All language subtitles for Madam Secretary - S06 E02 - The Strike Zone (720p - AMZN Web-DL)

Good morning, everyone.

ALL: Good morning.

The Senate Intelligence
Committee will begin

its investigation into
the McCord campaign

this afternoon with
a closed hearing

with counselor to the president

and former campaign
manager Michael Barnow.

While President McCord
is wholly confident that

the Senate Intelligence
Committee will find

no evidence
whatsoever to support.

Senator Hanson's claims
that the McCord campaign

cooperated with Iran's
interference in the election,

she respects and
supports Congress' right

to oversee the executive branch,

and pledges full cooperation.

President McCord's historic
education, science,

and infrastructure bill
passed with bipartisan support

in Congress last week,
and is moving forward.

Finally,
following a long-standing.

White House tradition,

President McCord will
throw out the first pitch

for the New York Mets' opening
game at Citi Field this week.

[laughter]

I'm told Syndergaard
better watch his back.

[laughter]

I'll take questions.

Daisy. Daisy. Steve, go ahead.

This morning saw three
major demonstrations

protesting the severe
hike in gas prices

brought on by the new gas tax
in the infrastructure bill.

How does President McCord
respond to the criticism

that this tax unfairly burdens
lower-income Americans?

The president is very
aware that Americans are

feeling it at the
pump this week.

As tough as it is,
it's important to keep in mind

that this is a
short-term hardship

that will lead to
long-term gains.

It's also true that the
recent oil refinery fire

outside Philadelphia

caused a spike in fuel prices

in many eastern states.
ALL: Daisy. Daisy.

Keira. This morning's poll
in the Washington Chronicle

show's President McCord's
lowest approval rating

since she took office.

Is the president concerned
that the controversial

gas tax is responsible
for the drop?

Well, the ESI bill is

the most sweeping legislation
since the New Deal.

And it's gonna take
months and years

before its effects will
reach every community.

A poll is just one
moment in time.

But the point the protesters
are making is that

a uniform fuel tax
puts a greater burden

on lower-income Americans,

and it should be replaced by a
tax commensurate with income.

Again, the minimal fuel tax
is being temporarily inflated

due to the recent oil
refinery accident.

So-so you're saying the protesters are
overreacting? Of course not, Frank.

When do you expect
the prices to go down?

I don't have
projections on that.

Why is the president
throwing out

the first pitch for the Mets?

Does she have a special
connection to the team?

Well, as president
of the United States,

she supports every
great American team.

And also,
the Mets worked with her schedule.

Thanks, everyone, that's all.

[all shouting to Daisy]

I can admit when I'm wrong.

Are we taking this
healthy thing too far?

I wouldn't call it wrong.

It's just a lot of chewing.

You know,
you could get your chief of staff

to bring us some
of those dumplings.

The fried ones from
Imperial Palace.

Sneak it right by the kitchen.
Chef Cindy will never know.

It's almost like we both
worked in intelligence.

Oh, it's just growing pains.

[knock on door] Madam President?

ELIZABETH: Good morning.

HENRY: Oh,
you're just in time for

ancient grains and, uh,

marinated tofu.

Yeah, I'm cutting back.

Russia briefing.Right.

Yeah. Wait a minute.

Where did I leave that binder?

HENRY: Bedside table.
You really should find

some lighter bedtime
reading, babe.

No. Actually, it was great.

State is killing it on
this deal with Russia.

You're killing it as
well, ma'am.

He has to be nice to me now.
It's weird, right?

HENRY: Well, he is right.

ESI was a huge victory.

Yeah. Not for everyone.

Honeymoon's over.

At least 40% of the
country's gonna hate you

at any given time,
you might as well get used to it.

I was thinking about
responding to the protests.

You know,
explain the long-term benefits

of the bill. It already passed.

People hear a president
talking about taxes,

that's all they hear.

Yeah, well, that's all
they're talking about as is.

I mean,
we're losing the message.

Well, then,
let Daisy face the firing squad.

That's her job.

Elizabeth is the one that
talked the Russians into

de-alerting their
nukes, Russell.

Why not let her get out there?

Because she's not
a diplomat anymore.

She's a leader.

Leaders don't negotiate with
protesters, it looks...

Responsive? Weak.

You ready?

By all means,
let's go hold hands

with a bunch of protesters

who don't know how to
open a savings account.

I need the briefing
materials for the meeting

with the secretary of commerce.

And cancel my lunch
with Senator Baker.

Reschedule it for after
the Russian signing.

Where are we with the head count

on the signing ceremony?

Sorry.
Yes, they're waiting for you.

Did you hear
anything I just said?

Mr. Barnow asked me to wear these.
He says

all assistants are leakier
than his grandfather's dinghy.

But I assure you,
I would never offer

confidential
information to any...

I'm confused.

Did we cooperate with
the Iran hack or not?

Good morning. We did not.

Then why the hell do I have

22 pages of strategy

for a Senate Intelligence
Committee hearing about nothing?

Obviously, this is pure theater.

But with Mike's unusual
position at State

and some of his relationships,

we wanted to think
through every angle.

Is there anything
to worry about?

Is it ever pretty when
some puffed-up senator

wants to play Jimmy Stewart and
shine a light on the operatives

who actually make
this country run?

I never crossed any lines,
and I definitely didn't

help Iran hack into
somebody's divorce records,

if for no other reason
than I wouldn't want anyone

to hack into mine.

That's actually
not a bad argument.

Well, keep it minimal in there.

You want political theater?
Let's bore 'em to death.

The president made it clear she wants full
cooperation. MIKE: This is Washington.

I can fully cooperate
without giving them anything.

Why is POTUS
weighing in on this?

I'm White House
counsel, Russell.

She reached out to
reiterate her wishes.

I thought I made it clear
she's out of the loop.

One leaked comment
about strategy,

the press will turn it
into a full-blown coverup.

I haven't read her in
on anything substantive.

She did, however,
say that if questioning gets into.

Mike's time as chief of
staff, she wants us to answer.

MIKE: Sure. Why would we bother
claiming executive privilege?

This is why I don't
want her in the loop.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Guys,
we all serve at the pleasure.

That doesn't mean we
help her commit suicide.

Answer,
but keep it minimal.Yeah.

And for God's sake,
stop reading her in!

[indistinct chatter]

WOMAN [quietly]: That isher.

MAN [quietly]:
Yeah, that is her.

Hey. Hi. Hey.

Uh... Oh, I'm sor...

Griffin. Sorry.Hey. Stevie.

Sorry. I'm never sure if I
should introduce myself or...

Yeah, sure. I mean,
I have the same problem all the time.

Not really. Uh, thanks for meeting me.
Of course.

I mean, thank you.

Um, Blake had very nice things
to say about you, so... Really?

That's... Gosh, that's funny.
I always thought that

he found me to be a
horrible roommate.

[laughs] No.

But I was a reliable baritone

in the a cappella group, so...
I see.

That must have made up for
my poor dish washing skills.

Boy, you're even
prettier in person.

Oh... Sorry. Oh, my God,
that's a weird thing to say.

No. No, no. It's totally fine.

Um... Forgive me.

No, it's... [laughs]

I'm actually not really, like,

used to being out in public.

I usually just eat lunch
alone at my desk and...

Sure, sure. Oh, you have that...

That's so cool, you're with the.

Human Amnesty Association.Yeah.

They must be really
grateful for the attention.

I...
hope I'm bringing more to it

than just attention,
but they probably are, yes. I'm sorry.

[gavel banging]

Do you solemnly swear
to give this committee

the truth, the full truth,
and nothing but the truth

so help you God?

I do.

Mr. Barnow, would you describe

your position at the
State Department?

I served as Secretary's
unofficial advisor

and legal counsel.

This was a highly unusual
position, was it not?

It was unusual for me
in that I wasn't paid.

Ah, so you were
rewarded for your time

with a senior White
House position?

Mr. Barnow was clearly
a trusted advisor.

I think the
Committee would agree

that's pretty standard
criterion for a staff position.

HANSON: Very well.

During your time as an unpaid,

unofficial advisor at
the State Department,

were you privy to
any negotiations

for the United States'
agreement with Iran?

I never reviewed any documents

or spoke to any officials
regarding that agreement.

When the secretary
traveled to Tehran

for a secret meeting
with Zahed Javani,

were you aware of the trip?

I was not. In your time as
Candidate McCord's campaign manager,

were you ever
approached by anyone

who offered damaging information

about any of her political opponents?
Like every campaign,

we contracted with a firm
for oppositional research,

but we saw no need to seek
or accept any information

outside of that which we
were already paying for.

Did this research include
information about.

Senator Miller's
extramarital affair,

or his illegitimate children?

No, it did not.

HANSON: You had no
knowledge whatsoever

of those allegations

before they were
reported in the press?

I was notified the day
before it was published.

Really? Because in
your written testimony,

you stated you had no
knowledge of it prior

to its being published.

Mr. Barnow was contacted
for comment the day before.

This is clearly what he meant
by having learned of the story

through the press.

[indistinct chatter]

Madam President,
are you concerned

about the investigation
of your campaign manager?

MAN: What are your goals for
your upcoming visit to Lebanon?

Will you consider eliminating

the gas tax in light
of the protests?

Listen, one of my primary
initiatives in the ESI bill

was to wean us away
from foreign oil

and to foster the growth
of renewable energy.

Now,
I know that a lot of Americans

are feeling this right now.

I remember when Henry and
I both had long commutes,

and a spike in oil prices
meant we had a lot less

at the end of every month.
How did you get through it?

I mean,
one of the things that we did,

we checked the air pressure
in our tires regularly.

And believe it or not,
that little bit of maintenance

gave us a few extra miles
on every tank, so...

The point is,

if we are going to address
climate change head on,

then we need to come together
and make these sacrifices now,

while there's still time left.

Thank you.

WOMAN: Madam President,
when you throw out the first pitch

at Citi Field,
will you throw it from the stands

or the mound?

Did you ask my
predecessor that question?

[reporters chuckling]I'm
gonna do what every president

since Ronald Reagan has done.

I will see you on the mound.
Thanks, everyone.

Thank you, guys.
That's it. Thank you.

How far is it from the
mound to home base?

It's home plate,
and it's 60 feet, six inches.

Now, see?
Why the extra six inches?

♪

BLAKE: Uh,
you'll be introduced by

the president of the
Press Association,

Gabriela Mendez,
then remarks for 15 minutes,

then 50 handshakes and
20 photos backstage.

When did presidents ever
have time to play golf?

I can schedule that.

DAISY: Mm, not this Sunday.

There's the prayer service.

That's not reading face,

that's worried face.

What?

Just an opinion piece.

A dumb one.

What's it about?

The comment about checking
the air pressure in the tires.

He's trying to make
it seem out of touch.

Okay, the reporter asked
me what we did, and now

I'm Marie Antoinette
with a pressure gage.

At least

they're distracted from
the Senate hearings.

On a positive note,
there's a lot of excitement

on Twitter for your first pitch.

DAISY: That's true.
#FirstPitch is trending.

No pressure there.

Only tire pressure.

HANSON: Apart from your
work with members of.

NIAC, have you worked with any
other organizations tied to.

Iranian interests?
OLIVIA: Senator, Mr. Barnow has

already submitted
a complete list

of all relevant business relationships...
Hold on, no,

I-I may have,
I may have forgotten one.

A guy named Farhad.

Very chatty waiter
at Farhad's Falafel.

What?
Money, money changed hands.

You may find this inquiry
worthy of contempt, Mr. Barnow.

I assure you the
American people do not.

Let's move on to the
campaign stop last July.

In Bangor, Maine.

A moment, please?

[quietly]: Uh, where's,
where's he going with this?

[whispering]: He's
spinning his wheels.

There was nothing illegal.
Just...

run out the clock on it.

When you're ready, Mr. Barnow.

In order to understand
what happened in Bangor,

first, we really have
to go back to Portland.

ELIZABETH: I can't,

I can't have another meal

on the bus, I'm sorry.

Okay, we're an hour and a
half outside of Portland.

It's 10 minutes, Mike.

Okay, what you,
what you need is sleep.

What I need is to work
on my stump speech!

There is nothing
wrong with the speech.

People think I
sound like a robot.

MIKE: See, every candidate has
their own version of road burn,

the point at which all reserves
of optimism and resilience

are worn away by
the lack of sleep,

wretched food,
and a relentless schedule

under constant scrutiny.

The danger with road burn
is that it generally leads

to a meltdown. And my number
one job as campaign manager

is to make sure
that this meltdown

did not occur in
front of cameras.

Hey, we really should be
back on the road.Mike...

Well, there's too much
radiation out here.

Something you can handle with
your new...[bird squawks]

Oh, my God! Look!

MIKE: And then it happened.

Oh... That poor thing.

ELIZABETH: Ooh...
it's still breathing.

Must've fallen from its nest.

Oh, well. Circle of life.
Shall we?

Oh, bless your heart.
Absolutely not.

We're not leaving this
creature here to die alone.

We're all it has.
We've got to do something.

BLAKE: All right, all right,
I'll-I'll look up a vet.

Or a wildlife sanctuary.

I'm not touching that thing.Yes.

MIKE: I mean,
you have to remember,

she had just run
circles around Miller

in a town hall debate.

And all the press
could talk about

is how she seemed
"overprepared."

The more hatred Miller spewed,

the more his poll
numbers went up,

and there was nothing
we could do about it.

And somehow, rather than think
about our dying campaign,

or our dying democracy,

it was easier, for a moment,
to think about a dying bird.

In .5 miles you'll pass
Apple Blossom Highway.

You couldn't find
anything closer?

We're ten minutes
from the freeway.

You sure they're open? BLAKE: Yes,
I called ahead. They know we're coming.

It's right up here on the right.

Oh, yeah. It's right on the right.
Right there.

MIKE: I was willing to indulge
this, to a point.

But even I had my limits.

I mean,
isn't there anything you can do?

At this point, our options

would be to let nature
take its course,

or I can help things along.

[quietly]: Okay, I'm sorry.

But we're gonna need a
second opinion.No. No.

We already left
hundreds of donors

waiting for you in Portland.

If we miss this endorsement...
I have made every stop.

I haven't seen my
kids in three weeks.

Beth, we have too much to do.
I'm asking for one thing.

This one thing. Excuse me.

I'm... I'm so sorry.
I think she's gone.

[gasps] Oh...

My God.

How do we know it's a she?

Wait. Let's go to Bangor.

One more thing.

[Blake humming]

♪ Amazing grace

♪ How sweet... the sound.

[birds singing]

And then, finally,
we were on to Bangor.

I'm afraid that's all
the time we have today.

It seems Scheherazade
has been interrupted.

Committee will
reconvene at 9:00 a.m.

for the pertinent facts
of the event in question.

Thank you.[quietly]: Round
one, McCord.

ELIZABETH: Well,
that's not fair.

Because H.W. was captain of
his baseball team at Yale.

Of course he can throw.

Yeah. The dude's a boss. He just...
He just hits the mound

and, like, fires it.

ELIZABETH: Show me
Coolidge again.Okay.

Well, that's about all we got.

You mean it's further than that?

A little bit.

Come on. How...

Fire it in here, babe.

Let's see what you can do.

ELIZABETH: No leaks to the
press if I smash a window.

You know how that story'll go.

Uh, "Cougar-in-chief
throws like a girl"?

You did not just say that.

Cougar-in-chief? I didn't...
I didn't make that up.

Are people saying that?

Don't answer that.

Come on. No thinking.

Now hum it in, babe, come on.
Stop talking.

[exhales]

[muffled scream]

Oh, my God.

I broke the White House.

No, that was, that was great.

Uh... let's try it again.
I don't want to.

You've totally got this, Mom.

Here. Here.

Excuse me, are you a current
employee of the White House?

Busted. [Chuckles]

I mean, seriously, though,
why is your coffee so good?

That's above your security
clearance, ma'am.

So, how's it going?

Are you, uh,
sad that you're not working on policy?

ROTUS is feeling
like a promotion.

Plus, I still get to weigh in.

Wait, ROTUS?

Receptionist of the United
States.[chuckles] Oh, my God.

Are we just not going
to talk about the date?

Ah... well,
I sort of assumed that Griffin

had already told you.

So... He said it was
a little awkward.

Yeah, it was like
bombing a job interview.

Oh. Shoot, I'm sorry.

No, no, no.
He was a super nice guy.

Really,
just exactly like you said.

Um, I don't know, maybe...

maybe I, like,
tanked it on purpose.

Oh... I get it.

You are still not over me.
[Laughs]

You got it. [Chuckles]

Okay, so, here's the thing:

first, he says to me that
I'm prettier in person?

Oh, how dare he? Okay.

But then he... he just, like,
knew everything about my family.

And it... it got weird.
I don't know.

You do realize your family
is, like,

internationally famous, right?

Well,
I guess it still freaks me out.

What your mom had for
breakfast is public record.

Look at where they live.

Please, if it were
me, I'd be Eloise.

I'd move in, slide down the
bannisters, try to get

the Secret Service
to dance with me.

Try to get a good table
at that sushi spot

that I can never get into.

Hmm. I get it. It's not you.

You... You work at a
human rights organization,

you're very serious
and committed.

Excuse me.

It's not like I never have fun.
How would I know?

You haven't posted on
Instagram since the campaign.

What? So if I don't post,
that means that I'm not having fun?

That's what the youth
of America is saying.

Blake... See? Fun can be had
while working for the government.

Very busy. Very busy.

HANSON: Resuming the
testimony of Michael Barnow.

Right. So we had to miss the
campaign event in Portland,

but thanks to the bird's
blessedly swift expiration,

we were now making
excellent time to Bangor.

Where you expected to receive
the endorsement of State Senator

Cyrus Woodhouse of Maine, correct?
Exactly.

He was hosting a
summer fair at a

community center
bearing his name.

HANSON: And with Senator
Woodhouse's endorsement,

you felt reasonably
confident of winning Maine's

second congressional district.
Netting us another electoral vote.

Which you desperately needed. Not sure
that's how I would've put it at the time,

but yes.

[loud horn honking]MIKE: It's go
time, people!

[mumbling]I'll get
you some coffee.

Hey, Bess?
Senator Woodhouse is right outside.

I need you to work that old man

like Daddy Warbucks on Christmas.
You with me?

You got this? Yeah.

Grab your gla...
glasses. Coffee?

Glasses.Coffee.

Glasses... Glasses on.Okay.

Glasses on. Here we go.
This way.

I'm going. Okay. Walk this way.

[applause]

[quietly]: Senator Woodhouse,
second congressional district.

Senator Woodhouse,
so nice to meet you, sir. Thank you.

It's not a good day.

Senator, uh, Mike Barnow.

I'm Secretary McCord's
campaign manager.

We spoke on the phone.

WOODHOUSE: Oh, yes.

ELIZABETH: Senator, I-I wanted

to tell you how grateful
I am for this endorsement.

I know that we can
do great things

for the second congressional
district of Maine.

Well,
we'll have to see about that.

Not sure I can endorse a Communist.
AIDE: Senator...

Listen, I love my
granddaughter to pieces.

But she's a radical.

And frankly,
a bit of a loose woman.

If we could have a moment.

These people wanted to say "hi."

Gosh, I haven't been
called that in years.

Call the hotel in Augusta,
tell them we're gonna be early.

Yeah. No. No.

We are not leaving.
We can stay. Yes.

The Pepperidge Farm
guy is sundowning.

We're not staying. Okay.

So we don't get the endorsement.

That's why we're here.
I mean, we're here.

I-I got a great speech.

It's... Everybody's w...

There's a quilting bee. Bess!

Oh, my gosh...

I think I feel worse
for the granddaughter.

She's loose. She doesn't care.

The-the secretary wasn't in
charge of passports directly,

but I will share your concerns.

Will you excuse
me for one second?

We are pulling the plug

if this thing doesn't
get started in ten.

Where's the senator?
I was about to ask you.

Okay. Aw, will you yank her
out of the quilting circle?

I have to hit the little
campaign manager's room,

and then we're out.

[indistinct chatter]

All I want is bad
pay-per-view and a minibar.

That's not good.

Senator?

You need a hand in there?

[groans]

We're not getting that
endorsement, are we, Senator?

MCGRATH: Once you determined
Senator Woodhouse was deceased,

how did you proceed?

MIKE: The way any
campaign manager would.

Determine the scope
of the crisis,

secure the perimeters,
minimize the fallout.

What "fallout," exactly,
were you concerned about?

MIKE: I had a candidate

who was extremely
sleep-deprived,

in denial/despair about
her sinking poll numbers,

and feeling beaten up
by a hostile press.

If we had to miss an
event to bury a dead bird,

what was a dead
senator gonna do to us?

MIKE: We've got to
get her on the bus.

We've already missed the
thing in Portland, um,

and we-we obviously
lost the endorsement.

If we miss this town
hall in Burlington...

Okay, okay.
What-what's the plan?

[sighs] Oh...

You go get her, go get her.
I'll take care of this.

Okay. Go, go.

♪

Now, see, I've never even tried
to make a-a lattice crust.

Hi... Hi.
I have to steal her for one second.

Oh. Bye.

Are we starting soon?
I can't feel my feet.

Yes, um, slight change of plans.

Um, there's a-a power
outage in Burlington...

Oh. so we have to go
there immediately,

so they can have a tech check
first thing tomorrow morning.

[chuckles] "Tech check."
"Tech check" rhymes.

Yes, yes, yes. You need sleep.

MIKE: Thanks so much!

It was great to see you, everybody.
Don't forget to vote!

Everybody on the bus.
Go, go, go,

go, go, go. We're going to hell.

No, we're going to
the White House.

Can you explain
why, in your haste,

you took the time to call
911 from a pay phone?

I'm sorry, what relevance
could that possibly...

My son Zach has a
severe peanut allergy,

and among other things

we were told to always
call 911 from a landline

so the dispatcher can trace
your call to a precise location

and get the response
team there even faster.

So you were just
following protocols,

as you understood them.

Absolutely.

HANSON: Can we hear the
audio, please?

DISPATCHER [over recording]: 911.
What's your emergency?

MIKE: Yes, I would like to report a
death, a dead body.

He is in the bathroom
at the Cyrus,

uh, Woodhouse Community
Center on River Road.

Yeah, on Cyrus Woodhouse.

Yes, that's also the
name of the dead person.

DISPATCHER: Can you tell
me exactly what happened,

and who am I speaking to?

MIKE: I-I don't know! He was,

he was very old,
and he's in the men's room,

and I have to go, and no,
I cannot give you my name.

[dial tone sounds]

You know, not every situation

is actually in the campaign
manager's handbook.

[applause]

[crowd cheering]

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome to Citi Field

the President of
the United States,

Elizabeth McCord.

CROWD: Oh![gasps]

Oh, my God!

[booing]

Come on, man.

I didn't, I didn't...

Mr. Met. No, no, no. I...

Oh. Oh. Oh, my God.

[distorted booing]

[crowd cheering]

[gasps]

No, I didn't...

[thumping]

Whoa, arm's looking good.

[groans0.

Yeah, it's still not the
full distance yet. I...

Well, what is it?

The gas tax protests
or pitch anxiety?

I had a nightmare

that I beaned Mr. Met

with my pitch. Yeah.[chuckles]

I don't know,
it was probably a symbol

for how I'm clobbering America

with my gas tax.

Well, I have something

to take your mind off it.

Guess who called me yesterday.
Ali?

No. I only hear from her when
I'm lurking on her Instagram.

No, Dmitri Petrov.

Is he allowed to call you?

Well,
you're about to grant amnesty

to U.S. and Russian intelligence
officers, so I'd say yes.

What did he want?

To thank us for the deal,
and to ask permission

to contact Stevie.

That's, like,
weirdly patriarchal

and romantic at the same time.

Uh, considering he was never
supposed to be dating her

in the first place,
I appreciate the gesture.

Well, what did you say?

It was up to him.

[sighs]

I mean, I kind of love that
he's still thinking about her,

you know?
And I happen to believe

that she's still hung up on him.

Think we should
give her a heads-up?

And risk watching
her spiral again

if he doesn't follow through?

No, thank you, sir. True.

I say we just stay out of it.

You know? Let it play out
the way it's gonna play out.

[laughing]: God,
I love it when it's not up to me.

[groans] Okay.

I love you.

Come on. I love you, too.

[camera shutters clicking]

I want to thank.

Secretary Thompson and
Foreign Minister Avdonin

for this historic agreement

between our nations.

When two great powers come
together to share intelligence

and unite against
common enemies,

the whole world
benefits, so thank you.

Thanks, everyone.
That's all for today.

Konstantin, it's nice to
be working with you again.

Congratulations on the
promotion, Madam President.

Secretary Thompson,
you hit it out of the ballpark.

You threw the pitch,
Madam President.

Your boss is a great
diplomat, Nina.

She learned from the best.

BLAKE: [clears throat] Ma'am?
Yes?

It's, uh,
time to take you to the stadium.

Oh, boy.

Does the President of Russia
also have to play sports?

No, he chooses to,

and somehow, he always wins.
[chuckles]

Get those to the
staff secretary.

Make sure NSC has a copy.

CANDACE: Of course, Mr. Jackson.

What happened to the other
kid, uh, Trevor, was it?

Travis. Travis.

I needed an upgrade.

Senator Gates is
waiting in your office,

I pushed the Transportation
Secretary to 3:00,

and your wife asked if
you're free for lunch.

You didn't answer, did you?

I mentioned that you and the
Senator had plans, but...

And then she asked you
where, and you told her,

didn't you? Damn it.

Do you not understand

when you're being
worked for information?

I'm very sorry.
It won't happen again.

You're damn right it won't.

[overlapping protests]

STEVIE: I do not understand

why they are still attacking
you over the air pressure thing.

I mean, it does save gas.

[chuckles] Oh, my God.
If that's a meme about me,

I don't want to see it.

Mom, no.

It's, uh,
actually it's from this guy

that-that Blake set me up with.

Um, we had a really
awkward lunch,

and then... Here.
He hasn't given up.

[both laugh]Isn't that good?

Well, he's got strong GIF
game, I'll give him that.

Yes. Yes, he does.

It's always nice when
they fight for you.

[chuckles] Yeah, it is.

[indistinct chatter]

[grunts]Ah.

Ah, Kevlar, so flattering,

and it breathes, too.

There are a few
protesters in the stands.

[groans] Can't they leave
the politics out of baseball?

They're just exercising
their first amendment rights.

Okay. Remember H.W.

No thinking,
just hit the mound and fire.

Yup. Right over home base.

HENRY and STEVIE: Home plate.

Plate.

GUARD: We're ready for
you, Madam President.

Home plate. Home plate.
You got it.

[crowd cheering, chanting]

ANNOUNCER: Please
welcome to Citi Field,

the President of
the United States,

Elizabeth McCord.

I want to,
I want to back off on the gas tax.

Mom... There are other
ways to fund the bill.

After all the political
capital you spent

getting the bill
through Congress,

backing off now could be
a major embarrassment.

We're already embarrassed.

Look at them.

Why aren't we listening?

Can we discuss this when
there isn't a stadium crowd

waiting for you?

I can't...
I have to go watch this on my phone.

Sorry. Okay, honey.

ANNOUNCER: Welcome,
Madam President.

[crowd cheering, applause]

[organ playing lively music]

[crowd cheering]

Our ceremonial catcher

is Luis Guillorme.

[crowd cheering, applause]

[crowd laughing]

[crowd cheering]

ANNOUNCER: Madam
President, it's your pitch.

["I Got More Bills Than I
Got Pay" Sonny Ellis plays]

ANNOUNCER: Great
job, Madam President.

[announcer continues
indistinctly]

You told the catcher
to move forward.

It's my job to
make her look good.

No, Russell,
it's your job to help her execute

her policies effectively.

You know I respect the
hell out of you, Henry,

but don't tell me
what my job is.

Let me ask you something.

If Conrad wanted to
make a policy change,

would you openly contradict him?

I've got eight years'
experience in the White House...

No, just answer the
question, Russell,

because I see a chief
of staff second-guessing

and micromanaging the elected
leader of this country.

'Cause this isn't like
any other presidency.

Anything that came at Conrad
comes at her twice as hard.

All right? You don't want to
know the threat reports I get,

or what this Congress is
capable of doing to her,

and you won't have to

'cause I'm the one
thinking five steps ahead

to protect her from
the worst of it.

I get that you're
trying to protect her,

I do,

but I think that you and
I and everybody out there

is just gonna have
to take a breath

and find out what it looks
like to have a woman president

by having one,
by letting it happen

and not looking
for the pitfalls.

The country elected her,

and now it's time
to let her lead.

ANNOUNCER: And now,
here they are: Your New York Mets!

[crowd cheering]

Mr. Jackson's waiting for
you in the Oval, ma'am.

Oh, gosh, thanks. [stammers]

You really don't have
to do this anymore.

I thought you needed it after
your egg white frittata.

With cashew cheese.

Nuts and cheese,
really two different things. Yes, ma'am.

Congratulations on the
pitch, ma'am.

You'll be happy to know the
Internet loves you again.

A little high and wide,
but I guess I didn't embarrass myself.

Good morning.

RUSSELL: Good morning.
It was a solid throw

and full distance from the mound.
Impressive.

[whispers]: He's so nice to me.
It's hard to get used to.

Um...

Daisy, I want to release
a statement this morning

announcing that I'll be looking
into ways to delay or roll back

the gas tax, and then I'm gonna

need an updated
list of proposals

for new revenue streams
to make up the deficit.

Yes?

With respect, Madam President,
giving in to protesters

risks turning your biggest
legislative win into a defeat.

I hear that,

but I don't see how
responding to the objections

of the people I was
elected to serve

makes me weak.

I know we're all

panicked about the
approval rating,

but if throwing a ball
makes people love me again,

then how much could
it really matter?

Well, Conrad didn't like
it, either,

but your approval rating
is how you get things done.

Right now Hanson and his
minions are realizing

they're gonna have
to put off murder

until next week.

It's crude and it's fear-based,

but it works.

Okay. Well, uh...

You might be right
about this one,

but I do want to get to
work on that statement,

please.

Thank you. BLAKE: Thanks, ma'am.

You okay, Russell?

I will be.

Hi. Devon.

Nina Cummings from State.

I called about getting the
docs signed by Mr. Jackson?

Uh, he's in,
if you want to get them signed now.

I'm heading out.

Oh. Well,
it can wait until you get back.

I'm not coming back.

Not that I mind.

Oh.

RUSSELL: Unless you're the
president or my wife, go away.

[scoffs]

Oh. Excuse me. [clears throat]

Um, State needs your signature.

I'd leave them with
your assistant, but

he left, so...

Fine.

It's better if I do
everything myself anyway.

You know, um,
Devon out there worked

for a Supreme Court justice.

Well,
then he should have figured out

how to answer a phone.

Yeah. Mm.

For a... legendary gatekeeper,

it's kind of surprising
how little value

you have of your own.

I know it's-it's hard to
replace somebody like Adele,

but if you just give
people a little bit

of time and training,
instead of throwing them all

on the scrap heap at
the first misstep...

You finished?

I'm sorry.

No one else will say it
because they're scared of you.

Not a problem for you, is it?

Ambassador Harriman taught me
not to take crap from anybody.

Fine.

You're hired.

What?

If Harriman liked you,
you're good enough for me.

I'll call the secretary.

Um...

[laughs] Wow!
I mean, I was really hoping

that it was a tiny
shirt for a gerbil.

Yeah, I mean, well,
there's no need

to patent a tiny shirt,
but a unique item like

the wearable gerbil
display shirt...

It requires the protection of a U.S.
patent.

I see. What can I say?

Your job is way
more fun than mine.

I don't know. I think your job
is a little more important.

There you go. Oh, thank you.

That has to be important.
Well, I guess...

It's important to the person

who invented it.

With this?

What are you...
what are you doing?

I'm just giving this
lady a better shot.

[camera phone clicking]

[laughs] Here,
why don't we, uh...?

Let's take our own photo.

An "ussie" if you will.

Oh. Wait.
Should I wear the hat? No?

That's totally up to you.

Tough call.
All right, I'm gonna do it.

Okay.

Oh, yeah,
worth it.[phone camera clicks]

WOMAN [over P.A.]:
Welcome, passengers.

We're just about to begin
boarding for this afternoon's

flight to Dulles
International Airport.

Mr. Barnow,
you were saying you saw your efforts

to cover up the death
of Senator Woodhouse

as part of your duties

as Elizabeth McCord's
campaign manager.

Senator... I thought that

the death of Senator
Woodhouse was a situation

I needed to manage,
because up to that point,

I was operating
under the assumption

that nothing could be worse
for the McCord campaign

than for this incredibly
powerful, effective.

Secretary of State to be seen as a
weak, vulnerable woman.

Then we got to Burlington.

Yeah, I want gender pay
equity, but I want more.

I want a living wage

for every working American.

You know,
my father-in-law raised four kids

on a steelworker's salary.

That just wouldn't
be possible today.

But we will get there,

because every American
deserves that.

Thank you for asking.

Thank you.

Hi, Secretary McCord.

Ginny Matthews.

Hi.

Um...

when I was 16, I got pregnant

and dropped out of high school.

Fortunately,
my mom made me get my GED,

and then I went on
to nursing school

with the help of a few loans.

Um...
at the hospital where I worked,

I saw pain medication
prescribed every day,

and I saw...
what it did to people, so,

a few years ago, when my husband
Howard had to have surgery,

I told him,

"Don't take that stuff."

But he needed help with the
pain, and...

that's what they gave him.

[crying]: Three years ago, I...

[sniffles]

Found him...
dead from an overdose.

Um...

Without his salary,
I couldn't keep up with the mortgage, and

last year, I lost my house.

Now I stay with my daughter,
but she can barely afford groceries,

much less medication
for her son's asthma.

I'm not looking for a handout,

and I'll admit when I screw
up, but

I got to tell you,
I'm asking myself, you know...

is this h...

is this how...
how it's supposed to be?

[microphone squeaks]

[quietly]: No.

That's not how it's
supposed to be.

[applause]

[camera shutters clicking]

MIKE: We all know
what happened next.

By morning, most of the
country had seen that video,

and her polls shot
up six points.

Vulnerability wasn't her
weakness, it was her superpower.

It was in that moment
that I realized

the old playbook
meant nothing anymore.

It's also the moment I might
have believed in politics again.

For, like, a day.

I have the coroner's report

from the Chief Medical
Examiner's office

in Bangor, Maine.

It lists the cause of death

for Senator Woodhouse as
anoxia due to asphyxiation.

Interestingly, the report

declines to rule out foul play.

Can I see that report, please?

I'm sorry. What on earth
are you trying to imply?

Not implying
anything, Mr. Barnow.

I'm laying out the facts
from your own testimony.

You stated

that the loss of Senator
Woodhouse's endorsement

would have been a grave public
embarrassment to the candidate,

one you said multiple times

was your "number one
priority" to avoid.

Seriously?
Senator, that is an outrageous

accusation founded
on wild speculation.

Are you accusing me of murder?
Are you insane?

Why don't we call
a quick recess?

Are you redecorating?

We cleared things out
for pitching practice.

We're gonna put it
all back tomorrow.

Really?

I was kind of hoping for
a driving range.[laughs]

Well, here's to a bump
in the approval rating.

All I had to do was publicly
admit I made a mistake.

I wouldn't say

the gas tax was a mistake.

HENRY: That pitch didn't
hurt, either.

[Elizabeth laughs]Did
I hear Scotch?

There are dumplings, too.

MIKE: Best dorm party ever.

So... how were the hearings?

I can ask now that it's over.

Anything but.

Forget the Iran hack.

They are looking
into everything.

And if they can't find it,

they will find it anyway.

RUSSELL: So,

it's war.

Captioning sponsored by CBS.

Captioned by Media Access
Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org