Madam Secretary quotes

Our Afghan partners are divided and weak because so-called best efforts of the Dalton administration have failed.

I'm afraid I didn't hear a question in there, Senator.

Well, isn't this Russia thing just an attempt by the president to deny blame for a failed policy?

Henry

I assure you the threat is real.

Maybe the 1fault lies with the secretary of state. She's the one that executes that policy.

Henry

I'm more interested in finding solutions than assigning blame, but the secretary can only do so much with the budget approved by this Congress. Senator Morejon, you ran your campaign on a platform of national security. So I'm asking, respectfully, for you to put your money where your mouth is.

Elizabeth

"Put your money where your mouth is"? You actually said that?

Henry

Guy went after my wife.

Elizabeth

So you went full Godfather?

Henry

Yeah, and I got my funding.

Elizabeth

Hey, listen, while you're on the hill, will you stop by Colonial Gelato and get some pistachio for Ali? She texted me she's gonna come over tonight.

Henry

Again? She was just there. I mean, is it normal for a freshman in college to want to spend so much time at home?

Elizabeth

No, stop. I like it when she comes home. And she's not an intelligence asset, Henry. You don't have to question her motives.

Henry

She's my daughter. I question everything.

Elizabeth

(chuckles) Two tubs of pistachio, Don Corleone.

Elizabeth

Matt, welcome back.

Matt

Thank you so much. It's great to be here with consequential work and fresh pastries.

Elizabeth

(To Blake) There's fresh pastries?

Blake

No.

Jay

Happy to be sleep-deprived for a landmark deal on human trafficking.

Elizabeth

Oh, hey, wait. Has anyone heard from Daisy? What's the news?

Matt

Oh, she's great. She's binge-watching Real Housewives, about ready to pop.

Blake

Oh, tell her to skip Potomac, it's the worst one. I... I heard.

Elizabeth

Uh, good morning. To those of you who were on furlough: welcome back. And there are fresh pastries on Uncle Sam, in that room.

Russell

As far as I'm concerned, you can get on board or get out of the way.

Jay

With respect, Mr. Jackson, that isn't your call.

Russell

(To Elizabeth) Is he gonna be talking to me that way?

Elizabeth

Get on board.

Russell

This man is supposed to be giving a speech on a bridge over the Ohio River tomorrow afternoon. You want him to go to a country whose biggest exports are wool and yak cheese?

Jay

Gold and cotton, actually.

Russell

I don't care! And neither do the actual voters who are sick of crashing into potholes.

Elizabeth

I mean, who knew that trying to end human slavery would be so controversial?

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

Listen, I know you've been through hell, but I-I need to know what I'm dealing with here. Do you have any idea why you were expelled?

It's much simpler if I offer my resignation.

Elizabeth

No. Not a chance.

But the Human Trafficking Summit...

Elizabeth

I am not going to let Nogoyev abuse my diplomats. It's humiliating. And he is cruel and arbitrary.

It isn't arbitrary ma'am. I, uh, I was... I was involved with Feliks Karimov, the Minister of Health and the president's brother-in-law.

Elizabeth

What?!

He runs a series of clinics for indigent children.

Elizabeth

Oh, my God.

At the time, the-the embassy was involved with health care diplomacy. One thing led to another, and... Nogoyev must have found out. I know it sounds crazy, but we had plans. It made sense.

Elizabeth

Yeah, this is the part that I'm struggling with. How did you allow it to make sense?

Feliks isn't like his brother-in-law. He's-he's patient, funny.

Elizabeth

Oh, Julia, this is, this is bigger than you. I mean... (sighs)... We got here on the backs of decades of women who worked their whole lives to be trusted and taken seriously and you just... (takes a deep breath) ... Our mistakes are magnified. It's not fair. We owe it to each other to remember that.

I know. And it sickens me.

Elizabeth

I'll take that letter now.

Elizabeth

What's this?

Matt

Just a little something to celebrate the successful launch of the Permafrost Protection Project. I thought popsicles were appropriate than champagne.

Jay

Could've gotten champagne popsicles.

Matt

Does that exist?

Jay

If it doesn't, it should.

Matt

Isn't she that crazy consultant lady who threw a chair and had some hysterical breakdown?

Elizabeth

You know, it's funny, isn't it? When...when a man reaches a certain breaking point and throws something, he's passionate, but when a woman reaches the same breaking point, she's hysterical and can't stand the pressure.