Madam Secretary (2014–…): Season 6, Episode 8 - Ships and Countries - full transcript

The House Judiciary Committee
this week

will begin
its impeachment inquiry.

First Daughter Stephanie McCord

will testify today
in an open hearing,

followed by First Gentleman
Henry McCord.

Here to offer us an inside view

is Capitol Hill correspondent
Priya Khatri.

Priya, why is the House
investigation beginning

with the president's
family members?

Normally, a president would
invoke executive privilege

to protect anyone in her family



or administration
from testifying, but...

this is an unusual presidency
in many ways.

Now, the president
has always maintained

she had nothing to do with
the Iran government's hacking

and leaking of
her opponent's private records

during the campaign.

But with the Senate
Intelligence Report broadening

the investigation into
corruption and obstruction,

these hearings can go
in any number of directions.

Want to do some cardio with me?

Get out of your head?

I have to go over
my WTO remarks.

Did you get any
sleep last night?

A little.



Kept thinking
about that first summer...

Stevie at horse camp.

Poor kiddo.

So homesick.

Why didn't I
just let her come home?

You said it
would help her

build character,
and you were right.

Are we crazy,
throwing her in with the sharks?

Let's just
hope Olivia's right

and it's not a circus
like the Senate hearings.

Just a House impeachment trial
on national television.

We got nothing to fear.

Except the sharks.

Good thing we're
all fast swimmers.

Hmm.

It is a kick-ass
opening statement.

And I'm not just saying that
'cause I did a pass on it.

Yeah, well, let's
hope it's enough

to take campaign finance
violations off the table.

If there's anything
I can do

to clear up
the Martha's Vineyard mishap...

You say "mishap," I say "gift."

The more they
go after that mirage,

the more we know they
don't have anything real.

Well, let's not get cocky.

Hanson may have given

the House a bunch of
trumped-up charges to work with,

but the House Chair
still has to litigate 'em all.

Canning is a tough prosecutor,

and he's not our friend.You'll forgive me

if I'm confident
I won't be convicted

of murdering a state senator.

Well, no, you put enough doubt
in the public's mind about it,

and we're all out of a job.
With Heeney

on the House Committee,
we've got a solid defender.

And the markets are
a little wobbly this morning,

but overall
the economy's good.

Your approval ratings
are holding.

Why are the markets wobbly?

Eli Volk disappeared
during a trip to Moscow.

The Technoflux IPO
was supposed to be Wednesday,

so it's got everyone rattled.
As long as

they find him in time to write
us another campaign check.

What? Like no one else
was thinking that?

No, just you.

How does a...

world-famous billionaire
just disappear?

We'll be covering that

in your intelligence briefing.
Knowing Volk,

he was probably
on some peyote vision quest.

I'm gonna just grab something
I left in the office.

Hey, Mom.

That lady in charge on The...
Great British Baking Show...

Mary Berry?

I have decided

she's my ideal role model
for Leading While Female.

Yes!

Right?
Always had a kind word,

even when the technical
challenge was a disaster,

and kept...

Paul Hollywood in line
with a look.

Impeccable blazers.

She should run for office.

No! We need her
right where she is.

Lot of Americans mightsay
the same about you.

So listen..I know.

I'll be fine, Mom.

This isn't horse camp, Stevie.

If you don't want to do this...

I got it.

I'm ready.

You're my brave girl,
you know that?

You, me and Mary Berry.

See you after?

You bet.

Two days ago,

Eli Volk, the aerospace engineer
and CEO of Technoflux,

disappeared in Moscow

while on tour to
promote Technoflux's

initial public offering.

How do you disappear
in a surveillance state?

He went to a private evening at
his friend's restaurant, and...

his security detail
lost track of him.

Max?There's no evidence yet

on any closed-circuit
we can access,

and no signals to
any of his contacts.

What are the working theories?

Could be a mob hit,

some rival corporation trying
to thwart the IPO,

or it was state-ordered.

We're working
back channels

to see if there's anything

behind the Kremlin's
public denials.

Sorry to interrupt.
Uh, ma'am, it's time.
Oh.

The president would like

to watch her daughter's
testimony before the House.

We'll, uh, review
the rest of the PDB privately.

Thank you, everyone.

Members of the Committee...

we have before us charges
against a sitting president,

members of her administration,
campaign staff and family,

which, if shown to be true,

pose a threat to the very heart
of our constitutional democracy.

We are united as Americans
by our unwavering faith

in the integrity
of our elections.

To thwart the voice
of the people

by manipulating
ill-gotten information

provided by a foreign enemy is
an assault no one in this room,

nay, this country,

could or should ever tolerate.

Ms. McCord...

not only is your
mother's reputation

as an elected official
at stake here today,

but the soul
of your country is as well.

I would ask
you to shine

a clear and unwavering light
upon all that you know

and stand before us today
as a citizen first.

The chair now recognizes

ranking representative
member Heeney

for his opening statement.

Let's see that
right hook, Heeney.

Good afternoon,
members of the Committee.

Thank you for your testimony,
Ms. McCord.

We are here today to find out

the truth,
the truth of what happened

between candidate McCord
and the government of Iran

in the run-up
to the presidential election.

We're also here to investigate

all claims
of obstruction of justice

and, uh,
campaign finance malfeasance.

Ms. McCord, you do understand
that it is your duty

to answer all of our questions
to the very best

of your ability...Is he hungover?

That's not good.

Sorry to interrupt.
I have INR.

They said it's urgent.

...thank you,
members of the Committee.

...that the testimony
you're about to give

is true and correct

to the best of your knowledge,

information and belief,
so help you God?

on Eli Volk in Moscow when
his phone briefly went live.

And?

Seems he's
in the Iranian embassy.

Iran captured Eli Volk?

Looks like they're trying
to even the score

for the capture
of Reza Mousavi in Lebanon.

Iran already hacked
a German bank

and crashed an oil tanker.

The score waseven.Well, not while

we've got their Quds commander
in detention.

How do you want
to answer?

Blake? First I
want to find out

how much Russia
knew about this.

I need President Salnikov
right away, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, at least the press can't
say I was colluding with Iran

on this one.Don't be so sure.

Which means more headlines about
Iran at the worst possible time.

Good afternoon.
What began as an inquiry

into the alleged conspiracy
by the McCord campaign

to collude with Iran,

under Senator Hanson's

Senate Intelligence Committee
investigation,

widened to include questions

wholly unrelated
to that subject.

This is simply the latest
partisan attempt by Congress

to destroy
a duly elected president.

The Justice Department
failed to find

any evidence
of a campaign finance violation.

So...

why am I here?

It can't be
to offer new evidence

of something the members
of this committee...

...are fully
aware never happened.

It can only be for one purpose

to twist the facts and
willfully mislead the public.

When my mother was first chosen

to serve as secretary of state,

I dropped out of college,

because being in the public eye

made me want to disappear.

Today,
I welcome sitting before you,

sweating through this jacket,

so the American people can see
that my mother

is exactly the woman
that they elected

a supreme patriot...

and a tireless public servant.

Thank you.

Thank you for that
statement, Ms. McCord.

Uh, I for one agree
that the charge

of campaign finance violations
has been fully adjudicated,

and I have no further questions
on that matter.

I would like to turn
our attention now

to your employment
by the Dalton administration.

You were hired as an intern

to Chief of Staff Russell
Jackson, is that correct?

Yes.And you began your tenure

after your mother
had assumed her role

as secretary of state,
is that correct?

That's correct.

An internship with
the White House chief of staff

is a... is a coveted job.

Would you say you were engaged

solely on the basis
of your qualifications?

Mr. Jackson was familiar
with my qualifications,

because I had approached him
for a letter of recommendation

for law school.

Meaning you were, uh, you were
the best candidate for the job.

All I can say
is that I was hired.

The Committee is in, uh,
receipt of five résumés

under consideration
by Mr. Jackson

at the time
of your hire.

One candidate was
a Rhodes scholar.

Were you a
Rhodes scholar?

Nope.Another candidate

was a Harvard Law School
graduate who had, uh,

clerked for
Justice Breyer.

At the time of your hire,
had you attended law school?

No, but...

Third candidate was..Excuse me,
Congressman, if...

the point you're making
is that there were

other qualified candidates,
Ms. McCord doesn't dispute that.

The point I'm making
is that President McCord

has a long history
of abusing privilege.

A prime example being
the pressure she brought to bear

on Mr. Jackson
to hire her daughter.

There was
no pressure.

If Mr. Jackson favored me
in any way,

it may be because I happened
to be in his office

when he suffered a heart attack,
and I got him critical care.

If that is sufficient

to outweigh the qualifications
of a Rhodes scholar

is for Mr. Jackson
to answer, not me.

Something we
can certainly explore further.

Now let's move on.That's how you do it.

Well, glad my heart attack
worked to her advantage.

I have

President Salnikov, ma'am.

Ms. McCord,

we've spent much
of this afternoon...

Good evening, Madam President.

I'm sorry

to disturb you so late,
Mr. President.

We've just gotten news
on the capture of Eli Volk.

Our intel shows
he's being held

in the Iranian
embassy in Moscow.

That is surprising.

Yes, and I'm sure

you agree this development
is appalling and unacceptable.

Have you contacted the embassy?

Well, in light of recent events,
Iran isn't

taking our calls at the moment.

Any information
or help you can offer

to get our citizen home
would be most appreciated.

We will do everything we can.

As you know, the embassy
is not under our jurisdiction.

I'm aware of that,
Mr. President.

And I'm sure you're aware

that Mr. Volk's
illegal kidnapping

is affecting the global market,

which impacts your economy
and ours.

It seems to me, Madam President,

the best way
to stabilize the situation is

to answer Iran directly

for your own provocations.

Thank you for
your counsel.

Let me add that

if Mr. Volk steps one foot
out of the embassy,

we'll consider his well-being
yourdirect responsibility.

If anything were to prevent
his swift and safe return home,

there would be
grave consequences.

We are great admirers
of Mr. Volk

and stand by ready to help.

Good night, Madam President.

Did he just explain to us
how embassies work?

If he's stonewalling,
I-I'm gonna need evidence

of Russia's involvement.

Reach out to the DNI,
have them see if there are

any recent deals
between Russia and Iran,

anything that even looks
like a quid pro quo.

Ma'am, it's time for the WTO.

I'll reach out to Ephraim.

Yeah, okay.

How's she doing?

You know like
in Wonder Woman,

when she fends off bullets
with her bracelets?

It's like that.

Ms. McCord, how did you learn
about your mother's, uh, role

in the torture and murder
of Iraqi detainees?

I'm sorry. Is my mother on trial
for the actions

of the U.S. government
during the war on terror?

I have a text message
that you sent

seven years ago.

"Don't ask my mom.

"She totally lied about Iraq

for my entire
childhood."

Uh, I was not aware

that there was a House subpoena

on Ms. McCord's
private messages.

This was offered
by the recipient.

Well, that was a seven-year-old
comment taken out of context.

There had been a recent bombing,

and I think I was on my way
to a peace rally.

Did she or didn't she lie
to you about Iraq?That's...

If she had told me the truth,

you would be raking her
over the coals

for revealing
classified information.

So you admit she's a liar?
Ms. McCord

is not here to discuss
her personal conversations

with her mother or her friends
that have no bearing

on the president's duties
or this committee's charter.

Why don't I move on
to my next area of inquiry?

Thank you.I want to ask you

about your relationship
with, uh, Dmitri Petrov.

Yes.

He was your date

to the White House
Correspondents' Dinner.

Is that correct?

Yes.

How did you first
meet Mr. Petrov?

Uh, he was my father's student
at the War College.

Were you aware at the time

that Mr. Petrov was
an intelligence asset

under your father's supervision?

No.

Were you aware
that before you met

Mr. Petrov, he was
living in Phoenix, Arizona

under a pseudonym

where he was arrested
for assault?

I was not.

Were you aware
that Mr. Petrov was treated

for opiate addiction
shortly before

you first met?

No, I wasn't.

I didn't know... the opiate...

No.

So your father
allowed you to

engage in a relationship
with a violent opiate addict

who was, at the time,
a target of Russian assassins?

It's completely ridiculous.Mr. Canning,

this line of questioning
has nothing to do with

an impeachment inquiry.It has everything

to do with President McCord's
character,

which is fundamental
to this inquiry.

Dmitri Petrov's
efforts influenced

America's foreign policy agenda,

directly benefiting
Elizabeth McCord

at a time when she was plotting
her own political future.

The McCords wanted
to keep him on a leash

in case they needed him again.

And in blatant disregard
of protocol,

they deployed
their own daughter

to aid in their own
self-serving mission.

That is completely outrageous.
Point of order.

You have exceeded your
time, Mr. Chairman.

Aah! Put me out
of my misery.

Heeney better put him
in a box.

Are you currently employed,
Ms. McCord?

Yes, I am a project manager at
the Human Amnesty Association.

And I just want
to say for one,

I am very grateful

for the vital humanitarian
work that you're doing there.

Thank you.

And can I just ask

and sorry if this is
a little off topic but

how did your status

as First Daughter help
you get this position?

It didn't.

Um, I was actually told

that my security requirements
were a concern.

But I like to think
that my passion

for the work and my degree
in social justice law

helped mitigate
those challenges.

Uh, meaning you're
notin the habit

of using your
personal connections

for career advancement?

No, I'm not.

Take that, nepotism.

Thank you.

I'll yield the rest of my time
to the chairman.

Wait. What?

What is he...
Don't yield!

I'd like to go back
to Mr. Petrov.

Because it seems
to me that

the American public deserves
to know the truth

of your parents' involvement in
this, uh... this relationship.

Congressman,
my parents were not involved

in my relationship.So you were
not complicit

in your parents' manipulation
of Dmitri Petrov?

They deceived you, as well?

That's... that...Mr. Canning.

Mr. Canning?
This isn't croquet!That's not...

What the hell is he afraid of?
They couldn't have manipulated

Mr. Petrov
because they didn't know

that I was seeing him at first.

Huh.

So, you've come here
to defend your mother,

but it turns out that you are
just as deceitful as she is.

Wha...?

I'm sorry.
That's not at all accurate.

Given this witness's
admitted disregard

for the truth, I don't think

further questioning
would be fruitful.

You're excused.

Guys, I am so sorry.

No. What? Are you kidding?What? No. Are you kidding?

We'resorry.I just...

That never should
have happened, Stevie...

He started hammering me
with all these questions.

I didn't know about Dmitri...Listen. No. I-I...

It never should have happened.It's my fault.
I should have told you

But I...It is not your fault. I...

You didn't even know
that we were dating.

That is totally on me.

Stevie, none of this
is on you, sweetheart.

You were so brave and so good.

Yesterday turned an
internship and a boyfriend

into a bloodbath we'll be
mopping up for months.

We're not throwing another
one of you to the lions.

I'm already under subpoena.
I'm not backing out.

We'd be well within our rights
to claim spousal privilege.

And let it seem like
we're in retreat?

No. That would confirm every lie
they threw out there yesterday.

I still can't even follow
what Canning thought

he was trying to build.

Somehow your daughter dating
a Russian asset helped you

shore up political power?

He was spinning.
And Heeney

was holding the yarn.

So much for having
an ally up there.

Which is why I need to testify.

I'm the one
that brought Dmitri

into Special Activities
Division.

I can vouch
for his value as an asset.

They are making him
the question.

I'm the one that can answer it.

My concern is how much

of this Petrov case
is still classified.

Your hands will be tied.

Make it a closed hearing.

They smeared Stevie publicly.
I want to answer it publicly.

It's the only way

that we can fully answer
these insane allegations.

Congress
can always release

a redacted transcript if there
are accusations of a cover-up.

If you think it's best.
Can we...

limit the questions
to Petrov, at least?

No.

We'll answer
whatever questions they have.

Let the chairman know
the hearing will be closed.

Thank you, everyone.

That's it.

I'll fix it.

Hey. How are you?

Good.

Sorry I didn't call last night.

Oh, I know.

It was a....

it was a crazy day.

Yeah.

I was thinking about...

Yeah, I don't know
if, um, you...

Sorry.

No, go ahead.

No. You.

Um...

Uh, some of the things
you heard about me

the assault charge in Phoenix
I didn't hurt anyone.

I-I smashed a television.
It was stupid.

Okay, yeah, the...

Actually, the only thing
that really threw me was, um...

was the addiction recovery.

I know.

Uh, it was, uh, pain medication
for some injuries

that I suffered in Russia.

Oh. Okay.

I just...
I dated an addict once before,

and, uh, just made me wonder

if it's a thing with me, or...

No, it's not a thing with me.

I've never done anything
since treatment. Never.

Okay.

This is so weird.

I'm sorry I keep bringing you
and your family so much trouble.

Hey, uh, can-can we meet up, um,

so we can talk in person?

Yeah.

I think
I just need a little time

to think things through first.

Of course.

But I'll call you soon, okay?

Okay.

I'll-I'll talk to you then.

Okay.

"USAID has prioritized
emergency

response programs for
vulnerable population groups..."

Ma'am?Uh...

Ephraim Ware.

I was just forcing Russell to
get some steps in with me.

Ah. You know, FDR used
to work at a desk out here.

So say the White
House archives.

I'll let you run
the country now.

Ma'am, we have evidence

of Russia's possible cooperation
with Iran

in the capture
of Eli Volk.

I really didn't want
to be right about that.

This is a direct transfer
from the State Bank

of Iran to a private account
traced to President Salnikov.

The payment appears to be
connected to a recent deal

for Russia to develop
Iranian oil fields.

What kind of oil deal

pays directly into a
president's pocket?

You have confidence
in this intelligence?

Entirely. I'll also point out

that the date of the transfer is

less than 48 hours
after our SEAL team's

capture of Reza
Mousavi in Lebanon.

Yeah, well, Iran
didn't waste any time

hatching a counterattack.

Or it's a striking coincidence.

Thanks, Ephraim.

Ma'am.

Madam President,
perhaps your own charges

of collusion
with Iran have confused you.

There is nothing covert in
an oil deal between two allies.

This agreement with Iran was
widely reported in the press.

True.

What wasn'twidely reported was
how much you, Mr. President,

were personally enriched
by this deal.

I-I have here records
of multiple transfers

to an account we've traced
to you personally

from the State Bank of Iran.

All of which happened days
before Eli Volk's capture.

Something I appreciated
about your predecessor

was that he never spoke
in innuendo.

It's something wives do,
not leaders.

Well, I thank you, Maxim,

for another lesson
in statecraft.

Let me be more direct, then

Either you take immediate steps

to get Iran
to return our citizen

and avoid further conflict
with the United States,

or the people of Russia
will soon know

how much you've
personally gained

at the expense
of your comrades.

I hope that's not too indirect.

Your threats are quite clear;

however, the fact remains

that your citizen is being held

in the sovereign territory
of the Iranian embassy.

Therefore, I cannot...

I-I'm not asking you to violate
Iran's sovereignty.

I'm asking you to reach out
to your ally to arrange

the secret transfer of Eli Volk
from Moscow to Tehran.

And then I'd like you
to inform us immediately

of the details
of the flight plan.

You have 12 hours
to make the arrangement.

He's so right
about the direct approach.

I-It really is more...
efficient.

I'll reach out to Defense.

We're on.

Ma'am, we successfully
intercepted

the jet carrying Eli Volk

once it left Russian air space.

His plane has landed and
is on the tarmac at Incirlik.

Once the hostage deplanes,
a Delta Force Team

will secure the aircraft.

Looks like Salnikov
came through.

Any contact from Iran?

Nothing official.
We're trying back channels.

Alpha Team,
execute secure package.

Switch camera view
to door side.

First step will be
to establish communication

with the cockpit.

Get proof of life on Volk.

Eyes on the door.

The door is opening.

Send Eli Volk
out of the plane now.

Eli Volk...

I repeat, send Eli Volk...

Hey, we got a civilian in there!

Hold fire. Hold fire.
Pull them back.

Hold fire!

Pop smoke and take cover.

Popping smoke.

They're surrounded
by U.S. troops.

How do they think this ends?For all we know,

that cargo bay's full of C-4.

How's our casualty?

Stable.

We've got him on
a medevac to Landstuhl.

What about Volk?

We're working on
re-establishing comms.

Infrared shows
that he's in there,

but they've blocked
our view of the cabin.

So he could be wounded
or dying for all we know.

No moves until we get word
on Volk.

Copy that.

Let's just calm this down.

Ephraim?

We just got SIGINT
from Syria and Southern Lebanon.

Iranian proxy forces

are activating
on the Israeli border.

Ma'am, if Hezbollah launches
their short range missiles,

hundreds could be killed.

It's saber-rattling.
Shiraz doesn't want

the Middle East igniting
over this any more than we do.

I'd rather not
count on that.
But...

Uh, Susan's right.

But we have to give Shiraz
something so he has cover.

Let's get Tehran.

Get us President Shiraz
as soon as possible.

All due respect, ma'am,
you are under

an impeachment investigation
for colluding with Iran.

Is this really the time
for appeasement?

I'm gonna lead with a stick.

I just want a carrot
on the end of it.

I have Shiraz
on the line, ma'am.

Get him on the screen.

Ellen, are we prepared
for a retaliatory strike?

Yes, ma'am.

Sixth Fleet is
on standby in the Gulf.

We can have F-18s

over Bandar-e 'Abbas
in ten minutes.

Can we discuss what you're
planning to offer first?

Russell, I'm trying to prevent a
shooting war in the Middle East.

We can talk about how it plays
in the press later.

President Shiraz.

It seems we have
a situation.

No, you have a situation.

You can resolve it by returning

our citizen Reza Mousavi
immediately.

Let's take a beat here.

You've got an American held
hostage by armed guards.

We've got you surrounded
by American troops

on a military base.

And now you've got Hezbollah
aiming rockets at Tel Aviv.

Have you asked yourself
where this ends?

It ends where it began

with Iran defending itself

against U.S.
imperial aggression.

Do you honestly think bullying
is the way to go here?

Because I'll tell you
what bullying gets you, Najid.

It gets you a firestorm
of Tomahawk Missiles

and smart bombs annihilating
your offensive capabilities

before you can even think
about responding.

And then your only consolation

will be a proxy war with Israel
that you cannot win.

In the next 30 minutes,

Eli Volk is going to walk off
that plane.

No shots will be fired
on our side or yours.

Your plane,

and everyone on it,
will return peacefully to Iran

and we'll continue our talks
about cyber attacks another day.

I will bring your proposal
to the Supreme Leader

for his consideration.

Thank you.

Well played, Madam President.

Let's hope that was
enough of a carrot.

It was plenty of stick.

Dr. McCord, six years ago,
when you worked

for Defense Intelligence,
you recruited a Russian soldier

named Dimitri Petrov
as an agent

to spy on Russia,
is that correct?

I did.

And you did so
by providing experimental

life-saving treatment
to his sister,

who was suffering
from fibrosarcoma.

Yes. And he performed
an invaluable service

to the United States by
providing critical intelligence

that helped prevent
a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Subsequent to, uh, Mr. Petrov's
invaluable service,

Russia engaged
in treaty negotiations

with the United States,
which necessitated

the identification and capture
of Mr. Petrov, correct?

I can't get into
the details of that,

but Mr. Petrov, regrettably,

was collateral damage for
the sake of national security.

Yeah, but he underwent torture.

Correct.

Dr. McCord, you, uh,
you personally worked

to have Mr. Petrov released
and repatriated

to the United States,
is that correct?I did.

Are you aware of the maxim
that, uh,

once an agent has been turned,

he or she can be turned again?

That's a gross
oversimplification.

Mr. Petrov was a unique asset

with an unparalleled
knowledge base.

I recruited him only after
he was fully vetted.

Were you aware
of his opioid addiction

when you brought him on at
Special Activities Division?

I learned of that later.

So your vetting
was less than thorough.

Excuse me, Congressman,
I once again fail to see

how these questions
have anything to do

with President McCord.

I'm establishing that connection
right now, Counselor.

Dr. McCord, after
your wife became

Secretary of State,
she installed you

as President Dalton's
ethics advisor, didn't she?

Uh, she did not.

President Dalton
independently sought me out

for my expertise
in the field.

How many previous presidents
had, uh, sought you out?

I was a member
of the faculty

at the National War College,
a qualification

that was sought out
by previous administrations.

But not youpersonally.

And your job as ethics advisor
in your wife's administration,

was that, uh,
was that based on merit?

Congressman, if you're going
to slander my family,

please have the courage
to say what you mean.

You knew years ago your wife
was going to run for president.

That is completely false.

So to burnish her credentials,

you identified
an unstable addict

and manipulated him to
put his life in danger

to further your wife's
diplomatic agenda.

That's pure fiction.

And after Russia captured him,

no doubt compelling him
to reveal American secrets,

you had the wisdom
to give this addict

a classified job as a payoff.

Do you have evidence of any
of these allegations?

Finally, to sweeten
the deal, you set him up

with your own daughter.

All so President McCord
could have a man

on retainer who owed
the McCords his life.

And his sister's life.

And if ethical questions were
raised about his retention,

about anything your
wife wanted to do, well,

she had the White House ethics
advisor to brush those aside.

Congressman, if you were a
freshman in my ethics class,

I would give you an "F."

You have no logic...

Really, Professor,
because I think...May I finish?

O-Or is-is that how this works?

You get to make up whatever you
want and I don't get to answer?

Please.

Most of us think of ethics
as the rules of moral behavior.

You are what you do.

But I teach a more
theological approach

called virtue ethics.

Virtue ethics says
that who we are

is not determined
by the actions we take,

but why we take them.

So you can't just spin out
some wild theory based on

a few cherry-picked facts
from my wife's record.

You have to consider
her motives.

And if you look at
Elizabeth McCord's

decades-long
record of service,

you see a woman
clearly motivated

by Plato's four key virtues

wisdom, courage,
temperance and justice.

I suggest you look into them.

I'm sure you believe your wife
is infallible, Dr. McCord,

just as I believe
you think your posts

in the Dalton
and McCord administrations

were based on merit.

Just as you believe
your destruction

of a young man's life to serve
your wife's political ambition

was somehow justified.

And your delusion is part
of the tragedy.

Congressman Heeney.

I, uh...

I yield my time to the chairman.

All hail

President McCord.

Mr. Volk. Welcome home.

It's truly wonderful
to be back.

I haven't felt this liberated

since my first divorce.

Oh!

Please, just give us one

damn news cycle.

News of McCord megadonor

Eli Volk's release
from capture in Moscow

has unleashed a flurry
of speculation.

Here with us
to give his perspective

is Chairman of the Senate
Intelligence Committee,

Senator Mark Hanson. Senator?

Thank you, Tracy. You know,
we always have to be skeptical

with this administration
because they are...

they are truly skillful

at manipulating public opinion
and the media.

Says the guy
manipulating the media.

...the spectacle this afternoon.

One of the president's
biggest donors

literally bowing down to her
like royalty

earlier today
at Andrews Air Force Base.

This country did overthrow
a monarchy quite some time ago.

There has been some speculation
that it's possible

this entire story of Eli Volk

being kidnapped by Iran could be
another example of McCord's

brilliant media manipulation.

Does this guy ever stop?

Now, normally,
I'm-I'm deeply skeptical

of these sorts of rumors,
but you have

to ask yourself,
why would the president allow

these so-called kidnappers
to fly home to Tehran

from a U.S. armed military base

without a single...All right, that's enough.

I'm gonna need
to make a stop.

Thanks for calling.

I hope this
isn't too public.

No, it's fine.

Um, I kind of just decided
to live my life, you know?

I'm sorry that I had
such a reaction

to the addiction thing.

Oh. No, I'm...

I'm sorry you had to find
out on national television.

I think mostly it threw me
because, um...

Well, growing up
with parents in intelligence,

you kind of get used
to there always being

this other story
behind what you're told.

So, yeah. I just...
I think I get sensitive

about what the truth is,
you know?

I know.

And if I can explain...Yeah, like-like
your time in Alaska.

Um, you told me
that you were alone.

And, uh,
I'm not proud of this,

but I-I went through
your social media,

and I saw
this one bartender lady

loved all of your posts.

So none of my business,
and I-I swear I don't care...

The thing you have
to know is that...No, it's fine.

Just please
don't lie to me.

Okay? You had
a girlfriend in Alaska.

It's a totally normal thing.She was not my girlfriend.

She worked at this one
bar in town, and...

No, I-I'm happy
that you had someone.

Really. It's just...

Please, don't-don't tell me
that you were alone.

No, but-but I was.

I mean, yes, we were...

we were together a few times,

but it meant nothing.Really?

Is that how Bitty
would describe it?

I don't know.

Look, she thought I was
no fun, and she was right.

I had someone
else on my mind.That's not the point.

I-I should have
been honest.

I'm sorry.

But I could mention you're
the one who had a boyfriend,

and I-I didn't
say anything.

Yeah, well, because...

I never tried to hide it.

Of course
you didn't say anything.

You're like Jason Bourne.

Just...

Oh, so now I have no feelings
because I was a spy?

I don't know.
I think I'm just...

...recalibrating.

Stevie, you know me better

than anyone except my
sister. Do you think

it was easy for me
seeing pictures

of you moving on
without me?

Please, don't ever look at
me like you don't know me.

Please.

Sorry.

Since I came here,
I lost my country.

I lost my name.

But when I'm with you,
I feel like I'm home.

And I don't want to
leave home again.

Ma'am, he'll still be
here tomorrow morning.

Can we please stop
and think about this?

Madam President.

A word?

Saw you on the news.

Generally, my television
appearances don't bring

a state visit to my home.

This isn't a state visit.

This is two Americans talking
about the country we love.

And the country we were
both elected to defend.

Oh. Well, at least privately

you're willing to acknowledge
that I was legitimately elected.

I didn't say legitimate.

But come, let's sit.

About a week ago,
you-you offered

to drop your attacks on me

if I was willing
to bend my office to your will.

That is hardly a fair
representation of what

I presented to your people.Oh, Mark.

I don't think you want to talk
fair representation with me.

But my point is
if you actually believe

those things you said
on television today,

that I staged a kidnapping

to distract
from some ongoing conspiracy

with a foreign enemy,

you'd have to be
an utter hypocrite

to be willing
to overlook that

in exchange
for some political influence.

We've already had
this discussion

when you called
me... What was it?

"A cheap shakedown artist."

That was before you dragged
my family into it.

Now it's personal.

I'm not responsible
for the questioning

of the House inquiry.

The inquiry that started
with your report.

You are directly
responsible for this.

What I can't
understand is why.

You can't actually believe

that I would arrange
a relationship

between my daughter
and a Russian spy

to win an election.

Why don't we discuss this
in a more official capacity?

Because it doesn't
feel official,

what you're doing
to me, Mark.

You're obsessed
with destroying me,

and you're willing to take down
the whole country to do it.

You've got it completely wrong.

I am...

I'm trying to save this country.

From what?

From a falsely elected woman

who rode in on the coattails
of her predecessor

and manipulated
foreign influence

to hoodwink the
American people.

You are a travesty
and an aberration,

and when you
are finally gone

and a real leader
takes your place,

this country will
shine out again

like the beacon of hope
she's always been.

We don't come in here enough.

Well,
it's too intimidating.

Now it's depressing.

I went to Hanson's house.

Nice house, by the way.

He called me

a "falsely elected woman."

I think maybe
the "woman" part

is the thing
that bothers him most.

You know I never
wanted to go there.

But he said something
so striking.

After I'm gone,

the country will go back

to being the beacon of hope

she'salways been.

Why can he call
the country "she"

but not the president?

I assume
you're not asking me

why English dropped
most gendered nouns.

We did keep "she"
for two of them.

Ships and countries.
Yeah.

Why is that?

Maybe because they both...

carry us like mothers.

And if they go down,
we all go down with them.

For some people,
that kind of power

is just too scary
in a woman.

They can deal with it
in the abstract, but...

not in a leader.

They're never gonna make
room for me, are they?

Not all of them.

Not yet.

Henry...

I think I want to testify
before the House.

Okay.

I doubt that's what
Russell's gonna say.

You're the president.

For now.

Do you really think
it'll be worth it?

No.

But I figure I may as
well get my day in court.

Before the ship goes down.

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