The First Lady (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - That White House - full transcript

[Michelle] My husband was
considering you for his portrait

but you took yourself
out of contention. Why?

I was only interested
in painting you.

[both chuckle]

I'm sure he'll be
glad to hear that.

[Amy] Well, the
thing is, the president,

even a Black president,
is the institution.

I don't wanna just
paint the official.

I am interested in the real.

[news reporter] ...across
America starting at--

- [static]
- [indistinct]



Washington can be
an awfully tough town,

on a political wife.
Would you agree?

[Betty] Well, I agree.

But I had, you see,
26 years experience...

as the wife of a congressman.

But I think a congressional wife

has to be a special
kind of woman.

I don't think all women really

can adjust to this type of life.

[Eleanor] "The battle for
individual rights of women

is one of long standing,

and none of us
should countenance

anything which undermines it."

"People say, no
woman could stand



the physical strain
a man endures.

But that, I think is nonsense.

A woman is like a tea bag,

you never know how strong it is

until it's in hot water."

This land is your land

This land is my land

From California

Well, to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest

To the Gulf Stream Waters

I tell you this land

Was made for you and me

Yeah

Mmm

One bright, sunny morning

Well, in the shadow of a steeple

Down by the welfare office

I saw my people

I was wondering if this land

Was made for you and me

[ship horn blares]

Sasha, stop it. You
can't have any more. No--

[laughs]

[grunts] Listen, this
is how it's gonna go.

When we get to Washington,

Grandma's gonna
meet us at the hotel,

and then Daddy and
I are gonna go see

the Bushes at the
White House. Okay?

[gasps] Look!

- [shutters clicking]
- [reporters clamoring]

It's Dad.

- Uh-huh.
- [chuckles]

Let's go see Daddy.

- [sirens blaring]
- [chattering]

- [reporter 1] Michelle!
- [reporter 2] Mrs. Obama!

- [reporter 3] Michelle!
- [reporter 2] Mrs. Obama!

[reporters clamoring]

- [Young Sasha giggling]
- [reporter 4] Mrs. President!

- Thank you.
- [crowd cheering, clamoring]

There they are.
Come on, come on.

Oh! [chuckles]

Look at you! You look so pretty.

- The fuck?
- Yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot.

All right. You ready?

We're gonna go on a
little ride. You good? Okay.

[shutters clicking]

- Huh?
- [Young Sasha] Very cool.

[Barack] I know.

For the first time
an African-American

has been elected president
of the United States.

A day many thought
would never come,

a night this country
will never forget.

Barack Obama, the 47-year-old
junior senator from Illinois

will be sworn in
on January 20th.

Obama! Obama! Obama! Yeah!

[cheering]

[sniffling]

[sirens wailing]

[reporters clamoring]

[reporter] Barack! Mr. Obama!

- You doing all right?
- No.

[Barack chuckles]

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[Laura] Michelle,
great to see you.

Thank you for having us.

Constitution doesn't
give us much choice.

- Barack. How are the girls?
- [Barack chuckles] Laura.

Okay, I think. We left them
with my mom at the Hay-Adams.

[cheering]

[George] Well, come on
in. It's one hell of a tour.

[sighs]

[inhales, exhales]

[George W.] Good folks.
People draw art. [chuckles]

[Barack] Hey, how you doing?

- Sir.
- Good to meet you.

- Ma'am.
- Ma'am?

That's going to take
some getting used to.

Well, it's my honor, ma'am.

Wilson has been at the
White House since 1957.

- [Michelle] Incredible.
- [Laura] Mm-hmm.

He knows everything
about everything.

[Laura] Now,
anything in particular

you'd like to see first?

[Michelle] The bar. [chuckles]

- Start at the bar.
- Yeah.

I think that's a
grand idea. [chuckles]

[inhales shakily]

And this is the center hall.

- [gasps] Beautiful.
- Mm-hmm.

[Michelle chuckles] Whew.

[Laura] Oh, no. I'm
not gonna lie to you.

It'll never seem normal.

But you will find a way
to make it comfortable.

How you doin'?

[plays piano]

[Laura chuckles]

You'll find your reading nook

or that special place where
you can be still and quiet.

Oh, please.

It was always a battle
but I tried to make sure

we started every
day together, in here.

I'm already worried
about someone

spilling juice on
the upholstery.

- [both chuckle]
- You'll get over that. Sort of.

How you doing today?

Ooh, I love it.

[Laura] Oh, that is my favorite.

Luckily, you get to
choose your own art.

Let me show you
my favorite spot.

Even with all the
Secret Service agents...

[helicopter whirring]

there's a comfort
knowing he's down there.

[chuckles] Does
that sound silly?

No. Not at all.

It's not going to
be easy for you.

I don't imagine it's an
easy transition for anybody.

Oh, of course.

But the level of
scrutiny on you,

on your husband.

Everybody's gonna have
an opinion on your decorum.

On your clothes, on how
you raise your children.

On whether your graduate
degree is too feminist,

or if your causes aren't
feminist enough. [chuckles]

I learned a long time ago,

that there's some
people I'll never please.

All I can do is what
I believe is right.

You'll figure out what kind
of First Lady you wanna be.

Thank you, Laura.

[Laura] You're
gonna be terrific.

Hmm. I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you.

- Now can we see the bar?
- [Laura laughs]

[birds chirping]

[Walter Cronkite] This is a
CBS News Special Report.

The Vice President resigns.

The big question tonight,

who will succeed Spiro
Agnew as vice president?

President Nixon pledged
to be open-minded

in picking a nominee.

Some of the names being
mentioned as possibilitis

are republican house
and senate leaders,

Gerald Ford and Hugh Scott.

Former Secretary of
State, William Rogers.

She put de lime in de
coconut She drank 'em bot' up

She put de lime in de coconut

She called de
doctor, woke him up

And said, "Doctor ain't
there nothin' I can take?"

I said, "Doctor, to
relieve This bellyache?"

Now, let me get this straight

You put de lime in de
coconut You drank 'em bot' up

Put de lime in de coconut

You called your
doctor, woke him up

Said, "Doctor, ain't
there nothin' I can take?"

I said, "Doctor, to
relieve This bellyache?"

I said, "Doctor, ain't
there nothin' I can take?"

You put de lime in de coconut
You drink 'em bot' togedder

Put de lime in de coconut

You called your doctor,
woke him up, I said,

"Doctor, to relieve
this bellyache?"

Hi.

Doctor

Oh. Why aren't you at
school? Is everything okay?

Yeah, everything is fine.
They just let us out early.

There's, uh, leftover
mashed potatoes

and meat loaf in
the oven if you like.

[bottles, ice rattling]

[Walter Cronkite] ...of
leaking information.

Thomson said tonight
that he had reviewed

the evidence against
the Vice President,

and quote, "The man is a crook,
no question about that at all."

Thomson said he
was certain Agnew

would've been convicted
if brought to trial...

What did Agnew do again?

Let's see... Bribery,
extortion, tax fraud,

all very disappointing politics.

Well, thank goodness Dad
is retiring in a few years.

[sighs] Amen to that.

[Walter Cronkite] The
case against Agnew...

Would you mind switching it off?

in a detailed 40-page
recitatin of the evidence that--

Come on, baby, let
the good times roll

Come on, baby Let
me thrill your soul

Sunset Magazine. [sighs]

You really are counting
the days aren't you, Mom?

This is where
we're going to build.

[sighs] I just wanna be warm.

I approve. You've served your
time. Go West, young woman.

Maybe you can start
dancing for real again.

Oh. [chuckles] I think
it's a little late for that,

but I love you for saying so.

- [Susan chuckles]
- [Betty moans]

Ladies and gentlemen,

a new interpretive piece by
Martha Graham dancer Betty Ford.

- Unchained!
- Oh!

Palm Springs, sprung!

[both laugh]

Maybe you'll make
friends with the Sinatras.

Oh, I think the Sinatras

have much more exciting
people to spend time with.

- [phone ringing]
- That'll be Lisa looking for me.

- Are you here?
- Yes. [chuckles]

- Ford residence this is Bet--
- [phone continues ringing]

Oh, that's the bedroom line.

Mom, answer it.

Hello?

[operator] Connecting
you to the West Win.

[whispers] Oh, my
God, the West Wing.

- [tires screech]
- [brake rattles]

This way, ma'am.

[thunder rumbling]

Uh, Angela will take your coat.

Thank you.

Right. Just this way.
They've already started.

[Richard] I've gathered
you all here today

so that I may proudly
present to you the man...

Go sit with Mrs. Nixon.

...whose name I will
submit to the congress

for the vice president
of the United States.

Congressmen Gerald
Ford of Michigan.

[Gerald] Thank you.
Thank you. Please. Please.

Mr. President, I am
deeply honored...

- This is for you.
- Thank you.

...and I am
extremely grateful...

and I am terribly humbled.

And I pledge to you my
colleagues and the Congress.

And I pledge to the
American people.

[Gerald] That to the best
of my ability, if confirmed

I'll be your honorable

and devoted vice president.

What are you doing up so early?

I can't believe I shared a seat
with the First Lady, honestly.

[chuckles] It was cute.

So much for sunshine.

[moans]

- It's only two years.
- Hmm.

I'll get you your
sunshine, I promise.

- You promise?
- Mm-hmm.

[Franklin] One beer coming up.

[Louis] All right, it's
my turn. Quit cheating.

- Umpire. I was just practicing.
- Quit cheating, quit cheating.

Play by the rules, Eleanor.

- Oh! My turn.
- [Louis groans]

Really hard. Oh,
that was too hard!

- I've made it harder for myself.
- [Louis] Now look at Franklin.

- Just look at him.
- [Eleanor] Yes.

If I didn't know him better, I
would think he's a film star.

Oh, don't say that too loud.
His ego is large enough as it is.

[Louis] Well, it's what will
get him elected governor

and who knows after that?

[Franklin] Oh. It's only
been a year since my defeat

in my bid for the
vice presidency.

- You don't think it's too soon?
- Not in the slightest.

- You're at your peak.
- [Franklin] Hmm.

- Did you hear that, Eleanor?
- Yes, I heard it,

and all I know is you
need to take a shower

and get dressed for
dinner, golden boy.

Franklin, you're fresh
on everyone's mind

and the two of you, together,

present a truly
irresistible team.

Yes, we do make a good team.

Hmm.

[Franklin] Thank you.

- Croquet?
- No, I'd rather be a spectator.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Right, Eleanor, you're up!

My turn. I believe I'm winning.

- [Louis] Well, you keep missing.
- Watch out, Louis. Ha-ha!

- [thuds]
- [Franklin groaning]

[Franklin] Help!

Franklin?

[groaning continues]

- [Eleanor] Oh! What happened?
- My legs. They won't work.

I don't know what's
going on. Please!

I'll lift you up onto the bed.

Ow! No, no, no, no! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Oh, God. What's going on?

Call Dr. Keen.

- Oh. Ooh. Oh, you're burning up.
- [groaning]

- Franklin.
- [sobbing] Ow!

Oh, Franklin. It's
all right. It's all right.

[Franklin groaning] Oh.
For God's sake, stop.

Oh, but Dr. Keen said
this would help, Franklin.

Well, it's not. It's making
it worse. Please, stop!

Let's stop. Stop.
I'll call Dr. Keen.

[Franklin groans]

I want a second opinion.

This isn't all right, Louis.
It shouldn't be this painful.

- I'm sorry, Franklin.
- I'm sorry.

[groans]

[groaning continues]

Louis?

Louis!

[Louis clears throat]

Eleanor. What is it?

- It's polio.
- What?

- It's polio.
- [stammers] What?

Eleanor. Franklin is resting.

Sara.

All of the specialists
confirmed that it's polio.

Well, that's not possible.

They say that it is.

- [Sara] But he's not a child.
- That it can affect adults.

Well-- How? Well, what are
you looking at here? Um...

It was the standing
water in the cove.

The virus was just
sitting there, apparently.

He must've contracted it
when they swam that day.

What? No.

[Sara] My son can't have polio.

No, no, I don't believe it.

I don't believe it. No.

[door opens, closes]

[Louis] Oh. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Eleanor.

Eleanor...

[Eleanor] No one can find out.

They must protect
him. Give him purpose.

[Louis] If anyone can rise
above tragedy, it's Franklin.

Well, I'm sure glad
you're here, Louis.

[bell tolling]

[chattering]

[sobs]

[Theodore] Nell, dear...

I wanted to tell you. I'm sorry
your mother was taken so soon.

You and your brother,
you're going to be all right.

I promise you that.

You're a good girl, Eleanor.

Thanks, Uncle Teddy.

Daddy, can we go home now?

[sobbing] Grandma Mary will
take you and your baby brother

to her house for a while.

I need to go away for a rest.

But then we'll go with you.

[sniffles] It's not that
kind of a rest, now.

Your Uncle Teddy has a
plan to get me well again.

And as soon as I get
better, I will come see you.

No, but I can help you.

I know you can. [sniffs]

And I need your help.

I need you to go
with your grandmother

and take care of
your baby brother,

just the way your mother would.

Can you do that for me,

just till I come
back good as new?

[sobbing]

[Walter Cronkite] Good evening.
Under heavy pressure to resign,

some of it coming from
strong supporters of the past.

President Nixon headed
for Washington without,

according to a spokesman,

talking to his two
Watergate lawyers,

whom he had summoned to Florida.

Meantime, the man
Mr. Nixon chose

to be vice president,
Gerald Ford,

faced his own pressure before
the Senate Rules Committee.

[male reporter]
Transparency and honesty

are at a premium right now.

Facing questions over
his use of a psychiatrist,

Congressman Ford
failed to deliver either.

[committee member]
Congressman Ford, do you deny

meeting with this psychiatrist?

Maybe I've met with him
once or twice, uh, socially.

Ran into him at the,
uh-- The club or--

[committee member] He is
in your appointments calendar

at least, uh, twice
that we can find.

[male reporter] His
silence spoke volumes.

- In other Watergate news...
- Oh, fuck a duck, Jerry.

Well, he's screwed now.

...first jail sentence
against Donald Segretti,

the man known as
"dirty-trick" Donald...

Sorry.

- Betty, congratulations.
- Thank you so much.

I'm so happy for you.
They're ready for you.

Today, the Congressional Club
has a very special opportunity

to honor one of our own.

On the eve of her
being officially named

our new Second Lady, Betty Ford.

[applause]

Thank you, Jill.

[chuckles]

[sighs] Thank you, Jill.

- [audience laughs]
- And thank you, ladies.

[microphone feedback]

[clears throat]

It's wonderful to
be up here after

over a decade as a
member of this group.

[audience murmurs]

[clears throat]

I know what
you're all thinking...

- [audience chuckling]
- [chuckles]

The way her husband's
hearing went today,

is she even going
to be Second Lady?

- [all chuckling]
- [audience member] Yes.

Well, let me tell you
about something.

Uh, nearly ten years ago,

I pinched a nerve in my neck.

During the course
of treatment...

my doctor, uh, advised me

that the source of my pain...

It was actually much deeper

than any injury.

And he thought

it might be a good
idea for me to see...

a psychiatrist.

[audience gasping, murmuring]

And it was a good
idea. [chuckles]

[audience murmuring]

For the first time, I
was able to verbalize...

We love our husbands, right?

- [audience] Yes.
- [Betty] Right? Okay.

But every night
he's at a fundraiser

or a speech in
some faraway city.

Then he comes home
right at the kids' bedtime,

disrupts the entire household,

then he heads into the bedroom,

and you go downstairs
to heat up some dinner,

and mix cocktails, but
when you come back up...

he's snoring.

[audience chuckling]

And you're left
holding two cocktails.

[laughter]

But this is what we
signed up for ladies...

when we married politicians.

But that psychiatrist
reminded me...

that my life isn't only
about those days.

There is a Betty
without Jerry Ford.

And that Betty
needs to make sure

that she's healthy,

before she can do anything else.

It was my psychiatrist
Jerry met with twice.

My psychiatrist...

you heard discussed

in his confirmation
hearings this morning.

He met with my
psychiatrist, to support me.

And I love him for that.

[applause, cheering]

And for letting me be
the one to explain that...

- Yes! Absolutely. Well done!
- ...to the American people.

[club member] Well done!

[mouthing] Yes.

[applause]

[Louis] That's great, Franklin.

Wave to the crowd.

Whoo!

[Franklin chuckling]

[groans, screams]

- [Franklin groans]
- [James] Father, are you okay?

Oh. Oh. Better than okay.
He made it nine steps this time.

[Franklin chuckles]

- I'll get there.
- Oh, of course, you will.

- Can't we just move the podium?
- [Franklin groans]

I can't control the proportions
of the room, James.

I wish I could.

We'll try it again.

Don't you think he needs a break
Mother? Jesus, he's bleeding.

And so I am. James, I am fine.

All I need is a glass of water
and we will do this again.

- I'll get it.
- That's the spirit.

- [Franklin groans]
- Right, let's take a break.

Louis. Louis, hold on.

Just give me a moment, boys.

- Please, just a moment.
- [Louis] Yes, yes.

I hope you never have to
see your son in such pain.

[sighs]

Sara, you know that
he's wanted to run

for governor for a decade now.

Maybe longer.

And with these braces,
he's finally got his chance.

As I told you before
many years ago

when this nightmare began,

he should be retired and living

at Hyde Park in a
dignified manner.

Not falling and-- And bleeding,

and being humiliated
for an impossible idea.

Unprecedented. Not impossible.

Oh...

People admire resilience.

They are inspired by it.

It shows them that
they too can overcome

the most unspeakable setbacks.

And you know,

Governor was always
on the next step

of the ladder to
the White House.

The White House!

You're so cruel when you
encourage these pipe dreams.

Franklin had a-a bright future.

Impossibly bright.

There was nothing my son
couldn't have accomplished.

But that was before.
It is no longer, Eleanor.

I'm sorry, Sara, but I
respectfully disagree.

I think there is nothing
that Franklin can't do.

So, you'll keep at it then?

It's what he wants, Sara.

I think you better
think up a backup plan

for when he loses.

He's not going to lose.

So Mrs. R with all her trimmin's

Can broadcast a bed from Simmons

'Cause Franklin knows

Anything goes

[reporter] Mrs. Alberta
King sat at the organ

in the Ebenezer Baptist Church

when a young man
sprang to his feet and yelled,

"I'm going to kill
everyone in here."

And shot Mrs. King three times.

Well, it's as if the King
family is being tested.

I've never seen a family suffer
so much tragedy in my life.

- Mr. Cheney.
- He's available?

Of course.

[knocking]

- Mr. Rumsfeld, sir.
- Yes?

Are you aware the
vice president's wife

has requested the jet
for Alberta King's funeral?

- Has she?
- Yeah.

[phone ringing]

Well, thank you, Dick.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Rumsfeld.

Are you joining us today?

I had to warn you
when I heard, ma'am.

It is not appropriate for you
to represent the administration

at Mrs. King's funeral.

I wasn't aware
the administration

found compassion inappropriate.

Well, we both know
that's not accurate.

I guess that explains why
I'll be the only person there

representing the White House.

It was a tragic event.

No, the tragedy is that
this kind of thing happens

every day in this country

and no one bats an eye.

Have you given any
thought to what's coming?

We both know Nixon won't
survive this Watergate mess.

You'll be walking into ten times

the scrutiny that
you've ever faced.

Scrutiny of every
skeleton. Every closet.

Scrutiny of your first husband.

[door opens]

Susie.

It's Susan.

Jerry's already asked
me to be his chief of staff.

So that means I'll be
everywhere all of the time.

And, uh, if anyone...

And I mean anyone,

says things to the press
or the congressional club,

or to whomever
that might jeopardize

him staying in the White House,

I have to stop them.

My goodness, Don.
What happened to you?

[scoffs]

I take my position
very seriously.

Let's get this plane in the air.

[Martin] Senseless violence
took not only my wife...

but my son, Martin
Luther King Jr.

My heart is wounded.

My heart is bruised.

[church organ playing]

But it is not broken!

- [man] Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord.
- [woman] No!

[choir singing] Amazing Grace

- [attendees wailing]
- How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch

like me

I once

was lost

But now

am found

Was blind

but now

I see

[church organ continues]

Through many

dangers...

[Michelle] With the South
Side Healthcare Collaborative

any patient who shows
up in our emergency room

who can't afford a
primary care doctor

will instantly be
connected to one.

[attendees muttering] Mmm.

I'm talking about people
who live outside these walls.

Who sweep our floors, drive
our city's buses, collect our trash.

These are our neighbors.

And if we believe
that health care

is not just for the
privileged few,

then it's time we
served them too.

All right, thank you.

- Thanks, everyone.
- [Susan Sher] Mm-hmm.

[council member] I think making
you VP of Community Affairs

might be the best
decision I ever made.

Oh, I'm sorry. Your decision?

[Michelle chuckles]

Okay, fine. That was all Susan.

- But, what I'm trying
to say is,
- [chuckles]

I hired an amazing person
who hired an amazing person.

So, I think I
deserve a little credit.

[sniffs, clears throat]

[council member]
Thanks, Michelle.

I gotta say, you are on a
hell of a roll here, Michelle.

- [Michelle] Mm-hmm.
- And... [clears throat]

the noticeable increase in R &
B soul music playing in the ER

is my favorite part.

We gotta sound like we're
on the South Side too.

- [chuckles] Mmm.
- [chuckles]

And word on the street is,

your life away from work
might start getting a little busy.

You mean Barack's campaign?
That's his thing, not mine.

His thing is running for
president of the United States.

Which, I imagine, could
eventually mean everybody

in his life kind of thing.

Yeah, but we still don't know
how far the campaign will go.

And Barack knows I've
got my own thing going on--

Yeah, and I love
that about you guys.

I'm just saying
it's a possibility.

I have Sasha on the phone,

calling mummy
for the first time.

Oh! We'll pick up on this later.

[phone beeps]

Hi, bug. How you doing?

Who?

What do you mean,
there are secret people

all over the house?

- [indistinct radio chatter]
- Renaissance has landed.

Ma'am.

Hey, brother. Who
the hell are you?

Agent Allen Taylor, ma'am.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Your protective
detail starts today.

Shit!

[voice over radio]
Protection unit on scene.

- [voice on radio] ...   received.
- Hey, honey. You're home early.

[Michelle] Protective detail?

- You're not even a nominee yet.
- I know, right. It's--

Where are the girls?

[indistinct radio
chatter continues]

[upbeat music
playing on speaker]

- You're okay?
- [singsongy] Good morning!

[normal] Hmm? Mm-hmm.

- Mommy's here.
- [Young Malia] We're fine.

Hi.

[Young Malia] That's why
the secret people are here.

To protect us.

Well, that's what Dad said.

- One of them gave me candy.
- Spit it out.

- [Young Sasha] But, Mom.
- No candy from strangers,

you know that.

Give it to me.

[Young Sasha] Mm-mmm.

I told you.

Come here.

- Be good.
- Mm-hmm.

[sighs]

[indistinct radio chatter]

Boom. Your man kicked the
Secret Service out of the house.

I said, "Look,
fellas..." [chuckles]

"...I don't care how
many guns you got.

My wife doesn't like
it. Get to steppin'."

Now, strictly speaking,
they can't leave the property,

but-- [laughs]

- Come on.
- It's not funny, Barack.

There are men with
guns outside our home.

Did they say why now?

Well, look, there-there--
There have been some threats.

- Some letters, message boards.
- There are death threats?

[exhales sharply]

[sighs] Well, hey, look,
baby, we always knew there--

There would be some crazies.

Yeah. When did you
plan on telling me?

Uh. Well, uh, I-I was gonna,

but I-I didn't want
you to freak out.

Well, you certainly
failed at that.

[scoffs] Well, look--

I mean, Mich, th-this kind
of thing happens at this level.

Really?

John Edwards
have Secret Service?

What about John
McCain? Mitt Romney?

- Probably not.
- Yeah. You know why?

- You're a coon.
- [sighs]

You're a nigga,

running for president
of the United States.

So, yeah, there's a little
difference between you and those

- other candidates, Barack.
- Just--

Um, I could be president
of the United States.

Can you find it in yourself
to be a little excited for me?

Excuse me if I can't
share in the excitement

of my husband
potentially being shot.

It is interesting to me
that you're more willing

to believe in me being--

It be me being shot,
than me being president.

Oh, no. I think it's interesting

that you're willing to put your
family in harm's way because of

- your insatiable ambition.
- Don't do it. Don't do that.

Don't do that.

- [sighs]
- You know what?

Remember Jackie Kennedy?

[scoffs]

Her blood-splattered,
pink Chanel suit?

[snaps fingers] Her
kids had to see that.

Someone had to explain
that to them, Barack.

- Jackie Kennedy?
- Yeah.

Martin, Malcolm, all of the
above, this is not about that.

This is about the fact that
you don't want me in politics.

You have never
wanted me in politics.

So, just own up to
that, hold that, all right?

Because we've been through
the security details meticulously

at your request, right?

You came in here
with open eyes, so...

Mich?

Mich?

Make sure the girls
brush their teeth later.

[train racks rumbling]

[dogs barking]

Just needed some
daddy-chair time.

He used to love that old thing.

Still smells of him.

Yeah.

Yeah.

- Mama.
- [chuckles]

- [Young Michelle screaming]
- [paper rustles]

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

- Are you okay, baby?
- What's got into you?

- I got into Princeton! [laughs]
- Oh, honey! That's wonderful!

- That's amazing.
- They would've been fools

not to accept you.

I'm gonna scare all
the boys away from you.

- Oh, you would do that! [laughs]
- [Craig laughs]

Oh, what is it, Mommy?

Oh.

They're not offering
any financial aid?

I'm sorry. I got so
excited when I saw,

"Congratulations,
you're admitted."

- I stopped reading right there.
- Don't be sorry.

This is a big deal.
You should be happy.

[chuckles] But how
are we gonna pay for it?

You did the work to get in.
You leave this part up to us.

We got room to
take on another loan.

- [Young Michelle] You guys--
- Uh-uh-uh. Listen to me.

You belong there.

Just do your thing.

- Thank you.
- [Marian] Mmm.

[Marian sighs]

So, what's going on?

It's nothing.

Does "nothing" mean
you married a tornado

that turned everything you
ever planned for in your life,

upside down?

I'm just terrified my
girls are gonna see

their daddy's picture hanging
on someone's wall, like a--

Another dead Black hero.

[inhales sharply] Baby...

it seems you got two choices.

Both of them ending with that
man doing what he's gonna do.

Well, what-- What should I do?

You know what your
daddy used to say about you.

[imitating Fraser] Mich? Shit.

[laughing]

You can't tell
that girl nothin'!

- [Marian continues laughing]
- [laughs]

Mmm.

Yeah.

[news anchor] Still, with
the election 18 months away,

it is notable that Obama is

the earliest candidate
to ever receive

- a government security detail.
- [reporters clamoring]

Hey.

Mmm.

You're still at it?

[groans]

Ninety percent of
running for president

- is reading memos
- [sighs]

and the other ten is wondering

why the fuck you
ran in the first place.

So, how are we?

I--

I-I met this little, old lady, she
grabbed a hold of me, says,

[imitating old lady] "Mr. Obama, I
sure hope you become president

because I'm sick and tired
of lying to my grandchildren

that they can be anything".

Yeah...

- [normal] All right?
- Yeah.

I get that.

It's so much bigger
than us at this point,

and I'm scared.

[chuckles]

I need you.

Okay.

[Barack chuckles]

I got you.

I got you.

You always got me.

- Yes, I did.
- It's a bad habit.

- Thank God I got you.
- [chuckles]

Lucky old me. Come on.

[grunts] I-I know-- I know
what this position means.

[Michelle groans]

[chuckles]

[sighs]

[knocking]

Come in.

Mrs. R, we were
supposed to leave

for your tour 20 minutes ago.

The First Lady is waiting.

I don't need a tour. Uncle
Teddy lived there for eight years.

[Malvina] I know,
but it's part of the--

Charade?

Protocol.

Why can't it wait till
after the inauguration?

There's plenty of
time to reschedule.

My appointment is a four-year--

Sentence?

Term.

From your former
students, wishing you luck.

Oh.

You haven't touched
your breakfast.

I had coffee.

Mrs. R, you have an
impossibly long day

and your lunch isn't until 1:30,
you have to eat something.

[chuckles] Coffee is just fine.

It's more than most
Americans will have all day.

All right, well, we don't
have time to argue about it.

Okay, let's get going.

So, immediately
following your tour,

we're meeting with Edith
Helm about the State dinner.

Oh, is she staying
on as social secretary?

Mmm, better her than me.

Then, we have decorators
to meet with at noon.

From shaping young
minds to decorating.

And I need to shift
your meeting with Hick

- for the APP's.
- Oh, no.

We'll give it an hour, probably
sometime after 3:00 and--

[Eleanor] Oh, we'll need
much more than an hour.

It's just a few quotes
about the inauguration.

Oh, that's if you want
it to be a pop piece.

- [phone ringing]
- [employees chatting]

[Franklin] Senator.
Senator, I understand all of it.

All I am saying is that
the democratic party

has to be a united
front from day one.

Yes, thank you.

Eleanor, aren't you supposed
to be with the retiring First Lady?

We're on our way.

Will you make sure
that he reads this?

Uh, yes. Of course. What is it?

It's my suggestions for
cabinet appointments.

- [Louis] Okay. Both. [grunts]
- [overlapping] Female ones.

- Where are we with the speech?
- Well, not as far as we would be

were there not 40
other things to do.

What's more important
than the speech, Louis?

- It's tomorrow.
- I know. We'll get to it.

Well, let me see a draft of
it. I can cancel the First Lady.

You can't cancel the First Lady.

- I can cancel the First Lady.
- I told her she couldn't.

It's important that he lead
with the cold, hard truth.

Add some hope to it,

but he needs to state
the facts, plain and simple.

There are 30 million
Americans out of work

and they don't want
to be pandered to.

[Louis] Couldn't agree more.

Left to his own devices,

Franklin always errs on the
side of optimism but we need to

- strike the balance--
- Mrs. R.

Earl and the car have been
outside for over an hour.

- [Louis] Oh, goodness.
- That's entirely unnecessary.

I'm going to walk.

- You're not walking.
- You can't walk.

I most certainly am.

- [Louis] Mm-mmm.
- Mrs. R, Lou Hoover is waiting,

we really need to go.

Yes, let's not keep her waiting.

Louis, when can we
talk about the speech?

We will get to
it this afternoon.

Well, I'm all booked
up this afternoon.

Yes, I'm aware.

Oh, I see.

I'm good enough to get him here,

but not good
enough to keep going.

You have your own
schedule to worry about.

- Your own duties.
- Oh, good.

So, he's finally decided on
my job in the administration.

Y-Yes, uh, First Lady.

[scoffs]

That's not a job, Louis.
That's my circumstance.

Shall we, Tommy?

I need some fresh air.

[pan sizzling]

[grunts]

[groans]

[grunts]

Is that terribly uncomfortable?

[groans]

I don't know. It's all
pretty uncomfortable.

- Can I help you in any way?
- Hmm?

Let me finish making
breakfast for you.

[chuckles] Okay...

What is it?

[inhales, exhales deeply]

The Supreme court is
ordering the president

to release all the tapes.

He'll have no
choice but to resign.

Well, that is news.

Impeachment would
only add to the pain

the country is already in,

resignation will be
swift and definite.

Betty...

you must understand,
the country needs me.

- These last few months--
- Oh, would you fucking spare me!

Just for once.

Thirteen campaigns...

[sighs]

First the people of
Grand Rapids need you,

then the country needs you
to take the vice presidency

and now you're desperately
needed as President.

Can't you just be
man enough to admit

that you've always wanted this?

I am a man of
ambitions, Elizabeth. Yes.

I want to succeed.

I want to provide.

But if you think I want

what's being handed to
me from this administration,

and I realize my ambitions
have made life hard for you.

[scoffs]

But you knew what
you were getting into.

- No!
- [cloth rustling]

I did not know what
I was getting into.

[crockery clangs]

[smacks lips] But here I am.

[sighs]

And I will be here for you.

But I am going to be myself.

I am going to do and
say things that I believe in.

I think I've earned that right.

I'm going to take a shower.
You can finish up here.

Betty...

Thank you.

Are Pat and Julie okay?

I don't--

[sighing] I--

[normal] I'm
sure it's difficult.

Yes, it is.

["Life Line" playing]