Designated Survivor (2016) s02e01 Episode Script
One Year In
1 Previously on "Designated Survivor" Ritter: Capitol's been attacked.
Eagle is gone.
Congress, the Cabinet.
You are now the President.
My name is Seth Wright.
I was named White House Press Secretary.
Aaron, I want you here.
And I won't take "No" for an answer.
I serve at the pleasure of the President.
- Welcome back.
- Thank you, sir.
I would like you to be my chief of staff.
I'm throwing you in the deep end.
I won't let you down.
Agent Wells, I hereby authorize you to use whatever means necessary, to find the people involved in this conspiracy and bring them to justice.
Hannah: Our target is Patrick Lloyd.
We believe that he is responsible for the bombing on our Capitol.
What's going on? Patrick Lloyd.
He hacked the Defense Department's most highly classified server.
Troop movements, intel on our nuclear arsenal.
Lloyd could sell off the information in pieces to the highest bidder.
Are we any closer to finding him? No, sir.
[Majestic music plays.]
They broke ground here in 1793.
The British burned it down in 1814, but we rebuilt it.
Patrick Lloyd blew it to pieces.
We rebuilt it again.
It's just masonry and paint.
Why do you think it means so much? Because it's, um, a symbol, sir.
A symbol that nearly bankrupted us.
You honestly think that this glorified office building's worth $7 billion? No, sir.
I think it's worth a whole lot more.
Damn right.
Morning, sir.
Man: And what about the rebuilt Capitol? They should call it Kirkman's Folly.
He rebuilt it in one year.
Cost overruns.
Overtime.
And as an encore, he jams through an emergency defense bill after Lloyd's Pentagon hack.
Good morning, Mr.
President.
Good morning.
Lloyd couldn't kill Kirkman, so he's killing his presidency one dollar at a time.
Lloyd's greatest shot was the one he didn't fire.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
- Good morning.
One year in.
Someone should have baked a cake.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, 'cause this is a festive occasion.
Yes, sir.
You're saying "Yes, sir" because I'm the President of the United States, right? Yes, sir.
[Sighs.]
I need some water.
Okay.
Um, Sasha, can you get us a bottle of water? Oh, bottled water? No, thank you.
BPAs.
We'll find you a fountain.
[Laughs.]
This building is 200 years old.
You know how much lead those pipes are leaching? That's all the water we have.
- Really? - Yep.
Lyor, look.
Hi.
Lyor, I've spent six months trying to convince the President to hire a political director.
If you blow this, you won't get within a ZIP code of the White House again.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Well, at least I'll be well-hydrated.
Two presidential campaigns, nine senatorial ones, and adviser to Cameron.
Two PhDs from Chicago in Philosophy and History.
Did you study with Paul Bridgeman? Ah, yes, sir.
I didn't like him.
You're good on paper, and Emily says you're the smartest person that she's ever worked with.
So, why do you think I need a political director? Sir, what do you want out of your presidency? My initial goals were to stabilize the country and try and lead the American people back from a terrible tragedy.
But now, I want them to believe in their government again.
I want them to trust that their vote matters and know that they have a say in their own destiny.
But the only way that happens is for the American people to believe in you, and currently the polls say I don't care about the polls.
- You should, sir.
- No, I shouldn't.
The polls didn't make any headway on clean energy or fill judicial vacancies.
The only thing that really matters is the actual work that we get done here on behalf of the American people.
But only if they know about it.
Appearance is reality, and the reality here is that people think you're not doing a good job.
I'm guessing that we're still talking about the polls.
Sir, you need approval ratings to get a mandate.
No mandate, Congress won't listen to you.
If Congress doesn't listen, you can't govern.
Yet I come into this office every day and do exactly that.
Well, yes, but not effectively.
I mean, your legislation's stuck in the pipeline.
I think I know the chorus.
You know that James Garfield had better numbers that you? And someone shot him.
I think what Lyor's trying to say here, sir, is Emily, I don't need a translation.
Mr.
Boone here doesn't mince his words.
He just likes to repeat them.
But you're candid, and I value that.
I would like to try this on a trial basis.
I think that would be best for both of us.
If it's okay, I'd like to start by observing.
Just dip my toe in the water? But not the White House water 'cause I'll show him to his office.
Mr.
President.
We have a situation.
[Ominous tone plays.]
Nick: Federated Russian Air 342 [All screaming.]
hijacked at Chicago Metro 20 minutes ago.
Mr.
Director, I fought very hard to add billions of dollars to Homeland Security's budget, because the procedures in place Are clearly insufficient, sir.
Aaron's asked us to overhaul our protocol.
We'll make it a priority.
How the hell did they do this? Ceramic knives, sir.
There are four hijackers, sir.
They haven't made any demands yet.
What's the passenger count? 165, and 68 Americans.
- [Bell tolling.]
- [Slow rock music plays.]
Sometimes I fall Sometimes I fall down Down Sometimes I fall Sometimes I fall down, down Uh-oh.
Someone having too much fun.
One more, yeah? Slivovitz.
No, I got to go home.
Home? So early? Okay, okay, I'll take you.
Excuse me.
[Speaking Dutch.]
[Speaking Dutch.]
Okay, okay.
[Door closes.]
[Thunk.]
[Beeping, chiming.]
It's a series of address Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Oslo, Amsterdam.
What can you tell me about them? Nothing.
They don't link to residences or businesses, and I think I know why.
These cities are all nodes for the dark web.
Locations of the folks that Lloyd's been paying to keep him off the grid for the past six months.
I sent you the Amsterdam coordinates.
Hannah, this guy was Special Forces.
You better have back-up.
Do not go after Lloyd alone.
Hannah, are you listening to me? [Phone beeps.]
[Computer beeping.]
[Gun cocks.]
[British accent.]
Ah, ah, ah.
[Computer chirping.]
On your knees, right now.
Why are you British all of a sudden? Why do Americans ask so many questions? You're an Englishman posing as a Dutchman carrying a Walther P99.
MI6? Shut up.
I'm Hannah Wells, FBI.
Interpol ID 64X-Q91.
If you know how to confirm it, you'll know I am who I say I am.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Indistinct talking.]
I need an Interpol cert.
[Indistinct talking.]
64X-Q91.
[Indistinct talking.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
Where were you born? Oceanside, California.
My name's Damien Rennett, and you're a long way from home, Ms.
Wells.
Thought you were one of the guys on Lloyd's payroll.
I've been tracking you for a week.
I've been tracking you for two.
[Scoffs.]
Sorry about your head.
How long have you been on Lloyd's trail? Months.
I'm closing in, but, you know, a guy with his assets, he's still got a lot of trap doors.
But I'm surprised to find British Intelligence on this.
Lloyd owns £200 million worth of property in England.
Well, as long as we're following the same breadcrumbs, we might as well pool our resources.
Agreed.
Young, tech guy, old-timey clock? Hidden surveillance camera.
Let's hard-wire it.
Ah, there's our boy.
Lloyd knows we're getting closer.
He's covering his tracks.
What do we know about the hijackers? Not much.
DNI's pulling up some profiles as we speak.
Let me know as soon as they've got an assessment.
This is the passenger manifest, sir.
It includes a humanitarian mission from the WHO.
They were hoping to cross into Ukraine, deliver medical supplies.
Mr.
President? These people hijacked a plane on U.
S.
soil in an effort to pull the West into a regional conflict, and they're willing to kill Americans to do it.
Right now, both of you should be huddling with Ukrainian and Russian ambassadors because Russia will use this as an excuse to attack Ukraine.
We need to get them talking.
That's our job.
Let's get it done.
- Will do, sir.
- Yeah.
[Door closes.]
[Sighs.]
You take Shevchenko, I'll take Pavlov.
Shevchenko doesn't like me.
Pavlov doesn't like you either.
That's true.
You're the President's National Security adviser.
Any words of wisdom? Yes we shouldn't be feeling very secure.
[Sighs.]
Ukraine has no association with these men or their crime, and I resent outrageous implication.
No, I'm not implying anything, Mr.
Ambassador.
We are simply asking for Russian assistance, Mr.
Ambassador.
Russia does not negotiate with terrorists.
I'm asking whether your government can influence Ukrainian citizens.
Terrorists.
Terrorists who are Ukrainian.
We are just asking for you to take the diplomatic initiative.
Let's begin with U.
S.
response to illegal Russian invasion of my country.
You know why this plane wasn't hijacked in Russia? Because these animals know we have ways of dealing with them.
We co-sponsored a U.
N.
resolution condemning Russia's aggression.
We continue to pressure them on this front.
You summon me, "Mr.
Ambassador, terror happening in America.
Ukraine must fix.
" With pleasure, right after America fix terror in Ukraine.
This hijacking is an attack on a Russian entity, so with respect, we decide how we respond.
And to use an American phrase, we don't cry uncle.
[Machinery whirring.]
We ship 40,000 electric cars a month, Seth.
Zero emissions, built by computers, affordable.
It's impressive.
Except we should be shipping twice that.
Our problem's not product, it's PR.
And that's where you come in.
I already have a job.
Let's be frank, Seth.
You guys are in a terminal tailspin, and that makes you a distressed asset, which means your value will continue to depreciate.
But right now, today, you're still a commodity.
Two more years in the White House, you'll get a job as editorial director of a magazine no one will read.
Two years as my head of marketing, you can buy that magazine.
[Cellphone rings.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
Excuse me.
Yeah? - [Reporters clamoring.]
- The hijackers are Ukrainian nationals.
They're a group calling themselves Osovobodit Ukrainu.
What are they asking for? Negotiations on the status of Crimea.
Ukraine is demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russia's occupation.
Now, DHS is monitoring the situation, and we have some FBI hostage negotiation teams - on site.
- Is Patrick Lloyd linked to this? We have no evidence of that.
But this isn't technically inconsistent with his modus operandi, is it? Patrick Lloyd is one of the most hunted people on earth.
His businesses have been closed, his co-conspirators have been arrested, and he hasn't been heard from in half a year, yet somehow, guys, every third question is about So you're not ruling him out? On current information, Patrick Lloyd had nothing to do with the hijacking.
Or the listeria outbreak in New Hampshire, or with global warming.
Any other questions? C-can you at least update the status of the Lloyd investigation? Yes, all our best people are on it.
Thank you.
- [Indistinct shouting.]
- Seth.
Seth! - That was a real beauty.
- Yeah, well, they keep asking the same questions expecting different answers, so I figured I'd try a different tack.
Naked hostility? Yeah, sometimes it's stick, sometimes it's carrot.
Oh, we need your latest hijacking update out immediately.
I've asked Lyor Boone to take a look.
- Who? - He's auditioning for P.
D.
Ooh, and Elias Grandy's in the West Wing.
Oh, come on, I thought you brushed him off.
I've brushed him off six times.
He's the only National Medal for the Arts recipient the President hasn't met, and he's insistent on meeting all of them.
Oh, Grandy's a poison pen Biting political satire, not the kind of guy who should be pressing flesh with the President, especially not when the water rising around here.
Tell me something I don't know.
Um, I can play "Chopsticks" with my feet.
Yeah, well, why don't you use those sashay over to Reception? Grandy's been there two hours.
Just stash him somewhere.
If the President frees up, we'll do a drive-by, 30 seconds tops.
That's 30 seconds too long.
We appreciate your patience, Mr.
Grandy.
The President's been pulled away on an urgent matter, but he should be with you shortly.
- I can come back.
- Oh, that won't be necessary.
Just make yourself comfortable.
[Door closes.]
- Uh, excuse me.
- Oh, hello.
Lyor Boone.
I'm gonna be observing I know.
What are you doing? Uh, I'm just looking for a pen.
I figured you're a writer, so you might have a lot of them, and you do.
It's quite a selection here.
This is an ergonomic match.
- How much? - How much? I have $16.
I've got a Slinky, uh, half an egg salad sandwich.
Yeah, we're pretty lousy with pens around here, so knock yourself out.
Really? Thanks.
Oh, and here are a few notes on your press release about the Federated Russian Air thing.
Yeah, I only had a problem with the first two pages.
It is two pages! [Knocking on door.]
[Door opens.]
Chicken korma from Rasika, and you're not gonna touch it? Sorry, I'm just not hungry.
The hijacking, right? A little while ago, they gave me the passenger manifest.
Russell Donson's on the plane.
Russ? Oh, my God.
Part of a humanitarian mission.
Oh, my God, we haven't seen him in so long.
You know, I feel so bad.
I haven't even called Rena since you took over the presidency.
It's kind of sad that we all drifted apart.
We didn't drift apart, Alex.
Russell and I fell out.
What are you talking about? [Sighs.]
When we came back from the Peace Corps in Naruba, remember? Then you got into Stanford's doctoral program, and he and Rena left on a mission to Ghana about a week later.
I promised Russell I would go on that mission.
Stanford came knocking, I couldn't turn it down.
Russell called me a sell-out.
I called him a sanctimonious son of a bitch.
It took off from there.
Wow.
W-why didn't you tell me? [Exhales.]
'Cause I didn't want you to think I was a sell-out, too.
We'd all made a pact together to change the world from the ground up, brick by brick.
Leo had just been born.
I kept telling myself I was thinking about my family, but I I was thinking about myself.
And I broke a promise to my best friend, and now he's on that plane.
And if they connect him to me He becomes a bargaining chip.
If he's lucky.
They want us to help them broker a deal with the Russians for $47 billion? Money they say Russia stole from the Ukrainian treasury.
They also want repatriation of the remains of Ukrainian nationalists.
Yeah, the demands keep escalating.
If they're not met, they start killing passengers at midnight, beginning with Americans.
We're getting word of a Russian naval buildup in the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine's not part of NATO, but Turkey is.
If Russia starts flexing its muscle too close to Turkey, NATO's gonna have to scramble their fleet, which will implicate our troops.
Thank you, Mike.
Son of a bitch.
Satellite imagery shows the Russian Sixth Army massing at the Ukrainian border.
- What's our timeline? - We're eight hours in.
Hostage negotiators tell me if these situations don't resolve in the first day, they usually end violently.
Where the hell's the Secretary-General? - Wheels down at Andrews.
- Get him here now.
If this thing looks like it's cratering, the President's gonna want those tactical options.
Having them drawn up as we speak.
Good.
Dev Devon Braverman from The Times called me for a comment, by the way.
Why would he call you? Well, Seth hung up on him, twice.
You don't hang up on a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist.
Looks like our boy's going through a bit of a rough patch.
He'll get through it.
- Emily? - Yep? There's a V.
A.
Committee meeting in the Roosevelt Room in 30.
Oh, Lenny's running point on that.
Yes, but some writer said Seth said to stay there.
Right, sorry.
Thank you.
Uh, Elias Grandy, Aaron.
Can you handle it? Yeah, not my job.
True, but it's my job to make sure that trains are running on time around here, so technically you report to me, meaning your job just expanded.
[Sighs.]
Sorry, the President's still tied up, Mr.
Grandy.
- I can come back.
- No, just hang tight, and let us know if you need anything.
A-actually, I-I haven't eaten yet - [Cellphone rings.]
- Excuse me one moment.
Yeah, Aaron Shore.
- Your Newton's cradle.
- Yeah.
You know, Newton didn't even invent it John Wallis did.
It's odd, right? Anything I can help you with? Yes.
I was wondering What product do you use? Product? On your face.
Your skin is luminous.
Is it glycolic acid? Nightingale droppings? - Pumice? - Soap and water.
Huh.
Uh, thank you.
Yeah, it's important, the products we use, you know? Kind of like the words we use.
And the words this administration's using No good.
[Sighs.]
Any words in particular? I'm compiling a list, actually, yeah.
I think there should be a lexicon of bad words.
You think I should talk to Seth about that? Sure.
Telling a writer what words to use is always a great idea.
Oh, and the hotel you met the Ukrainian ambassador at Terrible.
I'll make a note.
Good.
Good talk.
[Cellphone buzzing.]
Talk to me.
Hannah: I'm in Amsterdam, 12 hours behind Lloyd.
Wait, I thought he was in Budapest.
Not anymore.
He knocked off a confederate who was fronting for his purchases here.
This guy's computer has a Bitcoin account that was accessed a few minutes before he died.
That account was used to buy $500,000 in computers on the black market a week ago.
Wait, w-what's Lloyd using computers for? I'm gonna find out.
A source tells me that, in Amsterdam, there's only one seller who can move that volume of equipment, so I'm on the way to the warehouse now.
But, Aaron, we're closing in.
All these months of cat and mouse, we've run him into the ground.
I don't want to bring the President in the loop yet until we firm up the intel.
- I mean, anything breaks - Yeah, I got you on speed dial.
One last thing Hey, you turn up dead, I'm gonna look really bad.
Thanks, Coach.
Egon: I didn't know who the purchaser was.
I don't meet my customers.
They sent Bitcoin, I sent goods.
Okay, so tell us where you sent the computers.
No.
I am paid for discretion.
Go.
[Speaking Dutch.]
Actually, no.
No politie.
If he doesn't want to cooperate, let's just leave him to Patrick Lloyd.
He's a loose end.
He doesn't like loose ends.
Wait.
I'll tell you where Lloyd's computers are.
Both sides have rejected our diplomatic initiative.
Each one thinks we're on the other's side, so we were hoping that the U.
N.
could step in as a neutral arbiter.
We have tried, sir.
Neither Russia or Ukraine is willing to engage us.
[Scoffs.]
Something's off with this.
Both sides refuse to negotiate.
Both sides refuse a third-party intervention.
The hijackernds, making it impossible for us to meet them even if we wanted to, which they know we can't because we don't negotiate with terrorists.
It's like both sides want the situation to deteriorate.
[Exhales.]
Yes, it's exactly like that.
Thank you, Mr.
Secretary-General, for getting here so quickly.
I wish I could've been more of service.
Thank you.
Forensic accounting just dug this up.
Fully funded Swiss bank accounts were opened in each of the hijackers' names three days ago.
Wait a second.
This shows the money traces back to a state-run Russian bank.
Why would Russia pay Ukrainian separatists to hijack a Russian jet? Russia's looking for a pretext for war.
Ukraine's happy to sit on its hands, let things escalate.
Russia attacks, and the world finally takes note of their plight.
While we waste our time with shuttle diplomacy, which neither side wants.
165 lives hang in the balance.
I'll get the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors here.
I want them both in my office at the same time.
Yes, sir.
Sasha? Can I get a goji kombucha? - We're out.
- Send an intern.
No, Northwest D.
C.
is out.
Someone bought up 60 crates last night from the local distributor.
Who would buy 60 crates of goji kombucha? Funny you should ask.
Emily: So you don't drink goji kombucha.
No.
No, I hate it.
Then why would you buy 60 crates? - Because I hate it.
- Let's try this again.
I have an olfactory sensitivity to fermented goji products.
It would be presumptuous of me to ask anyone in the White House not to drink it, so I removed it from consideration.
- 60 crates.
- Oh, don't worry, I found a reseller who's moving them out of state.
I'm actually making a profit.
Lyor, you can't control what I drink.
Well, maybe not, but I can make failure a virtue.
You know, that's a little That's pretty good.
It should be the motto of the White House.
- I should tell the President.
- Hey, Lyor! Do you think maybe since I stuck my neck out for you, you could act like someone who didn't just escape from an asylum? Wow.
You really like goji kombucha.
[Scoffs.]
Hey, Seth.
Your release on the hostage crisis It's a little combative.
Hijackings are combative.
They call for muscular language.
What did Lyor say? He put an "X" through both pages.
I feel like he couldn't find his lighter fluid.
He can be a little direct, but he's brilliant.
Speaker Fenton was dead in the polls, and I watched him resuscitate his campaign and water into wine stuff.
That was eight years ago, right? I feel like he's been dropped on his head since then, repeatedly.
He'll grow on you.
Look, I got a lot of cooks in my soup already.
I would've appreciated the heads-up before you looped him in.
The President signed off on him last night.
I was looking for you this morning.
- Oh.
Doctor's appointment.
- Everything okay? Yeah, just a routine check-up.
Thank you for the name.
- Dr.
Wetzel? - Yep.
Dr.
Wetzel's on vacation all month.
Oh, my God.
Come here.
You're gonna quit.
I'm not quitting.
Then where were you? [Indistinct conversations.]
I was at a meet and greet with Dax Minter.
Dax Minter of Kwellis? Yeah.
Minter cold-calls you, you don't thumb your nose at him.
You do if you work in the White House.
I didn't know you were so unhappy.
I never said that.
No, you just snuck off for an interview and lied about it because of your high job satisfaction.
- It's complicated.
- No, it's simple.
The ship's taking on water, and you're looking for a lifeboat.
I mean, the President deserves a modicum of loyalty.
Modicum? Emily, I work 18 hours a day.
You know what I accomplish? Nothing.
- We - No, listen.
My only job is to make things sound better, and every word that comes out of my mouth, I make them sound worse.
I mean, I-I'm like the herald of doom around here.
You don't want to leave because the ship's sinking.
You want to leave because you think you're sinking it.
I don't matter.
You matter to me.
And to everyone in this building.
But here's the thing My job is to protect the President.
So if you're not all-in, you're all out.
Emily.
You have until the end of the day to decide, or I decide for you.
Sorry, but the President's still tied up.
He'll be with you shortly.
I-I can go home, really.
I like my home.
Shouldn't be long now.
You gonna be okay here? Would it matter if I said no? Probably not.
[Chuckles.]
Mr.
President, the ambassadors are here.
Thank you.
[Sighs.]
Don't bother sitting down.
You won't be here long enough.
Mr.
President, my country Has done absolutely nothing but sit on its hands.
Not a single overture to the hijackers.
Yes, because they do not listen to us.
And your country, Ambassador Pavlov Does not negotiate with terrorists.
Especially with the ones they're paying.
[Exhales.]
Mr.
President, I fear you are seriously misinfor No, sir! You have been the one who has misinformed me, and I don't think I need to explain the ramifications of Americans being killed on American soil by terrorists sponsored by Russia.
You are upset.
We all are.
Many of us have friends on that plane.
So we should all proceed with caution.
There's a Russian proverb [Speaks Russian.]
"A cautious friend is a good friend.
" I prefer [Speaking Russian.]
My wife's family is Russian.
Her grandparents didn't want her dating a poor academic, so I learned their language in an effort to win them over.
Because I'm thorough.
Every single person that's hurt on that plane, let me explain how thorough I will be.
I will wake up every morning determined to punish those who are responsible, and when your bosses start calling, trying to figure out why we've severed diplomatic relations and the sanctions just keep mounting two names will be used in my explanation.
[Speaks Russian.]
That will be all.
What did you tell them? Playtime is over.
[Whirring.]
[Clattering.]
Hannah: Lloyd's computers weren't there.
Talk to me, Chuck.
Lloyd bought those computers for their processing power.
He networks them, he's got a supercomputer.
All right, I'm listening.
Well, that much active hardware would leave an enormous heat signature.
We're talking hundreds of thousands of kilowatts.
And presto.
Getting a power surge where I shouldn't An abandoned building.
Sending the address now.
[Door creaks.]
[Computer beeping.]
[Computer beeping.]
He's crunching data.
No, he crunched it.
And he scrubbed whatever he was working on.
He's got a bunch of passports here Different names, different nationalities.
He's got about a dozen tickets here all for this morning all for different airports.
He's gone.
I can confirm that Russia's latest troop movements indicate a complete withdrawal from the Ukrainian border, and our negotiators are finalizing the details of the hijackers' surrender.
Have their demands been met? No, but because of the direct involvement of the President, diplomatic channels have opened.
Passengers are disembarking now and are being escorted to a security area.
So this is a breakthrough.
Uh, just to confirm, no evidence Patrick Lloyd was involved in this, right? Right.
Um, this hijacking appears to have been strictly a regional dispute.
Thank you.
[Indistinct talking.]
Uh, one more item, guys, if I may.
Thank you.
You know, if things have seemed a bit crabby on this side of the podium, I-I apologize.
I understand that your job is to ask questions and mine is to answer them.
But if I can just offer a little bit of context.
This President has survived an assassination attempt, the murder of his vice president, and an opposition who can only seem to agree on the single proposition that he should be thwarted at every turn.
And yet, the President has never wavered in his belief in the American dream, or in the fundamental belief in the goodness of the American people.
Write about that.
[Whispers.]
Booyah.
Mr.
Grandy, thank you very much for coming.
I hope you haven't been waiting too long.
No.
No, sir.
Please.
I wanted to thank you in person for your work, and congratulate you on becoming a National Medal for the Arts recipient.
Thank you, sir, but I can't accept.
I'm sorry? I can't accept.
Perhaps you can elaborate.
Well, it's a bad fit.
I was just some name on a list drawn up by a subordinate, right? But nobody actually checked to see who I am.
You probably haven't read a word I've written.
No, I've read all of them.
"Winter's Chill," "The Painter," the Berman Trilogy.
T-then you know I'm not someone you can honor.
How is that? I abhor what you stand for.
I think the establishment is cancerous, and I can't be bought off by a trinket.
I'm counting on that.
I-I don't I I'm sorry, what? Government exists simply as a means.
It allows us to live, love, create.
If you didn't exist, there'd be no reason for me to.
I I-I don't know how to respond to that, sir.
Yes, you do.
Keep writing.
I'm not asking you to stand down.
I'm asking you to stand up.
You think you can do that? I think so.
Good.
Good.
I really am a fan.
Emily, we're going in there with or without you.
I just think Lyor needs a little more time.
To do what? This is a senior staff assignment Someone we have to work intimately with.
He's temperamentally unfit.
He's not socialized.
He tried to trade me an egg salad sandwich for my pen.
His egg salad sandwiches are really good.
- Em - Look, wait, guys.
Lyor is here because we need a direction, a battle plan, someone to help with our messaging, and there is no one better.
When you guys were coming up together, that was probably true, but now he's a square peg in a round hole.
He doesn't fit.
Would you rather be having this conversation with the President before he starts or two months? What's wrong? We need to talk to you about Lyor.
Oh, good.
Your timing's perfect.
Come with me.
This was the book I was talking about.
Oh.
Oh, the cov ah, yes.
Oh, hey, gang.
[Book thunks.]
Ah, so uh, I just told the President.
I've decided I want to work here because I think I can help.
Please.
Seth, you keep using the word "hijacking.
" That suggests a loss of control and incompetence.
The optimum phrase is just "terrorist attack.
" It makes us look like victims, right? Victims are sympathetic.
People like them.
O-okay.
Aaron, you met the Ukrainian ambassador in a hotel.
Ukraine already has an inferiority complex, right? Then you went and told them that they can't set foot in the citadel.
They're a proud people.
Symbols matter to them.
And once you offend them, oh, God - I didn't - And, Emily, you were worried about the optics of the President meeting Elias Grandy, that he would make the President look weak Exactly.
But embracing a critic makes the President look strong, and you want that embrace to be public.
You want to tell the world this man reaches out to everybody, even his fiercest critics.
Because Tom Kirkman is everyone's president.
[Laughs.]
So, what do you think? [Scoffs.]
I-I think he would be, um, an asset.
Yes.
Uh, he'd be a great addition, sir.
You should bring him aboard.
Good, 'cause I already have.
I have to be honest, Em, at first, I was a bit skeptical, but you're right He's on to something.
Inspiration is fundamental to what we're doing here in this building.
Couldn't put it better, sir.
Well, you're gonna have to try if you want to get paid around here.
Welcome aboard.
- Thank you.
[Cellphone buzzes.]
Mr.
President, you're needed in command ops.
There's been a development.
- Ten hut! - Please, everybody sit.
What have you got? Sir, this happened moments ago.
[Beeps.]
An oxygen cannister that was brought on for a passenger was accidentally ignited by a spark from the tramway.
Any fatalities? Just two.
Passengers had already deplaned, except for a doctor who was ministering to a sick man.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Everyone, if I could just have your attention, please.
I-I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for your hard work today.
We managed to avoid an international crisis, and we saved a lot of lives.
But I, uh I didn't get everyone home, though.
As some of you might know already, I had a friend on that plane One of the two people who were killed.
He dedicated his life to helping other people.
Not for fortune or fame, but because whenever he saw pain, he would have to do whatever he could to try and ease it.
His focus and commitment to that ideal will be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.
You have all dedicated yourselves to public service, and you serve approximately 326 million Americans, most of whom you'll never meet or ever know.
It is imperative that we not become numb.
The people that we serve, they they have faces, families, hopes and dreams [Exhales.]
and stories.
And they are our fellow Americans, and by virtue of that bond alone, they are worthy of our sacrifice, our commitment, and our service.
I'm talking as much to myself as I am to any of you.
I'm sorry, I I came in here to thank you for your incredible work today, so thank you.
A-and good night.
[Indistinct conversations.]
[Whispers.]
Booyah.
[Chuckles.]
Hey.
You did your best.
My best wasn't good enough.
It was an accident.
He was trying to help someone.
Otherwise, he would have gotten off the plane.
I need to call Rena.
I spoke with her, and she wanted you to know that Russell understood.
He was never mad at you.
- [Receiver clicks.]
- Patch me through, please.
Rena, it's Tom.
Rena, it's Tom.
Eagle is gone.
Congress, the Cabinet.
You are now the President.
My name is Seth Wright.
I was named White House Press Secretary.
Aaron, I want you here.
And I won't take "No" for an answer.
I serve at the pleasure of the President.
- Welcome back.
- Thank you, sir.
I would like you to be my chief of staff.
I'm throwing you in the deep end.
I won't let you down.
Agent Wells, I hereby authorize you to use whatever means necessary, to find the people involved in this conspiracy and bring them to justice.
Hannah: Our target is Patrick Lloyd.
We believe that he is responsible for the bombing on our Capitol.
What's going on? Patrick Lloyd.
He hacked the Defense Department's most highly classified server.
Troop movements, intel on our nuclear arsenal.
Lloyd could sell off the information in pieces to the highest bidder.
Are we any closer to finding him? No, sir.
[Majestic music plays.]
They broke ground here in 1793.
The British burned it down in 1814, but we rebuilt it.
Patrick Lloyd blew it to pieces.
We rebuilt it again.
It's just masonry and paint.
Why do you think it means so much? Because it's, um, a symbol, sir.
A symbol that nearly bankrupted us.
You honestly think that this glorified office building's worth $7 billion? No, sir.
I think it's worth a whole lot more.
Damn right.
Morning, sir.
Man: And what about the rebuilt Capitol? They should call it Kirkman's Folly.
He rebuilt it in one year.
Cost overruns.
Overtime.
And as an encore, he jams through an emergency defense bill after Lloyd's Pentagon hack.
Good morning, Mr.
President.
Good morning.
Lloyd couldn't kill Kirkman, so he's killing his presidency one dollar at a time.
Lloyd's greatest shot was the one he didn't fire.
- Good morning, Mr.
President.
- Good morning.
One year in.
Someone should have baked a cake.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, 'cause this is a festive occasion.
Yes, sir.
You're saying "Yes, sir" because I'm the President of the United States, right? Yes, sir.
[Sighs.]
I need some water.
Okay.
Um, Sasha, can you get us a bottle of water? Oh, bottled water? No, thank you.
BPAs.
We'll find you a fountain.
[Laughs.]
This building is 200 years old.
You know how much lead those pipes are leaching? That's all the water we have.
- Really? - Yep.
Lyor, look.
Hi.
Lyor, I've spent six months trying to convince the President to hire a political director.
If you blow this, you won't get within a ZIP code of the White House again.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Well, at least I'll be well-hydrated.
Two presidential campaigns, nine senatorial ones, and adviser to Cameron.
Two PhDs from Chicago in Philosophy and History.
Did you study with Paul Bridgeman? Ah, yes, sir.
I didn't like him.
You're good on paper, and Emily says you're the smartest person that she's ever worked with.
So, why do you think I need a political director? Sir, what do you want out of your presidency? My initial goals were to stabilize the country and try and lead the American people back from a terrible tragedy.
But now, I want them to believe in their government again.
I want them to trust that their vote matters and know that they have a say in their own destiny.
But the only way that happens is for the American people to believe in you, and currently the polls say I don't care about the polls.
- You should, sir.
- No, I shouldn't.
The polls didn't make any headway on clean energy or fill judicial vacancies.
The only thing that really matters is the actual work that we get done here on behalf of the American people.
But only if they know about it.
Appearance is reality, and the reality here is that people think you're not doing a good job.
I'm guessing that we're still talking about the polls.
Sir, you need approval ratings to get a mandate.
No mandate, Congress won't listen to you.
If Congress doesn't listen, you can't govern.
Yet I come into this office every day and do exactly that.
Well, yes, but not effectively.
I mean, your legislation's stuck in the pipeline.
I think I know the chorus.
You know that James Garfield had better numbers that you? And someone shot him.
I think what Lyor's trying to say here, sir, is Emily, I don't need a translation.
Mr.
Boone here doesn't mince his words.
He just likes to repeat them.
But you're candid, and I value that.
I would like to try this on a trial basis.
I think that would be best for both of us.
If it's okay, I'd like to start by observing.
Just dip my toe in the water? But not the White House water 'cause I'll show him to his office.
Mr.
President.
We have a situation.
[Ominous tone plays.]
Nick: Federated Russian Air 342 [All screaming.]
hijacked at Chicago Metro 20 minutes ago.
Mr.
Director, I fought very hard to add billions of dollars to Homeland Security's budget, because the procedures in place Are clearly insufficient, sir.
Aaron's asked us to overhaul our protocol.
We'll make it a priority.
How the hell did they do this? Ceramic knives, sir.
There are four hijackers, sir.
They haven't made any demands yet.
What's the passenger count? 165, and 68 Americans.
- [Bell tolling.]
- [Slow rock music plays.]
Sometimes I fall Sometimes I fall down Down Sometimes I fall Sometimes I fall down, down Uh-oh.
Someone having too much fun.
One more, yeah? Slivovitz.
No, I got to go home.
Home? So early? Okay, okay, I'll take you.
Excuse me.
[Speaking Dutch.]
[Speaking Dutch.]
Okay, okay.
[Door closes.]
[Thunk.]
[Beeping, chiming.]
It's a series of address Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Oslo, Amsterdam.
What can you tell me about them? Nothing.
They don't link to residences or businesses, and I think I know why.
These cities are all nodes for the dark web.
Locations of the folks that Lloyd's been paying to keep him off the grid for the past six months.
I sent you the Amsterdam coordinates.
Hannah, this guy was Special Forces.
You better have back-up.
Do not go after Lloyd alone.
Hannah, are you listening to me? [Phone beeps.]
[Computer beeping.]
[Gun cocks.]
[British accent.]
Ah, ah, ah.
[Computer chirping.]
On your knees, right now.
Why are you British all of a sudden? Why do Americans ask so many questions? You're an Englishman posing as a Dutchman carrying a Walther P99.
MI6? Shut up.
I'm Hannah Wells, FBI.
Interpol ID 64X-Q91.
If you know how to confirm it, you'll know I am who I say I am.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Indistinct talking.]
I need an Interpol cert.
[Indistinct talking.]
64X-Q91.
[Indistinct talking.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
Where were you born? Oceanside, California.
My name's Damien Rennett, and you're a long way from home, Ms.
Wells.
Thought you were one of the guys on Lloyd's payroll.
I've been tracking you for a week.
I've been tracking you for two.
[Scoffs.]
Sorry about your head.
How long have you been on Lloyd's trail? Months.
I'm closing in, but, you know, a guy with his assets, he's still got a lot of trap doors.
But I'm surprised to find British Intelligence on this.
Lloyd owns £200 million worth of property in England.
Well, as long as we're following the same breadcrumbs, we might as well pool our resources.
Agreed.
Young, tech guy, old-timey clock? Hidden surveillance camera.
Let's hard-wire it.
Ah, there's our boy.
Lloyd knows we're getting closer.
He's covering his tracks.
What do we know about the hijackers? Not much.
DNI's pulling up some profiles as we speak.
Let me know as soon as they've got an assessment.
This is the passenger manifest, sir.
It includes a humanitarian mission from the WHO.
They were hoping to cross into Ukraine, deliver medical supplies.
Mr.
President? These people hijacked a plane on U.
S.
soil in an effort to pull the West into a regional conflict, and they're willing to kill Americans to do it.
Right now, both of you should be huddling with Ukrainian and Russian ambassadors because Russia will use this as an excuse to attack Ukraine.
We need to get them talking.
That's our job.
Let's get it done.
- Will do, sir.
- Yeah.
[Door closes.]
[Sighs.]
You take Shevchenko, I'll take Pavlov.
Shevchenko doesn't like me.
Pavlov doesn't like you either.
That's true.
You're the President's National Security adviser.
Any words of wisdom? Yes we shouldn't be feeling very secure.
[Sighs.]
Ukraine has no association with these men or their crime, and I resent outrageous implication.
No, I'm not implying anything, Mr.
Ambassador.
We are simply asking for Russian assistance, Mr.
Ambassador.
Russia does not negotiate with terrorists.
I'm asking whether your government can influence Ukrainian citizens.
Terrorists.
Terrorists who are Ukrainian.
We are just asking for you to take the diplomatic initiative.
Let's begin with U.
S.
response to illegal Russian invasion of my country.
You know why this plane wasn't hijacked in Russia? Because these animals know we have ways of dealing with them.
We co-sponsored a U.
N.
resolution condemning Russia's aggression.
We continue to pressure them on this front.
You summon me, "Mr.
Ambassador, terror happening in America.
Ukraine must fix.
" With pleasure, right after America fix terror in Ukraine.
This hijacking is an attack on a Russian entity, so with respect, we decide how we respond.
And to use an American phrase, we don't cry uncle.
[Machinery whirring.]
We ship 40,000 electric cars a month, Seth.
Zero emissions, built by computers, affordable.
It's impressive.
Except we should be shipping twice that.
Our problem's not product, it's PR.
And that's where you come in.
I already have a job.
Let's be frank, Seth.
You guys are in a terminal tailspin, and that makes you a distressed asset, which means your value will continue to depreciate.
But right now, today, you're still a commodity.
Two more years in the White House, you'll get a job as editorial director of a magazine no one will read.
Two years as my head of marketing, you can buy that magazine.
[Cellphone rings.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
Excuse me.
Yeah? - [Reporters clamoring.]
- The hijackers are Ukrainian nationals.
They're a group calling themselves Osovobodit Ukrainu.
What are they asking for? Negotiations on the status of Crimea.
Ukraine is demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russia's occupation.
Now, DHS is monitoring the situation, and we have some FBI hostage negotiation teams - on site.
- Is Patrick Lloyd linked to this? We have no evidence of that.
But this isn't technically inconsistent with his modus operandi, is it? Patrick Lloyd is one of the most hunted people on earth.
His businesses have been closed, his co-conspirators have been arrested, and he hasn't been heard from in half a year, yet somehow, guys, every third question is about So you're not ruling him out? On current information, Patrick Lloyd had nothing to do with the hijacking.
Or the listeria outbreak in New Hampshire, or with global warming.
Any other questions? C-can you at least update the status of the Lloyd investigation? Yes, all our best people are on it.
Thank you.
- [Indistinct shouting.]
- Seth.
Seth! - That was a real beauty.
- Yeah, well, they keep asking the same questions expecting different answers, so I figured I'd try a different tack.
Naked hostility? Yeah, sometimes it's stick, sometimes it's carrot.
Oh, we need your latest hijacking update out immediately.
I've asked Lyor Boone to take a look.
- Who? - He's auditioning for P.
D.
Ooh, and Elias Grandy's in the West Wing.
Oh, come on, I thought you brushed him off.
I've brushed him off six times.
He's the only National Medal for the Arts recipient the President hasn't met, and he's insistent on meeting all of them.
Oh, Grandy's a poison pen Biting political satire, not the kind of guy who should be pressing flesh with the President, especially not when the water rising around here.
Tell me something I don't know.
Um, I can play "Chopsticks" with my feet.
Yeah, well, why don't you use those sashay over to Reception? Grandy's been there two hours.
Just stash him somewhere.
If the President frees up, we'll do a drive-by, 30 seconds tops.
That's 30 seconds too long.
We appreciate your patience, Mr.
Grandy.
The President's been pulled away on an urgent matter, but he should be with you shortly.
- I can come back.
- Oh, that won't be necessary.
Just make yourself comfortable.
[Door closes.]
- Uh, excuse me.
- Oh, hello.
Lyor Boone.
I'm gonna be observing I know.
What are you doing? Uh, I'm just looking for a pen.
I figured you're a writer, so you might have a lot of them, and you do.
It's quite a selection here.
This is an ergonomic match.
- How much? - How much? I have $16.
I've got a Slinky, uh, half an egg salad sandwich.
Yeah, we're pretty lousy with pens around here, so knock yourself out.
Really? Thanks.
Oh, and here are a few notes on your press release about the Federated Russian Air thing.
Yeah, I only had a problem with the first two pages.
It is two pages! [Knocking on door.]
[Door opens.]
Chicken korma from Rasika, and you're not gonna touch it? Sorry, I'm just not hungry.
The hijacking, right? A little while ago, they gave me the passenger manifest.
Russell Donson's on the plane.
Russ? Oh, my God.
Part of a humanitarian mission.
Oh, my God, we haven't seen him in so long.
You know, I feel so bad.
I haven't even called Rena since you took over the presidency.
It's kind of sad that we all drifted apart.
We didn't drift apart, Alex.
Russell and I fell out.
What are you talking about? [Sighs.]
When we came back from the Peace Corps in Naruba, remember? Then you got into Stanford's doctoral program, and he and Rena left on a mission to Ghana about a week later.
I promised Russell I would go on that mission.
Stanford came knocking, I couldn't turn it down.
Russell called me a sell-out.
I called him a sanctimonious son of a bitch.
It took off from there.
Wow.
W-why didn't you tell me? [Exhales.]
'Cause I didn't want you to think I was a sell-out, too.
We'd all made a pact together to change the world from the ground up, brick by brick.
Leo had just been born.
I kept telling myself I was thinking about my family, but I I was thinking about myself.
And I broke a promise to my best friend, and now he's on that plane.
And if they connect him to me He becomes a bargaining chip.
If he's lucky.
They want us to help them broker a deal with the Russians for $47 billion? Money they say Russia stole from the Ukrainian treasury.
They also want repatriation of the remains of Ukrainian nationalists.
Yeah, the demands keep escalating.
If they're not met, they start killing passengers at midnight, beginning with Americans.
We're getting word of a Russian naval buildup in the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine's not part of NATO, but Turkey is.
If Russia starts flexing its muscle too close to Turkey, NATO's gonna have to scramble their fleet, which will implicate our troops.
Thank you, Mike.
Son of a bitch.
Satellite imagery shows the Russian Sixth Army massing at the Ukrainian border.
- What's our timeline? - We're eight hours in.
Hostage negotiators tell me if these situations don't resolve in the first day, they usually end violently.
Where the hell's the Secretary-General? - Wheels down at Andrews.
- Get him here now.
If this thing looks like it's cratering, the President's gonna want those tactical options.
Having them drawn up as we speak.
Good.
Dev Devon Braverman from The Times called me for a comment, by the way.
Why would he call you? Well, Seth hung up on him, twice.
You don't hang up on a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist.
Looks like our boy's going through a bit of a rough patch.
He'll get through it.
- Emily? - Yep? There's a V.
A.
Committee meeting in the Roosevelt Room in 30.
Oh, Lenny's running point on that.
Yes, but some writer said Seth said to stay there.
Right, sorry.
Thank you.
Uh, Elias Grandy, Aaron.
Can you handle it? Yeah, not my job.
True, but it's my job to make sure that trains are running on time around here, so technically you report to me, meaning your job just expanded.
[Sighs.]
Sorry, the President's still tied up, Mr.
Grandy.
- I can come back.
- No, just hang tight, and let us know if you need anything.
A-actually, I-I haven't eaten yet - [Cellphone rings.]
- Excuse me one moment.
Yeah, Aaron Shore.
- Your Newton's cradle.
- Yeah.
You know, Newton didn't even invent it John Wallis did.
It's odd, right? Anything I can help you with? Yes.
I was wondering What product do you use? Product? On your face.
Your skin is luminous.
Is it glycolic acid? Nightingale droppings? - Pumice? - Soap and water.
Huh.
Uh, thank you.
Yeah, it's important, the products we use, you know? Kind of like the words we use.
And the words this administration's using No good.
[Sighs.]
Any words in particular? I'm compiling a list, actually, yeah.
I think there should be a lexicon of bad words.
You think I should talk to Seth about that? Sure.
Telling a writer what words to use is always a great idea.
Oh, and the hotel you met the Ukrainian ambassador at Terrible.
I'll make a note.
Good.
Good talk.
[Cellphone buzzing.]
Talk to me.
Hannah: I'm in Amsterdam, 12 hours behind Lloyd.
Wait, I thought he was in Budapest.
Not anymore.
He knocked off a confederate who was fronting for his purchases here.
This guy's computer has a Bitcoin account that was accessed a few minutes before he died.
That account was used to buy $500,000 in computers on the black market a week ago.
Wait, w-what's Lloyd using computers for? I'm gonna find out.
A source tells me that, in Amsterdam, there's only one seller who can move that volume of equipment, so I'm on the way to the warehouse now.
But, Aaron, we're closing in.
All these months of cat and mouse, we've run him into the ground.
I don't want to bring the President in the loop yet until we firm up the intel.
- I mean, anything breaks - Yeah, I got you on speed dial.
One last thing Hey, you turn up dead, I'm gonna look really bad.
Thanks, Coach.
Egon: I didn't know who the purchaser was.
I don't meet my customers.
They sent Bitcoin, I sent goods.
Okay, so tell us where you sent the computers.
No.
I am paid for discretion.
Go.
[Speaking Dutch.]
Actually, no.
No politie.
If he doesn't want to cooperate, let's just leave him to Patrick Lloyd.
He's a loose end.
He doesn't like loose ends.
Wait.
I'll tell you where Lloyd's computers are.
Both sides have rejected our diplomatic initiative.
Each one thinks we're on the other's side, so we were hoping that the U.
N.
could step in as a neutral arbiter.
We have tried, sir.
Neither Russia or Ukraine is willing to engage us.
[Scoffs.]
Something's off with this.
Both sides refuse to negotiate.
Both sides refuse a third-party intervention.
The hijackernds, making it impossible for us to meet them even if we wanted to, which they know we can't because we don't negotiate with terrorists.
It's like both sides want the situation to deteriorate.
[Exhales.]
Yes, it's exactly like that.
Thank you, Mr.
Secretary-General, for getting here so quickly.
I wish I could've been more of service.
Thank you.
Forensic accounting just dug this up.
Fully funded Swiss bank accounts were opened in each of the hijackers' names three days ago.
Wait a second.
This shows the money traces back to a state-run Russian bank.
Why would Russia pay Ukrainian separatists to hijack a Russian jet? Russia's looking for a pretext for war.
Ukraine's happy to sit on its hands, let things escalate.
Russia attacks, and the world finally takes note of their plight.
While we waste our time with shuttle diplomacy, which neither side wants.
165 lives hang in the balance.
I'll get the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors here.
I want them both in my office at the same time.
Yes, sir.
Sasha? Can I get a goji kombucha? - We're out.
- Send an intern.
No, Northwest D.
C.
is out.
Someone bought up 60 crates last night from the local distributor.
Who would buy 60 crates of goji kombucha? Funny you should ask.
Emily: So you don't drink goji kombucha.
No.
No, I hate it.
Then why would you buy 60 crates? - Because I hate it.
- Let's try this again.
I have an olfactory sensitivity to fermented goji products.
It would be presumptuous of me to ask anyone in the White House not to drink it, so I removed it from consideration.
- 60 crates.
- Oh, don't worry, I found a reseller who's moving them out of state.
I'm actually making a profit.
Lyor, you can't control what I drink.
Well, maybe not, but I can make failure a virtue.
You know, that's a little That's pretty good.
It should be the motto of the White House.
- I should tell the President.
- Hey, Lyor! Do you think maybe since I stuck my neck out for you, you could act like someone who didn't just escape from an asylum? Wow.
You really like goji kombucha.
[Scoffs.]
Hey, Seth.
Your release on the hostage crisis It's a little combative.
Hijackings are combative.
They call for muscular language.
What did Lyor say? He put an "X" through both pages.
I feel like he couldn't find his lighter fluid.
He can be a little direct, but he's brilliant.
Speaker Fenton was dead in the polls, and I watched him resuscitate his campaign and water into wine stuff.
That was eight years ago, right? I feel like he's been dropped on his head since then, repeatedly.
He'll grow on you.
Look, I got a lot of cooks in my soup already.
I would've appreciated the heads-up before you looped him in.
The President signed off on him last night.
I was looking for you this morning.
- Oh.
Doctor's appointment.
- Everything okay? Yeah, just a routine check-up.
Thank you for the name.
- Dr.
Wetzel? - Yep.
Dr.
Wetzel's on vacation all month.
Oh, my God.
Come here.
You're gonna quit.
I'm not quitting.
Then where were you? [Indistinct conversations.]
I was at a meet and greet with Dax Minter.
Dax Minter of Kwellis? Yeah.
Minter cold-calls you, you don't thumb your nose at him.
You do if you work in the White House.
I didn't know you were so unhappy.
I never said that.
No, you just snuck off for an interview and lied about it because of your high job satisfaction.
- It's complicated.
- No, it's simple.
The ship's taking on water, and you're looking for a lifeboat.
I mean, the President deserves a modicum of loyalty.
Modicum? Emily, I work 18 hours a day.
You know what I accomplish? Nothing.
- We - No, listen.
My only job is to make things sound better, and every word that comes out of my mouth, I make them sound worse.
I mean, I-I'm like the herald of doom around here.
You don't want to leave because the ship's sinking.
You want to leave because you think you're sinking it.
I don't matter.
You matter to me.
And to everyone in this building.
But here's the thing My job is to protect the President.
So if you're not all-in, you're all out.
Emily.
You have until the end of the day to decide, or I decide for you.
Sorry, but the President's still tied up.
He'll be with you shortly.
I-I can go home, really.
I like my home.
Shouldn't be long now.
You gonna be okay here? Would it matter if I said no? Probably not.
[Chuckles.]
Mr.
President, the ambassadors are here.
Thank you.
[Sighs.]
Don't bother sitting down.
You won't be here long enough.
Mr.
President, my country Has done absolutely nothing but sit on its hands.
Not a single overture to the hijackers.
Yes, because they do not listen to us.
And your country, Ambassador Pavlov Does not negotiate with terrorists.
Especially with the ones they're paying.
[Exhales.]
Mr.
President, I fear you are seriously misinfor No, sir! You have been the one who has misinformed me, and I don't think I need to explain the ramifications of Americans being killed on American soil by terrorists sponsored by Russia.
You are upset.
We all are.
Many of us have friends on that plane.
So we should all proceed with caution.
There's a Russian proverb [Speaks Russian.]
"A cautious friend is a good friend.
" I prefer [Speaking Russian.]
My wife's family is Russian.
Her grandparents didn't want her dating a poor academic, so I learned their language in an effort to win them over.
Because I'm thorough.
Every single person that's hurt on that plane, let me explain how thorough I will be.
I will wake up every morning determined to punish those who are responsible, and when your bosses start calling, trying to figure out why we've severed diplomatic relations and the sanctions just keep mounting two names will be used in my explanation.
[Speaks Russian.]
That will be all.
What did you tell them? Playtime is over.
[Whirring.]
[Clattering.]
Hannah: Lloyd's computers weren't there.
Talk to me, Chuck.
Lloyd bought those computers for their processing power.
He networks them, he's got a supercomputer.
All right, I'm listening.
Well, that much active hardware would leave an enormous heat signature.
We're talking hundreds of thousands of kilowatts.
And presto.
Getting a power surge where I shouldn't An abandoned building.
Sending the address now.
[Door creaks.]
[Computer beeping.]
[Computer beeping.]
He's crunching data.
No, he crunched it.
And he scrubbed whatever he was working on.
He's got a bunch of passports here Different names, different nationalities.
He's got about a dozen tickets here all for this morning all for different airports.
He's gone.
I can confirm that Russia's latest troop movements indicate a complete withdrawal from the Ukrainian border, and our negotiators are finalizing the details of the hijackers' surrender.
Have their demands been met? No, but because of the direct involvement of the President, diplomatic channels have opened.
Passengers are disembarking now and are being escorted to a security area.
So this is a breakthrough.
Uh, just to confirm, no evidence Patrick Lloyd was involved in this, right? Right.
Um, this hijacking appears to have been strictly a regional dispute.
Thank you.
[Indistinct talking.]
Uh, one more item, guys, if I may.
Thank you.
You know, if things have seemed a bit crabby on this side of the podium, I-I apologize.
I understand that your job is to ask questions and mine is to answer them.
But if I can just offer a little bit of context.
This President has survived an assassination attempt, the murder of his vice president, and an opposition who can only seem to agree on the single proposition that he should be thwarted at every turn.
And yet, the President has never wavered in his belief in the American dream, or in the fundamental belief in the goodness of the American people.
Write about that.
[Whispers.]
Booyah.
Mr.
Grandy, thank you very much for coming.
I hope you haven't been waiting too long.
No.
No, sir.
Please.
I wanted to thank you in person for your work, and congratulate you on becoming a National Medal for the Arts recipient.
Thank you, sir, but I can't accept.
I'm sorry? I can't accept.
Perhaps you can elaborate.
Well, it's a bad fit.
I was just some name on a list drawn up by a subordinate, right? But nobody actually checked to see who I am.
You probably haven't read a word I've written.
No, I've read all of them.
"Winter's Chill," "The Painter," the Berman Trilogy.
T-then you know I'm not someone you can honor.
How is that? I abhor what you stand for.
I think the establishment is cancerous, and I can't be bought off by a trinket.
I'm counting on that.
I-I don't I I'm sorry, what? Government exists simply as a means.
It allows us to live, love, create.
If you didn't exist, there'd be no reason for me to.
I I-I don't know how to respond to that, sir.
Yes, you do.
Keep writing.
I'm not asking you to stand down.
I'm asking you to stand up.
You think you can do that? I think so.
Good.
Good.
I really am a fan.
Emily, we're going in there with or without you.
I just think Lyor needs a little more time.
To do what? This is a senior staff assignment Someone we have to work intimately with.
He's temperamentally unfit.
He's not socialized.
He tried to trade me an egg salad sandwich for my pen.
His egg salad sandwiches are really good.
- Em - Look, wait, guys.
Lyor is here because we need a direction, a battle plan, someone to help with our messaging, and there is no one better.
When you guys were coming up together, that was probably true, but now he's a square peg in a round hole.
He doesn't fit.
Would you rather be having this conversation with the President before he starts or two months? What's wrong? We need to talk to you about Lyor.
Oh, good.
Your timing's perfect.
Come with me.
This was the book I was talking about.
Oh.
Oh, the cov ah, yes.
Oh, hey, gang.
[Book thunks.]
Ah, so uh, I just told the President.
I've decided I want to work here because I think I can help.
Please.
Seth, you keep using the word "hijacking.
" That suggests a loss of control and incompetence.
The optimum phrase is just "terrorist attack.
" It makes us look like victims, right? Victims are sympathetic.
People like them.
O-okay.
Aaron, you met the Ukrainian ambassador in a hotel.
Ukraine already has an inferiority complex, right? Then you went and told them that they can't set foot in the citadel.
They're a proud people.
Symbols matter to them.
And once you offend them, oh, God - I didn't - And, Emily, you were worried about the optics of the President meeting Elias Grandy, that he would make the President look weak Exactly.
But embracing a critic makes the President look strong, and you want that embrace to be public.
You want to tell the world this man reaches out to everybody, even his fiercest critics.
Because Tom Kirkman is everyone's president.
[Laughs.]
So, what do you think? [Scoffs.]
I-I think he would be, um, an asset.
Yes.
Uh, he'd be a great addition, sir.
You should bring him aboard.
Good, 'cause I already have.
I have to be honest, Em, at first, I was a bit skeptical, but you're right He's on to something.
Inspiration is fundamental to what we're doing here in this building.
Couldn't put it better, sir.
Well, you're gonna have to try if you want to get paid around here.
Welcome aboard.
- Thank you.
[Cellphone buzzes.]
Mr.
President, you're needed in command ops.
There's been a development.
- Ten hut! - Please, everybody sit.
What have you got? Sir, this happened moments ago.
[Beeps.]
An oxygen cannister that was brought on for a passenger was accidentally ignited by a spark from the tramway.
Any fatalities? Just two.
Passengers had already deplaned, except for a doctor who was ministering to a sick man.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Everyone, if I could just have your attention, please.
I-I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for your hard work today.
We managed to avoid an international crisis, and we saved a lot of lives.
But I, uh I didn't get everyone home, though.
As some of you might know already, I had a friend on that plane One of the two people who were killed.
He dedicated his life to helping other people.
Not for fortune or fame, but because whenever he saw pain, he would have to do whatever he could to try and ease it.
His focus and commitment to that ideal will be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.
You have all dedicated yourselves to public service, and you serve approximately 326 million Americans, most of whom you'll never meet or ever know.
It is imperative that we not become numb.
The people that we serve, they they have faces, families, hopes and dreams [Exhales.]
and stories.
And they are our fellow Americans, and by virtue of that bond alone, they are worthy of our sacrifice, our commitment, and our service.
I'm talking as much to myself as I am to any of you.
I'm sorry, I I came in here to thank you for your incredible work today, so thank you.
A-and good night.
[Indistinct conversations.]
[Whispers.]
Booyah.
[Chuckles.]
Hey.
You did your best.
My best wasn't good enough.
It was an accident.
He was trying to help someone.
Otherwise, he would have gotten off the plane.
I need to call Rena.
I spoke with her, and she wanted you to know that Russell understood.
He was never mad at you.
- [Receiver clicks.]
- Patch me through, please.
Rena, it's Tom.
Rena, it's Tom.