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克莱尔在电话里劝弗兰克让步，以母亲现在的病情，她不忍心丢下母亲返回党代会。不如让凯茜当上竞选搭档，等到正式大选时，再做较量。
Claire：Maybe we should let Cathy have her way. If the vote's held now, you two win.We focus on the general.
Frank：What's brought all this on?
Claire：I just wonder if we're in over our heads, Francis, trying to do this.
Frank：Is it your mother?I'm sure it's diffcult to see her this sick.
Claire：She's completely helpless.
Frank：But we're not helpless. We can turn this around.
Claire：I guess I'm just……I don't know, maybe……maybe we're making a mistake. Maybe I'm not ready to be your running mate.Conway has a four-star general……
Frank：Is she happy, your mother?
Claire：No, she's miserable. Tom makes her laugh, but mostly, no.
Frank：Imagine my liver's failing. Imagine I'm dying.
Claire：Francis……
Frank：No, I just want you to picture it for just a moment. There I am, lying in a bed just like your mother is now.The only thing that would make me happy is to know that you would ；take over after I passed.If it were Cathy, I'd be just as miserable as your mother is.I'll do my part.You just concentrate on that speech.
Claire：All right. Thank you, Francis.
Frank：Good night.
克莱尔：也许我们应该让凯茜得逞。如果现在投票，你们获胜，我们大选再战。
弗兰克：为什么这么说？
克莱尔：我只是在想我们这么做是不是不自量力，弗兰西斯。
弗兰克：是你母亲吗？看到她病得这么重一定很不好受吧。
克莱尔：她非常无助。
弗兰克：但我们并不无助，我们可以扭转局势。
克莱尔：我想我只是……我不知道，也许我们错了，也许我还没准备好做你的竞选伙伴。康威有个四星将军……
弗兰克：你母亲快乐吗？
克莱尔：不，她很痛苦。汤姆逗她笑，但大多数时候不快乐。
弗兰克：想象一下我肝衰竭了，想象一下我要死了。
克莱尔：弗兰西斯……
弗兰克：不，你就想象一下我躺在床上，像你母亲现在一样。唯一能让我高兴的事，就是知道我走了以后你会接手。如果是凯茜，我会和你母亲一样痛苦。我会做好我的事，你就专注你的讲话。
克莱尔：好的，谢谢你，弗兰西斯。
弗兰克：晚安。
adj.奇妙的；钦佩的；远超过预期的
n.奇迹；惊奇；奇观；奇人
vt.惊奇；对……感到好奇；感到诧异；想弄明白
vi.惊讶；怀疑；想知道
例句：
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was the pyramids.
金字塔是古代世界的七大奇迹之一。
I was wondering if you can do me a favor.
不知你能不能帮我个忙。
No wonder my sister doesn't like you.
难怪我妹妹不喜欢你。
adj.无助的；无能的；没用的
I never felt so helpless in my entire life.
我在我整个生命中，从来没有感觉这么无助过。
They no longer feel helpless because they have found a way to deal with it.
他们不再感觉无助，因为他们找到了应对方式。
adj.悲惨的；痛苦的；卑鄙的
例句：
You look miserable. Tell me what happened.
你看起来愁眉苦脸的，告诉我发生了什么。
She felt lonely and miserable after they all left.
他们都走后她感到寂寞和凄凉。
集中精力于，全神贯注于
例句：
I quit my job to concentrate on dancing.
我辞职是为了专心跳舞。
You should concentrate on your work.
你应该沉下心来工作。
弗兰克没有再给威廉·康威与绑架者谈判的机会，由他亲自交涉。弗兰克拿出了尤瑟夫·艾哈迈德这个筹码。只要释放被绑架的米勒一家，弗兰克就会允许绑匪与艾哈迈德通话。
Frank：This is the president.
Joshua：Put on Conway.
Frank：You will speak to me.
Joshua：No, we only talk to him or we hang up.
Frank：Do you hear the helicopters yet?Or the dogs?We're getting closer and we will fnd you. The only question is will you work with us before we get there?The money's not happening and neither is the military withdrawal.But you're smart enough to know that.The objective here is Ahmadi, and that's what I'd like to discuss.
Joshua：Well, the choice is yours. You either meet our demands or you don't.
Frank：I spoke at length last night with Governor Conway. I wasof a mind to ignore your call this morning, but he convinced me that we should keep talking.Isn't that right, Governor?
Conway：I just want a peaceful resolution.
Frank：As do I. You wanted to include the Governor, I want to include Ahmadi.
Joshua：You're trying to stall.
Frank：You refusing to speak to your leader?
Joshua：Is he on now?
Frank：You release the Millers, then we put him on.
Joshua：No, you don't get to dictate terms.
Frank：We show good will when you show good will. I'm giving you ten seconds to reconsider your position.After that, we disconnect the call.
Joshua：Insha'Allah. We'll kill them.
Frank：Ten seconds, starting now. Five seconds.End the call.
Joshua：One hostage.
Frank：All three.
Joshua：One.
Frank：Give us the daughter and the mother.
Joshua：No, we keep the girl.
Frank：You managed to get the president of the United States on the phone not once, but twice. You will release the daughter and the mother or you will never hear from me again, and you will lose your chance to speak to your leader.Tell me now.
弗兰克：我是总统。
约书亚：让康威接电话。
弗兰克：你跟我说。
约书亚：不，我们只跟他谈，否则挂断。
弗兰克：听到直升机了吗？还有狗吠，我们接近了，很快就能找到你。唯一的问题是，我们抓到你们之前，你们是否愿意合作。赎金和撤军都别指望了，但你够聪明，早就知道重点在于艾哈迈德，这是我想谈的。
约书亚：选择权在你，你要么满足我们的要求，要么不满足。
弗兰克：我昨晚跟康威州长深谈过，我今早本想无视你的电话，但他说服我继续跟你沟通。是吧，州长？
康威：我只想寻求和平解决方案。
弗兰克：我也是。你想叫上州长，我想叫上艾哈迈德。
约书亚：你是在拖延。
弗兰克：你不想跟你的领袖说话吗？
约书亚：他现在在线吗？
弗兰克：你释放米勒一家，我们就让他跟你通话。
约书亚：不，你无权谈条件。
弗兰克：你表现出诚意，我们才会还以诚意。我给你10秒钟重新考虑，之后我们就切断电话。
约书亚：真主的旨意，我们会杀了他们。
弗兰克：10秒钟，现在开始。5秒钟。结束通话。
约书亚：一个人质。
弗兰克：所有三个。
约书亚：一个。
弗兰克：把女儿和母亲交出来。
约书亚：不，我们要留下女孩。
弗兰克：你已经两次打通了美国总统的电话，你得释放女儿和母亲，否则我再也不会与你联络了，而且你会失去与你的领袖通话的机会。现在回答我。
挂起；挂断电话；搁置；拖延
例句：
Do me a favor and hang up my coat.
帮我个忙，帮我把外套挂起来。
She hung up on me.
她挂断了我的电话。
The talks were hung up for a week.
谈判中止了一个星期。
The plan has been hung up.
该计划被搁置起来。
vt.忽视；不理睬；驳回诉讼
例句：
These are facts and you can't just ignore them.
这是事实，不能视而不见。
We cannot ignore such provocations.
对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。
The girl felt ignored by her parents.
那个女孩感到被父母忽视了。
vt.&vi.拒绝；不愿；抵制
n.垃圾；废物
refuse用作及物动词时，可以直接后接各种宾语；refuse用作不及物动词时，后接动词不定式。
例句：
They refused to pay their taxes.
他们拒不纳税。
My aunt refused to go to work.
我婶婶不肯去上班。
She refused his invitation to his birthday party.
他请她参加生日派对，她拒绝了他的邀请。
vt.释放；发射；让与；允许发表
n.释放；发布；解除；公映的新影片，发布的新闻
例句：
He was released from prison after serving a sentence of ten years.
他在服刑十年后从狱中释放出来。
These pills release you from your sufferings forever.
这些药丸将永远解除你的痛苦。
The video has sold two million copies in its frst month on release.
影碟推出的第一个月就卖出了200万张。
n.人质；抵押品
例句：
The hostage's mouth was taped.
人质的嘴被用胶布封住了。
The three of us was held hostage by a hooded gunman.
我们三个被一个蒙面的持枪歹徒劫为人质。
弗兰克面见汤姆，指责他的报道是没有证据的指控。但是同时有助理党鞭、前幕僚长外加一位前总统公开作证，也足够引起民众怀疑，导致司法部介入调查。事已至此，巧舌如簧如弗兰克也无法继续忽悠。
Frank：Tom.
Tom：Mr. President.
Frank：I'm gonna ask that everything we discuss today is off the record.
Tom：Understood.
Frank：Now, the last time we met, it was in the vice president's offce, and you claim that I acquired that offce by manipulating Matthews.
Tom：I don't claim that. President Walker does.
Frank：Oh, yes. A man made bitter by his own mistakes.And you also claim that I then acquired this offce by pushing out that very same man.
Tom：Danton and Sharp corroborated.
Frank：Oh, yes. Two people with very big chips on their shoulders, fabricating all this nonsense to justify their infdelity.
Tom：You're saying you didn't blackmail them?
Frank：I pressure a lot of people, Tom. That's part of politics.But never those two.
Tom：Danton's parents say LeAnn Harvey came to their house in Miami.
Frank：Well, I imagine that's because he wanted LeAnn on the Russian plan.
Tom：Then why did she come to him instead of him coming to her?
Frank：Look, I'm not gonna get into the weeds on this, but let's just cut to the chase. The allegations that you're making are just as ludicrous as they were the frst time we met.
Tom：I had nothing concrete then. This time I do.
Frank：Three people with an ax to grind, no hard evidence and some travel logs?I'd hardly call that concrete.
Tom：It's enough for a story.
Frank：You're foating an idea out of thin air. Let's just call this what it is：blatant sensationalism tied to the election……
Tom：I don't foat.
Frank：Tied to an election to boost your circulation because the Herald is losing readership.
Tom：Sir, I don't float stories to see if they're seaworthy, and I don't give a shit about circulation. The only thing I care about is the truth.
Frank：The truth?So have you reached out to Raymond Tusk for a comment?Or Daniel Lanagin?I don't see their quotes in here. I mean, if you're going for the truth, doesn't that include being thorough?Being balanced?
Tom：Which is why I'm giving you an opportunity to comment.
Frank：And what about any members of Congress?I don't see their quotes in here.
Tom：I'm sure they'll answer my calls once this article comes out.
Frank：Oh, I think you're afraid to make those calls，‘cause you know they'll see this for what it is……unsupported tabloid gossip.
Tom：The assistant whip, your former Chief of Staff, an ex-president of the United States. That's not gossip.It's news.There's no way the Justice Department doesn't open up an inquiry.And if they don't, the Republicans in Congress will.Downplay this all you want, but you know where this story leads.
Frank：I know what this story is. Political sabotage, plain and simple.Margaret Tilden used to have some integrity, Tom.And so did you.Why are you wasting America's time with this, in the middle of this crisis?Where is your conscience?
Tom：That's the question I want you to answer.
弗兰克：汤姆。
汤姆：总统先生。
弗兰克：我得说明白，今天我们的谈话不能公开。
汤姆：明白。
弗兰克：上次我们见面的时候，是在副总统的办公室，你指控我靠操纵马修斯当上了副总统。
汤姆：指控你的不是我，是沃克总统。
弗兰克：是啊，那个自尝苦果心怀怨愤的男人。你还声称是我阴谋赶走了他坐上了总统之位。
汤姆：丹顿和夏普证实了此事。
弗兰克：是啊，这两个人和我有很深的宿怨，无非是想给他们的不忠编个借口罢了。
汤姆：你是说你没胁迫过他们？
弗兰克：我曾对许多人施压，汤姆，这是政治的一部分，但从没威胁过他们。
汤姆：丹顿的父母说，莉安·哈维拜访过他们在迈阿密的家。
弗兰克：那应该是他想拉拢莉安支持他的俄罗斯计划。
汤姆：那为什么是她上门，而不是他去找她？
弗兰克：我不跟你扯什么有的没的，我就跟你直说了吧，你现在提出的这些指控，就和你第一次见我时所说的一样都是胡扯。
汤姆：我当时没什么确实证据，这回我有了。
弗兰克：就光那三个急于报复我的人，出行记录，连点干货都没有吗？这算不上什么“确实”证据。
汤姆：写报道已经够看了。
弗兰克：你这简直是凭空捏造，让我戳穿你的真实意图吧，你就是想趁大选搞个大新闻哗众取宠……
汤姆：我没有捏造。
弗兰克：哗众取宠来提升你们的发行量，因为《先驱报》的读者在大量流失。
汤姆：先生，我绝不会捏造故事试探风向，我对发行量更是毫不在乎，我现在只关注真相。
弗兰克：真相？所以你联系雷蒙德·塔斯克要他评论了吗？或是丹尼尔·拉尼根？我可没看见他们的言论。如果你真的要调查真相，难道不该查得全面一点，公正一点吗？
汤姆：所以我才想给你机会就此事发表评论。
弗兰克：还有国会的议员，我也没看见他们的言论。
汤姆：相信等文章发布，他们会接我的电话的。
弗兰克：我看你压根不敢打给他们，因为你知道他们会看穿报道的实质，毫无根据的小报八卦。
汤姆：助理党鞭、你的前幕僚长外加一位美国前总统，这可不是八卦，这是新闻。司法部肯定会展开听证调查的。就算司法部无视，国会共和党人也不会放过的。随你贬低我，但你知道这事会是什么结果。
弗兰克：我知道这是怎么回事，政治陷害，就这么简单。玛格丽特·蒂尔顿当年没这么下作，汤姆，你也是。你为什么要浪费全国人民的时间，非挑眼下这个危急关头，你的良心哪去了？
汤姆：我也想问你这个问题。
非正式的；不可引用的；不宜公开的；非官方的
例句：
What I told you just now is off the record.
我刚才所说的要保密。
Nearly every conversation with him is off the record.
几乎每一次与他的对话都是非正式的。
He makes some comments off the record about his new book.
他私下做了一些关于他新书的评论。
vt.获得；取得；学到；捕获
例句：
Knowledge is acquired, not innate.
知识是后天获得的，不是先天就有的。
He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty.
他得到了奸诈的名声。
They acquired the target by radar.
他们用雷达捕获了目标。
vt.制造；伪造；装配
例句：
The wrench is fabricated from high quality steel.
扳手是由精钢制成。
No matter how well we fabricate this story, it's never the truth.
不管我们把这个故事编造得有多么好，它都不是事实。
The student fabricate an excuse for being late.
这名学生为迟到编了一个借口。
n.胡闹；胡说，废话；荒谬的念头；愚蠢的行为
adj.荒谬的；无意义的
int.荒唐
例句：
I'm not buying any of that nonsense.
我才不信那些废话呢。
That's sheer nonsense, he's lying to you.
那完全是扯淡，他在骗你。
代替……；而不是……
例句：
It's healthier to drink tea instead of cola.
喝茶比喝可乐更健康。
Linda spent her time shopping online instead of reading.
琳达不把时间花在读书上，而是花在网购上了。
adj.滑稽的；荒唐的；可笑的
例句：
That's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.
那是我听到的最可笑的事。
It's ludicrous to think that Stephanie can fnish the task in time.
认为斯蒂芬妮可以按时完成任务很可笑。
Any reasonable person would call this a ludicrous situation.
任何有理智的人都会觉得你的做法太愚蠢了。
美国各党的党代表大会每四年举办一次，每个政党在此期间都会决定最终谁来参加总统选举。早前党代表大会往往承担着宣布政党政纲、投票选出总统候选人的使命。但是因为美国选举法的变更以及初选制度的建立，实际在初选期间，候选人早已决定，20世纪中期以后，党代表大会开始成为各政党争取媒体曝光的造势活动。
如今，党代表大会虽然不能再决定总统候选人，但仍然是为各党总统候选人造势吸睛的重要活动。党代会也成了缺少政党经验的参选人宣传自己的有力途径。现在的美国政坛上，不被政党看好却脱颖而出的政治家并不少见。因为大会超高的曝光度，参选人获得了更多的自由来宣传自己，而不再像一个世纪以前屈从于党内错综复杂的关系或者党内大佬的意志。
虽然名曰党代会，但其实党代会的参与者不仅仅包括代表们，大量的社会活动家以及抗议者也是党代会不可缺少的一部分。几乎每次民主党和共和党的党代会都伴随着抗议示威。在大会内场，总统候选人在为自己未来的活动造势；而在会场外，活动家们也在争取他们的主张被更多人知晓。
直至2015年6月之前，美国的人质赎金政策一直是非常清晰的。法律明确规定：“为能安全解救人质，美国政府不会支付赎金，也不会对恐怖分子做出政治让步。”人质家属如果试图支付赎金，甚至可能被司法部起诉。这项政策有别于很多国家，在欧洲，一些国家会考虑向恐怖分子支付赎金，也绝不会干涉人质家属的营救努力和支付赎金。但白宫相信坚持“不付赎金、不予让步”的立场反而保护了美国人。
2015年6月24日，美国前总统奥巴马在接见多位人质家属之后，颁布行政命令，更改美国对人质事件的处理原则。过去，美国政府因为做法过分僵化，饱受批评。奥巴马指示相关单位，不要再干涉人质家属试图付钱救人。奥巴马承认政府的做法不够弹性，官署用法办来恐吓人质家属，禁止他们支付赎金，更是完全不合情理。奥巴马强调美国不向绑架者妥协的立场没有松动，不过不妥协不表示也不能沟通。在新的政策下，奥巴马政府将委派一名特使负责美国政府与其他国家就海外美国人质问题的交流和联系。