Is it me, or did this coffee take a serious nosedive?
Blake abdicated coffee duties.
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
We're expecting a call from the Chronicle asking for comment on an article alleging the Secretary had a previous intimate relationship with the president.
Say that again?
Before he was the president. Our answer is "no comment."
You realize it's gonna sound like she did have an intimate relationship with the president.
I do. Talk to Mike B.
Wait, so did she?
(shrugs and walks away)
Mom's really tired. Let's do this some other time.
Oh, sure. Yeah, that won't leave us lying awake in bed all night wondering if she has cancer.
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--
(cutting Elizabeth off) It's a hit piece accusing Mom and President Dalton of having an affair 20 years ago.
HEHenry & Elizabeth
It is not true.
What? Who's behind it?
We don't know.
How can they just say that with no proof?
Isn't that slander?
Libel if they publish it.
Look, we just want you guys to know that it's going to be out there for a few days.
That's disgusting.
And, we're not responding, so it just goes away with the next crisis, and I am so sorry.
You do not need to apologize to us.
Wait, wait. So you're just gonna let them say that?
I'm gonna get attacked a lot.
(scoffs)
Just means they're nervous about me.
If it makes you feel any better, no one at my school follows the news.
I waited in a stupidly long line for what's supposed to be the next Cronut.
(rushing in behind Mike B) Uh, Mike Barnow, ma'am.
Thanks, Blake. (waves Nina off and hands Elizabeth the pastry) This is to keep you off-line for the two days, possibly the week.
The article came out.
Drops within the hour. Stay inside, don't look at any memes or tweets, and for God's sake, don't read it.
Why would I do that?
Look, I know we were supposed to ignore it. But... after I read the article...
Is it bad?
Uh, it's all "alleged" and "rumored." So as long as there's no evidence to back it up...
Are you asking me if I had an affair with Conrad?
No. Of course not. (clears throat)
See, this... This is how it works. This is the poison.
I don't doubt you. But you were halfway around the world. It was a rough time for us. I would've understood--
Nothing Happened! Ever! I--
I know!
GHGov. Hayes
Elizabeth, I'm here tonight to ask you to seek the nomination of the Republican Party for president.
Wow. That's... (chuckles) Can I-- I speak frankly, John?
GHGov. Hayes.
Please.
I work for a president who turned his back on both parties. Why come to me?
GHGov. Hayes
Because you're a worthy candidate.
Well, I appreciate that. I do. But... I got to tell you, when I look at your party's current platform, I-- I... I mean I-I'm about to host a global conference on climate change, and your party can't even agree that climate is changing.
GHGov. Hayes
We need to evolve. We'd see your candidacy as an opportunity to do that and, at the same time, come back to the party of Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. A square deal and a strong national defense. I think you fit that platform. And it's a platform we believe the majority of Americans will vote for.
Well, that's inspiring. And flattering. But if you're so alarmed by Owen Callister, why not denounce him? Where are the public statements?
GHGov. Hayes
We don't want to alienate the people Callister's talking to. We want to reach them. We think we can do that with you.
Well, Governor, you uh.. you have given me a lot to think about.
What is there to think about?
For Starters, the fact that she's aligned with a president who won as an Independent.
For the first time in history. The chance of that happening a second time are about the same as my son's chances of getting into Harvard.
Well, the governor makes one good point: if I join the GOP ticket now, we have a better chance of knocking Callister out early.
What if the governor represents a small faction of the party and you don't win broad support? And then we're dead in New Hampshire.
Have you forgotten who you're working for? Um, Elizabeth schooled America about nationalism, and her-- And her popularity went up five points. This country is totally ready to be spanked by Hot Mom.
What do you think?
I think that I do line up with some GOP policy positions. I think privatization is sometimes more efficient than government bureaucracy, and I'm all for a strong military. And I think... we do all win when the government steps back and allows responsible businesses to thrive. But I don't think that that means that corporations should pay a lower tax rate than school teachers
Of course not. You can-- There's always a way to frame it.
What happens when I make wealth disparity my key issue? Or declare that the days of undermining democracy by gerrymandering are over?
You will trade horses like every other politician.
She's not every other politician.
One bonus: I make this call tomorrow, I am pretty sure this whole affair story goes away a lot faster.
Okay, that... is exactly the kind of political gamesmanship that I hate. I know that both parties do it. But the GOP has a much darker history of playing up wedge issues like same-sex marriage just to fire up voters. When I went to Camp David to think about the candidate I want to be, none of that was on the list.
Seems like you know your way forward on this, ma'am.
Let's not make any decisions tonight. (grabs a beer) Let me-- Let me just-- Let me just say this: no one gets to shape this country by being the noble candidate who lost.
Hey, is anyone going to say anything?
Like what? "Congratulations on your affair with the president."
Wait. We don't really think it happened, do we?
I think it's none of our business, and, no, I don't think it happened.
You see Carrot Top's tweet?
You follow Carrot Top?
Henry, he showed up out of nowhere. He's obviously stirred up from reading about his wife sleeping with her boss. When your friend's husband asks you if it's true, you don't feed the fire.
This whole thing...
Yeah.
Do you have any idea who it could've been?
I mean, it could've been a lot of people, Bess.
Weren't that many people out to get me.
Maybe not out to get you, but if they were asked? They all had eyes. Whether anything happened or not, he clearly favored you.
Wait...
Look, I know you didn't cross any lines. I mean, I don't even think there's anything wrong with how you benefited from it. Uh...
Wow. So you think I used Conrad.
No. I'm-- I'm not... No. I'm not saying you didn't earn everything that you've achieved, and believe me, I will be first in line to vote for you. I know it's totally unfair to you, but it's not hard for people who saw your dynamic with Conrad to think there could have been something to those rumors.
Deputy Secretary, you should know that Secretary McCord and I take these allegations very seriously.
DSDeputy Secretary Bailey
And, uh, you want to hear my side of the story, or have you done away with due process?
Oh, all of these allegations will be investigated fully if you decide to take this position.
DSDeputy Secretary Bailey
What are you implying?
I am openly informing you that if an investigation confirms any of the actions as described in this document, then you will not become Acting Secretary of State. Furthermore, those determinations will most likely follow you in your next career, so... you may want to think carefully about your next move.
DSDeputy Secretary Bailey
You know, I get that the rules have changed. But you need to look at my record. No one has been a bigger champion of women in this department. And I have taken bullets for this country, and now you're telling me that you're gonna run me out of town at dawn because a few women have no sense of humor?
It's a shocking violation, isn't it? To be confronted by something so unwelcome and disempowering at work? I'm pretty sure every woman in this document knows exactly how you feel.
Don't tell me you're letting that ridiculous article get to you.
It's my family I'm worried about.
Well, I'm willing to make a statement about the damn thing if it'll help.
No, thank you, sir. But you decided to stay out of it, and I'm going to follow your lead. I hope Lydia isn't too upset?
One thing we learned about this job is that you need to keep yourself separate from the office. They are two different things.
Conrad, do you think...? When we were at CIA, did you favor me?
Of course. You were smart, diligent, and you knew how to think for yourself. What kind of boss would I be if I didn't favor that?
If that's a masseuse, can you see if she'll do campaign stops?
What makes you think I'm booking a masseuse?
You said her name was Kayla.
Guys enough. Enough. This whole routine between the two of you, undercutting, the jockeying for position, this has got to stop. This is exactly what George Washington hated about a two-party system. Two sides trying to dominate each other.
What does he know? He had wooden teeth.
He was right. And so is Jay, by the way. My political identity is tied to Conrad's. I'm an independent. It's who I am, and it's how I'm going to run. I'm gonna call Governor Hayes, and tell him we're declining his offer. Either of you have a problem with that? (Both Mike and Jay shake their heads no) Good. I've also accepted an interview tomorrow morning where I'm going to put these affair rumors to rest, among other things.
Love it. Can we go over some talking points?
I don't need talking points. I was there. Guys, this is gonna be a long, hard road. but it's the road I want to be on. So you either get on it with me or get out of my way. Okay?
CConstantine
It's ironic that you decry nationalism around the world when at home -
Callister's running for President. I've heard it before.
CConstantine
That's the problem with your so-called free speech. It is another weapon that can be bought and sold.
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