Madam Secretary (2014) s02e18 Episode Script
On the Clock
1 How about this one? You can't wear that.
It'll strobe on camera.
Really? Well, does that mean that I've been strobing all this time, and no one has bothered to tell me? Not every time.
And nothing bright.
It'll make you look like you're trying too hard to be friendly.
Oh, what about your black turtleneck? Dirty.
I can't wash it 'cause your dad broke the washing machine.
What about a black blouse? Isn't that too Matrix? Excuse me, I did what? You broke the washing machine.
You put too many bath sheets in it.
What's a bath sheet? Looks like a regular towel, only way bigger, so if you put more than one in the machine, it derails the basket.
Why do we have them? I think it was a housewarming gift.
I mean, do we really have to go back to primordial ooze on bath sheets? No, please, I'll take care of it.
Sexiest words in the English language.
Wear this.
It's not too "schoolmarm in a B western"? I don't understand anything you just said.
What's the interview? It's a basic profile piece with Jane Pauley.
I mean, nothing too difficult.
Really? The original stealth journalist disguised as America's sweetheart? Uh, it could be difficult.
Then all the more reason to look good.
Then wear that.
"Schoolmarm in the B western" is always hot.
Grace Kelly in High Noon? Come on.
Good point.
All right, problem solved.
Who's Grace Kelly? Totally messing with you guys.
She invented the Kelly bag.
The White House is hosting a peace summit today between historic enemies, Pakistan and India, two nuclear powers that most foreign policy experts agree are likeliest to start a nuclear war.
I-I think as long as the two sides are talking, good things can happen.
The disputed region of Kashmir has been a flash point for decades, three wars having been fought over it.
Is Kashmir on the table? Everything is, including nuclear disarmament.
That sounds like a fantasy.
Well, so did the Berlin Wall coming down and the Red Sox winning the World Series.
If you can't dream it What are your long-term goals, Madam Secretary? Beyond world peace? How do we get there? This is not what I was expecting.
She's doing fine.
They said "friendly profile piece.
" Well, it's totally friendly.
They look great together.
They could have their own show.
I should be there.
Well, why aren't you? We both decided Blake could handle it and because he wanted to and they said it would be friendly.
What about China? I understand you've developed What now? Oliver developed this App that busy people can share which lets them know when they have a simultaneous window of spare time in their schedules.
Apparently, we both have 55 minutes starting at 1:15, so I can just hit accept, and we have a plan.
Sexy.
I know it's nerdy.
I think it's sweet.
Is it? And romantic, in its own way.
You mean a "last kid picked in gym class" kind of way? It's his manner of showing you that you're a priority.
And I can see that thrills you.
Just takes some getting used to.
Let's move on to another topic in the news, Doomsday.
Glad we're lightening it up.
The Doomsday Clock, to be exact.
Okay, now you can relax.
I mean, the Doomsday Clock isn't exactly the hard stuff.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, this symbolic clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonpartisan organization comprised primarily of renowned physicists.
Starting in 1947, the Bulletin has set their clock for so many minutes to midnight.
The closer to midnight we get, the nearer we are to Armageddon, with midnight being nuclear annihilation.
In the 1990s, after the Soviet Union collapsed the clock moved back to 17 minutes to midnight.
Today, with global nuclear weapons modernizations and growing arsenals, the clock stands at four minutes to midnight.
But now, Madam Secretary, there is talk of moving it up to three minutes to midnight at the Bulletin's meeting here in Washington this week.
Do you think this is a comment on the Dalton administration's foreign policy? They're not policy experts, and they certainly aren't privy to national security briefings.
So you disagree with their gloom and doom assessment.
I think with the leaders of India and Pakistan meeting at the White House today, the world is getting safer.
Morning.
Hey, uh, can you give me, uh, a recommendation for a good lunch spot in the area? Uh, we only have 55 minutes, so it's got to be fast service, but not too fast, not like, uh, a cafeteria setting, but something sit-down and upscale feeling, but speedy.
Yeah, you need to put that away.
All right, I believe everybody knows Oliver Shaw, our cyber guy.
He has a pitch on a new method to track down Jibral Disah.
Thank you, Russell.
Jackson.
Sir.
Our last attempt to establish contact with our subject, Hijriyyah, Disah's secret third wife, through her former teacher was successful in that she did engage with said correspondence.
She answered the e-mail.
Correct.
However, the IP address was spoofed, and subsequently we ended up at a dummy server in South Korea, but I've come up with a work-around.
Let's hear it.
I've developed a special rootkit that can be hidden within an e-mail attachment.
Once it's opened, the rootkit will share the physical location of the computer with Murphy Station.
At that point, all we have to do is lie in wait for Disah to arrive.
Well, that's not quite as easy as it sounds.
These guys were smart enough to spoof the IP address.
Hijriyyah's not gonna automatically open an attachment.
It would have to have some personal significance.
Catnip? Naughty nurses, or what have you? - What? - Not that I ever open those.
We have to proceed with caution.
We might only have one more kick at the can on this.
I think we can get Laila on board, but it'll be delicate.
Henry and I can approach him.
She might have something in her archives that can serve as bait.
Great, then we have a plan.
Just let Oliver know when you're ready to hit send.
Uh, CJ's on G Street.
Tell 'em you know me.
Wait.
Don't tell 'em.
Do whatever you want.
Prime Ministers Verma and Khoosat should already be with the president in the Oval Office.
Elizabeth, I saw your interview this morning.
Ah.
Damn Doomsday Clock.
Pretty sure we covered several actual international crises that I made sound like polite disagreements.
Yeah, but the clock can hurt us.
It's metaphoric.
The timing couldn't be worse.
Of the metaphoric clock? With the election coming up? Problem is .
86% of American voters know about the clock.
So less than one percent.
But 79% of that .
86% think it's a reliable indicator of global security, and in a few swing states, we're not expecting Dalton to win by more than 79% of .
86%, so the president would like you to get into it with the Bulletin people, see if you can put the brakes on this "moving up the clock" business.
The president actually said that? Of course not, but I speak for him, though I don't actually want to speak on this issue, 'cause it would be unseemly for the White House to lobby on this.
But not for the secretary of state.
I was thinking your people.
You can't lobby scientists.
You can lobby anyone.
It's the great equalizer.
Thought that was death.
If we lose the election, I'll want to be dead.
Just do it, please.
I'll get into it with our people.
Ellen Hill is in there with him.
I've been gone five minutes.
- What the hell? - Last I heard, she wasn't meeting with the Indians and Pakistanis.
She's not.
What happened? We just got word that a Pakistani C-130 hit rough weather as it was attempting to land at Pasha Air Base in the Thar Desert, near the border with India.
It crash-landed on the other side of the border in India 15 minutes ago.
Uh, but we're confident it was an accident.
We have a satellite moving into position to get a better look.
The problem is the Pakistanis launched a rescue mission.
Without India's approval.
India, of course, is insisting they'll handle the rescue and warned the Pakistanis not to violate their sovereignty again.
Why the hell are the Pakistanis being so brazen? We have the leaders of both countries right here in the building.
Can't we just get them in a room and work this out before something goes horribly wrong? Or "wronger.
" As much as I would like to think that would work, Prime Ministers Verma and Khoosat aren't exactly drinking buddies, and I don't want to put fuel on this fire.
It's a hell of a way to kick off peace talks.
Congratulations on your confirmation as national security advisor.
How's your first day going? Mr.
President, we just got our first satellite pictures of the crash site.
- Did it explode? - No.
Pilots must have dumped fuel.
It's a good thing, because of this.
Some kind of bomb? The blunt nose cone and 60-inch body indicate a heavy spherical core and thick protective shielding.
You got to be kidding me.
I wish.
That's not just any bomb, sir.
It's a nuclear warhead.
So when are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? Which elephant would that be, sir? Beginning to feel like a herd.
The fact that we didn't know the Pakistanis were moving a nuclear bomb.
They hate that we spy on their nuclear program.
That's why they're always moving the bombs around.
And we're supposed to be tracking them.
It's an intelligence failure.
Yes, but, to be fair, I think it's an impossible mission.
The mission is to grab up the nukes in the event that the government falls.
That's hard to achieve when we don't know where they are.
Given the fragility of the regime and the fact the radicals would almost certainly take over, we can't afford intelligence failures, unless we're okay with nuclear weapons ending up on the open market and falling into the hands of terrorists.
Listen, all right, the Pakistanis and the Indians are minutes away from a shootout over a nuclear bomb.
I think we need to prioritize our elephants, sir.
Prime Minister Khoosat, welcome.
Madam Secretary.
Am I to assume that President Dalton chose to speak with my Indian counterpart over me? These aren't the circumstances that any of us expected to be meeting under, so we can debate the protocol later, but right now I need you to call off your military incursion in India.
Oh, not an incursion a simple rescue mission of our plane's crew.
A column of tanks and heavy artillery is hardly a simple rescue mission.
You do know that we have satellites.
We have a front row seat, featuring a perfect view of your nuclear bomb.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You need to get your military to stand down.
Does Prime Minister Verma know? You must be kidding.
Prime Minister Verma, there are three things I never kid about: God, taxes, and nuclear bombs.
Now, you need to call your generals and tell them to hold their fire.
Laila.
Hi.
Can we talk to you for a minute? This is my colleague, Jane Fellows.
We won't take up much of your time.
I-I only have a half an hour for lunch.
And I-I don't have anything else to say.
I did what you asked.
Yes, you did and, uh, we greatly appreciate it.
But now that you've established contact with Hijriyyah, we need you to send one more message to her.
We were hoping you could send her something a little more personal, to remind her of your time together back home.
Maybe a video of some kind, or a PDF of an old assignment, or Yeah, although don't you people have anything better to do? Why are you so interested in Hijriyyah? What do you want with this girl? I insist that you tell me.
I understand you're taking your oath of citizenship tomorrow.
Congratulations.
So this is a threat.
No.
Not at all.
Could you just see if you have anything else that-that might speak to her? I suppose I could take a look.
But I can't promise that I will find anything.
Thank you.
Good luck tomorrow.
So we barely avoided an all-out war with Russia in the fall, Hizb Al-Shahid is still out there plotting more attacks, and now India is gloating that a-a Pakistani nuke crash-landed within their border, and we're supposed to convince a bunch of hippie-dippie physicists that the world isn't getting any more dangerous? Apparently, the Doomsday Clock people also take global warming into account, but yes, that's pretty much our marching orders.
Marching into a firing squad.
And now it's time to execute.
So to speak.
Matt, would you please work with the people on the first floor on bullet pointing all the positive diplomatic outcomes from the last year? Those guys haven't had anything positive to say since the Wall came down.
And even then, they were griping about the clean up.
On it.
Absolutely.
Our time is theirs to squander.
We serve at the pleasure.
Even when it's painful.
Daisy this whole Doomsday Clock issue seems to have touched a nerve.
Really? No.
I'm just trying to get my head around it.
Okay, it's just clocks.
One big, terrifying clock can't help reminding me of another.
Of a more biological nature.
Exactly.
And not just babies.
All of it.
I see.
Well, I don't mean to pry.
No, you can pry.
Clearly, I need to talk about it.
It's affecting my work.
Okay, here it is.
I'm already two years behind on my life plan.
If everything had happened the way it was supposed to, I'd be married and pregnant by now.
As it is, I'm still dating, and the guy I'm dating what is that? I mean, could it really be a forever thing? He can barely spare 55 minutes how's he gonna have a baby? That used to be my mind at 3:00 a.
m.
Now it's all the time.
And that's really why you can't commit to him? Because he's too busy? No, it's not just that.
I mean, sure, he's a genius and successful and funny and adept, if you know what I mean.
Yes.
Thank you.
Up to speed.
And I know that sounds like the whole package, but there's this one thing that really matters to me.
He lacks spontaneity.
Just to go out to lunch, the guy has to create an App.
I don't want both of us to be driven and result-oriented.
What kind of life would that kid have? Two overachieving, slightly obsessed parents? He'd be in therapy by preschool.
See, I need someone to bring out the spontaneity in me.
It seems to me like you have no idea what you want.
I know exactly what I want.
Just because it's rigid and unrealistic doesn't mean it's unattainable.
Words to live by.
Verma agreed that India will stand down and allow a small Pakistani team to cross its border and tend to their plane's crew.
Oh, good.
I think Khoosat will go for that.
But he was pretty insistent about wanting his bomb back.
Yeah, he might, uh, have to wait on that.
NGA analyzed the satellite pictures of the warhead.
Apparently, its triggering mechanism is badly damaged and the bomb's "penalty" system is most likely extremely sensitive.
I'm no physicist, but I don't think you want your nuclear bomb overly sensitive or in penalty.
The penalty system will set off the bomb if it's tampered with improperly.
And I guess crashing in the desert wasn't very proper.
So it needs to be defused.
Quickly, expertly, carefully.
We might have to get Khoosat and Verma in a room after all.
I-I'm gonna catch up with you.
Just one second.
Do you mind? - Can I just steal you for one minute? - Yeah, sure.
You've heard about everything that's going on here.
Yeah.
So I know it seems pretty petty for me to bring this up, but you said you'd handle it, and it's just causing me a lot of anxiety, so I thought I would check.
Oh, the washing machine.
It's fine.
I ordered the part online.
It'll come tomorrow and I'll fix it.
It'll be fine.
You'll fix it? I thought you were gonna call a repairman.
No, I said I would take care of it.
Henry It's fine.
I don't want to bring up the garage door.
That was a total fluke.
A fluke that crushed two bicycles and nearly took out the UPS guy.
Are you aware that I'm capable of overriding a navigation system on a fighter jet at 40,000 feet? I feel really out of control when a major appliance is broken.
Like I can't take care of my family.
- I know.
- And Alison is two days out of her school uniform and then she'll get demerits.
Jason doesn't even have a "B" wardrobe.
And I am already in the sad underwear.
It's gonna be fine.
I promise.
I should have known you could never negotiate in good faith.
Oh, so you think we crashed our plane on purpose? - Okay - I think your military only agreed to negotiations if you moved your nuclear bombs closer to our border.
- You don't care about peace.
- Prime Minister We can move our weapons wherever we want.
Oh, then we can refuse to talk to your puppet government that is controlled by warmonger generals that aren't even serious about negotiating.
None of this will matter if that bomb goes off.
Which it very well may, unless we agree on a plan to defuse it and fast.
I am sending in a team of engineers.
- No, you're not.
- It's our weapon.
In my country, and if you can't even transport it without crashing into our lands, how are you going to defuse it? India will send in a team of experts.
To work on Pakistan's bomb? No.
This will not happen.
How will you stop us? We thought you might have this reaction, so we have another idea.
The United States will send a Joint Tactical Operations team to defuse the bomb.
In fact, they are already in the air - from our base in Qatar.
- It is our bomb.
Only our engineers know the design.
Yes, and your people will be there to advise.
Without actually touching the bomb.
And since the site is inside India, an Indian team will be there to oversee the operation.
We know it's not ideal for either of you.
But it is a compromise that you can both survive politically.
Now, unfortunately, we don't have any more time to talk about this.
So are we all in agreement? Well, so much for our do-gooding teacher.
After your visit, she immediately e-mails Hijriyyah to warn her about our attempts to track her down? I assume that's what you're looking at with those graveyard expressions.
We knew this was a possibility.
Yes, so we managed to intercept the e-mail.
But I have had a change of heart about our strategy.
I am going with arrest and detain her, ransack her apartment, block her citizenship and leave her to the mercy of Immigration.
You got my vote.
Oh, here's Henry to tell me why that's too extreme.
Her e-mail showed no complicity with terrorists or radical jihad.
If she had known that Hijriyyah was married to the world's most wanted man, she might have been willing to help.
She lived for years under a very oppressive regime.
All she saw was a powerful government agency suddenly targeting a former student.
She was concerned for the girl's safety.
That is profoundly uninteresting to me.
I'm turning this over to Jose now.
Put together a small tactical team to go in there and turn the place upside down for anything that might be of use.
Yes, sir.
My pleasure.
You two, get fine with this.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to see about a nuclear bomb.
You may have a handle on, uh, military ethics, Professor, but I come from the school of whatever works.
And this works.
How's it going? No mushroom cloud.
Not yet.
Sir, our JTOC coordinator at the bomb site just sent his latest assessment.
They still think they can defuse the damn thing? Yes.
But it's not the type of warhead they expected to find.
What the hell is it? A hydrogen bomb.
The hits keep coming.
Well, no wonder the Pakistanis were so reluctant to let us get under its hood.
So not only did we not know they were moving it, we didn't even know they'd upgraded their technology.
Of course the secretary is aware of the situation.
Of course she's involved and of course it is being managed.
It's a misplaced nuclear bomb, Evan.
Do you really think anyone's waiting around to see how it plays out? You absolutely can print that.
Hey, ready to go? I got a recommendation from Russell Jackson.
It is a six-minute walk.
I printed up the menu, so we can decide what to order on the walk over.
And you are looking at me like you have no idea what I'm talking about.
The 55-minute window.
I forgot.
But can't.
I have to convince the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists to not move the Doomsday Clock up one minute.
Oh, seriously? That is so cool.
How is that? The people on the Bulletin's Science and Security Board are like rock stars in their individual fields.
Nobel Prize-winning physicists and engineers.
I'm a big fan of their work.
And not everyone knows this about them, insane partiers.
Just before they announce their publication, they throw a big blowout into all hours of the night.
Well, as someone with insight into these great minds, do you think I'm gonna be able to get them to keep the clock where it is? - Yeah - If the bomb were to detonate I don't like your chances.
So, I'll-I'll bring something back? a nuclear weapon this close to the Indian border a highly-militarized border while in the middle of sensitive peace talks.
Hey.
Hey.
Where are you going? Uh, just out for some air.
Sure, I'll buy that.
Oh, hey, I've got good news.
I got the order confirmation.
The part for the washing machine is coming in tonight.
Great, repairman's coming tomorrow.
No, you didn't.
I called Earl.
No, not Earl! He knows his stuff.
He's judgy and pessimistic, like if you break an appliance, your whole house is broken and there's no hope.
You just have to move.
I know, and then he fixes it.
Look, I-I-I realize that you could do it.
But it's not your specialty.
And Earl? That's all he does.
And when you have a problem, you get the right person for the job.
Babe, it's a washing machine.
It's not a nuclear bomb.
I know that.
I do have perspective.
But he's coming anyway.
First thing in the morning.
I love you.
Bomb's defused! Oh, wow.
Ah Well, good thing we weren't on the JTOC team.
Sorry, I guess, uh, averting a nuclear disaster got me a little revved up.
Well, that's almost adorable.
Yeah, now the hard work begins.
Are they really going to fight over custody of this bomb? They've already dug in.
Damn nuclear arsenal's the Pakistani people's greatest point of pride.
Well, the Indians aren't gonna be seen handing their mortal enemy their weapon of mass destruction back.
I should've stuck to teaching.
Prime Minister Khoosat, sorry to keep you waiting.
I was actually surprised to be left alone in the Oval Office.
Well, you are the, uh, first foreign dignitary ever to have the privilege.
You're not going to convince me to give up our bomb.
Mr.
Prime Minister, the reason we kept you waiting is because it took quite a bit of arm-twisting to get Prime Minister Verma to agree to give up your nuclear warhead.
This is good news.
Yes, Verma agreed to turn it over to the United States.
We understand this is not exactly what you want, but it keeps India from learning your proprietary designs, so you maintain whatever strategic advantages you already have.
We know your arsenal has more than 100 bombs.
In practical terms, one fewer won't really matter.
My generals will never accept this.
Well, this is the only deal India will accept.
I suggest you convince your generals to get on board before the Indians change their minds and take your weapon to their labs to be dissected.
No.
Absolutely not.
It would make me a traitor to my people.
You would take a hit politically.
The alternative is war with India.
Do you think your people would prefer that? Yes, I do.
I don't have anything for you.
You need to let me in.
I looked for an attachment.
I couldn't find anything of interest.
We intercepted your e-mail.
So, what comes now? You deny my citizenship application and you send me back to Libya? I'm not in favor of that, but shortly you're gonna be meeting some people who are.
I can't protect you if you won't cooperate.
Please, why can't you just leave me alone? Are you familiar with the oath you're planning to take tomorrow? I'm not vowing to take action against innocent people.
For all I know you're going to drone strike her village.
You're going to raid her home, kill her, call it collateral damage.
I can't have the blood of that girl on my hands.
I will only send this e-mail if you can assure me that she will be safe.
I can't do that.
Well, then I can't help you.
Hijriyyah's father married her to a very dangerous man.
The most wanted man in the world right now.
We have no idea what her allegiances are.
And you're right.
Most of the people I work with don't care.
But judging by the e-mail she sent back to you, I believe that she is an unwilling and unhappy participant in a dangerous place.
The message was a cry for help.
You think that by doing nothing you're helping her? You're not.
If you stay silent, you'll be punished for your betrayal.
I didn't betray Hijriyyah will stay in the care of a violent fugitive.
Someday we're gonna catch him.
I can't tell you when day that will be, but we will.
And no one is gonna care about her safety when that happens.
If you help you'll be giving Hijriyyah her very best chance at making it out alive.
As I'm sure you're aware, we'd like to continue the conversation we started earlier about the Doomsday Clock.
We thought our ideas could be expressed more accurately in person.
We took the liberty of making a list of things this administration has done to increase nuclear safety, including and especially the historic peace agreement with Iran, our Pacific Rim trade agreement, our peace treaty with Russia.
Well, that was a squeaker.
The president remains committed to the issue of climate change.
His first year in office, he passed new standards for carbon emissions.
He created new incentives for alternative energy sources.
Look, the clock isn't a bank.
It isn't a point system.
It's real time, based on a real threat assessment.
It's not subjective.
It's math.
It is a bit theoretical, but it's still math.
Well, all right, while we're talking math, we've provided you with this administration's budget for Federal-supportive science and nuclear security.
Support, which by the way, would shrink considerably if the opposing party were to take office.
Well, now you're just blatantly campaigning, Ms.
Tolliver.
This isn't politics.
It's science.
We're moving the clock up two minutes.
This morning it was only one.
This morning Pakistan and India weren't on the brink of a nuclear war.
But the vote isn't final.
Want to put some money on it? All right, well, who can we speak with then? We tried to contact Stuart Bachman, the President of the Bulletin, but he didn't return our calls.
Yeah, he hates phones.
But you can try him at the rager tonight.
He's usually in a pretty good mood there.
Your big doomsday party? That's happening tonight? Yes.
The sweet spot is somewhere between the second martini and the shots of mescal.
After that it's just a lot of running man.
Shirtless running man.
And screaming about buckyball versus M-brane theory.
Yeah, get there early.
Hmm.
That's just Islamabad.
We're getting reports of increasing violence and protests in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore over India keeping their bomb.
Very Arab Spring.
Short of getting their bomb back, I'd say it's only a matter of days before Pakistan's government collapses.
Or a matter of hours.
What is the situation with the bomb, Ephraim? The JTOC team is literally acting at this point, going through a series of final safety checks that aren't really necessary.
It's getting tense.
Pakistan's amassing troops along the border.
India, of course is responding in kind.
How quickly can we get our people out there? As long as it takes them to run to their choppers a couple HH-60G's.
Assuming they don't get caught in the crossfire.
But basically we're looking at Pakistan imploding or going to war with India.
Either way, their nuclear arsenal becomes incredibly insecure.
Available to the highest bidder.
Russian GRU has already reached out to work in concert with us to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
But we doubt their intelligence on them is any better than ours.
So this is where we are.
Maybe we're going at this the wrong way.
What do you mean? Maybe the time to negotiate has passed.
Ms.
Ayyad, United States Immigration Service.
Open the door.
Open the door, Ms.
Ayyad.
The door! What the hell? Stand down.
Here's our attachment.
Whatever works, right? Thank you for waiting, Prime Minister Verma.
My country is preparing for war; I need to get back.
Have you seen the news? Islamabad is burning.
I cannot control their people.
That's true.
The problem is Khoosat won't go down without a fight.
He will choose war over his government being toppled.
This is up to him, and there's nothing more for us to talk about.
Prime Minister.
We need to agree, right now, to allow Pakistan to have its weapon back.
It will be a black eye for India, but a hell of a lot better than a war with millions of casualties.
I already agreed to allow the United States to hold the bomb.
Which was very diplomatic of you.
Unfortunately, the rioting in Pakistan has changed that equation.
Indeed, it has, but we've had many conflicts with Pakistan since the partition.
We're prepared for another.
And we're prepared to deliver you a package of RQ-4 spy drones and AT4 anti-tank missiles and membership into our Pacific Trade Partnership, which would bring tens, if not hundreds, of billions to your economy.
How about this instead of war? The window on diplomacy has closed.
I must go.
Jaya.
This isn't a negotiation.
Excuse me? The United States team that worked on the bomb is going to load it inside one of our helicopters and return it to Pasha Base inside the Pakistani border.
India will be within its rights to shoot down your helicopter before it reaches Pakistan.
Yes.
And that would be very foolish.
Prime Minister Khoosat.
Surprised you hadn't returned to Islamabad yet.
Oh, it's easier to manage things from here than on a plane.
It's a difficult time, so I'll cut to the chase.
The United States might be willing to deliver your nuclear warhead back to Pasha Base.
What about India? Well, we can handle India, though it would severely harm our relationship with them.
But it would be worth it to us if you give us something that we want very much.
I'm listening.
Complete access to your entire nuclear arsenal.
You'll provide us with real-time reports on their movements, we'll verify with our own signals and human intelligence.
We want to know where your bombs are at every second of every day.
This is insane.
Well, you know we've always been tracking your arsenal with human Intel for exactly a situation like we faced today.
My government cannot tolerate your nuclear bombs falling into the hands of radicals, which is a distinct possibility should your government fall.
If you don't give us our bomb back, my government will fall.
And you will be out of power, which, I'm just guessing, is the real reason why you haven't gotten on your plane yet.
Things don't look good for you at home.
If I were to give you access to our bombs and it ever became public, I would be ousted.
True.
But you will definitely be ousted if you don't take this deal.
If you want to take a chance that I'm bluffing, that's your call.
So? Our chopper carrying Pakistan's nuke just crossed the border and is landing at Pasha Base.
Well, that was easy.
How did Khoosat take our demands? Well, let's just say I don't expect to be on his holiday card list anymore.
Ephraim is already coordinating with ISI.
Pakistan and India now hate our guts.
Though, officially, Khoosat is crowing about standing up to India and restoring his nation's pride, while Verma is claiming the mantle of great statesman, maintaining the peace while gaining economic victories for her people.
Our big peace deal is toast.
Oh, give 'em ten years.
They'll come around.
In the meantime, access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is better.
Better than peace? Another day.
What? Oh, I think that's him over by the grim reaper piñata.
Dr.
Bachman? Yes? Excuse me.
How do you do? I'm Nadine Tolliver, chief of staff for Secretary McCord.
This is Daisy Grant.
I left several messages.
Yes, you have a very intelligent voice, but I bet you get that all the time.
Not really.
Uh, mostly I just get a call back.
Well, there wasn't any point.
I know you were concerned about the Pakistan and India situation, but since it's been resolved, you have to admit, it was a pretty substantial move away from midnight.
We're still moving the clock up.
We don't base our decision on just one event, rather on global trends.
We understand that, Dr.
Bachman, but it was no small feat to avert that crisis.
A lot of people made a lot of intelligent moves.
Yes, and that's why we're only going up one minute not two.
You're welcome.
Now go get yourselves a drink.
I don't like to talk shop at a party.
- Dr.
Bachman! - Ah.
I guess one is better than two.
I had a feeling this whole thing was a nonstarter.
You can't dissuade people with that much integrity.
They're in the pocket of "Big Truth.
" I'll see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Okay, this is getting a little weird.
You knew I'd be here because of the calendar App.
Well, yeah, but I'm here because I was invited.
I'm psyched to meet these people, and, to be honest, they are excited to meet me.
I'm sure.
Listen, I know this isn't exactly the right environment, but I have to bring up something kind of awkward.
This is exactly the right environment.
Alcohol and geeks.
This is about us.
I know, the calendar App is driving you crazy.
We don't have to stick to it.
I did manage to sell it though.
I had to get that in there.
Excuse me, you're Oliver Shaw? Suzan Simmons.
So happy to meet you finally.
Oh, same here.
- This is Daisy Grant.
- I know.
Listen, my husband is too drunk to dance, and I have to bust a move or go nuts.
Again, I am your guy.
Uh, hold that thought.
I'll be right back.
Uh We're in.
Uh, sorry about that.
You have my undivided attention.
What did you want to talk about? I didn't know you did that.
What, dance? Spur-of-the-moment dancing.
Uh, or spur-of-the-moment anything.
Uh, she asked.
Can I have the next one? Really? Absolutely.
Um, okay, here's the thing.
Do you want to have a baby with me? Oh, my God, uh, I didn't mean it like that.
- Well, I did, but not quite like that.
- Sure.
Really? Yes, absolutely.
Wait, you don't mean, like, right now? No.
Eventually.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Please don't sulk about this.
I'm not sulking.
Honestly, I'm just tired.
I know you hate Earl.
- I was up late.
- But he does make our appliances work.
I've got bigger things on my mind.
Okay, good.
Because you know what, there's no shame in letting someone else do the job.
Well, looks like I came out here for nothing.
Earl, I know you always think that it can't be fixed It doesn't need to be fixed.
It's got a brand-new spin pulley in it.
It's not the model I would have used, and it needed to be tightened, but works fine.
Really? Yeah, listen, I got to charge you for the visit.
Just for my time.
I hate to do it, but I'm on the clock.
Not a problem.
Have a good day.
And don't overload that machine.
No bath sheets or anything.
Got it.
When I tell you I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it.
I'm going back to bed.
I can be a few minutes late today.
It'll strobe on camera.
Really? Well, does that mean that I've been strobing all this time, and no one has bothered to tell me? Not every time.
And nothing bright.
It'll make you look like you're trying too hard to be friendly.
Oh, what about your black turtleneck? Dirty.
I can't wash it 'cause your dad broke the washing machine.
What about a black blouse? Isn't that too Matrix? Excuse me, I did what? You broke the washing machine.
You put too many bath sheets in it.
What's a bath sheet? Looks like a regular towel, only way bigger, so if you put more than one in the machine, it derails the basket.
Why do we have them? I think it was a housewarming gift.
I mean, do we really have to go back to primordial ooze on bath sheets? No, please, I'll take care of it.
Sexiest words in the English language.
Wear this.
It's not too "schoolmarm in a B western"? I don't understand anything you just said.
What's the interview? It's a basic profile piece with Jane Pauley.
I mean, nothing too difficult.
Really? The original stealth journalist disguised as America's sweetheart? Uh, it could be difficult.
Then all the more reason to look good.
Then wear that.
"Schoolmarm in the B western" is always hot.
Grace Kelly in High Noon? Come on.
Good point.
All right, problem solved.
Who's Grace Kelly? Totally messing with you guys.
She invented the Kelly bag.
The White House is hosting a peace summit today between historic enemies, Pakistan and India, two nuclear powers that most foreign policy experts agree are likeliest to start a nuclear war.
I-I think as long as the two sides are talking, good things can happen.
The disputed region of Kashmir has been a flash point for decades, three wars having been fought over it.
Is Kashmir on the table? Everything is, including nuclear disarmament.
That sounds like a fantasy.
Well, so did the Berlin Wall coming down and the Red Sox winning the World Series.
If you can't dream it What are your long-term goals, Madam Secretary? Beyond world peace? How do we get there? This is not what I was expecting.
She's doing fine.
They said "friendly profile piece.
" Well, it's totally friendly.
They look great together.
They could have their own show.
I should be there.
Well, why aren't you? We both decided Blake could handle it and because he wanted to and they said it would be friendly.
What about China? I understand you've developed What now? Oliver developed this App that busy people can share which lets them know when they have a simultaneous window of spare time in their schedules.
Apparently, we both have 55 minutes starting at 1:15, so I can just hit accept, and we have a plan.
Sexy.
I know it's nerdy.
I think it's sweet.
Is it? And romantic, in its own way.
You mean a "last kid picked in gym class" kind of way? It's his manner of showing you that you're a priority.
And I can see that thrills you.
Just takes some getting used to.
Let's move on to another topic in the news, Doomsday.
Glad we're lightening it up.
The Doomsday Clock, to be exact.
Okay, now you can relax.
I mean, the Doomsday Clock isn't exactly the hard stuff.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, this symbolic clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonpartisan organization comprised primarily of renowned physicists.
Starting in 1947, the Bulletin has set their clock for so many minutes to midnight.
The closer to midnight we get, the nearer we are to Armageddon, with midnight being nuclear annihilation.
In the 1990s, after the Soviet Union collapsed the clock moved back to 17 minutes to midnight.
Today, with global nuclear weapons modernizations and growing arsenals, the clock stands at four minutes to midnight.
But now, Madam Secretary, there is talk of moving it up to three minutes to midnight at the Bulletin's meeting here in Washington this week.
Do you think this is a comment on the Dalton administration's foreign policy? They're not policy experts, and they certainly aren't privy to national security briefings.
So you disagree with their gloom and doom assessment.
I think with the leaders of India and Pakistan meeting at the White House today, the world is getting safer.
Morning.
Hey, uh, can you give me, uh, a recommendation for a good lunch spot in the area? Uh, we only have 55 minutes, so it's got to be fast service, but not too fast, not like, uh, a cafeteria setting, but something sit-down and upscale feeling, but speedy.
Yeah, you need to put that away.
All right, I believe everybody knows Oliver Shaw, our cyber guy.
He has a pitch on a new method to track down Jibral Disah.
Thank you, Russell.
Jackson.
Sir.
Our last attempt to establish contact with our subject, Hijriyyah, Disah's secret third wife, through her former teacher was successful in that she did engage with said correspondence.
She answered the e-mail.
Correct.
However, the IP address was spoofed, and subsequently we ended up at a dummy server in South Korea, but I've come up with a work-around.
Let's hear it.
I've developed a special rootkit that can be hidden within an e-mail attachment.
Once it's opened, the rootkit will share the physical location of the computer with Murphy Station.
At that point, all we have to do is lie in wait for Disah to arrive.
Well, that's not quite as easy as it sounds.
These guys were smart enough to spoof the IP address.
Hijriyyah's not gonna automatically open an attachment.
It would have to have some personal significance.
Catnip? Naughty nurses, or what have you? - What? - Not that I ever open those.
We have to proceed with caution.
We might only have one more kick at the can on this.
I think we can get Laila on board, but it'll be delicate.
Henry and I can approach him.
She might have something in her archives that can serve as bait.
Great, then we have a plan.
Just let Oliver know when you're ready to hit send.
Uh, CJ's on G Street.
Tell 'em you know me.
Wait.
Don't tell 'em.
Do whatever you want.
Prime Ministers Verma and Khoosat should already be with the president in the Oval Office.
Elizabeth, I saw your interview this morning.
Ah.
Damn Doomsday Clock.
Pretty sure we covered several actual international crises that I made sound like polite disagreements.
Yeah, but the clock can hurt us.
It's metaphoric.
The timing couldn't be worse.
Of the metaphoric clock? With the election coming up? Problem is .
86% of American voters know about the clock.
So less than one percent.
But 79% of that .
86% think it's a reliable indicator of global security, and in a few swing states, we're not expecting Dalton to win by more than 79% of .
86%, so the president would like you to get into it with the Bulletin people, see if you can put the brakes on this "moving up the clock" business.
The president actually said that? Of course not, but I speak for him, though I don't actually want to speak on this issue, 'cause it would be unseemly for the White House to lobby on this.
But not for the secretary of state.
I was thinking your people.
You can't lobby scientists.
You can lobby anyone.
It's the great equalizer.
Thought that was death.
If we lose the election, I'll want to be dead.
Just do it, please.
I'll get into it with our people.
Ellen Hill is in there with him.
I've been gone five minutes.
- What the hell? - Last I heard, she wasn't meeting with the Indians and Pakistanis.
She's not.
What happened? We just got word that a Pakistani C-130 hit rough weather as it was attempting to land at Pasha Air Base in the Thar Desert, near the border with India.
It crash-landed on the other side of the border in India 15 minutes ago.
Uh, but we're confident it was an accident.
We have a satellite moving into position to get a better look.
The problem is the Pakistanis launched a rescue mission.
Without India's approval.
India, of course, is insisting they'll handle the rescue and warned the Pakistanis not to violate their sovereignty again.
Why the hell are the Pakistanis being so brazen? We have the leaders of both countries right here in the building.
Can't we just get them in a room and work this out before something goes horribly wrong? Or "wronger.
" As much as I would like to think that would work, Prime Ministers Verma and Khoosat aren't exactly drinking buddies, and I don't want to put fuel on this fire.
It's a hell of a way to kick off peace talks.
Congratulations on your confirmation as national security advisor.
How's your first day going? Mr.
President, we just got our first satellite pictures of the crash site.
- Did it explode? - No.
Pilots must have dumped fuel.
It's a good thing, because of this.
Some kind of bomb? The blunt nose cone and 60-inch body indicate a heavy spherical core and thick protective shielding.
You got to be kidding me.
I wish.
That's not just any bomb, sir.
It's a nuclear warhead.
So when are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? Which elephant would that be, sir? Beginning to feel like a herd.
The fact that we didn't know the Pakistanis were moving a nuclear bomb.
They hate that we spy on their nuclear program.
That's why they're always moving the bombs around.
And we're supposed to be tracking them.
It's an intelligence failure.
Yes, but, to be fair, I think it's an impossible mission.
The mission is to grab up the nukes in the event that the government falls.
That's hard to achieve when we don't know where they are.
Given the fragility of the regime and the fact the radicals would almost certainly take over, we can't afford intelligence failures, unless we're okay with nuclear weapons ending up on the open market and falling into the hands of terrorists.
Listen, all right, the Pakistanis and the Indians are minutes away from a shootout over a nuclear bomb.
I think we need to prioritize our elephants, sir.
Prime Minister Khoosat, welcome.
Madam Secretary.
Am I to assume that President Dalton chose to speak with my Indian counterpart over me? These aren't the circumstances that any of us expected to be meeting under, so we can debate the protocol later, but right now I need you to call off your military incursion in India.
Oh, not an incursion a simple rescue mission of our plane's crew.
A column of tanks and heavy artillery is hardly a simple rescue mission.
You do know that we have satellites.
We have a front row seat, featuring a perfect view of your nuclear bomb.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You need to get your military to stand down.
Does Prime Minister Verma know? You must be kidding.
Prime Minister Verma, there are three things I never kid about: God, taxes, and nuclear bombs.
Now, you need to call your generals and tell them to hold their fire.
Laila.
Hi.
Can we talk to you for a minute? This is my colleague, Jane Fellows.
We won't take up much of your time.
I-I only have a half an hour for lunch.
And I-I don't have anything else to say.
I did what you asked.
Yes, you did and, uh, we greatly appreciate it.
But now that you've established contact with Hijriyyah, we need you to send one more message to her.
We were hoping you could send her something a little more personal, to remind her of your time together back home.
Maybe a video of some kind, or a PDF of an old assignment, or Yeah, although don't you people have anything better to do? Why are you so interested in Hijriyyah? What do you want with this girl? I insist that you tell me.
I understand you're taking your oath of citizenship tomorrow.
Congratulations.
So this is a threat.
No.
Not at all.
Could you just see if you have anything else that-that might speak to her? I suppose I could take a look.
But I can't promise that I will find anything.
Thank you.
Good luck tomorrow.
So we barely avoided an all-out war with Russia in the fall, Hizb Al-Shahid is still out there plotting more attacks, and now India is gloating that a-a Pakistani nuke crash-landed within their border, and we're supposed to convince a bunch of hippie-dippie physicists that the world isn't getting any more dangerous? Apparently, the Doomsday Clock people also take global warming into account, but yes, that's pretty much our marching orders.
Marching into a firing squad.
And now it's time to execute.
So to speak.
Matt, would you please work with the people on the first floor on bullet pointing all the positive diplomatic outcomes from the last year? Those guys haven't had anything positive to say since the Wall came down.
And even then, they were griping about the clean up.
On it.
Absolutely.
Our time is theirs to squander.
We serve at the pleasure.
Even when it's painful.
Daisy this whole Doomsday Clock issue seems to have touched a nerve.
Really? No.
I'm just trying to get my head around it.
Okay, it's just clocks.
One big, terrifying clock can't help reminding me of another.
Of a more biological nature.
Exactly.
And not just babies.
All of it.
I see.
Well, I don't mean to pry.
No, you can pry.
Clearly, I need to talk about it.
It's affecting my work.
Okay, here it is.
I'm already two years behind on my life plan.
If everything had happened the way it was supposed to, I'd be married and pregnant by now.
As it is, I'm still dating, and the guy I'm dating what is that? I mean, could it really be a forever thing? He can barely spare 55 minutes how's he gonna have a baby? That used to be my mind at 3:00 a.
m.
Now it's all the time.
And that's really why you can't commit to him? Because he's too busy? No, it's not just that.
I mean, sure, he's a genius and successful and funny and adept, if you know what I mean.
Yes.
Thank you.
Up to speed.
And I know that sounds like the whole package, but there's this one thing that really matters to me.
He lacks spontaneity.
Just to go out to lunch, the guy has to create an App.
I don't want both of us to be driven and result-oriented.
What kind of life would that kid have? Two overachieving, slightly obsessed parents? He'd be in therapy by preschool.
See, I need someone to bring out the spontaneity in me.
It seems to me like you have no idea what you want.
I know exactly what I want.
Just because it's rigid and unrealistic doesn't mean it's unattainable.
Words to live by.
Verma agreed that India will stand down and allow a small Pakistani team to cross its border and tend to their plane's crew.
Oh, good.
I think Khoosat will go for that.
But he was pretty insistent about wanting his bomb back.
Yeah, he might, uh, have to wait on that.
NGA analyzed the satellite pictures of the warhead.
Apparently, its triggering mechanism is badly damaged and the bomb's "penalty" system is most likely extremely sensitive.
I'm no physicist, but I don't think you want your nuclear bomb overly sensitive or in penalty.
The penalty system will set off the bomb if it's tampered with improperly.
And I guess crashing in the desert wasn't very proper.
So it needs to be defused.
Quickly, expertly, carefully.
We might have to get Khoosat and Verma in a room after all.
I-I'm gonna catch up with you.
Just one second.
Do you mind? - Can I just steal you for one minute? - Yeah, sure.
You've heard about everything that's going on here.
Yeah.
So I know it seems pretty petty for me to bring this up, but you said you'd handle it, and it's just causing me a lot of anxiety, so I thought I would check.
Oh, the washing machine.
It's fine.
I ordered the part online.
It'll come tomorrow and I'll fix it.
It'll be fine.
You'll fix it? I thought you were gonna call a repairman.
No, I said I would take care of it.
Henry It's fine.
I don't want to bring up the garage door.
That was a total fluke.
A fluke that crushed two bicycles and nearly took out the UPS guy.
Are you aware that I'm capable of overriding a navigation system on a fighter jet at 40,000 feet? I feel really out of control when a major appliance is broken.
Like I can't take care of my family.
- I know.
- And Alison is two days out of her school uniform and then she'll get demerits.
Jason doesn't even have a "B" wardrobe.
And I am already in the sad underwear.
It's gonna be fine.
I promise.
I should have known you could never negotiate in good faith.
Oh, so you think we crashed our plane on purpose? - Okay - I think your military only agreed to negotiations if you moved your nuclear bombs closer to our border.
- You don't care about peace.
- Prime Minister We can move our weapons wherever we want.
Oh, then we can refuse to talk to your puppet government that is controlled by warmonger generals that aren't even serious about negotiating.
None of this will matter if that bomb goes off.
Which it very well may, unless we agree on a plan to defuse it and fast.
I am sending in a team of engineers.
- No, you're not.
- It's our weapon.
In my country, and if you can't even transport it without crashing into our lands, how are you going to defuse it? India will send in a team of experts.
To work on Pakistan's bomb? No.
This will not happen.
How will you stop us? We thought you might have this reaction, so we have another idea.
The United States will send a Joint Tactical Operations team to defuse the bomb.
In fact, they are already in the air - from our base in Qatar.
- It is our bomb.
Only our engineers know the design.
Yes, and your people will be there to advise.
Without actually touching the bomb.
And since the site is inside India, an Indian team will be there to oversee the operation.
We know it's not ideal for either of you.
But it is a compromise that you can both survive politically.
Now, unfortunately, we don't have any more time to talk about this.
So are we all in agreement? Well, so much for our do-gooding teacher.
After your visit, she immediately e-mails Hijriyyah to warn her about our attempts to track her down? I assume that's what you're looking at with those graveyard expressions.
We knew this was a possibility.
Yes, so we managed to intercept the e-mail.
But I have had a change of heart about our strategy.
I am going with arrest and detain her, ransack her apartment, block her citizenship and leave her to the mercy of Immigration.
You got my vote.
Oh, here's Henry to tell me why that's too extreme.
Her e-mail showed no complicity with terrorists or radical jihad.
If she had known that Hijriyyah was married to the world's most wanted man, she might have been willing to help.
She lived for years under a very oppressive regime.
All she saw was a powerful government agency suddenly targeting a former student.
She was concerned for the girl's safety.
That is profoundly uninteresting to me.
I'm turning this over to Jose now.
Put together a small tactical team to go in there and turn the place upside down for anything that might be of use.
Yes, sir.
My pleasure.
You two, get fine with this.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to see about a nuclear bomb.
You may have a handle on, uh, military ethics, Professor, but I come from the school of whatever works.
And this works.
How's it going? No mushroom cloud.
Not yet.
Sir, our JTOC coordinator at the bomb site just sent his latest assessment.
They still think they can defuse the damn thing? Yes.
But it's not the type of warhead they expected to find.
What the hell is it? A hydrogen bomb.
The hits keep coming.
Well, no wonder the Pakistanis were so reluctant to let us get under its hood.
So not only did we not know they were moving it, we didn't even know they'd upgraded their technology.
Of course the secretary is aware of the situation.
Of course she's involved and of course it is being managed.
It's a misplaced nuclear bomb, Evan.
Do you really think anyone's waiting around to see how it plays out? You absolutely can print that.
Hey, ready to go? I got a recommendation from Russell Jackson.
It is a six-minute walk.
I printed up the menu, so we can decide what to order on the walk over.
And you are looking at me like you have no idea what I'm talking about.
The 55-minute window.
I forgot.
But can't.
I have to convince the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists to not move the Doomsday Clock up one minute.
Oh, seriously? That is so cool.
How is that? The people on the Bulletin's Science and Security Board are like rock stars in their individual fields.
Nobel Prize-winning physicists and engineers.
I'm a big fan of their work.
And not everyone knows this about them, insane partiers.
Just before they announce their publication, they throw a big blowout into all hours of the night.
Well, as someone with insight into these great minds, do you think I'm gonna be able to get them to keep the clock where it is? - Yeah - If the bomb were to detonate I don't like your chances.
So, I'll-I'll bring something back? a nuclear weapon this close to the Indian border a highly-militarized border while in the middle of sensitive peace talks.
Hey.
Hey.
Where are you going? Uh, just out for some air.
Sure, I'll buy that.
Oh, hey, I've got good news.
I got the order confirmation.
The part for the washing machine is coming in tonight.
Great, repairman's coming tomorrow.
No, you didn't.
I called Earl.
No, not Earl! He knows his stuff.
He's judgy and pessimistic, like if you break an appliance, your whole house is broken and there's no hope.
You just have to move.
I know, and then he fixes it.
Look, I-I-I realize that you could do it.
But it's not your specialty.
And Earl? That's all he does.
And when you have a problem, you get the right person for the job.
Babe, it's a washing machine.
It's not a nuclear bomb.
I know that.
I do have perspective.
But he's coming anyway.
First thing in the morning.
I love you.
Bomb's defused! Oh, wow.
Ah Well, good thing we weren't on the JTOC team.
Sorry, I guess, uh, averting a nuclear disaster got me a little revved up.
Well, that's almost adorable.
Yeah, now the hard work begins.
Are they really going to fight over custody of this bomb? They've already dug in.
Damn nuclear arsenal's the Pakistani people's greatest point of pride.
Well, the Indians aren't gonna be seen handing their mortal enemy their weapon of mass destruction back.
I should've stuck to teaching.
Prime Minister Khoosat, sorry to keep you waiting.
I was actually surprised to be left alone in the Oval Office.
Well, you are the, uh, first foreign dignitary ever to have the privilege.
You're not going to convince me to give up our bomb.
Mr.
Prime Minister, the reason we kept you waiting is because it took quite a bit of arm-twisting to get Prime Minister Verma to agree to give up your nuclear warhead.
This is good news.
Yes, Verma agreed to turn it over to the United States.
We understand this is not exactly what you want, but it keeps India from learning your proprietary designs, so you maintain whatever strategic advantages you already have.
We know your arsenal has more than 100 bombs.
In practical terms, one fewer won't really matter.
My generals will never accept this.
Well, this is the only deal India will accept.
I suggest you convince your generals to get on board before the Indians change their minds and take your weapon to their labs to be dissected.
No.
Absolutely not.
It would make me a traitor to my people.
You would take a hit politically.
The alternative is war with India.
Do you think your people would prefer that? Yes, I do.
I don't have anything for you.
You need to let me in.
I looked for an attachment.
I couldn't find anything of interest.
We intercepted your e-mail.
So, what comes now? You deny my citizenship application and you send me back to Libya? I'm not in favor of that, but shortly you're gonna be meeting some people who are.
I can't protect you if you won't cooperate.
Please, why can't you just leave me alone? Are you familiar with the oath you're planning to take tomorrow? I'm not vowing to take action against innocent people.
For all I know you're going to drone strike her village.
You're going to raid her home, kill her, call it collateral damage.
I can't have the blood of that girl on my hands.
I will only send this e-mail if you can assure me that she will be safe.
I can't do that.
Well, then I can't help you.
Hijriyyah's father married her to a very dangerous man.
The most wanted man in the world right now.
We have no idea what her allegiances are.
And you're right.
Most of the people I work with don't care.
But judging by the e-mail she sent back to you, I believe that she is an unwilling and unhappy participant in a dangerous place.
The message was a cry for help.
You think that by doing nothing you're helping her? You're not.
If you stay silent, you'll be punished for your betrayal.
I didn't betray Hijriyyah will stay in the care of a violent fugitive.
Someday we're gonna catch him.
I can't tell you when day that will be, but we will.
And no one is gonna care about her safety when that happens.
If you help you'll be giving Hijriyyah her very best chance at making it out alive.
As I'm sure you're aware, we'd like to continue the conversation we started earlier about the Doomsday Clock.
We thought our ideas could be expressed more accurately in person.
We took the liberty of making a list of things this administration has done to increase nuclear safety, including and especially the historic peace agreement with Iran, our Pacific Rim trade agreement, our peace treaty with Russia.
Well, that was a squeaker.
The president remains committed to the issue of climate change.
His first year in office, he passed new standards for carbon emissions.
He created new incentives for alternative energy sources.
Look, the clock isn't a bank.
It isn't a point system.
It's real time, based on a real threat assessment.
It's not subjective.
It's math.
It is a bit theoretical, but it's still math.
Well, all right, while we're talking math, we've provided you with this administration's budget for Federal-supportive science and nuclear security.
Support, which by the way, would shrink considerably if the opposing party were to take office.
Well, now you're just blatantly campaigning, Ms.
Tolliver.
This isn't politics.
It's science.
We're moving the clock up two minutes.
This morning it was only one.
This morning Pakistan and India weren't on the brink of a nuclear war.
But the vote isn't final.
Want to put some money on it? All right, well, who can we speak with then? We tried to contact Stuart Bachman, the President of the Bulletin, but he didn't return our calls.
Yeah, he hates phones.
But you can try him at the rager tonight.
He's usually in a pretty good mood there.
Your big doomsday party? That's happening tonight? Yes.
The sweet spot is somewhere between the second martini and the shots of mescal.
After that it's just a lot of running man.
Shirtless running man.
And screaming about buckyball versus M-brane theory.
Yeah, get there early.
Hmm.
That's just Islamabad.
We're getting reports of increasing violence and protests in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore over India keeping their bomb.
Very Arab Spring.
Short of getting their bomb back, I'd say it's only a matter of days before Pakistan's government collapses.
Or a matter of hours.
What is the situation with the bomb, Ephraim? The JTOC team is literally acting at this point, going through a series of final safety checks that aren't really necessary.
It's getting tense.
Pakistan's amassing troops along the border.
India, of course is responding in kind.
How quickly can we get our people out there? As long as it takes them to run to their choppers a couple HH-60G's.
Assuming they don't get caught in the crossfire.
But basically we're looking at Pakistan imploding or going to war with India.
Either way, their nuclear arsenal becomes incredibly insecure.
Available to the highest bidder.
Russian GRU has already reached out to work in concert with us to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
But we doubt their intelligence on them is any better than ours.
So this is where we are.
Maybe we're going at this the wrong way.
What do you mean? Maybe the time to negotiate has passed.
Ms.
Ayyad, United States Immigration Service.
Open the door.
Open the door, Ms.
Ayyad.
The door! What the hell? Stand down.
Here's our attachment.
Whatever works, right? Thank you for waiting, Prime Minister Verma.
My country is preparing for war; I need to get back.
Have you seen the news? Islamabad is burning.
I cannot control their people.
That's true.
The problem is Khoosat won't go down without a fight.
He will choose war over his government being toppled.
This is up to him, and there's nothing more for us to talk about.
Prime Minister.
We need to agree, right now, to allow Pakistan to have its weapon back.
It will be a black eye for India, but a hell of a lot better than a war with millions of casualties.
I already agreed to allow the United States to hold the bomb.
Which was very diplomatic of you.
Unfortunately, the rioting in Pakistan has changed that equation.
Indeed, it has, but we've had many conflicts with Pakistan since the partition.
We're prepared for another.
And we're prepared to deliver you a package of RQ-4 spy drones and AT4 anti-tank missiles and membership into our Pacific Trade Partnership, which would bring tens, if not hundreds, of billions to your economy.
How about this instead of war? The window on diplomacy has closed.
I must go.
Jaya.
This isn't a negotiation.
Excuse me? The United States team that worked on the bomb is going to load it inside one of our helicopters and return it to Pasha Base inside the Pakistani border.
India will be within its rights to shoot down your helicopter before it reaches Pakistan.
Yes.
And that would be very foolish.
Prime Minister Khoosat.
Surprised you hadn't returned to Islamabad yet.
Oh, it's easier to manage things from here than on a plane.
It's a difficult time, so I'll cut to the chase.
The United States might be willing to deliver your nuclear warhead back to Pasha Base.
What about India? Well, we can handle India, though it would severely harm our relationship with them.
But it would be worth it to us if you give us something that we want very much.
I'm listening.
Complete access to your entire nuclear arsenal.
You'll provide us with real-time reports on their movements, we'll verify with our own signals and human intelligence.
We want to know where your bombs are at every second of every day.
This is insane.
Well, you know we've always been tracking your arsenal with human Intel for exactly a situation like we faced today.
My government cannot tolerate your nuclear bombs falling into the hands of radicals, which is a distinct possibility should your government fall.
If you don't give us our bomb back, my government will fall.
And you will be out of power, which, I'm just guessing, is the real reason why you haven't gotten on your plane yet.
Things don't look good for you at home.
If I were to give you access to our bombs and it ever became public, I would be ousted.
True.
But you will definitely be ousted if you don't take this deal.
If you want to take a chance that I'm bluffing, that's your call.
So? Our chopper carrying Pakistan's nuke just crossed the border and is landing at Pasha Base.
Well, that was easy.
How did Khoosat take our demands? Well, let's just say I don't expect to be on his holiday card list anymore.
Ephraim is already coordinating with ISI.
Pakistan and India now hate our guts.
Though, officially, Khoosat is crowing about standing up to India and restoring his nation's pride, while Verma is claiming the mantle of great statesman, maintaining the peace while gaining economic victories for her people.
Our big peace deal is toast.
Oh, give 'em ten years.
They'll come around.
In the meantime, access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is better.
Better than peace? Another day.
What? Oh, I think that's him over by the grim reaper piñata.
Dr.
Bachman? Yes? Excuse me.
How do you do? I'm Nadine Tolliver, chief of staff for Secretary McCord.
This is Daisy Grant.
I left several messages.
Yes, you have a very intelligent voice, but I bet you get that all the time.
Not really.
Uh, mostly I just get a call back.
Well, there wasn't any point.
I know you were concerned about the Pakistan and India situation, but since it's been resolved, you have to admit, it was a pretty substantial move away from midnight.
We're still moving the clock up.
We don't base our decision on just one event, rather on global trends.
We understand that, Dr.
Bachman, but it was no small feat to avert that crisis.
A lot of people made a lot of intelligent moves.
Yes, and that's why we're only going up one minute not two.
You're welcome.
Now go get yourselves a drink.
I don't like to talk shop at a party.
- Dr.
Bachman! - Ah.
I guess one is better than two.
I had a feeling this whole thing was a nonstarter.
You can't dissuade people with that much integrity.
They're in the pocket of "Big Truth.
" I'll see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Okay, this is getting a little weird.
You knew I'd be here because of the calendar App.
Well, yeah, but I'm here because I was invited.
I'm psyched to meet these people, and, to be honest, they are excited to meet me.
I'm sure.
Listen, I know this isn't exactly the right environment, but I have to bring up something kind of awkward.
This is exactly the right environment.
Alcohol and geeks.
This is about us.
I know, the calendar App is driving you crazy.
We don't have to stick to it.
I did manage to sell it though.
I had to get that in there.
Excuse me, you're Oliver Shaw? Suzan Simmons.
So happy to meet you finally.
Oh, same here.
- This is Daisy Grant.
- I know.
Listen, my husband is too drunk to dance, and I have to bust a move or go nuts.
Again, I am your guy.
Uh, hold that thought.
I'll be right back.
Uh We're in.
Uh, sorry about that.
You have my undivided attention.
What did you want to talk about? I didn't know you did that.
What, dance? Spur-of-the-moment dancing.
Uh, or spur-of-the-moment anything.
Uh, she asked.
Can I have the next one? Really? Absolutely.
Um, okay, here's the thing.
Do you want to have a baby with me? Oh, my God, uh, I didn't mean it like that.
- Well, I did, but not quite like that.
- Sure.
Really? Yes, absolutely.
Wait, you don't mean, like, right now? No.
Eventually.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Please don't sulk about this.
I'm not sulking.
Honestly, I'm just tired.
I know you hate Earl.
- I was up late.
- But he does make our appliances work.
I've got bigger things on my mind.
Okay, good.
Because you know what, there's no shame in letting someone else do the job.
Well, looks like I came out here for nothing.
Earl, I know you always think that it can't be fixed It doesn't need to be fixed.
It's got a brand-new spin pulley in it.
It's not the model I would have used, and it needed to be tightened, but works fine.
Really? Yeah, listen, I got to charge you for the visit.
Just for my time.
I hate to do it, but I'm on the clock.
Not a problem.
Have a good day.
And don't overload that machine.
No bath sheets or anything.
Got it.
When I tell you I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it.
I'm going back to bed.
I can be a few minutes late today.