Elizabeth McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

Stevie

You can't ground me. I have to work.

Elizabeth

Work and home. Two weeks...

Stevie

This is ridiculous. I'm an adult.

Elizabeth

I guess that's why most adults don't live with their parents.

Stevie

Mom? I'm really glad about Dad. It was horrible. [they hug]

Elizabeth

I am really sorry you had to go through that. You're still grounded.

Elizabeth

So why tell me now?

Matt

Because now Jackson wants me to spy on you.

Elizabeth

Really?

Matt

Yeah, in exchange for a job at The White House. I tried to tell him no, but he made me promise to think about it.

Elizabeth

Tell him you'll do it.

Elizabeth

If you never listen to anything I say again for the rest of your life, please hear this: Everything is more complicated than you think it is right now. And the only way you come to know that is through experience. And that's what this whole process of growing up is all about.

Stevie

Yeah. I know. I gotta go do that now.

Stevie

What did stepping it up mean?

Elizabeth

Stress positions. Physical abuse. Waterboarding. I wasn't in the room when they did it. But I knew what was happening, obviously.

Stevie

Why are you telling me this?

Elizabeth

'Cause I have to.

Stevie

Well, I really wish you hadn't.

Elizabeth

We were at war. Changes the landscape. It forces you to face things you didn't even want to know.

Stevie

Yeah, like the fact that your mother is not the person you thought she was at all.

Russell

My God. All this time. How could you just go about your business?

Elizabeth

That's what I was trained for.

Russell

Tell me everything.

Elizabeth

That could take awhile.

Russell

I've got all night.

Russell

So what am I supposed to think? What possible reason could there be except that you think I had him killed.

Elizabeth

Thought you might have knowledge of it, yes.

Russell

You seriously think I and the President are assassins?

Elizabeth

Not anymore.

Russell

Maybe you can finish what he started.

Elizabeth

What's that?

Russell

Land.

Elizabeth

This is why the intelligence community shouldn't keep secrets from me.

Henry

I agree. Not that we're doing a very good job of it.

Elizabeth

You lied to me.

Henry

Under penalty of law and for your own safety, you know that.

Jay

He's used to getting his way.

Elizabeth

Well, that may be, but I happen to know he is extremely ticklish.

Matt

Wait. Did the Secretary just admit to intimate anatomical knowledge of the Prince of Bahrain?

Blake

The CIA briefs must be very detailed.

Elizabeth

You're giving me the 'you're an idiot' look.

Because you're an idiot.

Elizabeth

A little cold terror over job security never hurt anyone.

Russell

You should have that embroidered on a pillow.

Elizabeth

How long do you think you're gonna be mad at me?

You were just doing your job.

Elizabeth

So, like, less than a year?

Probably.

Give them what they want.

Elizabeth

I'm not leaving here with it. I'll give them Hawaii if that's what it takes.

Elizabeth

More like parameters. I think we're talking north of 40 with 35 as the floor for someone really spectacular.

Henry

I'm not Hugh Hefner. 40 is just fine.

Elizabeth

Good.