Scandal

Shut it down or get fired, people!

All set?

One sec.

For over two decades, she's been making sure I'm presentable.

Where would I be without her?

Okay, we're ready.

Rolling. Sound. Action.

First question...

Charlotte. Charlotte! Charlotte!

Who's in charge of the president's detail today?

- His secret service detail? - Obviously.

Call whoever's in charge. Call them.

Get them here now... now, Charlotte, now!

Thankfully, Noah, we lean on each other.

We lean on our marriage.

But I don't know that you ever get used to character attacks,

especially when they have no basis in the truth.

Part of the package of public office.

It's certainly not new...

not that that makes it any fairer to my family.

Right.

We're running it, people!

Our marriage is stronger than ever,

but we're human, and it's hard when they attack our friends.

And Olivia has been an important friend to us,

as well as an advisor.

- Crash box. North lawn. - Sir, sir.

I'm sorry. You'll have to stop filming. Ma'am.

Crash box?

An alarm, often tripped by an intrusion.

There's an intruder in the White House?

- Falcon's secure. Foxtail's secure. - First lady's on the move.

It could be a false alarm, but we can never take that chance.

I'll be right back. Please wait here.

We're clear. Foxtail's secure.

Wait. Protocol is the bunker.

Why aren't we... you said there was an intruder.

They lied. I asked them to lie.

I needed to get you out of there, sir.

What the hell is going on here, Abby?

Olivia Pope, are you the president's mistress?

Yes.

"Yes."

"Yes"?

"Yes"?!

Noah. So sorry about all of that.

What'd you do, pay a homeless guy

to crash the White House gates?

The secret service is handling

what I'm sure was a very real threat.

Cut the crap, Abby.

I'm gonna need that tape, Noah.

The tape where the first couple

pledged their love to each other

at almost the exact same time

that Olivia Pope confirmed her affair with the president?

People, the word of the day is "silence."

Not a peep, tweet, or whisper leaves this White House

unless it has been approved by me...

no "off the record," nothing "on background," not one slip.

Our job is to protect our president.

Ohh.

Oh, look,

it's the girl who can't shut her legs... or her mouth.

We've got one hour to give Noah Baker

an exclusive interview with the president and first lady,

or he runs the footage of you lying about the affair.

What do you expect us to say exactly?

The truth.

The truth?

The truth?!

Yes, Mellie.

We have no other choice.

Thanks to her.

We can spin this.

Uh, you can say you grew apart after...

The death of your son.

You can say you're getting a divorce.

You can say you're pained by that, but, in the end,

it's the best thing for your family and the country.

Are you out of your minds?

I am not saying any of that.

I am not sitting down with you and Noah Baker and...

We cannot lie!

We have no choice.

Go to your office. Wait there.

We will inform you when it's time to do the interview.

Before you settle on the truth,

there are other options to consider...

less hazardous options.

We are fully aware.

Door number two... you cast me as the trashy homewrecker

with a long history of seducing powerful men.

- We considered that. - And dismissed it.

Door number three... you admit the affair,

but stay with Mellie through your term.

We are doing the interview,

telling the truth, and moving on...

Together.

I'll tell Noah the interview's on.

I'm sorry. Stop.

I should've warned you. I wasn't thinking.

I should've said...

I loved what you said.

Senator Grant.

Senator. I know you're angry.

I know this is difficult.

I can't imagine what else you must be feeling,

but this interview is not just to help him, Senator.

This interview can work for you, too.

Senator, please, if you will just...

Hi, there, Red.

Cyrus. Why... why are you here?

I'm answering the call.

Answering the call?

Answering the call... the call to serve.

The call to serve? Crap.

I have been called into service for my country, Red.

The Junior Senator of the great state of Virginia

has asked me to serve as her chief advisor.

Ma'am, I am begging you, for the good of the country...

Now, now, let's not do that.

Stop and smell the " 'merica," Red.

Besides, there's no time to beg.

I hear there's a clock ticking on an interview

the president would like the senator to participate in,

and if that's the case,

well, then, there are gonna be

some things we would like in return.

You are negotiating?

- Look at you, quicker than ever. - Okay, fine.

What do you want?

We'll be in touch.

What?

Cyrus, we are running out of time!

So... Tell me.

What do you want?

I want to destroy Olivia Pope.

I want her to suffer like I have suffered.

I want her to suffer so much it makes him suffer.

I want to make them bleed.

I want their every breath to reek of poison!

Mellie.

This is a very important moment.

Don't waste it being human.

Your answer will define your future.

Think like a champion.

Think like a warrior.

Raise your sword and run into battle

and tell me what the inscription

on your monument will read

when the history books glorify you.

Tell me.

What do you want?

I want the oval.

Yes!

There's been a hiccup. Cyrus.

Cyrus?

Your wife reached out to him.

He's acting as her advocate for the negotiations.

What negotiations?

What they want in order to agree to the interview.

She'll get nothing, and she'll like it.

Sir!

Get out of my way.

This is a negotiation, sir, not an argument.

If you go in there hot, we'll never make our deadline.

- Move! - Which is exactly why you can't be involved.

- Excuse me? - It's too personal between you and the first lady, sir.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Move now, or you're fired.

So fire me.

Fitz.

Hear her out.

I am doing my job, sir.

I am focused on doing my job for you...

protecting the oval, protecting the presidency.

May I ask, sir, what you are focused on right now?

She's right.

Anger gets you nowhere.

Nothing gets agreed on without my say-so.

Thank you, sir.

And the White House response to Pope's declaration

has so far been silence... a total, complete lockdown.

¿Dónde está Olivia Pope?

¿Está en la Casa Blanca?

Por ahora, no sabemos, pero...

No, Olivia Pope & Associates has no comment at this time.

We're under attack.

Hackers from all over are trying to get in,

- but the firewalls are holding. - You're calling again, Jim?

No comment means no comment.

No, I'm not answering that... because... No comment!

I see your stealth port scan, Taiwan.

Good luck getting past the IPS protocol!

No inglés.

Once again, if you have just joined us,

- Olivia Pope has just... - What are you doing?

- We were watching that. - Why? For what?

Hey. Do you know what you just did?