Designated Survivor

Previously on Designated Survivor...

Vice President Peter MacLeish was shot and killed

by his wife, Beth MacLeish.

She then turned the gun upon herself and committed suicide.

You are a target. I want our kids to have a normal life.

I spoke with Mike about Camp David.

He says it's more secure.

President Moss wants to get back into politics.

He just wants to share the benefit of his experience.

Inviting him into the White House could lift the nation,

- project a sense of solidarity. - I'll set it up.

You need some personal time.

- Take maybe a week. - Yes, sir.

I would like you to be my acting chief of staff.

I won't let you down.

Aaron?

Aaron Shore's made contact with someone.

That's Charles Langdon.

What the hell's going on? I thought you were dead, Charlie.

Just follow me.

They just ducked into St. Angelo's on 10th.

Copy. Cover the north entrance. We're a minute out.

Please rise for the blessing.

Let us pray.

- We go now. - Copy that.

Charlie, tell me what's going on.

Listen. I've only got a minute.

I need you to do something for me. My life depends on it.

Go. Go.

- Shore! - Agent Wells?

- Where's Langdon? - H-He took off. I didn't even...

- Which door? - He walked out that way.

Stay there! Hendricks!

- Which door isn't covered? - East side.

Thank you, Ava.

Mr. President, it's nice to see you without the cane.

- You must be feeling better. - I am. Thank you.

We're compiling a short list of VP candidates for you to look over,

as well as more cabinet appointees.

Unfortunately, it's still slim pickings, sir.

People are apprehensive about joining the new administration.

- There's uncertainty. - Hopefully, former President Moss

can help with that. He promised a list of names

and to throw his weight until they said yes.

- I'm seeing him tomorrow, right? - Your meeting is set for midday.

I've also set up an informal dinner at the Residence with the First Lady.

Unless, of course, she's not available.

No, no, no. She'll be there.

I take it you're a fan of President Moss?

I handed out yard signs during his first campaign, actually...

Excuse me.

So, how long have you and Langdon been in contact?

We haven't been in contact.

I told you I thought he was dead. He just walked up to me on the street.

- And yet, you went with him. - What was I gonna do?

I need to know word-for-word what he said.

Don't leave anything out.

Okay, but he didn't say much.

He... He was extremely paranoid... just constantly looking over his shoulder

like he was being hunted or something.

He said his life depended on it.

Langdon wants a deal?

Yes, sir. Immunity in exchange for information.

And a new life in witness protection.

That's not gonna happen.

The only thing Langdon has left to bargain for is his life.

What kind of information do you think he has?

Sir, we don't know yet, but he's our only known connection to the conspiracy.

Information from him could be invaluable.

Or not... I mean, for all we know,

he could be working with conspirators.

Langdon contacted me several times after the bombing.

He put me onto MacLeish. Without him...

I'd probably be dead.

Mr. President, I've spent my entire career tracking down stone-cold criminals

who'd make you swear they were as pure as driven snow.

We need more information.

And in a perfect world, we would have that. We don't have time.

Shore was given 24 hours to respond. If we don't use it, Langdon's in the wind.

This could be a giant setup.

You said he's running scared.

Bring him in.

- Morning. - Morning. What is that?

This is a bulletproof vest.

I know what it is. Why do you have it?

It's really just ceremonial,

but, uh, each press secretary passes this on down to the next press secretary,

and I figured, since you're now acting chief of staff, maybe a loan was in order.

Emily Rhodes.

- I'm on my way. - You want me to hang this up somewhere?

- I'm good. - What, you don't want it?

Thanks, though.

Fine.

Good morning, Mr. President.

This situation in Naruba... what do you know about it?

A warlord broke a cease-fire with the government.

His name's Atsu Kalame. He's got a militia force 10,000 strong.

He's known to utilize child soldiers, mass amputations, and human trafficking

as part of his terror campaign.

I served near there in the Peace Corps,

Twenty-five...

more than 25 years ago.

They were some of the kindest people I've ever known.

The brief said families are racing to the borders, trying to escape.

I can't even imagine.

Reach out to State. We need to do something.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Langdon.

Where do you want me to start?

How about the beginning?

Okay. The beginning would be Claudine. Uh... Claudine Poyet.

We met at the Meridian Ball four years ago.

I was coming off a nasty divorce at the time. I thought I was in love.

Clearly, she had other things in mind.

When I found out what was going on...

You've got to believe me that when I figured it out, I tried to stop it.

I mean, those were my friends that died, that was my president that died,

and I wish I had died with them!

Okay.

At first, it was just little things.

She... She worked for a big contracting firm.

At least, she said she did.

And so she asked me to help her get some intel

on some government highway contract. It was that sort of thing for a while.

And then she asked to see the threat assessment on the Capitol renovation.

Room 105.

And that didn't make you suspicious?

- That's treason, Langdon. - No. No!

Who could imagine that they would've used that information

in that way at the time?

The only reason I haven't put a bullet in my head

is the thought that maybe I could help...

make this right.

Why else do you think I'm here?

Claudine Poyet...

How do I know she really exists?

I have a picture.

I have a picture of her.

She hated having her picture taken,

but one morning, she was, uh, sleeping,

and...

I took this.

That's her.

That's her.

General Contreras. Thank you for joining.

What is the situation on the ground?

We've got satellite photos less than three hours old, sir.

They put Kalame and his rebel forces

approximately two days out from the capital city of Soji,

- with nothing in between to stop them. - I'll reach out to the U.N. Ambassador.

Maybe he'll have better luck than I did

convincing the Security Council to vote on a resolution.

Why is the U.N. dragging their feet?

Russia has been protesting possible U.N. involvement with Ukraine.

They're likely to veto all peacekeeping moves.

This has all the markings of a potential genocide.

Yes, sir.

Well, that's not acceptable to me.

- Are you proposing a military response? - Maybe.

I want all my options on the table - military or otherwise - within the hour.

That'll be all.

Sir, President Moss is arriving now.

Okay.

Morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

How are you, gentlemen?

- Mr. President. Welcome back. - Thank you, dear.

- Mr. President, it's an honor. - Nice to see you.

- Welcome back, Mr. President. - Henry. How are the kids?

Sara must be, what... 53 now?

Close. Twenty-two, sir.

Blink of an eye, Henry. Am I right?

You are indeed, Mr. President.

Mr. President.

President Moss.

Mr. President. It's an honor to have you here, sir.

Thank you, Ava.

Ah. View never gets old, does it?

I don't know. I-I haven't been here that long yet.

Indeed.

I can't tell you how special it is to finally meet you face-to-face.

And I want you to know that I am open to hearing any advice that you have to offer.

Well...

first piece of advice my predecessor gave me was,

"Don't listen to the advice of your predecessor."

Well, I'll take that under advisement.

All joking aside, I look up to you, sir,

and I would love to hear how you think I'm doing so far.

No, you wouldn't.

I-I'm sorry?

Total honesty?

Yes, always.

You were handed an impossible job, son,

a political non-entity,

never ran for office, never served in uniform,

suddenly thrust into the most powerful job in the world

during an unprecedented crisis.

You shouldn't have expected much of yourself.

And the people shouldn't have, either.