All language subtitles for Designated.Survivor.S01E16.DVDRip.X264-REWARD

NARRATOR: Previously
on Designated Survivor...

President Moss wants to
get back into politics.

TOM KIRKMAN: Your
country needs you.

Preferably as
secretary of state.

Work for me.

EMILY RHODES: You're working
for Kimble Hookstraten?

She's the head
of the republican party

and you're
a card carrying Democrat.

I'm looking to redefine
the playing field.

Senator Bowman, you and I

have very different opinions
on gun safety.

JACK BOWMAN: I will
be reintroducing Bill 8180,

which strengthens federal
background checks,

having to oppose this bill.

But, in the spirit of
bipartisan discussion,

I'd like to put it
before the Senate.

- He's hijacking our agenda.
-(SIGHS)

Get ready for a fight.

HANNAH WELLS: The woman
who killed Luke.

I'm going after her myself.

JASON ATWOOD: Let her go!

(GUNSHOTS FIRE)

oh, my God!

(DISTINCT SIRENS WAILING)

(MACHINE BEEPING)

MIKE RITTER: Agent Wells,
what do you have for me?

These were found at the home
of Brooke Mathison.

The woman that Charles Langdon
knew as Claudine.

MIKE: This looks like the Capitol
threat assessment file.

HANNAH: It was created by the same
strategic group at the Pentagon.

It highlights vulnerabilities
at the Golden Gate Bridge...

the Hoover Dam...

the Statue of Liberty.

- How many more?
- This is all we found.

Langdon didn't say anything
about more attacks.

It's very possible
he didn't know.

Then how'd this Claudine woman
get her hands on these?

These are
highly-classified.

We don't know yet.

Thousands of people
visit these places daily.

HANNAH: These could be
rejected sites for attacks.

MIKE: Or they could be plans
for attacks to come.

Yeah. We're combing through
Brooke Mathison's hard drives,

trying to find
any clues we can.

I'll tell the president.

He needs to be
informed right away.

(SIGHS)

We've alerted DHS
to a credible threat.

They're sweeping all three sites
without alerting the public.

I want to know the second
they find anything.

We also need to update
emergency evacuation plans

-for those three areas.
- Of course, sir.

- LILY: Mr. President.
- Yes?

You have the press
in five minutes, sir.

- Do you need more time?
- No, we're fine. We're done here.

Thank you, Mike.
Lily, I'll be right with you.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the President of the United States.

Thank you, Seth.

Please, everybody be seated.

- Good morning.
- ALL: Good morning.

As you all know, we have
an incredibly busy day today,

So if we could
just get started. Carla.

Mr. President,
the Senate has introduced

the first major legislation
of your presidency.

Do you support
Senate Bill 8180,

expanding background checks
for gun sales?

Yes, I do.

As I said in the Town Hall,

I believe that we have
a responsibility

to do anything that we can

to reduce the level
of gun violence in our country

and I think that this bill is
an important step in that direction.

REPORTER: Are you concerned
about political fallout,

tackling such a polarizing
issue so early in your term?

TOM: No, I think passing good laws

is more important
than political posturing,

and even though this issue
is polarizing in some regard,

84 percent of Americans believe
in stronger background checks.

- TOM: Joel.
- Staying with that, sir, uh,

many observers say the language
of the bill is flawed.

- Can you respond?
- Certainly.

- I think they're right.
-(REPORTERS LAUGH)

Um, but if the Senate
passes the bill to the House,

I will be committed to working

with Republicans, Democrats,
and Independents

to make sure that we pass a law
that will ultimately make us safer.

That's funny.
Nobody's reached out to me.

Well, he's reaching
out now.

TOM". (ON TV)
I wanna remind you.

This bill is not about taking
guns away from people.

It's about making sure
they don't fall

into the wrong hands
in the first place.

SETH WRIGHT: Initial social media
response on the bill is mixed.

Well, they don't call it a third rail
for nothing.

Well it's still pretty
positive considering.

We'll make sure the data gets out
on all the White House channels

to make sure people know
that the numbers check out.

And in terms of public engagement,
Mrs. Kirkman is hosting

a round table discussion today
with a number of stakeholders.

(SCOFFS) People, Seth!

Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons.
We can never forget that.

Yes, sir.

I'll go check on
Mrs. Kirkman now.

Okay, thank you.

Speaking of numbers, sir, we need
to get 51 Senate votes in two days,

which is not gonna be easy.

The language of the bill
is not ideal, as you know.

That's why Senator Bowman picked it.
He's trying to back me into a corner.

Well, nobody puts
baby in a corner, sir.

I didn't think you were old enough
to know that movie.

I had to, but we're going
to get you out of it.

Diane Hunter, the minority leader,
is on her way here shortly.

If anyone's gonna back us on this,
it's the Democrats.

Unfortunately, there's
only 46 of them.

Good morning, ma'am,
I was just coming to see you.

- Did you get the briefing memo?
- Yes, I did, thank you.

Great, so we'll be
in the Roosevelt room.

Uh, Public Engagement has
put together 12 people,

men and women from
all over the country.

Good cross-section
on age and race,

and each one of them
has unfortunately lost somebody

-due to gun violence.
- Wow.

So it's not gonna
be an easy day,

but their stories will remind people
of why this is so important.

And keep pressure on the Senate
for this bill.

Yes, exactly. Although,

I wouldn't mention
the bill specifically.

Today's really just about listening.
You don't wanna make promises.

Seth, please don't worry.
I have learned my lesson.

Uh, that's not what
I meant, ma'am.

Yes it is, and it's okay.
It's your job.

Okay. Um...

There is a pool spray at the top,
a couple of reporters,

but everything is off the record
once the meeting begins.

- It's just you and them.
- Okay.

You know, when Tom and I

got into the White House,
I had no idea what to expect.

But this...

Talking about things
that really matter to people...

This is exactly
what I hoped for.

- Thank you for helping.
- Thank you, ma'am.

Bringing this bill out of committee
is a pure power move by Bowman.

I mean, he may be new to the Senate,
but he's no virgin.

No kidding. The man resigned
from the governor's office

so he could be appointed
to the Senate.

He's trying to jack his national
profile as fast as he can.

And it's working, there's already
talk of a Bowman White House run.

I think he's trying to eliminate
his competition, ma'am.

I mean, introducing this bill
without consulting you?

He's trying to take
you out at the knees.

(CHUCKLES) Yes, Well,

as the ranking
Republican on the Hill,

I have to be careful
about how to respond.

He's still a member
of my party.

Respectfully, ma'am,
I disagree.

I think you need to push back.
Hard. Before it's his party.

Show him. I mean he's not the only
alpha dog in Congress.

(PHONE RINGS)

Senator Hunter,
thank you very much for coming.

I believe you know my
chief of staff, Emily Rhodes.

- Nice to see you again, Senator.
- Likewise.

TOM: Please.

Mr. President, I admired
your statement this morning.

Thank you very much.

Let's take a seat.

Obviously, we're
counting on the support

of the Democrats in
the Senate on SB-8180.

And given your previous record

as Attorney General of the great
state of Massachusetts,

I'm trusting that I can
count on you as an ally.

I am proud to say that Massachusetts
has some of the strongest

gun regulations
in the country.

Of course, I'd like to see
universal background checks

as the law of the land.

I understand that this bill
might not go as far as you want,

but I believe that it starts
the ball rolling

-in the right direction.
- That isn't the only issue.

SB-8180 is flawed.
Fatally, some would say.

We will work the language
of the bill in the House.

But if we don't get
it pass the Senate,

I don't know if we're gonna
get another chance at this.

I agree with you,
Mr. President.

Which is why I'm willing to convince
my colleagues to fall in line.

I'm very glad
to hear that.

Yeah, but even if every Democrat
in the Senate votes for this bill,

it's not enough to pass.
You'll still need five Republicans.

Yes, we know it's going
to be a challenge.

You're not just competing
against Jack Bowman here.

Sir, this is the gun lobby.
This is the Second Amendment folks.

It's going to be expensive.

And we need to know
that you won't give away too much.

- What exactly do you mean?
- I mean...

we don't know
your red line.

But I can tell you
what we won't tolerate.

If we get a whiff of
tax cuts for the rich,

or cuts to Medicare
or social security,

we will back out
of this bill.

You have my word, Senator.

I'm right there
with you.

Good, and good luck,
Mr. President.

I'm afraid you're
going to need it.

NARRATOR: (ON TV)
Freedom.

It's what makes America great.

A fight that never ends.

And as the brave forces
of the United States military deploy

to trouble spots
around the world,

Browning Reed
is right there beside them.

Browning Reed is the tip of the spear
when it comes to security strategy.

Browning Reed was
established in 1993.

For its first twenty
years in operation,

it was the go-to private military
for the Pentagon.

Yeah, I remember.
Some of their employees

shot up a bunch of
civilians in Afghanistan.

Right, and they bribed Afghan
authorities to cover it up.

That's charming.

The whole place stunk,
from the top down.

Anyway, the company
was dissolved last July.

All that's left is some
real estate holdings,

which they're oddly still paying
property taxes on.

One of the properties is
Brooke Mathison's house,

where we found
the threat assessments.

They also have property
in Driggs, North Dakota,

3O miles outside
of Devil's Lake.

Well, that just looks like
the middle of nowhere.

HANNAH: Right?

So why would Brooke Mathison
fly to North Dakota four times

between February 2011
and September 2015?

We gotta find out
what's out there.

Well, not alone. Take backup.

I'm gonna call Jason.

Are you kidding me?

He's a liability.
He's not stable.

John, they had his kid.

What would you have done?

I'm just trying to look out for you.
I know he's your friend,

but that doesn't mean he's qualified
to be part of this.

The president gave me direct orders
to use whatever means necessary

to uncover this conspiracy.

I get to choose
who I work with, John.

And I choose Atwood.

We'll check in
when we get there.

(SIGHS)

Mr. President.

Welcome back.
How did New York go?

Well, my Russian's a bit rusty,
but we got the job done.

UN Peacekeepers are heading
for Naruba as we speak.

Fantastic!
How did you do it?

Some good old
Texas horse-trading.

You know, in the end, we've got
a lot more in common than we think.

Except maybe you
and Jack Bowman.

Huh!

I see where you decided
to throw down on his bill.

Yeah. Do you think
it was a mistake?

Do you?

When I heard that woman speak
at the Town Hall, I didn't.

When I talked to the press
this morning, I didn't.

But even the Democrats
don't sound very optimistic.

Welcome to the Hill.

Many men have died on it.

Is that supposed
to be a pep talk?

MOSS: Reality check.

The American people
like you, Tom.

You're an outsider
and you don't owe anything to anyone.

But that means
nobody owes you either.

I'm not very good
at the Washington game yet.

MOSS: To be fair, you've never
really been in the game.

And as for that bill, well,
the wording is piss poor,

but it's got
the right guts.

And more importantly,
it's the bill you've got.

Forget about how
you got here, Tom.

Just like generals
throughout history,

you don't always get
to choose your terrain.

The only thing
that matters now

is fighting the war
that's in front of you.

And it ain't
a mistake if you win.

Then we better get
those 51 votes.

- Cream?
- My father always said

a man only needs two things to live,
black coffee and Irish whiskey.

(LAUGHS) Sounds like your father
must've worked in Washington.

- Please.
- No, ma'am. He, uh...

He raised cattle in Northwest Montana
for 38 years.

I come by
the boots honestly.

Well, for an outsider,
you certainly are jumping right in.

I'm not sure what you mean.

I know you want to embarrass
the president

and make him choke
on this flawed bill,

but Congress is a system
with a lot of moving parts,

and that could lead
to a lot of...

unintended consequences.

Well, I have a majority
in the Senate.

The Second Amendment
on my side.

Seems pretty simple to me,
Madam Speaker.

You know this bill doesn't threaten
the Second Amendment.

And, you may have the majority
in the Senate,

but may I remind you that

the country recently
elected a House

that is almost
a third Independent.

Even if you succeed
in killing this bill,

we have much
bigger priorities.

Tax reform, trade agreements,
national security.

If we wanna get any of those things
done in this Congress,

We need a
United Republican front.

You're not helping
with this stunt.

No, you're right.

This is bigger
than background checks.

And I'm not interested
in a united front

if it means compromising
my values.

Now, I may be new
to the Hill, but...

so is everybody else.

You're the last of the old guard
around here, Madam Speaker.

So, uh...

So get on board,

or step aside.

Thanks for the coffee.

Ma'am.

Republicans with moderate records,
minimal ties to the gun lobby,

and enough time left in their terms
to ride out any backlash.

Three steps ahead.

I can't take all the credit.
Leg affairs did the legwork.

Humble, too.
You'll get over that.

Walter Dunlap, I know him.

We shared some classes
together at Cornell.

He's a good guy.

But I swear he cheated his way
through introductory physics.

I wouldn't bring that up.

- I'll set the meeting.
- Thank you.

ALEX KIRKMAN:
Welcome to the White House.

I know I speak on behalf
of the president when I say

thank you so much for your courage
and generosity

in coming here to share
your stories today.

Ma'am, will you be
discussing SB-8180?

Thank you, pool...

No, uh, today is about people,

not politics,
and I am here to listen.

Okay, so if everybody
has what they need,

Jake here can escort you out.

We'll let the first lady get started.
Thank you everybody.

Thank you, Seth.

Oh, you don't have an office
anymore, either?

I do, but that would require
getting you White House clearance,

and that would require
a lot of explanation.

Feel like going
on a road trip?

- Where are we heading?
- North Dakota.

What the hell is
in North Dakota?

Let's find out.

Look Leslie, I'm not interested
in playing this out publicly.

I just need you to tell me

which Republicans would
be open to a sit down.

The murder rate in particular cities
in this country is unacceptable

to President Kirkman.

TOM: Senator, I understand
and appreciate your position.

But 84 percent of the country
wants tougher background checks.

Now, the American people have spoken,
and it's our job to listen.

.L-ley-
.l-ley-

I'm very sorry to hear you
say that, sir. Thank you.

- Goodbye.
- Who was that?

Senator Franklin, we're five
Republican votes short.

How are you doing? Seth said
the round table went well.

Yeah.

There was this
one guy, Mike Dunne.

Two years ago, his wife Allison,
she's driving back

from the grocery store
and she accidentally cut someone off.

That man, he followed her
to the next red light...

and he...

-shoots her dead.
- My God.

I know.

Tom, we got so lucky
when you were shot.

I don't know what I'd do
if I lost you.

I know how lucky I am.

You know,

the strength of some of these people
after what they've been through...

it's... it's inspiring.

- Come here.
- ALEX: You've got to win this.

- Banker's hours?
- Well, it's business.

Does that mean
you're buying?

- BARTENDER: Same thing?
- Yes.

I left a bottle in the desk.
I assume you found it.

Uh, I'm working my first
Congressional vote as Chief of Staff

to the President
of the United States.

That bottle is
long gone, Aaron.

- Speaking of the vote.
- BARTENDER: Here you go.

I know you're gonna need
a few Republicans.

And I know you're facing
an uphill climb.

That's not exactly
a secret.

What if we could help?

Hookstraten?

She's a Republican.

- And she is Speaker...
- Of the House.

How exactly is she going
to line up senators?

You know there's some soft
spots in the Senate.

Moderates who don't really oppose
background checks.

They're just afraid
to cross Bowman.

I'm listening.

If these senators can
be reassured there's a home

for them in the party, that someone
has their back come election time,

they might have a reason
to vote the bill through.

And what's in it
for Hookstraten?

Think about it.

Vice president.

(SIRENS BLARING)

What do you think?

Did you have this flown
in from Ithaca?

Secret service
wouldn't allow it,

but someone down there in the kitchen
is working some serious magic,

'cause I swear,
this is a pinesburger.

Three more and you get
a free T-shirt.

The pinesburger challenge!

I think it would send me
into a cardiac arrest these days.

Thirty years ago...

when we were back
in Clark Hall...

could you ever have imagined that
the two of us would be sitting here?

Not in my
wildest dreams.

And it is an honor to be here,
Mr. President, truly.

But you do know
I'm a Republican, right?

I heard a rumor.

Walter,
I know you're a good man...

reasonable.

Hell, there's more public support
for background checks

than there is for tax cuts.

I'm not so sure
about Iowa.

(LAUGHS)

That's not the point.
The language of this bill

is so broad my people tell me

-it's a slippery slope.
- TOM: I know, I know.

We're gonna fix it
in the House.

But I have to vote for the bill
as written, Tom.

I can't do it.

Look, I know we go
back a long time

and I may lean toward the center,

but this is politics.

I was appointed
by a Republican governor.

I can't go rogue
on the first big vote of my term.

Walter, we've got a chance
to do something really good here.

This bill is gonna
save lives.

I'm sorry.

Me too.

Me too.

I brought this bill out of committee
to the Senate floor

to show the White House
that any effort to interfere

in the free exercise

of Americans' Second
Amendment rights will fail.

Senator, the first lady hosted
a number of victims of gun violence

at the White House yesterday.

Yeah, a blatant PR stunt.

Listen, the White House

has completely
oversimplified this issue.

And making promises about safety
they can't keep...

LILY: Mr. President,
Speaker Hookstraten.

Thank you.

Kimble, how nice to see you.

Thank you, sir.

I know you've got a Senate vote
coming up fast,

so I won't take much
of your time.

What I came to tell you is,
with the proper encouragement,

I think a few moderate
Republicans in the Senate

might just vote yes.

What kind of encouragement
are we talking about?

If the Senate gets the bill
to the House,

I will work with you,
and other House leaders,

to get an amended measure
passed as you intend

and I'm willing
to say that publicly.

(SIGHS)

That's very generous
of you

and courageous, too, to take on
Senator Bowman like that.

Kimble, I have
to be honest,

I'm not in a position
to make promises, right now.

Obviously, this bill
is incredibly important to me but

the best that
I could do...

Well, I would be very
grateful down the line.

That's all I need to know,
Mr. President.

- Thank you.
- No, thank you.

Kimble.

From the moment I took office,
I've been trying to guess

what you were going to do.

And I have to admit,
I've usually been wrong.

Why are you doing this?

Because I think you're doing
the right thing, sir.

Thank you very much.

(DOOR OPENS)

KIMBLE HOOKSTRATEN: Today,
I had a very productive meeting

with President Kirkman
regarding SB-8180.

I agree with him
that sensible measures

to ensure gun safety
are long overdue,

and that expanding background checks
makes Americans safer.

So I urge my colleagues
in the Senate

to pass this bill tomorrow,
and get it to the House

where Republicans, Democrats
and Independents will work together.

I'd say your meeting
with the Speaker went well.

Let's hope this works.

As the president has said,
let's put country above party

and show the American people
that their Congress is listening.

So, what do you think we're really
gonna find all the way out here?

Oil?

I don't know.

Must be something big
for Brooke Mathison

to come all this way.

We're getting closer to the belly
of the beast, Jason, I can feel it.

Pull over two miles out.
We'll go the rest of the way on foot.

This is so crazy,
listening to you give me orders.

Seems like just yesterday
it was the other way around.

It's weird for me too, you know.

No, I mean it.
I mean, I'm grateful.

Because I tell you,
with Brooke Mathison being dead,

I thought
I'd have closure, but...

I realize that's not gonna happen

until all these sons
of bitches are brought down.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Mr. President, I have Senator Dunlap
on the phone for you.

Thank you, Ava.

- Walter, how are you doing?
- I'm well, Mr. President.

Just had a long talk
with Kimble Hookstraten about 8180.

And?

And she's agreed to provide me
with the political cover I need

to back you up on this.

That's fantastic.

I'm sorry it had to play
out like this, Tom.

I wish I could've just said yes
when you asked me but...

Anyway, I wanted you
to hear it from me.

You can count on my vote.

I really appreciate it, Walter.
This is great news.

- Good day, Mr. President.
- TOM: Good day.

(PHONE BEEPS)

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

- SETH: Hey.
- Hey.

Hookstraten got us
three Republicans.

Kovich, Duffield, and Dunlap
flipped this morning.

Okay, never thought
I'd use

"Hookstraten" and "friend"
in the same sentence.

Is this Aaron's doing?

Well, I mean,
he knows that we need

to take down Jack Bowman
just as much as she does, so...

Yeah, but for her to wrap
her arms around POTUS like that?

There's got to be
something else going on.

I'm just saying,
there may or may not be

a pool going in the lower press.

The president hasn't
agreed to anything.

Oh, okay.

ALEX: Thank you so much,
Senator, for seeing me.

Thank you for reaching out.

Well, I made promise
to Amara Qazi,

and she came
to the round table yesterday.

Her 12-year-old grandson was killed
in a drive-by shooting in Chicago.

- Twelve years old.
- ALEX: Yeah.

And without a specific law
targeting gun trafficking,

we're not giving law enforcement
a fighting chance

to stop the flood of weapons
coming into cities like Chicago.

You are preaching to the choir,
Mrs. Kirkman.

You know I championed
this effort in Massachusetts,

and I would be glad to lead
the charge here.

- If and when we have the momentum.
- Of course.

And in the meantime,
let me say...

I am glad to have a sister-in-arms
in the White House.

Thank you.

And thank you so much
for your support with this vote.

I hope we'll all be
celebrating tomorrow.

Goodbye.

Mrs. Kirkman. I don't believe
we've formally met. Jack Bowman.

I think you're right.
It just feels like we have.

This is Senator Underhill,
of Oklahoma.

- Pleasure.
- Senator Higuera, of New Jersey.

Nice to meet you.

- And Senator Vandenberg, Tennessee.
- Hello.

I must say,
I'm surprised to see you here.

Is the first lady working
senators now?

Oh, I'm not here for votes.
I was just here

to keep a promise to a woman
who lost her son to gun violence.

- Well, I admire your civic spirit.
-(ALEX CHUCKLES)

Good luck in the vote today,
Mrs. Kirkman.

To you and your husband.

Thank you,
but this isn't about luck.

It shouldn't be good luck that
keeps people safe in a movie theater,

or a mall, or a school.

This is about doing
what's right.

And I just hope that 51 Senators
can feel the same way.

It was an honor
to meet all of you.

Okay, so we need two more.

I was speaking to Leg Affairs today
and they said we can get Higuera,

if we're willing
to talk Medicaid reform.

- Medicaid cuts? Absolutely not.
- EMILY: Okay.

Then we're looking at Harrington
from Colorado.

I know his Chief of Staff

from when I worked on the Hill,
so I'll take him.

And Jim O'Malley was in your
treasury department.

Do you think he's a possibility?

- I'll knock some sense into him.
- EMILY: Good.

Our longest shot is gonna be
Mary-Anne Louis from Alaska.

She's got a moderate streak,
but it is Alaska.

I'll talk to her.

Well, let's just wait
on the big guns for a second,

because if we can get Harrington
and O'Malley, we have our 51.

I smell the barn on this.
Good work, Ms. Rhodes.

I appreciate that, sir, but...

our work isn't done
until we have the votes.

We're gonna need to prepare
a statement up or down.

SETH: I'm on it.

We just lost Ingraham.

What? lngraham's
a Democrat.

Says he doesn't like you

aligning yourself
with the Republican Speaker

-he can't trust.
-(SETH GROANS)

- Two steps forward, one step back.
- And now we're at 48.

Unless you're willing to talk
about Medicaid.

No, no, I meant
what I said.

We need all three,

Harrington, O'Malley
and Mary-Anne Louis.

Time for the big guns.

(SIGHS) Son of a bitch.

We should be
coming up on it.

Let me see.

Right now.

What the hell?

This is the place.

But, where's the facility?

Good to see you haven't changed.

Your office said you were on lunch.
I took a wild guess.

If you wanted to hang out,
you could have just asked.

I'm here for work.

Grady, I need to know
where your boss stands on SB-8180.

That depends on how persuasive
the president is willing to get.

Just give me a number.

JIM: Mr. President, I think
what you're doing

for this administration
is admirable.

But some of us still have
elections to worry about.

In Texas.

I carried Texas
by 6O points last time I ran.

I'd say my endorsement still carries
some weight down there.

Are you promising me
your endorsement?

Prove you deserve it, Jim.

Mr. President, you're asking me
to commit political suicide.

No, I'm asking you
to do the right thing.

And sacrifice every other
right thing for this one.

My appointment
is up in November.

If I vote for this bill, I won't stand
a chance at re-election.

GRADY BANKS: You want
a number? Okay.

The immediate
infrastructure needs in Colorado

exceeds 785 million dollars.

That's a lot
of infrastructure.

You're asking what would help
Coloradans overlook their

Republican junior senator's
vote for gun control.

We're talking about background checks
for new sales, it's mild.

Well, if you swing that
in the budget,

I think I can swing Harrington.

I'll confirm within the hour.

If you can't find
your spine on this...

I may just run
for the damn seat myself.

There's no need
to overreact.

- It's really that important to you?
- Oh, I'm not asking for myself.

I'm not even asking
for the president.

I'm asking for the country.

And I'm not really asking.

Look, I understand
that this is Washington DC,

and I understand
that you're a politician.

But we have a chance to finally
move forward on this thing.

Maybe even save some lives.

If this vote costs you
your re-election,

I guarantee you I will find you
a place in this administration.

I have to think about it.

Right.

I know this is hard.

It shouldn't be,
but I know that it is.

At the end of the day, all I can do
is ask you to vote your conscience.

It's gonna come down
to the wire.

- Well, I did all I could.
- You opened the door.

If this bill passes,
it's probably gonna be because of you

and the president
knows that.

And if it fails?

Well, we thank the senators
who voted yes

for their courage and vow
to keep fighting for the issue.

And then we don't talk
about it for a while.

This was the president's cause,
and if it goes down...

let it be his defeat.

Well, what about
the vice presidency?

I have no intention of tying myself
to a lame duck.

Look, Aaron,

I respect your loyalty
to the president.

The vice presidency
was a conversation, not a blood oath.

And if Kirkman loses...

we're gonna have to do
our own damage control.

SETH: Hey.
We have a flag.

Did you know the first lady was
at Dirksen today?

- What?
- Yeah, she was meeting

with Senator Hunter about some
federal gun trafficking legislation.

Ah, I know she told me
she wanted to talk to her

-but I didn't think that meant today.
- Hours before the vote, Emily.

And she ran
into Jack Bowman.

- Oh my God.
- They exchanged words.

I got this from someone in my office
who got it from someone on the Hill.

- Does the president know?
- No, not yet.

Okay.

We can't tell him.
It's not our place.

- Emily, you're the chief of staff.
- And she's the first lady.

And he should know. Could you imagine
if there'd been cameras there?

But there weren't,
were there?

I haven't heard anything,
so whatever she did, it's done.

We will quietly reconfirm
the votes and hope there's no damage.

I'm telling you, Foerstel,
there was nothing there.

JOHN FOERST EL: (ON PHONE)
I just sent you something.

Infrared got a hit
at those coordinates.

You didn't happen
to look down, did you?

- What, we were standing on it?
- What's underground?

It's an ICBM missile silo.

HANNAH: (ON PHONE)
What?

JOHN: Yeah, the government
built it in the 70s.

Decommissioned years ago, as a part
of an arms reduction treaty.

Took out the payload,

and the property
was sold to Browning Reed.

We gotta get back out there
and find it.

The sun's about to set.

We're not going to find anything
in the dark.

All right, then we sleep here.
We head out at first light.

Just got word from Moss,

O'Malley's in.

I think it's gonna come down
to Mary-Anne Louis.

Yes, sir. If she votes for the bill,
we have the majority.

- If she doesn't...
- It's a tie.

And with no VP to break it,
the bill fails.

Drafts of your remarks
on the vote, sir.

Thank you.

(KNOCKING)

WOMAN: The Senate will come to order
for the vote on SB-8180.

This bill requires 51 votes
for passage.

Mr. Andover?

Aye.

CLERK: Miss Azora?

No.

Mr. Bowman?

- No.
- No surprise there.

CLERK: Ms. Correia?

No.

CLERK: Mr. Dunlap?

Aye.

CLERK: Senator Engram?

- No.
CLERK: Senator Roland?

Feels like a funeral in here.

It's like none of you have been
through a vote before. Come on!

You haven't lost yet.

- God, this job is making me fat.
- Diet starts tomorrow.

I'm good, thank you.

- CLERK: Senator Heldreth.
- HELDRETH: No.

- Ms. Higuera?
- No.

- Ms. Hunter?
- Aye.

- Heard about the pizza.
- Hey.

- CLERK: Ms. Louis?
- Senator Louis is next.

Ms. Louis?

No.

Damn it.

- What's happening?
- She didn't have the guts.

- It's gonna be a tie.
- Which means we lose.

CLERK: Mr. O'Malley?

Aye.

- Mr. Schiller?
- Aye.

- Mr. Underhill?
- No.

Well, it was a hell of a lot closer
than I expected.

Tom, I'm so sorry.

EMILY: I'm sorry too.

It was my job to deliver
and I didn't.

It was nobody's fault.
We all tried.

- Wait! Wait! Wait!
- What?

Vandenberg voted yes!

- Are you sure?
- Yeah, go back. Rewind it.

CLERK: Ms. Vandenberg?

Ms. Vandenberg?

- Aye.
- Vandenberg, I know her.

She was appointed to fill
her husband's seat from Tennessee.

He was as red as they come.

Richard Vandenberg voted against
every gun measure that came up

during his time in the Senate.
I assumed she would too.

KIMBLE: I guess everybody did.

Good for you.

- CLERK: Ms. Winston?
- WINSTON: No.

CLERK: And finally,
Mr. Zwick?

Come on.

Aye.

On this vote, the yeas are 51,

and the nays are 49.

- SETH: It passes!
- EMILY: We won!

- ALEX: Congratulations!
- MOSS: Congratulations!

TOM: Congratulations to you!
Great work, everyone.

This is unbelievable!

- Where's the champagne?
- I have some Macallan in my office.

MOSS: Well, let's get it.
This is a celebration.

- I want to meet Senator Vandenberg.
- Yes, sir.

Emily, we did it.

We did.

To the first of many wins.

Never in doubt.

ANCHOR". In a tight contest
that riveted

and surprised Washington pundits,

the Senate voted
51 to 49 last night

in favor of a bill expanding
background checks

for gun purchases
across the country.

The bill now moves to the House,

where Speaker Kimble Hookstraten
has promised a bipartisan effort

to amend the legislation,
and get it passed.

Hookstraten's support
is a promising sign

for the Independent president,

as he rolls out
his 100 days agenda.

HANNAH: It's supposed
to be right here.

JASON: This is crazy.

Wells.

HANNAH: Stand back.

(GUNSHOT FIRES)

JASON: You ready?

HANNAH: Yeah, what could
go wrong?

(PHONE BUZZING)

- Hey.
- AARON: (ON PHONE) Congratulations!

They're calling it a big win
for the president.

EMILY: (ON PHONE)
And for the Speaker.

She took a big risk
and it paid off.

Yeah, we're not feeling
so bad about it.

We'll have to do it again sometime.

- Sounds like we will be.
- AARON: Looking fon/I/ard to it.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

- Senator Vandenberg, sir.
- TOM: Thank you, Lily.

Senator,
it is an honor to meet you.

This is my wife, Alex.
I believe you've met.

Briefly, yes.

Please, please sit.

Mr. President,
thank you for the invitation.

And Mrs. Kirkman, thank you
for agreeing to be here.

Of course.

I want to thank you
for what you did last night.

Do you mind if I ask
what made you change your mind?

Change it?

Well, I guess we all assumed

that you would vote
the way your husband would have,

especially Senator Bowman.

Well...

He never asked.

I think he just assumed
I felt lucky to be there.

We were lucky that you were.

Richard and I had a happy marriage,
but we didn't agree on everything.

Guns were one
of those things.

I heard what you said about country
over party, Mr. President.

I took it to heart.

And when I saw you stand up

to Senator Bowman yesterday,
Mrs. Kirkman...

it reminded me
that I could too.

I'm sure I'll take flack for it,
but I won't give in.

And you shouldn't either.

Keep doing what you're doing.

I promise you, we will.

HANNAH: This place is like
a Cold War time capsule.

JASON: Whoa!

JASON: Wow.

Jason.

JASON: Good God.

These look like the bombs
used to blow up the Capitol.

There's enough explosives
in here to blow up three Capitols.