the last 200 years, you've
occupied us. Blockaded us.
Used your resources
as both a carrot and a stick.
We also didn't have a stable
government to interact with.
I'm hoping that you'll help us
write a new chapter
in our relationship.
Good. We've
drawn up a broad list
of NGOs who would like
to help you
build out Haiti's
infrastructure.
No, thank you.
Mr. President-elect, that's
half a billion dollars in aid.
And it comes at a cost.
My country is run by NGOs.
They provide essential
services, yes,
but they only answer
to foreign donors.
NGOs block out
local businesses and continue
our cycle of dependence.
Haiti must become
self-sufficient.
Investment, not handouts.
Okay, but in order to do that,
to attract investors,
you'd-you'd have to crack down
on corruption.
Stop the oligarchs
from looting the treasury.
I intend to usher in a new day,
one that will not see
Haiti beholden
to moneyed interests.
Not NGOs or private citizens.
All right.
Daisy's gonna run you
through the press gauntlet.
If you'll come with me, sir.
Looking forward to working
with you, Madam Secretary.
Me, too.
This is the right play
at the wrong time.
This guy needs
all the help he can get.
He's taking the helm
of an impoverished republic
teetering on the brink
of anarchy,
and his first move is
to turn down outside assistance.
What do you call that?
Leadership.
I read Madam Secretary's
introductory remarks
for President Dalton's
meet and greet
with the president-elect.
Your handiwork?
Yep. Pro forma stuff.
The secretary
will say a few words
and then tee it up
for President Dalton.
Would it be impertinent
to suggest a minor
revision or two?
Bring it on.
You have a comma splice
on the bottom of page two.
It's not technically... A parallel
construction issue
in the second graph.
Okay, but that's... And I think you
should reconsider
the historical
antecedents you cite.
There really is no analog
to the Haitian experiment.
I wasn't looking for an analog.Good.
Because you didn't find one.
But all in all, very competent.
Even if your prose
is a bit turgid.
Turgid?
Why don't I just
give you my notes?
Hey, wait a minute.
Hey. Madam Secretary
wants us pronto.
Come on.
This election was a fraud.
A perversion of democracy
orchestrated by a foreign power.
Now the puppet Galbert meets
with his American master.
The Haitian people won't
stand for this charade.
That's what Dupont
is counting on.
Protests are already
breaking out across the country.
Giving him
the excuse to declare
martial law
and suspend
the Haitian Constitution.
Yeah, meaning Claude Galbert
has just become
president-in-exile.
Yeah, and all his visit here did
was enable an autocratic thug
to consolidate his power.
Blake, let... The White House know
you're on your way.
Yeah.
Claude, as the...
democratically elected successor
to President Dupont, you have
the full and unalloyed support
of the United States.
I appreciate that.
But right now my country
is in chaos,
and I'm 1,400 miles away.
No opposition to Dupont from
the Haitian Parliament?
Dupont just dissolved it.
Excuse me, Mr. President.
My wife is trying to
reach me, Mr. President.
I pray that she's safe.
We've waited a long time
for Haiti to find
its George Washington.
Now that he's arrived,
a dictator is spinning him
as an American operative.
Dupont timed this perfectly.
And even if Galbert
is duly elected,
our public embrace of him
makes it look as though we're
meddling in Haiti's affairs.
Meaning if we want that
government to have legitimacy,
Haiti has to dig itself
out of this mess.
Or at least appear to do so.
So what's our best option?
Well, the oligarchs
are the wild card.
They know that Galbert
will curtail their power.
I'm sure that Dupont has
promised them business as usual.
Maybe we can hurt them
more than Dupont can help them.
The ruling families
have hundreds of millions
of assets stashed in the U.S.
So let's freeze their accounts.
Put their yachts in dry dock.
Seize their mansions.
I'll talk to Treasury. Do it.
Hydropower isn't sustainable
in that portion of Uganda.
No. We were talking
about Bujagali Dam.
Right. Sorry. Um...
so, Eritrea... You mean Uganda.
Sorry. So, authorities
in Mombasa...
Mombasa's in Kenya.
Kampala? Okay.
Why don't we take a break.
This isn't going well, is it?
That's not how I'd put it.
How would you put it?
I've interviewed
a lot of candidates,
and you're definitely...
one of them.
I'm sunk.
Come on, man,
this is meat and drink
for a guy like you.
Beginner's stuff. What...
Tell me what the problem is.
I don't know. I don't usually crack under
pressure like this. Well, how'd it go
with your first interview
with the secretary? I didn't have one.
I was a student of hers at UVA.
She hired me
based on my classwork.
And the finance job? It was a
recommendation from my professor.
Which means I have
zero actual experience
sitting across from
a prospective employer.
My God, what if interviews
are my Waterloo?
Okay, take it easy, Napoleon.
The proposals
that you wrote with Kat
were first-rate. You have the
knowledge, you have the experience.
You just... what you need
is a little self-belief.
"I'm good enough."
"I'm good enough." I'm good enough.
"I'm smart enough." I'm smart enough.
"I don't need
anything else."I don't need anything else.
Except a different suit.
And a power tie.
And a... Whoa.
Can't wear these shoes.
Okay.
"The sanctioned properties
include three estates"
in Palm Beach, a private marina
in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and a warehouse
in Brooklyn storing
"58 antique Ferraris." Whoa.
I will never understand
the filthy rich.
Well, I get it a little.
I'd love to own
a building full of cars.
We do. We call it the garage.
Touché.
Okay, come on.
That's David Clark.
Hi, David.
Greetings, Madam Secretary,
Dr. McCord.
Hope this isn't a bad time.
No, this is great.
So, walk us through it.
I've received correspondence
from the V.A.
You're both eligible
for burial at Arlington.
But we need to make
some decisions.
Why now?
Arlington is filling up.
The only way to reserve space
is to request burial there
in your will,
and file it with the V.A.
If you delay,
you might not have an option
down the road.
All right, well, we need
to talk about this,
and we'll get back to you.
Sooner is better than later.
Thanks.
Arlington.
Arlington.
It just...
doesn't feel right...
taking a space.
It's a military honor. Yeah, that's why
it's a big deal to the families
of people who have served. No, no, no, I...
I totally get it, for you.
It's just... So now you don't want
to be buried with me?
Of course.
I guess.
I mean, does it really
matter where we're...
buried?
Because, you know,
as long as-as we're...
celestially...
together...
It might matter to the kids.
You're right.
Let's let them decide.
Really? I'm not sure
if I agree with that.
Well, they're old enough.
They can figure it out.
I mean, one can drink,
one can vote,
one can drive. One can drink,
two can vote, and
three can drive.
But I-I take your point.
I'm just not sure we
should burden them with this.
You're the one who said that
memorials are for the living.
All right. Family meeting.
Good.
Latte. Brioche.
What do you want? Dany Victor,
President-elect Galbert's
speechwriter,
I want him out of my hair. It's
just a cultural exchange program.
Great. Let's exchange him for
a different piece of culture,
like a statue or a painting,
something that doesn't talk.
Right now Dany is a
man without a home.
His country's on the
verge of civil war.
Doesn't know when
or if he can return.
All he has to distract
himself is the task at hand.
I think it behooves
us to indulge him.
I should've gotten you
an egg sandwich?
Yeah. Yeah.
Matt! There you are.
I have a few thoughts on Madam
Secretary's upcoming address
to the World Bank.Groovy.
Youroffice? Good idea.
I'd know that frown anywhere.
Spill it.
Sanctions are in full effect,
but the oligarchs aren't blinking.
Because we
didn't put a big enough dent
in their wealth, right?
No, ma'am. Problem is,
most of their resources
are scattered
outside of our jurisdiction.
So the United States,
with all its fearsome might,
can't intimidate
a handful of billionaires?
Gets worse. There's no formal
opposition to Dupont left.
Every check on his power's
either dead,
jailed or in hiding.
He even disbanded
the Supreme Court.Morning.
Ma'am, President-elect Javert
is ready for his briefing.
I think you mean Galbert.
Yes.
I'm sorry, what did I say?
Javert, as in Les Mis.
I mean, it is a
miserable situation...
I'm so sorry.
I misspoke. No worries.
I'll, I'll let President-elect
Despair know you're on your way.
Galbert. Despair.
I said "Despair" because
the situation's tragic.
Yeah.
All day.
We'll do a pool spray
in the Oval...
Mr. President-elect,
we have an update.
We've had some success
coordinating a boycott
among Caribbean and
American countries
against Dupont's regime.
How much success?
70% of the associated nations
have signed on
to our emergency sanctions.
That won't do it.
Dupont will simply bribe
the regional holdouts
to act as trade intermediaries
with the other countries.
We're also sponsoring
declarations
to condemn Dupont's
power grab at the U.N.
and the OAS.
Meanwhile, my loyalists
are being shot.
Buried in shallow graves.
This is a purge,
Madam Secretary.
We're doing all we can.
I appreciate that.
But I need to go back.
Let my people know that
I am their rightful president,
and that I won't be silenced.
Respectfully, sir, that's a bad idea.
Dupont's branded you
an enemy of the people.
I know the risks.
But no one said patriotism
was without peril.
You need to give us
just a little more time.
Your sacrifice won't
help your country.
Your survival will.
Madam Secretary.
Excuse me.
I just got word
from a buddy at DoD.
We're planning a major
assault on Haiti.
What? JSOC has already
drawn up plans.
Carrier Strike Two is steaming
towards Port-au-Prince.
Dalton ordered an invasion
without convening the NSC?
Seems like military intelligence
was part of the planning.
The only principal
who wasn't apprised...
Yeah.
I was going
to read you in before
ground forces made landfall.
So you're-you're trying to save
me from the political backlash.
Dupont is in total control
of the military.
We're looking at hundreds
of American casualties,
maybe more.
Being front and center
of something like this is...
it's not... not a great way
to launch your campaign.
I can appreciate that, sir,
but as long as I am part
of this administration,
I have to be able to do my job.
You can't worry about...
protecting me.
Well, you should,
plan on managing the fallout.
Russia will have something
to say about U.S. aggression.
So will China.
If you okay the assault, yes.
But maybe we haven't entirely
exhausted our diplomatic options.
What options?
We have a power-hungry madman
instigating a civil war 600
miles off the coast of Florida.
He's slaughtering dissenters.Yes.
But if we install Galbert,
he risks being seen
as illegitimate.
A puppet regime doomed to fail.
And we will have to do this
all over in ten years.
All true.
So I say again, what options?
Give me 48 hours to get
Dupont to step down.
And if you fail?
Then you send in the Marines.
The men we killed were traitors.
We have saved Haitian democracy.
There has to be a way
to convince him
to abdicate without bloodshed.
Not an easy way.
Dupont is a sociopathic
narcissist.
That sort of
personality disorder
is more likely to
respond to a threat
by digging in
than standing down.
So we don't issue a threat.
We offer an inducement.-
Asylum.
I think his ego's gonna need a
little more stroking than that.
I would be thinking
golden parachute.
A bribe instead
of a prison cell.
I wouldn't call it a bribe.
I would call it... realpolitik.
Now you just need
to find someone
who will embrace a
murderous dictator who's become
an international pariah.
We're not asking Monaco
to harbor a war criminal,
Counsellor Nadeau. No,
Dupont is obviously the second
coming of Charles de Gaulle.
We prefer to think of him
as an exiled leader
in need of sanctuary.
You can call him what you want.
But the presence of his kind
is turning Monaco
into a penal colony.
I think that's a bit hyperbolic.
Really?
Our principality
is less than one square mile.
Now it seems we're teeming
with tyrants, spies,
and strongmen
the world community believes
should be sheltered here.
It's time for us to draw a line.
What does Prince Julien want
to undraw it?
Surely you're not suggesting
His Serene Highness has a price.
I've visited Monaco,
Counsellor Nadeau.
Everything there has a price.
And if the hundreds
of millions Dupont is
going to throw around
in your casinos aren't enough,
let's cut to the chase.
I believe
President Dalton's recognition
of Prince Julien's myriad
humanitarian contributions
might be persuasive.
What kind of recognition?
A ceremony in the Rose Garden.
Some sort of a medal.
Prince Julien favors gold,
by the way.
Of course, he'll remove it
before the Michelin-starred
state dinner.
At least flattery's cheap.
But hosing the White House down
from the trail of grease
won't be.
Where you going?
To rip someone a new one.
That someone wouldn't be
Dany Victor, would it?
That's your name for him.
I call him Monsieur
Bowtie Buttinsky.
Listen, Matt... No. I have to host him.
Fine. But I don't have
to coddle him.
He's like Strunk and White with
rabies, and I've had enough.
Matt, Matt, The Chronicle
just posted a list
of confirmed victims in
last night's crackdown.
Dany's father was on it.
Does he know?
Yes. So go easy on him, okay?
Matt, I've identified
a disturbing tendency in your
writing you should be aware of.
A thematic drift.Dany...
We have to stay on point.
Our words can light
the darkness,
but only if we get them right,
only if we...
I'm sorry about your father.
I'm the first in my
family to go to college,
to work in an office.
It...
it meant everything to my dad.
I can't let him down.
Kids, Mom's home! Let's do this!
No. I-I said don't
wait for me for dinner,
'cause I... W-We didn't.
This is the family meeting
thing, remember?
Right. Good. Yes.
Any word from Monaco?
Still nothing.
His Serene Highness
really living up to his billing.
Won't hustle for anybody.
Come on, come on, come on. Hey, gang.
Hi. Um, hey, is this
gonna take long?
'Cause Rafer and I have
a Call of Dutysession.
Well, that's as good
a transition as any.
Okay, guys, your father and I
are eligible for burial
at Arlington National.
My God. I knew
it wasn't just a
basal cell carcinoma.
We're fine. I'm fine. Everybody's fine.
This is... We're gonna live long enough
to burden your golden years.
That's... funny. We just need to make
some decisions.
Yeah. Solicit your input. So we wanted
to consult with you
about our burial plans.Yes. Because it
matters to us.
You guys should be
cryogenically frozen.
I think that technology
has been debunked.
That's not on the table, pal.
This is about
your presidential run.
You guys are worried about
an assassination attempt.
No. This is about...
It's about planning the future.
And do you three have an opinion
about where you'd like
to visit us when we're...
Is this some kind of, like,
"guilt from the grave" thing?
Like, if we don't visit you
enough... Yeah.
You're gonna haunt our dreams
or something?
What? Nothing to do with guilt.
Because I will be
visiting you every year.
For the first few years.
And-and then it's got
to taper off,
because people might think
you have, like, a weird.
That's not a thing.
Taphophilia. It's a... it's a real thing.
I saw it on Six Feet Under.
I love that show. Why do you know that?
That is so gross.
It's great. It's... It's such a good...
Kids.
Focus.
Arlington.
I'm gonna kick it back
to you guys.
Yeah, same.Yeah. Me, too.
Well, I had hoped that you three
were old enough to
take this seriously,
but, obviously, I'm wrong.
So we will revisit this
at a later date. Okay,
are you sure you're not dying?
Never. Jay, what's up?
I'll be right there.
I have to go deal
with a real crisis.
Dupont said
it couldn't wait.
Well, he understands
it's urgent.
That's a start.
Mr. President.
I reviewed your proposal.
And I think you'll agree
our terms are generous.
We guarantee you and your family
safe transport out
of Haiti into Monaco,
with your personal
fortune intact
and amnesty for your war crimes.
And if I decline your offer?
It's not an offer,
Mr. President.
It's a demand.
Refusal of which will lead
to your forcible ouster.
And pursuant of this demand,
I can never leave Monaco,
nor have contact
with my former associates.
No, sir.
There are restrictions
you must abide by.
Then what you offer me
isn't a sanctuary.
It's a prison.
An expensive, gilded cage.
We can also offer you
an inexpensive one.
My flesh is the flesh
of this nation.
If you uproot me,
I will die anyway.
I refuse your offer.
I am testing your resolve,
and I will find it lacking.
Because overthrowing me
will take many lives.
President Dalton doesn't have
the appetite for that.
Our carrier group
is poised to attack.
Then you should tell them
to prepare for death.
Because my soldiers
will fight to the last man.
And I will lead them to glory.
Hey, Bob.
I-I know.
Weird to see me here this early?
Shouldn't have slipped you
those caffeine pills.
No, no, no.
This isn't the pills.
This is just anxiety.
I'm being fired.
No kidding.Yeah.
It's an up-or-out thing,
which is tragic,
because the thing I'm great at,
the thing I crush
is being thorough,
assimilating information,
organization...
My-my current job.
The promotion is a, is a policy job.
And I love policy.
But it requires
improvisation and creativity.
Hello, not my strong suit.
So the thing I'm good at,
I can no longer do.
And the thing I want to do,
I'm not good at.
The irony is so cruel.
Yes, please. Sorry.
Bob, what do you think?
That you're a nutjob.
But I know you got
what it takes.
Or you wouldn't be here.
What you need is confidence.
Like my ma used to say,
"Hide your light under a
bushel, you walk into walls."
On the other hand,
she also told me sanitation
would be a good field.
Thanks, Bob.
Morning, ma'am. Morning, Bob.
Madam Secretary, I'm
sorry. I didn't realize
you were here already. Been on the phone
for an hour with our Haitian ambassador.
Things are spiraling
out of control.
President Dalton wants
to caucus.
Here's a summary of the
Haitian crisis. Timeline.
Dramatis personae. Yeah, well,
that's probably old information
by now.
But, you know what,
just bring it.
You can brief me
in the car, okay?
Let's go,
bright eyes.Yeah.
Marine battalions will make
landfall simultaneously
at Jacmel and Cap-Haitien,
whose harbors
are both poorly defended.
They'll converge on
the presidential palace
at Port-au-Prince, neutralizing
resistance along the way.
Air support? Of minimal use, sir.
The Haitian Army
is a guerrilla force likely
to embed with the population.
So we anticipate
heavy civilian casualties.
How tight a grip does Dupont
still have on the military?
As long as they believe
he'll maintain the status quo,
they'll fight for him,
particularly if the oligarchs
aren't taking sides.
Well, freezing their assets
didn't work.
What about the generals?
We have even less influence
over them than the oligarchs.
Their funds are in an account
in Honau Banc in Lichtenstein,
an entity we have
no relationship with
or jurisdiction over.
We may have leverage.
What? Honau Banc.
We have leverage.
Got something to say over there?
Yes, you, Blake.
Honau Banc, sir.
A lot of Americans have money.
How would you know that?
Honau Banc is the most private
bank in the world.
Their client list
is a closely held secret.
Not if you're in the
Harvard Assistants' Mafia.
It's a lot less
nefarious than it sounds.
There's no actual
racketeering.Blake.
William Plowder
of Wheaton Strategies.
Ed Katsouris, AB21 Builders.
Midge Luxley. They all have
holdings there
in-in shell companies.
Billions.
Sir, I think...
what Blake is implying
is if we suggest to
these U.S. citizens
that we're investigating the
bank for money laundering...
We jeopardize their
relationship with Honau.
So the bank might be willing
to seize the generals' accounts
to get us to stand down, sir.
Which would compel the generals
to pull their support
from Dupont.
Leaving him isolated
and defenseless.
Elizabeth... I'm on it, sir.
And, Blake...
I don't appreciate people
with something useful to say
keeping it to themselves,
so next time, speak up.
Yes, Mr. President.
So the generals get amnesty
for murdering hundreds
of dissenters.
Yes.
That doesn't sit well with me.
Neither does getting installed
by the mighty U.S.
because they bribed the Haitian
military to switch sides.
I'll take power through a coup.
You were democratically elected.
That doesn't matter if I benefit
from foreign intervention.
This is everything
I campaigned against.
It's not the orderly transition
we all wanted.
But you can make amends
by being the voice of reform
and tolerance.
Liberty. Madam Secretary...
Or you can stand on principle.
Live out your days in exile.
And watch Dupont strangle
the ideals you stand for.
That's your choice.
The military is backing Galbert.
Unfortunately, it looks like
someone gave Dupont
the heads-up.
I just got off with our embassy.
Dupont has barricaded himself in
the presidential residence.
He's got heavy artillery,
and a personal guard
of about 500 men.
So we've either just facilitated
a peaceful transition of
power or set the stage...
For a bloodbath.
Under my leadership,
Haiti has become
a regional power.
With a flourishing economy.
A stable government
that is the envy...
20 minutes of lies
and self-aggrandizement.
It's intolerable.
Patience.
He's stalling until
we button the deal.
Dupont is holding out for safe
passage for his entire family.
Eight sons, four brothers.
No.
First the generals
and now Dupont's family?
They're all murderers.
Will there be no justice?
Without your blessing, sir,
there will be no Haiti.
We have a deal.
Fraud. Intimidation.Yes.
The reported result was...
I am the legitimate president
of this country.
But after a lifetime of service,
it is time to retire.
I congratulate my successor,
Claude Galbert.
I believe the cost of this deal
was too great.
Criminals who
receive absolution,
who walk away with
billions they have stolen.
I think in time you'll find
the price of his exit was cheap.
That depends on whether I have
your country's
continued support.
Of course.
The United States will forever
be in Haiti's debt.
I don't understand.
The Haitian Revolution
bled the French dry.
Napoleon needed money,
so he sold us a tract of land.
The Louisiana Purchase.
Your slave revolt culminated
in the creation
of an independent Haiti.
And it doubled
our country's size.
We are partners then.
Two countries founded on
democratic revolution
with a history of
helping each other.
President Dalton won't forget
that and neither will I.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Dany, congratulations.
No time to rest on our laurels.
There's work to be done.
President Galbert's
inauguration speech.
Getting a jump start.
Good idea,
lot of ground to cover.
Look, I want to show you
something.
The State Department has these
grants for study abroad.
I have to go home to bury my
father and build my country.
No, it's not for... Look.
I petitioned the undersecretary
for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs to rename
one of the grants
in your dad's honor.
The Andre Victor Scholarship.
The worthy recipient will study
in your father's name.
Thank you.
I want to share something
with you, too.
That's not necessary.
You split too many infinitives.
You can be better.
And you dangle too many
participles.
You couldn't be worse.
Madam Secretary,
I'm here for my interview.
Close the door, will you?
Before we start,
I want to apologize.
In the Sit Room earlier,
I know that I overstepped.
And it wasn't lost on me.
Blake, I can't let you
interview.
Okay. I-I understand.
I just, I just want you
to know that, um,
I-I really appreciate
the opportunity that you...
I can't let you interview
because you've been interviewing
every day
for the last four years.
Ma'am?
You have demonstrated complete
commitment to this department,
to the ideal of public service.
And today,
in President Dalton's presence,
you aced your final exam.
So are you not firing me?
Damn straight I'm firing you.
And rehiring you
as my assistant policy adviser,
a job for which
you are eminently qualified.
I-I don't know what to say.
How about "yes"?
Yes.
Now go out there
and pick another desk,
one befitting a senior aide.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Listen,
Clark called me again today
to remind me to get back to him
about Arlington ASAP.-
And he mentioned
that he reached out to you
a few times
in the last couple of months,
never heard back.
Must have slipped my mind.
Yeah, that's kind of
what I figured,
and then I thought about it.
You were the one that wanted
to involve the kids in this.
Don't get me wrong,
it's a good idea.
But it also delayed
the Arlington thing,
so it's taken out of our hands.
Look, I'm not that invested
in-in Arlington,
so if you don't want
to be there,
why don't you just tell me?
What is going on?
Are you freaked out
about the procedure?
What? The procedure.
No. That's...
I don't even...
I forgot about it.
Then what is really going on?
Every year on the anniversary
of my parents' death,
I drive up to Black Top Mountain
where they got engaged.
And I spend the day there
and I find them.
Yeah. I-I know.
And I think it's
a beautiful way to reconnect.
It's the only way.
I've never been to
their cemetery, Henry.
I mean, not since the burial.
Wh... I had no idea.
It's just something about
their names etched in stone.
You know, the horrible
finality of it all. I don't...
Babe, we're all afraid
of d... of dying.
I'm not afraid of dying, Henry.
I'm afraid of losing
the people that I love.
So if you don't visit
their gravesite...
Then the little...
something in me can...
convince myself that
they are still here.
Somewhere.
It's stupid. It's not stupid.
Listen, I've spent half my life
studying religion.
I still don't have the first
idea what happens when we pass.
But what I believe...
in my bones...
is that there
has to be somewhere.
A place where part of us goes.
And I will find you
and the kids there,
because the universe
isn't big enough
to keep that from happening.
I need to get past this.
Yeah.
But you don't need
to do it alone.
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