Madam Secretary (2014) s04e18 Episode Script
The Friendship Game
1 ELIZABETH: Good night, Frank.
- HENRY: Good night, Frank.
Thank you.
(YAWNS) Ow - Sorry, okay - God, my feet hurt.
I can only do this because I stopped matching the Panamanian foreign minister drink for drink.
Oh, I know.
I heard you guys laughing and clinking glasses.
Yeah, he's Turns out, he's former military, used to teach foreign relations.
And I asked him to speak at the ethics symposium next month at the War College.
He said yes, so, yeah, I'll drink to that.
I don't know how you manage to have fun at these things.
Well, babe, I don't have the burden of the job.
Let's face it, I'm a guy that can have fun doing pretty much anything.
I know, I used to love that about you.
Oh, God, Henry.
I'm not fun anymore.
You're still fun.
Here, give (SIGHS) You know what the problem is? - Huh? - We don't we never see our friends anymore.
I mean, what happened to our friends? Where are the Rasmussens? We've been friends with them since since Melissa and Stevie were in preschool together.
When was the last time we saw them? - I don't remember.
- See? And we used to have a regular Cranium night with them.
You used to make people cry at Cranium.
Look, it's not my fault that I can still spell backwards after two drinks.
Wait a minute, didn't Dolly just have a birthday? We were always invited to that party.
(SIGHS) I think we dropped off their list.
- What? - Why? - We canceled on 'em a bunch.
Oh, so? That happens.
Like eight times.
- Eight times? - Or nine.
Nine Wow.
That is bad.
Well, I'll fix it.
I'll write 'em an e-mail, and I'll try to set something up for next weekend.
And we won't cancel.
- No matter what.
- No matter what.
And then I can be fun again.
Absolutely.
- You said I was still fun.
- (GROANS) Former pilot should have seen that propeller coming.
- I'm kidding.
- (MAKES CHOKING SOUND) See, I'm-I'm fun already.
Yeah, you are.
Okay, do my feet.
They're big.
DAISY: Jay.
Hey, what's up? You read the latest polls coming out of Honduras? Yeah, bad guy's gaining ground.
- So? - So what? So, how you gonna tell M-Sec? I'll just tell her.
Look, we're convening a conference on regional security in Central America today.
- Right.
The United States very much needs this deal as a lynchpin for our border security.
And having Honduras on board is vital.
Yeah.
And President Tejeda is only two points ahead of her rival, Maynor Fonseca, who's threatening to pull out of the agreement if he's elected.
Okay, so President Tejeda is going to be at that conference again, today freaking out about these same crappy polls and trying to figure out what to do about them.
Maybe boost her standing by appearing to stand up to the U.
S.
Yeah, by threatening to pull out of the security deal, as one example.
- Okay.
- So, when Nadine had to give M-Sec bad news first thing in the morning She also pitched her a fix.
So, do you have one? And then the conference will culminate in a signing ceremony with POTUS and the other heads of state, but you'll officially open with some remarks that Matt is putting the finishing touches on.
Do you want to give us an overview? Uh, yeah, sure.
Um, so the big idea is that, even though the countries of Central America and the U.
S.
are very different, we all have one common enemy gangs.
Drug trafficking, violence, social and economic problems in Central America create untenable living conditions - for their good citizens.
- Thanks.
Which causes said good citizens to flee from the gangs and seek refuge in the U.
S.
Now, this agreement facilitates intelligence sharing, raises law enforcement standards, and suggests social reforms that will help alleviate these problems.
DAISY: So, helping to solve the gang problem in Central America is in America's best interest, too.
In short, we're all in this together go, team.
Sounds good.
Have you all seen the latest polling out of Honduras? We have, indeed, ma'am.
President Tejeda is only up by two.
Over an ex soccer player who hates America.
Hey, there is so much more to Maynor Fonseca than that.
He's also semi-literate.
JAY: And proud of it.
He and his party portray President Tejeda as a weak woman who's soft on crime and needs Mean Daddy U.
S.
to prop her up.
ELIZABETH: Look, I've known her a while, and I admire her.
My concern is that in order to combat Fonseca's accusations that she's a U.
S.
puppet, she walks away from the agreement.
So, what do we do about that? How about a pull-aside with her at the conference? Encourage her to stay the course, and let her know that, short of putting our thumb on the scale of the election, the U.
S.
has her back.
Set it up.
Yeah.
Thanks, everybody.
You may be a little faster than Nadine.
Thanks for the heads up.
PANAMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I so enjoyed meeting your husband, Madam Secretary.
I appreciate his invitation to visit the War College.
He feels that you'll be the perfect speaker for the symposium.
If you'll excuse me a moment.
Am I wrong, or does President Tejeda look a lot more serious than she did yesterday? (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Mr.
Mahoney, your mother called again.
She said to tell you that she's not afraid to stop by.
So subtle, like a torpedo.
- Thanks, Maggie.
- Hi.
- Hey, what was that about? - Nothing good.
- Oh, no.
Family emergency? - Yeah.
I'm, uh, almost 35 and still single.
(SCOFFS) You're not single.
You and Captain Baker have Are over.
What, you broke up with Ronnie? Look, I'm really trying not to think about it.
It's painful.
I'm sure you understand.
- But why? - Thank you for understanding.
I'm sorry, Matt.
Look, she's she's going to South Korea for a year, and after that she can be assigned someplace like Qatar.
It's the nature of the job.
It's not conducive to a long-term relationship.
So, we decided to rip the Band-Aid off.
And whose idea was the Band-Aid ripping? I know you think I'm a dreamer, - but I'm a pragmatist.
- No.
- I think you're an idiot.
- Wait, she was crazy about you.
You really couldn't make it work? Yeah, I never really considered that.
Dude, I agonized over this.
This was one of the hardest decisions of my life.
Just I believe that we both deserve to be with someone who we can actually be with.
Now that I'm single again, my mom's on the job.
As in arranging a marriage? BLAKE: Well, no offense, she can't possibly do worse than you're already doing.
He has a point.
And who loves you and knows you better than anyone? And isn't an app on your phone? You know, there's a really decent chance that your mother knows what you need more than you do.
There's a decent chance that anyone knows what you need more than you do.
Dude, I know you're a fan of Ronnie.
- So am I.
She's amazing.
- No, no, I just But long-distance relationships do not work.
Everybody knows that.
Okay, so, give the fix-up a shot.
- Call your mom.
- (SIGHS) Hey.
Outgoing President Tejeda.
DAISY: So, M-Sec and Tejeda: friendly chat or tank the agreement? Cross your fingers.
Jay, thanks.
Daphne, I just wanted to tell you that I'm aware of the pressure that you are getting back home, and, as your friend, I sympathize.
So, have you seen the latest polls? Yeah, I have, and I'm sorry.
But it's also why I have to ask about your commitment to this agreement.
- I believe in the agreement.
- Good.
But you have to give me something.
Something that I can point out with pride that I was able to get from the mighty U.
S.
What, exactly, are you asking for? I want the aid money that's been allocated for this security agreement fast-tracked, so we can receive it as soon as the agreement is signed.
Meaning today? That money can only be released after certain benchmarks have been met.
You know the terms.
You helped draft them.
What do you think that soccer hooligan Fonseca is going to do with your benchmarks if he gets elected? Getting you that aid money early will earn you votes.
You are asking us to help tip the election in your favor.
And I am telling you that President Dalton would never do that.
So, now the U.
S.
is timid about meddling in our affairs? Por favor.
How many elections has the U.
S.
subverted in Latin America? How many coups and dictatorships have you backed? Indeed, how many times have you intervened in Honduras? At least seven, I believe.
Correct.
And why? Because when it comes to Honduras, the U.
S.
has always done what it views as its own interest.
(BIRDS TWITTERING) (POWER SAW WHIRRING) (SPANISH HIP HOP PLAYING) (GUNSHOTS) DALTON: It is with great hope and pride that I sign the first Central American Security Agreement.
The cooperation it enshrines will give us the chance to break the stranglehold of gangs, unleash the incredible economic potential of Central America, and to witness the dawning of a new day in our hemisphere.
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE) (REPORTERS CLAMORING) Is everything all right? There's been an incident.
One of our worst gangs, FT-88, has taken a group of NGO workers hostage.
I'm so sorry.
Is there anything that we can do to help? There's more.
All the hostages are Honduran, except one.
Her family's Honduran, but she's an American citizen.
What are their demands? $30 million in cash or they will kill the hostages.
President Tejeda, I'm sorry that this crisis has shortened the celebration for this groundbreaking security agreement.
It is very unfortunate.
Particularly in these few days before the election.
Nevertheless, I must leave immediately and deal with the situation.
We would be more than happy to offer you the help of the FBI to locate the hostages and aid in their rescue.
But your aid would only give my opponent more ammunition.
Isn't our main goal here to get the hostages freed? Surely, Fonseca couldn't shame you for that.
I assure you he would.
If Secretary McCord was correct in estimating that the release of our aid package ahead of schedule could tip the election my way, sending the FBI would unfairly help Fonseca.
And I don't think any of us want that.
Of course, Madam President.
We'll, uh, have a team standing by in case you change your mind.
TEJEDA: I assure you we can handle the situation and we will return your citizen very soon.
Now, I must go.
Thank you again, Mr.
President.
Madam President.
Well, that was frosty.
She's unhappy that I couldn't release their aid package early.
Oh, you think? Well, it's up to the two candidates to duke it out, even if it means the good guy or in this case, woman loses.
RUSSELL: Well, sure, but Honduras is still the murder capital of the Western Hemisphere.
If we leave this in the hands of their security forces, there's a good chance that American aid worker comes home in a box.
A small FBI team working a covert op might be a prudent backup plan, sir.
Let's get Deputy Director Sanchez in here, hmm? - Hi.
- Hi, Henry.
I'm Frank, Piper's dad and sometimes driver/ personal assistant.
(CHUCKLES) Good to meet you, Frank.
And I know how you feel.
Jason's at debate practice.
Apparently, he needs this book immediately when he gets home.
Probably 'cause he, you know, put off studying till the last minute.
I wonder who they think is gonna do all this running around after them when they get to college.
Well, you know, eventually, they'll lose something important and get in trouble.
That's what we used to call a poor man's education.
Yeah, but not at the colleges on Piper's list.
All her lessons are gonna be expensive.
- (CHUCKLES) - Listen, uh, Regina mentioned that the parents of the perfect couple should get together sometime.
Definitely.
Uh, we'd love that.
Great.
Well, we'll be in touch.
- Okay.
Thanks again.
- Nice meeting you.
- You know - Yeah? Why don't we, uh, just pick a date and pencil something in? Great.
Uh, how does tomorrow look? Looks like we're having dinner with you guys.
- See you later.
- Thanks again.
(EXHALES) Mr.
and Mrs.
Pedilla, hi.
I'm Jay Whitman.
Oh, we know.
You're Secretary McCord's chief of staff.
We are so glad to have you help us get our daughter back.
Yeah, I told Olivia not to go.
There's a reason my family left Honduras.
But she wouldn't listen.
She wants to change the world.
What would we do without people like Olivia? Please, please.
Well, first of all, I speak for the secretary when I say how sorry we are for what's happened.
People who do the important work like your daughter face challenges and dangers that well, they aren't for everyone, and we need more like her.
How long does it typically take for the State Department to pay the ransom? Well, the thing is, the United States doesn't do that, Mrs.
Pedilla.
We have a strict policy of never paying for hostages.
That's the policy for terrorist groups.
- But this is a gang.
- I'm sorry, but the policy is the same.
There's no money for hostages.
Wha But let me assure you that your daughter's whereabouts and ultimate release are receiving the full focus of our embassy in Tegucigalpa, as well as that of the whole department and other agencies.
We are exploring every option available to us.
Except the one that will get her released.
I'm I'm very sorry.
Listen Mr.
Whitman, we appreciate your fine sentiments and your fine Spanish, too, but words don't matter to the thugs who have our daughter.
Only money does.
And if you can't spare that, then words are all you're offering.
Thank you for your time.
(CRYING): Oh, my God.
(THOMAS SHUSHING) (CECILIA CONTINUES CRYING) THOMAS: Don't worry.
Shh.
It's okay How's the Pedilla family? Mrs.
Pedilla left in tears.
I tried to connect with them, but I wound up making it all about me.
I completely failed.
At what, exactly? Reassuring them.
Olivia Pedilla chose to live and work in one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
We may not be able to save her.
You think there's a good way to tell her parents that? I don't know.
Look, Jay, you have been around here long enough to know that this job is just one impossible situation after another.
Sometimes we can't fix it; all we can do is take it.
I can take it, ma'am.
I know you can.
That's why I hired you.
So go take a walk and clear your head.
Because I'm not ready to throw the towel in on this, - and I need your help, okay? - Will do.
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Yep.
(DOOR OPENS) Hey.
Whoa.
Stir-fry? Yeah, it's almost ready.
I am starving.
- Or-or it's ready now.
Okay, here.
- Mmm.
Just have it.
(MOUTH FULL): Thank you.
I've got good news and bad news.
Um, and I'm gonna tell you the bad news first.
So I don't want you to freak out.
Okay? That never helps.
I got a curt e-mail from the Rasmussens saying that they're "booked solid" for the next several months.
And they send the best to you and the kids, and they wish us well.
Wow.
Well, did you grovel sufficiently? Well, I apologized for our cancellations.
I took all the blame.
I said we missed them and we were turning over a new leaf.
But, babe, I think the Rasmussens have moved on.
Moved on? That's crazy.
Moved on.
They're on our bookshelf.
Do you know how many non-relative people have made it to our photo collection on the bookshelf? Exactly two.
The Rasmussens.
Oh, Henry, we are terrible friends.
We-we just dropped the ball a little.
And, plus, they're really judgy.
- It's like eight strikes, and you're out.
- Yeah.
Who does that? The good news is that we have a second chance with another couple, the Boroumands.
- Piper's parents? - Yeah.
We're having dinner with them tomorrow night.
Oh.
Not a weekend.
It's our first date.
We got to work up to it.
Yeah, I guess.
Well, okay, this is good.
Yeah.
They're interesting people.
They're aid workers, lived all over the world.
We got that in common, and our-our kids.
Yeah, I am digging this relationship.
In fact, you know what, who are the Rasmussens? No, no.
No way.
No possible way.
You guys can't do this to me.
(WHISPERS): Guess who got a text from Piper.
Hey.
I'm serious.
Okay? Out of everybody in D.
C.
, you guys can't hang out with Piper's parents.
I just need you guys to swear to me that you're not gonna talk about us.
Okay? And-and no embarrassing stories.
So just God, this is a nightmare.
We turn to Honduras.
MAN: Corrals the ball.
Wait, wait, wait.
Go back.
Dribbles, sends it - into three-point territory.
- Go back.
President Tejeda's Secret Service unleashed a violent crackdown on local gangs.
Word is, the crackdown was spurred by the kidnapping of 15 aid workers, including one American.
A spokesperson for President Tejeda says the president is enacting a widespread search-and-detain operation that will not end until all the hostages are freed and their captors caught and executed.
Caught and executed? What happened to tried in a court of law? Well, maybe it's just hyperbole to put pressure on the FT-88.
But if she pushes too hard, she could get those hostages killed.
- Good morning, ma'am.
- Oh, hey.
I was kind of hoping maybe you'd be Blake with a pastry.
No offense.
So, what's up? Uh, there's some interesting news on the hostage situation.
It turns out that Olivia Pedilla's father manages a warehouse facility for Shelton Anderson.
The Shelton Anderson? The very one.
He's willing to pay the ransom personally to get the hostages released.
Wow, it must be nice to be a billionaire.
Well, I'm gonna have to talk to the FBI.
But potentially good news, huh? Uh, yeah.
If the gang will hold up their end of the bargain.
Which they don't always do.
You'll have to do your best to manage the Pedillas' expectations.
And your own.
Will do.
We just received this surveillance video from our team, who got it from a gas station in the Parque La Leona area of Tegucigalpa.
Oddly, the vans then traveled north.
In the opposite direction of FT-88 territory.
Well, could it be some kind of a head fake? Maybe.
We're expanding our search.
You know, FT-88 made a statement claiming they had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
They're saying it must be some other gang.
It's their way of reducing culpability in case one of the hostages is killed accidentally.
Anyway, the reason I stopped by Shelton Anderson, he's willing to pay the ransom demand personally.
- Can he? - He's free to do that.
Recent legislation has made it possible for private individuals to pay a ransom without fear of breaking the law.
We're happy to facilitate, let's just hope Has anyone looked at ISR satellite photos of Northern Honduras? Most of it is government land.
So why are the bad guys heading straight for the good guys? I'll check it out.
Thanks, Marguerite.
Thanks for your time.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Oh, I-I - Sure thing.
I am so sorry.
HENRY: Come on, babe.
I really, really wanted to be on time, at least for our first date.
Don't give it a second thought.
- (SIGHS): Oh, gosh.
- I'm Frank.
- Frank.
- Hi, Elizabeth.
I'm Regina.
I'm so glad that we're getting together.
ELIZABETH: Us, too.
- Really.
- Oh, babe.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Don't.
Oh, my phone! I, I left my phone.
- (LAUGHS) - That's so Matt, thank you.
This is Frank.
And Matt is my DS agent, - and that's so kind of you.
I'm so - Have a good dinner, ma'am.
Thank you.
I never leave my phone.
I can't believe it.
That's so embarrassing.
Normally, those guys just wait.
How funny, you never even know that they're there, and then Thank you, that'd be perfect.
We just love Piper, by the way.
What a doll.
She's enlightened Jason to gender politics, which is - Yeah.
- I'm just relieved she has someone else to lecture.
It's so adorable.
I mean, Piper is so type A and Jason is so laid-back.
- Our Jason? Laid-back? - Wow.
Well - I have so many stories to dispute that - (LAUGHS) but I've been sworn to silence by our laid-back son.
Wow.
We've been threatened, too, so maybe we should just change the subjects.
I just have to ask you about the hostage crisis in Honduras.
Those poor people and their families.
Yeah.
It's-it's very scary, but we're working very hard to resolve it quickly and peacefully.
Elizabeth is at dinner, Regina.
- She doesn't want to talk shop.
- Oh No, no, no, no.
It's just there isn't much to talk about at this point.
That's all.
Really.
Anyway, just so you know, we have dined with high-ranking government officials before.
Oh, you so don't need to tell that story.
No.
It's good.
So, uh, we were in Burkina Faso.
Oh.
And, uh, the foreign minister suggested that we come over to his house and try fermented locust beans.
And I said "In!" - Oh, no.
- Exactly.
(CLEARS THROAT) Those beans were not Frank's friend.
Eh, but the toilet in the guest bathroom was.
(LAUGHTER) For three hours.
In-in some cultures, that's considered a compliment, like, burping after the meal.
- You're making that up.
- She so is.
(LAUGHTER) You never know.
Afia? You made it.
Why? Did my mother say I was unreliable? Because I'm not.
It's just that sometimes I'm late to meet her because it's not somewhere I really want to go.
- Which is not the case here.
- Uh, no, it's okay.
I heard about the kidnapping in Honduras on the news and I thought you might have to work.
No, I-I'm a speechwriter, so I'm sort of the caboose in any crisis.
Clean-up detail.
But in a way that's vital and sexy.
(SIGHS) So, you want to talk about how awkward this is? Is this your first time? I can honestly say I've never had a woman ask me that before.
But yes.
So I'm assuming it's not yours.
What happened to the other guys? Didn't quite work out, but my mother is running out of patience.
- Mine, too.
- Oh, I have an idea.
- Yeah? - Why don't we take a selfie and send it to our moms so they don't text us all night to make sure we found each other? - So smart.
Okay.
- Okay.
Honestly, it probably won't stop my mom.
(LAUGHS) - Okay, I am sending this to you.
- Great.
Let me ask you something.
Did you, um choose a three-hour doc on baseball to impress me? Maybe.
Do you like baseball? Less than sewing.
I don't know anything about it either, but maybe we could learn something.
Hey, I'm off the clock.
I got two words for you: Iron Man.
I love those words.
Oh, wonderful.
I know driving Piper around seems like a drag, but you will miss it, believe me.
I knew so much more about Jason's life when I was his full-time chauffeur, it was (CHUCKLES) I loved when she used to sit in the back with a friend and forget I was there.
That's how you learn everything.
I hate to sound the alarm bell, but we're talking about them.
I think it was unavoidable.
Oh, hey, do you guys want to try these crazy delicious macarons that the French foreign minister sends me? - That sounds wonderful.
- Henry, will you give me a hand? Be right back.
That was too much, the foreign minister thing? I think they were charmed.
- Right? It is going well.
- Yeah.
Second location with the Boroumands.
Take that, Rasmussens.
Here, put 'em on a plate.
The box is fine.
It's from France.
Yeah, it's folksy.
Here you go.
Wait till you try these.
Oh, um, somebody's phone was ringing a lot when you were in the kitchen.
(PHONE VIBRATING) That's mine.
I'll be right back.
These look great.
So I have a question.
Blake, hi.
BLAKE: Sorry to disturb, but Shelton Anderson is in town and he wants to meet with you right away.
Okay, set it up.
First thing tomorrow morning.
I'll come in early, okay? No, ma'am, he's there now.
There here? As in, (WHISPERING): outside my house? Yes, ma'am.
Hello, entitlement.
Yes, ma'am.
(SIGHS) All right.
Thank you.
I shouldn't, but maybe this one.
There's this work thing that I have to This guy is here and I just need to meet with him really quickly.
I'm Oh, don't worry, we have drinks and French macarons.
We'll be fine.
- No, we should go.
- No.
No, no, no.
It'll be really quick.
I just Take a minute, it's not, it's not a Come on, we'll just take this stuff in the other room.
This never happens.
It happens all the time, just so you know.
- (LAUGHS) - Hi.
- Well, this is a first.
Trying to give someone millions of dollars, and they won't take it.
Mr.
Anderson, Elizabeth McCord.
Welcome to our home.
Yeah.
Yeah, cute place.
We like it.
Thank you.
Um So what happened? You tried to pay the ransom The FBI put me in touch with some people in Honduras, and we offered to pay the ransom money to FT-88, but they had no way to accept the money.
No routing numbers for banks.
No bitcoin.
Nothing.
Hell, they don't even have Venmo.
Well, that is peculiar.
Look, I'm trying to be the good guy here.
- Yeah - But this is insane.
You think you can help me get to the bottom of this? - Uh, yes.
Absolutely.
- All right.
Clock's ticking.
I'll get that.
Guys, I am so sorry, but I've got to head back into the office to - What happened? - Well, they had to go.
Out the back door? Yeah, they didn't want to disturb you.
Well, were they upset? Not at all.
It was just getting late.
They said to say thank you, they had a wonderful evening, and we'll do it again sometime.
Sometime.
Not soon? Soon.
They definitely said "soon.
" Do you have to go to the office? Yeah, I just But that was good.
We were fun, right? We skated a clean program.
We even got a ten from the Russian judge.
Okay, that's too far.
- Go.
- Right.
ELIZABETH: A ruthless, cut-throat gang kidnaps a group of aid workers.
Not unusual.
One turns out to be American, also not unusual.
But then they take off with the hostages in the opposite direction of their own turf.
That is unusual.
Also, "turf"? Isn't that what they call it? In West Side Story.
Anyway, they demand a ransom, but then have no way for the ransom to be delivered to them.
Very unusual.
And if they're not all that eager to get $30 million, - it's not about the money.
- Exactly.
Ma'am.
Sorry.
Marguerite Sanchez is here to see you.
Yeah, send her in, please.
Marguerite, hey.
- You're here late.
- Yes, Madam Secretary.
You suggested checking the northern part of Honduras, where the vans appeared to be headed.
Turns out the hostages are being held on government land, an operational military base, no less.
JAY: FT-88 took over a military base? From the satellite photos it appears President Tejeda's Secret Service are in control of the base, and thus the hostages.
There's no sign of FT-88 at all? None.
Tejeda kidnapped her own people so then she could be the hero who rescued them.
This whole thing is a setup.
(CHUCKLES) Well, don't bother denying, Madam President.
We have satellite photos of your own Secret Service guarding the military base where the hostages are being held.
I believe it was a rogue group of my officers acting on their own.
More like a plan you hatched to look tough on crime to help you win the election, but that doesn't matter now.
What matters is that your forces have those hostages, including our citizen, Olivia Pedilla.
Maybe it's time for the Honduran people to know what desperate lengths their president will go to to retain power.
This is all pure speculation, Mr.
President.
But even if it were true, I believe it would be unwise to take such an action.
And why is that? Because you will not just be putting your thumb on the scale of the election.
You will be handing the victory to Maynor Fonseca.
So now tampering with the election is a bad thing? Are you the same woman I met four years ago who wanted nothing more than to improve the lives of the Honduran people? Your country's history in Honduras has made it impossible for anyone's hands to stay clean here.
DALTON: Enough.
This isn't a chance to justify yourself, and this isn't a negotiation.
The United States demands that you release all hostages immediately, and that Olivia Pedilla be delivered to the United States embassy in Tegucigalpa.
If Olivia doesn't pass through the embassy gates within six hours, the consequences will be swift and dire.
Do you understand? (SIGHS) Six hours, Madam President.
Oh, I thought you were a true fan, okay.
A true fan would've known.
That the new Iron Man is, what, 12 years old? - Uh, he just turned 18.
- (CHUCKLES) I mean, I heard someone in the theater say that.
See, this, this is why I hate prequels.
I'm staring at those muscles, and then I look up at his face and he looks like a little boy.
So, you're upset that you weren't sexually attracted - to baby Iron Man? - (LAUGHS) - Oh, no.
- What? Just, um, a guy that I used to date for a long time.
So an ex-boyfriend? Oh, that cannot be a guy your mom set you up with.
Hey, how afraid should I be? I have no idea why he's here.
Okay, great.
- I'm Ryan.
- Okay.
I'm Afia's ex-fiancé.
You have to be kidding.
We were never engaged.
- You wouldn't even say the word.
- We talked about marriage.
I talked about marriage.
You kept saying how we didn't need to label and define everything.
You hid me from your family for the eight months that we were together.
I had to be totally silent every single time that your mother called so she wouldn't hear my voice.
It was kind of difficult to figure out how that was gonna work for, you know, a lifetime.
But I get it.
You're the "right guy" you're Pakistani.
I'm half Pakistani.
I think my mother saw that as a compromise.
I'm the compromise? - Wow.
- Look, man, I didn't mean to come up on you like this.
I'm not a stalker or anything.
I just had to see the guy that Afia wouldn't be ashamed to love.
MATT: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Come on.
This is a first date.
Nobody's talking love.
Unless this is going better than I thought.
Ryan, how can you show up like this when you were the one who didn't even want to talk about our relationship? I was waiting for you to take the leap.
I wanted you to choose me over them.
I Isn't that how this is supposed to work? But I see it's a lot easier for you just to move on, so Move on? I can't even listen to the radio.
Every song reminds me of you.
I can't even go to Adams Morgan and walk by our favorite places.
You weren't too upset to come out tonight.
It's Georgetown.
We never came here.
Don't you get it, you idiot? You broke my heart.
RYAN: Look, man, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to derail your night.
I'll get out of here.
(SIGHS) REPORTER: We are outside the United States embassy as U.
S.
aid worker Olivia Pedilla is finally freed after being kidnapped and held for ransom - by gang members of FT-88.
- JAY: Wow.
- Mommy! - Olivia! (LAUGHING, CRYING) DAISY: You did good getting the Pedillas there so quickly.
Nadine would be very proud.
Her parents have traveled here from the United States to bring their daughter home.
Let's go now to President Thank God.
There's President Tejeda.
This should be good.
(TEJEDA SPEAKING SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: I am pleased to announce that after an extensive and exhaustive crackdown on gang members, we were able to locate the whereabouts of the 15 selfless aid workers being held hostage.
I personally spoke to the leader of FT-88, and when he tried to reason with me, I stopped him and I said, "This is not a chance "to justify yourself.
This is not a negotiation.
I want those hostages released now.
" (TV CLICKS OFF) Can you believe the nerve of that woman? More and more by the minute.
Question is, can we work with her? Sure as hell beats the alternative.
Isn't that for the Honduran people to decide? RUSSELL: Seriously? You think we should out her to her constituents? Talk about putting your thumb on the scale.
Huh.
She'd be toast after that.
Or maybe she'd find a way to explain it, or to justify it.
Let's game out a Maynor Fonseca presidency, shall we? Honduras quickly turns away from the U.
S.
Democratic norms erode further, thanks to Fonseca's authoritarian tendencies, which, in turn, causes thousands of people to flee north to the U.
S.
Which is exactly what we're trying to stop.
ELIZABETH: I'm just not sure that President Tejeda is any better.
I mean, this stunt of hers clearly exposes her to be a less than reliable and stable leader.
RUSSELL: Which reminds me, if she loses, you can kiss that Central American Security Agreement good-bye.
DALTON: Up until now, President Tejeda's been a good leader and a reliable ally for the U.
S.
Eh, that's got to count for something.
And if an American hadn't been kidnapped, maybe it would.
But we know what happened and if we don't tell the truth, then it's a cover-up.
You say cover-up, I say classified.
- That's a stretch.
- I'm nimble.
ELIZABETH: It's going to get out.
And why should we risk taking a bullet for her? 'Cause we've got her under our thumb now.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
(SIGHS) Ma'am, I don't mean to overstep, but I think this is a mistake.
She kidnapped people so that she could pretend to free them and win an election.
The people deserve to know.
Even if they end up with an authoritarian, know-nothing soccer player as their president? Even then.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb "voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
" Benjamin Franklin.
A good quipper.
And only the truth can give the lamb a fighting chance.
Correct.
- They're ready.
- Okay.
Okay.
Morning.
(REPORTERS MURMUR GREETINGS) Unfortunately, I am here this morning to reveal some disturbing information that has recently come to light during the Honduran hostage situation.
Early intelligence had indicated that the captured aid workers had been taken by FT-88.
We have now learned that it was President Tejeda's own Secret Service that carried out the crime at her direction.
That's all we are able to tell you right now, so, unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to take any questions.
Thank you for your time.
Well, there goes Honduras for another generation.
Maybe the new Honduran president won't be so bad.
Yeah.
A man with no political experience, who hates the U.
S.
What could go wrong? Speaking of things going wrong, how was your date? Okay, I'm out.
It was fine until her boyfriend showed up.
- Seriously? - Wait, what? Yeah, you're gonna want in on this.
This is the date that their Pakistani parents - set them up on.
- Pakistani.
What happened to Ronnie Baker? They broke up because she's moving away.
Go on.
MATT: So this guy, Ryan, was white, surfer brah white, okay? And Afia's family was not down with that.
So, because Afia was hiding Ryan from her family, he was unwilling to commit.
You can't try the long distance thing? Shh.
We moved past that.
- Continue.
- She was like, "You wouldn't commit," and he was like, "You wouldn't fight for me," and she was like, "You broke my heart.
" Starts sobbing.
So I sit them both down and give them a good talking-to about how they're missing the point.
- You did? - Yes.
'Cause it was crystal clear.
They were in love and if they didn't take a good, hard look at that, they could be losing something that they might never find again.
I mean, with matters of the heart, it's all about risk.
Do you hear yourself? What? Okay, now I'm out.
Wait! Hey, wait! (PANTING): Just wa Hey.
Hey, what are you doing here? (BREATHLESS): Just just hold on a second.
Are you okay? I will be.
Just, yeah give me a minute.
Look, I'm sorry, but I've got to catch a flight.
Okay.
Uh just l-listen.
I really like you.
And I know, uh, I said we should be adult and Clear-eyed and level-headed.
Right.
Everybody thinks you're a dreamer, but you're really a pragmatist Okay, we don't have to go through the whole thing.
Something happened that made me realize I'm an idiot.
I mean, every relationship is challenged by something.
And-and long distance isn't the end of the world.
I mean, people do make it work.
I think I was just trying to protect myself from getting hurt, which is dumb, because caring about someone enough to risk getting hurt is, like, the best thing in the world.
Captain Ronnie Baker, I want to take a chance on getting my heart hammered with you.
Do you have any interest in that at all? (BOTH LAUGH) (ENGINE STARTS) - Bye.
- Bye.
Hey, careful driving, guy! That's my girlfriend! I think they'll want to hang out with us again, right? Yeah.
Soon, they said.
I mean, interrupting the evening for a work thing, that's not the same as canceling.
Interrupting at the second location.
- That's right.
- Yeah.
Look, our lives are going to be what they are and our friends are just gonna have to understand.
And we're gonna have to, you know, make a little extra effort.
Right.
Did you get the really good cheese? - The one I told you about? - Mm-hmm.
Triple cream.
(DOORBELL RINGS) - ELIZABETH: Dolly, hi.
- HENRY: Hi.
Happy We missed your birthday, - so we thought - We were in the neighborhood.
we would Happy - We have - Hi, John.
- a lot of John.
Hi.
- JOHN: Well, this is a surprise.
HENRY: Here.
Well, enjoy th that Get in here, you two.
(CHUCKLES) ELIZABETH: Okay.
(LAUGHTER)
- HENRY: Good night, Frank.
Thank you.
(YAWNS) Ow - Sorry, okay - God, my feet hurt.
I can only do this because I stopped matching the Panamanian foreign minister drink for drink.
Oh, I know.
I heard you guys laughing and clinking glasses.
Yeah, he's Turns out, he's former military, used to teach foreign relations.
And I asked him to speak at the ethics symposium next month at the War College.
He said yes, so, yeah, I'll drink to that.
I don't know how you manage to have fun at these things.
Well, babe, I don't have the burden of the job.
Let's face it, I'm a guy that can have fun doing pretty much anything.
I know, I used to love that about you.
Oh, God, Henry.
I'm not fun anymore.
You're still fun.
Here, give (SIGHS) You know what the problem is? - Huh? - We don't we never see our friends anymore.
I mean, what happened to our friends? Where are the Rasmussens? We've been friends with them since since Melissa and Stevie were in preschool together.
When was the last time we saw them? - I don't remember.
- See? And we used to have a regular Cranium night with them.
You used to make people cry at Cranium.
Look, it's not my fault that I can still spell backwards after two drinks.
Wait a minute, didn't Dolly just have a birthday? We were always invited to that party.
(SIGHS) I think we dropped off their list.
- What? - Why? - We canceled on 'em a bunch.
Oh, so? That happens.
Like eight times.
- Eight times? - Or nine.
Nine Wow.
That is bad.
Well, I'll fix it.
I'll write 'em an e-mail, and I'll try to set something up for next weekend.
And we won't cancel.
- No matter what.
- No matter what.
And then I can be fun again.
Absolutely.
- You said I was still fun.
- (GROANS) Former pilot should have seen that propeller coming.
- I'm kidding.
- (MAKES CHOKING SOUND) See, I'm-I'm fun already.
Yeah, you are.
Okay, do my feet.
They're big.
DAISY: Jay.
Hey, what's up? You read the latest polls coming out of Honduras? Yeah, bad guy's gaining ground.
- So? - So what? So, how you gonna tell M-Sec? I'll just tell her.
Look, we're convening a conference on regional security in Central America today.
- Right.
The United States very much needs this deal as a lynchpin for our border security.
And having Honduras on board is vital.
Yeah.
And President Tejeda is only two points ahead of her rival, Maynor Fonseca, who's threatening to pull out of the agreement if he's elected.
Okay, so President Tejeda is going to be at that conference again, today freaking out about these same crappy polls and trying to figure out what to do about them.
Maybe boost her standing by appearing to stand up to the U.
S.
Yeah, by threatening to pull out of the security deal, as one example.
- Okay.
- So, when Nadine had to give M-Sec bad news first thing in the morning She also pitched her a fix.
So, do you have one? And then the conference will culminate in a signing ceremony with POTUS and the other heads of state, but you'll officially open with some remarks that Matt is putting the finishing touches on.
Do you want to give us an overview? Uh, yeah, sure.
Um, so the big idea is that, even though the countries of Central America and the U.
S.
are very different, we all have one common enemy gangs.
Drug trafficking, violence, social and economic problems in Central America create untenable living conditions - for their good citizens.
- Thanks.
Which causes said good citizens to flee from the gangs and seek refuge in the U.
S.
Now, this agreement facilitates intelligence sharing, raises law enforcement standards, and suggests social reforms that will help alleviate these problems.
DAISY: So, helping to solve the gang problem in Central America is in America's best interest, too.
In short, we're all in this together go, team.
Sounds good.
Have you all seen the latest polling out of Honduras? We have, indeed, ma'am.
President Tejeda is only up by two.
Over an ex soccer player who hates America.
Hey, there is so much more to Maynor Fonseca than that.
He's also semi-literate.
JAY: And proud of it.
He and his party portray President Tejeda as a weak woman who's soft on crime and needs Mean Daddy U.
S.
to prop her up.
ELIZABETH: Look, I've known her a while, and I admire her.
My concern is that in order to combat Fonseca's accusations that she's a U.
S.
puppet, she walks away from the agreement.
So, what do we do about that? How about a pull-aside with her at the conference? Encourage her to stay the course, and let her know that, short of putting our thumb on the scale of the election, the U.
S.
has her back.
Set it up.
Yeah.
Thanks, everybody.
You may be a little faster than Nadine.
Thanks for the heads up.
PANAMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I so enjoyed meeting your husband, Madam Secretary.
I appreciate his invitation to visit the War College.
He feels that you'll be the perfect speaker for the symposium.
If you'll excuse me a moment.
Am I wrong, or does President Tejeda look a lot more serious than she did yesterday? (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Mr.
Mahoney, your mother called again.
She said to tell you that she's not afraid to stop by.
So subtle, like a torpedo.
- Thanks, Maggie.
- Hi.
- Hey, what was that about? - Nothing good.
- Oh, no.
Family emergency? - Yeah.
I'm, uh, almost 35 and still single.
(SCOFFS) You're not single.
You and Captain Baker have Are over.
What, you broke up with Ronnie? Look, I'm really trying not to think about it.
It's painful.
I'm sure you understand.
- But why? - Thank you for understanding.
I'm sorry, Matt.
Look, she's she's going to South Korea for a year, and after that she can be assigned someplace like Qatar.
It's the nature of the job.
It's not conducive to a long-term relationship.
So, we decided to rip the Band-Aid off.
And whose idea was the Band-Aid ripping? I know you think I'm a dreamer, - but I'm a pragmatist.
- No.
- I think you're an idiot.
- Wait, she was crazy about you.
You really couldn't make it work? Yeah, I never really considered that.
Dude, I agonized over this.
This was one of the hardest decisions of my life.
Just I believe that we both deserve to be with someone who we can actually be with.
Now that I'm single again, my mom's on the job.
As in arranging a marriage? BLAKE: Well, no offense, she can't possibly do worse than you're already doing.
He has a point.
And who loves you and knows you better than anyone? And isn't an app on your phone? You know, there's a really decent chance that your mother knows what you need more than you do.
There's a decent chance that anyone knows what you need more than you do.
Dude, I know you're a fan of Ronnie.
- So am I.
She's amazing.
- No, no, I just But long-distance relationships do not work.
Everybody knows that.
Okay, so, give the fix-up a shot.
- Call your mom.
- (SIGHS) Hey.
Outgoing President Tejeda.
DAISY: So, M-Sec and Tejeda: friendly chat or tank the agreement? Cross your fingers.
Jay, thanks.
Daphne, I just wanted to tell you that I'm aware of the pressure that you are getting back home, and, as your friend, I sympathize.
So, have you seen the latest polls? Yeah, I have, and I'm sorry.
But it's also why I have to ask about your commitment to this agreement.
- I believe in the agreement.
- Good.
But you have to give me something.
Something that I can point out with pride that I was able to get from the mighty U.
S.
What, exactly, are you asking for? I want the aid money that's been allocated for this security agreement fast-tracked, so we can receive it as soon as the agreement is signed.
Meaning today? That money can only be released after certain benchmarks have been met.
You know the terms.
You helped draft them.
What do you think that soccer hooligan Fonseca is going to do with your benchmarks if he gets elected? Getting you that aid money early will earn you votes.
You are asking us to help tip the election in your favor.
And I am telling you that President Dalton would never do that.
So, now the U.
S.
is timid about meddling in our affairs? Por favor.
How many elections has the U.
S.
subverted in Latin America? How many coups and dictatorships have you backed? Indeed, how many times have you intervened in Honduras? At least seven, I believe.
Correct.
And why? Because when it comes to Honduras, the U.
S.
has always done what it views as its own interest.
(BIRDS TWITTERING) (POWER SAW WHIRRING) (SPANISH HIP HOP PLAYING) (GUNSHOTS) DALTON: It is with great hope and pride that I sign the first Central American Security Agreement.
The cooperation it enshrines will give us the chance to break the stranglehold of gangs, unleash the incredible economic potential of Central America, and to witness the dawning of a new day in our hemisphere.
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE) (REPORTERS CLAMORING) Is everything all right? There's been an incident.
One of our worst gangs, FT-88, has taken a group of NGO workers hostage.
I'm so sorry.
Is there anything that we can do to help? There's more.
All the hostages are Honduran, except one.
Her family's Honduran, but she's an American citizen.
What are their demands? $30 million in cash or they will kill the hostages.
President Tejeda, I'm sorry that this crisis has shortened the celebration for this groundbreaking security agreement.
It is very unfortunate.
Particularly in these few days before the election.
Nevertheless, I must leave immediately and deal with the situation.
We would be more than happy to offer you the help of the FBI to locate the hostages and aid in their rescue.
But your aid would only give my opponent more ammunition.
Isn't our main goal here to get the hostages freed? Surely, Fonseca couldn't shame you for that.
I assure you he would.
If Secretary McCord was correct in estimating that the release of our aid package ahead of schedule could tip the election my way, sending the FBI would unfairly help Fonseca.
And I don't think any of us want that.
Of course, Madam President.
We'll, uh, have a team standing by in case you change your mind.
TEJEDA: I assure you we can handle the situation and we will return your citizen very soon.
Now, I must go.
Thank you again, Mr.
President.
Madam President.
Well, that was frosty.
She's unhappy that I couldn't release their aid package early.
Oh, you think? Well, it's up to the two candidates to duke it out, even if it means the good guy or in this case, woman loses.
RUSSELL: Well, sure, but Honduras is still the murder capital of the Western Hemisphere.
If we leave this in the hands of their security forces, there's a good chance that American aid worker comes home in a box.
A small FBI team working a covert op might be a prudent backup plan, sir.
Let's get Deputy Director Sanchez in here, hmm? - Hi.
- Hi, Henry.
I'm Frank, Piper's dad and sometimes driver/ personal assistant.
(CHUCKLES) Good to meet you, Frank.
And I know how you feel.
Jason's at debate practice.
Apparently, he needs this book immediately when he gets home.
Probably 'cause he, you know, put off studying till the last minute.
I wonder who they think is gonna do all this running around after them when they get to college.
Well, you know, eventually, they'll lose something important and get in trouble.
That's what we used to call a poor man's education.
Yeah, but not at the colleges on Piper's list.
All her lessons are gonna be expensive.
- (CHUCKLES) - Listen, uh, Regina mentioned that the parents of the perfect couple should get together sometime.
Definitely.
Uh, we'd love that.
Great.
Well, we'll be in touch.
- Okay.
Thanks again.
- Nice meeting you.
- You know - Yeah? Why don't we, uh, just pick a date and pencil something in? Great.
Uh, how does tomorrow look? Looks like we're having dinner with you guys.
- See you later.
- Thanks again.
(EXHALES) Mr.
and Mrs.
Pedilla, hi.
I'm Jay Whitman.
Oh, we know.
You're Secretary McCord's chief of staff.
We are so glad to have you help us get our daughter back.
Yeah, I told Olivia not to go.
There's a reason my family left Honduras.
But she wouldn't listen.
She wants to change the world.
What would we do without people like Olivia? Please, please.
Well, first of all, I speak for the secretary when I say how sorry we are for what's happened.
People who do the important work like your daughter face challenges and dangers that well, they aren't for everyone, and we need more like her.
How long does it typically take for the State Department to pay the ransom? Well, the thing is, the United States doesn't do that, Mrs.
Pedilla.
We have a strict policy of never paying for hostages.
That's the policy for terrorist groups.
- But this is a gang.
- I'm sorry, but the policy is the same.
There's no money for hostages.
Wha But let me assure you that your daughter's whereabouts and ultimate release are receiving the full focus of our embassy in Tegucigalpa, as well as that of the whole department and other agencies.
We are exploring every option available to us.
Except the one that will get her released.
I'm I'm very sorry.
Listen Mr.
Whitman, we appreciate your fine sentiments and your fine Spanish, too, but words don't matter to the thugs who have our daughter.
Only money does.
And if you can't spare that, then words are all you're offering.
Thank you for your time.
(CRYING): Oh, my God.
(THOMAS SHUSHING) (CECILIA CONTINUES CRYING) THOMAS: Don't worry.
Shh.
It's okay How's the Pedilla family? Mrs.
Pedilla left in tears.
I tried to connect with them, but I wound up making it all about me.
I completely failed.
At what, exactly? Reassuring them.
Olivia Pedilla chose to live and work in one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
We may not be able to save her.
You think there's a good way to tell her parents that? I don't know.
Look, Jay, you have been around here long enough to know that this job is just one impossible situation after another.
Sometimes we can't fix it; all we can do is take it.
I can take it, ma'am.
I know you can.
That's why I hired you.
So go take a walk and clear your head.
Because I'm not ready to throw the towel in on this, - and I need your help, okay? - Will do.
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Yep.
(DOOR OPENS) Hey.
Whoa.
Stir-fry? Yeah, it's almost ready.
I am starving.
- Or-or it's ready now.
Okay, here.
- Mmm.
Just have it.
(MOUTH FULL): Thank you.
I've got good news and bad news.
Um, and I'm gonna tell you the bad news first.
So I don't want you to freak out.
Okay? That never helps.
I got a curt e-mail from the Rasmussens saying that they're "booked solid" for the next several months.
And they send the best to you and the kids, and they wish us well.
Wow.
Well, did you grovel sufficiently? Well, I apologized for our cancellations.
I took all the blame.
I said we missed them and we were turning over a new leaf.
But, babe, I think the Rasmussens have moved on.
Moved on? That's crazy.
Moved on.
They're on our bookshelf.
Do you know how many non-relative people have made it to our photo collection on the bookshelf? Exactly two.
The Rasmussens.
Oh, Henry, we are terrible friends.
We-we just dropped the ball a little.
And, plus, they're really judgy.
- It's like eight strikes, and you're out.
- Yeah.
Who does that? The good news is that we have a second chance with another couple, the Boroumands.
- Piper's parents? - Yeah.
We're having dinner with them tomorrow night.
Oh.
Not a weekend.
It's our first date.
We got to work up to it.
Yeah, I guess.
Well, okay, this is good.
Yeah.
They're interesting people.
They're aid workers, lived all over the world.
We got that in common, and our-our kids.
Yeah, I am digging this relationship.
In fact, you know what, who are the Rasmussens? No, no.
No way.
No possible way.
You guys can't do this to me.
(WHISPERS): Guess who got a text from Piper.
Hey.
I'm serious.
Okay? Out of everybody in D.
C.
, you guys can't hang out with Piper's parents.
I just need you guys to swear to me that you're not gonna talk about us.
Okay? And-and no embarrassing stories.
So just God, this is a nightmare.
We turn to Honduras.
MAN: Corrals the ball.
Wait, wait, wait.
Go back.
Dribbles, sends it - into three-point territory.
- Go back.
President Tejeda's Secret Service unleashed a violent crackdown on local gangs.
Word is, the crackdown was spurred by the kidnapping of 15 aid workers, including one American.
A spokesperson for President Tejeda says the president is enacting a widespread search-and-detain operation that will not end until all the hostages are freed and their captors caught and executed.
Caught and executed? What happened to tried in a court of law? Well, maybe it's just hyperbole to put pressure on the FT-88.
But if she pushes too hard, she could get those hostages killed.
- Good morning, ma'am.
- Oh, hey.
I was kind of hoping maybe you'd be Blake with a pastry.
No offense.
So, what's up? Uh, there's some interesting news on the hostage situation.
It turns out that Olivia Pedilla's father manages a warehouse facility for Shelton Anderson.
The Shelton Anderson? The very one.
He's willing to pay the ransom personally to get the hostages released.
Wow, it must be nice to be a billionaire.
Well, I'm gonna have to talk to the FBI.
But potentially good news, huh? Uh, yeah.
If the gang will hold up their end of the bargain.
Which they don't always do.
You'll have to do your best to manage the Pedillas' expectations.
And your own.
Will do.
We just received this surveillance video from our team, who got it from a gas station in the Parque La Leona area of Tegucigalpa.
Oddly, the vans then traveled north.
In the opposite direction of FT-88 territory.
Well, could it be some kind of a head fake? Maybe.
We're expanding our search.
You know, FT-88 made a statement claiming they had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
They're saying it must be some other gang.
It's their way of reducing culpability in case one of the hostages is killed accidentally.
Anyway, the reason I stopped by Shelton Anderson, he's willing to pay the ransom demand personally.
- Can he? - He's free to do that.
Recent legislation has made it possible for private individuals to pay a ransom without fear of breaking the law.
We're happy to facilitate, let's just hope Has anyone looked at ISR satellite photos of Northern Honduras? Most of it is government land.
So why are the bad guys heading straight for the good guys? I'll check it out.
Thanks, Marguerite.
Thanks for your time.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Oh, I-I - Sure thing.
I am so sorry.
HENRY: Come on, babe.
I really, really wanted to be on time, at least for our first date.
Don't give it a second thought.
- (SIGHS): Oh, gosh.
- I'm Frank.
- Frank.
- Hi, Elizabeth.
I'm Regina.
I'm so glad that we're getting together.
ELIZABETH: Us, too.
- Really.
- Oh, babe.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Don't.
Oh, my phone! I, I left my phone.
- (LAUGHS) - That's so Matt, thank you.
This is Frank.
And Matt is my DS agent, - and that's so kind of you.
I'm so - Have a good dinner, ma'am.
Thank you.
I never leave my phone.
I can't believe it.
That's so embarrassing.
Normally, those guys just wait.
How funny, you never even know that they're there, and then Thank you, that'd be perfect.
We just love Piper, by the way.
What a doll.
She's enlightened Jason to gender politics, which is - Yeah.
- I'm just relieved she has someone else to lecture.
It's so adorable.
I mean, Piper is so type A and Jason is so laid-back.
- Our Jason? Laid-back? - Wow.
Well - I have so many stories to dispute that - (LAUGHS) but I've been sworn to silence by our laid-back son.
Wow.
We've been threatened, too, so maybe we should just change the subjects.
I just have to ask you about the hostage crisis in Honduras.
Those poor people and their families.
Yeah.
It's-it's very scary, but we're working very hard to resolve it quickly and peacefully.
Elizabeth is at dinner, Regina.
- She doesn't want to talk shop.
- Oh No, no, no, no.
It's just there isn't much to talk about at this point.
That's all.
Really.
Anyway, just so you know, we have dined with high-ranking government officials before.
Oh, you so don't need to tell that story.
No.
It's good.
So, uh, we were in Burkina Faso.
Oh.
And, uh, the foreign minister suggested that we come over to his house and try fermented locust beans.
And I said "In!" - Oh, no.
- Exactly.
(CLEARS THROAT) Those beans were not Frank's friend.
Eh, but the toilet in the guest bathroom was.
(LAUGHTER) For three hours.
In-in some cultures, that's considered a compliment, like, burping after the meal.
- You're making that up.
- She so is.
(LAUGHTER) You never know.
Afia? You made it.
Why? Did my mother say I was unreliable? Because I'm not.
It's just that sometimes I'm late to meet her because it's not somewhere I really want to go.
- Which is not the case here.
- Uh, no, it's okay.
I heard about the kidnapping in Honduras on the news and I thought you might have to work.
No, I-I'm a speechwriter, so I'm sort of the caboose in any crisis.
Clean-up detail.
But in a way that's vital and sexy.
(SIGHS) So, you want to talk about how awkward this is? Is this your first time? I can honestly say I've never had a woman ask me that before.
But yes.
So I'm assuming it's not yours.
What happened to the other guys? Didn't quite work out, but my mother is running out of patience.
- Mine, too.
- Oh, I have an idea.
- Yeah? - Why don't we take a selfie and send it to our moms so they don't text us all night to make sure we found each other? - So smart.
Okay.
- Okay.
Honestly, it probably won't stop my mom.
(LAUGHS) - Okay, I am sending this to you.
- Great.
Let me ask you something.
Did you, um choose a three-hour doc on baseball to impress me? Maybe.
Do you like baseball? Less than sewing.
I don't know anything about it either, but maybe we could learn something.
Hey, I'm off the clock.
I got two words for you: Iron Man.
I love those words.
Oh, wonderful.
I know driving Piper around seems like a drag, but you will miss it, believe me.
I knew so much more about Jason's life when I was his full-time chauffeur, it was (CHUCKLES) I loved when she used to sit in the back with a friend and forget I was there.
That's how you learn everything.
I hate to sound the alarm bell, but we're talking about them.
I think it was unavoidable.
Oh, hey, do you guys want to try these crazy delicious macarons that the French foreign minister sends me? - That sounds wonderful.
- Henry, will you give me a hand? Be right back.
That was too much, the foreign minister thing? I think they were charmed.
- Right? It is going well.
- Yeah.
Second location with the Boroumands.
Take that, Rasmussens.
Here, put 'em on a plate.
The box is fine.
It's from France.
Yeah, it's folksy.
Here you go.
Wait till you try these.
Oh, um, somebody's phone was ringing a lot when you were in the kitchen.
(PHONE VIBRATING) That's mine.
I'll be right back.
These look great.
So I have a question.
Blake, hi.
BLAKE: Sorry to disturb, but Shelton Anderson is in town and he wants to meet with you right away.
Okay, set it up.
First thing tomorrow morning.
I'll come in early, okay? No, ma'am, he's there now.
There here? As in, (WHISPERING): outside my house? Yes, ma'am.
Hello, entitlement.
Yes, ma'am.
(SIGHS) All right.
Thank you.
I shouldn't, but maybe this one.
There's this work thing that I have to This guy is here and I just need to meet with him really quickly.
I'm Oh, don't worry, we have drinks and French macarons.
We'll be fine.
- No, we should go.
- No.
No, no, no.
It'll be really quick.
I just Take a minute, it's not, it's not a Come on, we'll just take this stuff in the other room.
This never happens.
It happens all the time, just so you know.
- (LAUGHS) - Hi.
- Well, this is a first.
Trying to give someone millions of dollars, and they won't take it.
Mr.
Anderson, Elizabeth McCord.
Welcome to our home.
Yeah.
Yeah, cute place.
We like it.
Thank you.
Um So what happened? You tried to pay the ransom The FBI put me in touch with some people in Honduras, and we offered to pay the ransom money to FT-88, but they had no way to accept the money.
No routing numbers for banks.
No bitcoin.
Nothing.
Hell, they don't even have Venmo.
Well, that is peculiar.
Look, I'm trying to be the good guy here.
- Yeah - But this is insane.
You think you can help me get to the bottom of this? - Uh, yes.
Absolutely.
- All right.
Clock's ticking.
I'll get that.
Guys, I am so sorry, but I've got to head back into the office to - What happened? - Well, they had to go.
Out the back door? Yeah, they didn't want to disturb you.
Well, were they upset? Not at all.
It was just getting late.
They said to say thank you, they had a wonderful evening, and we'll do it again sometime.
Sometime.
Not soon? Soon.
They definitely said "soon.
" Do you have to go to the office? Yeah, I just But that was good.
We were fun, right? We skated a clean program.
We even got a ten from the Russian judge.
Okay, that's too far.
- Go.
- Right.
ELIZABETH: A ruthless, cut-throat gang kidnaps a group of aid workers.
Not unusual.
One turns out to be American, also not unusual.
But then they take off with the hostages in the opposite direction of their own turf.
That is unusual.
Also, "turf"? Isn't that what they call it? In West Side Story.
Anyway, they demand a ransom, but then have no way for the ransom to be delivered to them.
Very unusual.
And if they're not all that eager to get $30 million, - it's not about the money.
- Exactly.
Ma'am.
Sorry.
Marguerite Sanchez is here to see you.
Yeah, send her in, please.
Marguerite, hey.
- You're here late.
- Yes, Madam Secretary.
You suggested checking the northern part of Honduras, where the vans appeared to be headed.
Turns out the hostages are being held on government land, an operational military base, no less.
JAY: FT-88 took over a military base? From the satellite photos it appears President Tejeda's Secret Service are in control of the base, and thus the hostages.
There's no sign of FT-88 at all? None.
Tejeda kidnapped her own people so then she could be the hero who rescued them.
This whole thing is a setup.
(CHUCKLES) Well, don't bother denying, Madam President.
We have satellite photos of your own Secret Service guarding the military base where the hostages are being held.
I believe it was a rogue group of my officers acting on their own.
More like a plan you hatched to look tough on crime to help you win the election, but that doesn't matter now.
What matters is that your forces have those hostages, including our citizen, Olivia Pedilla.
Maybe it's time for the Honduran people to know what desperate lengths their president will go to to retain power.
This is all pure speculation, Mr.
President.
But even if it were true, I believe it would be unwise to take such an action.
And why is that? Because you will not just be putting your thumb on the scale of the election.
You will be handing the victory to Maynor Fonseca.
So now tampering with the election is a bad thing? Are you the same woman I met four years ago who wanted nothing more than to improve the lives of the Honduran people? Your country's history in Honduras has made it impossible for anyone's hands to stay clean here.
DALTON: Enough.
This isn't a chance to justify yourself, and this isn't a negotiation.
The United States demands that you release all hostages immediately, and that Olivia Pedilla be delivered to the United States embassy in Tegucigalpa.
If Olivia doesn't pass through the embassy gates within six hours, the consequences will be swift and dire.
Do you understand? (SIGHS) Six hours, Madam President.
Oh, I thought you were a true fan, okay.
A true fan would've known.
That the new Iron Man is, what, 12 years old? - Uh, he just turned 18.
- (CHUCKLES) I mean, I heard someone in the theater say that.
See, this, this is why I hate prequels.
I'm staring at those muscles, and then I look up at his face and he looks like a little boy.
So, you're upset that you weren't sexually attracted - to baby Iron Man? - (LAUGHS) - Oh, no.
- What? Just, um, a guy that I used to date for a long time.
So an ex-boyfriend? Oh, that cannot be a guy your mom set you up with.
Hey, how afraid should I be? I have no idea why he's here.
Okay, great.
- I'm Ryan.
- Okay.
I'm Afia's ex-fiancé.
You have to be kidding.
We were never engaged.
- You wouldn't even say the word.
- We talked about marriage.
I talked about marriage.
You kept saying how we didn't need to label and define everything.
You hid me from your family for the eight months that we were together.
I had to be totally silent every single time that your mother called so she wouldn't hear my voice.
It was kind of difficult to figure out how that was gonna work for, you know, a lifetime.
But I get it.
You're the "right guy" you're Pakistani.
I'm half Pakistani.
I think my mother saw that as a compromise.
I'm the compromise? - Wow.
- Look, man, I didn't mean to come up on you like this.
I'm not a stalker or anything.
I just had to see the guy that Afia wouldn't be ashamed to love.
MATT: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Come on.
This is a first date.
Nobody's talking love.
Unless this is going better than I thought.
Ryan, how can you show up like this when you were the one who didn't even want to talk about our relationship? I was waiting for you to take the leap.
I wanted you to choose me over them.
I Isn't that how this is supposed to work? But I see it's a lot easier for you just to move on, so Move on? I can't even listen to the radio.
Every song reminds me of you.
I can't even go to Adams Morgan and walk by our favorite places.
You weren't too upset to come out tonight.
It's Georgetown.
We never came here.
Don't you get it, you idiot? You broke my heart.
RYAN: Look, man, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to derail your night.
I'll get out of here.
(SIGHS) REPORTER: We are outside the United States embassy as U.
S.
aid worker Olivia Pedilla is finally freed after being kidnapped and held for ransom - by gang members of FT-88.
- JAY: Wow.
- Mommy! - Olivia! (LAUGHING, CRYING) DAISY: You did good getting the Pedillas there so quickly.
Nadine would be very proud.
Her parents have traveled here from the United States to bring their daughter home.
Let's go now to President Thank God.
There's President Tejeda.
This should be good.
(TEJEDA SPEAKING SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: I am pleased to announce that after an extensive and exhaustive crackdown on gang members, we were able to locate the whereabouts of the 15 selfless aid workers being held hostage.
I personally spoke to the leader of FT-88, and when he tried to reason with me, I stopped him and I said, "This is not a chance "to justify yourself.
This is not a negotiation.
I want those hostages released now.
" (TV CLICKS OFF) Can you believe the nerve of that woman? More and more by the minute.
Question is, can we work with her? Sure as hell beats the alternative.
Isn't that for the Honduran people to decide? RUSSELL: Seriously? You think we should out her to her constituents? Talk about putting your thumb on the scale.
Huh.
She'd be toast after that.
Or maybe she'd find a way to explain it, or to justify it.
Let's game out a Maynor Fonseca presidency, shall we? Honduras quickly turns away from the U.
S.
Democratic norms erode further, thanks to Fonseca's authoritarian tendencies, which, in turn, causes thousands of people to flee north to the U.
S.
Which is exactly what we're trying to stop.
ELIZABETH: I'm just not sure that President Tejeda is any better.
I mean, this stunt of hers clearly exposes her to be a less than reliable and stable leader.
RUSSELL: Which reminds me, if she loses, you can kiss that Central American Security Agreement good-bye.
DALTON: Up until now, President Tejeda's been a good leader and a reliable ally for the U.
S.
Eh, that's got to count for something.
And if an American hadn't been kidnapped, maybe it would.
But we know what happened and if we don't tell the truth, then it's a cover-up.
You say cover-up, I say classified.
- That's a stretch.
- I'm nimble.
ELIZABETH: It's going to get out.
And why should we risk taking a bullet for her? 'Cause we've got her under our thumb now.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
(SIGHS) Ma'am, I don't mean to overstep, but I think this is a mistake.
She kidnapped people so that she could pretend to free them and win an election.
The people deserve to know.
Even if they end up with an authoritarian, know-nothing soccer player as their president? Even then.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb "voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
" Benjamin Franklin.
A good quipper.
And only the truth can give the lamb a fighting chance.
Correct.
- They're ready.
- Okay.
Okay.
Morning.
(REPORTERS MURMUR GREETINGS) Unfortunately, I am here this morning to reveal some disturbing information that has recently come to light during the Honduran hostage situation.
Early intelligence had indicated that the captured aid workers had been taken by FT-88.
We have now learned that it was President Tejeda's own Secret Service that carried out the crime at her direction.
That's all we are able to tell you right now, so, unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to take any questions.
Thank you for your time.
Well, there goes Honduras for another generation.
Maybe the new Honduran president won't be so bad.
Yeah.
A man with no political experience, who hates the U.
S.
What could go wrong? Speaking of things going wrong, how was your date? Okay, I'm out.
It was fine until her boyfriend showed up.
- Seriously? - Wait, what? Yeah, you're gonna want in on this.
This is the date that their Pakistani parents - set them up on.
- Pakistani.
What happened to Ronnie Baker? They broke up because she's moving away.
Go on.
MATT: So this guy, Ryan, was white, surfer brah white, okay? And Afia's family was not down with that.
So, because Afia was hiding Ryan from her family, he was unwilling to commit.
You can't try the long distance thing? Shh.
We moved past that.
- Continue.
- She was like, "You wouldn't commit," and he was like, "You wouldn't fight for me," and she was like, "You broke my heart.
" Starts sobbing.
So I sit them both down and give them a good talking-to about how they're missing the point.
- You did? - Yes.
'Cause it was crystal clear.
They were in love and if they didn't take a good, hard look at that, they could be losing something that they might never find again.
I mean, with matters of the heart, it's all about risk.
Do you hear yourself? What? Okay, now I'm out.
Wait! Hey, wait! (PANTING): Just wa Hey.
Hey, what are you doing here? (BREATHLESS): Just just hold on a second.
Are you okay? I will be.
Just, yeah give me a minute.
Look, I'm sorry, but I've got to catch a flight.
Okay.
Uh just l-listen.
I really like you.
And I know, uh, I said we should be adult and Clear-eyed and level-headed.
Right.
Everybody thinks you're a dreamer, but you're really a pragmatist Okay, we don't have to go through the whole thing.
Something happened that made me realize I'm an idiot.
I mean, every relationship is challenged by something.
And-and long distance isn't the end of the world.
I mean, people do make it work.
I think I was just trying to protect myself from getting hurt, which is dumb, because caring about someone enough to risk getting hurt is, like, the best thing in the world.
Captain Ronnie Baker, I want to take a chance on getting my heart hammered with you.
Do you have any interest in that at all? (BOTH LAUGH) (ENGINE STARTS) - Bye.
- Bye.
Hey, careful driving, guy! That's my girlfriend! I think they'll want to hang out with us again, right? Yeah.
Soon, they said.
I mean, interrupting the evening for a work thing, that's not the same as canceling.
Interrupting at the second location.
- That's right.
- Yeah.
Look, our lives are going to be what they are and our friends are just gonna have to understand.
And we're gonna have to, you know, make a little extra effort.
Right.
Did you get the really good cheese? - The one I told you about? - Mm-hmm.
Triple cream.
(DOORBELL RINGS) - ELIZABETH: Dolly, hi.
- HENRY: Hi.
Happy We missed your birthday, - so we thought - We were in the neighborhood.
we would Happy - We have - Hi, John.
- a lot of John.
Hi.
- JOHN: Well, this is a surprise.
HENRY: Here.
Well, enjoy th that Get in here, you two.
(CHUCKLES) ELIZABETH: Okay.
(LAUGHTER)