Underwood himself is under the impression they’re definite yes votes, and tells Stamper as such when he arrives at the office to strategize a bit more. The Abrams-Vanderberg meeting goes as you’d expect post-Underwoods fight. He sends Linda away, says it’s their little secret. Underwood immediately sees the opportunity. We see Linda trying to rearrange the schedule-she was originally supposed to fly to Stanford to help convince the provost to get into Stanford after his initial rejection. Instead Walker offers him Linda (against her expressed desires) for the day to drum up direct support with various senators. He’s begging to get one statement from the Oval Office to scare up the last bit of support, but they can’t based on their current rocky relationship with oil and gas. Underwood’s next meeting is with Walker and Linda. The meeting is set for tomorrow-Abrams and Vanderberg with Claire. He screams at her about the situation, catches himself, calms down, and then asks her to talk with senators on the fence about the Watershed Bill! Claire begrudgingly agrees to it… Underwood’s next move is meeting with the two politicians and frightening them about what’s going to happen. “I don’t think you want to go hat in hand to someone who used to work for you…” and Underwood snaps. She mentions Remy could potentially be of service and Underwood immediately says “no.” Claire helped Underwood with his issues… but clearly he believes this is not the same situation. Claire reveals her issue with the non-profit and Sudan, and Underwood mentions Catherine Durant-a route Claire already tried. “Be firm and stand tall to him, he’ll respect that at least.” There are bigger fish for Underwood to fry, Matthews catfighting with Russo will have to resolve itself.įor more side issues, Underwood goes home to destress but runs into another mess. Underwood suggests simply approaching him. Matthews doesn’t want to be a team player, he’s sabotaging the whole thing and Russo wants to ask him to leave. She wants to be adult? Let her see how she can fly once she leaves the nest…” She doesn’t apologize for skipping out, rather suggests “I think we should end it… we have a really good working relationship, I don’t want to complicate that.” Underwood insists he doesn’t punish people for making adult decisions, but his tone is decidedly Underwood-ian. Zoe gets through business quickly then brings up last night. Zoe tells Underwood about Jeanine’s report-the bill is for the campaign, to appease the PA workers-and asks for a report. Next day they finally meet up at a museum. Looks like he’s been stood up in favor of Thai with Jeanine in-office. He tells Claire he loves her and appears to just be in for the night. Underwood received a text from Zoe earlier in the day, but we see him playing video games next (FPS-titles are clearly his favorite destresser). And as far as taking on Remy head-on, now is not the time. Underwood admits in a soliloquy that he can’t compete with San Corp’s financial fire power on this one, so he’ll need to resort to other means. He expresses what Frank already knows, San Corp is not happy about this. Underwood’s next meeting is an unsurprising one-Remy. Meanwhile, a fake Fox News anchor sets up the stakes for the vote: “Peter Russo honestly have the gall to lecture us on the purity of our rivers when he’s been polluting himself for years?” Nancy has office work to do, Underwood hates kids… but Claire volunteers. Russo and Christina can’t take them forever (they’re already running late and can’t miss the first campaign event).
“People just want to see him be folksy.” Russo’s kids spill Underwood’s coffee, prompting the realization they need to move or be late for school. Apparently Matthews hasn’t been studying the bill talking points, but Underwood insists it’ll be fine. Meeting adjourned.īefore leaving, Russo has a quick meeting with Underwood. Russo is set to leave for the campaign road with Matthews in PA, but he’s available to stump in anyone’s district if they need vote support.
But Frank’s skeptical so he asks the question… how many people have been approached by San Corp already?Ĭampaign re-election funds may be on the line, but Underwood reminds them Russo’s gubernatorial campaign in PA is too (and by proxy, a future Democratic White House). He’s talking with influential Democrats in the office and people are visibly shaky, voicing plenty of concerns. Frank Underwood knows he’s in for a fight on the Watershed Bill.