Henry McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

Henry

What'd the Kyrgyz say?

Elizabeth

Radio silence. And the Summit is in limbo until we're back on speaking terms.

Henry

You'd think they'd offer some kind of explanation.

Elizabeth

Normally, they wouldn't have to. Persona non grata is a response to something noisy, like declaring war or committing murder.

Henry

While we're on ominous developments... I just checked the radiator in Alison's room. Radiator's fine. I just wanted to see how she was doing on her design project while she was out to breakfast with Stevie.

Elizabeth

You spied on our daughter.

Henry

As far as I can tell, she hasn't even started yet.

Elizabeth

What?

Henry

Yeah, there's a whole lot of materials, but no sign of construction.

Elizabeth

She watched the entire Vampire Nerds trilogy last night, including Revenge of the Ware-Jocks. We don't have to worry about an empty nest. If Ali fails her midterm, next thing we know, she'll be 40, still living at home and driving us to colonoscopies.

Henry

I'll talk to her.

Elizabeth

Thank you.

Elizabeth

There isn't a phrase that scares me more than "something needs to be done."

Henry

Why?

Elizabeth

It means no one really knows what to do.

Henry

Well that's a hell of an accusation.

I don't hear you denying it.

Henry

Of secret thing, I am silence.

You always quote the bible when you're backed into a corner?

Henry

That's the Bhagavad Gita, actually.

Go with smug. Fine.

Henry

We have the best system of government the world has ever seen, but it's only as good as the people in charge.

Elizabeth

Gosh, that's reassuring.

Henry

Should I even ask how your day was?

Elizabeth

Well, the Constitution is still intact...for now.

Elizabeth

I can't feel my ears!

Henry

Maybe you should've worn a hat.

Elizabeth

I can't. I'm wearing fancy hair. Men never get that.

I'm having roommate issues.

Henry

Lucinda? I thought you guys were tight.

We were. We are. Sometimes we're so tight, I can't breathe.

Elizabeth

[about Jason] He's just a teenager, and we are a little less now. It's nature's way of making him leave the house when he graduates.

Henry

Yeah. That didn't work out so well with the other two.

Henry

They want to give me a commendation for some reason.

Elizabeth

Like, because you deserve it?

Henry

Yeah, or they know I was driven to quit by political BS. They didn't back me up, and now they want to make themselves feel better.

Elizabeth

Yeah, no. The CIA doesn't really do regret.

Wait, you actually want to break up with Piper? Wow, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought you were.

Jason

You're an idiot.

Henry

All right, let's play "Who's an idiot?" later.

Henry

There's never been a more important time for us to insist our son to treat women with respect.

Elizabeth

You are preaching to the choir. [checks the kids aren't around] But sticking your nose into teenage romance? That way lies madness.

Elizabeth

[to Blake] Henry and I are going to go eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the freezing cold park. This is what passes as a date night these days.

Henry

Don't wait up for us.

Henry

I've got good news and bad news. Um, and I'm gonna tell you the bad news first. So I don't want you to freak out, okay?

Elizabeth

That never helps.

Elizabeth

We used to have a regular Cranium night with them!

Henry

You used to make people cry at Cranium.

Elizabeth

Look, it's not my fault I can still spell backwards after two drinks.