All language subtitles for Designated.Survivor.S01E04.BluRay.x265-RARBG.en

Previously on designated survivor...

I was sitting in my seat,
and then everything went black.

[Chuck] And congressman macleish
in his seat.

This photo was taken six seconds later.
Macleish survived...

Because he wasn't there.

Governor Royce, I am ordering
you to have your police

stop harassing
the Muslim community in dearborn.

I've been thinking
about my chief of staff.

I have decided to go with Aaron.

I would like to appoint you
as my special adviser.

[Interpreter] I am majid nassar.

Ai-sakar annihilated your government.

Whatever cave, cavern,
or hole he's hiding in,

I want you to find me majid nassar.

- [Suspenseful music]
- [Panting]

[Computer beeps]

[Beeping]

[Keys clacking]

Come on, come on... come on.

[Indistinct shouting]

[Beeping]

[Shouting in arabic]

- [Pounding on door]
- [Indistinct shouting]

- [Indistinct shouting]
- [Grunting]

[Taser crackling]

[Beeping]

[Door creaks]

[Elevator bell dinging]

- Good morning, Mr. President.
- Morning.

Anything happen
during the three hours I slept?

Per your orders, Pentagon's working
around the clock to find majid nassar.

Schools have reopened.

The dow and the nasdaq
have both resumed trading.

They're both down sharply.

Well, I guess today's not the day
to check on your ira.

Where are we at with security?

Law enforcement's still on high alert.

Ports, nuclear plants,
soft targets like malls and sports arenas.

Here's a long shot: Any good news?

Well, you slept three hours
last night, sir.

Ah, the little things.

Oh, there's one more thing.

Hookstraten insisted
on being the first meeting of the day.

My god, doesn't she ever sleep?

- Morning, Wyatt.
- Morning, Mr. President.

Congresswoman, what a pleasant surprise.

Sir, it's been a whole week
since majid nassar

confessed to the capitol bombing.

The entire country is on pins and needles.
Where are we on our search?

We're working around the clock
to find him.

As 50% of congress,
I think I deserve more than a sound bite.

Well, unfortunately, you don't have
clearance for more than that.

Sir, every moment that passes
without finding nassar

is a moment for the American people
to doubt your mettle for this job.

I think this is
when you offer me your full support.

Your boyish sincerity
is your best quality, sir.

I hope you don't lose it.

- [Door opening]
- [Emily] I'm sorry to interrupt.

If you don't mind, excuse us.

Sir.

What is it?

It's Michigan.

More violence against muslims?

No, but there's about to be.

Governor Royce
is using your Elizabeth vargas interview

as justification
to start arresting muslims again.

He claims that your admission
that you were asked to resign

makes you an illegitimate president.

He's re-imposed the curfew
and banned public gatherings.

I'm guessing the bill of rights wasn't
on the governor's summer reading list.

The iac...

-the islamic American coalition.
-uh-huh.

They're planning a peaceful protest
outside city hall in dearborn,

but they have obvious concerns.
The first time,

the violence was Royce's fault.
We let it happen again...

It'll be ours.

I think it's time to tell the governor
in no uncertain terms that...

With another phone call?
We tried that. Look how much good it did.

What if we send a legal observer,

monitor the demonstrations,

make sure the governor
doesn't overstep his bounds?

That's smart.

Straight out of the Kennedy playbook.

We don't have many friends
in the state, but...

I'm sure I can get someone
from the ag's office...

I can do it.

It has to be someone we can trust,

and who better
than your newly appointed special adviser?

You sure?

Absolutely.

General Cochrane says he needs to see you.

Fine. Send him in.
Let's get you on a plane now.

[Sighs]

General, it's barely 7:00 am,

and I've already been ambushed
by the presumptive speaker,

and I am facing
a potential domestic crisis,

so, please, choose your words wisely.

I don't need to, sir.
We found majid nassar.

[Theme music]

[Distant sirens wailing]

[Horn honks]

[Beth] We consider ourselves blessed
and ask only for privacy at this time.

[Woman] This was the scene earlier today,
as congressman macleish,

the sole survivor of the capitol attack,
returned...

- Hey, you got a sec?
- Yeah.

Accompanied by his wife Beth.
And in other news...

This is what you want to show me?

Macleish's empty seat
at the state of the union?

He lied to me! He told me he was
in his seat when the capitol blew up.

The man spent his entire adult life
in service to his country.

You were supposed to get a statement,
not turn him into a suspect.

He got up at the exact right moment,
like he knew what was coming.

Hannah, there are a thousand reasons
he could have gotten up:

He was bored, he was thirsty,
he needed to take a leak.

But conspiring with an international
terrorist network to blow up the capitol?

It's likely not one of them.

Or here's another theory.

Maybe he's not the golden boy
everyone thinks he is.

Have I made a mistake
keeping you on this investigation?

What?

Look, I understand.
If you need time to grieve, if you...

I'm fine.

I hope so.

Because impugning
a congressman's reputation,

it's not gonna bring your boyfriend back.

[Siren wails in the distance]

Mr. Essaway, my name is Emily rhodes.

I'm special adviser to the president.

I wanted to let you know I'm on my way
to dearborn to monitor your protest.

Ms. Rhodes, I can't tell you
how much we appreciate that.

Governor Royce can't get away
with criminalizing innocent people.

And the president
has no intention of letting him.

- I'll see you soon.
- [Beep]

Hey. Public engagement
said you're headed to Michigan?

- Yeah.
- Kick Royce's ass for me.

I'll do my best.

Sammy serafian is an American operative
who has been in Algeria six years

working under nonofficial cover.

16 months ago, he infiltrated al-sakar.
This morning,

we received a message from him
confirming a direct link

between al-sakar and the attack.

It says he found an unexploded ordnance

with the same unique signature
as the bomb from the capitol site?

Yes, sir, confirming without a doubt
that al-sakar was behind the attack.

Do we have a location?

Serafian was able
to pinpoint nassar's position:

A compound in the tri-border region
between Mali and Niger.

Satellite surveillance confirms
multiple vehicles

and a heavy perimeter.

- And we think that's nassar's security.
- Yes, Mr. President.

On your order, f-18s can be deployed
from the USS eisenhower.

We'll disable their air defense

and reduce them to a stain in the sand

within a matter of seconds.

Where's agent serafian now?

- We've lost contact with him, sir.
- We gave him 24 hours to evacuate.

That was six hours ago.

Sir, if we wait for him to surface,

we may lose our window
to take out the enemy.

And what's the probability
that he's in the compound with him now?

- It's high, sir.
- So, in all likelihood,

if we bomb the compound,
we'd be killing an American agent.

He knew the risks, sir.

I have to believe, general,
that he's in Algeria

trying to help his country,
not get killed by it.

We have the enemy in our sights,

the man who destroyed
all three branches of our government,

a thousand Americans.

Are we gonna let one man
stand in the way of retribution?

I need your orders, sir.

What's it gonna be?

Mr. President?

[Sighs]

[Aaron] Sir...

Your orders?

We're not bombing one of our own.

Maintain surveillance on nassar
and keep me informed.

Until serafian makes contact,
we do nothing.

- Understood?
- [Chatter]

General, understood?

Yes, sir.

Thank you all.

Algeria's agreed to support us
after the bombing, right?

Yes, sir, they did.

Okay, I want you to get president bishara
on the phone.

- Sure it's a good idea?
- I wanna try a diplomatic approach.

If we can get them to arrest nassar
and everyone at the compound,

we won't need our military.

We can pull our men out
as soon as he's in custody.

Yes, sir. Excuse me a moment.
I'll be right there. Hey.

[Emily] I missed three calls
from you while I was in the air.

[Aaron] Yeah, I just wanted to say,
about Michigan...

What about it?

Well, it's a situation out there,

and people should be... careful
when they're in a situation, you know?

Aaron, are you worried about me?

What? No, no...

Look, I'm just saying...
Good luck out there, all right?

- All right, clear! Let's go!
- [Sirens wailing]

Let them through!

[Police radio chatter]

[Tires screeching]

[Indistinct conversations]

[Sighs]

Governor Royce!

This is quite the welcome committee.

Emily rhodes,
special adviser to president kirkman.

I am here to observe the iac's protest.

I know why you're here.
I suggest you and your staff

get back on that plane
and return to Washington.

Um, we're here to help, sir.

Yeah, well, as President Reagan said,

the nine scariest words
in the English language are,

"I'm with the government,
and I'm here to help."

Hmm...

I got enough to worry about
without you people interfering.

Well, I'm sorry, sir,

but that's not really
a decision for you to make.

I'm here by orders of the president.

Let me explain this again
in a way that you'll understand.

The state of Michigan is off-limits

to Tom kirkman, his staff, his plane,
and, most of all, his presidency.

Understood?

- [Indistinct shouting]
- [Camera shutters clicking]

[Indistinct conversations]

[Knock on door]

Um, I'm sorry,

I was very clear:
My husband's not up to interviews.

Mrs. Macleish,
I'm special agent Hannah Wells, FBI.

Your husband wanted me
to keep him updated on the case.

Yeah. Come in.

They keep coming every day from all over.

Kindness of strangers.

Yeah, well, he's a symbol of hope.

I was lucky, that's all.

- Morning.
- Morning, congressman.

Last time I saw you,
you told us to keep you updated,

so... I'd like to show you
a couple things.

This was taken
during the state of the union.

This was taken seconds before the blast.

I don't understand. Where was I?

Well, that's my question, congressman.

Maybe you were right.

Maybe that is why I survived.

Peter, the whole world
doesn't have to hear that story.

Not the whole world, Mrs. Macleish.

Just me.

- Oh, god. It's embarrassing.
- It's all right.

Um, but I was at home in Eugene
with the girls.

We'd gone to the mall to get my oldest
a dress for her winter recital.

I just took my eyes off lexy -
that's our little one -

for a second, but...
When I turned around, she was gone.

I... I lost my mind.

I must have sent Peter 30 texts.

But 10 minutes later,

a kind woman dropped her
at the security station

and lexy was eating an ice cream,

not a care in the world.

Uh, that's when I heard about the capitol.

So you think he was trying to call you?

There's no way
he would have ignored my texts.

I'm sorry. Agent Wells, is there a reason

you're asking all these questions?
Have I done something wrong?

Well, you are the only survivor

of an attack that killed
a thousand people.

So I'm just trying
to find out what happened.

All right.

Hey, Chuck, it's me.
I need you to do me a favor.

Yeah, it's about Peter macleish.

[Siren wails in distance]

[Keys clacking]

[Cellphone vibrating]

[Beep]

Hello?

Ma'am, this is agent ritter.

Switchboard just notified me

that there's a call
from an immigration detention center.

A woman named Maria serrano
claims you're her lawyer.

Yes. Um, okay, well,
have them put her through.

Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Kirkman, it's Maria.

Hey. Maria, what's... how are you?

Ice got me arrested.
I'm going to be deported.

Deported? What? My office...

Well, it's not really my office anymore.

Duncan is now handling your case.
Have you spoken with him?

Yes. He said there's nothing he can do.

Please help me. They took my kids away.

We cannot go back to Honduras.

No, I know. I know you can't.

Um, okay. You got to stay calm,

and I'm gonna get into this right now,
okay, Maria?

[Woman] Does the president expect
the governor to just bow down?

Carter, it's been seven days
since al-sakar

took credit for bombing the capitol.

When can the American people
expect a response?

Uh, the president is busy
meeting with his advisers,

and, um... working up a strategy.

Can you be more specific?

Uh... not really.

- But the president does have a strategy.
- Of course he does.

I mean, he's the president, isn't he?

- So, how's it going here?
- That depends.

Does kirkman want a second term?

Please, just, uh,
let me answer the question.

I can assure you that the white house
takes the situation most seriously.

"Most seriously"? Who is this guy, anyway?

Carter dunne, third deputy assistant
to the press secretary.

Before the bombing.

Now, as the kids say, the man.

The prime minister
of Great Britain and France

have, uh... pledged their support,

should we need it, and there are others
who reached out as well.

- Well, you're gonna have to handle this.
- Why me?

Because you're in communications,

and you can form complete sentences.
You're standing next to me, so go fix it.

- What's the magic word?
- Now.

Not even close.

Not only is Michigan
under attack from radicals,

but our very democracy

is being threatened
by a man who has no right

to call himself president.

Does the man have no shame?

Well, he's got some nerve,
I'll give him that.

As the elected governor

of this great state,
it's my duty to protect its citizens.

Why should I trust the federal government
to protect us

while a fraudulent president
holds its highest office hostage?

[Aaron] Emily,
you're on with the president.

I'm watching Royce now.
What did he say to you?

For starters,

he's refusing to let me leave the airport
to observe the protest.

Son of a bitch.

And he's making sure
the cameras capture every moment.

I think it's best
it! Come back to d. C.

Every minute this plays out
on national TV weakens your position.

No, how weak will our position be
if I don't put up a fight?

If I come back now,
we can rethink our approach and...

No, no, wait. Hold on.

- Wyatt?!
- Coming, sir.

Igotanidea.

Just sit tight. I'll get back to you.

[Camera shutters clicking]

Now, I'm sending you with a full detail.

Keep this with you at all times.

You press it and six agents
will be surrounding you in seconds.

Mike, a panic button? Seriously?

I'm going to my firm!

You don't need to worry.

The only thing I'll be in danger of
is a few bad lawyerjokes.

Mrs. Kirkman, it's my job to worry.

You're too good.

- [Beep]
- Hold on, ma'am.

[Radio chatter]

Copy that.
Ma'am, the president needs you.

He said it's urgent.

Really?

Federalize the guard?

I thought we'd decided
that that was a nuclear option.

It was. Governor Royce went there first.

Now, is he within his legal rights?

Us. Code 12406:

The president
can federalize the national guard

whenever there is a rebellion
or threat of a rebellion

against the us. Government.

I think this qualifies.

I thought you were
an immigration attorney.

She aced constitutional law, too.

Okay...

How do I do this?

You start by declaring
a state of emergency in Michigan.

Yeah, then you notify general Hammond.

He's the joint chiefs chairman
of the national guard bureau.

Get me general Hammond.

All right.

Tom...

Forcing a sitting governor

to cede power to the feds

creates a monumental precedent.

I know.

But this is a tipping point.

If I let governor Royce
set up a police state...

How can I stop the other 49 governors
from doing the same thing?

[Door opens, closes]

It's time.

Got general Hammond
on the line for you, sir.

[Beep]

General Hammond.

This is the president.

By my command, I am ordering you
to federalize the Michigan national guard.

The poor men and women

who attended
the state of the union address

trusted the federal government
to keep them safe.

You federalized the guard?

[Tom] Royce doesn't know yet.

He may have won the battle,
but we'll win the war.

Lucky for us we have a standing army
at our disposal.

Okay.

- What's the next step?
- General munoz

will be the man you'll deal with.

His troops will escort you
past state police.

He'll stay with you
the entire time you're in Michigan.

This will all be over soon.

Thank you for doing this.

Good bye.

[Beep]

[Aaron] Sir?

They're waiting for you
in the cabinet room.

- Has the CIA found serafian?
- No.

But I have the president of Algeria
on the line.

Okay.

[Man speaking arabic]

[Interpreter] My domestic intelligence
is certain:

Majid nassar is not in our country.

With all due respect, Mr. President,
our friends on the ground say otherwise.

We need you to arrest nassar

and any other members
of the al-sakar terrorist group

from the compound.

[Man speaking arabic]

[Interpreter]
Your friends must be mistaken.

I'm sorry.

I can't be of more help.

Okay, Mr. President.

We expect you'll notify us
if the situation changes.

- Thank you.
- He's lying, sir.

Well, general,
we finally agree on something.

Bishara's own army has radical elements.

They could be feeding him false intel,
telling him nassar is not there.

- Maybe.
- Our window to act is closing,

especially now we've tipped off Algeria.

Until we know
agent serafian is safe, we do nothing.

There's still no word, sir.

But he has 12 hours to make contact.

If we don't hear from him
within that time,

then we have to assume the worst.

Meaning?

No matter what, in 12 hours,
we pull the trigger.

I understand.

Thank you.

It's about taking control.

They're like a pack of wild dogs.

Exactly.
If they sense fear in you, they attack.

You can't let them intimidate you, Carter.

Look, there are three surefire ways

for a press secretary
to die a quick death.

You get hostile, you lie, or you guess.

You do any one of those three things,
you're done.

When I get a question
I don't know the answer to?

You deflect.
"We're looking into it."

"We don't have a statement at this time."

"We'll get back to you."

"The president shares your concerns

and is working diligently
to find a solution."

Bingo.

Now go tame those beasts.

As the elected governor
of this great state...

Congresswoman hookstraten.

Twice in a day. This is a treat.

Still a standoff in Michigan.

The president hasn't forgotten
that Royce and I are old friends, has he?

Or do I need code-word clearance
for that, too?

We have it under control.

It's just you and I now, Aaron.
We can speak freely.

You first.

The truth is,

your man is flailing,

and it's not just
with this debacle in Michigan,

it's on the al-sakar front as well.

That's not very generous, now.

Spare me.

The only reason he's doing anything
is because you leaked that video.

Don't deny it.

I know a political operator
when I see one.

He needed to be pushed
and you gave him a shove.

- Smart man.
- So you came here to compliment me?

And to remind you
that there are people in this town

who might appreciate
what an asset you are...

In ways that Tom kirkman never will.

You hitched your wagon to a footnote.

Always a pleasure, congresswoman.

Aaron.

[Alex] Duncan...

Duncan, when we spoke,

you said that you could handle
the heavy lifting on my cases.

And I am.

Plus, I've got Parker
doing depositions for you.

Veda's filing your appeals...

So why is Maria serrano calling me
from an ice detention center?

Because homeland security
is taking advantage of the fact

that the courts have been closed.

[Alex sighs]

So they're arresting anyone
without a pending appeal.

And, right, when the courts reopen,
it'll be too late for us to file.

Got it.

Our hands are tied.

You know what kills me about this?

If she'd just applied for refugee status
instead of asylum,

ice wouldn't have even
looked at her twice.

If I'd just been here,
if I'd been in front of this,

- none of this would have happened.
- Alex!

You didn't abandon them.

You had a change in circumstance
in a summer-blockbuster kind of way.

Okay,
but that doesn't mean I'm gonna give up.

Alex, you've spent a career
fighting for victims,

but you're the first lady now.

[Alex] So?

And that has to count for something,
right?

[Cellphone vibrates]

[Cellphone vibrates]

[Chuckles]

- [Cellphone vibrates]
- [Sirens wailing]

[Sirens wailing]

[Tires screeching]

[Indistinct shouting]

Mr. President,
Ms. Rhodes is on the phone for you.

Thank you.

Yes, I'm walking to meet mufioz now.

Would you like to speak with him?

Yes, please, put him on the line.

General, Emily rhodes,

special adviser to the president.

I have president kirkman for you.

This is general mufioz.

General,
I wanted to thank you for taking...

Excuse me, Mr. Kirkman,
but as the commanding officer

of the Michigan national guard,

it is my duty to inform you
we refuse the order to federalize.

You... you can't do that.

The president has a right...

The Michigan state guard stands behind

its true commander in chief,
governor James Royce.

[Receiver clicks]

Unbelievable.

[Alex] Is it as bad as it looks?

Worse.
Michigan's on the verge of anarchy.

General Cochrane's pushing me to launch
an attack that could kill an American.

And I'm actually considering it.

My god.

I never thought I'd be in a position
to decide who lives or dies.

Oh, Tom, come here. Come here.

Do you remember
the first night that we were here,

when we thought about running away?

[Chuckles]

And you said no?

That you felt that this was something
you needed to do?

And I think you were right.

There's too much at stake.

If you listen to your instincts,
you will do the right thing.

Well, all I'm saying is,

it'd be a lot easier
if someone left behind a manual.

[Laughs] I guarantee you, past presidents

didn't have it all figured out, either.

They were just people like you

trying to do their best.

Thank you.

Hey, you came to me.

Did you need my help with Maria serrano?

[Sighs]

I'm not sure that using executive
privilege to do your wife a favor

is exactly what our founding fathers
had in mind.

What other choices do you have?

I thought of going to kimble hookstraten.

Watch your back.

I know.

Ma'am.

Sir, Emily's still waiting.

What would you like to do?

She's on speaker, sir.

Em, it's time for you
to get on a plane and come home.

What? No.

I sent you there to observe a protest,
not intervene in a coup.

Wait, just... hear me out.

Royce is a bully, right?
And how do you beat a bully?

By standing up to him.

We tried that.

Well, what if we try it differently,
change the rules of engagement?

- Offer him a sit-down with you.
- He'll never go for it.

He's made it abundantly clear
what he thinks about my presidency.

He will if it's presented
as his best option.

I'm not willing
to try and win a political fight

if it puts you at risk. It's not worth it.

I appreciate that, but I think
I know a way to get him to d. C.

I just need you to trust me.

You promise you'll be careful.

Yes, sir.

[Beep]

I can assure you the president

is deeply committed
to seeing the standoff in Michigan

come to a peaceful end.

[Woman] Is the president worried
his standoff with governor Royce

will damage his already tenuous
relationship with the American people?

No, the president
has more important things to worry about.

[Man] President kirkman doesn't care about
earning the country's confidence?

No, what I mean is...

It's more important to get rid of Royce
than worry whether people like him or not.

The president wants to get rid of Royce?

Is kirkman planning
to remove a sitting governor?

Does the president expect the governor
to bow down?

[Reporters shouting]

Gonna get rid of an elected governor?

I don't think that's gonna happen.

Is the president planning
an armed response?

- Is there any indication...
- Is he leaving?

The kirkman white house, everyone.

Wow.

Sorry about that, everybody. Carter, uh...
Carter wasn't feeling very well.

Uh, who are you?

My name is Seth Wright.

I'm a speech writer.
I work for the president.

To be clear, the top news story today

has nothing to do with
president kirkman's standing in the polls

and everything to do with the islamophobia

jeopardizing the fundamental rights
of American citizens.

But I'm perfectly happy to answer
any relevant questions one at a time.

Yes.

[Indistinct chatter]

- [Cellphone ringing]
- [Emily] Isaac.

Ms. Rhodes,
the police revoked our permit to protest.

They're threatening to make arrests.

I have a hundred people
ready to march on city hall,

but they're afraid
of what will happen if they do.

Forget about city hall.
The local police aren't worth the fight.

Ms. Rhodes, no.

- No, we can't back down now.
- I'm not asking you to.

I'm asking you to take the fight
directly to Royce.

How quickly can you get to the airport?

[Indistinct shouting]

If you people
don't have a permit to be here,

you need to leave immediately!

I want to speak to the governor!

[Aaron] So this is it?

This is Emily's master plan?

How long before it turns
into a Selma or Kent state?

Come on, Aaron, you of all people

should acknowledge
this is a brilliant move.

Governor Royce can't incite violence
on national television.

He'll lose the moral high ground.

Well, that's assuming that bigot
cares about the moral high ground.

Governor, let's go.

Is this really how you want today to end?
With heavily armed soldiers

dragging peaceful protestors
off to jail while the nation watches?

You won't be the hero of that story.

You think you're pretty clever, don't you?

I have an offer for you.

Send them home and fly with me
to DC. For a sit-down with the president.

Claim his attention as a victory.
Spin it however you want.

Why the hell should I go with you?

Because standing
in the schoolhouse doorway

didn't work for George Wallace,
and it isn't gonna work for you.

[Indistinct shouting]

History will remember you for this.

[Cellphone rings]

Come on, governor. What are you gonna do?

Sir...

I'm afraid we have a second mutiny
on our hands.

We have the f-18s in...

Mr. President,
I wasn't expecting you, sir.

That's pretty obvious, general.

Is it true that you gave the order
to take the Algerian air defenses offline?

Yes, sir.
I ordered cyb-command at fort Meade

to set a glide path
through Algerian airspace.

Without clearing it through me or Algeria,
which happens to be one of our allies.

Correct me if I'm wrong,
but is that not an act of war?

It was necessary preparation.

For an attack I have not authorized yet.

You tried diplomacy. It failed.

And now you're risking the entire country
to protect one person?

I did what needed to be done.

Well, general...

One day, if you become president,
you can make that call.

But as long as I am
and one of our own is unaccounted for,

we do nothing

that will jeopardize their safety
anyfunhet

I agreed to 12 hours.

These terrorists came to our home.
They killed our people.

Any sacrifices we make

to eradicate them
from the face of the earth

are sacrifices worth making.

When a snake's in your kitchen,

you don't invite it to dinner,
you cut off its head.

You make a good point, general.

And seeing that this is my kitchen...

I am relieving you of your command,
effective immediately.

- What?
- General, you are fired.

The president is grateful
you've agreed to speak with him.

Didn't have much of a choice.

Look, I know you think
I'm a bad man, Ms. Rhodes,

but the christians and the Jews
didn't blow up the capitol

or run planes into the twin towers.
Muslims did.

No, sir, extremists did.

And persecuting innocent people
won't make any of us safer.

[Chuckles]
You're just like your boss, aren't you?

You think you know better than
those of us with decades of experience.

In the years that I've known Tom kirkman,

I have found him
to be thoughtful and reasonable.

If you give him a chance,
I think you will, too.

Rest looks great. Just get rid
of those two paragraphs, move that up.

[Aaron] You hear the rumor?
There's a rising star

in the white house communications office.

That's cold, man.

Thank you. That poor guy is probably
halfway to dubuque by now.

I was talking about you.

You know, half the press corps
just threatened to forfeit

their credentials
if I didn't hire you as his replacement.

You want me to be press secretary?

Don't look so surprised.

This administration
can use someone like you

standing up there at the podium every day.

What do you mean, someone like me?

What, you're gonna make me say it?

You're smart. You're likable.

- You're quick on your feet.
- Okay.

By that definition, so is a dalmatian.
Why me?

You're also the son of Muslim immigrants

at a time when American people
associate the word islam with terrorism.

Now, as press secretary,
you can help change that perception.

You want to parade me around
as the president's friendly Muslim?

If that's what it takes
to start changing hearts and minds, yes.

- Unbelievable.
- Hey, this is Washington.

You seize opportunity
when it presents itself,

whether you like
the motives behind it or not.

[Chuckles]

- Just take the job, man.
- Or what?

You're gonna find somebody else
who looks like me to do it?

Get out of my office.

All right.

I'm moved by Maria's story,

but I don't know what I can do.

Congress is comprised of two people now,

one of whom's barely out of the hospital.

Even if we could change policy,
it would take months, if not years.

But you were on the subcommittee
of immigration and border security.

Why don't you just
come out and ask me

what you came here to ask me,
Mrs. Kirkman?

If you call Maria as a witness
before your subcommittee

when the new congress is seated...

And she would be granted immunity,

as long as she's expected to testify.

If I call her
to this hypothetical hearing...

I would be doing so
as a favor to you, ma'am.

- And I'd be very grateful.
- A favor

that I hope you would return one day,

should I need it.

So you're saying I'd owe you.

We all want to do the right thing,
Mrs. Kirkman.

But the right thing is seldom free.

[Grunting]

So, I got your e-mail.

So this morning, you were obsessed
with the capitol bombing,

and now you want to be reassigned?

I went back to macleish.
You were right.

Everything he said checked out.

He had a good reason for not being
in his seat when the bomb went off.

I tried to tear his story apart.

I talked to mall security in Oregon.
I got phone records.

I wanted him to be guilty of something

so I could blame him for surviving
when no one else did!

[Breathing heavily]

You know what the truth is?

The truth is that Peter macleish
is just a lucky guy.

He survived, and Scott didn't,

and I need to start dealing with that.

That's fair.

You know, you... are a pain in my ass
more often than you're not.

But you are also passionate...
And persistent.

And that's what makes you
one of the best agents I have.

I could be just as passionate...

Working cyber crimes,

or healthcare fraud.

Send me to Michigan.

I'll work
on civil-rights violations there.

[Sighs] All right.

If you want the transfer,
I'll put in the request.

But do me a favor: You sleep on this.

Because I know you,
and you're gonna hate yourself

if you quit just because it got hard.

[Door opens]

[Punches landing]

[Grunting]

[Indistinct conversations]

President kirkman, governor Royce.

Welcome to Washington, DC.

Thank you.

Took some doing, but I had a very nice
conversation with your special advisor.

And I welcome this chance
for an honest and open dialogue.

I think you'll find
I'm not gonna be very flexible on this.

You see, I believe that all Americans,

regardless of race or religion,

should be afforded and protected
by the same inalienable rights.

- If I may...
- You may not.

Governor, you violated the rights

of the citizens of Michigan,
and today,

you conspired with the national guard
to defy a direct order from the president.

James Royce,

I'm placing you under arrest for treason
against the United States of America.

Marshals.

[Royce] Reasonable and thoughtful, huh?

Mr. President, you lied to me.
You said

you'd trust me to fix this, and I did.
He was ready to talk to you.

The governor was using a national tragedy
to further his own agenda.

He broke the law, he's going to jail.

I told him he could count on you
to be reasonable and just.

[Exhales sharply]
Did you know that during the civil war,

President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus

and arrested a legislator
for trying to block union troops

from going south?

I did what I thought was best.

For yourself.

No, for the country.

And I sent a message
to every other governor who thinks

they can question
the legitimacy of this presidency.

And anyone who thinks
that they can usurp that

needs to know
that they will face the consequences.

You did a great job, and I'm proud of you.

I'm starting to realize
more than I ever wanted to

that doing the right thing
doesn't always make you feel good.

[Aaron] Mr. President.

Sir, I have an update on serafian.

Good, so he's safe.

A body was just delivered
on the embassy steps in Algiers.

We're awaiting an ID.

- Ride with me.
- Sir.

[Keys clacking]

Mr. President! You're here late.

Well, technically, I live here, so...

It appears you're the one who's here late.
Please, sit.

Thank you, sir.

[Breathes deeply]

Aaron told me that you turned down
the job of press secretary.

I did, sir.

It's a shame.
I was the one who offered it.

Sir... with all due respect,

I felt there were other people
far more qualified than I was.

Rosemary Jones, for example,

has three years experience
on senator Ford's staff...

Carter had a pretty good résumé, too,
and look how that turned out.

Aaron's motivations were political,
but mine were simple.

I was just looking
for the right person for the job.

Today's crisis was racially motivated.

Tomorrow's could be gun control,
a women's issue.

I just wanted to have someone
on the podium that I respected.

Come on, Seth, don't make me beg.

Can I count on you?

It would be my honor, Mr. President.

Good.

'Cause if you thought today was intense,
I'm gonna need you tomorrow.

Why? What's going on tomorrow?

I can't tell you, 'cause it's classified.

But I'll let you know when it happens.

Get some rest.

Thank you, sir. Good night.

Thank you.

[Exhales sharply]

[Knock on door]

I need you to be straight with me.

Arresting governor Royce,

tell me that was your idea.

I wish I could take the credit for that,
but that was all kirkman.

Look, honestly,
I didn't think he had it in him.

Still got that bottle?

Yeah.

He's turning into a different person.

I mean, unless I didn't
really know him before.

Look, Emily...

This isn't hud anymore.

Your boss is the most powerful man
in the world.

And he's gonna do things
that you might not agree with.

And you need to be ready for that,
because it is your job,

which, if I haven't said before,
you happen to be pretty damn good at.

Sorry, I didn't realize you were capable
of giving compliments.

Guess I'm learning a lot
about people today.

And to think I was worried about you.

You were!

[Chuckles] I knew it.

Not that worried.

Just... mildly concerned, is all.

[Clears throat]
Shut up and pour me a drink.

[Glass clinking]

[Indistinct conversations]

Good evening. Thank you all
for, uh, staying so late tonight.

I know we've called you in
a few times today.

Uh, just a reminder,
my name is Seth Wright.

Uh, earlier tonight,
I was named white house press secretary.

You were very tough on my predecessor,
so I know you're gonna take it easy on me.

[Laughter]

Uh, to be honest, I didn't want this job.

But we live in a time

in which we're called upon
to serve in ways we didn't anticipate.

None of us is perfect.

But we do our best
because this house is worthy of our best.

We trust our instincts
as we fight our daily fights.

Some we 7! Win.

Some we won't.

And some we'll only know in time.

But we leave each night

hopeful that today's sacrifices
have been worth it,

that our instincts have not led us astray,

and that our best...
Has been good enough.

Thanks for indulging me.

While I have you here,
a couple of quick announcements,

and then you can get some sleep.

[Insects chirping]

[Cellphone vibrating]

- [Sighs]
- [Beep]

This is agent Wells.

[Woman] Find room 105.

Wait, who is this?

Find room 105

and you'll understand more
about Peter macleish.

- Hello?
- [Woman hangs up]

Wait, hello?!

[Breathing heavily]

[Indistinct conversations]

- Mr. President.
- [Everyone] Mr. President.

Sir!

[Tom breathes deeply]

Did we get a positive ID
on serafian's body yet?

Yes, sir, it's been confirmed.

That tragedy lands at my door.

I'm sorry.

Admiral chernow,

you are in command.

I would like to proceed
with the attack in Algeria as planned.

Sir?

Admiral... prepare us for war.