Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 6, Episode 2 - The Strike Zone - full transcript

- Morning everyone.
- Morning.

The Senate Intelligence
Committee will begin

its investigation into
the McCord campaign

this afternoon with a closed hearing

with counselor to the president

and former campaign manager
Michael Barnow.

While President McCord
is wholly confident that

the Senate Intelligence
Committee will find

no evidence whatsoever to support

Senator Hanson's claims
that the McCord campaign

cooperated with Iran's
interference in the election,



she respects and supports
Congress' right

to oversee the executive branch,

and pledges full cooperation.

President McCord's historic
education, science,

and infrastructure bill passed
with bipartisan support

in Congress last week,
and is moving forward.

Finally, following a long-standing

White House tradition,

President McCord will
throw out the first pitch

for the New York Mets' opening
game at Citi Field this week.

I'm told Syndergaard
better watch his back.

I'll take questions.

- Daisy. Daisy.
- Steve, go ahead.

This morning saw
three major demonstrations



protesting the severe hike
in gas prices

brought on by the new gas tax
in the infrastructure bill.

How does President McCord
respond to the criticism

that this tax unfairly burdens
lower-income Americans?

The president is very aware
that Americans are

feeling it at the pump this week.

As tough as it is,
it's important to keep in mind

that this is a short-term hardship

that will lead to long-term gains.

It's also true that
the recent oil refinery fire

outside Philadelphia

caused a spike in fuel prices

- in many eastern states.
- Daisy. Daisy.

Keira.

This morning's poll in
the Washington Chronicle

show's President McCord's
lowest approval rating

since she took office.

Is the president concerned
that the controversial

gas tax is responsible for the drop?

Well, the ESI bill is

the most sweeping legislation
since the New Deal.

And it's gonna take months and years

before its effects will reach
every community.

A poll is just one moment in time.

But the point the protesters
are making is that

a uniform fuel tax
puts a greater burden

on lower-income Americans,

and it should be replaced by
a tax commensurate with income.

Again, the minimal fuel tax
is being temporarily inflated

due to the recent
oil refinery accident.

So-so you're saying the
protesters are overreacting?

Of course not, Frank.

When do you expect
the prices to go down?

I don't have projections on that.

Why is the president throwing out

the first pitch for the Mets?

Does she have a special
connection to the team?

Well, as president
of the United States,

she supports every
great American team.

And also, the Mets worked
with her schedule.

Thanks, everyone, that's all.

I can admit when I'm wrong.

Are we taking this
healthy thing too far?

I wouldn't call it wrong.

It's just a lot of chewing.

You know, you could get
your chief of staff

to bring us some of those dumplings.

The fried ones from Imperial Palace.

Sneak it right by the kitchen.
Chef Cindy will never know.

It's almost like we both
worked in intelligence.

Oh, it's just growing pains.

Madam President?

Good morning.

Oh, you're just in time for

ancient grains and, uh,

marinated tofu.

Yeah, I'm cutting back.

- Russia briefing.
- Right.

Yeah. Wait a minute.

Where did I leave that binder?

Bedside table. You really should find

some lighter bedtime reading, babe.

No. Actually, it was great.

State is killing it
on this deal with Russia.

You're killing it as well, ma'am.

He has to be nice to me now.
It's weird, right?

Well, he is right.

ESI was a huge victory.

Yeah. Not for everyone.

Honeymoon's over.

At least 40% of the
country's gonna hate you

at any given time, you might
as well get used to it.

I was thinking about responding
to the protests.

You know, explain
the long-term benefits

- of the bill.
- It already passed.

People hear a president
talking about taxes,

that's all they hear.

Yeah, well, that's all
they're talking about as is.

I mean, we're losing the message.

Well, then, let Daisy
face the firing squad.

That's her job.

Elizabeth is the one
that talked the Russians into

de-alerting their nukes, Russell.

Why not let her get out there?

Because she's not a diplomat anymore.

She's a leader.

Leaders don't negotiate
with protesters, it looks...

- Responsive?
- Weak.

You ready?

By all means, let's go hold hands

with a bunch of protesters

who don't know how to open
a savings account.

I need the briefing
materials for the meeting

with the secretary of commerce.

And cancel my lunch
with Senator Baker.

Reschedule it for
after the Russian signing.

Where are we with the head count

on the signing ceremony?

Sorry. Yes, they're waiting for you.

Did you hear anything I just said?

Mr. Barnow asked me
to wear these. He says

all assistants are leakier
than his grandfather's dinghy.

But I assure you, I would never offer

confidential information to any...

I'm confused.

Did we cooperate
with the Iran hack or not?

Good morning. We did not.

Then why the hell do I have

22 pages of strategy

for a Senate Intelligence
Committee hearing about nothing?

Obviously, this is pure theater.

But with Mike's unusual
position at State

and some of his relationships,

we wanted to think
through every angle.

Is there anything to worry about?

Is it ever pretty when
some puffed-up senator

wants to play Jimmy Stewart and
shine a light on the operatives

who actually make this country run?

I never crossed any lines,
and I definitely didn't

help Iran hack into somebody's
divorce records,

if for no other reason than
I wouldn't want anyone

to hack into mine.

That's actually not a bad argument.

Well, keep it minimal in there.

You want political theater?
Let's bore 'em to death.

The president made it clear
she wants full cooperation.

This is Washington.

I can fully cooperate
without giving them anything.

Why is POTUS weighing in on this?

I'm White House counsel, Russell.

She reached out to
reiterate her wishes.

I thought I made it clear
she's out of the loop.

One leaked comment about strategy,

the press will turn it
into a full-blown coverup.

I haven't read her in
on anything substantive.

She did, however, say that
if questioning gets into

Mike's time as chief of staff,
she wants us to answer.

Sure. Why would we bother
claiming executive privilege?

This is why I don't
want her in the loop.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Guys, we all serve at the pleasure.

That doesn't mean we
help her commit suicide.

- Answer, but keep it minimal.
- Yeah.

And for God's sake,
stop reading her in!

That is her.

Yeah, that is her.

- Hey.
- Hi. Hey.

- Uh...
- Oh, I'm sor...

- Griffin. Sorry.
- Hey. Stevie.

Sorry. I'm never sure if
I should introduce myself or...

Yeah, sure. I mean, I have
the same problem all the time.

- Not really. Uh, thanks for meeting me.
- Of course.

I mean, thank you.

Um, Blake had very nice things
to say about you, so...

Really?

That's... Gosh, that's funny.
I always thought that

he found me to be a horrible roommate.

No.

But I was a reliable baritone

- in the a cappella group, so...
- I see.

...that must have made up
for my poor dish washing skills.

- Boy, you're even prettier in person.
- Oh...

Sorry. Oh, my God, that's
a weird thing to say.

No. No, no. It's totally fine.

- Um...
- Forgive me.

No, it's...

I'm actually not really, like,

used to being out in public.

I usually just eat lunch
alone at my desk and...

- Sure, sure.
- Oh, you have that...

That's so cool, you're with the

- Human Amnesty Association.
- Yeah.

They must be really
grateful for the attention.

I... hope I'm bringing more to it

than just attention, but
they probably are, yes.

I'm sorry.

Do you solemnly swear
to give this committee

the truth, the full truth,
and nothing but the truth

so help you God?

I do.

Mr. Barnow, would you describe

your position at the State Department?

I served as Secretary's
unofficial advisor

and legal counsel.

This was a highly unusual
position, was it not?

It was unusual for me
in that I wasn't paid.

Ah, so you were rewarded for your time

with a senior White House position?

Mr. Barnow was clearly
a trusted advisor.

I think the Committee would agree

that's pretty standard criterion
for a staff position.

Very well.

During your time as an unpaid,

unofficial advisor
at the State Department,

were you privy to any negotiations

for the United States'
agreement with Iran?

I never reviewed any documents

or spoke to any officials
regarding that agreement.

When the secretary traveled to Tehran

for a secret meeting
with Zahed Javani,

were you aware of the trip?

I was not.

In your time as Candidate
McCord's campaign manager,

were you ever approached by anyone

who offered damaging information

- about any of her political opponents?
- Like every campaign,

we contracted with a firm
for oppositional research,

but we saw no need to seek
or accept any information

outside of that which we
were already paying for.

Did this research include
information about

Senator Miller's extramarital affair,

or his illegitimate children?

No, it did not.

You had no knowledge whatsoever

of those allegations

before they were reported
in the press?

I was notified the day
before it was published.

Really? Because
in your written testimony,

you stated you had
no knowledge of it prior

to its being published.

Mr. Barnow was contacted
for comment the day before.

This is clearly what he meant
by having learned of the story

through the press.

Madam President, are you concerned

about the investigation
of your campaign manager?

What are your goals for
your upcoming visit to Lebanon?

Will you consider eliminating

the gas tax in light of the protests?

Listen, one of my primary
initiatives in the ESI bill

was to wean us away from foreign oil

and to foster the growth
of renewable energy.

Now, I know that a lot of Americans

are feeling this right now.

I remember when Henry and I
both had long commutes,

and a spike in oil prices
meant we had a lot less

- at the end of every month.
- How did you get through it?

I mean, one of the things that we did,

we checked the air pressure
in our tires regularly.

And believe it or not,
that little bit of maintenance

gave us a few extra miles
on every tank, so...

The point is,

if we are going to address
climate change head on,

then we need to come together
and make these sacrifices now,

while there's still time left.

Thank you.

Madam President, when
you throw out the first pitch

at Citi Field, will you
throw it from the stands

or the mound?

Did you ask my predecessor
that question?

I'm gonna do what every president

since Ronald Reagan has done.

I will see you on the mound.
Thanks, everyone.

Thank you, guys. That's it. Thank you.

How far is it from the mound
to home base?

It's home plate, and it's
60 feet, six inches.

Now, see? Why the extra six inches?

Uh, you'll be introduced by

the president of
the Press Association,

Gabriela Mendez, then
remarks for 15 minutes,

then 50 handshakes
and 20 photos backstage.

When did presidents
ever have time to play golf?

I can schedule that.

Mm, not this Sunday.

There's the prayer service.

That's not reading face,

that's worried face.

What?

Just an opinion piece.

A dumb one.

What's it about?

The comment about checking
the air pressure in the tires.

He's trying to make
it seem out of touch.

Okay, the reporter asked me
what we did, and now

I'm Marie Antoinette
with a pressure gage.

At least

they're distracted
from the Senate hearings.

On a positive note,
there's a lot of excitement

on Twitter for your first pitch.

That's true. #FirstPitch is trending.

No pressure there.

Only tire pressure.

Apart from your work with members of

NIAC, have you worked with any
other organizations tied to

- Iranian interests?
- Senator, Mr. Barnow has

already submitted a complete list

- of all relevant business relationships...
- Hold on, no,

I-I may have, I may
have forgotten one.

A guy named Farhad.

Very chatty waiter
at Farhad's Falafel.

What? Money, money changed hands.

You may find this inquiry
worthy of contempt, Mr. Barnow.

I assure you
the American people do not.

Let's move on to the
campaign stop last July.

In Bangor, Maine.

A moment, please?

Uh, where's,
where's he going with this?

He's spinning his wheels.

There was nothing illegal. Just...

run out the clock on it.

When you're ready, Mr. Barnow.

In order to understand what
happened in Bangor,

first, we really have
to go back to Portland.

I can't,

I can't have another meal

on the bus, I'm sorry.

Okay, we're an hour and
a half outside of Portland.

It's 10 minutes, Mike.

Okay, what you, what
you need is sleep.

What I need is to work
on my stump speech!

There is nothing wrong
with the speech.

People think I sound like a robot.

See, every candidate has
their own version of road burn,

the point at which all reserves
of optimism and resilience

are worn away by the lack of sleep,

wretched food,
and a relentless schedule

under constant scrutiny.

The danger with road burn
is that it generally leads

to a meltdown. And my number
one job as campaign manager

is to make sure that this meltdown

did not occur in front of cameras.

Hey, we really should
be back on the road.

Mike...

Well, there's too much
radiation out here.

Something you can
handle with your new...

Oh, my God! Look!

And then it happened.

- Oh...
- That poor thing.

Ooh... it's still breathing.

Must've fallen from its nest.

Oh, well. Circle of life. Shall we?

Oh, bless your heart. Absolutely not.

We're not leaving this
creature here to die alone.

We're all it has.
We've got to do something.

All right, all right,
I'll-I'll look up a vet.

Or a wildlife sanctuary.

- I'm not touching that thing.
- Yes.

I mean, you have to remember,

she had just run circles around Miller

in a town hall debate.

And all the press could talk about

is how she seemed "overprepared."

The more hatred Miller spewed,

the more his poll numbers went up,

and there was nothing
we could do about it.

And somehow, rather than think
about our dying campaign,

or our dying democracy,

it was easier, for a moment,
to think about a dying bird.

In .5 miles you'll pass
Apple Blossom Highway.

You couldn't find anything closer?

We're ten minutes from the freeway.

You sure they're open?

Yes, I called ahead.
They know we're coming.

It's right up here on the right.

Oh, yeah. It's right on
the right. Right there.

I was willing to
indulge this, to a point.

But even I had my limits.

I mean, isn't there
anything you can do?

At this point, our options

would be to let nature
take its course,

or I can help things along.

Okay, I'm sorry.

- But we're gonna need a second opinion.
- No. No.

We already left hundreds of donors

waiting for you in Portland.

- If we miss this endorsement...
- I have made every stop.

I haven't seen my kids in three weeks.

- Beth, we have too much to do.
- I'm asking for one thing.

- This one thing.
- Excuse me.

I'm... I'm so sorry.
I think she's gone.

Oh...

My God.

How do we know it's a she?

Wait. Let's go to Bangor.

One more thing.

♪ Amazing grace ♪

♪ How sweet... the sound. ♪

And then, finally,
we were on to Bangor.

I'm afraid that's
all the time we have today.

It seems Scheherazade
has been interrupted.

Committee will reconvene at 9:00 a.m.

for the pertinent facts
of the event in question.

- Thank you.
- Round one, McCord.

Well, that's not fair.

Because H.W. was captain
of his baseball team at Yale.

Of course he can throw.

Yeah. The dude's a boss.
He just... He just hits the mound

and, like, fires it.

- Show me Coolidge again.
- Okay.

Well, that's about all we got.

You mean it's further than that?

A little bit.

- Come on.
- How...

Fire it in here, babe.

Let's see what you can do.

No leaks to the
press if I smash a window.

You know how that story'll go.

Uh, "Cougar-in-chief
throws like a girl"?

You did not just say that.

- Cougar-in-chief?
- I didn't... I didn't make that up.

Are people saying that?

Don't answer that.

Come on. No thinking.

Now hum it in, babe, come on.
Stop talking.

Oh, my God.

I broke the White House.

No, that was, that was great.

- Uh... let's try it again.
- I don't want to.

You've totally got this, Mom.

Here. Here.

Excuse me, are you a current
employee of the White House?

Busted.

I mean, seriously, though,
why is your coffee so good?

That's above your
security clearance, ma'am.

So, how's it going?

Are you, uh, sad that you're not
working on policy?

ROTUS is feeling like a promotion.

Plus, I still get to weigh in.

Wait, ROTUS?

- Receptionist of the United States.
- Oh, my God.

Are we just not going
to talk about the date?

Ah... well, I sort of
assumed that Griffin

had already told you.

- So...
- He said it was a little awkward.

Yeah, it was like bombing
a job interview.

Oh. Shoot, I'm sorry.

No, no, no. He was a super nice guy.

Really, just exactly like you said.

Um, I don't know, maybe...

maybe I, like, tanked it on purpose.

Oh... I get it.

You are still not over me.

You got it.

Okay, so, here's the thing:

first, he says to me
that I'm prettier in person?

- Oh, how dare he?
- Okay.

But then he... he just, like,
knew everything about my family.

And it... it got weird. I don't know.

You do realize your family is, like,

internationally famous, right?

Well, I guess it still freaks me out.

What your mom had for
breakfast is public record.

Look at where they live.

Please, if it were me, I'd be Eloise.

I'd move in, slide down
the bannisters, try to get

the Secret Service to dance with me.

Try to get a good table
at that sushi spot

that I can never get into.

- Hmm.
- I get it. It's not you.

You... You work at
a human rights organization,

you're very serious and committed.

Excuse me.

- It's not like I never have fun.
- How would I know?

You haven't posted on
Instagram since the campaign.

What? So if I don't post, that
means that I'm not having fun?

That's what the youth
of America is saying.

Blake...

See? Fun can be had while
working for the government.

Very busy. Very busy.

Resuming the
testimony of Michael Barnow.

Right. So we had to miss
the campaign event in Portland,

but thanks to the bird's
blessedly swift expiration,

we were now making
excellent time to Bangor.

Where you expected to receive
the endorsement of State Senator

- Cyrus Woodhouse of Maine, correct?
- Exactly.

He was hosting a summer fair at a

community center bearing his name.

And with
Senator Woodhouse's endorsement,

you felt reasonably confident
of winning Maine's

- second congressional district.
- Netting us another electoral vote.

Which you desperately needed.

Not sure that's how I
would've put it at the time,

but yes.

It's go time, people!

I'll get you some coffee.

Hey, Bess? Senator Woodhouse
is right outside.

I need you to work that old man

like Daddy Warbucks
on Christmas. You with me?

- You got this?
- Yeah.

- Grab your gla... glasses.
- Coffee?

- Glasses.
- Coffee.

Glasses... Glasses on. Okay.

- Glasses on. - Here we go.
- This way.

- I'm going. Okay.
- Walk this way.

Senator Woodhouse,
second congressional district.

Senator Woodhouse, so
nice to meet you, sir.

- Thank you.
- It's not a good day.

Senator, uh, Mike Barnow.

I'm Secretary McCord's
campaign manager.

We spoke on the phone.

Oh, yes.

Senator, I-I wanted

to tell you how grateful I am
for this endorsement.

I know that we can do great things

for the second congressional
district of Maine.

Well, we'll have to see about that.

- Not sure I can endorse a Communist.
- Senator...

Listen, I love my
granddaughter to pieces.

But she's a radical.

And frankly, a bit of a loose woman.

If we could have a moment.

These people wanted to say "hi."

Gosh, I haven't been
called that in years.

Call the hotel in Augusta,
tell them we're gonna be early.

- Yeah.
- No. No.

- We are not leaving. We can stay.
- Yes.

The Pepperidge Farm guy is sundowning.

- We're not staying.
- Okay.

So we don't get the endorsement.

- That's why we're here.
- I mean, we're here.

I-I got a great speech.

It's... Everybody's w...

- There's a quilting bee.
- Bess!

Oh, my gosh...

I think I feel worse
for the granddaughter.

She's loose. She doesn't care.

The-the secretary wasn't
in charge of passports directly,

but I will share your concerns.

Will you excuse me for one second?

We are pulling the plug

if this thing doesn't
get started in ten.

- Where's the senator?
- I was about to ask you.

Okay. Aw, will you yank her
out of the quilting circle?

I have to hit the little
campaign manager's room,

and then we're out.

All I want is bad
pay-per-view and a minibar.

That's not good.

Senator?

You need a hand in there?

We're not getting that
endorsement, are we, Senator?

Once you determined
Senator Woodhouse was deceased,

how did you proceed?

The way any campaign manager would.

Determine the scope of the crisis,

secure the perimeters,
minimize the fallout.

What "fallout," exactly,
were you concerned about?

I had a candidate

who was extremely sleep-deprived,

in denial/despair
about her sinking poll numbers,

and feeling beaten up
by a hostile press.

If we had to miss an event
to bury a dead bird,

what was a dead senator
gonna do to us?

We've got to get her on the bus.

We've already missed the thing
in Portland, um,

and we-we obviously
lost the endorsement.

If we miss this town hall
in Burlington...

Okay, okay. What-what's the plan?

Oh...

You go get her, go get her.
I'll take care of this.

- Okay.
- Go, go.

Now, see, I've never even tried
to make a-a lattice crust.

Hi... Hi. I have to steal
her for one second.

Oh. Bye.

Are we starting soon?
I can't feel my feet.

Yes, um, slight change of plans.

Um, there's a-a power
outage in Burlington...

- Oh.
- ...so we have to go there immediately,

so they can have a tech check
first thing tomorrow morning.

"Tech check." "Tech check" rhymes.

Yes, yes, yes. You need sleep.

Thanks so much!

It was great to see you,
everybody. Don't forget to vote!

Everybody on the bus. Go, go, go,

- go, go, go.
- We're going to hell.

No, we're going to the White House.

Can you explain why, in your haste,

you took the time to call 911
from a pay phone?

I'm sorry, what relevance
could that possibly...

My son Zach has
a severe peanut allergy,

and among other things

we were told to always
call 911 from a landline

so the dispatcher can trace
your call to a precise location

and get the response team
there even faster.

So you were just following protocols,

as you understood them.

Absolutely.

Can we hear the audio, please?

911. What's your emergency?

Yes, I would like
to report a death, a dead body.

He is in the bathroom at the Cyrus,

uh, Woodhouse Community Center
on River Road.

Yeah, on Cyrus Woodhouse.

Yes, that's also the name
of the dead person.

Can you tell me exactly what happened,

and who am I speaking to?

I-I don't know! He was,

he was very old,
and he's in the men's room,

and I have to go, and no,
I cannot give you my name.

You know, not every situation

is actually in the campaign
manager's handbook.

Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome to Citi Field

the President of the United States,

Elizabeth McCord.

Oh!

Oh, my God!

Come on, man.

I didn't, I didn't...

Mr. Met. No, no, no. I...

Oh. Oh. Oh, my God.

No, I didn't...

Whoa, arm's looking good.

Yeah, it's still not
the full distance yet. I...

Well, what is it?

The gas tax protests or pitch anxiety?

I had a nightmare

that I beaned Mr. Met

with my pitch. Yeah.

I don't know, it was probably a symbol

for how I'm clobbering America

with my gas tax.

Well, I have something

to take your mind off it.

- Guess who called me yesterday.
- Ali?

No. I only hear from her when
I'm lurking on her Instagram.

No, Dmitri Petrov.

Is he allowed to call you?

Well, you're about to grant amnesty

to U.S. and Russian intelligence
officers, so I'd say yes.

What did he want?

To thank us for the deal,
and to ask permission

to contact Stevie.

That's, like, weirdly patriarchal

and romantic at the same time.

Uh, considering he was never
supposed to be dating her

in the first place,
I appreciate the gesture.

Well, what did you say?

It was up to him.

I mean, I kind of love that
he's still thinking about her,

you know? And I happen to believe

that she's still hung up on him.

Think we should give her a heads-up?

And risk watching her spiral again

if he doesn't follow through?

- No, thank you, sir.
- True.

I say we just stay out of it.

You know? Let it play out
the way it's gonna play out.

God, I love it when it's not up to me.

Okay.

I love you.

- Come on.
- I love you, too.

I want to thank

Secretary Thompson and
Foreign Minister Avdonin

for this historic agreement

between our nations.

When two great powers come
together to share intelligence

and unite against common enemies,

the whole world benefits,
so thank you.

Thanks, everyone.
That's all for today.

Konstantin, it's nice to be
working with you again.

Congratulations on
the promotion, Madam President.

Secretary Thompson,
you hit it out of the ballpark.

You threw the pitch, Madam President.

Your boss is a great diplomat, Nina.

She learned from the best.

- Ma'am?
- Yes?

It's, uh, time to take you
to the stadium.

Oh, boy.

Does the President of Russia
also have to play sports?

No, he chooses to,

and somehow, he always wins.

Get those to the staff secretary.

Make sure NSC has a copy.

Of course, Mr. Jackson.

What happened to the other kid,
uh, Trevor, was it?

- Travis.
- Travis.

I needed an upgrade.

Senator Gates is waiting
in your office,

I pushed the Transportation
Secretary to 3:00,

and your wife asked
if you're free for lunch.

You didn't answer, did you?

I mentioned that you and
the Senator had plans, but...

And then she asked you where,
and you told her,

didn't you? Damn it.

Do you not understand

when you're being worked
for information?

I'm very sorry. It won't happen again.

You're damn right it won't.

I do not understand

why they are still attacking you
over the air pressure thing.

I mean, it does save gas.

Oh, my God. If that's a meme about me,

I don't want to see it.

Mom, no.

It's, uh, actually it's from this guy

that-that Blake set me up with.

Um, we had a really awkward lunch,

and then... Here. He hasn't given up.

Isn't that good?

Well, he's got strong GIF game,
I'll give him that.

Yes. Yes, he does.

It's always nice
when they fight for you.

Yeah, it is.

Ah.

Ah, Kevlar, so flattering,

and it breathes, too.

There are a few protesters
in the stands.

Can't they leave
the politics out of baseball?

They're just exercising
their first amendment rights.

Okay. Remember H.W.

No thinking,
just hit the mound and fire.

Yup. Right over home base.

HENRY and STEVIE: Home plate.

Plate.

We're ready for you, Madam President.

- Home plate. Home plate.
- You got it.

Please welcome to Citi Field,

the President of the United States,

Elizabeth McCord.

I want to, I want to
back off on the gas tax.

- Mom...
- There are other ways to fund the bill.

After all the political
capital you spent

getting the bill through Congress,

backing off now could be
a major embarrassment.

We're already embarrassed.

Look at them.

Why aren't we listening?

Can we discuss this when
there isn't a stadium crowd

waiting for you?

I can't... I have to go
watch this on my phone.

- Sorry.
- Okay, honey.

Welcome, Madam President.

Our ceremonial catcher

is Luis Guillorme.

Madam President, it's your pitch.

Great job, Madam President.

You told the catcher to move forward.

It's my job to make her look good.

No, Russell, it's your
job to help her execute

her policies effectively.

You know I respect
the hell out of you, Henry,

but don't tell me what my job is.

Let me ask you something.

If Conrad wanted
to make a policy change,

would you openly contradict him?

I've got eight years' experience
in the White House...

No, just answer the question, Russell,

because I see a chief of staff
second-guessing

and micromanaging the
elected leader of this country.

'Cause this isn't like
any other presidency.

Anything that came at Conrad
comes at her twice as hard.

All right? You don't want to
know the threat reports I get,

or what this Congress
is capable of doing to her,

and you won't have to

'cause I'm the one
thinking five steps ahead

to protect her from the worst of it.

I get that you're trying
to protect her,

I do,

but I think that you and I
and everybody out there

is just gonna have to take a breath

and find out what it looks like
to have a woman president

by having one, by letting it happen

and not looking for the pitfalls.

The country elected her,

and now it's time to let her lead.

And now, here they
are: Your New York Mets!

Mr. Jackson's waiting
for you in the Oval, ma'am.

Oh, gosh, thanks.

You really don't
have to do this anymore.

I thought you needed it
after your egg white frittata.

With cashew cheese.

Nuts and cheese, really
two different things.

Yes, ma'am.

Congratulations on the pitch, ma'am.

You'll be happy to know
the Internet loves you again.

A little high and wide, but I
guess I didn't embarrass myself.

Good morning.

Good morning. It was a solid throw

and full distance
from the mound. Impressive.

He's so nice to me.
It's hard to get used to.

Um...

Daisy, I want to release
a statement this morning

announcing that I'll be looking
into ways to delay or roll back

the gas tax, and then I'm gonna

need an updated list of proposals

for new revenue streams
to make up the deficit.

Yes?

With respect, Madam President,
giving in to protesters

risks turning your biggest
legislative win into a defeat.

I hear that,

but I don't see how responding
to the objections

of the people I was elected to serve

makes me weak.

I know we're all

panicked about the approval rating,

but if throwing a ball
makes people love me again,

then how much could it really matter?

Well, Conrad didn't like it, either,

but your approval rating
is how you get things done.

Right now Hanson and his minions
are realizing

they're gonna have to put off murder

until next week.

It's crude and it's fear-based,

but it works.

Okay. Well, uh...

You might be right about this one,

but I do want to get to
work on that statement,

please.

- Thank you.
- Thanks, ma'am.

You okay, Russell?

I will be.

Hi. Devon.

Nina Cummings from State.

I called about getting
the docs signed by Mr. Jackson?

Uh, he's in, if you want
to get them signed now.

I'm heading out.

Oh. Well, it can wait
until you get back.

I'm not coming back.

Not that I mind.

Oh.

Unless you're the
president or my wife, go away.

Oh. Excuse me.

Um, State needs your signature.

I'd leave them with
your assistant, but

he left, so...

Fine.

It's better if I do
everything myself anyway.

You know, um, Devon out there worked

for a Supreme Court justice.

Well, then he should have figured out

how to answer a phone.

Yeah. Mm.

For a... legendary gatekeeper,

it's kind of surprising
how little value

you have of your own.

I know it's-it's hard to
replace somebody like Adele,

but if you just give
people a little bit

of time and training,
instead of throwing them all

on the scrap heap at
the first misstep...

You finished?

I'm sorry.

No one else will say it
because they're scared of you.

Not a problem for you, is it?

Ambassador Harriman taught me
not to take crap from anybody.

Fine.

You're hired.

What?

If Harriman liked you,
you're good enough for me.

I'll call the secretary.

Um...

Wow! I mean, I was really hoping

that it was a tiny shirt for a gerbil.

Yeah, I mean, well, there's no need

to patent a tiny shirt,
but a unique item like

the wearable gerbil display shirt...

it requires the protection
of a U.S. patent.

- I see.
- What can I say?

Your job is way more fun than mine.

I don't know. I think your job
is a little more important.

- There you go.
- Oh, thank you.

- That has to be important.
- Well, I guess...

It's important to the person

who invented it.

With this?

What are you... what are you doing?

I'm just giving this lady
a better shot.

Here, why don't we, uh...?

Let's take our own photo.

An "ussie" if you will.

Oh. Wait. Should I wear the hat? No?

That's totally up to you.

Tough call. All right,
I'm gonna do it.

Okay.

Oh, yeah, worth it.

Welcome, passengers.

We're just about to begin
boarding for this afternoon's

flight to Dulles
International Airport.

Mr. Barnow, you were saying
you saw your efforts

to cover up the death
of Senator Woodhouse

as part of your duties

as Elizabeth McCord's
campaign manager.

- Senator...
- I thought that

the death of Senator
Woodhouse was a situation

I needed to manage,
because up to that point,

I was operating under the assumption

that nothing could be worse
for the McCord campaign

than for this incredibly
powerful, effective

Secretary of State to be seen
as a weak, vulnerable woman.

Then we got to Burlington.

Yeah, I want gender pay equity,
but I want more.

I want a living wage

for every working American.

You know, my father-in-law
raised four kids

on a steelworker's salary.

That just wouldn't be possible today.

But we will get there,

because every American deserves that.

Thank you for asking.

Thank you.

Hi, Secretary McCord.

Ginny Matthews.

Hi.

Um...

when I was 16, I got pregnant

and dropped out of high school.

Fortunately,
my mom made me get my GED,

and then I went on to nursing school

with the help of a few loans.

Um... at the hospital where I worked,

I saw pain medication
prescribed every day,

and I saw...
what it did to people, so,

a few years ago, when my husband
Howard had to have surgery,

I told him,

"Don't take that stuff."

But he needed help
with the pain, and...

that's what they gave him.

Three years ago, I...

...found him... dead from an overdose.

Um...

Without his salary, I couldn't
keep up with the mortgage, and

last year, I lost my house.

Now I stay with my daughter, but
she can barely afford groceries,

much less medication
for her son's asthma.

I'm not looking for a handout,

and I'll admit when I screw up, but

I got to tell you,
I'm asking myself, you know...

...is this h...

is this how...
how it's supposed to be?

No.

That's not how it's supposed to be.

We all know what happened next.

By morning, most of the
country had seen that video,

and her polls shot up six points.

Vulnerability wasn't her
weakness, it was her superpower.

It was in that moment that I realized

the old playbook meant nothing
anymore.

It's also the moment I might
have believed in politics again.

For, like, a day.

I have the coroner's report

from the Chief
Medical Examiner's office

in Bangor, Maine.

It lists the cause of death

for Senator Woodhouse
as anoxia due to asphyxiation.

Interestingly, the report

declines to rule out foul play.

Can I see that report, please?

I'm sorry. What on
earth are you trying to imply?

Not implying anything, Mr. Barnow.

I'm laying out the facts
from your own testimony.

You stated

that the loss of Senator
Woodhouse's endorsement

would have been a grave public
embarrassment to the candidate,

one you said multiple times

was your "number one priority"
to avoid.

- Seriously?
- Senator, that is an outrageous

accusation founded
on wild speculation.

Are you accusing me of
murder? Are you insane?

Why don't we call a quick recess?

Are you redecorating?

We cleared things out
for pitching practice.

We're gonna put it all back tomorrow.

Really?

I was kind of hoping
for a driving range.

Well, here's to a bump
in the approval rating.

All I had to do was publicly
admit I made a mistake.

I wouldn't say

the gas tax was a mistake.

That pitch didn't hurt, either.

Did I hear Scotch?

There are dumplings, too.

Best dorm party ever.

So... how were the hearings?

I can ask now that it's over.

Anything but.

Forget the Iran hack.

They are looking into everything.

And if they can't find it,

they will find it anyway.

So,

it's war.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.