Scandal

Lovers of Liberty, are we to believe this man

is capable of guiding our nation

with prudence and common sense

with that seductress Olivia pope

distracting him with a body made for...

Dennis, will you show us the photographs again?

We've been sold a bushel of lies, a barrel of snake oil.

[ TV turns off, remote clatters ]

Liv.

Liv, everything's gonna be okay.

I have to go downstairs now, before Abby and Liz get up here,

but I'll be right back as soon as I can.

Everything's gonna be okay.

How the hell did this happen?

Head of the uniformed secret service confirms

there were no external security breaches.

But that's really not the issue, sir.

So, you're telling me this leak was internal?

Sir, the leak is really not the issue.

I want the head of the uniformed secret service in here now.

Can't. I just fired him. I'm bringing my guy in from the NSA.

Not the issue. No, get rosen to investigate the leak.

Sir, this is a surveillance issue.

Rosen's loyal to Liv. He's on the inside.

He'll want to make this happen right. Not the issue.

Sir, those photos are everywhere.

I've got a roomful of press getting rowdier by the minute.

There's blood in the water.

We're gonna need a game plan. We're gonna need a statement.

We're gonna need... A bigger boat.

She's right.

The press needs to hear from the white house... from you.

Sir?

I'm going back to the residence.

Because? Because Olivia is there.

I can't make a statement without Olivia.

Mr. president, i don't think that's a good... If a statement is being made,

Olivia and i are making it together.

So, what... History's being made tonight?

For the first time ever, the president and his mistress

address the nation.

Why are you so calm?

Do you really think she's gonna get in front of the camera

and admit that they're having an affair?

It's Liv. She's the best in the business.

The president's about to get poped.

Liv?

What's going on?

I had to leave while I still could.

- Liv... - Don't call me again.

Wait for me. I will call you.

Liv, where the hell are you?

Well, what a ludicrous question.

We know exactly where she is.

She may run from the watchful eyes of justice.

She may run from the good people of this nation.

But I can assure you, dear lovers of Liberty,

she will not be able to hide.

Liv, oh, my god. Are you okay?

- I'm fine. - Were you followed?

Quinn, close the door and put the gun away.

They're reporters, not assassins.

Here, sit down. I'm sorry.

This place is a mess. What do you need?

Oh, can I get you something to drink?

I have water, I have tea, i have wine.

Liv, tell me how to help. What can I do?

What do we have?

- What do we... - Cases, work... new cases.

What do we have? - What?

I need to work.

Calls to the first lady's office have not been returned,

and still no statement from the white house.

There's been a great deal of speculation

heading into this morning's white house press briefing,

many wondering if press secretary Abigail whelan

will address the question on everyone's mind.

Hey, people, hey!

I am not going to answer your questions

if you're shouting all at once.

You're not gonna answer our questions either way.

When can we expect a statement from the president himself?

Whenever the president himself decides to make a statement.

See what I mean?

Mellie.

Yes, Fitz?

Why are you here?

Well, for starters, I am here so that you can apologize to me.

What? So you can apologize to me,

which is very generous of me, i think... me coming to you.

But given the little problem you have going on,

it seemed better for me to come here for the optics.

The optics, right.

What in the hell are you talking about?

Come on.

Do we really have to do it this way?

Do we have to pretend?

Can't you just...

All the pride and the ego and just admit it?

Admit what?

Okay, fine.

You want to play?

Let's play.

You placed Olivia in a dangerous position.

You outed her.

You thought by throwing me out of the white house

and moving her in, you'd be making this grand gesture.

Finally, she wouldn't be just a mistress anymore.

But the minute she stepped through these doors,

the minute she moved in here,

she became what we all become when we live here,

and what is that?

Yes.

A statue, inhuman,

viewed from every angle, discussed, exposed.

She's not just a mistress now.

She's America's mistress.

History will preserve her as such.

Oh, honey.

You made a horrible miscalculation,

an error in judgment.

You didn't realize, which is why I am here...

So that you can apologize, i can accept,

and then I'll take care of everything.

It's gonna be okay. Don't worry.

Wait.

What?

I will deny Sally's story, say you and Olivia

were nothing more than a trashy rumor,

remind everyone what close friends we are.

"Of course she was here late at night.

So was her boyfriend."

We'll pick someone, one of your friends,

someone of similar height and build.

As for you and me... We're fine.

We couldn't be better.

And the apology?

You said I need to apologize.

For those divorce papers.

That was mean.

That hurt my feelings.

You can admit that was mean, right?

I am not going to bring

our children to visit you in jail.

Excuse me?

When you gave those photos to Sally Langston,

you didn't just leak this Olivia business.

You also broke the law.

Wait a minute, you think I did this?

It was smart... Risky, but smart.

You don't want a divorce.

You need some way to worm your way back in here,

so you leak a few pictures, humiliate her,

play on my sense of guilt,

then ride back in here on your white broomstick to...

Fitzgerald, think about it.

Those pictures made people feel sorry for first lady Grant,

but they make senator Grant look weak

and frigid and sexless and like she can't keep a man.

And we both know America

will never elect a woman who can't get laid.

Everything is always about your presidential run.

That's why you want to move back in and forget the divorce.

We are a team.

I need you.

You need me.

And I am on board.

I am ready, willing, and able to put this whole thing to bed.

All you have to do...

Is just say the magic words.

Get... out.

We wait for Olivia.

I'd just like to be able to have a strategy, sir.

If we could... You could consider

making a statement without Olivia...

You keep repeating yourself,

like you think I don't hear or I don't understand

or maybe you think I'm gonna change my mind.

Let's clear it up.

I hear. I understand.

My mind will not change.

Next subject.

Next subject. Well, Abby?

Sir, I noticed that the first lady

paid a visit to the oval earlier today.

Is she perhaps willing to...

David's here!

Hi.

Mr. president, I've opened the investigation

into the security breach,

and your office sent this list over.

I... the people on this list... Well, the name at the top...

Do you want to investigate her, sir?

This whole situation is a load of malarkey and doo-doo!

As if you would ever have an affair with Olivia.

My Casey could make fake photos like that in 15 minutes.

I mean, obviously she wouldn't, but she could.

She's very good with computers.

I know Mellie leaked the photos.