Elizabeth McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

Russell

After getting shot down by Judge Mayfield, my spidey-sense told me something was amiss, so I stopped by his chambers.

Elizabeth

Ooh. Judges love it when you that.

Mike

Look at this. A sign from the gods--

Elizabeth

Hey--

Mike

I am trolling for favors, and here you are. I also need to hit up Russell Jackson as well.

Elizabeth

This might not be the best time.

Mike

Yeah, I heard. Bit of an ouch-y in court. (Elizabeth gives him a stern look) How else would you describe it?

Elizabeth

Oh, I don't know, Mike, maybe sensitively. What favors are you here for?

Mike

I need recommendation letters for my kid's super-elitist, beyond-his-intellectual-capacity private school.

Elizabeth

Mike, do you really want to send your son to a school that he is not suited for?

Mike

One hundred percent. So can I count on you?

Elizabeth

Well, it's a hell of a day to be asking for a favor for your privileged kid. (Mike gives her a begging look) All right, send me his application and his essay (Mike produces the paperwork immediately) No promises.

Mike

I also got the invite to your vow thing. Nice optics. I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. I reached out to the videographer.

Elizabeth

No publicity.

Mike

No publicity. Just a videographer. Very discreet drones. You won't even hear them.

Elizabeth

Mike! This is a personal and private event. No politics. No angles.

Mike

Hey, look, I have been dissecting the polls, and while you have broad support-- no pun intended-- You lack voter intensity. People like you, but they don't love you. Do you know what could change that? The sight of you in a wedding dress. America would go macadamia. As in nuts.

Elizabeth

No, no. I put it together. The answer is still no. (starts to walk away)

Mike

Okay, let's just get the footage, and then we'll sort it out in post.

Secretary Elizabeth McCord, you are trespassing on Arizona state property.

Elizabeth

Am I really?

You tricked your way in here, grandstanding for the press on your self-promotion tour, but you are a long way from the federal swamp you call home.

Elizabeth

Well, Governor, if Washington, D.C. is a swamp, what's this?

It's none of your business is what it is. And there is a sheriff out front with a warrant for your arrest.

Y'all can exit peaceably through the back without talking to any press, and I'll let you leave this state without incident.

Kat

Ha. Without incident?

Elizabeth

Look around, Governor. We passed that.

I suggest you get moving before I invite the good sheriff in here to come get you.

Elizabeth

Do you think you can intimidate me or shut me up?

Don't test Arizona justice ma'am.

Elizabeth

I came here to see for myself and to help Ambassador Lopez see what's going on behind these walls. What I saw is an affront to decency and an assault on our country's core values. Children separated from their parents, in cages, crying, terrified, lacking basic care. And the governor believes it's a deterrent...

Stevie

Are you seeing this?

Henry

Yup. That's your mom.

Elizabeth

... But it is child abuse. Plain and simple. No deterrent is worth trading our humanity.

That's enough.

Elizabeth

No policy, no matter its goal, is worth lowering our moral standing in the world. Nothing can justify harming children.

Ma'am, you are on state property.

Elizabeth

And the governor wants me to shut up.

Yes.

Elizabeth

But I won't, because what he is doing is immoral and un-American, and every American needs to know about it.

Elizabeth McCord, you are under arrest for criminal trespass in the first degree in violation of section 13...

Russell

No. No!

Elizabeth

Well... if desperate asylum-seekers aren't free from being detained unfairly in this state. Why should I? (while she's being cuffed) Officer Stevens, I'm guessing this isn't how you thought your day would go.

Stevie

Has anything like this ever happened before?

Henry

Not in the United States.

Russell

Not here. Never.

Elizabeth

I guess you're accustomed to this sort of thing. Oh, Christ. I meant social justice, not... Oh, Jesus, I just said "Christ." And "Jesus." I'm...

My mother always said, "Don't call him unless you need him," so I think it's appropriate. And, yes, it isn't my first arrested-for-protesting rodeo but it is the first time with a presidential cabinet member.

Elizabeth

My husband is a religious scholar.

Oh, I'm well aware. I consider him to be a foremost expert on Saint Francis.

Elizabeth

Oh! That is so going to make his day.

Mike

You know, when I told you to focus on voter intensity, this isn't exactly what I had in mind.

Elizabeth

Can we just whistle past the reprimand, please?

Mike

Fine. I have arranged for you a plea deal. You plead guilty to misdemeanor trespass, you'll be released immediately with a small fine. (Elizabeth stares at him silent and obviously bothered) Oh, God, this isn't mute with gratitude is it?

Elizabeth

I can't plead guilty.

Mike

You so can!

Elizabeth

Well, whose side are you on?

Henry

I support any decision you make. You've got to follow your conscience. JFK said, "There's something immoral about abandoning your own judgment."

Elizabeth

I think that was JFK in a movie.

Henry

Either way, it's a good point.

Elizabeth

It is.

Jay

Jay Whitman. Who's this?

Hello. You have a collect call from an inmate of the Arizona Penitentiary. [BEEP]

Elizabeth

Elizabeth McCord

To accept, say yes. To decline, say no.

Jay

Yes. Yes. God, yes. Ma'am?

Elizabeth

Hey. Took you a minute there. Promise I'll pay you back.

Jay

No, it's not that. I just got confused. You don't call me from jail every day. I mean, nobody does. I mean, not that it's... that jail's bad.

Mike

Everybody scrunch together for the Godfather shot.

Elizabeth

Mike! I said...

Mike

You said no publicity. But this is a wedding photo. Don't you want to capture the moment?

Henry

Babe, he's got a point.

Elizabeth

Okay. This is for personal use only.

Mike

Absolutely. We can decide later. Okay, make it work. Make it like it's art. t

Brother and sisters, we are gathered here today to celebrate a renewal of love and commitment that was first realized 30 years ago today. I understand Henry and Elizabeth have prepared their own vows for the renewal of their marriage.

Elizabeth

Crap. You go first.

Henry

All right. Um, these aren't really traditional vows. It's a letter I found in the basement when I was cleaning it out after the flood. I wrote it the night before we were married. "Dear Elabet..." That's an inside joke, so just... "Tomorrow is the day that we begin our magical mystery tour, and I've never been more eager to embark." I was 26. Give me a break. "I know it's not the easiest way to start a marriage, watching me head off to war, but you have nothing to worry about, because there's not a force on earth that could keep me from coming back to you and to all the things that are waiting for us, like more of those midnight mac-and-cheese dinners, watching you go crazy shopping for pillows." You still do that. "And hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains when the air gets crisp, and the leaves are turning-- ahem-- and we can see forever. And the way that you..." Whoa, okay. I'm gonna have to skip this part 'cause the kids are here. "These are the moments I will hold in my mind while I'm away. And the images of the adventures we haven't even started. The faces of the children we'll have. Two for sure. Three if we're lucky. I know you lost too much family too soon, and I'm so happy to be the one to help you rebuild that. On that note, no more Peter Frampton concerts while I'm away. I can't wait for tomorrow and all our tomorrows. As the poet said, Elabet. Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be. Yours forever. Hank."

Elizabeth

The best is yet to be. I remember that. I love that. Your dad's the best romantic. And I was just... smitten. And smart enough to fall for the ridiculously handsome fighter pilot who could quote saints and write letters like that. Thank you for... for blinding me with your love and words for the last quarter of a century, Henry. And thank you for getting me. For always knowing what to say. And for telling the best jokes. And for... going to see what that noise was. And for never hesitating to go on a wild ride with me. Going forward, I promise to always leave just enough ice cream in the carton, expecially the mocha fudge. To not yell at the news in the morning or stay up too late watching cooking shows, unless you wanna watch them with me. And to always give you first shot at the appliances before I call Earl. And to not ask you think about what I'm wearing unless I really want to know. And... I will love you with everything I've got. To the walk-in bathtub and beyond. Wherever all your saints think it is we'll end up. Because I'll go with you always and anywhere, Henry McCord.

I understand the McCord children have something to add.

Jason

Yeah, uh... Thanks... for having us.

Stevie

I'm sorry Father Dinardo. There's a message from the White House.

Happens all the time.

Stevie

It's from Russell. "We got the votes. With Morejon's bill passed, Governor Douche... ahem. Governor Barker, um, admitted defeat and announced that he's ending the separation policy. Children will be reunited with their parents as soon as the order comes through. And Mom will be released with all charges dropped."

Henry

Ooh, and, uh... guess what time it is.

Elizabeth

It's perfect.

You may kiss the bride... since you are.

Elizabeth

You guys, is this the best party ever, or what?

Mike

If you don't count, I don't know, three or four inaugural balls.

Elizabeth

You look tired.

Mike

I'm out. Killer joke by the way.

Elizabeth

I love this song. I love it. This is my favorite song. I just want to turn it up. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, man. It's Peter Frampton. Aah! This is Peter Frampton. In my house! I'm your biggest fan.

The feeling's mutual, Madam Secretary, and I believe I'm playing your song.