Designated Survivor (TV Series)

The Confession (2016)

Italia Ricci: Emily Rhodes

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Quotes 

• Tom Kirkman : Telling the truth earlier today might not have been the most savvy thing to do, but it felt right. It's who I am. It's the kind of president I need to be.

  Emily Rhodes : I feel the same way.

  Tom Kirkman : I've been thinking about my Chief of Staff.

  Emily Rhodes : Have you?

  Tom Kirkman : And I guess I should just come right out with it. I have decided to go with Aaron.

  Emily Rhodes : I'm sorry?

  Tom Kirkman : I know you have misgivings about Aaron. Hell, so do I. But I need someone political, someone who can think differently than I do.

  Emily Rhodes : I can be that.

  Tom Kirkman : Emily, I need you to be you.

  Emily Rhodes : Right.

  Tom Kirkman : And I need you to know that I cannot do this without you. You have been by my side since I began in public service. It's always been you and me off to fight the good fight. But this... this is beyond anything anyone could have expected. And the truth is I'm scared. I'm scared I'm going to fail; fail our nation at this crucial time. I would like to appoint you as my Special Advisor.

  [seeing her expression] 

  Tom Kirkman : It's not a consolation. You would have full access. Please.

  Emily Rhodes : I would be honored. But for the record, I'm not here to smile and nod. If I disagree with Aaron, I'm gonna say it.

  Tom Kirkman : I would expect nothing less.

• Emily Rhodes : So, you'll tape today to air tonight. This interview is a get. Every network wanted it, but we hope Elizabeth Vargas is a friend of the court.

  Tom Kirkman : What if she brings up the blackout?

  Aaron Shore : She won't, sir. The story's been contained.

  Emily Rhodes : This is all about the country getting to know you.

  Aaron Shore : You want to be in command, but approachable. Smart, but relatable.

  Tom Kirkman : What about sincere?

  Aaron Shore : Yeah, you could... sincere could work. You can go with sincere if you want.

  Tom Kirkman : I'll go with sincere.

• Emily Rhodes : [listening to Hookstraten's eulogy]  She's good, I'll give her that.

  Seth Wright : She's so political, she doesn't even seem political.

• Seth Wright : Given what's just happened, we may want to cancel the Elizabeth Vargas interview.

  Aaron Shore : No, that'll raise too many questions. We'll just bring the crew in through the East Entrance so they don't get wind of the hack.

  Emily Rhodes : I agree. It has to be business as usual around here.

  Aaron Shore : Yeah, you and I will meet with Congresswoman Hookstraten and go over the Cabinet choices as scheduled.

  Tom Kirkman : Okay, good. Now if I could just appoint the rest of the government legally without a vote.

  Emily Rhodes : That would certainly help lighten your load.

• Emily Rhodes : Congresswoman Hookstraten, sorry to keep you waiting.

  Aaron Shore : So, why don't we get started, ma'am? We put together a list of potential Cabinet choices. Since you're effectively Congress...

  Kimble Hookstraten : These will probably be the fastest confirmations in history.

• Kimble Hookstraten : Did President Kirkman get a Best Buy gift card for Christmas, or is the White House having some sort of security issue?

  Emily Rhodes : [feigning ignorance]  What do you mean?

  Kimble Hookstraten : I saw the IT staff removing every computer from the West Wing.

  Aaron Shore : It's just some technical issues. It's not a problem.

  Wyatt : [entering]  Ms. Rhodes, Mr. Shore, could you come with me, please?

  Aaron Shore : What, now?

  Wyatt : Yes, sir. It's important.

  Emily Rhodes : Congresswoman, will you excuse us, please?

  Kimble Hookstraten : Perhaps it's about that problem you're not having.

• Elizabeth Vargas : It is astonishing that Congressman MacLeish survived.

  Tom Kirkman : It's incredibly encouraging to have good news in these heartbreaking times.

  Elizabeth Vargas : And difficult times, certainly, to lead, given the challenge from the governor of Michigan, the near riot in the Capitol.

  Tom Kirkman : Well, thankfully, those crises were averted. But I have to say, the American people have this unique ability to be at their best when times are at their worst, and I'm counting on them as much to get through this as they're counting on me.

  Elizabeth Vargas : Your previous position in the Cabinet as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, it's not a natural stepping stone to go from that position straight into the Oval Office.

  Tom Kirkman : No. No, it's not. And to be honest, I have never had any aspirations for the presidency, ever. When I came to Washington, I came to help people.

  Aaron Shore : [quietly to Emily behind the scenes]  Home stretch.

  Elizabeth Vargas : Mr. President, I have one last question, and this is something we have just unearthed. I wanted to give you a chance to address it. We have sources who are telling us, and I'd like your comment on this, please...

  Emily Rhodes : [quietly to Aaron]  Where is this going?

  Aaron Shore : Somewhere I don't like.

  Elizabeth Vargas : ...that President Richmond fired you from his Cabinet on the day of the attack in the Capitol? Mr. President, were you fired? And... and if you were, can you understand why some may say you have no business being the President of the United States?

• Elizabeth Vargas : Mr. President, were you fired?

  Aaron Shore : Sir, please?

  Tom Kirkman : I'm sorry. Can you excuse me for one second?

  Elizabeth Vargas : Of course.

  Tom Kirkman : Thank you.

  [he, Aaron, and Emily leave to talk in private] 

  Aaron Shore : I have no idea how they ahold of that information.

  Emily Rhodes : Maybe from the hack?

  Tom Kirkman : No, NSA said our files weren't compromised. Look, this is on the record. I'm gonna have to answer.

  Emily Rhodes : You have to tell the truth.

  Aaron Shore : Are you kidding me?

  Emily Rhodes : Aaron, it's already out there. Besides, he wasn't fired.

  Aaron Shore : That's perception. Nobody's gonna see it that way. Sir, you admit to this, you bring down your presidency before it even begins.

  Emily Rhodes : Deny it, and you start your presidency off with a lie.

  Tom Kirkman : [making up his mind]  I'll take it from here.

• Tyler Richmond : Is that your eulogy?

  Tom Kirkman : Tyler, yeah. I just made some last-minute changes.

  Tyler Richmond : Yeah, well, don't bother. You won't be needing it.

  Tom Kirkman : I'm sorry. Excuse me?

  Tyler Richmond : I saw a clip of your interview online. My father fired you, and I won't let you use his funeral as some sort of PR stunt to make you look presidential when he thought you were anything but.

  Tom Kirkman : Tyler, please, you don't under...

  Tyler Richmond : You know what? Just save it for your next interview.

  Tom Kirkman : [as Tyler leaves]  Ty...

  Emily Rhodes : He can't do that. You are the president.

  Tom Kirkman : No. He lost his father. We will respect his wishes.

• Tom Kirkman : [sitting down with Alex]  Tyler saw the interview. He doesn't want me to do the eulogy.

  Tyler Richmond : My father loved his job. And more than anything, he loved the people he worked with. He was always grateful to have allies across the aisle, and I know he'd be pleased to have one of those friends here today to say a few words. My father's political career began...

  Aaron Shore : What'd he just say?

  Emily Rhodes : I... must be a mistake. No one else is slated to speak.

  Tyler Richmond : This person is someone my father spoke about with great admiration and respect, and someone we are blessed to have represent us during such uncertain times: Congresswoman Kimble Hookstraten.

  Emily Rhodes : Hookstraten?

  Aaron Shore : Still think it was a good idea for him to tell the truth at the interview?

  Alex Kirkman : This isn't good.

  Tom Kirkman : No. This is what you get for being honest in D.C.: opportunism.

• Aaron Shore : Ever since that Elizabeth Vargas video came out, social media's been going crazy. "The designated survivor or designated deceiver?".

  Emily Rhodes : "#BogusPOTUS". That one's trending.

  Seth Wright : Listen to this from the Washington Post: "The Congresswoman's speech was inspiring. Given that, and the fact that Kirkman was fired, is it possible the country's being led by the wrong designated survivor?".