"Jackie Sharp." "Terry Womack." "Bob Birch." "President Walker has surrounded himself with a broken Congress." "He even brought one of them into the White House." "Now, they've broken the economy, and put us on a collision course with China." "Put a stop to them before it's too late." "Send a message at the midterms." "Let's start fixing the country." "Paid for by Friends of a Better America." "$25 million?" "Out of thin air?" " That's our estimate." " Where's the money coming from?" " Super PACs." " These are issue-based attack ads." "So, who's giving to them?" "We can't trace the money until this quarter's filings come in." "We get killed in the midterms, we can kiss 2016 goodbye." "And then you can deal with a Republican majority" " and a Republican president." " We're trying to counter with D-trip." "Make $25 million appear outta nowhere?" " We can make a dent." " Dents don't cut it." "No matter how fast we ramp up fundraising, we can't close the gap." " We have to stop their money flow." " I want to know how." "Locate the source and then cut off the tap." "With this sort of influx, you can be sure that somebody's not playing by the rules, but we can't whistle-blow until we find the source." "Then find it." "And you sure as hell better find it soon." "In the meantime, I've been working on a proposal to counter the attacks." "A coordinated national messaging effort." "I'll be sending all of you copies later today." "Well, we should be open to every idea." "Now, go." "Get to work." "Frank." "You were supposed to steer Congress on my behalf." "No one is as concerned as me." "I should've kept you in the House, like Raymond suggested from day one." "But you've been distracted by the Senate, State of the Union," " meddling with foreign diplomacy..." " You asked me to negotiate..." "I know what I've done." "And I know where it's gotten us." "Sir, the attack ads are not a result of anything..." "You're scrambling from fire to fire, instead of preventing them." "I'm not the FEC." "I can't wave a wand and..." "Give me more than excuses, Frank." "You're better than that." "Or maybe you're not." "If you need a punching bag, I will stand here and take the punches, as I have done time and time again since I swore my oath." "But I would much rather get back to work, as you've asked me to do." "You are out of line, Frank." "Dismiss me or keep swinging, Mr. President." "You're dismissed." "Thank you, sir." "Dan Lanagin switched teams." "That doesn't make any sense." "I couldn't find any anomalies among big Republican donors." "So, I checked our own." "Lanagin hasn't given a dime this quarter." "Yeah, but not giving isn't the same as giving to the Republicans." "His casino's accounts." "Ernst  Young." "$18 million for donations, and they're not going to us." "How did you get your hands on those?" "I got friends." "That's why you solicit my services." "The estimate for the ad buys was $25 million." "Those accounts are up to date as of June 30th." "They could have made more donations since then." "Tusk." " Lanagin's casino is in Missouri." " Raymond Tusk?" "And he's got an axe to grind with me and with the President." "I've never seen his name on any FEC filings." "Well, he doesn't make political contributions." "That's how he remains flexible." "You think he's funneling the money somehow?" "I don't know." "Get yourself to Kansas City." "I want you in that casino." " Yes, sir." " I'll keep digging." "Get me my wife." "Where'd you get the recipe?" "My father taught me." " You and your dad were close?" " No." "Cooking ribs was the only thing that motherfucker did right." " I guess you can't print that." " I have ways." " This really gonna be in the paper?" " Well, at least in Boston, yeah." "Don't see why anybody would care." "Well, it's a personal interest story." "The Vice President of the United States comes here, of all places." "You mean this shithole?" "That's not what I said." "It's okay." "It's not the Taj Mahal." " How long has he been coming?" " About 20 years now." " He's a good man, Frank." " You still call him "Frank"?" "Hey, in this joint I'm the President, the Vice President and the Congress." "He's just another customer." "A loyal one." "You think that's why he likes it here?" "'Cause you treat him like a regular person?" "Maybe." "Mostly it's the fucking ribs, though." "Now, if unemployment goes up more than two-tenths," "I want the Fed to consider..." " Get you something, hon?" " Club soda with lime, please." " That's it?" " Yeah." " Nothing to eat?" " No." "That's it." "Tough spot to hang out if you're in the program." " How'd you know?" " Takes one to know one, right?" " How long?" " Little over a year." "You?" "Going on 15." " Any luck with the ponies?" " None." "Not yet." " Pick a number." "One through 12." " Nine." "Hot Fuss." "Sounds about right." "Club soda coming up, darling." "With lime." "Hasn't moved the last two hours." "And he hasn't spoken to anybody?" "Just been betting on the races." "You want us to bring him in?" "No." "That's the Vice President's Chief of Staff." "Really?" "We don't want to make a scene." "Just keep an eye on him." "Let me know what he does, where he goes, and who he talks to." "You got it, Mr. Lanagin." "You should've seen their faces." "They didn't know what to think." "Especially when I made 'em hold the bag." " You tried it out?" " I sure as hell did." "I'm sorry I lashed out at you, Frank." "No." "I was disrespectful, and that was uncalled for." "My temper's gotten away from me these days." "I need to be jolted back into reality sometimes." " It was a kind gesture." " Just some good old fun." "Tricia tells me we're having dinner later this week." "Yes." "Claire tells me the same." "Well, it'll be good to get out of this place for a few hours." "It's been here since Kennedy." "It was painted the same year he was born." "It depicts, I think, a World War I parade." "I should know every painting." "Well, you seem to know quite a lot, at least about this one." "I try to soak it all in while I can." "All the history." "Presidents who obsess over history obsess about their place in it, instead of forging it." "Who said that?" "I did." "Just now." "The White House." "All day long, it's buzzing, and at this hour, it's so desolate." "The Presidency is a great and precious thing." "Loneliness is the price." "Let's assume in one of these chairs, staring at this wall, is where Truman decided to drop the bomb." "And see if we feel anything." "Nothing." "You?" "No." "Sorry, it's a mess." " You don't have to clean up for me." " Yes, I do." "Wouldn't want you seeing these." "I wore 'em last night." "You like these or you want the ones I'm wearing now?" "How long you been working in the casino?" "Too long." " Bet you've seen a lot." " Yeah." "I've seen everything." "I should get going." "Got an early meeting." "Okay." "Do you want me to stay?" "I wasn't planning on sleeping here." "So, another one night stand then?" "Is that okay?" "Not really my thing." " Come on." "You must play the field." " No, I don't." " But you are such a flirt." " I flirt, yes." "But I only sleep with someone if I'm into them." "And I prefer to stick around." "Remy Danton, serial monogamist." "This a joke?" "I'm sorry." "I didn't..." "Sorry." "This doesn't happen again unless it's leading somewhere." "I'm upfront about what I want in all things." "Not just politics." "Three or four times a year, they fly in about a dozen Chinese guys." "Money to burn." "They got a whole floor of the casino reserved just for them." "Word is, they throw away millions." "Well, that doesn't necessarily mean anything." "The Chinese love to gamble." "Especially the rich ones." "Yeah, in Vegas." "This is Missouri." "It's a much longer flight." "I want to find out..." "I want to find out where these planes are coming from." "Who do we know in the FAA?" "I don't know anyone, but Doyle does." "I already got him on it." "I'll text you when I hear back from Doyle." "I gotta go." "You leaving?" "Yeah." "Thanks for last night." "I had fun." "No, you didn't." "You were thinking of somebody else." "I got that one after 10 years." "Hope it brings you some luck." "Elaine Brooks will be sponsoring." "And the First Lady has approved the early draft." "Jackie, take a look at the board." "Get a sense of who might co-sponsor, besides yourself." "Absolutely." "I'm sure we can lock down a lot of heavyweights." "Lorrie and I'll get right on it." " We should talk about a media plan." " It's premature for that." "Don't we want to get this out, start building support as soon as possible?" " Events, interviews..." " I want what's most effective." "A media blitz is the wrong way to go." "You want a single, long lead that coincides with the introduction of the bill." "Something classy." "But you want broad support, to hit as many..." "A blanket strategy will galvanize as many detractors as supporters." "Not if the message is framed in such a way that..." "We want a key demographic to get on board, and then..." " Let me finish, please." " Then we let it percolate." "I suggest Matt Bai." "The New York Times Magazine." "I like that idea." "I like that very much." "So do I. Can you speak to Matt?" " No promises." "Just test the waters." " I'm happy to do that." "I've got a good relationship with Matt." " I'll call him." " Great." "Seth, you keep me posted, and let's all get together later this week." "Thanks, Jackie." "I want you to read the bill and write me a summary." "Do not under any circumstances share it with anyone until we've spoken." "You don't want to go over the board first..." "No." "Not yet." " Anything on the abortion?" " Nothing." "It all checks out." "100%?" "I turned over every stone." "Mrs. Underwood was telling the truth." "We need something." "This is taking too long." "The Underwoods are careful." "If they have skeletons, they're buried deep." "It's not a question of "if."" "Somebody like Frank is gonna have skeletons." "Then I'll find them." "If you don't deliver, that means I don't deliver." "And I always deliver." "You gave me an assignment with high expectations." "I'll meet them, but it's not gonna happen overnight." "So, don't fuck with me." "I'm a hired gun." "Not one that you own." "As long as you hit the target." "Then I need a favor." "Connor Ellis?" "What about him?" "I'll have more access if he isn't around." "Arrange a cushy job offer for him somewhere?" " Private or public sector?" " Private." "Lots of money." "Something he can't turn down." "I'll see what I can do." "Here, this is half." "You can pay me when I've gotten you what you want." "I don't take half pay for a job half done." "It's an interesting proposal." "What we're missing is a unified theme." "If we coordinate on national ad buys, organize crossover events, develop fundraising apps, I think, it would go a long way in raising..." "Maybe, but I doubt the leadership will go for it." "Which is why I'd like your support." "I set up a meeting." "If you came and you supported my position..." "Well, I just think that they're gonna end up saying we can't be thinning out our funds on a national strategy." "This is about field work, getting out the vote." "Right, but it isn't it worth at least some consideration?" "Well, you know me, Linda." "I mean, I'm all for bold ideas." "But Birch and Womack, why, they're set in their ways." "I doubt very seriously that..." "Listen, Frank, all I'm asking is that you play devil's advocate..." "I'm sorry, Linda, excuse me for just a moment." "This is important." "I don't want to short-shrift this." "No, I know." "But I just have to send this text." "And I am busy, too." " Make sure that's an aisle seat." " Of course." "I don't feel as if you're taking this very seriously." "Linda, I apologize." "I am sorry." "You are absolutely right." "I did not mean to sound curt." "And you are right." "This is important." "So, you and I should go through your proposal and discuss it right down to the last detail." "I'm not asking you to go through it page by page." "Just to help me initiate some meaningful dialogue." "Well, you can count on my help, Linda." "Thank you." "I will have my scheduler reach out to yours." "Thank you, Linda." "Give me a secure line, please." "The Vice President is on the line." "Mr. Vice President, normally I would ignore your call, but I am in a good mood today." "Not even you could ruin it." "Are you funneling money to the Republicans?" " What on earth are you talking about?" " About 20 million in GOP Super PACs." "Now, you know I never make political contributions." "That's the fastest way to upset my investors." "I know the money is coming from a casino in Missouri and I know it's coming from Feng." "Mr. Feng and I have one co-venture together, and it has nothing to do with gambling." "A plane that he owns flies to Lanagin's casino on a regular basis." "What he does on his own time is no business of mine." "Are you trying to create chaos in the ranks?" "The Republicans appear to be doing a fine job of that without my help." "Well, it's not gonna work, Raymond." "It'll bind the Democrats together, not pull us apart." "What has bound them together the past decade has been the means to achieve a majority." "If I had to guess..." "He stacked Congress." "The majority I whipped." "So it's been you, Raymond, all along." "Even when Lanagin's money was coming to us." "You keep making assumptions that I have denied." "Well, once the quarterly filings come out, anybody with a laptop is gonna see what's going on." "The end of September." "And that's a long way off." "But I look forward to seeing the reports." "Should make for some very interesting reading, two weeks before the midterms." "You cannot bully your way back to the table, Raymond, just as you cannot buy the keys to Congress." "Best of luck keeping your majority in the House." "I know how much it means to you." "When the money's coming your way, you don't ask any questions." "But now, it's clear." "Lanagin's never been anything but a front." "Do I tell the President?" "No." "He'll wonder why I didn't know, which makes me look uninformed." "Or he'll blame the messenger for involving him, which makes me look careless." "No, it's a trap." "I must keep this to myself." "He wants to know who you're buying on behalf of." "It's a hedge fund named Mercury Capital." "It's unlisted." "They need the names of the principal investors." "Tell him I have to protect identities." "The broker needs more." "He wants a full investor list." "Say..." "Say that the principal investor has strong ties to the White House." "They want to know if you represent Clayton West." "Clayton West?" " He's waiting." " One second." "What does it say?" "It's about a refinery in China for rare earth elements." "Tell him yes." "Tell him the principal investor is Raymond Tusk." "This is Doug Stamper." "I'm not..." "What should we serve the Walkers?" "Cyanide?" "Saving that for dessert." "What about a main course?" "Meat of some sort." "A vegetable." "I mean, this isn't really my area of expertise." "I was thinking, what about Freddy?" "Ribs." "Or is that gauche?" "No." "I like the idea." "Well, we can do the nice china and gourmet sides, but I think the ribs make it more personal." "I'll make the call." "Any word on the call you're expecting?" "Not yet." "I don't think he's landed." "This is really coming along, isn't it?" "You think it's childish." "I think it's better than video games." "Do you have my check for $5,000?" "Next time I get a raise." "Bad luck at the casino?" "So, Tusk knows I'm here?" "Daniel Lanagin knows you're here." "Is Tusk involved?" "Why would I admit that?" "Tusk is in business with you." "You're sending money to Lanagin." "Lanagin's casino is in Tusk's backyard." "You didn't fly halfway around the world just to confirm suspicions." "Tell me what you want." "We want the money to stop flowing to the Republicans." "And what do I receive?" "I've told you what we want." "Now it's your turn." "So you can mislead me again." "Things have changed." "We have nothing to gain by misleading you." "What do you think of my garden?" "It's very beautiful." "When you only talk business, you stop appreciating beauty." "I don't have much time for beauty." "That's a shame." "People like you to smell a flower, some of us have to pull the weeds." "When do you plan on leaving?" "I haven't bought my return ticket yet." "Good." "I'd like to think on this for a night." "And I'm sure you must be exhausted." "Would you do me the honor of being my guest?" "I'd be very grateful." "Excellent." "You can get some rest." "And if you like, there are many beautiful things to enjoy here." "Please." "Sir, Mr. Grayson is here." "Seth." "You and I haven't really properly had the chance to sit and have a chat since you came on board." "Is there anything I can be doing better, sir?" "No." "No." "I'm impressed." "You're very smart." "Excellent work ethic." "But more importantly, you're very observant." "Information is power." "It was right here in this room that my wife revealed a great deal of information to a great number of people." "Millions of them." "Sir, if your concern is my knowledge of any discrepancies, then let me assure you..." "Claire and I are very private people." "I can understand why you might mistrust me." "I'm also observant, like you, Seth." "But I still have my blind spots." "It would have never occurred to me to reach out to Mrs. Marbury." "Her husband was dead." "He kept no records." "And yet, there it was, in black and white." "I respect the fact that you brought it to us." "That's what got you in the door." "But if you want to stay, I need more." "What exactly are you up to?" "I was hired by Remy Danton." "He wants anything damaging that I can find." "Does he have a copy of the journal?" "No copies." "I gave the original to Mrs. Underwood and I told him that her story checks out." "Did you give him anything else?" "I don't have anything else." "I wouldn't give it to him if I did." "Why am I only hearing about this now?" "You're the Vice President of the United States." "Remy works for Raymond Tusk." "That puts me between two extremely powerful people." "I had to be careful." "I'm sure that Remy is offering you a great deal of money." "But that's all he offers." "But when I saw you push entitlement reform through the Senate, it was clear to me where the real power in the White House is." "I want to work for a man like you." "Not sail a yacht." "Money doesn't interest me." "Do you want me to cease contact with Remy?" "No." "I want you to find the blind spots." "Is he free?" " For a few minutes." " Thank you." "Mexico City, where you'll meet President Soto." "We can practice your Spanish on the plane." "Hi." " What is that?" " Frank gave it to me." "You have a minute?" "Is it important?" "I have a meeting with..." "When is it?" " He's already in the waiting room." " The Archbishop of New York." "I'm just wondering if we should bring a gift to dinner tonight." "Yeah." "It's casual." "Maybe a bottle of wine." "You know them well." "Any idea what sort of wine they like?" "Not extremely well, but I'm friendly with their staff." "I can..." " I'll figure it out." " I can make a call." "I'm having a conversation with my husband, but thank you." "Okay." "I apologize." "I'll see you at the residence. 7:30?" "No." "Not now." "No, just..." "Please go." "Get out." "Please." "Rachel." "It's me." "I..." "You should answer when I call." "I don't like leaving messages." "Seth?" "Ayla, I get 15 minutes to eat on a good day." " Xander Feng." " Means nothing to me." "Connor told me about a back channel with China." "There was speculation it was a guy named Xander Feng." " Fourteen minutes, 52 seconds." " He's in business with Raymond Tusk." "They're working on a refinery in China." "Tusk has ties to the White House." " Fourteen minutes, 37..." " One of the wealthiest men in America in business with an off-the-books Chinese diplomat?" "Influence in Washington that's never been reported?" "Then the White House pushes rare earth subsidies when the energy crisis spiked..." "Do you have a specific question for me?" "I'd like to ask the Vice President about this." "A specific question for me, not an interview request." "Does the Vice President know Raymond Tusk?" " Not to my knowledge." " You're hiding something, Seth." "I'm not hiding anything." "I'm just a guy with low blood sugar." "Garrett?" "What is it?" "Christina." "She won't leave me alone." "It's like she's trying too hard to be helpful." "I'll have Linda talk to her." "It's not just that." "I feel like it's a mask." "I feel like there's something else going on there." "Like what?" "Sometimes when I walk into your office and see her talking to you..." "And you've been traveling together so much." "Jesus, Tricia." "Not you." "Her." "I think she's attracted to you." "And she does have a history of getting involved..." "I can't even believe we're having this conversation." "I want you to relocate her." " Just find her another position..." " No, absolutely not." " I know it seems overboard..." " She's a good aide." "She's valuable to Linda, which makes her valuable to the administration." "I'm your wife." "I should be more valuable than either of them." " Tricia..." " I don't understand why you're fighting me on this when she bothers me..." "We're pulling up to Frank's in two minutes." "Really superb, Freddy." "I can honestly say I have never had better ribs in my life." "Well, I'm glad you liked 'em." "I read the article in The Sun, about how you go to Freddy's." "I hope you don't mind me speaking to that reporter, Frank." "Not at all." "Shit, I forgot I'm not supposed to call you that." "I wouldn't let you call me "Vice President" even if you tried." "And I didn't mind at all." "I thought the article was great." "Well, there's been a big bump in business since it came out." "I'm talking lines around the block." "You're not the only white person to show up there now." "Well, I'm gonna call it a night." "I got an early start in the morning." "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. President." " Mrs. Walker." " A pleasure." "Truly." " Thanks, Freddy." " Always." "No." "None for me, thanks." "Mr. President, a slice of pie is good for the soul." " I'm stuffed." " You can have a slice of pie." "I'm fine, really." "But thank you, Frank." "I'll have some." "For the two of us as well." "Now, she's gonna make me run another five miles to work off this puppy." "Are you crazy?" "I can barely keep up with you." " You're so much faster than me." " You two run together?" "Yes, it's hard to find the time, but somehow we find it." "We do." "And it's something that's just ours, you know?" "Yes." "Just ours." "And about eight Secret Service agents." "That's so nice that you have that together." "I wish Garrett and I had more time for things like that." "We did take a spinning class together once." "You should've seen Garrett hunched over the handlebar..." "Please." " Would you like some more wine?" " I would, thank you." "I saw the punching bag you gave him." "You know what?" "I will have a slice of pie." "Pie, please." "For the President." "Thank you." "I read it front to back." "I think it's good." "It'll cause a shit-storm, but maybe that's what we need." " Not during the midterms." " I don't see how we take flak." "We're trying to curtail rape for god sakes." "Sure, some right-wingers will do their usual song and dance..." "Let's hold off." "I want to read it myself first." "We promised the Vice President we would have co-sponsors lined up..." "I know what we promised, and we're gonna stall." "Don't disseminate the draft." "You know the gist of the bill." "I don't see why we can't..." "Lorrie." "All right." "I'll leave it with you." "Anything else?" "No." "I think we're good." "All right." "Then I'm off." "Date night with the husband." "Slit my wrists, please." "Hey, go home at some point, okay?" "The Capitol will still be here in the morning." "This is really something." "Ways to go yet." "Now, who won this battle?" "The North or the South?" "Massive casualties on both sides." "No clear winner." "How do you find the time?" "I carve out a half-hour here and there." "Helps me relax." "I've forgotten the meaning of that word." "Well, that's what the punching bag is for." "That's very true." "Just a little." "Tricia and I should get going soon." "You're never gonna make it through this first term, Mr. President." " How do you mean?" " Well, not like this." "Letting the stress creep in." "You need to run the marathon, not the sprint." "You need to enjoy these little moments of escape." "You can pour more than that." "Thank you." " That's Union or Rebel?" " Union, sir." "No, enough "Sirs" and "Mr. Presidents."" "Call me by my name." "I respect the office too much for that." "When we're in private, it's okay." "Tonight, I don't have to be President." "I don't mean to get involved in your personal life." "No." "I brought it up." "Is this really about Christina?" "Or maybe it's just a symptom of something else." "Like what?" "I don't know." "I barely see him at all." "He's so wound up in everything that's going on overseas, the elections, the economy." "When he was governor, it wasn't a cake walk, but it was nothing like this." "How do you and Frank do it?" "You both seem so close." "We're honest with each other." "We don't sweep anything under the rug." "Tricia, if it's eating at you, make him talk about it." "The White House is finite." "Your marriage is for life." " Good morning." " Morning." " You don't like your soup?" " I'm not good with chopsticks." "I think you'll like this soup more than you liked the two companions I sent you last night." "I was tired." "Have you had a chance to think about what we discussed yesterday?" "In China, it's polite to refuse a gift the first time." "Maybe I should refuse yours." "We can't offer you a gift if I don't know what you want." "The Port Jefferson Bridge." "You pulled it during the back channel." " Changed my mind." " Why?" "I have allies who want the bridge." "Without it, they become my enemies." "I've been put on trial twice." "Corruption charges." "Everyone in China who works on this level pays who they need to pay." "And they kill who they need to kill." "People disappear all the time, Mr. Stamper." "I could disappear." "You could disappear." "Stop the junkets, and we'll get you the bridge." "The bridge comes first." "The Vice President has lied to me before." "I need proof of his commitment." "Then the money will stop." "Please, Mr. Stamper." "Eat." "You have a long flight ahead of you." "If it's what you feel you need to do." "I've had a great experience here, Mrs. Underwood." "But this is an opportunity I can't pass up." " I imagine the pay is substantial." " It is." "But it's not just that." "There's room to grow at SpaceX." "Well, if your mind's made up, I won't try and convince you to stay." "The truth is, when I first came on board," "I thought it was to work for both you and your husband." "Don't get me wrong, it's been an honor working for you." "But I didn't foresee having to work with Seth." "You're not very fond of each other." "No." "Which is fine." "We're professionals." "But I think this is for the best." "The problem with hiring great people is everyone wants to steal them away." "I appreciate you being so understanding." " You'll be missed, Connor." " Thank you." "Seth, it's me." "He just left." "Talk to him and put out a press release." "Let's make this as smooth as possible." "There's two opportunities I'm interested in." "Family-oriented restaurant chain and a retail barbecue sauce." "What would that look like?" "We give you an upfront payment for the right to use your brand." "Either venture fails, or they both do, you still get to keep that money." "How much money we talking?" "$95,000 as soon as you sign." "And then you'd have a share of the profits if we're successful." "What would the shares be?" "I'll tell you what." "Let me draw up papers." "You look them over." "You show them to your lawyer." " I don't have a lawyer." " Well, you should get one." "I don't want you to feel like you're being cheated." "You're skeptical." "Look, money usually don't come through that door unless it's looking for a plate of ribs." "And we want to sell thousands of those plates." "Millions, if the franchise builds." "The Sun article put you on the map." "Let's fill up that map with Freddy's Barbecue Joints." " What are you looking at?" " Excuse me?" "The knives are in the kitchen." "You have a pistol." "You can stop staring." "Is he in here?" "Dan!" " How are you?" " Good." " Care for a drink?" " I'm good." "Well, let's go into the living room." "It's more cozy." "I'm just fine where I am." " Well, all right." "Thank you." " Yes, sir." "I'm sure you've told Raymond that I've asked you here." " Raymond who?" " You don't have to pretend, Dan." " Feng confirmed what you're up to." " Name doesn't ring a bell." "I have flight records." "One of his planes to Kansas City on multiple occasions." "Do we really have to play this game?" "I came here because I thought you might have something to offer." "Why don't we just skip to that part." "You've been a loyal contributor, Dan." "You've thrown us fundraisers." "There are pictures of you and I shaking hands." "So, whatever you've done this quarter can be forgotten." "But I need the money to stop flowing in the wrong direction." "I'm still waiting for the offer." "You're a businessman, Dan, so I know your primary concern is profits." "Well, that's right." "But I'm offering you something that's far more valuable than money, a direct line to the White House." "That sounds vague to me." "I have influence over the BIA." "Over federal gambling legislation." "The sort of influence that my contributions have already bought." "Not with my direct involvement and the President's ear." "You know what I like about money?" "I can stack it on a table, like this one." "I can measure it with a yardstick." "I can see it, smell it, buy things with it." "Houses, cars, clothes." "Things that are real." "You're gonna have to show up with more than beads." "Dan, I invited you to my home because I thought..." " Through the back door." " Excuse me?" "Through the back door, like a servant." "The Secret Service makes everyone come in that way." "It's a precautionary measure..." "Unless you're gonna offer me more money than Tusk, and I don't think that you can, there's little left for us to talk about." "I am offering you an alliance with a man who goes to work every day at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." "I don't place my faith in any white man." "Especially one that works for the federal government." "I am just like you, Dan." "I know what it means to start from nothing, to have to fight your way..." "You know nothing about what it means to be me." "Your version of nothing was light years ahead of where I started." "I respect you, Dan." "I take you seriously..." "I'll let you know when I give a fuck about your respect." "Holiday?" "Show Lanagin out." "I know where the back door is." "Francis?" "It's not broken." "I can fix it." "Leave it." "I'll clean up later." "Let's go for a run." "Burn off some of this steam." "Sir?" " I'll be out in a moment." " I'll go ahead." "You catch up." "Why didn't you reach out before you got on a plane?" "I was afraid our communication might be monitored." " Where are we with Lanagin?" " Nowhere." "Where are we with Feng?" "We might have an option, but it's gonna be tricky."