I'd like to introduce richard mcdonald.
Dickie,what are you doing here?
Jim,nice to see they're keeping the chief of staff in the loop.
I'd appreciate you letting me know when you're bringing someone new in.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
Are you going to run for reelection?
I hadn't really thought about it much.
If you don't start running today,
you're a lame duck for the next two years.
You should close up the connecticut house and move in here with us.
be careful. I just might accept.
No,mike!
I don't know. I just...
I'm sorry. I just can'T.
what's up with him?
About your sister...
did he say something?
Stop! I want to talk to you!
Why don't you keep your mouth shut? How hard is that?
Dude,I tried, but you know,
sometimes guys just gotta share.
I did the president's daughter!
People make mistakes when they're young.
You know what they say. It's a contact sport. Wear a cup.
You may want to put on a cup for this.
She just ambushed me in the oval office.
She knew I had the story of her gay assistant, and she knew how I got it.
- You'll have other opportunities-- - don't!
I don't want to hear your excuses! Just get out of here.
I shouldn't have fired jayne.
Jayne was an excellent chief of staff.
You won't find any better.
Well,I can't hire her back.
Why not?
Because I'd have to beg.
it's just a tactic, sweetheart.
they also serve who only sit and wait.
Nathan,you're up early.
May I?
Just for a moment. I'm afraid i'm expecting someone.
He's always late--
alex tucci.
You'reoing to try and persuade the good senator from arizona to allow more what,
navajo casinos in his state?
Apache casinos,actually.
Lobbying becomes you.
Word has it that the clients are just pouring in.
- It's going well. - Well,I would expect nothing less.
You're top-notch.
Thank you.
How are things at the office?
It's not easy finding someone to fill your shoes.
Well,I hear you're talking to jim carrigan.
He's good.
give me a break.
Jim carrigan in your shoes lacks a certain something.
Well,I'm sure you'll find someone.
What about you? What do you think about you coming back?
Well, why the change of heart?
There's not a change of heart.
My heart never changed. It broke a little.
It's back together now.
We're a good team,real good.
I don't remember you saying anything like that when you fired me.
I was intemperate, and,um...
I regret that.
You hurt me,nathan.
I hurt you?
You betrayed me,jayne.
I'm sorry,mr. Speaker.
- I like what I'm doing. - Yeah,of course you do.
Oh,senator tucci's here.
Tricky business, this casino stuff,jayne,
so watch your back,okay?
Thank you.
It's if I run. No decision's been made, but
I've been thinking it over, and I wanted to talk a ebout it with all of you.
And we know a campaign won't be easy on anyone.
It means more travel for mom and me
and less family time.
- Do you think you can win? - First question is,do I run?
well,of course you do.
You're not going to settle for two years of borrowed presidency, are you?
I say go for it.
- You mean that,horace? - Yeah,absolutely.
Can I stay up and watch the election returns this time?
Yes,you can.
Then I think you should do it.
Cca?
Does it matter what I think?
It's a family discussion. It matters what everybody thinks.
So does that mean that if I say "no," you won't run?
It means that everyone gets a say.
So then it doesn't really matter what I think?
Honey,if you don't want to be part of the campaign,
that's fine. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.
Mom,I'm part of it whether I want to be or not.
You think I'll be left alone just because you say so?
We'll talk to the press. We'll control the media.
And the tabloids and talk radio and the net.
I mean,remember when those bloggers claimed that tommy wasn't president bridges' son?
That was a lie. Nobody believed that.
There are still people who believe that.
come on,bec. It's not gonna be be like that.
In an election,they can say whatever they want about us.
You think people care if it's the truth?
Becca...
mom,do whatever you want,okay?
Just don't pretend you care about my opinion.
Well,becca's first reaction is always to sike back,
then she always comes around.
She's right,you know.
If I run,it'll get ugly.
Templeton will see to that if no one else does.
- We can handle it. - It won't be like last time.
The president's family takes much more heat than the vice president'S.
We're tougher than you think.
- Good morning,everyone. - Madam president.
Dickie, thank you for coming.
- Dickie. - Rod.
Well,I love the smell of a new campaign in the morning.
We're not running yet, just talking.
so what do you think? Can we pull it off?
I like to start by assessing a potential candidate's strengths and weaknesses,
and I've put together a list of all the assets we have on hand
to win the election.
None.
We have nothing.
We have no states we know we can win,
which means no electoral votes we can count on,
no party to support us,
no endorsements,no money.
She's a sitting president. That's a pretty significant asset.
We're on tv every day.
We have the front page of national papers anytime we want.
Well,last time I checked, our poll numbers weren't so bad.
Your numbers for likeability and trustworthiness are through the roof.
A majority of the american people think you're a good person,ma'am.
They also think you're president by accident.
That, that doesn't bring in votes.
Now I polled a hypothetical election--
you against templeton and an unnamed democrat.
If that race were held today,
you'd come in third.
We lost to someone with no name?
Uh,dickie,this is starting to sound like a meeting to convince mac not to run.
If you run,you can win,
but u have to define yourself for the people,
show them why you're not just teddy bridges' replacement.
Excuse me.
Madam president, the national security advisor has asked to see you.
Thank you.
You'll have to excuse us.
I'll stick around in case your day opens up later.
Don't bet on it.
What is it,tony?
Ma'am,we've received word that one of our subs is in trouble.
It's the "seattle," an ohio class S.S.G.N. Crew of 155.
We think it struck something underwater.
What's the damage? Are there casualties?
We don't know yet. Communication's been difficult.
I'm afraid it gets worse.
She's off the coast of north korea.
How far off the coast?
15 miles out from the city of chongjin.
That's why the comm's so bad.
They're trsmitting on a very low frequency,
so the north koreans won't be able to intercept.
15 miles,that's practically inside their waters.
Yes.
Fortunately,right now it looks like they have no idea we're there.
The C.I.A. Says there's nothing on north korean media,
and the N.S.A. Reports no increase in chatter on the military channels.
If they find out, they'll throw a fit.
they'll throw worse than that.
I didn't know we had any operations in that area.
What is the sub doing there?
Ma'am,I don't know.
It's the first I've heard she was in the region.
The joint chiefs and the secretary of defense are on their way in.
How long can the men last?
At this point, we estimate 96 hours at most.
Commander in chief Season 1 Episode 10
- hey. - Hey.
Way to throw mom a little support this morning,bec.
Why is it always about us supporting her?
I mean,how about her supporting us?
She's supported us plenty.
Lately.
She's been busy.
My point exactly.
I'm not saying it's gonna be easy if she runs.
Look,I don't like the campaigning any more than you do.
Liar!
All that attention? Come on,you love it.
Then again,you don't have anyone standing on the high dive saying,
"I did the president's son."
Flemming is a jerk.
It's not about him,okay?
It's about having some privacy.
Bec,mom has got a chance to do something really extraordinary.
We should be there for her.
You just don't get it,horace.
I mean, it's not just the election.
This could be the next ten years of our lives.
I mean,think about it. Every girl you date,
every test you fail, every time you screw up,
it's public property.
And god forbid you should get your hands on a bong
and someone's got a digital camera in the room,
because ten minutes later you'll be on the internet.
I'm just saying i want my life to be my life.
Is that so much to ask for?
- Hut! - Everyone.
Please be seated.
General krieger, what do we know?
Ma'am,at 04:50, the "seattle" struck a seamount
14 miles off the coast of north korea.
- How? - Isn't it on the charts?
We checked against satellite imagery.
It turns out the mountain's charted location is off by almost 1,200 yards.
How bad is the damage?
The starboard forward section was breached.
They were able to seal off the compartments after the collision point here,
but there are cracks in the hull further back,
which means there is flooding in some compartments throughout the boat.
They have power, but they've lost propulsion.
They can't move.
And where's the sub now in relation to the 12-mile limit?
After the collision, it drifted. It is now on the ocean floor
just inside the limit.
The crew was able to seal itself off
in the aft compartments here.
They're reporting 24 injured,
no fatalities yet.
What's our rescue plan?
We're still putting one together.
Obviously, the location is a problem.
- What's the captain's name? - Andrew duggan.
Do we have voice communication with him?
We're working on it.
All right, let me know when you do.
General krieger, secretary frances, director shoop,
a minute.
What was one of our submarines doing that close to north korea?
Ma'am,the "seattle" was on a covert intelligence mission
monitoring the possible sale of nuclear material from north korea to the black market.
A spy mission?
First I've heard about it.
Who authorized it?
President bridges, shortly before his death.
And why wasn't I told?
When president bridges died,
the "seattle" had not been ordered to north korea yet.
So there was no mission to inform you about.
He just said there was.
One of you is lying.
the mission had en approved. The operational orders had not gone out.
we've got assets on the move every day.
If we told you every time we moved a tank,
we wouldn't have time to do anything else.
This is not a tank, mr. Secretary.
This is a submarine the size of two footballs fields
armed with 154 cruise missiles.
The next time you want to put one of those in the waters of a hostile nation
at might have nuclear weapons aimed at san francisco,
I want to know about it.
Is that clear?
Noted.
Let me know as soon as you have voice contact with the sub.
why did they keep this a secret?
Does the military distrust me that much?
of course they do. 'Cause at budget time,
bridges gave the pentagon everything they asked for, and they know you won'T.
Plus,you're a civilian. Never been in uniform.
That's not supposed to matter.
It does at first. They'll learn to trust you.
Well,the question is, can we trust them?
We aren't talking about a coup d'etat.
This mission had presidential approval.
Well,not this president's approval.
That was wrong, but
honestly,ma'am, if they'd come to you,
would you have said "no"?
If the north koreans are moving nuclear material, we want to know about it.
The point is, they didn't ask.
- Did you know about this mission,jim? - No.
President bridges was close to krieger and frances.
They met without me all the time.
Really?
Are you insinuating something, rod?
- I'm just wondering,jim... - no time for this,guys.
Look,is the secretary of state in bangalore yet?
- He arrived about an hour ago. - Okay,
brief him but tell him to stay up.
If he cuts his trip short, it's going to raise a lot of questions.
Maybe we'll let the vice president in here. He certainly knows the military.
And I trust him.
- I'll make a call. - Good
The joint chiefs are ready.
Tony. Tell them I want to meet in the cabinet room, not the situation room.
Any particular reason why, ma'am?
The sit room's better equipped for this.
But we can move equipment into the cabinet room if we need to,right?
- Of course. - Then that's where we're meeting.
All right.
The sit room is their tree house.
I want to meet them on my own ground.
Rod.
That's the last time you question my loyalty or my honesty in front of the president.
I was just asking a question,jim.
We have enough trouble getting the military and the president on the same page
without selling her on some conspiracy theory about generals plotting a coup.
You don't think the military's against her?
I think they don't know her.
And if you treat them like the enemy, they'll become the enemy.
Well,maybe they are.
The chiefs, the secretary of defense, they're bridges' people.
I don't trust 'em worth a damn.
Oh,and,uh,by the way, I'll sell my wife on any conspiracy theory I like.
Unusual setting,ma'am.
It's an unusual problem.
What's your plan?
Ma'am,we're going to use a pressurized rescue module system,P.R.M.S.
It allows us to extract the crew
and remove them to a site outside the 12-mile limit.
We're going to return in a couple of months and tow the sub out.
- The koreans won't know? - No,there is one catch.
The P.R.M.S. Has to be tethered to a ship outside the 12-mile limit.
Obviously, it can't be american. That would be a red flag.
- How about a japanese ship? - It'd be the same as if it were one of ours.
What kind of ship did you have in mind?
Well,the chinese have oceanographic research vessels
that routinely work around the 12-mile limit.
The chinese?
The north koreans won't look twice at a chinese ship, mr. Vice president.
Let me get this straight.
You want me to ask the chinese government
to rescue an american crew in korean waters?
If you want to save the lives of the "seattle's" crew,yes.
We can't do that,ma'am.
The sub is there. What other choice do we have?
It'd be an intelligence catastrophe if that sub fell into north korean hands
or chinese hands, for that matter.
It'll endanger the lives of every sub crew in the water.
We have to assume the north koreans have nuclear weapons.
If they have 'em, they'll use 'em.
It's not a rational state, ma'am.
It's the international equivalent of a paranoid schizophrenic.
If they find out we've got a sub in their water,
we could be looking at mushroom clouds in 15 minutes.
Ma'am,there is no one who wants those men home more than I do,
no one,
but they were briefed on the mission,
and they understood the risks.
You're saying don't risk it.
Ma'am,it repels me to even suggest that,
but that may be our only option.
- I'm not ready to consider it. - Ma'am,if you don't want to work with the chinese,
and you don't want to abandon the sub,
what do you want to do?
Let's contact the chinese.
Templeton knows the chinese ambassador-- golf buddies,
believe it or not. He might be able to help.
Templeton? I don't trust templeton.
Neither do I, but if he can help, I want him here.
I'll make the call.
Excuse me,ma'am, the states' attorneys general,
they're waiting for you in the O.E.O.B.
Do you want to skip that? I can make an excuse.
No,I start changing the schedule, people will know something's up.
- For now, we keep up appearances. - Okay.
you up on north korea?
Why? Should I be?
It's on the radar.
How would you know?
Prado calls the president in for a meeting.
The president goes down to the sit room,
huddles in the oval with keaton.
Then goes to the cabinet room and meets with
frances,krieger,shoop and a whole mess of navy boys, including not one,not two,
but three east asia experts.
There's a couple of countries in that part of the world
that could rattle our cage pretty well, but my money says north korea.
You're making this up.
Foreign policy crisis can be a big moment for a press secretary.
Right.
The capital's pyongyang.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
What are you still doing here,dickie?
I'm here to help you out.
With what?
Your korean problem.
I don't claim national security expertise.
The last place I should be is in the cabinet room with the generals,
but if this is even half as big as I think it is,
it's gonna be a pivotal moment for the president.
Once the decisions are made,
you're going to need someone to help shape the message.
Listen to me,dickie.
There is no korean problem.
There are no generals in the cabinet room,
and there is not going to be a message.
Whatever it is, I hope you're right.
But you brought me in here to help protect the president's flank.
I have a hunch she might need some protecting.
Well,let's hope not.
But if she does, we'll call you.
Rod...
- I just want to help. - I know.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for coming.
Well,the game's afoot, ma'am. Let's get these young people home.
Do you think the chinese will help?
It's an unprecedented request. They're gonna ask for a lot.
But the ambassador's a friend of mine.
I've been giving him mulligans for the past ten years.
I'm confident we can make a deal.
- Good - have a problem.
The "seattle's" reporting that the scrubbers are contaminated.
How extensive is the damage?
They estimate they have 10% capacity left.
the scbbers do what? They take oxygen from seawater,right?
How long do they think the system can last?
40 to 48 hours.
Can we get the rescue vehicle down to them before then?
There's not a chance.
Ma'am,the sub was able to get a buoy to the surface,
so we have voice communication with the captain,
but it's just for a few minutes.
the hull is still holding with even pre-- ...at 300 centimeters
captain duggan, this is the president. Can you hear me?
Ma'am,I can hear you. You're coming in... a bit, but I can hear you.
It's good to hear your voice. How's your crew?
All present and accounted for.
We're hanging in there. ...Banged up,but managing to hold their own.
Good. We're doing everything we can to get you and your men out as soon as possible.
Captain?
Captain duggan, can you hear me?
is there any way to get a rescue vehicle down the sub in time?
Ma'am,the problem is half the equipment's in guam for repair.
- The other half... - yes or no,admiral.
No.
madam president, I'm afraid at this point
we have to consider abandoning the "seattle."
A rescue is impossible.
Our paramount responsibility is keeping the north koreans from learning about the sub.
The best way to do that is stay as far away as we can.
ma'am, if the north koreans find out where the "seattle" is,
we could be dealing with a nuclear confrontation.
We can't afford to take that risk.
I think the chinese...
admiral,don't the chinese have a deep-sea rescue system similar to the P.R.M.S.?
They do.
Well,could we use their system?
In theory.
Borrow a chinese rescue vehicle?
They'd never go for it.
Why not? We're asking them to borrow a boat.
even if they loaned it, there's not time to train american pilots to run it.
What if the chinese provided the pilots?
Ma'am,a chinese crew inside the "seattle"
would be an unacceptable intelligence breach.
Would a chinese pilot have to enter the "seattle"?
What if we sent an american crew down in the chinese ship?
The chinese would never have to leave their vehicle.
If the chinese went along...
do you think we can get the chinese to make a deal?
We can always make a deal. It's just a question of price.
How long bore the ambassador gets here?
Another hour. He's on his way from new york.
- Let me know as soon as he gets here. - Yes,ma'am.
What are the chinese gonna want to make this deal?
Weapons.
I mean, not from us directly,
but they've been trying to buy high-tech weapons parts from the european union.
We've been blocking it.
I'm sure they're going to ask you to look the other way.
- Well,I can't agree to that. - Right,right.
You help bring their military up to speed,
you run the risk of cutting your own throat.
But how do I keep that off the table and still make a deal?
Well,you start by offering them to cut tariffs in steel, textiles,
dial back the rhetoric on human rights.
- Is that gonna do it? - No,we're asking for a lot. They're gonna want a lot.
Well,I just don't know what else we have to give.
Well,if you don't want them to buy weapons,
how about letting them sell apons?
I mean,the chinese have been trying to export arms to algeria and myanmar.
We've stood in their way.
You could sure get their attention if you offered to turn a blind eye to that.
putting more weapons into the third world,
I'd rather not.
It's not what you want, it's what you can.
The bottom line is they're not gonna ask for something you're gonna want to give.
90 minutes.
We're waiting 90 minutes for this guy.
Mr. Mcintyre, it's the white house.
- They get busy. - I'm busy.
I got here at 3 on the dot.
now it's gardner himself that we're meeting with, right?
That's right.
I don't want to be staffed out to the assistant to the assistant.
Jim has the president's ear,okay?
Talking to him is as good as talking to the president herself.
Oh,here he is.
Jim,this is andrew mcintyre.
He's vice president of the automobile retailers consortium.
Mr. Mcintyre,I'm sorry,but I'm afraid something's come up.
- We can't have this meeting today. - What?
- Jim,we have an appointment. - I do apologize.
Check with me again next week. I'll be able to give you plenty of time then.
- Jim... - I'm sorry,jayne.
Mr. Mcintyre,again, my apologies.
What the hell was that?
- Obviously there's some sort of problem. - Oh,yeah,there sure is.
- I flew in from saginaw for this! - I'll get you another meeting as soon as possible.
Oh,the hell you will!
We're paying your firm $20,000 a month
for face time with senior white house staff.
That's what I was told you would deliver, and that's what I expect,
so get your ass in there and get me that meeting!
Y,a little respect when you speak to the lady.
Who are you?
Her fiance.
Uh...
you tell your boss you just lost him an account.
My fianc
jayne murray,dickie mcdonald.
- I can't believe we haven't met before now. - Well...
- let me buy you a drink. - Oh,thank you, but I should go talk to him.
And do wt,apologize? You'll hate yourself in the morning.
I know,but unfortunately i still need to do it,so...
how about later? The wellington,6:00.
- Sure. - All right,see you there.
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for coming on such short notice.
Madame president,I only wish the situation were less grave.
- Thank you. Please. - Thank you.
As you know, we have very little time.
We need your government's help to save the men on our sub.
I understand, and we do have technology to perform the rescue.
Unfortunately, the situation is complicated.
Your submarine's position relative to the north korean coast,for example,
is a complication.
I can assure you
that the "seattle" was outside korea's waters when the damage was sustained.
And why were you so close in the first place?
Time is short. Let's be blunt. It was spying.
- Well,we're not saying that. - Of course not.
Our relations with north korea are good,
but as you know, they are not stable in dealing with enemies or allies.
If we help you, and the north koreans discover it,
our relationship with them could change
dramatically and catastrophically in an instant.
We understand the risks,
and that's why we're offering consideration in exchange for the help.
My good friend nathan here has mentioned the trade concessions
and softening of your pronouncements on human rights.
While my government appreciates these things,
given the scale of the request,
we're looking for more consideration.
What did you have in mind?
There are certain purchases we would like to make
- with your allies in europe. - The weapons? No.
Communication systems, sensor systems.
Communications for weapons, sensors for weapons.
That's not on the table.
Then it will be difficult for me to convince my government to help.
Well,there's the matter of china's--
how shall I put it--
frustrated, frustrated efforts to
complete the sale of certain equipment to algeria and myanmar.
So you're saying you would deny our ability to purchase weapons
but allow us to sell them?
Put that way, it sounds almost poetic.
Would your government accept it?
- I'll have to ask and get back to you. - Then please do and quickly.
- We're dealing in hours. - If you'll excuse me...
of course. Thank you,mr. Ambassador.
What are you thinking?
I hope we don't live to regret that.
Well,that's always a possibility,
but it's a certainty we would have regretted the alternative.
Arms sales to myanmar and algeria?
That's going to be a lot for the joint chiefs to swallow.
Well,you just tell them to open their mouths a little wider.
I think I'll put it a little more delitely.
so I guess if you've moved into the white house,
that means the president must be running,right?
I can neither confirm nor deny.
Hmm,come on, you didn't just come in to prop her up for the next two years.
What about you? You were nathan templeton's right hand. What happened?
I just wanted a change.
- so you became a lobbyist? - Well,what's wrong with being a lobbyist?
After today,you tell me.
there are good days.
I get to work on issues that I care about.
The money's not bad.
Not all the clients are jerks.
You're never gonna be happy as a lobbyist. You're a power chick.
"Power chick"?
Forgive me.
A hot power chick.
only somebody who's very interested in power
could become templeton's chief of staff.
Well,maybe I'm interested in more than that.
You are who you are.
When you were working for templeton,you were the buyer. Everybody came to you.
Now you're a salesman.
Is that really what you want to be?
Well,it's a little more compliced than that.
No,it's not. It's simple.
Power-- you have it,
or you don'T.
Everything else is conversation.
Any idea what's going on at the white house?
- What are you talking about? - I know jim gardner,
and know when something's up with him.
It sounds like you know him pretty well.
Something break while you were there?
No,I didn't hear a thing.
Where are we with the rescue plan?
Nowhere without the chinese, ma'am.
We're waiting to hear. Let's presume we have them.
It still won't be easy,ma'am.
The "seattle's" turned approximately 50 degrees,
and that's why they couldn't use the emergency escape vehicles.
It also means that we can't get to the main escape hatch.
Is there a secondary we have access to?
Yeah,it's here.
But the chinese hatches don't fit ours.
It's kind of like american plugs in european sockets.
So how do the two ships dock?
Well,we'll equip the rescue vehicle with a modular docking collar.
It'll bridge the gap. It's a tight fit. There's no margin for error,
so the chinese pilot better know what he's doing,
assuming we'll have a chinese pilot.
- I'll place another call. - Will we have 'em?
We're running out of time,ma'am.
We'll have an answer soon.
- Boning up for the morning briefing? - Yeah.
Anything I need to know?
Well,the stock market's up,
housing starts are down.
- You wrote the starting points, right? - Yeah,nothing's changed? I'm hearing rumors.
- What rumors? - Well,southeast asia, north korea.
Who are you hearing this from?
You're all holed up in the cabinet room with fraes,krieger,shoop,
navy brass,east asia team. The president's back and forth in the sit room.
A person can connect the dots.
The secretary of state's in bangalore.
We're working on labor outsourcing deals.
- That's the story. - That's the truth,kelly.
Okay,I know how to answer the question if I get it.
the stock market's up. Housing starts are down.
isn't it about time for lights-out,dear?
Oh,sure,grandma. Just give me a second.
Um,where's mom and dad?
They're still working.
Oh,big surprise.
- I'm sure it's important. - Yeah,sure. Very important.
The president of mongolia is here,or...
the stock market dropped a point,or...
- a congressman needs his ass kissed. - Becca!
What? It's true. It's what she does
every day.
Meanwhile,we stay here and eat dinner alone
and watch her on the news.
If you weren't so wrapped up in yourself,
maybe you'd notice something very serious is going on.
Now I don't know what it is, but I know this.
When we're in trouble, there's no one I'd rather see in charge than your mother.
And if you don't feel that way, if you aren't proud to feel that way,
then I just don't know you.
I guess we feel differently.
I guess we do.
I can't sleep.
Well,let's see what we can do about that.
Any word?
Still waiting.
has she had anything to eat since this started?
No.
She needs to eat and rest.
This could be a long haul.
I'll talk to her.
About earlier,I'm sorry if I flew off the handle,
but you touched a sore point. I should have known about the sub,
but bridges liked to keep that kind of thing to himself.
It's okay,jim,
but somebody has got to talk to the generals.
- This can't happen again. - Agreed.
But once this is all over, all right?
Sure.
you could tell him i haven't entirely ruled out import sanctions,
and we have domestic industry to think of.
Right,I know you will,
and don't feel pressured to make a deal on this trip.
I don't mind making them sweat a bit.
Good. Call me when you know.
Sorry. The secretary of state's in bangalore,
and his day's just getting started.
I was just coming down to say good night.
Oh,sorry we never made it up to the residence tonight.
Hey,it's fine. I'm sure whatever it is is important.
- It is. - I know.
Look,mom,um...
I was thinking about what you said earlier, and
I know you're going to run. I mean,it's your choice. Whatever.
You shouldn't have to change your whole life because of me.
I get that, but you said that
I wouldn't have to be a part of the campaign,and
I really don't want to be.
Okay. I know it's hard being in the spotlight.
No,you don't,mom.
You are a natural at it, and you always have been,
but I'm not like that. I don't like people staring at me
and talking about me. I just...
I want to have a normal life,mom. That's all.
Okay,dad and I meant it when we said
you're not going to have to do anything you don't want to do.
Okay.
I mean,I'll be in college in a year and a half anyway.
It's not like I'll be around.
Ma'am,the speaker's here.
Everyone's waiting in the cabinet room.
Baby,I'm so sorry.
- I'll see you in the morning. - Okay.
- Good night. - Good night,mom.
Mr. Speaker.
It's a deal. Beijing's accepted it.
They're gonna give us access to their ships
and their underwater rescue technology.
General,I'm signing authorization
for a covert joint rescue mission with the chinese--
operation homecoming. Let's get it started.
Ma'am,yes,ma'am.
What's our time frame?
Well,we're ready on our end.
Start prepping with the chinese now, rescue underway in nine hours.
Good. Keep me posted. I want to know at every step.
Of course.
Thank you,everyone. U've done a great job today.
Mr. Speaker,we couldn't have done it without you.
- Here,here. - hang on! We've got to get 'em out of there.
What a wonderful day. Thank you for the congratulations.
Anyone who can,go home, get for rest
We'll hope for good news in the morning.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Ma'am
All right,we need to get general krieger,
secretary frances and director shoop into the oval office for a little chat.
That should be pleasant.
I was thinking maybe i should talk to them myself.
I worked with all of them under president bridges.
Let me put them on notice for you.
I can make them listen.
Okay.
Gotta make a show of slapping our wrists for her,jim?
You deceived the president of the united states,mills.
You think that just merits a wrist slap?
president bridges approved. We put through the paperwork.
Don't tell me about paperwork, and don't tell me about bridges.
I worked for president bridges,too, but we all serve at the pleasure of the president,
this president.
She could pull your stars.
She could retire you. She could transfer you to prudhoe bay,
but do you know what she did?
She made a deal with the chinese to save our sailors.
Didn't pass the buck, put herself on the line for your screwup.
Now you're going to owe her for that.
Let me tell you how it's going to be from now on.
No more C.Y.A. Memos,
no shortcuts,no surprises. You give her your respect.
Because if nothing else,
she earned it today.
Hey,sweetheart.
Whatre you doing still up?
Oh,waiting for yo
well,the office didn't tell you i was going to be late?
Yeah,yeah,no,they called, but I had plenty of things to do,
and I wanted to wait up for you.
So how was your day?
It was a hell of a day, actually.
it went well in the end, I think. I hope.
And jayne?
Oh,bloody hell. I forgot about that.
She turned me down flat.
Said I hurt her feelings.
Well,she looked up to you, and you fired her.
well,she has her pride. I know that you can relate to that.
Very funny.
She wouldn't even acknowledge that she had betrayed my trust.
I mean,jim gardner, for heaven's sake.
You know,I don't know whether i can forgive her for that.
Give it time. She'll come around.
I don't thinso.
I saw the look in her eyes.
She called me "mr. Speaker."
That's a long way from "boss." I liked "boss."
No,she's not coming back,
- and I don't think i want her back. - Nathan...
by any measure,she is wrong, and I am right, and you know I am right.
Oh,you want to be right?
Or you want to be happy?
how are you feeling?
Mm,I'll feel a lot better in nine or ten hours when the rescue's over,
and the sub crew's headed home.
Well,you did a great job today.
Maybe I shouldn't run.
- Mac... - we're parents first.
Look,becca's a teenager. She's gonna go through these phases no matter what we do.
This isn't a phase.
There's gonna be pressure to trot them out. You know that.
- Mac,she'll be fine. - I want her to be more than fine.
- I want her to be happy, to flourish. - She will.
Look,I'm not saying it's not a sacrifice,
but she's gonna come to see that there are things in life worth sacrificing for.
They all will. That's assuming I win. Wh if I don't?
- You'll win. - I'm not so sure.
All the money we have to raise,things I have to do just get on the balant
I could work my ass off and still place third.
Is that worth the sacrifice?
If you commit, I mean, if you really commit to this,
you're gonna win.
We're gonna look back on this in
two years, in six years--
yes?
Vince.
Turn on the news.
Get him on the line as soon as possible.
north korean state television says the american nuclear submarine
was operating within its waters when it went down.
- Oh,god! - We have confirmation from the white house,
but the north koreans are already calling the incursion an act of war.
We have other news...
- Ma'am president - how the hell did they find out?
- We don't know yet. - have they located our sub?
We don't know.
The sub's been silent for three hours. They're trained to stay hidden.
- Okay,what do we know? - North korea's put their troops on alert.
Our satellites are tracking their mobile missile launchers moving towards the border.
We don't know if they have nuclear weapons or not, but in this scenario,
we can't rule it out.
I'll be do at the sit room right away.
Madam president, the north koreans keep using the phrase "act of war."
It could be rhetoric, but we need to be ready.
Our generals are suggesting that we put our northeast asian forces on defcon 3,
move them into strategic readiness for a north korean attack.
Don't do anything yet. I'm on my way.