Kate, still shaken by Hal's revelatory bombshell, meets President Rayburn as the third episode of 'The Diplomat' unfolds. Hal, fully briefed on the situation, promptly takes charge, escorting the President through the premises. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the living room, Billie, Hal, Stuart, and Kate convene in a huddled conference, their voices a murmur of reactions to Kate's sudden awareness of her potential VP campaign. Despite her valiant efforts to maintain professionalism and focus on the task at hand, the weight of the possibility looms heavily over her.
President Rayburn desires to hold a joint press appearance with PM Trowbridge, a gesture of solidarity amidst the turmoil. Kate, however, cautions that such a move could inadvertently imply a joint military strike against Iran. The Brits, lacking concrete evidence to accuse Iran, find themselves in a precarious position, their actions inadvertently casting aspersions. Even President Rayburn alludes to this delicate reality.
Kate's attempt to sway Rayburn with her "charming gentleman" narrative falls flat, until Hal intercedes, once again playing the hero and averting disaster. Ganon's resentment towards Hal surfaces as Rayburn suggests the trip should have been called off given the recent developments; it would be unwise for Rayburn to publicly stand by Trowbridge under such scrutiny.
Kate endeavors to reason with Dennison, the British representative, about the optics of the situation, but the Brits remain steadfast, unwilling to back down. The damage inflicted by "Hellfire on Tehran" is too great, and Dennison insists that Trowbridge's image cannot be tarnished in the press. Kate manages to convince him to at least host a dinner for the heads of state, hoping to diffuse tensions, but Billie's apprehension is palpable as Kate confides in her.
Determined not to let Rasoul's covert efforts go to waste, they forge ahead with their plan. As they prepare for the meeting, Billie broaches the subject of the Vice Presidency, noting that Grace Penn, the incumbent, is poised to lose her seat due to an unforgivable financial scandal. The potential replacements, all female legislators, present a formidable threat as they would seize the opportunity to launch their own presidential bids. Rayburn, therefore, views Kate as a safe, unthreatening alternative.
Eidra, uncovering Kate's clandestine GCHQ call to Carole from the previous episode, shares her disdain with Stuart, criticizing Kate's proactive meddling in the CIA's affairs. Doubts also linger over Hal's reliability, his shady past and questionable dealings casting a shadow over his credibility.
Kate's ire was ignited by the revelation that she stood alone in the shadows, unaware of the VPship's intricacies, while Eidra firmly reiterated the importance of transparency in matters of national security, lest it jeopardize the fragile camaraderie between MI6 and the CIA. Realizing her error, Kate offered a sincere apology, accompanied by a revelation of paramount importance: Iran had repositioned a battalion along its coastline, bracing for potential hostility from the US and Britain.
Hal, under Eidra's scrutiny, clarified his covert connections, prompting a fiery rebuke from Kate for the predicament he'd inadvertently created for the United States. The crux of the matter lay in Rasoul's intelligence, the sole key to de-escalating tensions, yet Hal's premature contact tainted its credibility. Hal's esteemed reputation had swayed Rayburn, but now this advantage hung in the balance.
Amidst the tension, President Rayburn played a cunning trick, leaving Billie and the security team flummoxed with his casual mention of a coffee break, only to reveal a heart fluttering with atrial fibrillation. Trowbridge, having agreed to ease pressure on Iran post-naval withdrawal, had woven a web of deceit, as Dennison hastily informed Kate, the British carrier's plight a mere ruse to showcase naval prowess in the Persian Gulf. This strategic maneuver risked being misconstrued as a belligerent act by Iran.
Dennison lamented his failure to keep Trowbridge in check, their argument escalating into a heated exchange over the lack of clarity and gravity given to the situation. Desperate for assistance, he turned to Kate, who promptly updated Billie and Eidra, stressing the urgency to halt the advancing US ships. Billie sought Shahin's insight, but Kate, with her profound understanding of foreign policy, cautioned against it, knowing full well the dangers Shahin faced as a progressive voice amidst Iran's rigid diplomacy.
Her impassioned plea and unwavering conviction swayed Billie, who, along with Stuart, personally urged Kate to consider the VPship, a call to duty rather than a thirst for power. No campaigns, no public spectacles; even the women's vote would be swayed by her merit. They saw in her the potential to lead, and their earnest desire was for her to embrace it.
Kate subtly hints at a potential scenario, evoking peals of laughter from Billie and Stuart. She then seizes Hal by the arm and leads him outdoors, confronting him head-on about the mysterious mention of her name. Hal's explanation falls flat, sounding more like a consolation prize than a genuine choice, fueling Kate's suspicion that his actions might stem from a desperate bid to salvage their crumbling marriage amidst the backdrop of divorce proceedings and possessions packed away.
Could this be Hal's clever ploy to reignite their union? As the realization dawns, Kate's temper flares, unleashing a primal fury. She lashes out with a punch, tackling Hal midsection and engaging in a dusty tussle, her body language a cathartic expulsion of pent-up emotions and raw energy. From afar, Kate's security detail watches, stunned by her sudden display of vulnerability.
Billie, bewildered by Kate's disheveled appearance, laments that Rayburn failed to heed her warnings. Undaunted, Kate switches tactics, attempting to persuade Rayburn against dispatching the ships and even offering to step down from her position. She delves into the tale of Saman Karimi, a notorious former Quds commander with a fearsome reputation for retaliation, painting a dire picture of the consequences should the mission proceed.
Kate's words carry a poignant weight as she reminds Rayburn that this isn't a matter of restoring America's tarnished image but a reckless move that could cost American lives. In a final, devastating blow, she echoes Rayburn's own words back to him, striking a chord of reason. With renewed determination, Kate orders Billie to ensure no ships sail towards the Gulf, proving that her resignation was merely a strategic maneuver. Kate, it seems, is not backing down anytime soon.
