Madam Secretary (TV Series)

The Show Must Go On (2015)

Téa Leoni: Elizabeth McCord

Photos 

Quotes 

• Russell Jackson : Elizabeth, you know the Chief Justice.

  Chief Justice Frawley : Madam Secretary.

  Elizabeth McCord : Yes, I actually took your constitutional law class at UVA.

  [pauses then whispers] 

  Elizabeth McCord : I got an A.

  Chief Justice Frawley : [Whispering back]  I remember.

• Russell Jackson : [Gesturing to a large briefcase]  This is the football. It's a remote device that can authorize a nuclear attack in the unlikely event that we are required to do that.

  [a Colonel hands Elizabeth a small card] 

  Russell Jackson : This is the biscuit. It's an authenticator card containing all the launching codes. That stays with you. The football stays with the Colonel who's never far away.

  Elizabeth McCord : [Shakes the Colonel's hand]  Thank you, Colonel. I hope we never work together.

  Colonel Preston : My hope as well, Ma'am.

• [Elizabeth is having a panic attack before the singing act for the Eastern Trade Conference. Daisy and Nadine find her breathing into a paper bag, with Blake by her side] 

  Daisy Grant : You all right, ma'am?

  Elizabeth McCord : [composing herself]  Yup. How much time do I have?

  Nadine Tolliver : Ten minutes. Or as long as you want...

  Elizabeth McCord : [faintly]  Okay. Okay...

  [Elizabeth looks over the lyrics and tries humming to the lyrics of "For the Longest Time". However, this only causes her anxiety to spike] 

  Elizabeth McCord : [distressed]  I can't, I can't, I can't do it.

  Nadine Tolliver : Okay, Okay, Okay! We do have a tangency plan.

  Elizabeth McCord : What is it?

  Nadine Tolliver : [smiles]  You're looking at it.

  [Scene cuts to Nadine, Daisy and Blake singing a stellar a cappella performance of the Eastern Trade rendition of The Longest Time to the audience] 

• Theodore Gates : [about to take the oath of office to become Acting President]  Oh, all right, right. The president will come back. I mean, he survived one assassination attempt. He's hard to kill.

  Elizabeth McCord : What do you mean, Senator?

  Theodore Gates : What do you think I mean? Talking about that Charles Manson lady. Tried to shoot him.

  Elizabeth McCord : Well, that was President Ford.

  Theodore Gates : Ah. Of course, you're right. I meant Hinckley. Where do I sign?

  Elizabeth McCord : Um... actually, Senator, Mm-hmm? I-I believe it is also protocol... you have to state the full name of the current President. For the record.

  Theodore Gates : Of course. Sure. Ronald Wilson Reagan.

  Russell Jackson : I'm sorry. Could we ask the senator to step outside? Just for a moment, while we prepare? Is that all right?

  Theodore Gates : That's fine.

  Russell Jackson : Thank you.

  Theodore Gates : Sure.

  Russell Jackson : [whispers]  What the hell?

  Aide : Senator Gates had a series of mini strokes a few months ago, but we are working diligently to get him through his final term. He has his good days and his bad days.

  Russell Jackson : But basically, he's incompetent?

  Aide : To take the oath of office for President? Probably.

  Russell Jackson : Then I think we have to go to the next in line.

  Attorney General Louise Cronenberg : That would be the Secretary of State.