Madam Secretary

- (door bangs) Call the American embassy.

Call the State Department.

You can't do this.

You know, we have rights.

- Call the American embassy. - (men shouting in Arabic)

I don't understand... what'd he say?

He said, "Don't be a fool. You're gonna die here."

- Dr. McCord. - Yeah.

Hey, can I talk to you about my thesis?

Uh, sure... during office hours.

Yeah, your office hours don't really work for me.

Sorry to hear that.

Thing is, I don't really want to write about the Cold War.

You're aware that the class is called.

"Postwar Politics and the Cold War."

Yeah, but I feel like it's been done.

That's why they call it history, Jake.

Thing is, my theory is that

we are living through a new cold war.

All right, compare and contrast to the original

and convince me.

Great. Also, I'll need an extension. My parents

are coming to town and they're very needy.

Oh. My husband bought tickets

to the opera this weekend.

I mean, normally, I love the opera, but I got to tell you,

it's been a hell of a week, and the thought of sitting

in a dimly lit room with a bunch of people

singing at me in Italian...

it's just gonna make me fall asleep.

I'm so sorry.

I thought we were telling each other our problems.

No extension.

Enjoy your parents.

What Aquinas was trying to say

in Summa Theologica is that existence

and essence are separate things, right?

Now, Luther though a Thomist

by definition, departed from him

- in significant ways. - Honey?

Their eyes are glazing over.

They're just listening to you 'cause you're so cute.

No way.

I hated religion before I took his class.

Now I'm totally caught up.

He's brilliant.

Wow. Well, do you mind if I just

steal his brilliance for a minute?

Yeah, sure.

So, how am I supposed to develop a cult following?

Oh, I think you'll figure it out.

Hey, listen. Did you remember you got to cook tonight?

'Cause I'm going into DC.

- Right, the spy reunion. - Yes.

And since I'm the only one who can talk about work,

I get to be the center of attention.

You're always the center of attention with me.

Really? Tell that to your cult following.

You wouldn't recognize the CIA.

George is the only one on a Middle East desk right now.

Libya.

Lebanon. I'm staring at screens

of abandoned factories and oil wells,

listening to chatter about the World Cup.

I mean, they could at least have

pastured me somewhere interesting.

- He loves that desk job. - They didn't pasture you.

They just didn't feel like

risking your life in the field anymore.

You bought their story?

There was no evidence that my cover was blown.

He never looks back.

And you guys should talk.

They both got Africa.

Do you know how volatile

- that place is gonna be? - Yes!

That is like the disco of global hot spots.

- Oh, yeah. - Why don't you call

our, uh, former boss and complain

to him about your desk job?

- Oh, I did. - George!

- You called POTUS about your desk job? - I... I...

I gave it a shot, okay? I mean, he ran

the place for 12 years, I figured

he's still invested in personnel, so...

He never called back.

Imagine that.

How is the, uh, bucolic life going?

It's great.

We're teachers.

We're parents.

We're horse owners.

- Mmm. - Ooh! Oh, my!

And every morning we wake up,

- that's all we got to be. - (phones buzzing)

That's a shock.

Well, this can't be good.

The, uh, Secretary of State's plane

just went down over the Atlantic.

Hey!

I thought we said no gadgets at the table.

We did.

And then the kids never came to the table.

Besides, it's Saturday.

Oh, yay!

No Rules Saturday?

Vincent Marsh, of course, began...

- Hey! - Dad, can you turn it off?

What? My screen is competing with your screens?

Repeating what we know so far...

the Secretary of State Vincent Marsh's plane disappeared

off the coast of Florida.

He was headed to Caracas, Venezuela.

Mom, do you think it was terrorism?

No.

I think people shouldn't fly in small planes.

Still, why was he going to Venezuela?

- Is that a resort destination? Exactly.

When will you guys acknowledge the obvious conspiracy around us

- at all times? - Seriously?

You had to wind up the anarchist?

Sorry.

I thought you were gonna do something relaxing today.

Well, this relaxes me.

Oh, uh, your phone.

It wouldn't stop ringing, so I answered it.

Well, who is it?

Some lady says it's the president's office.

PTA?

The United States.

Well, that's a prank. Hang it up.

Just take it. She sounds serious.

The death of Vincent Marsh is catastrophic on many levels.

It's a bad time to be without diplomatic representation.

Because of the peace talks with Iran

and President Shiraz's upcoming visit to the U.S.?

So you understand why I can't

waste any time on this decision.

I want you to step in.

Step into what?

Secretary of State.

Y... (laughs)

You're joking.

Um, I don't mean

you're joking, but you can't be serious.

Obviously you're serious, I just... Why?

I recruited you for the CIA.

I trained you as an analyst.

I know how you think, how you work.

I trust you.

Give us a minute, will you?

Yes, Mr. President.

I wanted to nominate you

right after I was elected. I was talked

out of my choice by...

well-meaning advisers.

Vincent Marsh was always running for office.

You have no such ambition.

You quit a profession you love for ethical reasons.

That makes you the least political person I know.

You don't just think outside the box.

You don't even know there is a box.

I believe I can effect real change in the world.

I want you to help me do that.

I know you won't let me down.

I realize you'll need some time

to discuss this with your family.

I'll give you the rest of the day.

But I won't take no for an answer.

_

The King of Swaziland sits here.

Madam Secretary, you'll be across from him.

I've charted out all ten of his wives by their names and ranks.

Basically, it's a seniority system.

You look like you have a question.

Um... Yes.

Why are we doing this?

The chart?

The dinner.

Why are we entertaining the King of Swaziland?

It was on Vincent's agenda.

It was important to him.

The press loves stuff like this.

The guy's flamboyant, exotic.

Polygamist.

- We're not using that word. - We're not?

What are we calling it?

It falls under cultural diversity.

I see.

Well, is it important to have all the wives?

You think maybe we could've cut it off at say three?

How much is this costing, Nadine?

You want me to get you the figures on that?

Yes. And also

the updated information on the AIDS epidemic in that country.

Madam Secretary? It's the Czech Ambassador.

He says it's urgent.

What could be urgent over there?

Guess we'll find out.

Let's pick this up after lunch, okay?