Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Death Wish
By M. Giant | Season 8 | Episode 23 | Aired on 05.24.2010
Taylor sits in her office, contemplating Hassan's pen and possibly wondering how much it could demand on eBay. And the news that Dalia is outside with an urgent request to see her doesn't do much for her state of mind. When Dalia enters, she wastes little time telling Taylor about the Russian thing she just heard about. "Where did you hear this?" Taylor asks, doing a pretty good impression of shock to cover her evasiveness. Dalia tells her about the call from Meredith Reed that she's been unable to return. "I came here to ask for your help finding Ms. Reed. I need to know if there's any truth in what she said." To Taylor's credit, she does not start rooting through her desk and offer Dalia a beer nut. Instead, she says she also heard that rumor, but didn't tell Dalia about it because it was just a "frivolous accusation." Dalia's not convinced, but Taylor's clearly more worried about the upcoming signing. "Madame President, I feel like you're not listening to me," Dalia says, making admirable use of her "I feel" statements under the circumstances, and as Taylor keeps trying to downplay it, Dalia finally and firmly says, "I don't think I'm making myself clear. Until I determine if her allegations are true I will not sign this treaty." Taylor tries to "reason" with her, but finally has to get up and come around the desk to admit that she herself ordered Reed's arrest. "That doesn't make any sense, you wouldn't arrest someone for making false allegations," Dalia argues. Pause. "Unless they aren't false?" Well, you're not supposed to arrest someone for making true accusations, either, but let's not let that little point of law interrupt a dramatic reveal here. Taylor doesn't say anything, and Dalia realizes, "You knew? You knew the Russians were behind my husband's death and you said nothing?" Taylor lamely apologizes. "It was an impossible situation. I was trying to protect you!" She really has been taking president lessons from Logan. Dalia rages at Taylor that she betrayed her. Taylor has the nerve to play the Hassan card, saying he sacrificed himself to save the peace process, and Dalia goes off: "How dare you invoke my husband! He never would have stood for this! This treaty happened because he trusted you. And even though every fiber in my being wanted to go home and grieve I carried on because I trusted you. But not any more. I will not make peace with the people who murdered my husband or with you. There will be no agreement." Well, looks like Logan was right about one thing, at least. She adds that she'll appeal to the U.N. to release Reed and disclose the evidence. She's about to storm out when Taylor calls out, "Stop!" She sounds like a traffic cop. She insists that Dalia will sign the treaty. "Because if you don't, my administration will disclose hard, indisputable evidence that agents inside your intelligence service attempted to detonate a nuclear device on our soil. Which will give me all the justification I need to retaliate against the IRK with the full force of the American military! It will be decades before your country recovers. " Yikes! That's some cold, hard shit! Dalia stares at Taylor in blank shock at what she's proven capable of, as Taylor says that doesn't have to happen if Dalia will just sign the treaty. Dalia leaves without another word, slamming the door behind her and leaving Taylor shaking. It's 2:37:32, and we'll be right back with The Real Housewives of the United Nations.