All language subtitles for House.of.Cards.S01E03.XviD.1TV.[qqss44].ENG

Previously on House of Cards...

That's why the first order of business

to properly fix and strengthen
our nation's schools.

We need a bill we can pass.

The President wants the bill on the floor
in the first 100 days.

Yeah, this performance standards thing.
The teachers unions are gonna...

I'll handle the unions. What else, anything?

- God, you're fucking high.
- No, I...

Yes, you are, look at your eyes.

Please, just lay off.

- Is that true?
- It will be after you write it.

I received an advance copy,
and it was written by Zoe Barnes.

Zoe Barnes of the Washington Herald
now reporting,

quoting a source close to the President...

Who are you fucking?

What?

Oh, come on.
You're a Metro scrub, and now look at you.

Zoe, thank you for joining us.

I am very glad to be here.
Thank you for having me.

Evelyn, we're going to let some people go.

I think the way you're handling this is cruel.

I'm going to need you to leave us
today too, Evelyn.

I'm sorry.

I just can't have any doubt
about the direction I'm taking.

Page 43, section 7.

We'd like some clarification...

Section 7 has to do with
the evaluative measures by which...

"Evaluative measures."

What we're talking about here
are performance standards.

Plain and simple.

We can't have that.
We open that can of worms...

- Gotta take it out, Frank.
- The Administration wants it in.

Then we're all wasting our time.

Now, look, I can cut down
the frequency of testing,

- but it's got to be a part of the overall...
- That's the thin edge of a 2-ton wedge.

- No way. Non-debatable.
- All right, hold on.

There's no harm in hearing him out, right?

Frank, what do you have in mind?

We adjust article 4. Hand me article 4.

We go every three years instead of two...

Frank, for us to even consider testing...

Marty, we can't negotiate time intervals here.

If, I'm just saying if.

The frequency could never
be more than five years.

Five is a little high.
But if you could bend on that...

- Marty...
- Wait, wait, wait. And it's not just frequency.

Veteran teachers would have to be exempt

if they have a proven record
of excellence with the students.

Well, excuse me for a moment.

Corey, will you take the reins on this?

Right, so article 4, in terms of exemptions...

I've been saying for years
that we should tear it down.

It's vulgar.
It's an embarrassment to the county.

But time and time again, Frank Underwood
has fought to keep it standing.

If it weren't for him, the Peachoid
would've been replaced ages ago.

And Jessica Masters would still be alive.

The Congressman needs
to answer for this tragedy.

What exactly happened?

A 17-year-old girl ran off the road,
texting her boyfriend. And I quote,

"Doesn't the Peachoid look like a giant..."
And then she lost control of the car.

Jesus.

Oren's making a big fuss in the local press.

And he's pushing the parents to sue Gaffney.

Sue Gaffney? It's in his own jurisdiction.

It's worth throwing Gaffney under the bus
to drag you into the mess.

He's after my seat again.
Has he learned absolutely nothing?

It's a full-on smear campaign, boss.

- He's out to destroy you.
- With this?

It's a peach for Christ's sake.
Let him make a fool out of himself.

No, he will make a fool out of you.

If he spins this right, gets national coverage.

National coverage? It's a joke.

And you will be the butt of it.

We can't afford that right now.

Not when you're in the spotlight
with the Education Bill.

This thing has caused me
so much damn trouble.

- I know.
- So who should I call? Parents?

Phone call's not gonna cut it.
You need to go down there.

Can it wait until Monday?

We get on this thing right now,
we can contain it.

We wait until Monday,

and there's no way to know
how much this is gonna blow up on us.

I can't go down to Gaffney.
The unions have just...

- We postpone.
- They're gonna be livid.

Marty's reasonable, okay?
He will explain to them...

And they're just supposed
to understand and accept

that I had to get up from the negotiating table

because some 2-bit
county administrator wants to...

I don't want to interrupt you, sir,
but this is not just about Oren.

It's about the parents.

Now you think about the lawsuit.

What happens if you have to testify?

Subpoenas. Depositions.

You get dragged into a court battle,
there is no Education Bill.

We can't ignore this.

I just hate this small ball crap.

It's called the what?

- The peach what?
- The Peachoid.

It's a giant water tower
in the shape of a peach.

Wow. I just googled it. The Peachoid...

She was 17, Linda.

You're right. I'm sorry.

- I need another week.
- That's not gonna work.

The President makes his speech on Tuesday.
We've already announced.

Speeches can be rescheduled.

We have to show some progress
on Education, Frank.

The first 100 days is almost over.

We push back the speech,
it'll look like we're spinning our wheels.

All right. I'll work something out.
Thank you, Linda.

Frank, these are the heads of the two
largest teachers unions in the country.

I understand.

They flew here on a weekend.

Doug will lead the charge,
Congressman Phillips is well versed...

They flew here to see you, Frank.
You're managing this bill.

Put this in the other bag.
And I'll be in constant communication.

Anything big comes up,
I'm a phone call away.

It's a 300-page document.
We need you in that room.

I would stay if I could,
but this is my home district.

Now, Marty, cut me a little slack here.
We'll get it done.

You and I go way back.
Have I ever let you down?

- No, you haven't.
- And I don't intend to start now.

Hello?

- Gillian?
- Claire.

So nice to finally meet you.

I'm a little under the weather,
I don't want to get you sick.

- Well, if you're feeling ill, we can...
- No, no, no. I'm fine. It's just a cold.

- Well, thank you for coming in.
- Of course.

Shall we talk in my office?

- These are really cool photographs.
- Thank you.

Adam Galloway took the pictures.
Have you heard of him?

No.

I met him at the Whitney Biennial
a couple years ago

and commissioned him to do these.
He just had a big show at PS1.

I'm not up to date on the art world.

That's all right, we're not here
to talk about photography, are we?

My office is over here.

- You run into any trouble, you call me.
- I got it covered.

- Gene Clancy know I'm coming?
- Just spoke to him.

Get to it.

Your flight is booked. Leaves in 55 minutes.
Ed will be joining you.

Where's Steve?

He went home sick about an hour ago, sir.

- I'll be filling in.
- What's your name again?

- Edward what?
- Meechum.

You drive fast, Meechum?

- You wanted to talk to me?
- Come on in, Zoe.

This is Mrs. Tilden, owner of...

She knows who I am.

Mrs. Tilden liked your profile
on Catherine Durant.

No, I didn't.

I loved it.

In-depth. Uncompromising.

Normally I don't read things
before they go to print,

but Cathy's a friend.

Tell me how you knew
she'd be nominated before she did?

- You want my source?
- Tom says you won't tell him.

I haven't told anyone.

Well, I own the paper.

And I'm very grateful to be working here.

So, you're not gonna tell me either?

Which do you want,
my source or my integrity?

Tom,

move Zoe's piece to the front page
of Sunday's edition.

Let me think that over.

You think it over as much as you want.
Then put it on the front page.

I've worked really hard
to gain a foothold with WorldWell.

Six years ago it was just me and a MacBook.

I understand.

And I had to juggle two temp jobs just
to pay the rent.

It's your baby. You don't want to let it go.

Well, I just...

And you wouldn't have to, Gillian.

All I want is for you to grow
what you've already built.

I heard you fired half your staff.

Yes, I did.

That worries me.

I let them go to make room for you.

I'm just not sure we're the right match.

To be honest, I'm a little uncomfortable
working with someone

who's commissioning famous photographers

when I can't even buy my volunteers
bus fare to the office.

Do you know who Nikki Hemler is?

No.

Nikki owns one of the biggest galleries
in Chelsea.

She desperately wanted
to represent Adam Galloway.

I delivered on Adam,

and in return she contributes
almost 40 grand a year to CWI.

That money goes to impact studies,
lobbying efforts, research.

WorldWell could benefit from
that sort of money, Gillian,

and we can benefit from your expertise.

Can I think about it?

Of course.
We don't have to jump into anything.

I grew up here, in the up-country.

Bibles, barbecues and broken backs.

Everything gets just a little bit thicker
this far south.

The air, the blood, even me.

I try to make it down here
at least once a month.

Every trip is a reminder of how far I've come.

I hated Gaffney as a kid, when I had nothing.

But now, I've come to appreciate it.

It's not as suffocating as it once was,

except when I have
to deal with the sort of nonsense

that makes me want to hang myself.

Turn left on Route 120.

- Don't listen to her. I know a better way.
- Yes, sir.

We don't have the money, Frank.
The legal bills alone will kill us.

How about a settlement?

I'll look at the numbers.

- What's it look like to you?
- Like a peach.

No, I mean, what does it really look like?

As mayor, I stick with a peach.

As a private citizen,

well it looks like the sun is shining
where it shouldn't be.

There's a better way to handle this.

Really, Frank? And what's that?

I'm not trying to start an argument here.

Now, you make it sound like
I'm in the wrong.

You know exactly what you're doing, Oren.

You're using this poor girl's death
for your own political advantage.

You're the one that fought me

when the Peach Farmers bitched
and moaned about me tearing it down.

You're the one who took their money.

- It's a water tower.
- It's ungodly.

- Oren...
- This is cut and dry, Frank.

I fought to tear it down,
you fought to keep it up.

That girl's blood is on your hands.
And I'm taking you to task for it.

All right, I tell you what,
Dick Peters is gonna retire this term.

That means there's an open race
in the 4th district.

How about I help you lock up that seat?

I'm not looking to make a deal, Frank.

It's not a deal, it's an opportunity.

I'll be just fine.

You may despise me, Oren,

but the classy thing to do would've been
to invite us up for some of that iced tea.

What are you doing?

You shouldn't run here.

It's disgraceful.

Have you no respect?

The criteria is a starting point.
They're suggested, not mandated.

We assemble a council of experts
who will determine exactly...

Nowhere here does it say who these
experts are or how they'll be chosen.

The President selects the council.

- With what sort of oversight?
- We'd like input on the selection.

- Doug, check with Linda.
- Calling her now.

Okay, so, now,
can we talk about charter schools?

- Charter schools are a no-go.
- They have to be in there.

- You keep them in, we walk.
- The same goes for us.

Let's not jump to ultimatums.

Well, then let's figure out a way
to reduce non-public spending.

All right.
Give me a few minutes to think about that.

We can't move forward
without addressing this point.

I understand, but this is the cornerstone
of the bill.

Let's talk it out.

All right, give me five minutes, Marty.
I'll call you right back.

No, no...

If we consider settling as an option,
we need to be able to pay them.

But if we offer a settlement,
aren't we saying...

That's my point, we're admitting that
the town's responsible for this kid's death.

I say make the Peach Farmers cough it up.

Oh, man, talk about a shitstorm.

Y'all mind catching me up?

Wayne and Travis want to go to court.

I don't think that's a good idea.

We can't be pouring money into a settlement
when we can barely afford to run the city.

What do you think, Jamie?

I think that we gotta worry about
the Peach Farmers Association.

If there is a hint that
we're blaming the Peachoid,

- they're gonna raise holy hell...
- Who gives a crap?

- They gotta suck it up.
- Let him talk.

I'm just saying that we need
to keep them in mind.

She was breaking the law. End of story.
You can't text while you drive.

Yeah, but all the jury is gonna see

is a beautiful 17-year-old girl
who's now dead.

No offense, Frank, but you just got here.

We've been dealing with this
for the last week now.

And where's your solution?

What, you think you know better than us?

I'm just trying to be realistic.

Frank, I know you want to swoop down
and save the day.

But there's a principle at stake here.

We allow ourselves to be extorted
because of this teenager...

When Oren gets a jury to weep a river
of snot over this dead girl,

when Gaffney goes tits up

because you can't afford
to pay a seven-figure award in damages,

when you all get booted out of office,
and I lose to Chase,

then you can chew my ear off
about principles,

because we'll all have nothing but time
on our hands.

Until then, you either contribute
or you keep it shut, Travis.

Now here's what we're gonna do.

Gene, how much could we pull together
for a settlement if we had to?

- About 150.
- That'll work.

Jamie, get your boys down
at the hardware store

to build two billboards, put them out
a mile out on either side of the tower.

Have 'em read, "Drive safely.
No texting behind the wheel."

- Got it.
- And get those up by tomorrow morning.

I'll issue the permits.

And let's stop lighting the thing at night.

The Peach Farmers aren't gonna like that.

How much does the electric cost?

$4,100 plus change per month.
About $50,000 a year.

Jesus, you could put a kid
through college on it...

Let's use that money to start
a scholarship fund in her name.

Meantime, you tell the Association
if they want it lit up, they can pay for it.

I'll deliver that message happily.

And do me up a budget
and a plan for removing the sphincter.

The what?

He means the emergency valve.

That's interesting,
I've always thought of it as a clitoris.

But it's on bottom.
I believe the clitoris is above the...

- But if you imagine a woman on her belly...
- Enough.

I want it done.

And, Gene, get me everything
you've got on road regulations.

County statutes, not municipal.

And you remember that power line business
we pulled up at the last election?

Sure do.

Let's make sure we're rock solid on that.

Does this very expensive dinner

at least buy me an evening
of mind-blowing sexual congress?

It was good,
but I don't know if it was that good...

Fellatio good?

A hand job, maybe. No promises.

Deal.

Hey, Peter, there's something
I need to tell you.

I have been thinking lately,

you know, it might be good
to work somewhere else.

So I did some interviews.

And the Speaker's office
offered me Deputy L.D.

Peter?

Christina...

I just thought it could be good, right,
if we're going to have any future.

To stop this boss-staffer thing.
Be a real couple...

We are a real couple.

I mean, not have to hide it,
like we do at the office.

And it's a great opportunity. The Speaker.

Would you hate me if I took the job?

Baby, I want what you want.

I won't fight you on this.
Not if this is what you feel you need to do.

- Really?
- Yeah.

And you're right. This is a great opportunity.

When do you have to tell them by?

There's no deadline.
I don't have to decide right away.

Okay. Well, when you do decide,
just, you know, help me find a replacement.

- You know, give me a heads up.
- Yeah, of course.

I haven't even decided if I'm going to take it.

We don't have to talk this through right now.
I just thought I'd bring it up.

- Should we get out of here?
- Yes.

Let's go find the parents.

- You hang back by the car.
- It's a big crowd, sir.

If I get shot or stabbed
consoling two grieving parents,

I'm a hero from now until the end of time.

Let's roll the die, shall we?

Sir, I can't allow you
to go unescorted into all those people.

Allow me?

Let's get one thing straight, Meechum.

You are never to dictate
what I can and cannot do.

The only two words I want to hear from you
when I ask you to do something

are "yes" and "sir."

- Is that understood?
- Yes, sir.

Good. Then we're gonna get along just fine.

Mr. And Mrs. Masters,
I'm Frank Underwood, your Congressman.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

- I cannot begin to fathom...
- You're right, you can't.

You have no idea.

- Forgive me. I don't mean to intrude. I just...
- Well, you are intruding.

Dean, please...

What? It's his fault, isn't it?

Anyway, I just wanted
to express my condolences

and say if there's anything the two of you...

Dean, you don't want to be talking to him.
We got legal action pending.

Look, I know what Mr. Chase
has been saying, and believe...

Nobody invited you.

Nobody wants your condolences,
or your excuses.

Frank, please.

You shouldn't have
to put up with this right now.

I'm sorry.

Well, that went well.

Hang on a second. Reverend!

Congressman.

Nice to see you again.
I wish it was under better circumstances.

- Terrible, isn't it?
- It's just terrible.

This is so thoughtful,
what you've organized here.

Least we can do.

Tell me, are the Masters
in your congregation?

They are. They come every Sunday.

You think they'll be at the service tomorrow?

I'd be surprised if they weren't.

I'm wondering, can you do me a favor?

Anything for you, Frank.

- The blue toothbrush is yours, right?
- Yeah, the blue one.

- Hey, Peter?
- Yeah?

Where do you keep the light bulbs?
The lamp in the bedroom is out.

In the kitchen, under the sink.

Here's what I think,

and I wish I could be bigger than this,
but I can't.

And I'm being selfish,
and I realize it's mostly about me,

but fuck it.

I have to say it.

Please don't take that other job, Christina.

Anyway, that's how I feel.

I'm glad you told me.

Charters jeopardize our ability to organize,
which is reason enough.

But the bigger issue
is that measuring their success against...

Charter schools would operate under
the same evaluative standards that every...

Apples and oranges,
no matter how you look at it.

You can't use the same standards
to compare.

What, you're advocating
a more demanding criteria

for charter schools than other schools?

Our point is simple, Frank.

Federal funds should only go
to public union school districts.

Hold on a sec.

Yeah, but we've already increased
non-charter funding by 10%.

The amount going
to charter schools is negligible.

It's the precedent, Frank, not the number.

We're setting a lot of precedents, Marty.
That's the nature of reform.

Well, some of them we can stomach,
some of them we can't.

All right, let's not get bogged down
in abstractions, let's deal with specifics.

Corey, can you walk us through it?

There is a three-prong approach

to determining the amount of funding
a particular...

Miss me?

Maybe a little.

What's it been, 15 hours?

Not even long enough to notice you're gone.

Tell that to Marty Spinella.

- How's it coming?
- It's coming.

Slowly. Painfully.

Hey, have we always had
tulips in the front yard,

or am I slowly going insane?

I planted them. Last fall.

You did not.

When I was down with you for the campaign.

You've never gardened a day in your life.

Not true.
I have gardened exactly one day in my life.

You were down in Spartanburg
doing some sort of fundraiser.

Gene's wife came over
with a bucket of bulbs.

And next thing you know
I was down on my knees in the dirt,

earthworms and all.

I can't even picture it.

Neither can I, and I was there.

What else?

Distract me from giant peaches
and dead teenagers.

What else...

I went for a run today, and the strangest...

I don't know, this woman...

- That's interesting.
- What is?

Text just came. Zoe Barnes.

Who?

That reporter from The Herald
you met one night.

Her. I remember.
Yeah, go, if you need to call her back.

No, she can wait. I'm talking to my wife.

That's okay. I'm going to bed soon anyway.
See you tomorrow?

I hope so. Wish me luck.

Bonsoir, ma petite Peachoid.

Disgusting.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Yeah, all right, that's fine, Corey. Marty?

Frank, had a little bit of explaining to do.
Here's our problem.

Frank? Frank, did we lose you?

Yeah, I'm here, Marty.

Look, we can talk ourselves in circles
about charter schools,

but here's what I propose...

In your profile you go into great detail

about the sexism Durant faced
early on in her career.

That's right. When she was first elected,
it was still an old boys' club in the Senate.

Journalism used to be that way too
not so long ago.

I feel really lucky.

I've had lots of trailblazers come before me.

For instance, my colleague, Janine Skorsky,

was the first woman at The Herald
to become chief political correspondent.

And that was only five years ago.

Has it been those trailblazers
who've allowed you to rise so quickly?

You've moved up from the metro pages
to the front page Sunday edition.

Well, I don't know that
that would be possible

if Janine hadn't already paved the way.

So does that mean that The Herald
is not particularly progressive?

I think that they are.

Tom is very open-minded.

He's the reason Janine got promoted.

That's Tom Hammerschmidt,
the executive editor.

- Yes, we actually call him "The Hammer."
- "The Hammer"? Why?

Because he's tough.

How tough?

Tom has very high standards.

I love him.

He's a great mentor.

It can be frustrating at times.

He makes you double
and triple-check things.

And you want to get the news out
the moment you have it,

and he makes you rewrite until it's perfect,
but that's what makes The Herald The Herald.

Is that a workable model in the Internet age?

Our readers think it is.

You have a declining readership.

But I don't lay that at Tom's feet.
I think that that's the times we live in, right?

Should newspapers adapt
to the times we live in?

It's not that The Herald refuses to adapt.

We have an online presence.

Is that maybe not adapting fast enough?

I wouldn't argue with that statement.

We could do more.

We've got a special guest with us today.

He asked for the opportunity to share
a few words with us this morning.

Our very own Congressman,
Frank Underwood.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Thank you, Reverend. And thanks
to the choir for that beautiful hymn.

I want to read this morning from...

No.

You know what no one wants to talk about?

Hate.

I know all about hate.

It starts in your gut. Deep down here.

Where it stirs and churns. And then it rises.

Hate rises, fast and volcanic.

It erupts, hot on the breath.

Your eyes go wide with fire.

You clench your teeth so hard
you think they'll shatter.

I hate you, God.

I hate you!

Don't tell me you haven't said
those words before. I know you have.

We all have.

If you've ever felt soul-crushing loss.

There are two parents with us today
who know that pain.

The most terrible hurt of all,
losing a child before her time.

If Dean and Leanne were
to stand up right now

and scream those awful words of hate,
could we blame them?

I couldn't.

At least their hatred I can understand.
I can grasp it.

But God's wantonness, his cruelty,

I can't even begin to...

My father dropped dead of a heart attack
at the age of 43, 43 years old.

And when he died, I looked up to God
and I said those words.

Because my father was so young,
so full of life, so full of dreams.

Why would God take him from us?

Truth be told I never really knew him,
or what his dreams were.

He was quiet, timid, almost invisible.

My mother didn't think much of him.
My mother's mother hated him.

The man never scratched the surface of life.

Maybe it's best he died so young,
he wasn't doing much but taking up space.

But that doesn't make for
a very powerful eulogy, now does it?

I wept. I screamed, "Why, God?

"How can I not hate you
when you steal from me

"the person I most love
and admire in this world?

"I don't understand it, and I hate you for it."

The Bible says in Proverbs,

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

"and lean not on your own understanding.

"Lean not on your own understanding."

God is telling us to trust him.

To love him despite our own ignorance.

After all, what is faith if it doesn't endure
when we are tested the most?

We will never understand
why God took Jessica,

or my father or anyone.

And while God may not give us any answers,
he has given us the capacity for love.

Our job is to love him
without questioning his plan.

So I pray to you, dear Lord.

I pray to you to help strengthen
our love for you,

and to embrace Dean and Leanne
with the warmth of your love in return.

And I pray that you will help us
fend off hatred,

so that we may all truly trust
in you with all our hearts,

and lean not on our own understanding.

Amen.

Your job is to the report the news,
not be the news.

- I was promoting the paper.
- You were promoting Zoe Barnes.

Is this about how I said
we called you "The Hammer"?

- Because if that upset you, I apologize.
- You're missing the point.

I don't want you talking about
anything that happens here.

Not nicknames, not how progressive we are,
not whether we're adapting to the Internet.

Any thoughts you have about this paper
you keep them to yourself

or you bring them to me.

You don't get on national television
and start...

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to...

Don't interrupt when I'm talking.

You can speak to me like an adult, Tom.

You don't have to lecture me like a little girl.

You haven't earned the right
to be treated as an adult.

You think a few front page stories
and some face time on TV

makes you the next Judy Miller?

You've got a long way to go.
Don't be so arrogant.

Okay, so you think when a woman asks
to be treated with respect, that's arrogance?

Are you accusing me of sexism?

Just making an observation.

No TV for a month.

- What?
- You heard me. No interviews.

- That's completely unfair.
- You want to make it no TV indefinitely?

We're done. You can go now.

Hello?

Gillian, it's Claire Underwood.
Can I come up?

Have you seen a doctor?

Giardia's not so bad.
It'll pass in another week or so.

- You don't have health insurance, do you?
- Nope.

I'll make an appointment for you
to see my personal GP tomorrow.

Medicine doesn't really do much.
You have to let it run its course.

Well, we'll let it run its course
under proper supervision.

- I won't take no for an answer on this.
- Claire...

I'll drag you to the hospital myself
if I have to.

You're going to the doctor. No argument.

Thanks.

They're about to walk.
They won't listen to a word I say.

- Both unions?
- Yeah.

Put Marty on the phone.

Hang on. Marty.

Yeah. It's Frank?

This isn't working, Frank.

Marty, you have got
to keep them in that room.

They lost their patience, all right?
They're upset you're not in the room, Frank.

- I'll be back this afternoon.
- No. It's too late.

Look, tell them I'll come down
on subsidies for charter schools.

Even so, they're angry
about the performance standards.

We're not even halfway through this thing.
There's so much in it that they...

Then tell them that I'll roll over on
performance standards. Five-year intervals.

It should be you telling them that, Frank.

You, here at this table.

I know that.
You know, I'm doing the best I can, Marty.

But I can't be in two places at once.

Now look, I promise you,
if you keep them in that room,

we will get through this hump
as soon as I get back.

Marty, you are their lobbyist.
You know what's best for them.

Save them from themselves.

Okay. I'll see what I could do.

It's Stamper.

Do not let Spinella out of your sight.

And lock the goddamn doors if you have to.

You got it.

Here we go.

I know you're a busy man,
I hope we're not keeping you...

No, no, no. I've got all the time in the world.

This is ham and these are turkey.
And there's some potato salad.

Shall we have a prayer?

Gracious loving God...

- Have you had this before?
- This is the third time.

I'm used to it by now.

Well, I'm not used to it, but it beats malaria.

You've had malaria?

In Zimbabwe. That took me out for a month.

You make a lot of sacrifices.

I don't see it as a sacrifice.

You turned down a six-figure salary
at Google to start your own non-profit.

People don't get malaria in Palo Alto.

You do your research.

When it's someone I care about.

Claire, I turned down that job
because I would've hated myself.

It was a lot of money, but for what?

So they could fill their diversity quota

with an Asian girl
peddling a Stanford degree?

Not just any Asian girl. A valedictorian.

Let me offer you what Google couldn't.

I know what it is to be capable
and beautiful and ambitious,

and be on people like Sergey
and Larry's checklist

of things that look good to have on a shelf.

I'm not trying to acquisition you.

What I see in you is a woman I admire,
which doesn't happen often.

I want to enable you.
I want to clear the way for you.

So that you can achieve what you want
to achieve, on your own terms.

Thanks for the tea.

And I will send a car to pick you up
for the doctor tomorrow.

When you're back on your feet,

do you think maybe
we can work something out?

Yes, I think we could.

That's her at junior prom.

Beautiful.

Here she is in her letter-jacket.

She made varsity as a freshman.

I remember the day she found out.

Coach called,
and Jessie starts jumping up and down,

"Mom, guess what?"

I'm sorry.

Don't be. It's fine.

Why are we doing this?

Honestly. What's to be gained
dredging up all this stuff?

Remembering the good things
helps sometimes.

Not when it puts my wife in tears.

I appreciate what you said at the church,
but it doesn't do us any good.

Neither does this.

Well, what can I do to help?

You can't do anything.

She's gone.

You're right. I can't change that.

But I can make sure the city offers you
a sizable settlement.

You mean buy us off?

No, I mean help you avoiding
years of court battles.

Jessica was gonna go to Furman,
is that right?

- On a volleyball scholarship?
- Yes, a full ride.

Well, I spoke to the president
of the university this morning,

and we'd like to create a new scholarship
in your daughter's name.

If you'd like that. It's entirely up to you.

But most importantly we have to make sure
that this never happens again.

We've got safety billboards going up,

stopped lighting the tower at night,
and we're putting the guardrails in...

Should've done all that
before she ran off the road.

Would you like me to resign, Mr. Masters?

Just say the word and it's done.

If it will bring you any satisfaction.

I asked the reverend once,

"What are we supposed to do
in the face of so much senseless pain?"

And he said to me,

"What else can we do

"but take what seems meaningless,

"and try to make something
meaningful from it?"

He's right.

That's how God works through us.

Will you let me work for you?

What you have to understand
about my people

is that they are a noble people.

Humility is their form of pride.
It is their strength. It is their weakness.

And if you can humble yourself before them,

they will do anything you ask.

Tell us more about the scholarship.

Hey.

- Hey.
- What're you doing?

- Working.
- On what?

The BRAC Commission stuff.
I'm behind on it.

It's Sunday.

So?

You don't usually work on the weekend.

Well, now I do.

There's coffee in the kitchen
if you want some.

Peter?

Peter.

If I decide to stay,
it's because it's what I want,

not what you want.

I understand.

Which draft are you reading
of the written testimony?

The one you sent out on Thursday.

I actually changed it on Friday.
Can I show you?

Yeah, I was thinking that
we could start with job numbers,

and then go to economic multipliers,
instead of the other way around.

What do you think?

Let's see what it looks like.

Picture this, a 17-year-old girl
traveling at 60 miles an hour

spins out of control in no traffic,
she hits a guardrail,

but if she's wearing a seatbelt,
which she was,

and her car doesn't roll over
three times down a 20-foot ditch,

which it did,
then that young woman is still alive.

But you know what?

The county administrator
didn't build those guardrails,

so now she's dead.

We looked up the statute.
Guardrails are under county supervision.

Are you trying to turn this around on me?

- That's not all, Oren.
- Your easement.

You see every couple of years,
the Piedmont Electric,

they apply to bring power lines
through Gaffney.

The route comes right through your lot.

Now Gene and I always fight them off,
but this year, if they were to re-apply?

Eminent domain.

It'd be such a shame to have
to tear down this beautiful home.

Fuck you, Frank.

You can't just roll up on my property
and act like you own it.

But I can.

We just did.

I've won this district 11 times.

Do you think that's just luck
and a firm handshake?

But I'll tell you what.
I'm not a vindictive person.

I don't like for anybody to lose
if everybody can win.

So I'm gonna help you get elected in the 4th.
You get to keep your house. I keep the 5th.

We put the Peachoid behind us.
And everybody's happy. What do you say?

Well, that's alright. You think about it.

I'm sure you'll do the right thing.

And I'm looking forward
to having you in Congress, Oren.

It's always good to have friends
on the other side of the aisle.

I've been offered a spot on Nightline.

You want my advice?

I don't want it, I need it.

Close your eyes.

Okay.

It's 11:25.

Nightline is about to come on.
Millions of people are watching.

Where are you? Home?

No.

- At the studio?
- Yes.

And what do you see?

I see lights. I see a camera.

And that little red dot goes on.
Tell me what you hear.

I hear my voice.

And those millions of people,
what do they hear?

My voice.

- And what do they see?
- My face.

So you don't need my advice.

Hammerschmidt's gonna freak.

You don't want to work anywhere
you're not willing to get fired from, Zoe.

Treading water is the same as drowning
for people like you and me.

- Good luck. I'll be watching.
- Hey, wait.

- Yes?
- When do you get back?

When I get back, you'll know.

- Hello, Nancy.
- Welcome back, sir.

Linda Vasquez called for you.

Tell her I'll call in a couple hours
with an update.

- Very well.
- Sir,

unless you need anything,
Kyle has you covered.

No. Go home.

- You did well this weekend.
- Thank you, sir.

And before you go home,
can you do me a favor?

Would you swing by my house
and make sure these get to Claire?

Yes, sir.

And thank you, sir, for being so patient.

Okay.