Full Circle (2013) s03e02 Episode Script
Madeline and Houserman
1 [Sea gulls crying.]
The fact is, my husband's candidacy is a real threat to Washington's orthodoxy.
I mean, given the panic in Washington over the very real changes that my husband proposes, they'll stop at nothing in order to prevent that.
Sources will neither confirm nor deny that Senator Faulkner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president this fall was involved in some kind of incident with a female staff member at the Grand Daymark Hotel in South Beach, Miami.
It's the part of Washington that I hate the most.
[Scoffs.]
The rumor that my husband is involved in any untoward business is a lie.
I go to sleep with him every night, and I wake up next to him every morning.
Aah! You still haven't found the girl? No.
It's why my heart is exploding.
The key to this cover-up is just walking around out there somewhere, probably waiting for an offer from Howard Stern or "The View" to tell her story.
What's the contingency? You mean other than putting my head in the oven? Nada.
I got dog on this one.
What if this gets out? What if we lose next Tuesday? Look, that cannot happen, God damn it.
[Sighs.]
I'm sorry.
I got nothing here, Madeline.
You know what I got? I got three kids in private education, I'm upside down on my mortgage, and my wife is cheating on me.
No, I can't believe that.
Sara loves you.
I'm perpetually gone, which makes her perpetually sad.
My good Jewish heart is breaking.
[Coughing.]
You all right? [Coughs.]
[Chuckles.]
You're Jewish? - Yes, by marriage.
- [Laughs.]
Sorry.
I did a soft conversion for Sara when we got married.
I am the Sammy Davis Jr.
of American politics.
Mm.
Anyway, you know, I get a weird peace knowing that at least she's finding happiness with someone else.
You are too enlightened for this job.
Yeah, it's too late for that feedback.
This is all I know.
It's all I got.
Oh, come on, you have your kids.
- You have your faith.
- [Chuckles.]
I'm a follower of the eighth son of Jacob who tried to sell his brother into slavery.
Can it.
Asher was absolved on his deathbed.
Yeah, well, who's gonna absolve me? - The Democratic Party.
- Yeah.
[Laughs.]
Ah, my shitty life cannot be punctuated by a failed marriage and a dead campaign.
We have to win! We're the front-runners.
For fuck's sake! We have a $200 million war chest.
We're 25 points ahead in the polls.
It's ours.
Romney even likes us.
It's right there.
Have you ever noticed with all the money and power and the possibility of the presidency Damon, none of us are happy? Small price to pay for a corner office on Pennsylvania Avenue.
I disagree, my friend.
Look, I can't argue from where you're sitting.
No, you can't.
[Sighs.]
Damon what if he pulled out? Madeline, with all due respect, are you fucking crazy? It is destroying him and breaking my heart.
The man is a wreck.
A chance to walk the same halls as Adams and Jefferson? To sit where Roosevelt sat? To ponder the nation's welfare through the same windows as Lincoln and Kennedy? - How do you turn that down? - You're talking in sound bites again.
Look, old habits.
Okay, absent the infidelities, the lies, and the hypocrisy, yeah, yeah, I'm all in.
What do you think happened? I [Sighs.]
I think and I cannot believe that I am saying this but I think it happened like Davis told me.
I think he was set up.
And to think that there is such evil and hatred surrounding him is enough for me to suggest that he pulls the plug.
You might have me there.
All set? Oh, oh.
Nothing for me, thanks.
For you, Mr.
Houserman? I'll have the crow.
Senator.
I'll be riding in the lead car with you today, sir.
Great, Rick.
Thanks.
[Door closes.]
Senator? Yep? I am extremely sorry and ashamed that we didn't prevent Ms.
Mancarlo from entering your suite.
You should be.
That's a pretty scary screw-up.
It is, sir.
You know, I'm on the verge of a primary sweep and a set of keys to the White House.
But because of this, I can't eat, I can't think, I I can't sleep.
Rick, what the fuck happened? Where were you? [Sighs.]
You have history with her, correct? That is immaterial.
Answer the question.
My men were on duty.
The floor was secure for the night.
We normally wouldn't post an agent at your door at this point in the campaign.
So, I'm investigating, and I will get to the bottom of this.
Now, if you'd feel safer with a different detail, I will resign my post.
Nah, you're good.
I'd assume after what happened, you're more highly motivated than any other agent in the bureau.
Senator, you will be safer than the president from here on out.
And if this gets out if my candidacy is threatened It will be my sword that I fall on for you, sir.
You're a good man.
Hey.
[Door closes.]
So what? I don't car Look, they don't know shit, and neither do you, all right? Our new mantra is "nothing happened, go fuck yourself.
" Repeat that back to me.
Good.
G got to go.
Look, you're coming to Tampa.
Right? Are you asking me or telling me? A little of both.
No.
I have things I have to take care of here.
Madeline, we are in a potential shit storm, and we could really use you down there.
Which is your good ear? I am tired of being used.
The appearance of normalcy is paramount right now.
Nothing is normal, and I'm not going.
Thank you.
[Sighs.]
Hey.
Sorry.
Could you get me another Michter's? And and the Pabst? - In a glass? - Yes.
Thanks.
Mm.
A CNN van pulled up out front as I was leaving the ladies' room, FYI.
God damn it.
God damn it! Hurry! Please.
I thought that's usually a good thing for you.
Preemptive damage control.
Not when there's actual blood in the water.
Fuck.
Washington's turning upside down over the rumors.
Our campaign headquarters up there is getting bombarded, especially by Dellahunt's people.
You think he might be behind this? [Scoffs.]
Without a doubt.
Listen whatever character flaws your husband has demonstrated in the past, he's a fucking great candidate and will make the domestic and foreign policy changes he promises.
He will.
That's why all those dinosaur teabaggers in Washington are freaking out.
- You mean Tea Partiers? - No.
I mean teabaggers, as in to tea bag.
- Oh, that's - I know, I know.
Look.
[Sighs.]
When you and your husband had it out the other day, did he mention any suspicions about Dellahunt sending his ghouls down here to ruin him? No.
But if there's one man in Washington with enough power and hate, it would be him.
It just it doesn't make sense, though.
I mean, when we first got to D.
C.
, we were so close.
He was Davis' mentor.
You know, he's been grooming him for this very moment.
Look, it's Washington.
There's more hate intraparty than interparty.
Look at Humphrey and McGovern in '72, right? I mean What just got you so riled up? That call.
Dellahunt's got one of his fixers down here.
Who? Federico Sturgis.
Who's that? A clear and present danger.
He's a Miami Cuban, former Army black ops guy.
Worked for Defense Intelligence.
He's done very bad things, I'm told.
And the senator's proposal to close Guantánamo if elected would pin that fucking Cuban's ears back.
Do you hear yourself talking? - What? - This is why I want him out.
Madeline, you got way more backbone than that.
Come on.
They killed Kennedy and got away with it.
Ma Madeline, Madeline.
- [Breathes deeply.]
- [Laughs.]
- I know, I know.
- No, no.
Listen.
No, look, look.
Listen to me.
Look.
That's before the cloud and cellphones.
Now you can't take a piss in the closet without somebody watching.
- Apparently not.
- [Elevator bell dings.]
Tell me, how did the Secret Service allow a drugged-out whore to get into bed with my husband, hmm? I don't know.
But it's a potentially lethal breach.
I agree.
And I'm gonna deal with D'Andres and his guys.
- [Laughs.]
- I promise.
Yeah, and Santa answers every letter.
Senator? [Door closes.]
Senator.
- Hey, Senator, Senator.
- Davis: Aah.
What? Huh? Come on.
Come with me.
- Huh? - Come with me.
[Crying.]
[Door opens, closes, thunder rumbles.]
[Thunder rumbles.]
You remember when, uh, CNN reported - that Kim Jong-un fed his uncle to wild dogs? - Oh.
Their website got 100 million hits that week.
100 million.
The Second Coming would be below the fold.
Did Carville ever get back to you? Yeah.
But I haven't returned yet.
Why not? Because a "what did you do when Paula Jones accused your candidate of sexual harassment?" talk would never be taken as a political hypothetical.
It would make it clear I needed advice before circling the wagons.
Poor Hillary and Jackie.
Poor Elizabeth Edwards.
[Sighs.]
And you.
What is it about great men that make them so horny and stupid? Yeah.
Arrogant invincibility.
[Chuckles.]
Power and celebrity It's like a shot of tequila spiked with Viagra.
Just stand by your man and watch them fuck their way into scandal, shame, and obscurity.
- Just stand there - Mm.
smiling.
Take the humility and keep smiling.
Hold his hand when he's in front of camera.
Pretend not to know what everyone else knows and just just take the pain.
Just keep on taking the pain.
How'd you do it? In what deep recesses of your heart did you find the grace to forgive your husband? God made me do it.
How? He gave up his one son for the sins of the world.
I mean, how can you not honor that by not practicing radical forgiveness? I pray from a different book.
Yeah, but you do pray.
[Laughs.]
Deeply and daily.
[Laughs.]
You know how to tell a junkie's lying? How? His lips are moving.
[Laughs.]
Wait.
Am I a junkie? [Laughing.]
Yes, you are.
A political junkie.
You guys abuse truth like like meth and heroin.
[Chuckles.]
Are we fighting the same fight here? Yeah, we are, Damon.
I knew that he would make a great president, and the country needs a man like him.
[Door opens.]
Ah! Just what the doctor ordered.
Where would you like the tray, sir? Uh just there.
It's fine.
Great.
Thanks.
Very good.
Would you like me to make your cocktails? Oh, no.
See, part of the seduction is mixing the drinks in front of her.
[Laughs.]
I didn't know that, sir.
Who are you seducing? My wife, of course.
11 years of marriage, you got to pull out all the stops.
[Laughs.]
Anything else you need, sir? Yeah.
A sweep next Tuesday.
I'm here for you, sir.
And I wanted to apologize on behalf of myself and the hotel management for the disturbance last night.
Oh.
Well I'm just glad it wasn't me.
Oh.
There you go.
[Chuckles.]
[Door opens, closes.]
Madeline, we need a diversion.
[Chuckles.]
From reality or the truth? - What's the difference? - Oh, just heaven or damnation.
Charlotte's on the spectrum for autism, right? You motherfucker.
Madeline, we need to bank sympathy for the senator so that if and/or when the Mancarlo affair comes out, the public will love him and feel so sorry him ahead of time that nothing, not even a kind of true sexual imbroglio could hurt him.
They'll say, "It can't be true.
Look what a good father he is.
Look how he devotes himself to his afflicted daughter.
" Stay from my daughter.
You have no idea what's at stake here.
I understand now why your wife's having an affair.
It's not loneliness.
- It's an emotional evacuation.
- Cheap shot.
In what universe do you think Davis would agree to exploiting his daughter's own disorder for sympathy and votes? No.
I had to.
It's my job.
Did he agree? He didn't say no.
Oh, my God.
I can't believe this is happening.
[Breathes sharply.]
Where did my life go? I mean, what the fuck happened? It's just a conversation.
It is just evil.
I'm glad you came down here.
You and I need to talk about this.
I know we do, but after the speech.
Why do you keep looking at Mrs.
Faulkner? Because I don't want her to hear this.
[Elevator bell dings.]
How bad is it? Angela Mancarlo has a long criminal history, including drug sales, prostitution, and larceny.
She was married to a mob boss down here named Avril Mancarlo who was murdered in Coral Gables three years ago.
She's actually a suspect, and the case is still open.
Fuck.
Yeah.
The senator know about this? I don't think so, no.
You afraid to ask him about it? No, sir.
That's not my job.
[Indistinct conversations.]
There's more, isn't there? A friend at Miami-Dade P.
D.
Intelligence got an envelope this morning.
Took one look and called me.
He's bringing it to me now.
- What's in the envelope? - He's not comfortable telling me over the phone.
- Magical.
- Yeah.
Get the senator squared away.
Use the garage elevators.
Don't let him wade through these assholes in the lobby.
That is a good idea, sir.
I will do that, but in the most polite manner possible, please remember I don't take orders from you.
Okay? [Clears throat.]
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
- Right here.
- Excuse me.
Hi.
I think maybe you're right, Madeline.
I think maybe you shouldn't come today.
Why? So you can press my husband into exploiting his daughter? [Chuckles.]
Things are getting worse, and you and I clearly are not on the same page.
You're just saying that because it's true.
I think you should fly back to Madison tonight.
And I think you should go fuck yourself.
Yeah.
It's on my to-do list.
In the meanwhile, you should go.
You know what? You and I really don't know each other, do we, Damon? Eight months of campaigning together, and you're just a cipher to me.
It's that false assumption that closeness brings understanding.
It's why actors fuck their co-stars.
[Elevator bell dings.]
Listen.
- If I walk - Oh, I will praise the Lord.
If I quit this campaign, you're in deeper shit than you can imagine.
Try me.
I'm the only person standing between Charlotte reading about her father's sins or keeping the family peace.
Who do you think you are? I think I'm William Fucking Wallace, and you should be grateful.
Do you want to have to sit your daughter down and tell her that it's all true? That her father took drugs and paid prostitutes for sex? Do you have the sack to be that honest? What did D'Andres tell you? - I can't talk about it.
- That bad? Could be worse than bad.
Son of a bitch.
- That an adjective or a noun? - Both.
[Sighs.]
Listen I'm gonna get us out of this.
You got to trust me.
It won't be pretty.
But on the other side will be an intact family.
And a new president.
That's correct.
Please don't use Charlotte.
It will humiliate and embarrass her in front of her friends and family, and she she doesn't deserve the judgment or scrutiny.
It's brave-face time.
We need to hurry.
I have to be with the senator.
I got it, I got it.
The material from your guy at Miami-Dade? Yes.
Your friend see these? - Briefly.
- [Sarcastically.]
Yeah, right.
I trust him.
He was at FLETC with me.
We did a Foreign Service dignitary detail for five years.
He knows it's not his place.
Fuck.
- No note? - Just the lipstick.
I could take it to the ATF lab for DNA and fingerprints, but Someone would see it and leak it.
- Yes, sir.
- [Footsteps approaching.]
Ah.
How are you? I'm good, sir.
Good.
- Me too.
- [Laughs.]
- You ready for this? - I am, indeed.
Hey, Maddie.
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
Man: Right now! Right now! Where you been? Oh, just down here chatting with Satan.
[Laughs.]
You're gonna want that time back on your deathbed.
Oh, you're coming to Tampa, right? I'd love to.
Great! It will be quick.
And then we'll have dinner, just you and me.
And then we can, you know, keep trying to, you know, get this I know.
Here.
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
All in good time.
Senator? Let's go.
Reporter: One more question.
- Where we going? - Change of route is all.
Too many vultures in the lobby.
I hear there's bad news.
Don't worry about it.
I'll deal with it.
Just crush this speech.
So, what do we do? [Breathes deeply.]
We pray this broad dies in her sleep.
The fact is, my husband's candidacy is a real threat to Washington's orthodoxy.
I mean, given the panic in Washington over the very real changes that my husband proposes, they'll stop at nothing in order to prevent that.
Sources will neither confirm nor deny that Senator Faulkner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president this fall was involved in some kind of incident with a female staff member at the Grand Daymark Hotel in South Beach, Miami.
It's the part of Washington that I hate the most.
[Scoffs.]
The rumor that my husband is involved in any untoward business is a lie.
I go to sleep with him every night, and I wake up next to him every morning.
Aah! You still haven't found the girl? No.
It's why my heart is exploding.
The key to this cover-up is just walking around out there somewhere, probably waiting for an offer from Howard Stern or "The View" to tell her story.
What's the contingency? You mean other than putting my head in the oven? Nada.
I got dog on this one.
What if this gets out? What if we lose next Tuesday? Look, that cannot happen, God damn it.
[Sighs.]
I'm sorry.
I got nothing here, Madeline.
You know what I got? I got three kids in private education, I'm upside down on my mortgage, and my wife is cheating on me.
No, I can't believe that.
Sara loves you.
I'm perpetually gone, which makes her perpetually sad.
My good Jewish heart is breaking.
[Coughing.]
You all right? [Coughs.]
[Chuckles.]
You're Jewish? - Yes, by marriage.
- [Laughs.]
Sorry.
I did a soft conversion for Sara when we got married.
I am the Sammy Davis Jr.
of American politics.
Mm.
Anyway, you know, I get a weird peace knowing that at least she's finding happiness with someone else.
You are too enlightened for this job.
Yeah, it's too late for that feedback.
This is all I know.
It's all I got.
Oh, come on, you have your kids.
- You have your faith.
- [Chuckles.]
I'm a follower of the eighth son of Jacob who tried to sell his brother into slavery.
Can it.
Asher was absolved on his deathbed.
Yeah, well, who's gonna absolve me? - The Democratic Party.
- Yeah.
[Laughs.]
Ah, my shitty life cannot be punctuated by a failed marriage and a dead campaign.
We have to win! We're the front-runners.
For fuck's sake! We have a $200 million war chest.
We're 25 points ahead in the polls.
It's ours.
Romney even likes us.
It's right there.
Have you ever noticed with all the money and power and the possibility of the presidency Damon, none of us are happy? Small price to pay for a corner office on Pennsylvania Avenue.
I disagree, my friend.
Look, I can't argue from where you're sitting.
No, you can't.
[Sighs.]
Damon what if he pulled out? Madeline, with all due respect, are you fucking crazy? It is destroying him and breaking my heart.
The man is a wreck.
A chance to walk the same halls as Adams and Jefferson? To sit where Roosevelt sat? To ponder the nation's welfare through the same windows as Lincoln and Kennedy? - How do you turn that down? - You're talking in sound bites again.
Look, old habits.
Okay, absent the infidelities, the lies, and the hypocrisy, yeah, yeah, I'm all in.
What do you think happened? I [Sighs.]
I think and I cannot believe that I am saying this but I think it happened like Davis told me.
I think he was set up.
And to think that there is such evil and hatred surrounding him is enough for me to suggest that he pulls the plug.
You might have me there.
All set? Oh, oh.
Nothing for me, thanks.
For you, Mr.
Houserman? I'll have the crow.
Senator.
I'll be riding in the lead car with you today, sir.
Great, Rick.
Thanks.
[Door closes.]
Senator? Yep? I am extremely sorry and ashamed that we didn't prevent Ms.
Mancarlo from entering your suite.
You should be.
That's a pretty scary screw-up.
It is, sir.
You know, I'm on the verge of a primary sweep and a set of keys to the White House.
But because of this, I can't eat, I can't think, I I can't sleep.
Rick, what the fuck happened? Where were you? [Sighs.]
You have history with her, correct? That is immaterial.
Answer the question.
My men were on duty.
The floor was secure for the night.
We normally wouldn't post an agent at your door at this point in the campaign.
So, I'm investigating, and I will get to the bottom of this.
Now, if you'd feel safer with a different detail, I will resign my post.
Nah, you're good.
I'd assume after what happened, you're more highly motivated than any other agent in the bureau.
Senator, you will be safer than the president from here on out.
And if this gets out if my candidacy is threatened It will be my sword that I fall on for you, sir.
You're a good man.
Hey.
[Door closes.]
So what? I don't car Look, they don't know shit, and neither do you, all right? Our new mantra is "nothing happened, go fuck yourself.
" Repeat that back to me.
Good.
G got to go.
Look, you're coming to Tampa.
Right? Are you asking me or telling me? A little of both.
No.
I have things I have to take care of here.
Madeline, we are in a potential shit storm, and we could really use you down there.
Which is your good ear? I am tired of being used.
The appearance of normalcy is paramount right now.
Nothing is normal, and I'm not going.
Thank you.
[Sighs.]
Hey.
Sorry.
Could you get me another Michter's? And and the Pabst? - In a glass? - Yes.
Thanks.
Mm.
A CNN van pulled up out front as I was leaving the ladies' room, FYI.
God damn it.
God damn it! Hurry! Please.
I thought that's usually a good thing for you.
Preemptive damage control.
Not when there's actual blood in the water.
Fuck.
Washington's turning upside down over the rumors.
Our campaign headquarters up there is getting bombarded, especially by Dellahunt's people.
You think he might be behind this? [Scoffs.]
Without a doubt.
Listen whatever character flaws your husband has demonstrated in the past, he's a fucking great candidate and will make the domestic and foreign policy changes he promises.
He will.
That's why all those dinosaur teabaggers in Washington are freaking out.
- You mean Tea Partiers? - No.
I mean teabaggers, as in to tea bag.
- Oh, that's - I know, I know.
Look.
[Sighs.]
When you and your husband had it out the other day, did he mention any suspicions about Dellahunt sending his ghouls down here to ruin him? No.
But if there's one man in Washington with enough power and hate, it would be him.
It just it doesn't make sense, though.
I mean, when we first got to D.
C.
, we were so close.
He was Davis' mentor.
You know, he's been grooming him for this very moment.
Look, it's Washington.
There's more hate intraparty than interparty.
Look at Humphrey and McGovern in '72, right? I mean What just got you so riled up? That call.
Dellahunt's got one of his fixers down here.
Who? Federico Sturgis.
Who's that? A clear and present danger.
He's a Miami Cuban, former Army black ops guy.
Worked for Defense Intelligence.
He's done very bad things, I'm told.
And the senator's proposal to close Guantánamo if elected would pin that fucking Cuban's ears back.
Do you hear yourself talking? - What? - This is why I want him out.
Madeline, you got way more backbone than that.
Come on.
They killed Kennedy and got away with it.
Ma Madeline, Madeline.
- [Breathes deeply.]
- [Laughs.]
- I know, I know.
- No, no.
Listen.
No, look, look.
Listen to me.
Look.
That's before the cloud and cellphones.
Now you can't take a piss in the closet without somebody watching.
- Apparently not.
- [Elevator bell dings.]
Tell me, how did the Secret Service allow a drugged-out whore to get into bed with my husband, hmm? I don't know.
But it's a potentially lethal breach.
I agree.
And I'm gonna deal with D'Andres and his guys.
- [Laughs.]
- I promise.
Yeah, and Santa answers every letter.
Senator? [Door closes.]
Senator.
- Hey, Senator, Senator.
- Davis: Aah.
What? Huh? Come on.
Come with me.
- Huh? - Come with me.
[Crying.]
[Door opens, closes, thunder rumbles.]
[Thunder rumbles.]
You remember when, uh, CNN reported - that Kim Jong-un fed his uncle to wild dogs? - Oh.
Their website got 100 million hits that week.
100 million.
The Second Coming would be below the fold.
Did Carville ever get back to you? Yeah.
But I haven't returned yet.
Why not? Because a "what did you do when Paula Jones accused your candidate of sexual harassment?" talk would never be taken as a political hypothetical.
It would make it clear I needed advice before circling the wagons.
Poor Hillary and Jackie.
Poor Elizabeth Edwards.
[Sighs.]
And you.
What is it about great men that make them so horny and stupid? Yeah.
Arrogant invincibility.
[Chuckles.]
Power and celebrity It's like a shot of tequila spiked with Viagra.
Just stand by your man and watch them fuck their way into scandal, shame, and obscurity.
- Just stand there - Mm.
smiling.
Take the humility and keep smiling.
Hold his hand when he's in front of camera.
Pretend not to know what everyone else knows and just just take the pain.
Just keep on taking the pain.
How'd you do it? In what deep recesses of your heart did you find the grace to forgive your husband? God made me do it.
How? He gave up his one son for the sins of the world.
I mean, how can you not honor that by not practicing radical forgiveness? I pray from a different book.
Yeah, but you do pray.
[Laughs.]
Deeply and daily.
[Laughs.]
You know how to tell a junkie's lying? How? His lips are moving.
[Laughs.]
Wait.
Am I a junkie? [Laughing.]
Yes, you are.
A political junkie.
You guys abuse truth like like meth and heroin.
[Chuckles.]
Are we fighting the same fight here? Yeah, we are, Damon.
I knew that he would make a great president, and the country needs a man like him.
[Door opens.]
Ah! Just what the doctor ordered.
Where would you like the tray, sir? Uh just there.
It's fine.
Great.
Thanks.
Very good.
Would you like me to make your cocktails? Oh, no.
See, part of the seduction is mixing the drinks in front of her.
[Laughs.]
I didn't know that, sir.
Who are you seducing? My wife, of course.
11 years of marriage, you got to pull out all the stops.
[Laughs.]
Anything else you need, sir? Yeah.
A sweep next Tuesday.
I'm here for you, sir.
And I wanted to apologize on behalf of myself and the hotel management for the disturbance last night.
Oh.
Well I'm just glad it wasn't me.
Oh.
There you go.
[Chuckles.]
[Door opens, closes.]
Madeline, we need a diversion.
[Chuckles.]
From reality or the truth? - What's the difference? - Oh, just heaven or damnation.
Charlotte's on the spectrum for autism, right? You motherfucker.
Madeline, we need to bank sympathy for the senator so that if and/or when the Mancarlo affair comes out, the public will love him and feel so sorry him ahead of time that nothing, not even a kind of true sexual imbroglio could hurt him.
They'll say, "It can't be true.
Look what a good father he is.
Look how he devotes himself to his afflicted daughter.
" Stay from my daughter.
You have no idea what's at stake here.
I understand now why your wife's having an affair.
It's not loneliness.
- It's an emotional evacuation.
- Cheap shot.
In what universe do you think Davis would agree to exploiting his daughter's own disorder for sympathy and votes? No.
I had to.
It's my job.
Did he agree? He didn't say no.
Oh, my God.
I can't believe this is happening.
[Breathes sharply.]
Where did my life go? I mean, what the fuck happened? It's just a conversation.
It is just evil.
I'm glad you came down here.
You and I need to talk about this.
I know we do, but after the speech.
Why do you keep looking at Mrs.
Faulkner? Because I don't want her to hear this.
[Elevator bell dings.]
How bad is it? Angela Mancarlo has a long criminal history, including drug sales, prostitution, and larceny.
She was married to a mob boss down here named Avril Mancarlo who was murdered in Coral Gables three years ago.
She's actually a suspect, and the case is still open.
Fuck.
Yeah.
The senator know about this? I don't think so, no.
You afraid to ask him about it? No, sir.
That's not my job.
[Indistinct conversations.]
There's more, isn't there? A friend at Miami-Dade P.
D.
Intelligence got an envelope this morning.
Took one look and called me.
He's bringing it to me now.
- What's in the envelope? - He's not comfortable telling me over the phone.
- Magical.
- Yeah.
Get the senator squared away.
Use the garage elevators.
Don't let him wade through these assholes in the lobby.
That is a good idea, sir.
I will do that, but in the most polite manner possible, please remember I don't take orders from you.
Okay? [Clears throat.]
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
- Right here.
- Excuse me.
Hi.
I think maybe you're right, Madeline.
I think maybe you shouldn't come today.
Why? So you can press my husband into exploiting his daughter? [Chuckles.]
Things are getting worse, and you and I clearly are not on the same page.
You're just saying that because it's true.
I think you should fly back to Madison tonight.
And I think you should go fuck yourself.
Yeah.
It's on my to-do list.
In the meanwhile, you should go.
You know what? You and I really don't know each other, do we, Damon? Eight months of campaigning together, and you're just a cipher to me.
It's that false assumption that closeness brings understanding.
It's why actors fuck their co-stars.
[Elevator bell dings.]
Listen.
- If I walk - Oh, I will praise the Lord.
If I quit this campaign, you're in deeper shit than you can imagine.
Try me.
I'm the only person standing between Charlotte reading about her father's sins or keeping the family peace.
Who do you think you are? I think I'm William Fucking Wallace, and you should be grateful.
Do you want to have to sit your daughter down and tell her that it's all true? That her father took drugs and paid prostitutes for sex? Do you have the sack to be that honest? What did D'Andres tell you? - I can't talk about it.
- That bad? Could be worse than bad.
Son of a bitch.
- That an adjective or a noun? - Both.
[Sighs.]
Listen I'm gonna get us out of this.
You got to trust me.
It won't be pretty.
But on the other side will be an intact family.
And a new president.
That's correct.
Please don't use Charlotte.
It will humiliate and embarrass her in front of her friends and family, and she she doesn't deserve the judgment or scrutiny.
It's brave-face time.
We need to hurry.
I have to be with the senator.
I got it, I got it.
The material from your guy at Miami-Dade? Yes.
Your friend see these? - Briefly.
- [Sarcastically.]
Yeah, right.
I trust him.
He was at FLETC with me.
We did a Foreign Service dignitary detail for five years.
He knows it's not his place.
Fuck.
- No note? - Just the lipstick.
I could take it to the ATF lab for DNA and fingerprints, but Someone would see it and leak it.
- Yes, sir.
- [Footsteps approaching.]
Ah.
How are you? I'm good, sir.
Good.
- Me too.
- [Laughs.]
- You ready for this? - I am, indeed.
Hey, Maddie.
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
Man: Right now! Right now! Where you been? Oh, just down here chatting with Satan.
[Laughs.]
You're gonna want that time back on your deathbed.
Oh, you're coming to Tampa, right? I'd love to.
Great! It will be quick.
And then we'll have dinner, just you and me.
And then we can, you know, keep trying to, you know, get this I know.
Here.
[Indistinct shouting, camera shutters clicking.]
All in good time.
Senator? Let's go.
Reporter: One more question.
- Where we going? - Change of route is all.
Too many vultures in the lobby.
I hear there's bad news.
Don't worry about it.
I'll deal with it.
Just crush this speech.
So, what do we do? [Breathes deeply.]
We pray this broad dies in her sleep.