The Diplomat (2023) s04e01 Episode Script
Windsor
1
[sirens wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter]
- How'd the order go out?
- We'll talk on the plane.
Billie and the NSC?
Or she went straight to EUCOM?
Billie.
Why are we going south, guys?
[Marty] Vance's looking at activity
outside Heathrow.
- Serious?
- [Marty] Demonstration.
- About us?
- [Marty] Scotland Yard's clearing it out.
- [phone vibrating]
- There's a protest.
- Yeah.
- [Kate] Protesting us. You concerned?
Well, Number 10 is.
They blocked off the M25.
- The police?
- [Stuart] The protesters.
Highway's blocked off.
They'll put out
a misdirect to divert the crowd,
but it's gonna take a minute.
- How long's a minute?
- Shh! How long?
[Marty] We have a decoy.
- At least an hour.
- [Kate] An hour?
- An hour.
- [Marty] Don't think so.
At least.
Marty, we're not gonna circle for an hour.
- [Marty] Looking at alts.
- Number 10 is on with the palace.
They'd like to invite you
to Windsor Castle.
- Windsor.
- [Marty] There's a castle very close.
- That may be our best bet.
- Windsor.
Windsor Castle.
The only thing is
that the king is in Balmoral,
so they'd like someone
from London to host.
We don't need a royal.
[Stuart] They are not gonna let you in
without a welcome.
- It'll look like a snub.
- To the president?
She doesn't give a shit.
- It's fine.
- I gotta take a leak.
Anywhere with a drain?
Just let them know
we are overwhelmed by their generosity.
They don't need to do a whole thing.
Got it.
This is gonna be a whole thing.
[intense string music playing]
[security] Windsor command post for Baits.
Sweeps complete.
Local confirms inner grounds secure.
No public. We are clear for arrival.
[head guard] Windsor Castle guards. Turn!
Madam President,
welcome to Windsor Castle.
Thank you so much for this.
Mr. Penn.
His Majesty regrets
he's unable to welcome you himself,
but he sends his warmest regards,
and we are at your service.
We're very grateful.
- It's an honor.
- Port in a storm.
Apologies for the terrible fuss
at Heathrow.
We're not usually so demonstrative.
People are upset.
They have every right to be.
Most gracious.
Mr. Vice President.
General Fitzwilliam is
governor of Windsor Castle.
We are so pleased to have you back.
I understand
you were hoping for a brief pause.
This gentleman can show you
to the facilities.
Fantastic.
- [guard] This way, sir.
- [Hal] Appreciated.
Madam President, in his absence,
His Majesty would like to welcome you
Billie.
Callum Ellis pulled me aside
before we left.
He thinks the Russians took the weapon.
Why?
There was a drop
in radiation levels near the sub.
What's he doing about it?
Well, he doesn't want
to tell Trowbridge until he's sure.
- He's afraid Trowbridge'll
- Yeah.
He asked me to check in
with DNI or Admiral Cruz
just to see if it's real
or a misread from his equipment.
I'll look into it. Thank you.
Should I talk to Cruz?
I got it.
Billie.
There's nothing wrong with his sensors.
The weapon's gone.
We're gonna put together
a response for you. Hang tight.
You were okay with this?
- Tricky moment.
- Not really.
It's over the line.
The line moves.
It's a lot of hat.
Mink?
Bear. Bearskin.
- Really?
- Yep.
Like, historic? Or they're shooting bears
every year to make the hats?
New bears.
PETA must love that.
They don't.
It can't be comfortable.
It's not, but they do it anyway,
because they respect the institutions
that protected their sovereignty
for 21 decades.
Windsor Castle guards. General salute!
Present arms!
Windsor Castle guards.
Slope arms!
Shoulder arms!
[serious music playing]
[Fitzwilliam] Your safety
is of the utmost concern.
We've closed off public access
to the wing,
so all of the State Apartments are
at your disposal.
We worked with your advance team
to set up communications
in the Equerries Room.
- Thank you.
- For you, we have the princess's office.
You will, of course,
be otherwise occupied.
- Ma'am
- Mr. Penn.
The castle has over 1,000 rooms,
should you wish to stretch your legs
before the flight.
I would love that.
- The Khartoum statement is vague.
- Yeah.
Something or nothing.
Let's get everyone on the phone
and pick a road. Not mush.
[Billie] Secret Service doesn't want you
here long. We'll call from the plane.
- [Grace] Is that Avery?
- [Nora] Liz.
- About what?
- [Nora] Taipei.
Ma'am, thank you for your patience.
I have the president.
Why did I get a hysterical memo
from the secretary of state?
[Hal] What did you say to Billie?
- You want a readout?
- Yeah.
It's below your pay grade.
They have an office for the president
and feel bad they don't for you,
but they're hoping you'll be okay in here.
This is not
what they should feel bad about.
[Suresh] Thanks, everybody.
- Ready for the pile?
- [Hal] Give me a minute?
Were you talking about the Poseidon?
With Billie?
You worried I asked her to give it back?
Katherine, the president is concerned
you're a security risk.
You should put me
in a position to correct her.
I told her Callum knows
there's no weapon down there.
If we don't explain why,
he's gonna tell Trowbridge
it was the Russians.
What did she say?
She'll run it through the mill,
get back to me.
Great. Done.
You made a covert military incursion
into an ally's territory.
We made them safer by orders of magnitude.
Russia will find their sub.
They will come to get their sub.
They will lose their shit
when they find
their apocalypse weapon is gone and will--
- Attack the United Kingdom.
- Yeah. You think they won't?
Kate, if I thought
they would attack the United Kingdom,
I wouldn't have done it.
I?
- The president.
- "I" is instructive here.
You don't like that we kept you out of it.
Why did she bother crossing an ocean
to make up with Nicol
if she was going to trash
the alliance again
while seated in his home?
Oh come on. If he finds out
- When.
- If
"They always find out, Katie."
A cover-up's not a solution.
It's just a minute to get your pants on.
When he finds out,
he'll be so relieved
there's not a nuclear bomb
clanking around in a sub so shitty
it ran aground off his beach.
He's a narcissist.
You have to build him up
and fluff him and love him.
When you infantilize him over and over
- Kate.
- It could have blown up.
The shitty Russian sub
could have been so shitty,
it exploded and set off the goddamn bomb.
It didn't. We have it now.
We have removed the threat
and rebalanced the arms race.
You of all people should be thrilled.
Oh, I am.
I understand the reasoning. I just think--
I should have consulted you.
- No.
- We were not together when I decided.
I did not need to share with you
my every thought.
- I know that.
- The begging came later.
"You have to take me back."
Really?
It was bullshit.
- No, it wasn't.
- Wow.
But out of the clear blue,
moments later, actual moments,
you decide I'm calamitously dangerous?
This has nothing to do with us.
It does. That's all it has to do with.
I just said I understand the move.
I just said that.
My concern is
that you and she, together, are
What?
Yeah, okay, dangerous.
- Wow.
- Who pumps the brakes when it's you two?
- There was a deliberative process.
- No, there wasn't.
You both come up with harebrained ideas,
like some granny
should blow up a British warship.
- This is not the same.
- It's exactly the same.
I have a role.
I remind you that gravity exists
and things fall apart and people find out.
The two of you together,
hurtling into the abyss.
- You're jealous.
- Ow, fuck!
- What?
- Fuck, a splinter.
- Let me see.
- It's fine.
Give me. Let me.
- Hold on.
- Do you see it?
Oh yeah.
Oh, that's big.
No, don't bite it. Ow, stop.
Did you get it?
Yeah. Anything left in there?
No.
I'm not jealous.
Todd is jealous.
No, he's not.
- For real?
- Yep.
Ridiculous.
He thinks I'm fucking his wife?
He asked me if I thought you were.
I said I found it unlikely.
But he's not insane.
The two of you look shady together,
like something's not above board.
It was a covert military operation.
It's not above board.
Well, the Brits figured it out,
so insufficiently covert.
What am I supposed to say to Callum?
Billie Appiah will answer that question
when she's consulted
the national security apparatus
and brought their collective thinking
to the president.
He's the point person for the Navy
and Downing Street and MI6.
If we don't give him
a plausible explanation,
he has to report it to Trowbridge.
We're here. I can have him come over.
I'd love to see him.
[sighs]
I told you, that's It's done.
You told him?
I tried to, but God knows why.
He was focused on the loose nuke.
I don't wanna see him.
I want Grace to inform him
that we removed the weapon.
That will cauterize
the whole fucking mess. No?
Ask Billie.
- Billie doesn't think it's a problem.
- Maybe it's not a problem.
- It should go to Grace.
- Be my guest.
From you.
It's not my opinion. You have a position.
Tell her your fucking self.
I don't have walk-in privileges,
nor should I,
but if you platform it
as a reasonable idea
[chuckles] I don't think it is.
I can get you in the room,
but I'm not endorsing your confessional.
- I think it's dumb.
- So get me in the fucking room.
[poignant piano music playing]
[door opens, closes]
[phone vibrating]
- Hi there.
- [Kate] Hey.
Aren't you on a plane?
I'm not. Where are you now?
Foreign Office.
How would you feel
about stopping by Windsor Castle?
Hi.
What are you doing here?
Having a meeting in the study.
Can you unlock it?
Why? No. Who?
Libby.
Why?
Your people made peace
by agreeing my people could disappear
the Statue of Liberty in a glass of milk.
Now I have to do it.
Tom Libby's an asshole.
I don't like how he treated you.
I don't either,
but I'm pretending I'm over it
by inviting him to problem-solve
in a cozy room.
- Who do I get to light the fire?
- Frances. Why does it have to be cozy?
We're not gonna snuggle on the couch.
We have work to do.
He hung you out to dry.
He should be groveling,
not sitting by your fire.
- Are you
- What?
protecting me?
- No.
- From that not-nice man?
Oh, fuck you.
- Don't touch anything on the desk.
- It's cute.
You should challenge him to a duel.
I will and I'll win.
The protest is ruining our narrative.
Tell Libby you heard Trowbridge call her
"Amazing Grace."
- Did he?
- Possible.
He whipped up a mob.
She's hiding in a castle.
Then come up with your own.
But effusive,
not "Less of a train wreck
than we anticipated."
Hey.
I know you wanna have a talk,
and you're afraid to say so
'cause you think it'll scare me off.
It won't?
No, it will.
I just wanted you to know I noticed.
Tell Tom Libby,
he fucks with you, I'll cut him down.
[door closes]
Billie brought me up to speed.
She's getting into it.
And I'm happy to go back to Mr. Ellis
with whatever message the team lands on,
but I wanted to put an option
in front of you that I think is
Better than the rest?
Well, it may be,
but it'll be controversial,
so I wanted to--
Make sure Billie didn't kill it
before it got to me.
Yes.
Or Hal.
I ran it by him. He's not a fan.
Love it already.
I think you tell Callum Ellis
where the Poseidon is.
I do love it.
He's close to figuring it out
on his own anyway.
The actual truth will put an end
to his concern.
You know. I don't get the impression
it made you feel any better.
That is not at all the issue.
- You sure?
- I am. I--
Good, so he asked you
if the Russians took it.
That's a question
you can answer truthfully.
- Sure.
- They didn't.
He will have follow-ups.
The Pentagon will give you a mountain
of fact that will ameliorate his concern
about the Russians,
who were nowhere near the place.
He and I have a frank relationship.
If we say, "Look, this happened,
it may have been a mistake,
but on balance, it's probably--"
It wasn't a mistake.
No, and ultimately he'll see that,
and even if he doesn't--
I don't care what he thinks.
And I don't want you apologizing
for one of the easiest decisions
I've made all week.
[keyboard clacking]
[clacking halts]
I'm gonna step out of my shoes here
for a moment. Is that okay?
Do you have to?
Hal has a gift.
It brought him success,
and it's been a boon to the nation,
but he speaks about national security
with a kind of concision
and authority and flair, frankly.
It can obfuscate
the complexity of the situation,
or his command of it.
It's not intentional,
but it's really hard
to not get swept up in the
you know.
I don't.
This is a conversation
I've had more than once.
Part of being the guy
with the dustpan behind the elephant,
and God knows I've been there.
I fell for it harder than anyone,
so I feel like it's incumbent upon me
to put a warning label
on the guy's forehead that says,
"Do not operate heavy machinery
while under the influence."
- Of Hal?
- Yeah.
He's like a drug.
I mean, no, but--
I operated heavy machinery
while under his influence.
No, but it's you know.
I operated a submarine.
Well
You did.
Thanks, Ambassador.
Ma'am, he's valuable,
but if he's the only voice in your ear
I was not entranced by your husband.
Oh, of course not.
His words did not addle my brain.
Ma'am, that that is not at all
what I was trying--
You just told me I ate
an elephant's assload full of bullshit.
He's the gas. I'm the brakes.
I don't love being the brakes,
but if nobody's doing it--
I think we're done.
Ma'am, I'm not making this up.
Your husband noticed before I did.
There's a
an energy between the two of you,
and it can be a tremendous force
for good for the country,
but you gotta know what you're handling.
I will consider reading in Mr. Kellis.
[keyboard clacking]
Ellis.
Callum is his first name,
and it can be confusing.
You said Kellis.
[door opens]
Mrs. Munning asked me to close them.
Mr. Hayford wants them open,
so people know
they can go outside for the hot cider.
The guests are shivering.
They should try the cider.
Perhaps you'd like to explain
to Mrs. Munning
why our very expensive heating
is flying out the open door.
Hot cider is an American tradition.
Did you try it?
We drink it with rum.
On its own, it's juice for children.
- "Amazing Grace."
- Really?
That's what I hear.
And Trowbridge has got a big voice.
- Booming.
- "Amazing Grace."
I am really pleased. It's such a relief.
All the protests, I was worried.
We thought it was gonna be
an uphill climb, but the two of them--
He needs to make that clear
to the protesters.
His earlier statement stirred up
a great deal of rage.
[man] And the king told Adams,
I've always said that I would
George III thought his son to be both
in eating and drinking much too free.
She says the same about me.
[chuckles] We were looking at John Adams's
account of his audience with King George.
Adams was, at the time, your country's
first ambassador to Britain.
Oh, look at that.
I believe this gentleman hoped
to photograph you with the documents.
Sure.
[camera shutter clicking]
Did you by any chance tell
the current ambassador to Britain
that you're concerned
her husband has turned my head?
- I didn't think it was romantic.
- Sexual.
It's not weird to think
men want to fuck you.
Speaking to the vice president's wife
about this concern
is so far outside the realm of
- Hello. Thank you.
- You are exceptional hosts.
- Thank you. We're so grateful.
- Thank you.
She said she wasn't worried.
If she told you she was worried,
that's no--
I'm worried that you have taken
the first XX chromosome
in the history of the American presidency
and reduced it to a gal
with a crush on her lab partner.
- You're making a big deal out of nothing.
- I'm not actually.
Because the ambassador fears
the whoosh of oxytocin
I get when talking to the VP
has altered my nuclear policy.
[sniffs]
Wanna get some lunch?
[Libby] It went well.
Is that what the PM said?
More or less.
- What'd he actually say?
- Why don't you give me your version?
What's wrong with his?
He can be inventive
with summary and restatement.
[fire crackling]
You trust me less than you used to.
No.
Will it pass?
Eventually.
What'd he say?
He said we found a Russian sub
armed with a nuclear super missile
and we're going to bury it secretly
in an underwater coffin.
That's actually correct.
- It is?
- Yeah.
It's preposterous.
Are you familiar with Runit Dome?
- No.
- In the Marshall Islands.
We tested quite a lot of nuclear bombs
there in the '50s.
Yes.
In the '70s, we started to feel bad
about leaving plutonium on the beach.
As one does.
So we buried it in concrete.
And that's what we're doing.
The sub may be leaking.
The weapon may be leaking.
Your PM doesn't trust us with it.
My president doesn't trust you with it.
So they'd like to bury it.
Did it work?
On the Marshall Islands?
It largely worked.
It may be leaking some radiation.
The idea is this one wouldn't leak.
Mr. Hayford, may I introduce Jerome Hooch?
- Houch.
- Houch, from the Foreign Office.
He was hoping
to have a word with you about
- [bustling chatter]
- [classical strings playing]
Oh, now I've forgotten.
I bet he'll remember. Thank you.
- [Hoke] The joint statement.
- Ah, from the summit.
You need to address public sentiment,
particularly in light of the protests,
and it's quite good,
I found it very moving.
But the phrase "new leaf" appears
more than once.
It's an early draft.
They're not even in the air yet.
They got an invitation to Windsor Castle.
Also, "eager to turn the page" appears
in the final paragraph.
I think both countries are happy
to put all this behind us.
President Penn is, I'm sure, relieved
to put the unfortunate missteps
of her predecessor behind her,
which makes her a new leaf
and a turn of the page,
but the prime minister
- Is an old leaf.
- Is the previous page.
What would the Foreign Office prefer?
- Tabula rasa?
- American audience.
Clean slate?
Yeah.
Or return to something.
Return to good health,
restoring our relationship's
long-time vitality.
- Wordy.
- Yeah.
Clean slate?
Hey.
- You need me?
- "Need" isn't the word I'd use.
Well, Billie made it seem like
[Grace] State is extremely concerned
we're decreasing arms sales to Taiwan.
We're on the clock here.
Taipei's hours away from releasing
the funds, and Ganon inexplicably
And DOD and NSC and Liz.
It's not just Ganon.
Well, we made an inexpensive drone.
Um, the price is decreasing, but the--
[Grace]
Capability is increasing. I get it.
I think it sends the wrong message
on the verge of China's
third set of war games around Taiwan.
It sends absolutely the right message.
We're not antagonizing Beijing.
We're not egging them on.
- We're actually increasing Taipei's--
- Capability, I get it.
I figured you would.
When we first talked about it--
I don't carve your every thought in stone.
This may look
like I'm dialing back on the verge of--
- China's third set of war games, yeah.
- Yes, third.
Am I in the penalty box here for an idea
you and I actually came up with together?
I met with Kate.
Okay.
Apparently
[scoffs]
[sighs] both our spouses think
I have got some kind of
feeling for you.
- [hesitates] I'm sorry?
- One that is compromising my judgment.
Wow.
May I, uh
apologize for Kate's
utter and complete breach of professional
- If I have given you the impression
- No, absolutely not.
it's possible HR should weigh in.
Jesus Christ. Grace. Uh, Ma'am.
I am sorry.
No, I never said anything of the kind.
I I do not know what she is thinking.
Apparently, my husband raised
the concern with her.
So she didn't just yank it
out of her ass full cloth.
Out of her mind. She didn't invent it.
- If Todd is
- He's not.
- I'm happy to to speak with him.
- No, let's just No.
- Well, if this is interfering
- It's not.
Because we did agree,
you and me, that we would make
the package smaller and smarter.
[breathy chuckle]
[both laughing]
Jesus Christ.
[laughter subsides]
[awkward silence]
- I'll tell Billie to move on with the
- Yeah.
[door closes]
- What did you say to her?
- I think she misunderstood.
You told the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
her judgment is clouded?
No.
- By her feelings for your husband?
- Oh, Jesus.
If you're trying to get me
to ask for a divorce, it's working.
Why is this about you?
She's uncomfortable
standing in a room with me.
It makes it harder to do the job.
I made it clear your game does not
discriminate by gender or sexual--
Oh my God.
Equal opportunity varnished
on anything more naughty than a stop sign.
- You win. I'm out.
- What?
First you claim I'm the love child
of Pol Pot and Joseph Stalin.
Now I'm feeling up the president?
You made a mistake.
- Now you want out of the marriage.
- That is not what I was doing.
This used to take a few days.
- You ran the whole track in an hour.
- Stop.
I did not call you a dictator.
You said I'm gonna get 8 million Britons
incinerated by the Russians.
- I said maybe.
- Oh, fuck off.
It's the worst case scenario.
I'm paid to think of that.
And only that.
Russia will level the British Isles,
or they will continue
combing the ocean floor
and failing to find their sub,
because the ocean floor is
really fucking large.
[Hal exhales]
It's big.
It may be bigger than I picture it.
I'm not trying to vilify you
to get out of the marriage.
I'm trying to get back into the marriage.
No, you're not.
I love you,
but you can't keep doing this to me.
I have a job.
- And you're great at the job.
- You kneecapped me with her.
- I shouldn't have talked about your charm.
- Reckless, dangerous, evil.
I never said evil. You're not.
And that's not what I'm trying to say.
I'm not.
[sighs]
But I'm not gonna like
every decision you make.
Not my point at all.
We do high highs and really low lows.
That's what I'm coming back for.
The fights are gonna be spicy.
When I was with
Anyway.
What?
I'm not sure if I should bring him up.
Callum?
No is the answer.
I was gonna tell you
something I figured out.
- I mean it.
- Fine.
I hit too hard. That's what I realized.
You don't deserve that.
It's not about you.
It's about me.
What, he he told you that?
- We don't have to get into it.
- No, no, now I'm interested.
I need to stop
hitting so hard.
- Physically?
- Verbally.
Verbally, I can be too forceful.
Thank you.
- Professionally, I need to articulate--
- That's not what I'm talking about.
with clarity as representative
to the Court of St. James.
Of course.
If she's too much of a priss
to realize you talked her off a cliff--
She's still on the cliff.
She's perfectly,
adequately positioned on the cliff.
Then there's no problem.
I can't
I can't live like this, Kate.
I don't have it in me.
Like what?
This full-body panic
every time we disagree
because I think
you're gonna bail on the marriage.
It's a terrible way to live.
- [door knocking]
- Yeah?
[door closes]
[Billie] Talk to your source.
Let him know Intelligence is confident
the radiation levels are stable.
His readings must be faulty.
The president and I discussed
reading him in.
She considered a lot of options.
She'd like to retain
code word prerogative.
There you have it.
He's on his way over here.
Callum.
- I called him and told him to come.
- Jesus Christ. Now?
Yeah.
Well
She told you what to say.
Your sensors are wrong?
It's thin, but it'll do.
It's extremely thin.
I'm not talking to a stranger.
No.
He knows every inch of your face.
Makes it harder.
Can you just tell the president
he's coming?
Maybe she'll want a conversation.
She said what she wants.
I'm not raising it again with her.
Neither is Billie.
Neither are you.
[door opens, closes]
[curious string music playing]
Hey, Jun. Do you know
which room the president's in?
Yes, ma'am. She's in Secondary Hold.
Ah, thank you.
Sorry to bother you.
Could you direct me to the ladies' room?
- Of course, just here on the left.
- Thank you.
Hi.
[toilet flushing]
- Oh, sorry.
- Quite all right.
- I can
- Do what you gotta do, Ambassador.
Thank you.
[faucet gushing]
Can I apologize?
- Unnecessary.
- It is.
I stuck my foot in it
in a way that even for me was extravagant.
All is forgotten.
I'm sure, and thank you.
But I'm worried I did a disservice
to the argument I was trying to make,
which I think matters.
We're making a mistake.
Again?
- This guy
- Ellis?
He's a resource,
and we are treating him
like a functionary.
Hal's had a lot of success
looking counterparts in the eye
and saying the moon is cheese,
but in this case,
he's not that familiar with the contact,
and he's not advocating
for what'll be most persuasive.
We have a man on the inside.
I can't walk up to him, hold out my hands,
and say, "Nothing up my sleeve."
No, you can't.
- Okay.
- I will find someone who can.
Ma'am, if I could just explain where--
You have explained.
In fact, you did so twice.
And whether or not I was dizzy
by the musk wafting off your husband,
I got it the first time.
I do not agree.
You are not to contact your contact.
For the time being, contact no one.
Taiwan, message received.
Super.
- What happened?
- The president would like to fire me.
I hadn't thought that,
but it's something to consider.
- Hold on.
- The current arrangement is not working.
She's torching this alliance.
Take a walk.
Signatures on the first three.
Can we find me a suit
that's just a little less gamey?
[Nora] Yep.
ETD moved to three.
- Avery.
- Billie, can you wait 30 seconds?
- We can't.
- Grace.
- I know she's out of line.
- Six feet apart.
You can fire her.
- Who?
- Kate's become a problem.
We tried. You made an effort.
We need an advocate you can trust.
It's an alliance that matters.
It'll ruin your home life.
I'll have a cranky VP
on the top of the rest of it.
It won't. I'll be seeing more of her
'cause she'll be living at home.
If she's not here,
she can be in Washington.
Second lady all the time.
Some people might say she's easier to take
when she's across an ocean.
[Libby] And the Russians
are still looking for it.
They'll want the weapon, yeah.
So there's a time factor.
- Meaning?
- [water pouring]
We have very little time.
Well, how long does this take?
I don't know.
I don't know if it's even possible.
It's never been done.
Except at something Dome.
Runit Dome,
which leaked and was not underwater.
What have you got so far?
We are going to need
quite a lot of concrete.
You've thought this through.
And a cover story that explains
why we're putting
2,000 tons of concrete in the water.
[breathes deeply]
Shale deposits.
Like with oil?
We need some sort of large apparatus
out there, like, what do you call it?
The derrick?
I don't know. Announcing we struck oil
- Yeah.
- attracts attention.
Don't want that.
Is there a deep sea mining angle?
- Mining what?
- Scouting.
Rare earth minerals.
Are there any rare earth minerals
in the North Sea?
Has anyone scouted?
- What about undersea cables?
- Do you bury them in concrete?
I've no idea.
Lithium. Is that a rare earth mineral?
One of us should be taking notes.
I'm not taking notes.
You were a fucking dick tool
when I needed your help.
You can take the notes.
Should've seen that one coming.
[Hal clears throat]
I always thought if I had to leave State,
I'd teach at the institute.
But maybe
second lady will keep me too busy.
She's not gonna fire you.
Why?
I witched her with my raw sexual energy.
She forgot all about it.
- [exhales sharply] Oh my fucking Lord.
- You're on a short leash.
Absolutely.
Jesus, I was scared.
[Kate exhales]
[Hal exhales]
I I still need
to say something to Callum.
Katherine.
The Russians don't have the weapon.
End of story.
[Kate sighs]
I'm not bailing on the marriage.
That's not what this was all about.
Even if she fires me.
Are you?
It feels like shit, doesn't it?
Wondering all the time
if the person you love is about to run.
- [door opens]
- [footsteps approaching]
[staff member] Pardon me, Ambassador.
Mr. Ellis is here to see you.
Hey.
I talked to DNI.
That was fast. You got the admiral?
Hargraves, Deputy of Mission Integration.
Were your radiation readings from MARNET?
- That's right.
- That's what Hargraves suspected.
She saw the readings too. False alarm.
MARNET's been fussy lately.
Their sensors have been confused
by offshore oil field waste.
Okay.
Our intelligence doesn't think
Russia has even located the sub yet.
Did they give you any kind of map
of dark target movement in the area?
- No, but, uh
- It would be helpful.
Can I talk about something else?
Mm-hmm.
Um
Oh.
[breathes deeply]
My.
Yeah.
- Oh fuck. [deflated chuckle]
- [exhales]
[sighs]
It's a complicated time.
Hal and I
I made him a promise a long time ago, and
I just have to give it
every possible chance.
I'm so sorry. I
I have
I have loved our time together.
It has been a
[hesitates] precious thing.
He treats you badly.
You know that, don't you?
You heard about our marriage
from my perspective.
These things have two sides.
I'm sure you treat him badly too.
I'm so sorry.
[exhales slowly]
[door opens, closes]
[door opens]
How'd you break the news?
I told him the sensors were faulty,
and he had a bunch of questions,
so I distracted him
by ending our relationship.
Come.
Come.
[serious piano music playing]
[music fades out]
[Kate sighs]
[Hal exhales]
[Hal sighs]
I,
Katherine Wyler,
take you,
Harlan Moses Wyler,
to have and to hold--
- lawfully wedded wife.
- Yes.
To be my lawfully wedded husband.
For better
or for worse.
Really.
Are you sure?
Worse and worse.
Till death do us part.
[poignant piano music playing]
[music becomes sweeping]
[head guard] Windsor Castle guards.
Halt.
[music steadies]
You told Grace
I thought she was into your guy?
- No.
- 'Cause I got a lot of hell.
No, no, no, no, no.
I was talking about their partnership
and the best way to backstop it.
To provide a backstop for it.
Because it's productive
and it should be supported.
- It was pretty bad.
- You whiffed it.
The king expresses again
his profound regret.
Please thank him. I'll write to him.
I won't tell him
what a good stand-in you were.
Certainly not.
Thank you for hosting us
in your country pile.
Kate's coming back to Washington.
Well, just for a few days.
- Oh yeah?
- I still have a job in the UK.
Maybe, uh, dinner, the four of us,
when she's in DC?
You think?
[engines starting up]
A debt of gratitude.
No, madam, it was our honor.
And please accept our apologies
for the demonstrations.
- Of course.
- No trouble at all.
[music stops]
Real lifesaver.
Thank you, everyone.
You've been so kind, really.
We're very grateful for your hospitality.
Thank you.
[Todd] It's real bear, you know?
- What is?
- The hats.
The plumage comes from swans,
who you will be relieved to hear
are not harmed in the harvesting process.
- We underutilize feathers.
- [clinking]
[Hal] I want you to sit down with Jerry
when you're in town
- Oh.
- [agent 1] Down!
Gun!
- Down!
- [agent 2] Move!
- [agent 3] Shots fired! Shots fired!
- [agent 4] Move!
[sweeping music playing]
[music ends]
[sirens wailing]
[indistinct radio chatter]
- How'd the order go out?
- We'll talk on the plane.
Billie and the NSC?
Or she went straight to EUCOM?
Billie.
Why are we going south, guys?
[Marty] Vance's looking at activity
outside Heathrow.
- Serious?
- [Marty] Demonstration.
- About us?
- [Marty] Scotland Yard's clearing it out.
- [phone vibrating]
- There's a protest.
- Yeah.
- [Kate] Protesting us. You concerned?
Well, Number 10 is.
They blocked off the M25.
- The police?
- [Stuart] The protesters.
Highway's blocked off.
They'll put out
a misdirect to divert the crowd,
but it's gonna take a minute.
- How long's a minute?
- Shh! How long?
[Marty] We have a decoy.
- At least an hour.
- [Kate] An hour?
- An hour.
- [Marty] Don't think so.
At least.
Marty, we're not gonna circle for an hour.
- [Marty] Looking at alts.
- Number 10 is on with the palace.
They'd like to invite you
to Windsor Castle.
- Windsor.
- [Marty] There's a castle very close.
- That may be our best bet.
- Windsor.
Windsor Castle.
The only thing is
that the king is in Balmoral,
so they'd like someone
from London to host.
We don't need a royal.
[Stuart] They are not gonna let you in
without a welcome.
- It'll look like a snub.
- To the president?
She doesn't give a shit.
- It's fine.
- I gotta take a leak.
Anywhere with a drain?
Just let them know
we are overwhelmed by their generosity.
They don't need to do a whole thing.
Got it.
This is gonna be a whole thing.
[intense string music playing]
[security] Windsor command post for Baits.
Sweeps complete.
Local confirms inner grounds secure.
No public. We are clear for arrival.
[head guard] Windsor Castle guards. Turn!
Madam President,
welcome to Windsor Castle.
Thank you so much for this.
Mr. Penn.
His Majesty regrets
he's unable to welcome you himself,
but he sends his warmest regards,
and we are at your service.
We're very grateful.
- It's an honor.
- Port in a storm.
Apologies for the terrible fuss
at Heathrow.
We're not usually so demonstrative.
People are upset.
They have every right to be.
Most gracious.
Mr. Vice President.
General Fitzwilliam is
governor of Windsor Castle.
We are so pleased to have you back.
I understand
you were hoping for a brief pause.
This gentleman can show you
to the facilities.
Fantastic.
- [guard] This way, sir.
- [Hal] Appreciated.
Madam President, in his absence,
His Majesty would like to welcome you
Billie.
Callum Ellis pulled me aside
before we left.
He thinks the Russians took the weapon.
Why?
There was a drop
in radiation levels near the sub.
What's he doing about it?
Well, he doesn't want
to tell Trowbridge until he's sure.
- He's afraid Trowbridge'll
- Yeah.
He asked me to check in
with DNI or Admiral Cruz
just to see if it's real
or a misread from his equipment.
I'll look into it. Thank you.
Should I talk to Cruz?
I got it.
Billie.
There's nothing wrong with his sensors.
The weapon's gone.
We're gonna put together
a response for you. Hang tight.
You were okay with this?
- Tricky moment.
- Not really.
It's over the line.
The line moves.
It's a lot of hat.
Mink?
Bear. Bearskin.
- Really?
- Yep.
Like, historic? Or they're shooting bears
every year to make the hats?
New bears.
PETA must love that.
They don't.
It can't be comfortable.
It's not, but they do it anyway,
because they respect the institutions
that protected their sovereignty
for 21 decades.
Windsor Castle guards. General salute!
Present arms!
Windsor Castle guards.
Slope arms!
Shoulder arms!
[serious music playing]
[Fitzwilliam] Your safety
is of the utmost concern.
We've closed off public access
to the wing,
so all of the State Apartments are
at your disposal.
We worked with your advance team
to set up communications
in the Equerries Room.
- Thank you.
- For you, we have the princess's office.
You will, of course,
be otherwise occupied.
- Ma'am
- Mr. Penn.
The castle has over 1,000 rooms,
should you wish to stretch your legs
before the flight.
I would love that.
- The Khartoum statement is vague.
- Yeah.
Something or nothing.
Let's get everyone on the phone
and pick a road. Not mush.
[Billie] Secret Service doesn't want you
here long. We'll call from the plane.
- [Grace] Is that Avery?
- [Nora] Liz.
- About what?
- [Nora] Taipei.
Ma'am, thank you for your patience.
I have the president.
Why did I get a hysterical memo
from the secretary of state?
[Hal] What did you say to Billie?
- You want a readout?
- Yeah.
It's below your pay grade.
They have an office for the president
and feel bad they don't for you,
but they're hoping you'll be okay in here.
This is not
what they should feel bad about.
[Suresh] Thanks, everybody.
- Ready for the pile?
- [Hal] Give me a minute?
Were you talking about the Poseidon?
With Billie?
You worried I asked her to give it back?
Katherine, the president is concerned
you're a security risk.
You should put me
in a position to correct her.
I told her Callum knows
there's no weapon down there.
If we don't explain why,
he's gonna tell Trowbridge
it was the Russians.
What did she say?
She'll run it through the mill,
get back to me.
Great. Done.
You made a covert military incursion
into an ally's territory.
We made them safer by orders of magnitude.
Russia will find their sub.
They will come to get their sub.
They will lose their shit
when they find
their apocalypse weapon is gone and will--
- Attack the United Kingdom.
- Yeah. You think they won't?
Kate, if I thought
they would attack the United Kingdom,
I wouldn't have done it.
I?
- The president.
- "I" is instructive here.
You don't like that we kept you out of it.
Why did she bother crossing an ocean
to make up with Nicol
if she was going to trash
the alliance again
while seated in his home?
Oh come on. If he finds out
- When.
- If
"They always find out, Katie."
A cover-up's not a solution.
It's just a minute to get your pants on.
When he finds out,
he'll be so relieved
there's not a nuclear bomb
clanking around in a sub so shitty
it ran aground off his beach.
He's a narcissist.
You have to build him up
and fluff him and love him.
When you infantilize him over and over
- Kate.
- It could have blown up.
The shitty Russian sub
could have been so shitty,
it exploded and set off the goddamn bomb.
It didn't. We have it now.
We have removed the threat
and rebalanced the arms race.
You of all people should be thrilled.
Oh, I am.
I understand the reasoning. I just think--
I should have consulted you.
- No.
- We were not together when I decided.
I did not need to share with you
my every thought.
- I know that.
- The begging came later.
"You have to take me back."
Really?
It was bullshit.
- No, it wasn't.
- Wow.
But out of the clear blue,
moments later, actual moments,
you decide I'm calamitously dangerous?
This has nothing to do with us.
It does. That's all it has to do with.
I just said I understand the move.
I just said that.
My concern is
that you and she, together, are
What?
Yeah, okay, dangerous.
- Wow.
- Who pumps the brakes when it's you two?
- There was a deliberative process.
- No, there wasn't.
You both come up with harebrained ideas,
like some granny
should blow up a British warship.
- This is not the same.
- It's exactly the same.
I have a role.
I remind you that gravity exists
and things fall apart and people find out.
The two of you together,
hurtling into the abyss.
- You're jealous.
- Ow, fuck!
- What?
- Fuck, a splinter.
- Let me see.
- It's fine.
Give me. Let me.
- Hold on.
- Do you see it?
Oh yeah.
Oh, that's big.
No, don't bite it. Ow, stop.
Did you get it?
Yeah. Anything left in there?
No.
I'm not jealous.
Todd is jealous.
No, he's not.
- For real?
- Yep.
Ridiculous.
He thinks I'm fucking his wife?
He asked me if I thought you were.
I said I found it unlikely.
But he's not insane.
The two of you look shady together,
like something's not above board.
It was a covert military operation.
It's not above board.
Well, the Brits figured it out,
so insufficiently covert.
What am I supposed to say to Callum?
Billie Appiah will answer that question
when she's consulted
the national security apparatus
and brought their collective thinking
to the president.
He's the point person for the Navy
and Downing Street and MI6.
If we don't give him
a plausible explanation,
he has to report it to Trowbridge.
We're here. I can have him come over.
I'd love to see him.
[sighs]
I told you, that's It's done.
You told him?
I tried to, but God knows why.
He was focused on the loose nuke.
I don't wanna see him.
I want Grace to inform him
that we removed the weapon.
That will cauterize
the whole fucking mess. No?
Ask Billie.
- Billie doesn't think it's a problem.
- Maybe it's not a problem.
- It should go to Grace.
- Be my guest.
From you.
It's not my opinion. You have a position.
Tell her your fucking self.
I don't have walk-in privileges,
nor should I,
but if you platform it
as a reasonable idea
[chuckles] I don't think it is.
I can get you in the room,
but I'm not endorsing your confessional.
- I think it's dumb.
- So get me in the fucking room.
[poignant piano music playing]
[door opens, closes]
[phone vibrating]
- Hi there.
- [Kate] Hey.
Aren't you on a plane?
I'm not. Where are you now?
Foreign Office.
How would you feel
about stopping by Windsor Castle?
Hi.
What are you doing here?
Having a meeting in the study.
Can you unlock it?
Why? No. Who?
Libby.
Why?
Your people made peace
by agreeing my people could disappear
the Statue of Liberty in a glass of milk.
Now I have to do it.
Tom Libby's an asshole.
I don't like how he treated you.
I don't either,
but I'm pretending I'm over it
by inviting him to problem-solve
in a cozy room.
- Who do I get to light the fire?
- Frances. Why does it have to be cozy?
We're not gonna snuggle on the couch.
We have work to do.
He hung you out to dry.
He should be groveling,
not sitting by your fire.
- Are you
- What?
protecting me?
- No.
- From that not-nice man?
Oh, fuck you.
- Don't touch anything on the desk.
- It's cute.
You should challenge him to a duel.
I will and I'll win.
The protest is ruining our narrative.
Tell Libby you heard Trowbridge call her
"Amazing Grace."
- Did he?
- Possible.
He whipped up a mob.
She's hiding in a castle.
Then come up with your own.
But effusive,
not "Less of a train wreck
than we anticipated."
Hey.
I know you wanna have a talk,
and you're afraid to say so
'cause you think it'll scare me off.
It won't?
No, it will.
I just wanted you to know I noticed.
Tell Tom Libby,
he fucks with you, I'll cut him down.
[door closes]
Billie brought me up to speed.
She's getting into it.
And I'm happy to go back to Mr. Ellis
with whatever message the team lands on,
but I wanted to put an option
in front of you that I think is
Better than the rest?
Well, it may be,
but it'll be controversial,
so I wanted to--
Make sure Billie didn't kill it
before it got to me.
Yes.
Or Hal.
I ran it by him. He's not a fan.
Love it already.
I think you tell Callum Ellis
where the Poseidon is.
I do love it.
He's close to figuring it out
on his own anyway.
The actual truth will put an end
to his concern.
You know. I don't get the impression
it made you feel any better.
That is not at all the issue.
- You sure?
- I am. I--
Good, so he asked you
if the Russians took it.
That's a question
you can answer truthfully.
- Sure.
- They didn't.
He will have follow-ups.
The Pentagon will give you a mountain
of fact that will ameliorate his concern
about the Russians,
who were nowhere near the place.
He and I have a frank relationship.
If we say, "Look, this happened,
it may have been a mistake,
but on balance, it's probably--"
It wasn't a mistake.
No, and ultimately he'll see that,
and even if he doesn't--
I don't care what he thinks.
And I don't want you apologizing
for one of the easiest decisions
I've made all week.
[keyboard clacking]
[clacking halts]
I'm gonna step out of my shoes here
for a moment. Is that okay?
Do you have to?
Hal has a gift.
It brought him success,
and it's been a boon to the nation,
but he speaks about national security
with a kind of concision
and authority and flair, frankly.
It can obfuscate
the complexity of the situation,
or his command of it.
It's not intentional,
but it's really hard
to not get swept up in the
you know.
I don't.
This is a conversation
I've had more than once.
Part of being the guy
with the dustpan behind the elephant,
and God knows I've been there.
I fell for it harder than anyone,
so I feel like it's incumbent upon me
to put a warning label
on the guy's forehead that says,
"Do not operate heavy machinery
while under the influence."
- Of Hal?
- Yeah.
He's like a drug.
I mean, no, but--
I operated heavy machinery
while under his influence.
No, but it's you know.
I operated a submarine.
Well
You did.
Thanks, Ambassador.
Ma'am, he's valuable,
but if he's the only voice in your ear
I was not entranced by your husband.
Oh, of course not.
His words did not addle my brain.
Ma'am, that that is not at all
what I was trying--
You just told me I ate
an elephant's assload full of bullshit.
He's the gas. I'm the brakes.
I don't love being the brakes,
but if nobody's doing it--
I think we're done.
Ma'am, I'm not making this up.
Your husband noticed before I did.
There's a
an energy between the two of you,
and it can be a tremendous force
for good for the country,
but you gotta know what you're handling.
I will consider reading in Mr. Kellis.
[keyboard clacking]
Ellis.
Callum is his first name,
and it can be confusing.
You said Kellis.
[door opens]
Mrs. Munning asked me to close them.
Mr. Hayford wants them open,
so people know
they can go outside for the hot cider.
The guests are shivering.
They should try the cider.
Perhaps you'd like to explain
to Mrs. Munning
why our very expensive heating
is flying out the open door.
Hot cider is an American tradition.
Did you try it?
We drink it with rum.
On its own, it's juice for children.
- "Amazing Grace."
- Really?
That's what I hear.
And Trowbridge has got a big voice.
- Booming.
- "Amazing Grace."
I am really pleased. It's such a relief.
All the protests, I was worried.
We thought it was gonna be
an uphill climb, but the two of them--
He needs to make that clear
to the protesters.
His earlier statement stirred up
a great deal of rage.
[man] And the king told Adams,
I've always said that I would
George III thought his son to be both
in eating and drinking much too free.
She says the same about me.
[chuckles] We were looking at John Adams's
account of his audience with King George.
Adams was, at the time, your country's
first ambassador to Britain.
Oh, look at that.
I believe this gentleman hoped
to photograph you with the documents.
Sure.
[camera shutter clicking]
Did you by any chance tell
the current ambassador to Britain
that you're concerned
her husband has turned my head?
- I didn't think it was romantic.
- Sexual.
It's not weird to think
men want to fuck you.
Speaking to the vice president's wife
about this concern
is so far outside the realm of
- Hello. Thank you.
- You are exceptional hosts.
- Thank you. We're so grateful.
- Thank you.
She said she wasn't worried.
If she told you she was worried,
that's no--
I'm worried that you have taken
the first XX chromosome
in the history of the American presidency
and reduced it to a gal
with a crush on her lab partner.
- You're making a big deal out of nothing.
- I'm not actually.
Because the ambassador fears
the whoosh of oxytocin
I get when talking to the VP
has altered my nuclear policy.
[sniffs]
Wanna get some lunch?
[Libby] It went well.
Is that what the PM said?
More or less.
- What'd he actually say?
- Why don't you give me your version?
What's wrong with his?
He can be inventive
with summary and restatement.
[fire crackling]
You trust me less than you used to.
No.
Will it pass?
Eventually.
What'd he say?
He said we found a Russian sub
armed with a nuclear super missile
and we're going to bury it secretly
in an underwater coffin.
That's actually correct.
- It is?
- Yeah.
It's preposterous.
Are you familiar with Runit Dome?
- No.
- In the Marshall Islands.
We tested quite a lot of nuclear bombs
there in the '50s.
Yes.
In the '70s, we started to feel bad
about leaving plutonium on the beach.
As one does.
So we buried it in concrete.
And that's what we're doing.
The sub may be leaking.
The weapon may be leaking.
Your PM doesn't trust us with it.
My president doesn't trust you with it.
So they'd like to bury it.
Did it work?
On the Marshall Islands?
It largely worked.
It may be leaking some radiation.
The idea is this one wouldn't leak.
Mr. Hayford, may I introduce Jerome Hooch?
- Houch.
- Houch, from the Foreign Office.
He was hoping
to have a word with you about
- [bustling chatter]
- [classical strings playing]
Oh, now I've forgotten.
I bet he'll remember. Thank you.
- [Hoke] The joint statement.
- Ah, from the summit.
You need to address public sentiment,
particularly in light of the protests,
and it's quite good,
I found it very moving.
But the phrase "new leaf" appears
more than once.
It's an early draft.
They're not even in the air yet.
They got an invitation to Windsor Castle.
Also, "eager to turn the page" appears
in the final paragraph.
I think both countries are happy
to put all this behind us.
President Penn is, I'm sure, relieved
to put the unfortunate missteps
of her predecessor behind her,
which makes her a new leaf
and a turn of the page,
but the prime minister
- Is an old leaf.
- Is the previous page.
What would the Foreign Office prefer?
- Tabula rasa?
- American audience.
Clean slate?
Yeah.
Or return to something.
Return to good health,
restoring our relationship's
long-time vitality.
- Wordy.
- Yeah.
Clean slate?
Hey.
- You need me?
- "Need" isn't the word I'd use.
Well, Billie made it seem like
[Grace] State is extremely concerned
we're decreasing arms sales to Taiwan.
We're on the clock here.
Taipei's hours away from releasing
the funds, and Ganon inexplicably
And DOD and NSC and Liz.
It's not just Ganon.
Well, we made an inexpensive drone.
Um, the price is decreasing, but the--
[Grace]
Capability is increasing. I get it.
I think it sends the wrong message
on the verge of China's
third set of war games around Taiwan.
It sends absolutely the right message.
We're not antagonizing Beijing.
We're not egging them on.
- We're actually increasing Taipei's--
- Capability, I get it.
I figured you would.
When we first talked about it--
I don't carve your every thought in stone.
This may look
like I'm dialing back on the verge of--
- China's third set of war games, yeah.
- Yes, third.
Am I in the penalty box here for an idea
you and I actually came up with together?
I met with Kate.
Okay.
Apparently
[scoffs]
[sighs] both our spouses think
I have got some kind of
feeling for you.
- [hesitates] I'm sorry?
- One that is compromising my judgment.
Wow.
May I, uh
apologize for Kate's
utter and complete breach of professional
- If I have given you the impression
- No, absolutely not.
it's possible HR should weigh in.
Jesus Christ. Grace. Uh, Ma'am.
I am sorry.
No, I never said anything of the kind.
I I do not know what she is thinking.
Apparently, my husband raised
the concern with her.
So she didn't just yank it
out of her ass full cloth.
Out of her mind. She didn't invent it.
- If Todd is
- He's not.
- I'm happy to to speak with him.
- No, let's just No.
- Well, if this is interfering
- It's not.
Because we did agree,
you and me, that we would make
the package smaller and smarter.
[breathy chuckle]
[both laughing]
Jesus Christ.
[laughter subsides]
[awkward silence]
- I'll tell Billie to move on with the
- Yeah.
[door closes]
- What did you say to her?
- I think she misunderstood.
You told the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
her judgment is clouded?
No.
- By her feelings for your husband?
- Oh, Jesus.
If you're trying to get me
to ask for a divorce, it's working.
Why is this about you?
She's uncomfortable
standing in a room with me.
It makes it harder to do the job.
I made it clear your game does not
discriminate by gender or sexual--
Oh my God.
Equal opportunity varnished
on anything more naughty than a stop sign.
- You win. I'm out.
- What?
First you claim I'm the love child
of Pol Pot and Joseph Stalin.
Now I'm feeling up the president?
You made a mistake.
- Now you want out of the marriage.
- That is not what I was doing.
This used to take a few days.
- You ran the whole track in an hour.
- Stop.
I did not call you a dictator.
You said I'm gonna get 8 million Britons
incinerated by the Russians.
- I said maybe.
- Oh, fuck off.
It's the worst case scenario.
I'm paid to think of that.
And only that.
Russia will level the British Isles,
or they will continue
combing the ocean floor
and failing to find their sub,
because the ocean floor is
really fucking large.
[Hal exhales]
It's big.
It may be bigger than I picture it.
I'm not trying to vilify you
to get out of the marriage.
I'm trying to get back into the marriage.
No, you're not.
I love you,
but you can't keep doing this to me.
I have a job.
- And you're great at the job.
- You kneecapped me with her.
- I shouldn't have talked about your charm.
- Reckless, dangerous, evil.
I never said evil. You're not.
And that's not what I'm trying to say.
I'm not.
[sighs]
But I'm not gonna like
every decision you make.
Not my point at all.
We do high highs and really low lows.
That's what I'm coming back for.
The fights are gonna be spicy.
When I was with
Anyway.
What?
I'm not sure if I should bring him up.
Callum?
No is the answer.
I was gonna tell you
something I figured out.
- I mean it.
- Fine.
I hit too hard. That's what I realized.
You don't deserve that.
It's not about you.
It's about me.
What, he he told you that?
- We don't have to get into it.
- No, no, now I'm interested.
I need to stop
hitting so hard.
- Physically?
- Verbally.
Verbally, I can be too forceful.
Thank you.
- Professionally, I need to articulate--
- That's not what I'm talking about.
with clarity as representative
to the Court of St. James.
Of course.
If she's too much of a priss
to realize you talked her off a cliff--
She's still on the cliff.
She's perfectly,
adequately positioned on the cliff.
Then there's no problem.
I can't
I can't live like this, Kate.
I don't have it in me.
Like what?
This full-body panic
every time we disagree
because I think
you're gonna bail on the marriage.
It's a terrible way to live.
- [door knocking]
- Yeah?
[door closes]
[Billie] Talk to your source.
Let him know Intelligence is confident
the radiation levels are stable.
His readings must be faulty.
The president and I discussed
reading him in.
She considered a lot of options.
She'd like to retain
code word prerogative.
There you have it.
He's on his way over here.
Callum.
- I called him and told him to come.
- Jesus Christ. Now?
Yeah.
Well
She told you what to say.
Your sensors are wrong?
It's thin, but it'll do.
It's extremely thin.
I'm not talking to a stranger.
No.
He knows every inch of your face.
Makes it harder.
Can you just tell the president
he's coming?
Maybe she'll want a conversation.
She said what she wants.
I'm not raising it again with her.
Neither is Billie.
Neither are you.
[door opens, closes]
[curious string music playing]
Hey, Jun. Do you know
which room the president's in?
Yes, ma'am. She's in Secondary Hold.
Ah, thank you.
Sorry to bother you.
Could you direct me to the ladies' room?
- Of course, just here on the left.
- Thank you.
Hi.
[toilet flushing]
- Oh, sorry.
- Quite all right.
- I can
- Do what you gotta do, Ambassador.
Thank you.
[faucet gushing]
Can I apologize?
- Unnecessary.
- It is.
I stuck my foot in it
in a way that even for me was extravagant.
All is forgotten.
I'm sure, and thank you.
But I'm worried I did a disservice
to the argument I was trying to make,
which I think matters.
We're making a mistake.
Again?
- This guy
- Ellis?
He's a resource,
and we are treating him
like a functionary.
Hal's had a lot of success
looking counterparts in the eye
and saying the moon is cheese,
but in this case,
he's not that familiar with the contact,
and he's not advocating
for what'll be most persuasive.
We have a man on the inside.
I can't walk up to him, hold out my hands,
and say, "Nothing up my sleeve."
No, you can't.
- Okay.
- I will find someone who can.
Ma'am, if I could just explain where--
You have explained.
In fact, you did so twice.
And whether or not I was dizzy
by the musk wafting off your husband,
I got it the first time.
I do not agree.
You are not to contact your contact.
For the time being, contact no one.
Taiwan, message received.
Super.
- What happened?
- The president would like to fire me.
I hadn't thought that,
but it's something to consider.
- Hold on.
- The current arrangement is not working.
She's torching this alliance.
Take a walk.
Signatures on the first three.
Can we find me a suit
that's just a little less gamey?
[Nora] Yep.
ETD moved to three.
- Avery.
- Billie, can you wait 30 seconds?
- We can't.
- Grace.
- I know she's out of line.
- Six feet apart.
You can fire her.
- Who?
- Kate's become a problem.
We tried. You made an effort.
We need an advocate you can trust.
It's an alliance that matters.
It'll ruin your home life.
I'll have a cranky VP
on the top of the rest of it.
It won't. I'll be seeing more of her
'cause she'll be living at home.
If she's not here,
she can be in Washington.
Second lady all the time.
Some people might say she's easier to take
when she's across an ocean.
[Libby] And the Russians
are still looking for it.
They'll want the weapon, yeah.
So there's a time factor.
- Meaning?
- [water pouring]
We have very little time.
Well, how long does this take?
I don't know.
I don't know if it's even possible.
It's never been done.
Except at something Dome.
Runit Dome,
which leaked and was not underwater.
What have you got so far?
We are going to need
quite a lot of concrete.
You've thought this through.
And a cover story that explains
why we're putting
2,000 tons of concrete in the water.
[breathes deeply]
Shale deposits.
Like with oil?
We need some sort of large apparatus
out there, like, what do you call it?
The derrick?
I don't know. Announcing we struck oil
- Yeah.
- attracts attention.
Don't want that.
Is there a deep sea mining angle?
- Mining what?
- Scouting.
Rare earth minerals.
Are there any rare earth minerals
in the North Sea?
Has anyone scouted?
- What about undersea cables?
- Do you bury them in concrete?
I've no idea.
Lithium. Is that a rare earth mineral?
One of us should be taking notes.
I'm not taking notes.
You were a fucking dick tool
when I needed your help.
You can take the notes.
Should've seen that one coming.
[Hal clears throat]
I always thought if I had to leave State,
I'd teach at the institute.
But maybe
second lady will keep me too busy.
She's not gonna fire you.
Why?
I witched her with my raw sexual energy.
She forgot all about it.
- [exhales sharply] Oh my fucking Lord.
- You're on a short leash.
Absolutely.
Jesus, I was scared.
[Kate exhales]
[Hal exhales]
I I still need
to say something to Callum.
Katherine.
The Russians don't have the weapon.
End of story.
[Kate sighs]
I'm not bailing on the marriage.
That's not what this was all about.
Even if she fires me.
Are you?
It feels like shit, doesn't it?
Wondering all the time
if the person you love is about to run.
- [door opens]
- [footsteps approaching]
[staff member] Pardon me, Ambassador.
Mr. Ellis is here to see you.
Hey.
I talked to DNI.
That was fast. You got the admiral?
Hargraves, Deputy of Mission Integration.
Were your radiation readings from MARNET?
- That's right.
- That's what Hargraves suspected.
She saw the readings too. False alarm.
MARNET's been fussy lately.
Their sensors have been confused
by offshore oil field waste.
Okay.
Our intelligence doesn't think
Russia has even located the sub yet.
Did they give you any kind of map
of dark target movement in the area?
- No, but, uh
- It would be helpful.
Can I talk about something else?
Mm-hmm.
Um
Oh.
[breathes deeply]
My.
Yeah.
- Oh fuck. [deflated chuckle]
- [exhales]
[sighs]
It's a complicated time.
Hal and I
I made him a promise a long time ago, and
I just have to give it
every possible chance.
I'm so sorry. I
I have
I have loved our time together.
It has been a
[hesitates] precious thing.
He treats you badly.
You know that, don't you?
You heard about our marriage
from my perspective.
These things have two sides.
I'm sure you treat him badly too.
I'm so sorry.
[exhales slowly]
[door opens, closes]
[door opens]
How'd you break the news?
I told him the sensors were faulty,
and he had a bunch of questions,
so I distracted him
by ending our relationship.
Come.
Come.
[serious piano music playing]
[music fades out]
[Kate sighs]
[Hal exhales]
[Hal sighs]
I,
Katherine Wyler,
take you,
Harlan Moses Wyler,
to have and to hold--
- lawfully wedded wife.
- Yes.
To be my lawfully wedded husband.
For better
or for worse.
Really.
Are you sure?
Worse and worse.
Till death do us part.
[poignant piano music playing]
[music becomes sweeping]
[head guard] Windsor Castle guards.
Halt.
[music steadies]
You told Grace
I thought she was into your guy?
- No.
- 'Cause I got a lot of hell.
No, no, no, no, no.
I was talking about their partnership
and the best way to backstop it.
To provide a backstop for it.
Because it's productive
and it should be supported.
- It was pretty bad.
- You whiffed it.
The king expresses again
his profound regret.
Please thank him. I'll write to him.
I won't tell him
what a good stand-in you were.
Certainly not.
Thank you for hosting us
in your country pile.
Kate's coming back to Washington.
Well, just for a few days.
- Oh yeah?
- I still have a job in the UK.
Maybe, uh, dinner, the four of us,
when she's in DC?
You think?
[engines starting up]
A debt of gratitude.
No, madam, it was our honor.
And please accept our apologies
for the demonstrations.
- Of course.
- No trouble at all.
[music stops]
Real lifesaver.
Thank you, everyone.
You've been so kind, really.
We're very grateful for your hospitality.
Thank you.
[Todd] It's real bear, you know?
- What is?
- The hats.
The plumage comes from swans,
who you will be relieved to hear
are not harmed in the harvesting process.
- We underutilize feathers.
- [clinking]
[Hal] I want you to sit down with Jerry
when you're in town
- Oh.
- [agent 1] Down!
Gun!
- Down!
- [agent 2] Move!
- [agent 3] Shots fired! Shots fired!
- [agent 4] Move!
[sweeping music playing]
[music ends]