Scandal (2012–2018): Season 2, Episode 21 - Any Questions? - full transcript
Cyrus is at the center of a big scandal at the White House
The President considers
these allegations
to be a private matter between
himself and the First Lady.
(Camera shutters clicking)
He is grateful
for the continued support
and respect of privacy
by the American people.
Any questions?
(Reporters shouting questions)
- Cy?
- Eric?
- Is it true?
- What it is is a private matter.
But the First Lady made
it a public matter.
I don't speak
for the First Lady.
I speak for the President.
(Reporters shouting questions)
So he's not even going to
answer the simple question?
- The President did answer.
- What did he say when he heard this?
He said that he considers
these allegations
to be a private matter between
himself and the First Lady.
- One at a...
- Cyrus...
Have the President
and the First Lady spoken
- since this revelation?
- It's not a revelation, James.
It's an accusation.
(Reporters shouting questions)
(French accent)
Well, have they spoken?
Have they seen each other?
The answer to that question
is covered by the statement.
How... is it covered
by the statement?
I'm not going to parse
the statement.
Can you at least tell us
where the President is?
- The President?
- Yes. Where is he?
(Camera shutters clicking)
Open the door.
Open the door!
That is an order!
Respectfully, sir, I
do not take orders...
I do not care who you take
your orders from, Tom!
I don't care
if you got your orders
from Jesus Christ himself
as he hung on the cross.
Jesus is not me!
Jesus forgives.
Jesus saves. I destroy.
And I will bring vengeance
down upon you
in a hail of fire
and brimstone.
You will open
that door now!
Or I will call in every favor I have,
making sure you spend
the rest of your career
guarding baby Teddy
at the playground!
(Breathes deeply)
I need a reason
to open that door, sir.
A credible threat.
He's having a heart attack.
He just texted me!
(Kissing)
(Moans)
Get up!
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Of course he cheated on her.
He's a cheater.
He cheated on the election,
then he cheated on his wife.
(Cyrus) - Eric?
- Not that I'm still angry about that.
I made my choice.
I'm part of the team now.
"Go, gladiators."
But the irony...
The sheer irony that a man
who stole the White House
is gonna be thrown out
of office for this.
- Adultery isn't illegal.
- No.
But if Grant got this woman
a job to keep her quiet...
If she influenced policy
the teeniest, tiniest bit,
that's it, game over.
Adios, Presidente!
And that's just Grant.
This woman?
The one he's having
an affair with?
They haven't released her name
yet, but you know it's coming,
and when it does...
Let's just say I hope she has
Olivia Pope on her team.
I'll put my ear to the ground,
find out what I can
about how the public
is taking all this,
how it's being messaged
by the news anchors and pundits,
and I'll get some intel
on Mellie
and what her next move
is going to be.
- And then Cyrus and I ca...
- No.
Fitz!
No! You don't do anything.
This is my problem.
I made a decision,
and I'm going to deal with it.
- What?
- What?
- You have a look on your face.
- 'Cause you are wrong.
- I am not wrong.
- I am very good at what I do.
I am better at it
than anybody else.
That's not arrogance,
that's fact.
And I am definitely
better at it
than you and your boys
at the White House.
You need me if you're
going to survive this.
Maybe.
But you are not fixing
or handling me anymore, Livvie.
And if we are
gonna survive this,
if you and I are gonna
make it together,
you have to stand down.
But...
Stand down.
And wait for me to do this
on my own.
You are not in charge
of everything.
Fine.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Olivia sighs) There you are.
Everything okay?
Did you hear?
The President banged someone.
- Where are we with Charlie?
- He's still on the wind.
But that book club girl
he was dating?
It wasn't her literary mind
he was attracted to.
It was her laptop.
Turns out she was the stenographer
at David's grand jury hearing,
the one about Defiance.
That's why he targeted her...
to find out what happened in there.
And since Cyrus already knew
about Defiance,
and not just knew about it,
- but was at the very center of it...
- It can't be him.
That's the good news.
The bad news is,
whoever the mole is,
he knows about election rigging.
(Mouths word)
(Pants)
(Olivia exhales deeply)
(Beeping)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Sighs)
The Cytron card.
(Beeping)
Okay, so I did steal it.
Like I said, I made my choice.
(Safe door closes)
Part of the team now.
(Projector and camera shutter clicking)
I was surprised to be called.
I-I know Olivia Pope usually
handles your needs.
Olivia Pope handles my husband.
I have needs of my own
these days.
So... I assume all you fixers
work the same, or...
I have one rule.
No lies.
I am your priest, your shrink,
your hairdresser,
your bedfellow,
your best friend.
I am very good. All I require
is complete and total honesty.
Can you do that?
Can you be honest?
(Chuckles)
I am the First Lady
of the most powerful nation
on the planet.
I didn't get here because
someone like you
held my hand and called
themselves my hairdresser.
My hair is done.
So don't ask me
if I can be honest,
like I'm some little girl
confused by all the books
and smart talk.
I can be honest.
I can also lie.
It all depends on what's
in my best interests.
I have a very busy day.
So someone will see you out.
- I've always admired your act.
- (Sighs)
The sweetness.
The hint of Southern gentility.
The law degree you never use
but mention all the time.
She's smart
but not threatening.
When you cried about
that miscarriage?
Brilliant.
Flawless.
(Chuckles)
And now you carry
that adorable baby
on your hip
in every single photograph.
That is so well done.
You play it well...
The good political wife
with the perfect marriage
to the perfect man.
You had it.
But then you went
on national TV
and told the world your husband
dropped his pants
for someone else.
Why?
And another question...
You could have named the whore
your husband was sleeping with,
but you didn't.
Why is that?
(Woman) Clinton rules...
"It's not true,
it's not true, it's not true."
It's old news.
We're admitting the affair.
That's where we start.
The President says he's
working on his marriage.
No one wants to think of the
leader of the free world
- as going to couples therapy.
- He's praying with his pastor.
Yeah, even better.
His pastor died.
- And ever since...
- He lost his way.
- Assassination attempt.
- Post-traumatic thing.
- The death of Britta Kagen.
- And Verna Thornton.
I'd like the room.
Not just a supreme
court justice, but...
- But a close friend, like family.
- Really.
(Cyrus) These are excuses.
- I want explanations!
- The room!
- Mr. President.
- Mr. President.
I better not be about
to hear how you're not
giving a statement, because,
oh, hell, yes, you are!
- You are addressing this, sir.
- I'll be making a statement tonight.
- Good! - Where I'll be telling
the American people
I won't be seeking
a second term.
(Reporters shouting questions)
What are some of the options the
President is considering?
Whatever options
the President is
or isn't considering
are private.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Is he considering not
seeking a second term,
spending time with his family?
Whatever options the President
is or isn't considering
in this matter are private.
Do you think he owes the American
people a response, an explanation?
Again, I refer you
to the statement.
(Reporters shouting questions)
(Inhales deeply) Look...
I get this.
You have feelings for Olivia.
She's a heck of a gal.
You want to continue
the affair.
Fine.
Peachy.
So you go to Mellie and you
promise whatever it takes
to put things back together.
Then you can go right on
sleeping with Olivia.
That's your business.
And if you need me
to facilitate, to lie,
to cover for you,
sneak her into the motorcade,
wipe her lipstick
off your collar for you,
I will.
But you're not giving up
your place in history.
You're not giving up
this office.
We will figure this out.
(Breathes sharply)
It's not too late
to save your presidency.
Look at Clinton.
Clinton wasn't in love
with Monica Lewinsky.
I am in love with a woman
who is not my wife.
I want to be with her.
Not in the shadows. Openly.
And if that means I have to
stop being President,
so be it.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
- This is what I found in...
- Didn't I see you last night?
Yes. Why?
So you knew last night
and you didn't tell me.
- Tell you what, sir?
- Your mission was clear.
- Get between the President
and Ms. Pope. - Yes, sir.
Not only did you fail
in your mission,
but you failed to report to me
that the President
was spending the night
with her... the same night...
- Sir, I can explain...
- You do not interrupt me ever.
Now what's this photo about?
This is the man who's on to me.
He knows about my relationship
with Ms. Pope.
He's working with Cyrus Beene.
Is there proof of your
relationship with Ms. Pope?
Recorded proof?
Yes, sir.
Bring it to me.
And what about him?
Find him. Bring him in.
- And Cyrus Beene?
- I'll handle Cyrus Beene.
Just bring me the tape.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Oh, Cyrus.
I am truly amazed
at how you are handling
this difficult situation
with such grace and class.
I just cannot believe,
after everything
the President has survived...
That sad little bout
with Amanda Tanner
and Billy Chambers,
an assassination attempt?
Who would have thought
it would be his own wife
who finally brings him down?
- Well, you know what the Bible says.
- No, I don't.
"Hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned."
That's not from the Bible.
Not everything is from
the Bible, Sally.
(Cyrus sighs)
It has to be Sally Langston.
She and the Secretary
of Defense
are the only two people
we haven't ruled out
who had access to the files
on Wendy's flash drive.
And since the Secretary
of Defense
was C.E.O. of Bromstead
when the leaks first started...
It doesn't make sense.
She was on that ticket, too.
If congress impeaches Grant...
Sally gets thrown out
with the bathwater.
Besides, we don't have
enough evidence
to accuse the Vice President
of treason.
You said Charlie's in the wind.
- What are the chances we find him?
- Impossible.
- Which leaves us with...
- Sally Langston. Let's get into it.
(Door closes) What do you...
- What's the endgame?
- My endgame?
The First Lady just
put you on notice.
We don't have a lot of time.
- This needs to be dealt with.
- No, it doesn't.
(Typing) Let it be.
Right now, at this very moment,
you are standing in the eye
of the hurricane, and
- you're gonna sit here and pretend?
- I'm not pretending.
You think that White House
is gonna protect you? Hmm?
- Is that it? - I can protect myself,
thank you very much.
You're not the fixer here, Liv.
You're the problem.
You're the client.
You're my client.
(Chuckles) Like it or not.
So I'm not asking you
for the truth.
I know the truth.
I know enough.
At any minute, any second now,
so will the rest
of planet earth.
So what I'm asking you is,
what is your endgame?
'Cause the eye will pass
and the winds will kick up,
and you... you are not
tethered to anything.
But I'm here.
And I will be your anchor.
And I'm the only one that
can see you through this.
We'll fight to the end.
So snap out of it!
Huh?
Tell it to me straight.
What do you want?
We need to prove
whether Sally's the mole.
Get on it.
(Door opens)
(Door slams)
(Reporters shouting questions)
Yeah.
Why not simply deny
the accusation?
The President considers this
a private matter.
If the President addressed
every question
about his personal life, we may
as well turn the Oval Office
into a daytime talk show set.
The First Lady stated
very publicly
- that her husband is having an affair.
- And the President has responded.
- He didn't.
- He did. I'll read it again.
- It's legalese! - "The President
considers these allegations..."
- That's a dodge, Cyrus.
- Moving on.
- I was doing my job!
- You were trying to screw me!
What was I supposed to do
when I was handed
my very first assignment
as an on-air reporter?!
Say, "thanks, but no, thanks"?
This fell into my lap!
I had no idea
what Mellie was gonna say!
Should I have stood up
and walked out of the room
when she started talking
on live national television?!
Tell me what
I should have done!
You should not
have tried to screw me!
How many stories of the century
do you want me to give up, huh?
Because I seem to remember
doing that not too long ago.
Don't you dare
mention that in here.
When your boss asks you
to sit down
with the First Lady
of the United States,
you don't say no!
This was my lucky break.
My shot!
You got one when Fitz
ran for governor,
and you took it.
I did the same thing.
(Laughing)
(Continues laughing, loudly)
(Sighs)
You think... you...
(Laughing)
You think this was
your lucky break!
(Continues laughing)
Isn't that adorable?
That's what you're
telling yourself?
And I'm genuinely asking,
because I never thought
of you as naive.
Which is both surprising
and unsettling,
because that's certainly
not a trait
any respectable journalist
would want to possess.
And that's what you call
yourself, right?
A respectable journalist.
So now... now...
I'm starting to think of you
as just plain stupid!
Are you stupid, James?
- You insulting, condescending...
- It was Mellie, you...
(Groans)
Mellie got you the job!
BNC would never have
called you
if she didn't make it happen!
The First Lady wanted you for
that interview... (Sighs)
So she could hit
both me and Fitz
at the same time.
It wasn't a lucky break.
It was a chess move,
and you're too...
stupid to see it!
Are you saying I'm not
good enough?!
I'm saying you have
no business in this job.
Come on!
James novak?!
I mean, of all the other
professional
television journalists,
the ones with actual
experience,
peabodys and Pulitzers,
those that aren't
approaching 50
or the least bit doughy
on camera,
you want to stand there
and tell me
Mellie chose James Novak?
Forget about Anderson Cooper...
Who's a frigging Vanderbilt,
by the way...
Or even Brian Williams,
Diane Sawyer.
Maybe they were all busy.
So let's go with James Novak!
He's the guy
America wants to see.
He's got a face for TV.
Your lucky break?!
You...
have no business in this job.
(Stifled sobbing)
(Door opens and closes)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Where are we
with Sally Langston?
Still working on it.
Harrison's making phone calls.
If we had her password,
we could get onto
the White House's network,
see if she accessed
the same classified files that
were on the mole's flash drive.
- Can you hack your way in?
- There are thousands of safeguards.
- It would take weeks, maybe months.
- And there's no other way?
(Sighs)
We could send Sally
a trojan horse.
Hmm.
An e-mail infected with a worm
that could bore into
the White House network
from the inside.
We could make it record
her keystrokes,
- tell us her passwords.
- Baby Huck.
The Vice President would never
be stupid enough
to open an infected e-mail.
Maybe not, but her teenage
daughter might.
We use Cassidy's e-mail
to break into
the Langstons' home
network, then use that
to springboard into the White House.
(Chuckles)
Cassidy Langston, 16 years old.
Loves horses, hates poseurs,
and will only date
cute boys with blonde hair
and great abs
who are at least 6 feet tall
and play either lacrosse
or water polo.
We could send an e-mail
saying she won
a date with Justin Bieber.
Or some Olympic water polo dude.
(Snorts) Lame.
And really lame.
- Excuse me? - I spent the
last ten months of my life
in a classroom full of kids
Cassidy's age,
studying them,
learning their ways.
They are pack animals, hell-bent
on social domination.
And the only thing a
mean girl really wants
is to rip out the jugular
of an even meaner girl.
Get me the student directory.
(Typing)
(David) Mnh-mnh.
That one.
(Quinn) Brooke Sullivan,
class of 2014.
- She's the queen. - So we need
to find something on Brooke
- that Cassidy would want.
- Got it.
Oh!
Nose job, before and after.
Happened right before
she moved to D.C.
- So none of her classmates know?
- Yet.
(Huck) Got the e-mail.
(Taps key)
- Sent.
- Now we wait.
(Chimes) No, we don't.
(Snaps fingers) She clicked it.
(Abby) - Already?
- We're in.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
This park, it used to be
a graveyard.
(Laughs)
And I was just about to ask
how you were holding up.
- You can't do this to me.
- (Laughs) Let's be clear.
I am not the President.
I am not doing anything.
Whatever it is you said to him
to make him do this,
you need to take it back.
This was his choice.
He made a choice.
He decided.
If he walks away, if he
doesn't run for re-election,
that is a blow the republican
party will not recover from,
not for years,
and if it does recover,
it'll be in the hands
of Sally Langston
and her conservative overlords,
and the rights of people
like me... and you...
Do not bring my rights
into this.
It will be the Salem
witch trials, Liv.
It'll be, "I saw goody Johnson
with the devil, here in D.C."
And the republic will burn
and the seas will run blood,
and the four horsemen will ride
all because he wants
to be with me?
Right, Cy?
Mellie's going to name you
as his mistress.
It's just a matter of time.
You know that.
I know.
You could stop this
at any time.
He will listen to you.
Cyrus.
If I honestly thought
that this was right for him,
giving up his chance
to run again...
If I truly believed
that this...
Is what he wanted,
I would fight to the death
to give it to him.
I would slay dragons for him.
(Chuckles)
But it's not right.
It's not.
I believe in him, Liv.
I believe in him, too.
Then don't let him do this.
The future of the country
depends
on you not letting him do this.
We've already changed
the future of this country
once, Cyrus.
Isn't that enough?
Go away.
You're breaking my heart.
This park...
It also used to be a zoo.
Hello, Cyrus.
(Man) What does the President
mean by "private matter"?
We've been over this.
Because so much of his
family life is public.
On average,
women in this country
make 80 cents to my dollar.
That's a public matter.
21% of children live in
poverty in this country.
That's a public matter.
The President
and First Lady's pri...
- But if the President had an affair...
- Careful, Ashley.
An alleged affair
on White House grounds
with a White House employee...
Now we're just making things up.
(Reporters clamoring)
You're a very lucky man, Cyrus.
I don't feel lucky.
Not today.
Well, First Lady
pulls the fire alarm
while her husband
is with his mistress,
and no one's the wiser?
I'd call that lucky.
Mistress? That's reaching.
It's unconfirmed rantings
of an emotional wife.
It's Olivia Pope.
You're surprised that I know
about the President
and Olivia Pope.
I suppose I'm surprised
that you care.
We care about everything
that affects the republic.
You should have shut this
down a long time ago.
You have all the ammunition
that you need.
You know about Jake Ballard.
You know that he's been
sleeping with Olivia.
We agreed you would not have me
surveilled, damn it.
Calm down.
Your guy... Charlie...
Was one of mine.
The point is, there's a tape
of Ballard and Pope.
(Scoffs)
You have the tape already,
don't you?
But you haven't used it.
I've tried, believe me.
It's complex.
It's simple. It's only complex
because you're afraid.
You're afraid to be
the messenger.
You're afraid to take
the bullet.
You're afraid that
he'll turn on you.
But ask yourself,
what are you most afraid of...
Losing the White House
and endangering the republic,
- or losing your buddy Fitz?
- Back off.
You're out of bounds.
This is my arena.
Stay in yours.
This always happens.
People like you
get a taste of power,
and they develop amnesia.
They forget that I have
no boundaries.
I like you, Cyrus.
Use the tape.
Don't make yourself
an obstacle.
Don't test your luck.
Oh.
And your guy... Charlie?
He's dead to you.
No further contact.
Understood?
Understood.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Phone rings)
You're supposed to be
running the world.
I'm writing my statement
for tonight.
By yourself?
You do realize that there are
many, many speechwriters
in that big white building.
If I'm gonna announce
to the American people
that I'm not running
for re-election,
I think it should be
in my own words.
Cyrus has been spending all day
trying to talk me out of it.
- I was just with Cyrus.
- And?
There may have been
some lectures
about me ruining the future
of this great nation.
Are you having second thoughts?
No. Are you?
Never.
You maybe wanna run
your speech by me?
- Stop trying to help me.
- Just asking.
I take it back.
Good-bye.
- Wait.
- What?
What are you wearing?
(Laughs) You are shameless.
Good-bye.
(Beep)
(Phone rings)
I am not telling you
what I'm wearing.
(Jake) Well, never mind then.
Jake.
You were expecting someone else.
Let me guess.
How late did he stay
last night?
All night, I'm guessing.
Do you want me to answer that?
Oh, I want a lot of things
that he gets to have first.
I'm not a bad guy, Olivia.
You're not a good one.
Well, neither is he.
I'm going to hang up now.
Take care of yourself.
Good-bye, Olivia.
(Beep)
Is it someone who works with him?
An aide, an adviser?
Is this woman a threat
to you in some way?
Is she a game changer?
Is she sweet?
Will the public like her?
Is it a man?
Is the President's lover a man?
All right, enough.
(Breathes deeply)
Right now, everyone
is just curious.
Is the First Lady telling
the truth? Is she lying?
Is it poor President Grant
with a cold, frigid wife,
or poor Mrs. Grant with
the mean, slutty husband?
They're waiting to see
which way the wind blows.
Anything is possible
at this point.
(Sighs)
It's anyone's game.
But if we name the name
of his mistress
and put a face
to his infidelity,
well, then, everything's
coming up Mellie.
He's going to make
a statement tonight.
The President?
Nothing's been announced.
Well, he is.
Well, at least
I'm assuming he is.
So if you don't know for sure,
then why are you assuming?
Because I know Fitz.
And what does this have to do
with you telling me
the name of his mistress?
Before I hand over
my most valuable asset
in all of this, I want to know
what he's going to say.
Get me a copy of his remarks.
I can try to get
some confirmation
about his statement,
but a speech like that
would be very closely guarded.
And you are very good
at what you do.
Isn't that what you said?
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Two crullers, please.
Where's Crystal?
Oh, she got sick.
That flu going around.
Huh.
Thought that was over.
Guess not.
- Stay healthy.
- You, too.
(Bag rustling)
(Projector and camera shutter
clicking) (Clicks switch)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking continues)
(Exhales)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
He knows.
We're moving now.
I got his signal.
(Beep)
Right on Wisconsin.
And he should be 100
yards up on the right.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Bodies collide) Sorry.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Sorry, is that, uh,
Connecticut Avenue
right up there?
Thank you.
Hi.
(Cocks gun)
Pull over.
Pull over!
(Under breath) Damn.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
What's up?
We're cross-referencing
the information Sally accessed
with the data
from the mole's flash drive.
They were matching up.
Until now.
She was nowhere near her computer
when the file was accessed.
How could you possibly
know that?
Well, look.
(Typing)
At this exact time,
someone using her password
is downloading black op sites.
All right, so that means...
Sally's not the mole.
- So we're back to square one.
- I can't do this.
If I have to say the word
"mole" one more time...
Damn it!
(Loud clatter)
Okay!
Everyone take an hour.
Clear your head,
then come back fresh.
(Exhales)
We are close.
Albatross is out there,
and we are going to find him.
Coffee?
No, I think I'll stay here,
catch the White House briefing.
Watching Cyrus Beene unraveling
under pressure is my porn.
(Projector and camera shutter
clicking) (Phone chimes)
(Charlie) Clear me in.
I'm sorry.
Who is this?
They're after me.
Just clear me in, Cyrus.
You've dialed the wrong number.
And since I don't know you,
don't ever call me again.
(Sighs)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Panting)
Just saying, we ruled out
the defense secretary
pretty quickly.
- You think we should double back?
- Abby's right.
Can't hurt at this point.
Nice break?
Mine kinda sucked.
- Drop the gun.
- Easy, tiger.
I come in peace.
(Gun slides)
Now the rest.
See?
Friendly.
I just want to chat.
Charlie, why are you here?
Simple.
I want to hire you.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Look,
you've tried a dozen ways to
get me to amplify the statement.
Try a dozen more.
(Laughter)
- I'm not going to expand on...
- But by "unfaithful,"
does the First Lady mean
multiple women?
Asked and answered.
Any other...
What are the legal ra...
What are the legal ramifications
- being considered in this matter?
- Asked and answered.
Cyrus, did the President
force the First Lady
- out of the residence?
- Asked and answered.
- Did the President try to stop the
First Lady... - Asked and answered.
(Echoing) Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
(Sighs)
Finished my speech.
Have a look.
(Inhales and exhales deeply)
"I stand before you asking
for your forgiveness for..."
"Sins against my wife
and my marriage
will overshadow
all good work ongoing..."
"And so for the good
of the nation,
I withdraw my candidacy
for a second term..."
It's fine.
No notes?
That's a first.
It's gonna be all right.
We'll be a lame duck
administration.
- We'll leave proud of the work we did.
- We'll be a joke.
Hell, we're not even
supposed to be here.
Need I remind you,
you stole this ride?
At least we got
some mileage out of it.
True.
(Inhales)
And the backseat
did see some action.
(Laughs)
(Laughs)
Yeah, that was my fault.
(Both laughing)
(Continues laughing)
(Continues laughing)
This is...
This is Fitz's handwriting.
It's from his trash.
I called in a very special
White House favor to get it.
(Exhales softly)
He's not budging.
The man is not budging.
He's throwing away
his presidency
like...
Like it was nothing.
That's why you won't name
his mistress.
Because naming her
is the nuclear option.
Naming her would
blow this all up.
Naming her will
make him hate you,
and you don't want him
to hate you,
because in the back
of your mind,
you still think there's a chance
that he will come back to you.
(Exhales sharply)
(Sighs)
I am very good at what I do.
I can move mountains
and work miracles.
But I can't make
your husband love you.
(Sighs)
He can write all the sad-sack
speeches he wants,
but at the end of the day,
he's not going to go through
with it.
He won't give it all up.
Mrs. Grant, you can
still give me the name...
No!
I know Fitz.
He won't throw it all away.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Charlie) It's b613.
I'm supposed to be
in retirement.
I'm not supposed...
I'm done.
I'm toast.
Who's the mole, Charlie?
Who are you working for?
Hey, now. Nothing
in this world comes for free.
- I want the deal.
- What deal?
The one he has.
- I don't know what you're
talking about. - Oh, come on.
When command wants you dead,
you're a dead man.
Yet here you are. You're not
running, you're not hiding.
You have a life.
I want a life, too.
I want the deal
she got for you.
What's this deal
you made for him?
- I didn't make a deal.
- Then how come he's here?
How come b613 let him live?
- They must know.
- There was no deal, huck.
- It doesn't matter.
I'll get us the name. - No.
He took my life and then
he put me in a box
and almost took it again.
I will get us the name.
- Huck...
- My world, my rules.
(Door opens)
(Door closes)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Exhales and mutters)
I need you to pull
the President's
statement of candidacy papers.
Why do you...
(Sighs)
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. That's his
speech tonight, isn't it?
We need to retrieve
those papers.
I can't.
Jeannine, for God sakes,
get a grip.
No, I mean, I can't
unfile the papers.
They were never filed
in the first place.
They've been sitting on
the President's desk for months.
I keep telling Lauren
to remind him,
but he...
Never signed them.
What's this?
The brown folder is everyone
who owes us a favor.
If you get into trouble,
start pulling those strings.
- If that doesn't work, you switch
to the black folder. - It's sealed.
But only open it if...
- Just know it's a weapon
of last resort. - Olivia...
- And if things get messy...
- You mean, if your name comes out.
I'm not your client.
If things get messy,
you carry on without me.
I can take care of myself.
- (Sighs) Olivia...
- Harrison,
my world, my rules.
(Inhales deeply)
Put those folders in the safe
when you're done.
Combo's inside.
(Breathing heavily)
- Liv?
- Oh.
We need to talk.
(Clicks button)
- The footage you requested.
- Good.
May I ask, sir,
how you're gonna use it?
That's none of your
concern, captain.
- What's next, sir?
- Continue the mission.
Stay close to the President,
even closer to Ms. Pope.
As close as possible.
Sir, I-I don't think...
Screw this up again,
and we'll be meeting
at the hole
instead of the monuments.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Mmm. Mmm.
People think the key
to a good doughnut
is either the hand-rolling
or the yeast.
They're full of it.
It's simple.
These suckers start dying
the second they get
out of the fryer.
You just gotta get to 'em
when they're hot.
Charlie...
I want a high-energy shell.
None of those funky
antique bullets
some guys like to get fancy with.
Once you start messing
around with those,
you're just pretty much asking
for a turnip situation.
I want one shot...
One clean shot
at the back of my neck.
Pop my spinal column where
it meets the base of my skull.
Quick, easy, neat.
Means less cleanup
for you, too.
- That's very considerate.
- Do not miss.
I won't.
You taught me well.
(Chuckles softly)
And surprise me, okay?
I don't want to know
when it's coming.
I'm gonna need
a name now, Charlie.
(Sighs)
This job we do...
It's never boring.
Like I said.
You ready?
Ready.
(Cocks gun)
And, uh, huck...
Yeah?
Thanks for the doughnut, man.
- Did you get the name?
- Jeez! Whew!
- Take a walk, Quinn.
- Well? Did you?
- Leave now!
- Or what?
(Exhales)
We solve problems, remember?
You don't understood.
He took everything from me.
He tried to kill Liv.
- He helped put me in a b...
- Huck, look at me.
Focus on me.
(Breathing unevenly) Mm.
You had a job, right?
(Chokes softly) What?
Did you get the name?
- I got the name.
- Good.
Hmm.
Job's over.
(Breathing heavily) So right
now, you have to ask yourself
if you're a gladiator,
or you're looking for revenge.
'Cause way I hear it,
you can't have it both ways.
- She's right, man.
- Shut up.
(Breathing heavily) Huck,
what's it gonna be?
(Breathing unevenly)
The President will address
the American people
directly tonight.
He'll then give you
the opportunity
to ask him anything you want.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Thank you.
No more questions.
(Shouting continues)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Well, this is a nice surprise.
- How did you...
- Cyrus brought me up.
No one saw me.
Well, Tom did, but...
It's fine.
What is it?
(Laughs softly)
Did something...
(Exhales softly)
Your statement of candidacy papers,
the official documents you
should have filed months ago
with the G.E.C. in order
to run for re-election...
(Chuckles) They're sitting
on your desk... unsigned.
So?
Those papers are
practically ceremonial.
I can file them at any time.
But you weren't going to.
- I was.
- No, you weren't.
What does it matter now?
It matters.
I'm going out there tonight
and telling the American people
that I am not running
for a second term.
- It doesn't matter.
- It matters.
Were you planning to run or not?
- Why are you so...
- Were you planning to run or not?
- Olivia.
- Were you planning to run... or not?
(Exhales)
Fitz.
Look at me.
This is not a conversation
we are going to have.
I chose you.
I know you want to be with me.
- I believe that, but...
- Liv...
Listen to me.
If you don't want to be
President anymore,
if that's why you're quitting,
then that's okay.
That's great.
That's bold and brave.
Is that what's happening?
Are you being bold and brave?
Because I don't think so.
I think you're quitting
because you don't believe
you can win on your own.
I think you believe
you are everything
your father you said you were.
And I think you believe
you don't have what it takes
to be a legitimate President.
And I think you wouldn't
believe any of that...
You wouldn't be afraid,
you wouldn't doubt yourself...
If it weren't for Defiance,
if it weren't for what
we did to you in Defiance,
what I did to you in Defiance.
I already made my decision.
I already...
Why can't you just let this go?
I did this to you.
And if you give up
your chance to run again,
I will blame myself
every day of my life,
and one day, so will you.
We stole that election.
We stole your chance.
Take it back.
Run.
Run and win.
(Footsteps retreating,
door opens)
(Door closes)
(Reporters murmuring)
(Camera shutters clicking)
(Speaking inaudibly)
(Murmuring continues)
(Shutters continue clicking)
He's still got his speech.
I tried, Cyrus.
Did he give you a name?
(Abby) Do we finally have
an Albatross?
(Door closes) (Inhales)
(Door closes) What is it?
What happened, Harrison?
(Camera shutters clicking)
(Shutters continue clicking)
Good evening.
I'll make this concise
and to the point.
My marriage
is none of your business.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
The card is gone.
The Cytron card is gone.
And because the question has
been asked repeatedly today,
I'd like to take
this opportunity
to announce
to the American people
that I will seek a second
term as your President,
and humbly ask the country
to join me in forging ahead
to finish the good work
we've only just begun.
(Exhales)
I know what you're giving up.
(Murmuring continues)
(Shutters continue clicking)
And as I lay the foundation
for my campaign,
I will remained focused
on the job
the American people
elected me to do,
- specifically, by working...
- Well played.
With the leadership in both the house
and the senate... - Like I said,
- I know Fitz. - To pass a
comprehensive immigration bill.
I found Charlie
in the conference room.
Who knows how long
he had been here?
(Exhales) He played us good.
But it's okay, because even
though Charlie took the card,
Huck took Charlie.
Right, Huck?
(Quinn) We let him go.
What?
Uh, but I got a name.
I know who the mole is.
Both true to our values,
and fair to those individuals
who have come here
with no desire
other than to work hard...
(Cell phone chimes)
And secure a piece
of the American dream.
(Lowered voice) Harrison,
I can't really talk.
It was a setup.
I-it was all a setup.
Charlie took the Cytron card.
Which means the mole
has the Cytron card.
Which means the mole
has Defiance.
Liv, I'm so sorry.
Tell me we got a name,
Harrison.
We got a name.
Who is it?
Who is Albatross?
(Harrison) Billy Chambers.
Billy Chambers is the mole.
You got it?
Nice
now we can start
having some fun.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking continues)
And now...
Any questions?
(Reporters shouting questions)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
these allegations
to be a private matter between
himself and the First Lady.
(Camera shutters clicking)
He is grateful
for the continued support
and respect of privacy
by the American people.
Any questions?
(Reporters shouting questions)
- Cy?
- Eric?
- Is it true?
- What it is is a private matter.
But the First Lady made
it a public matter.
I don't speak
for the First Lady.
I speak for the President.
(Reporters shouting questions)
So he's not even going to
answer the simple question?
- The President did answer.
- What did he say when he heard this?
He said that he considers
these allegations
to be a private matter between
himself and the First Lady.
- One at a...
- Cyrus...
Have the President
and the First Lady spoken
- since this revelation?
- It's not a revelation, James.
It's an accusation.
(Reporters shouting questions)
(French accent)
Well, have they spoken?
Have they seen each other?
The answer to that question
is covered by the statement.
How... is it covered
by the statement?
I'm not going to parse
the statement.
Can you at least tell us
where the President is?
- The President?
- Yes. Where is he?
(Camera shutters clicking)
Open the door.
Open the door!
That is an order!
Respectfully, sir, I
do not take orders...
I do not care who you take
your orders from, Tom!
I don't care
if you got your orders
from Jesus Christ himself
as he hung on the cross.
Jesus is not me!
Jesus forgives.
Jesus saves. I destroy.
And I will bring vengeance
down upon you
in a hail of fire
and brimstone.
You will open
that door now!
Or I will call in every favor I have,
making sure you spend
the rest of your career
guarding baby Teddy
at the playground!
(Breathes deeply)
I need a reason
to open that door, sir.
A credible threat.
He's having a heart attack.
He just texted me!
(Kissing)
(Moans)
Get up!
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Of course he cheated on her.
He's a cheater.
He cheated on the election,
then he cheated on his wife.
(Cyrus) - Eric?
- Not that I'm still angry about that.
I made my choice.
I'm part of the team now.
"Go, gladiators."
But the irony...
The sheer irony that a man
who stole the White House
is gonna be thrown out
of office for this.
- Adultery isn't illegal.
- No.
But if Grant got this woman
a job to keep her quiet...
If she influenced policy
the teeniest, tiniest bit,
that's it, game over.
Adios, Presidente!
And that's just Grant.
This woman?
The one he's having
an affair with?
They haven't released her name
yet, but you know it's coming,
and when it does...
Let's just say I hope she has
Olivia Pope on her team.
I'll put my ear to the ground,
find out what I can
about how the public
is taking all this,
how it's being messaged
by the news anchors and pundits,
and I'll get some intel
on Mellie
and what her next move
is going to be.
- And then Cyrus and I ca...
- No.
Fitz!
No! You don't do anything.
This is my problem.
I made a decision,
and I'm going to deal with it.
- What?
- What?
- You have a look on your face.
- 'Cause you are wrong.
- I am not wrong.
- I am very good at what I do.
I am better at it
than anybody else.
That's not arrogance,
that's fact.
And I am definitely
better at it
than you and your boys
at the White House.
You need me if you're
going to survive this.
Maybe.
But you are not fixing
or handling me anymore, Livvie.
And if we are
gonna survive this,
if you and I are gonna
make it together,
you have to stand down.
But...
Stand down.
And wait for me to do this
on my own.
You are not in charge
of everything.
Fine.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Olivia sighs) There you are.
Everything okay?
Did you hear?
The President banged someone.
- Where are we with Charlie?
- He's still on the wind.
But that book club girl
he was dating?
It wasn't her literary mind
he was attracted to.
It was her laptop.
Turns out she was the stenographer
at David's grand jury hearing,
the one about Defiance.
That's why he targeted her...
to find out what happened in there.
And since Cyrus already knew
about Defiance,
and not just knew about it,
- but was at the very center of it...
- It can't be him.
That's the good news.
The bad news is,
whoever the mole is,
he knows about election rigging.
(Mouths word)
(Pants)
(Olivia exhales deeply)
(Beeping)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Sighs)
The Cytron card.
(Beeping)
Okay, so I did steal it.
Like I said, I made my choice.
(Safe door closes)
Part of the team now.
(Projector and camera shutter clicking)
I was surprised to be called.
I-I know Olivia Pope usually
handles your needs.
Olivia Pope handles my husband.
I have needs of my own
these days.
So... I assume all you fixers
work the same, or...
I have one rule.
No lies.
I am your priest, your shrink,
your hairdresser,
your bedfellow,
your best friend.
I am very good. All I require
is complete and total honesty.
Can you do that?
Can you be honest?
(Chuckles)
I am the First Lady
of the most powerful nation
on the planet.
I didn't get here because
someone like you
held my hand and called
themselves my hairdresser.
My hair is done.
So don't ask me
if I can be honest,
like I'm some little girl
confused by all the books
and smart talk.
I can be honest.
I can also lie.
It all depends on what's
in my best interests.
I have a very busy day.
So someone will see you out.
- I've always admired your act.
- (Sighs)
The sweetness.
The hint of Southern gentility.
The law degree you never use
but mention all the time.
She's smart
but not threatening.
When you cried about
that miscarriage?
Brilliant.
Flawless.
(Chuckles)
And now you carry
that adorable baby
on your hip
in every single photograph.
That is so well done.
You play it well...
The good political wife
with the perfect marriage
to the perfect man.
You had it.
But then you went
on national TV
and told the world your husband
dropped his pants
for someone else.
Why?
And another question...
You could have named the whore
your husband was sleeping with,
but you didn't.
Why is that?
(Woman) Clinton rules...
"It's not true,
it's not true, it's not true."
It's old news.
We're admitting the affair.
That's where we start.
The President says he's
working on his marriage.
No one wants to think of the
leader of the free world
- as going to couples therapy.
- He's praying with his pastor.
Yeah, even better.
His pastor died.
- And ever since...
- He lost his way.
- Assassination attempt.
- Post-traumatic thing.
- The death of Britta Kagen.
- And Verna Thornton.
I'd like the room.
Not just a supreme
court justice, but...
- But a close friend, like family.
- Really.
(Cyrus) These are excuses.
- I want explanations!
- The room!
- Mr. President.
- Mr. President.
I better not be about
to hear how you're not
giving a statement, because,
oh, hell, yes, you are!
- You are addressing this, sir.
- I'll be making a statement tonight.
- Good! - Where I'll be telling
the American people
I won't be seeking
a second term.
(Reporters shouting questions)
What are some of the options the
President is considering?
Whatever options
the President is
or isn't considering
are private.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Is he considering not
seeking a second term,
spending time with his family?
Whatever options the President
is or isn't considering
in this matter are private.
Do you think he owes the American
people a response, an explanation?
Again, I refer you
to the statement.
(Reporters shouting questions)
(Inhales deeply) Look...
I get this.
You have feelings for Olivia.
She's a heck of a gal.
You want to continue
the affair.
Fine.
Peachy.
So you go to Mellie and you
promise whatever it takes
to put things back together.
Then you can go right on
sleeping with Olivia.
That's your business.
And if you need me
to facilitate, to lie,
to cover for you,
sneak her into the motorcade,
wipe her lipstick
off your collar for you,
I will.
But you're not giving up
your place in history.
You're not giving up
this office.
We will figure this out.
(Breathes sharply)
It's not too late
to save your presidency.
Look at Clinton.
Clinton wasn't in love
with Monica Lewinsky.
I am in love with a woman
who is not my wife.
I want to be with her.
Not in the shadows. Openly.
And if that means I have to
stop being President,
so be it.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
- This is what I found in...
- Didn't I see you last night?
Yes. Why?
So you knew last night
and you didn't tell me.
- Tell you what, sir?
- Your mission was clear.
- Get between the President
and Ms. Pope. - Yes, sir.
Not only did you fail
in your mission,
but you failed to report to me
that the President
was spending the night
with her... the same night...
- Sir, I can explain...
- You do not interrupt me ever.
Now what's this photo about?
This is the man who's on to me.
He knows about my relationship
with Ms. Pope.
He's working with Cyrus Beene.
Is there proof of your
relationship with Ms. Pope?
Recorded proof?
Yes, sir.
Bring it to me.
And what about him?
Find him. Bring him in.
- And Cyrus Beene?
- I'll handle Cyrus Beene.
Just bring me the tape.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Oh, Cyrus.
I am truly amazed
at how you are handling
this difficult situation
with such grace and class.
I just cannot believe,
after everything
the President has survived...
That sad little bout
with Amanda Tanner
and Billy Chambers,
an assassination attempt?
Who would have thought
it would be his own wife
who finally brings him down?
- Well, you know what the Bible says.
- No, I don't.
"Hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned."
That's not from the Bible.
Not everything is from
the Bible, Sally.
(Cyrus sighs)
It has to be Sally Langston.
She and the Secretary
of Defense
are the only two people
we haven't ruled out
who had access to the files
on Wendy's flash drive.
And since the Secretary
of Defense
was C.E.O. of Bromstead
when the leaks first started...
It doesn't make sense.
She was on that ticket, too.
If congress impeaches Grant...
Sally gets thrown out
with the bathwater.
Besides, we don't have
enough evidence
to accuse the Vice President
of treason.
You said Charlie's in the wind.
- What are the chances we find him?
- Impossible.
- Which leaves us with...
- Sally Langston. Let's get into it.
(Door closes) What do you...
- What's the endgame?
- My endgame?
The First Lady just
put you on notice.
We don't have a lot of time.
- This needs to be dealt with.
- No, it doesn't.
(Typing) Let it be.
Right now, at this very moment,
you are standing in the eye
of the hurricane, and
- you're gonna sit here and pretend?
- I'm not pretending.
You think that White House
is gonna protect you? Hmm?
- Is that it? - I can protect myself,
thank you very much.
You're not the fixer here, Liv.
You're the problem.
You're the client.
You're my client.
(Chuckles) Like it or not.
So I'm not asking you
for the truth.
I know the truth.
I know enough.
At any minute, any second now,
so will the rest
of planet earth.
So what I'm asking you is,
what is your endgame?
'Cause the eye will pass
and the winds will kick up,
and you... you are not
tethered to anything.
But I'm here.
And I will be your anchor.
And I'm the only one that
can see you through this.
We'll fight to the end.
So snap out of it!
Huh?
Tell it to me straight.
What do you want?
We need to prove
whether Sally's the mole.
Get on it.
(Door opens)
(Door slams)
(Reporters shouting questions)
Yeah.
Why not simply deny
the accusation?
The President considers this
a private matter.
If the President addressed
every question
about his personal life, we may
as well turn the Oval Office
into a daytime talk show set.
The First Lady stated
very publicly
- that her husband is having an affair.
- And the President has responded.
- He didn't.
- He did. I'll read it again.
- It's legalese! - "The President
considers these allegations..."
- That's a dodge, Cyrus.
- Moving on.
- I was doing my job!
- You were trying to screw me!
What was I supposed to do
when I was handed
my very first assignment
as an on-air reporter?!
Say, "thanks, but no, thanks"?
This fell into my lap!
I had no idea
what Mellie was gonna say!
Should I have stood up
and walked out of the room
when she started talking
on live national television?!
Tell me what
I should have done!
You should not
have tried to screw me!
How many stories of the century
do you want me to give up, huh?
Because I seem to remember
doing that not too long ago.
Don't you dare
mention that in here.
When your boss asks you
to sit down
with the First Lady
of the United States,
you don't say no!
This was my lucky break.
My shot!
You got one when Fitz
ran for governor,
and you took it.
I did the same thing.
(Laughing)
(Continues laughing, loudly)
(Sighs)
You think... you...
(Laughing)
You think this was
your lucky break!
(Continues laughing)
Isn't that adorable?
That's what you're
telling yourself?
And I'm genuinely asking,
because I never thought
of you as naive.
Which is both surprising
and unsettling,
because that's certainly
not a trait
any respectable journalist
would want to possess.
And that's what you call
yourself, right?
A respectable journalist.
So now... now...
I'm starting to think of you
as just plain stupid!
Are you stupid, James?
- You insulting, condescending...
- It was Mellie, you...
(Groans)
Mellie got you the job!
BNC would never have
called you
if she didn't make it happen!
The First Lady wanted you for
that interview... (Sighs)
So she could hit
both me and Fitz
at the same time.
It wasn't a lucky break.
It was a chess move,
and you're too...
stupid to see it!
Are you saying I'm not
good enough?!
I'm saying you have
no business in this job.
Come on!
James novak?!
I mean, of all the other
professional
television journalists,
the ones with actual
experience,
peabodys and Pulitzers,
those that aren't
approaching 50
or the least bit doughy
on camera,
you want to stand there
and tell me
Mellie chose James Novak?
Forget about Anderson Cooper...
Who's a frigging Vanderbilt,
by the way...
Or even Brian Williams,
Diane Sawyer.
Maybe they were all busy.
So let's go with James Novak!
He's the guy
America wants to see.
He's got a face for TV.
Your lucky break?!
You...
have no business in this job.
(Stifled sobbing)
(Door opens and closes)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Where are we
with Sally Langston?
Still working on it.
Harrison's making phone calls.
If we had her password,
we could get onto
the White House's network,
see if she accessed
the same classified files that
were on the mole's flash drive.
- Can you hack your way in?
- There are thousands of safeguards.
- It would take weeks, maybe months.
- And there's no other way?
(Sighs)
We could send Sally
a trojan horse.
Hmm.
An e-mail infected with a worm
that could bore into
the White House network
from the inside.
We could make it record
her keystrokes,
- tell us her passwords.
- Baby Huck.
The Vice President would never
be stupid enough
to open an infected e-mail.
Maybe not, but her teenage
daughter might.
We use Cassidy's e-mail
to break into
the Langstons' home
network, then use that
to springboard into the White House.
(Chuckles)
Cassidy Langston, 16 years old.
Loves horses, hates poseurs,
and will only date
cute boys with blonde hair
and great abs
who are at least 6 feet tall
and play either lacrosse
or water polo.
We could send an e-mail
saying she won
a date with Justin Bieber.
Or some Olympic water polo dude.
(Snorts) Lame.
And really lame.
- Excuse me? - I spent the
last ten months of my life
in a classroom full of kids
Cassidy's age,
studying them,
learning their ways.
They are pack animals, hell-bent
on social domination.
And the only thing a
mean girl really wants
is to rip out the jugular
of an even meaner girl.
Get me the student directory.
(Typing)
(David) Mnh-mnh.
That one.
(Quinn) Brooke Sullivan,
class of 2014.
- She's the queen. - So we need
to find something on Brooke
- that Cassidy would want.
- Got it.
Oh!
Nose job, before and after.
Happened right before
she moved to D.C.
- So none of her classmates know?
- Yet.
(Huck) Got the e-mail.
(Taps key)
- Sent.
- Now we wait.
(Chimes) No, we don't.
(Snaps fingers) She clicked it.
(Abby) - Already?
- We're in.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
This park, it used to be
a graveyard.
(Laughs)
And I was just about to ask
how you were holding up.
- You can't do this to me.
- (Laughs) Let's be clear.
I am not the President.
I am not doing anything.
Whatever it is you said to him
to make him do this,
you need to take it back.
This was his choice.
He made a choice.
He decided.
If he walks away, if he
doesn't run for re-election,
that is a blow the republican
party will not recover from,
not for years,
and if it does recover,
it'll be in the hands
of Sally Langston
and her conservative overlords,
and the rights of people
like me... and you...
Do not bring my rights
into this.
It will be the Salem
witch trials, Liv.
It'll be, "I saw goody Johnson
with the devil, here in D.C."
And the republic will burn
and the seas will run blood,
and the four horsemen will ride
all because he wants
to be with me?
Right, Cy?
Mellie's going to name you
as his mistress.
It's just a matter of time.
You know that.
I know.
You could stop this
at any time.
He will listen to you.
Cyrus.
If I honestly thought
that this was right for him,
giving up his chance
to run again...
If I truly believed
that this...
Is what he wanted,
I would fight to the death
to give it to him.
I would slay dragons for him.
(Chuckles)
But it's not right.
It's not.
I believe in him, Liv.
I believe in him, too.
Then don't let him do this.
The future of the country
depends
on you not letting him do this.
We've already changed
the future of this country
once, Cyrus.
Isn't that enough?
Go away.
You're breaking my heart.
This park...
It also used to be a zoo.
Hello, Cyrus.
(Man) What does the President
mean by "private matter"?
We've been over this.
Because so much of his
family life is public.
On average,
women in this country
make 80 cents to my dollar.
That's a public matter.
21% of children live in
poverty in this country.
That's a public matter.
The President
and First Lady's pri...
- But if the President had an affair...
- Careful, Ashley.
An alleged affair
on White House grounds
with a White House employee...
Now we're just making things up.
(Reporters clamoring)
You're a very lucky man, Cyrus.
I don't feel lucky.
Not today.
Well, First Lady
pulls the fire alarm
while her husband
is with his mistress,
and no one's the wiser?
I'd call that lucky.
Mistress? That's reaching.
It's unconfirmed rantings
of an emotional wife.
It's Olivia Pope.
You're surprised that I know
about the President
and Olivia Pope.
I suppose I'm surprised
that you care.
We care about everything
that affects the republic.
You should have shut this
down a long time ago.
You have all the ammunition
that you need.
You know about Jake Ballard.
You know that he's been
sleeping with Olivia.
We agreed you would not have me
surveilled, damn it.
Calm down.
Your guy... Charlie...
Was one of mine.
The point is, there's a tape
of Ballard and Pope.
(Scoffs)
You have the tape already,
don't you?
But you haven't used it.
I've tried, believe me.
It's complex.
It's simple. It's only complex
because you're afraid.
You're afraid to be
the messenger.
You're afraid to take
the bullet.
You're afraid that
he'll turn on you.
But ask yourself,
what are you most afraid of...
Losing the White House
and endangering the republic,
- or losing your buddy Fitz?
- Back off.
You're out of bounds.
This is my arena.
Stay in yours.
This always happens.
People like you
get a taste of power,
and they develop amnesia.
They forget that I have
no boundaries.
I like you, Cyrus.
Use the tape.
Don't make yourself
an obstacle.
Don't test your luck.
Oh.
And your guy... Charlie?
He's dead to you.
No further contact.
Understood?
Understood.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Phone rings)
You're supposed to be
running the world.
I'm writing my statement
for tonight.
By yourself?
You do realize that there are
many, many speechwriters
in that big white building.
If I'm gonna announce
to the American people
that I'm not running
for re-election,
I think it should be
in my own words.
Cyrus has been spending all day
trying to talk me out of it.
- I was just with Cyrus.
- And?
There may have been
some lectures
about me ruining the future
of this great nation.
Are you having second thoughts?
No. Are you?
Never.
You maybe wanna run
your speech by me?
- Stop trying to help me.
- Just asking.
I take it back.
Good-bye.
- Wait.
- What?
What are you wearing?
(Laughs) You are shameless.
Good-bye.
(Beep)
(Phone rings)
I am not telling you
what I'm wearing.
(Jake) Well, never mind then.
Jake.
You were expecting someone else.
Let me guess.
How late did he stay
last night?
All night, I'm guessing.
Do you want me to answer that?
Oh, I want a lot of things
that he gets to have first.
I'm not a bad guy, Olivia.
You're not a good one.
Well, neither is he.
I'm going to hang up now.
Take care of yourself.
Good-bye, Olivia.
(Beep)
Is it someone who works with him?
An aide, an adviser?
Is this woman a threat
to you in some way?
Is she a game changer?
Is she sweet?
Will the public like her?
Is it a man?
Is the President's lover a man?
All right, enough.
(Breathes deeply)
Right now, everyone
is just curious.
Is the First Lady telling
the truth? Is she lying?
Is it poor President Grant
with a cold, frigid wife,
or poor Mrs. Grant with
the mean, slutty husband?
They're waiting to see
which way the wind blows.
Anything is possible
at this point.
(Sighs)
It's anyone's game.
But if we name the name
of his mistress
and put a face
to his infidelity,
well, then, everything's
coming up Mellie.
He's going to make
a statement tonight.
The President?
Nothing's been announced.
Well, he is.
Well, at least
I'm assuming he is.
So if you don't know for sure,
then why are you assuming?
Because I know Fitz.
And what does this have to do
with you telling me
the name of his mistress?
Before I hand over
my most valuable asset
in all of this, I want to know
what he's going to say.
Get me a copy of his remarks.
I can try to get
some confirmation
about his statement,
but a speech like that
would be very closely guarded.
And you are very good
at what you do.
Isn't that what you said?
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Two crullers, please.
Where's Crystal?
Oh, she got sick.
That flu going around.
Huh.
Thought that was over.
Guess not.
- Stay healthy.
- You, too.
(Bag rustling)
(Projector and camera shutter
clicking) (Clicks switch)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking continues)
(Exhales)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
He knows.
We're moving now.
I got his signal.
(Beep)
Right on Wisconsin.
And he should be 100
yards up on the right.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Bodies collide) Sorry.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Sorry, is that, uh,
Connecticut Avenue
right up there?
Thank you.
Hi.
(Cocks gun)
Pull over.
Pull over!
(Under breath) Damn.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
What's up?
We're cross-referencing
the information Sally accessed
with the data
from the mole's flash drive.
They were matching up.
Until now.
She was nowhere near her computer
when the file was accessed.
How could you possibly
know that?
Well, look.
(Typing)
At this exact time,
someone using her password
is downloading black op sites.
All right, so that means...
Sally's not the mole.
- So we're back to square one.
- I can't do this.
If I have to say the word
"mole" one more time...
Damn it!
(Loud clatter)
Okay!
Everyone take an hour.
Clear your head,
then come back fresh.
(Exhales)
We are close.
Albatross is out there,
and we are going to find him.
Coffee?
No, I think I'll stay here,
catch the White House briefing.
Watching Cyrus Beene unraveling
under pressure is my porn.
(Projector and camera shutter
clicking) (Phone chimes)
(Charlie) Clear me in.
I'm sorry.
Who is this?
They're after me.
Just clear me in, Cyrus.
You've dialed the wrong number.
And since I don't know you,
don't ever call me again.
(Sighs)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Panting)
Just saying, we ruled out
the defense secretary
pretty quickly.
- You think we should double back?
- Abby's right.
Can't hurt at this point.
Nice break?
Mine kinda sucked.
- Drop the gun.
- Easy, tiger.
I come in peace.
(Gun slides)
Now the rest.
See?
Friendly.
I just want to chat.
Charlie, why are you here?
Simple.
I want to hire you.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Look,
you've tried a dozen ways to
get me to amplify the statement.
Try a dozen more.
(Laughter)
- I'm not going to expand on...
- But by "unfaithful,"
does the First Lady mean
multiple women?
Asked and answered.
Any other...
What are the legal ra...
What are the legal ramifications
- being considered in this matter?
- Asked and answered.
Cyrus, did the President
force the First Lady
- out of the residence?
- Asked and answered.
- Did the President try to stop the
First Lady... - Asked and answered.
(Echoing) Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
Asked and answered.
(Sighs)
Finished my speech.
Have a look.
(Inhales and exhales deeply)
"I stand before you asking
for your forgiveness for..."
"Sins against my wife
and my marriage
will overshadow
all good work ongoing..."
"And so for the good
of the nation,
I withdraw my candidacy
for a second term..."
It's fine.
No notes?
That's a first.
It's gonna be all right.
We'll be a lame duck
administration.
- We'll leave proud of the work we did.
- We'll be a joke.
Hell, we're not even
supposed to be here.
Need I remind you,
you stole this ride?
At least we got
some mileage out of it.
True.
(Inhales)
And the backseat
did see some action.
(Laughs)
(Laughs)
Yeah, that was my fault.
(Both laughing)
(Continues laughing)
(Continues laughing)
This is...
This is Fitz's handwriting.
It's from his trash.
I called in a very special
White House favor to get it.
(Exhales softly)
He's not budging.
The man is not budging.
He's throwing away
his presidency
like...
Like it was nothing.
That's why you won't name
his mistress.
Because naming her
is the nuclear option.
Naming her would
blow this all up.
Naming her will
make him hate you,
and you don't want him
to hate you,
because in the back
of your mind,
you still think there's a chance
that he will come back to you.
(Exhales sharply)
(Sighs)
I am very good at what I do.
I can move mountains
and work miracles.
But I can't make
your husband love you.
(Sighs)
He can write all the sad-sack
speeches he wants,
but at the end of the day,
he's not going to go through
with it.
He won't give it all up.
Mrs. Grant, you can
still give me the name...
No!
I know Fitz.
He won't throw it all away.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Charlie) It's b613.
I'm supposed to be
in retirement.
I'm not supposed...
I'm done.
I'm toast.
Who's the mole, Charlie?
Who are you working for?
Hey, now. Nothing
in this world comes for free.
- I want the deal.
- What deal?
The one he has.
- I don't know what you're
talking about. - Oh, come on.
When command wants you dead,
you're a dead man.
Yet here you are. You're not
running, you're not hiding.
You have a life.
I want a life, too.
I want the deal
she got for you.
What's this deal
you made for him?
- I didn't make a deal.
- Then how come he's here?
How come b613 let him live?
- They must know.
- There was no deal, huck.
- It doesn't matter.
I'll get us the name. - No.
He took my life and then
he put me in a box
and almost took it again.
I will get us the name.
- Huck...
- My world, my rules.
(Door opens)
(Door closes)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Exhales and mutters)
I need you to pull
the President's
statement of candidacy papers.
Why do you...
(Sighs)
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. That's his
speech tonight, isn't it?
We need to retrieve
those papers.
I can't.
Jeannine, for God sakes,
get a grip.
No, I mean, I can't
unfile the papers.
They were never filed
in the first place.
They've been sitting on
the President's desk for months.
I keep telling Lauren
to remind him,
but he...
Never signed them.
What's this?
The brown folder is everyone
who owes us a favor.
If you get into trouble,
start pulling those strings.
- If that doesn't work, you switch
to the black folder. - It's sealed.
But only open it if...
- Just know it's a weapon
of last resort. - Olivia...
- And if things get messy...
- You mean, if your name comes out.
I'm not your client.
If things get messy,
you carry on without me.
I can take care of myself.
- (Sighs) Olivia...
- Harrison,
my world, my rules.
(Inhales deeply)
Put those folders in the safe
when you're done.
Combo's inside.
(Breathing heavily)
- Liv?
- Oh.
We need to talk.
(Clicks button)
- The footage you requested.
- Good.
May I ask, sir,
how you're gonna use it?
That's none of your
concern, captain.
- What's next, sir?
- Continue the mission.
Stay close to the President,
even closer to Ms. Pope.
As close as possible.
Sir, I-I don't think...
Screw this up again,
and we'll be meeting
at the hole
instead of the monuments.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Mmm. Mmm.
People think the key
to a good doughnut
is either the hand-rolling
or the yeast.
They're full of it.
It's simple.
These suckers start dying
the second they get
out of the fryer.
You just gotta get to 'em
when they're hot.
Charlie...
I want a high-energy shell.
None of those funky
antique bullets
some guys like to get fancy with.
Once you start messing
around with those,
you're just pretty much asking
for a turnip situation.
I want one shot...
One clean shot
at the back of my neck.
Pop my spinal column where
it meets the base of my skull.
Quick, easy, neat.
Means less cleanup
for you, too.
- That's very considerate.
- Do not miss.
I won't.
You taught me well.
(Chuckles softly)
And surprise me, okay?
I don't want to know
when it's coming.
I'm gonna need
a name now, Charlie.
(Sighs)
This job we do...
It's never boring.
Like I said.
You ready?
Ready.
(Cocks gun)
And, uh, huck...
Yeah?
Thanks for the doughnut, man.
- Did you get the name?
- Jeez! Whew!
- Take a walk, Quinn.
- Well? Did you?
- Leave now!
- Or what?
(Exhales)
We solve problems, remember?
You don't understood.
He took everything from me.
He tried to kill Liv.
- He helped put me in a b...
- Huck, look at me.
Focus on me.
(Breathing unevenly) Mm.
You had a job, right?
(Chokes softly) What?
Did you get the name?
- I got the name.
- Good.
Hmm.
Job's over.
(Breathing heavily) So right
now, you have to ask yourself
if you're a gladiator,
or you're looking for revenge.
'Cause way I hear it,
you can't have it both ways.
- She's right, man.
- Shut up.
(Breathing heavily) Huck,
what's it gonna be?
(Breathing unevenly)
The President will address
the American people
directly tonight.
He'll then give you
the opportunity
to ask him anything you want.
(Reporters shouting questions)
Thank you.
No more questions.
(Shouting continues)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
Well, this is a nice surprise.
- How did you...
- Cyrus brought me up.
No one saw me.
Well, Tom did, but...
It's fine.
What is it?
(Laughs softly)
Did something...
(Exhales softly)
Your statement of candidacy papers,
the official documents you
should have filed months ago
with the G.E.C. in order
to run for re-election...
(Chuckles) They're sitting
on your desk... unsigned.
So?
Those papers are
practically ceremonial.
I can file them at any time.
But you weren't going to.
- I was.
- No, you weren't.
What does it matter now?
It matters.
I'm going out there tonight
and telling the American people
that I am not running
for a second term.
- It doesn't matter.
- It matters.
Were you planning to run or not?
- Why are you so...
- Were you planning to run or not?
- Olivia.
- Were you planning to run... or not?
(Exhales)
Fitz.
Look at me.
This is not a conversation
we are going to have.
I chose you.
I know you want to be with me.
- I believe that, but...
- Liv...
Listen to me.
If you don't want to be
President anymore,
if that's why you're quitting,
then that's okay.
That's great.
That's bold and brave.
Is that what's happening?
Are you being bold and brave?
Because I don't think so.
I think you're quitting
because you don't believe
you can win on your own.
I think you believe
you are everything
your father you said you were.
And I think you believe
you don't have what it takes
to be a legitimate President.
And I think you wouldn't
believe any of that...
You wouldn't be afraid,
you wouldn't doubt yourself...
If it weren't for Defiance,
if it weren't for what
we did to you in Defiance,
what I did to you in Defiance.
I already made my decision.
I already...
Why can't you just let this go?
I did this to you.
And if you give up
your chance to run again,
I will blame myself
every day of my life,
and one day, so will you.
We stole that election.
We stole your chance.
Take it back.
Run.
Run and win.
(Footsteps retreating,
door opens)
(Door closes)
(Reporters murmuring)
(Camera shutters clicking)
(Speaking inaudibly)
(Murmuring continues)
(Shutters continue clicking)
He's still got his speech.
I tried, Cyrus.
Did he give you a name?
(Abby) Do we finally have
an Albatross?
(Door closes) (Inhales)
(Door closes) What is it?
What happened, Harrison?
(Camera shutters clicking)
(Shutters continue clicking)
Good evening.
I'll make this concise
and to the point.
My marriage
is none of your business.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
The card is gone.
The Cytron card is gone.
And because the question has
been asked repeatedly today,
I'd like to take
this opportunity
to announce
to the American people
that I will seek a second
term as your President,
and humbly ask the country
to join me in forging ahead
to finish the good work
we've only just begun.
(Exhales)
I know what you're giving up.
(Murmuring continues)
(Shutters continue clicking)
And as I lay the foundation
for my campaign,
I will remained focused
on the job
the American people
elected me to do,
- specifically, by working...
- Well played.
With the leadership in both the house
and the senate... - Like I said,
- I know Fitz. - To pass a
comprehensive immigration bill.
I found Charlie
in the conference room.
Who knows how long
he had been here?
(Exhales) He played us good.
But it's okay, because even
though Charlie took the card,
Huck took Charlie.
Right, Huck?
(Quinn) We let him go.
What?
Uh, but I got a name.
I know who the mole is.
Both true to our values,
and fair to those individuals
who have come here
with no desire
other than to work hard...
(Cell phone chimes)
And secure a piece
of the American dream.
(Lowered voice) Harrison,
I can't really talk.
It was a setup.
I-it was all a setup.
Charlie took the Cytron card.
Which means the mole
has the Cytron card.
Which means the mole
has Defiance.
Liv, I'm so sorry.
Tell me we got a name,
Harrison.
We got a name.
Who is it?
Who is Albatross?
(Harrison) Billy Chambers.
Billy Chambers is the mole.
You got it?
Nice
now we can start
having some fun.
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking continues)
And now...
Any questions?
(Reporters shouting questions)
(Projector and camera
shutter clicking)