The Lottery (2014): Season 1, Episode 4 - Genie - full transcript
Vanessa has second thoughts about the lottery and consults with Darius and the President.
Previously on "The Lottery"...
Man: 100 human eggs have been fertilized.
Let every woman out there have
a chance to hit the jackpot.
- My eggs were fertilized?
- One of them.
That child would be my child.
Woman: I heard it was suicide.
I received 300 phone calls.
The lottery has unleashed
an international shitstorm.
- Say you love me.
- Leave me alone.
A group of Chinese
terrorists kidnapped Nathan
and four other diplomats.
- Were there any agenda changes?
- I don't know.
I never got a chance to
see the final schedule.
You're his senior advisor.
How do you not know this?
We should step away from
the negotiating table.
- [Gun cocks]
- Listen to... stop it! Please!
- Don't...
- [Gunshot]
Kyle Walker! Freeze!
Put the boy down!
I need a blood sample.
I thought the answer was my sperm.
Yeah, me too.
James: It's the black death virus.
As in the bubonic plague?
Alison!
Are you stalking me?
If you feel like calling, you call.
- If not...
- [Silenced gunshots]
[Breathing shakily]
Please.
Who are you?
Matt: Don't worry. It's okay.
Matt Kordus... secret service.
I've been assigned to protect you.
So you're on my team?
Yes.
[Breathing shakily]
Then who's that?
Matt: Rustam Samir, Azerbaijani national.
I had no choice. He was going for his gun.
He was about to make a move on Dr. Lennon.
- Kidnap or kill?
- Kidnap.
He was gonna sell her
to the highest bidder.
Word is Saudi Arabia was up to $50 million.
Five diplomats dead, and now this.
The lottery was a great idea, wasn't it?
You look like you've been through the wars.
Oh, I think they're just starting.
Why don't you go home? Get some rest.
I'm not very good at that.
[Panting]
I still can't believe it.
- 100 viable human embryos.
- [Cellphone beeps]
It could be the end
of the fertility crisis.
Unfortunately, our international
partners have a different perspective.
Screw them.
[Panting continues]
Alison: Our goal is to make
sure all potential surrogates
are healthy and prepared
for the responsibility of motherhood.
Man: And now this message
from the first lady of the United States.
Gabrielle: Any one of you
could be among the lucky 100.
Any one of you could be chosen
to carry forward our future.
For six years, we have
longed to see a baby's smile,
to look into the eyes of an infant
and imagine infinite possibilities
for this new life.
I applaud you. I envy you.
And I am grateful to
each and every one of you
for enlisting in this
exciting and critical venture.
Vanessa: I really thought the
lottery was the right decision.
I mean, yeah, sure, I thought
it might boost the president's numbers,
but it wasn't just about that.
It... it wasn't a publicity stunt.
The country was coming unglued.
It was motivational.
I thought it would rally the nation.
[Scoffs] It's working.
The testing centers are jammed.
200,000 women have applied.
And five people are dead,
and your husband can
barely look me in the eye.
He wants Darius to present alternatives.
I'll bet you're glad you got me this job.
You got yourself the job.
I just recommended you.
I'm sorry about Nathan.
You said you were just
friends, I know, but [Sighs]
You said the same thing
about Jon Kraus in law school.
You'd make this funny,
little smile and say,
"he's really cute, but we're just friends."
Are you okay?
[Sighs] Nope.
The worst part is it's
like he saw it coming.
He told me it was a mistake...
that I'd created "an
international shitstorm."
It's not your fault, Vanessa.
Bubonic plague?
How is that even possible?
Yeah, well, that was our reaction, too.
Well, look, good news is you
don't seem to have any symptoms.
Well, then why am I in this box?
The middle ages... 50%
of Europe wiped out.
We just thought we should
be a little cautious.
We got enough population problems
these days. You know what I mean?
What about Elvis?
We tested him.
He's fine.
All right, everybody
here tested negative, too,
so it doesn't appear to be
spreading, which is terrific...
And, uh... and confusing.
Where is my son?
Vanessa: I just talked to the C.I.A.
There's nothing new on
the hostage investigation.
So we have no hard leads?
All we know is our
security team in Shanghai
was given the wrong arrival time.
The team leader got a transmission
pushing back the scheduled
landing from 1500 to 1800.
When Nathan and the others arrived,
there was no one there to protect them.
Yeah, but no one could've
changed the arrival time
without the live password.
The C.I.A. traced the transmission
to Michael Elliot's sat-phone.
He's a deputy undersecretary
on the eastern European desk.
Yeah, but he wouldn't
have had the password.
No. Not through channels, anyway.
So, we think someone hacked Elliot's phone?
Or stole it?
Looks that way.
[Cellphone vibrates]
God. Nate's mother keeps calling.
That poor woman's hysterical.
We're trying to make
arrangements for the funeral.
Uh, they're driving over
to his office right now.
I promised I would meet them over there.
Right. Good luck.
Oh, uh, the C.I.A. is
on their way over, too.
They've already searched Nate's office.
No, they want to talk to you.
You're one of the seven
people with the password.
I'm glad the president
is willing to entertain
alternative ideas,
especially in light of what's happened.
He'll need your proposals
by tomorrow afternoon.
Absolutely.
It makes sense, Vanessa.
What does?
Transferring control to
the department of humanity.
We were created for this.
We can take control of the
surrogates, of the embryos,
and, of course, the
security risk disappears
the second the president signs the order.
He's also concerned about
the optics of the transition.
The optics are what got us into this mess.
You notice anything weird
about the virus Kyle's carrying?
It's hollow.
All the active parts of
the virus are missing.
It's harmless.
Exactly.
It's a husk, a delivery vehicle.
The only reason you hollow out a virus
is to fill it with engineered proteins
and inject it into somebody.
And the only reason you do that
is to vaccinate them against what?
Who the hell uses bubonic
plague to deliver a vaccine?
[Sighs]
Well, another medical mystery
with no solution, I guess.
What if...
what if it's why Kyle's
sperm stayed productive...
why he stayed fertile
longer than anybody else?
You're fine.
I don't have the virus?
You have it, but it's a dummy.
What the hell does that mean?
All the dangerous parts
have been eliminated.
It's harmless.
So how did I get it?
As part of a vaccine.
- Do you recall getting any kind of...
- Where's Elvis?
Someone from the department of humanity
took him to a home or a dorm.
- I'm not sure.
- So who do I talk to?
Uh, I have no idea.
You work for the department of humanity.
That's who you said took
Elvis, so it should be easy.
[Sighs] It doesn't work that way.
I-I'm a scientist.
I don't deal with...
taking people's kids for no reason?
That... that's what,
a different division?
So who runs that division?
Alison: He's upset.
I understand, but it's
not within my jurisdiction.
He's a valuable scientific tool...
the last man we know of to
father a child, to fertilize an egg.
I got the criminal charges
dropped, and it wasn't easy.
You have his blood, and you have his sperm,
so you should have enough
to conduct whatever test...
I need his life...
his experiences, his memory,
his cooperation...
And I'm not gonna get it if
he's obsessing about his kid.
Look, I'm sorry they took his son.
I am. I get it.
But the D.O.H. is autonomous.
It is not as easy as you think.
He's a kid alone...
In a scary place.
[Sighs]
James: Did Kyle remember
being vaccinated or anything?
No, but there's got to be a way to find out
if there's a connection.
To fertility?
You're going down the rabbit hole.
[Keyboard clacking]
- [Computer beeps]
- Crap.
Of course she had to be cremated.
I'll be back.
Uh, a heads up... I'll be
leaving in about 10 minutes.
I've never had a bodyguard before,
so I'm not sure how this works.
I make sure you don't
get kidnapped or killed.
- That's it?
- Pretty much.
Just so we're clear, this is not my house.
I have no legal right to enter.
You're cool with that?
[Sighs]
You really don't care, do you?
No.
The thing with the lock...
that was good.
[Device beeping]
Whose hairbrush?
Brooke Ashton.
Brooke Ashton. The egg donor?
The one who committed suicide?
The one who's dead, yeah.
Where'd you get it?
Her house.
I want to see if it has the same virus husk
in her DNA that Kyle has.
Now you're just grasping at straws.
We'll know in eight hours.
[Computer beeping]
[Mid-tempo music plays]
[Buzzer sounds]
♪ How do I get close to you? ♪
Hey.
♪ Even if we don't
notice just how far you are ♪
Listen, before you say anything...
I don't need any money.
Happy Birthday, sis.
[Singing indistinctly]
♪ You won't let anybody else ♪
[Low-tempo music plays]
My worst birthday? Yeah.
I'd have to say the one
where that asshole Mr. Carlton
locked me in the cellar
because I didn't say thank you fast enough.
Yeah, that was a bad one.
♪ Is working ♪ you?
Worst?
- The one where that Mr. Holsher.
- Hullbert.
Hullbert, right. What a prick.
I should have punched that
son of a bitch in the face.
You did.
Oh, right.
- [Both chuckle]
- I forgot about that.
He deserved it...
shoving cake in your face like that.
I still can't get you to eat the stuff.
What were you 10?
9.
Foster care ain't for sissies.
Nope.
Well, at least we had each other.
Thank God.
If I didn't have you...
My life would be so much easier.
[Chuckles]
I'm serious.
Imagine what it would be
like to do it all alone.
I don't even want to think
about how scary that would be.
Vanessa: Thank you for seeing us.
I'm not clear why the chief of staff
is requesting a visit for his father.
The White House has a strong
interest in the child's welfare.
There's an emergency
custody hearing scheduled.
Until that's resolved
in Mr. Walker's favor,
he's not allowed to visit.
What... you're just
gonna keep him locked up?
Can you imagine how scared he is?
According to our doctors,
the boy is doing just fine...
settling in nicely.
Settling into what,
exactly? What is this place?
A department of humanity facility.
Yeah, no, I got that.
What is going on here?
Why are there doctors?
Is it a hospital? Is it a research center?
I mean, what are you doing to him?
- We're taking care of him.
- I'm... I'm sorry.
Who here knows how to do that?
Do you know what his favorite cereal is
or when it's time to check his blood sugar?
What scares him? What about his mom?
What do you say when he asks about her?
He's a 6-year-old boy.
He's been taken away from his father.
No matter what your doctors are saying,
he can't be doing "just fine."
At least let Mr. Walker go in
and explain to the boy what's going on.
Policy is policy, Ms. Keller.
Your policy is bureaucratic bullshit.
It may be able to keep
Mr. Walker from his son,
but I'm not going anywhere
until I see what's going on here.
Hi, Elvis.
I'm Vanessa.
Are you okay?
I want my dad.
Time to go in, Elvis.
Where are you taking him?
Who are you?
Vanessa Keller, White House chief of staff.
Where are you taking him?
We're going to run a few tests.
What kind of tests?
We're trying to find a cure
for the fertility crisis.
Yes, what kind of tests?
We treat all of our subjects with dignity.
He's a little boy.
He's not a subject. He's not a lab rat.
Elvis, why don't you go play
on that swing set for a bit?
I'm sorry.
Uh, what tests can you
run on a 6-year-old boy
that could help cure infertility?
With Elvis, we're just accumulating data,
but we expect more children soon...
older children.
And then what will you do with them?
We intend to put them
on a hormone regimen...
To induce early puberty.
Then we can determine whether
or not they're fertile.
What are the effects of
that, besides forcing puberty?
Side effects?
That will be part of the study.
You don't know?
Are these children Guinea pigs?
We have a mandate, Ms. Keller.
The more subjects we have,
the more likely we can enjoy success.
Are there adult subjects here, as well?
There will be.
This is where the lottery
winners will be housed.
That's the rumor, anyway.
We're all really excited about it.
[Footsteps approaching]
Well?
He's a beautiful boy.
Is he okay?
Yes. He seems fine.
What does that mean?
Uh, he looks healthy.
There's a playground.
Other children?
Yes, yes, yes. Several others.
A little older than Elvis,
of course, but close enough.
What did you say to him?
I told him that his
father loves him very much.
Kyle.
Get a lawyer and fight like
hell at that custody hearing.
Results on the stolen hairbrush?
- Yep.
- [Computer beeps]
- And?
- Identical.
Brooke Ashton's DNA contained
the same virus husk as Kyle's.
Okay, that's... just plain weird,
but still, it's quite
a leap to assume that...
Kyle and Brooke were both vaccinated
against something using this bubonic husk.
His sperm fertilized her egg,
so they were both obviously
fertile after the crisis hit.
- Okay. All right.
- [Computer beeps]
Either that's one hell of a coincidence
or I'm right and there's
some sort of connection.
James: So, what, you're digging
up their medical records?
[Sighs]
No. Again, all right, rabbit hole.
You're saying somebody knew
a fertility crisis was coming
and they knew how to vaccinate
against it, which means what?
Which means they knew
what was gonna cause it.
That sounds pretty farfetched.
Is it?
Yeah, it is, actually.
Think about it, James
two fertile people
in an infertile world with
the same bizarre vaccination.
Well, if somebody knew,
why weren't we warned?
Why wasn't everybody vaccinated?
It's got to be coincidence.
Look at this. James: Hmm?
They both visited the same
medical clinic in Georgetown
on the same day eight years ago
and were seen by the same doctor.
Still think it's coincidental?
What the hell's going on?
I just got a call from the C.I.A.
Said you refused to take a polygraph.
Yeah. I'm a lawyer
[Sniffles] just like you.
I know my rights, and I know
how things can get twisted.
They're not trying to frame you, Conner.
Five diplomats were killed in China.
They need to figure out what happened.
They're trying to eliminate you. That's it.
Make their lives easier and yours.
Well, I told them I didn't
have anything to do with this.
I just got done clearing
out Nathan's office.
[Sighs] So you've been drinking.
I thought you gave that up.
- I did.
- God's sake, Conner.
- Conner...
- You sent him there.
You and your stupid
lottery. This is on you.
You're the reason Nathan's dead.
[Indistinct conversations]
[James sighs]
You're driving everybody crazy.
[Sighs]
Constant infusion of
adrenaline into the bloodstream
is bad for you on so many levels.
[Sighs]
- Dr. Lennon? Mark Kessler.
- Oh.
Congratulations on your accomplishment.
What you have done is... is extraordinary.
How can I help you?
Well, we're looking for a Dr. Mark Kessler
who practiced here at this
clinic eight years ago.
That would be my father.
I'd really like to speak with him.
Is he still practicing here?
He died in a plane crash eight years ago.
- I'm so sorry.
- Wait. Eight years ago?
Is there anyone still here who
worked with your father?
No.
If you'll let me know what you're
after, maybe I can help you.
Yeah, well, actually, we were...
uh, when, exactly, was the plane crash?
June 8, 2017.
- Woman: Dr. Kessler?
- Uh, yeah.
Sorry. If that's all you need...
- Yeah, did your father have a specialty?
- Ob-ob-GYN..
He wasn't taking many patients anymore.
He was mostly doing research.
What kind?
Fertility.
Ironic, I guess. [Chuckles]
Anyway, uh, congratulations,
and, uh, good luck.
Oh, thank you.
Hey. You could have just asked
to see his father's records.
He died one week after he
inoculated Kyle and Brooke.
Okay.
Now, call me paranoid if you want to,
but I find that really suspicious.
And I'm not gonna just
spill it to some stranger
until I know more.
Come on. Let's go.
[Elevator beeping]
Vanessa: I wanted to
talk to you about Conner.
I know he's been acting strangely
and that he hasn't been
cooperating with the C.I.A.
Conner's under a lot of pressure.
He and Nathan were very close, so...
It's not hard to understand
why he started drinking again.
- He refused a polygraph.
- [Cellphone rings]
I know. Oh.
- [Cellphone beeps]
- Conner, look, you really need to...
Okay, okay. Calm down.
Where are you?
Stay there.
Leave the gun in the car and step outside!
Oh, my God.
Conner! Oh, my God.
Ma'am, stay back. Okay.
Security saw him pacing around,
threatening to commit suicide.
Conner! It's me! It's Vanessa!
Let me talk to him. I know him.
Ma'am... ma'am,
I said stay back!
Vanessa!
Put the gun down!
Okay, Conner!
Just put the gun down, damn it!
[Slurring] Vanessa.
I need to talk to you.
Put the gun down now!
Vanessa, there's
something you need to know.
I said put the gun down!
I'm not gonna repeat myself!
Conner, put the gun down, please!
- I... no!
- Put the gun down!
- No, no, no!
- Leave her alone!
[Gunshots]
[Police radio chatter]
Vanessa: It doesn't make sense.
Ma'am, you need to wait here.
We're going to need a statement.
Hey.
- Come on.
- Darius.
That was Conner.
- They just killed Conner.
- I heard.
It's better if we're not too close to this.
He wanted to talk to me.
He was... he was trying
to tell me something.
- What did he say?
- They shot him.
He was looking for a way out.
- What?
- Conner set up Nathan.
He was behind the Chinese abduction.
- That's official?
- Yeah.
[Sighs]
C.I.A. found an offshore
account in Conner's name
with $500,000 in it.
Wire transfer was executed
the night Nathan and the others
were kidnapped in Shanghai.
I can't believe it.
You're saying Conner set him up.
Conner cared about Nathan.
He would never get involved
in something like that.
Then what the hell was he
doing walking around with a gun
threatening to kill himself?
[Telephone rings]
Mr. Walker.
I'd like to say I have lots of experience
with "D" of "H" custody hearings,
but there aren't enough kids these days.
Good news is, I'm free.
The "D" of "H" picks up my tab.
Isn't that a conflict?
Technically,
but if you sign a waiver
letter, we'll be fine.
You are, of course, free
to find a private attorney.
So, how does this work?
It's pretty simple.
You make your case to the...
the department of humanity,
and the judges determine
what's best for your son.
Right, well, that seems problematic.
In what way?
Well, you're telling me
I need to convince the
department of humanity.
They're the pricks that took
Elvis in the first place.
The judges will be objective.
What's the strategy? I mean,
how do we do this, then?
I'll do what I can.
That's not a strategy.
Look, you punched a hospital
employee and kidnapped your son.
You also let him ride in
the front seat of your car.
You showed up late for
after-school pickup.
My question... my question
is, how do I get my son back?
How do we win this?
It's the department of
humanity, Mr. Walker.
You need to adjust your expectations.
[Sighs]
So, I did some checking.
Uh, Dr. Kessler Sr.
Was working with a zoologist
named Dr. Carl Bunin.
Why would an Ob-Ob-GYN. Be
working with a zoologist?
Exactly.
[Sighs]
Alison, listen, I was thinking.
You said Brooke Ashton was murdered.
You said Darius Hayes is dangerous.
You said there was something
going on... something bad...
and I-I-I didn't believe you.
And I thought you were crazy.
I was wrong.
And I apologize.
Thank you.
It's a relief not to be the
only one in the room who's crazy.
[Chuckles]
So you're gonna keep pushing
for the truth, aren't you?
By myself?
No. I'm in.
I just think the truth might be unhealthy.
Somebody's got to be behind all this,
trying to keep things hidden.
It won't stay hidden
Not if I can help it.
What's our move?
We keep digging... Quietly...
And hope to God we nail
them before they nail us.
[Applause]
- [Applause stops]
- Vanessa.
- May I have a moment... on-camera?
- Jack.
Joining me now is White House
chief of staff Vanessa Keller.
This is her first official interview
since the announcement of the lottery.
So, tell us, Ms. Keller,
is the lottery playing out as you'd hoped?
Yes. People are inspired.
The mood of the nation has improved.
But most importantly,
I'm proud of what the lottery stands for.
In times like these,
the ideals of democracy
must be front and center,
and giving all healthy
women of a certain age
an equal opportunity to win...
I think that's a terrific
way of achieving that.
Have you given any thought to what happens
to the winners after they're selected,
after the embryos are implanted...
what their lives will be like?
In what respect?
Well, these women will
be literally carrying
the future of the human
race inside their bodies.
Will they have any extra protection?
Will they be free to come
and go as they please?
What role will the
department of humanity play
in their pregnancies, in
their lives, in their children?
The president and I, are discussing
these issues on a daily basis.
Can you be a little more specific?
Well, all I can say is that we intend
to do everything in our power
to protect the lives and the
dignity of the 100 winners.
They will be safe but free.
The government wants to
support them, not control them.
Thank you.
What about the latest poll numbers?
Uh, why aren't the president's
approval ratings higher?
By all accounts, the
lottery is a huge success,
so why aren't his numbers through the roof?
We don't really pay attention to polls.
Have the people stopped
believing in Thomas Westwood?
[Chuckles] That's ridiculous.
There is no reason not
to trust the president.
Throughout this entire process,
he has been nothing but
candid and transparent.
Remember, the whole point of a lottery
is to give everyone a fair chance...
to be Democratic.
Why does the White House
get to pick the winners?
That doesn't seem very Democratic.
The rules of the lottery
were designed to be inclusive and fair.
And, again, we're not
worried about ratings.
We're too busy trying to
do what really matters.
Well, what really matters?
At this precise moment,
what is the single most critical
issue facing this nation?
Us.
Excuse me?
Despite the enormous
challenges ahead of us,
we can't forsake our own humanity
in the name of preserving it.
It's good to see you again, Jack.
[Mid-tempo music plays]
- Tracy.
- In the flesh.
[Sighs]
You look good.
Shocking, huh?
I've been, uh, sober for about a year now.
That's great. Yeah.
How's Elvis?
Elvis is, uh...
What?
What's wrong?
They took him.
Who took him?
The department of humanity.
The department of humanity?
What did you do, Kyle?
Tracy, I didn't do anything.
They can't just take him for no reason.
That's exactly what they did.
[Sighs]
I forgot... nothing's ever your fault.
You do not know what it's like.
You have not been around
the past four years.
Yeah, that's 'cause you took
my son, and you walked away.
I took Elvis when I came home one night
and found him crying in his crib
for his mother who was too wasted
to even realize that he was gone.
I knew.
- You didn't call for two days.
- I knew.
I knew you had him. I
knew he was all right.
I didn't call because I was relieved.
I never meant to get pregnant.
Nobody was getting
pregnant, and suddenly I did.
And now I'm the world's luckiest woman...
everybody congratulating
me, slobbering all over me,
giving me advice, judging me.
I wasn't ready to become a mother.
But that's what finally got me sober...
knowing that one day,
I could see him again.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, well, you could have returned
my calls or my texts. I could have.
I just wanted to keep moving forward.
So what are we gonna do about Elvis?
There's gonna be a custody hearing.
I am gonna lose.
Elvis will become a ward of the state
unless you come forward
and you can convince them
into giving him to you.
He asks about you.
What do you tell him?
I tell him that you love him very much,
but you're sick, and you'll
see him when you're better.
Will you help us?
Darius: At the end of the day,
we all want the same thing.
We want to save the species.
We want humankind to endure.
The lottery doesn't serve that goal.
It's an impediment.
We've already had diplomats murdered.
We've had a kidnapping
attempt on our lead scientist.
We've had scandal and
death within our own ranks.
And all we've done so far
is announce the lottery.
What happens when it actually goes online?
What happens when we select those 100 women
and impregnate them?
It's time to pull back
on the lottery, sir...
put the genie back in the bottle.
Is that possible?
I made a promise to the American people.
I've thought about that, sir.
We can create emergency legislation
to give you political cover,
make it look like this
wasn't your decision.
This isn't about political cover.
Taking away people's
freedoms and human rights
is the wrong choice.
It is the choice of
dictators and sociopaths.
Destroying some to save others
is not a line we can cross.
Nobody's talking about destroying anyone.
I know what you're doing. I've seen it.
Our mandate under the fertility act
is to ensure the continuation
of the human race
"by any means necessary."
Imprisoning babies is not going to ensure
the continuation of anything
except for inhumanity.
For God's sake, it is insane.
In 10 years, we will have lost
50% of the human population.
In 80 years, we will be extinct.
If we have to sacrifice
a few happy childhoods
to secure our future,
then that's what we do.
Destroy the village to save it?
You know he's planning on
experimenting on the children?
President Westwood: Look,
let's be honest here.
The lottery was meant to inspire hope.
It hasn't.
The people aren't responding.
Why are we doing this
great thing if no one cares?
It's not working, Vanessa.
Sir, your numbers are soft
because the lottery only appeals
to the women who are eligible...
women between the ages of 18 and 32.
The rest of the country...
they're not invested.
And why should they be?
What's in it for them?
I want the whole country
on the edge of their seats.
I want you to let the people
vote on the surrogates.
Let the nation choose the winners.
Invest everyone,
not just the women hoping to be mothers.
If we're worried about the polls,
all we have to do is wait nine months.
Things will be very different
the day those 100 babies are born.
He's right, but you won't
be in office in nine months.
You won't see the benefit
of those 100 crying babies.
Your successor will.
The next person who sits in that chair
will be the hero... not you.
[Sighs]
[Doorbell rings]
It's okay.
What's up?
I gave up my apartment in Pittsburgh.
I spent my money on passports I can't use.
I don't know anybody else in D.C.
I need to stick around
until the custody hearing.
[Car alarm chirps]
Director Hayes.
I need your help, James.
Mine?
The president is making a mistake
with the embryos you
and Dr. Lennon created.
He's putting them at risk.
I know you're working hard to create more.
If you succeed, you need
to let me know... me...
and no one else.
Alison is in charge of the project.
- I can't.
- She's a loose Cannon.
I know you can't control what she does.
I just need you to let me know
as soon as you do if
there are more embryos.
Why?
I can make sure they're properly protected.
We failed with the first 100.
We can't let it happen again.
We all want the same thing, James.
My fellow Americans, in times of struggle,
democracy comes under attack,
but we cannot retreat.
This country was founded on
the principles of fairness,
freedom, and transparency.
The lottery is an expression
of those fundamental
ideals and aspirations.
So, despite early setbacks,
we intend to move forward.
There will be a lottery,
and we will show the
world what we're about.
In fact, we want to invest
the nation in this event.
We want you, the people
of this great country,
to vote for the winners,
to pick the next generation of mothers,
to have a voice in saving humanity.
[Swing squeaking]
Man: 100 human eggs have been fertilized.
Let every woman out there have
a chance to hit the jackpot.
- My eggs were fertilized?
- One of them.
That child would be my child.
Woman: I heard it was suicide.
I received 300 phone calls.
The lottery has unleashed
an international shitstorm.
- Say you love me.
- Leave me alone.
A group of Chinese
terrorists kidnapped Nathan
and four other diplomats.
- Were there any agenda changes?
- I don't know.
I never got a chance to
see the final schedule.
You're his senior advisor.
How do you not know this?
We should step away from
the negotiating table.
- [Gun cocks]
- Listen to... stop it! Please!
- Don't...
- [Gunshot]
Kyle Walker! Freeze!
Put the boy down!
I need a blood sample.
I thought the answer was my sperm.
Yeah, me too.
James: It's the black death virus.
As in the bubonic plague?
Alison!
Are you stalking me?
If you feel like calling, you call.
- If not...
- [Silenced gunshots]
[Breathing shakily]
Please.
Who are you?
Matt: Don't worry. It's okay.
Matt Kordus... secret service.
I've been assigned to protect you.
So you're on my team?
Yes.
[Breathing shakily]
Then who's that?
Matt: Rustam Samir, Azerbaijani national.
I had no choice. He was going for his gun.
He was about to make a move on Dr. Lennon.
- Kidnap or kill?
- Kidnap.
He was gonna sell her
to the highest bidder.
Word is Saudi Arabia was up to $50 million.
Five diplomats dead, and now this.
The lottery was a great idea, wasn't it?
You look like you've been through the wars.
Oh, I think they're just starting.
Why don't you go home? Get some rest.
I'm not very good at that.
[Panting]
I still can't believe it.
- 100 viable human embryos.
- [Cellphone beeps]
It could be the end
of the fertility crisis.
Unfortunately, our international
partners have a different perspective.
Screw them.
[Panting continues]
Alison: Our goal is to make
sure all potential surrogates
are healthy and prepared
for the responsibility of motherhood.
Man: And now this message
from the first lady of the United States.
Gabrielle: Any one of you
could be among the lucky 100.
Any one of you could be chosen
to carry forward our future.
For six years, we have
longed to see a baby's smile,
to look into the eyes of an infant
and imagine infinite possibilities
for this new life.
I applaud you. I envy you.
And I am grateful to
each and every one of you
for enlisting in this
exciting and critical venture.
Vanessa: I really thought the
lottery was the right decision.
I mean, yeah, sure, I thought
it might boost the president's numbers,
but it wasn't just about that.
It... it wasn't a publicity stunt.
The country was coming unglued.
It was motivational.
I thought it would rally the nation.
[Scoffs] It's working.
The testing centers are jammed.
200,000 women have applied.
And five people are dead,
and your husband can
barely look me in the eye.
He wants Darius to present alternatives.
I'll bet you're glad you got me this job.
You got yourself the job.
I just recommended you.
I'm sorry about Nathan.
You said you were just
friends, I know, but [Sighs]
You said the same thing
about Jon Kraus in law school.
You'd make this funny,
little smile and say,
"he's really cute, but we're just friends."
Are you okay?
[Sighs] Nope.
The worst part is it's
like he saw it coming.
He told me it was a mistake...
that I'd created "an
international shitstorm."
It's not your fault, Vanessa.
Bubonic plague?
How is that even possible?
Yeah, well, that was our reaction, too.
Well, look, good news is you
don't seem to have any symptoms.
Well, then why am I in this box?
The middle ages... 50%
of Europe wiped out.
We just thought we should
be a little cautious.
We got enough population problems
these days. You know what I mean?
What about Elvis?
We tested him.
He's fine.
All right, everybody
here tested negative, too,
so it doesn't appear to be
spreading, which is terrific...
And, uh... and confusing.
Where is my son?
Vanessa: I just talked to the C.I.A.
There's nothing new on
the hostage investigation.
So we have no hard leads?
All we know is our
security team in Shanghai
was given the wrong arrival time.
The team leader got a transmission
pushing back the scheduled
landing from 1500 to 1800.
When Nathan and the others arrived,
there was no one there to protect them.
Yeah, but no one could've
changed the arrival time
without the live password.
The C.I.A. traced the transmission
to Michael Elliot's sat-phone.
He's a deputy undersecretary
on the eastern European desk.
Yeah, but he wouldn't
have had the password.
No. Not through channels, anyway.
So, we think someone hacked Elliot's phone?
Or stole it?
Looks that way.
[Cellphone vibrates]
God. Nate's mother keeps calling.
That poor woman's hysterical.
We're trying to make
arrangements for the funeral.
Uh, they're driving over
to his office right now.
I promised I would meet them over there.
Right. Good luck.
Oh, uh, the C.I.A. is
on their way over, too.
They've already searched Nate's office.
No, they want to talk to you.
You're one of the seven
people with the password.
I'm glad the president
is willing to entertain
alternative ideas,
especially in light of what's happened.
He'll need your proposals
by tomorrow afternoon.
Absolutely.
It makes sense, Vanessa.
What does?
Transferring control to
the department of humanity.
We were created for this.
We can take control of the
surrogates, of the embryos,
and, of course, the
security risk disappears
the second the president signs the order.
He's also concerned about
the optics of the transition.
The optics are what got us into this mess.
You notice anything weird
about the virus Kyle's carrying?
It's hollow.
All the active parts of
the virus are missing.
It's harmless.
Exactly.
It's a husk, a delivery vehicle.
The only reason you hollow out a virus
is to fill it with engineered proteins
and inject it into somebody.
And the only reason you do that
is to vaccinate them against what?
Who the hell uses bubonic
plague to deliver a vaccine?
[Sighs]
Well, another medical mystery
with no solution, I guess.
What if...
what if it's why Kyle's
sperm stayed productive...
why he stayed fertile
longer than anybody else?
You're fine.
I don't have the virus?
You have it, but it's a dummy.
What the hell does that mean?
All the dangerous parts
have been eliminated.
It's harmless.
So how did I get it?
As part of a vaccine.
- Do you recall getting any kind of...
- Where's Elvis?
Someone from the department of humanity
took him to a home or a dorm.
- I'm not sure.
- So who do I talk to?
Uh, I have no idea.
You work for the department of humanity.
That's who you said took
Elvis, so it should be easy.
[Sighs] It doesn't work that way.
I-I'm a scientist.
I don't deal with...
taking people's kids for no reason?
That... that's what,
a different division?
So who runs that division?
Alison: He's upset.
I understand, but it's
not within my jurisdiction.
He's a valuable scientific tool...
the last man we know of to
father a child, to fertilize an egg.
I got the criminal charges
dropped, and it wasn't easy.
You have his blood, and you have his sperm,
so you should have enough
to conduct whatever test...
I need his life...
his experiences, his memory,
his cooperation...
And I'm not gonna get it if
he's obsessing about his kid.
Look, I'm sorry they took his son.
I am. I get it.
But the D.O.H. is autonomous.
It is not as easy as you think.
He's a kid alone...
In a scary place.
[Sighs]
James: Did Kyle remember
being vaccinated or anything?
No, but there's got to be a way to find out
if there's a connection.
To fertility?
You're going down the rabbit hole.
[Keyboard clacking]
- [Computer beeps]
- Crap.
Of course she had to be cremated.
I'll be back.
Uh, a heads up... I'll be
leaving in about 10 minutes.
I've never had a bodyguard before,
so I'm not sure how this works.
I make sure you don't
get kidnapped or killed.
- That's it?
- Pretty much.
Just so we're clear, this is not my house.
I have no legal right to enter.
You're cool with that?
[Sighs]
You really don't care, do you?
No.
The thing with the lock...
that was good.
[Device beeping]
Whose hairbrush?
Brooke Ashton.
Brooke Ashton. The egg donor?
The one who committed suicide?
The one who's dead, yeah.
Where'd you get it?
Her house.
I want to see if it has the same virus husk
in her DNA that Kyle has.
Now you're just grasping at straws.
We'll know in eight hours.
[Computer beeping]
[Mid-tempo music plays]
[Buzzer sounds]
♪ How do I get close to you? ♪
Hey.
♪ Even if we don't
notice just how far you are ♪
Listen, before you say anything...
I don't need any money.
Happy Birthday, sis.
[Singing indistinctly]
♪ You won't let anybody else ♪
[Low-tempo music plays]
My worst birthday? Yeah.
I'd have to say the one
where that asshole Mr. Carlton
locked me in the cellar
because I didn't say thank you fast enough.
Yeah, that was a bad one.
♪ Is working ♪ you?
Worst?
- The one where that Mr. Holsher.
- Hullbert.
Hullbert, right. What a prick.
I should have punched that
son of a bitch in the face.
You did.
Oh, right.
- [Both chuckle]
- I forgot about that.
He deserved it...
shoving cake in your face like that.
I still can't get you to eat the stuff.
What were you 10?
9.
Foster care ain't for sissies.
Nope.
Well, at least we had each other.
Thank God.
If I didn't have you...
My life would be so much easier.
[Chuckles]
I'm serious.
Imagine what it would be
like to do it all alone.
I don't even want to think
about how scary that would be.
Vanessa: Thank you for seeing us.
I'm not clear why the chief of staff
is requesting a visit for his father.
The White House has a strong
interest in the child's welfare.
There's an emergency
custody hearing scheduled.
Until that's resolved
in Mr. Walker's favor,
he's not allowed to visit.
What... you're just
gonna keep him locked up?
Can you imagine how scared he is?
According to our doctors,
the boy is doing just fine...
settling in nicely.
Settling into what,
exactly? What is this place?
A department of humanity facility.
Yeah, no, I got that.
What is going on here?
Why are there doctors?
Is it a hospital? Is it a research center?
I mean, what are you doing to him?
- We're taking care of him.
- I'm... I'm sorry.
Who here knows how to do that?
Do you know what his favorite cereal is
or when it's time to check his blood sugar?
What scares him? What about his mom?
What do you say when he asks about her?
He's a 6-year-old boy.
He's been taken away from his father.
No matter what your doctors are saying,
he can't be doing "just fine."
At least let Mr. Walker go in
and explain to the boy what's going on.
Policy is policy, Ms. Keller.
Your policy is bureaucratic bullshit.
It may be able to keep
Mr. Walker from his son,
but I'm not going anywhere
until I see what's going on here.
Hi, Elvis.
I'm Vanessa.
Are you okay?
I want my dad.
Time to go in, Elvis.
Where are you taking him?
Who are you?
Vanessa Keller, White House chief of staff.
Where are you taking him?
We're going to run a few tests.
What kind of tests?
We're trying to find a cure
for the fertility crisis.
Yes, what kind of tests?
We treat all of our subjects with dignity.
He's a little boy.
He's not a subject. He's not a lab rat.
Elvis, why don't you go play
on that swing set for a bit?
I'm sorry.
Uh, what tests can you
run on a 6-year-old boy
that could help cure infertility?
With Elvis, we're just accumulating data,
but we expect more children soon...
older children.
And then what will you do with them?
We intend to put them
on a hormone regimen...
To induce early puberty.
Then we can determine whether
or not they're fertile.
What are the effects of
that, besides forcing puberty?
Side effects?
That will be part of the study.
You don't know?
Are these children Guinea pigs?
We have a mandate, Ms. Keller.
The more subjects we have,
the more likely we can enjoy success.
Are there adult subjects here, as well?
There will be.
This is where the lottery
winners will be housed.
That's the rumor, anyway.
We're all really excited about it.
[Footsteps approaching]
Well?
He's a beautiful boy.
Is he okay?
Yes. He seems fine.
What does that mean?
Uh, he looks healthy.
There's a playground.
Other children?
Yes, yes, yes. Several others.
A little older than Elvis,
of course, but close enough.
What did you say to him?
I told him that his
father loves him very much.
Kyle.
Get a lawyer and fight like
hell at that custody hearing.
Results on the stolen hairbrush?
- Yep.
- [Computer beeps]
- And?
- Identical.
Brooke Ashton's DNA contained
the same virus husk as Kyle's.
Okay, that's... just plain weird,
but still, it's quite
a leap to assume that...
Kyle and Brooke were both vaccinated
against something using this bubonic husk.
His sperm fertilized her egg,
so they were both obviously
fertile after the crisis hit.
- Okay. All right.
- [Computer beeps]
Either that's one hell of a coincidence
or I'm right and there's
some sort of connection.
James: So, what, you're digging
up their medical records?
[Sighs]
No. Again, all right, rabbit hole.
You're saying somebody knew
a fertility crisis was coming
and they knew how to vaccinate
against it, which means what?
Which means they knew
what was gonna cause it.
That sounds pretty farfetched.
Is it?
Yeah, it is, actually.
Think about it, James
two fertile people
in an infertile world with
the same bizarre vaccination.
Well, if somebody knew,
why weren't we warned?
Why wasn't everybody vaccinated?
It's got to be coincidence.
Look at this. James: Hmm?
They both visited the same
medical clinic in Georgetown
on the same day eight years ago
and were seen by the same doctor.
Still think it's coincidental?
What the hell's going on?
I just got a call from the C.I.A.
Said you refused to take a polygraph.
Yeah. I'm a lawyer
[Sniffles] just like you.
I know my rights, and I know
how things can get twisted.
They're not trying to frame you, Conner.
Five diplomats were killed in China.
They need to figure out what happened.
They're trying to eliminate you. That's it.
Make their lives easier and yours.
Well, I told them I didn't
have anything to do with this.
I just got done clearing
out Nathan's office.
[Sighs] So you've been drinking.
I thought you gave that up.
- I did.
- God's sake, Conner.
- Conner...
- You sent him there.
You and your stupid
lottery. This is on you.
You're the reason Nathan's dead.
[Indistinct conversations]
[James sighs]
You're driving everybody crazy.
[Sighs]
Constant infusion of
adrenaline into the bloodstream
is bad for you on so many levels.
[Sighs]
- Dr. Lennon? Mark Kessler.
- Oh.
Congratulations on your accomplishment.
What you have done is... is extraordinary.
How can I help you?
Well, we're looking for a Dr. Mark Kessler
who practiced here at this
clinic eight years ago.
That would be my father.
I'd really like to speak with him.
Is he still practicing here?
He died in a plane crash eight years ago.
- I'm so sorry.
- Wait. Eight years ago?
Is there anyone still here who
worked with your father?
No.
If you'll let me know what you're
after, maybe I can help you.
Yeah, well, actually, we were...
uh, when, exactly, was the plane crash?
June 8, 2017.
- Woman: Dr. Kessler?
- Uh, yeah.
Sorry. If that's all you need...
- Yeah, did your father have a specialty?
- Ob-ob-GYN..
He wasn't taking many patients anymore.
He was mostly doing research.
What kind?
Fertility.
Ironic, I guess. [Chuckles]
Anyway, uh, congratulations,
and, uh, good luck.
Oh, thank you.
Hey. You could have just asked
to see his father's records.
He died one week after he
inoculated Kyle and Brooke.
Okay.
Now, call me paranoid if you want to,
but I find that really suspicious.
And I'm not gonna just
spill it to some stranger
until I know more.
Come on. Let's go.
[Elevator beeping]
Vanessa: I wanted to
talk to you about Conner.
I know he's been acting strangely
and that he hasn't been
cooperating with the C.I.A.
Conner's under a lot of pressure.
He and Nathan were very close, so...
It's not hard to understand
why he started drinking again.
- He refused a polygraph.
- [Cellphone rings]
I know. Oh.
- [Cellphone beeps]
- Conner, look, you really need to...
Okay, okay. Calm down.
Where are you?
Stay there.
Leave the gun in the car and step outside!
Oh, my God.
Conner! Oh, my God.
Ma'am, stay back. Okay.
Security saw him pacing around,
threatening to commit suicide.
Conner! It's me! It's Vanessa!
Let me talk to him. I know him.
Ma'am... ma'am,
I said stay back!
Vanessa!
Put the gun down!
Okay, Conner!
Just put the gun down, damn it!
[Slurring] Vanessa.
I need to talk to you.
Put the gun down now!
Vanessa, there's
something you need to know.
I said put the gun down!
I'm not gonna repeat myself!
Conner, put the gun down, please!
- I... no!
- Put the gun down!
- No, no, no!
- Leave her alone!
[Gunshots]
[Police radio chatter]
Vanessa: It doesn't make sense.
Ma'am, you need to wait here.
We're going to need a statement.
Hey.
- Come on.
- Darius.
That was Conner.
- They just killed Conner.
- I heard.
It's better if we're not too close to this.
He wanted to talk to me.
He was... he was trying
to tell me something.
- What did he say?
- They shot him.
He was looking for a way out.
- What?
- Conner set up Nathan.
He was behind the Chinese abduction.
- That's official?
- Yeah.
[Sighs]
C.I.A. found an offshore
account in Conner's name
with $500,000 in it.
Wire transfer was executed
the night Nathan and the others
were kidnapped in Shanghai.
I can't believe it.
You're saying Conner set him up.
Conner cared about Nathan.
He would never get involved
in something like that.
Then what the hell was he
doing walking around with a gun
threatening to kill himself?
[Telephone rings]
Mr. Walker.
I'd like to say I have lots of experience
with "D" of "H" custody hearings,
but there aren't enough kids these days.
Good news is, I'm free.
The "D" of "H" picks up my tab.
Isn't that a conflict?
Technically,
but if you sign a waiver
letter, we'll be fine.
You are, of course, free
to find a private attorney.
So, how does this work?
It's pretty simple.
You make your case to the...
the department of humanity,
and the judges determine
what's best for your son.
Right, well, that seems problematic.
In what way?
Well, you're telling me
I need to convince the
department of humanity.
They're the pricks that took
Elvis in the first place.
The judges will be objective.
What's the strategy? I mean,
how do we do this, then?
I'll do what I can.
That's not a strategy.
Look, you punched a hospital
employee and kidnapped your son.
You also let him ride in
the front seat of your car.
You showed up late for
after-school pickup.
My question... my question
is, how do I get my son back?
How do we win this?
It's the department of
humanity, Mr. Walker.
You need to adjust your expectations.
[Sighs]
So, I did some checking.
Uh, Dr. Kessler Sr.
Was working with a zoologist
named Dr. Carl Bunin.
Why would an Ob-Ob-GYN. Be
working with a zoologist?
Exactly.
[Sighs]
Alison, listen, I was thinking.
You said Brooke Ashton was murdered.
You said Darius Hayes is dangerous.
You said there was something
going on... something bad...
and I-I-I didn't believe you.
And I thought you were crazy.
I was wrong.
And I apologize.
Thank you.
It's a relief not to be the
only one in the room who's crazy.
[Chuckles]
So you're gonna keep pushing
for the truth, aren't you?
By myself?
No. I'm in.
I just think the truth might be unhealthy.
Somebody's got to be behind all this,
trying to keep things hidden.
It won't stay hidden
Not if I can help it.
What's our move?
We keep digging... Quietly...
And hope to God we nail
them before they nail us.
[Applause]
- [Applause stops]
- Vanessa.
- May I have a moment... on-camera?
- Jack.
Joining me now is White House
chief of staff Vanessa Keller.
This is her first official interview
since the announcement of the lottery.
So, tell us, Ms. Keller,
is the lottery playing out as you'd hoped?
Yes. People are inspired.
The mood of the nation has improved.
But most importantly,
I'm proud of what the lottery stands for.
In times like these,
the ideals of democracy
must be front and center,
and giving all healthy
women of a certain age
an equal opportunity to win...
I think that's a terrific
way of achieving that.
Have you given any thought to what happens
to the winners after they're selected,
after the embryos are implanted...
what their lives will be like?
In what respect?
Well, these women will
be literally carrying
the future of the human
race inside their bodies.
Will they have any extra protection?
Will they be free to come
and go as they please?
What role will the
department of humanity play
in their pregnancies, in
their lives, in their children?
The president and I, are discussing
these issues on a daily basis.
Can you be a little more specific?
Well, all I can say is that we intend
to do everything in our power
to protect the lives and the
dignity of the 100 winners.
They will be safe but free.
The government wants to
support them, not control them.
Thank you.
What about the latest poll numbers?
Uh, why aren't the president's
approval ratings higher?
By all accounts, the
lottery is a huge success,
so why aren't his numbers through the roof?
We don't really pay attention to polls.
Have the people stopped
believing in Thomas Westwood?
[Chuckles] That's ridiculous.
There is no reason not
to trust the president.
Throughout this entire process,
he has been nothing but
candid and transparent.
Remember, the whole point of a lottery
is to give everyone a fair chance...
to be Democratic.
Why does the White House
get to pick the winners?
That doesn't seem very Democratic.
The rules of the lottery
were designed to be inclusive and fair.
And, again, we're not
worried about ratings.
We're too busy trying to
do what really matters.
Well, what really matters?
At this precise moment,
what is the single most critical
issue facing this nation?
Us.
Excuse me?
Despite the enormous
challenges ahead of us,
we can't forsake our own humanity
in the name of preserving it.
It's good to see you again, Jack.
[Mid-tempo music plays]
- Tracy.
- In the flesh.
[Sighs]
You look good.
Shocking, huh?
I've been, uh, sober for about a year now.
That's great. Yeah.
How's Elvis?
Elvis is, uh...
What?
What's wrong?
They took him.
Who took him?
The department of humanity.
The department of humanity?
What did you do, Kyle?
Tracy, I didn't do anything.
They can't just take him for no reason.
That's exactly what they did.
[Sighs]
I forgot... nothing's ever your fault.
You do not know what it's like.
You have not been around
the past four years.
Yeah, that's 'cause you took
my son, and you walked away.
I took Elvis when I came home one night
and found him crying in his crib
for his mother who was too wasted
to even realize that he was gone.
I knew.
- You didn't call for two days.
- I knew.
I knew you had him. I
knew he was all right.
I didn't call because I was relieved.
I never meant to get pregnant.
Nobody was getting
pregnant, and suddenly I did.
And now I'm the world's luckiest woman...
everybody congratulating
me, slobbering all over me,
giving me advice, judging me.
I wasn't ready to become a mother.
But that's what finally got me sober...
knowing that one day,
I could see him again.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, well, you could have returned
my calls or my texts. I could have.
I just wanted to keep moving forward.
So what are we gonna do about Elvis?
There's gonna be a custody hearing.
I am gonna lose.
Elvis will become a ward of the state
unless you come forward
and you can convince them
into giving him to you.
He asks about you.
What do you tell him?
I tell him that you love him very much,
but you're sick, and you'll
see him when you're better.
Will you help us?
Darius: At the end of the day,
we all want the same thing.
We want to save the species.
We want humankind to endure.
The lottery doesn't serve that goal.
It's an impediment.
We've already had diplomats murdered.
We've had a kidnapping
attempt on our lead scientist.
We've had scandal and
death within our own ranks.
And all we've done so far
is announce the lottery.
What happens when it actually goes online?
What happens when we select those 100 women
and impregnate them?
It's time to pull back
on the lottery, sir...
put the genie back in the bottle.
Is that possible?
I made a promise to the American people.
I've thought about that, sir.
We can create emergency legislation
to give you political cover,
make it look like this
wasn't your decision.
This isn't about political cover.
Taking away people's
freedoms and human rights
is the wrong choice.
It is the choice of
dictators and sociopaths.
Destroying some to save others
is not a line we can cross.
Nobody's talking about destroying anyone.
I know what you're doing. I've seen it.
Our mandate under the fertility act
is to ensure the continuation
of the human race
"by any means necessary."
Imprisoning babies is not going to ensure
the continuation of anything
except for inhumanity.
For God's sake, it is insane.
In 10 years, we will have lost
50% of the human population.
In 80 years, we will be extinct.
If we have to sacrifice
a few happy childhoods
to secure our future,
then that's what we do.
Destroy the village to save it?
You know he's planning on
experimenting on the children?
President Westwood: Look,
let's be honest here.
The lottery was meant to inspire hope.
It hasn't.
The people aren't responding.
Why are we doing this
great thing if no one cares?
It's not working, Vanessa.
Sir, your numbers are soft
because the lottery only appeals
to the women who are eligible...
women between the ages of 18 and 32.
The rest of the country...
they're not invested.
And why should they be?
What's in it for them?
I want the whole country
on the edge of their seats.
I want you to let the people
vote on the surrogates.
Let the nation choose the winners.
Invest everyone,
not just the women hoping to be mothers.
If we're worried about the polls,
all we have to do is wait nine months.
Things will be very different
the day those 100 babies are born.
He's right, but you won't
be in office in nine months.
You won't see the benefit
of those 100 crying babies.
Your successor will.
The next person who sits in that chair
will be the hero... not you.
[Sighs]
[Doorbell rings]
It's okay.
What's up?
I gave up my apartment in Pittsburgh.
I spent my money on passports I can't use.
I don't know anybody else in D.C.
I need to stick around
until the custody hearing.
[Car alarm chirps]
Director Hayes.
I need your help, James.
Mine?
The president is making a mistake
with the embryos you
and Dr. Lennon created.
He's putting them at risk.
I know you're working hard to create more.
If you succeed, you need
to let me know... me...
and no one else.
Alison is in charge of the project.
- I can't.
- She's a loose Cannon.
I know you can't control what she does.
I just need you to let me know
as soon as you do if
there are more embryos.
Why?
I can make sure they're properly protected.
We failed with the first 100.
We can't let it happen again.
We all want the same thing, James.
My fellow Americans, in times of struggle,
democracy comes under attack,
but we cannot retreat.
This country was founded on
the principles of fairness,
freedom, and transparency.
The lottery is an expression
of those fundamental
ideals and aspirations.
So, despite early setbacks,
we intend to move forward.
There will be a lottery,
and we will show the
world what we're about.
In fact, we want to invest
the nation in this event.
We want you, the people
of this great country,
to vote for the winners,
to pick the next generation of mothers,
to have a voice in saving humanity.
[Swing squeaking]