House of Cards (2013) s03e11 Episode Script
Chapter 37
Over 20 years? Thirty? Forty? How about 50? Fifty-five.
Fifty-five years.
Wow! And what is your name, ma'am? Agnes.
Yeah, I think you mean Saint Agnes? Yes, yes, I do.
Well, Francis and I are only halfway there.
But I bet you know your husband as well as you know yourself.
Am I right? Yes, I do.
Well, I know Francis Underwood.
I know what keeps him up at night.
And I'm sure it's the same thing that keeps your husbands up, too.
The future.
How can I ensure a better future for my family? Except Francis, as President, his focus is on the progress of all American families.
You know what he said to me last night? He said, "Claire, my entire presidential agenda, "it's very simple.
"I want to be able to look every single American in the eye, "and know that I have made their lives better.
" Yes? I have to say, Mrs Underwood, I find you very charming, and you seem quite honest.
But I have trouble believing that your husband truly cares about people.
Well, Francis Underwood is a good man.
He's dedicated.
And generous.
And I have 28 years of proof.
And I can honestly say, even if I wasn't married to him, he would definitely have my vote.
Thank you.
Negligence.
Nepotism.
Misappropriation of federal funds.
A foreign policy fiasco.
And loose with the truth.
What do these five fingers have in common? Francis J.
Underwood.
Mr King, I would like to respond to that.
This is a man who believes in the rule of law-ish.
The legislative process-ish.
The Constitution-ish.
Is this the man who should be President? Ms Dunbar, like any good lawyer, you have a knack for rhetoric-ish.
- - But the American people are tired of words.
What they crave is action.
My concern about focusing on the word "action" is that she'll just come back with failed actions, America Works, the UN mission.
"Action" performed well with key demos in our last poll.
Yes, but doesn't this take us off message? We have been saying, "A vote for Frank Underwood is a vote for America Works.
" That's what we've been running on.
You need a word that goes beyond America Works, something that can be used for anything.
Remy, what do you think? Uh We're talking about the word "action.
" Sorry, I was My mind was on the foreign policy argument, I was just thinking ahead.
What about "vision"? Isn't that too generic? Well, that's what we want.
I mean, the more generic, the better.
People can project anything they want on "vision.
" I'll get it polled before tomorrow.
We should work on Sharp next.
You want me to play her? Thank for taking your role so seriously, Donald.
You should consider a career on the stage.
Because he sure as hell isn't gonna be on my ticket.
You're good at this.
They loved you.
Three decades of campaigns, you learn how to read an audience.
Self-promotion gives me hives.
Honestly, I don't know how you do it.
I'm promoting my husband, not myself.
That's a convenient way to spin it, don't you think? Are you always this blunt? I only have two days to tag along.
Mind if I ride with you, since we have so little time? I need to make some calls.
Maybe we'll find some time later.
Remy, you were distracted earlier.
What's going on? Oh! Nothing.
Everything's good.
I need you on your A game, Remy.
This debate could make us the front-runner.
It's just between the campaign and managing the White House, I'm a little burned out.
Well, we still have months to go, a year before the general.
It's temporary.
I'll get past it.
If you can do it, I can.
Gavin? Hello, Douglas.
What do you want? You still can't believe she's dead, can you? Well, you shouldn't.
Because she's not.
She's alive.
And I know exactly where she is.
I've known for a while.
What? Look on your laptop.
No, you You showed me the picture of her body.
That wasn't her.
I forged it all so you'd lift my passport lock.
Well, I'm out now, Doug.
And I'm safe.
But my friend isn't.
Talk to Green.
Get him the same deal you got me, all charges dropped.
You do that, I'll tell you where she is.
Yeah.
I don't know why.
Can I offer you some water? - Sir? - I'd love some.
- Hey, Meechum.
- Sir.
Mr President.
Thank you for coming all the way to Andrews.
Did Remy walk you through the broad strokes? No matter the policy question, foreign or domestic, we hammer Dunbar's lack of experience.
We bludgeon it.
We cannot say "lack of experience" enough.
And no doubt she'll bring up Claire's recess appointment, where I can't take the bait, so I leave that entirely to you.
This was one of the things that I was hoping to discuss.
Oh, you don't want to call her sexist.
The argument doesn't hold.
It does hold.
She says that Claire was unqualified.
You say she wouldn't say that about a man with the same CV.
I'm not sure that's true.
And calling another woman "sexist" when there's a man on the stage And who else is better but you to call her out on what she's done for women, which is absolutely nothing? Whereas gender-equality legislation is one of your hallmarks.
But it could hurt me more than it hurts her.
I thought we had an understanding.
You were going to play pit bull while I play presidential.
- Will you get a little bloody? - Yes, probably.
But that's what people want in their debates.
And then you and I together, we bury her.
You drop out next week, endorse me, and the race is over.
I have no problem being forceful.
But this sexism thing, and the whole school argument, I Oh, you mean her kids.
I really don't want to involve them.
We have two things we want the American people to hear, she lacks experience, and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
But there has to be another way.
She wants to trumpet an equal playing field? Then why does she send her own kids to private school? That is a clear and simple argument that everyone can get their heads around.
And it doesn't hurt that Iowa's biggest employer is the public school system.
Alan sends his kids to private school.
Yeah, but they're not your kids.
They're my step-kids, and that makes me a hypocrite.
Is that really what you're concerned about? Being a hypocrite? It's my family.
Oh, trust me.
They'll understand the moment they step into the White House.
Jackie, I really shouldn't have to convince you to do what it takes to get a set of keys.
I'll be the pit bull, Mr President.
Thank you, Jackie.
- Are we all clear? - The press has boarded, sir.
All right, make sure no one sees her.
Yes, sir.
Such a pity how much ruthless pragmatism gets weighed down by family values.
Without her doctor and his pimply-faced brood, she could soar as high as this plane.
Oh, I know the marriage was my idea.
Don't remind me.
- Doug.
- Hey.
You Okay? Yeah, I'm all right.
What, did you get locked out or something? I felt the need to drink.
I got this far and I stopped myself.
Okay.
I wanted you to see it.
That I could control it.
You want to go back up? Yeah.
I know it looks crazy.
But I had to do it.
Why? There was this girl.
Before the injury.
She left me.
So I started drinking.
I tried to shut her out, but I just kept checking my e-mails, my text messages.
It needed to stop.
Who was she? You know what, that's okay.
Doesn't matter.
What matters is that you got pushed to the edge today, and you didn't fall off.
You did what you had to do.
I donât judge you for it.
And I don't think it's crazy.
We could've met somewhere a little warmer.
Walmart wanted to knock this down, build a store here.
But the community put a stop to it.
I know.
Because they wouldn't give a tax credit unless entry-level wages were higher.
So which is better? A shitty job, or no job? Well, I think I know your answer.
Don't be so sure.
Jackie, you have repeatedly opposed the minimum-wage and CEO salary bill I asked the Leadership to introduce.
I've put a lot of thought into it.
This community took a stand.
If enough of them do, Congress won't have a choice but to act.
Are we here to talk about legislation? Because we both have a debate in six hours.
I want to endorse you.
I'll lay off you tonight.
You and I attack Underwood.
In three days, I'll drop out and endorse.
We haven't even had the first caucus.
You two are neck-and-neck.
I have 14 points in Iowa, You get my people, you have a clear win in both states.
My endorsement is valuable.
How much does Underwood value it? - Highly.
- What did he offer you? I'm more interested in what you have to offer.
Did he promise a cabinet position? More than that? He offered to put you on the ticket, didn't he? I wouldn't expect to be on your ticket, Heather.
You need a Southerner with a penis.
I was thinking Secretary of Defence, given my war record.
But I'd be open to other ideas.
I would love your support, Jackie, but I offer you nothing.
This is an easy win.
I'm not gonna start selling off cabinet positions before I've won the White House.
Those decisions will be based purely on merit.
If I'm gonna lock up this nomination for you, I deserve to be compensated.
I plan on winning, Jackie.
Just not your way.
And with or without your support.
Then I'm sticking with Underwood.
You do what you have to do.
Is Jackie in here? Hey, Rob.
- Hi! - Hi! Sorry I'm late.
How did your surgery go? Terrible.
The patient almost didn't make it.
But he's alive? She.
And, yeah, stable condition.
Aww.
It means so much to me that you came.
All done.
- Do you like? - It's good.
Thank you.
So how'd it go, with Thanks.
What'd she offer? Nothing.
Nothing at all? I know, I was surprised, too.
It's foolish.
She could lock this up.
But I have to say, I almost respect it.
Anyway, you were right.
Stick with the devil you know.
Are the kids watching tonight? Yeah.
They've got all their friends over at the house.
Listen, the What? Nothing.
How do I look? I'd throw you on that bed right now if it wouldn't mess up your hair.
Mmm.
- Watch me prep.
- Mmm-hmm.
You can mess up my hair all you want after the debate.
- Here she comes.
- Oh, yeah, she's here.
There she is.
Mrs Underwood, we're so honoured to have you here.
Quiet, guys.
Quiet, guys, here she comes.
Hello! Hi! Hello! Hello! Thank you! Thank you.
Thank you.
Hello, everyone! Thank all of you so very much for working so hard to make sure we take New Hampshire.
Yeah! It is field offices like this that win primaries, and the President just wants you to know how much your dedication means to us.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Now, who's ready to watch a debate? Yeah! There is a large crowd here in Sioux City tonight.
I would say potential voters, but of course, here in Iowa, citizens caucus instead of vote and many of the people here in this room will be doing just that on January 15th.
A CNN/ORG poll has it as a tight race between the two front-runners.
Heather Dunbar at 32%, President Frank Underwood at 30%, Congresswoman Jackie Sharp trails in third at 14%, 22% remain undecided.
You can switch it.
Really? Unless you want to watch.
No, I thought you would.
It's your last night here.
I want to spend it with my brother, not Frank Underwood.
What do you want to watch instead? Anything.
Whatever you want.
Oh, shit, have you ever seen Contagion? No.
If you're a clean freak, this'll definitely make you a germ freak.
I love this movie.
Go for it.
Welcome to the first Democratic Nomination Debate hosted by CNN.
Our candidates tonight, Frank Underwood, Jackie Sharp, and Heather Dunbar.
I'm John King and I'll be your moderator tonight.
Our debate will be divided in two parts.
The first part focusing on foreign policy, part two focusing on the domestic agenda.
And our format will be as follows, I will ask one candidate a question, that candidate will have one minute to answer.
After that, all of our candidates can engage in an open conversation lasting for five minutes.
We begin, though, with opening statements.
And by lottery, it was decided that President Underwood goes first.
Mr President? Thank you, and good evening, John, good evening to my fellow candidates, and to the good people of Sioux City.
This nomination comes down to one word, vision.
I believe that I have shown a clear vision to this country with America Works, the most comprehensive jobs programme in nearly a century.
We showed it could work in Washington D.
C.
We need now to take what we did there and spread it nationwide so that the American Dream can become the American Reality.
But that vision isn't enough on its own.
You need someone with experience to make it happen.
And between my time in Congress and now at the White House, I have more experience than both of my opponents combined.
And when you hire someone for a job, are you gonna hire someone with 30 years experience or someone with less than 10, or someone with no experience at all? Where I come from, down south, we call that "as clear as a glass of moonshine.
" Former Solicitor General Dunbar is next.
Your opening statement, please.
Thank you, John.
And thank you, Iowa.
Well, I agree with the President.
Vision and experience are exactly what America needs.
Unfortunately, he has the wrong vision and horrendous experience.
You can call America Works visionary, but in truth it is just an ultra-conservative agenda that's been around for decades.
Dismantle the safety net and hang people out to dry.
As for the President's experience, he was in the Leadership during one of the most ineffective decades in Congressional history.
As President, he's failed at everything he's done.
America Works was illegal in the minds of many legal experts, myself included.
His Jordan Valley plan was a disaster.
If that's what you call experience, you're not just padding the resume, you are fabricating it.
President Underwood isn't presenting us with a vision, he is convincing himself of his own delusion.
Now, my vision is to tackle corporate greed, raise pay for those who need it most, and create jobs by growing the economy, not robbing people of their retirement and health care.
My experience is 20 years defending the Constitution.
You know when I take my presidential oath, I will mean every word of it.
Ms Dunbar, thank you.
Congresswoman Sharp, your opening statement please.
Thank you.
As many of you know, I am a U.
S.
Army veteran.
Now, I've seen firsthand the great sacrifices my fellow servicemen and women have made defending this country.
But how can we ask them to protect a system that isn't protecting us? Take women, for example.
There are two women at this debate running for President.
That's extraordinary.
But out in the general workforce? Women earn 77 cents on the dollar, compared to men.
Even worse is minority women earning 67 cents on the dollar.
Now, Ms Dunbar can talk about balancing the scales, but she inherited a multi-billion-dollar fortune and never had to earn any cents on the dollar.
Now, I don't agree with everything that President Underwood has done or proposes, but at least he knows what it means to work for a living.
I can give you even better than that.
I know what it means to fight for a living.
And I will fight for fairness here at home just as fiercely as I fought our enemies overseas.
Thank you.
Thank you, Congresswoman.
Now let's move to part one, foreign policy.
And the first question is for you, Mr President.
Given the recent volatile events in the Jordan Valley, do you still believe it was correct to assemble the United Nations coalition and to intervene, or is it time now to call that intervention a mistake? Well, I will answer that question, John, but I'd like to address first something Ms Dunbar said a few moments ago.
America Works is not some stale, old, conservative agenda.
You name me one Republican who has suggested using federal funds to guarantee jobs for every American who wants one, and I will eat my hat.
This isn't about dismantling government, it is about using the funds that Aren't we supposed to be talking about foreign policy? Yeah, I will.
But first I'd like to correct what you said Because it's easier to talk about America Works than to defend your indefensible UN mission.
Well, at least I have a record to defend, Ms Dunbar.
Speaking of your record, Mr President, you went on record saying you wouldn't run for President.
And yet here you are.
Well, John, it seems that your very thoughtful rules have gone out the window.
You have no respect for rules, Mr President.
Take FEMA, for example.
Oh, you want to talk about FEMA now, instead of foreign policy.
I am just following your lead, sir.
See what a mess we get into when we follow your brand of leadership? Well, I must admit that Ms Dunbar does have many years of experience making rhetorical arguments in court.
You've just seen proof of that today.
But serving the American people is not about what you say, it's about what you do.
And I would ask, what have you ever done? I have to agree that Ms Dunbar's lack of experience is a concern.
I find it ironic that the President talks about the importance of experience, given the fact that he appointed his wife UN Ambassador despite her utter lack of credentials.
That's a sexist comment.
Excuse me? You wouldn't be making that argument if a female president had appointed her husband.
A husband with the same lack of international affairs experience as Claire Underwood? Yes, I would.
In fact, it makes me question your advocacy for women in general.
Well, that's ridiculous.
What have you done to further gender equality? What have you done to "balance the scales"? That's your slogan and yet you've left half of the population out of the mix.
But that is simply not true.
Can you name one specific thing? Yes, I can.
Being a woman, who has served as Solicitor General, one of the few in the history of the court.
Well, that advanced your interests, but what did that do for 150 million women out there? The very fact that a woman can hold that position So you are a symbol.
In a way, yes, I suppose I am.
Me and many other women, including yourself, who Okay, but how does that get us from 77 cents on the dollar to 100? Real cents, not symbolic cents.
Well, now you're just aping the President's rhetoric.
Another sexist comment.
How could you possibly misconstrue my words I speak for myself.
I am not aping the President or any other man.
I'm sorry, I won't engage with this You know, when things get tough on the battlefield, we never say, "Sorry, I won't engage.
" We engage, Ms Dunbar.
And you need to confront the fact that you do not have women's best interests at heart.
John, this is getting out of hand.
All right.
Then let's move on to the next question.
We are in the foreign policy portion of this debate, and Ms Dunbar, let me bring this question to you.
You're very critical of the President, you say it's indefensible, what he has done in the Jordan Valley.
But specifically, what would you do differently? Well, John, I'm glad you asked that.
Sending troops into the Jordan Valley I need to go back to the hotel now.
isn't what I call diplomacy.
Everybody? Mrs Underwood needs to leave us now.
I really wish I could stay, but I have a very full day tomorrow, I should rest up.
But again, I want to thank you all for your hospitality and all of your hard work.
Thank you so much! Good night, everyone.
His trickle-down diplomacy is another example of delusion.
Mrs Underwood.
You should go back inside with the volunteers and have the full campaign experience.
I didn't come to New Hampshire for that.
I came to speak with you.
Tomorrow, maybe.
My brain is a bit fried.
Is it what Sharp said? Why you don't want to watch any more, the sexist comment? Oh, I honestly don't care.
It's all spectacle.
Who can get the most points, right? Good night.
Now for part two of our debate, the domestic agenda.
And the first question goes to you, Congresswoman.
The President speaks of America Works.
Ms Dunbar wants to raise the minimum wage, talks about regulating executive pay.
But a lot of people aren't quite clear about your economic policy.
What specifically, I underscore specifically, would you do if elected President? Well, I plan to do a lot.
And we talked about this earlier.
First and foremost, I want to press for gender equality and close the salary gap.
If half of the working population has more money in their pockets, that will catalyse spending, which will grow the economy, which will in turn create more jobs.
Mr President, what do you think of that? Oh, I agree.
I think that gender equality is very important.
And under my AmWorks programme, there will be a provision that all AmWorks jobs, there can be no discrepancy in pay between men and women.
AmWorks jobs, though, that's the government.
What about the rest of the private sector? Well, I think we have to start by leading by example, - then we introduce legislation - Leading by example? If America Works is how you lead by example Please let me finish my point If that is how you lead by example, then are we to assume that everyone should illegally raid funds that they have no right to use? Everyone should start robbing banks? Holding up liquor stores? Now, Ms Dunbar, with all due respect, you can criticise my programmes as much as you want, but to accuse me of illegal activity One thing you can't deny is that I am much more of an authority on the Constitution than you are, Mr President.
Ms Dunbar, all three of us on this stage have taken oaths of office.
I would have to say that we have all defended the Constitution.
You don't have some special claim on the Constitution.
The Constitution belongs to everyone in this room, and every citizen in the United States.
But I would ask Ms Sharp, you voted in favour of dismantling America Works.
Was that because you thought it was, in fact, as Ms Dunbar says, illegal? I voted for dismantlement because I wanted to make sure we were prepared for the hurricane, not because I thought your reading of the Stafford Act was illegal, per se.
Honestly, you think the President had a right to do what he did? It's an appropriations issue, not a legal one.
But what about his character? He basically walked into FEMA and said, "Stick 'em up and show me where the vault is.
" So now I'm a bank robber.
Six Gun Underwood, what they call me in South Carolina.
I'm sorry, but I do not find this funny.
I say you are a hypocrite.
You claim to care about the 10 million people out of work, but you'll steal their disaster relief funds, social security and health care to fund a programme We put 50,000 people to work in that causes more damage than good.
Heather Dunbar wants to balance the scales.
To To fix a broken system, and yet she sends her own kids to private school.
With money she never earned, but which she inherited.
Now, it is easy to talk about the problems of the poor with a silver spoon in your mouth.
Am I well off? Absolutely.
So was FDR when he developed the New Deal.
Since when does one's income determine one's amount of empathy? Would you send your kids to public school? Let's keep our children out of this.
You want your kids to have a head start, to have an advantage over the kids in public school.
Lots of Americans, of all ranges of income, choose to send their children to private or parochial schools.
But isn't it true that you want your children to have a leg up on everyone else? Is that balancing the scales? Or is that hypocrisy? Or maybe it's that you didn't want to raise them yourself, so you sent them to boarding school.
Wow.
You must really want to be President.
I would never in a million years bring up your children in a debate.
The way you choose to raise them is your business.
Do I want the best for my kids? Yes, I do.
I imagine you're the same way.
I hope you are.
Well, I'm sure you're both excellent mothers, but perhaps we should get back to some of the issues at hand.
Congresswoman Sharp raised the issue of sexism earlier.
Now, it is an important point, and we need to address it.
Sexism is wrong.
The Congresswoman is correct in saying that all aspects of it should be illegal.
Then she accused me of being sexist for criticising Claire Underwood.
But wouldn't that same logic hold true for you, Ms Sharp? Would you have come after my kids if I were a man? Aren't you trying to paint the picture that I'm a bad mother, shipping my kids off to some far-flung place? Because you know if you can make me seem like a bad mother, then how could anyone possibly support me? That's not hardball, that is just disgusting.
Well, I have to say, I do think Ms Dunbar has a point.
I mean, speaking of hypocrisy, don't you send your own kids to private school, Congresswoman? Well, that wasn't my point.
What was your point? Well, I was My point John, I think I've said all I need to say on this subject.
All right.
Fair enough, Congresswoman.
Next question goes to you, Ms Dunbar.
Okay, guys, first polls coming in.
Most of them give Frank Underwood the win, not by a lot.
But did he do enough to overtake Dunbar, become the front-runner? George, I don't think it's so much of what Underwood did, but what he didn't do.
He remained presidential.
And when the attacks came his way, he held the high ground.
Now Dunbar and Sharp, they came out swinging, and I think it hurt them both.
Yeah.
But Sharp had to do something.
She's 20 points behind the other two.
But the sexism thing? And going after Dunbar's kids? It seemed quite desperate.
She did do some damage to Dunbar.
I don't know about that- Dunbar could've fared far worse.
She took it on the chin, held her own.
And in my opinion, it was a tie.
But bottom line, does this debate change anything? Does it affect the caucus? Does it affect the primary in New Hampshire? Well, we're still over a month out, - and so a lot could change in this process.
- But I do think the momentum could shift in Underwood's favour.
Let's not forget that it's remarkable that a sitting President isn't considered the front-runner to begin with.
That's an excellent point.
No incumbent has ever had to fight back from this far Yes? He said she's not picking up, sir.
Would you like me to have him knock on her door? No.
That's all right.
Thank you.
You haven't said a word.
Well, you've been prepping for days.
I thought you might want a break from talking.
You're disappointed in me.
That the kids got mentioned.
They're teenagers.
They'll be fine.
They're probably thrilled that they got mentioned at all.
If I'm disappointed in anyone, it's him.
For throwing you under the bus.
I'm going to fly back with you tonight.
Don't you have events tomorrow? This is more important.
What is? Thank you all for coming in.
You wanna head out this door right here.
Thank you very much.
All right.
I'll give you some privacy.
This should only take 15 minutes, so just holler out if you need anything.
Thank you.
Pull up a chair.
We can talk while this finishes up.
I should be doing this, too.
I'm sure we could get another lawn chair in here.
I can't.
I was a junkie once upon a time.
What would you call this colour? Scarlet isn't right.
It's not crimson or maroon.
Carmine.
Carmine? You must be a writer.
No, I know that.
But, you know, she always tells everyone she bakes them herself and I know she doesn't.
That's local.
Hey, thank you for your support.
I'll see you when I get there.
Is there some reason we couldn't do this by phone? This needed to be in person.
Yes, but you cancelled all your events.
I wanted to talk about the debate.
Yeah, well, you know, it wasn't the home run we'd hoped for, but you did great, Jackie.
She spent half the debate on the defensive.
I humiliated myself.
Oh, you got a little beat up, that's all.
And you threw the biggest punch.
Oh, you mean the thing about your kids? That wasn't what we discussed.
Well, I had to hit you hard so she wouldn't.
And besides, we had to dispel any suspicion that you and I might be in concert.
I'm not comfortable with the dynamic we've established.
What dynamic is that? The leash you have me on.
How I'm supposed to roll over and do any trick you want.
You're taking me for granted.
What, am I supposed to be appreciative of your lacklustre enthusiasm? How fortunate I am to have you sort of on my team? You're not happy with our dynamic? Well, I'm not happy with your attitude.
If anything, you're taking me for granted.
- Sir - We had a deal, Jackie.
And I am perfectly willing to hold up my end of the bargain.
But do not be under any illusions.
This is not a partnership of equals.
Nothing close to it.
If you are to be my vice president, you will do what I ask.
And we will not have this conversation every time you feel uncomfortable with what I ask you to do, or how I choose to conduct myself.
That's our dynamic.
Are we still sticking to the timeline? - - I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear you.
Are we still sticking to the timeline? I drop out next week? I see no reason why you shouldn't.
Thank you, Mr President.
See you in Iowa.
Why did you change your hair back to blonde? That's your burning question? I'm curious.
How does that help the book? Who knows? But right now I've got nothing.
We changed it because blonde polls better with the voters.
"Weâ? There's a whole gaggle of people that weigh in on how you look and what you wear, whether an event calls for heels, earrings, no earrings.
You hate it, don't you? Campaigning? Everybody hates campaigning.
Except for the politicians.
They feed off the energy.
And their spouses.
You think Francis feeds off of me? You are literally giving your blood.
Plenty of people give blood who aren't married to politicians.
Very few people campaign for someone who just fired them.
He tell you that? He said he betrayed you.
Three days later you change your hair back to blonde and resign so you can, quote, "devote yourself to the campaign.
" I did the math.
You and Francis, you've We've what? He's shared a lot.
Does that bother you? Why would it? Another betrayal? No.
You're Are you okay? Just a little light headed.
- Here.
- Thank you.
I was thinking.
About what? Mrs Underwood? Jumping.
Jumping? Mmm.
You ever have that feeling, conversation? Which feeling? On a bridge.
You look over and step back.
Do you need me to get someone? He proposed and I said I said seven years.
If it's still good, another seven.
If not Every seven years.
I don't hate campaigning.
What I hate is, how much I need us.
How much you need each other? I didn't jump.
I didn't step back.
I didn't Mrs Underwood? Hey.
Hey - What happened? - She passed out.
Let me see.
Mrs Underwood, can you hear me? Mrs Underwood? So all these three girls, they've got a different pappy or what? They've got the blonde, they've got the redhead, they've got the brunette.
And that's Petticoat Junction, right? Sir? May we speak privately? - Oh, let me let y'all be - No, no, Freddy.
You were right in the middle of your story.
Sir, if you don't mind.
Is it classified? - No, it is not.
- Then talk.
Jackie just stopped by my office.
She's upset.
I think we need to take her views more into consideration.
Oh, she's being ridiculous.
I think she made some valid points.
Who do you work for? Me or her? I'm just trying to communicate her concerns.
She better get in line, and so would you.
I'm never gonna win if I have to spend my time explaining myself to my subordinates.
Look, let me let y'all No, no, no.
Freddy, sit down.
Do you remember when we talked about how you treat your staff? You wanna win? You sure as hell won't do it without any of them.
And if you keep on like this, you won't have any of them left.
Are you talking about loyalty? 'Cause the only brand of that I accept is unconditional.
Anything less Y'all should put this on pay-per-view.
You, you a big guy.
But this sucker, I've seen him go through a rack of ribs like it was wet tissue.
Who'd you put your money on? Oh, I'm not gonna fall into that trap.
You.
Sir? It's your wife.
She passed out giving blood.
- What? - She's okay, but Mr Yates is on the line.
I'll take it in my private study.
Don't do no good calling the man out like that.
It's like blaming a snake for having fangs.
I couldn't help myself.
Oh.
Could you do me a favour? What's that? Cover for me.
I got work to do, and he needs company.
Back at the ribs joint, I could just walk back in the kitchen when I got tired of hearing him talk.
Yeah.
I'll tell him your boss came over.
Thank you, brother.
Put her on the phone with me.
She didn't want me to call, but I thought I should.
Well, is she nearby? I think she's embarrassed.
I'm her husband.
The nurses are with her.
Maybe you should just hold off for a few minutes.
Tell the head of her detail to get her on the plane right away.
She has to come back here and see the White House physician.
My guess is she'd be even more embarrassed if she had to cancel her events.
This isn't about how she feels.
This is about what's best for her.
She doesn't need a doctor.
She needs you.
What do you mean? She said some things about every seven years, about being in limbo, on the edge of a bridge.
Now listen.
Just because I may have shared with you a few things about our marriage does not give you the right to interfere with it.
Now please have her call me when she's ready.
Well, this is it.
Sixty days.
Sixty days.
That movie freaked me out.
The whole world can fall apart in 60 days.
Yeah.
Or a guy can get sober.
I washed my hands for 10 minutes last night before bed.
You turned me from an alcoholic to a germaphobe.
That's not a bad trade-off.
The 14 years I got by on my own? They mean nothing compared to the last eight weeks you've been here with me.
Oh.
You would have done the same for me.
I'd like to think so.
Know so.
I love you, brother.
Call me when you land.
Jesus, you sound like Sarah.
So we want to focus on ad buys more in the Quad Cities market, less so in Des Moines.
You're stronger in the east and we want to turn our twos there into ones.
The "vision" message really resonated in our focus groups post-debate, so I think we should cut a new ad centred on that and weave it into the stump.
Sir? I'm sorry, what? Are you good if we change the stump to focus on the "vision" theme? I want to go to New Hampshire tomorrow.
First thing.
We have you going to Iowa.
I know, but I want to change the schedule.
In every campaign there comes a time for taking stock, a time for soul-searching.
And in the past 24 hours I have done just that.
And the conclusion that I have come to is this, if the goal is a safer, more prosperous America, I don't need to run for us to achieve that.
All I need to do, and what I encourage all of my supporters to do, is to help elect Heather Dunbar to the White House.
Judas bitch.
While I may be ending my I'm just pissed off.
I'm sorry if I offended.
Yeah, I wonder what she offered her.
Nothing.
Yeah, right.
I know for a fact.
You knew about this? You should call the President.
"a very hairy, terribly scary tarantula named Tina.
"I found her in a shoe box in New York City.
"When I first saw Tina I shrieked, - "'Eek, eek, eek!" ' Eek, eek, eek.
Were you scared? Oh, I was terribly scared.
"Tina had poked her head up out of the left shoe" I didn't know you were coming.
Shh! She doesn't, either.
"So there I was, not knowing what to believe.
"Should I leave Tina in the shoebox or set Tina free?" - Set her free.
- Keep her in the box! Set her free.
Keep her in the box.
Oh, my goodness.
I don't know what to do.
Nothing! Do nothing! What should I do? Sir, Mr Grayson needs to speak with you.
Tell him I'll call him back.
He says it's important.
Later.
I'm with my wife.
I don't know what to do.
You shouldn't do anything.
- Let her out.
- Don't do anything? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!
Fifty-five years.
Wow! And what is your name, ma'am? Agnes.
Yeah, I think you mean Saint Agnes? Yes, yes, I do.
Well, Francis and I are only halfway there.
But I bet you know your husband as well as you know yourself.
Am I right? Yes, I do.
Well, I know Francis Underwood.
I know what keeps him up at night.
And I'm sure it's the same thing that keeps your husbands up, too.
The future.
How can I ensure a better future for my family? Except Francis, as President, his focus is on the progress of all American families.
You know what he said to me last night? He said, "Claire, my entire presidential agenda, "it's very simple.
"I want to be able to look every single American in the eye, "and know that I have made their lives better.
" Yes? I have to say, Mrs Underwood, I find you very charming, and you seem quite honest.
But I have trouble believing that your husband truly cares about people.
Well, Francis Underwood is a good man.
He's dedicated.
And generous.
And I have 28 years of proof.
And I can honestly say, even if I wasn't married to him, he would definitely have my vote.
Thank you.
Negligence.
Nepotism.
Misappropriation of federal funds.
A foreign policy fiasco.
And loose with the truth.
What do these five fingers have in common? Francis J.
Underwood.
Mr King, I would like to respond to that.
This is a man who believes in the rule of law-ish.
The legislative process-ish.
The Constitution-ish.
Is this the man who should be President? Ms Dunbar, like any good lawyer, you have a knack for rhetoric-ish.
- - But the American people are tired of words.
What they crave is action.
My concern about focusing on the word "action" is that she'll just come back with failed actions, America Works, the UN mission.
"Action" performed well with key demos in our last poll.
Yes, but doesn't this take us off message? We have been saying, "A vote for Frank Underwood is a vote for America Works.
" That's what we've been running on.
You need a word that goes beyond America Works, something that can be used for anything.
Remy, what do you think? Uh We're talking about the word "action.
" Sorry, I was My mind was on the foreign policy argument, I was just thinking ahead.
What about "vision"? Isn't that too generic? Well, that's what we want.
I mean, the more generic, the better.
People can project anything they want on "vision.
" I'll get it polled before tomorrow.
We should work on Sharp next.
You want me to play her? Thank for taking your role so seriously, Donald.
You should consider a career on the stage.
Because he sure as hell isn't gonna be on my ticket.
You're good at this.
They loved you.
Three decades of campaigns, you learn how to read an audience.
Self-promotion gives me hives.
Honestly, I don't know how you do it.
I'm promoting my husband, not myself.
That's a convenient way to spin it, don't you think? Are you always this blunt? I only have two days to tag along.
Mind if I ride with you, since we have so little time? I need to make some calls.
Maybe we'll find some time later.
Remy, you were distracted earlier.
What's going on? Oh! Nothing.
Everything's good.
I need you on your A game, Remy.
This debate could make us the front-runner.
It's just between the campaign and managing the White House, I'm a little burned out.
Well, we still have months to go, a year before the general.
It's temporary.
I'll get past it.
If you can do it, I can.
Gavin? Hello, Douglas.
What do you want? You still can't believe she's dead, can you? Well, you shouldn't.
Because she's not.
She's alive.
And I know exactly where she is.
I've known for a while.
What? Look on your laptop.
No, you You showed me the picture of her body.
That wasn't her.
I forged it all so you'd lift my passport lock.
Well, I'm out now, Doug.
And I'm safe.
But my friend isn't.
Talk to Green.
Get him the same deal you got me, all charges dropped.
You do that, I'll tell you where she is.
Yeah.
I don't know why.
Can I offer you some water? - Sir? - I'd love some.
- Hey, Meechum.
- Sir.
Mr President.
Thank you for coming all the way to Andrews.
Did Remy walk you through the broad strokes? No matter the policy question, foreign or domestic, we hammer Dunbar's lack of experience.
We bludgeon it.
We cannot say "lack of experience" enough.
And no doubt she'll bring up Claire's recess appointment, where I can't take the bait, so I leave that entirely to you.
This was one of the things that I was hoping to discuss.
Oh, you don't want to call her sexist.
The argument doesn't hold.
It does hold.
She says that Claire was unqualified.
You say she wouldn't say that about a man with the same CV.
I'm not sure that's true.
And calling another woman "sexist" when there's a man on the stage And who else is better but you to call her out on what she's done for women, which is absolutely nothing? Whereas gender-equality legislation is one of your hallmarks.
But it could hurt me more than it hurts her.
I thought we had an understanding.
You were going to play pit bull while I play presidential.
- Will you get a little bloody? - Yes, probably.
But that's what people want in their debates.
And then you and I together, we bury her.
You drop out next week, endorse me, and the race is over.
I have no problem being forceful.
But this sexism thing, and the whole school argument, I Oh, you mean her kids.
I really don't want to involve them.
We have two things we want the American people to hear, she lacks experience, and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
But there has to be another way.
She wants to trumpet an equal playing field? Then why does she send her own kids to private school? That is a clear and simple argument that everyone can get their heads around.
And it doesn't hurt that Iowa's biggest employer is the public school system.
Alan sends his kids to private school.
Yeah, but they're not your kids.
They're my step-kids, and that makes me a hypocrite.
Is that really what you're concerned about? Being a hypocrite? It's my family.
Oh, trust me.
They'll understand the moment they step into the White House.
Jackie, I really shouldn't have to convince you to do what it takes to get a set of keys.
I'll be the pit bull, Mr President.
Thank you, Jackie.
- Are we all clear? - The press has boarded, sir.
All right, make sure no one sees her.
Yes, sir.
Such a pity how much ruthless pragmatism gets weighed down by family values.
Without her doctor and his pimply-faced brood, she could soar as high as this plane.
Oh, I know the marriage was my idea.
Don't remind me.
- Doug.
- Hey.
You Okay? Yeah, I'm all right.
What, did you get locked out or something? I felt the need to drink.
I got this far and I stopped myself.
Okay.
I wanted you to see it.
That I could control it.
You want to go back up? Yeah.
I know it looks crazy.
But I had to do it.
Why? There was this girl.
Before the injury.
She left me.
So I started drinking.
I tried to shut her out, but I just kept checking my e-mails, my text messages.
It needed to stop.
Who was she? You know what, that's okay.
Doesn't matter.
What matters is that you got pushed to the edge today, and you didn't fall off.
You did what you had to do.
I donât judge you for it.
And I don't think it's crazy.
We could've met somewhere a little warmer.
Walmart wanted to knock this down, build a store here.
But the community put a stop to it.
I know.
Because they wouldn't give a tax credit unless entry-level wages were higher.
So which is better? A shitty job, or no job? Well, I think I know your answer.
Don't be so sure.
Jackie, you have repeatedly opposed the minimum-wage and CEO salary bill I asked the Leadership to introduce.
I've put a lot of thought into it.
This community took a stand.
If enough of them do, Congress won't have a choice but to act.
Are we here to talk about legislation? Because we both have a debate in six hours.
I want to endorse you.
I'll lay off you tonight.
You and I attack Underwood.
In three days, I'll drop out and endorse.
We haven't even had the first caucus.
You two are neck-and-neck.
I have 14 points in Iowa, You get my people, you have a clear win in both states.
My endorsement is valuable.
How much does Underwood value it? - Highly.
- What did he offer you? I'm more interested in what you have to offer.
Did he promise a cabinet position? More than that? He offered to put you on the ticket, didn't he? I wouldn't expect to be on your ticket, Heather.
You need a Southerner with a penis.
I was thinking Secretary of Defence, given my war record.
But I'd be open to other ideas.
I would love your support, Jackie, but I offer you nothing.
This is an easy win.
I'm not gonna start selling off cabinet positions before I've won the White House.
Those decisions will be based purely on merit.
If I'm gonna lock up this nomination for you, I deserve to be compensated.
I plan on winning, Jackie.
Just not your way.
And with or without your support.
Then I'm sticking with Underwood.
You do what you have to do.
Is Jackie in here? Hey, Rob.
- Hi! - Hi! Sorry I'm late.
How did your surgery go? Terrible.
The patient almost didn't make it.
But he's alive? She.
And, yeah, stable condition.
Aww.
It means so much to me that you came.
All done.
- Do you like? - It's good.
Thank you.
So how'd it go, with Thanks.
What'd she offer? Nothing.
Nothing at all? I know, I was surprised, too.
It's foolish.
She could lock this up.
But I have to say, I almost respect it.
Anyway, you were right.
Stick with the devil you know.
Are the kids watching tonight? Yeah.
They've got all their friends over at the house.
Listen, the What? Nothing.
How do I look? I'd throw you on that bed right now if it wouldn't mess up your hair.
Mmm.
- Watch me prep.
- Mmm-hmm.
You can mess up my hair all you want after the debate.
- Here she comes.
- Oh, yeah, she's here.
There she is.
Mrs Underwood, we're so honoured to have you here.
Quiet, guys.
Quiet, guys, here she comes.
Hello! Hi! Hello! Hello! Thank you! Thank you.
Thank you.
Hello, everyone! Thank all of you so very much for working so hard to make sure we take New Hampshire.
Yeah! It is field offices like this that win primaries, and the President just wants you to know how much your dedication means to us.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Now, who's ready to watch a debate? Yeah! There is a large crowd here in Sioux City tonight.
I would say potential voters, but of course, here in Iowa, citizens caucus instead of vote and many of the people here in this room will be doing just that on January 15th.
A CNN/ORG poll has it as a tight race between the two front-runners.
Heather Dunbar at 32%, President Frank Underwood at 30%, Congresswoman Jackie Sharp trails in third at 14%, 22% remain undecided.
You can switch it.
Really? Unless you want to watch.
No, I thought you would.
It's your last night here.
I want to spend it with my brother, not Frank Underwood.
What do you want to watch instead? Anything.
Whatever you want.
Oh, shit, have you ever seen Contagion? No.
If you're a clean freak, this'll definitely make you a germ freak.
I love this movie.
Go for it.
Welcome to the first Democratic Nomination Debate hosted by CNN.
Our candidates tonight, Frank Underwood, Jackie Sharp, and Heather Dunbar.
I'm John King and I'll be your moderator tonight.
Our debate will be divided in two parts.
The first part focusing on foreign policy, part two focusing on the domestic agenda.
And our format will be as follows, I will ask one candidate a question, that candidate will have one minute to answer.
After that, all of our candidates can engage in an open conversation lasting for five minutes.
We begin, though, with opening statements.
And by lottery, it was decided that President Underwood goes first.
Mr President? Thank you, and good evening, John, good evening to my fellow candidates, and to the good people of Sioux City.
This nomination comes down to one word, vision.
I believe that I have shown a clear vision to this country with America Works, the most comprehensive jobs programme in nearly a century.
We showed it could work in Washington D.
C.
We need now to take what we did there and spread it nationwide so that the American Dream can become the American Reality.
But that vision isn't enough on its own.
You need someone with experience to make it happen.
And between my time in Congress and now at the White House, I have more experience than both of my opponents combined.
And when you hire someone for a job, are you gonna hire someone with 30 years experience or someone with less than 10, or someone with no experience at all? Where I come from, down south, we call that "as clear as a glass of moonshine.
" Former Solicitor General Dunbar is next.
Your opening statement, please.
Thank you, John.
And thank you, Iowa.
Well, I agree with the President.
Vision and experience are exactly what America needs.
Unfortunately, he has the wrong vision and horrendous experience.
You can call America Works visionary, but in truth it is just an ultra-conservative agenda that's been around for decades.
Dismantle the safety net and hang people out to dry.
As for the President's experience, he was in the Leadership during one of the most ineffective decades in Congressional history.
As President, he's failed at everything he's done.
America Works was illegal in the minds of many legal experts, myself included.
His Jordan Valley plan was a disaster.
If that's what you call experience, you're not just padding the resume, you are fabricating it.
President Underwood isn't presenting us with a vision, he is convincing himself of his own delusion.
Now, my vision is to tackle corporate greed, raise pay for those who need it most, and create jobs by growing the economy, not robbing people of their retirement and health care.
My experience is 20 years defending the Constitution.
You know when I take my presidential oath, I will mean every word of it.
Ms Dunbar, thank you.
Congresswoman Sharp, your opening statement please.
Thank you.
As many of you know, I am a U.
S.
Army veteran.
Now, I've seen firsthand the great sacrifices my fellow servicemen and women have made defending this country.
But how can we ask them to protect a system that isn't protecting us? Take women, for example.
There are two women at this debate running for President.
That's extraordinary.
But out in the general workforce? Women earn 77 cents on the dollar, compared to men.
Even worse is minority women earning 67 cents on the dollar.
Now, Ms Dunbar can talk about balancing the scales, but she inherited a multi-billion-dollar fortune and never had to earn any cents on the dollar.
Now, I don't agree with everything that President Underwood has done or proposes, but at least he knows what it means to work for a living.
I can give you even better than that.
I know what it means to fight for a living.
And I will fight for fairness here at home just as fiercely as I fought our enemies overseas.
Thank you.
Thank you, Congresswoman.
Now let's move to part one, foreign policy.
And the first question is for you, Mr President.
Given the recent volatile events in the Jordan Valley, do you still believe it was correct to assemble the United Nations coalition and to intervene, or is it time now to call that intervention a mistake? Well, I will answer that question, John, but I'd like to address first something Ms Dunbar said a few moments ago.
America Works is not some stale, old, conservative agenda.
You name me one Republican who has suggested using federal funds to guarantee jobs for every American who wants one, and I will eat my hat.
This isn't about dismantling government, it is about using the funds that Aren't we supposed to be talking about foreign policy? Yeah, I will.
But first I'd like to correct what you said Because it's easier to talk about America Works than to defend your indefensible UN mission.
Well, at least I have a record to defend, Ms Dunbar.
Speaking of your record, Mr President, you went on record saying you wouldn't run for President.
And yet here you are.
Well, John, it seems that your very thoughtful rules have gone out the window.
You have no respect for rules, Mr President.
Take FEMA, for example.
Oh, you want to talk about FEMA now, instead of foreign policy.
I am just following your lead, sir.
See what a mess we get into when we follow your brand of leadership? Well, I must admit that Ms Dunbar does have many years of experience making rhetorical arguments in court.
You've just seen proof of that today.
But serving the American people is not about what you say, it's about what you do.
And I would ask, what have you ever done? I have to agree that Ms Dunbar's lack of experience is a concern.
I find it ironic that the President talks about the importance of experience, given the fact that he appointed his wife UN Ambassador despite her utter lack of credentials.
That's a sexist comment.
Excuse me? You wouldn't be making that argument if a female president had appointed her husband.
A husband with the same lack of international affairs experience as Claire Underwood? Yes, I would.
In fact, it makes me question your advocacy for women in general.
Well, that's ridiculous.
What have you done to further gender equality? What have you done to "balance the scales"? That's your slogan and yet you've left half of the population out of the mix.
But that is simply not true.
Can you name one specific thing? Yes, I can.
Being a woman, who has served as Solicitor General, one of the few in the history of the court.
Well, that advanced your interests, but what did that do for 150 million women out there? The very fact that a woman can hold that position So you are a symbol.
In a way, yes, I suppose I am.
Me and many other women, including yourself, who Okay, but how does that get us from 77 cents on the dollar to 100? Real cents, not symbolic cents.
Well, now you're just aping the President's rhetoric.
Another sexist comment.
How could you possibly misconstrue my words I speak for myself.
I am not aping the President or any other man.
I'm sorry, I won't engage with this You know, when things get tough on the battlefield, we never say, "Sorry, I won't engage.
" We engage, Ms Dunbar.
And you need to confront the fact that you do not have women's best interests at heart.
John, this is getting out of hand.
All right.
Then let's move on to the next question.
We are in the foreign policy portion of this debate, and Ms Dunbar, let me bring this question to you.
You're very critical of the President, you say it's indefensible, what he has done in the Jordan Valley.
But specifically, what would you do differently? Well, John, I'm glad you asked that.
Sending troops into the Jordan Valley I need to go back to the hotel now.
isn't what I call diplomacy.
Everybody? Mrs Underwood needs to leave us now.
I really wish I could stay, but I have a very full day tomorrow, I should rest up.
But again, I want to thank you all for your hospitality and all of your hard work.
Thank you so much! Good night, everyone.
His trickle-down diplomacy is another example of delusion.
Mrs Underwood.
You should go back inside with the volunteers and have the full campaign experience.
I didn't come to New Hampshire for that.
I came to speak with you.
Tomorrow, maybe.
My brain is a bit fried.
Is it what Sharp said? Why you don't want to watch any more, the sexist comment? Oh, I honestly don't care.
It's all spectacle.
Who can get the most points, right? Good night.
Now for part two of our debate, the domestic agenda.
And the first question goes to you, Congresswoman.
The President speaks of America Works.
Ms Dunbar wants to raise the minimum wage, talks about regulating executive pay.
But a lot of people aren't quite clear about your economic policy.
What specifically, I underscore specifically, would you do if elected President? Well, I plan to do a lot.
And we talked about this earlier.
First and foremost, I want to press for gender equality and close the salary gap.
If half of the working population has more money in their pockets, that will catalyse spending, which will grow the economy, which will in turn create more jobs.
Mr President, what do you think of that? Oh, I agree.
I think that gender equality is very important.
And under my AmWorks programme, there will be a provision that all AmWorks jobs, there can be no discrepancy in pay between men and women.
AmWorks jobs, though, that's the government.
What about the rest of the private sector? Well, I think we have to start by leading by example, - then we introduce legislation - Leading by example? If America Works is how you lead by example Please let me finish my point If that is how you lead by example, then are we to assume that everyone should illegally raid funds that they have no right to use? Everyone should start robbing banks? Holding up liquor stores? Now, Ms Dunbar, with all due respect, you can criticise my programmes as much as you want, but to accuse me of illegal activity One thing you can't deny is that I am much more of an authority on the Constitution than you are, Mr President.
Ms Dunbar, all three of us on this stage have taken oaths of office.
I would have to say that we have all defended the Constitution.
You don't have some special claim on the Constitution.
The Constitution belongs to everyone in this room, and every citizen in the United States.
But I would ask Ms Sharp, you voted in favour of dismantling America Works.
Was that because you thought it was, in fact, as Ms Dunbar says, illegal? I voted for dismantlement because I wanted to make sure we were prepared for the hurricane, not because I thought your reading of the Stafford Act was illegal, per se.
Honestly, you think the President had a right to do what he did? It's an appropriations issue, not a legal one.
But what about his character? He basically walked into FEMA and said, "Stick 'em up and show me where the vault is.
" So now I'm a bank robber.
Six Gun Underwood, what they call me in South Carolina.
I'm sorry, but I do not find this funny.
I say you are a hypocrite.
You claim to care about the 10 million people out of work, but you'll steal their disaster relief funds, social security and health care to fund a programme We put 50,000 people to work in that causes more damage than good.
Heather Dunbar wants to balance the scales.
To To fix a broken system, and yet she sends her own kids to private school.
With money she never earned, but which she inherited.
Now, it is easy to talk about the problems of the poor with a silver spoon in your mouth.
Am I well off? Absolutely.
So was FDR when he developed the New Deal.
Since when does one's income determine one's amount of empathy? Would you send your kids to public school? Let's keep our children out of this.
You want your kids to have a head start, to have an advantage over the kids in public school.
Lots of Americans, of all ranges of income, choose to send their children to private or parochial schools.
But isn't it true that you want your children to have a leg up on everyone else? Is that balancing the scales? Or is that hypocrisy? Or maybe it's that you didn't want to raise them yourself, so you sent them to boarding school.
Wow.
You must really want to be President.
I would never in a million years bring up your children in a debate.
The way you choose to raise them is your business.
Do I want the best for my kids? Yes, I do.
I imagine you're the same way.
I hope you are.
Well, I'm sure you're both excellent mothers, but perhaps we should get back to some of the issues at hand.
Congresswoman Sharp raised the issue of sexism earlier.
Now, it is an important point, and we need to address it.
Sexism is wrong.
The Congresswoman is correct in saying that all aspects of it should be illegal.
Then she accused me of being sexist for criticising Claire Underwood.
But wouldn't that same logic hold true for you, Ms Sharp? Would you have come after my kids if I were a man? Aren't you trying to paint the picture that I'm a bad mother, shipping my kids off to some far-flung place? Because you know if you can make me seem like a bad mother, then how could anyone possibly support me? That's not hardball, that is just disgusting.
Well, I have to say, I do think Ms Dunbar has a point.
I mean, speaking of hypocrisy, don't you send your own kids to private school, Congresswoman? Well, that wasn't my point.
What was your point? Well, I was My point John, I think I've said all I need to say on this subject.
All right.
Fair enough, Congresswoman.
Next question goes to you, Ms Dunbar.
Okay, guys, first polls coming in.
Most of them give Frank Underwood the win, not by a lot.
But did he do enough to overtake Dunbar, become the front-runner? George, I don't think it's so much of what Underwood did, but what he didn't do.
He remained presidential.
And when the attacks came his way, he held the high ground.
Now Dunbar and Sharp, they came out swinging, and I think it hurt them both.
Yeah.
But Sharp had to do something.
She's 20 points behind the other two.
But the sexism thing? And going after Dunbar's kids? It seemed quite desperate.
She did do some damage to Dunbar.
I don't know about that- Dunbar could've fared far worse.
She took it on the chin, held her own.
And in my opinion, it was a tie.
But bottom line, does this debate change anything? Does it affect the caucus? Does it affect the primary in New Hampshire? Well, we're still over a month out, - and so a lot could change in this process.
- But I do think the momentum could shift in Underwood's favour.
Let's not forget that it's remarkable that a sitting President isn't considered the front-runner to begin with.
That's an excellent point.
No incumbent has ever had to fight back from this far Yes? He said she's not picking up, sir.
Would you like me to have him knock on her door? No.
That's all right.
Thank you.
You haven't said a word.
Well, you've been prepping for days.
I thought you might want a break from talking.
You're disappointed in me.
That the kids got mentioned.
They're teenagers.
They'll be fine.
They're probably thrilled that they got mentioned at all.
If I'm disappointed in anyone, it's him.
For throwing you under the bus.
I'm going to fly back with you tonight.
Don't you have events tomorrow? This is more important.
What is? Thank you all for coming in.
You wanna head out this door right here.
Thank you very much.
All right.
I'll give you some privacy.
This should only take 15 minutes, so just holler out if you need anything.
Thank you.
Pull up a chair.
We can talk while this finishes up.
I should be doing this, too.
I'm sure we could get another lawn chair in here.
I can't.
I was a junkie once upon a time.
What would you call this colour? Scarlet isn't right.
It's not crimson or maroon.
Carmine.
Carmine? You must be a writer.
No, I know that.
But, you know, she always tells everyone she bakes them herself and I know she doesn't.
That's local.
Hey, thank you for your support.
I'll see you when I get there.
Is there some reason we couldn't do this by phone? This needed to be in person.
Yes, but you cancelled all your events.
I wanted to talk about the debate.
Yeah, well, you know, it wasn't the home run we'd hoped for, but you did great, Jackie.
She spent half the debate on the defensive.
I humiliated myself.
Oh, you got a little beat up, that's all.
And you threw the biggest punch.
Oh, you mean the thing about your kids? That wasn't what we discussed.
Well, I had to hit you hard so she wouldn't.
And besides, we had to dispel any suspicion that you and I might be in concert.
I'm not comfortable with the dynamic we've established.
What dynamic is that? The leash you have me on.
How I'm supposed to roll over and do any trick you want.
You're taking me for granted.
What, am I supposed to be appreciative of your lacklustre enthusiasm? How fortunate I am to have you sort of on my team? You're not happy with our dynamic? Well, I'm not happy with your attitude.
If anything, you're taking me for granted.
- Sir - We had a deal, Jackie.
And I am perfectly willing to hold up my end of the bargain.
But do not be under any illusions.
This is not a partnership of equals.
Nothing close to it.
If you are to be my vice president, you will do what I ask.
And we will not have this conversation every time you feel uncomfortable with what I ask you to do, or how I choose to conduct myself.
That's our dynamic.
Are we still sticking to the timeline? - - I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear you.
Are we still sticking to the timeline? I drop out next week? I see no reason why you shouldn't.
Thank you, Mr President.
See you in Iowa.
Why did you change your hair back to blonde? That's your burning question? I'm curious.
How does that help the book? Who knows? But right now I've got nothing.
We changed it because blonde polls better with the voters.
"Weâ? There's a whole gaggle of people that weigh in on how you look and what you wear, whether an event calls for heels, earrings, no earrings.
You hate it, don't you? Campaigning? Everybody hates campaigning.
Except for the politicians.
They feed off the energy.
And their spouses.
You think Francis feeds off of me? You are literally giving your blood.
Plenty of people give blood who aren't married to politicians.
Very few people campaign for someone who just fired them.
He tell you that? He said he betrayed you.
Three days later you change your hair back to blonde and resign so you can, quote, "devote yourself to the campaign.
" I did the math.
You and Francis, you've We've what? He's shared a lot.
Does that bother you? Why would it? Another betrayal? No.
You're Are you okay? Just a little light headed.
- Here.
- Thank you.
I was thinking.
About what? Mrs Underwood? Jumping.
Jumping? Mmm.
You ever have that feeling, conversation? Which feeling? On a bridge.
You look over and step back.
Do you need me to get someone? He proposed and I said I said seven years.
If it's still good, another seven.
If not Every seven years.
I don't hate campaigning.
What I hate is, how much I need us.
How much you need each other? I didn't jump.
I didn't step back.
I didn't Mrs Underwood? Hey.
Hey - What happened? - She passed out.
Let me see.
Mrs Underwood, can you hear me? Mrs Underwood? So all these three girls, they've got a different pappy or what? They've got the blonde, they've got the redhead, they've got the brunette.
And that's Petticoat Junction, right? Sir? May we speak privately? - Oh, let me let y'all be - No, no, Freddy.
You were right in the middle of your story.
Sir, if you don't mind.
Is it classified? - No, it is not.
- Then talk.
Jackie just stopped by my office.
She's upset.
I think we need to take her views more into consideration.
Oh, she's being ridiculous.
I think she made some valid points.
Who do you work for? Me or her? I'm just trying to communicate her concerns.
She better get in line, and so would you.
I'm never gonna win if I have to spend my time explaining myself to my subordinates.
Look, let me let y'all No, no, no.
Freddy, sit down.
Do you remember when we talked about how you treat your staff? You wanna win? You sure as hell won't do it without any of them.
And if you keep on like this, you won't have any of them left.
Are you talking about loyalty? 'Cause the only brand of that I accept is unconditional.
Anything less Y'all should put this on pay-per-view.
You, you a big guy.
But this sucker, I've seen him go through a rack of ribs like it was wet tissue.
Who'd you put your money on? Oh, I'm not gonna fall into that trap.
You.
Sir? It's your wife.
She passed out giving blood.
- What? - She's okay, but Mr Yates is on the line.
I'll take it in my private study.
Don't do no good calling the man out like that.
It's like blaming a snake for having fangs.
I couldn't help myself.
Oh.
Could you do me a favour? What's that? Cover for me.
I got work to do, and he needs company.
Back at the ribs joint, I could just walk back in the kitchen when I got tired of hearing him talk.
Yeah.
I'll tell him your boss came over.
Thank you, brother.
Put her on the phone with me.
She didn't want me to call, but I thought I should.
Well, is she nearby? I think she's embarrassed.
I'm her husband.
The nurses are with her.
Maybe you should just hold off for a few minutes.
Tell the head of her detail to get her on the plane right away.
She has to come back here and see the White House physician.
My guess is she'd be even more embarrassed if she had to cancel her events.
This isn't about how she feels.
This is about what's best for her.
She doesn't need a doctor.
She needs you.
What do you mean? She said some things about every seven years, about being in limbo, on the edge of a bridge.
Now listen.
Just because I may have shared with you a few things about our marriage does not give you the right to interfere with it.
Now please have her call me when she's ready.
Well, this is it.
Sixty days.
Sixty days.
That movie freaked me out.
The whole world can fall apart in 60 days.
Yeah.
Or a guy can get sober.
I washed my hands for 10 minutes last night before bed.
You turned me from an alcoholic to a germaphobe.
That's not a bad trade-off.
The 14 years I got by on my own? They mean nothing compared to the last eight weeks you've been here with me.
Oh.
You would have done the same for me.
I'd like to think so.
Know so.
I love you, brother.
Call me when you land.
Jesus, you sound like Sarah.
So we want to focus on ad buys more in the Quad Cities market, less so in Des Moines.
You're stronger in the east and we want to turn our twos there into ones.
The "vision" message really resonated in our focus groups post-debate, so I think we should cut a new ad centred on that and weave it into the stump.
Sir? I'm sorry, what? Are you good if we change the stump to focus on the "vision" theme? I want to go to New Hampshire tomorrow.
First thing.
We have you going to Iowa.
I know, but I want to change the schedule.
In every campaign there comes a time for taking stock, a time for soul-searching.
And in the past 24 hours I have done just that.
And the conclusion that I have come to is this, if the goal is a safer, more prosperous America, I don't need to run for us to achieve that.
All I need to do, and what I encourage all of my supporters to do, is to help elect Heather Dunbar to the White House.
Judas bitch.
While I may be ending my I'm just pissed off.
I'm sorry if I offended.
Yeah, I wonder what she offered her.
Nothing.
Yeah, right.
I know for a fact.
You knew about this? You should call the President.
"a very hairy, terribly scary tarantula named Tina.
"I found her in a shoe box in New York City.
"When I first saw Tina I shrieked, - "'Eek, eek, eek!" ' Eek, eek, eek.
Were you scared? Oh, I was terribly scared.
"Tina had poked her head up out of the left shoe" I didn't know you were coming.
Shh! She doesn't, either.
"So there I was, not knowing what to believe.
"Should I leave Tina in the shoebox or set Tina free?" - Set her free.
- Keep her in the box! Set her free.
Keep her in the box.
Oh, my goodness.
I don't know what to do.
Nothing! Do nothing! What should I do? Sir, Mr Grayson needs to speak with you.
Tell him I'll call him back.
He says it's important.
Later.
I'm with my wife.
I don't know what to do.
You shouldn't do anything.
- Let her out.
- Don't do anything? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!