Commander in Chief (2005) s01e04 Episode Script
First Dance
Previously on "commander in chief" the president has had a stroke.
What happens now,do I take the oath? Madam vice president,we need you to resign.
I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to take the oath of office.
The president of the united states.
you have a country full of people who believe in you.
Those are the nominees that I can guarantee I can get through congress.
I want you to be my chief of staff.
They don't see me as a spouse,they see me as an advisor.
Do yourself a favor,rod,stay in your lane.
- I went to public school.
- So I have to go to public school,too.
Templeton is not choosing my vice president.
- She's picked somebody.
- It's warren keaton.
What's going on,jayne? Mackenzie allen needs to show a little respect.
If you want a man who's worth a damn in this job, you gotta make this job worth a damn.
He won't be confirmed,not with what I know.
With all due respect,ma'am, this state visit is not a negotiation with the russians.
It's a pre-approved package,a photo op, a goodwill tea party with the russians.
In other words,no items on the table that haven't been agreed to.
Implicit in a state visit is the idea that the pact's already been signed,ma'am.
True,but by the previous administration.
I have yet to weigh in on any substantive issue.
We can't take the chance of derailing your first summit.
It's too pubc a venue for missteps.
I wasn't planning on making any missteps,jim.
I'm simply asking a question.
Kharkov is not the guy about jailed dissident journalists.
Ma'am,the truth is, our nascent administration needs the win more than his does.
All right,well,big day tomorrow.
Let's all try to get some rest,shall we? Thank you.
As requested,I had the russia desk translate a few phrases for you.
Oh,thank you,eli.
- Good luck,tomorrow,ma'am.
- Thank you.
For a second,I thought I was being handed a script to read from.
Increases in natural gas production, forward movement on the russian/american space station.
We're still accomplishing some big things here.
Yet human rights still don't make the list.
Not this time.
Thank you.
Hi.
Oh,good for you.
You know,ddy's head never even hit the pillow the night before his first state visit.
He spent half the night practicing his salute in the mirror.
President bridges always seemed like such a rock.
It's funny to think of him as nervous.
Don't you worry.
You're going to be wonderful tomorrow.
Thank you.
Or,rather,today.
- Good night.
- Good nig.
So my chief of staff-- he won't even discuss bringing up the dissident journalists with kharkov.
He's just--you know,he shutse down every time.
He just starts lecturing me.
Oh,lectures.
Lectures are bad.
All right.
Into bed.
You just gotta learn to turn off your mind.
You can't claim to have a free society if you don't have a free press.
No.
mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Mommy! - Oh,I'm coming.
I'm coming.
- Honey,you okay? Baby,it's okay.
You're having a bad dream.
It's okay.
Oh.
- What happened? - I couldn't find you.
I was looking all over for you, - and I couldn't find you.
- Oh,I'm here now.
I'm here.
Mommy's here,baby.
She had a nightmare.
Go.
Go.
she's okay.
sorry,sir My eggs are overcooked.
I like the yolks runny.
- Yours okay? - Oh,perfect.
Stay out of trouble last night? Yeah,it was fine.
We had dinner at--oh! I completely forgot.
I ran into general keaton last night at the palm.
You what? Did her esteemed vice presidential candidate have anything to say for himself? Said he was looking forward to the confirmation hearing.
He wondered if you might send the questions in advance.
the wanker.
What did you tell him? I said he was wearing a nice tie.
He was the toast of the room last night--he and his wife.
You have to pick up the N.
S.
A.
In 20 minutes.
Yeah.
It's going to be a challenging day for our president.
I think by the end of it, she may well wish that she went back to running a school.
Good morning.
Got some fresh chocolate chip muffins for you today.
Sam,what are you doing to me? You know I have a gown to fit into tonight.
Have you seen amy's subtraction workbook? Um,I saw it under the portrait of coolidge.
- Have you seen this? - What? Op-ed piece.
- The "times"? - "Post.
" Hey! Hey,I'm the president.
Go get yourself another muffin.
Yeah,there's,uh,something like that in the "times," too.
I know.
Thank you,sam.
They're all the same.
Will I be able to handle the summit? Whether I'll confront kharkov on his country's retreat from civil liberties.
Hey,horace,have you seen my biology book? - I don't know.
- Look under coolidge.
Good morning.
Just wanted to make sure we're all up to speed for the state dinner this evening.
Wait,you mean that state dinner thing is tonight? oh,yes,very exciting,isn't it? - bye,daddy.
- Bye,h.
See you,guys.
See ya.
- bye,mommy.
- Come on,guys.
Becca,what? No good-bye? Bye.
Madam president,mr.
Calloway, - big day--big,big day.
- I can hardly wait.
Oh,sir,I wanted you to know the white delphinium tapers have finally been located for this evening.
U.
S.
Postal service.
Well,I can't believe I have to play tour guide all day.
Have you,uh have you seen a picture of mrs.
Kharkova? Yes,I have.
- I think you can handle it.
- She's no mackenzie allen.
Nathan.
I haven't seen you since the funeral.
- You okay? - I still can't believe it.
That he's dead,or that she had the balls to take the oath of office? She defied the dying wishes of a great man.
- It's unforgivable.
- Damn right.
Wolfie,I'm gonna run.
I'm going to run for president.
I have to.
And I'm going to win.
- If it's against her,you-- - oh,it'll be against her.
Oh,yeah,I guarantee you that.
She'll run as an independent.
Do you know how many states she's going to carry? Her home state,maybe--connecticut.
She's not going to carry a state--nary a one.
And I'm going to be president.
And I want you with me as my national security advisor.
Temp,I don't know what to say.
How about "bloody hell,yeah"? Well,then bloody hell,yeah.
Okay,I need you to resign-- today.
Now.
Shouldn't we wait till at least after the summit? You can serve two years with her if you want, or eight years with me.
You choose the horse you want to ba.
Your resignation has to be tendered within the hour.
Madam president, remember to allow some adjustment in your heels - so they don't engage the grass.
- And keep kharkov on your right so the stills have a clean shot of you inspecting your troops.
Got it.
Oh,and,sir, protocol dictates that you kiss both ms.
Kharkova's cheeks in greeting.
Do I? Should I? Oh,no,ma'am,just a handshake.
We have covered every potentialcenario.
Not every scenario,madam president-- - excuse us,nora.
- Oh,of course,jim.
Roman wolfe called a press conference.
Roman wolfe? Why? Evidently,his resignation letter is waiting on your desk.
Okay.
Give us a moment,jim.
Of course.
What do you think it says when a member of my cabinet quits on the day of my firsmmit.
Oh,forget wolfe.
He doesn't matter.
Right now this is about president kharkov.
It's about you.
It's about making history.
Right now you become this country.
You're the united states of america.
okay.
Let's do it.
the president of the united states! Commander In Chief Season 1 Episode 04 -First Dance- Hey.
Um,I think you-- yeah,you were in my dream last night.
- I'm almost for sure.
- Oh,yeah? What was I doing,jenny? I can't remember.
But,um,I'm pretty sure you were wearing that shirt you have with the,uh, the little red stripes.
We call it your candy cane shirt.
Wait,you have a nickname for my shirt? Anyway - man,she is so into you.
- Whatever,man.
I like her.
You know,you don't have to like her,horace-- any of 'em.
Give me the ball.
- See,you got the perfect setup.
- Come on,man.
No,dude,you're the president's son.
Every girl in our school wants to lose it to you.
- That's not true.
- No,of course it is.
'Cause it makes a great story when she's all old and fat and has nothing else in her life but a bunch of dumb high school memories.
Horace,you took my biology book and it had my homework in it.
So I had to take an incomplete.
Thanks.
It's no problem.
I have bio next period.
I'll just explain to ms.
Hedison what happened.
Oh,hedison's a complete bitch.
Plus she's got full-on B.
O.
Totally.
Give me the ball,flemming.
Hey,rebecca, since horace has never asked me, I don't know, are you guys,like,allowed to have guests over to the white house? Yeah,I can do whatever I want.
Well,I'm free tonight.
I would like to welcome president kharkov back to the united states.
Perhaps I'll finally be able to beat one american president in a round of golf.
Well,I have a pretty good short game.
Welcome.
madam president, as vice president,you were very vocal about president kharkov and his government's recent crackdown on democratic liberties.
Where would I be without you guys to remind me of my words? We have a very full agenda of matters to discuss privately.
get them out.
All right,you guys,thank you.
You will have plenty of opportunities at the press conference later today.
What does it say about your ability to lead,madam president, when your national security advisor resigns on such an important day? The issue at hand isn't this woman's ability to lead, but of her security advisor's willingness to follow.
okay,thank you,everybody.
Thank you.
That was great! Kharkov totally covered for the president back there and shut that question down.
What? It was a disaster.
He called her a woman.
She isn't a woman.
She is a president.
She's not a woman? Look,alex,every world leader is watching this summit looking for clues,gestures, whatever signals they can read to figure out what kind of a president mackenzie allen is besides female.
Mrs.
Benjamin harrison started the collection of china.
I especially like this-- rococo-revival punch bowl from the pierce administration.
Mrs.
Harrison actually found this bowl in the,uh, white house attic.
And had it mended and then put on display.
Ever wonder how it came to be broken? Oh,maybe the,uh, punch was sped.
So one night your president pierce had too much to drink.
And,uh,suddenly a presidential mistake became a national treasure.
But in the end, I feel that I can no longer be of efficient service to this country or to this president yeah? Sir,the secretary of the interior is here to see you.
Hold him for two minutes and then send him in.
And send me in some coffee,will you,please? Between the president and me.
So we are not going to proceed with the sale of nuclear fuel to bushehr until the iranians have met all their international obligations.
And satisfied the community that they have abandoned their nuclear weapons program.
Next regarding russia's entry into the world trade organization-- there's no real update there.
You know that's up to the W.
T.
O.
That remains beyond our purview.
We'll revisit that item.
Let's move on.
Did you know that there are 132 rooms in the white house? Yes,but did you also know there are 16 refrigerators? Now technically, we're not even supposed to be in the cabinet room without the president.
But,uh,but I think we're going to get away with it.
You used to be her chief of staff? How are you finding your new position? Well,I'm not sure that I would call it a,uh,position.
It's just that I used to be so much more than a spouse.
Oh,yes,me,too.
mrs.
Kharkova,um before this,you were a well-respected attorney.
So tell me the truth.
Don't you feel that this job is just a little limiting? That is only the job if that's what you make of the job.
Item seven on the agenda-- sturgeon hatcheries on the volga river, - which we thought-- - mr.
President,if I may, I wonder if we could table the discussion of caviar for now and move on to some of the more pressing issues.
Dam president,surely you can see our staff's thought a billion-dollar industry warranted our full attention.
And I don't disagree,however there are more urgent matters in our agenda.
Months of preparation with the previous administration have produced a very thoughtful agenda.
One which should guide us rather than constrain us.
I'd prefer to go in order,madam president.
- I know that you would-- - this may be a good time to take a break, give both sides a chance to prepare for the press conference.
Lots of progress to report to the press.
- Here we are.
- Good afternoon.
It really makes them feel good to see you down here,sir.
- Game day and all.
- My pleasure.
- Oh,you have to smell these roses.
- Yellow roses-- mrs.
Kharkova's favorite.
I did my homework.
Oh,hands! Hands! The petals brown with fingerprints.
- Hey,dad.
- Rebecca.
Uh,hey,you have a sec? You smell that?It's nice,huh? Yes,roses--very,very nice.
Yellow roses--over a thousand of them--for tonight's dinner.
Uhyeah,about tonight's dinner you're going.
- But,dad,that's not fair.
- You're going.
Dad,none of my friends have to go to their parents' stupid business things.
I'm sorry.
It's important to your mother.
Case closed.
Nora? How is the morning playing? Truthfully,not great.
- Roman wolfe's resignation-- - will be below the fold, buried beneath the success of today's summit.
- Madam president.
- Jim? - I know what you're going to say.
- No,you don'T.
'Cause if you did,you wouldn't have tried to handle me like that.
I was trying to protect you.
I'm going to go.
- I think that we should probably - uh,you hang back,kelly.
We have a bigger problem.
A bigger problem than not having the support of my chief of staff? Secretary witherspoon has resigned.
What? Charlie witherspoon? Oh,what a town.
You can't even trust the backstabbers.
So the national security advisor and the secretary of interior both resign on the day of the summit.
- What is going on here,jim? - I have a theory.
Probably the same theory I have.
Don't you think it's about time you paid a visit to capitol hill? Yes,ma'am.
Charlie's here.
Oh,hey,charlie.
- Madam president.
- Good to see you.
- It's been,what,a year? - Yes,I think so.
So thank you for seeing me today.
Of course.
What's up,mr.
Secretary?What can I do for you? charlie's been hearing some rumblings.
Oh? Well,what with the president's condition and all, we're all well aware that jim gardner and melanie blackston came to see you to ask you to step down.
And,well,there's just been some talk.
The cabinet knows that you haven't said yes.
And,well,ma'am, these guys can be pretty machiavellian.
I see.
I just wanted you to know that for me, I'm at your service.
Good to know.
What I'm saying is,you know, I could be your eyes and ears, let you know where the knives are coming from.
There will be knives? Yeah.
I,for one,will be very much in support of you.
The department of interior would ve much welcome a woman's point of view.
Women are much more environmentally friendly.
Well,we do tend to pick up after ourselves.
okay.
- It's all right.
- Okay,well charlie,thank you for stopping by.
- Right.
- Okay.
Good-bye,girl.
Hey,charlie? Do you really think a woman would be better for the department of interior? For sure.
Absolutely.
Perhaps we should have a woman running it then.
Kidding.
Excuse me,ma'am? Ma'am? Press conference is set to begin.
Thank you,vince.
Uh,do me a favor.
I need a copy of oliver chitwood's biography of john tyler.
- President tyler? - Yeah,that's the guy.
You know what's going to happen in there,don't you? I'm afraid I do,ma'am.
They're going to hit me with their resignations.
The summit is going to be secondary.
You know,I can handle their questions.
What I can't handle is having to go inhere and pretend he's some sort of champion of democracy.
Maybe it's for the greater good? You think that's what the guys who came before me told themselves? Maybe so.
I just I don't know.
I thought we were going to do things differently.
- And the next? - Madam president can you comment on today's cabinet resignations? We're here to comment on the progress made between our two nations.
Next.
samantha.
Has there been a breakthrough on the caspian oil pipeline? The pipeline agreement was a result of negotiations with president bridges.
Its completion will be a testimony to his vision.
- madam president! - Changing topics, president allen,has there been any progress made on the topic of civil liberties? - Actually-- - allow me,madam president.
- Of course.
- Thank you.
The russia of today looks dramatically different than the russia of just ten years ago.
However,each day brings new challenges.
Certainly president allen knows that with the sudden loss of her cabinet members.
madam president! our leadership may change, but our democratic principles do not.
What remains to beeen is what president kharkov,a man who talks about democracy, will do in a situation that requires more than just talk.
If it truly is time for change, then it is time to free the dissident journalists jailed in your prisons,mr.
President.
- mr.
President! - President kharkov! I don't even know why you're bothering with mom when dad already said no.
If you want to see flemming so bad tonight, why don't you just bring him with you to the state dinner? The point is to be alone with him,horace.
I just-- I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into.
You do not know flemming like I do.
Yeah.
Horace,just because you're four minutes older than me does not mean you have all the answers,all right? So you just mind your own business,okay? I know what I'm doing.
No,you don't understand what I'm trying to tell you,becca.
Look,horace, today was the first day that actually didn't suck for me since we moved into this house.
So,please,just let me have this,all right? - Hey,horace.
- Hi,rebecca.
Hey,vince.
Is my mom busy? She always has time for you,rebecca.
I think she's in with kelly.
I'll check.
Thanks.
I can't believe I took the bait.
- I should have just left it alone.
- Ma'am,it wasn't that bad.
We have no room for error here.
This is a very partisan town.
It's not like I have a lot of allies in either party.
- And it had to be said.
- Maybe just not so publicly.
Excuse me,ma'am?Rebecca's here to see you.
Oh! Great.
One second.
Thanks.
We're done here,kelly.
- Hey,rebecca.
- Hi,horace.
Oh,hey,kelly,what's up? Nothing.
How are you guys doing? Good.
How's the speechwriting coming? - Good.
See you guys later.
- Okay.
All right.
Nice work.
You know,she's been press secretary for,like,two weeks now.
- hey,you.
- Hey,mom.
Oh.
Nice to see a friendly face.
Oh! Um,mom,I had a question, - but,I mean,if you're busy - sorry.
Sorry,ma'am.
It's the white house operator.
It's nora.
Would you tell her to hold,please? What is it? Um,well,I was wondering if I could skip this state dinner tonight.
Oh,becca.
- I was hoping we'd all go-- - madam president nora implied that was a matter of urgency.
Of course it is.
It's just I have to study for this huge test,um, with a friend.
- Um,mom-- - I don't know,becca.
You know,why don't you just follow your conscience? Vince,any luck on that john tyler biography? - Did you find it yet? - Uh,no,ma'am.
We're still searching.
What is it,nora? Wait,wait,wait.
Slow down.
What did they say exactly? Okay.
Just keep this quiet and continue business as usual.
Thank you,nora.
Seems the russian president has suddenly taken ill.
He's still coming to the state dinner though,right? I don't know.
What did you promise them,nate? Is there anybody else? - Yeah.
Sure,sure,there is.
- Yeah? Who's that? Francis.
And not francis barnes at agriculture.
Mills francis at defense.
If teddy were here to see what you're doing, - he would have your head on - if teddy bridges were alive to see this, it would not be necessary.
Sit,please.
Three resignations.
And if you think that's embarrassing, you just wait till you see what happens when she tries to get her nominees for those positions confirmed.
- Nate,we're trying to-- - no,no.
Come on.
Please.
You're not going to touch me with your self-righteous indignation.
You want her gone just as much as I do.
- It ends.
- It's just begun.
Sit down.
Please,jim,sit.
I want you to resign.
You can take till the end of the month,whatever, - but I want you to resign as well.
- Why would I do that? Because when I become president, I want you to join the others in my administration.
I'm not sure if I could stomach it--being your chief of staff? I don't want you to be my chief of staff.
I want you to be my vice president.
Well,that got your attention,didn't it? First african-american vice president.
You and me,jim-- we can save this country.
We can save it from her.
And don't you think about your loyalty to the office.
You think about your loyalty to your people.
Going to need your answer by the state dinner.
You'll have it.
oh.
Mrs.
Kharkova.
I didn't realize you were still here.
I was just looking for my husband.
Mmm.
The first gentleman is in the kitchen addressing a crisis.
I'm sure he was thrilled with that responsibility.
He has been a gracious host.
Ah.
So you saw the press conference.
You know,this summit almost didn't happen.
My husband wanted to cancel the visit.
He would never admit it, but I think he was intimidated to meet you,madam president.
Why would he be intimated by me? Your reputation precedes you.
He was afraid you were going to put him on the spot, and you did.
President bridges never would have done that.
I spoke my mind.
That shouldn't be so intimidating.
As much as americans claim to be students of history, they forget their own.
We are just 15 yrs into the experiment that your country continues after 200 years.
It took you 90 years to get rid of slavery and 150 to give women the right to vote.
La mujerit's not always easy.
You and my husband are both independent thinkers who struggle each day against the people who seek to protect the status quo.
Mrs.
Kharkova, I sincerely hope that your husband is feeling well enough to attend tonight's state dinner.
Is there anything I can get him? Chicken soup,perhaps? There is one thing.
And I'm guessing it's not soup.
Fast-track our entry into the world trade organization.
Technically,I'm not in control of the W.
T.
O.
Well,technically, my husband isn't in control of releasing the dissident journalists.
I see.
I'm so glad we had a chance to talk.
Me,too.
I'm never going to get this.
At this rate,I'm going to be in summer school.
No,it's easy.
See,according to mendel, a dominant gene will always express itself like curly hair.
- thanks.
- I'm serious.
- What's going on here,rebecca? - I'm studying.
- Aha.
And you are - oh.
Mike flemming,sir.
Hi,mike.
Can I speak to you for a moment in private? Um,sure.
I'm sorry.
One second.
why aren't you dressed for the state dinner? - I'm not going.
- Go get dressed right now, because there is too much going on for you to pull one of your little st-- no,no,no.
Mom said it was cool.
- Really? - Yeah.
Sorry about that.
- Is everything cool? - Yeah,it's fine.
Well,study hard.
Say hi to kelly for me.
hey,hey.
Look,I don't want you leaving your sister's side this evening.
Got it? No.
I'm not staying in there with her stupid boyfriend.
Just do it,okay? You can stay up as late as you want.
Fine.
You can play my video games.
excuse me.
hi,amy.
Hi,rebecca.
Hey.
Why did you tell rebecca she didn't have to come tonight? What do you mean? Well,I told her she had to come to the state dinner.
You said she didn't have to.
You said that it was "cool.
" "Cool.
" Does that sound like something that I would say? Listen,when it comes to our kids, if I say something,that's got to matter.
Do you really want to get into this now? Yeah.
Yeah,I do.
Well,it's not like this is the first time the kids have tried to play us against each other.
That's not the point.
Our first state dinner is in ten minutes.
Could this possibly wait two hours? how do we know kharkov will even show up? Well,I have to think if their relationship is anything like ours, mrs.
Kharkova will have a great deal of influence.
- Nora.
- Madam president,bright news.
We've been notified the russian delegation is on their way.
Thank you.
- madam kharkova.
- Madam president.
President kharkov, I'm so pleased that you decided to join us this evening.
I'm not here for you.
I'm here for my wife and my country.
As far as I'm concerned,we're nowhere.
speaker of the house nathan templeton and his aide jayne murray.
Madam president.
- Mr.
First gentleman.
- Nathan.
My wife regrets--apologizes.
She still has not recovered.
You give her my best.
She'll appreciate that.
Thank you.
You've had quite a day.
You get an "a" for comportment.
You know my chief of staff jayne murray.
- It's an honor.
- Jayne.
russian nice to meet you.
october 4th,1957, was a disappointing day in american history.
It's the day we lost the space race.
When americans looked skyward, we could see just the faintest glimmer of the soviet union's success.
Sputnik was launched that day.
On the other side of the world, a young,aeronautical engineer looked to our shared sky with great pride.
Anatoly kharkov,president kharkov's father, was just 26 years old at the time.
Anatoly kharkov was an innovator.
He played a key role in bringing one of the most vital tools of democracy to the world-- communication.
Barriers have been broken.
Walls have crumbled.
But there's still a lot of work to be done.
If we hope for a peaceful and prosperous future, then we must put aside our personal agenda and stand shoulder to shoulder together.
Thank you.
Na zdorovje.
Na zdorovje! na zdorovje! you do look good in a tux,mr.
Gardner.
He needs your answer now.
Man,if I was your age,I'd be crawling out of my skin.
Are you kidding?I love this stuff.
Guess it's 'cause I'm pretty mature.
all danced out,grace? May I? - I miss teddy.
- He was a great president.
Congratulations.
It was a lovely evening.
These last two years, I had no idea how much thought and attention was given to every detail.
You always made everything look so easy.
Rod,seeing your wife up there tonight-- she made it clear she is the president.
Suddenly I just feel like I'm a guest in someone else's home.
Oh,no.
You're always welcome here.
One who has overstayed.
It's your home now.
You belong here.
- goOd night.
- Good night.
Excuse me,madam president.
Here you go-- one oliver chitwood biography of president john tyler.
- Piece of cake.
- Really? Well,let's say there's a shop owner in georgetown who may be attending our next state dinner.
May I ask why? Our tenth president john tyler-- not a lot of people know he was the first V.
P.
To take over the presidency when harrison died in office.
- I didn't know that.
- Yeah.
His enemies tried to undermine him by forcing harrison's cabinet to resign.
But they didn't think it through.
Ended up making tyler even more powerful.
- Bedside reading? - Yeah.
Just not for my bedside.
Yes,ma'am.
I'm busted.
Mr.
Speaker.
"Mr.
Speaker.
" When it's all said and done,nate,the woman is our president.
She deserves the benefit of the doubt.
- She deserves a chance-- - stop.
You can't give her--you can't give anybody a chance.
You don't learn to be the president on the job.
The stakes are too high,jim.
The president has to be the president from the get-go.
You're right.
And maybe you'd be better at it than her.
But teddy gave you an opportunity,and you said no.
You put her in office.
The way I see it, you owe it to the country to make sure she's the best damn president she can be.
Think about your people,nate.
- My people? - The american people.
okay.
It's a mistake,jim.
But okay.
Jayne looks lovely iher dress,doesn't she? Yes,she does.
Enjoy your evening.
Madam president,would you like to dance? I'd be delighted.
Thank you.
Excuse me,mr.
President, but I need to borrow our president on an urgent matter.
Yes.
Excuse me.
Alex? - It's just not done.
- What? You.
Ma'am,you can't dance with president kharkov.
Why? Is he a badancer? - A good dancer? - It's just unprecedented.
- Well,what do you think i am? - Is everything okay? We hit a bit of a hiccup.
President kharkov wants to dance with our president.
It's just,world leaders cannot--should not be dancing together.
- What's the protocol? - We're trying to figure that out.
Okay,you guys,it cannot be that big of a deal.
Are you out of your mind? - It's a-- - ma'am,I think our staffs must think this is inappropriate.
Dmitry,we are the world's leaders.
I think we can decide what's appropriate.
Thank you for asking me to dance.
Acknowledging my father--it meant a lot to me.
I didn't see much of him as a boy,but his contribution outlives him.
What happens now,do I take the oath? Madam vice president,we need you to resign.
I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to take the oath of office.
The president of the united states.
you have a country full of people who believe in you.
Those are the nominees that I can guarantee I can get through congress.
I want you to be my chief of staff.
They don't see me as a spouse,they see me as an advisor.
Do yourself a favor,rod,stay in your lane.
- I went to public school.
- So I have to go to public school,too.
Templeton is not choosing my vice president.
- She's picked somebody.
- It's warren keaton.
What's going on,jayne? Mackenzie allen needs to show a little respect.
If you want a man who's worth a damn in this job, you gotta make this job worth a damn.
He won't be confirmed,not with what I know.
With all due respect,ma'am, this state visit is not a negotiation with the russians.
It's a pre-approved package,a photo op, a goodwill tea party with the russians.
In other words,no items on the table that haven't been agreed to.
Implicit in a state visit is the idea that the pact's already been signed,ma'am.
True,but by the previous administration.
I have yet to weigh in on any substantive issue.
We can't take the chance of derailing your first summit.
It's too pubc a venue for missteps.
I wasn't planning on making any missteps,jim.
I'm simply asking a question.
Kharkov is not the guy about jailed dissident journalists.
Ma'am,the truth is, our nascent administration needs the win more than his does.
All right,well,big day tomorrow.
Let's all try to get some rest,shall we? Thank you.
As requested,I had the russia desk translate a few phrases for you.
Oh,thank you,eli.
- Good luck,tomorrow,ma'am.
- Thank you.
For a second,I thought I was being handed a script to read from.
Increases in natural gas production, forward movement on the russian/american space station.
We're still accomplishing some big things here.
Yet human rights still don't make the list.
Not this time.
Thank you.
Hi.
Oh,good for you.
You know,ddy's head never even hit the pillow the night before his first state visit.
He spent half the night practicing his salute in the mirror.
President bridges always seemed like such a rock.
It's funny to think of him as nervous.
Don't you worry.
You're going to be wonderful tomorrow.
Thank you.
Or,rather,today.
- Good night.
- Good nig.
So my chief of staff-- he won't even discuss bringing up the dissident journalists with kharkov.
He's just--you know,he shutse down every time.
He just starts lecturing me.
Oh,lectures.
Lectures are bad.
All right.
Into bed.
You just gotta learn to turn off your mind.
You can't claim to have a free society if you don't have a free press.
No.
mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Mommy! - Oh,I'm coming.
I'm coming.
- Honey,you okay? Baby,it's okay.
You're having a bad dream.
It's okay.
Oh.
- What happened? - I couldn't find you.
I was looking all over for you, - and I couldn't find you.
- Oh,I'm here now.
I'm here.
Mommy's here,baby.
She had a nightmare.
Go.
Go.
she's okay.
sorry,sir My eggs are overcooked.
I like the yolks runny.
- Yours okay? - Oh,perfect.
Stay out of trouble last night? Yeah,it was fine.
We had dinner at--oh! I completely forgot.
I ran into general keaton last night at the palm.
You what? Did her esteemed vice presidential candidate have anything to say for himself? Said he was looking forward to the confirmation hearing.
He wondered if you might send the questions in advance.
the wanker.
What did you tell him? I said he was wearing a nice tie.
He was the toast of the room last night--he and his wife.
You have to pick up the N.
S.
A.
In 20 minutes.
Yeah.
It's going to be a challenging day for our president.
I think by the end of it, she may well wish that she went back to running a school.
Good morning.
Got some fresh chocolate chip muffins for you today.
Sam,what are you doing to me? You know I have a gown to fit into tonight.
Have you seen amy's subtraction workbook? Um,I saw it under the portrait of coolidge.
- Have you seen this? - What? Op-ed piece.
- The "times"? - "Post.
" Hey! Hey,I'm the president.
Go get yourself another muffin.
Yeah,there's,uh,something like that in the "times," too.
I know.
Thank you,sam.
They're all the same.
Will I be able to handle the summit? Whether I'll confront kharkov on his country's retreat from civil liberties.
Hey,horace,have you seen my biology book? - I don't know.
- Look under coolidge.
Good morning.
Just wanted to make sure we're all up to speed for the state dinner this evening.
Wait,you mean that state dinner thing is tonight? oh,yes,very exciting,isn't it? - bye,daddy.
- Bye,h.
See you,guys.
See ya.
- bye,mommy.
- Come on,guys.
Becca,what? No good-bye? Bye.
Madam president,mr.
Calloway, - big day--big,big day.
- I can hardly wait.
Oh,sir,I wanted you to know the white delphinium tapers have finally been located for this evening.
U.
S.
Postal service.
Well,I can't believe I have to play tour guide all day.
Have you,uh have you seen a picture of mrs.
Kharkova? Yes,I have.
- I think you can handle it.
- She's no mackenzie allen.
Nathan.
I haven't seen you since the funeral.
- You okay? - I still can't believe it.
That he's dead,or that she had the balls to take the oath of office? She defied the dying wishes of a great man.
- It's unforgivable.
- Damn right.
Wolfie,I'm gonna run.
I'm going to run for president.
I have to.
And I'm going to win.
- If it's against her,you-- - oh,it'll be against her.
Oh,yeah,I guarantee you that.
She'll run as an independent.
Do you know how many states she's going to carry? Her home state,maybe--connecticut.
She's not going to carry a state--nary a one.
And I'm going to be president.
And I want you with me as my national security advisor.
Temp,I don't know what to say.
How about "bloody hell,yeah"? Well,then bloody hell,yeah.
Okay,I need you to resign-- today.
Now.
Shouldn't we wait till at least after the summit? You can serve two years with her if you want, or eight years with me.
You choose the horse you want to ba.
Your resignation has to be tendered within the hour.
Madam president, remember to allow some adjustment in your heels - so they don't engage the grass.
- And keep kharkov on your right so the stills have a clean shot of you inspecting your troops.
Got it.
Oh,and,sir, protocol dictates that you kiss both ms.
Kharkova's cheeks in greeting.
Do I? Should I? Oh,no,ma'am,just a handshake.
We have covered every potentialcenario.
Not every scenario,madam president-- - excuse us,nora.
- Oh,of course,jim.
Roman wolfe called a press conference.
Roman wolfe? Why? Evidently,his resignation letter is waiting on your desk.
Okay.
Give us a moment,jim.
Of course.
What do you think it says when a member of my cabinet quits on the day of my firsmmit.
Oh,forget wolfe.
He doesn't matter.
Right now this is about president kharkov.
It's about you.
It's about making history.
Right now you become this country.
You're the united states of america.
okay.
Let's do it.
the president of the united states! Commander In Chief Season 1 Episode 04 -First Dance- Hey.
Um,I think you-- yeah,you were in my dream last night.
- I'm almost for sure.
- Oh,yeah? What was I doing,jenny? I can't remember.
But,um,I'm pretty sure you were wearing that shirt you have with the,uh, the little red stripes.
We call it your candy cane shirt.
Wait,you have a nickname for my shirt? Anyway - man,she is so into you.
- Whatever,man.
I like her.
You know,you don't have to like her,horace-- any of 'em.
Give me the ball.
- See,you got the perfect setup.
- Come on,man.
No,dude,you're the president's son.
Every girl in our school wants to lose it to you.
- That's not true.
- No,of course it is.
'Cause it makes a great story when she's all old and fat and has nothing else in her life but a bunch of dumb high school memories.
Horace,you took my biology book and it had my homework in it.
So I had to take an incomplete.
Thanks.
It's no problem.
I have bio next period.
I'll just explain to ms.
Hedison what happened.
Oh,hedison's a complete bitch.
Plus she's got full-on B.
O.
Totally.
Give me the ball,flemming.
Hey,rebecca, since horace has never asked me, I don't know, are you guys,like,allowed to have guests over to the white house? Yeah,I can do whatever I want.
Well,I'm free tonight.
I would like to welcome president kharkov back to the united states.
Perhaps I'll finally be able to beat one american president in a round of golf.
Well,I have a pretty good short game.
Welcome.
madam president, as vice president,you were very vocal about president kharkov and his government's recent crackdown on democratic liberties.
Where would I be without you guys to remind me of my words? We have a very full agenda of matters to discuss privately.
get them out.
All right,you guys,thank you.
You will have plenty of opportunities at the press conference later today.
What does it say about your ability to lead,madam president, when your national security advisor resigns on such an important day? The issue at hand isn't this woman's ability to lead, but of her security advisor's willingness to follow.
okay,thank you,everybody.
Thank you.
That was great! Kharkov totally covered for the president back there and shut that question down.
What? It was a disaster.
He called her a woman.
She isn't a woman.
She is a president.
She's not a woman? Look,alex,every world leader is watching this summit looking for clues,gestures, whatever signals they can read to figure out what kind of a president mackenzie allen is besides female.
Mrs.
Benjamin harrison started the collection of china.
I especially like this-- rococo-revival punch bowl from the pierce administration.
Mrs.
Harrison actually found this bowl in the,uh, white house attic.
And had it mended and then put on display.
Ever wonder how it came to be broken? Oh,maybe the,uh, punch was sped.
So one night your president pierce had too much to drink.
And,uh,suddenly a presidential mistake became a national treasure.
But in the end, I feel that I can no longer be of efficient service to this country or to this president yeah? Sir,the secretary of the interior is here to see you.
Hold him for two minutes and then send him in.
And send me in some coffee,will you,please? Between the president and me.
So we are not going to proceed with the sale of nuclear fuel to bushehr until the iranians have met all their international obligations.
And satisfied the community that they have abandoned their nuclear weapons program.
Next regarding russia's entry into the world trade organization-- there's no real update there.
You know that's up to the W.
T.
O.
That remains beyond our purview.
We'll revisit that item.
Let's move on.
Did you know that there are 132 rooms in the white house? Yes,but did you also know there are 16 refrigerators? Now technically, we're not even supposed to be in the cabinet room without the president.
But,uh,but I think we're going to get away with it.
You used to be her chief of staff? How are you finding your new position? Well,I'm not sure that I would call it a,uh,position.
It's just that I used to be so much more than a spouse.
Oh,yes,me,too.
mrs.
Kharkova,um before this,you were a well-respected attorney.
So tell me the truth.
Don't you feel that this job is just a little limiting? That is only the job if that's what you make of the job.
Item seven on the agenda-- sturgeon hatcheries on the volga river, - which we thought-- - mr.
President,if I may, I wonder if we could table the discussion of caviar for now and move on to some of the more pressing issues.
Dam president,surely you can see our staff's thought a billion-dollar industry warranted our full attention.
And I don't disagree,however there are more urgent matters in our agenda.
Months of preparation with the previous administration have produced a very thoughtful agenda.
One which should guide us rather than constrain us.
I'd prefer to go in order,madam president.
- I know that you would-- - this may be a good time to take a break, give both sides a chance to prepare for the press conference.
Lots of progress to report to the press.
- Here we are.
- Good afternoon.
It really makes them feel good to see you down here,sir.
- Game day and all.
- My pleasure.
- Oh,you have to smell these roses.
- Yellow roses-- mrs.
Kharkova's favorite.
I did my homework.
Oh,hands! Hands! The petals brown with fingerprints.
- Hey,dad.
- Rebecca.
Uh,hey,you have a sec? You smell that?It's nice,huh? Yes,roses--very,very nice.
Yellow roses--over a thousand of them--for tonight's dinner.
Uhyeah,about tonight's dinner you're going.
- But,dad,that's not fair.
- You're going.
Dad,none of my friends have to go to their parents' stupid business things.
I'm sorry.
It's important to your mother.
Case closed.
Nora? How is the morning playing? Truthfully,not great.
- Roman wolfe's resignation-- - will be below the fold, buried beneath the success of today's summit.
- Madam president.
- Jim? - I know what you're going to say.
- No,you don'T.
'Cause if you did,you wouldn't have tried to handle me like that.
I was trying to protect you.
I'm going to go.
- I think that we should probably - uh,you hang back,kelly.
We have a bigger problem.
A bigger problem than not having the support of my chief of staff? Secretary witherspoon has resigned.
What? Charlie witherspoon? Oh,what a town.
You can't even trust the backstabbers.
So the national security advisor and the secretary of interior both resign on the day of the summit.
- What is going on here,jim? - I have a theory.
Probably the same theory I have.
Don't you think it's about time you paid a visit to capitol hill? Yes,ma'am.
Charlie's here.
Oh,hey,charlie.
- Madam president.
- Good to see you.
- It's been,what,a year? - Yes,I think so.
So thank you for seeing me today.
Of course.
What's up,mr.
Secretary?What can I do for you? charlie's been hearing some rumblings.
Oh? Well,what with the president's condition and all, we're all well aware that jim gardner and melanie blackston came to see you to ask you to step down.
And,well,there's just been some talk.
The cabinet knows that you haven't said yes.
And,well,ma'am, these guys can be pretty machiavellian.
I see.
I just wanted you to know that for me, I'm at your service.
Good to know.
What I'm saying is,you know, I could be your eyes and ears, let you know where the knives are coming from.
There will be knives? Yeah.
I,for one,will be very much in support of you.
The department of interior would ve much welcome a woman's point of view.
Women are much more environmentally friendly.
Well,we do tend to pick up after ourselves.
okay.
- It's all right.
- Okay,well charlie,thank you for stopping by.
- Right.
- Okay.
Good-bye,girl.
Hey,charlie? Do you really think a woman would be better for the department of interior? For sure.
Absolutely.
Perhaps we should have a woman running it then.
Kidding.
Excuse me,ma'am? Ma'am? Press conference is set to begin.
Thank you,vince.
Uh,do me a favor.
I need a copy of oliver chitwood's biography of john tyler.
- President tyler? - Yeah,that's the guy.
You know what's going to happen in there,don't you? I'm afraid I do,ma'am.
They're going to hit me with their resignations.
The summit is going to be secondary.
You know,I can handle their questions.
What I can't handle is having to go inhere and pretend he's some sort of champion of democracy.
Maybe it's for the greater good? You think that's what the guys who came before me told themselves? Maybe so.
I just I don't know.
I thought we were going to do things differently.
- And the next? - Madam president can you comment on today's cabinet resignations? We're here to comment on the progress made between our two nations.
Next.
samantha.
Has there been a breakthrough on the caspian oil pipeline? The pipeline agreement was a result of negotiations with president bridges.
Its completion will be a testimony to his vision.
- madam president! - Changing topics, president allen,has there been any progress made on the topic of civil liberties? - Actually-- - allow me,madam president.
- Of course.
- Thank you.
The russia of today looks dramatically different than the russia of just ten years ago.
However,each day brings new challenges.
Certainly president allen knows that with the sudden loss of her cabinet members.
madam president! our leadership may change, but our democratic principles do not.
What remains to beeen is what president kharkov,a man who talks about democracy, will do in a situation that requires more than just talk.
If it truly is time for change, then it is time to free the dissident journalists jailed in your prisons,mr.
President.
- mr.
President! - President kharkov! I don't even know why you're bothering with mom when dad already said no.
If you want to see flemming so bad tonight, why don't you just bring him with you to the state dinner? The point is to be alone with him,horace.
I just-- I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into.
You do not know flemming like I do.
Yeah.
Horace,just because you're four minutes older than me does not mean you have all the answers,all right? So you just mind your own business,okay? I know what I'm doing.
No,you don't understand what I'm trying to tell you,becca.
Look,horace, today was the first day that actually didn't suck for me since we moved into this house.
So,please,just let me have this,all right? - Hey,horace.
- Hi,rebecca.
Hey,vince.
Is my mom busy? She always has time for you,rebecca.
I think she's in with kelly.
I'll check.
Thanks.
I can't believe I took the bait.
- I should have just left it alone.
- Ma'am,it wasn't that bad.
We have no room for error here.
This is a very partisan town.
It's not like I have a lot of allies in either party.
- And it had to be said.
- Maybe just not so publicly.
Excuse me,ma'am?Rebecca's here to see you.
Oh! Great.
One second.
Thanks.
We're done here,kelly.
- Hey,rebecca.
- Hi,horace.
Oh,hey,kelly,what's up? Nothing.
How are you guys doing? Good.
How's the speechwriting coming? - Good.
See you guys later.
- Okay.
All right.
Nice work.
You know,she's been press secretary for,like,two weeks now.
- hey,you.
- Hey,mom.
Oh.
Nice to see a friendly face.
Oh! Um,mom,I had a question, - but,I mean,if you're busy - sorry.
Sorry,ma'am.
It's the white house operator.
It's nora.
Would you tell her to hold,please? What is it? Um,well,I was wondering if I could skip this state dinner tonight.
Oh,becca.
- I was hoping we'd all go-- - madam president nora implied that was a matter of urgency.
Of course it is.
It's just I have to study for this huge test,um, with a friend.
- Um,mom-- - I don't know,becca.
You know,why don't you just follow your conscience? Vince,any luck on that john tyler biography? - Did you find it yet? - Uh,no,ma'am.
We're still searching.
What is it,nora? Wait,wait,wait.
Slow down.
What did they say exactly? Okay.
Just keep this quiet and continue business as usual.
Thank you,nora.
Seems the russian president has suddenly taken ill.
He's still coming to the state dinner though,right? I don't know.
What did you promise them,nate? Is there anybody else? - Yeah.
Sure,sure,there is.
- Yeah? Who's that? Francis.
And not francis barnes at agriculture.
Mills francis at defense.
If teddy were here to see what you're doing, - he would have your head on - if teddy bridges were alive to see this, it would not be necessary.
Sit,please.
Three resignations.
And if you think that's embarrassing, you just wait till you see what happens when she tries to get her nominees for those positions confirmed.
- Nate,we're trying to-- - no,no.
Come on.
Please.
You're not going to touch me with your self-righteous indignation.
You want her gone just as much as I do.
- It ends.
- It's just begun.
Sit down.
Please,jim,sit.
I want you to resign.
You can take till the end of the month,whatever, - but I want you to resign as well.
- Why would I do that? Because when I become president, I want you to join the others in my administration.
I'm not sure if I could stomach it--being your chief of staff? I don't want you to be my chief of staff.
I want you to be my vice president.
Well,that got your attention,didn't it? First african-american vice president.
You and me,jim-- we can save this country.
We can save it from her.
And don't you think about your loyalty to the office.
You think about your loyalty to your people.
Going to need your answer by the state dinner.
You'll have it.
oh.
Mrs.
Kharkova.
I didn't realize you were still here.
I was just looking for my husband.
Mmm.
The first gentleman is in the kitchen addressing a crisis.
I'm sure he was thrilled with that responsibility.
He has been a gracious host.
Ah.
So you saw the press conference.
You know,this summit almost didn't happen.
My husband wanted to cancel the visit.
He would never admit it, but I think he was intimidated to meet you,madam president.
Why would he be intimated by me? Your reputation precedes you.
He was afraid you were going to put him on the spot, and you did.
President bridges never would have done that.
I spoke my mind.
That shouldn't be so intimidating.
As much as americans claim to be students of history, they forget their own.
We are just 15 yrs into the experiment that your country continues after 200 years.
It took you 90 years to get rid of slavery and 150 to give women the right to vote.
La mujerit's not always easy.
You and my husband are both independent thinkers who struggle each day against the people who seek to protect the status quo.
Mrs.
Kharkova, I sincerely hope that your husband is feeling well enough to attend tonight's state dinner.
Is there anything I can get him? Chicken soup,perhaps? There is one thing.
And I'm guessing it's not soup.
Fast-track our entry into the world trade organization.
Technically,I'm not in control of the W.
T.
O.
Well,technically, my husband isn't in control of releasing the dissident journalists.
I see.
I'm so glad we had a chance to talk.
Me,too.
I'm never going to get this.
At this rate,I'm going to be in summer school.
No,it's easy.
See,according to mendel, a dominant gene will always express itself like curly hair.
- thanks.
- I'm serious.
- What's going on here,rebecca? - I'm studying.
- Aha.
And you are - oh.
Mike flemming,sir.
Hi,mike.
Can I speak to you for a moment in private? Um,sure.
I'm sorry.
One second.
why aren't you dressed for the state dinner? - I'm not going.
- Go get dressed right now, because there is too much going on for you to pull one of your little st-- no,no,no.
Mom said it was cool.
- Really? - Yeah.
Sorry about that.
- Is everything cool? - Yeah,it's fine.
Well,study hard.
Say hi to kelly for me.
hey,hey.
Look,I don't want you leaving your sister's side this evening.
Got it? No.
I'm not staying in there with her stupid boyfriend.
Just do it,okay? You can stay up as late as you want.
Fine.
You can play my video games.
excuse me.
hi,amy.
Hi,rebecca.
Hey.
Why did you tell rebecca she didn't have to come tonight? What do you mean? Well,I told her she had to come to the state dinner.
You said she didn't have to.
You said that it was "cool.
" "Cool.
" Does that sound like something that I would say? Listen,when it comes to our kids, if I say something,that's got to matter.
Do you really want to get into this now? Yeah.
Yeah,I do.
Well,it's not like this is the first time the kids have tried to play us against each other.
That's not the point.
Our first state dinner is in ten minutes.
Could this possibly wait two hours? how do we know kharkov will even show up? Well,I have to think if their relationship is anything like ours, mrs.
Kharkova will have a great deal of influence.
- Nora.
- Madam president,bright news.
We've been notified the russian delegation is on their way.
Thank you.
- madam kharkova.
- Madam president.
President kharkov, I'm so pleased that you decided to join us this evening.
I'm not here for you.
I'm here for my wife and my country.
As far as I'm concerned,we're nowhere.
speaker of the house nathan templeton and his aide jayne murray.
Madam president.
- Mr.
First gentleman.
- Nathan.
My wife regrets--apologizes.
She still has not recovered.
You give her my best.
She'll appreciate that.
Thank you.
You've had quite a day.
You get an "a" for comportment.
You know my chief of staff jayne murray.
- It's an honor.
- Jayne.
russian nice to meet you.
october 4th,1957, was a disappointing day in american history.
It's the day we lost the space race.
When americans looked skyward, we could see just the faintest glimmer of the soviet union's success.
Sputnik was launched that day.
On the other side of the world, a young,aeronautical engineer looked to our shared sky with great pride.
Anatoly kharkov,president kharkov's father, was just 26 years old at the time.
Anatoly kharkov was an innovator.
He played a key role in bringing one of the most vital tools of democracy to the world-- communication.
Barriers have been broken.
Walls have crumbled.
But there's still a lot of work to be done.
If we hope for a peaceful and prosperous future, then we must put aside our personal agenda and stand shoulder to shoulder together.
Thank you.
Na zdorovje.
Na zdorovje! na zdorovje! you do look good in a tux,mr.
Gardner.
He needs your answer now.
Man,if I was your age,I'd be crawling out of my skin.
Are you kidding?I love this stuff.
Guess it's 'cause I'm pretty mature.
all danced out,grace? May I? - I miss teddy.
- He was a great president.
Congratulations.
It was a lovely evening.
These last two years, I had no idea how much thought and attention was given to every detail.
You always made everything look so easy.
Rod,seeing your wife up there tonight-- she made it clear she is the president.
Suddenly I just feel like I'm a guest in someone else's home.
Oh,no.
You're always welcome here.
One who has overstayed.
It's your home now.
You belong here.
- goOd night.
- Good night.
Excuse me,madam president.
Here you go-- one oliver chitwood biography of president john tyler.
- Piece of cake.
- Really? Well,let's say there's a shop owner in georgetown who may be attending our next state dinner.
May I ask why? Our tenth president john tyler-- not a lot of people know he was the first V.
P.
To take over the presidency when harrison died in office.
- I didn't know that.
- Yeah.
His enemies tried to undermine him by forcing harrison's cabinet to resign.
But they didn't think it through.
Ended up making tyler even more powerful.
- Bedside reading? - Yeah.
Just not for my bedside.
Yes,ma'am.
I'm busted.
Mr.
Speaker.
"Mr.
Speaker.
" When it's all said and done,nate,the woman is our president.
She deserves the benefit of the doubt.
- She deserves a chance-- - stop.
You can't give her--you can't give anybody a chance.
You don't learn to be the president on the job.
The stakes are too high,jim.
The president has to be the president from the get-go.
You're right.
And maybe you'd be better at it than her.
But teddy gave you an opportunity,and you said no.
You put her in office.
The way I see it, you owe it to the country to make sure she's the best damn president she can be.
Think about your people,nate.
- My people? - The american people.
okay.
It's a mistake,jim.
But okay.
Jayne looks lovely iher dress,doesn't she? Yes,she does.
Enjoy your evening.
Madam president,would you like to dance? I'd be delighted.
Thank you.
Excuse me,mr.
President, but I need to borrow our president on an urgent matter.
Yes.
Excuse me.
Alex? - It's just not done.
- What? You.
Ma'am,you can't dance with president kharkov.
Why? Is he a badancer? - A good dancer? - It's just unprecedented.
- Well,what do you think i am? - Is everything okay? We hit a bit of a hiccup.
President kharkov wants to dance with our president.
It's just,world leaders cannot--should not be dancing together.
- What's the protocol? - We're trying to figure that out.
Okay,you guys,it cannot be that big of a deal.
Are you out of your mind? - It's a-- - ma'am,I think our staffs must think this is inappropriate.
Dmitry,we are the world's leaders.
I think we can decide what's appropriate.
Thank you for asking me to dance.
Acknowledging my father--it meant a lot to me.
I didn't see much of him as a boy,but his contribution outlives him.