Failed. I failed myself. I failed my family. I failed the campaign.
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
Can I ask why you do that?
Do what?
Tap your ring like that. I've seen you do it on TV. Two taps every time you get up from a table or leave a lectern.
Something my father taught me. It's meant to harden your knuckles so you don't break them if you get into a fight. It also has the added benefit of knocking on wood. My father believed that success is a mixture of preparation and luck. Tapping the table kills both birds with one stone.
Your father was a peach farmer?
Yes, he was. Not a very successful one.
Lack of preparation or lack of luck?
Lack of both. He was better at giving advice than following it.
Decisions based on emotion aren't decisions, at all. They're instincts. Which can be of value. The rational and the irrational complement each other. Individually they're far less powerful.
I said to my professor, "Why mourn the death of Presidents, or anyone for that matter? The dead can't hear us." And he asked me if I believed in heaven. I said no. And then he asked if I had no faith in God. I said, "You have it wrong. It's God who has no faith in us."
Fact, I have something that you want. You have something that I want.
[Frank chuckles]
Have I said something amusing?
I've sat too many times on your side of the table not to enjoy the irony of finding myself on this side of it.
[about Tusk] He doesn't measure his wealth in private jets, but purchased souls.
Of all the things I hold in high regards, rules are not one of them.
[speaking to God] Every time I've spoken to you, you've never spoken back, although given our mutual disdain, I can't blame you for the silent treatment. Perhaps I'm speaking to the wrong audience. [Looks downward] Can you hear me? Are you even capable of language, or do you only understand depravity? Peter, is that you? Stop hiding in my thoughts and come out. Have the courage in death that you never had in life. Come out, look me in the eye and say what you need to say. There is no solace above or below. Only us - small, solitary, striving, battling one another. I pray to myself, for myself.
GCGillian Cole
[putting Claire's hand on her belly] Do you feel that? The kicking? I won't let people like you fuck up the world my child has to live in. If I have to tell a few lies to do that... I've learned one valuable thing from you.
[to Gillian] I am willing to let your child wither and die inside you, if that's what's required. Now tell me, am I a sort of enemy you want to make?
I'm must say, I'm surprised, Frank. You have a reputation for pragmatism.
And I've also avoided a reputation for indentured servitude.
I never make an offer more than twice, Frank. Tell me now if I can count on your cooperation.
You're not offering cooperation, you are demanding tutelage. So let me make you a proposal. I am absolutely willing to work together as equals. I will take your opinions seriously, just as the president does. But I will not bind myself to them in advance. If that doesn't interest you, fair enough. Good luck finding a vice president in the next four days who will prove as pragmatic as I. You can't purchase loyalty, Raymond. Not the sort I have in mind. If you want to earn my loyalty, then you have to offer yours in return. And if we can agree to that - well, you're a man with imagination.
Was there something different about these ribs this morning?
Better or worse?
I didn't think that they could get any better, but these were something special.
Well, tried a new butcher. Slow-bleeds his hogs. It ain't legal, but...
Well, I won't tell anyone.
I don't know if I'm gonna go back to him. Went out to his shop. He's got a room in the back where he does it. Soundproof. A whole setup.
Why soundproof?
'Cause of how they scream. They can smell it comin'. You stick that pipe in their throat, next 10 minutes is hell. Bust your fucking eardrums. Now, the humane way to do it is to make it quick. Bring out a bucket of slop like it's feeding time, then bam, shovel right to the base of the head. No screamin'.
[Zoe meets Frank hiding in front of construction chain link fence on subway platform of Cathedral Heights D.C. Metro station] Have you thought about what we discussed?
I think you're right. We should start with a clean slate.
What about our text messages? [she deletes it] And the contact? [she deletes it]
Are we good?
Yeah. We can put all this other nonsense behind us, and trust one another and continue to help one another?
I'd like that.
Consider the slate clean.
Answer me one thing. The passenger seat. You said Russo was trying to get out. But there was nothing...
I thought we just agreed.
I want to believe you, but I need details. More than what you're sharing.
What's your question?
The night Russo fell off the wagon, he was at a fundraiser. The McNeely Cancer Institute...
All in the police report.
Rachel Posner was at the hotel that night.
Who's that?
The call girl who was with Russo when he was arrested.
I didn't know her name.
She disappeared, Francis.
When?
Don't act surprised. I showed the bellmen a photo. One of them remembers seeing her.
The girl is a prostitute. I'm sure she frequents many hotels.
But that hotel on that night?
Now, you sound like Ms. Skorsky talking.
I haven't discussed this with anyone. I wanted to ask you first.
I have no idea what happened that night except that Peter started drinking again. I don't know who was or wasn't there. I wish I was. Maybe I could have stopped him.
Do you know where Rachel is?
Listen to what I am saying.
I'm trying to protect us both. These are questions anyone could ask.
But no one is except you. I can't imagine what you're after.
I took a chance, showed up at your house and placed myself at your feet. Crossed ethical lines, professionally, physically, and I hold myself accountable for that. Those were my choices and I can live with them. I'd like to move forward, but I need to know exactly what I was a part of, that that I wasn't a part of someone's-
Finish your thought.
A part of someone's murder.
Jesus. [walks away and Zoe follows]
I wanna believe you, Francis.
[Frank lunges out suddenly, grabs Zoe, turns her around and pushes her in front of an oncoming train]
JSJanine Skorsky
My entire career, I have always chosen the tough stories. I have been fearless. But, you know what? I’m really fucking scared this time. He’s got power; he’s got a lot to lose; and, right now, he is winning.
Did you think I'd forgotten you? Perhaps you hoped I had.
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