Madam Secretary (2014) s04e13 Episode Script
Reading the Signs
1 ELIZABETH: Let me try it again.
Ayu-bowan.
Good, but don't forget the âU.
â Ay-u-bowan.
- Ayubowan.
- I don't I don't get it, doesn't the Sri Lankan president speak English? Oy.
What? Am I being culturally insensitive again? Because I screw up with Piper, like, ten times a day.
ELIZABETH: As a matter of fact, President Nandasiri does speak English.
But it's traditional for foreign dignitaries to be greeted in their native tongue.
And in Sri Lanka, the primary language is? Sinhala.
Okay.
I've actually been practicing, too, just in case.
Singhala Danna naa.
Which means? "I don't speak Sinhala.
" (CHUCKLES) Mom, I'm actually very surprised that you're not delaying this trip until Dalton is reinstated.
Um, Russell told me that he's gonna be back in action in, like, a few weeks.
Well, while the president is recuperating, it's important for the international community to understand that the U.
S.
has not missed a step.
Which means nothing is postponed.
But if Acting President Hurst signs off, you're just letting her take the victory lap.
I don't get it.
You know, sometimes I worry that Russell Jackson is your mentor.
Yeah, you know, I, uh, I hate to say it, but I think she's got a point.
I'm not crazy about the optics.
Kids, in public service and in life, it's not about who gets the credit.
Although, I got to say, babe, that I know China's trying to make a deal with Sri Lanka, too, and the fact that you beat 'em to the punch, - that is really hot.
- JASON: Yeah, yeah.
You know - Oh, was it? - and it's, uh, it's all part of a larger strategy to push back on their expansion into the Indian Ocean.
Okay, clearly, I talk about work too much at home.
ALISON: I'm home! - In the kitchen! - Here.
Oh, look at her.
- Hi.
Aw.
- Hi, guys.
- You're back.
- I missed you.
Okay, you guys saw me two weeks ago.
- I don't care.
- JASON: Yeah, I I didn't think you'd be home until, like, spring break.
I'll only be here for a couple of days.
Yeah.
Uh, small issue with your room.
I'm actually kind of using it as a gym.
- What? - Well, you know, I'm trying to get swole for Piper.
- Ooh.
- Gross! Do that in your own room.
No, I almost threw out my back moving all the weights into yours.
Okay, I'm gonna let you handle this one.
HENRY: All right.
Come on there, Jack LaLanne.
- Let's go.
- Jack La-who? - Yeah.
Come on.
- Bye.
Love you.
Really? Good day.
Where are we on Indonesia? They love our soybeans, we love their knitwear.
Negotiations continue apace.
The secretary's comments at the Model UN conference? Uh, "May you continue to be more functional than your real-world counterpart.
" In progress.
(CHUCKLES) Okay, our main event today is the Sri Lankan president, Tarindo Nandasiri, arriving at the White House to meet with the secretary and Acting President Hurst.
With him will be his minister of national policies and economic affairs, his chief of staff, and his tasseographer.
Lunch is scheduled MATT: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow down there, speedy.
His tasseo-what now? Tasseographer.
Someone who reads tea leaves.
Like a psychic? His name is Ranuga, and he prefers "metaphysical advisor.
" I'm sure he does.
- (CHUCKLES) - JAY: Let's just remember to be respectful, no matter what we personally believe.
Which is that it's all just a bunch of pseudo-mystical nonsense designed to fool the gullible? KAT: Tasseography has been practiced for over 5,000 years, all right? You can't just discount it out of hand.
So you're saying Ranuga's the genuine article? Oh, no, no.
Him I'm discounting out of hand.
Yeah, I don't trust anyone who sells out their talents to the highest bidder.
And Ranuga only has one client: President Nandasiri.
Got to wonder how much he adjusts the message to keep the money flowing.
Well, as long as he adjusts his message on our trade deal to make President Nandasiri happy, - it's good for us as well.
- Mm-hmm.
ALISON: Seriously, you're not being fair.
I know, but then my plans changed.
If you want to go, you should go.
Don't make me feel bad about it.
Lucinda Everything okay? - You heard that, huh? - Yeah.
I'm having roommate issues.
Lucinda? Thought you guys were tight.
We were.
We are.
Sometimes we're so tight, I can't breathe.
At first it was great.
You know, we got along, we had a ton of stuff in common - What happened? - Well, I joined a few clubs and started making other friends.
But Lucinda, it's like she just wants to hang out with me all the time.
Well, have you talked to her about it? She says she knows it's a problem, but she doesn't do anything about it.
I just need a break.
(SIGHS) You think I'm being harsh, don't you? No.
(CHUCKLES) My first year in college, my roommate was so homesick, he cried himself to sleep every night.
I mean, I-I liked the kid, but (SIGHS) I felt uncomfortable, so I asked to be transferred.
And then, of course, I ran into him on the quad a couple months later, and he'd joined the debate club or something, he had friends.
It just took him a little longer to adjust.
I sort of felt bad that I didn't hang in there.
So you do think I'm being harsh.
I think it's okay for you to want to spend time away from your friend.
Just remember to be kind, too, okay? Mr.
President, welcome to the White House.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
The pleasure is mine, Madam President.
Wonderful to see you again, Madam Secretary.
Mr.
President.
Uh, ayubowan.
We had thought that Mrs.
Nandasiri would be joining us.
She has flown to New York to do some shopping.
There'll be nothing with a designer label left in the city by the time she is done.
(CHUCKLES) (CHUCKLES) Ceylon tea leaves from our country.
That's very thoughtful of you.
Why don't we get out of the cold and have a cup.
That's a great idea.
Mmm.
You have many treasures in your country, Mr.
President, but I confess, your tea might be my favorite.
(CHUCKLES) We'd happily give you a lifetime supply in exchange for use of that quote.
(LAUGHS) May I have some more leaves first, please? - Of course.
- Ah.
Ranuga is going to grace us with a reading.
He will tell you things about yourself you never knew.
TERESA: I look forward to whatever you have to say.
In truth, I say nothing.
I am merely the earthly chalice the spirits have chosen to fill with their wisdom.
They speak through me, that I may bring good tidings to all who are in this room.
Well, speaking of good tidings, we have some of our own regarding the trade agreement.
Uh, my team has been negotiating with Scott Goodman of KronicDM, and I've just learned that he is on board and eager to get to work.
I very much enjoyed his Super Bowl ad.
(LAUGHS) - JAY: The other U.
S.
companies we've contracted specialize in wholesale connectivity.
Wireless.
But Scott will provide that last mile of connection as well.
TERESA: Upgraded landlines for your homes and businesses.
He's agreed to contract out some of the work to the top three Sri Lankan telecoms.
And there's some other small changes, addendums - which we'll address - (CLEARS THROAT) (QUIETLY): Mr.
President.
What is it, my friend? (RANUGA WHISPERING) Are you sure? (SIGHS) I'm afraid, um, we have a problem.
What kind of problem? The spirits have withdrawn their blessings.
We cannot move forward with this trade agreement.
WOMAN: Thanks for scheduling our call so quickly.
I have an asset in the Taliban.
Someone I trust.
He says a rogue splinter group has broken off.
They aren't happy with the deal the U.
S.
and Afghanistan brokered with their leaders, and they're determined to disrupt the peace.
Did he say how? They've acquired a major cache of weapons, which includes dozens of surface-to-air missiles, and they intend to use them on NATO helicopters.
Nafisa, what do you need us to do? Sign off on using funds to help counter the new threat.
We'll have to read in the Gang of Eight.
We'll get back to you.
Thank you.
We're already over our Af-Pak budget containing the Taliban.
I'm sure the Gang of Eight will be thrilled to authorize funds for this.
I understand you have great respect for Ranuga, Mr.
President, but is it possible that, in this particular instance, he's mistaken? I do not have the skill or the unique connection to the spirit world as Ranuga does, but he's never been wrong before.
All we're saying is that his gift appears to be one of interpretation.
Not at all.
He's speaking for Nuveena, my late grandmother and the matriarch of the family.
Nuveena also had the gift of sight.
Ever since I was a baby, she told me that, one day, I would lead our people.
And now I'm the president.
I would never dream do against her wishes.
But if your grandmother wants what's best for your country and its people, Mr.
President, this trade agreement will change so many lives for the better.
Perhaps Nuveena's telling me that I'm moving too quickly, that I should open my eyes and see what else is around us.
Mr.
President, if you mean the Chinese China is our neighbor.
They've invested quite a bit in Hambantota.
Because they want control of your deepwater ports.
Nuveena may feel that I was too dismissive of their offer.
If so, this would be the time to reconsider.
JAY: And this is the East Room, the largest room in the White House.
It's primarily used for dinners and press conferences.
And roller-skating.
I hear children laughing.
I hear the wheels slapping the wood floor.
It's true.
It's true that, uh, Teddy Roosevelt's children and Amy Carter were known to roller-skate in here.
Yeah, it's also true that that information's readily available through newspaper articles, brochures, biographies, several documentaries, White House tours, and on numerous websites.
Those are all ways to receive information, yes, but they are not the only ways.
There is so much more to the universe than that which we can touch.
- Shall we? - BOTH: Yeah.
Who is the man with the "L" name? Uh my brother's name is Logan.
You are avoiding his calls.
Uh, only 'cause he's boring.
RANUGA: Next time he calls, speak with him.
He may surprise you.
And I sense a sadness, a terrible loneliness.
Oh, that's probably just me.
No, you are childless.
Yeah, okay.
I'm aware.
This person has a family, friends, and yet they feel alone.
What, me? (CHUCKLES): Oh, I am not lonely.
Your love will return to you.
I just said that I'm not Wait, wait.
Which love? I mean, 'cause there's been a couple.
The one who will be a father to your little girl.
May I see the room with the dishes now? I would like to take a selfie with Grace Coolidge's portrait.
Of course.
So this love can you describe him? So, I walk into the briefing with Morejon, and the first thing I notice is: there's no chair for me.
I have to ask for one.
(SCOFFS) Say what you like about Carlos Morejon, - there is no one more petty.
- Right? Whatever.
I'm-I'm happy to play along.
Haze me as much as you want.
But when I tell you that there's a terrorist threat against our troops in Afghanistan, and we need funds to expose and end it, then stop playing games and join the adults in the real world.
Did you say that? Well, I was, I was a little less combative, but you know, I-I lose my temper with these bureaucrats.
(SIGHS) As it turns out, it's all for nothing, because not only will they not release the funds to S.
A.
D.
, but they're proposing phased spending cuts over the next decade, which Morejon was more than thrilled to tell me about.
- ALISON: Hey.
- ELIZABETH: Hey.
I just wanted to say good night.
- Good night.
- ELIZABETH: Hey, listen, I carved an hour out of my morning, so, you want to have breakfast? I'm actually gonna head back first thing in the morning.
Oh.
I want to get back to the dorm and see Lucinda.
- We should talk.
- That's a good idea.
Let me know how that goes, okay? Me, too.
Your father forgot to fill me in, but he's gonna take care of that right now.
Sounds good.
- Night.
- ELIZABETH: Good night.
(STAMMERS) SCOTT: What is it the spirits don't like about KronicDM's offer exactly? Are they particularly fond of dial-up? Don't want to leave it behind? It's a complicated situation, Scott.
ELIZABETH: We were hoping that you might - be able to sweeten the deal.
- How about this? Nandasiri has two days to get his ghosts in line, or I hop over to the Maldives, make that the go-to spot for tourists who want to lie on a beach and stream the new Star Trek.
Madam Secretary, Alison's on the phone.
She says it's urgent.
Excuse me.
Honey, are you okay? Yeah, but something's happened.
- Wait.
What's wrong? - ALISON: I walked into the dorm, and Lucinda was on the floor, - and I couldn't wake her up.
- ELIZABETH: Oh, my God.
Did you call 911? Yeah, but, there was an empty bottle of pills and vodka on the floor.
I think she tried to kill herself.
Oh, baby, I'm so sorry.
Thanks.
The doctor is still in with her parents.
(SIGHS) This is all my fault.
Hey.
- It's nobody's fault.
- Come on.
Okay? Here they are.
Any news? - It's good.
- She's stable.
Oh, thank God.
Alison, if you hadn't come back early this morning Situation could have been so much worse.
- Ah, great.
- (SIGHS DEEPLY) Thank you.
I'm starving.
Sorry that took me so long.
Got a little sidetracked.
My brother Logan called, and out of curiosity, I answered.
- And? - Oh, it was the usual.
Investment strategies, blah, blah, blah.
- Bond market, blah, blah, blah.
- Mmm.
Logan's a money manager, so, in other words, he definitely did not surprise me.
So in case you were still in doubt, Ranuga's a scammer.
Well, that may be true, but he's the cleanest scammer I've ever seen.
Oh, come on.
I've been scouring INR's files on the guy, and everything else I - (SIGHS) - can get my hands on.
There's no arrests, no outstanding debt, no offshore accounts.
Well, I reached out to a buddy at the FBI, and nothing.
(CLICKS TONGUE) What about his family? Maybe the rotten apple's a little deeper down - in the barrel.
- Funny you should mention that.
I just came across a wedding announcement for his sister Sachi.
- Mm-hmm.
- She got married about six months ago.
(TYPING) The groom lists his occupation as "businessman.
" Ishara Singhe owns the fourth largest domestic phone company on Sri Lanka Dandu Telecom.
Boom.
That's got to be it.
Ranuga said the spirits were on board with the trade agreement initially, but That was when the U.
S.
companies were only providing "points of presence.
" - Strictly wireless.
- Uh-huh.
- Ranuga must have thought that his family's company was in jeopardy.
It was.
KronicDM was only gonna bring in the top three telecoms.
At number four, Dandu would have been shut out.
Scott Goodman needs to broaden the deal to include them all.
- Think he'll go for it? - (SIGHS) Well, I hear his people are already making storyboards for next year's Super Bowl ads.
- Fade in on a Sri Lankan beach.
- (CHUCKLES) STEVIE: Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey.
We, uh we made dinner.
It's chili.
- Oh, great.
- You didn't have to do that.
No, we wanted to.
How's Lucinda? She's gonna be fine.
Her folks are taking her back to Michigan once she's discharged.
How you doing? Um I'm exhausted.
I just want to go to bed.
ELIZABETH: Well, have a bowl of chili first.
- JASON: Yeah.
- Come on.
You haven't had anything to eat today - that didn't come out of a - I just want to go to my room.
vending machine.
I know, but just one little bowl, Ali.
Come on.
(SIGHS) I think that she should stay home for a while.
Maybe even take an incomplete on a semester.
Well, if that's what she wants to do, yeah.
She doesn't know what she wants.
She can barely function, Henry.
Well, then, let's give her a couple of days to figure it out, okay? Come on.
It's okay.
ELIZABETH: So Scott Goodman is on board to broaden the telecom deal.
That's very good news.
Now it's just about figuring out how to get word to the spirits that the coast is clear.
Yeah, we've been talking about that.
If we confront Ranuga about his lies, he could double down out of fear of losing his relationship with Nandasiri.
And we can't go to Nandasiri without proof.
If he truly believes that Ranuga's in touch with his sainted grandmother, he'll find a way - to discredit us.
- KAT: And there's more.
Minister Chen just arrived in Ottawa, Nandasiri's next stop.
So the Chinese are taking another run at him? And all they have to do is compromise a little on fishing rights or whatever, and they walk away with everything.
KAT: Mm-hmm.
There has to be a way to thread this needle.
Ma'am? We do have a suggestion, and it would require you to be somewhat covert.
What do you have in mind? Uh We appreciate you coming in on such short notice, Mr.
President.
It is no problem.
I'm sorry we could not come to terms.
Well, it occurred to us that you, and consequently the spirits, didn't actually hear the complete details of our agreement with Scott Goodman the other day, and And we're hoping that after you get all that information, including a few new enticements, you might change your mind.
It is not my president's mind that needs to be changed.
It is the spirits who have spoken, and they are at one with the universe and stars.
I agree that money is a transitory thing of no use to the dead, but can we perhaps consider the idea that their descendants might like some? ELIZABETH: Scott Goodman would still upgrade the infrastructure of the hard-line phone services, but we got him to agree to use only local labor to do it.
TERESA: Independent contractor agreements will be drawn up that are very generous to all the Sri Lankan telecom companies.
ELIZABETH: And that includes, uh, Jaffna Telecom, Mendis Telecom and? - Dandu? - Dandu.
If only my grandmother were not so stubborn.
Your grandmother is stubborn, Mr.
President, but also a wise, kind woman.
And let us all remember that new information often opens exciting avenues of discovery.
I must return to the hotel and meditate on this new development.
I will ask Nuveena and the spirit world for guidance.
Of course.
And why don't you take this adjusted report, just in case the spirits need clarification? Yes, that is a good idea.
ELIZABETH (LAUGHING): And then, at around 5:00, we got the call.
- No.
- Oh, yes.
(LAUGHS): Oh.
Grandma Nuveena has blessed the deal once more.
Wow.
Nicely done, babe.
STEVIE: Wow.
Noodle, you okay? I was going to text Lucinda, but then I remembered she doesn't have her phone in the hospital.
I, uh I reached out to her mother, Alison, as a just to check in.
And she told us that Lucinda was treated for anxiety and depression in high school.
That her parents thought she had it under control.
She's been dealing with this issue since before you ever met.
I'm gonna go grab a sweater.
- Can I, can I go play the? - Yeah.
Just 20 minutes, - then homework.
- JASON: All right.
(HENRY SIGHS) You remember my first boyfriend at Lovell? Brody? Oh, yeah, he was a nice kid.
Something like this happened to him.
He seemed fine, and then mid-terms sent him into this kind of an anxiety spiral.
And he started, like, drinking too much, and driving too fast, and I don't know.
This one time, we were out together, and I just I I got really scared.
Um I thought I told you about this.
I am 100% sure you never told us.
- He was drunk driving? - ELIZABETH: I'm surprised.
- You just called him a nice kid.
- Okay.
This is obviously why I never told you.
Anyway, he dropped out, and, um, he went to work for this NGO that digs wells in Africa, and he's still in Malawi, and he's very happy from what I hear.
- ALISON: Jason! - Oh, God.
What did he do? You broke my night-light! You used my room without my permission to make your stupid gym, and you broke my night-light.
No, I didn't.
You moved every piece of furniture in my room, - and now it's cracked.
- HENRY: Okay, here, let me You backed a chair into it.
Let me see.
Maybe I can fix it.
Or we can get another one.
I don't want another one.
I've had this one forever.
You know, it doesn't even work anymore.
You don't care about anyone but yourself.
STEVIE: Jason, just say you're sorry.
No, she's acting crazy.
HENRY: Apologize to her.
Fine, you know what? I'm-I'm sorry I broke your stupid night-light that hasn't worked in, like, ten years.
Oh, my God.
Please forgive me.
- I hate you! - Hey! Hey.
That's enough.
That's enough.
Stop.
You are a moron, Jason.
Well, she's calmed down, and I think I can fix the night-light.
You know it's not about the night-light, right? Ali has had issues with anxiety at school.
There was that project she couldn't even get started.
I read an article about these kids in California.
They got stressed out, felt like they had nowhere to turn, and then one after the other, they There's a term for it.
S-Suicide clusters.
Alison's upset about her friend, but she doesn't seem suicidal.
Alison didn't think Lucinda was suicidal.
Lucinda's parents didn't see it.
We didn't see it with your dad.
I don't know.
Maybe I'm worrying too much.
That's better than not worrying enough.
Hey, Noodle.
What are you doing up? Bad dream.
(SIGHS): Well, Mom's been looking for an excuse to make her famous bacon banana pancakes, so Thanks.
But I gave up pork.
Oh.
Lucinda showed me this documentary about pigs and how social they are.
They're smarter than dogs.
Well, she sounds like a very thoughtful young woman.
She is.
And a good friend.
How could I not see that she was so unhappy? (SIGHS) Is that how it was for you with Grandpa? Yeah.
For months after, I would go over conversations we'd had.
I kept thinking there was something I missed.
Uh, a moment where I could have broken through and changed his mind.
And he never asked for help about anything, but I still felt like I let him down.
And what was hardest was that I was really angry at him because he never told me what was going on.
He never even gave me a chance to stop him.
Because if you would have known, you would have done anything, right? Yeah, just like you would've done anything to help Lucinda.
(ELIZABETH SIGHS) Look at you two snuggle-pies.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Morning.
Good morning.
- Hi.
Mmm.
You want me to make some breakfast? Yeah, but just nothing with bacon 'cause, uh, Ali and I are giving up pork, right? - (CHUCKLES) - ELIZABETH: What? Pigs beat three-year-olds on cognition tests.
Did you know that? No, I didn't.
Sort of sorry I do now.
Okay.
Oatmeal and berries and whatever.
Um, I think I'm actually gonna head out.
ELIZABETH: So soon? I mean, if that's what you want to do, that's okay, but are-are you sure that's what you want to do? 'Cause you could always stay a little longer.
It's an option.
Yeah, I just want to get back.
Okay.
- (KNOCKS) - Dr.
McCord.
Yeah? Two surface-to-air missiles were launched at a pair of Lakotas ferrying supplies to Logar province.
- Did they hit the targets? - One of them suffered rotor damage but was able to make it back to base with no injuries.
It was a close call.
(SIGHS) Okay.
Call Senator Morejon's office.
Tell him we've had an escalation.
I need to brief the Gang of Eight as soon as possible.
- Okay, you got it.
- Okay.
- Hey.
- Hey.
So, uh you know, I was thinking about what that psychic said.
About you being sad and childless? Just childless.
- Daisy was sad.
- Right.
I was just wondering, that thing that Ranuga said about your brother, um - if it turned out to be true? - Why? Oh.
(CHUCKLES) Like, if he's right about my brother calling and surprising me, you're gonna hop on the psychic train and start thinking he's right about you, too? (LAUGHING): Or Daisy? Or you and-and, uh You and Daisy? You're hoping you're Daisy's lost love.
JAY: Hey.
We've got a problem.
Oh, come on.
What do the spirits want now? A pony? It's not Ranuga.
It's the Chinese.
They heard our agreement was shaky, went back to Nandasiri, and now they piggybacked a telecom agreement on it, too.
So much for waiting for Nandasiri to get to Ottawa.
Chen must have called - and backed off fishing rights.
- JAY: Nope.
Nandasiri just caved.
Two months ago, that was a nonstarter.
What changed his mind? If this deal falls through, then the Chinese will have bested us in the Indian Ocean.
We'll be out in the cold.
Reach out to Ephraim Ware and put Intelligence on this.
President Dalton is back in three weeks.
I'll be damned if the Chinese are gonna turn Hambantota into mini-Hong Kong on my watch.
Yes, ma'am.
Hey.
I'm so glad you're out of the hospital.
Me, too.
It sucks.
What was I thinking? I mean, I know what I was thinking.
My therapist says I need to stop "minimizing my suicidal ideation.
" I'm really sorry you had to find me like that.
I-I'm just glad I got there.
Eh, in time.
On the bright side, you'll be the only freshman with a single.
(CHUCKLES) But I'm gonna miss your sock puppets.
- (LAUGHS) - And you.
Well (CHUCKLES) I got to go.
Take care.
You, too.
Hey.
I thought for sure you'd be sleeping.
I'm obsessing over what I'm gonna say to the Gang of Eight tomorrow.
Okay.
Let's hear it.
Don't you have enough with saving our Indian Ocean trade position Trying not to obsess about Ali, so So you just want a distraction.
I don't know.
Sometimes I think the whole job is just a distraction from worrying about the kids.
Is that weird? Mm kind of.
Anyhoo, distract me with your eloquence.
Okay.
"Mr.
Chairman, as a taxpayer and a citizen, "I recognize this body provides an essential check "on the overreach of executive power.
It's an awesome responsibility" All right, listen, it doesn't matter what I say at this point.
They're not gonna change their minds.
I need to think outside the box.
I need to come up with a move that they're not gonna see coming.
You know what? I'm gonna call Ali before it gets too late.
I thought you said you didn't want to obsess.
Every time I think about her alone in that dorm room, I just want to run and go get her.
Babe, if she needs us, she will call.
(PHONE VIBRATES) (LAUGHS) Oh, shoot.
It's Ephraim Ware.
Ha-ha.
Mr.
President, thank you for meeting with me.
Of course.
Would you like some tea? No, thank you.
If this is about the agreement with the Chinese, their foreign minister made an offer I couldn't refuse.
(CHUCKLES) Minister Chen is very persuasive.
How else to explain why you gave them unfettered fishing rights, so your people will have to compete with foreign vessels in their own waters? In exchange, the Chinese promise preferential tea market access.
Tea manufactured at a Chinese shell company built in Sri Lanka, with 20% of the profits going directly to an offshore account in your name.
Minister Chen offered you a bribe.
How dare you accuse me.
You're in a financial free fall.
Due in large part to you and your wife's spending habits.
But you cannot trade your country's sovereignty in exchange for a personal bailout from the Chinese.
We negotiated a fair deal, Mr.
President.
One that benefited both our countries.
One that was blessed by Nuveena.
And the business with the Chinese, that's gonna come out, and there is nothing either of us can do to stop it, so What if I walk away from the Chinese? Can't we put this horrible misunderstanding behind us? You consult with the spirits.
I'll talk to the acting president.
You settling back in all right? You need anything? You're gonna laugh.
Try me.
Lucinda's mom accidentally took the wet/dry hand vac.
(CHUCKLES) Well, I'll tell you what, you can take my upstairs one when you come home.
When's that gonna be, by the way? I don't know.
Ma'am.
Acting President Hurst is asking to see you.
Let me call you back.
I'm just about to walk into class.
You call me tonight, okay, baby? You promise? Yeah, I promise.
I love you.
I can't tell you how many times I've come into this office and seen Conrad on that very spot, working out a problem.
It's a good spot.
I wanted to thank you personally - for saving the Sri Lankan deal.
- Oh.
And let you know that we won't be going forward with it after all.
- Why not? - There's been too much dishonesty from Nandasiri too much double-dealing on their part, too much compromise on ours.
But if we walk, - Sri Lanka will close with China.
- I know.
But I can't sign my name to this if I don't believe they'll hold up their end.
So, let me build guarantees into the agreement that will keep Nandasiri in line.
Elizabeth When we were in Russia, you advised me to walk away from Salnikov because it was not good for our country.
You were right, then.
I'm right, now.
This deal is not good for our country, and as acting president, that is my decision to make.
Thank you, ma'am.
JAY: I'm just gonna say it: Teresa Hurst spiked this deal to flip off Dalton because he won't back her - in the next election.
- No.
She was genuinely for the deal until Nandasiri pulled a fast one.
Her gut told her to walk away I respect that.
Either way, we still failed to hold the line in the Indian Ocean.
Not necessarily.
How's it going with our bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia? KAT: Fewer overinvested grandma ghosts than Sri Lanka.
- We are almost closed.
- Right.
Reach out.
See if they're interested in upgrading their telecom systems.
In exchange for better access to deepwater ports off Jakarta? - We're on it.
- (CHUCKLES): Yes, ma'am.
Um, Madam Secretary, could I ask you a personal question? - Fire away.
- (KNOCK ON DOOR) - Ma'am.
Sorry.
- Yeah.
Rangua called and left a word for you.
Ranuga? Okay, let's get him back.
No, I was being literal.
He left "a word" for you.
(SCOFFS) You were saying? I was just wondering if you were thinking that, when the time came, you might run.
FLETCHER: Compelling remarks, and I understand your concern, Dr.
McCord, but you're saying no service members were hurt - during the attack.
- That's correct.
And drones in the area took them out, along with at least three members of the splinter group.
So what's the issue? The issue is the safety of American troops as we move towards a full drawdown, and the possibility that these rogue elements will be emboldened by Isn't this a problem for the Afghan army now? But we need to work with them if we want it done properly.
CARLOS: Frankly, I-I think that this incident speaks to much larger concerns in your department.
Dr.
McCord, I don't think President Dalton made a wise decision when he put you in charge of S.
A.
D.
I think your long friendship has colored his objectivity.
(SCOFFS) President Dalton asked me to do this job, and I accepted because we both thought that I would be good at it.
But I cannot do the work I was hired to do without partners in congress who will back it up.
Dr.
McCord, I think we're done.
We're done when I say we're done.
I'm going to resign as the director of Special Activities Division, and I just hope that my successor is more to your liking, and receives the funds and the freedom to do the job right because what's at stake is the lives of American soldiers, and a peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan.
Now we're done.
- LEE: (SCOFFS) - You Your loss, Sri Lanka.
- Secret file.
Yep.
- Secret file.
Ah, enjoy your continuation of slow downloads and dropped calls.
(DRINK POURING) - What's going on here? - JAY: We're saying farewell to the Sri Lanka deal 10 months of negotiations.
You just got here, so you don't feel our pain.
Yeah, but I can empathize like nobody's business.
Hit me.
- (LAUGHS) - Oh, guess who called.
My brother.
Aren't you back to ignoring him again? - I am, but he left a message.
- And? Uh, Logan's been stuck in a bad marriage for almost ten years.
They finally decided to separate.
Surprise.
Oh no, don't look at me like that.
I still think Ranuga's a scammer.
And you? Don't go acting like this means anything.
If you really want something in this world, you got to just own it.
Who cares what the spirits say? - Yes, ma'am.
- Besides, if anything's worth a risk in this life, it's a second chance at love.
Thank you for the drink.
What did she mean by a second chance at? Oh, come on.
Daisy? Again? What happened to, "it's all pseudo-mystical nonsense"? What if I'm wrong? When have I ever been right about anything? Maybe we're meant to be, man.
Can I ask you a question? - Mm-hmm.
- Are you in love with her? 'Cause if you are, then go for it.
But if this is really just you being afraid of spending the rest of your life alone, Daisy and Joanna deserve better than just being your ready-made family.
DAISY: Hey.
I'm about to update the gaggle.
Any changes to the secretary's statement on the Sri Lankan deal? JAY: Just keep it simple.
"We're sorry the agreement couldn't come together.
Sri Lanka is a wonderful country with a very generous people.
" That's what I got.
What? Do I have something on my face? No, no.
I was just, um - Daisy, Oliver Shaw on the phone for you.
- Thanks.
At first, I thought he meant run, as in run for president.
And then I realized, no, that's not it at all.
Then what does it mean? I think that Alison is more unhappy than she's letting on.
I can feel it, Henry.
And you can call it projection if you want, but I think it's mother's intuition.
Father's intuition, too.
I've been thinking about her all day.
Then let's run and get our daughter.
Oh, come on, Noodle.
Pick up.
HENRY: She's still not answering the phone? No.
I just spoke with her RA.
She hasn't seen her since breakfast.
She missed her afternoon classes.
- Okay.
- I am officially worried.
They know I've been calling her.
She's not picking up.
Well, it's either call her again or call the cops at this point.
Okay, okay, okay.
Wha uh, Noodle? Uh, where are you? Home.
Where are you guys? - (MOUTHS) - What? We're-we're, um, at a restaurant.
Is everything okay? Um Not totally, actually.
I was trying to pretend like everything was okay, but Hang on, I'll put you on speaker so Mom can hear, too.
Hey, baby.
I was just saying that I kind of started to feel overwhelmed, so I went to the admin's office, and they said that I could finish two of my classes online and commute for the other two.
So, I was gonna ask if maybe I could live at home for a little while? ELIZABETH: Yes! - Of course.
Yes.
- You know, whatever.
Great.
When are you guys gonna be home? (STAMMERING) An hour? An hour? That's pretty far for dinner.
Well the the-the place had really good reviews.
- Sorry, can I speak to Thank you.
- Yeah.
Hey, uh, do you guys think I could sign up for, like, the YMCA gym for, like, 15 bucks a month? - I promise I'll go.
- STEVIE (LAUGHS): Wow.
'Cause you have all that free time since Ali broke your game controller? Yeah.
I want a new one by the way.
ALISON: Oh, yeah.
Right after you replace my night-light.
- Hey, would - JASON: Okay, I got to go.
Bye.
Well, once again, our soon-to-be empty nest is, ironically, at full capacity.
(SIGHS) Just the way I like it.
Big, noisy house filled with the people I love.
HENRY: I like that, too.
HENRY: Okay.
ELIZABETH: Okay.
Ayu-bowan.
Good, but don't forget the âU.
â Ay-u-bowan.
- Ayubowan.
- I don't I don't get it, doesn't the Sri Lankan president speak English? Oy.
What? Am I being culturally insensitive again? Because I screw up with Piper, like, ten times a day.
ELIZABETH: As a matter of fact, President Nandasiri does speak English.
But it's traditional for foreign dignitaries to be greeted in their native tongue.
And in Sri Lanka, the primary language is? Sinhala.
Okay.
I've actually been practicing, too, just in case.
Singhala Danna naa.
Which means? "I don't speak Sinhala.
" (CHUCKLES) Mom, I'm actually very surprised that you're not delaying this trip until Dalton is reinstated.
Um, Russell told me that he's gonna be back in action in, like, a few weeks.
Well, while the president is recuperating, it's important for the international community to understand that the U.
S.
has not missed a step.
Which means nothing is postponed.
But if Acting President Hurst signs off, you're just letting her take the victory lap.
I don't get it.
You know, sometimes I worry that Russell Jackson is your mentor.
Yeah, you know, I, uh, I hate to say it, but I think she's got a point.
I'm not crazy about the optics.
Kids, in public service and in life, it's not about who gets the credit.
Although, I got to say, babe, that I know China's trying to make a deal with Sri Lanka, too, and the fact that you beat 'em to the punch, - that is really hot.
- JASON: Yeah, yeah.
You know - Oh, was it? - and it's, uh, it's all part of a larger strategy to push back on their expansion into the Indian Ocean.
Okay, clearly, I talk about work too much at home.
ALISON: I'm home! - In the kitchen! - Here.
Oh, look at her.
- Hi.
Aw.
- Hi, guys.
- You're back.
- I missed you.
Okay, you guys saw me two weeks ago.
- I don't care.
- JASON: Yeah, I I didn't think you'd be home until, like, spring break.
I'll only be here for a couple of days.
Yeah.
Uh, small issue with your room.
I'm actually kind of using it as a gym.
- What? - Well, you know, I'm trying to get swole for Piper.
- Ooh.
- Gross! Do that in your own room.
No, I almost threw out my back moving all the weights into yours.
Okay, I'm gonna let you handle this one.
HENRY: All right.
Come on there, Jack LaLanne.
- Let's go.
- Jack La-who? - Yeah.
Come on.
- Bye.
Love you.
Really? Good day.
Where are we on Indonesia? They love our soybeans, we love their knitwear.
Negotiations continue apace.
The secretary's comments at the Model UN conference? Uh, "May you continue to be more functional than your real-world counterpart.
" In progress.
(CHUCKLES) Okay, our main event today is the Sri Lankan president, Tarindo Nandasiri, arriving at the White House to meet with the secretary and Acting President Hurst.
With him will be his minister of national policies and economic affairs, his chief of staff, and his tasseographer.
Lunch is scheduled MATT: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow down there, speedy.
His tasseo-what now? Tasseographer.
Someone who reads tea leaves.
Like a psychic? His name is Ranuga, and he prefers "metaphysical advisor.
" I'm sure he does.
- (CHUCKLES) - JAY: Let's just remember to be respectful, no matter what we personally believe.
Which is that it's all just a bunch of pseudo-mystical nonsense designed to fool the gullible? KAT: Tasseography has been practiced for over 5,000 years, all right? You can't just discount it out of hand.
So you're saying Ranuga's the genuine article? Oh, no, no.
Him I'm discounting out of hand.
Yeah, I don't trust anyone who sells out their talents to the highest bidder.
And Ranuga only has one client: President Nandasiri.
Got to wonder how much he adjusts the message to keep the money flowing.
Well, as long as he adjusts his message on our trade deal to make President Nandasiri happy, - it's good for us as well.
- Mm-hmm.
ALISON: Seriously, you're not being fair.
I know, but then my plans changed.
If you want to go, you should go.
Don't make me feel bad about it.
Lucinda Everything okay? - You heard that, huh? - Yeah.
I'm having roommate issues.
Lucinda? Thought you guys were tight.
We were.
We are.
Sometimes we're so tight, I can't breathe.
At first it was great.
You know, we got along, we had a ton of stuff in common - What happened? - Well, I joined a few clubs and started making other friends.
But Lucinda, it's like she just wants to hang out with me all the time.
Well, have you talked to her about it? She says she knows it's a problem, but she doesn't do anything about it.
I just need a break.
(SIGHS) You think I'm being harsh, don't you? No.
(CHUCKLES) My first year in college, my roommate was so homesick, he cried himself to sleep every night.
I mean, I-I liked the kid, but (SIGHS) I felt uncomfortable, so I asked to be transferred.
And then, of course, I ran into him on the quad a couple months later, and he'd joined the debate club or something, he had friends.
It just took him a little longer to adjust.
I sort of felt bad that I didn't hang in there.
So you do think I'm being harsh.
I think it's okay for you to want to spend time away from your friend.
Just remember to be kind, too, okay? Mr.
President, welcome to the White House.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
The pleasure is mine, Madam President.
Wonderful to see you again, Madam Secretary.
Mr.
President.
Uh, ayubowan.
We had thought that Mrs.
Nandasiri would be joining us.
She has flown to New York to do some shopping.
There'll be nothing with a designer label left in the city by the time she is done.
(CHUCKLES) (CHUCKLES) Ceylon tea leaves from our country.
That's very thoughtful of you.
Why don't we get out of the cold and have a cup.
That's a great idea.
Mmm.
You have many treasures in your country, Mr.
President, but I confess, your tea might be my favorite.
(CHUCKLES) We'd happily give you a lifetime supply in exchange for use of that quote.
(LAUGHS) May I have some more leaves first, please? - Of course.
- Ah.
Ranuga is going to grace us with a reading.
He will tell you things about yourself you never knew.
TERESA: I look forward to whatever you have to say.
In truth, I say nothing.
I am merely the earthly chalice the spirits have chosen to fill with their wisdom.
They speak through me, that I may bring good tidings to all who are in this room.
Well, speaking of good tidings, we have some of our own regarding the trade agreement.
Uh, my team has been negotiating with Scott Goodman of KronicDM, and I've just learned that he is on board and eager to get to work.
I very much enjoyed his Super Bowl ad.
(LAUGHS) - JAY: The other U.
S.
companies we've contracted specialize in wholesale connectivity.
Wireless.
But Scott will provide that last mile of connection as well.
TERESA: Upgraded landlines for your homes and businesses.
He's agreed to contract out some of the work to the top three Sri Lankan telecoms.
And there's some other small changes, addendums - which we'll address - (CLEARS THROAT) (QUIETLY): Mr.
President.
What is it, my friend? (RANUGA WHISPERING) Are you sure? (SIGHS) I'm afraid, um, we have a problem.
What kind of problem? The spirits have withdrawn their blessings.
We cannot move forward with this trade agreement.
WOMAN: Thanks for scheduling our call so quickly.
I have an asset in the Taliban.
Someone I trust.
He says a rogue splinter group has broken off.
They aren't happy with the deal the U.
S.
and Afghanistan brokered with their leaders, and they're determined to disrupt the peace.
Did he say how? They've acquired a major cache of weapons, which includes dozens of surface-to-air missiles, and they intend to use them on NATO helicopters.
Nafisa, what do you need us to do? Sign off on using funds to help counter the new threat.
We'll have to read in the Gang of Eight.
We'll get back to you.
Thank you.
We're already over our Af-Pak budget containing the Taliban.
I'm sure the Gang of Eight will be thrilled to authorize funds for this.
I understand you have great respect for Ranuga, Mr.
President, but is it possible that, in this particular instance, he's mistaken? I do not have the skill or the unique connection to the spirit world as Ranuga does, but he's never been wrong before.
All we're saying is that his gift appears to be one of interpretation.
Not at all.
He's speaking for Nuveena, my late grandmother and the matriarch of the family.
Nuveena also had the gift of sight.
Ever since I was a baby, she told me that, one day, I would lead our people.
And now I'm the president.
I would never dream do against her wishes.
But if your grandmother wants what's best for your country and its people, Mr.
President, this trade agreement will change so many lives for the better.
Perhaps Nuveena's telling me that I'm moving too quickly, that I should open my eyes and see what else is around us.
Mr.
President, if you mean the Chinese China is our neighbor.
They've invested quite a bit in Hambantota.
Because they want control of your deepwater ports.
Nuveena may feel that I was too dismissive of their offer.
If so, this would be the time to reconsider.
JAY: And this is the East Room, the largest room in the White House.
It's primarily used for dinners and press conferences.
And roller-skating.
I hear children laughing.
I hear the wheels slapping the wood floor.
It's true.
It's true that, uh, Teddy Roosevelt's children and Amy Carter were known to roller-skate in here.
Yeah, it's also true that that information's readily available through newspaper articles, brochures, biographies, several documentaries, White House tours, and on numerous websites.
Those are all ways to receive information, yes, but they are not the only ways.
There is so much more to the universe than that which we can touch.
- Shall we? - BOTH: Yeah.
Who is the man with the "L" name? Uh my brother's name is Logan.
You are avoiding his calls.
Uh, only 'cause he's boring.
RANUGA: Next time he calls, speak with him.
He may surprise you.
And I sense a sadness, a terrible loneliness.
Oh, that's probably just me.
No, you are childless.
Yeah, okay.
I'm aware.
This person has a family, friends, and yet they feel alone.
What, me? (CHUCKLES): Oh, I am not lonely.
Your love will return to you.
I just said that I'm not Wait, wait.
Which love? I mean, 'cause there's been a couple.
The one who will be a father to your little girl.
May I see the room with the dishes now? I would like to take a selfie with Grace Coolidge's portrait.
Of course.
So this love can you describe him? So, I walk into the briefing with Morejon, and the first thing I notice is: there's no chair for me.
I have to ask for one.
(SCOFFS) Say what you like about Carlos Morejon, - there is no one more petty.
- Right? Whatever.
I'm-I'm happy to play along.
Haze me as much as you want.
But when I tell you that there's a terrorist threat against our troops in Afghanistan, and we need funds to expose and end it, then stop playing games and join the adults in the real world.
Did you say that? Well, I was, I was a little less combative, but you know, I-I lose my temper with these bureaucrats.
(SIGHS) As it turns out, it's all for nothing, because not only will they not release the funds to S.
A.
D.
, but they're proposing phased spending cuts over the next decade, which Morejon was more than thrilled to tell me about.
- ALISON: Hey.
- ELIZABETH: Hey.
I just wanted to say good night.
- Good night.
- ELIZABETH: Hey, listen, I carved an hour out of my morning, so, you want to have breakfast? I'm actually gonna head back first thing in the morning.
Oh.
I want to get back to the dorm and see Lucinda.
- We should talk.
- That's a good idea.
Let me know how that goes, okay? Me, too.
Your father forgot to fill me in, but he's gonna take care of that right now.
Sounds good.
- Night.
- ELIZABETH: Good night.
(STAMMERS) SCOTT: What is it the spirits don't like about KronicDM's offer exactly? Are they particularly fond of dial-up? Don't want to leave it behind? It's a complicated situation, Scott.
ELIZABETH: We were hoping that you might - be able to sweeten the deal.
- How about this? Nandasiri has two days to get his ghosts in line, or I hop over to the Maldives, make that the go-to spot for tourists who want to lie on a beach and stream the new Star Trek.
Madam Secretary, Alison's on the phone.
She says it's urgent.
Excuse me.
Honey, are you okay? Yeah, but something's happened.
- Wait.
What's wrong? - ALISON: I walked into the dorm, and Lucinda was on the floor, - and I couldn't wake her up.
- ELIZABETH: Oh, my God.
Did you call 911? Yeah, but, there was an empty bottle of pills and vodka on the floor.
I think she tried to kill herself.
Oh, baby, I'm so sorry.
Thanks.
The doctor is still in with her parents.
(SIGHS) This is all my fault.
Hey.
- It's nobody's fault.
- Come on.
Okay? Here they are.
Any news? - It's good.
- She's stable.
Oh, thank God.
Alison, if you hadn't come back early this morning Situation could have been so much worse.
- Ah, great.
- (SIGHS DEEPLY) Thank you.
I'm starving.
Sorry that took me so long.
Got a little sidetracked.
My brother Logan called, and out of curiosity, I answered.
- And? - Oh, it was the usual.
Investment strategies, blah, blah, blah.
- Bond market, blah, blah, blah.
- Mmm.
Logan's a money manager, so, in other words, he definitely did not surprise me.
So in case you were still in doubt, Ranuga's a scammer.
Well, that may be true, but he's the cleanest scammer I've ever seen.
Oh, come on.
I've been scouring INR's files on the guy, and everything else I - (SIGHS) - can get my hands on.
There's no arrests, no outstanding debt, no offshore accounts.
Well, I reached out to a buddy at the FBI, and nothing.
(CLICKS TONGUE) What about his family? Maybe the rotten apple's a little deeper down - in the barrel.
- Funny you should mention that.
I just came across a wedding announcement for his sister Sachi.
- Mm-hmm.
- She got married about six months ago.
(TYPING) The groom lists his occupation as "businessman.
" Ishara Singhe owns the fourth largest domestic phone company on Sri Lanka Dandu Telecom.
Boom.
That's got to be it.
Ranuga said the spirits were on board with the trade agreement initially, but That was when the U.
S.
companies were only providing "points of presence.
" - Strictly wireless.
- Uh-huh.
- Ranuga must have thought that his family's company was in jeopardy.
It was.
KronicDM was only gonna bring in the top three telecoms.
At number four, Dandu would have been shut out.
Scott Goodman needs to broaden the deal to include them all.
- Think he'll go for it? - (SIGHS) Well, I hear his people are already making storyboards for next year's Super Bowl ads.
- Fade in on a Sri Lankan beach.
- (CHUCKLES) STEVIE: Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey.
We, uh we made dinner.
It's chili.
- Oh, great.
- You didn't have to do that.
No, we wanted to.
How's Lucinda? She's gonna be fine.
Her folks are taking her back to Michigan once she's discharged.
How you doing? Um I'm exhausted.
I just want to go to bed.
ELIZABETH: Well, have a bowl of chili first.
- JASON: Yeah.
- Come on.
You haven't had anything to eat today - that didn't come out of a - I just want to go to my room.
vending machine.
I know, but just one little bowl, Ali.
Come on.
(SIGHS) I think that she should stay home for a while.
Maybe even take an incomplete on a semester.
Well, if that's what she wants to do, yeah.
She doesn't know what she wants.
She can barely function, Henry.
Well, then, let's give her a couple of days to figure it out, okay? Come on.
It's okay.
ELIZABETH: So Scott Goodman is on board to broaden the telecom deal.
That's very good news.
Now it's just about figuring out how to get word to the spirits that the coast is clear.
Yeah, we've been talking about that.
If we confront Ranuga about his lies, he could double down out of fear of losing his relationship with Nandasiri.
And we can't go to Nandasiri without proof.
If he truly believes that Ranuga's in touch with his sainted grandmother, he'll find a way - to discredit us.
- KAT: And there's more.
Minister Chen just arrived in Ottawa, Nandasiri's next stop.
So the Chinese are taking another run at him? And all they have to do is compromise a little on fishing rights or whatever, and they walk away with everything.
KAT: Mm-hmm.
There has to be a way to thread this needle.
Ma'am? We do have a suggestion, and it would require you to be somewhat covert.
What do you have in mind? Uh We appreciate you coming in on such short notice, Mr.
President.
It is no problem.
I'm sorry we could not come to terms.
Well, it occurred to us that you, and consequently the spirits, didn't actually hear the complete details of our agreement with Scott Goodman the other day, and And we're hoping that after you get all that information, including a few new enticements, you might change your mind.
It is not my president's mind that needs to be changed.
It is the spirits who have spoken, and they are at one with the universe and stars.
I agree that money is a transitory thing of no use to the dead, but can we perhaps consider the idea that their descendants might like some? ELIZABETH: Scott Goodman would still upgrade the infrastructure of the hard-line phone services, but we got him to agree to use only local labor to do it.
TERESA: Independent contractor agreements will be drawn up that are very generous to all the Sri Lankan telecom companies.
ELIZABETH: And that includes, uh, Jaffna Telecom, Mendis Telecom and? - Dandu? - Dandu.
If only my grandmother were not so stubborn.
Your grandmother is stubborn, Mr.
President, but also a wise, kind woman.
And let us all remember that new information often opens exciting avenues of discovery.
I must return to the hotel and meditate on this new development.
I will ask Nuveena and the spirit world for guidance.
Of course.
And why don't you take this adjusted report, just in case the spirits need clarification? Yes, that is a good idea.
ELIZABETH (LAUGHING): And then, at around 5:00, we got the call.
- No.
- Oh, yes.
(LAUGHS): Oh.
Grandma Nuveena has blessed the deal once more.
Wow.
Nicely done, babe.
STEVIE: Wow.
Noodle, you okay? I was going to text Lucinda, but then I remembered she doesn't have her phone in the hospital.
I, uh I reached out to her mother, Alison, as a just to check in.
And she told us that Lucinda was treated for anxiety and depression in high school.
That her parents thought she had it under control.
She's been dealing with this issue since before you ever met.
I'm gonna go grab a sweater.
- Can I, can I go play the? - Yeah.
Just 20 minutes, - then homework.
- JASON: All right.
(HENRY SIGHS) You remember my first boyfriend at Lovell? Brody? Oh, yeah, he was a nice kid.
Something like this happened to him.
He seemed fine, and then mid-terms sent him into this kind of an anxiety spiral.
And he started, like, drinking too much, and driving too fast, and I don't know.
This one time, we were out together, and I just I I got really scared.
Um I thought I told you about this.
I am 100% sure you never told us.
- He was drunk driving? - ELIZABETH: I'm surprised.
- You just called him a nice kid.
- Okay.
This is obviously why I never told you.
Anyway, he dropped out, and, um, he went to work for this NGO that digs wells in Africa, and he's still in Malawi, and he's very happy from what I hear.
- ALISON: Jason! - Oh, God.
What did he do? You broke my night-light! You used my room without my permission to make your stupid gym, and you broke my night-light.
No, I didn't.
You moved every piece of furniture in my room, - and now it's cracked.
- HENRY: Okay, here, let me You backed a chair into it.
Let me see.
Maybe I can fix it.
Or we can get another one.
I don't want another one.
I've had this one forever.
You know, it doesn't even work anymore.
You don't care about anyone but yourself.
STEVIE: Jason, just say you're sorry.
No, she's acting crazy.
HENRY: Apologize to her.
Fine, you know what? I'm-I'm sorry I broke your stupid night-light that hasn't worked in, like, ten years.
Oh, my God.
Please forgive me.
- I hate you! - Hey! Hey.
That's enough.
That's enough.
Stop.
You are a moron, Jason.
Well, she's calmed down, and I think I can fix the night-light.
You know it's not about the night-light, right? Ali has had issues with anxiety at school.
There was that project she couldn't even get started.
I read an article about these kids in California.
They got stressed out, felt like they had nowhere to turn, and then one after the other, they There's a term for it.
S-Suicide clusters.
Alison's upset about her friend, but she doesn't seem suicidal.
Alison didn't think Lucinda was suicidal.
Lucinda's parents didn't see it.
We didn't see it with your dad.
I don't know.
Maybe I'm worrying too much.
That's better than not worrying enough.
Hey, Noodle.
What are you doing up? Bad dream.
(SIGHS): Well, Mom's been looking for an excuse to make her famous bacon banana pancakes, so Thanks.
But I gave up pork.
Oh.
Lucinda showed me this documentary about pigs and how social they are.
They're smarter than dogs.
Well, she sounds like a very thoughtful young woman.
She is.
And a good friend.
How could I not see that she was so unhappy? (SIGHS) Is that how it was for you with Grandpa? Yeah.
For months after, I would go over conversations we'd had.
I kept thinking there was something I missed.
Uh, a moment where I could have broken through and changed his mind.
And he never asked for help about anything, but I still felt like I let him down.
And what was hardest was that I was really angry at him because he never told me what was going on.
He never even gave me a chance to stop him.
Because if you would have known, you would have done anything, right? Yeah, just like you would've done anything to help Lucinda.
(ELIZABETH SIGHS) Look at you two snuggle-pies.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Morning.
Good morning.
- Hi.
Mmm.
You want me to make some breakfast? Yeah, but just nothing with bacon 'cause, uh, Ali and I are giving up pork, right? - (CHUCKLES) - ELIZABETH: What? Pigs beat three-year-olds on cognition tests.
Did you know that? No, I didn't.
Sort of sorry I do now.
Okay.
Oatmeal and berries and whatever.
Um, I think I'm actually gonna head out.
ELIZABETH: So soon? I mean, if that's what you want to do, that's okay, but are-are you sure that's what you want to do? 'Cause you could always stay a little longer.
It's an option.
Yeah, I just want to get back.
Okay.
- (KNOCKS) - Dr.
McCord.
Yeah? Two surface-to-air missiles were launched at a pair of Lakotas ferrying supplies to Logar province.
- Did they hit the targets? - One of them suffered rotor damage but was able to make it back to base with no injuries.
It was a close call.
(SIGHS) Okay.
Call Senator Morejon's office.
Tell him we've had an escalation.
I need to brief the Gang of Eight as soon as possible.
- Okay, you got it.
- Okay.
- Hey.
- Hey.
So, uh you know, I was thinking about what that psychic said.
About you being sad and childless? Just childless.
- Daisy was sad.
- Right.
I was just wondering, that thing that Ranuga said about your brother, um - if it turned out to be true? - Why? Oh.
(CHUCKLES) Like, if he's right about my brother calling and surprising me, you're gonna hop on the psychic train and start thinking he's right about you, too? (LAUGHING): Or Daisy? Or you and-and, uh You and Daisy? You're hoping you're Daisy's lost love.
JAY: Hey.
We've got a problem.
Oh, come on.
What do the spirits want now? A pony? It's not Ranuga.
It's the Chinese.
They heard our agreement was shaky, went back to Nandasiri, and now they piggybacked a telecom agreement on it, too.
So much for waiting for Nandasiri to get to Ottawa.
Chen must have called - and backed off fishing rights.
- JAY: Nope.
Nandasiri just caved.
Two months ago, that was a nonstarter.
What changed his mind? If this deal falls through, then the Chinese will have bested us in the Indian Ocean.
We'll be out in the cold.
Reach out to Ephraim Ware and put Intelligence on this.
President Dalton is back in three weeks.
I'll be damned if the Chinese are gonna turn Hambantota into mini-Hong Kong on my watch.
Yes, ma'am.
Hey.
I'm so glad you're out of the hospital.
Me, too.
It sucks.
What was I thinking? I mean, I know what I was thinking.
My therapist says I need to stop "minimizing my suicidal ideation.
" I'm really sorry you had to find me like that.
I-I'm just glad I got there.
Eh, in time.
On the bright side, you'll be the only freshman with a single.
(CHUCKLES) But I'm gonna miss your sock puppets.
- (LAUGHS) - And you.
Well (CHUCKLES) I got to go.
Take care.
You, too.
Hey.
I thought for sure you'd be sleeping.
I'm obsessing over what I'm gonna say to the Gang of Eight tomorrow.
Okay.
Let's hear it.
Don't you have enough with saving our Indian Ocean trade position Trying not to obsess about Ali, so So you just want a distraction.
I don't know.
Sometimes I think the whole job is just a distraction from worrying about the kids.
Is that weird? Mm kind of.
Anyhoo, distract me with your eloquence.
Okay.
"Mr.
Chairman, as a taxpayer and a citizen, "I recognize this body provides an essential check "on the overreach of executive power.
It's an awesome responsibility" All right, listen, it doesn't matter what I say at this point.
They're not gonna change their minds.
I need to think outside the box.
I need to come up with a move that they're not gonna see coming.
You know what? I'm gonna call Ali before it gets too late.
I thought you said you didn't want to obsess.
Every time I think about her alone in that dorm room, I just want to run and go get her.
Babe, if she needs us, she will call.
(PHONE VIBRATES) (LAUGHS) Oh, shoot.
It's Ephraim Ware.
Ha-ha.
Mr.
President, thank you for meeting with me.
Of course.
Would you like some tea? No, thank you.
If this is about the agreement with the Chinese, their foreign minister made an offer I couldn't refuse.
(CHUCKLES) Minister Chen is very persuasive.
How else to explain why you gave them unfettered fishing rights, so your people will have to compete with foreign vessels in their own waters? In exchange, the Chinese promise preferential tea market access.
Tea manufactured at a Chinese shell company built in Sri Lanka, with 20% of the profits going directly to an offshore account in your name.
Minister Chen offered you a bribe.
How dare you accuse me.
You're in a financial free fall.
Due in large part to you and your wife's spending habits.
But you cannot trade your country's sovereignty in exchange for a personal bailout from the Chinese.
We negotiated a fair deal, Mr.
President.
One that benefited both our countries.
One that was blessed by Nuveena.
And the business with the Chinese, that's gonna come out, and there is nothing either of us can do to stop it, so What if I walk away from the Chinese? Can't we put this horrible misunderstanding behind us? You consult with the spirits.
I'll talk to the acting president.
You settling back in all right? You need anything? You're gonna laugh.
Try me.
Lucinda's mom accidentally took the wet/dry hand vac.
(CHUCKLES) Well, I'll tell you what, you can take my upstairs one when you come home.
When's that gonna be, by the way? I don't know.
Ma'am.
Acting President Hurst is asking to see you.
Let me call you back.
I'm just about to walk into class.
You call me tonight, okay, baby? You promise? Yeah, I promise.
I love you.
I can't tell you how many times I've come into this office and seen Conrad on that very spot, working out a problem.
It's a good spot.
I wanted to thank you personally - for saving the Sri Lankan deal.
- Oh.
And let you know that we won't be going forward with it after all.
- Why not? - There's been too much dishonesty from Nandasiri too much double-dealing on their part, too much compromise on ours.
But if we walk, - Sri Lanka will close with China.
- I know.
But I can't sign my name to this if I don't believe they'll hold up their end.
So, let me build guarantees into the agreement that will keep Nandasiri in line.
Elizabeth When we were in Russia, you advised me to walk away from Salnikov because it was not good for our country.
You were right, then.
I'm right, now.
This deal is not good for our country, and as acting president, that is my decision to make.
Thank you, ma'am.
JAY: I'm just gonna say it: Teresa Hurst spiked this deal to flip off Dalton because he won't back her - in the next election.
- No.
She was genuinely for the deal until Nandasiri pulled a fast one.
Her gut told her to walk away I respect that.
Either way, we still failed to hold the line in the Indian Ocean.
Not necessarily.
How's it going with our bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia? KAT: Fewer overinvested grandma ghosts than Sri Lanka.
- We are almost closed.
- Right.
Reach out.
See if they're interested in upgrading their telecom systems.
In exchange for better access to deepwater ports off Jakarta? - We're on it.
- (CHUCKLES): Yes, ma'am.
Um, Madam Secretary, could I ask you a personal question? - Fire away.
- (KNOCK ON DOOR) - Ma'am.
Sorry.
- Yeah.
Rangua called and left a word for you.
Ranuga? Okay, let's get him back.
No, I was being literal.
He left "a word" for you.
(SCOFFS) You were saying? I was just wondering if you were thinking that, when the time came, you might run.
FLETCHER: Compelling remarks, and I understand your concern, Dr.
McCord, but you're saying no service members were hurt - during the attack.
- That's correct.
And drones in the area took them out, along with at least three members of the splinter group.
So what's the issue? The issue is the safety of American troops as we move towards a full drawdown, and the possibility that these rogue elements will be emboldened by Isn't this a problem for the Afghan army now? But we need to work with them if we want it done properly.
CARLOS: Frankly, I-I think that this incident speaks to much larger concerns in your department.
Dr.
McCord, I don't think President Dalton made a wise decision when he put you in charge of S.
A.
D.
I think your long friendship has colored his objectivity.
(SCOFFS) President Dalton asked me to do this job, and I accepted because we both thought that I would be good at it.
But I cannot do the work I was hired to do without partners in congress who will back it up.
Dr.
McCord, I think we're done.
We're done when I say we're done.
I'm going to resign as the director of Special Activities Division, and I just hope that my successor is more to your liking, and receives the funds and the freedom to do the job right because what's at stake is the lives of American soldiers, and a peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan.
Now we're done.
- LEE: (SCOFFS) - You Your loss, Sri Lanka.
- Secret file.
Yep.
- Secret file.
Ah, enjoy your continuation of slow downloads and dropped calls.
(DRINK POURING) - What's going on here? - JAY: We're saying farewell to the Sri Lanka deal 10 months of negotiations.
You just got here, so you don't feel our pain.
Yeah, but I can empathize like nobody's business.
Hit me.
- (LAUGHS) - Oh, guess who called.
My brother.
Aren't you back to ignoring him again? - I am, but he left a message.
- And? Uh, Logan's been stuck in a bad marriage for almost ten years.
They finally decided to separate.
Surprise.
Oh no, don't look at me like that.
I still think Ranuga's a scammer.
And you? Don't go acting like this means anything.
If you really want something in this world, you got to just own it.
Who cares what the spirits say? - Yes, ma'am.
- Besides, if anything's worth a risk in this life, it's a second chance at love.
Thank you for the drink.
What did she mean by a second chance at? Oh, come on.
Daisy? Again? What happened to, "it's all pseudo-mystical nonsense"? What if I'm wrong? When have I ever been right about anything? Maybe we're meant to be, man.
Can I ask you a question? - Mm-hmm.
- Are you in love with her? 'Cause if you are, then go for it.
But if this is really just you being afraid of spending the rest of your life alone, Daisy and Joanna deserve better than just being your ready-made family.
DAISY: Hey.
I'm about to update the gaggle.
Any changes to the secretary's statement on the Sri Lankan deal? JAY: Just keep it simple.
"We're sorry the agreement couldn't come together.
Sri Lanka is a wonderful country with a very generous people.
" That's what I got.
What? Do I have something on my face? No, no.
I was just, um - Daisy, Oliver Shaw on the phone for you.
- Thanks.
At first, I thought he meant run, as in run for president.
And then I realized, no, that's not it at all.
Then what does it mean? I think that Alison is more unhappy than she's letting on.
I can feel it, Henry.
And you can call it projection if you want, but I think it's mother's intuition.
Father's intuition, too.
I've been thinking about her all day.
Then let's run and get our daughter.
Oh, come on, Noodle.
Pick up.
HENRY: She's still not answering the phone? No.
I just spoke with her RA.
She hasn't seen her since breakfast.
She missed her afternoon classes.
- Okay.
- I am officially worried.
They know I've been calling her.
She's not picking up.
Well, it's either call her again or call the cops at this point.
Okay, okay, okay.
Wha uh, Noodle? Uh, where are you? Home.
Where are you guys? - (MOUTHS) - What? We're-we're, um, at a restaurant.
Is everything okay? Um Not totally, actually.
I was trying to pretend like everything was okay, but Hang on, I'll put you on speaker so Mom can hear, too.
Hey, baby.
I was just saying that I kind of started to feel overwhelmed, so I went to the admin's office, and they said that I could finish two of my classes online and commute for the other two.
So, I was gonna ask if maybe I could live at home for a little while? ELIZABETH: Yes! - Of course.
Yes.
- You know, whatever.
Great.
When are you guys gonna be home? (STAMMERING) An hour? An hour? That's pretty far for dinner.
Well the the-the place had really good reviews.
- Sorry, can I speak to Thank you.
- Yeah.
Hey, uh, do you guys think I could sign up for, like, the YMCA gym for, like, 15 bucks a month? - I promise I'll go.
- STEVIE (LAUGHS): Wow.
'Cause you have all that free time since Ali broke your game controller? Yeah.
I want a new one by the way.
ALISON: Oh, yeah.
Right after you replace my night-light.
- Hey, would - JASON: Okay, I got to go.
Bye.
Well, once again, our soon-to-be empty nest is, ironically, at full capacity.
(SIGHS) Just the way I like it.
Big, noisy house filled with the people I love.
HENRY: I like that, too.
HENRY: Okay.
ELIZABETH: Okay.