Madam Secretary

So Jason comes home and tells us

that he is joining the debate team at school.

We're thrilled.

What better use

of his naturally argumentative nature, right?

Mmm.

Then...

then he leaves the room,

and Henry turns to me and says,

“Do we really want him getting better at it?”

I'm sorry, I'm talking too much about my kids.

Oh, no, because you can't talk about work, it's understood.

Oh, I can... everybody is.

Ah, you're going before the House Appropriations Committee

this week, huh?

To defend my budget.

Oh, squaring off with Chairman Everard Burke.

Mmm, affectionately known on the Hill as Burke the Ripper.

Every single one of our outreach programs is under fire.

It's gonna take some fancy footwork.

You'll be fine... you got very fancy feet.

Fancy shoes.

And how's everything else?

Guys, I mean it, how's everything else?

It's fine.

It's great. Thank you for cooking, by the way.

- Yeah. - It's a really big treat.

No problem.

I realize it's the only way

to keep spy reunion going.

You and Isabelle don't want to be seen

palling around D.C. hotspots.

Not while you're investigating Marsh's death.

We're not investigating anything.

- We just can't cook. - Got it.

All right, let's eat.

Let's.

Ooh, ow.

- Bear up the bum. - Aw...

- I'm sorry. - Very sweet.

I didn't do the toy sweep.

Mmm, too bad we couldn't see the kids.

Are they with their dad tonight?

They are.

All week.

Every week.

What?

I just lost custody.

Wha... how?

What?

Why?

The judge decided

that I have a demanding and high-risk occupation.

- Oh. - They're better off with their father,

- a banker. - Come on.

He literally has banker's hours.

Oh, that's outrageous.

Come on, there has to be some kind of recourse?

I'll keep fighting it.

It's just gonna drag on forever.

I'm so sorry.

Is there anything we can do?

You know a guy with a baseball bat?

Several, in fact.

Out of the three of us,

it's not like it was a big competition for me.

- Good-bye. - I love you.

You're always welcome.

Thank you.

Bye.

That was rough.

That was rough.

- Poor Juliet. - Mmm.

What's going on with the Marsh case?

Have you brought the CIA in yet?

Munsey's on it.

I'll keep in touch.

- Love you. - Love you.

Really?

The budget is this long?

No, that's just a summary of your talking points.

The Appropriations Committee's a snake pit.

You can never be too prepared.

Especially when it's being led

by your old friend, Everard Burke.

Let me guess, he's gunning for the Microloan program.

Exactly.

Burke hates anything that smacks of a government giveaway.

These loans are an easy target.

Even if we get that money back?

I mean, what part of the word “loan” does he not understand?

Loans equal liability.

It doesn't help that you're increasing its budget next year.

Are you saying Chairman Burke doesn't like me?

Chairman Burke hates you.

Well, don't sugarcoat it.

And why?

Because I can out-drive him off the tee?

Because of your polling numbers.

Your approval ratings are higher than the president's.

Everybody hates a winner.

Now, see, I thought that saying...

expression... I thought it was the opposite.

As your policy advisor, I'm advising you to cut the program.

- Strongly advising. - Duly noted, Jay.

- Thank you. - Ma'am, I disagree.

It's one of our most promising programs.

I mean, by providing small low-interest loans,

we've turned thousands of women into entrepreneurs.

Prosperity reduces conflict.

Which I think I'm safe in saying is the whole point of diplomacy.

And that's scripted in your talking points.

All Burke cares about is the number on the page.

You're not gonna sway him with a Kumbaya moment. Cut the program.

It'll knock the wind out of his sails,

and the rest of the budget will fly through.

I know it sounds bloodless,

but you're not gonna survive your first budget

getting decimated in a public hearing.

Ma'am, Jay has a point.

We have to look at the bigger picture.

Is it reasonable to risk the whole budget

for a single program.

Yes, it is, please don't give up on this.

- We can win it. - Can we?

Give me an argument, let me hear it.

Gladly... Nhung Chuang.

With a $200 loan,

she organized her entire village into an agricultural co-op.

Three years ago,

they were surviving off of government subsidies.

Now they're self-sufficient.

And for the first time, sending their kids to school.

And there are a thousand other stories

just like hers.

Bring her to the hearing as your guest.

- Oh, c-come on. - I mean, her testimonial could be

- very powerful. - Does she even have command of the language?

- I-I doubt it. - Has she ever even been outside of the village?

- Come on. - I mean, is she gonna suddenly turn

into William Jennings Bryan

in front of Congressmen and TV cameras?

- No. - Jay.

Your passion has crossed over into defeatism.

And it's annoying.

I apologize, ma'am.

I want her as my guest at the hearing.

Put her on a plane,

get her a translator,

prep her as best you can.

We may lose this one, but we will go down swinging.

Hey, Jay,

your frustration is duly noted.

But this is what we're doing, so get on board, okay?

I serve at the pleasure, Madam Secretary.

Yes, you do.

Ah, ah, ah, that's... I can... pass that.

Sweetie, what are you doing just pushing your food around?

We agreed... I cook one night a week,

and we all just get through it.

- It's good. - I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm just worried about my history test.

- Why? - What? I quizzed you.

You know your stuff.

Yeah, I know,

but I have this weird thing on the actual test,

I just... I completely freeze up.

Yeah, it's called not being good at school.

That's not helpful.

And yet my GPA is higher than yours.

Yeah, that's because I don't apply myself.

Oh, like that's some secret.

You've seen it on every report card.

Okay, you know what, go upstairs, study.

We'll clean up.

No, I have homework, too.

- All right. Fine, go. Go apply yourself. - Okay.

Oh, geez.

Are you done?

Yeah.

See, if you were back in school,

you'd get out of clean up, too.

Hilarious, Dad.

So are you all prepared

- to testify before Congress tomorrow? - I've been practicing

in front of the mirror, and apparently I do this a lot.

Which they say makes me look angry and old.

Why didn't you guys tell me about it?

Yes.

- Baby, it's cute, it's cute. - I'm gonna try and stop it.

- No, it's not cute. - I like it.

- I do. - You... that's... you're not

the right guy to ask, I know better.

Seriously, though, I mean,

how-how can they cut the Microloan program?

Politicians are always yelling

about how they need to get

the developing world off their payroll.

And yet they're not willing

to give people a leg up that they need