Original subtitles

[Mac] Previously on Commander in Chief:

[Mac] The president has had a stroke.

The 25th Amendment kicks in. The vice president assumes the presidency.

What happens? Do I take the oath?

Madam Vice President, we need you to resign.

You know that your vice-presidency was never ever intended to be a presidency.

It was done as a stunt.

I think people voted for what President Bridges believes in.

If you can't deliver, then maybe you should step aside.

This is what we do. We do the right thing.

You want to be president because you want power.

- That's not me. - Well, that's the problem.

I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna take the oath of office.

- The president of the United States. - [clapping]

I run the first lady's staff.

- May I show you to your office? - It's, uh, very, uh... pink.

I want you to be my chief of staff.

We can save this country. We can save it from her.

If you think that I am gonna step aside, you are sorely mistaken.

[Nathan] In his two years as president, Teddy Bridges demonstrated to us

that who we have been as a nation is not as important as who we can be.

That was his gift to us. His vision.

When it came time for him to pick his vice president, he chose a woman.

A political independent. Teddy Bridges had that genius.

The genius to see past the constraints of the present to the future

and recognize in it an idea whose time has come,

and make that idea a reality.

Our reality.

- [man] Aim. Fire! - [gunshots]

Pray for the soul of our beloved president.

Pray for the soul of our new president.

Pray for Mackenzie Allen. Her husband. Her children.

Pray for this nation that waits with hopeful heart for her

to answer the clarion call of Teddy Bridges.

For it is only through your deeds

that his genius can be fulfilled for us all.

- [man] Aim. Fire! - [gunshots]

[whinnying]

"It's only through your deeds that his genius can be fulfilled for us all."

Templeton doesn't want you to be able to take credit for your own presidency.

With him next in line,

it is top priority for us to get a vice president confirmed.

- I think it should be Warren Keaton. - That guy hates you. Why help him?

I don't wanna help him. I want him to help me.

- And the country. - You should listen to your son.

Keaton was attacking you for a year.

Why do you need a vice president?

Mommy needs somebody who can take over in case I can't do the job.

It's kind of like a... substitute teacher.

Right. And we've got to find the best one possible.

But you have to keep it a big secret.

So, from now on, anything that we say stays within this family.

- OK. - OK.

- Hey. - Hiya, Nate.

- So it ends, huh? - So it begins.

- She give you a list? - Yes.

- Long? - One name.

Whose?

C'mon, Mr. Speaker, you know I can't...

Is the name on that list?

Those are the nominees that I can guarantee I can get through Congress.

Tucker Baynes's name is right at the top of the list.

Governor Baynes is at the top of the list.

- That's not a problem for you, is it? - No. I like Tucker Baynes.

You tell the girl

that this is just a dance.

She steps on people's toes, she sits it out.

That's how it goes.

[sirens wail]

- Thank you. - [cameras clicking]

Madam President? NSC's waiting to meet you.

Mom, how long are we gonna be here? We have a lot of packing to do.

Hey, slow down, OK?

Madam President. I'm Chief Usher Waverly.

- How do you do? - Pleasure.

Like me to show the first family to the residence?

- Yes. - Ma'am. Ma'am, we need to go.

OK. I'll catch up with you guys later.

Can we talk about Keaton later? I have some thoughts.

Of course. All right. Bye.

- Holding up? - You're asking me?

[man] Secretary of state's scheduled calls in protocol order.

- We have France, Britain... - [clamoring]

- [man] Charlie. - Do we know the president's last words?

They were said to his wife, Grace.

If she wishes to make anything public, a statement will be published.

[clamoring]

- Sammy. - Hale, five days ago the president

sent U.S. Marines into Nigeria to rescue a woman being held by sharia law.

Can you tell us how she came to this decision and with whom she consulted?

The War Powers Act required her to notify Congress.

- That mean...? - [Hale] Let's move on.

- [clamoring] - Tom.

This, of course, is the famous East Room where many formal functions are held.

President Kennedy has said that he loved this room.

- He spent a lot of time here. - Hello, Mr. Calloway. Hello, children.

I'm Nora Woodruff.

- Hi. - Hi there.

I'm the White House social director.

I'm also your father's right hand in the first gentleman's office.

If you'll follow me, I'll be happy to show you to the residence.

[Waverly] There are four housekeepers,

three valets, six butlers and several chefs,

all of whom would be happy to make you anything,

- 24 hours a day. - Even ice cream sundaes at midnight?

As many as you want. Right this way.

Let me get some answers on this Nigeria thing.

- We're flying in the dark. - Hale.

You invoked the War Powers Act? What were you thinking?

You trying to inflame the press?

Jim, the cool factor of her being a woman is gonna wear off real fast

and we're all gonna go down with the ship.

Hale, I need to know if the president has your loyalty.

The president's dead, Jim.

I want your resignation on my desk in an hour.

It's already there.

This is the formal dining room.

There's also an informal dining room near the kitchen.

- [dog barking] - Regal! You're here!

- Yes, she is. - Regal.

OK, um, Rebecca, your room is here on the left.

Previously occupied by Susan Ford, Chelsea Clinton...

Where are the tunnels JFK used to sneak in Marilyn?

- Is that Grace Bridges? - Yes, as a matter of fact.

The former first lady and Tommy moved into the guest bedrooms temporarily.

Eleanor Roosevelt stayed for three months after FDR died.

Hmm.

- We're talking... - Hi.

Then Smith from NEC needs to talk about reopening the markets.

- Right. - OK.

There's a series of bills nearing their ten-day do or die...

[man] Ten-hut!

...expiration date, including HR-1167, which the Democratic... Ma'am?

- I can't go in there. - I'll see you on the other end.

[Mac] Sit. Sit everyone. Thank you.

[TV on low volume]

- [Nathan] Hey. - Boss.

I loved it.

- The funeral? - The speech.

Oh. Thank you.

Jim says she's picked somebody already.

No consultation. Just picked somebody. Who, I don't know.

It's Warren Keaton.

Bloody hell. She is something. How'd...? When did you find that out?

Sometime after the second bottle of wine.

OK, well, this is not gonna work. Everything has to be moved up.

Fly Baynes into town and go deep background with the press.

"Tucker Baynes is the man. Baynes has been selected."

That's all I wanna be hearing tonight.

- Baynes is the choice. - Mackenzie Allen.

What a piece of work she turned out to be.

[door opening]

- [indistinct chatter] - [man] Excuse me.

- The meeting with the Joint Chiefs... - You're one stealth guy, Vince.

Sorry. It's scheduled for 3:00.

Communications staff thinks a photo op's important.

It was my call, actually. The world needs to see you

- as commander in chief. - OK.

[Jim] Give me a minute with the boss.

- We'll finish later. - OK.

What were you saying?

I had to encourage your press secretary to resign.

You did?

He informed the press it was his belief you had to invoke the War Powers Act

before going and gathering Oria Madula out of Nigeria.

Wants the media questioning my abilities from the start.

Who do we have walking the story back for us?

Should be Alex Williams, Hale's deputy. I suggest you elevate him.

He's quick, has experience.

- Knows what he's doing... - Not so sure about that.

This could be an opportunity for us.

And, Jim, next time you want to fire somebody at that level,

- check with me first. - Yes, ma'am.

OK, what else?

Templeton approached with a list of confirmable Republican VPs.

He put Tucker Baynes at the top.

You tell him I wanna go with Warren Keaton?

- ‘Course not, ma'am. - Baynes is interesting, but...

When are you gonna talk with Keaton?

A conference call with him in an hour.

- What do I have now? - Democratic leadership, ma'am.

This thing where I've no idea what I'm doing from one moment to the next,

- I should just get used to that, right? - You bet, ma'am.

All right. Hello, everyone.

- Rebecca, this is your room. - Wait. We've already been moved?

During the funeral. Usually happens during inaugurations.

I believe the record was when Reagan left and Bush One moved in.

That was three hours, all on one very cold, wet day.

Whoa! This is the exact same as your room in the old house.

- That's the point. - Everything's in the same spot. This...

- The posters. - It's great, isn't it?

- They even organized her underwear. - Yes, that'd be Gregory,

- the children's valet. - Gregory? Oh, God.

- C'mon, Becca. - He's very professional, I assure you.

It's no big deal. A little creepy, maybe.

- Is there something wrong? - Uh, you know, it's-it's fine.

Well, good. Then Amy, let's go look at your room.

[Waverly] Right this way.

Speaking as a woman, I want to tell you how proud I am.

Thank you, senator.

I assume there'll be opportunities to discuss legislative agenda.

I couldn't govern without your help, Alison.

If you have questions about our priority legislation, like HR-1167...

We'd like to give you a list of potential VP nominees.

- Who's at the top? - John Vernon.

If you recommend a Democrat to join a Republican administration,

must it be a card-carrying communist?

I like John Vernon. It's just, his agenda's very... John Vernon.

Well, you should at least meet.

I've decided to go with the old "best person for the job" thing.

- You're trying to position... - May I ask who you're considering?

I'd like to keep that to the team for now.

I don't mean to take advantage of the death of a president.

But this is an opportunity for the party.

Well, one of the benefits of being Independent

is I don't have to worry about such things.

Well, there's one thing you're right on.

You can't govern without us.

We moved the OMB call which affected the scheduling meeting now set for 8:30.

Make sure I have time to get to the residence to see my family before that.

We may need to clear a couple of hours at some point to see General Keaton.

I will take care of that, ma'am.

- Jim. - Mr. Gardner.

So after that meeting, I have the Democrats with a target on my back.

You have an 80 percent approval rating with the people.

Too bad they don't run the confirmation hearings.

May be moot as far as Keaton's concerned.

He'll take a call, but he doesn't think it's good to meet.

- In other words, he's not interested. - That has yet to be seen.

- Ma'am. - Don't wanna hear arguments

- against Keaton. I've heard 'em. - All due respect...

I know how much he's attacked me in the past.

My husband would rather punch him than shake his hand.

This is a special man.

He won a war without losing a single American life.

On top of that, he's an economics genius.

Name me one candidate on either list who could match that.

This is a man the American people respect.

This is a man I respect.

A man who doesn't have any idea how Washington works.

Isn't that what we have you for?

Set up the call.

- Keaton's gonna do it. - Will do.

- Daddy, whose furniture is this? - It's ours, honey. You like it?

It doesn't look like the kind you're supposed to sit on.

Of course it is. Go ahead.

- I miss our couch. - Yeah, so do I.

Is there a TV, at least?

- Um, hey, Dad? - Hey.

Um, what if something's missing from my room.

- Like what? - Um, CDs or whatever.

I'm pretty sure they cleared out the place.

So we're never going back?

No, honey, we live here now.

- [Rod] Listen, Becca... - Something could've been dropped.

- We'll replace your CDs, I promise. - No, Dad, it's not that...

Becca, I'll call somebody. What's missing exactly?

Oh, no, Dad. You don't have to do that.

Um, don't call anyone. It's not a big deal.

Never mind.

[Mac] The Russian-American relationship's too important.

I've every intention of keeping the summit on schedule.

I look forward to meeting you and your husband.

Please send my condolences to Mrs. Bridges.

Yes, I will pass your thoughts along to Grace.

- Thank you, President Kharkov. - [speaking Russian]

- Ma'am. - Thank you.

- Thank you, Madam President. - [Mac] Kelly.

- You wanted to see me? - Yes.

I hope someday I'm gonna get back to our once a week lunches.

- Are you hungry? - No. Thank you.

So, you heard about our press secretary?

- This thing with the War Powers Act? - It's very surprising.

What do you think of the deputy press secretary?

Alex Williams. I think he's... good. He's efficient.

I know the press likes him. Why? You thinking of promoting him?

No. I was going to suggest that you keep him on.

- I'm making you press secretary. - Me?

- Yes. - Press secretary?

Madam President, I'm a speechwriter.

Three years ago I was a university chancellor.

This is our shot.

And that is the most powerful microphone in the world.

I want one of my people behind it.

- When would I start? - Your briefing book.

- The bible. - Thanks, Alex.

I really appreciate this. I just...

I want you to know I didn't ask for this job.

- No worries. I get it. - No, it's just that I...

Just stick to the talking points. And the seating chart.

- And Hale always called on Gilda first. - Got it.

OK. The cable stations are cutting in to take you live.

- Your first briefing and all. - [reporters murmuring]

[cameras clicking]

[Kelly clears throat]

Let me begin with a few housekeeping items and scheduling changes.

The president's meeting with the Joint Chiefs will now take place

at 3:30 in the Roosevelt Room. There will be a photo op.

Expanded pool only.

President Allen will have a phone meeting

with this month's head of the Security Council.

And with that, I just want to say that I am

very proud to take over as press secretary.

Um... OK, I'd like to open it up to some...

- [all] Kelly! - Kelly.

- OK, Charlie, first question. - Yeah, has President...?

What's the update on nominating a new vice president?

Well, Gilda, President Allen is moving forward

with the deliberate speed of such a weighty decision.

[clamoring]

Kelly, are there any names on the short list?

I haven't discussed that with her.

Maybe you can suss her out. Make our lives a little more interesting.

Did the president follow the protocol of the War Powers Act,

as Hale mentioned this morning,

when she had Oria Madula handed over to United States Marines?

- I wasn't in the loop on that. - [clamoring]

Designers. Any preferences?

[clearing throat] Not sure now's the time.

- It's kind of inappropriate. - They're gonna be after you.

You're the first first gentleman. You'll be affecting styles for years.

- Well, I, uh, like Zegna. - Oh. No.

- No? - Remember what happened

- when Clinton wore Armani? - I don't really remember.

American designers only, thank you.

- [knock on door] - Hey!

Yes?

- Hey, Steve, how the hell are you? - Good.

Listen, I was over at the OEOB and I thought...

- You have curators at 4:40. - Great.

- New assistant, huh? - Yeah, something like that.

- So... - So. Uh... What... Oh, God.

- Hell of a thing, huh? - Yeah.

I was wondering if I could talk to you about the governor of New Mexico.

I know Luis. I like him a lot.

You should see the testing on this guy for vice president.

- I mean, it's seismic. - Oh.

Here are the results.

I mean, he edges her across the aisle.

Well, uh, it's a good name. It's bold. I'll run it up the flag pole.

You're still in the thick of it, right?

Yeah. I'm gonna get right into it. Don't worry.

Mess is closed, huh?

I like it down here. It's quiet.

Famous navy bean soup.

Oh.

I just spoke with a buddy of mine

who works for a political action committee in the Southwest.

Are you here to talk about Luis Alfano?

I am. Yes.

We did opp research on him years ago.

- He was in muddy waters. - I know that.

- It just got me thinking... - Can I stop you?

You need to sit back and just take a deep breath, Rod.

Now you are, you know, the first spouse.

People are gonna try to take advantage of you, influence you...

They don't see me as a spouse. They see me as an advisor.

And that's even worse.

Do yourself a favor, Rod.

Stay in your lane.

Look, if I‘ve got an idea...

Well, you're the one who has her ear at bedside, so...

Green's foreign policy, orange's domestic. Purple is for just political.

The next seven days, I want to keep that board 75 percent green.

Let's keep political meetings to a minimum.

Go and put time on the schedule for legislative meetings.

- Yes, sir. OK, beginning Monday... - Eleanor, I'm sorry.

Could we take a short break, please?

[Eleanor] Yes, ma'am.

- Yeah. Oh, gotta go. - Laura.

- I'm gonna go upstairs for a minute. - Yes, ma'am.

- Here. I'll take that, thank you. - Ma'am, is everything OK?

Yeah. Fine. We just may need another color for the chart.

We always have dinner together as a family

and, obviously, since it's 11, I've missed it.

- Understood. - Ma'am, I'm so sorry.

- I don't know how this happened. - ...Oval Office, where

- a decision's been made... - No confirmation. They ran with it.

According to high-level source close to the vice-presidential search,

President Allen has selected Tucker Baynes,

the former Republican governor from Oklahoma, as her choice.

- Now this is unexpected... - This on the other networks?

- All of them. - [reporter continues]

- Templeton's handiwork? - [Jim] He's connecting Baynes to you.

The press'll poll. Baynes'll test great.

I'll be praised for my choice.

They'll say how egoless it is of me to choose someone so charismatic.

And If I don't go with him, they'll say I'm weak and indecisive.

- [phone ringing] - Exactly. Templeton's boxing us in.

Templeton is not choosing my vice president.

- [Laura] Mr. Gardner? For you. - Ma'am, I'm... I'm sorry.

- Kelly, it's not you. - [Jim] You sure?

Guess General Keaton didn't want to be in second position.

That was his office. They just canceled our call.

That didn't take long.

That's different from what you said before.

Just tell me what the general told you.

All right. Thanks, Norman.

[Jim] The general's aide says we should move on.

You gotta respect the guy's arrogance.

[Jim] We should start considering other nominees, including Baynes,

- on our terms... - No, not yet. Let Keaton cool off.

"Move on" is not the same as "no."

Staff's still here for the scheduling meeting.

- You want me to push it till tomorrow? - No. Let's... Let's get it done.

OK. I just need to say good night to my family.

OK, ma'am. I'll see you in there.

[sighs, chuckles]

- [whispering] Hey, how you doing? - [whispering] Hey.

- How's the room? - Same as back home.

- Really? - Yeah. Like... exactly.

This whole thing about being here's kinda... kinda weird, you know?

I know. It is. I'm gonna go say good night to Becca.

Oh, Mom, I think she's totally crashed for the night.

- Yeah? All right. Good night, baby. - Good night.

Sleep good.

I don't know where I am.

Could you just pick me up somewhere, like at 15th or something.

- Hello? - Rebecca?

- It keeps cutting out. - That's a security measure.

What're you doing?

Look, can I just get a cab or a car or something?

I mean, how the hell do I get out of here?

- Look, you need to calm down. - Look, they left it there, all right?

I gotta go back and get it before somebody else does.

Left what? What are you talking about?

[sighing] My diary.

And it's got stuff in it.

What kind of stuff?

Stuff about Mom.

She appears.

- Hey. - [Rod] You eat?

I hear the room service around here's not bad.

No, I just came up to say good night to the kids.

First day in and I missed dinner.

Well, I've been with 'em and they're OK.

They've figured out being president's

the most difficult and important job in the world.

Well, I gotta get back. The whole staff is still working.

Only because you are.

Come on. I'll call 'em, and send them home.

You need a break.

You haven't stopped since the service this morning.

- God, was that this morning? - Mm-hm.

First there was the whole press secretary thing,

and then the Democratic leadership was...

And, of course, you heard about the Tucker Baynes disaster.

The press has me all tied in with him now.

Now General Keaton wants to have his name withdrawn from consideration.

- We gotta fix this thing right away. - Just let it wait till the morning.

And I'm not so sure it's such a disaster.

- But Baynes is Templeton's guy. - That doesn't make him a bad choice.

I've been thinking. You should work off of Templeton's list.

Hmm.

Let me introduce you to your bedroom.

- Oh, wow. - Mm-hm.

This is...

- This is just like the other place. - Mm-hm.

Look, even Amy's painting is in exactly the same place.

Yeah. Just like we've always been here.

Oh. So Templeton's list. You think I should go with a Republican?

I think we should do whatever it takes

to make a viable Allen administration. Let the speaker be a kingmaker.

He'll give us the relationship that we need on the Hill.

Mmm. I'm still stuck on Keaton.

Well, if you stay stuck on Keaton, his confirmation hearing is going to be

like a recap of his greatest one-liners attacking you.

I get that. But, you know, when he talks, he means what he says.

He's got common sense backed up with real world experience.

And he does not have a duplicitous bone in his body.

Enough shop talk, kiddo.

- I am so exhausted. - [Rod] It's to be expected.

You realize that, uh, John and Jackie slept here?

- Huh! Yeah. - Pretty amazing, huh?

- Mmm. - First female president.

'Night.

[phone rings]

[Mac groans]

- There you go. - Thank you.

- Yeah. - [man] Sorry to disturb you,

- we need to speak with you immediately. - OK. I'll be right there.

[groaning]

We scoured the vice-presidential residence.

I went where Velour said it would be...

Just so you know, Rebecca hates that code name.

We're concerned one of the movers may have possession of the diary.

He may try and sell it to the tabloids.

Ma'am, she said she may have written things about you.

Kelly, the only person who's had a longer day than I have.

What do you think?

From a press point of view, there's nothing that can be done.

What she's trying to say is we can't go to the tabloids.

If we go to the tabloids we won't be the only one tracing it.

She's 16 years old.

Whatever‘s in that diary, we don't want printed.

Can you rack your brain, ma'am? Think back.

Did you ever, for any reason, share sensitive material with Rebecca?

Well, I didn't give her the nuclear codes.

- [laughing] - [Mac] Come on.

If you need to know what's in the diary, there's only one place to go.

[man 1] There anything in the diary that mentions the president?

Uh, yeah, I guess so.

[man 2] Anything that might be perceived as damaging?

I... I don't know.

You write about anything the president officially did?

Look, I don't know. I don't remember what's in the diary.

[man 3] Details about your personal life?

Maybe you have something written about drugs? Sex?

OK, guys. Could we just slow down a little bit here?

[man] Excuse me.

Sweetie, I want you to tell the Secret Service everything

you remember about that diary. I want you to be completely honest.

And not a word of it gets back to me, OK?

- [Joan] Yes, ma'am. - OK.

Guys...

Is the choice of Baynes a tribute to what Teddy Bridges would have wanted?

Neither Baynes nor anyone else has been selected.

[all] Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!

Gallup shows 68 percent approval.

- We're getting ahead of ourselves. - Can't you be straight?

- You obviously leaked the name. - I did no such thing.

- It's not lit. - I don't smoke.

I'm just preparing for the inevitable.

- I saw your briefings. - You think it's funny?

You have the most important job in the White House.

- The most difficult to learn. - I'm letting her down.

You've been with us from the start. You're battle-tested, loyal.

You're tough when you need to be.

Your president called upon you because she trusts you.

Because she knows you'll lay on train tracks for her.

- Is that enough? - It is if the press realizes that.

They'll respect you for it.

So, you just... You tell it like it is.

The lingo you learn, the respect you earn.

I'll see ya.

[Jayne] I was in Oklahoma for the primary.

You were with the Bridges campaign.

I don't know why we challenged Oklahoma's favorite son.

- [chuckling] Well... - Sorry, guys.

- Hey, Nate. - No. Sit, sit, sit. Please.

- You don't have a drink. - Oh, I'm good. Thanks.

Base-closing talks.

It's OK, your Fort Sill is safe.

- They treatin' you all right at the... - Hay-Adams.

- Hay-Adams. - Oh, great. Great. You ever stay there?

No, no, no. I like my own bed over in Arlington.

- [Nathan] The president contacted you? - Not yet.

Oh, boy.

Ah, dear. Well, I'm not surprised.

It's a mess over there.

She had to fire her husband as her chief of staff,

so that's in a crisis mode.

Press secretary's gone. Secretary of labor's gone south.

DOD's up in arms over the Nigerian business.

Well, she must've gotten a spike for that.

Right? I mean, women?

The numbers aren't real. They're emotional.

What the White House needs

is a man like you to go in there and right the ship of state.

- Literally. - Figuratively.

If this isn't real, I'm gonna come off as a horse's ass.

- Have you had her ear on this? - No, not hers.

No. Jim Gardner. Good man. Ours.

No, of course, you're there. On the list. At the top.

Am I confirmable?

You've got the Republicans, maybe half the Democrats.

Why did you turn it down, Nate? The vice-presidency?

This office.

- I couldn't leave. I love it. - Governor, I apologize,

- but you've got that meeting with APEC. - Oh, boy. I gotta go.

[grunting]

You look great. You look just great.

- Vice-presidential. - [Tucker laughs]

- You guys met with Baynes? - What, no preliminaries?

The speaker knows and admires the governor and would be

very supportive if he were the nominee...

...and sees a quick confirmation.

What's going on, Jayne?

What's going on is Mackenzie Allen needs to show a little respect.

She was presented with a list of five pre-approved names

and no effort has been made to even make contact with them.

We don't vet through the speaker's office.

You know, if she won't make this happen, we will.

I don't take ultimatums well.

It doesn't matter if you take them well, Jim.

It only matters if she does.

Go with Baynes. He's a winner.

Honestly, I think Keaton's a lost cause.

- The president shouldn't chase. - What are you suggesting?

Baynes is a solid choice.

There's something I'm not buying.

Why is Templeton pushing so hard on Baynes?

Why empower the one man who could challenge him

for his party's nomination in two years?

Maybe Templeton isn't running.

Jim.

- Hey. - Hey.

[Horace continues typing]

- What's up? - Nothing. Just bored.

- Bec, it's gonna be OK. - No, it's not.

It's going to really, really suck.

You're in it too.

What? The diary?

Oh, man. Don't tell me that. What did you say?

You know, next time you wanna bitch about your life on paper,

bitch about your life. Not mine.

- Horace? - What?

I'm sorry.

They'll find it.

I mean, Mom's the president.

If she doesn't have the resources, then who does?

They better find it.

[Kelly] That was the 13th question on the subject.

Gonna give the same answer. "We're in the process.

- No decisions yet." - [all] Kelly! Kelly!

- How ‘bout a new subject? - Hurrah. Yes.

Some of us are still sketchy on the decision-making

that went into the rescue of Oria Madula.

- Can you tell us the motivations? - The motivations?

Was she acting as a representative of women?

Oria Madula was to be brutally tortured until she died because she had

a child out of wedlock. Stoned until her skull caved in.

The president wasn't acting as a representative of women.

She was acting as a representative of the human race.

Hey, uh, Kelly!

- Kelly... - Yeah. Charlie

- You're getting the hang of it. - Yeah.

- That was nice. - Thanks.

I need a comment from the president. A reaction.

To what?

I'm running a story in The Post tomorrow about your guy, Baynes.

I never said he was our guy.

About this out-of-court settlement that he made.

About three years ago.

- See? Second paragraph? - This is for real?

Absolutely.

- [clock chimes] - [groans]

Hey, Tommy.

- How you doin'? - I'm OK, Mrs. Allen.

[Grace] That's President Allen, Tommy.

- Honey, what are you doing out of bed? - Getting milk.

All right. Let's go. OK. Go, go, go. It's late.

- I'm sorry. - Oh, no. How's he, uh, holding up?

Oh. Better than his old lady.

- Mmm. - Thank you so much for your patience

- Oh, Grace... Grace. - and hospitality.

You were a wonderful first lady. You're a national treasure.

- Anything I can ever do for you. - Teddy... Ah.

Oh...

- Good night. - Good night, Grace.

- Hi, Jim. - Mrs. Bridges.

[Mac] Hey, what's going on?

Charlie's working on a story for tomorrow's Post.

- It's about Tucker Baynes. - Oh, my vice president I never chose.

His first year as governor, a female staffer approached

his attorneys with allegations of sexual harassment.

- How'd that turn out? - Case never made it to court.

Never even made it to the press.

But an e-mail that she sent his lawyer two years ago has surfaced.

Dated March the 17th, she claims that Baynes made lewd comments.

He called her repeatedly at home.

On March 18th, she quits the governor's staff and is issued

a $200,000 check by a lobbying firm owned by his brother.

Ostensibly, a signing bonus, but she never worked there.

- [Kelly] He paid her off. - Post is gonna hold this

- as your first faux pas. - Baynes is not my choice.

Far as the press and country's concerned, he is. That's the perception.

Tell Charlie he was never in consideration.

But he was on Templeton's list. Which he gave to you.

Meaning he was in consideration.

Templeton put this out, right?

He had this up his sleeve, he pulled it out.

- Why the hell wasn't this in our file? - We just started vetting him!

Sorry.

You tell Charlie our comment is "no comment."

This ends now.

- Operator. - [female] Yes, ma'am.

Get me General Warren Fitzgerald Keaton.

Tell him his commander in chief is calling.

- [Mac] Hey, guys. - [Becca] Hi, Mom.

- [Rod] How are you? - Amy, is that a donut?

- Uh, they just gave it to me. - Did you ask for it?

- Uh-huh. - Uh-huh.

- You should be watching out for her. - Me? What about Horace?

I'm lucky if Horace isn't having pizza for breakfast.

You can be a real pain sometimes.

Yeah, and you're a virgin.

It's in your book.

- Oh, my God. - It was in my room when we moved in.

- Give me that! - Hey! But I'm not finished.

Yeah. Yeah, you are.

Horace, what's a virgin?

OK. I have to do some homework.

[clearing throat] Excuse me.

Listen, that is Rebecca's private diary.

You're not supposed to read it.

Sorry, Rebecca.

[sighs]

When was the last time you were at the White House, sir?

Oh, a couple administrations ago.

I had to give the president a tongue-lashing about his

expert target packaging in the Balkans.

Oh, I see. I will let the president know that you're here.

- You an Arab? - Palestinian, sir.

[speaking Arabic]

I'm sorry, sir. I do not speak Arabic.

- Tell her I'm here. - Yes, sir.

- [knocking on door] - Come in.

Ma'am. The general is here.

OK. Give it a minute and then bring him in.

And under a Bridges administration, I assure you

that there will be no raising of the income tax

and Social Security will remain intact.

Those two goals are not mutually exclusive and that's where

General Keaton and I differ.

[applause]

[man 1] This time we'll start with you, general.

[man 2] What do you feel in your heart

you'll bring to the ticket of Governor Crawford? Why'd he pick you?

I think my wife asked that same question.

That's two questions, really. So here's the first answer.

I've served my country for decades, since I entered West Point.

I've taken orders as a soldier. I've given orders as a general.

I've worked with the United Nations on key peacekeeping missions.

I know how to lead, and I know what's good for this country.

Now question number two. Why'd he pick me?

Hell, Governor Crawford didn't pick me, his team picked me.

The governor has no military experience, and some people say he's too liberal.

So I help him on the John Wayne front.

Folks, that's what politics is.

We are there to help our guy get elected.

Mackenzie Allen?

She was picked because Teddy Bridges needed help with the soccer moms.

Everybody knows that's why we're here.

- [mediator] That's time. - [applause]

Ms. Allen? Your response?

All this time I thought I brought the John Wayne factor.

[laughter]

[Vince] Madam President? Ma'am?

- General Keaton. - Warren. Come on in.

Madam President.

- This is not gonna happen. - So they tell me.

- Good of you to come in anyway. - Old habits.

When summoned by my commander in chief.

[Warren] This is really something. I never thought I'd see the day.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

So?

Our country lost their president. A robust, athletic man.

They see it can happen.

Country's not gonna be fully recovered till we have a vice president.

Of course. It just won't be me. We disagree on too much.

- Like? - Number one, you're wrong on Israel.

Number two, you're wrong on gun control.

Number three, you're wrong on school vouchers.

Sounds to me like three reasons why you'd wanna be

- in a position to influence me. - Ah, influence.

You know...

...vice president is really being secretary of the useless.

- Why'd you join Crawford's ticket? - He offered me state.

- He offered you state? - What can I tell ya?

If you want a man who's worth a damn in this job,

you gotta make this job worth a damn.

No offense.

You wanna know something, Warren?

For all your shoot from the hip, hoo-ha bravado,

you are absolutely full of crap.

- Beg your pardon? - You're here.

That tells me you do want the job. I want you to have it.

But I'm not gonna give you state.

You should consider this an honor, Warren.

Salute and join the team.

It's time to step up and be a man.

Were you this respectful to Tucker Baynes?

Tucker Baynes is a Templeton plant, and you know it.

Yeah. But you have to hand it to Nathan.

- He knows how the game is played. - Let me tell you something.

When they see us together, they're gonna see two people

who compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Two people who know how to fight hard and still respect each other.

And two people who sure as hell don't play any games.

OK, ma'am. No games.

I don't see a reason why I should join this administration.

You're an Independent. In two years you'll run as an Independent.

You stand an Independent's chance of winning, which is zero.

Why in God's name should I want to join a losing team?

You're probably right. I probably am gonna lose.

But, knowing that, I'm not gonna waste my time trying to get popular.

I'm not gonna waste my time campaigning.

For the next two years I'm gonna do one thing and one thing only.

That's what's right for the American people.

What are you gonna do with your next two years, Warren?

[clamoring]

Does the White House have a response to the allegations

against President Allen's choice, Tucker Baynes.

Sorry, we don't comment on allegations. We only comment on facts.

Baynes is not, nor has he ever, been President Allen's choice.

- That's just you all speculating. - Who is her choice?

Kelly. I can take that one.

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

[Mac] Please, be seated.

Ladies and gentlemen.

I am very proud to present to you

the next vice president of the United States,

- General Warren Fitzgerald Keaton. - [applause]

Write it like this. President Allen's shocked the political establishment

by picking her opponent,

her political enemy from her vice-presidential run,

General Warren Fitzgerald Keaton.

[Nathan] He goes to sleep, the Chicago Tribune says

he's president. He wakes up in the morning...

- Hey, boss. - [applause on TV]

[reporter] General Keaton. When were you notified?

[sniffing]

- [crowd laughing] - About ten minutes ago.

How's it feel to sit next to President Allen as opposed to across from her?

[Warren] It feels like being in the shadow of greatness.

I look forward to working with the Senate...

- He won't be confirmed. - Not a chance.

[Warren continues talking]