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REPORTER: As we enter the final week
of this historic three-horse race,

I'm surrounded by passionate
supporters of a candidate

who burst onto the scene no more
than five months ago.

- Lucas. - Hey. - Did you find him?
- Uh, no. Not yet.

- Where are you?
- I'm by ATB.

REPORTER: A story unheard of in
the history of American politics.

One year ago, former gold medallist,
Nate Sterling,

took the political world
by surprise and by storm

with his best-selling manifesto,

"A Declaration of Independence:
A Modern-Day Common Sense."

REPORTER: Here we are at Nate
Sterling's biggest rally yet.

The independent candidate
has created a tsunami,

thrashing its way through
America's two-party landscape

as he leads Republican nominee
Patricia Turnbull by two points

with just one week to go.

The senior senator from
Tennessee beat out ten

of her fellow Republicans
in the primary

by courting both the moderate
and far left.

REPORTER: President Archer will
need to pull off a miracle

to have any hope
of securing a second term.

With an approval
rating in the basement,

some are calling the Democratic
incumbent a sitting duck.

He's about to do a hit on
Politics Nightly with Jane Bower.

Nate Sterling is set to take
the stage any minute now.

Shit. Call back when you get him.

But until then, I'm pleased to
welcome Nicholas Booker,

esteemed columnist
for the Washington Chronicle

and lion of the fourth state.

Oh! You're too kind, Jane.
(CHUCKLES)

The election is a dead heat.

If it's anything like the last two
elections, it could come down

to a few thousand votes
and a handful of swing states,

or if it's a repeat of 2000,

a few hundred votes.

Your column is read
by a few million.

Your readers really listen to you.

- They trust you.
- I call it like I see it.

What do you see here?

(CROWD CHEERING)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

(CHEERING FADES)

Well, I have good news and bad news.

- Which do you want first?
- MAN: Bad news!

Huh, right! Always the bad.

Here it is.

My little girl...

turned 21 yesterday.

(CHEERING)
(EXHALES)

And the first thing Alison did...

..was make sure her voter
registration was current.

(CHEERING)

Ah...

21 years.

Those of you with kids,
you know how fast the time goes.

And as I looked at those candles
flickering on top of that

birthday cake, it brought me back
to the big moments of her life.

Her first words, her first steps,
her first day of school.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
But then my mind wandered

to all she's seen in her young life.

Terror reaching our shores.

Two long and costly wars.

A great recession.
A deadly global pandemic.

Classrooms getting shot up
every other month.

- Climate getting harsher by the day.
- MAN: Yeah!

Our very capitol,
the people's house...

under siege. - WOMAN: Yes!
- And the sad truth is

one party fuels this rage

while the other sits on their hands
and whines about it.

Now, you want the good news?

CROWD: Yeah!

The good news is...

my daughter Alison
turned 21 yesterday.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
And as she blew out those candles

on top of that cake,
a funny thing happened.

The flames reignited.

So, she blew 'em out again,
and then the flames came back again.

And no matter how hard she tried,
she couldn't blow those candles out.

And that made me think two things.

One, my wife has a wonderful
sense of humour. (LAUGHTER)

And two, just like those candles,

we always come back.

America always comes back.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

And we have to dig deep
and do it again.

Because Alison deserves better.

Our young people deserve better.

They deserve to look forward to
the future the way we used to,

with hope, with pride,
with excitement.

There's no more time
for cruelty or fear.

There's no more time for
incompetence or inaction.

Their time is up!
Our time is now!

America's time is now!
(CHEERING)

And if you stand with me,
and you vote for me,

and you keep fighting for real
change with me... (CHEERING)

..I promise we will get
our fire back, too.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Now, let me tell you

how we're gonna do it.

COMMENTATOR: The general election
is finally upon us,

and once again we're forced
to choose between

the lesser of two evils.

On one side, a Democrat in decline,

and on the other,
a Republican in the pockets

of corporate America.

Oh, boy, our country is
mired in a recession,

the whole world's on fire,

and these are the best two people
we can come up with?

I mean, come on!
Good luck, everyone.

- We're going to need it.
- Good news!

We've been bought... again.

As I'm sure, some of you
have already heard,

Mr Jack Hampton is our
newest overlord.

Of course, I'm gonna try to
minimise the casualties,

but it's no secret
our readership is, uh...

spreading thin.
If we hope to compete,

we're gonna have to get down
in the mud with the pigs.

And how low does Mr Hampton
want us to go?

Conspiracy clickbait?

Ten thousand words
on celebrity pets?

We have to evolve.

The only reason we're not worm feed
like half the other papers

in this godforsaken country
is because we do not stop

to tread water.
If we don't keep swimmin', we die.

You. I'm looking for new,
innovative ideas.

Something that will ensure
that we are all still employed

come Labor Day. Hmm?

- We need to win the battle for
Millennials and Gen Z. - Uh-huh.

We-We programme around
the Facebook algorithm.

Expand our social media presence.

He, whose name I don't care
to learn, seems to think

that because I've got grandkids
born before the Internet,

I don't know that we need to expand.
Of course.

I have got a whole
fucking sweatshop

working like a Russian troll farm

to expand our social media presence.

OK?! I've also got
an army of halfwits

twice as smart as you...
- A high school in West Virginia

is going to a four-day school week,
because of budget cuts.

- I had a call with the principal...
- And how's that gonna sell papers?

I thought... I mean, cutting a whole
day out of the school week...

What percentage of our
readership do you think

has ever set foot in West Virginia?

And as for the banjo-pickers
themselves,

if it ain't Fox or Infowars,
they ain't readin' it.

Well, maybe that's why they
don't read the Chronicle.

They got a point calling themselves
the forgotten people

and calling us condescending
coastal elitists.

We are elite.

And if you don't
start acting like it,

you're gonna be a forgotten person
before you know it.

The school in question
is 90% minority.

It's gonna make the achievement gap
even wider.

Of course, the private school kids
are gonna be just fine.

What else?

Hmm?

- Nate Sterling.
- Ah.

- You again. - I hear he's jumping
into the race next week.

And you think I haven't
heard those rumours?

It's bullshit.
It's publicity for his book.

My source on the ground says
he just hired Kathy Gibbs

as his campaign manager.

Independents - they're like bees.

Once they sting, they die.

If he does announce,

he might buzz around the honey jar
for a week or two,

but nobody outside the two-party
system has ever cracked

20% percent of the poles.
Now, it'd be a fool's errand.

His camp secretly hired a pollster

to test his numbers against
potential nominees.

When Turnbull secured the bid,

they saw a real opening
for an independent like him.

They know he's gonna have
to thread the needle,

but it's not impossible.
- So, what are you suggesting?

We get in early.

Prep a cover feature.
The wave is coming with this guy.

We may as well paddle out
to the break.

Tell me why I would waste my
front page on this neophyte?

Are you referring to me
or Sterling, sir?

Both. You willing to bet your job

on this fever dream of yours?

If we short him, we'll be
kicking ourselves later.

But if we're early to the party,
we might just sell enough papers

to give the Russian trolls
an extra ten minutes

on their lunch break.

Hmm.

(CLICKS TONGUE) Fuck it.

How can I fold when a wounded cub
is all in?

Ackerman, you take the reins
on the Sterling feature.

- Choose your own co-pilot.
- I'll take Conrad.

So, you're gonna give me the source
of Sterling's camp?

(SIGHS) Look, look, look, look.
I get it. I get it. All right?

You wanted that story.
And that was a valiant effort.

It was. But, you know,
karma is still a bitch.

- And so am I.
- (SCOFFS) Come on.

Look, it's a hard time for guys
like me right now.

- I mean, look around you.
- Oh, come on.

- A little awareness maybe...
- OK. Thanks.

Make up your mind.

Either you're a victim
or a big shot.

Kid gets to scoop Ackerman's shit
on his first cover story.

And suddenly, he's schizophrenic.

- No. I was just...
- Were you just thanking Eli

for the opportunity?

Yeah.

I never liked that arrogant
little boat shoe.

Email me the best thing

you've ever written.

Which piece did you send him?
The Honduran refugee one?

- Yeah.
- Holy shit. He is gonna love it.

- What?
- Nothing.

What is this?

Now, when did you have time to...

You've been working so hard,
I thought,

- "He deserves the finest grape
Safeway has on offer." - Oh.

(KISS)
(CHUCKLES)

(CAR ALARM BEEPS)

Penny ships off tomorrow.
So, if my mum breaks down in tears,

don't get too alarmed.
- Your mum? What about you?

Remember the last time
she deployed? (LAUGHS)

- That's smart, buddy.
- Ooh!

- Hi.
- Hello. Hey.

To my beautiful daughters...

Penelope and Elisha.

One makes the news
and one reports it.

Oh, wow.
You make it sound so romantic.

Most days, I just stand by the
printer and get paper cuts.

Well, you accepted the risk
when you signed up for the job.

Why don't you just go AWOL,
and come bunk up with me and Lucas?

That'd be fun. As long as you're
cool with harbouring a deserter

with a warrant out for her arrest.
- Let's change the subject, shall we?

- Eli has some breaking news.
- Oh.

She managed to get on the radar
of one Nicholas Booker.

Nicholas Booker, huh?

See, now that's what you need.
Your own opinion column.

I'm not on the Daily
Tar Heel anymore, Dad.

Columns don't just drop out of
thin air at the Chronicle.

Well, if you wanna have a
real impact, change minds,

you need a pulpit.
A column in the Chronicle

is like the pope's balcony
for Christ's sake.

I'm working on it, Daddy.

I'm just saying it might take
a couple decades, that's all.

The Dalai Lama was a god-king at two.

Man has a point.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
- Mm. Wow.

Does the man know that religion
and politics are about the only

two topics to avoid when
you got a dinner guest?

Who, Lucas?
He's practically family.

Speaking of, when are you two
gonna make that official?

(LAUGHS) Have you got any new
additions to your collection?

- No, but wait. When are we gonna
make it official? - No, no, no.

- This is important.
- Right. (LAUGHS)

You know, I never asked you...

which one was your first?

The day we realised the government

had been lying to us all along,

sending me and my friends
halfway around the world

to kill and be killed.

Years after, Nixon knew
the war was unwinnable.

- Do you have a favourite?
- He did before it was retracted.

That's what happens
when you play fast.

I wasn't playing, Dad.
He played me.

- There's a difference.
- Sweetheart...

you let yourself get played.

Why don't you all come in here,
so we can give Penny

a proper send-off?

WOMAN: He's in meetings all day,
but I can give you his card.

- Thanks.
- Oh, there he goes right now.

That'll be on Saturday's draw.
Thank you, Sharon.

Mr Mayfield.
Eli James, Washington Chronicle.

You're the one who keeps calling.

I'm doing a story on drastic cuts
in public school budgets,

and it's my understanding that...
- I'm sorry. I'm late for a meeting.

Our boys looked good this year.

We play like we did against the
Tar Heels in the ACC final,

we might really have a shot next
year. - You're a Blue Devil?

- Yes, sir. Class of '08.
- Ah.

Well, I got a few decades
on you as you can...

Bowties never go out of fashion.

Listen, I gotta ask,
how has the recession

affected your jackpots?
- Oh, as it affected all of us.

The numbers might have dipped, but...

Well, I would have thought
that jackpots would rise

in a recession.
- How's that?

You know, a lot more
desperate daydreamers.

I think you mean grown adults
and valued customers.

You should go grab
a ticket yourself.

Gotta be in it to win it.
(CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(CAR DRIVES OFF)

8pm tonight at The Monaco.

If you're not early, you're late.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR CLOSES)

I don't have time for pleasantries.
I've got a hit on CNN at 10pm.

- What are you staring at?
- I'm sorry.

I just have read every single
one of your columns

since I was in seventh grade.
- I don't need idol worship.

I need something else from you.

Sit down. (SIGHS)

I'm getting out.

As soon as this election's over,
I'm turning in my quill,

and moving to the country.
- What? No, you can't retire yet.

- Who are you, my accountant?
- Well, what good are you gonna do

out in retirement?
- I'll bury myself in Bourbon.

I can read fiction for a change,

and I might even
watch golf on Sundays.

Institutions are crumbling. OK?
Reality is under attack.

You're one of the only voices..
Come on. Come on...

..that can speak truth to power.

Tweets with cats boxing yarn
get more eyeballs

than a column these days.
I've had a good run.

But what journalism's become,

I'm done with it.

There's a reason they tell you
not to meet your heroes.

- Then why did you invite me here?
- Mr Booker!

- And how are we tonight?
- Ah!

- Can't complain, Enrique.
- Isn't that your job, sir?

Best steak in town.
Only reason I allow him to get away

with being such a smart ass.
(CHUCKLES)

Oh, right. Um...

I...

I'll just have the house salad.

Bring us two rib-eye.

- Rare?
- Bloody.

Rule number one, you want the
rib-eye, get the rib-eye.

And that's the last time
I'm doing it for you.

Excuse me, Enrique?

Give me the house salad.

And the lobster tail.

- And may I?
- Hm.

A bottle of the '04 Chablis.

Feels like a good vintage.

(LAUGHS) Ah.

- How are you? - Oh.
- Lovely to see you.

- Hi, Gregg.
- Oh, fuck me. She's coming over.

Who are you?

- Eli James. Pleasure to meet you.
- A pleasure.

Your campaign finance bill proved
quite the battle, Senator.

Passed just in time for the run-up
to the generals.

- Flawless orchestration.
- Nicky never was one for small talk.

I gave you a gold star
for pulling your party

out of the insane asylum,
but this bill...

- Good bill, Nick.
- It's Citizens United on meth.

First corporations,
and now individuals?

- Oh! She's feisty, this one.
- But she's not wrong.

How many of your billionaire
boy toys are bidding a path

towards your bedroom door
now that you've cut

the chastity belt off
their chequebooks?

Before you go defaming the FSCA,

you might want to look up
the word freedom

in your pocket dictionary.
Turns out, people like it.

Oh, relax. Relax.
I'm not gonna write about

your Free Speech Campaign Act.
- No? What you gonna write about?

Your Fuck Small Contributions Act.

(LAUGHS) Listen...

I'd love to flirt all night,
but my husband's a jealous man.

I just came by to say, I look
forward to Sunday's column.

A good shellacking
from Nicholas Booker

is the best endorsement
a candidate could ask for.

If you need help clarifying
the fine print on the bill,

door's always open.
- I'll call your aide tomorrow.

I wasn't talking to you.

Call any time.

Don't be shy.

Rule number two, Congressmen
think they're presidents,

senators think they're kings,

and presidents think they're God.

Yeah, well, I'm an atheist.

Hmm.

- You married? - No.
- Good. Don't.

Is that a rule or a suggestion?

I'm getting divorced again.

- Fool me twice.
- Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, no, no.
It's uh... (CHUCKLES)

Congratulations is more appropriate.

Oh, well.

I think you're the one.

What does that mean exactly?

I need someone in my corner
on these next few columns.

Gonna be short on time
with the old lady

trying to nail me to the cross.

Plus, my TV schedule
is wall to wall

with the general heating up.

You be my Angelo Dundee now,

and I'll be your Don King
when I get my life back.

- You... you want me to -
- I want you to help me

with my columns.

I'll... I'll tell you
what I wanna cover.

You assist with research,
uh, share your notes.

(CLEARS THROAT) Proof my drafts.

- Why me?
- Don't fish.

- It's unseemly.
- No, I just...

Look, You stood up to Gordon
yesterday when most guys

who'd been there two decades
sat with pricks in their hand.

And your writing, it's got punch.

It's raw,
but there's something there.

Wow. (EXHALES)

In the interest of full disclosure,

I was fired from the Globe.

You wanted that felon's
sob story to be true,

because you had something to say
about the criminal justice system.

You let ambition and bias
blind you to the fact

that that fuckwit had something
to gain by bullshitting you.

Moral of the story...

always follow the facts,
wherever they lead.

Sometimes, it's not where you
wanna go, but you go anyway.

- Is that rule number four?
- No, that's not a rule.

That's a commandment.

Besides, that felon

had three strikes to his name.
Why shouldn't you?

Mistakes used to make you better.

Now, you're not allowed
to be human.

Well, fuck that!
You learned your lesson,

and I'm buying the dip.

What do you say?

- Yeah.
- Wonderful.

Now...

I'll need your notes on Sunday's
column by noon tomorrow.

What's our angle?

Reporters use their eyes and ears,
columnists use their brains.

We'll know what my angle is
by noon tomorrow, won't we?

Yeah.

MAN (ON TV): Well, if you think
Archer has a grasp on foreign policy,

then tell me why he refuses
to stand up to China.

I mean, we've got ten times
the military spending of Russia,

and yet he cowers in the
face of the Kremlin.

Look, he's just a weak president.
I'm just gonna... I won't say it.

Republicans know it, our allies
and enemies abroad know it,

and let's be honest,
the Democrats know it, too.

- What are you so giddy about?
- Wouldn't you like to know?

Oh! Ha-ha!

(HUMS)

How'd it go?

(CHUCKLES)
(HUMMING)

- No. - Oh, yeah. It's coming down.
- Get outta here.

- It's coming down.
- No. (LAUGHS)

- Go away.
- I got you something.

- Oh, yeah?
- It's probably worth...

44 million dollars.

My own private island,
so I can have some peace and quiet?

Aw! Where's yours?
You didn't get one for yourself?

I already won the lottery,
because I have you.

How come you're never this sweet
to me when you're sober?

Koalas are sweet.

- I am a lion.
- Oh, is that right?

- A lion. - Oh?
- A hungry lion. - Oh.

- Mm-hm.
- Very hungry. - Oh.

Very hungry.

NEWSREADER: Breaking news out
of the Washington Chronicle.

Olympic gold medallist and
best-selling author Nate Sterling

is set to launch an independent
campaign for president next Sunday

in his hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio.

The reporting out of the
Washington Chronicle claims

that Sterling has hired the
highly sought-after Kathy Gibbs

as his campaign manager.

While history tells us that
an independent bid faces...

The Chronicle?

- Oh, Eli, what the fuck? - Come on.
Everybody knew he was running.

It was like the worst-kept secret.

Kathy Gibbs.
Nobody knew about Kathy Gibbs.

- Eli. - I have other sources.
I wouldn't have pitched it

if I hadn't double-checked...

Am I your source or
am I your boyfriend?

- You never said it was off
the record.- You can't be serious.

Sorry, Lucas. I really am.
I just...

It just came out. I-I didn't even
plan on it. And then it was out.

I just...
(MOBILE PHONE BEEPING, VIBRATING)

Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Fuck, fuck.

Who are you calling?

- Eli.
- Senator Turnbull, please. - What?

Eli James from the
Washington Chronicle.

Senator Turnbull.

I'm sorry to call you so late.

I was just wondering if
you had any thoughts on

Nate Sterling entering the race.

Right now?

Uh, yeah. Of course.

- I'll be right there.
- Eli.

What the fuck?

I just got an interview
with Patricia Turnbull.

What, now?
(DOOR OPENS)

- Are you serious? You're drunk!
- Buzzed.

And I wouldn't have this interview
if it wasn't for you,

so thank you so much.
I love you.

- Wait. Cold shower now.
- I don't have time. I...

No, now!

Give me the keys.

Do not go easy on her, OK?

OK.

Here.

- Listen to me. - Yes.
- Anything you have seen,

heard, or read under this roof...
- Mm-hmm.

- ..is off the fucking record.
- Yeah, yeah. - OK?

- Especially in Turnbull's office.
- Yeah.

- Eli!
- Scout's honour.

- Yeah.
- Scout's...

Just global response.
No, we don't go for that.

- Eli James for Senator Turnbull.
- RECEPTIONIST: Please sign in.

- She's expecting you.
- Come on in, hon!

Where is...

- Evening, Senator.
- Good evening!

I noticed a Tom Mayfield
on your sign-in log.

Is that the same Mayfield
from Super Millions?

- You know Tom?
- I'm writing a story on lotto.

Oh, dear. That sounds like
a real tour de force.

How do you know Mr Mayfield?

- You see the one in the bow tie?
- Oh, my God. Is that you? Wow.

He thinks because we
dated 30 years ago,

he can drop by unannounced
with all kinds of suggestions.

(CHUCKLES) I love this town.

- It'll even turn ex-boyfriends
into lobbyists. - Hmm.

(MOBILE PHONE BEEPS)

What is your reaction to Nate
Sterling entering the race?

I look forward to a healthy,
robust debate

on the future of our great nation.

I'm not too familiar with
Mr Sterling personally,

but anyone who aspires to serve
his or her country,

whether it's an Olympian,
or a lieutenant, or a president,

it is OK by me.

Off the record?

Mr Sterling is swimming
with sharks,

and he can't afford a cage.

(MOBILE PHONE BEEPS)

How would you describe your
relationship with Harvey Altman?

Harvey was my senior advisor
for many years.

Isn't it odd that your
most trusted advisor

splits to found Up Right Super PAC

just a few weeks before you
announce your candidacy?

- What's odd about it?
- Well, Up Right is raking in

loads of cash
from high-dollar donors.

- As is their legal right.
- Thanks to your bill.

My bill gives Americans the freedom
to do what they please

with their hard-earned money.
- You seem very fond of that word.

- "Freedom." - Oh, yes, I am.
It's what this country was built on.

- For some.
- Hmm.

There are reports that Up Right has
raised upwards of 80 million dollars

in just four months.
- And?

Won't that give the rich
an outsized influence

in a Turnbull administration?
- Oh, hon.

You talk about the rich
as if they're inhuman.

I started my company 40 years ago
with one truck

and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Surely, the American dream
don't make me a bad person.

I see that same fire in
your eyes right now.

You didn't answer my question,
Senator.

Listen, Eli.

Five million from a fat wallet

and a searing column
from Nicholas Booker

are one in the same.

Both might get me off
on a good day.

But if you think they so much
as sway my stance

on the renaming of a post office

in Wasilla, Alaska,

then you haven't done
your homework.

Why did you invite me here tonight?

(CHUCKLES) Oh, honey. Relax.

This ain't the principal's office.

You're here because if there's one
thing I've learned over two decades

in these chambers,
it's to keep your friends close.

And seeing as you'll be helping
with the most widely-read

op-ed column in this country,

I figured we might get
to know one another.

Nick is a cheapskate.

I tip Enrique way better.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Mm-hmm.

Nick, can I ask you something?

There's something gnawing at me
with this whole lotto.

What about my column?

Wrote up my notes last night.

- You were drunk last night.
- Just hear me out.

Lotto jackpots increase
during recessions.

They have for every economic downturn

as far back as the data goes.

- And why should I care?
- Because not this time.

Since the recession hit,
Super Millions' jackpots

have fallen close to five percent.

- Tragic.
- It's a complete 180.

A behavioural impossibility.

Human nature doesn't
just reverse itself.

And Super Millions
is the only lottery

that's had that kind of inversion.
- Wherever you're going with this,

get there faster.
- Public schools that rely on

that money are getting stiffed.

- Where is the missing money going?
- This better be good.

The director of Super Millions

is a guy named Tom Mayfield.

Duke alum. Class of '82.

Senator Turnbull's Alma mater.

They dated in college.

I hope you're not suggesting
what I think you're suggesting.

The same accounting firm,
Meyers & Goldstein,

handles the books
for both Super Millions

and Up Right.

You think that Mayfield and Turnbull

are embezzling funds
from the lottery,

and smuggling into her
largest Super PAC?

At the expense of our
nation's public schools.

(LAUGHS)

Everything's a fucking conspiracy.

Up Right's books are sealed shut.

Thanks to Turnbull's bill,
they don't have to report

where the money comes from.
It could all be happening

under the same roof, behind closed
doors. -Don't be that guy. -What guy?

The bug-eyed virtual vigilante,
running a bullshit blog

and a libellous YouTube channel
out of her parents' basement.

OK. Tom Mayfield was in Turnbull's
office last night.

- I saw his name on the log-in.
- Maybe they're still fucking.

- Nick.
- Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

- Um, reigniting the spark.
- I'm serious.

Turnbull's a bully
and a misguided ideologue.

She's not a crook.

All I'm asking you to do is to,

you know, go into that
legendary rolodex of yours,

and make one or two calls.

See if there's a relationship
between the top brass

at Meyers & Goldstein
and anyone in Turnbull's camp.

If there's nothing there,
I will drop it.

I promise.

How the fuck did this leak?

All right. It's done.
Let's move forward.

- This might actually help us?
- How's that?

A full week for the word
to spread means...

more people.
A ton more people.

Bigger crowd means
more media attention,

which might bring us
an air of legitimacy

from the jump.

I drafted a statement last night.

Get it out ASAP and get to
work on as many appearances

as you possibly can.

Uh, local morning shows,
county fairs. You name it.

We play this right,
soon it'll be Late Night.

And if we're lucky,
SNL will come calling.

Got it?
Good. Let's get to work.

Oh. And, Lucas, pack your bags.

What?

You're gonna be living on the
campaign bus for the next few months.

I hope you like cornfields
and Big Macs.

Who doesn't?

Lucas.

- You know that I know, right?
- Nate, I am so sorry.

That's all right.
Wouldn't be here without you.

And if I can't roll with the punches,
I shouldn't be running for president.

But... we're building
something here.

Something bigger than ourselves.

So, from here on out, let's...

just keep things close
to the chest, OK?

Even in your own house.

Pretend you're in the CIA.

See you on the campaign bus.

(EXHALES)

(MOBILE PHONE DINGS)

- You double-checked the lotto stats?
- Triple-checked.

Let's go.

The CEO of Meyers & Goldstein
hosted two private fundraisers

for Turnbull at his country house
during the primaries.

It's probably just a coincidence.

But fishy enough for us
to follow the scent.

Well, there's still something
I can't wrap my head around.

If they really are cooking
the books,

why are they willing to risk
years behind bars?

Government shells out
500 billion a year

in contracts to the private sector.

- Meyers & Goldstein's
bread and butter. - Right.

- So, what now?
- Well, we get someone on the inside

to help us find proof
and blow the whistle.

- How do we do that?
- That's a good question.

I've got a neighbour
who pushes paper

for Meyers & Goldstein.

Got his kid into kindergarten.

(CHUCKLES) Fuck...

I love this town.

I help this poor guy piss away 30K

in glorified day-care,
and he owes me a favour.

- So, you'll get him to fish around?
- No, no, no, no.

He wouldn't do that.

He thinks that Turnbull is Reagan
in pearls. (LIFT BELL DINGS)

No. But I have got you an interview

with his associate in PR.

So, go! Go.

Recruit us a double agent.

- Ooh. Where are you going?
- I've got my own interview.

- With who?
- At worst...

your generation's Ralph Nader.

At best,
the second coming of Christ.

Although something tells me,
he's somewhere in between.

(LIFT BELL DINGS)

We're a perennial benefactor of
the Boys and Girls Club of DC,

and this year, we've implemented
a company-wide day of service

with Habitat for Humanity.
- Wow.

It must be so rewarding,

giving inner-city kids
safe places to grow.

Hmm. It really is.

Is that your little one?

Mm! (CHUCKLES)
That's my Maya.

She is really beautiful.

- Isn't she? (CHUCKLES)
- Look at those cheeks!

- You're so sweet. Do you have kids?
- Maybe one day.

But for now, this is my baby.

- So, Ms Cooke...
- Oh, please call me "Jennifer".

Jennifer.

How do your company's
charitable donations compare

to its political donations?

I knew you'd throw a hard ball
sooner or later.

But I'm not privy to
that information.

If you'd like to chat about
our sustainability...

What is your opinion on
Senator Patricia Turnbull?

You mean personally? I, uh...

(CHUCKLES)
What does this have to do...

Some people think she would set
the country back 50 years.

Listen. Between you and me,

I think she'd set the country
back 100 years.

But I don't understand
why you wanna talk to me...

Meyers & Goldstein handles
the books for Super Millions

and for Turnbull's Super PAC,
Up Right.

Isn't that correct?

I'm sorry. I can't discuss...

Who handles those accounts?

- I'm not authorised...
- Does the same executive cover both?

- OK. I think I'm gonna have to ask
you to leave. - Please. Jennifer.

If you don't tell me what
this is about...

I, too, think Patricia Turnbull
is on the wrong side of history,

and potentially the law.

I think you're gonna wanna see this.

(EXHALING)

- Planning for a comeback?
- Running for president

is far more gruelling
than decathlon.

(GROANS)

I'm surprised you didn't
cancel our interview.

Why? Cos your team did
a better job than mine?

Hmm.

My day maybe a bit more hectic,
thanks to the Chronicle,

but I always keep my commitments.
- All right.

First question.

- Why?
- Why?

Yeah.
I mean, you could earn millions,

slapping your face
on that protein shake,

and spending your time
golfing and fishing.

You know, not a bad life.
So, again, I ask you, why?

Because I suck at golf.
(CHUCKLES)

We've seen what happens when
a narcissist with no experience

turns delusions of grandeur
into reality.

So, you tell me why this isn't
anything more than a vanity run?

Look, I think it's only fair
you give me an honest evaluation

before you diagnose me, Mr Booker.

I'm not just coming from the
locker room to the debate stage.

- I went to Yale.
- Oh, yeah. Law school.

And your foundation's done a lot
of good, but you're up against

two candidates with damn near a
century's experience between them.

How's that worked out for us, huh?

You checked your retirement
portfolio lately?

Have you been to any of
these towns destroyed

by flash floods or forest fires?

You checked the numbers on drug
overdoses or suicides? Shit!

Life expectancy's gone down
for the first time in decades.

People are desperate out there.

They want somebody to do
something about it.

Somebody to invest in our future,
not for the next four years,

but for the next 40 years.

- What, do I have something
in my teeth? - No.

I'm just trying to figure out if
you're for real or full of shit.

That is for you to decide.
I assure you my work was very real

to tens of thousands
of grieving families.

Well, you surely made some
very powerful enemies.

Who? Big drug companies?
They were selling bold-faced lies.

Claiming oxy wasn't addictive.
Let me ask you a question.

How much do you think the NRA
spend on lobbying every year?

- Two, three million?
- Correct.

What do you think big pharma
spent last year?

300 million.

They say they got nothing to hide?
(CHUCKLES)

And that's why my heart medicine
costs more than my alimony.

(LAUGHS) We're gonna do
something about that, too.

Oh, my ex-wife? Please, please do.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Look me in the eye,

and tell me why you think
you can win.

Cos I'll tell you what Vegas thinks.

You don't stand a chance.
Then what?

You peel off enough votes
from the president

to hand Turnbull the election

on a silver platter.

I don't play for silver.

If you are able to get me
any information at all -

emails, financials,
expense reports - don't...

OK, listen.
I'm gonna stop you right there.

There has to be another way for you
to get the information you need.

And what if I can't?
Then what?

Do we just let them get away with it?

Your bosses could be committing
a crime that has devastating

ripple effects, and it would be
a crime with no consequence,

no punishment, no accountability.

But that's just the way the
world works, I guess. Right?

Nothing we can do about it.
Pardon me, but fuck that.

This time, we can.

I'm sorry.

I have my daughter to think about.

Of course.

I hear there's a real
bad cold going around.

If you have to cough, it's OK.
I'll understand.

Robert Friedman...

Rebecca Carter...

Ben Florence...

Amy Parker...

Spencer Erickson.
(COUGHS)

You need to leave.

Please. Don't contact me again.

(mouthing) Thank you.

(DOOR CLOSES)
(EXHALES)

MAN: I spoke with Tom this morning.

That's right.
OK, I'll talk to Dean,

and have him CC you on
the latest approval,

so we're all on the same page.

(DOOR LOCKS)

(TOILET FLUSHING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- You're kidding me. - Yeah.
Gordon didn't have the decency

to do it himself.

Son of a bitch.

You cut our three best
investigative reporters

and leave the whole damn
sports page intact?

Relax, Nick. Nothing I can do.
This came down from above.

Oh, yeah.
Like the Ten Commandments.

And you sure as fuck
didn't follow any of those.

Look, we're bleeding cash
and the investigative team

is among the highest-salaried
employees.

First, they came for the
journalists. (SIGHS)

- We don't know what happened after
that. - Don't be so goddamn dramatic.

Well, you're the one who
dropped the fucking curtain!

Soon, we'll be no better
than the National Enquirer.

I told you, we're gonna have to get
down in the mud with the pigs.

- Times have changed.
- Oh, yeah?

What do you suggest
we do about it?

I suggest you keep your head down,
and let me worry about it.

This is so weak, Gordon.

I always knew you were a prick, but
I never thought you were a pushover.

We need to hold our
best reporters tight.

If there's no one to
defend the truth,

then we live in a fact-free world.

And that's a scary
fucking place to live.

What's your column
about this week?

You've never asked that before.

Mr Hampton would strongly prefer

you stay out of the
New York senate race.

Oh, well, then you
can tell Mr Hampton

that I strongly prefer
he go fuck himself.

Yeah.
(DOOR CLOSES)

(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)

(LOCK TURNS)

(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(VOICES APPROACHING)

- Yeah, I got it. - All right?
I wish you'd gotten that promotion.

- Please get it done, OK?
- Thank you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SIGHS)

(MOBILE PHONE RINGING)

Hey, hon.

I'm at the office late tonight.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PHONE)

OK. OK.
I'll pick him up.

But I'm gonna drop him home
and head right back in.

Yeah, it's killing me.

- Love you.
- Love you, too.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

NEWSREADER:
Senator Patricia Turnbull

has altered her campaign schedule,
adding a stop in Ohio next Sunday

(KNOCK ON DOOR)
- ..in what appears... - Yeah.

There's your haystack.

Holy shit!

- Who's your source?
- That's confidential.

Is it the PR associate?

I got you the damn interview.

What's your angle?

- You want top by-line?
- No. I just...

- I don't think...
- Who is the goddamn whistleblower?

- You stole it?
- It's everything we need.

They don't give Pulitzers
to fucking shoplifters.

I hit a dead-end.
And so, I made a judgement call.

Something this big,
the ends justify the means.

The ends?! For who?!

- For you!
- No! The American people!

Bullshit!
I should have you fired.

You're the one who should be fired.

You are phoning it in right
in the middle

of one of the most crucial elections
of both of our lifetimes.

- Where is the integrity in that?
- Have fun back at the kids' table,

scooping up Kevin Conrad's scraps!

Please! Somewhere in that pile
is the story of a lifetime.

I have no desire to commit
career suicide just before

the Lifetime Achievements start
rolling in on the back of my pension.

Literal suicide is
a different question.

But you're not my therapist.
Now, get out of my office!

We're done!

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(EXHALES)

(EXHALES)

NEWSREADER: Senator Turnbull
leads all candidates

in total campaign spend,
having raised more cash

than both Sterling and Archer
for the third month in a row.

NEWSREADER: In a surprise to many,
Nate Sterling has gained steam

heading into July.
He now sits just six points

back from President Archer
and eight points back from.

LUCAS: Eli, something special
is happening here.

The stump speeches are starting
to feel like rock concerts.

I wish you were here to see it.

NEWSREADER: Some school districts
are moving to a four-day school week.

School boards and superintendents
across the nation

blame the recession, which has caused

local tax revenues to
fall off the cliff.

Teachers have taken to
GoFundMe campaigns

just to acquire the bare minimum

of school supplies.

Yeah. He's overrated.

- Take it easy.
- Take care.

I'm headed to dinner
with Harvey Altman.

How do I look?

(DOOR CLOSES)
Like a man in a tie.

(CHUCKLES) It wouldn't hurt to give
a guy a compliment once in a while.

Uh, about this email
encouraging us to donate

to Up Right Super PAC... - Yeah.
I already gave 'em five grand.

I don't exactly feel comfortable.

Don't be cheap.
Just throw 'em a few bucks.

- Keep the boss happy.
- And if I don't?

You never talked back when
you were my assistant.

I kinda like it.

Oh, my...

(EXHALES)

(MOBILE PHONE RINGING)

(RINGING CONTINUES)
(SIGHS)

(RINGING STOPS)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Hello?

How long have you known?

- Six months.
- Why didn't you tell me?

You had enough to worry about.

And... And Penny was
going back overseas.

- How bad is it?
- That's why I called.

I met with the oncologist
this morning, and...

Well...

Go ahead, Eli.

You can say it.
I mean, I should've quit years ago.

We'll find the best doctors. We...

I'm on top of it.
You don't need to worry.

- Don't worry?
Dad, we need to act fast... - Elisha.

I said I'm handling it.

You need to focus on your work.

You know, I was thinking...

why don't you pitch Nicholas Booker
about a column? - Dad! Dad!

Mum!

Look, I've been talking
about cancer all day.

- Hal.
- And I'm sick of it.

Nick and I are working on
something really big, Dad.

- That's good.
- Yeah.

(LINE RINGING)
(SNIFFLES, EXHALES)

LUCAS: Hey, babe. My plane's
about to take off. What's up?

Eli, can... can you hear me?

Oh, shit.

Eli? Is everything all right?

It's my dad.

He's sick.

Sick? How sick?

- WOMAN: Sir.
- Oh, shit. Listen.

- I'm gonna catch the first flight
back, OK? - No! No, no, no, no.

We're taking care of it.

You're where you need to be.

OK.

- I love you.
- I love you, too, babe.

Eli, I'm gonna lose you
until we land.

I'm calling you back
as soon as I can.

(SOBBING)

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

- Who's your source?
- Jennifer Cooke in PR.

Let's get to work.

NEWSREADER: As summer fades to fall,
the race has never been tighter.

WOMAN: I mean, the man's trying

to do something that's never been
done before.

And I'm just not convinced
that he can pull it off.

MAN: Whoa! Hold on. He sold out
the big house in Michigan.

That's a 110,000 for
a political rally.

I've never seen anything like it.

WOMAN: OK, I mean, it is impressive,

but it's not like Senator Turnbull's
just gonna roll over.

She's had the lead since day one.

- MAN: Who do you plan to vote for?
- WOMAN: Nate Sterling.

Do you usually vote
Democrat or Republican?

I've never voted before

and this is my first time voting.

(EXHALES)

- Nick.
- Huh?

Does it make any sense for the
director of Super Millions

to send an expense report for
a holiday party to a partner

at Meyers & Goldstein?

No.

An assistant would perform
those menial tasks. Why?

I think these invoices are fakes.

They each contain a four,
an eight, or both.

- That's the tell.
- Well, it's human nature

to prefer some numbers over others.

This is how companies spot
expense-account fraud.

I mean, I'm willing to bet that
the Memorial Day retreat

didn't even happen. - Well, any real
invoices from Patriot Catering

sure didn't pass through
these execs.

One hundred and 74 thousand...

six hundred and eighty four.

The average Super Millions
jackpot is 20 million dollars.

In recessions, jackpots increase

by approximately 8%.

So, that means that the average
jackpot should be...

21.6 million.

Correct. 21.6 million.

But it's holding steady
at 19 million.

Well, that's a gap of
2.6 million per drawing.

Right. The first Patriot
trading invoice goes back...

..to 34 weeks ago.

Two drawings a week. That's...

That is...

God.

- Pretty damn close to bulls-eye.
- Holy fuck.

For every 1,000 dollars embezzled

from the Super Millions lottery
and transferred to Up Right,

the invoice...
- Show a buck.

- Yeah.
- That's their fucking code.

(EXHALES)
Erickson.

Erickson fudges the books, OK?

The money moves in the dark of night.

The... the-the-the invoices
track the spoils,

letting them communicate

without having to type fraud

in the subject line.

A barn full of haystacks.

And you found the fucking needle.

Thank you.

Hey, can I bum a cigarette?

Oh, yeah.

Thanks. Oh, so, you're the caterer.

- Yeah.
- Excellent job inside.

- Those devilled eggs look delicious.
- Thanks.

I wish I could tell you
that I made them,

but I just load 'em in
and hand 'em out.

- "Patriot Catering."
- That's us.

Haven't seen you guys before. Have
you been in business for a long time?

- Uh, coming up to a year.
- Wow.

- Really new. - Mm-hmm.
- Family-owned? - Nope.

This dude named Dean owns it.

Wait. Not Dean Bender.

No. Dean Clifton.

- Oh, gotcha. - Yeah.
- Clifton.

- Yeah. - So, you got a lot
of events coming up?

Rubbing elbows with any DC big wigs?

We got some big ones coming up.

But honestly, they're, like,
all the same to me, you know?

Same bacon-wrapped scallops.
Same penguin suit.

Same rich folks boring up the place.
(LAUGHS)

- You got a card?
- Oh, yeah.

Just hold on. It's somewhere here.

Here.
Uh, the menu's in that link.

So, if you ever throw a bash,

you know, we're around.

- Cool. Thanks.
- Yeah.

- And thanks.
- Yeah. Have a good one. - You, too.

(APPLAUSE) Thank you.
Thank you, Mr President.

We need to move on, and I wanna give
Mr Sterling a chance to respond

before closing statements.
- Let's face it.

Washington's got one foot so far
left and the other so far right

that it can't stand up straight.

Congress is doing a split
in the quicksand,

and I'm the only guy that can pull
us out of this partisan quagmire.

Why? Because I'm free.

Free of special interests.
Free of party-power brokers.

And I'm free to explore
the best ideas

from both sides of the aisle.

Because I don't sit on either one.
I stand proudly in the middle.

(APPLAUSE)

Credentials to the debate?

Sure.

What's it being Booker's lapdog, eh?

- Woof. - But what you don't
seem to understand, sir,

we're talking about decisions

that can mean the difference
between life and death.

- The wisdom... - Tell me the truth,
though. Has, um...

has the old man lost a step?

You know, just putting
so much time into a...

cub with a rap sheet.

If I were you, I would just
keep asking myself why?

I'm trying to watch the debate.

Take it easy, Patricia.

Mr Sterling represented
our country proudly.

Oh, oh, oh.
I beg your pardon, Mr President.

The only reason you're giving his
lack of experience a hall pass

is because you see in the polls

that he's gonna steal more votes
from me than he is from you

in key battleground states.

But this election is about

so much more than politics.

And I'm not even talking
about what it'll mean

to millions of little girls
to see a woman

take the oath of office
for the very first time

in this country.
That's significant.

Oh! Yes, it is.

But let's leave that discussion
to the history books,

cos what I wanna talk
about right now

is what my administration
is gonna do

to make your lives better.
Plain simple.

Like fixing that pothole
on your street.

Getting your 401K moving up
and to the right again.

Keeping you and your children safe

from enemies,
foreign and domestic.

Pulling us out of this
recession once and for all.

And most importantly,
shining a light

on the working people
of this country

who have been invisible
for far too long.

(APPLAUSE) That's what
I'm gonna talk about.

Thank you.

What will it mean for millions
of little girls

to see a female president?

Far more than I could
ever comprehend.

But what's it gonna mean
for our environment,

for our teachers,

for our poor and middle class

to see you as president,
Senator Turnbull?

We are long overdue for a woman
in the White House.

But it can't just be any woman.

It's gotta be the right woman.

Not a woman that denied climate
change is real till just last year.

And that is precisely why my cabinet
will be made up of 50% women

at the very minimum.
(APPLAUSE)

(CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

- You look nice.
- Thanks.

- I can't believe we're actually in
the same state. - I kinda like it.

Think you might wanna ditch
your credentials.

You'll scare the personality
out of everyone.

Hey, Nate. Awesome job.

Thank you.
What are the mosquitos sayin'?

Well, most of the pundits
are calling it for you,

and Twitter's looking
pretty bullish.

- You remember my girlfriend, Eli.
- That I do.

I hear you're making big waves over
at the Chronicle. (CHUCKLES)

Splashing about in the shallow end,

but I'm trying.
- I'm sure you had to disclose

that you're dating this
handsome guy. - I did.

But it helps that I'm not
covering your campaign.

Of course. What did you
think of the debate?

Honestly?

I'd be surprised if you didn't poach
a point or two from both parties.

- She's a keeper.
- Hmm. - And you, Miss...

you are lucky to have a guy
like this by your side.

- As are you. - Speaking of which,
Lucas, can I steal you for a second?

There's somebody I want you to meet.
Thank you.

Hey.

May I take these?

Hey. Patriot Catering?

I'll be damned. (CHUCKLES)
How goes it?

- Wait. This is the big event?
- Yeah.

The most exciting night
of your life, right?

- So boring.
- You might just be serving

the next president of the
United States of America.

That dude?
We've been catering for him

since before he entered the race.
The lustre's worn off.

Plus, the boss doesn't
want me to spread around.

Makes sense.
I mean, you probably do business

with the Republicans, too.
- No, just Sterling.

Dean's loyal like that.
I should probably get back to work.

He likes us to move around.

- Dean is here?
- Yeah.

Talking to Sterling
and Jack Hampton.

He's looking over here.
I better keep moving.

I'll see you at the next one.

- Hey! Gentlemen!
- How are you, sir?

- Tom Mayfield.
- I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Hey. That was the owner
of your paper.

- Don't worry.
- I didn't embarrass you.

- Who else is there?
- Bunch of big donors.

The guy on the right owns a slew
of catering companies.

Nate says that he is
a culinary mastermind.

- What's his name?
- Uh, Dean something.

Everyone calls him "The Chef."

- I gotta go.
- Hey. What? We just got here.

Lucas, I gotta go.

I haven't seen you in weeks
and you're leaving? Eli!

(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING)

- How was it?
- Nick, we need to talk.

Turnbull isn't embezzling money
from Super Millions.

Sterling is.

- You think that's funny?
- No, I'm serious.

Patriot Catering worked
his debate after-party.

They have catered all
of Sterling's events

since before he entered the race.

It was right in front of
our faces the whole time.

Meyers & Goldstein,
they handled the books

for Sterling's Super PAC, as well.
- Sterling rejected the Super PAC

on principle.
- In the first month of his campaign

he made a big show of it,
but that did not last long.

Integrity Super PAC?

- Ha. That's an oxymoron.
- Yeah. He named it something generic

to keep a low profile...
- Yeah. Still, still, still,

this isn't definitive proof
that he...

Why would he be that bold?
Juice isn't worth the squeeze.

- He's up three points.
- He is now.

But this time last year,
his name wasn't on a single poll.

What's the only way to win
the New York City Marathon

without any training?

Take the subway,
sneak under the rope...

on mile 18.
- On mile 18.

But Mayfield, that bow-tied prick.

I mean, he's a Republican.
It doesn't make any sense.

I thought the same thing.
So, I checked out his voting records.

And it turns out,
he left the Republican Party

right after Reagan rode
off into the sunset.

The man has been an independent
for the last three decades.

And then he reregistered
as a Republican the same month

that Sterling's book hit
the best-seller list.

It was all calculated. He must
have thought if people like us

picked up a scent, it would
throw us off the trail, and...

it worked.

What the fuck do we do now?

Follow the facts wherever they lead.

Sometimes, it's not where you
wanna go, but you go anyway.

(SIGHS)

NEWSREADER: With just one week to
go, Nate Sterling has pulled ahead

of Senator Turnbull for the
first time in national polling.

While the lead is still
within the margin of error...

Sterling is our megaphone,

our voice of reason,
our moral compass,

and our hope for a better tomorrow.

Shit, Eli.

Where did you run off to?

What's wrong?

You see your dad?

- You're gonna have to scrap
that speech. - Why?

- The town hall's tomorrow...
- Because you're not a liar.

- What are you talking about?
- He's funding his campaign

with stolen money.
- What? Who? - Sterling.

- What are you saying?
- I have hard evidence.

He's...

embezzling money from the lottery,
and funnelling it to his Super PAC.

- What? That's crazy.
- It's the truth.

- Nick and I have been working
this story... - No.

- Why are you telling me this?
- I guess I thought you might like

to know that your hero is a fraud.
- Hey, stop!

And because I need your help.

Are you...
Are you listening to yourself?

I need someone on the inside
to prove he signed off on it.

Here. I need you to fill this
with Sterling's hard drive.

- We don't have much time.
- You're delusional.

Goddammit, Lucas! You're in denial.

No. You can't fucking help yourself,
can you?

Only this time,
when you blow yourself up,

you could take me and the whole
goddamn country down with you.

No. This is different. This is real.

OK. Let's say that it is real.

You go from reporting
back-page news

to being front-page news.

I get what?
A seat on the witness stand

in the trial of the century when
the only thing I have witnessed

is a good man trying
to save his country.

We get hate mail from our friends,
the people we respect,

and then what?
Gun-toting, gay-bashing,

autocratic zealots,
they declare us heroes,

and the navel-gazing,
holier-than-thou woke mob,

they throw us a fucking parade,
congratulations to the both of us?

- Lucas, please calm down and
just think... - No, you think!

Are you willing to keep Penny
at war for the next ten years?

No. Are you willing to sit
on your hands

while the fucking Earth fries,
because I'm not.

The money that he is stealing
is coming from schools,

like that one in...
That one in West Virginia.

OK? Those kids, Black and brown kids
are losing access to a fair

and equal education.
- Eli, it is so much bigger than...

Don't you fucking finish
that thought!

Why doesn't this matter to you?
They matter!

Everyone else in this country
can act like they don't exist...

- He is what this country needs!
- A liar is the last thing

this country needs!

Liars are what fucked this country up
in the first place.

Iraq has stockpiles of WMDs.

The housing market will
continue to rise.

The election was rigged.
Redlining.

The war on drugs, voter suppression!

Everywhere you look, lobbyists,

pundits, bankers, preachers,
billion-dollar industries

that run on lies.
- What is it that you want, Eli?

- I want... I want the truth.
- Yeah.

Well, you've been duped before, so.

(SIGHS)

Did you know, Lucas?

I can't believe you would
even think that.

I'm publishing this story

with or without your help.

You publish this story, I don't
want anything to do with you.

- That is not fair.
- What do you want me to say?

Love fades, values don't.

That's my fucking jacket!
(DOOR SLAMS)

Nice.

(SIGHS)

(SNIFFLES)

(LINE RINGING)

Meet me at Recessions.

Two blocks northwest
of Farragut Square.

I have something.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

We prove that Sterling knew.

- Eli. - I'm going tonight.
- Well, Jesus Christ, Eli.

You're being irrational.
There's a right way and a wrong way.

If you want the ribeye,
you go get the ribeye.

Not if it's contaminated.
That ends a career before it starts.

Well, already lost my relationship.
I'm losing my dad.

So, why not throw in a career
for good measure?

You're losing your mind
is what you're losing.

Wait.

Relationship?

- Lucas refuses to...
- Oh, fuck, Eli!

You told him?

They'll have the place
power-cleaned in an hour.

Shit! Shit! You're right.

(MOBILE PHONE RINGING)

Eli! Shit!

- Hello?
- Eli... Wait. Who is this?

- Nick, put Eli on.
- Hang on.

Just talk to him, Eli.

I'm sorry, Lucas.

-She just doesn't wanna talk to you.
-Where are you?

We're at Recessions on 18th and Elm.

Bullshit!
You're at the campaign office.

I'm on my way.
Don't do anything stupid.

They sing karaoke this good
at the campaign?

(WOMAN SINGING INDISTINCTLY)

Shit! All right.
Just tell her to stay right there.

(WOMEN CHEERING)

(DOOR BUZZES)

Shit!

What the hell are you doing here?
It's past midnight. Lucas isn't...

I have numbers, emails, names.

- (SCOFFS) Sorry, what?
- Tom Mayfield, Spencer Erickson,

Dean Clifton, Patriot Catering.

I have concrete evidence
of all parties involved.

You give me one good reason right now

I shouldn't call Secret Service
and throw you in jail.

- We'd be sharing a cell.
- Bullshit.

I would think twice before
you call security.

The story is already written.
It's in the drafts.

You have me arrested,
it goes on Twitter instantly.

- Newspapers in the morning.
- What's this little story about?

- You know what it's about.
- Enlighten me.

What it's always about. Money.

- Did you know?
- Know what?

All I know is I love my country.

All right? I'm our best hope.

I give us a fighting chance.

Wow.

Are you a patriot, Eli?

Patriots don't steal from
the American people.

Who are you to accuse anyone of
stealing, you fucking hypocrite?

Give it to me.

(SIGHS) You know, I think you
and I have a lot in common, Eli.

And for one,
we both lack experience.

Turnbull and Archer are canaries
with that attack line.

I'm ahead in every one
of the polls -

economy, hot buttons -
but the race, still a dead heat.

Why is that? Cos unfortunately,
for me and for you,

experience seems to matter.

The way I see it,

your story might cause
a little stir.

When it comes down to it,
who's gonna believe you?

You lack the most vital asset a
journalist must have - credibility.

Looks like I'm late to the party.

- Uh, Mr Booker. What a surprise...
- Sit the fuck down.

Now...

let us all take a deep breath

and talk this out

like the rational people we are.

Nate, don't say a word.
Eli records everything on her phone.

- What? - Let me see.
- Get off! It's not on me.

- Hey! No, no. Leave him out.
- That won't be necessary. Hey!

You wanna talk or what?

- What the fuck?
- All right.

All right?

Let's just take a deep breath.

Sit down and talk this out, OK?
This is obviously some sort

of huge misunderstanding.
- We know what you did.

OK. With all due respect,
I have no idea what you guys

are talking about.
- Maybe you don't.

But right now, there are two
assholes saying you do.

There's no need for us to bluff.
We don't have a smoking gun.

But as my esteemed colleague
has no doubt informed you,

we've got the bullets,
the casings,

and the goddamn forensic report.

The whole story tied in a bow,

just waiting for the proof
that you knew about it.

If we do decide to print,

you got every news outlet
in the country

on a scavenger hunt for proof

of your involvement.
-There is no proof of my involvement.

The allegation itself knocks
you out of the White House.

You'll spend the next
few years in court.

And if you did know,

the next couple of
decades in prison.

So, the way I see it,

if you want any hope of reversing

this unfortunate chain of events,

you will tell us the
God's honest truth

right here and now.

- OK. Uh...
- But...

before you do...

a disclaimer.

I've worked in this town
for 52 years.

That makes me one of the
world's foremost experts

at spotting a liar.

Lie to me...

and you lose...

the election and your freedom.

But lucky for you,

the truth may still set you free

because believe it or not,

I'm still grappling with

a truly punishing question.

Is it worth it?

I don't have a party war chest, OK?

This thing was just a temporary fix
to get me to the starting line.

We were gonna give it all back

as soon as we were in a position
to do so.

This is no harm, no foul.
It's victimless.

Tell that to the class of
invisible kids in West Virginia.

I don't know.
How do we make this OK?

Huh? First interview
after I'm sworn in.

Exclusives for eight years
after that.

If there's a leak coming
from the White House,

you're the two pots catching it.
You have my word!

Eli.

What about Penny?

You worry for your sister's
safety every day that she's

serving overseas. And with your
father undergoing chemotherapy.

I can't imagine how hard
that must be.

- And your sister, Penny, is it?
- Lieutenant Penelope James.

We can work out an honourable
discharge for her

the day I'm sworn in.

Your sister deserves to be with
your dad during his treatments.

If I wasn't so inexperienced,

I would think you were using
a commissioned officer

as collateral in a bribe.

I would more call it an agreement

amongst friends.

Look, I feel for you, Eli.

(SIGHS) Cancer took my mum,

and the emotional toll is hard.

But the treatments add up.

And until we can get in there
and reform the healthcare system,

I don't want your parents

to be crushed under the
weight of medical bills.

And we can make sure
that doesn't happen.

We are on the same team here.

And if you wanna make real,
lasting change, well...

you just gotta play the game,
and that's the reality of it.

You were supposed to change the game.

I had a hunch I'd find you here.

I'm getting it all down.

Everything that crooked,
fucking conman's done.

We don't have enough to publish.

(SIGHS) But he just admitted...

Unless we find hard evidence
that Sterling himself knew,

we're just a couple of trees
falling in the woods.

So, what do we do now?

Tear it all up.
Everything we know.

I'll track Sterling to
his rally in Atlanta,

and see...

if we can crack the safe.

Mum! Dad! Where are you?

I'm calling the police.
They... they trashed my apartment!

- What are you doing here?
- Thank God you're OK.

- I looked everywhere.
- No. Get out, Lucas.

- Eli, calm down, sweetheart...
- Daddy. - Lucas told us. - No.

OK? Don't believe a word
that he has to say, OK?

NATE (RECORDING): ..to the starting
line. We were gonna give it all back

as soon as we were in
a position to do so.

This is no harm, no foul.
It's victimless!

Tell that to the class
of invisible...

Oh, my God.

- Did Nick know?
- No.

He still doesn't.

I had to commit, or his face
would have given me away.

And honestly,
I didn't decide to do it

until I was standing
outside of the office.

(SIGHS) You know, this
doesn't fix everything.

I know.
I needed you to be wrong.

I love you.

It's all I got.

(SIGHS)

I need to tell Nick. He's on his way
to Sterling's rally right now.

I'm flying with the campaign.
I'll track him down and tell him.

- You go work on your story.
- I'll just call him.

That might be difficult.
The last time I saw Nick's phone,

it was floating in
Sterling's coffee.

(SIGHS)

Right.

REPORTER: Nate Sterling
will be in Atlanta tonight

while Senator Turnbull
travels to Florida.

REPORTER: Nate Sterling is trending
on social media as excitement...

REPORTER: Senator Turnbull
leads all candidates

in total campaign spend,
having raised more cash

than both Sterling and Archer
for the third month in a row.

(MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES, BEEPS)

- Lucas. - Hey.
- Did you find him?

Uh, no. Not yet.

Where are you?

I'm by ATB.

REPORTER: A declaration
of Independence.

And some are calling Sterling
the most influential...

- Nothing?
- It's like a zoo with no cages.

Here we are at Nate Sterling's
biggest rally yet.

He's about to do a hit on
Politics Nightly with Jane Bower.

Tramping its way through America's
two-party landscape.

..by two points with
just one week to go.

(CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

(CHEERING)
I got him.

..began just over a year ago,
and with no end in sight...

I-I-I-I need to talk to him.
I need to talk to Mr Booker.

- WOMAN: No access here, sir.
- Nate Sterling is set to take

the stage any minute now to make
his closing arguments. - Shit.

- Call back when you get him.
- ..by Nicholas Booker,

esteemed columnist for the
Washington Chronicle

and lion of the fourth state.

- The election is a dead heat.
- Mm.

If it's anything like the last two
elections, it could come down to

a few thousand votes in a
handful of swing states,

or if it's a repeat of 2000,
a few hundred votes.

Your column is read
by a few million.

Your readers really listen to you.
They trust you.

- I call it like I see it.
- What do you see here?

(CHEERING)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

Well, I have good news and bad news.

Which do you want first?

- MAN: The bad!
- Right!

OK, here it is.

My little girl...

turned 21 yesterday.

And the first thing Alison did

was make sure her voter
registration was current.

(CHEERING)
(MOBILE PHONE RINGING)

Hello.

No. No, no, no, no. Slow down.

OK.

OK.

(NATE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
IN BACKGROUND)

And the other just sits on its hands
and whines about it.

Cos Alison deserves better.
Our young people deserve better.

They deserve to look
forward to the future

the way we used to with hope,

with pride, with excitement.

- Holy shit.
- "Holy shit" what?

Holy...

This is unreal.

Oh. Hey, Lynn. I got it.

(SIGHS) So sorry for
your loss, Mrs James.

Thank you.

And thank you for being
so good to my daughter.

You and your husband have
raised a fine young woman.

(SIGHS) Let's...

How fast can you finish the story?

I'm about to bury my dad.

Maybe you should just take over.

It's your story.
You found it. You pushed it.

You're writing it.

And if we're doing it,
we gotta be quick.

We've got 24 hours, tops.

And it's gotta be airtight.

I'll take care of the rest.

And...

..I'm sorry about your father.

(MOBILE PHONE RINGING, VIBRATING)

Hello, Eli.

Nick and I have a story
ready for publication

that just might decide
the next president

of the United States.
- Is that so?

Should I be worried?

Why do you wanna be president,
Senator Turnbull?

Look, Eli...

I assume we don't agree
on most policy.

But one thing we do both value
is the truth.

So, I'm gonna give you mine.

Right now, I am running
as the leader of my party,

but should I be fortunate enough
to take that oath on January 20,

I will be governing

as the leader of my country.

Our democracy is fragile.

You protect it from the outside

by doing what you do.

And if I get the chance, I'm going
to protect it from the inside

with everything I've got.

And off the record?

Take care, Eli.

(SNIFFING)

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I don't understand. What's...

What's so special about this one?

The day you were born.

I never got to say goodbye.

We thought it was another
false alarm from the chemo.

He knew that you were at
the Chronicle, writing.

He insisted that that was
where you needed to be.

He loved you.

He's so proud.

(SIGHS)

Daddy.

OK.

(SNIFFLES)

(LAPTOP KEYS CLACKING)

(SNIFFLES)
(MOBILE PHONE RINGING)

(SNIFFLES)

- Where are you?
- Kevin?

-Hey, where are you?
-I'm at my parents' house. -Alright.

Meet me at the diner on 4th and
Delaware in 20 minutes, all right?

- I'm not doing that.
- It's an emergency.

- What is this about?
- Look, I was fired.

- Why? - Because I-I know the
names Tom Mayfield,

Dean Clifton, and Spencer Erickson.
(LINE BEEPS)

How the fuck do you know those names?

The-the, um... the other night
when you got that call

and you left in a hurry,

well, you didn't log out.

And Gordon assumed it was mine.

Look, I didn't say anything, cos...

I was in shock
and Gordon flipped for it.

I thought I'd be waking up

to a headline that would change
the course of history.

So, why did I instead wake up
to an email informing me

that the Chronicle was
terminating my contract?

I mean, I rushed to the office,

and security wouldn't even
let me in the building.

Apparently, Gordon had HR clean out
my desk and wipe my desktop.

Gordon killed the story
to save his own ass.

- Why-why would he...?
- Jack Hampton.

He's a huge Sterling supporter.
Gordon prints the story,

Hampton orders his head on a platter.
Gordon kills the story,

Sterling wins.
Guess which paper has a direct line

to the Oval Office.

So, Gordon is playing politics

dirtier than the goddamn
politicians?

Ha!

Please...

nail that motherfucker.

I can't believe you let Gordon
think it was your story.

Look... I never said that it was.

And as it turns out,
I did you a favour.

So, you're welcome. Hmm?

No, Eli, I got it. Please.

You're unemployed.
It wouldn't be right.

Prick.

- Have you shown Gordon the story?
- NICK: I'm waiting for you.

You should get to see
the look on his face.

- Where the fuck are you?
- I'm on my way. Whatever you do,

don't talk to Gordon.

And I thought I'd seen it all.

We're doing this?
(CHUCKLES)

What?

The weight of the world
lies in the palm of my hand.

I guess I thought it'd be
a bit heavier.

You know what this means

if we go through with this.

- And you're willing?
- I guess that's why they call it

the moment of truth.

It's your story.

What? No. I... I stumbled upon it,

yeah, but you guided me.

If you hadn't have gotten me
that interview

at Meyers & Goldstein... - You would
have gotten it in some other way.

I doubted you.

You fought through the doubt.

You took me for the ride.

I didn't provide anything
that you didn't already -

- You can now.
- What?

Credibility.

Sterling was right.
Nobody knows my name,

and those that do
aren't so fond of it.

If I were to publish
this on my own,

it wouldn't get any traction.
Or worse, it'll get dismissed.

But coming from Nicholas Booker,

it'll be on every front page
and television network in minutes.

We need to do this together.

And after we break the story,

we can set up our own shop.

No editor or parent corporation

to tell us what we can
and can't print.

A publication that answers
to nothing but the facts,

wherever they lead.

What would we call it?

The Independent.

The Independent.

(INHALES, EXHALES)

(LAPTOP KEYS CLACKING)

You do the honours.

Hm.

Thank you.

Now what?

What do you say we get
the hell out of here?

- And go where?
- Watch the fireworks from the hill.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Stick this up...

50 years, Gordon.

I didn't know you had it in you.

I was just trying to protect
everyone in here.

And I'm just trying to protect
everyone out there.

Take care, Gordon.

Think they'll read this one
in West Virginia?

Hmm.

("AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"
BY RAY CHARLES)