It is, as you might have been able to guess, a statement announcing her intent to divorce Frank, which LeAnn says she'll send out on Super Tuesday, a big day of voting in the nominating elections that would do yet more serious damage to Frank's campaign. But she's committed to Claire and hands Underwood the First Lady's note. As the various advisors are leaving, LeAnn is ushered in to talk about her potential future with Frank's team. Cathy objects again, but Frank signs the order. Cynthia drops Lucas Goodwin's name, which makes Seth's ears prick up, even though he tries to hide it.īack at the White House, Frank is being briefed before he's handed the executive order to send Milkin to meet with his fellow Russian rebel. Seth meets with Dunbar's campaign manager Cynthia in another anonymous bar and they trade barbs about what the others knows and what position Seth might earn if he betrays the president. Claire has clearly decided something – the cogs are working in that clever brain – and she starts writing a note for LeAnn to take to the president. They're not good: people don't trust her, particularly after her stint as a diplomat in the last season. In Texas, LeAnn and Claire are watching focus group panels discussing the first lady. And Wilson can't talk for long, since Stamper is calling her into his office. The AG knows that to even discuss information from someone who is in the Witsec Federal Witness Protection Program is illegal on many levels. Heather Dunbar is clearly ready to follow up on the information Lucas Goodwin tried to give her when they met, but she's having no luck on the phone with Attorney General Martha Wilson (Ellen Harvey). She argues that they can find some convincing research to show why Claire could fill the VP spot, and makes a deal with Stamper that they'll both look at each others' research before making any decisions.
But her loyalty remains to the First Lady. Stamper is calling LeAnn to offer her the job of campaign manager with Frank's team. But Frank will brook no more pussyfooting: the time for diplomacy is over. Secretary of State Catherine Durant is still raising objections to poking Russia by sending Milkin to one of Petrov's main enemies just outside his country's borders. The president is seemingly beyond the talking stage when it comes to dealing with Russian president Petrov and rebel Igor Milkin. When Seth threatens to quit, Stamper asks him to go back to his office and wait, and they'll talk again. Stamper and Seth are having a face-off in Stamper's office it's clear Stamper still suspects Seth, but does his best to mollify him.
Yet we can't help but note it feels like the sort of character moment that crops up on a show before something bad happens to one or all of the people in a scene. It's a nice bonding moment for the pair, and a cheerful one after the strained relations from the recent scandal. How about co-opting LeAnn Harvey? They're going to offer her a job.įrank is called to the Situation Room, but on the way stops for an odd little scene with Meechum where they discuss art and Frank ends up taking a painting from the wall and drawing round Meechum's hand right on to the surface in its place. With Seth gone, Frank admits he's right about Claire and starts to scheme with Stamper as to how they can put a stop to this safely. Both the president and Doug seem suspicious of Seth and Underwood sends him out of the room so he and Stamper can talk. She can't possibly be the vice presidential candidate, can she? Seth argues the numbers don't support it, but Frank seems determined to make it work, probably because he knows what she'll do if it doesn't happen. Frank, Stamper and Seth are meeting in the Oval Office, looking to find ways to diffuse the bombshell that Claire dropped the night before. Chapter 43 ramps things up to an extraordinary degree, and starts right from where the previous episode left off. If you thought the drama levels had been high so far this season, you haven't seen anything yet. There are spoilers to be found here, so tread carefully and don't fall afoul of Frank Underwood's tactics.