Madam Secretary (2014) s01e18 Episode Script
The Time is at Hand
I do, I-I love this event.
Once a year, we all get together, let loose and say what we really think.
It's a triumph of free speech.
Which, at $2,000 a plate, is a bargain.
This is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other.
Then again, I was in the CIA, so I already know everything about you.
Chief of Staff Russell Jackson is here tonight.
You've probably read in the press he and some of the cabinet members don't always see eye to eye.
I mean, honestly how can we? Is he smiling? Please tell me he's smiling.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
As America's lead diplomat, I have to interface with people of different cultural backgrounds, which is how I developed the perfect icebreaker.
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
A multinational, non-denominational person walks into an uncontroversial establishment Ah.
You have heard it.
It's been such such a pleasure supporting the Society for Global Aid tonight.
Please thank them for all of the incredible work they do.
And thank you, thank you for coming.
Killed it, man.
Great job.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Madam Sec Madam Secretary.
Yes? If I could just have a second.
You know who was really funny: Condi.
- Oh.
- She could turn a phrase, huh? But she's not as funny as you though.
You're as funny as some of the men.
Okay.
I have to borrow the secretary for a second.
We'll be right back.
Matt Mahoney.
Z-man! Hey, was that your stuff up there? You're a rock star, bro.
God, you sound surprised.
Oh, that's right.
It's probably 'cause you never put me in the Exit Players.
Even when I begged you senior year.
It's cool, I'm over it.
Um, Zach, uh, I want to introduce you to - my, um - Colleague.
- And close friend.
- Daisy.
I love your blog.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, I mean, everybody in our office reads the Fusillade Press, so congrats, man.
Well, you got to let me do a feature on you.
I mean, this thing's gonna be all over the Internet tomorrow.
We got to get the guy who wrote it, huh? Um yeah.
Yeah, no, that's that-that Yeah.
Okay.
Cool.
Cool, yeah, we'll chat.
We'll chat.
Awesome.
Oh, gosh, look at that cheesecake.
- I would do anything - I saved you cheesecake.
- You did? I love you.
- I did.
I put a piece aside.
Secretary McCord, Secretary McCord.
Would you like to prevent the mass suicide of U.
S.
citizens trapped in a cult - in South America? - Not right now.
Thanks, sir.
- Excuse me? - No, uh, my name is Gary Coomer.
I-I represent families who've lost loved ones to the Covenant of John Mission in Bolivia, including - Sir, sir - um my daughter, Christine.
She's 22.
She joined this group last year.
And then they were just raising money for the Mission, but two months ago, with-with zero warning, and this guy's got them completely cut off.
- Mr.
Coomer, is it? - Yeah.
I'm gonna put you in touch with a colleague of mine at the State Department No, I've already contacted the State Department and my congressman, Larry Ames.
He's the one who sent me here to find you.
Oh, did he? - Back away, sir.
- Yeah, he said that if I showed you this, perhaps we'd finally get some action.
We got this e-mail two days ago all of the families and it says here they're waiting for the final judgment.
And this at the end here, this is Christine saying good-bye.
They are all gonna kill themselves.
Can Do you mind if I hold on to this? No, please, please.
I-I promise you that I will look into this.
No, don't look into it, please, just do something.
Okay? Please, before it's too late.
Sir, why don't you come with me? I'll take your information down.
Great.
Thank you.
And let's just walk over here for one second.
- I promise you.
- All right.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Over here, please.
Go! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go! Yes! Guys, hey! Hey, guys! Guys! I'm trying to close a deal in Nigeria.
Yeah, just test-driving the chairs.
Look, i-if you want to goof around, go work for Instagram.
I'm sure they have Foosball and vintage arcade games.
But if you want to change the world, one microloan at a time, cut the crap, get back to work.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm inspired.
- Back to work.
- Mm-hmm.
It's actually the best job I've ever had.
Impressive, considering it doesn't pay.
How does your boss justify keeping you there until 10:00 at night? Um, well, we were closing a deal in Abuja.
And we are still crazily understaffed.
Well, not that understaffed.
I mean, you know, with the guy and everything What guy? Come on.
You have Irish Lit at noon, but you're going into the office early after having worked past 10:00 last night.
And you're wearing a skirt and high heels to give loans to women overseas.
Could you please not spycraft me before 8:00 a.
m.
? Come on.
What's his name? Is he at Georgetown, too? You guys are unbelievable.
Bye.
Good-bye.
And it's not spycraft, by the way.
It's called being a mom.
Is that D.
C.
's very own Tina Fey right here in our kitchen? Hilarious.
Get breakfast.
- Yes or no? - Yes, please.
"Secretary McCord tames the crowd like a developing nation stockpiling enriched uranium.
" It's useless to try and keep them off the Internet, right? Utterly, yeah.
Okay.
Come on, let's go, you guys.
Go.
Bus is pulling out.
Ali, breakfast.
You Here.
You're eating a banana.
- Good-bye.
- Love you.
- Good-bye, good-bye.
- Bye.
Oh, and, Henry, the, um You know that religious group, the Covenant of John? Uh, yeah, the one that the guy approached you about last night.
Yeah.
Um, I've got my staff digging in and around into it, but could you maybe look into it, too? See just how doomsday you think these people are? Yeah, yeah.
Of course, sure.
Oh.
Uh, you forgot your anti-anxiety meds.
No, I didn't forget them.
I don't need them.
- Babe.
- Look, I don't know what they're gonna do to me, and I cannot be off my game, Henry.
Yeah, well, if you wind up in the hospital with another panic attack, you'll be way off your game, so just thank you in case.
Yeah.
Okay.
Reverend Wesley Finch, fearless leader of the Covenant of John.
Not exactly Jim Jones, is he? According to his Web site, Finch believes he is the seventh messenger, sent to reveal the mysteries of the Book of Revelation.
He also taught American history at Baltimore City College.
I had a sociology professor that thought he was the Messiah.
Now he teaches spin class.
So what's his group doing in Bolivia? Waiting for the end of the world, which, according to Finch's interpretation of the Book of Revelation, is next Thursday.
And when the world doesn't end on Thursday? - It won't matter.
They'll already be dead.
- So the question becomes: How do we prevent a mass suicide without interfering with freedom of religion? Presumably, Bolivia doesn't want a bunch of dead U.
S.
citizens any more than we do.
Let's ask for military or police intervention.
If they balk on that, let's see if they'll let us send in our own team.
We have a delicate situation with Bolivia.
That DEA raid.
Drug Enforcement raided a coca plantation outside of La Paz last May without full sign-off.
Only problem was it wasn't a coca plantation.
Lives were lost.
Relations since then are obviously strained.
So because DEA screws up, we just let these people kill themselves and their children at the behest of a lunatic? Unfortunately, it's not technically illegal to waste - your life at the behest of lunatics.
- Enough! Are we gonna do something to save these people or just sit around and dither about protocol? - Ma'am - Just get me an appointment with the Bolivian ambassador.
I know you don't want to hear it, but, uh, that congressman, Larry Ames What, the guy who ambushed me with the dad? He's making a lot of noise about it.
And he's angling to chair the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Blake, get me Larry Ames' schedule.
I'll handle this myself.
Please.
The golden age of the labor union was 40 years ago.
Congressman Ames, mind if I hijack you for a minute? Elizabeth McCord.
- Y-Yeah, I know who you are.
- I know you do.
'Cause you sent a traumatized parent to ambush me at the SGA fund-raiser last night.
Well, I'm glad to hear he got through.
Here's the deal, Larry.
You have a situation with one of your constituents outside the U.
S.
borders, the State Department is here for you.
- Just pick up the phone.
- Well, I tried that, and your assistant gave me And I am 100% sure that if you had explained the situation to him Send me down there.
I'll get every one of them on a plane home tomorrow.
Are you familiar with the work I did in Haiti - after the earthquake? - Congressman you wanted this on my radar; it's on my radar.
Now I need you to stand down so I can do my job.
Are we clear? Thank you.
Why not let the doofus go down there with cameras? He can bring Sean Penn while he's at it.
And when the cult members kill themselves ahead of schedule because they feel like - they're being attacked? - If they're gonna do it anyway There's such a thing as too pragmatic.
You know that, right? It's not a theory I subscribe to.
Ma'am, the Bolivian ambassador is here.
Señora Dominguez, I was hoping that maybe you'd brought some of those, um, humintas, was it? Coffee? Cream and sugar, right? Let us dispense with the niceties, Madam Secretary.
You are looking for Bolivia's assistance in interfering with the worship of your own citizens within our borders, is that right? I am concerned with this religious group's apparent inclination toward self-destruction, yes.
And yet when your Drug Enforcement Agency sees fit to murder the innocent children of farmers harvesting soya, it hardly merits a phone call from your predecessor.
Again, as we've said publicly, we deeply regret that tragic incident.
Save your apology.
Brown lives are cheaper than white ones.
We see that again and again in your country.
Preventing the loss of any human life is surely a cause we can both agree on today, isn't it, Ambassador? What is it you wish to propose? Let us send in a team.
Two Chinooks, unmarked.
We bring our citizens back, your government takes full credit for preventing a mass suicide.
I've shown the e-mail to Presidente Lafuente.
It is not enough.
So that's it? You're just willing to let these people die? The people your government slaughtered did not choose to die for their beliefs, Madam Secretary.
If you want our help, you're going to have to find something more.
A danger my people can readily understand.
Let's just say she was a bit underwhelmed.
We need to find something to convince Bolivia there's a threat.
Find out if anyone's growing pot on the compound, or if any of the kids are sick.
Uh, illegal firearms might work.
Right that's what ATF used with the Branch Davidians in Waco.
Because that went so well.
Just find something to get Bolivia back in our corner, fast.
Thank you, guys.
Good night.
Oh.
Congressman Larry Ames.
Ask the speaker's office to deny him any travel to Bolivia.
And when the congressman asks why? I'd like his sage counsel close.
Wow! Nice dress.
Where's mystery man taking you? You do realize that you're eating cold pasta with your coat on? Oh.
You hear that? Skillful misdirect.
Yeah, she learned from the best.
Aw.
What are you doing here? What I told you I was coming.
No, no.
I texted you that I was gonna meet you there.
Oh.
Sorry, my phone died.
Okay, well, you signed in with security and everything? Yeah.
I had to.
You haven't told your parents about me, have you? No.
Let's just talk about it on the way, okay? Hey.
Hey, Dad.
Uh this is Arthur.
Hello, Ar-Arthur? - Hi.
- Hi.
I know you.
Indeed you do.
Madam Secretary, Arthur Gilroy.
Microloans guy.
Um, w-we should really get going.
You're dating your boss.
No, I-I'm an unpaid intern.
Technically he's not my boss.
Technically, I'm his boss.
Why don't you come in, Arthur, have a drink? Uh, well, Stevie's not of age yet, but you certainly - look like you are.
- Good one, Dad.
It's-it's fine.
Uh, happy to.
Where are you guys going tonight? Eden.
It's the new vegan place on Logan Circle.
Oh, yeah, so some kale smothered in kale sauce.
Ha.
So how long have you two been? Uh, it's about a month.
Yeah, we sort of were keeping it under the radar until we knew if it was something.
Uh, well, it turns out it's something.
So, um, microloans, Arthur how'd you get into that? Well, I studied finance in college.
And when was that? College.
- He's 39, Mom.
- I-It's okay, it's okay.
I Listen, I get it.
You have concerns about me dating your daughter.
Well, you are twice her age And her boss.
I'm s-sitting right here.
No.
You know what? They're right.
I would have questions, too.
Uh, o-o I'm from Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Uh, I went into finance out of Wharton.
Worked 14 years at Goldman.
Uh, got married.
Have a daughter, Ruby.
She's, uh, eight now.
Uh, condo on the Upper West Side, house in the Hamptons, the whole thing.
One day, I'm walking past the Occupy tents at Zuccotti Park, and it hits me: I'm the one percent.
So I got a tent, pitched it, discovered microloans are my real passion.
Uh, my wife did not share my new thinking, we got divorced three years ago, and, uh Well here I am.
Indeed, here you are.
Look, there have been times in my life when I chose not to follow the rules.
And it turns out those have been some of the best choices I've ever made.
- All right, one last question.
- Uh-huh? What life experience was your best preparation to become a big-time D.
C.
speechwriter? Okay.
Oh.
Space camp.
- What?! - I'm serious.
I-I did it the, uh, the summer - after fifth grade.
- Uh-huh.
It totally inured me against all hope of respect or recognition from my peers.
Uh, I wore my uniform to the first day of sixth grade.
I'm serious.
I still have it, in fact.
It's in my closet.
Don't put that in there.
The point is, when you go that deep the bullies can't touch you.
Commitment is your armor.
Bam! - Bam! - I love it, dude! Yeah! Wow.
Hey, I got plenty more - where that came from.
- Save it.
And watch out, brother, things could really change for you.
- Really? - I'm serious.
That clip of M-Sec doing your material is getting mad play, okay? You grab this moment, you could be the next somebody cool.
Colbert? Not Colbert-cool.
But, like, Jason Jones, maybe.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Yeah, yeah.
Look, there's a whole world out there, okay? Once you decide to step out from under the shadows.
- Cheers, buddy.
- Thanks, brother.
All right, man.
Well, Arthur, you have to admit, your investments are supporting the economies of some pretty objectionable regimes.
It's an interesting ethical dilemma, actually.
No, not really.
See, that's the beauty of microlending.
We're skipping the government, and actually changing things - from within.
- Really? Um, what time is that reservation? So you're helping disempowered women start businesses, but the system that disempowered them in the first place, the men who might steal their profits or the loan themselves, for that matter the very government who is refusing their basic human rights, you're fixing all that, too? I-I just think that we're not in the business of judging other cultures.
So which is it you're changing things from within, or you're not in the business of judging other cultures? Down, Dad.
Should we maybe order Chinese? No, we may not like it, but democracy is no longer a prerequisite for a healthy economy.
Look at Singapore.
Hell, look at China.
You're confusing democracy with basic human rights, but Do you want to jump in on this? No, I think you're doing just fine.
No, Arthur's right we-we are changing things.
We're helping people improve their lives by allowing them to become entrepreneurs.
This from a girl who wanted to join the Communist Party in high school a couple of years ago.
Well, I'm open to new ideas.
She's vegan now.
Uh, you know what? Maybe I should go check on our reservation.
Yeah.
Well he seems like a very passionate young man.
Well, man, anyway.
He's definitely got convictions.
Let's face it, you were gonna go after that guy - no matter what he said.
- He was so smug, with that whole "Saul on the road to Zuccotti Park".
And Stevie parroting all his half-baked opinions.
Yeah, it was weird.
It's usually she just parrots your half-baked opinions.
Hey.
She considers them, because they're right.
I don't love him, either.
But if we just nod and smile, he'll be gone in six months.
You promise? Well, if I'm wrong, we'll have a cute new granddaughter named Ruby.
Oh, God, now I'm having a panic attack.
Oops.
Sorry.
So, did you see it? Your old college buddy calling you a "hot new voice"? Yes, I saw it.
Now Zach wants me to host Fusillade's fifth anniversary party.
This could open a whole new future for me.
I didn't realize you weren't so happy with your old future.
What? You don't approve? I just think you need to be more discreet.
What is wrong with me getting a little attention? Hot New Voice, my office.
Now.
You know this isn't really your office.
Shut up and sit.
Oh, I thought you were talking to your dog.
Gordon's at day care, and I would never use that tone with him.
So I hear you're an undiscovered comic gem.
Must be very exciting.
I didn't write it.
Let's hear it.
Make me laugh.
Come on, let 'er rip.
It's 200 words in a blog.
There's an old Beltway expression: "Staff ink stinks.
" Your job here is to make one person look good, and that person is not you.
Hey, I can have a life, dude.
No.
You can't.
Now back to the shadows to happily toil in obscurity.
Otherwise, we'll find someone from the teeming horde to take your place.
Madam Secretary.
Oh, this doesn't look good.
Congressman Ames showed up at the Covenant of John compound this morning in Bolivia demanding the release of its members.
Wait.
Wh-What? And now they're holding him.
Holding him hostage? How did Ames even get out of the country? I-I left specific instructions He found some last-minute humanitarian group - to sponsor him.
- Are you kidding me? Reverend Finch just posted this on their Web site.
To those who would wish to interfere with the holy Mission of the Covenant of John in Bolivia, know this: by attempting to alter our path in any way you will be treated as enemies of the holy word.
He says they're keeping the congressman in an undisclosed location until the final judgment.
And if anyone tries to interfere, they'll take him with them.
They're threatening to kill a U.
S.
congressman? Well, at least now we have something to convince Bolivia to get involved.
It's too late now we've lost the element of surprise.
Tell me they have Sean Penn, too.
The congressman was taken at gunpoint, so we know they're armed.
I hate to pile on, but intel says the group has been stockpiling potassium cyanide.
It's a highly lethal neurotoxin.
It's what they used in Jonestown.
Sorry, uh, Mr.
Jackson would like a word.
Uh, not right now.
I could reach out gently to Ambassador Dominguez.
Now C-Can you just call? Why do you never call? You mind telling me how some lunatic-fringe Bible camp just turned into a flaming pile of crap? Congressman Ames made an end run around me, but we're on it.
We're just now figuring Yeah, well, don't bother.
We're turning it over to D.
O.
D.
Can you guys give us a minute, please? Mike.
Russell, that compound is on a hair trigger.
Sending in the military is just gonna push them over the edge.
Which is exactly what we're trying to avoid.
What we're trying to avoid is another U.
S.
government official getting killed.
JSOC's already done an assessment on sending a team in.
They say we can avoid up to 60% of the members from dying by their own hand.
And what about the congressman? We're not gonna just let them take him to paradise.
Not without a fight.
Just give me 24 hours! Don't have it! Dalton's back on his heels 'cause of this coup in Iran.
We need to get in front of this.
So either get on board or get out of the way.
Ma'am.
Not right now.
There's someone here who I think you'll want to see.
Mr.
Coomer.
Hi.
Hi.
Please sit.
Uh, I heard about Congressman Ames.
Now you see what these lunatics are capable of.
Well, it definitely got everyone's attention.
Mr.
Coomer we are doing everything we can.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh when my wife couldn't get pregnant, some f some fertility group gave her this.
And I thought it was silly, but after she was wearing it for a few weeks, Chrissie was coming.
So I figured if it brought her to us once, it could bring her to us again.
How do we avoid another Waco? Well, this situation has a lot of the same elements: fervent believers holed up in a compound, uh, an impatient government dying to storm in Then how do we talk them out of it? Well, it's about their beliefs.
I'm not sure that you can.
So that's it? I just give up and let the cavalry in? You know, I saw Finch preach online.
He's not a typical cult leader.
He encourages his followers to question, and he likes debate.
- He's a scholar.
- He's a kidnapper.
I think he's scared.
A lot of doomsday cult leaders feel painted into a corner, like they need to deliver on all the promises they've been making.
So we need to give him a way out? I mean, give him something that he can use to convince his followers that this isn't their time to go.
Yeah, possibly.
There's nothing in Revelation about suicide.
That's good.
I think the main thing is to make him feel heard.
You know, in Waco, Koresh was at an absolute standoff with the FBI until a couple of religious scholars got him talking about his beliefs, the Bible, and then that's when he was ready to come out peacefully.
So scholars almost saved the day at Waco, huh? Okay.
There's no way of telling how that - might have turned out.
- Did you reach out to him? Babe, I am not an expert on apocalyptic literature.
But you are a world-renowned biblical scholar.
Just one phone call.
One phone call.
So you want me to hold off on rescuing a U.
S.
congressman being held prisoner by a suicidal cult leader so your husband can chat with him on the phone about Scripture? Reverend Finch left for Bolivia because the federal government wouldn't grant him the tax-exempt status of a faith-based group.
So you're blaming the IRS? He wants legitimacy.
That's what Henry can bring.
I mean, not only is he an internationally acclaimed theological scholar, but he is the husband of the Secretary of State.
A phone call from him? And he has consulted for the Pentagon, he's worked with the NSA.
He'll know how to work with the guy.
Congressman Ames has that group on edge.
You send in a team of Navy SEALs, you're looking at a success rate of 40%? But this is a chance to do better.
You want to project an image of power.
But a debacle like the one in Waco would be far more damaging than a failed phone call.
You've given me an idea, Bess.
I think we need to take every advantage here.
No half measures.
If we're gonna do this, let's send Henry down there.
You really think that's necessary? He'll have backup.
If things go south, our team will move right in.
Land outside La Paz at 0500, meet up with the SEAL team, then chopper in.
We should be on the ground near the compound by mid-morning.
I'll give you a minute, Dr.
McCord.
How did I let you agree to this? You know that I've always wanted to visit the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos.
Couldn't we have made it our next family vacation? It's the right thing to do.
Do you think you'll have God on your side? I got you.
Commander Parker, any chance we can discuss my name for this mission? You have a problem being the Cardinal today, sir? Why don't we just go with Pope? Oh, and "Alamo" is the distress code? Isn't that a little cliché? Would you tell him to shut up and get on with it? Bravo Team is in position.
Snipers are hot.
Sn Whoa.
We're not gonna risk another hostage situation.
- Professor McCord? - Yes.
I'm Christine.
I can take you to see Wesley now.
That's Gary Coomer's daughter.
I'm sorry.
Just the professor.
I cleared this with Reverend Finch.
And he apologizes for his change of heart.
If you'd like to come back another time? It's okay.
Stand down.
He can't go in alone.
He needs backup.
It's all right.
Go ahead.
Cardinal flying in solo.
No wire, no visual.
Welcome to our home.
Henry, what the hell did you just do? He got in.
We've lost visual on Cardinal, sir.
Can we get some remote audio or something, please? They're working on a long-range microphone.
Okay.
We have ears.
You know, there are lot of beautiful missions in Bolivia.
Dr.
McCord.
This is so cool.
Reverend Finch.
Oh, call me Wesley, please.
You met Jeff? Uh, yeah, we were just, uh, chatting.
Yes.
Uh, thank you for having me.
Are you kidding? When I read your paper, I said, "This guy is it.
We got to get him in here.
" That part about faith is like a silent bell? Oh uh, "Faith is a bell unrung.
"Its silence is an arc of possibility.
" As defined by loss as it is by hope.
Why do you study God? I was an altar boy at Our Lady of Good Counsel.
And one Sunday, Father Joseph asked me to ring the bells during the mass.
You know, the the consecration, the big moment of transubstantiation.
- I'm familiar.
- Yes, right, of course.
Well, the time came and Father Joseph held up the host and said, "Do this in remembrance of me.
" And I I didn't ring the bells.
A couple weeks earlier, my best friend Tommy was playing hockey on the pond.
He went under the ice, and they couldn't He didn't come up.
Anyway, after mass, Father Joseph said to me, "It's okay, Henry.
God goes silent on us all.
" A priest admitting that God went silent on him? I was in.
So that settled it? No, no, no, no.
That started it.
Uh, faith is a quest.
It's not a panacea, but you know that.
Thank you, Christine.
- Have some tea.
- Thank you.
He knows how to win the guy's trust.
He doesn't tell that story to just anyone.
Looks like it worked.
Am I the only one thinking he shouldn't drink the tea? Right, but you have to concede that according to hypostatic union, asserting Christ's exclusive divinity would be heresy.
Oh, there's a reason I stopped going to church.
- Let me ask you something, Wesley.
- He's just getting going.
Why is this, now, the time of the Fifth Seal for you? War.
Famine.
Death.
The destruction of the planet.
You know what I'm gonna say.
The 21st century did not invent war or famine or death.
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, "one of the four beasts saying, 'Come and see.
' And I saw a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow.
.
" Did someone arrive on a white horse, Wesley? "and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
" Congressman Ames did he come in a white car? This isn't about a car, Henry.
I've been chosen.
I don't know why I've been chosen.
My sins are more than the hairs on my head.
But I have seen what's coming.
What if you're wrong? The Chalcedonian Creed said that Jesus was human, and therefore fallible.
Couldn't you be making mistakes? And the Nicene Creed said he was fully divine.
No more debate.
You're a father, Henry.
You know what the world can do to your children, how Satan can snuff out their light.
You'd do anything to prevent that.
But here's the thing: they have to choose it.
There's a new thought about Revelation, that John was actually writing about Asia Minor pulling away from the rest of the Christian community.
I'm not familiar with that.
You must have had that conflict here among your followers.
There must have been members who did not want to come to Bolivia.
Those who came here are those who believe.
Then open the gate, have faith in your followers - the way they have faith in you.
- I'm not holding anyone here by force.
You're holding that congressman.
If there are those among you who do not hear the bells anymore, then open that gate.
- What the hell just happened? - Damn it, we need a visual.
Working on it, sir.
Sniper two, eyes on Cardinal.
He's almost got him.
Cardinal engaged.
Waiting on a clear shot.
Sir, he's not in distress.
He didn't say "Alamo".
Let's see how this plays out.
You don't know what you want.
You had us all come out here, and now you just want to open up the gate and let everyone off to damnation? Jeffrey, we are just talking.
He's turning you.
Let him go.
And you don't even see it.
We need to take this guy out.
It'll cause mayhem.
Still no shot.
Holding for a clear shot.
can go very badly for you, but it doesn't have to.
There are people who need to know that Congressman Ames is safe.
They just need to know where he is.
I told you, that's all he cares about! Listen to me now, Wesley.
It's an unrighteous act if you harm that man.
He's got a knife.
Still no clean shot.
Hold on, Henry.
It's a mark on you, an affront to God.
He's the enemy.
Wesley, tell me where he is.
Is he here on the compound? Is he here? Sniper achieved target.
Cardinal's good.
No, don't look at him.
Don't look at him.
You need to tell me where the congressman is.
If you want to save them all from damnation, tell me where he is now.
He's just outside the compound in a bunker, off to the east side.
All right, all right, we've got him.
Bravo moving in to retrieve secondary target.
They'll get him out, Bess.
Why hasn't he said "Alamo"? - Any reaction to the sniper shot? - Nothing that we're picking up.
I have to lead them.
No, I think you need to pray.
Christine is heading for the tent.
You were chosen by God, then pray, pray.
Pray with me.
Dear Lord.
Dear Lord.
We beseech you.
We beseech you.
In the hour of our darkness.
In the hour of our darkness.
The time is nigh.
No.
No.
The time is nigh! The time is nigh! Christine, no! Alamo! Alamo! Alamo! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! You need to stop them.
You're the seventh and final messenger.
Proceeding with Alpha-Omega.
Helo standing by for extraction and transport.
Wesley, you've got to stop them.
It's too late.
You shouldn't have betrayed me, Henry.
Who's shooting? Under fire, engaging hostile target.
- Have they evacuated the tent? - There's a group taking refuge.
They've barricaded themselves in.
- Did they have the poison with them? - We're trying to determine Okay.
Go to four.
We've located the congressman.
- He's walking.
- Thank the Lord for small miracles.
Can we please get my husband out of there? - What's the status on Henry, damn it? - Still engaging.
We have the Cardinal.
Target is safe.
He's good.
Hell of a play.
Yes.
Right.
Sniper one? Squad Commander to JSOC.
We breached the barricade.
It appears to be a mass casualty event.
Estimated 30 dead.
They had the poison.
Henry, look, look at how many you brought home.
I was so focused on trying to get through to Finch that I ignored his deputy.
I-I should have tried to connect with him, too.
It was working; Finch was listening.
It's like what you said.
You can't change their beliefs.
You still saved so many more than they would have without you.
That girl, Christine, that let you into the compound? No.
Where is she? I'm so sorry.
She did it herself? So, you know how I thought that my Irish poetry professor was a psychopath? I think she might just be a frustrated romantic.
She's teaching Irish poetry.
You started on Yeats, yet? A little, yeah.
I tell you, at the end, he got into these crazy fantastic Hindu theosophical beliefs, I mean Okay, Dad, the religion conference is over.
How was that, by the way? It was, uh surprisingly eventful.
Hmm.
Damn it.
What? This isn't non-GMO.
Well, maybe it's cisgenic.
Could be just two plants grafted together.
Farmers have been doing that for centuries.
Okay, well, tell that to all of Europe, because everything over there is non-GMO.
That's not exactly true.
Uh, wh-where's all this coming from anyway? What is that supposed to mean? It just seems that you've been a bit under Arthur's thrall.
Really? I thought you liked his convictions.
Well, I'd like them better if they weren't automatically becoming your convictions.
Non-GMO is my conviction.
- Arthur isn't even vegan.
- Oh, well, then What is your problem? You've been totally weird about him.
I don't like it that he's 40 and dating someone - half his age.
- He's 39.
And he's your boss.
Come on, as if age actually matters that much.
- I don't like his fuzzy thinking.
- Not everything is about thinking.
Some people actually do stuff.
They don't just sit around in an ivory tower, coming up with debates and arguments.
You think that's what I do, just sit around? You know what, you don't have to like Arthur, but I do, a lot.
I might even love him, and you can't debate me out of that! Well played, Professor.
No, really.
- It'll be a beautiful wedding, I'm sure.
- Ha, ha.
I-I just can't sit around and watch her get brainwashed by this guy.
Henry, she's not one of those kids.
Yeah, I know, but I want her to think for herself.
Well, I think that's what she's trying to do.
You're a huge force in her life.
Maybe she just needs to tear you down a little to make some room for herself.
Not to mention the guy.
Okay, so when she hates you, it's a crisis, and when it's my turn, it's just natural progression.
I know.
It's so weird, that.
I'm glad you're back.
Once a year, we all get together, let loose and say what we really think.
It's a triumph of free speech.
Which, at $2,000 a plate, is a bargain.
This is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other.
Then again, I was in the CIA, so I already know everything about you.
Chief of Staff Russell Jackson is here tonight.
You've probably read in the press he and some of the cabinet members don't always see eye to eye.
I mean, honestly how can we? Is he smiling? Please tell me he's smiling.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
As America's lead diplomat, I have to interface with people of different cultural backgrounds, which is how I developed the perfect icebreaker.
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
A multinational, non-denominational person walks into an uncontroversial establishment Ah.
You have heard it.
It's been such such a pleasure supporting the Society for Global Aid tonight.
Please thank them for all of the incredible work they do.
And thank you, thank you for coming.
Killed it, man.
Great job.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Madam Sec Madam Secretary.
Yes? If I could just have a second.
You know who was really funny: Condi.
- Oh.
- She could turn a phrase, huh? But she's not as funny as you though.
You're as funny as some of the men.
Okay.
I have to borrow the secretary for a second.
We'll be right back.
Matt Mahoney.
Z-man! Hey, was that your stuff up there? You're a rock star, bro.
God, you sound surprised.
Oh, that's right.
It's probably 'cause you never put me in the Exit Players.
Even when I begged you senior year.
It's cool, I'm over it.
Um, Zach, uh, I want to introduce you to - my, um - Colleague.
- And close friend.
- Daisy.
I love your blog.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, I mean, everybody in our office reads the Fusillade Press, so congrats, man.
Well, you got to let me do a feature on you.
I mean, this thing's gonna be all over the Internet tomorrow.
We got to get the guy who wrote it, huh? Um yeah.
Yeah, no, that's that-that Yeah.
Okay.
Cool.
Cool, yeah, we'll chat.
We'll chat.
Awesome.
Oh, gosh, look at that cheesecake.
- I would do anything - I saved you cheesecake.
- You did? I love you.
- I did.
I put a piece aside.
Secretary McCord, Secretary McCord.
Would you like to prevent the mass suicide of U.
S.
citizens trapped in a cult - in South America? - Not right now.
Thanks, sir.
- Excuse me? - No, uh, my name is Gary Coomer.
I-I represent families who've lost loved ones to the Covenant of John Mission in Bolivia, including - Sir, sir - um my daughter, Christine.
She's 22.
She joined this group last year.
And then they were just raising money for the Mission, but two months ago, with-with zero warning, and this guy's got them completely cut off.
- Mr.
Coomer, is it? - Yeah.
I'm gonna put you in touch with a colleague of mine at the State Department No, I've already contacted the State Department and my congressman, Larry Ames.
He's the one who sent me here to find you.
Oh, did he? - Back away, sir.
- Yeah, he said that if I showed you this, perhaps we'd finally get some action.
We got this e-mail two days ago all of the families and it says here they're waiting for the final judgment.
And this at the end here, this is Christine saying good-bye.
They are all gonna kill themselves.
Can Do you mind if I hold on to this? No, please, please.
I-I promise you that I will look into this.
No, don't look into it, please, just do something.
Okay? Please, before it's too late.
Sir, why don't you come with me? I'll take your information down.
Great.
Thank you.
And let's just walk over here for one second.
- I promise you.
- All right.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Over here, please.
Go! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go! Yes! Guys, hey! Hey, guys! Guys! I'm trying to close a deal in Nigeria.
Yeah, just test-driving the chairs.
Look, i-if you want to goof around, go work for Instagram.
I'm sure they have Foosball and vintage arcade games.
But if you want to change the world, one microloan at a time, cut the crap, get back to work.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm inspired.
- Back to work.
- Mm-hmm.
It's actually the best job I've ever had.
Impressive, considering it doesn't pay.
How does your boss justify keeping you there until 10:00 at night? Um, well, we were closing a deal in Abuja.
And we are still crazily understaffed.
Well, not that understaffed.
I mean, you know, with the guy and everything What guy? Come on.
You have Irish Lit at noon, but you're going into the office early after having worked past 10:00 last night.
And you're wearing a skirt and high heels to give loans to women overseas.
Could you please not spycraft me before 8:00 a.
m.
? Come on.
What's his name? Is he at Georgetown, too? You guys are unbelievable.
Bye.
Good-bye.
And it's not spycraft, by the way.
It's called being a mom.
Is that D.
C.
's very own Tina Fey right here in our kitchen? Hilarious.
Get breakfast.
- Yes or no? - Yes, please.
"Secretary McCord tames the crowd like a developing nation stockpiling enriched uranium.
" It's useless to try and keep them off the Internet, right? Utterly, yeah.
Okay.
Come on, let's go, you guys.
Go.
Bus is pulling out.
Ali, breakfast.
You Here.
You're eating a banana.
- Good-bye.
- Love you.
- Good-bye, good-bye.
- Bye.
Oh, and, Henry, the, um You know that religious group, the Covenant of John? Uh, yeah, the one that the guy approached you about last night.
Yeah.
Um, I've got my staff digging in and around into it, but could you maybe look into it, too? See just how doomsday you think these people are? Yeah, yeah.
Of course, sure.
Oh.
Uh, you forgot your anti-anxiety meds.
No, I didn't forget them.
I don't need them.
- Babe.
- Look, I don't know what they're gonna do to me, and I cannot be off my game, Henry.
Yeah, well, if you wind up in the hospital with another panic attack, you'll be way off your game, so just thank you in case.
Yeah.
Okay.
Reverend Wesley Finch, fearless leader of the Covenant of John.
Not exactly Jim Jones, is he? According to his Web site, Finch believes he is the seventh messenger, sent to reveal the mysteries of the Book of Revelation.
He also taught American history at Baltimore City College.
I had a sociology professor that thought he was the Messiah.
Now he teaches spin class.
So what's his group doing in Bolivia? Waiting for the end of the world, which, according to Finch's interpretation of the Book of Revelation, is next Thursday.
And when the world doesn't end on Thursday? - It won't matter.
They'll already be dead.
- So the question becomes: How do we prevent a mass suicide without interfering with freedom of religion? Presumably, Bolivia doesn't want a bunch of dead U.
S.
citizens any more than we do.
Let's ask for military or police intervention.
If they balk on that, let's see if they'll let us send in our own team.
We have a delicate situation with Bolivia.
That DEA raid.
Drug Enforcement raided a coca plantation outside of La Paz last May without full sign-off.
Only problem was it wasn't a coca plantation.
Lives were lost.
Relations since then are obviously strained.
So because DEA screws up, we just let these people kill themselves and their children at the behest of a lunatic? Unfortunately, it's not technically illegal to waste - your life at the behest of lunatics.
- Enough! Are we gonna do something to save these people or just sit around and dither about protocol? - Ma'am - Just get me an appointment with the Bolivian ambassador.
I know you don't want to hear it, but, uh, that congressman, Larry Ames What, the guy who ambushed me with the dad? He's making a lot of noise about it.
And he's angling to chair the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Blake, get me Larry Ames' schedule.
I'll handle this myself.
Please.
The golden age of the labor union was 40 years ago.
Congressman Ames, mind if I hijack you for a minute? Elizabeth McCord.
- Y-Yeah, I know who you are.
- I know you do.
'Cause you sent a traumatized parent to ambush me at the SGA fund-raiser last night.
Well, I'm glad to hear he got through.
Here's the deal, Larry.
You have a situation with one of your constituents outside the U.
S.
borders, the State Department is here for you.
- Just pick up the phone.
- Well, I tried that, and your assistant gave me And I am 100% sure that if you had explained the situation to him Send me down there.
I'll get every one of them on a plane home tomorrow.
Are you familiar with the work I did in Haiti - after the earthquake? - Congressman you wanted this on my radar; it's on my radar.
Now I need you to stand down so I can do my job.
Are we clear? Thank you.
Why not let the doofus go down there with cameras? He can bring Sean Penn while he's at it.
And when the cult members kill themselves ahead of schedule because they feel like - they're being attacked? - If they're gonna do it anyway There's such a thing as too pragmatic.
You know that, right? It's not a theory I subscribe to.
Ma'am, the Bolivian ambassador is here.
Señora Dominguez, I was hoping that maybe you'd brought some of those, um, humintas, was it? Coffee? Cream and sugar, right? Let us dispense with the niceties, Madam Secretary.
You are looking for Bolivia's assistance in interfering with the worship of your own citizens within our borders, is that right? I am concerned with this religious group's apparent inclination toward self-destruction, yes.
And yet when your Drug Enforcement Agency sees fit to murder the innocent children of farmers harvesting soya, it hardly merits a phone call from your predecessor.
Again, as we've said publicly, we deeply regret that tragic incident.
Save your apology.
Brown lives are cheaper than white ones.
We see that again and again in your country.
Preventing the loss of any human life is surely a cause we can both agree on today, isn't it, Ambassador? What is it you wish to propose? Let us send in a team.
Two Chinooks, unmarked.
We bring our citizens back, your government takes full credit for preventing a mass suicide.
I've shown the e-mail to Presidente Lafuente.
It is not enough.
So that's it? You're just willing to let these people die? The people your government slaughtered did not choose to die for their beliefs, Madam Secretary.
If you want our help, you're going to have to find something more.
A danger my people can readily understand.
Let's just say she was a bit underwhelmed.
We need to find something to convince Bolivia there's a threat.
Find out if anyone's growing pot on the compound, or if any of the kids are sick.
Uh, illegal firearms might work.
Right that's what ATF used with the Branch Davidians in Waco.
Because that went so well.
Just find something to get Bolivia back in our corner, fast.
Thank you, guys.
Good night.
Oh.
Congressman Larry Ames.
Ask the speaker's office to deny him any travel to Bolivia.
And when the congressman asks why? I'd like his sage counsel close.
Wow! Nice dress.
Where's mystery man taking you? You do realize that you're eating cold pasta with your coat on? Oh.
You hear that? Skillful misdirect.
Yeah, she learned from the best.
Aw.
What are you doing here? What I told you I was coming.
No, no.
I texted you that I was gonna meet you there.
Oh.
Sorry, my phone died.
Okay, well, you signed in with security and everything? Yeah.
I had to.
You haven't told your parents about me, have you? No.
Let's just talk about it on the way, okay? Hey.
Hey, Dad.
Uh this is Arthur.
Hello, Ar-Arthur? - Hi.
- Hi.
I know you.
Indeed you do.
Madam Secretary, Arthur Gilroy.
Microloans guy.
Um, w-we should really get going.
You're dating your boss.
No, I-I'm an unpaid intern.
Technically he's not my boss.
Technically, I'm his boss.
Why don't you come in, Arthur, have a drink? Uh, well, Stevie's not of age yet, but you certainly - look like you are.
- Good one, Dad.
It's-it's fine.
Uh, happy to.
Where are you guys going tonight? Eden.
It's the new vegan place on Logan Circle.
Oh, yeah, so some kale smothered in kale sauce.
Ha.
So how long have you two been? Uh, it's about a month.
Yeah, we sort of were keeping it under the radar until we knew if it was something.
Uh, well, it turns out it's something.
So, um, microloans, Arthur how'd you get into that? Well, I studied finance in college.
And when was that? College.
- He's 39, Mom.
- I-It's okay, it's okay.
I Listen, I get it.
You have concerns about me dating your daughter.
Well, you are twice her age And her boss.
I'm s-sitting right here.
No.
You know what? They're right.
I would have questions, too.
Uh, o-o I'm from Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Uh, I went into finance out of Wharton.
Worked 14 years at Goldman.
Uh, got married.
Have a daughter, Ruby.
She's, uh, eight now.
Uh, condo on the Upper West Side, house in the Hamptons, the whole thing.
One day, I'm walking past the Occupy tents at Zuccotti Park, and it hits me: I'm the one percent.
So I got a tent, pitched it, discovered microloans are my real passion.
Uh, my wife did not share my new thinking, we got divorced three years ago, and, uh Well here I am.
Indeed, here you are.
Look, there have been times in my life when I chose not to follow the rules.
And it turns out those have been some of the best choices I've ever made.
- All right, one last question.
- Uh-huh? What life experience was your best preparation to become a big-time D.
C.
speechwriter? Okay.
Oh.
Space camp.
- What?! - I'm serious.
I-I did it the, uh, the summer - after fifth grade.
- Uh-huh.
It totally inured me against all hope of respect or recognition from my peers.
Uh, I wore my uniform to the first day of sixth grade.
I'm serious.
I still have it, in fact.
It's in my closet.
Don't put that in there.
The point is, when you go that deep the bullies can't touch you.
Commitment is your armor.
Bam! - Bam! - I love it, dude! Yeah! Wow.
Hey, I got plenty more - where that came from.
- Save it.
And watch out, brother, things could really change for you.
- Really? - I'm serious.
That clip of M-Sec doing your material is getting mad play, okay? You grab this moment, you could be the next somebody cool.
Colbert? Not Colbert-cool.
But, like, Jason Jones, maybe.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Yeah, yeah.
Look, there's a whole world out there, okay? Once you decide to step out from under the shadows.
- Cheers, buddy.
- Thanks, brother.
All right, man.
Well, Arthur, you have to admit, your investments are supporting the economies of some pretty objectionable regimes.
It's an interesting ethical dilemma, actually.
No, not really.
See, that's the beauty of microlending.
We're skipping the government, and actually changing things - from within.
- Really? Um, what time is that reservation? So you're helping disempowered women start businesses, but the system that disempowered them in the first place, the men who might steal their profits or the loan themselves, for that matter the very government who is refusing their basic human rights, you're fixing all that, too? I-I just think that we're not in the business of judging other cultures.
So which is it you're changing things from within, or you're not in the business of judging other cultures? Down, Dad.
Should we maybe order Chinese? No, we may not like it, but democracy is no longer a prerequisite for a healthy economy.
Look at Singapore.
Hell, look at China.
You're confusing democracy with basic human rights, but Do you want to jump in on this? No, I think you're doing just fine.
No, Arthur's right we-we are changing things.
We're helping people improve their lives by allowing them to become entrepreneurs.
This from a girl who wanted to join the Communist Party in high school a couple of years ago.
Well, I'm open to new ideas.
She's vegan now.
Uh, you know what? Maybe I should go check on our reservation.
Yeah.
Well he seems like a very passionate young man.
Well, man, anyway.
He's definitely got convictions.
Let's face it, you were gonna go after that guy - no matter what he said.
- He was so smug, with that whole "Saul on the road to Zuccotti Park".
And Stevie parroting all his half-baked opinions.
Yeah, it was weird.
It's usually she just parrots your half-baked opinions.
Hey.
She considers them, because they're right.
I don't love him, either.
But if we just nod and smile, he'll be gone in six months.
You promise? Well, if I'm wrong, we'll have a cute new granddaughter named Ruby.
Oh, God, now I'm having a panic attack.
Oops.
Sorry.
So, did you see it? Your old college buddy calling you a "hot new voice"? Yes, I saw it.
Now Zach wants me to host Fusillade's fifth anniversary party.
This could open a whole new future for me.
I didn't realize you weren't so happy with your old future.
What? You don't approve? I just think you need to be more discreet.
What is wrong with me getting a little attention? Hot New Voice, my office.
Now.
You know this isn't really your office.
Shut up and sit.
Oh, I thought you were talking to your dog.
Gordon's at day care, and I would never use that tone with him.
So I hear you're an undiscovered comic gem.
Must be very exciting.
I didn't write it.
Let's hear it.
Make me laugh.
Come on, let 'er rip.
It's 200 words in a blog.
There's an old Beltway expression: "Staff ink stinks.
" Your job here is to make one person look good, and that person is not you.
Hey, I can have a life, dude.
No.
You can't.
Now back to the shadows to happily toil in obscurity.
Otherwise, we'll find someone from the teeming horde to take your place.
Madam Secretary.
Oh, this doesn't look good.
Congressman Ames showed up at the Covenant of John compound this morning in Bolivia demanding the release of its members.
Wait.
Wh-What? And now they're holding him.
Holding him hostage? How did Ames even get out of the country? I-I left specific instructions He found some last-minute humanitarian group - to sponsor him.
- Are you kidding me? Reverend Finch just posted this on their Web site.
To those who would wish to interfere with the holy Mission of the Covenant of John in Bolivia, know this: by attempting to alter our path in any way you will be treated as enemies of the holy word.
He says they're keeping the congressman in an undisclosed location until the final judgment.
And if anyone tries to interfere, they'll take him with them.
They're threatening to kill a U.
S.
congressman? Well, at least now we have something to convince Bolivia to get involved.
It's too late now we've lost the element of surprise.
Tell me they have Sean Penn, too.
The congressman was taken at gunpoint, so we know they're armed.
I hate to pile on, but intel says the group has been stockpiling potassium cyanide.
It's a highly lethal neurotoxin.
It's what they used in Jonestown.
Sorry, uh, Mr.
Jackson would like a word.
Uh, not right now.
I could reach out gently to Ambassador Dominguez.
Now C-Can you just call? Why do you never call? You mind telling me how some lunatic-fringe Bible camp just turned into a flaming pile of crap? Congressman Ames made an end run around me, but we're on it.
We're just now figuring Yeah, well, don't bother.
We're turning it over to D.
O.
D.
Can you guys give us a minute, please? Mike.
Russell, that compound is on a hair trigger.
Sending in the military is just gonna push them over the edge.
Which is exactly what we're trying to avoid.
What we're trying to avoid is another U.
S.
government official getting killed.
JSOC's already done an assessment on sending a team in.
They say we can avoid up to 60% of the members from dying by their own hand.
And what about the congressman? We're not gonna just let them take him to paradise.
Not without a fight.
Just give me 24 hours! Don't have it! Dalton's back on his heels 'cause of this coup in Iran.
We need to get in front of this.
So either get on board or get out of the way.
Ma'am.
Not right now.
There's someone here who I think you'll want to see.
Mr.
Coomer.
Hi.
Hi.
Please sit.
Uh, I heard about Congressman Ames.
Now you see what these lunatics are capable of.
Well, it definitely got everyone's attention.
Mr.
Coomer we are doing everything we can.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh when my wife couldn't get pregnant, some f some fertility group gave her this.
And I thought it was silly, but after she was wearing it for a few weeks, Chrissie was coming.
So I figured if it brought her to us once, it could bring her to us again.
How do we avoid another Waco? Well, this situation has a lot of the same elements: fervent believers holed up in a compound, uh, an impatient government dying to storm in Then how do we talk them out of it? Well, it's about their beliefs.
I'm not sure that you can.
So that's it? I just give up and let the cavalry in? You know, I saw Finch preach online.
He's not a typical cult leader.
He encourages his followers to question, and he likes debate.
- He's a scholar.
- He's a kidnapper.
I think he's scared.
A lot of doomsday cult leaders feel painted into a corner, like they need to deliver on all the promises they've been making.
So we need to give him a way out? I mean, give him something that he can use to convince his followers that this isn't their time to go.
Yeah, possibly.
There's nothing in Revelation about suicide.
That's good.
I think the main thing is to make him feel heard.
You know, in Waco, Koresh was at an absolute standoff with the FBI until a couple of religious scholars got him talking about his beliefs, the Bible, and then that's when he was ready to come out peacefully.
So scholars almost saved the day at Waco, huh? Okay.
There's no way of telling how that - might have turned out.
- Did you reach out to him? Babe, I am not an expert on apocalyptic literature.
But you are a world-renowned biblical scholar.
Just one phone call.
One phone call.
So you want me to hold off on rescuing a U.
S.
congressman being held prisoner by a suicidal cult leader so your husband can chat with him on the phone about Scripture? Reverend Finch left for Bolivia because the federal government wouldn't grant him the tax-exempt status of a faith-based group.
So you're blaming the IRS? He wants legitimacy.
That's what Henry can bring.
I mean, not only is he an internationally acclaimed theological scholar, but he is the husband of the Secretary of State.
A phone call from him? And he has consulted for the Pentagon, he's worked with the NSA.
He'll know how to work with the guy.
Congressman Ames has that group on edge.
You send in a team of Navy SEALs, you're looking at a success rate of 40%? But this is a chance to do better.
You want to project an image of power.
But a debacle like the one in Waco would be far more damaging than a failed phone call.
You've given me an idea, Bess.
I think we need to take every advantage here.
No half measures.
If we're gonna do this, let's send Henry down there.
You really think that's necessary? He'll have backup.
If things go south, our team will move right in.
Land outside La Paz at 0500, meet up with the SEAL team, then chopper in.
We should be on the ground near the compound by mid-morning.
I'll give you a minute, Dr.
McCord.
How did I let you agree to this? You know that I've always wanted to visit the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos.
Couldn't we have made it our next family vacation? It's the right thing to do.
Do you think you'll have God on your side? I got you.
Commander Parker, any chance we can discuss my name for this mission? You have a problem being the Cardinal today, sir? Why don't we just go with Pope? Oh, and "Alamo" is the distress code? Isn't that a little cliché? Would you tell him to shut up and get on with it? Bravo Team is in position.
Snipers are hot.
Sn Whoa.
We're not gonna risk another hostage situation.
- Professor McCord? - Yes.
I'm Christine.
I can take you to see Wesley now.
That's Gary Coomer's daughter.
I'm sorry.
Just the professor.
I cleared this with Reverend Finch.
And he apologizes for his change of heart.
If you'd like to come back another time? It's okay.
Stand down.
He can't go in alone.
He needs backup.
It's all right.
Go ahead.
Cardinal flying in solo.
No wire, no visual.
Welcome to our home.
Henry, what the hell did you just do? He got in.
We've lost visual on Cardinal, sir.
Can we get some remote audio or something, please? They're working on a long-range microphone.
Okay.
We have ears.
You know, there are lot of beautiful missions in Bolivia.
Dr.
McCord.
This is so cool.
Reverend Finch.
Oh, call me Wesley, please.
You met Jeff? Uh, yeah, we were just, uh, chatting.
Yes.
Uh, thank you for having me.
Are you kidding? When I read your paper, I said, "This guy is it.
We got to get him in here.
" That part about faith is like a silent bell? Oh uh, "Faith is a bell unrung.
"Its silence is an arc of possibility.
" As defined by loss as it is by hope.
Why do you study God? I was an altar boy at Our Lady of Good Counsel.
And one Sunday, Father Joseph asked me to ring the bells during the mass.
You know, the the consecration, the big moment of transubstantiation.
- I'm familiar.
- Yes, right, of course.
Well, the time came and Father Joseph held up the host and said, "Do this in remembrance of me.
" And I I didn't ring the bells.
A couple weeks earlier, my best friend Tommy was playing hockey on the pond.
He went under the ice, and they couldn't He didn't come up.
Anyway, after mass, Father Joseph said to me, "It's okay, Henry.
God goes silent on us all.
" A priest admitting that God went silent on him? I was in.
So that settled it? No, no, no, no.
That started it.
Uh, faith is a quest.
It's not a panacea, but you know that.
Thank you, Christine.
- Have some tea.
- Thank you.
He knows how to win the guy's trust.
He doesn't tell that story to just anyone.
Looks like it worked.
Am I the only one thinking he shouldn't drink the tea? Right, but you have to concede that according to hypostatic union, asserting Christ's exclusive divinity would be heresy.
Oh, there's a reason I stopped going to church.
- Let me ask you something, Wesley.
- He's just getting going.
Why is this, now, the time of the Fifth Seal for you? War.
Famine.
Death.
The destruction of the planet.
You know what I'm gonna say.
The 21st century did not invent war or famine or death.
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, "one of the four beasts saying, 'Come and see.
' And I saw a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow.
.
" Did someone arrive on a white horse, Wesley? "and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
" Congressman Ames did he come in a white car? This isn't about a car, Henry.
I've been chosen.
I don't know why I've been chosen.
My sins are more than the hairs on my head.
But I have seen what's coming.
What if you're wrong? The Chalcedonian Creed said that Jesus was human, and therefore fallible.
Couldn't you be making mistakes? And the Nicene Creed said he was fully divine.
No more debate.
You're a father, Henry.
You know what the world can do to your children, how Satan can snuff out their light.
You'd do anything to prevent that.
But here's the thing: they have to choose it.
There's a new thought about Revelation, that John was actually writing about Asia Minor pulling away from the rest of the Christian community.
I'm not familiar with that.
You must have had that conflict here among your followers.
There must have been members who did not want to come to Bolivia.
Those who came here are those who believe.
Then open the gate, have faith in your followers - the way they have faith in you.
- I'm not holding anyone here by force.
You're holding that congressman.
If there are those among you who do not hear the bells anymore, then open that gate.
- What the hell just happened? - Damn it, we need a visual.
Working on it, sir.
Sniper two, eyes on Cardinal.
He's almost got him.
Cardinal engaged.
Waiting on a clear shot.
Sir, he's not in distress.
He didn't say "Alamo".
Let's see how this plays out.
You don't know what you want.
You had us all come out here, and now you just want to open up the gate and let everyone off to damnation? Jeffrey, we are just talking.
He's turning you.
Let him go.
And you don't even see it.
We need to take this guy out.
It'll cause mayhem.
Still no shot.
Holding for a clear shot.
can go very badly for you, but it doesn't have to.
There are people who need to know that Congressman Ames is safe.
They just need to know where he is.
I told you, that's all he cares about! Listen to me now, Wesley.
It's an unrighteous act if you harm that man.
He's got a knife.
Still no clean shot.
Hold on, Henry.
It's a mark on you, an affront to God.
He's the enemy.
Wesley, tell me where he is.
Is he here on the compound? Is he here? Sniper achieved target.
Cardinal's good.
No, don't look at him.
Don't look at him.
You need to tell me where the congressman is.
If you want to save them all from damnation, tell me where he is now.
He's just outside the compound in a bunker, off to the east side.
All right, all right, we've got him.
Bravo moving in to retrieve secondary target.
They'll get him out, Bess.
Why hasn't he said "Alamo"? - Any reaction to the sniper shot? - Nothing that we're picking up.
I have to lead them.
No, I think you need to pray.
Christine is heading for the tent.
You were chosen by God, then pray, pray.
Pray with me.
Dear Lord.
Dear Lord.
We beseech you.
We beseech you.
In the hour of our darkness.
In the hour of our darkness.
The time is nigh.
No.
No.
The time is nigh! The time is nigh! Christine, no! Alamo! Alamo! Alamo! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! The time is nigh! You need to stop them.
You're the seventh and final messenger.
Proceeding with Alpha-Omega.
Helo standing by for extraction and transport.
Wesley, you've got to stop them.
It's too late.
You shouldn't have betrayed me, Henry.
Who's shooting? Under fire, engaging hostile target.
- Have they evacuated the tent? - There's a group taking refuge.
They've barricaded themselves in.
- Did they have the poison with them? - We're trying to determine Okay.
Go to four.
We've located the congressman.
- He's walking.
- Thank the Lord for small miracles.
Can we please get my husband out of there? - What's the status on Henry, damn it? - Still engaging.
We have the Cardinal.
Target is safe.
He's good.
Hell of a play.
Yes.
Right.
Sniper one? Squad Commander to JSOC.
We breached the barricade.
It appears to be a mass casualty event.
Estimated 30 dead.
They had the poison.
Henry, look, look at how many you brought home.
I was so focused on trying to get through to Finch that I ignored his deputy.
I-I should have tried to connect with him, too.
It was working; Finch was listening.
It's like what you said.
You can't change their beliefs.
You still saved so many more than they would have without you.
That girl, Christine, that let you into the compound? No.
Where is she? I'm so sorry.
She did it herself? So, you know how I thought that my Irish poetry professor was a psychopath? I think she might just be a frustrated romantic.
She's teaching Irish poetry.
You started on Yeats, yet? A little, yeah.
I tell you, at the end, he got into these crazy fantastic Hindu theosophical beliefs, I mean Okay, Dad, the religion conference is over.
How was that, by the way? It was, uh surprisingly eventful.
Hmm.
Damn it.
What? This isn't non-GMO.
Well, maybe it's cisgenic.
Could be just two plants grafted together.
Farmers have been doing that for centuries.
Okay, well, tell that to all of Europe, because everything over there is non-GMO.
That's not exactly true.
Uh, wh-where's all this coming from anyway? What is that supposed to mean? It just seems that you've been a bit under Arthur's thrall.
Really? I thought you liked his convictions.
Well, I'd like them better if they weren't automatically becoming your convictions.
Non-GMO is my conviction.
- Arthur isn't even vegan.
- Oh, well, then What is your problem? You've been totally weird about him.
I don't like it that he's 40 and dating someone - half his age.
- He's 39.
And he's your boss.
Come on, as if age actually matters that much.
- I don't like his fuzzy thinking.
- Not everything is about thinking.
Some people actually do stuff.
They don't just sit around in an ivory tower, coming up with debates and arguments.
You think that's what I do, just sit around? You know what, you don't have to like Arthur, but I do, a lot.
I might even love him, and you can't debate me out of that! Well played, Professor.
No, really.
- It'll be a beautiful wedding, I'm sure.
- Ha, ha.
I-I just can't sit around and watch her get brainwashed by this guy.
Henry, she's not one of those kids.
Yeah, I know, but I want her to think for herself.
Well, I think that's what she's trying to do.
You're a huge force in her life.
Maybe she just needs to tear you down a little to make some room for herself.
Not to mention the guy.
Okay, so when she hates you, it's a crisis, and when it's my turn, it's just natural progression.
I know.
It's so weird, that.
I'm glad you're back.