Episode Report Card M. Giant: B | 291 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Small Consulation
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 12 | Aired on 2007.03.05
5:43:02. The Veep scowls his way into the empty Battle Bridge and sits at the Presidential desk. He treats the moment with the appropriate gravity. Lisa enters to let him know that he's going on the air in about ten minutes with a statement that she's working on now. She reports that Karen Hayes is on her way back and withdrawing her resignation, which rumor has it she tendered in the first place because she was against Tom's plan. This marks the first time in human history that the rumor is actually less scandalous than the truth. "I see," the Veep rumbles, looking forward to having a fresh person around to bulldoze. Buchanan calls in to let the Veep know what's going on at the Consulate. The Veep is none too pleased, and he asks whether Buchanan approved this. Buchanan says that it was all Kiefer's idea, which is of course true. The Veep also wonders why Kiefer acted based only on Logan's word, and Buchanan points out that Kiefer doesn't trust Logan at all, "yet he was convinced." Well, that explains it. Or, Kiefer just wanted to torture someone again. The Veep remarks that Kiefer has created rather a diplomatic mess for him, and the ringing phone in his office, which Lisa picks up, is about to underscore that point quite effectively. Buchanan is insisting that they have to let Kiefer proceed, since getting the info from Markov is the only way to stop the nukes. Lisa tries to interrupt, and the Veep tries to tell her not now, and Lisa says that it's our old comrade President Suvarov on the line. Aw, isn't it cute how the Russians have the same president for as long as a few years sometimes? The Veep sighs heavily. and tells Buchanan that Kiefer had better get what he needs quickly.
Then the Veep takes Suvarov's call. I guess that's not one you can screen. Despite the early hour in Moscow, Suvarov is fully dressed and groomed and calling from whatever part of the Real Time Productions soundstage they've dressed up to look like an office in the Kremlin. He's a bit disappointed to be talking to the Veep instead of Wayne, but the Veep assures Suvarov that he's speaking on Wayne's authority. Before Suvarov can even bring up Kiefer, the Veep protests that Kiefer's acting alone. Even so, Suvarov is pretty pissed about the situation (not to mention how early and how quickly he had to get ready for work) and threatens to retaliate "with the most forceful diplomatic measures at our disposal." Yeah, just you try catching a performance of The Cherry Orchard any time soon, my friend. The Veep isn't the type who responds well to threats, so he informs Suvarov about Markov's suspected connection to the nuclear attack this morning. Suvarov feels bad about the nukes and all, but says that these kinds of allegations should be made through proper channels after Kiefer's given himself up. The Veep's response?