Madam Secretary (2014) s05e02 Episode Script
The Chaos Game
1 (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) Looking for a pressure cooker? My mom loves hers.
Makes the best chicken stew.
Can I suggest you think about a plug-in? The stovetops are a little more fussy.
How many do you cook for, usually? I'm good, thanks.
(HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING) (SIREN WAILING) (MUSIC STOPS) Is there a problem, Officer? Driver's license and vehicle registration, please.
Can you open up the trunk for me? I don't think so.
Step out of the car, please.
Gun! You don't have probable cause.
This is illegal search and seizure.
(ORGAN MUSIC PLAYING) (LOW CHATTER) (SIGHS) June O'Callaghan saved a lot of hides in this room.
Most of you are better public speakers than I am, but I loved her the most, so you're stuck with me today.
(SOFT CHUCKLING) When Conrad Dalton agreed to a White House run, June was the second person I called, after my wife.
I knew we'd never make it without her.
First bill we took to Congress was an aid package to fight the global spread of HIV, which too many of you did not support.
Are you okay? June let us fumble around for votes for a while before she finally said, "Let me know when you're ready to cut some deals.
" She knew what every single one of you wanted in your black little hearts.
But she had an even better lesson for a new president: don't ask for support inspire it.
I'm not even hungry, I'm just eating my feelings.
Yeah, it's bad enough neo-Nazis attacked the White House.
They had to take out Professor McGonagall, too? Was that too soon for a pop culture reference? (HEART BEATING LOUDLY) Hey.
Do you mind if I head home? - Of course.
Go rest, babe.
- Oh.
Come on, I'll take you.
Okay.
No, I'm it's, you should stay.
I'm just gonna take a rideshare, it's fine.
She thinks she's gonna take a rideshare.
You were in the hospital, sorry, yesterday.
- Okay, fine.
- Ma'am, excuse me.
Uh, you're needed in PEOC.
Come on, I'll get Ali and Jace.
Well, there you go, everybody's leaving.
WARE: This morning in Roanoke, FBI apprehended Nathan Cleminger driving northeast with a trunk full of pressure cookers and enough munitions to launch a significant attack.
Is he with the Aryan Popular Force, do we know? From material on his laptop and phone, he was active with APF, although there's nothing connecting him directly to the attack on the White House.
- Yet.
- DALTON: Any sense of other associates - out there looking to finish the job? - That's the fear.
But a surprising name did turn up from some encrypted messages on his laptop.
Alek Starowolski.
Something of a notorious figure with the New Right party in Poland.
ELIZABETH: He started out as a lead singer in a black metal band.
He's been on our radar since he won a seat in the parliament in the last election.
He's anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic.
All the hits.
DALTON: What do the messages say? WARE: We're still working on decrypting.
Clearly we'd like to speak with Mr.
Starowolski.
ELIZABETH: Yeah, we can put in a request with Poland.
Sure.
NOLAN: Given the evidence of communication with a foreign entity, we'd like to request Congress allow us to detain Cleminger as an enemy combatant, sir.
Do we have the legal basis for that? The 2012 NDAA codified the indefinite detention of any terrorists suspected of planning attacks on the U.
S.
ELIZABETH: Only if they're connected with Al-Qaeda, and it does not apply to U.
S.
citizens on American soil.
That hasn't been fully adjudicated.
WARE: It would open up the time frame for his detention, as well as interrogation techniques.
ELIZABETH: We have laws that deal with conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Why are we going to Congress? So we don't have to charge this kid, and get him a lawyer who tells him to shut up while his buddies are out there planning another attack on innocent Americans.
I would go to leadership in the House and the Senate.
If we can get them on board, my guess is, we can get a resolution from them pretty quickly.
ELIZABETH: Once we do this the one time, we set a precedent future administrations could misuse to deprive U.
S.
citizens of their constitutional rights.
How long before we have to charge him? Little more than 30 hours at this point, sir.
Well, keep working on it.
Offer protection if you have to, but I want names.
And, uh, bring in the Polish rock star for questioning.
Thank you, everyone.
NOLAN: Thank you, Mr.
President.
WARE: Thank you.
JAY: Afternoon, ma'am.
You saw my e-mail? I did.
What do you mean, "Poland doesn't want to cooperate"? Foreign minister says the encrypted messages on this kid's laptop don't make the case for extrajudicial surrender.
- Well - Uh, here's this afternoon's schedule.
Latte's on your desk.
- W-What? - Ah, the other way around.
I got it.
Alek Starowolski is a respected member of Parliament.
I cannot relinquish him to a foreign government without clear evidence of wrongdoing.
Can I remind you that this foreign government is your NATO ally? We extend our deepest, uh, sympathy to our ally in this difficult time.
And if these encrypted messages reveal any collaboration between your own domestic terrorists and a citizen of this nation, we will cooperate fully.
I don't think you want to send me back with that answer.
I'm I'm afraid I must go.
(COMPUTER CHIMES) (SIGHS) You think he's afraid - of his own parliament? - Either that, or he's aligned with Starowolski, but that's crazy, right? Well, he's always been a centrist.
Which might be a tough position to hold after the ultranationalists swept the last election.
If Poland falls to the far right, the whole stability of NATO could be at risk.
One crisis at a time.
All right, let's come up with some ways to put pressure on Poland, find out what Starowolski knows.
Right.
I'll call Abby.
No, no, you go be with your daughter.
Blake and I will catch you up in the morning.
While there's some band of lunatics out there loading up another truck full of explosives? I think Abby will understand.
(SCOFFS) You're up early.
I was about to say the same thing.
Did you sleep at all? Well, more than my staff.
Bailed on them around 2:00.
Are you do you have a doctor's appointment today? Uh, no, I'm heading into work, actually.
- You're what? - Well, Adele said that they're moving into, like, temporary offices, so I'm gonna head in, help out.
If Russell Jackson I-I swear to God, I Mom, no.
No, it was my idea.
Reality TV's depressing and I've given up trying to follow Westworld.
Dr.
Delgado just said it's okay for you to be up and around? Yeah.
I'll come home if I get tired, okay? Promise.
Love you.
I love you.
No lifting anything, please.
RUSSELL: FBI's questioning this skinhead kid they snapped up.
- White nationalist.
- Whatever.
He's not cooperating.
Ready to take the death penalty before he'll give us a single name.
And that's why they call it "extremism.
" Well, it turns out his group has some kind of connection to Poland.
We're not sure what, but it opens up a question about whether we detain him as an enemy combatant.
Well, that's interesting.
Well, it's causing some controversy.
Conrad would like an independent assessment on the ethics.
Something to take with him to Congress when he asks for their approval.
Uh, considering my daughter was injured in the attack, I don't think I'm the guy to weigh in on this.
I mentioned that to Conrad; he trusts you.
Plus, you got experience working with the Virginia Field Force.
That's a Christian militia, not necessarily the same thing as white supremacists.
We're just asking you to look at the interrogations, review the kid's file, write up a page on whether or not you think he's an enemy combatant.
That's it.
So, last week, you wanted me to keep my opinions to myself, and now you're asking me to weigh in.
What do you want, an engraved apology? The president would like your input.
Will you do it or not? (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS) I don't know why you're Uh, ma'am.
I had a thought about Poland.
What, they don't use enough vowels? Everything that we talked about last night, hitting economic pressure points, threatening trade, no, I-I think we're going about it the wrong way.
The ultranationalists are looking for an excuse to pull out of NATO.
We don't give it to them.
DAISY: Yeah, we can't reward them for stonewalling, right? No, we can't.
I think we go at them through the EU, w-which you pitched last night, and I said no, but now I think you're right.
Build a coalition of EU countries willing to censure Poland's voting rights if they don't hand over Starowolski.
I love my idea.
I'll write up some talking points.
BLAKE: Ma'am, we just received word from FBI.
They have unlocked the messages between Starowolski and Nathan Cleminger.
We'll get the full report momentarily.
Right now, they're saying they have enough to charge Starowolski with conspiracy.
Good.
Okay, so we've got Demko the evidence he needed.
I still want to go to the EU - MATT: Not taking any chances? Well, if we can't get Starowolski to talk, the next step is violating Nathan Cleminger's constitutional rights.
So, no, I don't want to take any chances.
There's nothing violent about standing up to defend your culture.
INTERROGATOR: Who specifically is threatening white culture? NATHAN: The whole system.
So the U.
S.
government? NATHAN: Anyone spouting this liberal fantasy about diversity and multiculturalism.
(KNOCK ON DOOR, DOOR OPENS) HENRY: Hi, Russell.
So, FBI counterterrorism did the interrogation - on Nathan Cleminger, right? - Yeah.
Why? Well, they tipped it.
He didn't say anything about targeting the federal government until they introduced it.
His group launched an RPG at the White House.
Seems safe to assume they're targeting the U.
S.
government.
Or an administration he sees as betraying our founding principles.
Now I don't know if he sees himself as a patriot trying to save the foundation of our government, or an anarchist trying to destroy it.
I got nothing to tell you.
Sorry.
What if you questioned the kid yourself? We're not gonna need press archives, right? I don't know.
Maybe just this year's.
Thanks.
You okay? Yeah.
I should be asking you.
- How are you doing? - Oh, you know.
Just slap some drywall up, paint a nice coat of denial on everything.
Good to go.
The one time I manage to steal a few vacation days.
Just be glad that you weren't here.
Seriously.
(POWER SAW GRINDING NEARBY) You know what, I think, uh I think we both need to get out of here.
Boba tea run? I need to finish up.
Well, can I at least get you something? Maybe a double espresso.
Yes.
(WHISPERS): Hooah.
Given the evidence of tactical and financial support clearly provided to the Aryan Popular Force, I hope you'll now agree to surrender Alek Starowolski for questioning.
DEMKO: It's, uh, very disturbing evidence, and once charges have been filed, I will pass on the request for consideration.
It's an informal questioning, Mr.
President.
I'm afraid we must follow protocol.
It's a sensitive matter.
You know what's sensitive? Your member of Parliament using his own shipping company to send an RPG that was used to hit the White House.
There is mention of this.
If we had proof that these materials were received I want you to consider your next words carefully, because right now, your country is at a crossroads.
Will you or will you not recognize the collusion of your own citizen with an attack on the United States? It is, in fact, your country that is at a crossroads, Madam Secretary.
If you and the EU force me to surrender Alek Starowolski, it will no longer be me talking to you as the leader of Poland.
And believe me, you will not like my replacement.
Do you understand? I'm begging you to to proceed carefully.
Tell me what you mean by "proceed carefully.
" What President Demko was asking for and he was pretty persuasive is enough time to build a coalition of the more centrist members of his parliament before handing over Starowolski.
Now, he also agreed to freeze Starowolski's assets and give us full access to his financial records for investigation.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
You've done what you could.
Ephraim, send word to FBI.
It's time to deploy a team and bring this guy in ourselves.
Wait, Mr.
President, I strongly advise against violating the sovereignty of a NATO ally.
Given the volatility of the political landscape in The American people are waiting for another attack.
They deserve justice and security, and they shouldn't have to wait around for a NATO ally to give it to them.
Understood.
But Demko fears Starowolski's surrender could unleash chaos and topple his government.
And if Poland falls, NATO may not be far behind.
Ephraim, wheels up in 24 hours.
If Demko thinks his head is on the line, - he'll push harder to find a way out.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
These Starowolski banking records are killing me.
How far are you? Stuck in 2004.
Is it me, or are they just burying us in too much information? I asked forensics accounting for a summary, and basically, nobody can figure out where his money is.
He had plenty in 2004.
Oh, no, here, just take mine.
I'm switching to baby carrots.
You know they're not actual baby carrots.
So Starowolski was in debt for the past five years? Yeah, the whole time he was living like he was in a rap video.
What about the shipping company that he used to send the RPG? Where are the files on that? I asked forensics to track it.
How much time before they launch the raid? About 20 hours by now.
What do you mean they're not baby carrots? They cut them into shape.
Well, how does everybody not know that? There you are.
Henry just called.
Stevie's in the emergency room at St.
Lucius.
- What? Oh, my God.
What happened? - He doesn't know.
He's on his way there, but your car is ready.
I'll keep looking at the shipping company.
Okay, thank you, Doctor.
Yes, I will.
Yeah.
Bye.
- She's fine, she's fine.
- What happened? She just She got dehydrated and passed out while she was out getting boba.
- She just whacked her elbow.
- Can we see her? She's sleeping; they want to keep her overnight.
But she's gonna be fine.
Why was she the one out getting boba? I didn't know she even liked boba.
It's like drinking and chewing at the same time.
Yeah.
Anyway, that was Dr.
Delgado.
He was surprised that she was even at work.
Oh.
Okay, I may I-I-I'm gonna have to go back in a minute.
We're trying everything we can think of to get Poland to hand over their guy before FBI goes in and grabs him.
Well, it would help if that APF kid they have in detention would talk.
Yeah, that would help.
Russell even asked if I would be willing to question the kid myself.
What? They want an ethics report on whether or not they can hold him as an enemy combatant.
Oh, God, they are all-in on that strategy.
Well, you're not considering it, are you? Well, I have experience with the Christian militia.
You also have a daughter who's in the hospital - because of him.
- Look, we don't know that he was directly involved in the attack.
We don't know where they are, how many they are, what they're planning And we have an entire team looking into it, so (CELL PHONE RINGING) Oh, wait, I got to, I got to take this.
Yeah, Jay? Oh, that is huge.
Um, I'm No, no, she's fine.
She was just a little dehydrated.
Okay, I'm on my way.
They've had a breakthrough.
- I've-I - Of course.
- Go.
- Bye.
So the whole time Starowolski's been out there railing against the great Russia threat to Polish independence, he's been on the Russian payroll? Pretty much.
Russia does know how to play a deep game.
ELIZABETH: The Russian part, that doesn't surprise me.
Alek Starowolski, leader of a metal band, rises to Parliament.
An ego like that, letting himself be bought out? - That's surprising.
- Especially knowing the whole time this could bring a mob to his door if it ever got out.
This was taken at a far-right rally in Warsaw this spring.
Nazi imagery is restricted in Poland, so this is what they're using instead.
ELIZABETH: A U.
S.
Confederate flag? My God.
What if this is Russia using our own history to drum up some kind of global conspiracy of far-right lunacy against us? Okay, but there's nothing here to suggest Russia knowingly funded the attack on the White House.
There's nothing to say they didn't.
Jay's right.
If Russia's masterminding this whole thing, then this brush fire with Poland just became a a raging forest fire.
Unless the Russian connection gives us a way to contain it.
Mr.
President, our intelligence has connected revenue streams in Alek Starowolski's financial records to a Russian source, Yevgeny Uslovsky.
Streams? You mean connections.
What connections? A range of business dealings, personal investments It's quite extensive.
It's been going on for some time.
ELIZABETH: We'll send you the full report.
ELIZABETH: While this is obviously upsetting, it may also provide you a way out of your predicament.
You now have the means to expose Alek Starowolski as a secret operative, and hand him over to us without any risk of provoking his supporters.
And in the meantime, solidify your own position.
With your cooperation, Mr.
President, we'd like to send in a hostage rescue team to render Starowolski to our borders, in, say There's a tactical air base in Lask, two hours at the most.
Two hours.
Would that suit you, Jozef? I will reach out to the prime minister.
I think he would agree it's best if we coordinate the-the rendition with Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego.
That should be acceptable.
DEMKO: But I must insist we follow a strict blackout on Starowolski's affiliations until after he is in custody.
Of course.
Send me the report, I will follow up.
Uh thank you.
DAISY: That didn't seem like a guy who drew a "get out of jail free" card.
MATT: I don't get it.
Why don't we just expose this guy as a Russian stooge? I mean, isn't that the whole point? Too chaotic.
Demko's afraid Russia will somehow turn this around on him.
Which brings up the next question.
How do we confront Russia about their role in this? (SIGHS) Carefully.
Reach out to Foreign Minister Avdonin tomorrow.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Thank you, everyone.
- MATT: Thank you, ma'am.
TEAM LEADER: Approaching location.
We're keeping this under the radar, right, Commander? Get that hallway locked down.
TEAM LEADER: Gaining entry.
Package is located.
No pulse.
Who knew we were coming? Russia.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
Okay, so, can you stay for a minute? I'll make you breakfast.
- No, I can't.
- Wait, Stevie, did you not listen - to what the doctor said? - Come on, I made you, I made you sleep in a hospital waiting room.
- It is only fair.
- JACE: I would not say no to pancakes.
- Are you okay? - I'm fine.
- You guys waited up? - Why is everyone making such a big deal? - 'Cause you collapsed in the street.
- A boba place, to be clear.
Okay, come on, you guys.
Everything is okay.
- Go and sleep in your beds, would you? - Yeah, let's go.
- Come on, go.
- We all need some come on.
- Pancakes later.
- I'm collecting on that.
- You, too.
Bed, Stevie.
- Come on, Stevie.
What? You are forgetting that I just slept, like, nine hours straight.
Well, then settle in here and binge something boring.
- Russell's panda cam or - (CHUCKLES) Where is she going? - I am making tea.
- Going that way.
You guys are the ones who actually need sleep.
Oh, she's right.
Aren't you on, like, your second all-nighter? (GROANS) This is dangerous.
- Come.
- No, I-I can't.
I got to go to the FBI.
You're gonna do the interrogation on no sleep? Neo-Nazis wait for no man.
Remember, it's not your job to crack this kid.
You just figure out if it's okay to deny him his constitutional right to due process.
And then I'm just gonna head back in a second.
- Just gonna - (DOOR OPENS) Oh, God! What time is it? It's, like, almost 9:00.
You barely slept an hour.
Okay.
Well, I guess I'm gonna get back at it.
I'm gonna You know, you spent the morning, uh, berating me for pushing myself too hard.
Just pointing that out.
Well, I didn't nearly rupture my artery last week, so Hmm.
Why did you tell us that Dr.
Delgado said you could go back to work? He didn't not say it.
I don't know.
I just felt like I had to do something.
Well, that went well.
(CHUCKLES) The last thing that I said to June before the attack was that my generation was going to be more than just servants to powerful men.
Yeah.
Super bad.
And then her memorial is all about how powerful she really was, and how she got all this stuff done behind the scenes and I just I missed it.
Totally missed it.
Well, I think for a lot of women in her generation all they could do is work behind the scenes.
Yeah.
I'm still an idiot, though.
So, this was basically the self-loathing tour? Yeah.
And then I just ended up making myself more of a burden to everyone.
Would you stop it? You are not a burden because you need to be taken care of.
You're a burden because you still live at home.
(SOFT CHUCKLE) If you want to make things better for the next generation, then get rid of this whole myth that we are supposed to be invisible and self-effacing.
I don't want to be invisible.
I just want to be worthy of the people who came before me.
I mean, June, the last thing that she thought was that I was this selfish, entitled baby.
And she was right.
Or she was probably thinking you're young and driven, just like she was at your age.
Or more likely, she was thinking about what she wanted for dinner.
So you're saying that I'm still being self-absorbed? You managed to find another way to beat yourself up in there.
Impressive.
Think you can stay here without ending up in the ER? Yeah.
(SIGHS) You sure you don't want in on this panda cam? I wish I could.
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS) - Hi, Nathan.
- (DOOR SHUTS) I'm Henry McCord.
I'm gonna be asking you a few questions.
Here's some coffee.
When do I get a lawyer? Well, that's why I'm here, to advise on your case.
It would be helpful if I could hear your side of the story.
Or I can not say anything.
That's certainly within your rights.
Uh oh, you're 22.
You got a birthday coming up.
Sure that'll be fun.
What do you like to do on your birthday? Not much.
I don't drink.
Friends drink? We grew up in the church.
We're all pretty straight.
Oh, yeah.
I saw your dad's a preacher.
Yeah.
Step-dad.
What does he think of you working with the Aryan Popular Force? I don't want to answer that.
I want to know about the first time you made contact with the APF.
Can you talk about that? No.
All right.
Well, Nathan, uh, if I walk out of here without a better understanding of your story than what's in this file, things will start to go differently for you.
It won't be good.
I'm here to help.
I was coming out of the library.
I had some new games and, um these guys basically, uh, tackled me and beat the crap out of me.
How come? Uh, they thought I looked gay, which I'm not.
Hmm.
Okay.
What else? There was this one guy not gonna say his name he took my games and said that's how they made me compliant.
And he asked if I could handle the truth.
What truth? How popular culture keeps the warrior class down.
Are you part of the warrior class? Of course.
So are you.
We're the soldiers of Odin.
Nordic warriors.
It's in our blood.
What's in our blood? The will to build empires, man.
I mean, this language we're speaking, this, uh, this building that we're sitting in, this entire country, every-every major achievement of the Western world, we built it.
It's ours.
So, North America, Europe Everywhere that's technologically advanced.
All the good countries.
Oh, what about Asia? IQ tests are higher for people of European descent.
That's just a fact, man.
I know the liberals want to pretend like we're all one happy family, but it's not true.
Some people are smarter.
That's why we're the ruling class.
If white America is the ruling class, then why attack the White House? I wasn't a part of that.
What did the Aryan Popular Force hope to achieve? Ultimately, RaHoWa, racial holy war.
That's the great cleanse.
I probably won't be around for that.
All we're trying to do now is just stand up for our people, our culture.
You feel that your culture is threatened? Every day.
Every minute.
Multiculturalism is a travesty whose entire aim is to eradicate my culture, my people, my history.
And we'll rise up against any-any person or institution that threatens our dominion.
Including the U.
S.
government? If it fails to protect our security and our borders, yeah.
That's in the Declaration of Independence, man.
It's the duty of people to rise up.
So, would you call yourself a revolutionary? Your word, not mine.
Okay.
I want to talk about Alek Starowolski.
I don't have anything to say on that subject.
Was he an important ally? (SIGHS) So, that's it? You don't want me to help you? Hmm.
What about, what about Toby? What is he gonna think when he finds out that his big brother is responsible for the deaths of three people? I wasn't part of that action.
(SCOFFS) That's not what the press is gonna say.
You think you can manipulate me like that? You're a discredit to your race.
Okay.
(CLEARS THROAT) You know what? I could, I could refute every point you just made.
I could talk about how agriculture, our first cities, all come from Mesopotamia in the Middle East, centuries before Europe was civilized, about how they gave us symbolic language, like your swastika tattoo, which, by the way, is backwards.
I could talk about the IQ stuff that you read on the Internet, which is biased nonsense and has been proven wrong many, many times.
But you know what? I'm not gonna do that.
Instead, I'm-I'm gonna read you something.
"After opening its borders to the West in 1853, "Japanese woodblock prints exerted a key influence "on the works of French Impressionism, "seen in van Gogh's rich and joyful color, "Cézanne's stark composition and Monet's contemplative celebration of nature.
" That's from your world history class, 11th grade, Ms.
Pierce.
She said it was off topic.
She's short-sighted.
This is insightful and skillfully reasoned.
You have a passionate and subtle mind, Nathan, and you've surrendered to a group that sees you as some IT guy they can exploit for hacking and web design? I don't know.
I-I think you could be a great teacher.
I see that in you.
I know who you are.
I wish your wife had been there so we could've painted the walls with her blood.
Violent protests after the death of a prominent member of Poland's far right party, Alek Starowolski.
Starowolski was found hanging in his hotel room, but uncorroborated reports are calling his death an assassination orchestrated by the United States government in collusion with Poland's President Demko.
In case there was any doubt Russia staged Starowolski's suicide.
Yeah, classic Russian move.
Blame your opponents for your own dirty deeds.
Why does that always work? This is exactly what Demko said would happen.
You think he knew Russia was gonna silence the guy before we could talk to him? Or ordered it himself? ELIZABETH: I don't know, but we need to stabilize things first.
We'll worry about Russia and who, what, when later.
What are you thinking? A personal visit to show our unwavering support for President Demko.
MATT: If Poland is rioting because they think the U.
S.
is secretly attacking members of their government, how does going there help us, exactly? ELIZABETH: It shows we're not scared, for one thing.
And it shows that we stand together.
And it reminds them what NATO is for, to keep them safe from Russian aggression, which all Poles can agree on.
So the fringe might hate us right now, but they know they need us.
But why not just tell the far right they've been backing a Russian stooge? 'Cause I need to save that card for another stop.
Will you get me the Secretary of Defense? Do we want Kat on this? No, she should stay working on the humanitarian aid packages at the U.
N.
Daisy and I got this one.
Cleminger clearly stated the Aryan Popular Force targeted the United States government.
He said they targeted any institution that they felt threatened the white race.
Are we gonna ignore that the kid all but confessed to a role in the attack? That's debatable.
Well, where's Justice on this? We are in uncharted territory here.
And that is why we need to get Congress on board.
Technically, the 2001 AUMF and the 2012 NDAA lays the legal groundwork for U.
S.
citizens connected to terrorism, but only in a foreign territory.
EPHRAIM: That was when the war was foreign.
This time the terrorists are on our soil.
Henry? I have got no dispute that Nathan Cleminger is a domestic terrorist.
He's got the ideology, he's been fully indoctrinated, and clearly he's willing to take violent action for his beliefs, but the question is, did he collaborate with foreign enemies to attack the U.
S.
government? That is not clear.
Seemed pretty clear to me.
HENRY: Except he believes that he's fulfilling the mandate of our founding fathers, as twisted as that logic might be.
We're equivocating over what this kid believes? You asked me to make an ethical recommendation.
Not only am I trying to weigh the ideology of a neo-Nazi, I'm also considering how traumatized we all are by this attack.
Is it right to exploit our hunger for justice to ask Congress to warp the protections granted our citizens by the Constitution? This is a new war we're fighting.
It may need new rules.
If we want to win this war, we need to remember why we're fighting it.
These guys think they're on the side of the Constitution? Then let them feel its full weight and vigor.
Our founding fathers knew what people were capable of when they created the justice system.
I think we should trust it to do its job as it always has.
Thank you, everyone.
I'm going to sleep on this.
I, uh I appreciate your input.
NOLAN: Of course, Mr.
President.
- Mr.
President.
- WARE: Yes, Mr.
President.
ELIZABETH: It is in honor of our two nations' historic and longstanding friendship that the United States seeks to open a new chapter in our partnership for global stability.
This new, state-of-the-art military base will serve all our NATO partners by securing your eastern border for generations to come.
President Demko is to be commended for his commitment to peace on behalf of his people and ours.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Madam Secretary, what was your role in the death of Alek Starowolski? No questions at this time, thank you.
Elizabeth, I can't thank you enough.
You can start by acting like our ally.
These are volatile times.
The United States knows that better than anyone.
The only difference is, we didn't let the fox into the henhouse.
If you are in this fight with us, we're gonna need to see you get your house in order or the military base isn't the only thing that goes away, okay? Thank you.
Well played, ma'am.
Yeah.
One more stop.
Russell.
Is Elizabeth here? No, Russell, she's making a stop in Berlin.
Is everything all right? Right.
You can let her know Dalton pulled out of the enemy combatant strategy.
Nathan Cleminger is being charged and a whole phalanx of lawyers are already clamoring to take his case.
Too historic to pass up, I guess.
Yeah.
Congratulations on your powers of persuasion.
If I didn't think so highly of you, I would say that you showed up here to lay this on me.
Don't ever think too highly of me.
Do you really think that I was protecting that kid after what he said to my face? O-Oh.
But then That's why you wanted me in there, isn't it? Because you thought I would be a sure vote.
Of course I wanted that kid to hang.
I want him in a dark hole till we get every piece of information he's got running around in his fevered brain.
Don't you? I did the job I was asked.
Yeah, well you're a better man than I am.
Speaking of which, Dalton wants to offer you a position as his ethics advisor.
Don't ask me what it means.
He's creating it for you.
Why don't you come in and have a drink? - Wouldn't help.
- Oh, it might help to talk.
Should've let June and Stevie stay home, all of them.
It was their summer vacation, for God's sake.
We're gonna stop them.
Not soon enough.
Anyway On with the noble fight.
I'll see you in the White House.
It's good to see you in the sunshine, Madam Secretary.
Pretty, isn't it? Mm.
Almost as if democracy weren't under siege.
Your recent difficulties have soured your usual optimism.
I wonder how much you know about our recent difficulties, particularly in Poland.
I sense we're not here to share an ice cream.
What are our Slavic brothers up to now? I'm not playing games, Konstantin.
We know that Russia was providing financial support to Starowolski.
We have proof, and if we were to expose that to the Polish people, it could cause both countries a great deal of trouble.
So tell your bot farm or whoever it is that's churning out these rumors that the U.
S.
somehow ordered Starowolski's assassination to knock it off.
I would suggest, Elizabeth, that you tread carefully before making an accusation about Russia being involved in a political assassination without evidence.
That line in the path there, that's where the Berlin Wall once stood.
They had this big celebration on the 20th anniversary of the wall coming down, did you see it? They-they set up these huge dominoes along the path, right to the Brandenburg Gate, then they knocked them all down.
Just like the fragile network of empires that fell in the 20th century, one after the other.
A chilling metaphor.
What is your point? I can't prove that Russia ordered the assassination of a Polish nationalist or that they tried to frame the U.
S.
for doing it, but it's pretty clear that someone in your government wants to be in the chaos game.
And these forces they're unleashing, the hatred and fear, no one gets to control them.
The dominoes won't stop at your shores, Konstantin.
To think, only a few months ago, we were working together to end the threat of nuclear war.
And I hope we can collaborate again, but until then, here's my message: No reckless attack on our democracy will ever shake America's commitment to her core values.
And any country that tries will face dire consequences so much worse than one lucky RPG hit.
Makes the best chicken stew.
Can I suggest you think about a plug-in? The stovetops are a little more fussy.
How many do you cook for, usually? I'm good, thanks.
(HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING) (SIREN WAILING) (MUSIC STOPS) Is there a problem, Officer? Driver's license and vehicle registration, please.
Can you open up the trunk for me? I don't think so.
Step out of the car, please.
Gun! You don't have probable cause.
This is illegal search and seizure.
(ORGAN MUSIC PLAYING) (LOW CHATTER) (SIGHS) June O'Callaghan saved a lot of hides in this room.
Most of you are better public speakers than I am, but I loved her the most, so you're stuck with me today.
(SOFT CHUCKLING) When Conrad Dalton agreed to a White House run, June was the second person I called, after my wife.
I knew we'd never make it without her.
First bill we took to Congress was an aid package to fight the global spread of HIV, which too many of you did not support.
Are you okay? June let us fumble around for votes for a while before she finally said, "Let me know when you're ready to cut some deals.
" She knew what every single one of you wanted in your black little hearts.
But she had an even better lesson for a new president: don't ask for support inspire it.
I'm not even hungry, I'm just eating my feelings.
Yeah, it's bad enough neo-Nazis attacked the White House.
They had to take out Professor McGonagall, too? Was that too soon for a pop culture reference? (HEART BEATING LOUDLY) Hey.
Do you mind if I head home? - Of course.
Go rest, babe.
- Oh.
Come on, I'll take you.
Okay.
No, I'm it's, you should stay.
I'm just gonna take a rideshare, it's fine.
She thinks she's gonna take a rideshare.
You were in the hospital, sorry, yesterday.
- Okay, fine.
- Ma'am, excuse me.
Uh, you're needed in PEOC.
Come on, I'll get Ali and Jace.
Well, there you go, everybody's leaving.
WARE: This morning in Roanoke, FBI apprehended Nathan Cleminger driving northeast with a trunk full of pressure cookers and enough munitions to launch a significant attack.
Is he with the Aryan Popular Force, do we know? From material on his laptop and phone, he was active with APF, although there's nothing connecting him directly to the attack on the White House.
- Yet.
- DALTON: Any sense of other associates - out there looking to finish the job? - That's the fear.
But a surprising name did turn up from some encrypted messages on his laptop.
Alek Starowolski.
Something of a notorious figure with the New Right party in Poland.
ELIZABETH: He started out as a lead singer in a black metal band.
He's been on our radar since he won a seat in the parliament in the last election.
He's anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic.
All the hits.
DALTON: What do the messages say? WARE: We're still working on decrypting.
Clearly we'd like to speak with Mr.
Starowolski.
ELIZABETH: Yeah, we can put in a request with Poland.
Sure.
NOLAN: Given the evidence of communication with a foreign entity, we'd like to request Congress allow us to detain Cleminger as an enemy combatant, sir.
Do we have the legal basis for that? The 2012 NDAA codified the indefinite detention of any terrorists suspected of planning attacks on the U.
S.
ELIZABETH: Only if they're connected with Al-Qaeda, and it does not apply to U.
S.
citizens on American soil.
That hasn't been fully adjudicated.
WARE: It would open up the time frame for his detention, as well as interrogation techniques.
ELIZABETH: We have laws that deal with conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Why are we going to Congress? So we don't have to charge this kid, and get him a lawyer who tells him to shut up while his buddies are out there planning another attack on innocent Americans.
I would go to leadership in the House and the Senate.
If we can get them on board, my guess is, we can get a resolution from them pretty quickly.
ELIZABETH: Once we do this the one time, we set a precedent future administrations could misuse to deprive U.
S.
citizens of their constitutional rights.
How long before we have to charge him? Little more than 30 hours at this point, sir.
Well, keep working on it.
Offer protection if you have to, but I want names.
And, uh, bring in the Polish rock star for questioning.
Thank you, everyone.
NOLAN: Thank you, Mr.
President.
WARE: Thank you.
JAY: Afternoon, ma'am.
You saw my e-mail? I did.
What do you mean, "Poland doesn't want to cooperate"? Foreign minister says the encrypted messages on this kid's laptop don't make the case for extrajudicial surrender.
- Well - Uh, here's this afternoon's schedule.
Latte's on your desk.
- W-What? - Ah, the other way around.
I got it.
Alek Starowolski is a respected member of Parliament.
I cannot relinquish him to a foreign government without clear evidence of wrongdoing.
Can I remind you that this foreign government is your NATO ally? We extend our deepest, uh, sympathy to our ally in this difficult time.
And if these encrypted messages reveal any collaboration between your own domestic terrorists and a citizen of this nation, we will cooperate fully.
I don't think you want to send me back with that answer.
I'm I'm afraid I must go.
(COMPUTER CHIMES) (SIGHS) You think he's afraid - of his own parliament? - Either that, or he's aligned with Starowolski, but that's crazy, right? Well, he's always been a centrist.
Which might be a tough position to hold after the ultranationalists swept the last election.
If Poland falls to the far right, the whole stability of NATO could be at risk.
One crisis at a time.
All right, let's come up with some ways to put pressure on Poland, find out what Starowolski knows.
Right.
I'll call Abby.
No, no, you go be with your daughter.
Blake and I will catch you up in the morning.
While there's some band of lunatics out there loading up another truck full of explosives? I think Abby will understand.
(SCOFFS) You're up early.
I was about to say the same thing.
Did you sleep at all? Well, more than my staff.
Bailed on them around 2:00.
Are you do you have a doctor's appointment today? Uh, no, I'm heading into work, actually.
- You're what? - Well, Adele said that they're moving into, like, temporary offices, so I'm gonna head in, help out.
If Russell Jackson I-I swear to God, I Mom, no.
No, it was my idea.
Reality TV's depressing and I've given up trying to follow Westworld.
Dr.
Delgado just said it's okay for you to be up and around? Yeah.
I'll come home if I get tired, okay? Promise.
Love you.
I love you.
No lifting anything, please.
RUSSELL: FBI's questioning this skinhead kid they snapped up.
- White nationalist.
- Whatever.
He's not cooperating.
Ready to take the death penalty before he'll give us a single name.
And that's why they call it "extremism.
" Well, it turns out his group has some kind of connection to Poland.
We're not sure what, but it opens up a question about whether we detain him as an enemy combatant.
Well, that's interesting.
Well, it's causing some controversy.
Conrad would like an independent assessment on the ethics.
Something to take with him to Congress when he asks for their approval.
Uh, considering my daughter was injured in the attack, I don't think I'm the guy to weigh in on this.
I mentioned that to Conrad; he trusts you.
Plus, you got experience working with the Virginia Field Force.
That's a Christian militia, not necessarily the same thing as white supremacists.
We're just asking you to look at the interrogations, review the kid's file, write up a page on whether or not you think he's an enemy combatant.
That's it.
So, last week, you wanted me to keep my opinions to myself, and now you're asking me to weigh in.
What do you want, an engraved apology? The president would like your input.
Will you do it or not? (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS) I don't know why you're Uh, ma'am.
I had a thought about Poland.
What, they don't use enough vowels? Everything that we talked about last night, hitting economic pressure points, threatening trade, no, I-I think we're going about it the wrong way.
The ultranationalists are looking for an excuse to pull out of NATO.
We don't give it to them.
DAISY: Yeah, we can't reward them for stonewalling, right? No, we can't.
I think we go at them through the EU, w-which you pitched last night, and I said no, but now I think you're right.
Build a coalition of EU countries willing to censure Poland's voting rights if they don't hand over Starowolski.
I love my idea.
I'll write up some talking points.
BLAKE: Ma'am, we just received word from FBI.
They have unlocked the messages between Starowolski and Nathan Cleminger.
We'll get the full report momentarily.
Right now, they're saying they have enough to charge Starowolski with conspiracy.
Good.
Okay, so we've got Demko the evidence he needed.
I still want to go to the EU - MATT: Not taking any chances? Well, if we can't get Starowolski to talk, the next step is violating Nathan Cleminger's constitutional rights.
So, no, I don't want to take any chances.
There's nothing violent about standing up to defend your culture.
INTERROGATOR: Who specifically is threatening white culture? NATHAN: The whole system.
So the U.
S.
government? NATHAN: Anyone spouting this liberal fantasy about diversity and multiculturalism.
(KNOCK ON DOOR, DOOR OPENS) HENRY: Hi, Russell.
So, FBI counterterrorism did the interrogation - on Nathan Cleminger, right? - Yeah.
Why? Well, they tipped it.
He didn't say anything about targeting the federal government until they introduced it.
His group launched an RPG at the White House.
Seems safe to assume they're targeting the U.
S.
government.
Or an administration he sees as betraying our founding principles.
Now I don't know if he sees himself as a patriot trying to save the foundation of our government, or an anarchist trying to destroy it.
I got nothing to tell you.
Sorry.
What if you questioned the kid yourself? We're not gonna need press archives, right? I don't know.
Maybe just this year's.
Thanks.
You okay? Yeah.
I should be asking you.
- How are you doing? - Oh, you know.
Just slap some drywall up, paint a nice coat of denial on everything.
Good to go.
The one time I manage to steal a few vacation days.
Just be glad that you weren't here.
Seriously.
(POWER SAW GRINDING NEARBY) You know what, I think, uh I think we both need to get out of here.
Boba tea run? I need to finish up.
Well, can I at least get you something? Maybe a double espresso.
Yes.
(WHISPERS): Hooah.
Given the evidence of tactical and financial support clearly provided to the Aryan Popular Force, I hope you'll now agree to surrender Alek Starowolski for questioning.
DEMKO: It's, uh, very disturbing evidence, and once charges have been filed, I will pass on the request for consideration.
It's an informal questioning, Mr.
President.
I'm afraid we must follow protocol.
It's a sensitive matter.
You know what's sensitive? Your member of Parliament using his own shipping company to send an RPG that was used to hit the White House.
There is mention of this.
If we had proof that these materials were received I want you to consider your next words carefully, because right now, your country is at a crossroads.
Will you or will you not recognize the collusion of your own citizen with an attack on the United States? It is, in fact, your country that is at a crossroads, Madam Secretary.
If you and the EU force me to surrender Alek Starowolski, it will no longer be me talking to you as the leader of Poland.
And believe me, you will not like my replacement.
Do you understand? I'm begging you to to proceed carefully.
Tell me what you mean by "proceed carefully.
" What President Demko was asking for and he was pretty persuasive is enough time to build a coalition of the more centrist members of his parliament before handing over Starowolski.
Now, he also agreed to freeze Starowolski's assets and give us full access to his financial records for investigation.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
You've done what you could.
Ephraim, send word to FBI.
It's time to deploy a team and bring this guy in ourselves.
Wait, Mr.
President, I strongly advise against violating the sovereignty of a NATO ally.
Given the volatility of the political landscape in The American people are waiting for another attack.
They deserve justice and security, and they shouldn't have to wait around for a NATO ally to give it to them.
Understood.
But Demko fears Starowolski's surrender could unleash chaos and topple his government.
And if Poland falls, NATO may not be far behind.
Ephraim, wheels up in 24 hours.
If Demko thinks his head is on the line, - he'll push harder to find a way out.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
These Starowolski banking records are killing me.
How far are you? Stuck in 2004.
Is it me, or are they just burying us in too much information? I asked forensics accounting for a summary, and basically, nobody can figure out where his money is.
He had plenty in 2004.
Oh, no, here, just take mine.
I'm switching to baby carrots.
You know they're not actual baby carrots.
So Starowolski was in debt for the past five years? Yeah, the whole time he was living like he was in a rap video.
What about the shipping company that he used to send the RPG? Where are the files on that? I asked forensics to track it.
How much time before they launch the raid? About 20 hours by now.
What do you mean they're not baby carrots? They cut them into shape.
Well, how does everybody not know that? There you are.
Henry just called.
Stevie's in the emergency room at St.
Lucius.
- What? Oh, my God.
What happened? - He doesn't know.
He's on his way there, but your car is ready.
I'll keep looking at the shipping company.
Okay, thank you, Doctor.
Yes, I will.
Yeah.
Bye.
- She's fine, she's fine.
- What happened? She just She got dehydrated and passed out while she was out getting boba.
- She just whacked her elbow.
- Can we see her? She's sleeping; they want to keep her overnight.
But she's gonna be fine.
Why was she the one out getting boba? I didn't know she even liked boba.
It's like drinking and chewing at the same time.
Yeah.
Anyway, that was Dr.
Delgado.
He was surprised that she was even at work.
Oh.
Okay, I may I-I-I'm gonna have to go back in a minute.
We're trying everything we can think of to get Poland to hand over their guy before FBI goes in and grabs him.
Well, it would help if that APF kid they have in detention would talk.
Yeah, that would help.
Russell even asked if I would be willing to question the kid myself.
What? They want an ethics report on whether or not they can hold him as an enemy combatant.
Oh, God, they are all-in on that strategy.
Well, you're not considering it, are you? Well, I have experience with the Christian militia.
You also have a daughter who's in the hospital - because of him.
- Look, we don't know that he was directly involved in the attack.
We don't know where they are, how many they are, what they're planning And we have an entire team looking into it, so (CELL PHONE RINGING) Oh, wait, I got to, I got to take this.
Yeah, Jay? Oh, that is huge.
Um, I'm No, no, she's fine.
She was just a little dehydrated.
Okay, I'm on my way.
They've had a breakthrough.
- I've-I - Of course.
- Go.
- Bye.
So the whole time Starowolski's been out there railing against the great Russia threat to Polish independence, he's been on the Russian payroll? Pretty much.
Russia does know how to play a deep game.
ELIZABETH: The Russian part, that doesn't surprise me.
Alek Starowolski, leader of a metal band, rises to Parliament.
An ego like that, letting himself be bought out? - That's surprising.
- Especially knowing the whole time this could bring a mob to his door if it ever got out.
This was taken at a far-right rally in Warsaw this spring.
Nazi imagery is restricted in Poland, so this is what they're using instead.
ELIZABETH: A U.
S.
Confederate flag? My God.
What if this is Russia using our own history to drum up some kind of global conspiracy of far-right lunacy against us? Okay, but there's nothing here to suggest Russia knowingly funded the attack on the White House.
There's nothing to say they didn't.
Jay's right.
If Russia's masterminding this whole thing, then this brush fire with Poland just became a a raging forest fire.
Unless the Russian connection gives us a way to contain it.
Mr.
President, our intelligence has connected revenue streams in Alek Starowolski's financial records to a Russian source, Yevgeny Uslovsky.
Streams? You mean connections.
What connections? A range of business dealings, personal investments It's quite extensive.
It's been going on for some time.
ELIZABETH: We'll send you the full report.
ELIZABETH: While this is obviously upsetting, it may also provide you a way out of your predicament.
You now have the means to expose Alek Starowolski as a secret operative, and hand him over to us without any risk of provoking his supporters.
And in the meantime, solidify your own position.
With your cooperation, Mr.
President, we'd like to send in a hostage rescue team to render Starowolski to our borders, in, say There's a tactical air base in Lask, two hours at the most.
Two hours.
Would that suit you, Jozef? I will reach out to the prime minister.
I think he would agree it's best if we coordinate the-the rendition with Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego.
That should be acceptable.
DEMKO: But I must insist we follow a strict blackout on Starowolski's affiliations until after he is in custody.
Of course.
Send me the report, I will follow up.
Uh thank you.
DAISY: That didn't seem like a guy who drew a "get out of jail free" card.
MATT: I don't get it.
Why don't we just expose this guy as a Russian stooge? I mean, isn't that the whole point? Too chaotic.
Demko's afraid Russia will somehow turn this around on him.
Which brings up the next question.
How do we confront Russia about their role in this? (SIGHS) Carefully.
Reach out to Foreign Minister Avdonin tomorrow.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Thank you, everyone.
- MATT: Thank you, ma'am.
TEAM LEADER: Approaching location.
We're keeping this under the radar, right, Commander? Get that hallway locked down.
TEAM LEADER: Gaining entry.
Package is located.
No pulse.
Who knew we were coming? Russia.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
Okay, so, can you stay for a minute? I'll make you breakfast.
- No, I can't.
- Wait, Stevie, did you not listen - to what the doctor said? - Come on, I made you, I made you sleep in a hospital waiting room.
- It is only fair.
- JACE: I would not say no to pancakes.
- Are you okay? - I'm fine.
- You guys waited up? - Why is everyone making such a big deal? - 'Cause you collapsed in the street.
- A boba place, to be clear.
Okay, come on, you guys.
Everything is okay.
- Go and sleep in your beds, would you? - Yeah, let's go.
- Come on, go.
- We all need some come on.
- Pancakes later.
- I'm collecting on that.
- You, too.
Bed, Stevie.
- Come on, Stevie.
What? You are forgetting that I just slept, like, nine hours straight.
Well, then settle in here and binge something boring.
- Russell's panda cam or - (CHUCKLES) Where is she going? - I am making tea.
- Going that way.
You guys are the ones who actually need sleep.
Oh, she's right.
Aren't you on, like, your second all-nighter? (GROANS) This is dangerous.
- Come.
- No, I-I can't.
I got to go to the FBI.
You're gonna do the interrogation on no sleep? Neo-Nazis wait for no man.
Remember, it's not your job to crack this kid.
You just figure out if it's okay to deny him his constitutional right to due process.
And then I'm just gonna head back in a second.
- Just gonna - (DOOR OPENS) Oh, God! What time is it? It's, like, almost 9:00.
You barely slept an hour.
Okay.
Well, I guess I'm gonna get back at it.
I'm gonna You know, you spent the morning, uh, berating me for pushing myself too hard.
Just pointing that out.
Well, I didn't nearly rupture my artery last week, so Hmm.
Why did you tell us that Dr.
Delgado said you could go back to work? He didn't not say it.
I don't know.
I just felt like I had to do something.
Well, that went well.
(CHUCKLES) The last thing that I said to June before the attack was that my generation was going to be more than just servants to powerful men.
Yeah.
Super bad.
And then her memorial is all about how powerful she really was, and how she got all this stuff done behind the scenes and I just I missed it.
Totally missed it.
Well, I think for a lot of women in her generation all they could do is work behind the scenes.
Yeah.
I'm still an idiot, though.
So, this was basically the self-loathing tour? Yeah.
And then I just ended up making myself more of a burden to everyone.
Would you stop it? You are not a burden because you need to be taken care of.
You're a burden because you still live at home.
(SOFT CHUCKLE) If you want to make things better for the next generation, then get rid of this whole myth that we are supposed to be invisible and self-effacing.
I don't want to be invisible.
I just want to be worthy of the people who came before me.
I mean, June, the last thing that she thought was that I was this selfish, entitled baby.
And she was right.
Or she was probably thinking you're young and driven, just like she was at your age.
Or more likely, she was thinking about what she wanted for dinner.
So you're saying that I'm still being self-absorbed? You managed to find another way to beat yourself up in there.
Impressive.
Think you can stay here without ending up in the ER? Yeah.
(SIGHS) You sure you don't want in on this panda cam? I wish I could.
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS) - Hi, Nathan.
- (DOOR SHUTS) I'm Henry McCord.
I'm gonna be asking you a few questions.
Here's some coffee.
When do I get a lawyer? Well, that's why I'm here, to advise on your case.
It would be helpful if I could hear your side of the story.
Or I can not say anything.
That's certainly within your rights.
Uh oh, you're 22.
You got a birthday coming up.
Sure that'll be fun.
What do you like to do on your birthday? Not much.
I don't drink.
Friends drink? We grew up in the church.
We're all pretty straight.
Oh, yeah.
I saw your dad's a preacher.
Yeah.
Step-dad.
What does he think of you working with the Aryan Popular Force? I don't want to answer that.
I want to know about the first time you made contact with the APF.
Can you talk about that? No.
All right.
Well, Nathan, uh, if I walk out of here without a better understanding of your story than what's in this file, things will start to go differently for you.
It won't be good.
I'm here to help.
I was coming out of the library.
I had some new games and, um these guys basically, uh, tackled me and beat the crap out of me.
How come? Uh, they thought I looked gay, which I'm not.
Hmm.
Okay.
What else? There was this one guy not gonna say his name he took my games and said that's how they made me compliant.
And he asked if I could handle the truth.
What truth? How popular culture keeps the warrior class down.
Are you part of the warrior class? Of course.
So are you.
We're the soldiers of Odin.
Nordic warriors.
It's in our blood.
What's in our blood? The will to build empires, man.
I mean, this language we're speaking, this, uh, this building that we're sitting in, this entire country, every-every major achievement of the Western world, we built it.
It's ours.
So, North America, Europe Everywhere that's technologically advanced.
All the good countries.
Oh, what about Asia? IQ tests are higher for people of European descent.
That's just a fact, man.
I know the liberals want to pretend like we're all one happy family, but it's not true.
Some people are smarter.
That's why we're the ruling class.
If white America is the ruling class, then why attack the White House? I wasn't a part of that.
What did the Aryan Popular Force hope to achieve? Ultimately, RaHoWa, racial holy war.
That's the great cleanse.
I probably won't be around for that.
All we're trying to do now is just stand up for our people, our culture.
You feel that your culture is threatened? Every day.
Every minute.
Multiculturalism is a travesty whose entire aim is to eradicate my culture, my people, my history.
And we'll rise up against any-any person or institution that threatens our dominion.
Including the U.
S.
government? If it fails to protect our security and our borders, yeah.
That's in the Declaration of Independence, man.
It's the duty of people to rise up.
So, would you call yourself a revolutionary? Your word, not mine.
Okay.
I want to talk about Alek Starowolski.
I don't have anything to say on that subject.
Was he an important ally? (SIGHS) So, that's it? You don't want me to help you? Hmm.
What about, what about Toby? What is he gonna think when he finds out that his big brother is responsible for the deaths of three people? I wasn't part of that action.
(SCOFFS) That's not what the press is gonna say.
You think you can manipulate me like that? You're a discredit to your race.
Okay.
(CLEARS THROAT) You know what? I could, I could refute every point you just made.
I could talk about how agriculture, our first cities, all come from Mesopotamia in the Middle East, centuries before Europe was civilized, about how they gave us symbolic language, like your swastika tattoo, which, by the way, is backwards.
I could talk about the IQ stuff that you read on the Internet, which is biased nonsense and has been proven wrong many, many times.
But you know what? I'm not gonna do that.
Instead, I'm-I'm gonna read you something.
"After opening its borders to the West in 1853, "Japanese woodblock prints exerted a key influence "on the works of French Impressionism, "seen in van Gogh's rich and joyful color, "Cézanne's stark composition and Monet's contemplative celebration of nature.
" That's from your world history class, 11th grade, Ms.
Pierce.
She said it was off topic.
She's short-sighted.
This is insightful and skillfully reasoned.
You have a passionate and subtle mind, Nathan, and you've surrendered to a group that sees you as some IT guy they can exploit for hacking and web design? I don't know.
I-I think you could be a great teacher.
I see that in you.
I know who you are.
I wish your wife had been there so we could've painted the walls with her blood.
Violent protests after the death of a prominent member of Poland's far right party, Alek Starowolski.
Starowolski was found hanging in his hotel room, but uncorroborated reports are calling his death an assassination orchestrated by the United States government in collusion with Poland's President Demko.
In case there was any doubt Russia staged Starowolski's suicide.
Yeah, classic Russian move.
Blame your opponents for your own dirty deeds.
Why does that always work? This is exactly what Demko said would happen.
You think he knew Russia was gonna silence the guy before we could talk to him? Or ordered it himself? ELIZABETH: I don't know, but we need to stabilize things first.
We'll worry about Russia and who, what, when later.
What are you thinking? A personal visit to show our unwavering support for President Demko.
MATT: If Poland is rioting because they think the U.
S.
is secretly attacking members of their government, how does going there help us, exactly? ELIZABETH: It shows we're not scared, for one thing.
And it shows that we stand together.
And it reminds them what NATO is for, to keep them safe from Russian aggression, which all Poles can agree on.
So the fringe might hate us right now, but they know they need us.
But why not just tell the far right they've been backing a Russian stooge? 'Cause I need to save that card for another stop.
Will you get me the Secretary of Defense? Do we want Kat on this? No, she should stay working on the humanitarian aid packages at the U.
N.
Daisy and I got this one.
Cleminger clearly stated the Aryan Popular Force targeted the United States government.
He said they targeted any institution that they felt threatened the white race.
Are we gonna ignore that the kid all but confessed to a role in the attack? That's debatable.
Well, where's Justice on this? We are in uncharted territory here.
And that is why we need to get Congress on board.
Technically, the 2001 AUMF and the 2012 NDAA lays the legal groundwork for U.
S.
citizens connected to terrorism, but only in a foreign territory.
EPHRAIM: That was when the war was foreign.
This time the terrorists are on our soil.
Henry? I have got no dispute that Nathan Cleminger is a domestic terrorist.
He's got the ideology, he's been fully indoctrinated, and clearly he's willing to take violent action for his beliefs, but the question is, did he collaborate with foreign enemies to attack the U.
S.
government? That is not clear.
Seemed pretty clear to me.
HENRY: Except he believes that he's fulfilling the mandate of our founding fathers, as twisted as that logic might be.
We're equivocating over what this kid believes? You asked me to make an ethical recommendation.
Not only am I trying to weigh the ideology of a neo-Nazi, I'm also considering how traumatized we all are by this attack.
Is it right to exploit our hunger for justice to ask Congress to warp the protections granted our citizens by the Constitution? This is a new war we're fighting.
It may need new rules.
If we want to win this war, we need to remember why we're fighting it.
These guys think they're on the side of the Constitution? Then let them feel its full weight and vigor.
Our founding fathers knew what people were capable of when they created the justice system.
I think we should trust it to do its job as it always has.
Thank you, everyone.
I'm going to sleep on this.
I, uh I appreciate your input.
NOLAN: Of course, Mr.
President.
- Mr.
President.
- WARE: Yes, Mr.
President.
ELIZABETH: It is in honor of our two nations' historic and longstanding friendship that the United States seeks to open a new chapter in our partnership for global stability.
This new, state-of-the-art military base will serve all our NATO partners by securing your eastern border for generations to come.
President Demko is to be commended for his commitment to peace on behalf of his people and ours.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Madam Secretary, what was your role in the death of Alek Starowolski? No questions at this time, thank you.
Elizabeth, I can't thank you enough.
You can start by acting like our ally.
These are volatile times.
The United States knows that better than anyone.
The only difference is, we didn't let the fox into the henhouse.
If you are in this fight with us, we're gonna need to see you get your house in order or the military base isn't the only thing that goes away, okay? Thank you.
Well played, ma'am.
Yeah.
One more stop.
Russell.
Is Elizabeth here? No, Russell, she's making a stop in Berlin.
Is everything all right? Right.
You can let her know Dalton pulled out of the enemy combatant strategy.
Nathan Cleminger is being charged and a whole phalanx of lawyers are already clamoring to take his case.
Too historic to pass up, I guess.
Yeah.
Congratulations on your powers of persuasion.
If I didn't think so highly of you, I would say that you showed up here to lay this on me.
Don't ever think too highly of me.
Do you really think that I was protecting that kid after what he said to my face? O-Oh.
But then That's why you wanted me in there, isn't it? Because you thought I would be a sure vote.
Of course I wanted that kid to hang.
I want him in a dark hole till we get every piece of information he's got running around in his fevered brain.
Don't you? I did the job I was asked.
Yeah, well you're a better man than I am.
Speaking of which, Dalton wants to offer you a position as his ethics advisor.
Don't ask me what it means.
He's creating it for you.
Why don't you come in and have a drink? - Wouldn't help.
- Oh, it might help to talk.
Should've let June and Stevie stay home, all of them.
It was their summer vacation, for God's sake.
We're gonna stop them.
Not soon enough.
Anyway On with the noble fight.
I'll see you in the White House.
It's good to see you in the sunshine, Madam Secretary.
Pretty, isn't it? Mm.
Almost as if democracy weren't under siege.
Your recent difficulties have soured your usual optimism.
I wonder how much you know about our recent difficulties, particularly in Poland.
I sense we're not here to share an ice cream.
What are our Slavic brothers up to now? I'm not playing games, Konstantin.
We know that Russia was providing financial support to Starowolski.
We have proof, and if we were to expose that to the Polish people, it could cause both countries a great deal of trouble.
So tell your bot farm or whoever it is that's churning out these rumors that the U.
S.
somehow ordered Starowolski's assassination to knock it off.
I would suggest, Elizabeth, that you tread carefully before making an accusation about Russia being involved in a political assassination without evidence.
That line in the path there, that's where the Berlin Wall once stood.
They had this big celebration on the 20th anniversary of the wall coming down, did you see it? They-they set up these huge dominoes along the path, right to the Brandenburg Gate, then they knocked them all down.
Just like the fragile network of empires that fell in the 20th century, one after the other.
A chilling metaphor.
What is your point? I can't prove that Russia ordered the assassination of a Polish nationalist or that they tried to frame the U.
S.
for doing it, but it's pretty clear that someone in your government wants to be in the chaos game.
And these forces they're unleashing, the hatred and fear, no one gets to control them.
The dominoes won't stop at your shores, Konstantin.
To think, only a few months ago, we were working together to end the threat of nuclear war.
And I hope we can collaborate again, but until then, here's my message: No reckless attack on our democracy will ever shake America's commitment to her core values.
And any country that tries will face dire consequences so much worse than one lucky RPG hit.