Original subtitles

Ambassador, let the Prime Minister know she has two options.

She can either tell the Russians to stay out of her yard,

or I'll send warships to do it for her.

Grace is, different

since the shooting.

I dunno what's going on in there.

- You're being weird. - This is what it looks like.

- What? - Me. On your side.

I don't think the silent treatment is what I was asking for.

The ambassador and the first gentleman were in the study last night.

She said she'd blackmailed Prime Minister Trowbridge.

I don't think the threat of warships in the North Sea is a threat.

- I think she may do it. - She saw what Rayburn did.

Rayburn didn't order the attack. Grace Penn did.

What exactly am I doing here?

You're special envoy, officially.

I'm no great fan of sending warships, but it's what she said.

So... probably should say it.

When I go talk to the PM,

the president's husband is gonna be sitting next to me.

It doesn't matter if I won't deliver the message. He will.

So keep him the fuck out of there.

The president would be more comfortable if you told Russia you'd prefer they... not.

- Come get their dead. - Yes.

Russia, if nothing else, is predictable.

They want what they want, and they're coming to get it.

You have to tell them no.

- We can protect you. - I know that you can.

But once you get what you want, I have no reason to believe that you will.

- Anything else you'd like me to consider? - No.

- I met with the PM tonight. - You did?

Might be an appropriate time to ask the first gentleman to step out.

- He's special envoy to the UK. - What?

Can we all, on either side of the ocean, just zip it for a moment?

Go ahead. Is she calling the Kremlin and telling them to stay the hell out?

Yes, ma'am. She is.

- French? - Yep.

- Not Italian. - French.

The Italians are the ones who requested alphabetical.

Alphabetical in French.

In English, Canada's first.

- What's their problem with Canada? - Long story.

We're in Italy.

And it is a request from the Italians.

But in Italian, Canada is also first.

In French, Germany's first.

Allemagne.

What the fuck has French got to do with it?

It's the official language of NATO.

- The G7 is not NATO. - Yes.

I feel like I've said that a lot now.

Are you aware that when you're overwhelmed with your work,

you develop an unnecessary interest in mine?

Canada's become a global moral leader.

We're not dissing them because France has a historic prerogative

at a venue we're not in.

- Lucia, I am so sorry. - Stuie.

As soon as you get the ambassador settled, I need you to talk to the Brits.

An NGA satellite caught a Project 141 vessel leaving port in Murmansk.

It is just one data point.

I'm not bringing it to the president until we know more, but...

I want to know how Whitehall's conversation went with the Kremlin.

Hi.

What's a Project 141 vessel?

A Russian ship. Salvage vessel.

Billie said one just left Murmansk.

Does that mean...

Russia's coming to get its sub.

She wants me to ask the Brits about their conversation with Russia.

What conversation?

I don't know.

Kate asked the PM to call Russia.

Last night.

But Vaughn refused.

Correct, so why does Billie think there was a call?

Maybe the PM changed her mind and then told the White House.

Possible.

Did you ask?

Billie?

Yes.

Did I ask what?

Why she thinks there was a Russia call and we think there wasn't?

No.

Did you say anything?

No.

Billie asked for details on a call that we think didn't happen,

and you had no follow-up.

I mean, now I do.

It was the first time you saw her since you heard.

Billie?

- May have thrown you a little. - No.

- I'm fine. - Are you?

The attack wasn't her idea.

- It was Grace Penn's. - Exactly.

I don't blame Billie.

Sure about that?

I'm fine.

You were dumbstruck.

I'll follow up.

I'm gonna follow up.

- Where's Hal? - Few minutes out.

So, great to see you, but maybe leave.

Ma'am, was Billie on your call with the president last night?

'Cause she thinks Vaughn called the Russians.

And we don't.

- A Russian salvage ship? - Yes.

Did Billie tell the president?

- Not yet. - Or Hal?

She doesn't know what it means. She wants more information.

She wants Stuart to ask the Brits if they can clarify

based on Vaughn's call with the Russians.

But you told us Vaughn refused to call the Russians.

You asked, and she refused.

Let her answer.

Sorry.

She says I fill every silence with a question,

which apparently is bad intelligence work.

- Oh my God. - I lied to the president.

Five seconds in, Ganon asked her a simple question,

and she bit his head off, like sharply.

It seemed like a bad time to say I'd gone rogue.

Okay.

Not really.

- I bought us time. - What happens when she talks to Vaughn?

Or hears Russian ships are on their way?

Hal will talk to Grace.

I had an idea that Vaughn liked,

but she didn't believe it coming from me.

If she hears it from Grace,

she will say yes.

And Hal agreed to walk it in?

He will.

There should be a backup plan.

I'll deal with Hal. Worry about Billie.

Hal's here.

Thank you. Ciao. Arrivederci.

Your confidence is a balm.

Living room.

Are you hungry?

I'm... I'm good.

There's fruit if you wanna graze, and the staff is giving us space,

but if you're feeling the flight, they can make you a coffee.

- I'm good. - Terrace.

- Would you like a drink? - In a minute.

Do you need to prep for tomorrow?

I'm prepped.

And you know about Gruner's handshakes?

Tell me about Gruner's handshakes.

He holds his hand way down here, so you have to bend over.

- Makes it look like you're bowing. - So now I'm prepped.

The fruit is really good.

It's like California fruit.

- Do you want fruit? - I've already had some.

You worried I'm going to starve in Italy?

Well, dinner's not for a while.

With the Penns.

- Why? - It'll be nice.

He makes me anxious, 'cause I make him anxious.

I think we're past that.

Do I need to brush my teeth?

- No. - You're leaning back.

- Have I got airplane breath? - I mean, yeah, but that's okay.

- I'll be back. - No, no, no, it's...

- I really don't care. - Why are you fussing?

Because we have, like, no time to ourselves,

and I've got a big agenda.

I like the sound of that.

Hey!

This sure beats the hell out of Munich.

Todd?

Babe?

Todd?

I'll be down in a sec.

Where are you?

Right here.

Oh, hi!

Hi.

- Did you hear me yell? - Yeah.

I was finishing stuff up.

I nearly called a search party.

They would've found me right here.

Finishing stuff up.

Work stuff?

You don't want the details.

Of course I do. You have a new job. I wanna hear all the details.

I was taking a shit.

Do you wanna talk to Billie together?

She's already in Lucca.

Pre-meeting meeting in the town hall. She'll be out in half an hour.

Maybe we don't find her till after her next session.

Buy some time.

I'm not worried about buying time.

The diplomatic corps has perfected the art of strategic miscommunication

and weaponized incompetence.

And I believe it.

In fact, can you get me a copy of the readout?

From Vaughn's call to Russia?

- It didn't happen. - No, the one from last week.

That's not gonna be very useful.

Not even a little.

Could piss Billie off.

If she figures out you're slow-rolling her.

I'm okay with that.

I'll talk to Libby about the readout.

- You should be in the security review. - Which is when?

First up.

Why don't you come along?

We'll make you a copy before the session starts.

Are you babysitting me?

No, I'm trying to be helpful.

- Great that you find it so disorienting. - Well, thank you.

- I appreciate you. - No, you don't.

Well, I do.

Even though you think I'm inept.

If you can't look Billie in the eyes,

look right between them.

Reads as eye contact.

- I know how to make eye contact. - Not when you lie.

I don't lie to you. When have I lied to you?

"I love this song. It's really catchy."

Rick Springfield?

"Love what you did with your flat. You really warmed the place up."

Compared to how it used to be.

"The swordfish was delicious."

- In my defense... - Really?

It looks hearty, but it's a very delicate fish.

If it's dry, you can just say so.

I was choking. I could not speak.

Better?

Perfect.

They don't chill it quite enough.

I don't mind it.

Okay, but if you change your mind, I'm here.

You are.

I thought we were gonna get naked and roll around.

We are.

I wanna make sure we don't fuck through all the talking time.

So maybe we talk first?

Excellent.

Take it away.

You just got off a plane. I don't wanna ambush you.

This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you're ruining it.

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Last time we were together,

you'd valiantly hopped on a plane for a booty call.

Best booty on two continents.

Thank you. But...

it didn't quite pan out.

Yeah, I'm worried I'm oh for two.

And that was my fault.

Well, you were upset.

But I... I didn't speak.

I... I wasn't...

I wasn't there with you.

I didn't trust myself to open my mouth without...

What?

Taking it out on you.

- Blaming you. - You're allowed to blame me.

No, the version of me that would've blamed you is...

- What? - I have been working hard not to do that.

Okay.

Ever since the shooting in Windsor,

I've been really trying.

You said I'm the sweeper now.

- Not you. - It had been a tough day when I said that.

But you meant it, right?

Yeah.

Is it helping?

Sure, yeah.

Good.

I don't want to backslide,

because I understand why you hated that and that person.

And I do too.

Hated?

But it's been hard to find a balance where I'm not that,

but I'm still here.

- Kate... - You know...

Not unable to speak when you fly across an ocean.

I didn't hate that person.

- Whatever. The point is... - No, not whatever.

- Okay. - You think I...

I spent 15 years loving you and wanting you and secretly hating you?

- I get it. - I just wanted to turn the volume down.

Okay.

I wanted you, not you with a sock in your mouth.

- Okay. - That's...

That's not what I asked for.

Well, it... it kind of is.

No, it's not.

Okay, it's not.

You believe me or are you saying that because I'm supposed

to win every argument?

Fuck.

I wanted you

just at ten,

not 11.

- Okay. - Or nine.

Yeah.

Fuck.

- Well, now it makes sense. - What?

Well, you've been...

You've been blaming yourself and...

bottling yourself

like something in you was crushed.

Like I'd crushed you.

I didn't hate you.

- A little bit. - Kate.

I'm a... strong flavor.

No.

I never... I never wanted you to feel like that.

You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything wrong.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so fucking sorry.

Okay. Thank you.

- The pope wants to come. - Okay.

That's gonna grind the day to a halt.

- Readout. Vaughn's call with the Kremlin. - Great, thanks.

This is the wrong call.

- Stuart! - Yeah.

- This is the wrong call. - It is?

Who gave it to you?

Eidra got it from MI6.

- Tom Libby? - Yeah.

Is he fucking with her?

I don't know. Is he?

This call's from three days ago.

I need the one from last night or this morning.

Shit.

- Give me some time. I'll dig into it. - Okay.

My next meeting is short, so find me on the one after that.

You want one?

Bellini?

Sun's not over the yardarm.

It is somewhere.

I'd love one.

It's not gonna...

put you to sleep?

So why'd you ask?

Your body, your choice.

I have executive time.

Means we can take a nap.

You want to now?

What?

Nap?

Don't let me hold you up.

Do I owe you an apology?

For what?

I don't know. Maybe you can give me a hint.

You don't.

Was I dismissive about the special envoy business?

No.

I was surprised at first, but I take it seriously.

Well...

- You shouldn't. - Exactly the opposite, as you proved.

Your drink, madame.

You were a major success.

I wanna hear how you envoyed with the PM.

Did you get her liquored up on Bellinis and she was putty in your hands?

The ambassador took the lead.

Did you and Kate have a team strategy or is she a fluid dance partner?

- Babe. - I wanna celebrate your victory.

I'm in your chain of command.

I'm not supposed to leapfrog the entire national security apparatus

to tell you about a meeting.

I'm allowed to ask for a briefing.

- I'll send a note down the chain. - Gracie...

Ask Ganon if he can get the Europe division to get the UK desk

to call Embassy London

who will bounce it to Italy and request an update

from the hot envoy.

This isn't a joke to me.

I'm gonna do it right.

As commander in chief of the armed forces

who asked you to tell the Brits I may send destroyers to their shorelines...

You asked the ambassador.

And now I'm asking you.

In fact...

I'm commanding you.

You wanna play with the big dogs? You got an order.

Answer the question.

I wasn't there.

Kate ditched me.

She didn't want me in the room, so...

she sent me off in a monkey suit to meet the king.

She went to see Vaughn without me.

I'm gonna have another Bellini.

- Is Pavarotti alive? - The singer?

They said he wanted to come too, like the pope.

- Long dead. - Fuckers.

You got my readout?

We asked the Brits.

They said there wasn't another call.

They gave Eidra the readout to the only PM-Russia call that exists.

Well, that doesn't make sense.

Maybe the Brits misunderstood what the ambassador was saying.

Or the ambassador misunderstood what the PM was saying.

I don't need the questions.

Just need an answer.

Give me some time. I'll dig into it.

What did you do?

What did I do?

Did you insult Kate or Vaughn?

- That's your first assumption. - Career ambassadors can be territorial.

Maybe she's trying to hoard access, elbow you out.

I don't think she finds me that threatening.

Maybe that's the problem.

You're not talking about mah-jongg. You gotta be able to take a stand.

Suresh, can you please find Ambassador Wyler?

- He's not there. - Why the fuck not?

They're giving us space to reconnect.

Mission accomplished.

I'd prefer you not call my colleague in for a spanking.

This was humiliating enough without you involved.

- She works for me. - Everyone works for you.

If I have a problem with her, I need to deal with it.

You're the problem.

It's not Kate.

Not me.

You.

I feel like shit.

That's what I always hope to hear after intercourse.

No, I just... I can't believe you thought I hated you.

Not your fault.

Well, it's kind of my fault.

How?

Well...

I mean, I knew you were taking it too far.

Shrinking.

I should've said something.

We were barely together.

I think that makes it worse.

- You were busy. - No. Just let me...

I was punishing you.

I was...

I was using the vice presidency like a... a bludgeon.

If I overtook the note, that's on me.

I definitely indulged in some passive-aggressive deference.

Aw, it's not the same.

I should've stopped the Todd thing. That was definitely punishment.

The point

is not to make you beat yourself up.

Am I hijacking your... your talk?

You are.

I'm sorry. You go.

No, I don't need to go, but it is just...

a relief to know that...

we both think I took it too far.

Yeah, you did.

I will find a middle ground.

That smell, what is that? Is that jasmine?

Maybe.

Can I pitch you an idea?

- Of course. - I don't wanna step on your toes.

I don't feel stepped on.

Or the president's.

Pitch.

What if we go get the bodies?

In the sub.

Russia is coming in to collect their dead.

Which is bullshit.

It's bullshit that works, which is why the Brits are letting it happen.

If we get the bodies,

no more fig leaf.

Yeah.

Then it doesn't matter if Vaughn gets Russia to back off.

Right?

That's a good idea.

- I think you should raise it at dinner. - You.

She'll like it coming from you.

- Well, can I say it was your idea? - No.

All right. Credit where credit's due.

Just... sell it.

Star jasmine.

I spoke to Palmer.

She said the UK understood Kate's request.

- Okay. - But didn't comply with it.

So they lied to the ambassador?

I'm not sure that's what Palmer was suggesting.

Did you ask what she was suggesting?

Maybe they misunderstood Kate.

Or I misunderstood Palmer.

Did you?

Well, if I knew I'd misunderstood, I wouldn't have misunderstood.

What else did Palmer say?

That's it.

So you think that Palmer thinks that the UK is defying the US

and letting Russia approach a smoking gun in the North Sea,

but you're not sure and you didn't ask and you don't have an answer.

Shall I give you a minute to look into it?

Sure.

Is your mother okay?

I think so.

- Did your CIA girlfriend dump you? - No.

I wanna be sure there is not some very real, very tragic reason

that you woke up this morning with the mental capacity of a cricket.

I'm fine.

The FAA is inventorying civilian aircraft near Russia.

In case we need an evacuation of American citizens

in the Russian Federation.

- Understand the gravity of the situation? - I do.

I need to know why that damn ship's on the move.

- I hear you. - If you tell me you need a minute

to look into it or drill down or circle back or dig in, I will end you.

The fuck is your problem?

I heard Grace Penn ordered the carrier attack.

I guess that's my problem.

I take it back.

Too late.

I apologize. Let's not do the whole thing.

The thing where you explain why I'm the reason

you got ditched across an ocean?

The thing where you get me to say words and then tell me why they're wrong.

Your message to Vaughn was a doozy.

- I mean, destroyers? - Is that your professional opinion?

You're right. I have no idea what I'm talking about.

- I'm sure that's not the case. - You know what? It's not.

I've been in it with you for 32 years.

I know some things.

- I know you. - Great, let's do a deep dive on me.

You're different.

You're acting weird.

The staff thinks hanging out with you will relax me.

I don't think it's working.

Fine.

Fine.

How? Weird.

- We should drop it. - I'm asking.

I'm gonna say things I saw as part of the diplomatic machinery,

which I've been for three seconds,

and you're gonna tell me I don't know anything.

I'm a real peach?

Well, tell me about the machinery.

There are 50 steps on the ladder

before you tell someone you're occupying their coastline.

Or a hundred.

Let's review them one by one.

- I can't name them. - I can.

I decided to jump to the one that works.

Warships?

What are you proving?

And to who?

It's like you're trying to scare your own shadow.

Maybe it's the shooting.

Maybe it's the job.

Your behavior

is different.

Your decision-making is...

You're not acting like you.

Are you saying there's something wrong with me

mentally?

I think we should let her eat before we raise it.

You?

Yeah, before I raise it.

She's in a gorgeous place.

She had hours of downtime with Todd.

Conditions could not be better.

They'd be better if she hadn't made the threat.

She's not gonna love being the woman who blinked.

It's a good plan, but she... she drew a red line, and...

it'll cost her to erase it.

What?

- We agreed I get more wiggle room, right? - Yeah.

So me freelancing now and then is back on the table?

Be free. Go wild.

I kind of already did.

- Okay. - But in a way you'll be happy about.

I love it already.

She's not blinking.

It's only backing down if she made a threat.

Well, she did. You did.

I didn't.

I didn't deliver the message.

I couldn't threaten the PM with surface combatants

on her third day in office.

It would've gone down poorly.

- Last night you said... - Yeah.

But that's not what happened.

I decided to titrate the message to Vaughn.

I didn't wanna put a gun to her head before we...

or you, had a chance to talk to Grace.

You lied to the president.

What happens when she finds out?

She made a bad call.

Instead of dealing with the consequences, she's got a clean slate.

If I were her, I'd be relieved.

When you asked for latitude

because...

I... I crushed you...

- That's not what I said. - When you let me apologize for...

emotional abuse...

Hal.

You were just looking for a way to say you lied to the commander in chief

and you wanted me for cover?

You don't want American destroyers shooting at Russians any more than I do.

- I thought we were rescuing our marriage. - We were.

We are.

Jesus Christ.

I didn't know you were gonna say you thought you crushed me

but were prepared to let it ride for another three years.

Hal, the things I said were real.

I...

I didn't know you were gonna say what you said.

That's not... wasn't my intention,

but aren't you glad we got it out?

- Don't pretend this is about our marriage. - I'm not.

She will assume I knew.

If she finds out what you did,

you will lose your job, which is your choice.

But to make me your accomplice?

I'm making you suggest something totally reasonable.

If she thinks I was involved, I'm done.

I have access.

And a role.

Are you mad I lied

or that I jeopardized your position with the president?

Can we finish this?

I would like to take a minute before we get there

to calm the fuck down, so I don't show up looking homicidal.

- I tried to push her out. - It didn't work.

A president dropped dead.

I didn't think accusing his replacement of...

Of what?

- I think it helps to say the word. - She was president.

- I was a guardrail. - You were her right-hand man.

- I tried to stop her and I couldn't. - You could've stopped you.

- It's not that simple. - Of course it is.

You made her president.

A heart attack did that.

And the Constitution.

She wouldn't have lasted a month without you.

Please.

You kept the lights on.

Not for her, for the country.

- Really? - You don't just take down a president.

You take down

a policy agenda

and the stock market

and the dollar.

She's unfit for office.

- Come on in. - Hi, there.

Bevenutto a tutto!

- Thank you. - I'm coming. Coming.

Guess who.

Hello.

- Welcome. - Thank you.

Oh okay.

- Please. - Todd went to one of those schools

where they taught Latin and believed it would be more than a party trick.

It's not Latin.

- What is it? - One guess.

I did guess. I guessed Latin.

- Is it? - I think she should guess.

It's a... It's a one-guess guess.

Clearly not.

- It is for Hal. - You don't know what he's guessing.

You wouldn't even let him finish his thought. In a turn.

I feel like he got it.

Italian.

- Dante. - Oh yeah?

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

Who wants a Negroni?

- Me. - Todd's mixing.

We have a trad Negroni, a fizzy Negroni, and a phony Negroni.

Foamy?

- Phony. - Phony.

- Alcohol-free. - Smart.

Not that he's trying to tell anyone anything.

What can I get you?

I... I think, old-school.

- Ambassador? - I'll have a sip of Hal's.

You've had them before.

Yeah, but I can never quite decide if I like them.

I feel like the man wants his own drink. How about a fizzy?

- Sure. - Not phony?

Yeah, I guess, since it's a work night.

I bet you can handle it, even on a work night.

- Okay. - I don't know where we are anymore.

Fizzy, please.

- Traditional for me. - Already guessed.

- Was it a one-guess guess? - Sure was.

I'm gonna get some fresh basil for the drinks. Wanna see the greenhouse?

I'd love to.

I didn't know basil went in Negronis.

It doesn't.

You wanna tell her?

No.

Neither do I.

So beautiful.

- How's your villa? - Oh, gorgeous.

The whole place is.

Ours has these lemon trees.

Was he a nightmare?

- What? - Todd.

I'm so sorry.

No. No, no, no, he was fine.

- You've been a good sport. - No.

Honestly, I didn't know what else to do.

Well, he needed a break from me, which I understand.

I could also use a break from me.

He's also got this burgeoning neurosis

about not being relevant or useful or in it.

Of course.

- Since the shooting, it's been... - I'm sure.

Through the roof.

And normal.

I thought you'd get it and be able to manage it.

Happy to.

But he's got this way of seeming warm and agreeable

while doggedly driving a person out of their mind.

No.

I... enjoy having him.

He's learning and interested.

And imperious and believes he's insightful,

but is, in fact, chronically four degrees off the mark.

- Ma'am... - No, I'm just saying I understand.

Can I... for a second?

You may.

I was worried at first

for a lot of reasons.

I can't even imagine.

Ma'am...

Your turn.

But then we spent some time together

and talked about how it might work.

He knows the system.

He makes people comfortable.

He's got a serious intellect and good judgment,

and he can keep a bunch of contradictory ideas in his head

at the same time without short-circuiting,

which is kind of the whole ball game.

Really?

Yeah. No kidding.

But you didn't take him with you to talk to the PM.

No.

He thinks you snuck out in the dark of night,

which I'm sure is hyperbolic.

It was evening.

I think "sneak" is not how I would characterize it.

You didn't want him there.

No, I didn't.

Despite his keen intellect

and rare ability to hold two thoughts at the same time.

I thought a one-on-one with the PM would be the most productive.

Just the gals.

- As apparently you did. - But you didn't tell him that.

You pulled a runner.

It unfolded quickly.

Kate, I sent you my husband, who was having self-esteem issues,

and you generated an audience with the king of England,

so you could get real work done...

That's not...

Now I have a husband with bigger self-esteem issues.

I am so sorry.

So, nimble intellect and nuanced judgment was a load of crap.

No, it wasn't.

You continuing to lie to me is not a boon to our relationship.

We disagreed on the substance,

which I would love to say he didn't understand, but he did.

He was four degrees off, not because he couldn't track the argument,

but because we had different ideas about how to communicate your message.

He's smart and perceptive, and...

my life would've been easier if he'd been slightly less so.

Return of the hunter-gatherers.

Which one is mine?

That one.

Successful mission?

Thank you.

Please.

Releases the oils.

- It's so fragrant. - Right?

I think none for me.

You sure?

Thank you.

Forgot you.

I don't like basil.

Don't like the smell.

- The ambassador thinks you are a smarty. - I am?

Doesn't come as a surprise.

Incisive,

which I claimed you were not, as only true love can.

Feels good, babe.

She seems to think you have a firm grasp

on the complexity of the situation off the British coast.

I uncharitably claimed

Todd was out of his depth,

and she corrected me... twice.

She's being polite.

I think it's true.

- Truth. - Grace.

Todd thinks my strategy vis-a-vis the UK in this game of footsie with Russia

is a stinker.

Did you know the venue for the conference used to be.

Napoleon's sister's summer house?

I was working under the impression that he didn't really get it,

but the ambassador twice insisted he did.

So we're stuck with stinker.

That's not what I said.

You said there was something wrong with me.

- No. - Off?

- If tonight isn't a good night... - Cuckoo?

You're jet lagged. You don't need company.

Different. Would that be fair?

- We are really not gonna be offended. - I'm offended.

He's had an official post for a week and a half,

and his conclusion is I got shot and lost my mind.

That's a very special envoy

delivering that message to the world.

But he didn't.

You had to hog-tie him with a cummerbund and hustle out the back door.

He would have said exactly what you wanted him to say, word for word.

So why didn't you take him?

Ma'am, Kate and the PM discussed a plan I think is a sound one.

If we and the Brits extract the bodies from the sub ourselves,

the Russians have no excuse to get anywhere near it.

Vaughn's a reasonable person.

Get in the room, look her in the eye,

you're gonna get on like a house on fire, the whole thing's over.

- Why didn't you take him? - This is a distraction.

And it's a concern I've had from the get-go.

We both have spouses who are smart and capable,

and they see around corners.

You get two people seeing around corners,

you're gonna have collisions that are unnecessary.

Everyone's nose is halfway around the corner.

If you see around the corner, you don't collide, is...

I think the value of seeing around corners.

- Could we let her answer the question? - I'd rather not.

- I got that. - Ma'am...

The issue wasn't that Todd didn't like the plan.

The issue was that I didn't.

I didn't wanna say what you told me to say.

But you did.

No, I didn't.

Forgive me if I can interrupt for one moment.

Signore e signori, my name is Chef Agosti,

Filippo Agosti,

and I have the great honor of preparing your meal tonight,

a light and fresh essence of the Tuscan spirit.

We begin with the crostini di fegatini,

a spread from chicken livers on toast.

For the gentleman,

we also have gluten-free toast baked here in our own kitchen.

We have a separate surface for the gluten-free dough,

so we have no worries about cross-contamination and...

She doesn't like crostini.

But the liver I'll bet she'll eat with a spoon.

Are we gonna be okay?

I don't know.

I think I'm getting tired of okay.

Ma'am, sorry to interrupt.

Don't be.

She wants to talk to you.

Secure line or sat phone?

In person. She needs an update on the North Sea situation.

You didn't like my plan, so you made up your own.

Ma'am, respectfully...

- I feel respected. - This happens.

Presidents make muscular statements,

and ambassadors need to assess, looking the person in the face,

if it's gonna go down like a lead balloon,

in which case you soften the message or you deliver it incrementally.

Or not at all.

Not when there's a solve on the table that'll take us off war footing.

A solve that this side never heard and the other side rejected.

If it comes from you...

I'm so magic, I can sell anything.

The solve will sell coming from you.

If she rejects it, the threat will sell coming from you.

So what in God's name are you good for?

Ma'am, Kate had genuine concerns

and not illegitimate

that the message in its purest form was legally...

Il... legal.

It was not illegal, but...

- Immoral? - Tenuous.

So in order to protect me, you didn't say what I asked you to say

and then lied to me about it,

which is my favorite part.

I wasn't crazy about it either.

- Speaking of crazy... - Grace.

Raise your hand if you think

the strategy was legally tenuous and ill-advised

because there's something wrong with the president.

- Nobody thinks that. - They do.

You're tap-dancing so fast you're gonna pop a hernia.

I'm tap-dancing

because my wife has generated a breach of trust

that I'm scared out of my mind will destroy the partnership

that you and I have forged through dialogue and candor.

Of course they think there's something wrong with you.

You got shot, and your behavior changed.

- I need you to leave. - Hal...

- Immediately. - No.

Let's talk about it.

I mean it.

I have been giving Todd shit all day for even hinting at it.

I think it's time we face the idea that I may be off.

That's not what I'm saying.

How about for right now, this is an open forum.

Safe space.

No one believes that.

Don't be an asshole.

Open forum.

Okay, forget it.

The HMS Courageous...

- I am begging you. - Hal?

My understanding is

the HMS Courageous was a risky but reasonable operation

with a low probability of catastrophic failure,

and everything that could go wrong did.

Fair?

Yes.

My understanding of the current operation...

It's not operative.

The potential consequence I was asked to share with Prime Minister Vaughn

does not carry low-probability risk.

It carries significant danger of igniting armed confrontation

between not only two allies,

but also two superpowers,

which hasn't happened in 80 years.

Sounds crazy.

Ma'am,

everyone at the table is terrified.

We can do this or not.

Go ahead. I'm sorry.

Actually, I'm sorry.

When they named me Grace, it was aspirational.

Go ahead.

Your tolerance

for risk to human life

seems higher than it was.

Before I was president or before I got shot?

Which one?

Anyone can chime in here. I feel like I warmed up the table.

It was a question. I just asked the question.

The fact that it got a rise out of you...

Suggests you're onto something.

You tell me.

Say no,

we all move on.

You sleep less.

You're in pain more.

You're making big moves unilaterally

that bear the most potential consequence for the country where you got shot.

You expressed some reticence about my North Sea strategy.

Gonna let her take all the heat?

It's his job to worry about you.

You can make him envoy. It's not gonna change anything.

He swore to a God he may even believe in that he'd worry about you his whole life.

The ambassador

got worried.

That's her job.

And then she said so. That's her job.

And then she got creative with the message,

which she learned from the best, and that's also her job.

But then she lied to you...

which is not.

Hello, hello.

Hi.

- Have a seat. - I'll get another chair.

Unnecessary.

I'm more expedient than I was,

not because a bad man shot me,

because if I don't make a timely decision here,

the wheels come off over there.

And the wheels may be a G7,

or the wheels may be the massacre of tiny children

that I could have helped divert if only it had a scrap of my attention.

Tomorrow, I want the Brits to be informed

if they don't halt the Russian advance, I will,

using the armed naval assets

that will most effectively complete the task.

I believe I've said this before.

And now I'm saying it again.

Yes, ma'am.

Todd will deliver the message.

I'm grateful for your service. Good night, Ambassador.

Have a seat.

I have another copy in here.

Not sure if I have two.

Good night.