Elizabeth McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

Stevie

Mom? Mom?

Elizabeth

Hmm?

Stevie

We need to talk.

Elizabeth

Is is protesters? What?

Stevie

No. It's Alison. She says we're not fun.

Elizabeth

What?

Stevie

She said that we used to be fun and now we're not.

Elizabeth

Stevie, can we just.. Let's wait until tomorrow when we're at the breakfast buffet with those waffles and the weird bacon.

Stevie

Mom, she's right. When's the last time we played cards?

Elizabeth

What?

Stevie

We used to play cards all the time. And you would let me eat that marshmallow cream straight out of the jar. We never do stuff like that anymore.

Elizabeth

Because the marshmallow cream made you sick.

Stevie

No. We're so careful all the time.

Elizabeth

You wanna play Go Fish?

Elizabeth

The President actually said that?

Russell

Of course not, but I speak for him.

Elizabeth

Is Hello Kitty still in?

Stevie

Oh, Hello Kitty is the Chanel of our time. It'll never be out.

Elizabeth

That's just a little bit depressing.

Tell Henry I'll buy him a drink when he gets back.

Elizabeth

Well, I think you can buy me one, too.

Blake

What am I taking care of?

Elizabeth

Appeasing a racist Quaker.

Are you breaking rank with the President and the party on this?

Elizabeth

Well, I-I've never been an official member of any political party. I'm not a partisan politician. I'm a public servant.

Henry

I dare you to yell out "capital gains tax." See what happens.

Elizabeth

Be safer to yell "fire."

Elizabeth

Yes, Matt, my question was largely rhetorical. But I appreciate you being at the ready with your political ire.

Matt

Well, I'm always here for you, ma'am.

Daisy

You were a huge hit at the fair, ma'am. Your pig remark is trending.

Elizabeth

Wow, take that Lincoln and your Gettysburg Address. *I'm* going to be known for the pig remark.

This is treason.

Elizabeth

This is how you save your country.

Elizabeth

Oh. I don't understand. We gave him the drinking talk.

Henry

Apparently it didn't take.

Elizabeth

Nadine's making a face. Maybe...we needed more than one talk. [pause] Now Blake is pointedly avoiding eye contact.

Henry

Well...he's already grounded for a month. We can wait till you get home to give him the big talking to.

Elizabeth

Okay. [pause] I'm afraid to say anything else, lest the mime troupe weighs in again.

Matt

Seeds of democracy sown.

Elizabeth

Well, let's hope they get plenty of...

Matt

Sun.

Elizabeth

Yes. And...

Matt

Moisture. And love.

Elizabeth

Okay.

Elizabeth

Where is Nadine?

Blake

She is on the phone in her office, ma'am. She waved me off like a thirsty fan boy when I tried to wrangle her.

Daisy

Does feel 20% less austere in here.

If I were to offer some suggestions to my President as to how we might deescalate, what might they be?

Elizabeth

Well, for starters, we've looked into it, and we're not giving the pandas back.

Elizabeth

You know you don't have to say "ma'am" after every time, Captain.

Yes, ma'am.