All language subtitles for Madam.Secretary.S04E12.Sound.and.Fury.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track3_[eng]

EMILY:
Then breakfast at Volga

with Minister Ognian,
followed by...

Ognian?

New finance minister.
Ah, right.

Then your monthly
ambassador's roundtable

with local NGO
leaders at 10:00.

Cool. Who we got this month?

(whirring)

What the hell?

(rumbling,
high-pitched ringing)

MITCHELL:
Out, out, everybody out!

(high-pitched ringing continues)

Let's go!

Clear the floor!

Now!

(all shouting, screaming)

I can't feel my ears.

Maybe you should've worn a hat.

I can't, I'm
wearing fancy hair.

Men never get that.

(sighs)

Listen, I really want
to hold onto my gloves.

But is that tacky?

Uh, hey, we have had colder
weather than this.

I don't know...

When? Henry, it
is two degrees.

Two.

It's not enough degrees
for a basketball team.

Boot camp, Lake County,
Illinois.

T-That December, it was
consistently in the negatives.

You don't remember that?

It's all a blur
of newlywed bliss.

Oh.

Bet Prime Minister Soeda
is pining away

for the balmy shores
of Tokyo right now.

Hope it doesn't damage
our relationship.

Oh, I'm sure
Conrad will ply him

with the finest
American spirits.

(laughs)

Nothing to warm
you up like a dose

of Thomas Jefferson's
Reserve.

KAT:
Madam Secretary.

Kat. Oh, man, I wished
I'd held onto my coat.

Have you met my husband, Henry?

No. I've heard
so much about you.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr.
McCord. You, too, Kat.

Uh, ma'am,
our embassy in Bulgaria

is reporting
some kind of... attack.

What do you mean?

A military attack?

We're not sure
where it's coming from.

What kind of weaponry?

Sound.

Thank you, Lucy.

A sonic attack.

Really?

That's what it
sounds like, sir.

I... so to speak.

Sounds more like something
out of Star Trek.

It's the Russians,
isn't it?

Where's Ephraim?

On his way, sir.

I'm not aware of any evidence
pointing to Russia.

But I did just speak

with Ambassador
Williams.

And? How is he?

Rattled, but
hanging in there.

About 20 FSOs are being treated
for hearing loss,

headache, nausea.

Embassy security is getting
into it with Bulgaria's SIA,

but to be clear,
we still don't know

whether this was an attack,
or something else.

Like what?
(door opens)

Ephraim Ware, sir.
DALTON: Get him in here.

It's the Russians,
isn't it?

Actually, sir, yes,
it looks like it is.

SIA is reporting that
just prior to the incident,

three men broke into
an office building

with direct line of sight
to our embassy.

RUSSELL:
Which is what you'd need

for a sonic weapon, I presume.

Facial recognition
identified

one of the men as Yuri Sturble,

a Russian national.

So much for "something else."

Where are these men now?

Unknown. But
we're working

with the Bulgarians
to track them.

It's practically an act of war.

RUSSELL: Top Russian brass
certainly grumbled

after we thwarted
their invasion in Emona,

then added that new wing
onto the embassy

as a victory lap, but I-I...

Now they're hitting back.

WARE: I'm putting Special
Activities Division

in charge of the investigation.

Dr. McCord is already
being briefed.

Fine, but I want the Pentagon
working on countermeasures now.

Well, I suppose
we should go and greet

Prime Minister Soeda
and smile

like we're not
careening toward the abyss.

Lydia wouldn't have it
any other way.

You look quite fetching,
by the way, Bess. Oh.

(quietly):
Thank you, sir.

(reporters clamoring)

(cameras clicking)

WOMAN:
Mr. President?

What about the attack
on our embassy in Bulgaria?

Was it Russia?

I will tell you this:

if we confirm

that Russia
is behind it,

they are going to feel the
overwhelming force and ferocity

of our military might.

MONICA:
Are you threatening

a nuclear attack,
Mr. President?

(reporters clamoring)

That's it.

Thanks, everyone.

Mr. President,
I have to ask,

what did you have in mind
with that statement?

We're putting the
Russians on notice.

It's called leading
from strength.

Okay. And did you vet it

with the secretary of defense
or anyone on the NSC?

Relax, Russell.

As the top of the food
chain around here,

I don't have to
check with anyone

before warning
an adversary.

Due respect, sir,
actually, you do.

Excuse me?

Mr. President, I-I...

I know I don't need to explain

why it's dangerous
to improvise foreign policy,

especially
with threats.

That's right, you don't.

Lydia.

Just, uh...

call the Russian
foreign minister.

Cool things down.

Yeah, that'll be easy.

He just threatened
"ferocity and might"?

What the hell?

I have no idea.

(sighs)
Is it Harrison?

He-he gets this way

with Harrison, but
he doesn't usually

take it out on our
nuclear adversaries.

Hopefully,
he'll sleep it off.

For now, let's just...
contain the damage.

♪

Oh!

Wow.

Isn't the heat working?

It's on, it's just taking
a second to kick in.

We closed the vents in here to
make it warmer in your office.

Then let's go directly there.

Okay, good.
Great.

Ma'am, Jay has Chloe tonight,
so he's monitoring

the situation from home.

Understood.

And where are we
on the situation?

I have set up an emergency call
with Foreign Minister Avdonin.

Who is standing by
to teach us an advanced course

in Russian expletives,

if his preliminary e-mail
is any indication.

I saw it. Some of the phrases
were pretty imaginative.

Yeah.
Ma'am, I hate to ask,

but what's going on
with the president?

Look, let's just focus
on containing the damage.

Okay?
Okay, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

I suppose the challenge
in this call with Avdonin

is to walk the delicate line

of not undermining
the president's position

while assuring Russia
there are no immediate plans

to respond to the Sofia
situation with force.

Piece of cake.

No immediate plans? Really?

Well, that just makes it
all better, doesn't it?

Minister Avdonin...

I have been
in President Salnikov's office

for the last hour, and trust me,

he's not happy.

He makes me look
like the picture

of peace and solitude.
And that's why

you and I need
to tamp things down.

Tamp?

Your president is the only one

who needs to tamp,
Madam Secretary.

In fact, he should
apologize publicly

for his spectacularly
over-the-top, barbaric,

asinine, outrageous threat
against the Russian people.

Why don't you and I focus
on what we can actually do?

I can't wait to hear
what you have in mind.

You say you didn't attack us.

We know for a fact
that one of your citizens

was seen in position to strike
our embassy before the incident.

Let us talk to him.

That's your idea

of something we can actually do?

If it wasn't an attack, then you
have nothing to worry about.

Us, worry?

President Dalton

threatened Russia
on the world stage.

No. You worry.

We will not let this affront
go unanswered.

So much for containment.

(chuckles softly)

ELIZABETH: Good night, Geri.
Good night.

Hey.

Oh.
You're still up?

Yeah, I was, I was trying
to get a jump

on this intel on the ground
in Sofia.

Any luck? Well, it's
mostly conflicting reports

and speculation at this point.

How did things go with Avdonin?

Not in a good place yet.

What on earth possessed Conrad?

It's so unlike him.

I tried
calling Lydia,

but she didn't pick up.

Maybe something with Harrison.

That usually
sets him off.

I'm hoping he turns
on the charm tomorrow

and buys it all back, and then

this will have just been a very
strange, very cold evening.

And right now,
I am going

to go take a very hot bath.

For about two and a half hours.

Well, that sounds good.

(clattering loudly,
metal screeching)

That doesn't sound good.

ELIZABETH: Oh!
HENRY: Oh, gosh.

No, no, no, no.
Oh, no.

ALISON:
Mom? Dad? What?

What is happening?
What on earth?

It sounded like the
world was ending.

It's just a broken pipe,
calm down.

Really? You were the first one
to say "giant sinkhole."

That could still happen.

Is there something
that we can do?

I don't even know
what's down here.

Look at that box.

Ugh. Got even worse news.

There goes your hot bath. What?

I had to turn off the main.

I hate this night.

Let's go, come on.

Isn't there supposed to be a drain?
Call the plumber. Plumber, plumber.

When it gets this cold,
you got to run the water through

as a preventative measure.

Why?

'Cause if you let it just sit
there, it freezes, expands.

The pipes burst.

Did you run the
water through?

Let me answer that for you,

because I wouldn't be here
if you ran the water through.

We ran the water in the morning.
We were only gone for the day.

Yeah, well, that's all it takes
in weather like this.

ELIZABETH:
Well, I was about to

draw a bath when it happened...

The point here
isn't to be right.

The point here
is to learn from your mistakes.

Well, thank you, Earl.

This is a terrific
opportunity for growth.

ELIZABETH:
Ooh, hey.

Looks like you guys

found the fishing gear.

Yeah, it was on
the top shelf.

Most of the boxes
look like this.

Ugh. JASON: Or worse.

We're setting up Operation Dig
Through in the kitchen.

I-It's probably just old linens

and stuff we don't
care about, right?

We'll see.

Pretty expensive
lesson, am I right?

Wow.

Ooh.

See, it's easy to forget
about the foundations.

You live in
the bright,

shiny spaces
where everything works,

but you let yourselves forget
about structural integrity.

The sanctity of the pipes.

Everything inside the walls
that makes it all work.

Houses are built
from the ground up.

Remember that.

Okay. I consider myself

a relatively progressive,
enlightened man...

You want to punch Earl.

So much.
I know.

I get it.
(phone ringing)

Okay.

Hello.

Russia just announced
an $8 billion arms sale to Iran.

Okay. Not too bad, considering.

The release says it's

to "counteract imperialist
Western influence."

Has a sort of autocratic charm.

They know it's not in their
interest to amp up aggressions.

So it's a measured response.

Then you should tell POTUS that.

He wants you
in the Situation Room.

(buzzer sounds)

Morning.
You got something?

We lost Yuri Sturble.

He was over the Romanian border
less than two hours

after the incident,
along with the two other men.

It's all on border
security footage.

SRI is into it,
but we're not hopeful.

What about our foreign
service officers?

MOLLY: Still being treated
for hearing loss

and severe headaches.

Some are having prolonged bouts
of dizziness and nausea.

And that's consistent
with a sonic attack?

Still, the case against Russia
is completely circumstantial.

MOLLY: But the president
must know something, right?

"Overwhelming force and veracity
of our military might."

He must have
some broader strategy.

The president is counting
on us to provide clarity.

Let's broaden all
our inquiries.

Okay.

What the hell
took you so long?

Excuse me?

Sorry. The stress
of wrangling

the most powerful
man on Earth.

What now?

He's talking
about shooting down

Russian military satellites.
What?!

At least he wants
to hear from the NSC

before giving the order.

Oh, he'll hear from us.

Any word from Harrison?

Yeah, I just
talked to him.

Chewed my ear off
about his blog,

the whole juicing versus regular
juicing or whatever the hell.

He's not the problem.

What about Lydia?

She's not returning
my calls.

Yeah, she's been
dodging me, too.

What is happening?

HILL: I suggest either
targeted economic sanctions

or the expulsion of diplomats.

Same old dance.

It's a proportional
response, sir.

That's exactly
my problem with it.

I agree with Ellen, sir.

We're talking about a
response to an arms deal.

Do you really have any doubt
about the sonic attack

on our embassy?
Yes.

It's still being
investigated.

That leaves you, Gordon.

I'm with Ellen and the
secretary on this, sir.

Although I might
also advocate

for the seizure of
Russian property

on our soil.
None of which will teach

Salnikov and his comrades
a lesson.

How many

Oko missile detection
satellites do they have?

Five, sir.

Take 'em out.

All of 'em.
Thanks, everyone.

Conrad, that's a
massive escalation

without definitive proof that Russia
is beh... We're done here, Bess.

Mr. President, I strongly
advise against this order.

I already heard
your recommendation.

Sir, I cannot in good
conscience carry it out.

What makes you think
I give a crap

about your conscience,
Gordon?

I will not obey
the order, sir.

Then I'll expect
your resignation.

Mr. President.
Sir.

Yes, sir.
In the meantime,

you're fired.

Deputy Secretary Holland,
congratulations.

You are now acting
secretary of defense.

Do you understand my order?

Yes, Mr. President.

Mr. President,
I have to tell you,

I, uh, I agree with Gordon.

Noted.
I think we should...

Conrad, can we just
talk about this?

We just did.

But striking
Russia when we...

I'm standing up to them.
No, thi-this isn't like you,

ignoring your entire
National Security Council,

escalating before we have
all the facts. Enough.

This is our policy now.

You and the rest of the NSC
need to get on board

or get out of the way.

What's going on?

You have always insisted
that I speak my mind.

Well, I might have
to rethink that policy, too.

Conrad.

Let's stick
with Mr. President, hmm?

Dr. McCord, we have
Agent Montgomery on SVTC.

You're gonna want to hear this.

HENRY: Nicole, I understand
you found a recording.

Yeah, it matches
the timing exactly.

And several FSOs confirmed
it's what they heard.

You buried the lede.
Tell him how you got it.

The, uh, embassy has a Diplotots
day care on the first floor

with a nanny cam
recording all the fun.

I've always questioned the
civil rights implications

of those things,
but I'll take it.

Okay, let's hear it.

(high-pitched frequency whines)

HENRY:
It's pretty faint.

We're sending it
over to the FBI lab.

If it's a sonic weapon,
they'll know.

Maybe they can also

reverse-engineer
the signal.

That way we'll know if it's
Russian tech or something else.

I'll make the request.

Are they here?

Does anyone know you're here?

Uh, no. I mean,
my husband, but...

I didn't tell my wife.

If this goes sideways, I don't
want her to have to lawyer up.

I'd rather be eaten by lawyers
than do this,

but we should get started.

The president,
who I would normally

walk through the
gates of hell for,

has issued an order that,
for the good of the country,

cannot be executed.

We are the firewall
between that order

and the nightmare
it could unleash.

Inspiring words, Russell,

but I'm the one
who's on the hook.

A pact among all of us.

A suicide pact. HILL: Call
it whatever you want.

We all threaten to quit
if it comes to that,

except Gordon.

First unto the breach.

Look, even in his current state,

I believe the president
would realize

he couldn't afford to lose

all four of us, especially
with news not breaking yet

of Gordon's firing.

All of that
coming out at once

would create
a political firestorm,

could lead to a constitutional
crisis, God knows what.

Maybe I should just
refuse the order outright,

like Gordon.

And take our chances
on Sorenson?

You took
your chances on me.

I tried to shock POTUS
into changing his mind.

Now we're in a
different situation.

I see. So, you're honorable
and I'm the traitor?

Oh, please. Come on.

Look, I'm sorry.

I just... I-I never considered

shirking an order
from the president before.

You know, I already
have stomach issues.

I know it's a
lot to ask, Bob,

but what's the
alternative?

To follow orders.

You know,
maybe POTUS is right.

Maybe we need
to push back on Salnikov.

You really want to risk
striking a country

with 1,500 nuclear-armed ICBMs

on a hair-trigger?

Do you really want to risk
a constitutional crisis?

Look, there is a reason
the chain of command

begins with civilians.

And it follows the
Constitution's empowerment

of civilians over
the military

because we exercise judgment
before just following orders.

I've read the Constitution,
Madam Secretary.

And it doesn't
spell out any of that,

but it does say
that the president

is the commander in chief.

Okay, okay.

How long do we have

until our missiles
are ready to be fired?

BECKER:
Our sea-based interceptors

have to move to
AOR for launch,

and that'll take at
least another 15 hours.

Then STRATCOM has to
calibrate targeting.

We have 24 hours. RUSSELL: Good.

Maybe by then
we'll have something

that'll make POTUS reconsider.

ELIZABETH:
If not,

I mean, is there any way
to slow-play the order?

Hold it up somehow?

You could jam up STRATCOM.

Order a review
of the launch trajectory.

This is a coup.

What we're talking about
is a coup.

RUSSELL: I realize we're
painting outside the lines here,

but the framers
never contemplated

that an elected president
wouldn't be reasonable.

We're doing the best we can.

What about
the 25th Amendment?

We're not there yet. Well,
what are we waiting for?

The clock to run out.
ROBERT: And then what?

Then we'll do what we have to.

All right? Just...

let's just see
what the next day brings.

ROBERT:
Okay.

But I'm not making
any promises.

(groans)

Gross.

How is Operation Dig Through
going?

Oh, you know, it's
your basic, weird,

soggy journey
through the past.

Oh, did anything survive?

Uh, yeah. It's
mostly junk, though.

It's baby stuff
that Mom was saving.

It's not junk to her.

Sentimentality is
the superstructure

erected upon brutality.

Way to plagiarize Jung.

Uh, it's still true.

Oh, no.
(gasps)

Looks like your formative
years took a hit.

(laughing): Oh, no. Oh, my God.

Oh, you can kind of make
out some of the stuff.

Here, let's see.

"Stevie spits up."

No. "Sits up."
Sits up.

(laughs)
"Stevie..."

What is that? Uh... "Sees
herself in mirror."

And never stops.
Hey.

ALISON: My book is
pretty messed up, too.

And, wow, there's
a lot of blank pages.

And after my first step
there's nothing until preschool.

(gasps) Jason's looks in
pretty good condition.

Uh, yeah, because it was never
taken out of its shrink-wrap.

ALISON:
That can't be true.

Great.

Great. I'll just...

let the documented ones
finish up here.

What, so now
sentimentality is okay?

JASON: No.

That's not nostalgia,
that's history.

And apparently mine
isn't important.

Jace.

(piano playing)
(indistinct chatter)

Thank you, Mrs. Dalton.

Elizabeth, what
a nice surprise.

I didn't see your name on
the guest list. It isn't.

I'm not allowed to participate
in political fund-raisers,

even though I'm a fan
of Senator Giminski.

No, I just am
shamelessly crashing

to get a moment with you.

You know this is putting
me in an awkward position.

You know I wouldn't if it
weren't extremely important.

So, you want to know what's
going on with Conrad

because he's finally reached
his limit with an adversary

who has behaved
consistently abominably

under his administration.

Conrad's behavior
is out of character.

It is extreme.

You know him almost
as well as I do.

It takes a lot
to get him angry,

but once he gets there...

everyone needs to
take a step back.

Lydia, Russia isn't
going to take a step back.

And the Conrad I've known

for over two decades

would be well
aware of that.

You need to talk to him.
I've tried.

That's why I'm here.

I need to know if you're aware
of any changes in his health.

He has a physical
quarterly.

There's never
anything wrong.

I think your worrying

is out of proportion.

At the risk of
breaching protocol,

I am gonna tell
you something.

Conrad has ordered
a missile strike

against Russia's
satellite system.

It could easily
lead to war.

Every member of the NSC

has advised against it.

Gordon Becker
was so opposed,

he refused a direct order.

So Conrad fired him,
and he wants to do it anyway.

You tell me,

does that sound like
the man we know?

(high-pitched frequency whines
over headphones)

Hey.

Should I even ask
how your day was?

Well...

the Constitution is
still intact for now.

(sighs) You?

Oh, I was hoping
these FBI analysts

could make some progress
overnight,

so we could get some answers
about what happened in Sofia.

Maybe even something that'll
help talk Conrad off the ledge.

He hasn't backed off
this satellite strike?

I don't know how long we can
keep the acting SecDef in line.

And I don't blame him
for wavering.

We're asking him to do
something unprecedented.

Well, at the end of the day,
I guess the best we can hope for

is that he follows
his conscience.

Even if his conscience

is telling him to defy
a direct order from POTUS?

I think reptile brain
wins that one.

We have the best
system of government

the world has ever seen,

but it's only as good
as the people in charge.

Gosh, that's reassuring.

Sorry.

I'm no Earl.
(laughs)

Morning, sir.

Morning, Mr. President, Russell.

Let's hear it.
What did you find?

The FBI lab has determined
that the sonic event

at our embassy in Sofia
was not an attack.

Then what the hell was it?

There's high confidence
that the sound was caused

by a Russian listening device

pointed at the embassy
that interacted

with the fourth floor's
encryption frequency.

So their frequencies crossed?
Basically.

Creating a beating effect.

So how does that account
for our people's injuries?

WARE: Well, the
noise would produce

headaches and temporary
hearing loss.

The bottom line is,

there was no attack,

just a thwarted spying effort.

So we're supposed to believe
it's just a coincidence

that when the Russians
spied on us, suddenly,

our FSOs became ill?

That's right.

All our top FBI
sound engineers concur.

There was no Russian attack.

I heard you the first time.

Thank you, Henry. Ephraim.

Yes, sir.

You bet, Mr. President.

So that changes things.

Like what?
The satellite attack.

It's unwarranted now that we...
No.

We are not backing down now.

It's not backing down
if Russia never attacked us

in the first place, sir. So you're
okay with them spying on us?

I seem to remember you running

the biggest spy
agency on Earth.

No one ever
declared war on us

when they found out
we were listening in.

Because they knew what
the consequences would be.

Sir, I think the secretary

is just pointing out that
given what we now know...

I know exactly

what she's doing, Russell.

And you, too.
And I'm sick of it.

I'm the damn president!

And my authority will
not be questioned,

do you understand?

Conrad, can you hear yourself?

What's next, Russell?

Uh...

Meeting with the House Ways
and Means Committee

in the Roosevelt Room.

Mr. President,
you're not well.

Really?

Hmm.

And what exactly do you
think is wrong with me?

I don't know,

but you need to be
examined by a doctor

to find out.

You've been talking
to Lydia, haven't you?

Yes. I'm concerned about you.

We all are, sir.

I am trying to show

Salnikov and Russia that
I will not be trifled with.

That when I make a threat,
I carry through on it.

And I don't give a crap
if you or anyone agrees

because I am the most
powerful man on Earth,

and no one is going to stop me!

(overlapping chatter)

Okay.

We all know why we're here.

Conrad Dalton...

is the finest public servant
I've ever known.

He's thoughtful,
compassionate, courageous,

the best damn listener
in a town full of people

who love to hear
themselves talk.

In short, he's a good man

and a patriot.

And I, like many of you in this
room, owe my career to him.

But the man who publicly
threatened to unleash

the overwhelming force of
America's military might,

and stands by his order to
strike Russia's satellites,

despite conclusive evidence

that the Russians
did not attack us,

is not the same man.

Something's wrong.

Without a diagnosis,
we don't know what.

But I think the Conrad Dalton
we all know

would want us to stop him.

I've talked to
White House Counsel

and the attorney general,

and though there
is a "fog of law"

surrounding Section 4
of the 25th Amendment,

because it's never been
invoked, they assured me

that if the heads of
the executive departments

plus the vice president

vote by simple majority,

the president will be
removed from office,

and Vice President Hurst

will become
the acting president.

Acting secretaries can't vote,
so that eliminates Bob here.

Leaving 15 of you,

including the VP.

If ever there were a time
to set aside politics

and do what's best
for the country,

this is it.

Russell has asked me to provide
some context for this.

Um, in two hours,

President Dalton will enter
the Situation Room,

and I will execute his order.

Nine minutes later,

all five Russian Oko satellites
will be destroyed.

And we will be on a war footing.

Unless you alter
history here tonight.

RUSSELL:
On that cheerful note,

we'll leave you to it.

There is no playbook for this.

And clearly, time is
of the essence.

So do you want to talk
or just vote?

Well, as attorney general,

I would just like to say that,

although I concur with Russell's
explanation of the law,

I just don't think we've hit
the Section 4 threshold yet.

Really?

A reckless strike

against our greatest
nuclear adversary

doesn't do it
for you, Hank?

Due respect,
Madam Vice President,

but perhaps it's indiscreet
for you to weigh in

given you're the one with
an enormous vested interest

in the outcome.
My interest

is only what is best
for the country.

But fair enough.

MARY: Speaking of fairness,
I mean, who are we

to question the
president's judgment?

Some banana republic?
I mean, hell,

maybe it is just the right time
to hit the Russians.

I support the strike and
our duly elected president.

But even if the
Russians are cowed,

the president is
still a wild card.

And we will end up going

from crisis to crisis,

and eventually
there'll be disaster.

It's too dangerous.

TOM: To my mind,
it's more dangerous

to support what amounts
to a bloodless coup

based on a medical diagnosis
by the secretary of state

and chief of staff.
The commander in chief

should only be removed
from office

under extraordinary
circumstances.

SAMUEL:
And even if you and Russell

are right,
don't we owe it to Conrad

to protect him
and his reputation?

Other administrations

had shielded their presidents
in the past.

Maybe it's our turn to step up.

Do our jobs while limiting
his public appearances.

I want to protect him, too.

But a shadow government
of unelected

cabinet members running the show

while keeping the president
under wraps

is no way to govern
a democracy.

We all pledged an oath

to the Constitution,

not to the president.

(engine revving over television)

HENRY:
Hey, pal.

Can I talk to you
for a minute?

(tires screeching)

Maybe even look
at each other?

I don't need to see
you to hear you.

Especially if this is some lame
apology about the baby book.

I'm sure my poop
wasn't special.

Well, that's where
you're wrong.

(chuckles)

Look, it's a thing, okay?

The more kids you have,

the less time
you have to record

their every move.

A-And on top of that,

you were a 9/11 baby.

The world was crazy for
quite a while after that,

especially for Mom.

It doesn't mean
we were any less

delighted to witness
your milestones.

(laughing):
You were such a funny kid.

Oh, my God, you were babbling
all the time about something.

You were
a champion crawler,

had a huge appetite.

You were the best thing
about that time.

(sighs) Okay.

I'll just let my kids know
that that's why

I-I... don't know what my
first word was or when I walked.

It's because I was a 9/11 baby.

If we do this, history
will look at us as traitors.

SAMUEL:
History will judge us

no matter what we do, Tom.

Fine.

But there have to be other ways
to constrain Dalton.

Not in the Constitution.

The Constitution
only allows

for the 25th Amendment
or impeachment.

And that missile strike will
happen in less than an hour,

so impeachment isn't gonna

cut it tonight.
Look, I-I think

if we've all said our piece,
we should vote.

Okay, I'll keep
the tally.

Simple voice vote--

yes to invoke Section 4
and remove the president,

effective immediately;

no to reject it.

I vote no.

♪

(engines start)

It's done.

(takes deep breath)

I'm thinking of keeping
Bob on at Defense.

What do you think?
He's a good man.

Is he? I hadn't noticed.
Takes orders.

Pretty much my new number one
requirement post-Gordon.

Speaking of...

Time for some fireworks.

(door opens)

What the hell?

Where is everyone?

Lydia?

What is this?

It's an intervention, Conrad.

What?

No.

Where's
my national security team?

Where are my generals,
my admirals?

Get them the hell in here, now!
There's not gonna be

an attack on the Russian
satellites tonight, sir.

Of course there is-- now, call STRATCOM,
call CNO! Sir, the cabinet...

Oh, for God's sake,
I'll do it myself.

They won't take your order.

The cabinet voted tonight
to invoke Section 4

of the 25th Amendment.
What?

What are you talking about?

I'm sorry...

sir, but you have been
removed from office.

Teresa Hurst is now
the acting president.

No.

Why the hell would
they do that?

'Cause of Gordon?
They want revenge?

Because they're afraid
to stand up to Russia?

I'll fight this.
You're not well, Conrad.

You need help, sweetheart.

No, Lydia, not you, too.
You're too smart.

You know me too well.

You know that this
is all just politics

and backstabbing...
I love you.

We all do.
No, it's a coup.

It's a goddamn coup.
Can't you see?

It's the damn appeasers,
the peaceniks,

afraid of standing
up to Russia!

They want to drive me
out to avoid a fight.

But we can't back down--
we got to be tough.

We can't let 'em
get away with it,

or Russia will be
storming our shores!

Can't you see that?

I'll fight this.

I'll fight it in Congress.

You think I don't know
how this works?

Sir, a letter
has been drafted

to send to the Senate Pro Tem
and the Speaker of the House.

Once they receive it,
the American people

will know that the
cabinet has lost faith

in your ability
to govern.

There'll be great pressure
on Congress to make it official

by two-thirds vote,

which I'm confident they will.

Because you've given
the enemies in our party

the ammo they need to
finally get rid of me.

You handed it to them
on a damn platter.

ELIZABETH:
There's another option, Conrad.

Invoke Section 3,
which is temporary,

and we won't send
the letter to Congress.

All you have to do is submit
to a full examination

and treatment
if... appropriate.

And once it's determined
that you're better,

you can be reinstated.

RUSSELL:
Agree...

(quavering):
and we don't send the letter.

Otherwise, Congress votes
on Section 4 tomorrow.

♪

I made you.

And this is the
thanks I get?

I plucked you off a
goddamn farm, Bess.

Shoveling horse crap
in pigtails.

You did.

But now you need to trust us.

LYDIA:
Agree to the exam, Connie.

(whispers):
Please.

♪

ELIZABETH:
I feel like it was

almost 18 months. Right,
'cause his sisters

never put him down long enough for
him to learn to walk. (chuckles)

14 months.
14 months.

Yes, because I remember the
doctor said let's give it Yeah.

to 15, and then we'll
take a look after that.

HENRY: Then he went
right from walking

to running, just... (exhales
sharply) (chuckles)

His teeth were
late, too.

Yeah, I remember you wanted
to get him x-rayed. (laughs)

'Cause he was gonna be
at preschool

gumming his food.
That was 14 months, too.

Everything, like,
just happened

all at the same time.
Except the talking.

Well... That happened
at six months.

Yeah. His first word
was "no."

Oh, of course
it was.

Why are you guys doing this?

You let the thing sit in plastic
for 16 years--

why is it suddenly important?

Because we
almost lost it.

(chuckles)
And it feels

like a good time to rebuild. No.

Yes, yes, yes.
Don't do...

(chuckling)
Rebuild? Really?

While our democracy's
falling apart?

Okay, it's not.

(high-pitched): Don't say that.
Stop.

That scares me.
Yeah.

Our democracy is not falling apart.
Stop.

Oh.

You know what?
I know this one.

Favorite toy-- it was, uh...

it was the weird monkey.

You know, the weird... Devil monkey!
Devil monkey.

(high-pitched): Oh, devil monkey was scary!
Because he... Stop!

It's a pretty good-sized
meningioma.

But very treatable.

Positioning makes it a snap
to remove-- which we'll do

after a course of IV steroids
calms down the swelling.

Is it malignant?
95%

are not, so I wouldn't worry.

He should make
a full recovery.

(relieved sigh)
Thank God.

And this accounts for
the personality change?

Oh, yeah. See? It's pressing
against the frontal lobe.

I'm surprised he wasn't running
around the White House naked.

I'm not kidding.

These suckers grow
symptomless for months

until they're pushing
against the brain,

sometimes altering behavior
quite suddenly.

The frontal lobe is responsible
for executive functions:

judgment, decision-making,
inhibition.

So, when it's stimulated,

significant personality change
is common...

along with excessive displays
of emotion.

And removing the growth
will reverse

all of that?
Yep. In fact,

the steroids I'm putting him on
will rapidly reduce

the swelling
and ease the pressure.

He should improve
dramatically, even pre-op.

(chuckles softly)

Hey, you two.
Hi, Lydia.

We heard you were running
a little low on flowers.

(laughs) So we brought
some reinforcements.

They're beautiful. Thank you.
Conrad.

Bess.

Henry.
Conrad.

Thank you for being here.
ELIZABETH: Are you kidding?

Chance to see something
as historic as this,

you couldn't keep me
away with a stick.

Listen, I have
to apologize, Bess.

No, Conrad, you don't.
(sighs)

What I put you all through...

I think you get
a pass

for all of it. It wasn't
you, it was the meningioma.

Yeah.

I told you
you looked "fetching"

the night of the Japanese state dinner.
(Elizabeth laughs)

HENRY:
Well, she did.

It's fine hearing it
from you, Henry.

Crazy thing is...

I don't think I
ever felt freer

or more sure of myself.

How scary is that?

I mean, real madman stuff.

No sense at all
that I was out of my gourd.

Well, it was Russell that
we were really worried about.

You could practically see
the aneurysm.

I...

really did almost start
World War III

over a misunderstanding.

LYDIA: Enough of the
self-flagellation,

darling, it's getting boring.
Yeah.

We need you
to project confidence tonight.

Hello. Lydia.
Hi.

How are you feeling,
Mr. President?

Surprisingly well, thanks.

Madam President.

That has a nice
ring to it.

But that's Acting President.

I'm just minding the store. Well,
thanks for doing this, Teresa.

I think it'll mean a lot
to the country.

So do I, sir.
Well, it's time.

You know, Bess, that was
quite a thing you all did,

invoking Section 4.

Took guts. Well, it wasn't fun.

Should I ask how you voted?

The way you
would have wanted me to, sir.

I've since been given steroids
to reduce the swelling

and will be operated on tomorrow
to remove the tumor.

During my recovery,
Acting President Teresa Hurst

will continue to provide
steady, experienced leadership,

like she always has
during her almost 30 years

of extraordinary public service.

She has my full faith
and confidence.

When I have passed
extensive medical tests

and the doctors say
I'm 100% ready,

only then will I be reinstated

under Section 3
of the 25th Amendment.

Finally, I'd like to pay tribute

to the resiliency
of our Constitution,

a 230-year-old document
that has endured the challenges

of every stage
of our nation's journey.

Our government is built
on an ingenious foundation

of principles and laws,

and though the people
within that system are fallible,

the system itself

is devised
to withstand anything,

even an unfit president.

The fact that the system worked
as it should

proves that our democracy

is as strong as ever.

I thank the brave
cabinet secretaries

who voted to invoke
the 25th Amendment.

They are all true
American heroes and patriots.

They put their country

ahead of their personal
relationship with me.

That's what separates us
from dictatorships

and oligarchies.

Without people of such courage,
our democracy would be lost,

and they will forever
have my gratitude.

And because of them,

I have never felt more proud
to be an American.

And now Acting President Hurst
would like to say a few words.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

Good evening,
fellow Americans.

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