The Best House of Cards, Season 5, Episode 6 Quotes

- Am I good with that statement?
- I marked it up. It's on my desk.

- I did. So contrary to your assurances that macallan would behave, we're now dealing with a leak.
- He doesn't want trouble.
- How do you know what he wants?
- You find him and you get him here.
- As soon as he knows we've backed off, he will disappear. I promise.
- No, that word means nothing to me.

- to Francis undennood and the democrats?
- One of these days the members of this room will realize how much you actually prop up the status quo.
- And how's that working for you?
- Will, why don't we thank the gentlemen and women for their time?

- You understand?
- I do.
- I should explain something to you, governor.
[Chuckles] If you ever talk to me like that again,
- I'll make sure you never win another election in your life.
- Are you threatening me?
- No, I'm enlightening you.

- And...
- I don't know, feed the children...
- Start a war...
[Sighs] You know what? I'm sorry.
- I shouldn't think out loud, that's all.
- No, you're right.
- Let's not talk about anything that happens outside of this room.

Mark: We can't cancel any trip, or any event. We shouldn't.
- A second to catch our breath would be really helpful, I think.
- This is what it is, Hannah.
- If you need to take a break, you can.
- Darling, we haven't slept all week.
- You're exhausted.
- It's just an idea.
- What's my next call?

- I don't know. Why?
- Oh, somebody from the herald called.
- They were just wondering if you knew her.
- I don't.
- I need five minutes with this.
- Open or closed?
- Closed.

- This is everything they sent from Zoe's apartment.
- I just, you know...
- I just can't seem to throw anything out.
- I mean, it's just papers, but...
- Anyway, I'll leave you to it.
- Okay. Thank you.
- Yeah.

[first lines]
Claire: [her hand on the Bible] I, Claire Hale Underwood, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States
Francis: [to the camera] I'm proud of her. She deserves this. Even if it only lasts for a couple of weeks.
Claire: ...and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.
[camera shutter clicking]
Francis: Congratulations, Madam Acting President.
[kisses her]

- to keep prices down.
[Sighs] Contact ambassador caspi and buy me 15 more minutes.
- Uh, please don't think of this as a deal with the undennoods.
- To be frank, they could be gone by Monday.
- That's not what I wish, of course.
- But know that you are working more with me on this than with them.

Francis: There it is. How the righteous love to bemoan their role in middle management, and condemn those who actually might have an effect on the world.

- Who are you working for?
- Excuse me?
- I served next to yourjellied spine for two decades.
- You've never shown an ounce of courage.
- You don't have what it takes for revenge.
- So someone must have offered you something rather sweet.
- Take all of the two hours you need to reconsider.

- So, I'm gonna call her back, and we are going to apologize.
- Will.
[Sighs] Will, get back here!
- Will!
- Enough.
- Shut the door.

- I went out on a limb here.
- If we don't have a vote in the house, then what?
- Mark Usher is your friend, not mine.
- Mark Usher's no one's friend.
- Francis undennood hasn't won a thing, okay?
- And there's a very good, more than a good chance that will Conway will be the next president of the United States.

Francis: Throwing the election back to the states, it gives us less certainty.
Claire: I don't think we can get it done by Monday. We've been working at it for weeks, Francis.
Francis: Claire, don't let the office make you careful. The halls of Congress have never failed me.

Viktor: You Americans certainly have a lot of presidents these days.
Francis: Yes, you may think that we're distracted, but don't fool yourself.
Viktor: Distracted? No. No, no. Divided, yes.
Francis: American democracy is stronger than your sad attempt to take advantage of a bump in the road.
Viktor: Francis, my eyes are on a landscape that is so much bigger than any one of your roads.

Francis: I served next to your jellied spine for two decades. You've never shown an ounce of courage. You don't have what it takes for revenge.

- Rachel liked to smoke.
- She said she was gonna stop, but she would have a rule that she'd only smoke when we listened to this one band that we both loved.
- Because of the ceremony.
- "It should be a ceremony," it's what she said.

[Stutters] That office used to carry so much weight, so much, uh, respect.
- You don't think it does any more?
- No, oh, no, no!
- I'm not saying that. [Stutters]
- I was giving you a hard time.
- I know what you meant.
- Anyway, sorry, didn't mean to hijack the tour.
- Moving on... [Chuckles]

- I'm not gonna be Conway's patsy.
- No, you're not.
- He's a difficult man to be around.
- It's over. It's over.
- The process chose Claire undennood.
- We'll get there.
- You'll be called vice president, but you will be, de facto, something more.

- I'm proud of her. She deserves this.
- Even if it only lasts for a couple of weeks.
- And will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States, so help me god.
- Congratulations, madam acting president.

- Feel different?
- No.
- Liar.
- It's temporary. I'm only acting.
[Inhales sharply] Oh.
- You have to now carry this with you at all times.
- The codes?
- Mmm-hmm. It's the law.

- Petrov: Before we begin,
- I'd just like you to know that the president and the former president are on the line.
Francis: Cathy...
- Petrov: You can pick up the phone, if you like.
- Mr. President.
Francis: It's best you come back to Washington.

David: What did you think would happen when you came in here, Francis? That you could threaten me, tell me the DNC'll throw money at my primary opponent next cycle if I don't play ball? Or were you gonna flatter me? "Elder of the party" this, "bellwether senior member" that.
Francis: [getting nose-to-nose] You know, I'm somewhat delighted that you developed a personality at this late date. But I would ask you to rethink this. To come out this way on this thing in the twilight of your career will do nothing but sully your Wikipedia page.

Terry: So, does anyone else have any questions for the governor?
Will: Well, I have a question. What has Francis Underwood ever done for you? This little charade this morning... Well done.
Mark: [interrupting] Will.
Will: Quite an act...
Mark: Governor.
Will: No, but really. See, you may have differences with me... You may have genuine differences with me. But see, that's the operative word, genuine. Can someone here please explain to me why you all are still loyal to Francis Underwood and the Democrats? One of these days the members of this room will realise how much you actually prop up the status quo. And how's that working for you?

- We, uh, have several people in mind.
- I want you to appoint Elizabeth Benson.
- Well, she's liberal enough for you to swallow, and conservative enough when it counts.
Claire: Yes, but we don't have time for senate hearings.
Mark: I can make a recess happen.

Terry: [muscling her] The House should and will decide!
Claire: Delaware has one congressman. How will that play in Austin when your opponent in two years tells voters that you allowed a state like Delaware to have the same influence as Texas? A lot of your incumbents will be in danger of losing their seats. And there it is.
Francis: [to the camera] Look. Look at them. That is the look of contemplating loss. Loss, the only constituent that anyone in this room really listens to.

Mark: It was a wager. The potential gains made it necessary.
Will: It was a complete waste of my time. If you don't start turning things around, you're going to be out on your fucking ass. You understand?
Mark: I do. I should explain something to you, Governor. If you ever talk to me like that again... I'll make sure you never win another election in your life.
Will: Are you threatening me?
Mark: No, I'm enlightening you.

- So I followed up.
- You looked through my notes.
- You're out.
- What?
- You're fired, jeffries.
- It's a story, I was following it.
- I don't want you on my team.
- Get out of my office.

- But people love stories about dead girls.
- The next house vote is the day after tomorrow.
- The natives are restless, outraged, just plain scared, actually.
- They want to wake up in the america that they fell asleep in.
- Dig deeper on the kalabi lead.
- See if you can connect undennood to it.

- I'll fire you.
- I'll leave you on the goddamn tarmac.
Mark: Okay.
- What the fuck are you gonna do?
- Sit down and try and act like an adult...
- Or at least like the next president of the United States.
- Sit.

- You got me.
- Is that better?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah...
- So the Lincoln...
- That was actually his office?
- Can we not?
- Can you... can you move me up a bit?
- Yeah.
[Grunts] Okay.

Mark: [getting right to the point] Okay. The Black Caucus? Really?
Francis: [to the camera] I like Mark, because I always know where he stands. It's usually on someone's neck.

- This is a meeting of the congressional black caucus.
- Well, I understand. That's why we're here.
- I was told 9:00, and it's already been an hour.
- You should've been told 10:00, and you will get your opportunity to address us.
- I appreciate your Patience.