"How's breakfast?" "Precisely like sunrise on the Champs-Elysées." "How are you feeling?" "You mean after being cuffed and caged by Fitzgerald Grant?" "I mean now that you're free of those people." "You're safe, Dad." "Safe... for now." "Yes, you bought some time, but you continue to underestimate this enemy." "I cannot be protected, I cannot hide." "The only thing I can do to preserve my scalp, Olivia, is to run." "Rowan." "Mr. Pope, Mr. President." "How have you been?" "You don't actually care, and I don't actually care to answer." "My father was just saying that..." "That I appreciate the protection and the hospitality, Mr. President, but I need to go to Paris." "Paris?" "Or Zanzibar." "They won't be able to find me in Zanzibar." "Do I look like a travel agent?" "You don't want to know what I think you look like." "Can we please..." "Fitz was just saying Th..." "I don't care." "It doesn't matter." "I don't want to hear about some suicide mission that I do not intend on joining." "I need to go." "Dad." "I'm sorry." "You're free to eat as many of my croissants as you want." "You can even walk around the building, take in the grounds." "But these two men will shadow you wherever you go." "Make no mistake, Mr. Pope, you are still a prisoner." "At least there I had my... dinosaur." "You can leave now." "Leave!" " Is it done?" " It's done." "I'm sorry, Liv." "I'm s..." " What did you do?" " Hey, hey!" "Quit it!" "I will kill you!" "Cyrus Beene is innocent of all charges related to the murder of Frankie Vargas." "Cyrus Beene is to be released, effective immediately." "More coffee?" " I'm fine." " All right." "The Metro section." "Leo, I'm fine." "Okay." " What?" " Nothing." "Just... tell me what I did." "Nothing." "That means it's something I didn't do." "Did I forget to put the..." "Not everything is about you." "I run a whole damn country, Leo, and not just any country..." "A superpower." "I keep the United States of America afloat, which means I keep the world afloat, so you could imagine how my boyfriend's shortcomings rank pretty low in the long list of things that take up space in my brain." "Whatever I did, I am sorry." "I swear..." "It's not about you!" "Yes, Bill, I do believe that the country is frustrated and, honestly, angry about what has happened with this election." "At the end of the day, my husband was voted into office by the people." "The people wanted his ideas, his values leading this country." "And instead they have someone they did not choose, and that is scary." "Fear begets fear." "When people feel marginalized and unimportant, they do things to take back their power by any means necessary." "I call on the White House to unite this country and ensure that the people are not forgotten." "Look who's back." "Hey." "You want some coffee?" "Nope." "Is Quinn coming in today?" "You tell me." "Uh..." "I don't know." "That's why I'm asking." "Well, it seems like you two are all up in each other's business lately." "But I haven't even been here." "Oh, I know." "Quinn's been fluffing your pillow and climbing into bed with you." "She was just helping me." "Yeah, she's real helpful." " Charlie..." " Save it." "Sorry for dragging you all the way out here, but I thought someone should say a few words." "I know you and Elizabeth were close." "Where is she?" "You're standing on her." "Oh." "You'd never know." "Yeah, that's kind of the point." " Exactly how many bodies do you..." " David." "Right." "I don't know what to say." "I spent time with Elizabeth..." "A lot of time." "But I don't think I ever really knew her." "No one would describe her very much as a "sharer,"" "but I honestly believe beneath all of that vitriol and blind ambition, she had a good heart." "I know she had the capacity to be a good person... sometimes." "Mm." "Well, she didn't give a crap about anything." "There's something to be said for that." "Just her horses and daughter." "Oh, God." "Jane." "I can't imagine." "David, you know who did this, right?" "You understand we can't let her out of our sight, which means you have to keep..." "I understand." "I'm good, Jake, really." "Laptop, cellphone, tablet, assistant..." "All brand-spanking, shiny, and new..." "A little "Congrats on the new gig" gift from us to you." "And, what, they're all loaded with tracking devices and tiny explosives should I attempt to flee?" "All except for Bridget back there." "She's a bit more partial to knives." "If this is a suicide note, I'll be awfully disappointed." "Names of potential Cabinet appointees..." "I'd like Wagner in State and Bennett in Treasury." "The Senate may favor Miller for defense, but..." "Well, look at Betty Bossypants!" "Isn't she adorable?" "You have to allow me to do something." "And I will." "What kind of savage do you take me for?" "I just think that the sooner we start discussing my Cabinet..." "Our." "What?" "Our Cabinet." "You said "My."" "The word "my" isn't in our vocabulary anymore." "And not to worry, Mells..." "Our Cabinet will rock." "But first, we have a much, much bigger vacancy to fill." "Vacancy?" "What vacancy?" " What?" " There's someone here to see you." " Who?" " I won't let you be alone with him." "Who?" "Theodore Peus." "I know who you are, and whatever you're here to say," "I suggest you get to the point." "We have decided that Jake Ballard is no longer an acceptable choice for Vice President." "I'd like you to secure his resignation." "We both know I'm not going to do that." "We've had Mellie's Senate office fully wired since the primary." "Tough to be VP when you're out there covering up murders on candid camera." "And if Jake doesn't step aside, you're going to release these?" "Okay." "Release them." "I'm sorry." "Release them." "One, if you knew anything about me, you'd know I'm pretty good at spinning things my way." "Two, photos of Mellie's VP standing over a bloody body?" "I'm pretty sure that would tank her, as well." "You won't get Mellie." "Nobody gets what they want." "We have a very short list for Mr. Ballard's replacement." "I'm sure you're excited to share it with me." "Who?" "Me." "Just me... and I am tremendously excited to serve our country." "I am confident you will handle the rest from here." "Mr. Peus, thank you so much for finally showing your face to me." "It's gonna make it that much sweeter when I destroy you and everyone close to you." "What do we do?" "I have no idea." "I'm not resigning." "Then you're going to prison for a very long time." "I'm supposed to be the guy on the inside, right?" "I-I'm supposed to be protecting Mellie." "You'd still be protecting Mellie." "You'd just be doing it as head of the NSA." "You'd be more valuable there anyway." "They'll kill you." "If you don't leave the ticket, they will kill you." "I'd like to see them try." "Don't say that." "Now is our chance, Liv." "Your father's gone." "He's safe now." "We finally have a chance to take these people down." "Now's our time to do something, to make our move." "He's not gone." "My father may be safe, but he's still right here." "Where?" "The White House?" "Fitz isn't letting him go?" "Well, that is..." "Jake, you need to resign." "This is our move." "Whatever happens next, we'll figure it out." "We always do, don't we?" "What?" "Liv says we're on for today, so be ready." "Fine." "I didn't go home last night." "I'm just sick of being mean to Leo." "Every time I look at his face, I see Huck, and..." "Whatever." "I think he's starting to hate me." "We're on for today?" "That's it?" "Yeah." "We got to be ready to go today, and I need you to help me with Jake's press conference." "Since when are pressers my responsibility?" "Since Liv's out managing the client and Charlie's M.I.A." "Can you reach out to BNC?" "Charlie's M.I.A.?" "Uh, he didn't come home last night, but I'm sure he's fine." "He probably just forgot to tell me his plans." "Right?" "Yeah." "Okay." "Um, so can you..." "Uh, Jake's press conference..." "On it." "Serving this country has been a dream of mine all my life." "But following that dream means knowing how best to serve, which is why this morning I told President-Elect Grant that I will not be acting as her Vice President." "According to Admiral Ballard's statement, the tumultuous election season factored into his decision to step aside." "Oh, I got to go." "The President-Elect's got a big day at the White House." "If you had any idea the amount of work" "Elizabeth North left in her wake..." "I mean, who does that?" "Who just up and skips town like that, right?" "Guess the pressure really got to her." "Either that or she's finally sick of screwing her way through half this town and decided to move on to greener pastures." "Her loss." "Yeah." "Well..." "I'm off to join the fray." "Call me." "Mm-hmm." "Oh... you betcha." "She's on her way to the White House." "The working interpretation of the Constitution is that the President-Elect is empowered to single-handedly appoint her Vice President." "I, for one, will be awaiting that announcement this afternoon with as much interest as you are." "Two more questions." "Ashley." "Here's your statement on your new VP." "Stick to it, don't take any questions, and, you know, have fun with it." "Let's see that winning Mellie smile of yours." "Mr. President, such an honor." "The President-Elect and I are so thrilled you're allowing us to make such an historic announcement." "You can cut the act." "I know who you are and what you've done." "Great." "Then we won't have to waste any time pretending that you're in charge here." "This game ends badly for you." "We'll make sure of it." "Abby, don't." "Ends?" "We've barely begun." "Now, as you can see, the President-Elect is chomping at the bit to announce her new VP, so are you gonna give press the two-minute warning, or do we have to?" "Everybody, we're moving!" "Ladies, lose the heels right now." " Here we go." " What's going on?" "I need everyone to keep pace." "Ma'am." "What's going on?" "A drone entered White House airspace, sir..." "Looks to be armed." "On the move." "No, I stay with the President-Elect." "Protocols are clear." "We're moving." "Principals secure in bunker five." "I don't have a signal." "I need to reach Mellie." "All cell signals are blocked within the airspace radius." "To prevent someone from triggering a bomb remotely?" "Correct, ma'am." "I demand to be with the President-Elect." "Ma'am, you do not have the authority or the clearance to make any demands." "If it makes you feel any better, neither do I." "Everyone's in place, sir." "The building is secure." "Good." "How much time do we have?" "75 minutes, tops, until we're taken off of lockdown." "Someone needs to tell me what is happening." "The drone is ours, Madame President-Elect." "We're running a play in order to take you back." "Should we get started?" "If you're just joining us, you've probably already heard..." "A drone has entered White House airspace just minutes after the President-Elect arrived there to announce her new pick for VP." "The FAA says no permissions for such a flight have been granted and that the drone's point of origin has not yet been identified." "Our security correspondents say White House snipers are probably wary of shooting down the mysterious aircraft for fear of what it might be carrying." "Let's go to video." "The drone appears to just be hovering right now with something underneath." "Still no answers on what that something is or who's piloting the drone." "Charlie, where are you?" "It..." "Whoa." "Slow down." "Stop back-seat flying!" "I'm sorry about that." "Anyway, we could really use your help, so call me, or better yet, just get over here." "When you saw Charlie yesterday, did he seem like he was mad at me?" "Uh, no." "Was he anxious or..." "Or in a bad mood?" "Stop talking." "I'm trying to concentrate." "I'm worried about Charlie." "Look, he might be avoiding you." "What?" "Why?" "Charlie thinks that you and me..." "That we have feelings for each other still or again or..." "I don't know." "Whatever." "That's ridiculous." "Yeah, I know." "In landing position." "Okay, uh..." "Right on schedule." "Three, two, one." "Touchdown." "The drone just landed." "The bomb squad's moving into position." "Gives us a little over an hour." "Where are my children?" "They're with Secret Service, Mel." "Karen and Teddy are safe, both of them." "We're on lockdown protocol." "Where is my report?" "I want a report every five minutes..." "Where they are, who they are with, and how they are doing every five minutes." "Make it happen." "Okay, people." "If we're gonna free Mellie and take back the White House, we need to keep Peus as far away as possible." "He cannot be Vice President." "What are our legal options?" "For blocking Peus?" "It's the 25th Amendment, so Mellie nominates, Congress confirms." "And Congress will confirm." "If those monsters were able to buy electors, they can buy Congressmen." "You could always nominate another VP, someone besides Peus." "We just need a candidate." "I have one in mind." "You're telling me not one of you even considered it?" "A Grant-Beene unity ticket?" "Not the craziest idea, is it?" "Thank you." "What's this?" "Olivia asked that he be part of the conversation." "What for?" "I shot Frankie Vargas." "Okay, then." "The question is, who would you like me to shoot now?" "I have to assume that's why I'm here." "You need me to kill someone else." "We're no better than the people we're fighting, are we?" "That's not why he's here." "No?" "Then I guess I'll head back downstairs." "You're not going anywhere." "Dad, we need your help." "If there's anyone who can figure a way out of this mess, it's you." "So say it." "Dad." "Not you, hon." "Him." "Say it, Mr. President." "We need your help." "Go on." "Tactically, strategically, you'd be able to offer us a fresh perspective." "Will you help us?" "No." "I told you this was a bad idea." "I will not be part of a suicide mission." "My father may be of the opinion that we've already lost, but I am not." "Where were we?" "60 minutes and counting." "President-Elect Grant's alternate VP pick." "It won't work." "It has to be Peus." "They'll start killing people if I nominate someone else." "Mellie..." "We brought this on ourselves, Olivia." "We started pushing this boulder up the hill the moment we said yes to Defiance." "What's Defiance?" "Feeling a little parched here." "Does this lockup allow for its detainees to drink?" "We never should have done it." " What did we expect to happen..." " Shut up, Mellie." "Don't tell me to shut up!" " My life is on the line." " Okay." "Perhaps if you had listened to Olivia and conceded the Presidency, we wouldn't be here right now." "I bet you would have loved that." "I know who you can shoot next... her." "Kill her." " Prison hasn't changed you, has it Cyrus?" " The plan, folks." "I'm just saying..." "take you out of the equation..." " You're disgusting." " Problem solved." "Is this what you call winning?" " That's enough!" " Worthless." "What did you say?" "I said "Worthless," as in everyone in this room, as in you, as in this inconsequential, futile, worthless attempt to get rid of the problem at hand." "You know I wanted to arrest you, throw you in the Supermax?" "But she begged me..." "Begged me to spare you." "The only reason you're here, the only reason you are still standing is because of her." "Show your daughter some damn respect." "Fitz." "And what about you, Mr. President?" "Should I respect you, a man who could have arrested his son's killer, but traded that chance for a cheap roll in the hay?" "That is why you spared me, yes?" "So that you could buy your way back into my daughter's bed?" "I'm just cash to you, a wrinkled dollar bill thrown at the foot of a stripper." "You should know all about that from your daddy." "Easy." "Easy." "I'm fine." "I'm fine!" "There is a single word, Olivia, that I have heard uttered by more than a few unfortunate men time and time again..." ""Mercy." It's usually quiet, faint." "I sometimes have to lean forward and position my ear just on top of their lips so I can hear that gentle, little word... mercy... distinctly shrouded in anguish... undoubtedly marked by shame." "The thing about it though, Olivia, the moment it's whispered, the suffering dissipates." "The agony subsides." "Now, whether I will listen, whether I will relent or not, is unimportant." "The important thing is that all of these tired, desperate, unfortunate men have finally admitted to themselves what they've known secretly for a very long time." "They've lost." "Now, where can I find myself that drink?" "We're taking five minutes." "Liv." "Liv." "Don't." "We're continuing to track the emergency at the White House, where a bomb squad had just arrived to evaluate the drone still sitting on the South Lawn." "Until they've completedtheir assessment, the residence remains on lockdown." "Did my daughter send you here to fetch me?" "No." "I was just wondering if you could use something a little stronger." "I know I could." "You think I could borrow him for a second?" "This is incredible." "Fitz had it installed during his first term..." "His gift to future presidents." "It used to be a hair salon, if I recall." "Here." "Which one should we open first?" "There must be something wrong with me." "These women I like..." "They are these forces of nature, tornados." "Our relationships shouldn't always end in devastation." "Or, you know, domestic terrorism." "You know those women with the headbands and the little cardigans that match their shoes." "They wear the pearls, super nice?" "Like to throw dinner parties?" "Exactly." "I used to think that my life would be better, easier, if I could be attracted to a headband kind of woman." "They're so supportive, quiet, cheerful... easy, you know?" "I'd think to myself, "Why can't I fall for one of them?"" "Yeah." "The thing is, every single time" "I run into one of those wives wearing her headband, perfectly content to stand in her husband's shadow and do as she's told, all I want to do is say," ""What the hell happened to you, lady?" "Wake up."" "There's nothing wrong with you, David." "You're just attracted to women who don't wear headbands..." "Powerful women, the ones who raise the bar and make you jump to get there." "Look around." "We're in the White House, David." "If it weren't for these women," "I never would have made it here." "You wouldn't be Attorney General of the United States of America." "You would have been a history teacher." "I've been a history teacher." "You're not one now." "No." "No, I'm not, Mr. President." "All right, then." "Just make sure she loves you." "If she loves you... she can be any kind of tornado she wants." "That is a damn fine bottle." "I thought you might like it." "This is what we're reduced to... drinking wine in the basement while the real decisions are being made upstairs." "You're a prisoner." "I just got out of prison." "We used to be untouchable." "I owned the Oval." "You were above the Oval." "Shall we open another?" "Good idea." "Something lighter this time?" "Maybe a Pinot Noir?" "Oh, no, no, no, no!" "A Grenache." "Dealer's choice." "It has to feel a little worse for you, though." "Worse?" "This feeling..." "Being reduced to nothing, seeing those teeth dull." "Natural evolution..." "The fiercest predators are always the most susceptible to change." "The slightest shift in the food chain, and... they're wiped out forever." "Oh." "I can't believe that the United States Government has an '87 Andres." "Gift from the French PM." "Mm." "What I always liked about you, why we always got along, was at our core, we wanted the same things." "At our core... we are patriots." "Ha." "These people?" "They boxed us both in." "They handed us our asses." "You kind of just have to tip your hat to 'em." "I see plenty Chianti, but no Grenache..." "Not seeing any!" "You actually think you can kill me, or was this some convoluted way of killing yourself?" "Do you want to die, Cyrus?" "This country needs Frankie Vargas!" "I... need Frankie Vargas." "He was better than us." "He was better." "I'm truly sorry for your loss." "We need to get back to work." "Let's not pretend like we're some unified team." "Should we give up?" "What the hell, exactly, are you fighting for, Liv?" "Is it justice?" "The Oval?" "Do you even know?" "Jake..." "Him?" "What?" "When did you two start sleeping together again?" "You think this is about Fitz?" "I don't know, Olivia, but when isn't it?" "I don't have time for this." "Look, I don't know much, and I am pretty twisted myself, but I do know that doing the same thing over and over again when you know the end result is the definition of insanity." "I would prefer it if you didn't call me crazy, and I will refrain from calling you pathetic and weak and jealous." "I'm sorry." "Mm-hmm." "You know... he's not the answer." "You know this place, this prison, is not your place." "I'm not looking for anyone to save me." "Are you sure about that?" "I saved him," "I've saved you, and I don't have time to sit around nurturing your feelings because I have to save Mellie." "I wish you could put whatever this is aside and help me." "How you holding up?" "Great." "Just fantastic." "Mellie." "Everybody can plot and scheme all they want, but the gun is to my head." "One wrong move, and..." "I won't let them." "I don't think there's m..." "I won't let them." "Do you think I did the right thing, fighting for the Oval?" "Or do you think Cyrus is right, and that I was just being greedy?" "Depends." "Are you gonna sit here and mope, or are you gonna make the world a better place..." "Fight for equality, protect the environment?" "My hands are tied." "You know I can't do anything right now." "Mellie, you're gonna be President." "You have power whether these fools recognize it or not." "Until they decide to bash my head in with a 9-iron." "Why didn't I just let Cyrus take it?" "Because you're Mellie Grant." "You don't give up." "You know what I'd be telling Cyrus right now if he were in your shoes?" "If you'd let him win?" "I'd tell him to go home." "I'd say he's too selfish and egotistical, that he can't see clearly." "But you... are strong and clear-headed, patient, exacting." "You're a leader." "So let us worry about the gun to your head." "We need you to do your job." "We're now receiving a report..." "They've cleared the drone." " Why are we still in here?" " I'm sure there's a good reason." " Find out." " Probably above our clearance level." "And we are being told that it now..." "You're lying to me." "I know as much as you do." "You're telling me you can't get to the President..." "His own Chief of Staff..." "Even after the situation has been cleared?" "I don't make these rules up." "Believe it or not, there are things out of your control in the White House even at my level." "Not when I'm running things." "And if you're lying to me, if you're daring to mess with me by keeping me here for any reason..." "You'll kill Leo?" "We're not together anymore." "I'd point you to my friends, but thanks to you," "I've lost them, too, so threaten me all you want." "I have nothing left for you to take." "The drone's been cleared by the bomb squad." "I don't think we can keep up this charade much longer." "You don't have another drone in your pocket, do you?" "We don't need another drone." "These are bugs, cockroaches." "Why are we sneaking around?" "We should confront them head-on and crush them." " They'll push back." " So?" "I don't know if you've noticed, but the guy over there in the navy blue suit?" "He has an entire military at his disposal." "Let's fight blood with blood." "It's not our decision." "Not our decision?" "Mellie is the President-Elect." "If we take them on, she suffers the consequences." "If she's not up to that..." "Who says I'm not up to it?" "I'm done losing." "If they push back, we'll push back even harder." "What are you suggesting?" "I'm naming my own VP." "No." "What?" " Cy..." " I don't want it." "So, it's not Jake, it's not Cyrus." "Who's left?" "It has to be someone pure, someone unimpeachable, someone who's brave enough to step into this mess with us and not back down from the fight." "Quinn, stand down." "It's over." "Or it will be very soon." "You got it." "Good luck." "Everything okay with her?" "Yep." "We're officially off the clock." "Do you want to grab a bite?" "Huck?" "What?" "I said do you want to grab dinner?" "Well, it depends." "Would you rather hang out with me... or Charlie?" "Why are you asking?" "I just got a hit on Charlie's location." "Robin, what are you..." "Chew." "I don't want you to choke." "I have some things I need to say." "Huck told me about your conversation yesterday." "Look, I get it." "He and I have history." "It was confusing almost losing him." "I had a lot of feelings I needed working out." "Robin, I-I don't..." "No, keep chewing." "My point is," "I don't want to act like you're worrying about nothing." "I don't blame you for feeling threatened." "You saw something." "It was love." "But it wasn't this kind of love." "Quinn-and-Charlie love." "Look, I didn't want to lose Huck." "I never want to lose Huck." "But you?" "You..." "I don't think I could even live without." "That's why I want to marry you." "You're my life." "You're my heart." "Reel it in, Robin." "You're embarrassing yourself." "Oh, sorry." "Got a little..." "Sorry." "The situation at the White House looks to be under control as Secret Service clears what's left of the scene, a stark contrast to the events of earlier today when an unauthorized..." "For Pete's sake." "They're recapping now, and we're still here." "How does it feel to be so utterly useless that no one bothers to come collect you?" "We just received word that any moment now," "President-Elect Mellie Grant will be making a statement from the White House Briefing Room." "Let's take you there live." "What statement?" "What the hell is she doing?" "That's the first thing you learn." "Presidents rarely do what you want them to do." "They're like kids in that way..." "You got to keep your eye on 'em." "So, what a day, right?" "And not just a day..." "A week, month, campaign." "And the minute you think it's over, new uncertainty raises its head." "I've had enough of it, and I'm sure the American people have had their fill, which is why I am proud to announce my choice for Vice President of the United States of America." "Luna Vargas." "I'm sure you all have a million questions, and..." "Do you like being in Secret Service?" "Do you find it rewarding?" "Because it's over if you don't open that stupid door right now." "I'm gonna be your boss, you son of..." "It's about time!" "Olivia Pope." "How nice to finally make your acquaintance." "I took Mellie back." "I am now her chief of staff, and you are now our prisoner." "Is that right?" "Where should we stick her?" "Guantanamo?" "Too nice." "Maybe something cold and damp a few thousand feet beneath the Pentagon?" "Care to do the honors?" "Of all the mistakes you've made..." "Your mistake was thinking you could take what's mine." "And should you make that mistake again, remember this." "You can't take Olivia Pope." "Olivia Pope takes you." "I don't see Peus being too happy about this." "He's gonna be furious." "You ready for a fight?" "It's the least I can do."