Original subtitles

[Mac] Previously on Commander in Chief:

- [woman] The president had a stroke. - Do I take the oath?

Madam Vice President. We need you to resign.

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

The president of the United States!

[Rod] You have a country full of people who believe in you.

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

I want you to be my chief of staff.

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

Do yourself a favor, Rod. Stay in your lane.

- I went to public school. - So I have to go too.

Templeton's not choosing my vice president.

- She's picked somebody. - Warren Keaton.

- What's going on, Jayne? - Mackenzie Allen needs to show respect.

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

you gotta make this job worth a damn.

He won't be confirmed. Not with what I know.

[man] With all due respect, this visit is not a negotiation with the Russians.

It's a pre-approved package, a photo op. A goodwill tea party with the Russians.

No items on the table that haven't been agreed to.

Implicit in a State Visit's the idea that the pact's been signed.

But by the previous administration. I have yet to weigh in on any issues...

Can't take the chance of derailing your first summit.

- It's too public a venue for missteps. - I wasn't planning on making any.

- I'm simply asking. - Kharkov is not the guy

you want to talk to about jailed dissident journalists.

Ma'am, the truth is our nascent administration

- needs the win more than his does. - All right. Big day tomorrow.

Let's all try to get some rest. Thank you.

I had the Russia desk translate a few phrases for you.

- Thank you. - Good luck tomorrow.

[Mac] Thank you.

For a second, I thought I was being handed a script to read from.

Increases in natural gas production.

Forward movement on the Russian-American space station.

We're accomplishing some big things here.

Yet human rights still don't make the list.

Not this time.

- [man] Madam President. - Thank you.

- Hey. - Oh, good for you.

Teddy's head never even hit the pillow the night before his first State Visit.

Hmm.

He spent half the night practicing his salute in the mirror.

[chuckles] President Bridges always seemed like a rock.

It's funny to think of him as nervous.

Don't worry. You're gonna be wonderful tomorrow.

- [Mac] Thank you. - Or rather, today.

- Good night. - Good night.

So my chief of staff won't even discuss bringing up the

- dissident journalists with Kharkov. - Mm-hm.

He's just... You know, he shuts me down every time. Just starts lecturing me.

Oh, lectures.

Lectures are bad.

- Right? - Hmm.

Get to bed.

You just gotta learn to turn off your mind.

- Mmm… - Uh-huh...

[both chuckle]

You can't claim to have a free society if you don't have a free press.

- [Rod] No... - Mmm...

[Amy screaming] Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!

- [Amy] Mommy! - I'm coming!

- [Rod] Honey, you OK? - Baby, it's OK.

You're having a bad dream.

It's OK. Oh… What happened?

[crying] I couldn't find you.

I was looking all over for you and I couldn't find you.

OK. Well, I'm here now. I'm here. Mommy's here. Baby.

[Amy screams]

- Everything all right, ma'am? - She had a nightmare.

- Go. Go. - [Mac] She's OK.

[man] Sorry, sir.

My eggs are overcooked.

- I like the yolks runny. Yours OK? - Perfect.

[waiter] I'll remind the chef.

Stay out of trouble last night?

Yeah, it was fine. I had dinner at…

Oh, completely forgot.

I ran into General Keaton last night at The Palm.

You what?

Did her esteemed vice-presidential candidate have anything to say?

Said he was looking forward to the confirmation hearing.

Wondered if you'd send the questions in advance.

[laughing] The wanker.

- What'd you tell him? - I said he was wearing a nice tie.

He was the toast of the room last night. He and his wife.

You have to pick up the NSA in 20 minutes.

Yeah.

It's going to be a challenging day for our president.

I think by the end of it she may well wish

that she were back running her school.

Good morning. Got some fresh chocolate-chip muffins for you today.

Sam, what are you doing to me?

You know I have a gown to fit into tonight.

Have you seen Amy's subtraction workbook?

Uh… I saw it under the portrait of Coolidge.

- You seen this? - What?

- Op-ed piece. - The Times?

Post.

Hey!

Hey, I'm the president. Go get yourself another muffin.

Yeah, there's something like that in The Times too.

I know. Thank you, Sam. They're all the same.

Will I be able to handle the summit,

whether I'll confront Kharkov on his country's retreat from civil liberties.

Hey, Horace. Have you seen my biology book?

- I don't know. - Look under Coolidge.

Good morning.

Wanna make sure we're up to speed for the state dinner this evening.

Wait, that state dinner thing's tonight?

- [Nora] Yes. Very exciting, isn't it? - [scoffs]

- Bye, Daddy. - Bye.

- Bye, baby. - See ya.

- Come on, guys. - Becca. What? No goodbye?

Bye.

Madam President. Mr. Calloway.

- Big day. Big, big day. - I can hardly wait.

[Nora] I wanted you to know the white delphinium tapers

have finally been located for this evening.

- U.S. Postal Service. - [Rod grunts]

Well, I can't believe I have to play tour guide all day.

Have you, uh, have you seen a picture of Mrs. Kharkova?

- Yes, I have. - I think you can handle it.

She's no Mackenzie Allen.

Nathan.

I haven't seen you since the funeral.

- You OK? - I still can't believe it.

That he's dead or that she had the balls to take the oath of office?

She defied the dying wishes of a great man.

- It's unforgivable. - Damn right.

Wolfie, I'm gonna run.

I'm gonna run for president. I have to.

And I'm gonna win.

- If it's against her... - [chuckling] It'll be against her.

Oh, yeah. I guarantee you that.

[Nathan] She'll run as an Independent.

And do you know how many states she's going to carry?

Her home state, maybe, Connecticut...

She's not gonna carry a state. Nary a one.

No, I'm gonna be president.

And I want you with me.

As my national security advisor.

Temp, I don't know what to say.

How about, "Bloody hell, yeah."

Well, then…

- Bloody hell, yeah. - [Nate chuckles]

Wolfie, I need you to resign.

Today. Now.

Shouldn't we wait till at least after the summit?

You can serve two years with her, if you want.

Or eight years with me.

You choose the horse you want to back.

Your resignation has to be tendered within the hour.

Madam President, remember to allow us an adjustment in your heels

so they don't engage the grass...

Keep Kharkov on your right so the stills have a clean shot of you

- inspecting your troops... - OK.

Oh, and sir, protocol dictates

that you kiss both Mrs. Kharkova's cheeks in greeting.

- Do I? Should I? - Oh, no, ma'am. Just a handshake.

We have covered every potential scenario.

Not every scenario, Madam President.

- Excuse us, Nora. - Oh, of course, Jim.

Roman Wolfe called a press conference.

Roman Wolfe? Why?

Evidently his resignation letter is waiting on your desk.

Mm-hm.

- [inhaling deeply] OK. - Give us a moment, Jim.

Of course.

What do you think it says when a member of my cabinet

- quits on the day of my first summit? - Oh, forget Wolfe. He doesn't matter.

Right now, this is about President Kharkov.

It's about you. It's about making history.

Right now, you become this country.

You're the United States of America.

- OK. Let's do it. - Mm-hm.

[♪ Hail to the Chief]

[guards] Ten-hut!

[man] Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

[hip-hop music plays]

[indistinct chatter]

Hey. Um, I think you…

Yeah, you were in my dream last night.

- I'm... Almost for sure. - Oh, yeah?

- What was I doing, Jenny? - I can't remember.

But I'm pretty sure you were wearing that shirt you have with the,

uh, little red stripes. We call it your candy cane shirt.

Wait. You have a nickname for my shirt?

Anyway...

Man, she is so into you.

Whatever, man. I like her.

You know you don't have to like her, Horace. Any of ‘em.

- Gimme the ball. - See? You got the perfect setup.

- Come on. - No, dude. You're the president's son.

Every girl in our school wants to lose it to you.

- Not true. - 'Course it is.

Makes a great story when she's old and fat

and has nothing else in her life but a bunch of high school memories.

Horace! You took my biology book and it had my homework in it.

I had to take an incomplete. Thanks.

No problem, I have bio next period. I'll explain to Mrs. Hedison what happened.

Hedison's a complete bitch.

- Plus, she's got full-on BO. - [chuckling] Totally.

Gimme the ball, Flemming.

Hey, Rebecca, since Horace has never asked me...

I don't know...

Are you guys, like, allowed to have guests over to the White House?

Yeah. I can do whatever I want.

Well, I'm free tonight.

[Mac] I'd like to welcome President Kharkov back to the United States.

Perhaps I'll finally be able to beat one American president in a round of golf.

- [crowd laughing] - Well, I have a pretty good short game.

Welcome.

[man] Madam President,

as vice president you were very vocal about President Kharkov

and his government's crackdown on democratic liberties.

Where would I be without you guys to remind me of my words?

We have a very full agenda of matters to discuss, privately.

- [whispering] Get them out of here. - Thank you.

You'll have opportunities at the press conference.

What's it say about your ability to lead, Madam President,

when your security advisor resigns on such an important day?

The issue at hand isn't this woman's ability to lead,

but of her security advisor's willingness to follow.

[Kelly] OK. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.

That was great.

Kharkov totally covered for the president there.

- He shut that question down. - What? It was a disaster.

He called her a woman. She isn't a woman. She is a president.

She's not a woman?

Look, Alex. Every world leader is watching this summit looking for clues,

gestures. Whatever signals they can read to figure out

what kind of president Mackenzie Allen is, besides female.

[Rod] Mrs. Benjamin Harrison started the collection of china.

I especially like this rococo revival punch bowl

from the Pierce administration.

Mrs. Harrison actually found this bowl in the, uh, White House attic

and had it mended and then put on display.

Ever wonder how it came to be broken?

Well, maybe the, uh, punch was spiked.

Oh, so one night, your President Pierce had too much to drink...

And suddenly, a presidential mistake became a national treasure.

But in the end, I feel that I can no longer be of efficient service

to this country, or to this president.

[reporter] Is there an inciting incident to this resignation?

- [intercom beeping] - [Roman] No...

- Yeah. - [woman] Secretary of interior's here.

[reporter] Did the president ask you...?

Hold him for two minutes, then send him in.

[Roman] I had a meeting…

- Send me in some coffee, please. - Yes, sir.

[reporter] How'd the president react to your resignation?

That is between the president and me.

So we're not going to proceed with the sale of nuclear fuel to Būshehr...

Until the Iranians have met all their international obligations.

And satisfy the community that they have abandoned

- their nuclear weapons program. - [man] Next.

Regarding Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.

There's no real update there. You know that's up to the WTO.

That remains beyond our purview.

We'll revisit that item. Let's move on.

Did you know there are 132 rooms in the White House?

Yes. But did you also know there are 16 refrigerators?

Now, technically, we're not even supposed to be

in the Cabinet Room without the president.

But I think we're gonna get away with it.

[both chuckle]

- You used to be her chief of staff. - [Rod murmurs]

How are you finding your new position?

Well, I'm not sure that I would call it a, uh, position.

[chuckles] It's just that I used to be, uh, so much more than a spouse.

Oh, yes. Me too.

[whispering] Mrs. Kharkova, um...

Before this, you were a well-respected attorney.

[Rod] So tell me the truth.

Don't you feel that this job is just a little limiting?

[whispering] That is only the job, if that's what you make of the job.

[man] Item seven on the agenda. Sturgeon hatcheries on the Volga River.

- Which we thought might... - Mr. President, if I may.

I wonder if we could table the discussion of caviar, for now,

and move on to some of the more pressing issues.

Madam President, surely you can see how our staffs thought

a billion-dollar industry warranted our full attention.

- And I don't disagree, - [clearing throat]

However, there are more urgent matters in our agenda.

Months of preparation with the previous administration

have produced a very thoughtful agenda.

One which should guide us, rather than constrain us.

- I'd prefer to go in order. - I know you would...

[Jim] This may be a good time to take a break.

Give both sides a chance to prepare for the press conference.

Lots of progress to report to the press.

- [Nora] Here we are. - Hello.

It really makes them feel good to see you down here, sir.

- Game day and all. - My pleasure.

Oh, you have to smell these roses.

Yellow roses. Mrs. Kharkova's favorite.

- Did my homework. - Ah...

[gasping] Hands! Hands! The petals brown with fingerprints...

- Hey, Dad. - Hi, Rebecca.

Um, hey, you have a sec?

- You smell that? It's nice, huh? - Yes. Roses. Very, very nice.

Yellow roses. Over a thousand of them.

- For tonight's dinner. - Yeah. About tonight's dinner.

- You're going. - Dad, that's not fair.

You're going.

None of my friends have to go to their parents' stupid business things.

I'm sorry. It's important to your mother. Case closed.

[Rod] Nora.

[sighing]

How is the morning playing?

- Truthfully, not great. - Roman Wolfe's resignation...

Will be below the fold, buried beneath the success of today's summit.

- [Jim] Madam President. - Jim.

- I know what you're going to say... - No, you don't.

If you did, you wouldn't have tried to handle me like that.

- I was trying to protect you. - I'm gonna…

- I think that we should… - Uh, you hang back, Kelly.

We have a bigger problem.

A bigger problem than not having the support of my chief of staff?

- Secretary Witherspoon's resigned. - What?

Charlie Witherspoon?

Oh, what a town. You can't even trust the backstabbers.

The national security advisor and the secretary of the interior

both resign on the day of the summit. What is going on here, Jim?

- I have a theory. - Probably the same theory I have.

Don't you think it's about time you paid a visit to Capitol Hill?

Yes, ma'am.

- [door closing] - [Rod] Charlie's here.

- Oh, hey, Charlie. Good to see you. - Madam President.

- It's been what, a year? - Yes, I think so.

So, uh, thank you for seeing me today.

Of course. What's up, Mr. Secretary? What can I do for you?

- Well... - Charlie's been hearing some rumblings.

- Oh? - [dog whining]

Well, what with the president's condition and all...

We're all well aware that Jim Gardner and Melanie Blackston came to see you

to ask you to step down, and, uh...

Well, there's just been some talk.

The cabinet knows that you haven't said yes and, uh, well, ma'am...

These guys can be, uh, pretty Machiavellian.

I see.

I just wanted you to know that, for me, I'm at your service.

Good to know.

What I'm saying is, you know, I could be your eyes and ears.

Let you know where the knives are coming from.

There will be knives?

- [dog barking] - [Charlie] Yeah.

I, for one, would be very much in support of you.

The Department of Interior would very much welcome a woman's point of view.

Women are much more, uh, environmentally friendly.

Well, we do tend to pick up after ourselves.

- Uh-oh! - [all laugh]

OK, OK. Well, Charlie, thank you for stopping by.

- Right. - OK.

Bye, girl.

Hey, Charlie, you really think

a woman'd be better for the Department of Interior?

Sure. Absolutely.

Perhaps we should have a woman running it then.

Kidding.

Ah...

[Vince] Excuse me, ma'am. Ma'am?

- The press conference is set to begin. - Thank you, Vince.

Uh, do me a favor.

I need a copy of Oliver Chitwood's biography of John Tyler.

- President Tyler? - Yeah. That's the guy.

[Kelly sighs]

You know what's gonna happen in there, don't you?

I'm afraid I do, ma'am.

They're gonna hit me with resignations. The summit is gonna be secondary.

You know, I can handle their questions.

What I can't handle is having to go in there

and pretend he's some sort of… champion of democracy.

Maybe it's for the greater good?

That what the guys who came before me told themselves?

Guess so.

[sighing] I just… I don't know.

I thought we were gonna do things differently.

- [reporters clamoring] - Next.

Madam President. Can you comment on today's cabinet resignations?

We're here to comment on the progress made between our two nations. Next.

- [clamoring] - Samantha.

Has there been a breakthrough on the Caspian oil pipeline?

The pipeline agreement was the result of negotiations with President Bridges.

Its completion will be a testimony to his vision.

[clamoring]

Changing topics. President Allen, has there been progress on civil liberties?

- Actually... - Allow me.

- Of course. - [Kharkov] Thank you.

The Russia of today looks dramatically different

than the Russia of just ten years ago.

However, each day brings new challenges.

Certainly President Allen knows that,

with the sudden loss of her cabinet members.

[all clamoring] Madam President!

Our leadership may change, but our democratic principles do not.

What remains to be seen is what President Kharkov,

a man who talks about democracy,

will do in a situation that requires more than just talk.

If it truly is time for change,

then it is time to free the dissident journalists jailed in your prisons,

- Mr. President. - [reporters clamoring]

I don't even know why you're bothering with Mom when Dad already said no.

If you wanna see Flemming so bad, why don't you bring him to the state dinner?

The point is to be alone with him, Horace.

I don't think you know what you're getting into.

- You do not know Flemming like I do. - Yeah, Horace.

Just 'cause you're four minutes older doesn't mean you have all the answers.

So, you just mind your own business, OK?

I know what I'm doing.

No. You don't understand what I'm trying to tell you...

Today was the first day that didn't suck for me

since we moved into this house. So, please, just let me have this.

- Hey, Horace. Hi, Rebecca. - Hi, Vince.

Hey, um, Vince. Is my mom, um, busy?

She always has time for you. I think she's in with Kelly. I'll check.

Thanks.

I can't believe I took the bait.

- I should have just left it alone. - Ma'am, it wasn't that bad.

We have no room for error here. This is a very partisan town.

It's not like I have a lot of allies in either party.

- And it had to be said. - Maybe just not so publicly.

Excuse me, ma'am. Rebecca's here to see you.

Oh. Great. One second.

Thanks. We're done here, Kelly.

- Hey, Rebecca. Hi, Horace. - Oh, hey, Kelly, what's up?

Uh… nothing. How you guys doing?

Good. How's the, uh, speechwriting coming?

- Good. See you guys later. - OK.

- All right. - Nice work.

You know, she's been press secretary for, like, two weeks now.

[phone ringing]

- Hey, you. - Hey, Mom.

Oh… Nice to see a friendly face.

Um, Mom, I had a question, but, I mean, if you're busy...

- Oh, no. - [Vince] Sorry, ma'am.

It's the White House operator. It's Nora.

Uh, would you tell her to hold, please? What is it?

Um, well, I was wondering if I could skip this state dinner tonight?

- Oh, Becca. I was hoping... - Madam President.

Nora implied that it was a matter of urgency.

Of course it is.

It's just… I have to study for this huge test, um, with a friend.

- [Vince] Ma'am? - [Mac] OK.

- [exhaling] Um, Mom...? - I don't know, Becca.

You know? Why don't you just follow your conscience?

Vince. Any luck on that John Tyler biography?

- Did you find it yet? - Uh, no, ma'am. We're still searching.

What is it, Nora?

Wait. Slow down.

What did they say exactly?

OK, just...

Just keep this quiet and continue business as usual.

Thank you, Nora.

[phone hanging up]

It seems the Russian president has suddenly taken ill.

He's still coming to the state dinner, right?

I don't know.

[Jim] What did you promise them, Nate?

- Is there anybody else? - Yeah. Sure. Sure there is.

- And who's that? - Francis.

And not Francis Barnes at Agriculture. Mills Francis at Defense.

If Teddy were here to see what you were doing, he'd have your head...

If Teddy were alive to see this, it wouldn't be necessary…

[sighing] Sit.

Three resignations.

And if you think that's embarrassing, you just wait till you see what happens

when she tries to get her nominees for those positions confirmed.

- Nate, we're trying... - No, no. Come on, please.

You're not gonna touch me with your self-righteous indignation.

You want her gone just as much as I do.

- It ends. - It's just begun. Sit down.

Please, Jim. Sit.

I want you to resign.

You can take till the end of the month. Whatever. I want you to resign as well.

Why would I do that?

When I become president I want you to join the others in my administration.

I'm not sure if I could stomach it. Being your chief of staff?

I don't want you to be my chief of staff.

I want you to be my vice president.

Now that got your attention, didn't it?

[sighs]

First African American vice president.

You and me, Jim.

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

And don't you think about your loyalty to the office.

You think about your loyalty to your people.

I'm gonna need your answer by the state dinner.

You'll have it.

Good.

[Mac] Oh, Mrs. Kharkova.

I didn't realize you were still here.

I was just looking for my husband.

Mmm... The first gentleman is in the kitchen addressing a crisis.

[chuckling] I'm sure he was thrilled with that responsibility.

He has been a gracious host.

Ah... So, you saw the press conference.

You know, this summit almost didn't happen.

My husband wanted to cancel the visit.

He would never admit it, but, um,

I think he was intimidated to meet you, Madam President.

- Why would he be intimidated by me? - Your reputation precedes you.

He was afraid you were gonna put him on the spot.

And you did.

President Bridges never would have done that.

I spoke my mind.

- That shouldn't be so intimidating. - Mmm.

As much as Americans claim to be students of history,

they forget their own.

We are just 15 years into the experiment that your country

continues after 200 years.

It took you 90 years to get rid of slavery,

and 150 to give women the right to vote.

- It's not always easy. - No.

You and my husband are both independent thinkers

who struggle each day against a people who seek to protect the status quo.

Mrs. Kharkova, I sincerely hope that your husband

is feeling well enough to attend tonight's state dinner.

Is there anything I can get him?

Chicken soup, perhaps?

There is one thing.

- And I'm guessing it's not soup. - [Mrs. Kharkova chuckles]

Fast-track our entry into the World Trade Organization.

Uh, technically, I'm not in control of the WTO.

Oh. Well, technically, my husband isn't in control

of releasing the dissident journalists.

I see.

I'm so glad we had a chance to talk.

- Me too. - Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

[man] Good. Yes.

[sighing] I'm never gonna get this. I'm gonna be in summer school.

It's easy. See, according to Mendel,

a dominant gene will always express itself.

- Like… curly hair. - [both laugh]

- [Rebecca] Thanks. - [Flemming] I'm serious.

- [Rod] What's going on here, Rebecca? - I'm… studying.

- A-ha. And you are…? - Mike Flemming, sir.

Hi, Mike. Can I speak to you for a moment in private?

- Um… sure. - Great.

[Rebecca] One sec.

[Rod] Why aren't you dressed for the state dinner?

- I'm not going. - Go get dressed right now.

There's too much going on for you to pull one of...

No, no, no. Mom said it was cool.

- [sighing] Really? - Yeah.

[grunts]

[Rebecca] Sorry ‘bout that.

- Is everything cool? - Yeah. It's fine.

- Study hard. - Say hi to Kelly for me.

[whispering] Hey. I don't want you leaving your sister's side this evening.

No. I'm not staying in there with her stupid boyfriend.

Just do it, OK?

You can stay up as late as you want.

Fine. You can play my video games.

[both laughing]

Excuse me.

[sighing, chuckling]

- Hi, Amy. - Hi, Rebecca.

[door opening]

Hey.

Why'd you tell Rebecca she didn't have to come?

What do you mean?

I told her she had to. You said she didn't. You said that it was cool.

Cool? Does that sound like something I would say?

Listen. When it comes to our kids, if I say something, that's gotta matter.

Do you really want to get into this now?

Yeah. Yeah, I do.

It's not the first time the kids have tried

- to play us against each other. - That's not the point.

Our first state dinner is in ten minutes.

Could this possibly wait two hours?

How do we know Kharkov'll even show up?

Well, I have to think if their relationship is anything like ours,

Mrs. Kharkova will have a great deal of influence.

- Nora. - Madam President, bright news.

We've been notified the Russian delegation's on their way.

[sighs]

- [police sirens wail] - Thank you.

[man] Attention!

- Madam Kharkova. - Madam President.

- Madam Kharkova. - President Kharkov.

I'm so pleased you decided to join us this evening.

I'm not here for you.

I am here for my wife. And my country.

[Kharkov] As far as I'm concerned, we're nowhere.

Speaker of the house, Nathan Templeton, and his aide, Jayne Murray.

- Mr. Speaker. - Madam President. Mr. First Gentleman.

- Nathan. - My wife regrets… apologizes.

She still has not yet recovered.

- You give her my best. - She'll appreciate that. Thank you.

You've had quite a day. You get an A for comportment.

You remember my chief of staff, Jayne Murray.

Jayne.

[speaking Russian]

- Madame. - [speaks Russian]

[Jayne] Nice to meet you.

[Mac] October 4, 1957 was a disappointing day in American history.

It's the day we lost the space race.

When Americans looked skyward,

we could see just the faintest glimmer of the Soviet Union's success.

Sputnik was launched that day.

On the other side of the world, a young aeronautical engineer

looked to our shared sky with great pride.

Anatoly Kharkov, President Kharkov's father,

was just 26 years old at the time.

Anatoly Kharkov was an innovator.

He played a key role in bringing

one of the the most vital tools of democracy to the world.

Communication.

Barriers have been broken, walls have crumbled.

But there's still a lot of work to be done.

If we hope for a peaceful and prosperous future,

then we must put aside our personal agenda...

...and stand shoulder to shoulder together.

Thank you.

[speaking Russian]

- [speaking Russian] - [all cheering and clapping]

[crowd chattering]

- Thanks. - No problem.

You do look good in a tux, Mr. Gardner.

Hmm.

He needs your answer now.

Man, if I was your age I'd be crawling out of my skin.

What, are you kidding? I love this stuff.

Guess it's ‘cause I'm pretty mature.

[video game beeping]

- All danced out, Grace? - [Grace chuckles]

May I?

- [sighing] I miss Teddy. - He was a great president.

Congratulations. It was a lovely evening.

[Rod] These, uh, last two years,

I had no idea how much thought and attention was given to every detail.

You always made everything look so easy.

Rod, seeing your wife up there tonight,

she made it clear she is the president.

Suddenly, I just feel like I'm a guest in someone else's home.

Oh, you know you're always welcome here...

One who has overstayed.

It's your home now. You belong here.

- Good night. - Good night.

Madam President, here you go.

One Oliver Chitwood biography of President John Tyler.

- Piece of cake. - Really?

Well, let's say there's a shop owner in Georgetown

who may be attending our next state dinner.

- May-May I ask why? - Uh...

Our tenth president, John Tyler.

Not a lot of people know, he was the first VP

to take over the presidency, when Harrison died in office.

- I didn't know that. - Yeah.

His enemies tried to undermine him by forcing Harrison's cabinet to resign.

But they didn't think it through.

Ended up making Tyler even more powerful.

- Bedside reading? - Yeah, just not for my bedside.

- Yes, ma'am. - [chuckles]

[Nathan chuckles]

Busted.

Mr. Speaker.

Uh-huh. "Mr. Speaker."

When it's all said and done, the woman is our president.

She deserves the benefit of the doubt, a chance...

Stop.

You can't give her, you can't give anybody a chance.

You don't learn to be the president on the job.

The stakes are too high, Jim.

The president has to be the president from the get-go.

You're right.

And maybe you'd be better at it than her.

But Teddy gave you an opportunity and you said no.

You put her in office.

Way I see it, you owe it to the country to make sure

she's the best president she can be.

- Think about your people, Nate. - My people?

The American people.

OK.

It's a mistake, Jim. But OK.

Jayne looks lovely in her dress, doesn't she?

- Yeah, she does. - Enjoy your evening.

Madam President, would you like to dance?

I'd be delighted.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Mr. President.

But I need to borrow our president on an urgent matter.

Excuse me.

- Alex? - It's just not done.

- What? - You.

- You can't dance with Kharkov. - Why? Is he a bad dancer?

- A good dancer? - It's just unprecedented.

- What do you think I am? - Everything OK?

We've hit a hiccup.

President Kharkov wants to dance with our president.

World leaders cannot... Shouldn't be dancing together.

What's the protocol?

- We're trying to figure that out. - It cannot be that big of a deal.

- Are you out of your mind? - [Kelly] Alex...

Ma'am, I think...

Our staffs must think this is inappropriate.

Dmitry, we are the world's leaders.

I think we can decide what's appropriate.

Thank you for asking me to dance.

Acknowledging my father. It meant a lot to me.

I didn't see much of him as a boy, but his contribution outlives him.

I'll do everything in my power to provide an assistance package

that allows Russia to qualify for entry into the WTO.

I will give the matter of the dissident journalists the attention it deserves.

- Is she leading? - She's leading, all right.

[crowd clapping]

Good evening. Mr. Speaker.

A gift from the president.

President Tyler?

That's her counterpunch.

I slip it and we go to round two.

Clever girl.

[♪ Mack the Knife]