Original subtitles

Previously on Designated Survivor...

The DC power grid, the space station,

the president's therapy tapes, it's all the same hacker, Gamine.

Gamine had to be someone who knew the president was seeing Dr. Louden,

meaning someone in this building.

To hell with whoever leaked the shrink tapes. You're the president.

The cabinet voted to have me removed?

They're invoking the 25th Amendment.

Mr. President. Ethan West.

This idea here, sir, is to give you an opportunity to explain yourself.

The White House produces witnesses and documents.

And you answer my questions.

I did tell Dr. Louden that we were friends.

I'm cross-referencing the roll with the 34 folks

who visited the Oval and could have known about Louden.

Andrea Frost is the only name on both lists.

Andrea Frost?

Hannah!

Agent down. I need an ambulance!

Dr. Louden, Aaron, Emily, you.

- West is only calling four witnesses. - That he's apprised us of.

Depending on how his case is going, there may be a few surprises.

He's not obligated to follow typical notification procedures?

He's not, sir. The 25th Amendment proceeding is not a typical hearing.

One day of prep? No, it's not.

Sir, the procedures here are simple. The cabinet has already voted to remove you.

They've tabled that vote in favour of this hearing.

- But the burden of proof is yours. - I'm at a disadvantage.

Yes, sir. West will inquire into anything since your swearing-in

that touches your fitness to hold office. We have no idea what his questions will be.

So I'm gonna have to just sit here and watch him tear my life apart.

No, sir. You're going to sit there and watch us win.

- Hannah, you didn't answer my calls. - I was at the hospital.

Ten hours ago. You can't see the president like this.

He needs to know that Andrea Frost is the hacker and a murderer.

- We need incontrovertible evidence. - The hell we do.

You can't waltz into the Oval with blood on your shirt

and convince the president that his close friend...

- I don't care who she is. - Hannah, I'm on your side.

But you'll have one shot at persuading the president.

Go home. Get cleaned up. Gather your thoughts. Work the case.

I have been working this, for months!

Hannah, I'm sorry about Damian.

I am. But this has to be bulletproof.

You want a smoking gun? We may never get that.

- Meanwhile, she's still out there. - I'm not asking you.

- The press wants to know about the budget. - In process.

Deadline's tonight or it's a government shutdown.

We go through this every year.

- We're close to a deal. - How close?

Very close. The Senate leadership agreed to fund the Medicaid cost of living increases.

Great. An $8 billion win for us. What do they want in return?

Minor compromises. They'll come in and button it up.

We'll get the bill to the president tonight.

We should get that to him sooner.

- The White House is reeling... - I'll get him in here.

...from the release of the president's therapy notes.

Kirkman's therapist, Dr. Adam Louden,

paints a troubling portrait of a presidency in turmoil.

I think that's everything. It's time, Mr. President.

- I need a moment. - Yes, sir.

That's not what I said.

- Aren't those your words on the tape? - Yes, but...

You didn't say the president was suffering from PTSD?

You're taking it out of context.

You didn't say that the president was anxious and depressed?

The leak of my tapes has been professionally devastating for me.

I won't let you compound that humiliation by mischaracterizing my conclusions.

If you won't let me answer, I don't need to be here.

The floor is yours.

I never said, at any time,

that Tom Kirkman was unfit to be president of the United States.

But your notes say he doubts he can do the job.

Self-doubt is common when we lose a loved one.

Do his symptoms disqualify him from the presidency?

I have no expertise

as to the necessary qualifications of the Oval Office.

Dr. Louden, has the president improved since you started treating him?

- Absolutely. - PTSD, anxiety, depression,

all normal responses to a tragedy.

Have they diminished in the intervening months?

Yes. The diagnoses on my tapes were provisional.

Is the president currently in sound mental and emotional health?

- He is. - Thank you.

You say he's improved.

- But he has good and bad days, right? - Yes. Like us all.

Mr. Shore, do you have an opinion

as to the president's conduct of the war against Kunami?

- I'm not sure what you're asking. - How did he do, Mr. Shore?

He brought to justice a leader of a regime

that set off a dirty bomb on American soil and was about to gas its dissidents.

But we didn't find out about the gas until after we declared war.

Yes.

And the emir wasn't behind the dirty bomb, was he?

Not directly, no.

So we need to talk about how the president decided to plunge this country into war.

Secretary Krantz is consulting with NATO to build a consensus for military options.

We don't need a consensus. We were attacked.

Yes, sir, but moving without advising our allies...

Why get bogged down in diplomatic discussion?

There's a protocol here.

We were attacked! The protocol is strike back!

He discarded advice,

didn't confer with his allies and started a war.

- It's his constitutional prerogative. - To not verify facts? Put lives at risk?

That's his prerogative?

- Yes. - That's just irrational, right?

We won the war. Removed a tyrant. If that's irrational, then sign me up.

Mr. Shore, is war ever rational?

A conscious decision to kill other human beings may be necessary,

but I wouldn't call it rational.

George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, FDR. All took us into war.

By that definition, they were all irrational, correct?

Correct.

I think President Kirkman's in good company.

Let's take a recess.

Here's the bank camera's shot of the assassin's car.

You can't really make out the license plate.

You can make out the first two numbers.

They trace back to a silver sedan registered to Apache Aerospace,

Andrea Frost's company.

Yes, and those two digits also come back to 814 other plates in the district.

How many of them are silver sedans?

- You're not... - How many?

Two hundred and twelve.

We also found more writings.

Recent anti-government postings we can trace back to Gamine.

We know Gamine is Andrea Frost.

We're getting there, okay? But it's still not enough.

It is for me.

Chuck, she's not just a saboteur. She's a killer.

The plumber who broke into NASA. Damian. They're both dead.

We keep looking for evidence that we already have.

I'm sorry.

About Damian.

I don't know what to say.

Aaron, I'm ready. With or without you.

These are postings from the dark web message boards

- over several years by user Gamine. - Gamine.

The postings are anti-government

- and anti-establishment. - Okay.

Gamine is obsessed with a British mathematician, Alan Turing,

as you can see from the codes I've highlighted from the hacks.

These all have a Turing signature. Here's the clincher.

Gamine, who we know is responsible for the posts and the hacks,

and we believe several murders,

bought a Turing notebook from an auction and had it sent to a private club in DC.

The only member of the club who also visited the White House is Andrea Frost.

Agent Wells, you have been a tremendous asset to your country

and to this administration.

But I'm deeply troubled by what you've just told me,

and for a number of reasons.

I'll start with the biggest one first. You do know who Andrea Frost is?

Unfortunately, sir, I do.

She's not just a friend. She's a widely respected industrialist.

Someone who helped us save astronauts from the space station,

- helped us find the dirty bomb. - All so she could get close to you, sir.

I'm sorry, I might be missing something here.

Your claim that Andrea Frost is responsible for the hackings and murder

is solely based on your assertion that she uses the Internet handle Gamine,

and is a fan of Alan Turing, which by the way, so am I.

Mr. President, I know that all of this sounds very far-fetched,

but this conclusion is a product of months and months of painstaking work.

Have I ever led you astray before?

- Thank you, Agent Wells. That'll be all. - Sir.

Aaron, you were briefed on this from the beginning. What the hell?

Sir, Hannah Wells is our best agent.

I'm not disputing that. But she didn't prove anything.

In fact, from where I sit, the only thing she managed to do

was smear the name of one of our country's greatest entrepreneurs.

I grant you her case is not ironclad. But if you connect all the dots...

And leap to every possible conclusion. You may - may - have found the hacker.

Hannah Wells took down Patrick Lloyd, figured out who was behind the dirty bomb.

If she says there's something here,

I'm inclined at least to give her the benefit of the doubt.

If you expect me to believe any of this, she needs to come back with more.

A lot more.

Can you find me Dax Minter, please?

Obviously, the therapist tapes concern me.

Notjust as an ex-president, but as an American.

And for the country's sake, I hope the president

- continues to seek help... - President Moss. Stand-up guy.

- ...on his road to recovery. - Uh, if you say so.

Hey, I know you, you're Trey Kirkman, the president's brother.

Ethan West.

- I know who you are. - Really?

'Cause, uh... I mean, you'd read the law journals, I'd get it.

But you're not a lawyer, so that'd be just like a weird hobby.

- Not as weird as a political witch hunt. - Excuse me?

If you knew what my brother's been through, type of man he is,

you wouldn't be trying to bring him down. You'd be giving him a medal.

Excuse me. I have the documents you wanted, Mr. West.

Great. Good. Thanks.

Nice meeting you.

That's the president's brother. He's a stand-up guy.

This isn't what we agreed to, senator. We had a deal.

We're honoring it by funding

the medical research you advocate. $6 billion.

Which you're offsetting by eliminating $6 billion

in cost of living increases to Medicaid.

Meaning, if we were to ever discover new life-saving medication,

most Americans couldn't afford it.

We can't squeeze blood from a stone. We gotta give somewhere.

How about the billions of dollars of pork you put into the budget?

If you're referring to the compromises that have gotten...

There's nothing reasonable about our failure to care for our sick.

- I'm not signing. - Your veto would shut down the government.

You want to avoid a government shutdown? Honor the deal or there's the door.

Sir.

Sir, now may not be the time for hardball.

She's right. We have till midnight to sort this out.

Fund the budget, then we tackle research.

I'm not gonna be forced into making a choice

between medical innovation and access to medical care.

That will not be my legacy.

Nope. It'll be hitting the self-destruct button

right before getting dragged out of office.

Dax, thank you so much for coming. It's great to see you, man.

Always, Tom. But I'm assuming the suddenness of my summons

means this isn't strictly personal.

I wish it was, but I'm afraid you're right. Please.

How well do you know Dr. Andrea Frost?

Pretty well. A woman like that in the tech sphere,

she's a unicorn. Makes an impression.

I asked you here because I think you're an excellent judge of character.

And I need you to judge hers for me.

Do you think she's capable of sabotage?

Sabotage?

Hacking into governmental and technological hubs.

If you're asking me could she do it, yeah.

She's brilliant. If you're asking me would she...

I'm afraid that's what I'm asking.

You don't get to be the first female tech billionaire

without a ruthless streak.

Yeah.

But cyberterrorism?

It just doesn't seem to fit the profile of the person I know.

I agree.

But how well do we really know anyone?

Hmm.

Tom, can I ask if this related to the hacking...

Dax, I'm afraid I can't say anything about this.

So...

How you doing with everything?

Oh, besides the fact that half the country thinks I'm crazy?

It's been a hard year, but I'm getting by.

If you need a breather, I have a bottle of 1823 Louis XIII with your name on it.

When I find the time, I'd love to share it with you.

Until then, I've got a pretty cool reminder of you right here in my office.

They're rolling off the assembly lines as we speak.

Come by. Take a real one for a spin.

Oh, if I'm still sitting in that chair in three weeks, I'll make it a priority.

You will be. I promise.

Thanks.

Yeah, I'd like to call my next witness. Please, Dr. Frost.

She's a private citizen.

She has knowledge of the president's fitness as per the tapes.

I'm sorry.

Dr. Frost...

are you and the president close friends?

We're friends, yes.

Does he ever discuss his job with you?

Honestly, I don't know if I can do this anymore.

Yes.

So the president confessed doubts to you about his ability to do the job.

Dr. Frost?

Yes.

The conversation you had with Dr. Frost, who was in the room with the two of you?

No one.

- Which means she's cooperating with West. - No, she was subpoenaed.

To testify. Why would she volunteer

details of a private conversation that incriminates you?

Hannah Wells gave me a dossier on Dr. Frost. I would like to use it to question her.

- You wanna suggest that she's the hacker. - Yes, sir.

No, I won't allow it. Understood?

Yes, sir.

Hannah, we need to talk.

There was no one else in the Oval, besides Frost and the president.

The president sure as hell wasn't cooperating with West, so Frost is undermining him.

But the president was clear: we can't question her.

So Frost gets away with it.

Unless you can find an ironclad way to incriminate her.

Mr. West, I'm Hannah Wells. FBI. You got a second?

I got half a second.

I'm investigating possible criminal conduct by Dr. Andrea Frost.

That's not my concern.

It is if you were conspiring with her to undermine the presidency.

Uh, excuse me?

I understand that Dr. Frost testified to the contents of a private conversation

her and the president had in the Oval, which she related to you.

Is there nobody who doesn't know about this hearing?

My point is, if we make a case against Dr. Frost

and you aided her attack on the White House,

that makes you an accessory after the fact.

Let me save you some time, Agent Hannah Wells.

The conversation you allude to

was brought to my attention through this anonymous letter.

I did not co-conspire. I did nothing wrong.

- I just merely received a tip. - A tip.

You know what a tip is, don't you?

It's the part of the iceberg this White House is about to slam into.

- The president will never sign this. - He will because time's up for your boss.

I'm sorry?

This president is under duress. We are not.

We have to be able to look our constituents in the eye tomorrow

and explain why we made concessions with someone who is no longer a viable partner.

What do you mean "no longer viable"?

This is the deal, Emily. The final deal.

I think this president understands the concept of finality.

We'll be waiting for his answer.

- They know about the hearing. - Yep.

Any leverage the White House had just went up in smoke.

If you just inverse those, let's see what the numbers look like.

Then you need to take...

- So what's next? - Excuse me?

NASA. The power grid. The president's therapy tapes.

- What's your next target? - Do I know you?

I'm Hannah Wells. FBI.

I have no idea what you're talking about, Agent Wells.

- But I'm a close friend of President Kirkman's. - A close friend?

You're trying to undermine his entire administration.

- Is that what friends do? - What?

You're not just a saboteur, Dr. Frost, you are a murderer.

And your henchman got the wrong guy.

- You have no idea who you're talking to. - I know exactly...

So let me enlighten you.

I'm someone who keeps her promises.

And if you ever slander me in public again,

I promise you this will be your last act working for the government or anyone else.

Obviously, the White House is aware of the budget deadline

and we're working diligently with the leadership to resolve our differences.

So then you're confident of avoiding a shutdown?

Very confident. Gary Lee.

I'm very confident the world is gonna come crashing down around us.

- Maybe don't say that. - You know what Nixon did on his last day?

He didn't shut the government down. He got a haircut. He thanked his staff.

Nixon's goose was already cooked.

And our guy's getting plucked in front of our eyes,

and yet here we are. The hunky-dory brigade.

And we carry on until we're carried out. That's what we do.

Yes, Em, I get that and I'm down.

But it's like Custer's Last Stand around here.

For all of us. Look, I have to testify and I can't take the Fifth.

If I'm asked about telling Chuck to break the law to protect the president...

What are you going to do?

Face the music. That's the order of business today.

Till the band stops playing.

Ms. Rhodes, are you loyal to the president?

- Of course. - And you follow his directives?

- I'm his Chief of Staff. I carry them out. - Let's talk about how you do that.

The president deserves a modicum of loyalty.

- You laundered evidence. - It's not that simple.

Leaking to make a case against a leaker. You don't see the irony?

You're missing the big picture here, Kendra.

Our guy is out there bleeding and he needs our help.

If we get hemmed in by procedural niceties...

Hemmed in? Procedural niceties?

I don't think I'm the one missing the big picture here.

The president is obsessed with loyalty.

He's not obsessed.

Preoccupied?

The president is a very loyal man. He expects it in return.

- And you follow his directives, right? - Yes, I said that.

If you're preoccupied with loyalty and you listen to what the president says,

then the preoccupation must be his. Am I right?

Ms. Rhodes?

You know what White House employees can't do?

Accost private citizens in public places and defame them.

You're not getting any of this, are you?

Hannah, I vouched for you to the president. I put my neck on the line.

What the hell were you thinking?

They're all dead, Aaron.

Who?

Scott Wheeler. Jason Atwood. John Foerstel. Damian Rennett.

Everyone who gets close to me dies.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

I'm not gonna let Andrea Frost get away with this. I won't let her.

I'm pulling you from the hack investigation.

Hannah, I have to. You've done enough.

- Hey. - Hey, what did he say?

Uh, it's touch and go. Kendra's great, but so is West.

Yeah, I don't think I helped the cause.

I don't think I did either.

Is that the, um, type 2 diabetes diet?

If everything goes south, I figured we'll have minutes to leave this building.

And I wanted a souvenir that wouldn't amount to grand theft.

A sugar shaker?

- You remember Bernie from the cafeteria? - Mm-hmm.

He put it behind the register.

He said I was over-sweetening my cortados.

- Sweet revenge. - Yeah.

I'm, uh, taking the scorpion paperweight the governor of Guam left us.

- Oh, sting of the tail. - Mm-hmm.

Do you ever... do you ever think about us?

How do you mean?

Well, we had that kiss last year. Once.

And it wasn't bad as far as kisses go.

Definitely serviceable.

You ever wonder what would've happened if there were a sequel?

I... I did.

But I decided long ago not to pursue it.

Why?

Because then you wouldn't be here. In my office. A year later.

Exchanging stories about how we're the two lowest-rent crooks

in the history of the White House.

Well, Mr. West, what can I do for you?

It's more a matter of what can you do for your country.

The cabinet is trying to remove President Kirkman, sir.

That's a somber occasion.

I take it they have retained you.

I am the humble servant charged with bringing the relevant facts to light.

I understand you may have some, Mr. President.

Yes. Yes, I do.

Would you be willing to share those with the cabinet?

It's as you say, Mr. West.

It's about what I can do for my country.

How far do your concerns about the president's mental health go back?

Months. At least since the death of his wife.

What was the basis of this concern?

I personally observed President Kirkman's growing and dangerous paranoia.

The second I named you my Secretary of State,

you've been quietly trying to undermine me. You're disloyal.

As a member of the president's cabinet, did you notice some mental deterioration?

Since the day of his wife's death, absolutely.

- Did you take these considerations to him? - Repeatedly.

He was defensive.

Accused me of not supporting him.

What did you notice about his decision-making after his wife died?

Erratic. At times dangerously impetuous,

at times crippled by indecision.

You fold in the paranoia, you've got a toxic combination.

In your expert opinion, is Tom Kirkman fit to continue as president?

No.

No, he is not.

Secretary Moss, did you leave the Kirkman Administration on good terms?

- No. - What happened?

I became weary of President Kirkman's accusations that I was undermining him,

and tired of his failure to follow my counsel, so I resigned.

In fact, you were fired.

I was not.

- Oh, come on, Mr. Secretary. - It's Mr. President, Ms. Daynes.

I know what you're implying. That I'm here on a vendetta.

Except I was not fired.

In fact, President Kirkman held a press conference

in which he acknowledged reluctantly accepting my resignation.

Surely you're not suggesting President Kirkman is a liar?

- How much damage did Moss do? - He hurt us, sir.

- It was brilliant. - Excuse me?

Moss leaked classified intel. Now he's testifying against you.

He helps oust you, his legal problems are over.

Right. If I somehow manage to survive this,

my administration's prosecution of him would look like political retribution.

Yes, sir. Moss is the reason your cabinet turned against you.

They're all his people. I appointed them at his recommendation.

They're loyal to him. I'm betting he orchestrated a whisper campaign.

- Primed his people for the 25th. - I can't worry about what he did.

I need to worry about what we're going to do. Kendra, where do we stand?

We're doing our best, sir,

but we need to change hearts and minds and I'm not sure we're doing that.

I just heard from leadership. More rollbacks.

Everything we've worked for

in the last six months, they're throwing out.

Mr. President, it's gonna get worse by the hour. You need to make a deal.

This isn't a deal. They're strong-arming us.

If your last act is shutting down the government,

it won't seem like an act of conscience.

- It'll seem like spite. - Or proof of insanity.

Son of a bitch.

Fine. Emily, get the congressional Senate and leadership back up here.

- We need to button this up. - Yes, sir.

Kendra Daynes. Okay.

Ethan West wants a sit-down.

- A compromise? - Yes, sir.

You step down voluntarily and return to your post as HUD secretary.

- What's his stated reason for leaving? - Pick one.

He's not a politician, doesn't like the aesthetic. No one's gonna bat an eye.

You've a well-deserved reputation for hardball.

Why are you suddenly coming to the table?

Because it's a win-win situation. Do you need a better reason than that?

You're hedging your bets.

Even though the deck's stacked against me,

you're worried I might pull out an inside straight.

Whatever my reason, it's a gift horse.

Don't look at it in the mouth.

I'm sorry, Mr. West, but if the cabinet wants me out of this building,

they're gonna have to do it the hard way.

Okay, sir, but when you look back on this,

remember I tried to give you a way out.

Mr. Kirkman, would you do anything to protect your brother?

I don't know what you mean by "anything."

Did you confront me at the White House mess earlier today?

It wasn't a confrontation. It was a conversation.

A pretty threatening conversation.

I wonder, uh, did your brother put you up to it?

My brother didn't put me up to anything.

So you confronted me of your own volition?

Yep.

Considering the role I play in your brother's fate, uh, do you think it's rational?

I'll let you be the judge of that.

It's irrational, but not surprising,

'cause your family has a history of mental illness.

We have no such history.

You were diagnosed with bipolar disorder

and spent two weeks in the hospital in 1998.

I was under observation.

I was going through a break-up with a long-term girlfriend.

Are you still on your meds?

Yes.

When you're diagnosed, they keep you on the medication as a precaution.

And your mother was hospitalized with depression in 1975?

She was briefly in a facility.

Mental illness runs in your family.

No. Being human does.

Mr. Kirkman, to your knowledge, has your brother ever been treated for any mental illness?

No.

Thank you.

Trey.

I'm sorry, Tom.

For what?

I hurt you in there.

You think I'm upset about what you said in there?

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm your brother.

All those years, everything you were going through.

You were busy with your own life. I'd spent mine being a burden. I didn't...

Trey, you are not a burden.

I know. I know that now. I didn't know it then.

When this whole thing is over, regardless of the outcome,

I want us to go somewhere. Just the two of us brothers.

And 40 Secret Service?

Believe it or not, they're pretty good at keeping a low profile.

It's a deal, big brother. I know just the place.

Fort Knox. I'll bring one suitcase.

I was hoping that we could go somewhere that wasn't gonna land you in jail.

- You're gonna show me the UFOs? - Okay.

Tom, I won't tell anybody, I swear.

I thought I made our position clear.

You made yourself perfectly clear; you're a couple of unprincipled shakedown artists.

Emily, please remind the political director who he's talking to.

Of course. Lyor, you're talking to a couple of unprincipled shakedown artists.

- Thank you. - We're done here.

You can tell the president that when the government shuts down,

he has only himself to blame for everything.

No need, Senator. I think I got the message.

- Mr. President, I... - Don't worry. It's just politics.

You're pushing an advantage. That's how the game works.

- Yes sir, it is. - Problem is, I don't play the game

and I'm not about to start. You both made a deal. I expect you to honor it.

Respectfully, sir, uh, circumstances have changed.

Not for me. But if this is, in fact, my last day,

I'm not gonna waste it striking a compromise I don't believe in.

- That's your choice. - Yes, it is.

It was also my choice to leave Vice President Darby a letter

telling her the only budget to sign was the one we'd previously negotiated.

I expect her to comply with my wishes because, well... she gave me her word,

- like I gave you mine. - Uh, Mr. President...

So when the government shuts down, you can explain to the American people

that the only people whose word doesn't seem to matter is yours.

Time for playing games, Senators, is over. Do your job.

Mr. President, it's time.

Mr. President, you've listened to all of today's testimony, right?

Yes.

Was any of it untrue?

No.

When Dr. Louden testified about your problems after your wife's death, that was accurate?

Yes.

When Aaron Shore said you attacked Kunami without heeding counsel to wait,

- was that not accurate? - Yes.

When Emily Rhodes testified you have a preoccupation with loyalty...

Yes, that was accurate as well.

Today, all of you have heard what a deeply flawed man I am.

Either because members of my family

have had to struggle through issues with mental health

or because I've mourned for and missed my wife too much.

Because I have expected loyalty from people that I give it to.

Or because I declared war on a country

that I still, to this very day, believe had every intention of harming us.

The truth is, I've made mistakes,

but not for any of the reasons you've heard here today.

I made mine because I'm human.

And it is human to err.

So I find myself sitting here trying to figure out

why I'm fighting for a job that I never asked for.

That I never wanted.

One that has cost me dearly.

But I believe the presidency is more important than any single person.

So, that's why I'm here.

I'm fighting for what I believe is the integrity of the presidency.

Because I have heard absolutely nothing here today

that would warrant or justify the removal of someone, anyone...

from this great office.

It's that simple.

Madam Vice President, esteemed members of the cabinet,

I need to excuse myself. I have a budget to sign.

Which will be the only presidential thing I'll do today.

Yes.

Thank you. Send her in.

Madam Vice President.

Mr. President, I came to inform you

that the cabinet has concluded its deliberations.

I understand. Let's get this over with.

The majority of the cabinet wishes you to...

continue in your capacity of president.

I was not expecting that.

Please thank them for this opportunity and their support.

Needless to say, this has been a difficult time.

Well, sir, it's behind you now.

It's behind all of us.

Madam Vice President,

what made them come to this decision?

Two things, sir.

Your staff's loyalty to you through everything.

Loyalty is a consequence of leadership.

And leadership is a touchstone of competence.

And the second thing?

You.

You, sir.

The Tom Kirkman who started this job 20 months ago,

ambivalent, aspirational, honest to a fault,

is the same Tom Kirkman that they saw today.

You have not changed one bit, sir.

Thank you, Ellenor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President.

Congratulations.

Normally, I'd thank you, but I think I'll take a pass.

It's like thanking the IRS after an audit.

I just want you to know that there was nothing personal, sir.

I'm afraid it was. It was as personal as it gets.

You should know that the flaws I listed in my testimony,

personally, I consider to be assets. Am I different than my predecessors? Yes.

But it doesn't mean I can't do this job.

Fact is, Mr. West, you prove my point perfectly.

You've had to face adversity. You're different.

I consider you to be one of the best lawyers I've ever seen.

Truth is, I'm surprised. I would've expected you, of all people,

to understand that simply being different doesn't necessarily equal bad.

In the end, it doesn't really matter because you lost.

No, sir. No, I won.

How do you figure?

My agreement was to elicit facts so the cabinet could make the right decision.

Mission accomplished.

How convenient. It must be nice to live in a world where you can't lose.

No, sir.

It's awful.

Goodbye, Mr. President.

She's waiting for you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you for getting here on such short notice.

Mr. President.

Agent Wells, you're a dedicated servant to your country.

You have made sacrifices, both personal and professional,

that go beyond the call of duty.

And I want you to know that that has not gone unnoticed.

Thank you, sir.

But today has been an object lesson for me.

In accountability.

And I believe everybody in this building needs to be accountable for what they do.

Yes, sir.

The directive I gave Aaron

was for you to give me more information on Andrea Frost

so you could build a proper case.

Instead, you chose to accost her, defame her, humiliate her publicly.

- Sir, may I explain... - No, you may not.

Your actions constitute rank insubordination which I cannot accept.

In other words, you've given me no choice.

You can no longer serve in this administration.

- Mr. President... - Agent Wells, you've been terminated.

Effective immediately. Goodbye.