Stevie McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

Stevie

Man. This is hard. I haven't written a poem since, like, seventh grade. Actually, that was more of a rap.

Ooh, a rap could be fun.

Stevie

Yeah. Mm... but no. No.

Jason

Hey, guys. I think I got something. "The way we love our perfect parents can never be co-opted, though Stevie was an accident and Allie is adopted."

Well, why did we even get a band? They're so cheesy. We should just get a deejay.

Stevie

Well, no, because Mom and Dad are cheesy, and they wanted a band. And this is their party, and we're supposed to be helping. I mean, how am I supposed to book a decent band in the middle of the holidays, at the last minute?

Jason

You were going for "decent"?

Stevie

No, Jason. I was going for "good." But no I'm at "decent," and tomorrow I might be at "washboard and mouth harp," for all I know.

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.

Stevie

It's tomorrow night, and they really wanted a band, and Laser Dawn was perfect. They were one of the top cover bands in D.C., specializing in '70s covers, including and especially. Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way," which is my mom's favorite.

Daisy

Really? Not judging.

Stevie

Also Bee Gees, "How Deep Is Your Love?"

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.

Stevie

(about the vow renewal) Oh my God, this is so sweet. Isn't it?

Mike

All I see is a book cover.

Stevie

Do you have a few seconds to approve some more fun posts for social media?

Russell

Oh yeah. The president of Nicaragua is about to start a war and Congress is trying to kill health care for millions of children but Real Russell Jackson wants to post about his latest set of golf clubs!

Stevie

Great British Baking Show?

Henry

You Kidding? It's Shark Week.

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.

Stevie

So the world is ending and we're all screwed.

Blake

Which we've established.

Stevie

So what's the one thing you would do before it all collapses?

Russell

There are protesters in the stands.

Stevie

Can't they leave the politics out of baseball?

Elizabeth

They're just exercising their First Amendment rights.

Stevie

Talia didn't tell me that -

Dmitri

That she's setting us up? Me either. She told me that she needed my approval for a new guy she is dating.

Stevie

She knew how to get you here.

Dmitri

My sister watches too many rom-coms.

Stevie

So I'd like to close with a Jane Austen quote. I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve. Thank you for making me happier than I deserve.

Dmitri

Well my vows are going to be a lot shorter. When I look at you, I see a life I never dared to dream of for myself. You and your family have done more for me than I deserve. Thank you for bringing me life. I will never leave you again. I am home.