"The U.K. is onboard with re-instating" " sanctions on Iran." " MATT:" "Thank you." "We can count on their support at the Security Council meeting this afternoon." "With a whole seven hours to spare." "Thank you, "closest ally""" "Does anyone else feel like this should be easier?" "The agreement was that if Iran cheats on the nuclear deal, then the other countries on the Security Council vote to snap the sanctions back." "Well, they cheated, so why are the rest of the P5 dragging their feet?" "Because it's the U.N." "Yeah, okay, you know what?" "I get that it's dysfunctional, but come on!" ""Hi, Iran?" "We're from the IAEA." ""Uh, we'd like to inspect your nuclear facilities." "You know, per the agreement."" "(heavy foreign accent):" ""Uh, yeah." "No, thank you."" "I mean, how much clearer do the violations need to be?" "No one's arguing with you." "In a perfect world, that's all the proof we'd need to reinstate sanctions." "Okay, what were the key components of the agreement?" "Oversight of all nuclear facilities." "Well, clearly, that's not happening." "Also, communication." "Yeah." "Is anybody talking to us?" " Radio silence." " Yep." "Everyone in Tehran is mute, so why do we have to work around the clock to get our quote-unquote partners to do what they already promised they would do?" "Are you done?" " Yeah, I'm done." " Good." "Because we only have a few more hours to get the rest of the P5 to snap back the sanctions." "If we fail, the president has made it clear that he will prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons one way or the other." "Take a moment and contemplate what the "other way" looks like, and get back to work." "I have the Secretary." " Go ahead, ma'am." " ELIZABETH (on speaker):" "Hey." "So where are we?" "NADINE:" "Ma'am, we have pledges of support from Russia and the U.K." "We have not heard back yet from France, but we expect their approval to be forthcoming." "So we're off to a good start." "And yet, you haven't mentioned China." "Foreign Minister Chen says they'll need more time to consider their vote." "Which is unusual, considering they've been in favor of sanctions curbing Iran's nuclear program." "So they're still pouting over the standoff in the South China Sea." "NADINE:" "Yes, ma'am, that is our best guess." "But Jay has an idea for how to get them on board." "We agree to withdraw our complaint at the WTO over China's tariff on chickens." "We're betting China cares that much about poultry?" "(sighs) Well, bigger deals have been made over weirder things, so yeah." "Let's go for it." "Also, ma'am, the Israeli ambassador called this morning." "Let me guess, he wants a meeting?" "Demands is more accurate." "(sighs heavily)" "Iran has a sanctions-free economy and a nascent nuclear weapons program." "What could Israel possibly be worried about?" "ELIZABETH:" "Good morning." "Hey, babe." "How's the world doing today?" "Oh, well, the fate of the Middle East rests on China's appetite for chicken." "Yep, sounds like the world." "I know." "Wow." "Look at you." "Special shout-out to her stylist, Alison McCord." "That's my suit." "I was going for a "mod-pro" look." "I had to raid your closet." "Mod-pro?" "It just means "modern professional."" "What?" "We share a house." " HENRY:" "Who is he?" " ELIZABETH:" "I don't know." "So what is the occasion?" "I have my meeting with Russell Jackson today." "For the Harvard Law recommendation?" "I thought that was last Monday." "Uh, it was supposed to be." "And also the Friday before that." "He keeps canceling." "I really need that rec letter." "Plus, an interview with an alumnus carries a huge amount of weight." "Well, the guy is a very busy man." "HENRY:" "Can't you find another Harvard alum?" "This is D.C. They're everywhere, telling people they went to Harvard." "I don't know... the application is due in three days, so I don't really have time to ask anyone else." "JASON:" "Yeah, and in ten years, all the lawyers will be replaced by robots anyway." "Guaranteed basic income's our only hope, you guys." "You know we support whatever you want to do, but maybe you don't have to go to Harvard Law." "What, you guys don't think I can cut it?" "HENRY:" "Cutting it I'm not worried about." "Paying for it, on the other hand..." "Look, your mom and I are tired." "We want to move someplace warm someday." "I know that you guys are very partial to UVA." " Wahoowa!" " No, I'm not." "You guys are always telling me to, you know, swing for the fences." "UVA was good enough for a whole slew of Kennedys, including Robert." "Plus, Thomas Jefferson founded the place." "Mm." "Alls I'm saying." "I know that Harvard is a reach, but I really want to try." "Which is why I was hoping that a recommendation letter from the president's chief of staff might help put me over the top." "Maybe I'm just being entitled and stupid." "You and the rest of America." "Smoking on the Hindenburg." "See ya." "Well, I say that you plant yourself at Russell's office and see if maybe he doesn't have a spare minute." "HENRY:" "Yeah, worst that can happen is he postpones again." "You go to UVA, where you can get a scholarship." " No." " Uh, plus, you're slaying the outfit game today." " Thank you." " ELIZABETH:" "Come on." "We'll give you a ride to Russell's office." " Good-bye." " Bye." " Bye." " Bye." "When the IAEA inspectors arrive, the Iranians' response is to shove guns in their faces." "What is that, if not proof they've restarted a nuclear weapons program?" "I agree with you, Ambassador." "We're on the same page." "Then why haven't the sanctions been reinstated?" "What-what is this peace deal if Iran can behave any way it pleases?" "The U.N. Security Council vote this afternoon is for the express purpose of snapping back sanctions." "But it's my understanding China has yet to agree." "China has voted for every U.N. resolution regarding sanctions on Iran's nuclear program." "Ever." "I'm very optimistic this time won't be any different." "I appreciate your optimism, but history has shown that such a worldview is a luxury the Jewish people cannot afford." "We must see things as they are, and act accordingly." "The United States has been a very good friend to Israel for many years." "I'm asking you to trust me." "But who do you trust?" "Iran?" "China?" "An Iranian nuclear weapons program is an existential threat to Israel." "And we will do what is necessary to defend ourselves." "EVANS:" "We are witnessing the worst foreign policy failure in U.S. history... a president who's let Iran lead us around by the nose." "You think President Dalton should have predicted this?" "I think a four-year-old could have seen it coming." "Invite a wolf to dinner, you watch your back, or you end up on the menu." "But Dalton let us get played for fools." "Worst thing about no candidate getting enough votes to win the election outright?" "More smug Sam Evans interviews?" "The House vote on January 6th can't come soon enough." "I'm hearing from my friends on the Hill that if the House voted today," "Evans would be our next president." "We need to get tough on Iran." "When I'm president, I'll rip up that deal on day one." "The stamina on this guy!" "How many interviews has he done today alone?" "He's made the rounds on all the morning shows." "Guy's never met a camera he didn't like." "NADINE:" "Good news, ma'am." "China's agreed to vote yes on reinstating the sanctions." "So the chicken tariff worked!" "Turns out the solution to China's game of chicken was... chicken." "BLAKE:" "Uh, ma'am, the French Foreign Minister has requested a meeting." "Isn't she in New York for the U.N. Security Council vote?" "No, she's on her way here." "Good morning, Mr. Jackson." "I told you I wanted to see Henry McCord." "That's the wrong McCord." "She has a meeting scheduled with you today." "For the-the Harvard Law recommendation." "Right." "Yeah." "Uh, now's not a good time." "Get Henry McCord on the phone." "I tried, but he's not picking up." "Oh... uh, he-he turns his phone off during class." "Why didn't you know that, Adele?" "Um, I-I know you're incredibly busy, but the application's due pretty soon." "Is there any chance that you might have just a minute or two later today?" "We have the great misfortune of living in exciting times, Stephanie McCord." "The presidential election is gonna be decided in the House of Representatives" " for the first time since..." " 1824?" "You do your homework." "The point is, my part in this historic election is to cajole Congress members into voting for President Dalton." "It's grueling, thankless, and, as you can see... humiliating work." "Oh." "But most importantly, it takes time." "Who has time for 18 holes" " in the middle of the day?" " Congressmen." "So off I go to abase myself on the links." "My 16-hour day... gets three hours longer." "So to answer your question, will I have a minute or two" " later in the day?" " Probably not." "Sorry, honey." "HENRY:" "Okay, Captain Finkel, have we talked about..." "Henry." "A word?" "In private?" "Hi." "I'm in the middle of a conference." "Aren't you Russell Jackson?" "No, I'm Phil Mickelson." "You mind?" "I'm sorry, just give us one minute." "A junior congressman from Michigan..." "Hi, Russell." "How'd things go with Stevie this morning?" " Great." " Good." "Dynamite kid." " Mm-hmm." " You should be proud." "Listen, Congressman Pearson... you guys still on good terms?" "Jeff?" "Yeah, I guess so." "We kind of lost touch after the Marines." "I've seen him maybe once, twice in the last five years... why?" "He's an Evans supporter." "I..." "Look, I'm scrapping for every vote." "I need you to bring your old buddy Jeff over to Dalton's side." "Can you do that?" " I..." " I-I know, I know." "You've got that whole ethics thing... (chuckles) It's a moral compass, Russell, not a disease." "I'm not asking you to do anything illegal." "Y-You believe Dalton's what's best for the country, you'd be following a-a civic duty." "A-Almost an ethical imperative..." "Russell, I'll do it." " You will?" " Yeah." "There's nothing unethical about a conversation between two old friends..." "political or not." "Plus, it'd be nice to see him again." "You all right there?" "(rubs shoulder)" "Yeah, I..." "I was expecting more of a fight is all." "(phone beeps) Nope, I'm..." "I'm happy to do whatever I can." "Well, uh... thanks." "I owe ya." " Gallais Le Livre?" " (chuckles)" " The ganache, not the truffles." " Oh!" " Okay." " My predecessor, Jean Dubois, told me of your great appreciation for them." "How is Jean, by the way?" "Is he enjoying his retirement?" "Oh, he's always complaining about how his grandchildren are making too much noise, uh, how his wife is cooking impossibly heavy meals, and now he has absolutely nothing to do except to sit around and read a book." "So..." "So, in other words, he's deliriously happy." "Exactly." "(both laugh, door closes)" "So, what brings you to D.C.?" "Kidding." "Why aren't you in New York?" "Considering our countries' long relationship," "I felt it was only fair to tell you personally that France will veto any reinstatement of sanctions against Iran." "We have proof that Iran is not complying with the terms of the deal." "Video of them strong-arming our inspectors." "Those soldiers may have been overzealous." "Ah." "What explanation has Iran offered for the incident?" "None." "They've closed off all communication." "Shouldn't we hear their side before being needlessly aggressive?" "We can't vote for sanctions without a more thorough investigation being conducted." "We can't investigate anything if they keep refusing our inspectors." "And didn't Iran just agree to purchase a new fleet of your Airbus jets?" "And if we snap back the sanctions, then the deal falls through, and your government loses billions of dollars." "France will be far more amenable to sanctions in three months or so." "Yeah." "After your Airbus deal closes, right." "You think Israel will wait that long?" "If we want to prevent another major conflict in the Middle East, we all need to pull together now." "I'll bring your concerns to President Perrin." "Please do." "DALTON:" "So, France vetoes the sanctions, and what, the Iranians flagrantly defy our agreement, and we do nothing?" "The other P5 members can't be too pleased about this." "We could ask them to lean on France." "I don't think that's gonna get it done in time." "Sorry to interrupt, Mr. President, but our satellites have detected a squadron of Israeli F-16s running mid-air refueling drills over the Negev Desert." " What's the IDF's official position?" " That it's" " a training exercise, sir." " No." "This... this isn't posturing." "They're preparing for a strike against Iran." "Preparing for war." "JACKSON:" "Sir, we already needed an inside straight to win this election in the House of Representatives." "If Israel and Iran start shooting at each other, we're done." "If Iran and Israel start shooting at each other... the election will be the least of our problems." "The only thing that will satisfy Israel is an immediate reinstatement" " of the sanctions." " How do we do that?" "The Security Council votes in a few hours." "Well... every once in a great while, a president can play the "Leader of the Free World" card." "I'd say now's about as good a time as any, sir." "I'll get on the phone with President Perrin." "Make him understand that his Airbus deal won't be worth much if Israel flattens Tehran." "♪" "POTUS is trying to get France on board with the sanctions, but if he doesn't succeed in that, then we need to figure out a way to get Iran back in the box quickly, before Israel takes matters into their own hands." "Now, given that Walter has spent years averting World War III," " I have invited him to join us." " You're too kind," "Madam Secretary." "It's always an honor to be dusted off and brought blinking into the non-fluorescent radiance of the Seventh Floor." "Though it would be nice to be invited for more than apocalyptic occasions. (chuckles softly)" "Too much?" "Why is Iran risking driving its economy into the ditch again?" "Not to mention a conflict with Israel," " which they have to know is coming." " (sighs)" "To his grave detriment," "Hamlet spends nearly the entire five acts of his play trying to answer the question:" ""To be or not to be."" "Uh, Walter, the secretary does has other appointments today." "As if the choice were merely binary." "In fact, the possibilities were infinite, if he'd only asked the question," ""how to be," instead." "We're asking the wrong questions." "That's what you're saying." "In so many, many words." "What's the right question?" "Why would the Iranians want to cheat on the nuclear deal now?" "They've been trying to get a bomb for 30 years." "Yes... but the real economic benefits of the deal... the French planes and some other geegaws notwithstanding... won't manifest for another three years?" "So, even if it were Iran's intention all along to break the deal, why not wait until they had real money in the bank?" "Exactly." "And if it wasn't their intention all along," " what changed?" " NADINE:" "Unfortunately, the only people who know the real answer to those questions are the Iranians." "Tehran has gone quiet." "Then, perhaps, we shouldn't speak to the Iranians in Tehran." "The Iranian nuclear physicists who went to Vasily Heavy Industries, they're..." " they're still in Moscow." " Reach out to the Russian Federal Migration Service." "Thanks, Walter." "Uh-huh." " This could work." " (door closes)" "(grunting)" " (grunts)" " Yeah!" " Boom!" "There it is." " (laughs)" " Good game." " Yeah." "Oh..." " Best three out of five?" " Oh, no, no, no." "No." "Law of diminishing returns." "Kind of like..." "Sam Evans' economic proposals." " (sighs) - (laughs)" "You're a broken record, man." "Eh... (panting)" "You're fighting a losing battle." "Michigan's a blue-collar state." "Dalton's too weak on trade." "So, you'd rather go with Sam Evans, the protectionist?" "I mean, come on." "Haven't heard ideas like that since Herbert Hoover." "We all know how that turned out." "You already lost two games today." "You want to call the policy debate a draw?" "It was good to see you, Jeff." "Please, um, give my love to Val and the girls, yeah?" "Actually, um..." "Val and I are getting a divorce." "(sniffles) I moved out three months ago." "(exhales)" "Jeff, I'm so sorry to hear that." "Well, I'm around if you need anything." "What I need's a drink." "You in?" "JAY:" "Russian Immigration detained the Iranian physicists before they could leave Russia." "They've got them in holding at their building in Khotkovo." "What excuse did they give for picking them up?" "Improper completion of a migration card" " at the border checkpoint." " (sighs)" "I suppose we shouldn't worry that it was so easy for Russia to detain foreign citizens on entirely trumped up charges?" "ELIZABETH:" "Right." "I know, got it." "Different problem, different day." " Hey." "What's going on?" " (man talking on TV)" "Oh, he's detailing a laundry list of violations, Threatening prison on the Siberian tundra." "Oh, wow." "Let's all put aside our Fifth Amendment heebie-jeebies and get this done." "(officer speaking Russian)" "She's demanding to know what they're doing in Russia." "(speaking Farsi)" "(laughs)" " What was that?" " Oh!" "Such a bald-faced, childish lie." "It's not worthy of repeating." "Tell them that they were seen outside of Vasily Heavy Industries." "Ask them why they were there." "(speaking Farsi)" "(speaking Farsi)" "(continues speaking Farsi)" "WALTER:" "He says that they got lost." "You notice the same two guys keep talking?" "Yeah." "And one's just sitting there." "Separate them, and keep the quiet one with you." "(interpreter speaks Russian)" "(speaking Russian)" "ELIZABETH:" "Tell him you want to get him home." "Back to his family." "But first you need answers." "(speaking Farsi)" "ELIZABETH:" "Pour him a glass of water." "Now wait." "Just wait." "Okay, now tell him his friends are in separate rooms and only the first one of them to confess the truth gets to go home." "(speaking Farsi)" "(speaking Russian)" "They were at Vasily Heavy Industries to inspect nuclear technology." "The tech was then purchased by the Razmian Bank" " and sent back to Iran." " Who did they send it to?" "(interpreter speaking Farsi)" "Hossein Pakvar." "Pakvar, works for this guy," "Mohammed Abedini." "Abedini's a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts." "The ones in charge of choosing the supreme leader, monitoring his activities." "This feels like disturbing news, but you two look oddly pleased." "I'm assuming there's a part two?" "Abedini's been one of the most vocal critics of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhmeini, in the Assembly." "Guy's been criticizing him at every turn." "Well, criticizing as much as possible for a dictatorial regime." "But, one of his main points of contention: our peace deal." "JAY:" "Ask yourself, why did the supreme leader let our inspectors land in the first place?" "Why let it come to a showdown outside their top secret facility?" "Because the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing." "Precisely." "Because if Abedini is leading the charge on Iran's nuclear ramp-up, then the supreme leader might not even be onboard." "NADINE:" "Ma'am?" "President Dalton convinced Perrin not to exercise their veto." "France will support the sanctions." "Huh." "Not that I was expecting a parade, but I was pretty sure that was good news." "If what Jay and Walter are saying is true, sanctions might not be necessary." "Back channel through the Swiss embassy in Tehran." "If I can get a meeting with Foreign Minister Tousi, we might be able to save our deal." "Minister Tousi, thank you for agreeing to meet me on such short notice." "And such secretive circumstances." "Well, yeah." "I thought we could talk more freely this way." "Very well, I'll start." "You postponed the vote in the Security Council." "Perhaps you didn't have the other members' support and are angling for a way out." "Oh, I have the votes, I'll use them if I have to." "Then what else is there to say?" "I need a cup of coffee." "Do you want one?" "You know, it's funny, because the last time I was in the Canadian embassy," "I had a meeting with your predecessor." "Zahed Javani?" "Javani was a friend of mine." "We attended primary school together." "Even then, he was an optimist." "Yeah, he was." "He gave his life because he believed that this peace deal was the best choice for both of our countries." "Well, I share that belief." "And I think the ayatollah does, as well." "Which is why I don't believe that he was responsible for breaking our agreement." "I think that was the work of Mohammed Abedini." "The ayatollah would swiftly crush any such challenges to his regime." "I believe that he's in control." "Now." "But I don't think that he was aware of Abedini's actions when the inspectors showed up at your nuclear facility." "I think he went along to save face, rather than admit that your government was fracturing." "And if the supreme leader never wanted to renege on the deal, then... well, shouldn't we do our best to try and save it?" "Even if what you are saying about Abedini is true, it is now immaterial." "Iran has followed your election closely." "We don't like what we're hearing." "Sam Evans." "He plans to destroy the peace deal the moment he's in office." "That's just rhetoric." "He has no intention of following through." "Our people are not mind readers," "Madam Secretary." "How are they to know that?" "To some," "Abedini's call to develop nuclear weapons is a way to hedge our bets." "A Sam Evans presidency is just a possibility." "Crippling sanctions on every sector of your economy will be a reality." "So then I ask you again:" "what else is there to say?" "Let IAEA inspect your nuclear facilities." "Surrender all prohibited nuclear technology." "And let's honor the deal that Zahed Javani struck." "Iran must have assurances that if Sam Evans does become president, then he, too, will honor the agreement we have made." "If you can do that, we can resurrect our deal." "Has Evans returned our calls?" "DAISY:" "No, ma'am." "He's still refusing to speak with us or anyone from Dalton's administration." "ELIZABETH:" "Should I pretend I have a cable news show?" "I bet he'd talk to me then." "The big ham." "That would probably do the trick." "In fact, he's doing a segment on Wolf Blitzer tonight." "VENDOR:" "Here you go." "Here in New York?" "Yeah." "Huh." "Call the show, tell them I'm coming down." "To talk about what?" "China, the perfect Thanksgiving, I don't know." "Whatever, just get me booked, okay?" "Israel is still pushing hard for some kind of response to the Iran nuclear program." "Just tell 'em to cool their jets." " Right." " Literally." "Yes, ma'am." "HENRY:" "Oh, I... uh, okay, okay." "So did you and Val try counseling?" "We tried everything... counseling, date nights." "We even put up one of those harness-type deals for the bedroom." "That's... wow, okay." "(scoffs) Yeah, well," "I installed the damn thing incorrectly, ended up falling and wrenching my back." "(chuckling) It was a disaster." "(chuckling):" "Oh... oh, man." "Well... (sighs) at least you can tell yourself you did everything you could." "Marriage... it's tough. (chuckles)" "Not for old Hank McCord." "So," "Russell Jackson asked you to come butter me up, huh?" "Well, to make a case for Dalton, but I was up front with you about that, man." " Mostly, I came just to catch up." " Yeah." "'Cause we're such good buddies." "Jeff, is there something on your mind?" "Corpus Christi." "What about it?" "The night before my final solo flight, you forced me to hit the bars with you." "Whoa!" "(chuckling):" "Whoa, Jeff." "Come on, I don't remember it like that at all." "You got me so drunk" "I couldn't walk the next day," " Oh, no." " but let alone fly a TA-4." "You didn't tell me it was your..." "your flight test until, like, 1:00 a.m., and, what, the second I knew," "I said we should go back to base." "No, you-you sat back and watched me pound shots." "You-you wanted to stay, what was I supposed to do?" "Force you out of there?" "We were trained for combat." "I ended up stuck stateside through Desert Storm, the rest of you are off flying sorties over Baghdad." "You-you screwed me out of that, man!" "You ever think maybe you're the lucky one?" " (scoffs)" " Jeff, w-what do you want me to say here?" "That you're sorry." "(glass clinks on table)" "You know, I came here because I thought you were going through a rough time, and I assumed, apparently mistakenly, that we were friends." "Yeah, I'll..." "I'll see you around." "It's just... it's just... (Henry groans)" "You should have... you should have helped me not mess up." "Okay." "Look, you were a good pilot." "And if I played an unintentional role in keeping you from proving that, then... sure." "I'm sorry." "Thanks, buddy." "I appreciate it." "Governor Evans, ready for your close-up?" "You would think with our foreign policy in shambles, the Secretary of State would have better things to do than stalk me." "You're all set, Governor." "Thanks, buddy." "You're pretty hard to get a hold of otherwise." "(chuckling)" "I'm not interested in whatever deal" "Dalton is offering." "I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm winning this thing." "Actually," "I'm here to ask a favor." "I hope you can appreciate how hard that might be for me." "This should be good." "What do you want?" "I need you to tone down your rhetoric on Iran." "You keep saying that you intend to rip up the nuclear deal on day one." "I'm here telling you sincerely that it would have world-altering consequences." "Like Dalton losing the election." "Yeah, that's what I'm going for." "Is it even true?" "Do you honestly intend to destroy the deal the day you become president?" "Absolutely." "If Iran tries to develop nuclear weapons," "I'll rip up that deal." "That is the deal." "Already." "If Iran tries to become a nuclear-threshold country, we reinstate the sanctions." "What you're saying is that you intend to rip up the deal regardless of whether" "Iran is making nukes or not." "Fine, I'm being more figurative than literal." "Of course, I don't actually intend to destroy the deal for no reason." "Then admit that publicly." "Put the interests of the country you hope to lead above your own." "(chuckles) Stirring words." "You are really gonna clean up on the speaking circuit in a few months' time." "If you'll excuse me?" "WOMAN:" "Governor Evans?" "This way, sir." " Ma'am." " Hmm?" "The sound guys are losing their minds." "Evans' mic was on the entire time." "They're sitting on a major scoop." "The whole conversation is on tape." "Was it?" "Well, that's terrible." "Oh, God, what a terrible night." "ELIZABETH:" "Sorry, babe." "It was nice of you to be the bigger guy and try to be a friend to Jeff." "And the harness part was funny." "Funny ha-ha or" " funny intriguing?" " Definitely ha-ha." "JASON:" "I don't like your stupid friend Megan." "ALISON:" "That means you do like her." "JASON:" "Could you shut up?" " Shush, shush!" " Kids, kids, kids..." "Guys, your father's..." " (sighing) - a little tired this morning." "Oh, my God, Dad, are you hung over?" " No!" " Yes." "(phone ringing)" "(Jason chuckles) Okay." " Yes." " (kids scoff)" "Remember this the next time you think about drinking." "I will." "Okay, show's over." "Get out of here." " Go on, go on." " (phone ringing)" "Remember, he did it for America." " Yeah." " Go." "Wait... wait, what does that even mean?" "It's Russell Jackson." "He's probably calling to see how it went with Pearson last night." "(groans) Someone's about to have a worse morning than I am." "Hello?" "You, sir, are a miracle worker." " I am?" " Your boy Jeff Pearson called and pledged Dalton his support an hour ago." "Nicely done, Professor." " Uh, thanks." " With his vote," "Michigan's a lock and..." "Dalton is one step closer to actually winning this thing." "I'm having Adele send you a bottle of single malt." " You're still a Scotch man, right?" " Not anymore." "Why don't you just make time to see Stevie about this Harvard recommendation thing, we'll call it even?" "I got nothing but time for her." "Get Adele on it." "And he hung up." "You know, Jeff was dead set against Dalton all night long." "Well, maybe... getting all that stuff off his chest helped change his mind." "That can't be it, can it?" "I mean, something as insignificant as one congressman's old baggage sway the presidency?" "Sometimes it's nice to think that a small act of kindness could make a big difference." "Hey, most historical events happened because some guy fell off his buggy." "Inaccurate, but appreciated." "Hey, Dad." " Hi." " Heard you had a few drinks last night." "Mm." "(groans)" "(laughs)" "All right, go to the White House." "I regret that my words were taken out of context" " when I said that..." " REPORTER:" "You said," ""I don't actually intend to destroy the deal."" " How could that be taken out of context?" " Be..." "Because if you look at the full scope of my words, I didn't say..." "REPORTER:" "Are you ripping up the deal or aren't you?" "Not doing so well staying on message now, is he?" "Yeah, it's a little harder when the message is," ""Turns out my message is total BS."" "(chuckles) Ma'am, the press is still asking for an official statement." "How about:" ""I'm shocked that a cable news show would run with a giant story that fell in its lap, just as I planned it."" "I'll say you're dismayed that a private conversation was overheard and taken out of context." "Or that." "Yeah." "It's good the American people now know that his promises were built on quicksand." "Ma'am, the foreign minister of Iran is on the line for you." "Okay." "Even better it's not just the American people who know." "Sorry we couldn't do this sooner." "Nature of the beast." "Everyone around here's 20 minutes late for a five-minute meeting." "No, um..." "I appreciate your time." "So... why does Harvard even care about these terribly inconvenient meet and greets?" "Um..." "I guess so you can tell me about the school." "Uh... give me advice based on your experience." "Maybe judge whether you think I'm worthy." " (both chuckle)" " All right." " You want my advice?" " (cell phone buzzes)" "Don't go to law school." "I'm sorry?" "Just don't do it." "It stinks." "Every practicing lawyer I know is miserable." "Most of what they do, it can be done by robots." "The only ones who enjoy it are the bleeding hearts in the nonprofit sector." "Those poor suckers working" " hundred-hour weeks for peanuts." " Yeah." "You're one of those bleeding hearts." "Pretty much." "Fine, so, if you don't want to score a nice corner office, then why do you want to go to Harvard?" "Look, the pressure at Harvard Law is-is inhuman." "And everyone there is a genius and a killer." "If you can't even give a reason..." "Because I want to do something important." "What's Harvard got to do with that?" "Well, I-I think to do good you have to be good." "I mean, maybe the best?" "The bad guys, they have all the help that they need, but regular people who just need help?" "They-they have to settle for whoever they can get and usually it's no one and..." "Okay." "I'm gonna give you a piece of advice and I want you to listen closely 'cause you won't hear it from your parents," "Stephanie McCord." "Okay." "If you want to do good... you've got to be prepared to do bad." "Okay?" "To be canny and watchful and mean, so when the bad guys come, you know just where to stick the knife, 'cause it is a fight to the death and that is the only language they understand." "I don't believe that." "(sighs)" "You will." "(cell phone buzzes)" "(sighs)" "Well, uh... thank you for your time." "I... really appreciate it." "(cell phone beeps)" "All right." "Come back tomorrow for the recommendation." "You'll still write it?" "I never met a McCord who couldn't rise to a challenge." "Thank you." "(sighs)" "(men speaking Hebrew)" "HILL:" "Israel officially denies they were behind yesterday's attack on the Iranian scientists." "They say the Caucasus is a hotbed of radical Sunni Islam and any number of terrorist groups could have been behind the strike." "Sure." "Why not?" "No, I should have seen this coming." "From the moment the peace deal was struck, Israel has constantly been looking for signs that Iran wasn't playing above board and the minute Iran turned away the inspectors, that was it for them." "Can we convince both parties to stay in their corner?" "Not escalate things further?" "Sir, we have to assume Iran is already planning countermeasures." "HILL:" "Maybe with conventional forces, maybe asymmetric attacks through Hezbollah, Hamas, maybe both." "And then when Iran hits back," "Israel will respond in kind." "And on it goes." ""Turning and turning in the widening gyre."" "Put all of our bases on high alert." "We've got to be ready in case Iran tries to hit" "U.S. targets, as well." " Thank you, sir." " Yes, sir." "I suppose this isn't helping our prospects in the House." "Evans is using this conflict to renew credibility with his supporters and siphon off some of ours." "We're hemorrhaging congressmen, which... gives me the unenviable task of trying to stop the bleeding." "If you'll excuse me." "I need some air." "Whether or not" "Israel's behavior was rash if it comes to war... we're gonna have to back them against Iran." "(exhales)" "I knew this peace deal would be hard... but I didn't think it would fall apart so spectacularly." "Should I have seen this coming, Bess?" "Did I overreach?" "Sir... you were trying to protect the world from a nuclear-armed Iran, and peacefully resolved a conflict we'd been in since 1979... and it almost worked." "(chuckles)" "Almost." "Well, since my days as president are numbered the Iran deal is going to define my administration... just... not the way I hoped." "I need to speak with Congressmen Zaks, Winter, Ramsay, in that order and call my wife, tell her she should get herself a date for the Kennedy Center tonight," "I'm not gonna make it." "If this is a bad time, uh, I can," "I can come back later." "No." "No." "I'm determined to accomplish at least one thing today." "One thing I can actually... cross off my list without seven other things... popping up to take its place." "One thing that doesn't involve arm twisting or browbeating..." "Are you so, God are you okay?" "(shouts)" "Help!" "Help!" "Someone help!"