Scandal (2012–2018): Season 3, Episode 8 - Vermont Is for Lovers, Too - full transcript

(LOCK WHIRS AND BEEPS)

(DOOR CREAKS)
Ripped By mstoll

Our daughter's been asking about you.

I wish I could say
they were innocent questions.

That she's trying to find out
what lullabies you sang,

or what cookies you made
when she was sad. They're not.

So tomorrow night,
when America is sleeping,

I'm putting you on a plane
and taking you out of the country.

It is not a vacation
or even a change of scenery.

The room you'll be occupying
is much like the room you're in now,

only further away and harder to find.



Understand?

Good.

I want to see her.

- Excuse me?
- Olivia. I want to see her.

I want to see my daughter
and I want you to make it happen.

Before I leave.

Before I travel
to some godforsaken room

in some godforsaken country

to spend the rest of
my godforsaken life there.

You know that's not possible.

Then make it possible.

I've been sitting in this cell
for over 20 years.

Hiding in the bowels
of our justice system.

You have to give me something.



One thing
before you throw me out with the trash.

Please.

- I'm sorry.
- Eli, please.

- I'll see you tomorrow.
- Eli!

(SCREAMS) Eli!

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

All right. You're up, Robin.

Oh, come on. It'll be easy.

You go to work,
then tell me about your day.

All the details.

Think of it as a relationship,

except I'll actually listen
to what you have to say.

Oh, come on.
Don't make me give you the speech.

- What speech?
- You know, the one where I say,

"You don't have a choice,"
or, "I own you now,"

or, "You'll be begging me to kill you,"
blah, blah, blah.

Except, I'll say it
all scary and threatening.

Most likely with a gun down your throat.
(SIGHS)

Come on, I'll do it if I have to.

But it's much more fun to pretend
I'm your boyfriend.

(CHUCKLES)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

QUINN: Do you have another pen?

Try this one... (GRUNTS)

No. Oh, my God.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

HARRISON: Does anyone else feel like
we're chasing a ghost?

Sorry I'm late. Fender bender.

Forgiven. You brought the good stuff.

The last person to see Omar Dresden

before he disappears off the grid
ends up dead?

We were close.

- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)
- Dresden's out there, I know it.

Olivia Pope.

That's fine, but all we've got now is
a trail of bodies that leads nowhere.

Josie Marcus needs us.

The rest of you track down
whoever killed the security guard.

That's our new lead.

The cops said the security footage
from the building

where the guard was killed is missing.

I'm checking
other buildings in the area now.

How'd they take this guy out?

Professional hit.
A lethal dose of botulinum toxin.

There's at least
a dozen other buildings in the area.

Maybe their cams
have a view of the lobby.

Okay. We get our hands on
that footage, we get our killer.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

C YRUS: Hi, honey.

- How was your day?
- (SIGHS)

(KISSES)

James.

You don't care about my day, Cyrus.

That's not true.

Really?

You wanna hear about the new graph
paper I bought for EIla's poop log,

or the riveting conversation
I had with the head of the HOA?

Our neighbor's sprinklers
are coming on four times a day,

15 minutes at a time,
completely against code.

I had to stand outside
with a stopwatch all day,

but, hey, at least we know
what's killing that strawberry tree.

Good, that thing's an eyesore.

I need more wine.

You wanna know how my day was?

(SIGHS)

It was fine.

Good, I suppose.

Got a call right before I headed home
from Donnie Weston.

You know Donnie, over at
the D.C. Times Sunday magazine...

Anyway, I guess
they wanna do some puff piece

on the Vice President's husband.

They're looking for a writer,
wanted a recommendation, so...

You know what, forget I said anything.

- Cyrus...
- No.

I wasn't thinking.

Did you give him my name?

I will call Donnie back
first thing tomorrow morning,

- I'll tell him...
- Cyrus!

Yes, James, I gave him your name.

I know, a piece like this
is totally beneath you.

And I should've asked you first,
but I was so caught up in the moment.

Cyrus, this is amazing!

Yeah?

You're interested?

Are you kidding me? I'm beyond.

I wasn't sure. I know this isn't
the kind of journalism you do,

(SIGHS)

But at least it's a chance
to show those bastards at BNC

the kind of access you have
so they'll regret screwing you over.

You will have to spend
a good amount of time

with Daniel Douglas Langston.

That's fine.

I actually find
his hillbilly thing charming.

No. Cy, thank you.

- Thank you.
- (MOANS)

(KISSES)

CANDACE: Someone broke in
while we were at dinner.

Pretty sloppy job. Why break a window

when you can slide the lock
with a credit card?

- What'd they take?
- Just my laptop.

It had strategy memos, donor contacts,
stump speeches...

Yeah, and they didn't touch the jewelry,
so it had to be a political hit.

It's Reston, you know it is,
and now he has everything.

That's a big accusation.
We don't know who did this yet.

Really, we don't?
We're a week out from Iowa

and leading him in the polls
for the first time!

Candace, take it down a notch.

I just think we should
hold a presser, something.

We can't let him get away with this!

If this break-in was Reston's doing,

we want the authorities
pointing the finger at him, not us.

- Harrison...
- I'll call the cops, file an official report.

- I got this.
- Abby...

I'll see if I can get the Feds involved.

They'll need to be the ones
leading the charge on this.

And you have
a full day of campaigning tomorrow.

Try to get some sleep.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

With all due respect, Carla,
that wasn't a question, it was an attack.

- CARLA: Sir...
- Ask my wife anything you want,

she's more than capable
of handling herself.

But if you want to attack her?

To treat her like
a witness on the stand?

I love this part.

- CARLA: Mr. President...
- I had the affair.

You okay?

FITZ: I damaged our marriage...

- WOMAN: Tomorrow, President Grant...
- Don't wait up.

... heads to New Hampshire,
where he will kick off his campaign

with town hall meetings.

(TURNS TV OFF)

(CELL PHONE RINGS)

(RINGS)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(LINE RINGING)

(SIGHS)

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(FLUID DRIPPING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(DRIPPING)

(PANTING)

(GRUNTS)

(WHIMPERS)

(TEARING SOUND)

(GASPS)

(BLOOD DRIPPING)

(PANTING)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Here you go, Roger.

You get what you needed?

Yeah, I just needed to check
the hard drive on your camera.

Ours have been malfunctioning
all over town lately.

Ever since that security guard
across the street died,

they've been coming down hard on us

to make sure
everything's fully operational.

Those things are sensitive.
It's been pretty hot out lately.

Maybe that's your problem.

Hmm. I didn't think of that.

What are you doing?

Snaking the surveillance footage.
Thought I'd get a jump on it.

Look at you, being all proactive.

(CHUCKLES) Right? Huck doesn't
give me enough credit.

MAN: The guard who delivers her meals
found her,

managed to stop the bleeding.

Is she well enough to transport?

She's lost a lot of blood,
but moving her shouldn't be a problem.

Physically, she'll be okay.

And mentally?

She ate her own wrist, sir.

Most people would've passed out
after a few bites, but this one,

she just kept chewing
till she found an artery.

Whatever drove her to do this,
whatever demons she's wrestling with,

they're still there.

Thank you, Doctor.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Josie Marcus needs justice.
She demands it, David.

And would this justice
come in the form of, say,

a photo op of the FBI raiding
Reston's campaign headquarters?

I thought we agreed to keep

our business dealings
on a professional level.

All right. In my professional opinion,

you and your fellow Pope-heads
would do or say anything to win Iowa,

including strong-arming your boyfriend.

David, I can't emphasize this enough,
what happened today,

it's Watergate all over again.

Or a run-of-the-mill burglar
who knew nobody was home.

They stole campaign files
and left the flat screens.

What run-of-the-mill burglar does that?

Even if I concede you that point,
which is a big "if,"

it doesn't mean it was Reston.

You're a lawyer.

You know I can't search his or anyone
else's office without probable cause.

So, in the meantime, you do nothing.

No. In the meantime, I let
the Capitol Hill police do their job.

FYI, the hypnosis isn't working.

You need to start using
the snore clips again,

or you're back on the couch.

Just my professional opinion.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Where are we on the honey trap?

James is on board for a nice long profile
piece on Daniel Douglas Langston.

An intimate portrait.

I'd say this is a new low.

Not for me.

- At least admit you're losing your mind.
- Hmm.

The plan is simple. Daniel Douglas
will make a pass at my husband.

My husband will refuse said pass,
slap his closeted face

and then,
when James wants to write about it,

to expose the hypocritical lie
that is their marriage,

I will tell Sally
that she can either fall in line,

or she can continue to run for office
as an independent

and read James' sordid account
in the Times

along with the rest of the world.

There is nothing simple about that plan!

I mean, how on earth can you be sure

that Daniel Douglas
will make a pass at James?

Oh, I can't. But you can.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Daniel Douglas!

What brings you to the West Wing
when your better half's out of town?

I got an interview with the D.C. Times.

James thought we should do it
in her office.

- (CHUCKLES)
- I think it's gonna be one of those,

"What's it like to be married to power"
kind of things.

You must have that angle down pat.

You got any tips
for this old alligator hunter?

Oh, you'll be fine. It's with James.
He's so respectful and so kind.

He's practically family.

I remember when
he and Cyrus got together,

which, to be honest, I didn't understand.

I mean, I love Cyrus, we all do,
but he's so much older.

- Yeah, what's up with that?
- (CHUCKLES)

(SINGSONG Y) Well,

you didn't hear it from me,

but one of the beat reporters
told me once that

(WHISPERS)
They have an open marriage,

and suddenly it all made sense.

You don't say.

(CHUCKLES) I know, it's not fair, right?
Don't the gays just have all the fun?

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

- Any luck ID-ing our murderer?
- Not yet.

But we've got seven different camera
angles of that area to go through.

We'll find whoever killed
that security guard.

Unless, you know, whoever did this
covered their tracks like a pro.

Quinn, I need you on this break-in.

We need hard proof
that Reston was behind it

so we can convince David
to pull the FBI in,

turn this investigation federal.

Turn the footage you're working on
over to Huck.

- Actually, I'm kind of in a groove here.
- Give it.

What the hell?

MAN: Are you accusing
the Reston campaign...

I'll leave the accusations
to the investigators.

But I think it's obvious
who had the motive.

And whoever broke in left the silver

and only took the files
that could shine a light

on our strategy and infrastructure
for the Marcus campaign.

MAN: So you are accusing
the Reston campaign?

No comment.

On it.

(CELL PHONE RINGS)

(SIGHS)

- What?
- FITZ: Liv.

We need to talk.

No, we don't.

And, in fact, that's exactly what
we need to stop doing.

I'm asking you for an hour. One hour.
I think you owe me at least that.

I owe you?

After what you did,
I don't owe you anything.

So you need to stop calling me.

(THUDS)

(GRUNTS) Ah!

- (GRUNTS)
- (SHATTERS)

(SOBBING)

(SNIFFLES)

You really think that's gonna do it?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

That won't stop him from calling.

The President wants to talk to you,
he'll find a way to do it.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

- Hey.
- You screwed up.

You went on TV
and played the blame game.

That, my friend, not smart.
Not wise at all.

Why?

Someone needed to point the finger...

Because we told you not to.

We told you we had a plan, Candace,
that we would handle it,

in our own time, in our own way,
and you going rogue on this

makes getting your sister elected
to the highest office in the land,

a job you hired us to do,

- that much harder!
- (POUNDS FIST)

Guess what?

She is a first-term congresswoman
from a forgettable state.

It doesn't need to be harder!

So, from now on,
you are going to mind your elders,

you're gonna color inside the lines

and you're gonna do exactly what I say,
when I say to do it,

and not one second before.

Am I clear?

So you're here to babysit me now?

Maybe if you're good,
I'll let you stay up past your bedtime.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

We've been through
all the security footage,

and this is the best we've got.

No way of ID-ing her.

Can't we just let it run
until she comes out?

The memory card
must have been corrupted.

We lose the image
a few minutes after she enters.

So all we know
is that our killer was a woman

in a cheap skirt suit and dumpy heels?

JAKE: Wait. What's that?

There, as she's going in.
Is that her reflection in the door?

- Can you...
- HUCK: Blow it up and scrub it?

Yeah. I can run a re-pixelation program.

It'll take time, but it should yield
a clear image in a day or two.

That doesn't sound like a real thing.

It uses an algorithm to alter the...

I wasn't actually asking.

Where are you with tracking down
Candi's laptop?

Uh, I can't locate the IP address
until someone logs on.

They have something?

A reflection of the killer.
They're re-something, something.

Don't ask me to explain

- because I can't and don't want to.
- (BEEPS)

What's that?

Oh, wait. Someone logged on.

- Georgetown.
- Can we get an address?

Give me a second.

3600 Willgoose Avenue.

- I think it's...
- Reston's campaign headquarters.

DAVID: The Marcus campaign has
informed the Department of Justice

that the missing laptop contained
confidential election material.

Responding to a tip, the FBI,
earlier today,

recovered this laptop
from Reston campaign headquarters.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue
to investigate these circumstances

to determine what, if any,

federal electoral laws
may have been violated,

and if so,
who were the parties responsible.

I'm looking at you, Governor Reston.
Who called it?

Who's the canny
campaign manager now?

Mmm-mmm. No one likes a sore winner.

So now we go to the press?

Now, we don't have to go to the press.

They come to us.

And we demand that Reston drops out.

We say, "No comment."

No accusations, no calls for resignation.

We let the New York Times do that.

- We stay above the fray.
- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)

- Exactly.
- This is the Times calling now.

- (BEEPS)
- Olivia Pope.

We have no statement to make
at this time. Thanks.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

All the man wanted to do was
talk about college football!

I'm sorry, honey.

I hate college football! I hate all football!

I tried everything. Syria, health care,
immigration reform, the economy.

It all seemed to come back
to freaking college football.

James, this is a puff piece on the guy.
You don't have to dig too deep.

You have a couple more days.
Just get to know him a little better.

He's probably uncomfortable talking
to reporters and he's clamming up.

Where'd you meet with him today?

The Veep's office. I figured
that would be the most professional.

Well, there's your problem right there.

No wonder you had a hard time
getting the man to open up.

He's probably worried
about saying the wrong thing

with his uptight wife's loyal staff
just two feet away.

(CHUCKLES) I'm sure Sally
has trained him pretty well.

She's got the poor guy tethered
to a metal stake in the backyard.

Sit with him on his turf.
Go over to his place.

Forget the stuffy business suit

and wear the new plum V-neck
you bought,

make it casual.

Bring over a bottle of nice bourbon,
have a drink or two,

he'll open right up. (KISSES)

Mark my words.

I know what you're doing, Cyrus.

You do?

You were mean to me when I was fired
and you feel guilty.

I do. I feel guilty.

Well, don't.
You've more than made up for it.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(BEEPS)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

You wanted to see me?

Where are we with Olivia Pope?

She's still barking up the
Omar Dresden tree. They're ice cold.

- And the girl?
- Doing great.

Good little spy.

I want her to report in every detail
of what happens in that office.

If she gets caught in the process,
you do as you were told.

No worries, boss. I got it.

(COUGHING)

(WHIMPERS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Where am I?

Somewhere you can't hurt yourself.

(COUGHING)

(MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY)

Here.

I brought something for you.

(SNIFFLES)

(WHISPERS) Oh, my lord. Is that...

That's your daughter. That's Olivia.

(CHUCKLES)

(GASPS)

- She's beautiful.
- Mmm-hmm.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Miss Pope,
there's a helicopter waiting for you.

- No.
- Ma'am...

You go back and tell him
I won't be summoned.

- Ma'am...
- Tom, I am not going. So goodbye.

The President instructed me
to give this to you.

I am just doing my job, ma'am.

(SIGHS)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

One hour.

One hour.

It's a beautiful house.
New, but built to last.

The ceilings are made from local wood.
Vermont pine.

And the fieldstone fireplace,
they did that by hand.

This where you're staying?

No. It's not really ready to live in.

It needs a good cleaning.

Fitz, what are we doing here?

You're not even supposed
to be in Vermont,

you're supposed to be
in New Hampshire.

Do you want to see the upstairs?

There's a skylight
made of stained glass

designed by this amazing local artist.

My father is not a subject I discuss.

Ever.

When I met you,

at that point in my life,
I didn't even feel like I had a father.

And how would I have told you?
What are the right words?

"Nice to meet you, Governor Grant,

"my father runs the nation's top-secret
government spy organization."

That's exactly what
you were supposed to tell me.

Because I was going to be president

and that was information
I needed to know.

I didn't know
you were going to be president.

That's right. You didn't even believe
I was going to win.

Well, how about after you knew?
How about after you fixed the election?

Maybe you could have told me then?

Or how about after I told you
I was in love with you?

How about after I tried
to give up the White House for you?

You know who I am, Liv.

You know everything.

Not everything!

Everything I could legally tell you!

You know who I am. And you're just
this bundle of dirty little secrets.

(VOICE BREAKS)
If I had told you about him,

if you knew who I was,

you would have
run in the other direction.

I wouldn't have run.
I would have protected you.

I don't need protecting!
I am not the girl you save! I am fine!

My father runs the nation's top-secret
government spy organization.

One order and you shot down a plane

with 329 people on it.

You're the one who needs protecting.

I fixed the election. He's my father.

I ruined you!

(SIGHS)

The house has orchards.

- Oh, my God. (LAUGHS)
- Thirty acres.

There's this incredible little greenhouse
just off the kitchen.

You should see the kitchen,
these marble countertops,

they're from a quarry just up the road.

Stop talking about the house!

I just...

I wanted you to see it at least once.

What is this place?

Why am I here?

Why the hell are we out here
in the middle of nowhere?

This house is yours.

Ours.

I had it built for us.

When it looked like
there was a chance for us,

I bought the land and I had it built.

I couldn't really be mayor,
but you can make jam,

and there are bedrooms for lots of kids.

This was going to be
you and me raising a family

and growing old together in this house.

It was supposed to be our house, Livvie.

And I just wanted you to see it
at least once.

At least once before I sell it.

I wanted you to see the dream.

(GASPS)

(EXHALES)

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Do you need any help?

No. You can go.

I can do the night shift,
if you want to go home.

You can go.

I know you do a good job.

Jake said I don't tell you,
and he's right, I don't tell you,

but I know you do a good job.

I should tell you more often.

That's okay.

(FOOTSTEPS DEPART)

Ah, I was wondering
when you were gonna show up.

You got some dirt for me? Robin.

They're about to find out about me.

You're good at this.
You'll figure something out.

- Get that gun out of my face, will you?
- (GUN CLICKS)

I could kill you right now.

Yeah. And?

You think I'm the one
running this thing?

You kill me, you'll get another handler
by the time my body hits the ground.

And I'm the best handler
you're ever going to get.

(SIGHS)

Because I like you.

And despite what you're trying
to tell yourself right now,

you like me, too.

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES,
ENGINE STARTS)

MAYA: Look at these skinny little legs.

And these cheeks, my God.
(CHUCKLES)

You just want to eat her.

- Ooh!
- (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

So where are the photos?

What photos?

The ones you've been taking
because you're her father.

These are all press clippings.

It's all I could find.

(MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY)

Some more water?

What did you do to her?

- I didn't do anything.
- Really?

So for the past 20-something
Christmases and Thanksgivings,

there are photos of the two of you
drinking eggnog and eating turkey.

They're in your house somewhere,
and you just misplaced them.

Is that what you're saying?

I told you to take care of her.

- We grew apart.
- She was 12.

And I provided for her.

Providing for someone and being
a parent are two different things.

- You're one to talk.
- I beg your pardon?

You heard me.

- Hush-A-Bye.
- What?

That was the lullaby I sang to her
when she was a baby.

And it wasn't cookies I made
when she was sad, it was popcorn.

She never liked sweets.

That was Olivia
20-some odd years ago.

The Olivia who's out there today,
you know nothing about. Zero.

And don't forget for a second
whose fault that is.

Doctor!

I'll be moving the prisoner
tomorrow evening.

Please make sure she is fully sedated.

Yes, sir.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Lauren, I tried calling the President,
I couldn't reach him at his hotel.

- Has his schedule changed?
- No, ma'am.

Huh.

Could you try calling him
for me, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Teddy said the word "balloon" today.

If I don't tell his dad every little thing
his son does during the day,

there's hell to pay. (GIGGLES)

(LINE RINGING)

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.
He's not answering.

I could try his cell phone.

Great.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(CELL PHONE BUZZES)

(LINE RINGING)

No luck there either, ma'am.

Lauren, would you
call Olivia Pope for me, please?

Ma'am?

Olivia Pope.
Would you call her, please?

(DIALING)

(LINE RINGING)

Ms. Pope isn't answering either, ma'am.

Thank you, Lauren.

(GROANS)

(HELICOPTER APPROACHING)

- Liv.
- (SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

That's my ride.

(SIGHS)

Could you?

Stay another day.
We could hide out here.

Mmm.

I have to go. I have work.

And you have to go.

You have a world to run.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(SIGHS)

What?

I love you.

Fitz, I really do have to go.

No. I'm saying,

your father has to be stopped.

And I want you to know
before I stop him.

I want you to hear me when I say that
I love you no matter what happens,

because I need answers.

I need to know why I was ordered
to shoot down that plane.

And after I get those answers...

Do what you have to do.

You're sure? He's your father.

He's the head of B-613.

He knows what he signed up for.

Do what you have to do.

Because I'm not going to stop
until I have answers either.

(SIGHS)

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

Don't sell the house.

Not yet.

Got it. Thanks, Brian. I'll be in soon.

(BEEPS)

What?

That was my computer guy.

And?

Since we're in bed
and this isn't a business dealing,

I'm going to pretend
we're a normal couple

and not automatically suspect
you and your coworkers

of committing election fraud. Again.

What are you talking about?

My computer guy says
all that's on Candi Marcus' laptop

is a stump speech
and a few donor addresses.

Nothing that would really help
an opposing campaign.

That's weird.

Not really.
Especially when you consider that

there used to be
a lot more on that computer,

but it was wiped clean
the day before the break-in.

You can't think that...

David, are you accusing me
of faking a burglary

and then planting that laptop
in Reston's campaign headquarters?

No. No, I am not.

Because that's not what
normal boyfriends ask their girlfriends

first thing in the morning.

Good, because I didn't do that
and neither did Liv.

Good.

I'm going to take a shower
and then go into work.

At which point,
I will resume being a professional.

Josie's little break-in, it was faked.

By who?

Her sister. Or daughter.
Or sister-daughter, whatever.

Candace.

What about the laptop?

Candace could have had
one of her campaign workers

drop it off at Reston's headquarters.

You know what those places are like.
People are coming and going all day.

Maybe it was somebody else
from the staff.

Harrison, who discovered
the break-in?

Who jumped the gun with the press?

Who's been driving this whole thing
from the get-go?

Okay, okay.
What do you want me to do about it?

Talk to the sister.

Yeah, fine.

Who was that?

Work.

FITZ: I couldn't be happier
to be back in the Granite State.

It's not often I get a chance
to speak directly with the voters,

so that's what the goal of this trip is.

To hear it
straight from the horse's mouth.

If you'll excuse me, I got a stack of
pancakes waiting for me inside.

That's our boy! What'd I tell you?

A few days on the road
shaking hands and kissing babies

and he's acting like a president again.

I already spoke with Daniel Douglas,
if that's why you're here.

Other than arranging for him to
bump into James in the locker room,

I don't know what else I can do.

I thought of the locker room, too.

Cyrus...

It's happening tonight, is why I'm here.

Sally's still out of town,

so James is going over
to the Naval Observatory for dinner.

There'll be wine, candles
and a guy named Lionel

hiding in a tree with a telephoto lens.

Are you sure you want to do this?
This is a marriage we're talking about.

Sally must suspect
her husband's a big gay slut.

We're just making sure
she knows we know.

Not Sally's marriage.

You're worried
about James cheating on me?

- That's oddly sweet.
- (SIGHS)

Once you open that door, Cyrus,
you cannot close it again.

It changes you. It changes everything.

My husband's not your husband, Mellie.

I tried to call you last night.
Everything okay?

Yeah, I was just busy.

I told you he'd find a way, didn't I?

ABBY:
I thought you said this would work.

- HUCK: I thought it would.
- What's not working?

We still can't identify
whoever killed the security guard.

And you ran the image through
the QR5 facial recognition software?

Nothing.

What happens
if we let the program run longer?

No point. This is
the highest resolution I could get.

Our base image was too flawed.

- So, we're back to square one.
- Liv.

They're here.

This is the game, Josie, this is how...

This isn't a game! This is Watergate!

Josie.

How is what I did any different
than what these people,

the people you wanted to hire,
do on an hourly basis?

You got caught.

Can I have a moment
with the Congresswoman, please?

(DOOR CLOSES)

It's just...

We were gaining ground.

With endorsements,
and support at rallies, and now...

This isn't over.

If we handle this right,
it's a bump in the road.

And how you handle it

will help show your leadership abilities
and define your character,

but you're going to have to fire
Candace. Make an example of her.

Define my character by firing Candace?

It's called making a tough choice.
A painful one.

The right one.

The voters will respect you

for standing up and doing the thing
that no one wants to ever have to do.

And it's just a matter of time before
the U.S. Attorney's Office

ties the burglary to Candace.

Do it now, come clean,
and I can help you move past this.

If we wait for the Justice Department
to force your hand...

Okay. Understood.

I'll prepare a press conference.
Help you work up a statement.

Figuring out what to tell the press,
I can handle.

What I tell Candace is another story.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

This is where I spend most of my time.
My man cave, if you will.

Sally decorated it as a birthday present
our first year in D.C.

She claims it was to
keep me from being homesick,

but mostly it was to
keep me out of her hair.

My college lacrosse stuff.

Apparently you were good.

We won the SELC title
two years running.

Do you keep in touch with anyone?

Not as much as I'd like.

Back then, we were like brothers
to each other.

All that time on the road,
the team building, you grow close.

It's wasn't till after I graduated college
I realized how difficult it is

to form bonds that close
out in the real world.

It's hard, don't you agree?

To make new friends as a grown man?

I was a theater major at Middlebury,

so I imagine it was a very different
experience than playing a sport.

Now you and Sally met in college.
Why don't you tell me about that?

I could.

Or we could just cut to the chase
and have a good time.

(MUFFLED) Daniel...

I'm sorry, wait, stop!
What are you doing?

- You're not attracted to me?
- You're married!

And I'm married!
And I thought you were straight!

I guess I gave you
the wrong impression then.

- Oh, my God.
- Come on.

I need a minute!

God. (EXHALES)

Now wait a second!

I...

You can't go saying
anything about this to anybody.

I never would've tried anything

if I hadn't heard that
you were in an open marriage.

What? From who?

Mellie.

She said you and Cyrus have
some kind of an arrangement.

They wanna do some puff piece
on the Vice President's husband.

They're looking for a writer.

Next thing I know, you're suggesting
that we do this interview at the house

on a night when you know
my wife is out of town.

Go over to his place.

You come over here with a bottle...

Bring over a bottle of nice bourbon.

What the hell am I supposed to think?

He'll open right up.

I have a brief statement about
the recent break-in at my residence.

It pains me to say that the entire
incident was a shameful fraud,

entirely conceived and executed
by myself.

(REPORTERS SHOUTING)

I staged the break-in

and had the laptop planted
at Reston headquarters.

- (UNDER BREATH) No.
- I want to apologize

to the Reston campaign,
Governor Reston himself,

and the American people

for this unforgivable
lapse in judgment on my part.

As a result,

I am hereby announcing the withdrawal

of my candidacy for the
Democratic presidential nomination.

My behavior clearly
falls beneath the standard

for those who would aspire
to the highest office in the land.

Thank you and goodbye.

You always said I wasn't ready for
a national race, and you were right.

You didn't have to do that.
We had options.

Like throwing my own daughter
under the bus?

What kind of mother would do that?
Would yours?

With everything I've already
put her through with this campaign...

She's just a kid.
She'd never be able to handle...

I'll make a plea deal.

Go back to Montana,
if they'll still have me,

see if I can maybe
make a difference there.

Thanks for everything.

You're welcome, Congresswoman.

Don't, okay? Just don't.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

How was New Hampshire?

Good. Chilly. But good.

Marcus dropped out of the race.

I heard.

Good for us.
We can beat Reston again.

We can.

Means Olivia's available again.

It's just a guess, but somehow I think

she might be a little more
amenable to the idea now.

Maybe we should try again.

Maybe we should.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR OPENS)

(SIGHS) Hey, honey.

Hey.

- How'd it go?
- What?

Your interview. It's almost midnight.
I expected you back a lot earlier.

Turns out you were right.

Little booze, it opened him right up.

Good, glad to hear it.

And thanks again.

It feels good to be back in the saddle.

My pleasure. You coming to bed?

Yeah, I'm just gonna
jump in the shower first.

Long day. You don't have to wait up.

- Okay.
- Okay.

Love you.

Love you, too.

(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

(SOBS)

What are you giving me?

Just something that'll send you off
into a nice, long slumber.

ELl: Guard.

Huck?

- Yeah.
- (SWITCH CLICKS)

Oh, we need to talk about
who you're working for.

Hi, Livvie.

(PROJECTOR AND
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
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