Madam Secretary (2014) s04e16 Episode Script
My Funny Valentine
1 Bob Dylan didn't have this to sing about DANIEL: Peter, tell me you're staying for my party.
Oh, Daniel, you know, I'd love to, but I got this meeting with an NGO.
- Uh-uh - But listen, happy birthday.
- Go have fun.
- (CHUCKLES) Don't work too hard, my friend.
Never.
So you're heading out for the meeting? If I get back to town early enough, you want to have dinner with me? I always want to have dinner with you.
Now, go do some good.
What the hell are you doing, Pete? (EXPLOSION) (LOUD RINGING IN EARS) Oh, my God.
(PEOPLE SCREAMING) (PEOPLE MOANING) Right there, right there.
PETER: This way! This way to the stairwell! This way.
Go to the stairwell and go down.
Go to the stairwell and go down.
Right there.
Find the stairwell and go down.
Hello? WOMAN: Help! DANIEL: Peter? Daniel.
I-I cannot see.
- It's okay.
- I cannot see.
It's okay, I got you.
Come on.
Let's go to the stairwell.
Okay? Marine.
Take this man downstairs.
His name's Daniel, he can't see.
Come on, Daniel.
We got you.
Come on.
We got you.
Lana? Lana? Lana? (CRYING): Lana Don't go.
Lana.
(SOBBING) DAISY: Okay, Madam Secretary, you'll give some brief remarks, followed by a reading of the names of all the victims, and then, there will be a moment of silence.
And then anyone who wants to will adjourn to the conference room for a small reception.
Why "small"? And "brief"? Ma'am? We're commemorating the 20th anniversary of an attack that took the lives of 32 Americans, 56 Ugandans, injuring hundreds more.
Seems like it's worthy of reflection.
What's with all the minimizing? MATT: Well, we generally try to avoid highlighting any intelligence failures.
Particularly when it comes to Al-Qaeda and bin Laden.
I'm not looking for a parade here.
But not properly acknowledging the loss to the department, to the families? That makes us look bad.
Understood, ma'am.
So the the reading of the names, that'll include the Ugandans, too, right? The 26 Foreign Service Nationals who worked at the embassy, yes, ma'am.
What about the rest of them? The 18 children crowded around the gate to their school down the block from where the bomb went off? Their teachers? The four nuns on their way to work at the AIDS hospice? We don't-we don't have time to say their names aloud, too? Of course we do, ma'am.
Damn right, we do.
Ma'am, there are, actually, a couple of issues somewhat related to the anniversary.
First, the White House is asking us to expedite our review of the sanctions regime on Sudan.
Uh, didn't we sanction them precisely because they harbored terrorists responsible for the Uganda bombing? Well, that, and the occasional genocide against their own people.
The thinking is they've cleaned up their act.
On the terrorism front, anyway.
So maybe 20 years is long enough.
But what's the rush about? Doing my best to find out, ma'am.
Good.
Meantime, gather the relevant folks within the department, get me a recommendation, will you? Have fun with Peter Harriman.
Yeah, lucky me.
Last item and you won't believe it Congress is once again making noise about cutting our budget for embassy security.
(SCOFFS) I can believe it.
The usual pleading and guilt-tripping didn't move the needle, huh? Well, if anyone has an out-of-the-box idea to convince Congress to keep our diplomats alive, I'm all ears.
That'll be all.
Thank you.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, do you want me to scale up the memorial? As long as all the names are read, that should be fine.
I was having a moment.
Apologies.
Is everything all right? Listen, um, about Special Envoy Harriman.
I know he can be a pain.
Go easy today, will you? He survived the bombing in '98.
I wasn't aware.
I'll do that.
Thank you, ma'am.
Yep.
JAY: Let's sum up pros and cons and move to a recommendation for the secretary.
Pete, you have a question.
What's really going on here, Jay? Why is the White House so hot to lift sanctions all of a sudden? It's a great question.
And one that the secretary also wants an answer to.
Something stinks.
Is there some sort of Pentagon play afoot here? Like I said, we're into it.
Kat, why don't you sum up the arguments - in favor of lifting the sanctions? - KAT: Right.
So the idea is that Sudan has basically done what we demanded, uh, they've stopped supporting terrorism, as far as we know, they are allowing more food aid to reach vulnerable populations.
They are no longer stoking the civil war in South Sudan.
So in short, the chief argument for lifting the sanctions is that they worked.
Okay, thanks.
Now the cons? Why should the sanctions remain in place? Pete? For exactly the same reason.
President Qasim didn't just stop supporting Al-Qaeda out of the goodness of his heart.
He did it because we hit his regime and his cronies and his family where it hurt.
The sanctions are the only meaningful tool that we have to affect his behavior.
It's just too soon.
What about the counterargument that the sanctions aren't really hurting the regime, but just trickling down to the Sudanese people? Yes, Qasim and his friends have managed to evade the worst impacts, but they've felt the bite enough to come this far.
In the long run, are we preventing more suffering than we're causing? I say we are.
President Qasim is not a young man.
We could use the prospect of lifting the sanctions as a carrot to try to affect their choice of his successor, and how he behaves.
So in my view, we keep our boot on his neck until this bastard is dead.
JAY: So our recommendation is that we keep the sanctions in place? Okay.
Great.
Thanks, everybody.
Look who's here.
- Hey, babe.
Ready for lunch? - ELIZABETH: Hey, honey.
Yeah.
Mm.
Um, Henry and I are gonna go eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the freezing cold park.
This is what passes for a date night these days.
Ah.
Yeah.
Don't wait up for us.
(CHUCKLES) - Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
MATT: Hey, Doc.
- HENRY: Hey, guys.
- Hi.
I think we may have found a way to, uh, cut through the noise on the embassy security funding issue.
Don't oversell it.
Congress wants to cut our budget for embassy security, again.
Unbelievable.
But believable.
Look, whatever you're selling, sell it to me on the walk, okay? Yes, ma'am.
Uh, three words: bomb-sniffing dogs.
To adequately protect our facilities and personnel worldwide, State needs to add at least 30 more in the upcoming year.
Yeah, but every other agency and local PD wants them, which makes them expensive.
So what's your pitch? We make a video with you and a bomb-sniffing dog.
Highlighting how much State depends on the work they do, and implicitly, how Congress is putting our folks in danger by cutting our funding so we can't afford them.
But because it's a dog video, it's adorable, so it goes viral, and all of a sudden, there's outside pressure on Congress.
Better be a pretty cute dog.
So, what do you think? It's the best idea - I've heard today.
- Maybe we should get a dog.
(SIGHS) Oh, now look what you've started.
- Just save one.
- All right, get into it and get back to me.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Will do, ma'am.
You don't have to do this.
What, freeze my ass off on a park bench with you? There's nothing I'd rather be doing.
Hold my hand through this week.
I refer to my earlier statement.
I snapped at my staff about the memorial.
Well, they'll get over it.
Maybe I should put a letter in a time capsule.
"So, hey, "my involvement with the Bin Laden Issue Station at CIA "has finally been declassified, so here's (LAUGHING): why I was such a bitch.
" You were a mid-level analyst, Elizabeth.
You couldn't have stopped that bombing.
After the first World Trade Center attack in '93, we knew it was just a matter of time before they hit us again.
All those plotters are either dead, or serving a life sentence in a supermax.
I always wanted to apologize, you know? But I can't.
And to be Secretary of State, to speak at that memorial, and not acknowledge my own failure? Babe, it's Henry, it bothers me.
I know.
I'm here.
With lunch.
And dinner tomorrow night.
The kids will be there, too.
So you're just gonna help me eat my way through this? Yeah, that's the plan.
Now, come on.
Let's go to the Einstein Memorial.
Old Al always cheers you up.
'Cause he's just like, "Yeah, I'm just sitting here, with my three history-altering theorems, like, no big deal.
" Let's go.
Just am.
JAY: Good morning, ma'am.
Uh, we need to talk, before you go in there.
What's up? You know how CIA's been (QUIETLY): expanding its relationship with Sudan the last few years? - Yeah, what about it? - Turns out that they're pretty far down the road with negotiations to build a base there.
Are you kidding me? So that's what's behind the urgency to lift the sanctions? That's my bet.
Okay.
Mr.
President, I-I'm sorry, but I-I resent my department being left in the dark about these negotiations.
But putting that to one side, is this meeting a foregone conclusion? Do State's recommendations even matter? DALTON: Of course it does.
Wouldn't be holding the meeting if it didn't, Bess.
State, uh, remains opposed to lifting the sanctions? Yes.
For reasons too numerous, obvious and odious to mention.
- Sir.
- WARE: Madam Secretary, I understand your frustration.
But the rapidly evolving terrorist threat in Africa was such that CIA needed to move just as quickly to thwart it.
By cozying up to an oppressive regime? That's how we wound up with a terrorist threat in the first place.
DALTON: I hear you.
But we have to fight today's battle, not yesterday's.
I agree, sir.
But the fact that Qasim has pitted our government against itself is warning enough that he is not a trustworthy ally in that fight.
What's Treasury's view on this? While the sanctions have been broadly effective, Sudan's Ministry of Finance has, in recent years, become much more creative in getting money in and out of the country.
DALTON: Meaning what? That's just it; we don't know.
It's dark money, so it's hard to say where it's going.
WARE: It could well just be the usual money laundering of a corrupt regime.
Or it could be money marked for more nefarious purposes.
Procuring more weapons for use against their own people.
ELIZABETH: Exactly.
Now, look, Qasim remains a hardline Islamist.
How convinced are we that he has changed his stripes? So you think this dark money could be supporting terrorism? I think we should certainly find out before we hand him a blank check.
WARE: Sir, the United States doesn't have a terror problem in Sudan.
We cannot say the same about any number of its neighbors.
This base is a bulwark against a real and growing threat.
We must act quickly.
Well, let's see if we can get to the bottom of Qasim's finances before we give away the store.
You have three days.
Thank you.
Well, the regime in Khartoum has always tried to evade the sanctions, but, uh, all of us at the forensic accounting unit began to notice an uptick about five years ago.
How are they getting money out of Sudan? Sleight of hand.
They disguise the origin of the transactions by routing them through several banks before the money arrives at its final destination.
So by the time the money shows up in, say, Paris, there's no way of telling where it came from.
And in Paris, there's usually some mirror trade set up by a straw buyer for exactly the sum that left Khartoum.
- Convenient.
- EVELYN: Isn't it, though? And you don't know where the money goes after that? PETER: No, at that point, it's clean.
So it becomes very hard to track.
The sheer volume and complexity of these transactions makes it impossible to trace them all end to end.
But we have drilled down on a few just to get a snapshot.
We should have some answers for you very soon.
Yeah, and what changed in the last five or so years that allowed them to up their game like this? Unknown at this point, ma'am.
Don't know.
The ministry's kind of a black box.
You deal with these front office guys, and who knows who really moves the money? Get with OFAC at Treasury and do your best to find out, will you? Yes, ma'am.
Madam Secretary.
I believe that lifting the sanctions on the Qasim regime is a mistake, morally and strategically, and I have to object in the strongest possible terms.
I understand.
But the president sets policy, and we execute it.
Understood, ma'am.
(DOGS BARKING) That means she just found the explosives.
Incredible.
How do they find it so fast? Training.
But having 300 million scent cells in her nose as compared to our measly six million doesn't hurt, either.
- Hmm.
- Wow.
And-and why does she sit, instead, you know, scratch or something? What happens when you touch a bomb? That's a good point.
Anyway, Gage, as we mentioned, we want to shoot some video of one of the grown dogs at work, and then, we want to get some footage of the secretary with one of the younger trainees.
Let's look in the kennel.
Okay.
Let's go find our hero dog.
He's so cute.
(MATT CHUCKLES) Eh? Hi.
Poncho - (GASPS) - (COOING) Oh! - Look at this guy.
- Oh! - Look at this guy.
- Oh, ho - Yeah.
- (LAUGHS) - How about this one? - GAGE: Who, Waffles? - Yeah.
- Nah, you don't want him.
He's a washout.
- What does that mean? - He's a good boy.
Sweet, great with the staff.
Unfortunately, the training's making clear he's not much of a bomb sniffer.
Not like Patton, here.
Hey, boy.
MATT: You're a pupper.
- He's a natural.
- Whoa.
Here, boy (LAUGHS) Looks like we've found our star.
So, uh, what-what happens to Waffles? GAGE: He'll go up for adoption.
Our washouts make fantastic pets.
Either of you in the market? Man, I wish I could, but my building won't allow dogs.
B-But she's been thinking about getting one.
What? No, actually, I have a new baby, so Up to you.
Uh, in any event, if you are interested, he'll go quickly.
You hear that? No, thanks.
Although, he does seem like a good boy.
(MATT CHUCKLES) Okay, uh, Gage, why don't-why don't we walk through the shoot? - Yeah.
- Okay.
Hey, pal.
Hey.
Dinner's gonna be about 7:00.
This lasagna's vegetarian, if you want to ask Piper to join.
Oh, uh No, that's okay.
You don't want to invite her? No, it's just that I think it's important for just the family to spend some time together.
That's why we've barely seen you without Piper in, like, five months.
Yeah.
Tell me about it.
W-Wait, hang on a second.
Wait, what's going on? Are you guys in a fight, or something? Well, she wants to be.
I haven't exactly been texting her back.
Okay, all right, back up for a second.
Uh, I mean, the last couple of weeks, we haven't been able to get you away from Piper.
Now, what, you're just ghosting her? That's the thing.
I'm suffocating.
You know? Like-like, if I just want to hang out with my friends, she comes along.
And if she goes to the mall, then, I go along.
If she-if she volunteers at the homeless shelter, then, I volunteer at the homeless shelter.
- I thought you liked volunteering.
- Yeah.
It was a profound experience in class awakening, but that's not the point.
Well, look, it sounds to me like you guys just need to have a talk, you know, about stuff like boundaries, maybe spending some time apart.
All we do is talk.
All right? I've never been more in touch with my feelings, and it's exhausting.
And I always feel like like I'm just coming up a little bit short.
Well, get used to that, buddy.
(SCOFFS) Okay, well, we've had a good run, but it I feel like it's time to end things.
Hang on.
Listen to me.
Piper's been a really important person to you.
She's been a great friend.
So if you want to end it, don't you think you owe it to her, and to yourself, to have a conversation about it, face-to-face? That's not really how kids do stuff anymore.
Well, I don't care how kids do stuff, I care how you do stuff.
Okay.
Fine.
All right.
When are you gonna talk to her? Soon.
Really soon.
I'm holding you to that.
Madam Secretary, thanks for taking the time.
Of course.
What can I do for you? I wanted to give you this.
If that's your resignation, I won't accept it.
I have to insist.
My position has been undermined.
I can't be an effective negotiator when the regime in Khartoum knows they can just go around me and get what they want from CIA.
Look, I'm as unhappy about how this is playing out as you are.
But you are one of the ablest diplomats this department has ever had.
And we need you in the fight.
How am I supposed to fight when I've been stabbed in the back? I tell you what.
Let me just hold onto it for a few days, and we'll see where we're at, all right? That's entirely up to you, ma'am.
Now if you'll excuse me Peter.
I know that this must be a difficult week for you.
My position on Sudan has nothing to do - with the bombing.
- I know.
If you wanted to speak at the memorial tomorrow, the department would be honored.
That's very gracious of you, ma'am, but no, thank you.
I read the report.
You saved lives that day.
You embodied the very best of this department.
The very best of humanity, for that matter.
I was having an affair.
Is that in your report? She was all those things that you just talked about.
As were many of my colleagues, and the innocent, beautiful children at that school.
And for the life of me, I can't explain why I am here, when she is not and they are not, and so, no.
Thank you very much, but I will not be speaking at the memorial.
Now if you'll excuse me.
Everything's fine.
It's just a tough week for him.
For a lot of people.
Uh, your motorcade is here to take you to the White House.
I'll be right out.
(DOOR OPENS) Elizabeth.
Tom.
- ELIZABETH: Mr.
President.
- TOM: Mr.
President.
So, I hear we've achieved clarity on Sudan's finances, if that's not an oxymoron.
That's correct, sir.
We were able to track some of the suspicious transactions from origin to endpoint.
While this isn't a complete picture, it does give us a fairly good sense of the overall purpose of the operation.
And? Basically, the money winds up in Swiss bank accounts, or goes toward the purchase of luxury real estate in Europe.
President Qasim does appear to be feathering his nest, should he ever retire, or be forced from power, more likely.
So no illicit weapons purchases or terrorist slush fund? No, sir.
Just the usual dictator shenanigans, as you suspected.
Yes, but we should add, we still don't know who's managing these transactions for him.
That's fairly academic, at this point.
Well, then, uh I think we should move forward with formally lifting the sanctions.
Before you voice them, your reservations are noted.
And shared, for that matter.
Understood, sir.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Ma'am? A word? It's urgent.
Uh - EVELYN: Ma'am.
- Hi, Evelyn.
Evelyn and her team were able to track down the identities of some of the key players behind President Qasim's financial moves.
I-I appreciate your dogged professionalism, but POTUS just moved to lift the sanctions, so their identities aren't germane anymore.
- But thank you.
- With respect, ma'am, they are.
This is Gaafar El-Basha.
The Al-Qaeda money man behind the Uganda bombing in '98.
He was killed by a drone strike eight years ago.
Are you telling me he's alive? According to our sources, he's back home in Khartoum using his financial acumen on behalf of President Qasim.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
ELIZABETH: Mr.
President, Sudan has been harboring a known terrorist under our nose for years.
If that isn't violating the terms of the sanctions, I don't know what is.
True, but on the other hand, you yourself said that El-Basha isn't engaged in any terrorist activity.
He's just laundering money so that President Qasim can say he owns a château in the Loire Valley.
So what are we suggesting here? We just let him go? Well, it's possible that once the sanctions are lifted Qasim won't need El-Basha anymore and he'll just hand him over.
WARE: Maybe the prospect of them being reimposed is enough to get Qasim to cough him up.
ELIZABETH: Respectfully, sir, we were all spies once.
El-Basha knows where all of Qasim's bodies are buried, at least the financial ones.
Do we really believe that he's just going to cut him loose? What do you suggest, Bess? We slow play lifting the sanctions, and mount an operation and grab that son of a bitch.
Excuse my French, Mr.
President.
Well, that wouldn't exactly be the most auspicious beginning to this new chapter in our relationship.
Mr.
President, our base plans are very far along.
We've got dozens of CIA personnel in-country.
Actually, that helps.
HENRY: So, what did Conrad say? That he'll think it over.
Oh, that's usually the kiss of death.
Tomorrow, I'm going to look State Department staffers in the eye and say, "Times have changed since the bombing in Uganda.
" When in fact, one of the very terrorists responsible for the bombing is cooling his heels in Khartoum, which makes a damn good case that nothing has changed at all.
Whole thing makes me sick.
Hey.
Come on.
These folks have been around the block.
They don't expect you to somehow resolve their grief.
You just need to be sincerely present for it and I have no doubt you'll do that.
Much like you are now.
Yes, this is all just an elaborate ruse - to get you to give me a compliment.
- (LAUGHS) What's going on around here? What's the latest with Piper-Gate? Oh, you know, I don't know.
I should check on that.
No, you shouldn't.
You don't think that he owes her the respect - to break up with her in person? - I do.
But I also think kids have to work this stuff out themselves.
Come on.
There's never been a more important time for us to insist our son treat women with respect.
You are preaching to the choir.
But sticking your nose into teenage romance? That way lies madness.
True.
But I'm feeling cocky.
I'm gonna go for it.
- Yeah.
I'm doing it.
- Henry.
Don't.
Don't.
Hey, Jace.
Yeah, what's up? You talk to Piper yet? Oh, you know, um, it's just such a sensitive topic.
I'm waiting for the right time.
Mm-hmm, yeah.
So in other words, you're still ghosting her.
Wait, you actually want to break up with Piper? Wow, you're an even bigger idiot - than I thought you were.
- You're an idiot.
All right, let's play "Who's an Idiot?" later.
Um, get your phone and text Piper.
Tell her you want to talk to her and then get your shoes.
We're gonna go over there.
- What? No.
- Yup.
Yeah, at least have the balls to tell her in person.
You go, Dad.
JASON: Can't I just call Piper? Seems like a happy medium.
Jace, just open the door and go talk to her.
I'll be waiting right here.
Henry.
Jason, hi.
- Piper told me you'd be stopping by.
- JASON: Hi.
Hi, Regina.
She's upstairs, Jason.
Do you want to come inside for a cup of coffee? Uh, I was just dropping Jason off.
Oh.
Thank God they'll be able to drive at night soon, right? (LAUGHS) Come on.
Have some coffee.
Uh sure.
Hey, Piper.
Hey.
Jason seems so serious tonight.
Yeah? But, you know, he's a heady kid.
He's thoughtful, mature.
Well, that's great to hear.
Frank and I just adore him.
Elizabeth and I are very fond of Piper, too.
You know, the four of us should all have dinner sometime.
I'm I know the secretary's probably very busy.
No, no, that'd be great.
Maybe on prom night.
(BOTH LAUGH) Yeah, parents' prom.
Hey, Dad, so, time to go.
Well, it's great to see you again, Regina.
Um, can't wait till they can drive at night, huh? Bye-bye now.
ELIZABETH: In closing, Abraham Lincoln wrote of those who perished in the great struggle of his age, "that from these honored dead we take increased devotion "to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.
" For our beloved, fallen colleagues, that cause was and remains the promotion of this nation's highest ideals: equality, freedom, justice and democracy.
Let's honor their memory by humbly continuing to serve that noble cause.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
And now we will observe a moment of silence before the reading of the names of all who perished in the attack, American and Ugandan.
Please bow your heads.
(FOOTSTEPS LEAVING) MATT: You think M-Sec sold the Lincoln quote? Wait, is that what you're thinking about? You mean my job? Yeah.
You know, for someone so talented, you can be a real weenie.
Ouch.
You're lashing out.
That's natural.
You know why? Because Joanna's colicky and I haven't gotten four consecutive hours of sleep in a month? You're single.
You're lonely.
What you need is a loyal, uncomplicated companion.
I know you're not talking about you.
Again, ouch.
But no, I'm talking about Waffles.
Did you not hear what I just said? I'm exhausted literally all the time.
I don't have the energy for a dog.
I hear that.
Now hear this.
A dog in the house is proven to improve your child's immune system.
That's science.
Also, dogs are excellent deterrents to criminals.
That's very important - for a single mom.
- Please, keep saying "single.
" Which leads me to my last point.
Let's face it.
A baby carriage ain't exactly a man magnet.
(LAUGHING): I hate you so much.
But you know what is? (IMITATES DOG WHINING) You're just playing on my fear of dying alone to make me get a dog that you actually want.
That doesn't mean I'm wrong.
Out.
I'd walk him for you.
- Go.
- Come on.
You know, it would mean a lot to me to know that you and Joanna had someone to help keep you safe.
You know, you should've just opened with that, man.
Weenie.
Ma'am.
We've got Intel on El-Basha.
Okay.
CIA still hasn't nailed down his exact place of residence in Khartoum, but there does appear to be a villa, uh, under the name of an otherwise poor relation in Port Sudan.
Well, at least we've got one fixed location for him.
That's good.
Nice pool, by the way.
But he's not there now and the Red Sea's at least a full day's drive from Khartoum.
So, while the villa's a nice data point, there's no telling when he might actually show up there.
Maybe we should force his hand.
It is a pleasure, Madam Secretary, to be able to speak to you with the candor of a friend and equal.
Well, the pleasure is all mine, Mr.
Foreign Minister.
Sudan looks to build on many shared areas of corporation and we count the days until these onerous sanctions are lifted.
As do we.
Although, we did learn something of concern recently.
And what is that? It seems too incredible to be true, but are you familiar with the name Gaafar El-Basha? He was an Al-Qaeda financier.
I remember the name vaguely.
Um, he was killed some years ago, no? Well, that's just it.
We have intelligence that he might be alive.
Well, this is indeed incredible.
Furthermore, he might be hiding out in his hometown of Khartoum.
But this is impossible.
Where did you hear such a story? In light of our burgeoning partnership, might your government help in our search for him? You have my word, Madam Secretary.
If this ghost, El-Basha, is in Khartoum, we will certainly find him.
That would mean a great deal to us.
Thank you, Rashad.
Good evening, Elizabeth.
It's done.
ELIZABETH: Tell me that story again.
Not funny, Elizabeth.
Henry, come on.
I had a really hard day.
So, Jace comes running out, like, "Go, go, go!" And then you turn to Regina and say? "Can't wait till they can drive at night, huh?" (LAUGHS) That just - Probably the most - It-it's too good.
awkward moment ever.
I-I-I froze.
I-I really bricked.
I told you not to get involved.
(SIGHS) I feel bad.
If I want Jason to figure out how to treat people respectfully, I should've modeled that.
(LAUGHS) But I-I just let that poor woman prattle on about spending prom night with us.
- Oh, please.
Let-let's not do that.
- No.
- Okay? - Well, it's moot, anyway.
And then when Jason bailed, I was just "Can you wait till he can drive at night? - Am I right, Regina?" - All right, all right.
- "Is this thing working? I know I am.
" - Stop it.
You know what I'm gonna do? - (LAUGHING): What? - I'm gonna call her, and apologize and just clear the air.
- Uh, yeah - Oh, Henry, you are in a hole.
Just quit digging, would you? Never.
Good night, beautiful.
Good night, handsome.
(GRUNTS) (LAUGHS) Not funny.
(LAUGHING): It is so funny.
Hi, I'm Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, and this is Patton.
He's training for a very special mission.
There's no denying he's cute.
He's so much more than that.
He's got spirit.
Just-just look into his eyes.
He'll show them all.
It's just not the right time, and-and that's all there is to it.
Fine.
Are you ready, Patton? Come on.
Let's go.
Come on.
Patton is a real pro.
Yeah, screw that guy.
And that's a cut.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Thank you, Madam Secretary.
We'll be ready with the next setup in just a minute.
- Great.
- Cool.
I have got to tell you guys, this place is making me rethink my whole stance on not getting a dog.
Oh, my God.
Look at how cute you are.
He's so much more than that, though.
ELIZABETH: "Waffles," oh.
Waffles is up for adoption? Oh, my goodness, sweetheart, do you want to come home with me and just snugg-ugg-ugg DAISY: Already spoken for.
- Yes - Yeah.
I'm adopting him.
Waffles is my dog, okay? - O-Okay.
- It's her dog.
Oh, good.
Great, Daisy, that's DIRECTOR: We're ready when you are, - Madam Secretary.
- Congratul okay.
Shut up.
You're welcome.
DALTON: Looks like your plan to get El-Basha out of Khartoum worked.
Well, we'll see.
Soon enough.
Oh.
Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
Anyway, thanks for coming.
Lydia thought I could stand to have some company while I'm waiting to hear how this plays out, so thanks for being here.
(EXHALES) You know, Bess, I've been thinking about that bombing in Uganda, all those years ago.
One of the first shots in what's turned out to be a very long fight.
We have children that were born after that started.
And there's still no real end in sight.
ELIZABETH: Well, we've had many successes.
We've downgraded Al-Qaeda and ISIL And Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram and the rest.
20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of American lives.
(EXHALES) I've stood on that tarmac at Dover and saluted more coffins than I can count.
And are we any closer to victory? I mean, what would victory even look like? - It's a paradox.
- I-I feel like I'm failing the American people, like I'm failing the world, because I don't have a better answer.
ELIZABETH: Well, I know going after El-Basha is personal to me, but Conrad, I think this one is worth the risk.
It always is.
Hmm.
That's the problem, in some ways.
- (KNOCK AT DOOR) - MILITARY AIDE: Mr.
President.
The SEALs are inside El-Basha's compound.
What are you doing? Who are you? Invictus.
Repeat, Invictus.
COMMAND: Invictus, copy.
Proceed to rendezvous for exfil.
Madam Secretary, Sudan must officially protest this violation of our sovereignty.
Sure.
Why not? I'm really calling to alert your government to two items.
Gaafar El-Basha is awaiting arraignment on terrorism charges in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia that's where the preponderance of his victims used to live, you see excluding, of course, the dozens of Ugandans who were also murdered that day.
Shall I read you all the names? We will rescind our approval of the CIA base in our country.
But the CIA agents in Sudan have already proven their worth.
In fact, it was their Intel that brought a notorious terrorist to justice.
How can the U.
S.
afford to lose such an asset? I'm telling you what you should say to me next year, when the U.
S.
will reconsider lifting the sanctions.
A year's time? We had an agreement.
We did.
And we will again, provided you're transparent in your dealings with us.
But there's one thing that you should know, Going forward: when it comes to avenging harm done to our people, we never forget.
Let me know what you decide about the base.
Bye.
Wait, just a Hi, Regina, it's Henry McCord.
How are you? Good I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine.
Listen, I wanted to talk to you about the Okay.
(DOOR CLOSES) other night, um Uh, I'm sorry, Regina, can I call you right back? Yes.
Thanks.
Sorry.
Uh, hey, Piper.
Hi, Henry.
Hey.
Um, Jace, can I talk to you for just one sec? Yeah.
Sure.
(EXHALES) What's up, Dad? Uh, you, uh (STAMMERS) Why don't you tell me? Oh, yeah, um, you were totally right.
You know, just after the other night, I-I realized that, you know, I wanted some space, but not infinite, endless space.
So, you know, we talked it out, and, uh, I feel like we really grew as a couple, so thanks, Dad.
Good for you, son.
Madam Secretary, you wanted to see me? Uh Yeah.
Peter, I, uh I wanted to tell you that I accept your resignation as special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan.
Oh, well (SIGHS) Thank you, Madam Secretary.
It was an honor to serve.
I also recommended to the president that he name you the next ambassador to the U.
N.
POTUS agreed.
(EXHALES) This means a great deal.
Do you mind if I take a couple of days to think it over? Well, don't take too long.
As I said, we need you in the fight.
Of course.
I should apologize to you for my outburst the other day.
No.
I should apologize to you, Peter.
W-Will you sit down? (CLEARS THROAT) I could get in a lot of trouble for telling you this, but what the hell? I was in the Bin Laden Issue Station at CIA in '98.
We knew something was coming, we just couldn't figure out all the pieces fast enough.
And we failed you and your colleagues, and for that, I am profoundly sorry.
Don't beat yourself up too much on that score, ma'am.
There's blame enough for everybody.
State knew that building was too close to the street to be safe.
The White House underfunded security measures 'cause they were so determined to get their "peace dividend.
" CIA should have given your unit more resources.
On and on it goes.
We all failed.
But if it gives you any comfort, Hear my words: I forgive you.
Thank you.
Since we're revealing secrets (SIGHS) my-my grief makes me ashamed when I think about how much others lost.
Parents lost sons and daughters and husbands lost wives.
(GRUNTS) Meanwhile, my wife and kids were safe, back in D.
C.
, while I was running around.
I think it was deeper than that.
(SIGHS) Things weren't so great at home to start with.
I volunteered for hardship posts, like Kampala.
It wasn't fair to my wife, or the kids.
But I loved the work.
And I felt like we were making a difference.
So did she.
Do you want to tell me about her? (CHUCKLES) Well, we had very different tastes in music, I'll tell you that.
She loved indie rock.
(CHUCKLING): And I I'm an old jazz guy.
Even back then, I was just a grumpy old man.
(BOTH LAUGH) We'd drive around, those warm Kampala nights, and trade off listening to cassettes.
Liz Phair, and Billie Holiday.
She used to call me her "funny valentine.
" My figure being less than Greek, you understand.
Madam Secretary, I tend to inspire strong reactions in people.
Hmm, something usually between grudging respect and open hostility.
But she was She was the first one to really see me.
And it was wonderful.
Her name was Lana.
She was the love of my life.
(SNIFFLES) ("MY FUNNY VALENTINE" BEGINS)
Oh, Daniel, you know, I'd love to, but I got this meeting with an NGO.
- Uh-uh - But listen, happy birthday.
- Go have fun.
- (CHUCKLES) Don't work too hard, my friend.
Never.
So you're heading out for the meeting? If I get back to town early enough, you want to have dinner with me? I always want to have dinner with you.
Now, go do some good.
What the hell are you doing, Pete? (EXPLOSION) (LOUD RINGING IN EARS) Oh, my God.
(PEOPLE SCREAMING) (PEOPLE MOANING) Right there, right there.
PETER: This way! This way to the stairwell! This way.
Go to the stairwell and go down.
Go to the stairwell and go down.
Right there.
Find the stairwell and go down.
Hello? WOMAN: Help! DANIEL: Peter? Daniel.
I-I cannot see.
- It's okay.
- I cannot see.
It's okay, I got you.
Come on.
Let's go to the stairwell.
Okay? Marine.
Take this man downstairs.
His name's Daniel, he can't see.
Come on, Daniel.
We got you.
Come on.
We got you.
Lana? Lana? Lana? (CRYING): Lana Don't go.
Lana.
(SOBBING) DAISY: Okay, Madam Secretary, you'll give some brief remarks, followed by a reading of the names of all the victims, and then, there will be a moment of silence.
And then anyone who wants to will adjourn to the conference room for a small reception.
Why "small"? And "brief"? Ma'am? We're commemorating the 20th anniversary of an attack that took the lives of 32 Americans, 56 Ugandans, injuring hundreds more.
Seems like it's worthy of reflection.
What's with all the minimizing? MATT: Well, we generally try to avoid highlighting any intelligence failures.
Particularly when it comes to Al-Qaeda and bin Laden.
I'm not looking for a parade here.
But not properly acknowledging the loss to the department, to the families? That makes us look bad.
Understood, ma'am.
So the the reading of the names, that'll include the Ugandans, too, right? The 26 Foreign Service Nationals who worked at the embassy, yes, ma'am.
What about the rest of them? The 18 children crowded around the gate to their school down the block from where the bomb went off? Their teachers? The four nuns on their way to work at the AIDS hospice? We don't-we don't have time to say their names aloud, too? Of course we do, ma'am.
Damn right, we do.
Ma'am, there are, actually, a couple of issues somewhat related to the anniversary.
First, the White House is asking us to expedite our review of the sanctions regime on Sudan.
Uh, didn't we sanction them precisely because they harbored terrorists responsible for the Uganda bombing? Well, that, and the occasional genocide against their own people.
The thinking is they've cleaned up their act.
On the terrorism front, anyway.
So maybe 20 years is long enough.
But what's the rush about? Doing my best to find out, ma'am.
Good.
Meantime, gather the relevant folks within the department, get me a recommendation, will you? Have fun with Peter Harriman.
Yeah, lucky me.
Last item and you won't believe it Congress is once again making noise about cutting our budget for embassy security.
(SCOFFS) I can believe it.
The usual pleading and guilt-tripping didn't move the needle, huh? Well, if anyone has an out-of-the-box idea to convince Congress to keep our diplomats alive, I'm all ears.
That'll be all.
Thank you.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, do you want me to scale up the memorial? As long as all the names are read, that should be fine.
I was having a moment.
Apologies.
Is everything all right? Listen, um, about Special Envoy Harriman.
I know he can be a pain.
Go easy today, will you? He survived the bombing in '98.
I wasn't aware.
I'll do that.
Thank you, ma'am.
Yep.
JAY: Let's sum up pros and cons and move to a recommendation for the secretary.
Pete, you have a question.
What's really going on here, Jay? Why is the White House so hot to lift sanctions all of a sudden? It's a great question.
And one that the secretary also wants an answer to.
Something stinks.
Is there some sort of Pentagon play afoot here? Like I said, we're into it.
Kat, why don't you sum up the arguments - in favor of lifting the sanctions? - KAT: Right.
So the idea is that Sudan has basically done what we demanded, uh, they've stopped supporting terrorism, as far as we know, they are allowing more food aid to reach vulnerable populations.
They are no longer stoking the civil war in South Sudan.
So in short, the chief argument for lifting the sanctions is that they worked.
Okay, thanks.
Now the cons? Why should the sanctions remain in place? Pete? For exactly the same reason.
President Qasim didn't just stop supporting Al-Qaeda out of the goodness of his heart.
He did it because we hit his regime and his cronies and his family where it hurt.
The sanctions are the only meaningful tool that we have to affect his behavior.
It's just too soon.
What about the counterargument that the sanctions aren't really hurting the regime, but just trickling down to the Sudanese people? Yes, Qasim and his friends have managed to evade the worst impacts, but they've felt the bite enough to come this far.
In the long run, are we preventing more suffering than we're causing? I say we are.
President Qasim is not a young man.
We could use the prospect of lifting the sanctions as a carrot to try to affect their choice of his successor, and how he behaves.
So in my view, we keep our boot on his neck until this bastard is dead.
JAY: So our recommendation is that we keep the sanctions in place? Okay.
Great.
Thanks, everybody.
Look who's here.
- Hey, babe.
Ready for lunch? - ELIZABETH: Hey, honey.
Yeah.
Mm.
Um, Henry and I are gonna go eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the freezing cold park.
This is what passes for a date night these days.
Ah.
Yeah.
Don't wait up for us.
(CHUCKLES) - Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
MATT: Hey, Doc.
- HENRY: Hey, guys.
- Hi.
I think we may have found a way to, uh, cut through the noise on the embassy security funding issue.
Don't oversell it.
Congress wants to cut our budget for embassy security, again.
Unbelievable.
But believable.
Look, whatever you're selling, sell it to me on the walk, okay? Yes, ma'am.
Uh, three words: bomb-sniffing dogs.
To adequately protect our facilities and personnel worldwide, State needs to add at least 30 more in the upcoming year.
Yeah, but every other agency and local PD wants them, which makes them expensive.
So what's your pitch? We make a video with you and a bomb-sniffing dog.
Highlighting how much State depends on the work they do, and implicitly, how Congress is putting our folks in danger by cutting our funding so we can't afford them.
But because it's a dog video, it's adorable, so it goes viral, and all of a sudden, there's outside pressure on Congress.
Better be a pretty cute dog.
So, what do you think? It's the best idea - I've heard today.
- Maybe we should get a dog.
(SIGHS) Oh, now look what you've started.
- Just save one.
- All right, get into it and get back to me.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Will do, ma'am.
You don't have to do this.
What, freeze my ass off on a park bench with you? There's nothing I'd rather be doing.
Hold my hand through this week.
I refer to my earlier statement.
I snapped at my staff about the memorial.
Well, they'll get over it.
Maybe I should put a letter in a time capsule.
"So, hey, "my involvement with the Bin Laden Issue Station at CIA "has finally been declassified, so here's (LAUGHING): why I was such a bitch.
" You were a mid-level analyst, Elizabeth.
You couldn't have stopped that bombing.
After the first World Trade Center attack in '93, we knew it was just a matter of time before they hit us again.
All those plotters are either dead, or serving a life sentence in a supermax.
I always wanted to apologize, you know? But I can't.
And to be Secretary of State, to speak at that memorial, and not acknowledge my own failure? Babe, it's Henry, it bothers me.
I know.
I'm here.
With lunch.
And dinner tomorrow night.
The kids will be there, too.
So you're just gonna help me eat my way through this? Yeah, that's the plan.
Now, come on.
Let's go to the Einstein Memorial.
Old Al always cheers you up.
'Cause he's just like, "Yeah, I'm just sitting here, with my three history-altering theorems, like, no big deal.
" Let's go.
Just am.
JAY: Good morning, ma'am.
Uh, we need to talk, before you go in there.
What's up? You know how CIA's been (QUIETLY): expanding its relationship with Sudan the last few years? - Yeah, what about it? - Turns out that they're pretty far down the road with negotiations to build a base there.
Are you kidding me? So that's what's behind the urgency to lift the sanctions? That's my bet.
Okay.
Mr.
President, I-I'm sorry, but I-I resent my department being left in the dark about these negotiations.
But putting that to one side, is this meeting a foregone conclusion? Do State's recommendations even matter? DALTON: Of course it does.
Wouldn't be holding the meeting if it didn't, Bess.
State, uh, remains opposed to lifting the sanctions? Yes.
For reasons too numerous, obvious and odious to mention.
- Sir.
- WARE: Madam Secretary, I understand your frustration.
But the rapidly evolving terrorist threat in Africa was such that CIA needed to move just as quickly to thwart it.
By cozying up to an oppressive regime? That's how we wound up with a terrorist threat in the first place.
DALTON: I hear you.
But we have to fight today's battle, not yesterday's.
I agree, sir.
But the fact that Qasim has pitted our government against itself is warning enough that he is not a trustworthy ally in that fight.
What's Treasury's view on this? While the sanctions have been broadly effective, Sudan's Ministry of Finance has, in recent years, become much more creative in getting money in and out of the country.
DALTON: Meaning what? That's just it; we don't know.
It's dark money, so it's hard to say where it's going.
WARE: It could well just be the usual money laundering of a corrupt regime.
Or it could be money marked for more nefarious purposes.
Procuring more weapons for use against their own people.
ELIZABETH: Exactly.
Now, look, Qasim remains a hardline Islamist.
How convinced are we that he has changed his stripes? So you think this dark money could be supporting terrorism? I think we should certainly find out before we hand him a blank check.
WARE: Sir, the United States doesn't have a terror problem in Sudan.
We cannot say the same about any number of its neighbors.
This base is a bulwark against a real and growing threat.
We must act quickly.
Well, let's see if we can get to the bottom of Qasim's finances before we give away the store.
You have three days.
Thank you.
Well, the regime in Khartoum has always tried to evade the sanctions, but, uh, all of us at the forensic accounting unit began to notice an uptick about five years ago.
How are they getting money out of Sudan? Sleight of hand.
They disguise the origin of the transactions by routing them through several banks before the money arrives at its final destination.
So by the time the money shows up in, say, Paris, there's no way of telling where it came from.
And in Paris, there's usually some mirror trade set up by a straw buyer for exactly the sum that left Khartoum.
- Convenient.
- EVELYN: Isn't it, though? And you don't know where the money goes after that? PETER: No, at that point, it's clean.
So it becomes very hard to track.
The sheer volume and complexity of these transactions makes it impossible to trace them all end to end.
But we have drilled down on a few just to get a snapshot.
We should have some answers for you very soon.
Yeah, and what changed in the last five or so years that allowed them to up their game like this? Unknown at this point, ma'am.
Don't know.
The ministry's kind of a black box.
You deal with these front office guys, and who knows who really moves the money? Get with OFAC at Treasury and do your best to find out, will you? Yes, ma'am.
Madam Secretary.
I believe that lifting the sanctions on the Qasim regime is a mistake, morally and strategically, and I have to object in the strongest possible terms.
I understand.
But the president sets policy, and we execute it.
Understood, ma'am.
(DOGS BARKING) That means she just found the explosives.
Incredible.
How do they find it so fast? Training.
But having 300 million scent cells in her nose as compared to our measly six million doesn't hurt, either.
- Hmm.
- Wow.
And-and why does she sit, instead, you know, scratch or something? What happens when you touch a bomb? That's a good point.
Anyway, Gage, as we mentioned, we want to shoot some video of one of the grown dogs at work, and then, we want to get some footage of the secretary with one of the younger trainees.
Let's look in the kennel.
Okay.
Let's go find our hero dog.
He's so cute.
(MATT CHUCKLES) Eh? Hi.
Poncho - (GASPS) - (COOING) Oh! - Look at this guy.
- Oh! - Look at this guy.
- Oh, ho - Yeah.
- (LAUGHS) - How about this one? - GAGE: Who, Waffles? - Yeah.
- Nah, you don't want him.
He's a washout.
- What does that mean? - He's a good boy.
Sweet, great with the staff.
Unfortunately, the training's making clear he's not much of a bomb sniffer.
Not like Patton, here.
Hey, boy.
MATT: You're a pupper.
- He's a natural.
- Whoa.
Here, boy (LAUGHS) Looks like we've found our star.
So, uh, what-what happens to Waffles? GAGE: He'll go up for adoption.
Our washouts make fantastic pets.
Either of you in the market? Man, I wish I could, but my building won't allow dogs.
B-But she's been thinking about getting one.
What? No, actually, I have a new baby, so Up to you.
Uh, in any event, if you are interested, he'll go quickly.
You hear that? No, thanks.
Although, he does seem like a good boy.
(MATT CHUCKLES) Okay, uh, Gage, why don't-why don't we walk through the shoot? - Yeah.
- Okay.
Hey, pal.
Hey.
Dinner's gonna be about 7:00.
This lasagna's vegetarian, if you want to ask Piper to join.
Oh, uh No, that's okay.
You don't want to invite her? No, it's just that I think it's important for just the family to spend some time together.
That's why we've barely seen you without Piper in, like, five months.
Yeah.
Tell me about it.
W-Wait, hang on a second.
Wait, what's going on? Are you guys in a fight, or something? Well, she wants to be.
I haven't exactly been texting her back.
Okay, all right, back up for a second.
Uh, I mean, the last couple of weeks, we haven't been able to get you away from Piper.
Now, what, you're just ghosting her? That's the thing.
I'm suffocating.
You know? Like-like, if I just want to hang out with my friends, she comes along.
And if she goes to the mall, then, I go along.
If she-if she volunteers at the homeless shelter, then, I volunteer at the homeless shelter.
- I thought you liked volunteering.
- Yeah.
It was a profound experience in class awakening, but that's not the point.
Well, look, it sounds to me like you guys just need to have a talk, you know, about stuff like boundaries, maybe spending some time apart.
All we do is talk.
All right? I've never been more in touch with my feelings, and it's exhausting.
And I always feel like like I'm just coming up a little bit short.
Well, get used to that, buddy.
(SCOFFS) Okay, well, we've had a good run, but it I feel like it's time to end things.
Hang on.
Listen to me.
Piper's been a really important person to you.
She's been a great friend.
So if you want to end it, don't you think you owe it to her, and to yourself, to have a conversation about it, face-to-face? That's not really how kids do stuff anymore.
Well, I don't care how kids do stuff, I care how you do stuff.
Okay.
Fine.
All right.
When are you gonna talk to her? Soon.
Really soon.
I'm holding you to that.
Madam Secretary, thanks for taking the time.
Of course.
What can I do for you? I wanted to give you this.
If that's your resignation, I won't accept it.
I have to insist.
My position has been undermined.
I can't be an effective negotiator when the regime in Khartoum knows they can just go around me and get what they want from CIA.
Look, I'm as unhappy about how this is playing out as you are.
But you are one of the ablest diplomats this department has ever had.
And we need you in the fight.
How am I supposed to fight when I've been stabbed in the back? I tell you what.
Let me just hold onto it for a few days, and we'll see where we're at, all right? That's entirely up to you, ma'am.
Now if you'll excuse me Peter.
I know that this must be a difficult week for you.
My position on Sudan has nothing to do - with the bombing.
- I know.
If you wanted to speak at the memorial tomorrow, the department would be honored.
That's very gracious of you, ma'am, but no, thank you.
I read the report.
You saved lives that day.
You embodied the very best of this department.
The very best of humanity, for that matter.
I was having an affair.
Is that in your report? She was all those things that you just talked about.
As were many of my colleagues, and the innocent, beautiful children at that school.
And for the life of me, I can't explain why I am here, when she is not and they are not, and so, no.
Thank you very much, but I will not be speaking at the memorial.
Now if you'll excuse me.
Everything's fine.
It's just a tough week for him.
For a lot of people.
Uh, your motorcade is here to take you to the White House.
I'll be right out.
(DOOR OPENS) Elizabeth.
Tom.
- ELIZABETH: Mr.
President.
- TOM: Mr.
President.
So, I hear we've achieved clarity on Sudan's finances, if that's not an oxymoron.
That's correct, sir.
We were able to track some of the suspicious transactions from origin to endpoint.
While this isn't a complete picture, it does give us a fairly good sense of the overall purpose of the operation.
And? Basically, the money winds up in Swiss bank accounts, or goes toward the purchase of luxury real estate in Europe.
President Qasim does appear to be feathering his nest, should he ever retire, or be forced from power, more likely.
So no illicit weapons purchases or terrorist slush fund? No, sir.
Just the usual dictator shenanigans, as you suspected.
Yes, but we should add, we still don't know who's managing these transactions for him.
That's fairly academic, at this point.
Well, then, uh I think we should move forward with formally lifting the sanctions.
Before you voice them, your reservations are noted.
And shared, for that matter.
Understood, sir.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Ma'am? A word? It's urgent.
Uh - EVELYN: Ma'am.
- Hi, Evelyn.
Evelyn and her team were able to track down the identities of some of the key players behind President Qasim's financial moves.
I-I appreciate your dogged professionalism, but POTUS just moved to lift the sanctions, so their identities aren't germane anymore.
- But thank you.
- With respect, ma'am, they are.
This is Gaafar El-Basha.
The Al-Qaeda money man behind the Uganda bombing in '98.
He was killed by a drone strike eight years ago.
Are you telling me he's alive? According to our sources, he's back home in Khartoum using his financial acumen on behalf of President Qasim.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
ELIZABETH: Mr.
President, Sudan has been harboring a known terrorist under our nose for years.
If that isn't violating the terms of the sanctions, I don't know what is.
True, but on the other hand, you yourself said that El-Basha isn't engaged in any terrorist activity.
He's just laundering money so that President Qasim can say he owns a château in the Loire Valley.
So what are we suggesting here? We just let him go? Well, it's possible that once the sanctions are lifted Qasim won't need El-Basha anymore and he'll just hand him over.
WARE: Maybe the prospect of them being reimposed is enough to get Qasim to cough him up.
ELIZABETH: Respectfully, sir, we were all spies once.
El-Basha knows where all of Qasim's bodies are buried, at least the financial ones.
Do we really believe that he's just going to cut him loose? What do you suggest, Bess? We slow play lifting the sanctions, and mount an operation and grab that son of a bitch.
Excuse my French, Mr.
President.
Well, that wouldn't exactly be the most auspicious beginning to this new chapter in our relationship.
Mr.
President, our base plans are very far along.
We've got dozens of CIA personnel in-country.
Actually, that helps.
HENRY: So, what did Conrad say? That he'll think it over.
Oh, that's usually the kiss of death.
Tomorrow, I'm going to look State Department staffers in the eye and say, "Times have changed since the bombing in Uganda.
" When in fact, one of the very terrorists responsible for the bombing is cooling his heels in Khartoum, which makes a damn good case that nothing has changed at all.
Whole thing makes me sick.
Hey.
Come on.
These folks have been around the block.
They don't expect you to somehow resolve their grief.
You just need to be sincerely present for it and I have no doubt you'll do that.
Much like you are now.
Yes, this is all just an elaborate ruse - to get you to give me a compliment.
- (LAUGHS) What's going on around here? What's the latest with Piper-Gate? Oh, you know, I don't know.
I should check on that.
No, you shouldn't.
You don't think that he owes her the respect - to break up with her in person? - I do.
But I also think kids have to work this stuff out themselves.
Come on.
There's never been a more important time for us to insist our son treat women with respect.
You are preaching to the choir.
But sticking your nose into teenage romance? That way lies madness.
True.
But I'm feeling cocky.
I'm gonna go for it.
- Yeah.
I'm doing it.
- Henry.
Don't.
Don't.
Hey, Jace.
Yeah, what's up? You talk to Piper yet? Oh, you know, um, it's just such a sensitive topic.
I'm waiting for the right time.
Mm-hmm, yeah.
So in other words, you're still ghosting her.
Wait, you actually want to break up with Piper? Wow, you're an even bigger idiot - than I thought you were.
- You're an idiot.
All right, let's play "Who's an Idiot?" later.
Um, get your phone and text Piper.
Tell her you want to talk to her and then get your shoes.
We're gonna go over there.
- What? No.
- Yup.
Yeah, at least have the balls to tell her in person.
You go, Dad.
JASON: Can't I just call Piper? Seems like a happy medium.
Jace, just open the door and go talk to her.
I'll be waiting right here.
Henry.
Jason, hi.
- Piper told me you'd be stopping by.
- JASON: Hi.
Hi, Regina.
She's upstairs, Jason.
Do you want to come inside for a cup of coffee? Uh, I was just dropping Jason off.
Oh.
Thank God they'll be able to drive at night soon, right? (LAUGHS) Come on.
Have some coffee.
Uh sure.
Hey, Piper.
Hey.
Jason seems so serious tonight.
Yeah? But, you know, he's a heady kid.
He's thoughtful, mature.
Well, that's great to hear.
Frank and I just adore him.
Elizabeth and I are very fond of Piper, too.
You know, the four of us should all have dinner sometime.
I'm I know the secretary's probably very busy.
No, no, that'd be great.
Maybe on prom night.
(BOTH LAUGH) Yeah, parents' prom.
Hey, Dad, so, time to go.
Well, it's great to see you again, Regina.
Um, can't wait till they can drive at night, huh? Bye-bye now.
ELIZABETH: In closing, Abraham Lincoln wrote of those who perished in the great struggle of his age, "that from these honored dead we take increased devotion "to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.
" For our beloved, fallen colleagues, that cause was and remains the promotion of this nation's highest ideals: equality, freedom, justice and democracy.
Let's honor their memory by humbly continuing to serve that noble cause.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
And now we will observe a moment of silence before the reading of the names of all who perished in the attack, American and Ugandan.
Please bow your heads.
(FOOTSTEPS LEAVING) MATT: You think M-Sec sold the Lincoln quote? Wait, is that what you're thinking about? You mean my job? Yeah.
You know, for someone so talented, you can be a real weenie.
Ouch.
You're lashing out.
That's natural.
You know why? Because Joanna's colicky and I haven't gotten four consecutive hours of sleep in a month? You're single.
You're lonely.
What you need is a loyal, uncomplicated companion.
I know you're not talking about you.
Again, ouch.
But no, I'm talking about Waffles.
Did you not hear what I just said? I'm exhausted literally all the time.
I don't have the energy for a dog.
I hear that.
Now hear this.
A dog in the house is proven to improve your child's immune system.
That's science.
Also, dogs are excellent deterrents to criminals.
That's very important - for a single mom.
- Please, keep saying "single.
" Which leads me to my last point.
Let's face it.
A baby carriage ain't exactly a man magnet.
(LAUGHING): I hate you so much.
But you know what is? (IMITATES DOG WHINING) You're just playing on my fear of dying alone to make me get a dog that you actually want.
That doesn't mean I'm wrong.
Out.
I'd walk him for you.
- Go.
- Come on.
You know, it would mean a lot to me to know that you and Joanna had someone to help keep you safe.
You know, you should've just opened with that, man.
Weenie.
Ma'am.
We've got Intel on El-Basha.
Okay.
CIA still hasn't nailed down his exact place of residence in Khartoum, but there does appear to be a villa, uh, under the name of an otherwise poor relation in Port Sudan.
Well, at least we've got one fixed location for him.
That's good.
Nice pool, by the way.
But he's not there now and the Red Sea's at least a full day's drive from Khartoum.
So, while the villa's a nice data point, there's no telling when he might actually show up there.
Maybe we should force his hand.
It is a pleasure, Madam Secretary, to be able to speak to you with the candor of a friend and equal.
Well, the pleasure is all mine, Mr.
Foreign Minister.
Sudan looks to build on many shared areas of corporation and we count the days until these onerous sanctions are lifted.
As do we.
Although, we did learn something of concern recently.
And what is that? It seems too incredible to be true, but are you familiar with the name Gaafar El-Basha? He was an Al-Qaeda financier.
I remember the name vaguely.
Um, he was killed some years ago, no? Well, that's just it.
We have intelligence that he might be alive.
Well, this is indeed incredible.
Furthermore, he might be hiding out in his hometown of Khartoum.
But this is impossible.
Where did you hear such a story? In light of our burgeoning partnership, might your government help in our search for him? You have my word, Madam Secretary.
If this ghost, El-Basha, is in Khartoum, we will certainly find him.
That would mean a great deal to us.
Thank you, Rashad.
Good evening, Elizabeth.
It's done.
ELIZABETH: Tell me that story again.
Not funny, Elizabeth.
Henry, come on.
I had a really hard day.
So, Jace comes running out, like, "Go, go, go!" And then you turn to Regina and say? "Can't wait till they can drive at night, huh?" (LAUGHS) That just - Probably the most - It-it's too good.
awkward moment ever.
I-I-I froze.
I-I really bricked.
I told you not to get involved.
(SIGHS) I feel bad.
If I want Jason to figure out how to treat people respectfully, I should've modeled that.
(LAUGHS) But I-I just let that poor woman prattle on about spending prom night with us.
- Oh, please.
Let-let's not do that.
- No.
- Okay? - Well, it's moot, anyway.
And then when Jason bailed, I was just "Can you wait till he can drive at night? - Am I right, Regina?" - All right, all right.
- "Is this thing working? I know I am.
" - Stop it.
You know what I'm gonna do? - (LAUGHING): What? - I'm gonna call her, and apologize and just clear the air.
- Uh, yeah - Oh, Henry, you are in a hole.
Just quit digging, would you? Never.
Good night, beautiful.
Good night, handsome.
(GRUNTS) (LAUGHS) Not funny.
(LAUGHING): It is so funny.
Hi, I'm Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, and this is Patton.
He's training for a very special mission.
There's no denying he's cute.
He's so much more than that.
He's got spirit.
Just-just look into his eyes.
He'll show them all.
It's just not the right time, and-and that's all there is to it.
Fine.
Are you ready, Patton? Come on.
Let's go.
Come on.
Patton is a real pro.
Yeah, screw that guy.
And that's a cut.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Thank you, Madam Secretary.
We'll be ready with the next setup in just a minute.
- Great.
- Cool.
I have got to tell you guys, this place is making me rethink my whole stance on not getting a dog.
Oh, my God.
Look at how cute you are.
He's so much more than that, though.
ELIZABETH: "Waffles," oh.
Waffles is up for adoption? Oh, my goodness, sweetheart, do you want to come home with me and just snugg-ugg-ugg DAISY: Already spoken for.
- Yes - Yeah.
I'm adopting him.
Waffles is my dog, okay? - O-Okay.
- It's her dog.
Oh, good.
Great, Daisy, that's DIRECTOR: We're ready when you are, - Madam Secretary.
- Congratul okay.
Shut up.
You're welcome.
DALTON: Looks like your plan to get El-Basha out of Khartoum worked.
Well, we'll see.
Soon enough.
Oh.
Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
Anyway, thanks for coming.
Lydia thought I could stand to have some company while I'm waiting to hear how this plays out, so thanks for being here.
(EXHALES) You know, Bess, I've been thinking about that bombing in Uganda, all those years ago.
One of the first shots in what's turned out to be a very long fight.
We have children that were born after that started.
And there's still no real end in sight.
ELIZABETH: Well, we've had many successes.
We've downgraded Al-Qaeda and ISIL And Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram and the rest.
20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of American lives.
(EXHALES) I've stood on that tarmac at Dover and saluted more coffins than I can count.
And are we any closer to victory? I mean, what would victory even look like? - It's a paradox.
- I-I feel like I'm failing the American people, like I'm failing the world, because I don't have a better answer.
ELIZABETH: Well, I know going after El-Basha is personal to me, but Conrad, I think this one is worth the risk.
It always is.
Hmm.
That's the problem, in some ways.
- (KNOCK AT DOOR) - MILITARY AIDE: Mr.
President.
The SEALs are inside El-Basha's compound.
What are you doing? Who are you? Invictus.
Repeat, Invictus.
COMMAND: Invictus, copy.
Proceed to rendezvous for exfil.
Madam Secretary, Sudan must officially protest this violation of our sovereignty.
Sure.
Why not? I'm really calling to alert your government to two items.
Gaafar El-Basha is awaiting arraignment on terrorism charges in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia that's where the preponderance of his victims used to live, you see excluding, of course, the dozens of Ugandans who were also murdered that day.
Shall I read you all the names? We will rescind our approval of the CIA base in our country.
But the CIA agents in Sudan have already proven their worth.
In fact, it was their Intel that brought a notorious terrorist to justice.
How can the U.
S.
afford to lose such an asset? I'm telling you what you should say to me next year, when the U.
S.
will reconsider lifting the sanctions.
A year's time? We had an agreement.
We did.
And we will again, provided you're transparent in your dealings with us.
But there's one thing that you should know, Going forward: when it comes to avenging harm done to our people, we never forget.
Let me know what you decide about the base.
Bye.
Wait, just a Hi, Regina, it's Henry McCord.
How are you? Good I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine.
Listen, I wanted to talk to you about the Okay.
(DOOR CLOSES) other night, um Uh, I'm sorry, Regina, can I call you right back? Yes.
Thanks.
Sorry.
Uh, hey, Piper.
Hi, Henry.
Hey.
Um, Jace, can I talk to you for just one sec? Yeah.
Sure.
(EXHALES) What's up, Dad? Uh, you, uh (STAMMERS) Why don't you tell me? Oh, yeah, um, you were totally right.
You know, just after the other night, I-I realized that, you know, I wanted some space, but not infinite, endless space.
So, you know, we talked it out, and, uh, I feel like we really grew as a couple, so thanks, Dad.
Good for you, son.
Madam Secretary, you wanted to see me? Uh Yeah.
Peter, I, uh I wanted to tell you that I accept your resignation as special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan.
Oh, well (SIGHS) Thank you, Madam Secretary.
It was an honor to serve.
I also recommended to the president that he name you the next ambassador to the U.
N.
POTUS agreed.
(EXHALES) This means a great deal.
Do you mind if I take a couple of days to think it over? Well, don't take too long.
As I said, we need you in the fight.
Of course.
I should apologize to you for my outburst the other day.
No.
I should apologize to you, Peter.
W-Will you sit down? (CLEARS THROAT) I could get in a lot of trouble for telling you this, but what the hell? I was in the Bin Laden Issue Station at CIA in '98.
We knew something was coming, we just couldn't figure out all the pieces fast enough.
And we failed you and your colleagues, and for that, I am profoundly sorry.
Don't beat yourself up too much on that score, ma'am.
There's blame enough for everybody.
State knew that building was too close to the street to be safe.
The White House underfunded security measures 'cause they were so determined to get their "peace dividend.
" CIA should have given your unit more resources.
On and on it goes.
We all failed.
But if it gives you any comfort, Hear my words: I forgive you.
Thank you.
Since we're revealing secrets (SIGHS) my-my grief makes me ashamed when I think about how much others lost.
Parents lost sons and daughters and husbands lost wives.
(GRUNTS) Meanwhile, my wife and kids were safe, back in D.
C.
, while I was running around.
I think it was deeper than that.
(SIGHS) Things weren't so great at home to start with.
I volunteered for hardship posts, like Kampala.
It wasn't fair to my wife, or the kids.
But I loved the work.
And I felt like we were making a difference.
So did she.
Do you want to tell me about her? (CHUCKLES) Well, we had very different tastes in music, I'll tell you that.
She loved indie rock.
(CHUCKLING): And I I'm an old jazz guy.
Even back then, I was just a grumpy old man.
(BOTH LAUGH) We'd drive around, those warm Kampala nights, and trade off listening to cassettes.
Liz Phair, and Billie Holiday.
She used to call me her "funny valentine.
" My figure being less than Greek, you understand.
Madam Secretary, I tend to inspire strong reactions in people.
Hmm, something usually between grudging respect and open hostility.
But she was She was the first one to really see me.
And it was wonderful.
Her name was Lana.
She was the love of my life.
(SNIFFLES) ("MY FUNNY VALENTINE" BEGINS)