Original subtitles

Homeland’s report about Russian terrorist cell,

the Chistopol Network in D.C.,

certainly wasn’t how I wanted to start off my day.

I haven’t even had my second cup of coffee.

Yes, ma’am.

Has CMW been able

to determine whether they’re biological-weapons capable?

To our understanding, they are not, Madam President.

For the moment.

What else?

DHS is warning against

an active shooter or shooters event,

based on chatter picked up by the FBI.

Hmm. So something like shopping malls,

mass transit, airports?

Yes, ma’am.

I know that the committee

specifically cleared the construction crews today

so that we could look at the new wing,

but I think we should focus on this Russian situation.

Mm-hmm.

So reach out to them, and apologize,

and we’ll get this rescheduled again next week.

Lilian, are you seeing this?

All right, you two,

I’m off to meet Lance.

Uh, I’ll be back in about an hour.

Katherine, you might want to see this.

There’s been a spike in seismic activity.

I don’t think it’s anything to worry about just yet,

but what do you think?

Keep an eye on it,

and I’ll monitor what I can while I’m out.

Uh, maybe plant a microseismometer

in the field before I meet Lance.

We’ll keep watch, too,

let you know if we see anything unusual.

Oh, you and Lance should contact

whoever’s constructing that White House addition.

Just make sure that reno’s mitigated against earthquakes.

I’ll see if Lance can get us in touch with someone there.

All right, I’m out.

I will check back in before I head to my afternoon lecture,

but call me if you see anything unusual before then.

We will.

What are you boring your students with today?

Dispersal theory?

Lubrication theory.

And it is not boring.

There are actually some very--

Hey, stop stalling,

and go give Lance the best news of his life.

Call me if you see anything unusual.

- We will. Go. - Go.

Uh, I’ll be back.

Good work, guys.

Goodbye.

We now go live to Washington, D.C.,

for a special update

on the new White House expansion project.

News? Okay.

...has progressed significantly

since our last report.

What’s going on?

This is Gracie Hughes,

reporting to you from the White House.

President Powell and Vice President Jameson

are taking their first look

inside the new East Wing expansion this morning.

Oh, it’s so good they’re getting more space.

Whoa. Wh-What’s happening?

I think we’re having an earthquake.

Everyone, take cover!

Get down. Under the table.

The structure’s vibrating.

The workers were off.

Okay, we’re having an earthquake!

Quickly move out to the nearest exit.

Come on.

- Come on! Hurry! - Get out!

Everybody out now!

Out! Out! Get out!

Ma’am, get out of the building!

This way! This way!

Come on! Get out the building!

What is it, Rachel?

You all right?

- You okay? - Yeah. Yeah.

Is everyone all right?

You okay?

Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.

That felt like a magnitude six.

Felt like the biggest quake ever.

We gotta go.

Very close to the surface.

No, we need to get her off the street. Miss!

Miss! Miss!

Miss!

Are you okay?

- Are you all right? - Is anything hurt?

- Look at me. - Are you okay?

Look at me. Look at me.

Are you okay?

All right. People, look alive.

We need to know the whats, whys, and hows

of what just happened ASAP.

It looks like it was a 6.3.

Oh, I hope Katherine’s okay.

Get her on the phone now.

On it.

This is Defense Secretary Harris.

Implement COGCON 1.

COGCON 1 is go.

Go! Go!

Agent Diaz.

The interns made it out, sir.

But the President and the Vice President did not,

along with one of my agents.

Do we have any idea of their last known whereabouts?

The interns said they pretty much booked it out of there.

But one of them said they were on the second floor

near a stairwell when the ceiling caved in.

That’s at least something to go on.

- Over here, everybody. - Sir.

- Secretary Harris. - Mr. Speaker.

Any word on the President or the Vice President?

I’m afraid we lost contact with them, sir.

- Wow. - And we believe they’re

trapped somewhere on the second floor.

What are the chances that they could have survived that?

Uh, I don’t want to speculate until we have more information.

COGCON 1 is already in effect.

We can’t wait on rescue teams.

We need to initiate Archangel.

Well, if we lost contact with both of ’em,

someone needs to be in the position

to handle any nuclear threats from our foreign adversaries,

especially with the Chistopol Network in our own backyard.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Oh, man, Get Marine One here.

I’m going to Camp David.

The minute I set foot down, we put into motion

Article One, Section One of the 25th Amendment.

Understood?

Brock, the President and the Vice President

will thank us for not waiting around

and getting all this going for them, know what I mean?

Of course, sir.

They’re gonna love us for that.

Was the camera equipment still working

- after the quake? - Yeah, I think so.

Yeah? I think so. Check that footage.

I’m gonna use that news crew to do a quick news conference.

The American people need to know what’s going on.

Yeah, I was right.

The quake was shallow.

It’s about seven kilometers down.

Aftershocks are definitely gonna cause some more damage.

Oh, that’s not what I wanted to hear.

Hey, you sure you’re gonna be all right?

Yeah.

Remember, we chose a house that,

in your words, would survive World War III.

I’m gonna have plenty of work to do with this quake, anyways.

Hey...

I’ll be fine.

Sorry. I’d be the worst helicopter parent ever.

This is Lance Cushing.

Hello, Lance.

This is Secretary of Defense Harris.

Yes, sir.

We’ve got a delicate situation here at the White House.

I need your expertise.

How soon can you get here?

Yes, sir. I’m-- I’m at the park,

but I can call in to work and be right in.

I’ll handle the Farm.

You just get over here as quickly as possible.

Copy that, sir. Yeah.

We’ll be right over.

Who’s that?

Secretary Harris.

He wants me over at the White House.

Clearance required.

This is Secretary of Defense Harris.

Authorization alpha, alpha, Quebec, bravo, niner, Zulu.

Confirmed.

Please inform the Directorate of Operations

that I have called in Lance Cushing.

Hey, look at this.

Citizens of the United States,

as you may well be aware of by now,

Washington, D.C., has suffered a major earthquake.

Hey, hey, turn that up.

They must know that the fault’s open.

...particularly to the new East Wing expansion.

But before rumors

and disinformation begin circulating,

I wanted you to hear the truth about the situation.

What I’m about to tell you isn’t easy.

Do we have any idea on the damage inside?

Is everyone accounted for?

Sir.

Thank you for coming, Lance.

Katherine, good to see you, too,

under the circumstances.

Of course, Mr. Secretary.

What’s going on, sir?

I’d like your assistance

in our search for the President and Vice President.

They were last seen

on the second floor of the new expansion.

Of course. Anything we can do to help.

Outstanding.

Let’s walk.

Speaker Wilder is just finishing up

a press conference informing our country

about the, uh, current situation.

He’ll also be taking over the position of President

pro tempore to avoid any lapse of the country’s leadership.

Mr. Secretary, I’ve been charting the earthquakes

at the Geology Department’s network at Howard University.

The preliminary data I’m seeing

indicates that was a magnitude 6.3

and approximately seven kilometers below the surface,

so we can expect some pretty severe aftershocks.

Good call bringing Katherine along.

And now that’s--Wait.

I forgot to tell you something very important.

- The interviews... - She’s missing.

Wait here, please.

Well, really, the two of them shouldn’t be in the same...

- Excuse me. - Okay? Okay.

Wrapped up the press conference?

I did. That couple you were talking to,

I recognize that lady.

She’s a seismologist, right?

Yes. That’s Dr. Katherine Greene.

And the gentleman, her fiancé, Lance Cushing.

- Hmm. - He was a commander

in the Army Corps of Engineers.

He served under me in Iraq

before he went to work on the Farm.

He brought quite a few of my men

out of situations like this.

I’m hoping together they can help us

in our search, rescue efforts.

That’s a good idea.

The more help we get, the better.

I want to know the minute you hear anything about

the condition of the President and the Vice President, okay?

- We’ll keep you apprised. - All righty.

I’ll be right back.

Katherine.

Hey, Katherine, are you okay?

I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m with Lance.

Is this about the President and Vice President?

Listen, you two. I just set up

a microseismometer on the White House lawn,

but I’m gonna need your help.

Keep me posted on any unusual seismic activity, okay?

We’ll let you know A.S.A.P. if we spot any heavy spikes.

Are you ready to get to work?

Uh, sir, I’ve got a change of clothes

in the car if you give me a minute.

Make it quick.

- Agent Diaz. - Yes, sir.

Can you check if they got back to you?

Mr. Secretary. Sorry I wasn’t here sooner.

- It was my day off. - Don’t be sorry.

This is Lance Cushing, a former Army combat engineer

with extensive search and rescue experience.

This is his fiancée, Dr. Katherine Greene.

They’re here to assist us in our rescue efforts.

Feel like getting your hands dirty, Mr. Cushing?

- Absolutely. - All right.

Let’s get you suited up.

You’re probably familiar with most of the equipment.

You look like a...

Mr. Secretary, the seismometers are detecting

a lot of movement increasing in intensity.

Can we expect a stronger quake?

It could mean a substantial aftershock is coming or worse.

The first quake was just a foreshock.

There is a second quake coming,

and it’s gonna be stronger.

Understood.

- Good. - So thermal resonance detector,

structural integrity device.

Okay. Let me take this for you.

Okay.

Katherine.

Tell him about the dispersal theory

that you been lecturing about and the lubrication one.

Those are just theories, Lance.

Yeah, but they’re good ones.

I’d like to hear them, please.

Okay. Well, we know that earthquakes

are largely surface phenomenon

when it comes to actual destruction.

If we could get some drill rigs out here

and bore holes into the perimeter,

then we could disperse the shock waves,

minimizing further damage

to the White House and its surrounding area.

I’ll contact the Transportation Department.

No, sir, I can get drill rigs out of McNair,

- Belvoir much quicker. - Do it.

Okay. I got to get in contact with the Captain on watch.

Tell him about the lubrication theory.

That one’s even more unlikely,

but essentially the idea would be to drill down

deep into the tectonic plates and flood them with water,

acting as a lubricant against the friction.

Think of oiling a sliding patio door.

But you’re gonna need massive drilling equipment

to go down that far, plus a viable water source.

Katherine, can you direct the drill teams

where to go, what to do, right?

- Absolutely. - Great.

Uh, Captain?

Yeah. Sir, this is Lance Cushing

with the Directorate of Operations.

I can’t tell what’s going on.

- The theory isn’t clear... - Right. Yeah.

Sir, listen. I need all the drill rigs

from McNair and Belvoir at the White House right away.

Uh-huh. Katherine. What are the drill specs?

At least ten meters.

Ten meters, sir.

Yeah, right away. Thank you, sir.

Okay. We’re good to go.

I’ll be back, all right?

All right, let’s do this.

Someone get me hydraulics.

Help!

- Get this now! - Come on!

Come on, hurry!

We need a stretcher, neck brace, and I.V.s.

Okay, watch your step.

Yeah, that’s right. We’re gonna be using the 10-meter bits.

Yeah. Listen, Sergeant, when the drill rigs get here,

I want them to ask for Dr. Katherine Greene.

She’ll tell the rigs where to go.

Yeah, that’s right. My fiancée.

Okay, McNair’s sending out six rigs.

Belvoir’s sending out another three.

- Agent Diaz. - Sir.

Can you see to the arrival of the rigs, please?

- Yes, sir. - Hey, Robbie.

- Hear anything? - No, ma’am. Not yet.

The two door entries we found,

think they have a lot of debris lodged behind them.

Couldn’t budge ’em at all.

Engine 02 went for the concrete saws,

should be back in a few minutes.

And there were some folks who got caught

under a pile of rubble on the west side.

Okay. Thank you. Hey, you know what?

- Come back with us this way. - Yes, ma’am.

Look. Looks like it’s 3/4-inch rebar.

Heavy stuff for the compression concrete

and whatever else was in there.

There should be a pocket around here somewhere.

It’s just finding a place to breach.

Here.

Rachel.

Rachel. Rach.

Rachel, is your head okay?

Rach, we gotta talk.

We gotta keep talking,

’cause y-you could have a concussion.

Y-Yeah. Sorry.

I’m sorry.

It’s very important to keep talking,

because...

Oh, God.

My mother told me not to go into politics.

But I did not see this coming.

How do you feel?

Wait. Can you move at all?

My phone.

Where’s my phone?

You already looked for your phone, remember?

- Okay. - That’s right.

I remember that.

And you don’t have yours, right?

No. I gave it to the intern before I came in.

I didn’t want my pocket bulging for the cameras.

Gotta look good. You’re the President.

Probably wouldn’t be any cell reception, anyway.

Aw, probably not.

You think anybody’s hearing it?

Well, I’m pretty sure they’re looking for us.

They may not hear it right away,

but they’ll eventually...

hopefully hear it.

Do you hear that? There’s people alive down there.

Maybe.

I’m gonna take a look.

Please be careful.

Always.

How’d it look?

Yeah, it seems stable.

Looks like the adjacent wall fell down in one piece

and wedged up against the other side.

The breach goes a long way.

I think I’m comfortable going all the way in.

We’ve got a ram jack we can bring in just in case.

- Okay. Sounds good. - Robbie.

Go grab that ram off your truck for us, please.

Oh, if 02 still needs those concrete saws,

just tell them to hold on to them for the moment.

- Yes, ma’am. - How stable is it, really?

- It’s stable. - Come back behind the cordon!

- Ma’am! - Please!

Is the President alive?

The nation has to know if you know something.

It’s gonna be about 10 minutes

before we get that jack over here.

Let’s make this quick, Ms. Hughes.

- Yes, Mr. Secretary. - Yeah, this is Cushing.

I need an E.T.A. on those drill rigs.

We had a problem.

They were already moved to another job.

- Yeah. - I’m really sorry.

Copy that.

We had some issues pulling the rigs out of Belvoir.

They were on another job.

But the rigs from McNair

are crossing the bridge as we speak.

Copy that.

Okay.

So nine rigs should do the job.

Katherine says they’re bringing in

the 10-meter drill bits.

Sounds like they’re trying to prove

dispersal theory works.

Let’s hope science is on our side.

Can you believe the 5.9 was over 10 years ago?

Wonder how much rebuilding

they’ll have to do this time around.

My God, there was so much last time.

Traffic from the Arlington Bridge

was a nightmare.

Wait, those 10-meter drill bits are heavy.

How many drills would they need to attempt dispersal theory?

I’m not sure, exactly. That was Katherine’s expertise.

Half a dozen, at least.

They wouldn’t need to cross

the Arlington Bridge, would they?

It’s very likely.

All of those drills crossing the bridge

one right after the other will be too heavy.

The bridge will collapse with the drills on it.

There’s been an accident with the rigs.

Uh, I mean, that’s terrible.

I’m sorry. My condolences to you and your unit, sir.

Yeah. Thank you, sir.

What happened?

They...

We lost three of the rigs.

The Arlington Bridge collapsed.

What about the drivers?

They didn’t make it out.

I know what it means for you to lose your brothers.

I’m so sorry.

Ah, it doesn’t get any easier.

That’s gonna set you back.

I mean, you only have six drills now, not nine.

No, I’ll make do.

I need to tell him.

Now, I feel very confident

the the President and Vice President will be found.

- That is all. - But, Mr. Secretary--

Ms. Hughes, I’ve got a lot of work to do. Please.

Thank you for your time, Mr. Secretary.

What do you got?

Sir, we lost three of the rigs.

We gotta find another way through the rubble.

Here’s the ram jack, Mr. Cushing.

Okay, thanks.

I’m gonna need you out here running things.

- I understand, Chief. - Great.

I’m gonna head in deeper, open up a rescue corridor.

Secretary, the first three drill rigs and

the engineers are approaching the first gate, sir.

Thank you, Agent.

Katherine.

Go find the President.

You be safe.

Always.

Okay.

Copy that, dispatch.

E.T.A. is two minutes.

This is Beck of the Virginia Lookout.

We’re heading into D.C. to stop any looting,

disperse any unauthorized gatherings,

and assist first responders.

Make our presence felt.

Copy that.

See you there 1300 hours.

Yeah. Okay.

What’s up?

Who’s, uh, got a sat phone? You got a sat phone?

- I got one. - All right.

Eddie and Rodney, you guys go together.

Me and Shawn’ll go meet everybody else up in D.C.

- Copy that. - Let’s go.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute

the office of the President of the United States

and will, to the best of my ability,

preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution

of the United States of America.

Let’s get to work, everybody.

Hmm.

Okay, here we go.

And...

Hello, everybody.

This is the President of the United States Pro Tempore,

Terry Wilder.

Look, it’s natural for us to want to maintain

a positive or optimistic outlook on things,

and that’s good. We should do that.

We all want President Powell and Vice President Jameson

to be alive, right?

But at the same time, we must be prepared

for the truth, no matter how bad it is.

We must be prepared to defend our great country.

Mr. Pro Tempore.

Yes, Alice?

Um, the FBI just picked up movement

from some of the Chistopol Network suspects.

- Any idea where they’re going? - No, sir.

Also, sir, widespread violence and looting

have started up all over D.C.

The National Guard have called in assistance

from the neighboring states.

No, that’ll take too long.

We need to establish a presence now.

All right, Alice. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, traffic is a mess.

We’ll cross over the Roosevelt Bridge on foot.

Tell everybody to meet at the Marine Corps Memorial park.

Hey, man, traffic is messed up.

Tell everyone we’re meeting at the Marine Corps Memorial Park.

Whereabouts?

By the howitzer?

Yeah.

Meet by the howitzer.

Copy.

All right.

Looks like we got about 30 more feet.

Then there’s something up there.

Headlamp’s flashing back at me.

I can’t tell what yet.

Copy that.

Ah. Yeah.

I don’t know why the light’s not traveling further.

I gotta take a look.

What do you think?

Let me check the RTD.

These micro-TRDs only have a range of about 50 meters,

but it’s worth a try.

Yeah, absolutely.

Fire it up.

I’ll take any encouragement I can get

before I go into something like that.

Huh.

What is it?

I’m picking up distortion,

but it’s right on the edge of the range of the periphery.

Ah.

Now it’s not there.

I don’t know.

Could be a false reading.

I wasn’t able to get a lock.

All right.

Looks like the only way to check it out is through here.

Ah. Yeah. I’ll go first this time.

This can’t be right.

What? What is it?

Look. These meters are off the charts, okay?

I-I have run all the calculations.

These spikes in activity could mean another one

much sooner than 12 hours from now.

When?

Now.

Or three hours?

All right, about three meters to your left!

Okay, that’s good! Stop right there!

Lilian, this better be good.

I am directing huge drills right now.

You need to secure those drill bits immediately.

Lilian, we can’t abandon this project.

Uh...

Get down! Get down!

Oh, damn it.

Oh, God!

Lance!

Oh, God, no!

Lance!

Diaz, go get her.

Yes, sir.

Lance!

- Dr. Greene! - Get out of my way!

You cannot go over there!

- It’s not safe! - My fiancé is in there.

I understand that, ma’am, but it’s for your own safety.

You all right?

Yeah. You?

Yeah. All good.

I’ve got some bad news.

Yes. It’s caved in up ahead.

Yeah. We’re done here.

We’re gonna have to find

somewhere else to try to get in.

Copy that.

Let me back up.

- All right. -

We’ve got about eight feet clear.

All right, I’m gonna set up the ram jack as a precaution.

Got a little bit of movement overhead.

Copy.

These aftershocks are building.

- My leg! - All right.

All right.

All right, hold on.

Looks like part of the wall’s collapsed on your leg.

Can you move?

No.

I think my right leg is broken.

All right. I’m gonna see if I can wedge

the jack underneath, lift it up,

take the pressure off your leg.

You think you can push yourself out

if I take the weight off?

I don’t have a choice.

Okay. All right.

Easy.

Easy.

Sorry. All right.

Not much room to operate.

It’s okay. do what you gotta do.

Okay. Okay.

- All right. -

Can you move now?

Let me try.

I can’t push back with one hand and hold on to the TRD.

All right, just put it to the side.

I’ll come back and get it.

Copy.

All right, that’s it.

You’re clear. You’re clear.

You’re doing good.

All right, your foot’s clear.

You’re doing good.

You’re doing good.

The TRD!

Ah, don’t worry about it!

Come--That’s it.

Easy.

- Easy. -

- All right. -

All right.

I think I broke my tibia.

Okay, yeah.

No protrusion or broken skin.

At least it’s not a compound fracture.

You think you can scoot back on your butt?

Yeah.

I can do that.

All right.

Easy now. Let’s get you out of here.

Come on. Come on.

That’s it. Nice and slow.

That’s it. I got you.

That’s it.

Go.

That’s it.

All right, all right.

Okay.

All right, I still got-- Doing good.

Doing good.

Th-That’s it.

Come on. Robbie!

- Robbie! - Coming!

The Chief broke her leg. I need a hand.

I got it. I got it.

Okay. You got her?

- You okay? - Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.

Okay, how bad was the foreshock?

I-It’s gonna take a moment for it to register.

Did you find anything?

I’m afraid not, sir.

You gonna be okay, Chief?

- Yeah, she will. - Yes, sir. I’ll be fine.

Okay, it’s coming up.

Yeah, that was bigger than the last foreshock,

and subsurface tension is still increasing.

Okay, is that gonna affect the 12-hour time frame?

I mean, according to the logarithm, no,

but I’m just-- I’m starting to doubt it.

Okay, all right. I-- How’s the drilling going?

We dug three holes, but we’re gonna need a whole lot more,

and we’re gonna have to get after it.

Maybe stop six, seven meters

just to speed up the process.

Whatever you think’s best, all right?

- Sir. - Yes?

I’m gonna go in. I’m gonna find another entry point.

Get on it.

Robbie, come with me!

Yes, sir. Let’s set her down.

- Whoa! - An aftershock!

Sir? -

Has to be a gas line.

Send help now!

- Give me the radio. - You all right?

We need to divert all available fire units.

- Lance. - Yeah?

I’m not gonna be much use with a broken leg.

All hell’s breaking loose all over the city.

I could be more help out there than probably to you.

- It’s all right. - Think you can handle this?

I’ve got it. Thank you for everything you’ve done.

Good luck. Robbie. Now’s your chance.

Stay here with Mr. Cushing.

All right, Captain.

- You stay with the drill rigs. - Yeah.

Robbie, come with me. Let’s go!

Rachel?

Sorry about that, Madam President.

Just a quick little nap.

All right, uh...

I don’t really want you laying down.

You gotta stay awake.

It’s gonna be a lot harder

for you to stay awake if you’re laying down.

But my head hurts.

I know.

I know it does.

Ah, I’m sorry to be so close to you,

but I really don’t have a choice.

This’ll keep you awake.

Ah, I’ve had worse ringing in my ears than that.

Rachel?

Rachel!

No, no, no.

Rachel.

Excuse me, Katherine.

Of course.

Secretary Harris.

Yes, sir.

I haven’t heard from anyone.

What’s the status of the search?

Sorry, sir. Cushing is trying to find

another way into the rubble at present.

Okay, good.

Look, we have another problem.

We received intelligence that units

of the Chistopol Network are on the move.

They could be planning an attack.

I’ll put a call in to the National Guard.

Well, I’ve got an idea how to handle this.

The Guard is already stretched.

And as you know, it takes an act of Congress

to declare martial law.

I think we have enough on our plate

right now, don’t you?

Yes, sir.

What are you thinking?

The Virginia Lookout

has offered assistance with security

and with rescue efforts.

The militia, sir?

Mr. Secretary, hear me out.

You know as well as I do they helped DCPD

shut down a near riot during the last elections. Am I right?

Y-Yes, sir, I do remember.

But they still are a militia.

Let me finish, please.

Yes, sir.

Sorry, sir.

Also several of them work

for Leesburg Construction in Virginia.

They’ll be bringing equipment.

They might be able to help in the search effort,

But the National Guard is stretched beyond their means

with the looting and everything going on.

The militia could be deputized

to assist them and the police.

We can use them as a deterrent.

What do you say?

We have to maintain a strong presence in D.C.

Harris, we have to.

I’m sure we can find personnel from other agencies.

Everybody capable of assisting is out there, Mr. Secretary,

unless you want to call up the Color Guard

or the Navy Band.

Uh, understood, sir.

Good. I’m glad we see eye to eye.

Now, a man named Beck will be your point of contact.

I’ll be on the lookout, sir.

Keep me updated.

D.C. People’s Army all present and accounted for, Beck.

Hey, guys.

All right, so we’re gonna head into D.C.

Who’s got a satellite phone?

All right, make sure you guys pair up.

We’re gonna go and help the National Guard

suppress any looting, any rioting.

Help out EMS, EMT with any kind of search efforts.

Couple of you guys can go to the White House with us.

Everybody understand what you’re gonna do?

- Yeah, boss. - Lock and load.

Let’s go.

Hey, hey, hey. Look. Look.

That looks like an H-beam.

Yes, sir, it does.

H-beams are used in construction stairwells.

The President and Vice President

were last seen headed for a stairwell.

Are you picking up anything?

No, sir.

I’m gonna try a different frequency.

Okay.

Wait. Mr. Cushing...

I think I got something.

- Yeah? - It’s faint, but...

I think it’s an S.O.S. Here. Listen.

Yeah.

You think it’d be the President?

I don’t know. We’re gonna find out.

Do you have any idea how far it is?

Tough to say, sir.

I’m gonna tell Secretary Harris.

- Yes, sir. - Good work.

Thank you.

I’m sorry. It’s no good.

Without those drill bits, we’re gonna need another plan.

I think it’s time to start running

lubrication theory simulations.

That’s just a theory.

So is dispersal!

But I don’t think it’s gonna work

with the time and equipment we have.

On it.

- Mr. Secretary. - Lance. You hear anything?

Robbie thinks he might have found an S.O.S.

- That’s fantastic news. - Yeah.

President Powell served as a Naval officer

on a nuclear sub for several years.

It very well could be her.

Okay, yes, sir.

So, uh, how do we get into this mess?

Sledgehammers...

and as many hands as we can get.

That’s what I was coming to tell you.

We’ve got some...

extra hands coming.

From where?

The Virginia Lookout.

Sir, the militia?

I’m not fond of the idea either, Lance.

- Yeah. - But the Pro Tempore

made some valid points.

Apparently some of them work in the construction business,

so they’re bringing some tools with them.

The Guards have their hands full,

and now we’ve got some reports of some activity

with the Chistopol Network

Now, we use them as a show of force

and hopefully make the Network stand down.

Yeah, okay.

Listen, with all due respect, sir,

I just--I don’t like it.

It adds an unknown variable.

Fully understand your concern, and duly noted.

However, it is at the request

of the acting President of the United States.

Yes, sir. Understood.

We should be on the lookout for a man named Beck.

No, I-I know a Beck.

Uh, he didn’t get into the military,

because he failed medical.

Made a big name for himself in the private sector.

Let’s just hope he brings something to the ballgame.

Yes, sir. Understood.

Excuse me. Mr. Secretary.

Several men from the militia, Lookout.

Agent, they’re clear.

Let them in.

The Pro Tempore sent them.

You gotta be kidding me.

Yes, sir.

Come on.

- Let’s go. - Come on, men.

Mr. Beck?

Mr. Secretary.

- Thanks for coming. - Sir.

This is Mr. Cushing,

headlining the search effort.

Mr. Beck, we could use some of your men out on the perimeter

and in the city to assist with security.

I take it, uh...

these gentlemen are part of the construction workers.

They are.

Then let’s send the rest of you out alongside

with the men from the police and the Guards,

and the three of you can assist Mr. Cushing

in the search efforts.

Split up, guys.

Let’s go.

Let’s go.

Pick out an access point yet?

Mr. Beck...

first I need to ask the rest of you

to, uh, take your weapons back to your vehicles.

You won’t be needing them in the search.

Rodney.

Come with me.

Go with them, Agent.

Yes, sir.

I’m so sorry, Rachel.

We want to try through here.

This part of the wall has stood up to the quake so far.

This way. Robbie.

The S.O.S. echo sounds pretty strong

- behind here, sir. - Okay. Great work.

Mr. Beck, let’s try and punch through this wall,

see what’s on the other side. Here.

Give me one of these sledgehammers.

Okay.

Hey, listen up, everyone!

This whole wall could fall down on top of us.

Careful.

Hey! I’m in here!

Hey!

Hello?

Hello!

Yes, I’m up here!

Can you hear me?!

Madam President?!

Who’s out there?!

Ma’am, this is Lance Cushing!

I’m here on order of Secretary Harris.

I’ve got the Fire Department with me, Agent Diaz,

and some other rescue workers.

Is Agent Diaz with you?

Yes, ma’am. I’m right here.

Okay. Thank goodness.

Thank you for coming.

Are you all right, Madame President?

Is you or anyone else in your party

in need of immediate medical attention?

Madame President?!

No one is in need of medical attention, Mr. Cushing.

All right. All right. All right.

Is the Vice President with you?

She is...

She is deceased.

Copy that.

Robbie, get Secretary Harris.

Please.

So what’s next?

Uh, well, we’re gonna make our way to you, Madam President,

but we got a fair amount of debris in front of us,

so it’s gonna take a little time.

Okay.

Hey, we got a small excavator on the flatbed.

I’m gonna see where they’re at.

It’s not necessary.

Yeah, I’m not getting reception.

I’m gonna move around.

Yeah. Hey, it’s me.

Yeah, we found the President and the Vice President.

Apparently the Vice President’s already dead.

- You know how? - Nah, I don’t know how.

And where are they?

They’re up on, like, the second floor expa--

of the expansion.

You have a plan?

We have to climb up.

Will it be messy?

Yeah, at this point,

it’s gonna have to be messy.

- Yeah, I get that. - Make it happen.

We’ll do what we can.

Did you get cell reception?

Yeah. It was kinda spotty, but I got through.

The excavator got caught up on the 66.

- It’s gonna be a while. - yeah.

No. No.

No!

No! No!

Efforts are still underway

to rescue the hundreds still under buildings

caught in today’s devastating 6.3 earthquake

in Washington, D.C.

Among those trapped are President Powell

and Vice President Jameson,

who have not yet been confirmed alive.

Speaker of the House Terry Wilder,

currently President Pro Tempore,

has promised to do whatever rescue efforts are necessary,

but warned citizens not to get their hopes up

in terms of the President’s survival.

Speaker Wilder assures us that,

although the loss is devastating, he is ready

to take the presidential oath if necessary.

You okay? Was that the main quake?

Was the 12-hour time frame wrong?

Hold on. I’m writing the logarithm now.

Sir.

Oh, God. There’s--

Something’s wrong.

I’m gonna need to run a different one.

Just give me a second, okay? Okay.

The predicted foreshock rate has to be converted.

The overlapping coda waves are so close to the aftershocks.

It’s obscured the magnitude threshold.

That wasn’t the main quake.

Okay. Okay.

The main quake is gonna hit in less than three hours now.

Less than three?

We can’t get more accurate than that, Dr. Greene?

I’m sorry, Mr. Secretary,

but this technology, it’s all untested.

Quick! Quick! We need some stretchers now!

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.

It’s okay, sir. We’re all very stressed.

What’s our next course of action, Mr. Cushing?

Mr. Cushing?

Yeah. I-I’m sorry, sir.

Look, I think I have an idea.

Katherine, the lecture you gave on lubrication theory,

could we do that?

Could we use the water from the Potomac.

Lance, we are talking about drilling seven kilometers--

No! No, no, no. That’s not what I’m talking about.

Follow me on this, okay?

The Blue Line runs underneath the Potomac

and then virtually circles the White House

on the east, north, and west sides

before it splits the city in the middle.

Wait. I think I see where you’re going.

You’re talking about creating a buffer.

Exactly! Yes. We just need to channel

the water from the Potomac into the Blue Line.

Yeah. No, yeah, yeah. That’s possible.

But how are we gonna get the water

into the Blue Line?

There’s a massive ventilation shaft

that runs perpendicular to the Blue Line.

We place breaching charges on the wall adjacent.

We need the blast to just create a fracture

in any of the structural walls,

and then the weight of the river would do the rest.

We need to make sure that all the transit lines

are evacuated and completely sealed,

but I think we could essentially stop

any more damage happening to D.C.

Dr. Greene?

If it was shallower than seven kilometers,

- I’d say no way, but... - Aha!

Yeah. I believe this could work.

Okay, sir, can you call in the explosive ordnance we need?

- ’Course I can. - Great.

I’m gonna find Robbie. Be careful.

Have you figured it out yet?

There’s just no way to get water to the vaults in time.

There’s not a big enough volume of water

or enough pressure where we need it.

Katherine.

Lubrication theory.

That was our thinking, too,

but we’ve been trying it.

There’s just-- There’s no way.

There’s nothing with enough water pressure

or enough volume to--

We can breach into the Potomac from the Blue Line.

Lance can create a monitored explosion

in the subway tunnels.

That way, we create a lubricated ring

not for D.C., but at least for the White House.

Plug that into the simulation.

We’ll run the simulations, but...

think that could work.

It has to. We don’t have a choice.

- All right. - Okay, so...

- okay, the Blue Line. - Yeah.

I tried that. Now I gotta try that one over there.

Copy that, Rescue Two.

Rachel.

You hear that?

That’s the fire alarm.

Lance!

Yeah?

Oh, Lance, be careful.

Yeah, what is it?

You heard this before?

That’s the manual fire alarm.

Somebody pulled it. Give me a sec.

Whoever set that off

is somewhere near the East Colonnade,

ground floor.

All right, well, we need to dig our way in by hand, then.

Let’s just use the evacuation corridor,

come up from underneath.

No secret. Everyone knows about it.

No, no secret.

But it does lead to some secret stuff,

national security stuff,

and keep people like you away from it.

- Mr. Cushing. - Sir.

Staff Sergeant Rawlings is trying to take

a team over to the Foggy Bottom Station--

We need to use the evacuation corridor, Mr. Secretary.

What?

Uh, they want to try to reach the President, sir.

Do you understand what you’re requesting, Mr. Beck?

I’ve worked in Echo Tier One, Mr. Secretary.

I understand national security.

The Doctor said we have less than three hours,

and I don’t know if Mr. Cushing’s plan’s gonna work,

so why don’t we attack this from both ends?

You wanna save the President or not?

As much as I hate to say this,

the national security must take precedence

over any single President’s life.

Let’s see what President Wilder says about that.

Wait. What?

Here we go.

President Wilder.

So what do you got? Did you find Powell yet?

President Wilder, we located President Powell

and Vice President Jameson.

Doctor says we have less than three hours

before the earthquake happens. Mr. Cushing has some plan

about blowing subways and flooding

with the Potomac River to act as a buffer.

I’m requesting access to the evacuation corridor

to continue the search.

That’ll be a problem,

but it’s something I can solve later.

Right now, our objective is ensuring Powell

doesn’t make it out of there alive.

- Are you with me? - Yes, sir.

- Cushing, is he still there? - Yes, sir.

Okay, I want him out of there. What about Agent Diaz?

- Is he still there? - Yes, sir.

Ah. Let me speak with Harris.

Here you go.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Secretary, what guarantee do we have

this plan of Mr. Cushing’s is gonna work?

None, sir.

They’re basing it on a theory from Dr. Greene,

where we’ll blast into the tectonic plates below

and flood them with water,

acting as a lubricant against their friction

and stop the quake.

Wait. Hold on a second. You’re telling me

that we’re basing saving the President

and the Vice President’s lives on a theory?

Yes, sir.

But I’m afraid that’s our best chance

- at stopping the quake. - Right.

Who’s in charge of placing these explosives in the subway?

Staff Sergeant Rawlings out of McNair, sir.

I want Mr. Cushing himself to do that.

He’s the expert. This is his mission.

Yes, sir.

I don’t want to take any chances.

And I want Agent Diaz to take Beck and his men

into the E corridor.

We attack this problem both sides.

Are you with me?

- Yes, sir. - Very well.

Keep me apprised.

- Yes, sir. - Son of a gun.

Mr. Cushing.

Sir.

The acting President wants you to personally

take charge of the placing

of the charging at the Blue Line.

Sir, Sergeant Rawlings is more than capable of doing that.

I know that.

However, the acting President

instructed me to ask you,

seeing as you are the expert in this field.

He wants no room for error.

Yes, sir.

- Agent Diaz. - Yes, sir.

Per instruction of the acting President,

you will take Mr. Beck and his men

down into the E corridor

to continue the search.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Cushing...

it’s best that you get going.

Yes, Mr. Secretary.

Katherine.

Rodney, stay here with the Secretary

in case we need some more help with the search.

Got it.

Agent Diaz.

Sir.

I wish we could stop and help these people.

I just don’t understand

the decision to use me for this.

I mean, any engineer is more than capable.

I guess they just-- they want to be safe.

Everyone knows that you’re the best in your field.

Yeah, still.

There’s just something that’s off about all of this.

And I don’t trust Beck.

Pro Tempore Wilder sent him, Lance.

I know.

There’s Sergeant Rawlings.

How you doing, sir? Great to see you.

You as well. Thanks for your swift help.

You got everything we need?

Yes, sir. Dr. Greene.

Good to see you, ma’am.

This is Private Vincent. He’s from the Air Force.

- Pleased to meet you, sir. - He’s here to assist.

DCPC shut down the Blue Line.

They’ve evacuated everyone.

We should be good to go.

All right. Let’s move.

We’ll make our way down to the ventilator shaft,

and that’s where we’ll place the charges, sir.

Excellent.

Straight down through here.

We have to go through Gate Two right down there, sir.

Copy that.

What kind of remote firing device were you able to get?

I got an MK 152.

But I’m worried the frequency

might travel too far down there.

Might have to get real close to blow it up.

Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Whoa, whoa. Wait.

Why is this?

Well, these walls are thick, Katherine.

Frequency may not travel.

I don’t like that, Lance.

It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart.

It’s not gonna come to that, is it, Staff Sergeant?

No, sir. It’ll work like a charm.

All right?

All right. Come on.

We’ll go down there,

follow the signs, sir.

Just me, Sergeant.

Got your firstborn on the way, right?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

But I was fully prepared to handle--

I know you were.

I’d prefer if you

and your men stayed topside.

Yes, sir.

But be aware you’re gonna be at the bottom of the Potomac.

The Blue Line’s gonna run right next to you.

There’ll be a large fan that feeds into the tube

above your head maybe 20 feet.

Make sure to get as far away as you can

from the shaft before you blow those charges.

Copy that, Sergeant.

How much time do I have?

Less than 90 minutes.

It’s a generous estimate.

Not a problem.

Good luck, sir.

Thank you.

It’s gonna be all right.

Served my first tour under Iraq with him.

There’s nobody better for this job.

I know.

You guys go first.

About 40 feet down those stairs.

Robbie, stay alert.

Yes, sir.

How much further?

Straight ahead.

Turn around slowly, Agent.

Grab that weapon off his waistband.

Check for any holdouts.

You should rethink not carrying a backup weapon, Agent.

He’s not gonna have another chance after today.

Grab his phone for me.

What’s after these stairs?

You ever see how fast a man

bleeds out of his femoral artery?

Up those stairs,

that’ll take you to the interior

of the White House walls.

Then what?

Security control.

Then you go in the walls.

At the end, on your left,

there’s a security panel you push open.

You’re with me.

Flexicuff him.

Keep him alive in case we need him.

Copy.

He gives you any trouble,

take care of him.

Gladly.

Oh, no, no, no. Come on.

Oh, damn it.

Come on.

Come on.

Lilian, give me some good news,

because we are literally setting it up as we speak.

Grady ran the simulation a dozen times.

It works every time.

This should do it.

Grady, if we all get through this and pull this off,

I am giving you your doctorate tomorrow.

You know I’m gonna hold you to that.

Just make sure as soon as the explosives go off,

you are as far away from the subway tunnels as possible.

That water needs a place to be,

and it is going to move fast.

Okay, just keep a close eye

on all the activity happening here.

We need to know whether this works ASAP.

Come on.

Come on.

Okay.

What is it with all these earthquakes?

It’s getting old.

Anything?

Nah. No, let’s keep moving.

Get you a mocha latte or something?

No? Okay.

Hello?

Secretary Harris?

Secretary Harris?

What’s going on?

This guy Beck...

...ession... President, sir.

Do you copy?

Secretary Harris?

Secretary Harris?!

Is it happening, Doctor?

Is this the major quake?

- Doctor! - You’re not stopping me.

I’m not trying to stop you. I’m coming with you. Come on.

Well, something happened.

Did it work?

Unclear.

Nothing’s changing.

If we flooded the Blue Line for nothing--

Don’t think like that.

It’s going to work.

It has to.

Lance!

Hey.

Thank goodness you’re okay.

- Yeah. - You blow the charges, sir?

I did. We need to get topside right away now.

Agent, what’s going on?

This guy Beck and the guy with the tan vest

are not here to save the President, sir.

So they’re attempting to find President Powell?

Are they in the White House?

Yes, sir.

This guy Beck’s got my gun.

All right.

I’ll send some help down...

to assist you all.

Harris out.

Agent Diaz says Beck

wants us down there right away to help with the President.

Son, did you hear me?

What? Let me see that.

The intensity should be increasing

at a faster pace than this.

Secretary Harris, I set off the charges.

- Lance... - Yes, sir.

I need you back here immediately.

Beck and his men are trying to kill the President.

Get back here, and quietly handle Beck

while I figure out how to contact the authorities...

to deal with the militia.

Yes, sir. I’ll head back right away.

- What’s going on? - Staff Sergeant,

put a QRF on standby. The White House

- might be under siege. - Yes, sir.

Be sure to wait to hear

from either me or Secretary Harris.

- Yes, sir. - Lance, what’s going on?

I’ll explain on the way.

Yes.

Good.

Four.

Six.

Okay.

The delta value is decreasing.

The seismograph’s...

Are you seeing what I’m seeing?

Nothing.

All seismic activity has ceased.

They did it!

They stopped the quake!

The quake! -

Yes. Yes. Yes. Fantastic.

Mm, I knew Katherine could do it.

Oh, my God.

Secretary Harris, I told Sergeant Rawlings

to initiate a QRF.

I instructed him to wait for your clearance.

Good thinking. Thank you.

Now, Agent Diaz dispatched one of the militia,

but he says Beck and his other man got into the White House.

- Are you armed? - Yes, sir.

What’s your PIL clearance?

Level two.

Okay. Okay. Good.

You’ll be able to clear the ocular scanner

- to gain entry. - Okay.

You’re going to E5.

E5. E5.

Lance, that White House is--

it’s liable to collapse any minute now.

It’s all right. I’m coming back.

Okay?

Agent Diaz.

You all right?

Mr. Cushing.

I’m fine.

This guy Beck and the guy with the tan vest

are up there looking for the President.

They got my gun.

All right.

Take this.

No, sir. You keep it.

He’s not going anywhere.

All right.

Where do I head from here?

Go straight ahead.

That’ll get you behind the walls of the control panel.

There’s a panel with a slight outline to it.

That’ll get you in.

All right. I’ll be back.

Mr. Cushing!

With the President

and the Vice President.

You got it.

Hey, Beck. Psst.

Pssh. Over here.

Looks like somebody tried to open it from the inside.

Hey, is anybody in there?!

Yes! Yes, I’m in here!

Please help!

Put your gun away.

Is that you, Madam President?

Part of the rescuers with Secretary Harris.

Yes. Is Mr. Cushing with you?

Uh, Mr. Cushing’s in another part of the building

searching for you, Ma’am.

Okay.

Well, can you get me out of here?

I think something’s blocking the door.

Yes, ma’am. There’s some debris out here.

We’ll clear it out and have you out in no time.

Madam President? You all right?

Yeah, I’m fine.

Who exactly are you?

Speaker Wilder sent us to assist with the search.

Okay. Uh, thank you for coming.

- Is that the Vice President? - It is.

What are you doing?

How’d she die?

A beam hit her in the back of the head. Look, you guys,

we should really be getting us out of here.

This place could come down on top of us any minute.

Wh-Who are you, anyway?

What’s your name?

Have you found ’em yet?

Yeah, we found the President and the Vice President.

The Vice President’s dead.

She died from the earthquake?

A beam hit her in the back of the head.

Well, wonderful.

Now we only have to fake Powell’s death.

Who are you talking to?

- Shh. - Yeah. Nah.

I’m gonna make it look good.

Who are you talking to?!

Yeah, we’ll take care of it.

Good. You do that.

And let me know when it’s done.

Okay, I demand to know who you really are.

Who are you working for?

Answer me.

I guess I can provide you some solace before death.

Speaker Wilder wants to be President.

You’re lying.

I have no reason to lie.

Grab her.

We’ll figure something out in the hallway.

Come on, Madam President.

Don’t move!

Don’t make me kill you.

Madam President, we’re ready now.

Thank you, Gracie.

Citizens of the United States,

we have overcome a monumental tragedy,

the loss of life and the near destruction

of our nation’s capital.

And I can inform you all

that some very brave people stepped forward

and made all the difference.

Thank you.

Lance, Katherine, thank you.

Thanks for bringing us onboard, sir.

I’m so glad we were able to help.

You were both instrumental.

We couldn’t have done this without either of you.

Thank you.

Well, I have somewhere I need to be.

To arrest Speaker Wilder?

Yes.

I want to be there personally.

You know, the Secretary’s right.

Hmm.

We couldn’t have done any of this without you.

Just think, you were worried about me just sitting at home.

- Yeah. -

You know, we didn’t finish our coffees this morning.

I could really use some coffee.

Wonder where I can get go get some.

- Sounds... -

- I’ll buy. - Oh, nice.

And, uh, there’s something

that I wanted to tell you this morning

before all this.

Yeah. What is it?

You’re gonna get a chance to be a helicopter parent.

You are--You mean--

- You’re--You’re pregnant? - Yeah.

Yeah.

Really? That’s...

That’s--That’s fantastic news.

Can you--Can you even have coffee?

Yes! Lance, let’s go.

This has been a wild day.