Scandal

President Grant. It's an honor.

- Mr. Pryce. - What are you doing here?

I, uh, actually was hoping for your help

on some Institute business,

but if this is a bad time...

No. No. Not at all.

Uh... Actually just leaving.

Curtis.

Uh, nice to meet you, Mr. President.

You, too.

That was exciting.

What are you doing here?

What is this?

An Institute project Marcus and I are putting together.

I was hoping you could lend us a hand.

Lend you... Are you crazy?

It's a missing-girls case.

I don't care what kind of case it is.

Hundreds of teenage girls no one's looking for

because of the color of their skin.

The president of Bashran is in town.

- We're organizing a summit. - It's right up your alley.

- Olivia. -

Was. Was up my alley.

This isn't... You're not supposed to be here.

We're not...

Why are you here?

100 days is over.

I kept my head down, but now I have work to do.

Come on.

If we don't help them, who will?

Give this to Quinn Perkins.

- I don't want Quinn Perkins! - If she can get some traction,

I'll have Mellie make a statement.

- Otherwise... - I want you.

- Well, you can't have me. -

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do, too.

It's a momentous day at the White House

with President Grant set to preside over a nuclear summit

between President Rashad of Bashran

and Prime Minister Nazari of Dakal this week.

If my past experience with this man is any indication,

he'll want to know what's next...

how any of this actually gets implemented.

Well, that's why today's negotiation

is simply a starting point.

If we are to convince Prime Minister Nazari

to get behind this treaty and sign...

I don't think it's a question of "if," Madam President.

Nazari will sign.

You and I will make sure of it.

I like the way you think.

If only the people of my country all shared in that opinion.

I know you're getting some pushback.

Certainly no surprise there.

I want you to know if there's anything more I can do,

anything else that you need...

I appreciate that.

Of course.

So, is there?

Anything else you need?

Olivia!

Come in.

Madam President, President Rashad, good morning.

We were just finishing up some last-minute talking points.

We're all on the same page, I take it?

- I believe so. - Wonderful.

Looking forward to the talks, Madam President.

As am I, President Rashad.

Thank you.

Did you know Fitz was in town?

He called this morning asking when he could see the kids.

Has it been on the books for awhile?

No, it was very last minute.

I told him he could do whatever he wants,

as long as he doesn't upstage our summit.

My first official treaty-signing pens.

We are making history today, Liv.

You and me.

I can feel it.

"An employee of the Executive Branch"

may accept a gift only if it is unsolicited..."

Which it was.

"And if the gift is valued at $20 or less..."

How much is the painting worth?

A bit more than that.

What could that man have possibly been thinking?

I mean...

What?

Oh.

I...no. Nothing.

Hannah?

Well, it's just that the barista at Hot Pot

tries to give me free biscotti every morning

because he wants to...

He thinks that I'll...

- For biscotti?! - Right.

That's why I always pay full price

so that I don't send him the wrong message.

In this case, paying full price is not going to be an option.

Then you're gonna have to give it back.

I mean, unless you do want to send a message.

Hannah.

You can go.

219 missing black girls

ignored by the press, cops, everyone,

and that's just this past year.

- This is criminal. - Fitz agrees.

He asked us to make some noise.

We do our jobs right,

everyone and their uncle will know who these girls are

and be out there looking for them.

- How much does it pay? - Charlie!

What? We got a wedding to pay for.

You got the Save The Date, right?

First thing we need is a face.

What about 219 faces?

219 missing girls is just an idea.

People can ignore an idea.

What we need is an individual, a poster girl,

someone who can get the public's attention.

Question is... who?

I coordinated with Bashrani Security.

Everyone they flagged as a potential threat to Rashad

is now in our system.

To be on the safe side, though,

I think it's time we talked about hiring some agents.

The more eyes and ears we have in the field...

I need you to look into Fitz.

He's back. No warning.

Shows up on my doorstep saying

he's got some case he needs my help with.

And you think that's strange?

A man who hasn't gone for three minutes,

let alone three months, without wanting to see you.

We had an understanding.

He stays in Vermont,

keeps his nose out of Mellie's business...

out of my business.

If he comes here, it's coordinated

with the White House. No surprises.

What's the case?

It doesn't matter. It's not the point.

Maybe it is the point.

Maybe this is a case that's

actually worthy of your attention.

May I ask what you're afraid of?

I don't know.

You don't know.

It doesn't feel right.

Claudia Lopez... 17 year old from Fort Myers.

Vanished during her lunch break at the Gettysburger

where she was employee of the month.

She dropped out of high school

after being held back for spotty attendance.

So, what? We're saying she's irresponsible?

- Employee of the month. - It doesn't matter.

Whoever we pick has to be squeaky clean. Next.

Hannah Martel... 16 year old from Galveston.

Went missing while at the mall with her friends.

Lost her private-school scholarship

after smoking a cigarette at a dance.

Lost her scholarship?

I was caught smoking in the school dance and got detention.

Okay, next.

Quanesha Turner...

honor-roll student at Bishop High in Cincinnati.

- Disappeared... - No good.

What, are you kidding? She's the perfect poster child.

People hear "Quanesha" and stop listening.

We need a name that sounds white.

Ugh. Anyone else grossed out by all this?

We're all grossed out by this, but this is what it's gonna take

to get the American people to pay attention.

Ou-Our girl is in here somewhere.

She has to be.

A case? That's how you're gonna save my daughter?

It's a noble cause.

Getting Liv involved is a chance to remind her

who she is, what she cares about.

So, Olivia will help you find these girls,

and as a result, she'll what?

Trade in her B613 horns for a halo?

Has she agreed to work on it?

She put her old team on it.

- So, no? - What would you have me do?

Ask her politely to dismantle B613?

If Liv shutters B613, it has to be her idea, not mine.

We are luring her into a cage.

Let's be very clear about that.

We are not doing anything.

Whatever I do is because I want to do it.

If we're gonna be clear about something,

let's be clear about that.

You know what? Never mind.

You forget, I was in a cage, too.

They'll say I was lured by fossils.

No. It was the girl who dangled those fossils in front of me.

She was the cheese in my trap.

What's your point?