All language subtitles for Designated.Survivor.S01E04.DVDRip.X264-REWARD

NARRATOR: Previously
on Designated Survivor...

I was sitting in my seat
and then everything went black.

CHUCK: Congressman MacLeish
in his seat.

This photo was taken
six seconds later.

- MacLeish survived...
- Because he wasn't there.

Governor Royce, I am ordering you
to have your police

stop harassing the Muslim community
in Dearborn.

I've been thinking
about my Chief of Staff.

I have decided to go with Aaron.

I would like to appoint you
as my Special Advisor.

INTERPRETER: lam Majid Nassar.
Al-Sakar annihilated your government.

TOM: Whatever cave, cavern,
or hole he's hiding in,

I want you
to find me Majid Nassar.

(PANTING)

(PHONE DIALS, BEEPS)

Come on, come on! Come on!

(SHOUTS)

(SHOUTS)

(Y ELLS)

(ELEVATOR DINGS)

- AARON: Good morning, Mr. President.
- Morning.

Anything happen
during the three hours I slept?

Per your orders, Pentagon's working
around the clock

to find Maifld Nasser.
Scheme have reopened.

The Dow and the NASDAQ
both resumed trading.

They're both down sharply.

Well, I guess today's not the day
to check on your IRA.

Where are we at
with security?

Law enforcement's still
on high alert.

Ports, nuclear plants,

soft targets like malls
and sports arenas.

Here's a long shot.
Any good news?

Well, you slept three hours
last night, sir.

- Ah, the little things.
- Oh, there's one more thing.

Hookstraten insisted on being
the first meeting of the day.

My God, doesn't she ever sleep?

- Morning, Wyatt.
- Morning, Mr. President.

Congresswoman,
what a pleasant surprise.

Sir, it's been a whole week

since Majid Nassar confessed
to the Capitol bombing.

The entire country
is on pins and needles.

- Where are we on our search?
- We're working around the clock

-to find him.
- As 5O percent of Congress,

I think I deserve
more than a sound bite.

Well unfortunately, you don't
have clearance for more than that.

Sir, every moment that passes
without finding Nassar

is a moment for American people
to doubt your mettle for this job.

I think this is when you offer me
your full support.

Your boyish sincerity
is your best quality, sir.

- I hope you don't lose it.
- EMILY: I'm sorry to interrupt.

- If you don't mind, excuse us.
- Sir.

- What is it?
- It's Michigan.

- More violence against Muslims?
- No, but there's about to be.

Governor Royce is using

your Elizabeth Vargas interview
as justification

to start arresting Muslims
again.

He claims that your admission
that you were asked to resign

makes you
an illegitimate president.

He's re-imposed the curfew
and banned public gatherings.

I'm guessing the Bill of Rights

wasn't on the governor's
summer reading list.

- The IAC...
- The Islamic American Coalition.

They're planning a peaceful protest
outside City Hall in Dearborn,

but they have obvious concerns.

The first time,
the violence was Royce's fault,

but if we let it happen again...

It'll be ours.

I think it's time
to tell the governor

-in no uncertain terms...
- What, with another phone call?

No. We tried that.
Look how much good it did.

What if we send a legal observer.
Monitor the demonstrations,

make sure the governor
doesn't overstep his bounds?

Smart, straight
out of the Kennedy playbook.

We don't have many friends
in the state but...

I'm sure I could get someone

-from the AG's office to...
- I can do it.

It has to be someone
we can trust,

and who better than
your newly appointed Special Advisor?

- You sure?
- Absolutely.

General Cochrane says
he needs to see you, sir.

Fine. Send him in.
Let's get you on a plane now.

General, it's barely 7:00 A.M.,

and I've already been ambushed
by the presumptive Speaker,

and I'm facing
a potential domestic crisis,

so please,
choose your words wisely.

I don't need to, sir.
We found Majid Nassar.

BETH: We consider ourselves blessed
and ask for privacy at this time.

REPORTER: This was the scene earlier
today, as Congressman MacLeish,

the sole survivor
of the Capitol attack,

- returned to his D. C. home...
- Hey, you got a sec?

- ...accompanied by his wife, Beth.
- Yeah.

In other news, on...

JASON: This is what you
want to show me?

MacLeish's empty seat
at the State of the Union?

Jason, he lied to me.

He said he was in his seat
when the Capitol blew up.

The man spent his entire adult life
in service to his country.

You were supposed
to get a statement,

not turn him into a suspect!

He got up at the exact right moment,
like he knew what was coming.

Hannah, there are a thousand reasons
he could have gotten up.

He was bored, he was thirsty,
he needed to take a leak.

But conspiring with an international
terrorist network

to blow up the Capitol?
It's likely not one of them.

Or here's another theory.

Maybe he's not the golden boy
everyone thinks he is.

Have I made a mistake
keeping you on this investigation?

- What?
- Look, I understand.

If you need time to grieve,
if you...

No. I'm fine.

I hope so.

Because impugning
a congressman's reputation...

it's not gonna bring
your boyfriend back.

Mr. Essaway,
my name is Emily Rhodes.

I'm Special Advisor
to the president.

I'm letting you know
I'm on my way to Dearborn

to monitor your protest today.

Ms. Rhodes, I can't tell you
how much we appreciate that.

Governor Royce can't get away
with criminalizing innocent people.

And the president
has no intention of letting him.

I'll see you soon.

Hey. Public Engagement said
you're headed to Michigan?

- Yeah.
- Kick Royce's ass for me.

I'll do my best.

CARRERA: Sammy Serafian
is an American operative

who has been in Algeria six years
working under non-official cover.

Sixteen months ago,
he infiltrated AI-Sakar.

This morning,
we received a message from him

confirming a direct link
between AI-Sakar and the attack.

It says here that he found
an unexploded ordnance

with the same unique signature
as the bomb from the Capitol site?

Yes, sir, confirming without a doubt
that AI-Sakar was behind the attack.

Do we have a location?

Serafian was able to pinpoint
Nassar's position.

A compound in the tri-border region
between Mali and Niger.

Satellite surveillance confirms

multiple vehicles
and a heavy perimeter.

And we think
that's Nassar's security?

HARRIS: Yes, Mr. President.

On your order, F-18s can be deployed
from the USS Eisenhower.

We'll disable their air defense
and reduce them to a stain

in the sand
within a matter of seconds.

- Where's Agent Serafian now?
- We've lost contact with him, sir.

We gave him 24 hours to evacuate.
That was six hours ago.

Sir, if we wait for him to surface,
we may lose our window

-to take out the enemy.
- And what's the probability

that he's in the compound
with him now?

It's high, sir.

So, in all likelihood,
if we bomb the compound,

-we'd be killing an American agent.
- He knew the risks, sir.

I have to believe, General,
that he's in Algeria

trying to help his country,
not get killed by it.

We have the enemy in our sights,

the man who destroyed
all three branches

of our government.
A thousand Americans.

Are we gonna let one man stand
in the way of retribution?

I need your orders, sir.

What's it gonna be?

Mr. President?

(SIGHS)

Sir, your orders?

We're not bombing
one of our own.

Maintain surveillance on Nassar
and keep me informed.

Until Serafian makes contact,
we do nothing.

- Understood?
- Yes, sir.

- General, understood?
- Yes, sir.

Thank you all.

Algeria's agreed to support us
after the bombing, right?

Yes, sir, they did.

Okay, I want you to get
President Bishara on the phone.

- Are you sure it's a good idea?
- I want to try a diplomatic approach.

If we get them to arrest Nassar
and everyone at the compound,

we won't need to use
our military.

We'll pull our own men out
as soon as he's in custody.

Yes, sir.
Excuse me a moment, okay? Hey!

EMILY: Looks like I missed

three calls from you
while I was in the air.

AARON: Yeah, I just wanted
to say about Michigan...

- What about it?
- Well, it's a situation out there

and people should be careful

when they're in a situation,
you know?

- Aaron, are you worried about me?
- AARON: What? No! No!

Look, I'm just saying...
good luck out there, all right?

Let them through! Let's go!
Let them through!

(SIRENS WAILING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Governor Royce, this is quite
the welcome committee.

Emily Rhodes, Special Advisor
to President Kirkman.

I am here to observe
the lAC's protest.

Yeah, I know why you're here,
and I suggest

you and your staff get back
on that plane

-and return to Washington.
- We're here to help, sir.

Yeah, well,
as President Reagan said,

"The nine scariest words
in the English language are,

"'l'm with the government,
and I'm here to help."'

I got enough to worry about
without you people interfering.

Well, I'm sorry, sir,
but that's not really

a decision for you to make.
I'm here by orders of the president.

Let me explain this again
in a way that you'll understand.

The state of Michigan
is off-limits to Tom Kirkman,

his staff, his plane,
and most of all, his presidency.

Understood?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

I'm sorry. I was very clear.
My husband's not up to interviews.

Mrs. MacLeish,
I'm Special Agent Hannah Wells, FBI.

Your husband wanted me
to keep him updated on the case.

Yeah. Come on in.

They keep coming every day
from all over.

Kindness of strangers.

- Yeah, well, he's a symbol of hope.
- I was lucky. That's all.

- Morning.
- Morning, Congressman.

Last time I saw you, you told us
to keep you updated, so...

Like to show you
a couple things.

This was taken
during the State of the Union.

This was taken
seconds before the blast.

I don't understand.
Where was I?

Well, that's my question,
Congressman.

Maybe you were right.
Maybe that is why I survived.

Peter, the whole world
doesn't have to hear that story.

Not the whole world,
Mrs. MacLeish. Just me.

- Oh, God. It's embarrassing.
- It's all right.

But I was at home in Eugene
with the girls.

We'd gone to the mall
to get my oldest a dress

for her winter recital.
I just took my eyes off Lexy,

that's our little one,
for a second, but...

when I turned around,
she was gone.

I lost my mind.
I must have sent Peter 3O texts.

But ten minutes later, a kind woman
dropped her at the security station,

and Lexy was eating an ice cream,
not a care in the world.

That's when I heard
about the Capitol.

So you think
he was trying to call you?

There's no way
he would have ignored my texts.

I'm sorry. Agent Wells,
is there a reason

you're asking all these questions?
Have I done something wrong?

You are the only survivor
of an attack

that killed a thousand people.

So I'm just trying
to find out what happened.

All right.

Hey, Chuck, it's me.
I need you to do me a favor.

Yeah, it's about Peter MacLeish.

(PHONE VIBRATES)

- ALEX: Hello?
- Ma'am, this is Agent Ritter.

Switchboard just notified me

that there's a call
from an Immigration Detention Center.

A woman named Maria Serrano
claims you're her lawyer.

Yes. Okay, well,
have them put her through.

- Yes, ma'am.
- MARIA: Mrs. Kirkman, it's Maria.

Hey. Maria, what's...
How are you?

ICE got me arrested.
I'm going to be deported.

ALEX:
Departed? What? My office...

It's not really
my office anymore.

Duncan is now handling your case.
Have you spoken with him?

Yes. He said there's nothing
he can do.

Please help me.
They took my kids away.

We cannot go back to Honduras.

No, I know! I know you can't!
Okay. You got to stay calm,

and I'm gonna get into this
right now, okay, Maria?

FEMALE VOICE: Does the president
expect the governor to just bow down?

MALE VOICE: Carter,
it's been seven days

since AI-Sakar took credit
for bombing the Capitol.

When can the American people
expect a response?

The president is busy
meeting with his advisors,

and... working up a strategy.

MALE VOICE: Can you be
any more specific?

CARTER: Not really.

But the president
does have a strategy?

Of course he does. I mean,
he's the president, isn't he?

- So, how's it going here?
- That depends.

Does Kirkman want a second term?

Please,
just let me answer the question.

I can assure you that the White House
takes the situation most seriously.

AARON: "Most seriously"?
Who is this guy, anyway?

Carter Dunne, third Deputy Assistant
to the Press Secretary.

Before the bombing.
Now, as the kids say, The Man.

The Prime Minister
of Great Britain and France

have... pledged their support,
should we need it,

and there are others
who have reached out as well.

Well, you're gonna have
to handle this.

- Why me?
- Because you are in communications,

and you can form
complete sentences.

You're standing next to me,
so go fix it.

- What's the magic word?
- Now!

Not even close.

Not only is Michigan
under attack from radicals...

but our very democracy
is being threatened

by a man who has no right
to call himself president.

Does the man have no shame?

Well, he's got some nerve,
I'll give him that.

As the elected governor
of this great state,

it's my duty
to protect its citizens.

Why should I trust
the federal government to protect us

while the fraudulent president
holds its highest office hostage?

AARON: Emily,
you're on with the president.

I'm watching Royce now.
What did he say to you?

For starters, he's refusing
to let me leave the airport

-to observe the protest.
- Son of a bitch.

EMILY: And he's making sure the
cameras capture every moment.

I think it might be best
if I come back to DC.

Every minute this plays out
on national TV weakens your position.

No, how weak will our position be
if I don't even put up a fight?

Well, if I come back now,
we can rethink our approach and...

No, no, wait. Hold on.

- Wyatt!
- WYATT: Coming, sir.

I got an idea. Just sit tight.
I'll get back to you.

MIKE: Now, I'm sending you
with a full detail.

Keep this with you
at all times.

You press it, and six agents
will be surrounding you in seconds.

Mike, a panic button? Seriously?

I'm going to my firm.
You don't need to worry.

The only thing I'll be in danger
of is a few bad lawyer jokes.

Mrs. Kirkman,
it's my job to worry.

- You're too good.
- Hold on, ma'am.

Copy that.
Ma'am, the president needs you.

- He said it's urgent.
- Really?

ALEX: Federalize the Guard?

I thought we'd decided that,
that was a nuclear option.

It was.
Governor Royce went there first.

- Now, is he within his legal rights?
- US Code 12406.

The president can federalize
the National Guard...

whenever there is a rebellion
or threat of a rebellion

against the US government.

I think this qualifies.

I thought you were
an immigration attorney.

She aced Constitutional Law, too.
Okay. How do I do this?

You start by declaring
a state of emergency in Michigan.

Yeah, then you notify
General Hammond.

He's the Joint Chiefs Chairman
of the National Guard Bureau.

- Get me General Hammond.
- All right.

Tom...

forcing a sitting governor
to cede power to the feds

-creates a monumental precedent.
- I know.

But this is a tipping point.

If I let Governor Royce
set up a police state...

how can I stop the other 49 governors
from doing the same thing?

It's time.

Got General Hammond
on the line for you, sir.

TOM: General Hammond,
this is the president.

By my command,
I am ordering you

to federalize
the Michigan National Guard.

The poor men and women who attended
the State of the Union address...

trusted the federal government
to keep them safe.

- You federalized the Guard?
- TOM: Royce doesn't know yet.

He may have won the battle
but we'll win the war.

Lucky for us we have a standing army
at our disposal.

Okay. What's the next step?

General Mufioz will be the man
you'll deal with.

His troops will escort you
past state police.

He'll stay with you the entire time
you're in Michigan.

This will all be over soon.

Thank you for doing this.
Goodbye.

(BEEPS)

Sir? They're waiting for you
in the Cabinet Room.

Has the CIA found Serafian?

No, but I have the president
of Algeria

-on the line for you.
- Okay.

(BISHARA SPEAKING IN ARABIC
OVER PHONE)

My domestic intelligence is certain.
Majid Nassar is not in our country.

With all due respect,
Mr. President,

our friends on the ground
say otherwise.

We need you to arrest Nassar

and any other members of the AI-Sakar
terrorist group from the compound.

(BISHARA SPEAKING IN ARABIC
OVER PHONE)

Your friends must be mistaken.
I'm sorry. I can't be of more help.

Okay, Mr. President.

We expect you'll notify us
if the situation changes.

- Thank you.
- He's lying, sir.

Well, General,
we finally agree on something.

Bishara's own army
has radical elements.

They could be feeding him
false Intel,

-telling him Nassar is not there.
- Maybe.

Our window to act is closing,

especially now
we've tipped off Algeria.

Until we know Agent Serafian
is safe, we do nothing.

There's still no word, sir.

But he does have 12 hours
to make contact.

And if we don't hear from him
within that time,

-then we have to assume the worst.
- Meaning?

Meaning, no matter what,
in 12 hours, we pull the trigger.

I understand. Thank you.

- It's about taking control.
- They're like a pack of wild dogs.

Exactly, if they sense fear
in you, they attack.

You can't let them
intimidate you, Carter!

Look,
there are three surefire ways

for a press secretary
to die a quick death.

You get hostile,
you lie or you guess.

You do any one of those
three things and you're done.

When I get a question
I don't know the answer to?

You deflect.
"We're looking into it."

"We don't have a statement
at this time."

-"We'll get back to you."
-"The president shares your concerns

"and is working diligently
to find a solution."

Bingo! Now go tame those beasts.

As the elected governor
of this great state...

Congresswoman Hookstraten.
Twice in a day. This is a treat.

Still a standoff in Michigan.

The president hasn't forgotten that
Royce and I are old friends, has he?

Or do I need code-word clearance
for that, too?

We have it under control.

It's just you and I now, Aaron.
We can speak freely.

You first.

The truth is,
your man is flailing,

and it's not just
with this debacle in Michigan.

It's on the AI-Sakar front,
as well.

- That's not very generous, now.
- Spare me.

The reason he's doing anything
is because you leaked that video.

Don't deny it.

I know a political operator
when I see one.

He needed to be pushed
and you gave him a shove.

- Smart man.
- So you came here to compliment me?

And to remind you
that there are people in this town

who might appreciate
what an asset you are...

in ways that Tom Kirkman
never will.

You hitched your wagon
to a footnote.

Always a pleasure,
Congresswoman.

Aaron.

Duncan.
Duncan, when we spoke,

you said that you could handle
the heavy lifting on my cases.

DUNCAN: And I am.

Plus, I've got Parker
doing depositions for you.

Veda's filing your appeals...

So why is Maria Serrano calling me
from an ICE detention center?

Because Homeland Security
is taking advantage of the fact

that the courts
have been closed.

So they're arresting anyone
without a pending appeal.

And right, when the courts reopen,
it'll be too late for us to file.

- Got it.
- Our hands are tied.

You know what kills me
about this?

If she'd just applied
for refugee status instead of asylum,

ICE wouldn't have even looked
at her twice.

If I'd just been here,
if I'd been in front of this,

-none of this would've happened.
- Alex, you didn't abandon them.

You had a change in circumstance
in a summer-blockbuster kind of way.

Okay, but that doesn't mean
I'm gonna give up.

Alex, you've spent a career
fighting for victims,

-but you're the First Lady now.
- ALEX: So?

And that has to count
for something, right?

(SIREN WAILS)

Mr. President,
Ms. Rhodes is on the phone for you.

Thank you. Em?

I'm walking to meet Mufioz now.
Would you like to speak with him?

Yes, please,
put him on the line.

General, Emily Rhodes,
Special Advisor to the President.

I have President Kirkman
for you.

This is General Mufioz.

General, I wanted to
thank you for taking...

MUNOZ: Excuse me, Mr. Kirkman,

but as the commanding officer
of the Michigan National Guard,

it is my duty to inform you
we refuse the order to federalize.

- You can't do that.
- The president has a right to...

The Michigan State Guard
stands behind

its true Commander-in-Chief...
Governor James Royce.

Unbelievable.

- ALEX: Is it as bad as it looks?
- Worse.

Michigan's on the verge
of anarchy.

And General Cochrane's
pushing me to launch an attack

that could kill an American.
And I'm actually considering it.

My God.

I never thought I'd be in a position
to decide who lives or dies.

Oh, Tom, come here.

Do you remember the first night
that we were here?

When we thought
about running away?

And you said no?

That you felt that this was
something you needed to do?

And I think you were right.
There's too much at stake.

If you listen to your instincts,
you will do the right thing.

Well, all I'm saying is,
it'd be a lot easier

if someone left behind a manual.

ALEX: I guarantee you,
past presidents

didn't have it all figured out,
either.

They were just people like you,
trying to do their best.

Thank you.

Hey, you came to me.

Did you need my help
with Maria Serrano?

(SIGHS)

I'm not sure that using executive
privilege to do your wife a favor

is exactly what our Founding Fathers
had in mind.

What other choices do you have?

I thought of going
to Kimble Hookstraten.

- Watch your back.
- I know.

Ma'am. Sir, Emily's still waiting.
What would you like to do?

She's on speaker, sir.

Em, it's time for you
to get on a plane

-and come home.
- EMILY: What? No!

I sent you there to observe
a protest, not intervene in a coup.

Wait, just... hear me out.

Royce is a bully, right?
And how do you beat a bully?

- By standing up to him.
- We tried that.

Well, what if we try it differently,
change the rules of engagement?

- Offer him a sit-down with you.
- TOM: He'll never go for it.

He's made it abundantly clear
what he thinks about my presidency.

He will if it's presented
as his best option.

I'm not willing to try
and win a political fight

if it puts you at risk.

- It's not worth it.
- EMILY: I appreciate that.

But I think I know a way
to get him to DC.

I just need you to trust me.

- You promise you'll be careful.
- Yes, sir.

I can assure you the president
is deeply committed

to seeing the standoff
in Michigan come to a peaceful end.

Is the president worried
his standoff with Governor Royce

will damage his already
tenuous relationship

with the American people?

No, the president has more important
things to worry about.

President Kirkman doesn't care

about earning
the country's confidence?

No, what I mean is,

it's more important
to get rid of Governor Royce

than worry
about whether people like him or not.

The president wants to get rid
of Royce?

Is Kirkman planning to remove
a sitting governor?

FEMALE VOICE: Does the president
expect the governor to bow down?

MALE VOICE: How is the president
gonna get rid of an elected governor?

FEMALE VOICE: I don't think
that's going to happen.

MALE VOICE: Is the president planning
an armed response?

MALE VOICE: Is there
any indication...

- The Kirkman White House, everyone.
- FEMALE VOICE: Wow!

Sorry about that, everybody.
Carter...

- Carter wasn't feeling well.
- Who are you?

My name is Seth Wright.

I'm a speechwriter.
I work for the president.

To be clear,
the top news story today

has nothing to do with President
Kirkman's standing in the polls

and everything to do
with the Islamophobia

jeopardizing the fundamental rights
of American citizens.

But I'm perfectly happy to answer
any relevant questions,

one at a time.

Yes.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ms. Rhodes, the police revoked
our permit to protest.

They're threatening
to make arrests.

I have 100 people ready
to march on City Hall,

but they're afraid
of what will happen if they do.

I need you to forget
about City Hall.

The local police
aren't worth the fight.

Ms. Rhodes, no.
No, we can't back down now.

EMILY: I'm not asking you to.

I'm asking you to take the fight
directly to Royce.

How quickly can you get
to the airport?

ALL: (CHANTING) Equal rights!
Equal rights! Equal rights!

If you people don't have
a permit to be here,

you need to leave immediately!

I want to speak to the governor!

So this is it?
This is Emily's master plan?

I mean, how long before it turns
into a Selma or Kent State?

Come on, Aaron,
you of all people

should acknowledge
this is a brilliant move.

Governor Royce can't incite violence
on national television.

He'll lose
the moral high ground.

Well, that's assuming that bigot
cares about the moral high ground.

Governor, let's go.

Is this really
how you want today to end?

With heavily armed soldiers
dragging peaceful protesters

off to jail
while the nation watches?

You won't be the hero
of that story.

You think you're pretty clever,
don't you?

EMILY: I have an offer for you.

Send these people home
and fly with me to DC

for a sit-down
with the president.

Claim his attention as a victory.
Spin it however you want.

Why the hell
should I go with you?

Because standing
in the schoolhouse doorway

didn't work for George Wallace,
and it isn't gonna work for you.

History will remember you
for this.

Come on, Governor.
What are you gonna do?

Sir, I'm afraid we have
a second mutiny on our hands.

We have the F-18s in.

Mr. President,
I wasn't expecting you, sir.

That's pretty obvious, General.
Is it true that you gave the order

to take
the Algerian air defenses offline?

Yes, sir. I ordered Cyb-Command
at Fort Meade

to set a glide path
through Algerian airspace.

Without clearing it through me
or Algeria,

which happens to be
one of our allies.

Correct me if I'm wrong,
General,

-but is that not an act of war?
- It was necessary preparation.

For an attack
I have not authorized yet!

You tried diplomacy. It failed.
Now you're risking the entire country

to protect one person?
I did what needed to be done.

Well, General, one day, if you
become president,

you can make that call.

But as long as I am
and one of our own

is unaccounted for,
we do nothing

that will jeopardize
their safety any further.

I agreed to 12 hours.

These terrorists came to our home.
They killed our people.

Any sacrifices we make
to eradicate them

from the face of the Earth
are sacrifices worth making.

When a snake's in your kitchen,
you don't invite it to dinner,

you cut off its head!

You make a good point, General.

And seeing
that this is my kitchen,

I am relieving you of your command,
effective immediately.

- What?
- General, you are fired.

The president is grateful
you've agreed to speak with him.

Yeah, well,
I didn't have much of a choice.

Look, I know you think
I'm a bad man, Ms. Rhodes,

but the Christians and the Jews
didn't blow up the Capitol

or run planes into the Twin Towers.
Muslims did.

No, sir. Extremists did.

And persecuting innocent people
won't make any of us safer.

You're just like your boss,
aren't you?

You think you know better than those
of us with decades of experience.

In the years
that I've known Tom Kirkman,

I have found him
to be thoughtful and reasonable.

If you give him a chance,
I think you will, too.

Rest of this looks great.
Just get rid of those two paragraphs,

move that up, should be fine.

AARON: Did you hear the rumor?
There's a rising star

in the White House
Communications office.

That's cold, man! Thank you.

That poor guy is probably halfway
to Dubuque by now.

I was talking about you.
Half the press corps just threatened

to forfeit their credentials
if I didn't hire you

-as his replacement.
- You want me to be press secretary?

Don't look so surprised.

This administration can use
someone like you...

standing up there
at the podium every day.

- What do you mean, someone like me?
- You're gonna make me say it?

You're smart. You're likable.
You're quick on your feet.

Okay. By that definition,
so is a Dalmatian. Why me?

You're also the son
of Muslim immigrants...

at a time when American people

associate the word "lslam"
with terrorism.

Now, as press secretary,
you can help change that perception.

You want to parade me around as
the president's friendly Muslim?

If that's what it takes to start
changing hearts and minds, yes.

- Unbelievable.
- Hey, this is Washington.

You seize opportunity
when it presents itself,

whether you like the motives
behind it or not.

- Just take the job, man.
- Or what?

You're gonna find somebody else
who looks like me to do it?

Get out of my office.

All right.

I'm moved by Maria's story,
but I don't know what I can do.

Congress is comprised
of two people now,

one of whom's barely
out of the hospital.

Even if we could change policy,
it would take months, if not years.

But you were on the Subcommittee
of Immigration and Border Security.

Why don't you just come out
and ask me

what you came here to ask me,
Mrs. Kirkman?

If you call Maria as a witness
before your subcommittee

-when the new Congress is seated...
- She would be granted immunity,

as long as she's expected
to testify.

If I call her
to this hypothetical hearing...

I would be doing so
as a favor to you, ma'am.

- And I'd be very grateful...
- A favor that I hope

you would return one day,
should I need it.

So you're saying I'd owe you.

We all want to do
the right thing, Mrs. Kirkman.

But the right thing
is seldom free.

(GRUNTING)

JASON: So,
I got your e-mail.

So, this morning, you were obsessed
with the Capitol bombing,

and now you want
to be reassigned?

I went back to MacLeish.
You were right.

Everything he said checked out.

He had a good reason for not being
in his seat when the bomb went off.

I tried to tear his story apart.

I talked to mall security in Oregon.
I got phone records.

I wanted him to be guilty...
of something

so then I could blame him
for surviving when no one else did!

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

You know what the truth is?

The truth is that...
Peter MacLeish is just a lucky guy.

He survived and Scott didn't,

and I need to start dealing
with that.

That's fair.

You know, you... are a pain in my ass
more often than you're not?

But you are also passionate
and persistent.

And that's what makes you
one of the best agents I have.

I could be just as passionate...

working Cyber Crimes
or Healthcare Fraud.

Send me to Michigan.

I'll work
on civil-rights violations there.

All right.

If you want the transfer,
I'll put in the request.

But do me a favor,
you sleep on this,

because... I know you.
And you're gonna hate yourself

if you quit...
just because it got hard.

President Kirkman,
Governor Royce.

- Welcome to Washington, DC.
- Thank you.

Took some doing but I had
a very nice conversation

with your Special Advisor
and I welcome this chance

for an honest and open dialogue.

I think you'll find
that I'm not going

to be very flexible on this.

You see, I believe
that all Americans,

regardless of race or religion,
should be afforded and protected

by the same inalienable rights.

- If I may...
- You may not.

Governor, you violated the rights
of the citizens of Michigan,

and today you conspired
with the National Guard

to defy a direct order
from the president.

James Royce, I am placing you
under arrest

for treason
against the United States of America.

Marshals.

ROYCE:
Reasonable and thoughtful, huh?

Mr. President, you lied to me.

You said you'd trust me
to fix this and I did.

He was ready to talk to you!

The governor was using
a national tragedy

to further his own agenda.
He broke the law. He's going to jail.

I told him he could count on you
to be reasonable and just.

(SIGHS) Did you know
that during the Civil War,

President Lincoln
suspended habeas corpus...

and arrested a legislator

for trying to block Union troops
from going south?

I did what I thought was best.

- For yourself.
- No. For the country.

And I sent a message
to every other governor who thinks

that they can question the legitimacy
of this presidency.

Anyone who thinks
that they can usurp that,

needs to know
that they will face the consequences.

You did a great job,
and I'm proud of you.

And I am starting to realize
more than I ever wanted to,

that doing the right thing
doesn't always make you feel good.

AARON: Mr. President.

- Sir, I have an update on Serafian.
- Good. So he's safe.

A body was just delivered
on the embassy steps in Algiers.

We're awaiting an ID.

- Ride with me.
- Sir.

Mr. President, you're here late.

Well, technically, I live here,

so... it appears you're the one
who's here late. Please, sit.

Thank you, sir.

Aaron told me that you turned down
the job of press secretary.

I did, sir.

It's a shame.
I was the one who offered it.

Sir, with all due respect,

I felt there were other people
far more qualified than I was.

Rosemary Jones, for example,

has three years' experience
on Senator Ford's staff...

Carter had a pretty good résumé
too, and look how that turned out.

Aaron's motivations were political,
but mine were simple.

I was just looking
for the right person for the job.

Today's crisis
was racially motivated.

Tomorrow's could be gun control,
a women's issue.

I just wanted to have someone
on the podium that I respected.

Come on, Seth. Don't make me beg.
Can I count on you?

It would be my honor,
Mr. President.

Good.

Because if you thought
today was intense,

I'm gonna need you tomorrow.

Why? What's going on tomorrow?

I can't tell you
because it's classified.

But I'll let you know
when it happens.

- Get some rest.
- Thank you, sir. Good night.

Thank you.

I need you
to be straight with me.

Arresting Governor Royce.
Tell me that was your idea.

I wish I could take the credit
for that. But that was all Kirkman.

Look, honestly,
I didn't think he had it in him.

- Still got that bottle?
- Yeah.

EMILY: He's turning
into a different person.

I mean, unless I didn't really
know him before.

Look, Emily,
this isn't HUD anymore.

Your boss is the most powerful man
in the world.

And he's gonna do things
that you might not agree with.

And you need to be ready
for that... because it is your job,

which,
if I haven't said before,

you happen to be
pretty damn good at.

Sorry. I didn't realize you were
capable of giving compliments.

Guess I'm learning a lot
about people today.

And to think I was worried
about you.

- You were. I knew it. (LAUGHS)
- AARON: Not that worried.

Just mildly concerned is all.

Shut up and pour me a drink.

Good evening. Thank you all
for staying so late tonight.

I know we've called you
in a few times today.

Just a reminder.
My name is Seth Wright.

Earlier tonight, I was named
White House Press Secretary.

You were very tough
on my predecessor

so I know
you're gonna take it easy on me.

(REPORTERS LAUGHING)

To be honest,
I didn't want this job.

But we live in a time
in which we're called upon

to serve in ways
we didn't anticipate.

None of us is perfect.

But we do our best

because this House
is worthy of our best.

We trust our instincts
as we fight our daily fights.

Some we'll win.
Some we won't.

And some we'll only know
in time.

But we leave each night,

hopeful that today's sacrifices
have been worth it...

that our instincts
have not led us astray.

And that our best
has been good enough.

Thanks for indulging me.

While I have you here,
a couple of quick announcements,

and then you can get some sleep.

(PHONE BUZZING)

This is Agent Wells.

FEMALE VOICE:
Find room 105.

- Wait. Who is this?
- FEMALE: Find room 105,

and you'll understand more
about Peter MacLeish.

- Hello? Wait, hello?
-(PHONE CLICKS OFF)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Mr. President.

- Mr. President.
- Mr. President.

- Sir.
- Mr. President.

Did we get a positive ID
on Serafian's body yet?

Yes, sir, it's been confirmed.

That tragedy lands at my door.

I'm sorry.

Admiral Chernow,
you are in command.

I would like to proceed
with the attack

in Algeria as planned.

Sir?

Admiral, prepare us for war.