Designated Survivor (2016) s02e11 Episode Script
Grief
1 Previously on "Designated Survivor" You honestly think that this is worth $7 billion? - I think it's worth a whole lot more.
- Damn right.
I've never seen anyone this good.
Because it's not work for him.
It's who he is.
[EXPLOSION.]
TOM: Your story's not supposed to end here.
Let me bring you home.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Air Force One, prepare for departure.
It is imperative that we not become numb.
The people that we serve They have faces, families, hopes and dreams.
They are worthy of our sacrifice, our commitment.
Agent Wells, until further notice, you'll be reporting to me.
HANNAH: As long as we're following the same breadcrumbs, - we might as well pool our resources.
- Agreed.
[EXPLOSION.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
You lied to me about everything.
[GUNSHOT.]
TOM: I know these last few days have been awful.
I will take tonight off, and I will make it up to you.
I'll see you soon.
[HORN HONKS.]
ADAM: Wonder if you had any reaction to the front-page profile in today's Times on Evan Beeman? Didn't read it.
But you read the Times, right? Articles that I'm interested in.
But an article on the man who killed my wife because he ran a red light while texting isn't one of them.
And you didn't attend his sentencing hearing, either, right? - No.
- Why not? Because I'm President of the United States.
It wouldn't have brought my wife back.
You know, I still want to talk to you about your reaction to Alex's death.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
JANET: Sorry to interrupt, Mr.
President.
The delegation is here.
Thank you.
We're going to have to reschedule.
My office will be in touch.
Good, I can suggest another therapist.
- Excuse me? - You wanted to see me after your wife died, but every time I raise her death, you change the subject.
Cut the conversation short.
Reschedule the session.
Just so we're clear, I didn't want to see you.
My senior staff demanded it.
And in case you haven't noticed, I have a rather busy job.
And if you're too busy for our sessions, then let's discontinue them.
But if you want to continue seeing me, we're going to finish this one today.
And we're going to talk about what happened to you when your wife died.
Because that matters.
Fine, you want to finish today's session, you're going to have to wait.
I've cleared my schedule.
Good for you.
So I'm still getting questions about the First Lady's memorial.
Like what? Why doesn't the First Lady have a memorial? Well, you can't have a memorial before you have a headstone.
Other question is why she doesn't have a headstone.
Seth, it's only been 10 weeks.
Hey, you know what else has happened in the past 10 weeks? Absolutely nothing.
Lyor He came right back to work after the First Lady's death, and now he's President Hamlet.
He's right, Em.
I mean, the military-spending bill is stuck on the president's desk, judicial nominations are piling up, and he's put the brakes on every major policy initiative.
AARON: Including foreign ones.
Canceled trips to Beijing, Jerusalem.
- Bailed on the IMF meeting.
- This is turning into the ghost presidency.
Okay, you all need to relax.
The man just lost his wife.
The mother of his children.
It takes awhile to recover from that.
Understood, but the world keeps moving.
And the White House is getting left behind.
Not today.
It's the Cuban initiative.
It'll jumpstart us.
Good, 'cause we're flatlining.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
The FBI has completed its internal review.
Now, the good news is, they've officially determined Damian Rennett was a clean shot.
Take them 10 weeks to figure that out? No, it took them 10 weeks to decide whether to fire you or put you on probation.
If IAD had a problem with my reaction, why don't you ask how many of them have shot someone in the chest? Or how many of them were sleeping with the person they shot.
Oh, okay, don't need this.
Oh, Hannah.
[DRAWER OPENS.]
It's probation.
And before you tell us to stick it, understand this They never found Damian's body or figured out why he was in league with the Russians.
The one thing we do know is you two were involved, which means you're going to have to earn our trust back.
[SIGHS.]
One more thing, Hannah.
I'm asking I'm asking as a friend.
You took out someone you cared for.
Are you okay? I was okay the second I shot that son of a bitch.
You ready for Havana? Oh, yeah, my first job back and I'm a glorified babysitter.
And I'll be babysitting you.
President Ortega, this is an historic moment.
Our trade delegation is looking forward to meeting with you in Havana to discuss ways of improving our bilateral relations.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I hope this is the first step in the continuing loosening of financial and travel restrictions.
A new era of cooperation.
We're all hoping for that, sir.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE.]
Senator Sanchez, congratulations.
This trip would not be happening without your tenacity.
And your willingness to listen, sir.
I hope investments can do what 50 years of failed U.
S.
policy couldn't.
So do I.
Congratulations, John.
- Congratulations.
- Congratulations.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Hey, talking points for the Cuba trip.
The president's been getting a lot of criticism for giving Ortega oxygen.
Okay, so we make the trip about the Cuban people.
Yearning for freedom.
Reaching out to an America that they hope reaches back.
- You might have a future in this.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Hey, uh, Turks and Caicos.
I haven't looked at the brochure yet.
Okay, deposit on the villa's due at midnight.
[SIGHS.]
Come here.
I don't know if I can swing this right now.
Oh, come on, we've been talking about taking a trip for months.
- I know.
- And no offense, but the last time you went on vacation, - it involved a horse and buggy.
- Oh! I'm just saying you deserve a break.
We both do.
Plus, I'm even more charming on vacation.
You're not going to be able to handle it.
The brochure.
Got it.
Do you have a strategy? - A strategy for what? - For processing everything.
The story you tell yourself about what happened to Alex.
I know exactly what happened.
Well, there's what happened and your consciousness of it.
For example, who do you blame for Alex's death? Evan Beeman killed my wife.
That's who's responsible.
My question is, who do you blame? I know this is going to change everything for us.
But I have to do it.
If I don't, then Just have to.
You still on my side? I'm always on your side Mr.
President.
ADAM: You wanted to be president.
Given the circumstances, it was my duty, so yes.
Do you think Alex would still be alive if you turned the job down? Yes.
The president of the United States is asking you to serve.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime! We have to move.
The kids'd have to find new schools start over.
We all would.
This would really change our lives.
In ways that we can't even imagine.
Okay, [CLEARS THROAT.]
there are times to say no.
But this is not one of them.
[CHUCKLES.]
So Alex was the reason you took the HUD job.
Meaning you wouldn't have been the designated survivor You're not going to get me to blame my wife - for her own death.
- That's not what I'm trying to do.
Then what the hell are you trying to do? Get you to accept that causation is complicated.
That every decision has an antecedent.
She She She was my wife.
She supported me.
She had my back.
But the choice was mine.
I'm the reason we stayed here.
And that's the only antecedent that matters.
[CHATTER.]
BLUTNER: Yeah, my Florida district is 32% Cuban, so I had to take this trip.
That doesn't mean I support the president and his failed policies.
We need lower taxes.
More prisons.
More aircraft carriers.
Not some president who suddenly can't make up his mind.
If that guy doesn't shut his trap, I'm going to shoot him.
Kirkman, the Un-decider, that's what we should call him.
Aaron: Hey, Congressman.
If you're feeding off the president's trough, why don't you just ease up on the criticism? No offense, Aaron.
I just call it like I seem them.
Call them somewhere else.
Please, this is a trade mission, not a campaign stop.
[CHUCKLES.]
How was that? I still think I should shoot him.
[CHUCKLES.]
[CHATTER.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
Put that away.
Why? That guy out there has a semi-automatic.
The other one's got a Beretta.
This guy's carrying a Glock.
I saw.
Nothing standard issue.
No, they're not C.
R.
A.
F.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[GUNSHOT, PEOPLE SCREAMING.]
[MEN SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
I am General Ramon Bravo.
And you are all prisoners of the Army for the Liberation of the People.
[MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
Documentos! Where'd you leave your White House ID? I left it on the bus.
Documentos? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Documentos? [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Soy Aaron Johnson.
Mi asistente, Hannah.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
General? Bienvenido a Cuba, Mr.
Shore.
We're very glad to have a White House official with us.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
- [MAN SHOUTS IN SPANISH.]
- [SIGHS.]
The United States once supported the Cuban people and their democratic aspirations.
But now President Kirkman props up a brutal and corrupt regime.
The price for this treachery is $500 million by tomorrow at 2:00 P.
M.
Or the delegation of traitors will be executed.
- Who are these people? - COVELL: Trying to get a handle on that, sir.
The Army for the Liberation of the People, it's a guerilla movement 30,000 soldiers.
- Rebels? - Yes, sir, 40 years of skirmishes, but they haven't made much headway.
Looks to me like they've upped their game.
Sir, we have President Ortega on the line.
Mr.
President, how did this happen? PRESIDENT ORTEGA: I don't know, sir.
This delegation was a closely held secret.
Maybe the E.
L.
P.
has a spy in your administration.
Oh, maybe someone on your delegation publicized the trip.
I'm not interested in assigning blame right now.
I'm interested in getting our people back.
I have already reached out to Ramon Bravo through intermediaries, and he has not responded.
Where are the hostages being held? The rebel base of operations is the Sierra De Los Organos mountains, a few hours outside of Havana.
But the leadership They move constantly, so they're hard to pinpoint.
Yeah, dense tree cover, sir.
Satellite imagery doesn't reveal much.
That region is very difficult to access, especially with the men and resources I have at my disposal.
I understand, Mr.
President.
We're going to need your available Intel.
Of course.
I'll be in touch.
Senator, I need you to get the Congressional leadership - over to the White House.
- Yes, sir.
I want options on my desk as soon as possible, General.
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
What are they talking about? They're talking about killing us.
[CONVERSATION CONTINUES.]
- Excuse me! - Hannah, what are you Would you consider releasing the women and the elderly? What did you say to me? You don't need 20 captives.
You could release half of us.
The gesture of goodwill would go a long way.
The assistant to the National Security Advisor has a big mouth.
Perhaps I should shut it for her.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
- Maybe I'll shut yours, too.
- Stop, please.
Please, just stop, okay.
There's There's no need for this.
We're all here to do exactly what you ask.
You're Phillip Cross, the businessman.
Yes, that's right.
And, uh, maybe I can help you make a deal.
[CHUCKLES.]
[GRUNTS.]
Do you think I want to hear what capitalist people like you has to say? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Break his fingers.
Hannah, you need to keep a low profile.
If they figure out who you are, you're dead.
They're not going to.
I'm getting out of here.
[CROSS GROANING.]
COVELL: Sir, our fleet's in place.
J-SAC's recommendation is a ground assault, backed by our naval assets.
Kendra, what's the legality of military action against rebels in another country? If American lives are at stake, the rules of war will allow it, sir, especially if the foreign sovereign is unwilling or unable to act.
And with President Ortega, am I correct in assuming the latter? No, it's both.
He doesn't have the fire power, but even if he did, he can't be seen as actively helping America to attack Cuban citizens, even those that oppose him.
His grip on power's loose enough as it is.
But he won't stand in our way.
I've interfaced with his top advisers.
Ortega has given us access to him ports.
General, is it your opinion that military action will secure the safe release of the hostages? Sir, our consensus is that the show of overwhelming force will bring the rebels to heel.
But you can't guarantee it.
No, sir, but perhaps the SEAL team What other options do I have, aside from military? - Ransom, sir - Which is a non-starter.
No, Lyor.
The killing of Americans is a non-starter.
We've got congressmen, senators, business leaders.
My National Security Adviser.
This is a mess.
We're running out of time.
I want options.
- Come on, people.
- What about a recon mission? That's good, that's good.
We can buttress our data.
Then we'll know exactly what we're getting into if you deploy military assets.
Still be mistaken as aggression.
What about a camera-equipped drone? COVELL: It won't work because of the canopy, sir, but a single Blackhawk infrared camera's low altitude.
- A single one? - Yes, sir.
Okay.
Let's find out what we're really dealing with.
Try it.
He wants assurances.
Guarantees.
You know what that sounds like? Yeah, a president who's gun-shy, which is exactly what he's been since the First Lady's death.
The problem is, you don't risk anyone - You risk everyone.
- Yeah.
[CHATTER.]
Mr.
Boone! Please don't do that.
- Do what? - I'm carrying hot coffee.
If you startle me and I spill it on myself, cardiac arrest.
2% of all males under 40 die from a heart attack triggered by a liquid burn.
I don't think that's true.
- It could be.
- Sir, I'm Tricia Sims.
I'm supposed to interview with you this morning - for the assistant job.
- Oh, come back.
I've come back three times, sir.
Well, you're obviously good at coming back.
Maybe that's your thing.
I promise I won't take much of your time.
I can promise you that, too.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And oh LYOR: Well, you're good on paper.
You know what else is good on paper? No, sir.
Ink.
And ink smudges.
It, uh, fades.
It's temporary.
Just like all my assistants.
Because this job is very demanding.
It requires perfection.
I understand, sir.
Good.
Let's get you started, then, on a trial basis.
Uh, as you may know, the president is an architect.
He's been searching for the original blueprint of the Capitol forever.
I can see why that would mean a lot to him.
Which is why I want you to hunt it down.
Start with Madge in records.
She knows everything.
Will do.
Thank you, sir.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and, uh Tricia.
- Yes? You know what else cause heart attacks in men under 40? No, sir.
Failure.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Yeah.
No, we'll do the photo op with the C.
H.
C.
after the delegation returns.
After.
COVELL: Sir, the Blackhawk is on course.
PILOT: This is Tango One.
We're picking up a heat signature two-three-seven north by eight-two-four west.
Tango One, extend your perimeter.
- General? - It's a pretty remote location.
There's something down there, sir, but we can't tell yet whether it's a generator, a furnace, or installation.
[RADIO CHATTER.]
What just happened? Tango One, this is Motherboard.
Do you copy? Tango One, this is Motherboard.
Do you copy? Just lost Tango One, sir.
Again, there were no casualties, okay? The crew managed to pilot the damaged Blackhawk back to the safety of a nearby carrier.
- O'Neil.
- Why did the rescue mission fail? Well, for starters, it was not a rescue mission.
It was a peaceable recon mission.
REPORTER: Which is no longer secret, Seth.
Doesn't this mean the hostages are in greater danger? The president's doing everything he can to secure their safe return, okay? I'll let you guys know when I have more.
When Corwin asked you if the Blackhawk meant the president wasn't battle-tested, you said, "No, because it wasn't a battle".
- Which was accurate.
- But a bit flip.
The Chronicle's coverage of the administration has been unfriendly.
- We need to court them a bit more.
- Okay.
And when Deveraux asked if the president was accepting counsel from the Secretary of Defense I said that the way the president makes decisions Was not a matter for public debate, which, yes, is true, but it's so combative, Seth.
Emily, I was taking fire in there.
That doesn't mean you can fire back.
My options are limited.
I'm defending an administration that hasn't taken decisive action on anything in the last 10 weeks.
You can't defend us if you're taking the bait.
[SCOFFS.]
Okay.
Less flip.
Don't take the bait.
Don't fire back.
Duly noted.
Thank you.
[SIGHS.]
ALEX: Hello, Tom Kirkman's voicemail.
This is Tom Kirkman's wife, who is no longer the subject or target of a federal investigation.
I beat it.
We beat it.
And the only thing I want to say to you is I love you.
[SIGHS.]
[RECEIVER CLICKS.]
Hello, Tom Kirkman's voicemail.
This is Tom Kirkman's wife, who is no longer the subject or target of a federal investigation.
So your kids how are they handling things? We're not here to talk about my kids.
No, we're here to talk about you, but your kids are a big part of your life, right? [SIGHS.]
Penny.
Sweetheart, I need you to wake up.
Dad? Come here, darling.
Please sit up.
I don't know how to do this.
Dad, what's wrong? There, um There has been a terrible accident.
Mommy was in a terrible accident.
And sometimes, accidents are so bad that the people who are in them They can't come home.
Mommy's not coming home? No, sweetheart.
She's in heaven now with the angels.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
Why isn't Mommy coming home? [SNIFFLES.]
I'm sorry, sweetheart.
I want to see my mom.
I know.
I want my mom.
I know, I know, I know.
I know.
Penny reacted like you'd expect any little girl to react who'd just been told her mother was killed.
How did Leo react? TOM: She's gone, Leo.
Come here.
[CRYING.]
She hated it here.
You should have never brought us here.
I watched his youth vanish before my eyes in a second.
That must have been difficult.
Yeah, it was.
You know, Tom, there's no one way for a person in Leo's position to react or a little girl.
It's different for everybody.
But what I find interesting is 10 weeks in, you're finally opening up about your kids.
What are you getting at? Why were you so reluctant to talk about your children? Because they're not the ones in therapy.
No, you are.
And you are protecting them.
Which is a way of protecting yourself.
From what? If you don't share their reactions, you don't have to share yours.
And the one thing you don't want to confront.
Which is? Grief.
[THUNDER RUMBLES.]
I grieve for my wife every day.
- Do you grieve in public? - No.
- So you grieve in private.
- Yes.
- Have you cried? - What the hell does that matter? Because grief is a ritual.
And if you don't engage in the ritual, either in public or in private What the hell do you expect of me?! It's what you expect of yourself, Tom.
And if you think your behavior is adaptive, I'm not sure why you want to see me.
And don't tell me it's because your staff made you.
HANNAH: Excuse me.
I need to use the bathroom.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Yeah.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
BLUTNER: You know, I never voted with Tom Kirkman for anything.
You can look it up.
I'm one of his fiercest critics.
I'm here for Cuba, not Ortega.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH, POUNDING ON DOOR.]
And unlike Kirkman, I believe in the rule of the people.
Unlike President Kirkman? - [SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
- You son of a bitch! - Hey! Hey! - No, come on! Try to understand! This guy doesn't know what he's talking about! I'm going to make sure the president knows what a self-serving traitor you are! Shut up and sit down, man! - Shut up! - [INDISTINCT ARGUING.]
Sit back down and shut up! [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[STAIRS CREAKING.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
[LAUGHS.]
- [CONVERSATION CONTINUES.]
- Okay.
We should go back in.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[MAN SPEAKS SPANISH, GUN COCKS.]
Okay.
Okay.
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[SPEAKS SPANISH .]
So you told the president there's no legal bar to ransom.
Correct, the executive branch has absolute discretion.
Which he would set a dangerous precedent by exercising.
- Yeah, which is exactly what I just told him.
- Well, what did he say? That America has never faced the possible execution of hostages, including six senators and five congressmen, that he'd rather be criticized for how he kept them alive - than how he let them die.
- What did you say? That the old Tom Kirkman would have advocated military action, that his tentative behavior could wind up getting more people killed.
- You did not tell him that.
- Of course not.
I like my job.
Okay, so if it's ransom, we need Congressional support.
Senator Sanchez is our power broker here.
Yeah, she's on her way.
We're getting Aaron back.
Yeah, safe and sound.
Let's make it happen.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sit.
[MAN SPEAKING SPANISH.]
- Are you all right? - Yeah.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
CIA, FBI, something.
I want her dead.
CROSS: Hey, hey, listen.
Please don't do that again, okay? They're going to kill you.
I can take care of myself.
AARON: Hannah, he's right.
They're talking about what to do with you next.
None of the options are good.
We have nothing to do with her.
You should segregate the cooperators - from ones who aren't.
- Hey, Congressman! Why don't you sit down and shut up? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Jackass.
I know, but he's not the problem, Aaron.
- Cross is.
- What are you talking about? He's working with them, Aaron.
SANCHEZ: I've reached out to Congressional leadership.
We feel ransom is ill-advised.
And you made my case to them.
I promised my colleagues I'd make my case to you.
- Military action - We've already discussed this.
Mr.
President My goal is to save lives, not cost them.
Military action will result in causalities.
Writing a check that we can afford won't.
You don't know that, sir.
Tell the leadership if this goes south, I will take full responsibility, but this is what we are doing.
Emily, reach out to Treasury.
Put this in motion.
EMILY: Yes, sir.
So ransom it is.
In the last two months, he's withdrawn 50% of our troops from Iraq and Syria, he's introduced a bill to double the budget for Homeland Security, and now ransom.
He's trying to protect everyone.
You know what you call that? Trauma.
I'm sorry, is that a question? Do you think your wife's death traumatized you? I think you know the answer to that.
But do you? Do you want Alex to have a state funeral? - No.
- A private one, then.
Yes.
The existing plot at Westchester Cedars? That'll be fine.
I have the I have the guest list for you to look over, as well as some flower arrangements and the obituary, sir.
I-I'm sorry, what did you say? The guest list, the flowers, and the obituaries.
Okay.
Thank you, Emily.
TOM: Of course my wife's death traumatized me.
Why is it so important that I acknowledge that to you? Do you think it's important? I think for $800 an hour, you should stop asking me such obvious questions.
You're right.
You should be asking yourself.
But I will make an observation.
You're the president.
And to do you job, you need a clear head.
If you bring unresolved emotion into the decisional process I don't.
Unintentionally, Tom.
But that's the problem.
It's what you're doing unintentionally.
- MAN: Attention! - TOM: As you were.
EMILY: Secretary Braden said the funds have been made available.
COVELL: Sir, all that remains is for you to okay the wire transfer.
Where do we stand on the release of hostages? We have Ramon Bravo's promise that he'll put them on a bus to Marti International Airport as soon as he can confirm receipt of the funds.
Can we corroborate that there's a bus at the site? No, sir, we cannot.
Mr.
President, we're not going to be able to corroborate anything.
Sir, the essence of ransom is blind faith.
Bravo will either keep his word or he won't.
Mr.
President? If you bring unresolved emotion into the decisional process - I don't.
- Unintentionally, Tom.
- General, cancel the wire transfer.
- COVELL: Sir? How long will it take you to get your men ashore? 45 minutes, sir.
Bring the fleet in as close to land as possible.
If a show of force doesn't get the insurgents to back down, - send in the Marines.
- Yes, sir.
I'll have a congressional statement of support ready to issue.
Good.
What the hell just happened? He made the hard decision, but the right one.
I think the president's back.
Hallelujah.
Whatcha doing? So I talked to Madge, - who told me to check with Earl.
- In the basement.
Yes, and Earl sent me to the records annex.
Wait, you got these from the annex? Mm-hmm.
No one's opened that room in 50 years.
You know, it's a breeding ground for black mold.
Look.
Black mold? Stachybotrys chartarum, yeah, it can cause serious respiratory illness.
You should be doing this in a contained environment, all right? With a mask.
And a Hazmat suit.
Hey, the president needs us in Command Ops.
Emily, this is Tricia Sims.
She was just down in the annex.
Oh, uh, my God, I'm so sorry.
I hope you were wearing a Hazmat suit.
It was nice meeting you.
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
You didn't actually hear them talking about it? I didn't need to.
Well, maybe he was trying to broker a deal.
It was too familiar for that, Aaron.
[MAN COUGHING.]
Well, they broke his hand.
Did they? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
Hey! Thanks.
MAN: Enough! Sit down now! Everyone sit down.
- [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
- You're right.
He didn't seem to have a problem with his broken hand.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
BRAVO: Get up.
Get up.
Get up.
Hey, hey, what? [SIGHS.]
The payment has not been made.
I see you moved your fleet into place.
You doubt my resolve, so I will begin killing the hostages.
And I'll start with the spy, Hannah Wells.
Mr.
Bravo, I'm prepared to keep one of two promises, the first being that I would act as an arbiter between you and President Ortega so you could air your grievances.
Wire the money now or I will kill her.
The second is if you hurt a single hostage, we will hunt you down.
We will find you and we will kill you.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Wait, wait, please.
Please, please, just please.
Wait, I-I'll pay the ransom.
I'll pay the I'll pay the ransom! Every penny of it.
Just let her go.
Please, just let us go.
Mr.
President, Hannah's signaling us.
How do you figure? She's not Catholic, but she just did the sign of the cross.
The hostage who just offered to pay the ransom is Phillip Cross of Cross International Development.
- Look into it.
- Yes, sir.
General, if the hostages aren't free in the next 30 minutes, I want our troops to make landfall.
Yes, Mr.
President.
Cross' passport shows six visits to Cuba - in the past two years.
- To do what? I don't know, but I ran his cell.
Excuse me.
Get this.
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
He's called Ramon Bravo 12 times since August.
His captor? That doesn't make any sense.
Unless they're in on this together.
Cross is a billionaire.
He doesn't need the ransom.
Exactly, which is why the ransom could be a ruse.
Okay, his company specializes in resorts, right? Cuba will be the Caribbean Riviera when it opens for investment.
Maybe he was trying to fund the rebels in exchange for land rights.
Which would be worth billions.
But why would he think that Bravo could give him real estate? The E.
L.
P.
hasn't made headway in decades.
I don't know, maybe Cross was hedging his bets, backing both horses until one pulled ahead.
We need to check if Cross was also coordinating with Ortega.
Is there a way to dump his phones? Yep.
TOM: We were looking for connections between Ortega and Cross.
We found something very different.
SANCHEZ: I don't believe it.
Those phone records prove that President Ortega and Mr.
Bravo were working together to frame the rebels for the kidnapping.
That doesn't make any sense.
It does if you put yourself in Bravo's shoes.
He's 75.
He's lived a life of struggle that has gotten him nothing.
So he kidnaps our delegation.
He has to know that there will be a military response, one that will destroy the rebels.
Ortega is paying him off.
So Bravo gets money, a financial legacy for his family.
Cross' price for delivering the delegation is development rights worth billions.
And Ortega gets to hold on to power, just as soon as we destroy the E.
L.
P.
But I know President Ortega.
He wouldn't put American lives in danger this way.
Senator Sanchez, if you do this long enough, you'll realize you don't really know anyone.
I am pleased to announce the delegation's plane has left Marti Airport.
I'm very glad to hear it, Mr.
President.
But the E.
L.
P.
must be destroyed for this treachery.
And we need America's help.
You're not going to get it, sir.
I don't understand.
Phillip Cross has already been debriefed.
He confessed.
Confessed to what? To your collusion with Ramon Bravo.
The evidence has already been uploaded to the official Cuban news agency website.
Phone records.
Bank payments.
All for the Cuban people to see.
We're not even going to have to bring you both to justice.
We're going to let your people do it for us.
Good luck, Mr.
President.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Hey.
- EMILY: Hey.
I have the, uh, latest draft of talking points on Cuba for your approval.
The United States supports Cuban self-determination with the overthrow of President Ortega and the ouster of Ramon Bravo And we look forward to a democratic future for the Cuban people.
I'll make some changes and get it back to you.
All right.
So Turks and Caicos.
- I don't think it's a good idea.
- I figured you didn't.
That's why you have problems with my press briefing.
That's why you're trying to give me notes on things you never note.
You're trying to tell me that something's wrong without actually telling me.
What are we doing here, Seth? We're dating.
I know, and it used to be two days a week.
And then the First Lady died, and it became five days a week.
So if it's too fast, too soon No, I I like it.
I just don't know what it is.
All right, your use of indefinite pronouns isn't really helping here.
It's like we flipped a switch.
And I am not a switch flipper.
Okay, if you're saying that things are moving too fast and you want to roll it back to once a week, that's fine.
I mean, that day will be the best day of my week.
- Seth.
- But if you're trying to tell me that you're not sure about it About us then I need you to just say that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm saying I don't know.
Well, I do.
And when you do, give me a call.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
You wanted to see me? Yeah, no, uh, the answer's been no for six weeks, and it's still no, yeah.
So about the blueprint.
You can call off the dogs now.
I can? Yeah, the point of the task was not to find the blueprint.
- It wasn't? - No.
This job is about perseverance and learning to navigate a mind-numbing bureaucracy.
I find the most interesting introduction to Here it is, Mr.
Boone.
What? The papers of the Architect who designed the Capitol aren't in the White House.
They're in the National Archives.
They wouldn't let me take them, so I took pictures on a high-res camera, had them color-corrected and enlarged.
Polychromatic paper.
Smart.
Can I tell you something, Mr.
Boone? After finding this blueprint, you can tell me a few things.
My dad works in construction.
My mom She cleans houses.
They've worked their entire lives to send me to college, and now I have a job at the White House.
The White House.
I will find the blueprints to Atlantis if you ask me.
Oh, I will.
She called me, you know.
ADAM: When? Right before she was killed.
Left me a message.
Said she loved me.
I never got to say it back.
How were things left between you two? It was a tough time.
We weren't in the best place.
What place do you think you're in now? I don't know.
I do.
You're standing still.
You console your children, not yourself.
You can't read about your wife's killer.
You can't pick her headstone.
You hold yourself responsible.
You're angry.
I'm not dealing with any of it.
No, you're not.
You need to find a concrete way to acknowledge your grief.
To move on.
If you don't, you'll just be treading water.
And you know what happens to someone who treads water for too long? They drown.
[BUZZER.]
I have to do this on my own, Mike.
- [DOOR BEEPS.]
- [BUZZER.]
[LOCK CLICKS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[LOCK CLICKS.]
[CHAIR SCRAPES.]
Mr.
Beeman, given the circumstances, would you say your treatment here has been fair? Yes, sir.
Food sufficient? Yes, sir.
And they've protected you from the other inmates? Yes, sir.
Good.
Because your well-being is of paramount importance to me.
Do you know why? No, sir.
Because I want you to remember ever single day for the rest of your life what you took from me.
The one person I lived for My wife.
Mother of my children.
My best friend.
The best part of me, and you did it for nothing.
For absolutely no reason.
And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that you think about that every day for the rest of your life.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[GUN COCKS.]
We need to talk.
- Damn right.
I've never seen anyone this good.
Because it's not work for him.
It's who he is.
[EXPLOSION.]
TOM: Your story's not supposed to end here.
Let me bring you home.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Air Force One, prepare for departure.
It is imperative that we not become numb.
The people that we serve They have faces, families, hopes and dreams.
They are worthy of our sacrifice, our commitment.
Agent Wells, until further notice, you'll be reporting to me.
HANNAH: As long as we're following the same breadcrumbs, - we might as well pool our resources.
- Agreed.
[EXPLOSION.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
You lied to me about everything.
[GUNSHOT.]
TOM: I know these last few days have been awful.
I will take tonight off, and I will make it up to you.
I'll see you soon.
[HORN HONKS.]
ADAM: Wonder if you had any reaction to the front-page profile in today's Times on Evan Beeman? Didn't read it.
But you read the Times, right? Articles that I'm interested in.
But an article on the man who killed my wife because he ran a red light while texting isn't one of them.
And you didn't attend his sentencing hearing, either, right? - No.
- Why not? Because I'm President of the United States.
It wouldn't have brought my wife back.
You know, I still want to talk to you about your reaction to Alex's death.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
JANET: Sorry to interrupt, Mr.
President.
The delegation is here.
Thank you.
We're going to have to reschedule.
My office will be in touch.
Good, I can suggest another therapist.
- Excuse me? - You wanted to see me after your wife died, but every time I raise her death, you change the subject.
Cut the conversation short.
Reschedule the session.
Just so we're clear, I didn't want to see you.
My senior staff demanded it.
And in case you haven't noticed, I have a rather busy job.
And if you're too busy for our sessions, then let's discontinue them.
But if you want to continue seeing me, we're going to finish this one today.
And we're going to talk about what happened to you when your wife died.
Because that matters.
Fine, you want to finish today's session, you're going to have to wait.
I've cleared my schedule.
Good for you.
So I'm still getting questions about the First Lady's memorial.
Like what? Why doesn't the First Lady have a memorial? Well, you can't have a memorial before you have a headstone.
Other question is why she doesn't have a headstone.
Seth, it's only been 10 weeks.
Hey, you know what else has happened in the past 10 weeks? Absolutely nothing.
Lyor He came right back to work after the First Lady's death, and now he's President Hamlet.
He's right, Em.
I mean, the military-spending bill is stuck on the president's desk, judicial nominations are piling up, and he's put the brakes on every major policy initiative.
AARON: Including foreign ones.
Canceled trips to Beijing, Jerusalem.
- Bailed on the IMF meeting.
- This is turning into the ghost presidency.
Okay, you all need to relax.
The man just lost his wife.
The mother of his children.
It takes awhile to recover from that.
Understood, but the world keeps moving.
And the White House is getting left behind.
Not today.
It's the Cuban initiative.
It'll jumpstart us.
Good, 'cause we're flatlining.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
The FBI has completed its internal review.
Now, the good news is, they've officially determined Damian Rennett was a clean shot.
Take them 10 weeks to figure that out? No, it took them 10 weeks to decide whether to fire you or put you on probation.
If IAD had a problem with my reaction, why don't you ask how many of them have shot someone in the chest? Or how many of them were sleeping with the person they shot.
Oh, okay, don't need this.
Oh, Hannah.
[DRAWER OPENS.]
It's probation.
And before you tell us to stick it, understand this They never found Damian's body or figured out why he was in league with the Russians.
The one thing we do know is you two were involved, which means you're going to have to earn our trust back.
[SIGHS.]
One more thing, Hannah.
I'm asking I'm asking as a friend.
You took out someone you cared for.
Are you okay? I was okay the second I shot that son of a bitch.
You ready for Havana? Oh, yeah, my first job back and I'm a glorified babysitter.
And I'll be babysitting you.
President Ortega, this is an historic moment.
Our trade delegation is looking forward to meeting with you in Havana to discuss ways of improving our bilateral relations.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I hope this is the first step in the continuing loosening of financial and travel restrictions.
A new era of cooperation.
We're all hoping for that, sir.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE.]
Senator Sanchez, congratulations.
This trip would not be happening without your tenacity.
And your willingness to listen, sir.
I hope investments can do what 50 years of failed U.
S.
policy couldn't.
So do I.
Congratulations, John.
- Congratulations.
- Congratulations.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Hey, talking points for the Cuba trip.
The president's been getting a lot of criticism for giving Ortega oxygen.
Okay, so we make the trip about the Cuban people.
Yearning for freedom.
Reaching out to an America that they hope reaches back.
- You might have a future in this.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Hey, uh, Turks and Caicos.
I haven't looked at the brochure yet.
Okay, deposit on the villa's due at midnight.
[SIGHS.]
Come here.
I don't know if I can swing this right now.
Oh, come on, we've been talking about taking a trip for months.
- I know.
- And no offense, but the last time you went on vacation, - it involved a horse and buggy.
- Oh! I'm just saying you deserve a break.
We both do.
Plus, I'm even more charming on vacation.
You're not going to be able to handle it.
The brochure.
Got it.
Do you have a strategy? - A strategy for what? - For processing everything.
The story you tell yourself about what happened to Alex.
I know exactly what happened.
Well, there's what happened and your consciousness of it.
For example, who do you blame for Alex's death? Evan Beeman killed my wife.
That's who's responsible.
My question is, who do you blame? I know this is going to change everything for us.
But I have to do it.
If I don't, then Just have to.
You still on my side? I'm always on your side Mr.
President.
ADAM: You wanted to be president.
Given the circumstances, it was my duty, so yes.
Do you think Alex would still be alive if you turned the job down? Yes.
The president of the United States is asking you to serve.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime! We have to move.
The kids'd have to find new schools start over.
We all would.
This would really change our lives.
In ways that we can't even imagine.
Okay, [CLEARS THROAT.]
there are times to say no.
But this is not one of them.
[CHUCKLES.]
So Alex was the reason you took the HUD job.
Meaning you wouldn't have been the designated survivor You're not going to get me to blame my wife - for her own death.
- That's not what I'm trying to do.
Then what the hell are you trying to do? Get you to accept that causation is complicated.
That every decision has an antecedent.
She She She was my wife.
She supported me.
She had my back.
But the choice was mine.
I'm the reason we stayed here.
And that's the only antecedent that matters.
[CHATTER.]
BLUTNER: Yeah, my Florida district is 32% Cuban, so I had to take this trip.
That doesn't mean I support the president and his failed policies.
We need lower taxes.
More prisons.
More aircraft carriers.
Not some president who suddenly can't make up his mind.
If that guy doesn't shut his trap, I'm going to shoot him.
Kirkman, the Un-decider, that's what we should call him.
Aaron: Hey, Congressman.
If you're feeding off the president's trough, why don't you just ease up on the criticism? No offense, Aaron.
I just call it like I seem them.
Call them somewhere else.
Please, this is a trade mission, not a campaign stop.
[CHUCKLES.]
How was that? I still think I should shoot him.
[CHUCKLES.]
[CHATTER.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
Put that away.
Why? That guy out there has a semi-automatic.
The other one's got a Beretta.
This guy's carrying a Glock.
I saw.
Nothing standard issue.
No, they're not C.
R.
A.
F.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[GUNSHOT, PEOPLE SCREAMING.]
[MEN SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
I am General Ramon Bravo.
And you are all prisoners of the Army for the Liberation of the People.
[MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
Documentos! Where'd you leave your White House ID? I left it on the bus.
Documentos? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Documentos? [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Soy Aaron Johnson.
Mi asistente, Hannah.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
General? Bienvenido a Cuba, Mr.
Shore.
We're very glad to have a White House official with us.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
- [MAN SHOUTS IN SPANISH.]
- [SIGHS.]
The United States once supported the Cuban people and their democratic aspirations.
But now President Kirkman props up a brutal and corrupt regime.
The price for this treachery is $500 million by tomorrow at 2:00 P.
M.
Or the delegation of traitors will be executed.
- Who are these people? - COVELL: Trying to get a handle on that, sir.
The Army for the Liberation of the People, it's a guerilla movement 30,000 soldiers.
- Rebels? - Yes, sir, 40 years of skirmishes, but they haven't made much headway.
Looks to me like they've upped their game.
Sir, we have President Ortega on the line.
Mr.
President, how did this happen? PRESIDENT ORTEGA: I don't know, sir.
This delegation was a closely held secret.
Maybe the E.
L.
P.
has a spy in your administration.
Oh, maybe someone on your delegation publicized the trip.
I'm not interested in assigning blame right now.
I'm interested in getting our people back.
I have already reached out to Ramon Bravo through intermediaries, and he has not responded.
Where are the hostages being held? The rebel base of operations is the Sierra De Los Organos mountains, a few hours outside of Havana.
But the leadership They move constantly, so they're hard to pinpoint.
Yeah, dense tree cover, sir.
Satellite imagery doesn't reveal much.
That region is very difficult to access, especially with the men and resources I have at my disposal.
I understand, Mr.
President.
We're going to need your available Intel.
Of course.
I'll be in touch.
Senator, I need you to get the Congressional leadership - over to the White House.
- Yes, sir.
I want options on my desk as soon as possible, General.
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
What are they talking about? They're talking about killing us.
[CONVERSATION CONTINUES.]
- Excuse me! - Hannah, what are you Would you consider releasing the women and the elderly? What did you say to me? You don't need 20 captives.
You could release half of us.
The gesture of goodwill would go a long way.
The assistant to the National Security Advisor has a big mouth.
Perhaps I should shut it for her.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
- Maybe I'll shut yours, too.
- Stop, please.
Please, just stop, okay.
There's There's no need for this.
We're all here to do exactly what you ask.
You're Phillip Cross, the businessman.
Yes, that's right.
And, uh, maybe I can help you make a deal.
[CHUCKLES.]
[GRUNTS.]
Do you think I want to hear what capitalist people like you has to say? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Break his fingers.
Hannah, you need to keep a low profile.
If they figure out who you are, you're dead.
They're not going to.
I'm getting out of here.
[CROSS GROANING.]
COVELL: Sir, our fleet's in place.
J-SAC's recommendation is a ground assault, backed by our naval assets.
Kendra, what's the legality of military action against rebels in another country? If American lives are at stake, the rules of war will allow it, sir, especially if the foreign sovereign is unwilling or unable to act.
And with President Ortega, am I correct in assuming the latter? No, it's both.
He doesn't have the fire power, but even if he did, he can't be seen as actively helping America to attack Cuban citizens, even those that oppose him.
His grip on power's loose enough as it is.
But he won't stand in our way.
I've interfaced with his top advisers.
Ortega has given us access to him ports.
General, is it your opinion that military action will secure the safe release of the hostages? Sir, our consensus is that the show of overwhelming force will bring the rebels to heel.
But you can't guarantee it.
No, sir, but perhaps the SEAL team What other options do I have, aside from military? - Ransom, sir - Which is a non-starter.
No, Lyor.
The killing of Americans is a non-starter.
We've got congressmen, senators, business leaders.
My National Security Adviser.
This is a mess.
We're running out of time.
I want options.
- Come on, people.
- What about a recon mission? That's good, that's good.
We can buttress our data.
Then we'll know exactly what we're getting into if you deploy military assets.
Still be mistaken as aggression.
What about a camera-equipped drone? COVELL: It won't work because of the canopy, sir, but a single Blackhawk infrared camera's low altitude.
- A single one? - Yes, sir.
Okay.
Let's find out what we're really dealing with.
Try it.
He wants assurances.
Guarantees.
You know what that sounds like? Yeah, a president who's gun-shy, which is exactly what he's been since the First Lady's death.
The problem is, you don't risk anyone - You risk everyone.
- Yeah.
[CHATTER.]
Mr.
Boone! Please don't do that.
- Do what? - I'm carrying hot coffee.
If you startle me and I spill it on myself, cardiac arrest.
2% of all males under 40 die from a heart attack triggered by a liquid burn.
I don't think that's true.
- It could be.
- Sir, I'm Tricia Sims.
I'm supposed to interview with you this morning - for the assistant job.
- Oh, come back.
I've come back three times, sir.
Well, you're obviously good at coming back.
Maybe that's your thing.
I promise I won't take much of your time.
I can promise you that, too.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And oh LYOR: Well, you're good on paper.
You know what else is good on paper? No, sir.
Ink.
And ink smudges.
It, uh, fades.
It's temporary.
Just like all my assistants.
Because this job is very demanding.
It requires perfection.
I understand, sir.
Good.
Let's get you started, then, on a trial basis.
Uh, as you may know, the president is an architect.
He's been searching for the original blueprint of the Capitol forever.
I can see why that would mean a lot to him.
Which is why I want you to hunt it down.
Start with Madge in records.
She knows everything.
Will do.
Thank you, sir.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and, uh Tricia.
- Yes? You know what else cause heart attacks in men under 40? No, sir.
Failure.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Yeah.
No, we'll do the photo op with the C.
H.
C.
after the delegation returns.
After.
COVELL: Sir, the Blackhawk is on course.
PILOT: This is Tango One.
We're picking up a heat signature two-three-seven north by eight-two-four west.
Tango One, extend your perimeter.
- General? - It's a pretty remote location.
There's something down there, sir, but we can't tell yet whether it's a generator, a furnace, or installation.
[RADIO CHATTER.]
What just happened? Tango One, this is Motherboard.
Do you copy? Tango One, this is Motherboard.
Do you copy? Just lost Tango One, sir.
Again, there were no casualties, okay? The crew managed to pilot the damaged Blackhawk back to the safety of a nearby carrier.
- O'Neil.
- Why did the rescue mission fail? Well, for starters, it was not a rescue mission.
It was a peaceable recon mission.
REPORTER: Which is no longer secret, Seth.
Doesn't this mean the hostages are in greater danger? The president's doing everything he can to secure their safe return, okay? I'll let you guys know when I have more.
When Corwin asked you if the Blackhawk meant the president wasn't battle-tested, you said, "No, because it wasn't a battle".
- Which was accurate.
- But a bit flip.
The Chronicle's coverage of the administration has been unfriendly.
- We need to court them a bit more.
- Okay.
And when Deveraux asked if the president was accepting counsel from the Secretary of Defense I said that the way the president makes decisions Was not a matter for public debate, which, yes, is true, but it's so combative, Seth.
Emily, I was taking fire in there.
That doesn't mean you can fire back.
My options are limited.
I'm defending an administration that hasn't taken decisive action on anything in the last 10 weeks.
You can't defend us if you're taking the bait.
[SCOFFS.]
Okay.
Less flip.
Don't take the bait.
Don't fire back.
Duly noted.
Thank you.
[SIGHS.]
ALEX: Hello, Tom Kirkman's voicemail.
This is Tom Kirkman's wife, who is no longer the subject or target of a federal investigation.
I beat it.
We beat it.
And the only thing I want to say to you is I love you.
[SIGHS.]
[RECEIVER CLICKS.]
Hello, Tom Kirkman's voicemail.
This is Tom Kirkman's wife, who is no longer the subject or target of a federal investigation.
So your kids how are they handling things? We're not here to talk about my kids.
No, we're here to talk about you, but your kids are a big part of your life, right? [SIGHS.]
Penny.
Sweetheart, I need you to wake up.
Dad? Come here, darling.
Please sit up.
I don't know how to do this.
Dad, what's wrong? There, um There has been a terrible accident.
Mommy was in a terrible accident.
And sometimes, accidents are so bad that the people who are in them They can't come home.
Mommy's not coming home? No, sweetheart.
She's in heaven now with the angels.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
Why isn't Mommy coming home? [SNIFFLES.]
I'm sorry, sweetheart.
I want to see my mom.
I know.
I want my mom.
I know, I know, I know.
I know.
Penny reacted like you'd expect any little girl to react who'd just been told her mother was killed.
How did Leo react? TOM: She's gone, Leo.
Come here.
[CRYING.]
She hated it here.
You should have never brought us here.
I watched his youth vanish before my eyes in a second.
That must have been difficult.
Yeah, it was.
You know, Tom, there's no one way for a person in Leo's position to react or a little girl.
It's different for everybody.
But what I find interesting is 10 weeks in, you're finally opening up about your kids.
What are you getting at? Why were you so reluctant to talk about your children? Because they're not the ones in therapy.
No, you are.
And you are protecting them.
Which is a way of protecting yourself.
From what? If you don't share their reactions, you don't have to share yours.
And the one thing you don't want to confront.
Which is? Grief.
[THUNDER RUMBLES.]
I grieve for my wife every day.
- Do you grieve in public? - No.
- So you grieve in private.
- Yes.
- Have you cried? - What the hell does that matter? Because grief is a ritual.
And if you don't engage in the ritual, either in public or in private What the hell do you expect of me?! It's what you expect of yourself, Tom.
And if you think your behavior is adaptive, I'm not sure why you want to see me.
And don't tell me it's because your staff made you.
HANNAH: Excuse me.
I need to use the bathroom.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Yeah.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
BLUTNER: You know, I never voted with Tom Kirkman for anything.
You can look it up.
I'm one of his fiercest critics.
I'm here for Cuba, not Ortega.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH, POUNDING ON DOOR.]
And unlike Kirkman, I believe in the rule of the people.
Unlike President Kirkman? - [SHOUTING IN SPANISH.]
- You son of a bitch! - Hey! Hey! - No, come on! Try to understand! This guy doesn't know what he's talking about! I'm going to make sure the president knows what a self-serving traitor you are! Shut up and sit down, man! - Shut up! - [INDISTINCT ARGUING.]
Sit back down and shut up! [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[STAIRS CREAKING.]
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
[LAUGHS.]
- [CONVERSATION CONTINUES.]
- Okay.
We should go back in.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[MAN SPEAKS SPANISH, GUN COCKS.]
Okay.
Okay.
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[SPEAKS SPANISH .]
So you told the president there's no legal bar to ransom.
Correct, the executive branch has absolute discretion.
Which he would set a dangerous precedent by exercising.
- Yeah, which is exactly what I just told him.
- Well, what did he say? That America has never faced the possible execution of hostages, including six senators and five congressmen, that he'd rather be criticized for how he kept them alive - than how he let them die.
- What did you say? That the old Tom Kirkman would have advocated military action, that his tentative behavior could wind up getting more people killed.
- You did not tell him that.
- Of course not.
I like my job.
Okay, so if it's ransom, we need Congressional support.
Senator Sanchez is our power broker here.
Yeah, she's on her way.
We're getting Aaron back.
Yeah, safe and sound.
Let's make it happen.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sit.
[MAN SPEAKING SPANISH.]
- Are you all right? - Yeah.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
CIA, FBI, something.
I want her dead.
CROSS: Hey, hey, listen.
Please don't do that again, okay? They're going to kill you.
I can take care of myself.
AARON: Hannah, he's right.
They're talking about what to do with you next.
None of the options are good.
We have nothing to do with her.
You should segregate the cooperators - from ones who aren't.
- Hey, Congressman! Why don't you sit down and shut up? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Jackass.
I know, but he's not the problem, Aaron.
- Cross is.
- What are you talking about? He's working with them, Aaron.
SANCHEZ: I've reached out to Congressional leadership.
We feel ransom is ill-advised.
And you made my case to them.
I promised my colleagues I'd make my case to you.
- Military action - We've already discussed this.
Mr.
President My goal is to save lives, not cost them.
Military action will result in causalities.
Writing a check that we can afford won't.
You don't know that, sir.
Tell the leadership if this goes south, I will take full responsibility, but this is what we are doing.
Emily, reach out to Treasury.
Put this in motion.
EMILY: Yes, sir.
So ransom it is.
In the last two months, he's withdrawn 50% of our troops from Iraq and Syria, he's introduced a bill to double the budget for Homeland Security, and now ransom.
He's trying to protect everyone.
You know what you call that? Trauma.
I'm sorry, is that a question? Do you think your wife's death traumatized you? I think you know the answer to that.
But do you? Do you want Alex to have a state funeral? - No.
- A private one, then.
Yes.
The existing plot at Westchester Cedars? That'll be fine.
I have the I have the guest list for you to look over, as well as some flower arrangements and the obituary, sir.
I-I'm sorry, what did you say? The guest list, the flowers, and the obituaries.
Okay.
Thank you, Emily.
TOM: Of course my wife's death traumatized me.
Why is it so important that I acknowledge that to you? Do you think it's important? I think for $800 an hour, you should stop asking me such obvious questions.
You're right.
You should be asking yourself.
But I will make an observation.
You're the president.
And to do you job, you need a clear head.
If you bring unresolved emotion into the decisional process I don't.
Unintentionally, Tom.
But that's the problem.
It's what you're doing unintentionally.
- MAN: Attention! - TOM: As you were.
EMILY: Secretary Braden said the funds have been made available.
COVELL: Sir, all that remains is for you to okay the wire transfer.
Where do we stand on the release of hostages? We have Ramon Bravo's promise that he'll put them on a bus to Marti International Airport as soon as he can confirm receipt of the funds.
Can we corroborate that there's a bus at the site? No, sir, we cannot.
Mr.
President, we're not going to be able to corroborate anything.
Sir, the essence of ransom is blind faith.
Bravo will either keep his word or he won't.
Mr.
President? If you bring unresolved emotion into the decisional process - I don't.
- Unintentionally, Tom.
- General, cancel the wire transfer.
- COVELL: Sir? How long will it take you to get your men ashore? 45 minutes, sir.
Bring the fleet in as close to land as possible.
If a show of force doesn't get the insurgents to back down, - send in the Marines.
- Yes, sir.
I'll have a congressional statement of support ready to issue.
Good.
What the hell just happened? He made the hard decision, but the right one.
I think the president's back.
Hallelujah.
Whatcha doing? So I talked to Madge, - who told me to check with Earl.
- In the basement.
Yes, and Earl sent me to the records annex.
Wait, you got these from the annex? Mm-hmm.
No one's opened that room in 50 years.
You know, it's a breeding ground for black mold.
Look.
Black mold? Stachybotrys chartarum, yeah, it can cause serious respiratory illness.
You should be doing this in a contained environment, all right? With a mask.
And a Hazmat suit.
Hey, the president needs us in Command Ops.
Emily, this is Tricia Sims.
She was just down in the annex.
Oh, uh, my God, I'm so sorry.
I hope you were wearing a Hazmat suit.
It was nice meeting you.
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH.]
You didn't actually hear them talking about it? I didn't need to.
Well, maybe he was trying to broker a deal.
It was too familiar for that, Aaron.
[MAN COUGHING.]
Well, they broke his hand.
Did they? [SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
Hey! Thanks.
MAN: Enough! Sit down now! Everyone sit down.
- [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
- You're right.
He didn't seem to have a problem with his broken hand.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
BRAVO: Get up.
Get up.
Get up.
Hey, hey, what? [SIGHS.]
The payment has not been made.
I see you moved your fleet into place.
You doubt my resolve, so I will begin killing the hostages.
And I'll start with the spy, Hannah Wells.
Mr.
Bravo, I'm prepared to keep one of two promises, the first being that I would act as an arbiter between you and President Ortega so you could air your grievances.
Wire the money now or I will kill her.
The second is if you hurt a single hostage, we will hunt you down.
We will find you and we will kill you.
[SPEAKS SPANISH.]
Wait, wait, please.
Please, please, just please.
Wait, I-I'll pay the ransom.
I'll pay the I'll pay the ransom! Every penny of it.
Just let her go.
Please, just let us go.
Mr.
President, Hannah's signaling us.
How do you figure? She's not Catholic, but she just did the sign of the cross.
The hostage who just offered to pay the ransom is Phillip Cross of Cross International Development.
- Look into it.
- Yes, sir.
General, if the hostages aren't free in the next 30 minutes, I want our troops to make landfall.
Yes, Mr.
President.
Cross' passport shows six visits to Cuba - in the past two years.
- To do what? I don't know, but I ran his cell.
Excuse me.
Get this.
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
He's called Ramon Bravo 12 times since August.
His captor? That doesn't make any sense.
Unless they're in on this together.
Cross is a billionaire.
He doesn't need the ransom.
Exactly, which is why the ransom could be a ruse.
Okay, his company specializes in resorts, right? Cuba will be the Caribbean Riviera when it opens for investment.
Maybe he was trying to fund the rebels in exchange for land rights.
Which would be worth billions.
But why would he think that Bravo could give him real estate? The E.
L.
P.
hasn't made headway in decades.
I don't know, maybe Cross was hedging his bets, backing both horses until one pulled ahead.
We need to check if Cross was also coordinating with Ortega.
Is there a way to dump his phones? Yep.
TOM: We were looking for connections between Ortega and Cross.
We found something very different.
SANCHEZ: I don't believe it.
Those phone records prove that President Ortega and Mr.
Bravo were working together to frame the rebels for the kidnapping.
That doesn't make any sense.
It does if you put yourself in Bravo's shoes.
He's 75.
He's lived a life of struggle that has gotten him nothing.
So he kidnaps our delegation.
He has to know that there will be a military response, one that will destroy the rebels.
Ortega is paying him off.
So Bravo gets money, a financial legacy for his family.
Cross' price for delivering the delegation is development rights worth billions.
And Ortega gets to hold on to power, just as soon as we destroy the E.
L.
P.
But I know President Ortega.
He wouldn't put American lives in danger this way.
Senator Sanchez, if you do this long enough, you'll realize you don't really know anyone.
I am pleased to announce the delegation's plane has left Marti Airport.
I'm very glad to hear it, Mr.
President.
But the E.
L.
P.
must be destroyed for this treachery.
And we need America's help.
You're not going to get it, sir.
I don't understand.
Phillip Cross has already been debriefed.
He confessed.
Confessed to what? To your collusion with Ramon Bravo.
The evidence has already been uploaded to the official Cuban news agency website.
Phone records.
Bank payments.
All for the Cuban people to see.
We're not even going to have to bring you both to justice.
We're going to let your people do it for us.
Good luck, Mr.
President.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Hey.
- EMILY: Hey.
I have the, uh, latest draft of talking points on Cuba for your approval.
The United States supports Cuban self-determination with the overthrow of President Ortega and the ouster of Ramon Bravo And we look forward to a democratic future for the Cuban people.
I'll make some changes and get it back to you.
All right.
So Turks and Caicos.
- I don't think it's a good idea.
- I figured you didn't.
That's why you have problems with my press briefing.
That's why you're trying to give me notes on things you never note.
You're trying to tell me that something's wrong without actually telling me.
What are we doing here, Seth? We're dating.
I know, and it used to be two days a week.
And then the First Lady died, and it became five days a week.
So if it's too fast, too soon No, I I like it.
I just don't know what it is.
All right, your use of indefinite pronouns isn't really helping here.
It's like we flipped a switch.
And I am not a switch flipper.
Okay, if you're saying that things are moving too fast and you want to roll it back to once a week, that's fine.
I mean, that day will be the best day of my week.
- Seth.
- But if you're trying to tell me that you're not sure about it About us then I need you to just say that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm saying I don't know.
Well, I do.
And when you do, give me a call.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
You wanted to see me? Yeah, no, uh, the answer's been no for six weeks, and it's still no, yeah.
So about the blueprint.
You can call off the dogs now.
I can? Yeah, the point of the task was not to find the blueprint.
- It wasn't? - No.
This job is about perseverance and learning to navigate a mind-numbing bureaucracy.
I find the most interesting introduction to Here it is, Mr.
Boone.
What? The papers of the Architect who designed the Capitol aren't in the White House.
They're in the National Archives.
They wouldn't let me take them, so I took pictures on a high-res camera, had them color-corrected and enlarged.
Polychromatic paper.
Smart.
Can I tell you something, Mr.
Boone? After finding this blueprint, you can tell me a few things.
My dad works in construction.
My mom She cleans houses.
They've worked their entire lives to send me to college, and now I have a job at the White House.
The White House.
I will find the blueprints to Atlantis if you ask me.
Oh, I will.
She called me, you know.
ADAM: When? Right before she was killed.
Left me a message.
Said she loved me.
I never got to say it back.
How were things left between you two? It was a tough time.
We weren't in the best place.
What place do you think you're in now? I don't know.
I do.
You're standing still.
You console your children, not yourself.
You can't read about your wife's killer.
You can't pick her headstone.
You hold yourself responsible.
You're angry.
I'm not dealing with any of it.
No, you're not.
You need to find a concrete way to acknowledge your grief.
To move on.
If you don't, you'll just be treading water.
And you know what happens to someone who treads water for too long? They drown.
[BUZZER.]
I have to do this on my own, Mike.
- [DOOR BEEPS.]
- [BUZZER.]
[LOCK CLICKS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[LOCK CLICKS.]
[CHAIR SCRAPES.]
Mr.
Beeman, given the circumstances, would you say your treatment here has been fair? Yes, sir.
Food sufficient? Yes, sir.
And they've protected you from the other inmates? Yes, sir.
Good.
Because your well-being is of paramount importance to me.
Do you know why? No, sir.
Because I want you to remember ever single day for the rest of your life what you took from me.
The one person I lived for My wife.
Mother of my children.
My best friend.
The best part of me, and you did it for nothing.
For absolutely no reason.
And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that you think about that every day for the rest of your life.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[GUN COCKS.]
We need to talk.