Designated Survivor

Previously on "Designated Survivor"...

I didn't want to set off any alarm bells unless I had to.

You already have.

By stonewalling a police investigation into the murder of a contractor

who allegedly bribed the First Lady's mother?

Allegedly, John. This is Lloyd.

This is his last desperate act to bring down the president.

You subpoenaed the First Lady's mother after we spoke?

- Hannah... - Why did you do it?

Icarus Astrotech contract with the Defense Department.

For $3 billion.

They landed it six months ago, right after Lloyd's Pentagon hack,

and the Icarus signatory is Eric Little, who bribed the First Lady's mother,

the guy who just turned up dead.

"You're being subpoenaed by John Foerstel"? For what?

Foerstel's found a Saint Lucian bank account

set up by Eric Little six months ago... in my name.

You're the greatest thing since sliced bread.

And bread is great, fundamentally great, like water.

Or air.

Or you.

Sir, we're at 30 miles out. We're about to go dark.

Okay.

Is that my Macallan?

Well, it was a gift from the Duke of Windsor,

so technically, it's the American people's Macallan,

- and I am the American people. - What can I do for you, Lyor?

- Did it come off? - Without a hitch.

President is out of the country for 48 hours and no one is the wiser.

Good. You and Seth are gonna have to be on your toes

- to keep a lid on this. - We got the memo, thanks.

I'm saying if the press trips to the fact

that the President is halfway around the world

in a place where his persona is decidedly non grata...

- He could be in danger. Got it. - If Congress finds out...

- Lyor. - My work here is done.

- Sorry I couldn't join you guys. - Oh, don't worry about it.

Well, the President's not here,

so I need to grab the reins, man the ramparts.

Mix the metaphors.

I'm just saying, I want to meet your brother.

And you will. Meantime, be kind to the English language. It's our friend.

Later, Strunk and White.

So, you're dating your boss, huh? How's that work?

Mikey, tonight's about you, okay?

My little brother just killed the MCATs.

My big brother celebrates by dragging me

to "Gotterdammerung."

- Yeah. I hate opera. - I know. That's why I dragged you.

Can we please get a drink now?

Sure, maybe a nice gewurztraminer, because after Brunnhilde...

Seth.

I'm going 35.

And riding the median.

I don't work for the White House, okay?

This will be on TMZ in 10 minutes.

We don't know if this guy's trophy hunting.

Okay, just, uh, don't say anything.

Just let me handle this.

Good evening, Officer. Is there a problem?

Step out of the vehicle, sir.

Welcome to Bagram, Mr. President.

It's an honor, General.

- Welcome, Mr. President. - Mr. President.

Thank you very much! Thank you!

Oh, yeah!

Thank you.

Well, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd stop by.

Truth is, I had to get out of Washington. It's war there.

Thank you.

The reason I'm here is because

I want to express my deepest gratitude not only for myself,

but on behalf of the American people, for your incredible sacrifice and service.

Each and every single one of you has answered our nation's call to protect her.

You are the front line of America's longest-standing war.

Now, some of you are new to Bagram,

some of you have been here for several tours,

but America thanks each and every one of you.

Having said that, it is my honor to be able to serve you breakfast today.

Where the hell is Harry?

And I heard Harry just got his first Michelin star.

Second, sir.

Let's hope I'm not the reason you lose one of them.

Come on, let's eat!

Let's go!

Harry! Great to meet you, Harry.

There you go, son.

- Thank you. - Corporal, how long you been here?

This is my second tour of duty, sir, so four years.

- Extra bacon for you. - Thank you, sir.

- So, you're from Boston? - Yes, sir.

- Does that make you a Red Sox fan? - Yes, sir.

No bacon for you, Private.

Oh, come on, Mr. President. He's a growing boy.

Okay, fine. I'll make an exception just this one time.

Thank you, sir.

- You get back to Philly often? - Uh, not as often as I'd like.

Thank you, sir. Waiting on my 20.

20 years in this man's army. How long you been away?

Pretty much all of it, sir.

- Are you married? - Yes, sir.

Maddy, high-school sweetheart. She was a waitress when we met.

You might say food brought us together.

We always used to talk about opening up a restaurant

in Passyunk, serve the swells.

Well, we're gonna have to work on getting you back home to her soon.

Mr. President.

I've got some business to take care of.

Hey, would you mind whipping me up something while I'm gone?

What'll you have, sir?

A taste of Philadelphia, Chef.

She's waiting for you, sir.

- Everything set? - Yes, sir.

Mr. President.

Thank you.

Agent Wells.

Mr. President, welcome to Afghanistan.

This is Kabul Station Chief Kevin Dean.

- Agent Wells has told me a lot about you. - And I can tell you a lot about her, sir.

We had the pleasure of working here together for four years

before she left the Agency for the FBI.

- She's the best there is. - I agree with you.

I know you both have been working hard to lay the groundwork for this,

so why don't you walk me through it?

We've been fighting this war for the last 16 years, sir.

2,200 American troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001,

20,000 wounded.

Of the 98 U.S.-designated terrorist organizations,

20 of them operate here.

40% of the country's controlled by warlords.

That's 3 million Afghans living under insurgent control.

Which brings us to our mission, sir.

Mullah Fayad, Mullah Bahri:

the two most powerful warlords in Afghanistan.

And with U.S. backing, one of them will

consolidate power in this region over the next few months.

We can make them a trusted ally.

The problem is, sir, chatter suggests

that one of them is planning a major attack on U.S. soil.

We back the right horse, he can help us stop it.

- And we can finally bring our troops home. - Yes sir.

Unless we back the wrong horse.

Then we bring a terrorist into the fold.

So, all of our assets, all of our intel,

and we still don't know which one we can trust?

No, sir.

Well, I hope these meetings help your people

make the right call, because if we get this wrong,

we could be responsible for our nation's next 9/11.

You're a sight for sore eyes. Thanks for bailing me out.

200 tabs of modafinil, Seth?

It's a drug which half the White House takes.

- With a prescription. - The search was illegal, Kendra.

Maybe, but so were the drugs.

Isn't this the part where you tell me you're gonna help me get out of this?

No, this is the part where I tell you

you were in possession of enough of a Schedule III drug

that you are looking at felony intent to distribute.

For the pharmaceutical equivalent of caffeine?

I know, but it's a five-year minimum.

That's what the sentencing guidelines say.

I don't know where to begin.

What were you thinking?

- Em... - 200 pills?

I know. It was bad judgment.

Bad judgment is a brown belt with black shoes.

- This was... - Apocalyptically bad judgment.

You work for the White House.

A fact that I made sure to conceal from the arresting officer.

Seth.

Em, I'm running out of ways to say I'm sorry.

- Improvise. - Okay, look...

I know how compromising this is,

but I would take it back if I could.

Obviously I can't, so just tell me what to do to fix this, and I'll fix it.

You're on the bench until this clears up; no briefings, no nothing.

Low profile means no profile.

- Okay. - Okay.

- Are you gonna loop the President in? - I don't know.

I'm just saying if, um...

if we get it dismissed, it's like it never happened.

And I'm saying "I don't know."

I couldn't stand Oxford.

The weather.

It is my understanding that the Afghan winters are even harsher.

Yes. But at least here there is sunlight.

In England, there is not.

Right. Of course.

I'm going to be honest with you.

I believe that my predecessors made their fair share of mistakes.

The most obvious one to me

is their failure to understand your country's history.

For thousands of years, Afghanistan has relied

on tribal leaders to govern.

And to try and implement a Western democracy

without truly understanding that was shortsighted

and to many Afghans, deeply disrespectful.

For that, I am sorry.

I would like to extend my hand in partnership,

but I need to know, do I, in fact, have a partner?