Designated Survivor (TV Series)

The Confession (2016)

Adan Canto: Aaron Shore

Photos 

Quotes 

• Aaron Shore : Hey, this is the White House. There aren't supposed to be any blackouts.

  Seth Wright : Unless, and... and I really hate to say this, but what if it's...?

  Tom Kirkman : A second attack.

• [last lines] 

  Aaron Shore : [his phone buzzes]  Aaron Shore.

  Tom Kirkman : Aaron, it's me.

  Aaron Shore : Mr. President.

  Tom Kirkman : You forced my hand today by releasing that tape. You put in motion a timetable that will test the patience of the American people. So your first job as my Chief of Staff is to make sure that Al-Sakar is found, and fast, or you may find my patience being tested. Are we clear.

  Aaron Shore : Yes, sir. Good night, Mr. President.

  Tom Kirkman : Good night.

  Woman : [behind him as he hangs up]  He's an interesting guy, your boss. I have what you asked for.

  [she hands him a manila folder labeled "Thomas Kirkman"] 

  Aaron Shore : Anything good?

  Woman : Depends whose side you're on.

• 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.

• 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.

• Mike Ritter : EOP Security is calling it a one-time malicious cyber intrusion.

  Aaron Shore : Against what's supposed to be the most network on Earth?

  Seth Wright : The public is gonna consider this another attack.

  Aaron Shore : Yeah, that's why the public can't find out about this. There's too much chaos as it is. This just can't get out.

  Tom Kirkman : So we have no idea what they were after, or if our files were compromised.

  Mike Ritter : Not yet, sir. NSA's still completing their scans of all the White House computers.

  Tom Kirkman : Do we have any idea who might have done this?

  Mike Ritter : Could be the Russians. Could be the North Koreans.

  Tom Kirkman : Or the people who bombed the Capitol Building.

  Mike Ritter : Yes, sir. We're following every lead.

  Tom Kirkman : Okay, thank you, Mike. Keep me updated.

• Tom Kirkman : The NSA and Homeland Security just finished their analysis on the hack.

  Mike Ritter : All of our data, files, codes; everything's intact.

  Aaron Shore : What, so you're saying they didn't take anything?

  Tom Kirkman : No. They left something behind.

• 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.

• 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?".

• Tom Kirkman : I know it was you.

  Aaron Shore : Sir?

  Tom Kirkman : I know you were the one who released the video.

  Aaron Shore : Sir, you were on the ropes. The country was nervous. The press was circling.

  Tom Kirkman : Aaron, please.

  Aaron Shore : Nobody is talking about the wrong designated survivor anymore. They're rallying against a common enemy, and soon they'll unite behind their Commander in Chief.

  Tom Kirkman : I don't know if we've even got the right target yet. I'm... I'm not ready to declare war.

  Aaron Shore : All due respect, sir, that's a decision you can only make if you remain president, and it didn't look likely six hours ago.

  Tom Kirkman : What you did wasn't just duplicitous or cynical, it was directly insubordinate.

  Aaron Shore : Sir, perhaps you've noticed you're surrounded by people who would love to see you fail. I want to help you succeed. Sir, I want to help you thrive. What I did was a bold move. I admit it. And I believe it was the best one. If you can't see it that way...

  [unzipping his portfolio, he pulls out and offers Kirkman an envelope] 

  Aaron Shore : ...here's my letter of resignation. You can accept it at any time if you so choose.