Scandal (2012–2018): Season 6, Episode 6 - Extinction - full transcript

Previously on "Scandal"...

Mr. McClintock has confessed

to the crime of shooting
Frankie Vargas.

I didn't kill Frankie.

I just wanted to see you suffer.

I'm innocent!

I brought something for you.

Is that...
That's your daughter.

That's Olivia.

She's beautiful.

Family doesn't complete you.



It destroys you.

Did you shoot Frankie Vargas?!

No!

I am not a predator.

I cannot be a predator.

I am very smart prey,

trying to help my species
survive.

But not for Mellie Grant.

According to the latest polls,

the Virginia Senator's
first pitch

earned her a 14-point bump...

with older male voters.

That's what we're told,
isn't it?

That these great, big
megalosauruses...



The Godzillas of the world,

the monsters we read
books about, see films about...

They are the fiercest,
they are the strongest, right?

- Right?
- Right.

Wrong.

It's the predators

who are actually
the most vulnerable.

They're the most sensitive
to change.

Take away their food,
make any kind of reduction,

no matter how infinitesimal,

well, that's it.

They're wiped out forever.

It happened to the trilobites,
to the tetrapods,

and then to the therapsids
and the archosaurs

and the dinosaurs,
and guess what.

More likely than not,
it could happen to us, too.

Sandra.

You look well, Eli.

As do you.

So, what did you think?

I can only assume that your
omission of Francevillian biota

as proof of multicellular life

2.1 billion years ago
was intentional.

Oh.

You haven't changed one bit.

You are still the same
cocky know-it-all

who, after all these years,
can figure out just what to say

to get on my last nerve.

Are we back
in graduate school again?

We are a long way
from graduate school.

Eli.

Yes?

It's so good to see you.

How long are you in town?

Well, to be honest,
this lecture wasn't

my only reason
for reaching out to you.

Is that right?

That's right.

This is my new workspace.

Everything's still being set up.

Specimen storage will eventually
go over there.

CT scanners arrive tomorrow.

It's a process,
as you know, but...

It's beautiful.
Sandra, I...

Oh, tell me this isn't...

It is.

Gondwanan.
Laurasian.

Tetrapodomorpha?
Devonian.

Incredible.

Honey,
you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Thermal imaging captured this

lying just under the surface
in a quarry

30 miles to the north of
the Yangtze River last month.

It's isolated, obviously.

That's what I thought, too.

And then...
we found it, Eli.

A Yangchuanosaurus.
The Yangchuanosaurus...

The largest, oldest on record.

This is...
I know.

40 years later.

I mean,
could you have ever imagined?

Our dissertations
would have read

a little differently,
don't you think?

I mean, how did you...
Who knows about this?

I've been working with a team,
assembled them myself.

There's a private collector
paying the bill, Eli.

Paying for all of this.

I could use a partner.

But it would have to be somebody

who really knew his stuff...
Mm-hmm.

Somebody who I could trust...
Mm-hmm.

Someone who,

despite getting on my last nerve...
Yes.

You're in?
I'm in.

I am in, baby!

Here.
Now, look at this.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

She's sleeping with someone.

Mellie Grant is a single woman.

It's Marcus Walker.

And if word gets out that Mellie
is sleeping with a black man...

You lose your base.

This is the part where you're
supposed to give me some advice,

some grand opinion
on the matter.

I'm not interested
in play-acting this morning.

Olivia, I am late for work.

You're here,

pretending you don't already
know what you have to do.

You know.
It's clear.

You just don't want to.

She loves him.

Well, that doesn't matter.

It never matters.
You know that.

That Oval is yours.

It belongs to you.

But you have to get her there.

Now, she wants it.

She wants it almost
as badly as you do,

but there is a difference.

She is weak.
She is undisciplined.

She is soft.

She has never been hungry
for anything.

She has never learned
the hard way

that love is a privilege
reserved for the victor.

But you know.

You understand.

I raised a warrior.

Everyone and everything
that you love is a weakness.

Eyes on the prize, baby.

Don't you ever get lonely?

Careful!

Make sure you're only removing
the rock matrix

and not disturbing the specimen.

Here. Use a needle
if you're not sure.

That's it.
Thanks.

There he is.

Who?

The nerd I remember.

Ooh!
Careful with that.

It's an exact replica

of one Barnum Brown excavated
at Hell Creek.

I saved this spot for it.

Eventually, everything
from the stations in Montana

will go here.

I'll clean that ceratopsian
from...

Well, I better get back
to sanitizing picks

and pin vices.

Here are the latest heat scans
from the Sichuan dig site, sir.

Thank you, um...

Sarah.

Anything you need, you just
give me a holler, m'kay?

Sandra's clean.

I ran her through
every database imaginable...

GSX, NSID, Interpol.

Nothing suspicious...

No arrests, no known
criminal affiliations.

Unless you're really,
really into dinosaurs,

her life seems
pretty uneventful.

Well, that doesn't mean
she's clean.

It might just mean she's good.

There are cameras
all over that place.

Someone is watching.

What about the collector?

Well, that is a different story.

What does that mean?

It means the name you gave me
doesn't exist.

When did you last check
on Olivia?

Last week.
I did my usual sweep.

Why?

Dad, what are you doing here?

I need a record.
A record.

Marvin Gaye.

I hate to bother you,

but I have called
every record store in town.

They don't have it,
and I know you do because I did.

Look, I really need to get
through these analytics reports

for our demo outreach
strategies.

Olivia, please.

This new job of mine,
I am surrounded by children.

They don't know
who Marvin Gaye is.

They don't know
what real music is.

I mean, have you ever heard
of a rapper named "Young Thug"?

You put the records away?

Yeah, they're in my closet.
Hold on.

Olivia, a collection like that?

It should be displayed proudly.

I mean, to keep it hidden
in the back of some closet,

it's a sin.

I don't play them.
I'm busy making a president.

You know we keep losing ground?
They don't like her.

Who?

People...
They don't like Mellie.

I've got my stats team
telling me

California may come down
to San Benito County.

California...
She's from there.

Why don't they like her?

Ah.
Can't help you there, obviously.

This is it?

That is it.

Um...

how long has that car
been out there?

That one?

Hmm.

Since the convention, I think.

They're Secret Service, Dad.

They're there for my protection.

And Huck...
Still conducting

regular sweeps for listening
devices here and at the office?

Every Wednesday.

Tell him to modify his schedule.

He shouldn't be so predictable.

Did you need anything else?

Isaac Hayes?
Curtis Mayfield?

No, this will do for now.

When that second verse hits,

it's gonna change
their entitled, little lives.

What is this?

A drink.

A drink?

Well, not just any drink.

It's not...

It is.

That was 40 years ago.

Still good.

Mm.

What I remember most
about that trip was...

you jumping off the front
of the bus at La Flecha...

and running straight
to the dig site.

We must have been going
15 miles an hour.

Well, it was a Titanosaurus.

It hadn't moved
in 97 million years.

That's not what I remember most
about that trip.

No?
No.

No, I remember our last night
in Buenos Aires.

You played me this song.

I did.

You poured me this drink.

I did.

It didn't work.

I don't have
a lot of regret in my life.

I regret that.

It was 40 years ago.

That's not a lot of time
in the scope of things.

Still good.

We don't have anything in there.
Do you want me to...

It's okay.

The closer they are,
the better it is for us.

So this is like grad school.

I haven't made out in a closet
in decades.

I'm gonna give you one chance
not to lie.

Who are they?

Eli...

Who are they?
I don't know.

Tell me now!
I don't know!

Who are they?

I don't know.

Are you working with them?
No.

Are you working with them?!
No!

Where did you meet them?

Please put the gun down...

Where did you meet them?

They came to my office.

They brought me here.

How many are there?
I don't know.

What do they want?
I don't know.

What do they want?!
I don't know!

They want you.

They want you.
That's all I know.

They brought me here.

They told me to get you.

You lured me here.

They said they would kill me.

You could have warned me
at the lecture.

They were at the lecture.
They're everywhere.

They're everywhere.
Don't you understand, Eli?

They're everywhere.

Where are you going?

Don't move.

Go get the others.

You want to talk to me?!

I'm right here.

This is a true honor.

You will regret
every second of this.

Only weak men harbor regrets.

I'm giving you an opportunity
to explain yourself...

To help me understand
why you thought

you could lure me into a cage
and get away with it.

It won't spare you my wrath.

It won't prevent me
from ravaging

everything that you hold dear.

But I may exhibit an ounce
of mercy when I take your life.

Tough talk from someone
who sat quietly in a chair

waiting for daddy
to come home from work.

Or I could kill you now.

With the gun in your holster?
All three of us?

Who would you kill first?

Who exactly is in charge here?

Him?

Now I'm in charge.

That's the attention
I was looking for.

You can be impressed.

I'm impressed by you.

I respect you.

And because I respect you,
let me put your mind at ease.

Sandra is
an unwilling participant

in all of this...
A tool.

You want something.

Mellie Grant in the White House.

Fixing an election isn't cheap.

Name your price.

It's also not easy.

You wouldn't be here if you didn't
have my complete confidence.

You're wondering whether
you actually have a choice.

That is something
I have never wondered.

But you do understand what's
at stake should you opt out?

Olivia will be fine.

But Sandra won't be.

She walks.
Sandra.

We do this, we get
the result that you want,

Sandra walks free.

You and I?

We never cross paths again,
namely for your sake.

I had hoped that we could
become friends, but...

Sure.
I can live with that.

This was fruitful.

Get it done, Eli.

You're upset.

Of course I'm upset.
Also confused and terrified.

Don't be.

What is going on?

What the hell is all of this
really about?

Is this the CIA?

Is that what this has to do with
your old life? S-Sandra...

Who was that man?
Where did he come from?

His name is Theodore
Peus... Not him.

The man I saw in the closet,
the one who...

That wasn't you.

That had to have been
someone else,

someone else
I want to forget entirely.

I'm sorry I mistrusted you.

Sandra, all of this...
All of this is over now.

I told you,
it's been taken care of.

What does that mean?

It means I'm protecting you.

It means you're safe now,

and you will always remain safe

as long as I am watching,
protecting,

because I got you.

Hmm?

Okay?

I got you.

You better have, Eli.

The question is,

will the juggernaut
of Grant's political machine

be enough to fend off Vargas'
impressive grassroots support?

One thing's for sure...
Neither candidate

is going to be getting
much sleep

heading into the final week
of the presidential campaign.

Vargas plans to continue
his bus tour of the Southwest

while Grant wraps up
her campaign

with a series of rallies
in key swing states.

The race for presidency

has officially become
a game of inches

as both campaigns devised
strategies and counterstrategies

in order to find and win
every available vote.

Your slothful pace
is truly repugnant.

I'm sorry, sir.
Give it to me.

Name's Jennifer Fields.

Overeager aide
on the Vargas campaign

who spent a lot of late nights
with her boss

before she got her ass beat
by one of Cyrus Beene's goons.

I mean, look at that...
It's just nasty, right?

Could be what we need.

I asked for something foolproof.

Well, yeah, if something
like this were to get out...

It would be a minor setback
for Vargas at most.

It would not guarantee
a win for Mellie Grant.

What I need, Adam, is a win.

What I'm keeping you around for,
against my better judgment

at this particular moment
in time,

is so that you can
deliver me a win.

Can you do that?

What about voting machines?

Do we have enough time?

If we pick and choose
our counties.

Start with San Benito.

Hmm.

Olivia.

Did you think
I wouldn't find out?

Find what out?

The voting machines,
the ones you rigged.

Huck said it's some old
B613 protocol... an algorithm,

some obscure program.

I don't exactly know
the details.

All I know is that you did it
so that Mellie would win.

Is that not what you want?

I know how it feels to walk
into an Oval Office I stole.

I want to know the feeling

of walking into an Oval Office
I earned!

And you still can.
This is on me, not you.

You ran an honest,
brilliant campaign.

You are still clean.
Listen to me.

Go home.
Go to bed.

Fall asleep knowing that
you are going to be victorious.

Forget this conversation
ever happened, Olivia.

I undid it, Dad.

What did you do?

The backdoor you used
to rig those machines?

Huck guaranteed me
that it's been closed.

Even he couldn't get back in
if he wanted to.

I will go home.

I will go to bed.

And I will fall asleep knowing
that over 100 million families

will get to decide who their
next President is going to be.

This is their choice,
not mine, not yours!

Olivia, this...

Mellie is going to lose.

You are going to lose.

Don't you have
any faith in me at all?

Olivia.

Olivia...

Zanzibar?

A hundred miles off the coast.

A little island,
more beautiful than anything

you could ever imagine.

I am not going to Zanzibar.

What are you talking about?

What are you talking about, Eli?

I cannot just pick up
and leave my life here.

I have a job, family, friends.
I have a dog.

If you don't pick up and leave,
you aren't going to have a life.

These people...
I know these people.

Then you know
that you have to trust me.

I am not going anywhere.

You are going to Zanzibar.

I am not going to Zanzibar.

Aaah!

Aah!

I worked for
the United States government.

I know.
No, you don't know.

I ran an organization, that you
do not want to know.

But I'll tell you this.

We had a rule... my rule...

No family, no attachments,
no love.

I mean, you loved your country,
you loved your mission,

you loved your fellow officers.

Everything else was a liability.

That's what I was?
Yes.

A liability?

Yes.

You knew that
when you left Buenos Aires?

I knew that the day I met you.

You got married.

Mm.

To the wrong woman.

If... I was going
to break the rule,

I should have broken it
with you.

You hurt me, Eli.

I know.

You don't know.
You don't know how you hurt me.

When I came back, you were gone.

I thought we were gonna spend
our lives together.

I loved you.

I loved you, too.

I still do,

which is why
you are going to Zanzibar.

You trying to protect me?

Yes.

Then protect me here.

Adam.
Sir.

Tell me we were able
to re-rig those machines.

I tried, sir.
I couldn't do it.

Sir, the election is Tuesday.

Maybe if I had more time,
I could...

I could whip something together.

It's just, with that level
of decryption... Quiet.

What are you doing here?

My grandmother has
the same couch.

You have five seconds.

I hate this couch.

Sandra.

Poor thing.

She was so scared
when I showed up,

but guns have that effect
on regular folks, I guess.

You messed up, Coolio.

Geez.

America used to be such
a great country built on honor,

where your word meant something.

You promised to deliver
this election, and you failed.

You lied about rigging
the machines in San Benito,

and somehow, you thought there
wouldn't be any consequences?

Where is she?

One thing at a time.

It's not looking good
for Mellie.

It is your job to make it
look good for Mellie.

Make right on your promise.

We're on the eve of the election.
That ship has sailed.

So, I should just call my man
standing over Sandra right now

and tell him to drop the hammer?

I watched you two together.
You care about her.

It's sickening, really.

I could kill you right here,
right now.

No, Coolio.

You are going to kill
Francisco Vargas

when he takes the stage
tomorrow night.

That's... foolish.

He won't have been sworn in.

I mean, Cyrus Beene
would become President.

Come on.
You're smarter than that.

You want me to frame Cyrus
for the assassination.

Ding!
Impossible!

Not for the greatest
of all time, right?

Figure it out.

For the record, I am the one

who is going to give you
nightmares.

So, what's the plan?

That big, huh?

Whoa.
You're not kidding.

I haven't seen you like this
since...

The plan?

You want to know the plan?

The plan is for you to shut up
and do exactly what I say!

Okay.
Understood.

A hit.

Cool.

Here's your new identity.

Bio, I.D.s.

Nelson McClintock.

That's my cover?

Set up on the fifth floor
of the parking garage,

northwest side
of Fairmount Park.

Philly, huh?

Vargas?

Set up.

Await my instructions.

Just the one target?

Set up.
Await my instructions.

What's my exit plan?

Await my instructions.

Yes, sir.

Wait.

The girl on Vargas' campaign...

Jennifer.
Jennifer Fields.

I need to know everything
about her.

With projections for Texas
and Virginia now clear,

this entire election has come
down to one state...

California.

It's winner-take-all for those
55 Electoral College votes

with only one county left
to report,

a county that will determine...

Where are we
on Sen Benito County?

We'll know soon.

That county?
San Benito County.

San Benito is often considered

a bellwether county
for California,

which hasn't been in play
in an election since...

Hold on.
We're getting an update.

This is it!
Turn up the TV! Loud!

BNC is now ready to call
San Benito County

and the state of California,
and...

this is a surprise.

BNC is projecting that...

Frankie Vargas will carry
San Benito County

and become the next
President of the United States.

Where are you going?

Jake?

Liquor cabinet's back that way.

You need to call Governor Vargas
and concede. It's over.

The race is not over.

We lost. They won.
It's over.

Make the damn call.

South tunnel clear.

Aah!

You know what gets me?

Cyrus.

Vice President Beeeeene.

It's like having a vampire

a heartbeat away from the Oval.

Hello, Philadelphia!

When we started
this improbable campaign,

we were told
this couldn't be done...

That I couldn't do it,
that you wouldn't do it.

Well, America, here we are!

We were told that people who
came from where we came from

couldn't get here,
didn't belong here,

because we were just... people...

Mothers and fathers,
working men and women,

immigrants, laborers,

farmers, teachers, janitors,
poultry workers.

People without wealth,
connections, or advantage.

People without a leg up.

People to whom the vast fortunes
of this great nation

never trickle down.

We were told this job
wasn't for one of us.

Well, America, here we are!

IYa llegamos!

Thank you
for thinking differently.

Thank you for thinking
about tomorrow, not yesterday,

about progress, not decline,

about equality, not bigotry,

about love, not hate,

about hope, not fear.

Thank you for thinking

that we really can be
a nation of the people,

by the people,
and for the people.

IHoy si somos una nación
de la gente,

por la gente,
y para toda la gente!

Shots fired!
Parking structure!

Fifth floor!

0-1. Who's got eyes
on parking structure?

Starts on parking level 5!

- Keep route secure!
- Blue Five, Blue Five!

Stage right! Stage right!
Move!

Hey!

You!

Hands up!
Let me see them!

Officer.
Secret Service.

Yeah?
Let's see about that.

You're late.

Had to be careful.
The place is crawling with cops.

Is the rifle in place?

Parking structure, fifth floor.
Let's go.

The mission is not over.

Is there a problem, soldier?

No, sir.

Sorry, son.

Thank you, sir.

Tell me you have the shooter.

We got him.

FBI found him hiding in a shed
about a mile from the rally.

Nelson McClintock.

Prints on the sniper rifle
look to be his.

We're sure he's not part
of a terrorist cell? Dana?

The CIA has no intel
on this guy.

Appears to be homegrown.

At this time, we can confirm
that a suspect...

One Nelson McClintock...
Has been apprehended

and is being held in custody.

His fingerprints match those
found on the murder weapon,

and as of now, he appears
to have acted alone.

We...

The mighty conqueror returns.
How's Philly?

Did you squeeze in a cheese
steak while you were there?

They are so yummy.

Where's Sandra?

First, let's talk about
how we're framing Cyrus.

Is this McClintock guy
pointing fingers tonight?

No, I have someone else for that.
Super.

Let's get this party started.

Not until I have Sandra.

Let her go.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

I love you.
I love you, too.

Okay, we get it.

You want to put a ring on it

and take her ass
to eat shellfish of some kind.

Can we do business, please?

Jennifer, it's me.
Make the call.

Hi.
My name is Jennifer Fields.

It was Cyrus Beene.

He killed Frankie Vargas.

There it is.
It's done.

We are done.

Let's go, Sandra.

Let's not go, Sandra.

Excuse me?

Here's the problem
with doing good work, Eli.

You make yourself valuable.

And only a fool lets go
of a valuable possession.

We both know I'm no fool.

We had a deal.

I think I'd like us to have
more deals.

If you think I'm gonna be working
for you... But you are...

because we found your weakness.

It's standing right next to you.

All I have to do is put
a gun to her head,

and my wish becomes
your command.

These are incredible times, Eli.

Important times.

And if we're going to accomplish
what we need to accomplish,

we're going to need some muscle,

a strong back
who can get things done.

A strong back.

So that's it?

You're saying you own me?

So, what, I'll work your fields
and shine your shoes

and pick your cotton and dance
whenever you tell me to?

You put a gun to the head
of the woman I love,

and I belong to you?!

You have
a streak of weakness, Eli.

We found it.

Don't beat yourself up.

We're just better than you.

You people.

Always thinking
you're better than us.

I have no weaknesses.

No one owns me.

Our account is settled.

Done.

Are we clear?

I got to give it to you.
I did not see that one coming.

Hey, send me
the "Butterfly" feed.

What are you doing?

Wherever your daughter goes,
we have eyes on her.

And when I say "eyes," I mean
we have an actual human being

who, when hearing from me,
in seconds,

can put a bullet
in your daughter's brain.

What do you think?

Do we have a clean shot?

Cyrus in jail.
Mellie in the White House.

Make that happen.

Then the real work begins.

Oh, look.

Your bones arrived.

Fun.

Isn't she something?
Look at her.

An amazing predator.

Beautiful and vicious, and...

Can you believe this is for
a private collector?

Was it you?

Admit it, Olivia.
This is a gift.

Now you can make a case.

If Frankie dies, Mellie has
a legitimate shot to the Oval.

But be careful.
You have to play it just right.

I asked you a question.
Yes or no?

If you push Mellie too soon,
you look callous.

If you wait too long...

Did you shoot Frankie Vargas?!

No.

I don't believe you.

Did I think about killing him?

Yes.

It was...
It was a genius move.

But you made it very clear
during the generals

that you did not want my help.

I didn't need it.

San Benito County
begs to differ.

You had it right in your hand,
and you let it go.

You know better.
You... You are better.

You are faster, stronger,
and smarter than him.

How could you be so weak?

How could you let that man
outplay you?

This is what happened, Olivia.

He outplayed you
in the generals,

he outplayed you tonight when
he paid an assassin

to shoot Frankie Vargas.

W-What did you just say?

And there it is...
That streak of weakness,

that crack
anyone can slip through.

See, that's why you lost

because you believe
I am a predator,

which is...

I am your father.

I am not a predator.

I cannot be a predator.

Not in this world.

I am very smart prey.

Trying to help my species
survive.

Think.

Think like them.

Who gains the most
if Frankie Vargas dies?

Who has spent
decade after decade

helping fairer
yet less competent men

raise their hand
on Inauguration Day?

Who would, quite literally,
kill for this job?

Cyrus Beene loves Frankie.

Cyrus Beene loves Cyrus Beene.

He's always been the most
dangerous predator.

I offered you San Benito,
and you turned me down.

That cost you the election.

Tonight, you have
a second chance at the Oval.

Hmm?

Hmm?

Survival of the fittest, Olivia.

Survival of the fittest.