Henry McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

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.

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.

Russell

You think I'm working against you. I'm not. I work for the President. It's my job to protect him.

Henry

And it's my job to not care what your job is.

Elizabeth

You okay?

Henry

Yeah, I'm just trying to wrap my head around normalizing the number of dead children that is acceptable.

Elizabeth

Okay. Disengaging in 3...2...1.

Henry

Whoa. The countdown. I haven't heard that since Jason went to summer camp.

Henry

Yeah. Okay. I'll let her in.

Elizabeth

No, no, no. no, I'll let her in. You two have to go upstairs.

Henry

Oh, that's right. Stevie! Time to go into exile.

Stevie

Great British Baking Show?

Henry

You Kidding? It's Shark Week.

Elizabeth

"She's not likable." "I don't want to have a beer with her." (sighs) "I hate her voice." I mean, those are things that I was ready for, but "she slept her way to the top."? What century are we in?

Henry

It just means they're terrified.

Elizabeth

No. This works, Henry. This taps right into America's id. And it works with women just as well as men.

Henry

Mom's really tired. Let's do this some other time.

Jason

Oh, sure. Yeah, that won't leave us lying awake in bed all night wondering if she has cancer.

Elizabeth

Okay. Um... there's this article coming out in the next few days, and it's going to imply that when I was at the CIA--

Henry

(cutting Elizabeth off) It's a hit piece accusing Mom and President Dalton of having an affair 20 years ago.

It is not true.

Stevie

What? Who's behind it?

Elizabeth

We don't know.

How can they just say that with no proof?

Jason

Isn't that slander?

Henry

Libel if they publish it.

Elizabeth

Look, we just want you guys to know that it's going to be out there for a few days.

Jason

That's disgusting.

Elizabeth

And, we're not responding, so it just goes away with the next crisis, and I am so sorry.

Stevie

You do not need to apologize to us.

Jason

Wait, wait. So you're just gonna let them say that?

Elizabeth

I'm gonna get attacked a lot.

Jason

(scoffs)

Elizabeth

Just means they're nervous about me.

Henry

Look, I know we were supposed to ignore it. But... after I read the article...

Elizabeth

Is it bad?

Henry

Uh, it's all "alleged" and "rumored." So as long as there's no evidence to back it up...

Elizabeth

Are you asking me if I had an affair with Conrad?

Henry

No. Of course not. (clears throat)

Elizabeth

See, this... This is how it works. This is the poison.

Henry

I don't doubt you. But you were halfway around the world. It was a rough time for us. I would've understood--

Elizabeth

Nothing Happened! Ever! I--

Henry

I know!

Elizabeth

Are we taking this healthy thing too far?

Henry

I wouldn't say that. It's just a lot of chewing.

Elizabeth

The bombing was a long time ago. I feel like I should be over it. And then there's this thing where it's like, if I'm talking about it, I'm bringing it into the house. Like I can keep it at bay if I don't give it a name.

Henry

This is why we have got to educate people about this issue.

Henry

If you were in her shoes, you'd have turned that flash drive over to the FBI even if it cost you an election. If there's one thing I know about you, you are scrupulously honest.

Elizabeth

It's not directly analogous. Daisy thought she was protecting me and the country from Miller.

Henry

True. But the thing about ethics is they can't be cherry picked. Daisy convinced herself that she was doing the right thing when she wasn't. Don't you do it too.

Elizabeth

Daisy is more than an employee. She's a friend.

Henry

Then forgive her. But you're the President of the United States. You have to let her go.

Elizabeth

You could have heard a pin drop.

Henry

They sure made a lot of noise once they got outside.

Russell

Circling the wagons, whining about their freedoms. Never gets old.

Elizabeth

Except Valerie Gillian is in jail for contempt, not for something she wrote. This is about finding the truth, not about censorship.