Godless (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Ma'am?

- Is it my mother?

- Yes, ma'am.

Put her through.

The doctor said there's

nothing to do but wait.

- I'll be fine.

I know.

Mami.

I know!

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

No, I'm sorry. That's

not going to work.

The governor has a 4:00 p.m.

meeting with the Black Caucus

and then we're scheduled

to tape for a talk show.

Governor's reading mean tweets.

No, tweets.

Hold on. I'll ask.

Um, how do we look at 6:30?

Who is it?

- Seven.

- How is 7:00 p.m.? Okay.

Yes, I understand.

I'll tell her verbatim.

Uh-huh, okay.

6:30.

- Okay, where were we?

- Oh, we're up 18 points.

Adelson is trying to jump

on the g*y marriage legislation

- saying he supported it from

inception. - My inception.

And now with the ab*rtion bill

moving through the Senate,

he's trying to gain

some momentum as speaker.

Can he catch me?

He has some time

before the primary,

but yesterday was

a good day for us.

Uh-huh. Can he catch me?

Not unless there's

a catastrophe.

When would the bill

land on my desk?

If it gets out of the senate

before the break,

- October, November.

- So theoretically,

it could pass

before the election.

Maybe.

Oh, I had an idea.

How about you preside

over the first g*y

marriage in the state?

It's been 24 hours

since you signed the bill.

They already have

10,000 applications.

We could hold a lottery.

And the winner would

have you preside.

- A celebrity couple.

- Ooh.

Someone that you'd call

a friend so it doesn't seem

- like they're paying for it.

- Don't worry.

I'll find you some g*y friends.

- I have g*y friends.

- Who?

- You.

- Besides me.

- Well, that was interesting.

- What is?

Carl Reyes is seeking

the Republican nomination.

- How do you know?

- They just offered me a job.

- Take it. - Could Reyes split

the Latino vote?

- Reyes is a nobody. - Yeah, but

how many votes could he pull?

Reyes is a nobody.

He'll run strong

on Long Island and upstate,

so without knowing more

about him, 20 points?

And he has some

money behind him.

- How much money?

- Who's behind him?

I don't know and I don't know.

- Well, find out for

me. - Done.

Oh, and then take the job?

Governor?

Father Jamie Allante is here

from Bishop Roland's office.

Who's Bishop Roland?

- I know who he is. -

Does he have an appointment?

- No.

- Is the bishop here?

Only Father Jamie.

Um, thank you, Mia.

Can you give us a minute?

- You know that drives me crazy.

- What?

When she speaks

to you in Spanish.

You don't like it

when people speak Spanish?

Yeah. She does it so that I

don't know what she's saying.

- So learn Spanish. I did.

- Oh, yeah? What did she say?

- That you're an as*h*le.

- Okay, it's a habit.

- I have known her forever. -

Whatever. Who is Bishop Roland?

He's the

bishop of my diocese.

He wrote me a letter when I was

pushing the g*y marriage bill.

- Saying? - Saying that hell is

a reality and I'm free to choose

it.

- Ouch.

- Yeah.

And that it's his responsibility

to make sure I'm not

going down the wrong path.

That even though

I'm a politician,

- I can't divorce my faith.

- Why didn't you tell me?

Well, it's not really

something I wanted to publicize.

- So why is a priest here?

- Well, I signed the bill.

He's probably here to tell me

not to receive communion.

Yeah. I'm

gonna get rid of him.

No, it's okay. I expected this.

Just send him in.

Mia, send in Father Jamie.

Por favor.

- Excuse me.

- Father Jamie,

this is Nico Pappas,

my chief of staff.

Jessica Sahn, public

relations director.

- How may I help you?

- Um, Bishop Roland

asked me to deliver this

to you personally.

Is it an invitation?

I'm sorry, Father,

I don't speak Latin.

- Excuse me. The Timesis

on two.

Excuse me.

- Bishop Roland.

- Bishop Roland, here.

Bishop Roland.

The fact remains

that you cannot,

as a sincere Catholic,

support practices

that the Church has deemed

subversive to its teachings.

And those practices would be?

In general terms, uh,

g*y marriage, ab*rtion, heresy.

But do you have

the authority to excommunicate?

Are you asking me

if the Holy See has given me

the express authority

to excommunicate Governor Porra?

I'm asking if you

have the authority to

excommunicate anyone.

When Governor Porra first

supported the same-sex marriage

bill,

I sent her a personal letter

letting her know

that she was acting contrary

to the Church's teachings,

and as a Catholic,

she was moving into

treacherous waters, so to speak.

- When

she signed that bill into law,

she chose not to

heed my warnings.

I imposed a canonical penalty,

which I have every right to do.

Is the

Vatican on board with this?

Like I said, I

have the authority

to excommunicate the governor.

That doesn't answer my question.

Bishop Roland. Bishop Roland.

Bishop Roland.

When Governor Porra signed the

marriage equality legislation

into effect,

she ceased living as

a Catholic, period.

Now she's committed

to this late-term ab*rtion bill

- moving through the Senate.

- Bishop Roland...

Ladies and gentlemen,

I, I need to cut this short.

I apologize.

Father Jamie.

Cardinal Russo.

Yes, six o'clock is fine.

- This is a sh*t show. We need

to make a statement. - We need

to strike back.

- How the hell do we strike back

against the Church? - I'll think

of something.

- What about the Vatican?

- I already reached out.

- What did they say?

- They weren't in.

f*cking hysterical, Jess.

What about

Cardinal Russo?

He deflected to the bishop.

Who is the Catholic liaison

- to our office?

- The newest-appointed bishop.

- Who is that?

- Bishop Roland.

Jesus Christ.

- I wanna know everything there

is about this bishop. - I'm on

it already.

- First Adelson is up six

points. - sh*t.

- Reyes has called a

press conference. - sh*t.

- sh*t!

- So has Adelson.

Governor.

What?

- I will call him back.

- And...

What?

Just... she can hold.

I want someone from the Church

to turn this around.

How many Catholics

are there in the state?

Over five million, at least.

And the primary's ten days away.

You can discount 70% of the

Catholics voting in that,

anyway.

Let's just get through

the primary and then regroup.

I've set up meetings with the

laborers' unions, the teachers

and the PBA.

We need a strong push, and now.

Set up a press conference

for tomorrow morning.

Hola, mami.

His Eminence is here. Early.

Your Eminence.

Bishop Roland.

Can I offer you anything?

Jamie, did you offer

the Cardinal tea? Coffee?

Just some privacy.

Your Eminence.

Reggie. Reggie.

What have you done?

What I had to.

You should have asked me.

- And what would you have said?

- To wait.

Wait until what?

She's president?

- We had a plan.

- This is the plan.

The plan was to make sure we had

a candidate who would be on

board.

We have that.

- With no loose ends?

- I met with him myself.

The funds to make

this a reality?

It's taken care of.

Finally, the support of Rome?

Ah. Reggie.

I don't need the

support of Rome.

Oh, Reggie, come on!

Please.

Thank you.

I sent her the letter

requesting she change her ways.

- I know. - When she first

proposed the g*y marriage bill.

- I remember.

- I was very discreet.

I told her the risk

she was taking.

- What did she do?

- She signed the bill.

That's right. And so now,

I sent another letter.

And you had to CCThe Times?

Seventy million Catholics.

If she becomes the president,

this is who they will look to.

They'll look to Rome.

Now they will.

I gave you this position

and there was pushback.

- I know.

- Your time in Vietnam.

- Chris...

- You've been here ten months.

I need this?

If this goes south

and they strip you

of your title, what then?

- If that must be.

- Damn it, Reggie!

- We had a plan.

- This is the plan.

This is not the plan!

I gave you this picture.

The Prince of Peace.

I bought it in a flea market.

Sarasota, Florida.

I remember. You'd just

been appointed bishop.

An Italian from New York City.

And you had just

started at St. Peter's.

That church had bad plumbing,

but the town had great conch

fritters.

That is not a good combination.

No, it's not.

I did hate to leave though.

Well, Lord takes you

where the Lord takes you.

You took me north.

And now look at you,

front page of The

New York Times.

This is gonna fall

on me, Reggie.

Good morning.

Thank you all for coming today.

In my 25 years of

public service,

I never thought that

I would be addressing you

from this podium

about matters of my faith.

First and foremost,

I want to say

that I consider

myself a Catholic.

I was baptized, I went

to St. Mary's High School,

I was married at our Lady of

Mount Carmel Church in Brooklyn

and I attend mass every Sunday.

Well, almost every Sunday.

I believe in the Holy Trinity,

the forgiveness of sins

and the Holy Father in Rome.

But I also believe that

love is not limited

to just a man and a woman.

When I proposed the marriage

equality legislation last year,

I did so with the belief that

it was the right thing to do.

Everyone, regardless of

whether you are g*y or straight,

has the right to marry.

I did this with a

clear conscience

and I did this with the belief

that it is my duty

as your governor

to represent this state

to the best of my ability,

so help me God.

Now you are all aware

of the unprecedented letter

I received from Bishop

Reginald Roland.

In it, he has informed me

that based upon my actions

as your governor,

specifically lobbying for

and ultimately signing

the marriage

equality legislation,

that I have been excommunicated

under Canon 1371,

that states that

Bishop Roland may apply

a just penalty upon someone

who "obstinately rejects

an authoritative

teaching of the Church."

I have been in contact

with the Vatican,

Cardinal Christopher

Russo's office

and the Vicar General

here in New York

as to whether I have

indeed been excommunicated

as Bishop Roland

has unilaterally decreed.

As far as I am concerned,

one man without the support

of the Roman Catholic Church

cannot excommunicate me.

Now as you know, a

bill which expands

a woman's right to choose

has been introduced

to our legislature.

As I believe my oath dictates,

if it is the will of the people,

I will sign that bill into law.

This I also do with

a clear conscience.

I say to you all that I still

consider myself a Catholic

and I will see you

at mass on Sunday. Thank you.

Heretic!

Heretic! Do not call

yourself a Christian.

You do not serve our Lord

by your own greed.

The false prophet.

"And a wolf shall come before us

preaching perverse words

- "and she will lead the true

faithful unto worship." - All

right, all right.

- Come on. Come on. - Get,

get your hands off of me.

Bishop Roland has

issued his decree!

This is America!

This is America!

- Get your hands...

- What a fiasco.

We need to make a statement.

I don't think we should say

anything at all.

I'm getting on the phone

with the Vatican in an hour.

Every newspaper

has picked this up.

We concluded the synod, and they

wanna know if the Pope is behind

us.

I can't tell them

we're doing nothing.

I think, Your Eminence,

that is exactly

what we tell them.

We say we'll

investigate the matter,

see where the dust settles,

and then we'll go from there.

But if we take a stance

admonishing the bishop's

position,

we risk alienating

the Catholics,

not just in the US, but abroad.

- And if we support it? - Then

there will be a call for the

Church

to excommunicate all politicians

who have ever

supported ab*rtion,

g*y rights or, or assisted

suicide and the list goes on.

- Which is what we want.

- Which is what you want.

- Excuse me?

- If I remember correctly,

we were supposed to get on board

with this fellow Reyes,

give him some money and chip

away at the governor's base.

- Slowly, surely.

- No, no, no.

You wanted to move

slowly and surely.

- Notwe. I want a change.

- This is not change, Reggie.

Change happens by degrees.

There are different

ways to go about it.

- This is not change.

- Then what is it?

This is a nuclear b*mb.

You know you never had

the stomach for this, Jack.

The stomach for what?

- To do what's needed! God...

God... - Hey Reggie!

We're in this together.

Don't forget that.

I know.

So don't beat up Jack

when you jumped the g*n.

I apologize.

Jack, I apologize.

We're already dealing

with a crisis of faith

from the abuse scandals,

so this is not coming

at a good time.

Ramming this down

the throats of the faithful

especially since Rome

has not yet made a stance on it.

- The synod has. - The synod

made a recommendation.

There's a difference.

But our bishop has.

But the bishop is not Rome.

But the bishop

is representative of the Church,

under you, of course.

And to the Catholics

in the United States,

Bishop Roland and the Vatican

are not mutually exclusive.

- If the synod has concluded...

- Can I say something?

No!

All right.

I have an idea.

What do you

have to say, Roland?

I say the die is cast.

Please, Your Eminence,

we need to see where this goes.

If the governor

loses the primary,

every Catholic politician

in the United States

will think twice before

proposing, voting,

signing into law any bill

that supports her views.

Even if she squeaks by,

the damage will be done.

Look, I was never

in favor of excommunication.

I think that Bishop Roland

should have advised her

simply not to take communion.

Thank you.

It would've sent a message

and it would follow suit

with what all the other bishops

have done in the past.

- Thanks, Jack.

- Let me finish.

It was a drastic step.

And maybe you're right.

Maybe what this country needs

is a big kick in the a*s.

The bishop is right.

If this goes the way we hope,

it could be a big game changer.

But we have to address

what's in front of us.

To address it now

would be a mistake.

You're sure?

What other choice do we have?

I think that choice

has been taken away

from us already.

By whom?

The governor herself.

This is Father Elias.

In the first reading,

the Lord speaks of the role

of a prophet as a watchman.

As the name suggests,

a watchman is a lookout,

someone who warns us

of impending danger

so that we may take

the appropriate action.

I think we're all watchmen.

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

- The body of Christ.

- Amen.

- The

Times article should drop today.

Also, um, I've arranged

for a piece to be done

about states that allow

late-term ab*rtion.

Women who have to travel when

their home state outlaws them.

- What's the angle?

- Cost.

If you're poor, you're screwed.

You have to cover

doctors, travel, hotel.

- What about insurance?

- Depends on the state.

- Focus on the ones that don't.

- I already did.

I also made sure that each woman

I interviewed was Catholic

and had complications that would

endanger her life or the

child's.

Beautiful. You see,

this is why I love you.

Oh, if only you could.

Governor?

Governor?

S?

Hola?

- Eh?

- No.

Chairman Bill

Styles is here.

Please send him

into the conference room.

Governor?

- Yeah?

- Bill Styles is here.

Okay.

Chairman.

- Angela. Ah.

- Hi.

You know everyone.

- Nico.

- Chairman.

So.

I saw you had a

little excitement

- at the press conference?

- Yeah.

- You okay?

- I'm a little shook up.

- Who was he?

- Some loon.

We think he was

a plant by Reyes.

- They lock him up? -

They held him for 24 hours.

- What? - He never threatened

me. He just called me heretic

and told me to burn in hell.

The DA said they'd be lucky

- to get disorderly conduct.

- Maybe harassment.

- Did he have a weapon?

- He had rosary beads.

I consider that a weapon.

So, how's Brooklyn?

Good. I saw your

mother the other day.

- Where?

- Leaving church.

Oh, she was praying for my soul.

Undoubtedly.

You know, they egged her stoop.

- Well, that's terrible.

- Yeah.

I had to put a detail on her

around the clock.

This is getting out of control.

- I just saw Chief Guadino.

- What's he say?

That he met with Carl Reyes.

Why is he meeting

with Carl Reyes?

They're having second

thoughts on you.

What?

The PBA is

the biggest endorsement I have.

- They can't pull it. - They're

not pulling anything yet.

- You just said...

- What they said

is they're having

second thoughts.

What I'm saying is I need you

to clean this sh*t up.

90% of that union is Catholic.

They won't get behind

you if you're out

in left field fighting

the Catholic Church.

I'm not fighting

the Catholic Church.

Oh, no? Well, let's look at it

from their point of view.

You've been excommunicated

for allowing

the gays to marry.

Correct?

- Correct?

- Correct.

Now you commit to

this ab*rtion bill

and not just ab*rtion,

but late-term ab*rtion?

- So? - So late-term ab*rtion is

more prevalent

in what strain of

the population?

- Minorities.

- Minorities!

And how's the police

department's relationship

with minorities these days?

Now tack on a Latina governor

who promotes k*lling minorities

before they're even born?

- You see what I'm saying? - All

due respect, I think that's a

stretch.

Well, not to Guadino. And as we

all know, perception is reality

and that's his perception,

which makes it our reality.

You tell Guadino

that I will f*ck him

six ways to Sunday

in the next labor agreement.

Governor, let's, uh,

just take it easy, okay?

Uh, uh, nobody is losing

anything right now.

Chief Guadino is gonna

come to his senses

once he realizes

that even without the PBA,

we still have the teachers,

and we're gonna pull this out.

The fact of the matter

is the Catholic base

is not as prevalent

as it once was,

and the police cannot afford

to not have a friend

in the governor's office.

I would agree. But

this is different.

How?

Because Bishop Roland

has every priest

on every pulpit denouncing you.

Not just g*y marriage

and ab*rtion, but you.

Heresy has a face,

and it's Governor Angela Porra

on her knees denied

the sacrament.

- Reyes is making up posters for

Christ's sake. - This is a

nightmare.

Does the Church understand

that the governor didn't

legalize ab*rtion?

She's just signing a law

that was already on the books.

- Doesn't matter.

- It should.

It doesn't.

What exactly do you think

this is all about, anyway?

An attack on your

"right to choose"?

The sanctity of Roe v. Wade?

Without stating

the obvious, yes.

Wrong. We are just a litmus test

for the Catholic Church

to see if their base

will vote. That's it.

They know if we

lose this election

that any blue state

on the fence can flip.

And if that happens,

then all bets are off.

The Church will have every

Catholic politician sh1tting in

their pants.

Then you can worry

about your right to choose.

But today, our only focus

is how to win. Okay?

All right, now what

do we know about this bishop?

Jess.

Um,

so originally from Florida,

played football for a

year at Florida State.

- Football?

- Football.

- Okay.

- 1970, joined the army.

Was sent to Vietnam.

Did he enlist or was he drafted?

Uh, I don't have

his official record,

but I'm not sure of

the significance.

The significance is

did he wanna go fight

or did they have to go

get him to go fight?

It tells us about the man

we're dealing with.

Did you enlist?

I'm sorry, what?

Did you enlist?

- Marines. - How does

that not surprise me?

Jess, please just continue.

Returned in 1972, and then,

kind of fell off the map.

Um, ultimately got

his college degree

and entered the seminary.

Ordained into the

priesthood in 1977.

Received his first

pastoral assignment

at St. Peter's near Edgewater,

and then worked directly

for the Diocese of Orlando.

Transferred to New York

about three years ago.

Settled in Brooklyn, appointed

last year as the bishop of that

diocese.

- How can we get to him? -

That's what we're trying to

figure out.

- Family?

- One sister.

- Have you reached out to her?

- No.

- Why not?

- Because she's dead.

- Right, what about Cardinal

Russo? - Roland is his protg.

They met when Russo

was the bishop of Orlando.

When he was elected Cardinal, he

brought Roland up here with him.

Oh.

Appointed. You're not elected

Cardinal. You're appointed.

Sorry. Either way,

they go back 40 years.

Okay, so call him.

- You don't think we have?

- What did he say?

- He's looking into it.

- Oh, what a prince.

Our guess is he's, uh,

waiting for the primary,

- seeing if we survive.

- We can't just survive.

Well, what would you

have me do, Bill?

I am in crisis mode here.

It's not your a*s on the line.

Hey, a president from New York

helps everyone.

We both have a lot

to lose in this election.

- Yeah, especially you. - Yeah,

you're g*dd*mn right. Me!

I backed you when you were a law

grad running for city council,

- then made you head of the taxi

commission. - Chairman.

Borough president, AG, governor.

I am fully aware of

my political history

and everybody

who got me here, big and small.

And if I am not mistaken,

you have been paid back

in spades, okay?

So don't give me any sh*t

when you're the insurance broker

for half the bids in the city.

Listen, Angela, I have a meeting

with both the state

and national chairman.

How you handle this

fiasco will dictate

- where we all are in four

years. -

How do your numbers

look in the city?

It's early, but, uh,

we've taken a hit.

We'll pull it out

in the primary.

And nationally?

- We're still waiting.

- I'm suffering.

But we're

on the cover of People.

TMZ, Twitter, our

website's blowing up.

- The college kids have really taken this on.

- - Oh, joy.

Chairman, my generation doesn't

wanna be dictated to, especially

by the Church.

Sweetheart, your generation

lives at home.

- Yeah, but we can still pull a

lever. - Jess.

I need you to look at

the big picture here.

Unless you win this election

by double digits,

you will not get the nod

to run for president.

What do you want me to do?

- Well, you went to Catholic

school? - Yeah?

- It's called contrition. -

That's not an option.

- Why do you keep speaking?

- I agree with Jess.

- I think we need to go on the

offensive. -

- Now we're taking orders from the intern?

- - Okay, Bill,

first of all, she's

not an intern.

Second of all, I give her

as much credence as I give you.

- Let me tell you something...

- No, let me tell you something.

I got here because

of two things:

my guts and my ba*ls.

And both are telling me

we go on the offensive.

Oh, well, you tell your

guts and your ba*ls

that my polls say

that they're wrong.

That the polls say that instead

of the Catholic faithful

focusing on cleaning

up their own house,

they're focusing on you

and they're gaining momentum.

And I bet they're just waiting

for you to call them out.

And when they don't back down,

what are you gonna do then?

- Divorce your faith?

- No.

- No.

- Make a deal?

This isn't some political hack

that'll owe you one

down the road, you know.

This is the Roman

Catholic Church,

and you've pissed them off.

They can outspend

you and outlast you.

They've been around

for 2000 years

and they'll be

around for 2000 more.

Let me ask you a question.

Do you think it's a coincidence

that Carl Reyes, a Latino,

has entered the race?

Or that he's a devout Catholic?

Please, do yourself a favor.

Ask for forgiveness,

receive holy communion,

and do not sign

that ab*rtion bill

if it ever crosses your desk.

Mm.

The Times

article just hit.

What does it say?

That you would make

a great president.

Your Eminence.

Jack.

Reggie.

What's the camera for?

I'm being interviewed

during the primary.

The feed will be national.

It's really nothing.

Can I get you a drink?

Not today, Reggie.

I see.

Please, sit.

- The primary.

- Yes.

- What do you think? - My sense

from the parishioners is they're

committed.

I have a meeting with the

bishops of the New York

province.

Several of the New York senators

are wavering on the ab*rtion,

but I'd like to get

them locked down.

I think denying them communion

is not out of order.

That's not going to happen.

It's a thought.

This hasn't gone as planned.

Of course it has.

The ab*rtion bill is stalled.

Now we just need

Porra to collapse.

This has not gone as planned.

Says who?

Our polls.

- Oh. - Governor Porra is going

to win the primary.

- Maybe. - Maybe? There's been a

backlash.

- Against her.

- Against us.

Do you know how much money we've

raised since the

excommunication?

There's been a slight bump.

A bump?

The diocese has doubled.

Last year's ask, doubled.

There have been a few

of our wealthier parishioners.

I don't care who it's from.

All I know is that the

base is behind this

and the fringes are

falling into line.

The faithful have something

they can get behind.

They need something they

can get behind, to unify us.

The word from Rome

is that this has created

more harm than good.

There's been

a negative reaction

toward what you've done,

not just here, but

across the country.

Your polls are wrong.

You'll see.

This needs to play out.

Besides if I lift

the excommunication now,

it may just push that

bill over the edge.

It doesn't have the votes.

Are you willing to

take that chance?

It's been decided.

I'm sorry.

"Dear Governor Porra,

any excommunication

that is imposed

by a bishopferendae sententiae

has the desired effect

to force one to see

the error of their ways

and ultimately come

back to the Church.

I imposed your excommunication

because I felt it was

in the best interest

of your spiritual well-being.

That you repent and reconsider

your support in matters

in direct contrast

to the teachings of the Church.

I believe that in

your circumstances

this has been accomplished.

The issue of your faith

should now be an internal matter

between you and your confessor.

I hereby remove

the excommunication penalty

imposed upon you by my authority

as bishop of your diocese.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Reginald Roland,

"Bishop Diocese of Brooklyn."

- That's very eloquent. Did you

write that, Jack? - Reggie.

- No, I'm not signing my name to

this. - Reggie.

We'll see what happens tonight.

We spoke about this.

And we, we agreed.

We wait until after the primary.

Jack, you were there.

I go on air in an hour.

If I bow down now,

how will it look?

To whom, Reggie?

How would it look to whom?

Why are you digging

your heels in on this?

- You've made your point.

- My point is that the Church

needs to draw a

line in the sand.

A line that not

only the faithful,

the committed can adhere to,

but one that these

cafeteria Catholics,

like Angela Porra can

adhere to as well.

The three of us, we would talk

about how we were gonna

make change on a global scale,

if that was even possible.

You remember, Jack?

I remember.

I also remember.

We had a plan.

A plan to get the

support of Rome.

Support we didn't get.

This is change.

The world is watching us.

Regardless of what

happens tonight,

you're going to

sign this letter.

And if I don't?

Then he will.

And now we turn to New York.

In one of the most

hotly-contested primaries,

incumbent Governor Angela Porra

has come under extreme fire

from the Catholic voting base

due to her excommunication

at the hands of Bishop

Reginald Roland,

bishop of the

Diocese of Brooklyn.

Once

carrying a double-digit lead

- against Senator Bruce

Adelson... - Boo!

Speaker of the Senate,

we saw that margin close

by a mere two points. So,

it's more than surprising

that Governor Porra

has such a commanding lead

as the numbers come in.

This is

staggering. Our numbers show

that she's carrying

a 30-point lead.

Her strategy has helped her

immensely. Going on the

offensive?

- Told you. - The ad

with Catholic politicians

voicing their support

for her was masterful.

Ooh, all her.

- Well done.

- You're welcome.

- That's called retaliation.

- It's not a retaliation.

- It's an uprising.

- It's not an uprising.

Well, what would you call it?

- A primary.

- A primary.

We need to build

on this momentum.

Governor.

Senator Adelson.

Hello, Senator.

Thank you, Bruce.

It was hard-fought.

Well, take a few days

and we will get back to work.

I know it's shy a few votes.

I'll do what I can.

That sounds fine.

Thank you for calling.

- How was that?

- He hates me.

Yeah, but he needs your help.

Yeah, he wants me

to stump for votes

to pass the ab*rtion bill.

You want me to set

up some meetings?

Mm-mm. Let him

get his own votes.

You're not going soft on this?

I've got three networks

that will give us a special.

First thing tomorrow,

I'll lock it down.

First thing tomorrow, set up

a meeting with Bishop Roland.

Ooh.

Wow. This is bigger

than the governor's mansion.

Please, don't be an as*h*le.

I'll try.

- Does the bishop live here alone?

- - Not always.

- I mean,

visiting clergy and special

guests are welcome.

And we have over 50 rooms,

so we can always accommodate.

And there's a dining hall,

um, several chapels,

even a crypt.

It's like a retreat

in some ways.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Well, you are always

welcome, Governor.

You too, Mr. Pappas.

- I'm Jewish.

- So was Christ.

Mm. Look what happened

to him.

Apologies, Father.

Please, okay, come this way.

Governor, I have to apologize,

but I'm a bit taken aback.

I was under the impression

that this was to be

a private meeting.

Well, I thought it was best

if Nico were here

to help us work through this.

Confession is not

a public forum.

Bishop, I'm not

here for confession.

I'm here to see

if we can work through this.

Work through what?

This... misunderstanding?

Governor, the Church

doesn't make deals.

Our doctrines are

not la carte.

We don't have the

ability to choose

what we will abide

by and what we won't.

You either subscribe

to the Church's teachings

I'm fully aware

that the Roman Catholic Church

is not in the business

of making exceptions.

So then, what do you propose?

Well, first, if it's okay,

I would like to understand why.

Canon law states...

No, uh, sorry, not the Canon law

for which you base

the excommunication,

but why I was singled out.

Other Catholic politicians

have been challenged

for taking stances

that are in direct contradiction

to the Church's teachings,

even presidential hopefuls.

But Governor Porra

is the first in recent memory

to be excommunicated.

So again, why?

I take it you've spoken

with the cardinal.

- Yes.

- What did he say?

He said that he was confident

that we could work this out,

uh, but that you are

the shepherd of your flock

and I reside in your diocese,

so ultimately the

decision is up to you.

So then the why is irrelevant.

- Is that a fact?

- It is a fact.

You, Governor, are Catholic,

and you have an

obligation to your faith.

I will not legislate my beliefs

upon another who does not share

those same beliefs.

- You know, I've heard

that before. - From whom?

Pontius Pilate.

I'm sorry, are you

comparing me to Pontius Pilate?

The fact is, Governor,

that if you refuse

to legislate your

beliefs on another,

you would not

have pushed Bruce Adelson

into sponsoring the g*y marriage

bill in the first place.

g*y marriage is here.

There's nothing that I or anyone

can do to change that.

I just got out in front of it

before someone else did.

Legislation needs to be passed

to address the changing times.

Even if you don't agree with it,

you have to realize the need.

I don't see the need.

Well I, as your governor, do.

Human law cannot,

in each and every instance,

mirror divine law.

It's a hopeless expectation.

Just ask your other friend.

Who is that?

Thomas Aquinas.

What about this ab*rtion bill?

Is there a need?

I did not push that bill.

No, but you will sign it

if it crosses your desk.

Is that what this is about?

This is about how God's laws

should be your

motivation, not votes.

Please, don't presume

to tell me what my

motivations are.

I do what I do

because my conscience

tells me to

and my constituents tell me to.

And I can guarantee

you one thing.

I will not be dictated to by you

or Cardinal Russo or Rome.

Well, that's a moot

point now, isn't it?

Nico, will you give me a moment

with the bishop, please?

Bishop.

Nico.

Will you call my mother? She's

called twice since we've been

here.

Of course.

My mother is quite anxious

to hear about our meeting.

Sorry.

- Is that her now?

- Mm-hmm, apologies.

Please take the call.

Thank you. One moment.

Okay, adis.

Apologies.

Family is important.

Family can be a pain

in the you know what.

So what's

your favorite?

Uh, my favorite?

You said she was cooking

your favorite dinner.

You speak Spanish.

Any other languages

I should be aware of?

Italian.

Oh.

And, of course, I speak Latin.

Oh, well, you got me on Latin.

Well, that's what priests speak

when we don't want anyone

knowing what we're talking

about.

That's funny.

Oh, well, to answer

your question,

it's rice and beans.

Hmm.

- Rice and beans.

- Mm-hmm.

I, um

I noticed that you have The

Prince of Peace on your wall.

- You know of it. - Yeah, I went

to an all-girls Catholic school

and sister Catherine Immaculate

had one hanging on the wall

outside of her office.

I remember 'cause

I would stare at it

while I was waiting

for her to administer

some form of punishment.

Do you know the story behind it?

I asked her why

Jesus would knock,

why he wouldn't just walk in.

He was... Jesus

Christ after all.

And she said it was

because the United Nations

didn't allow prayers

in the building.

Jesus couldn't force them to.

He could only

let them know he was there.

I see it differently.

I believe it shows

that Christ has an interest

in the affairs of all nations

and he's telling them

that they have to

follow his teachings

if there is to be peace.

Do you think excommunicating me

would bring peace?

I'm hoping it

stops the bleeding.

I won the primary.

I know.

I'll win the election.

I have the votes.

You have the Jewish vote.

And you also have Carl Reyes.

Carl Reyes served

one term in Senate.

He's nobody.

No name recognition, nothing.

Carl Reyes is

a devout Catholic and a Latino.

He'll split your vote

and take the Catholics with him.

I also hear he has money.

What do you want?

Confess your sins.

Repent and come

back to the Church.

I didn't come here

for forgiveness.

Hey, boss.

- Governor?

- Huh?

We're almost ready. We'll do

a brief meet and greet outside,

bring everybody back

in, sign the bill.

You okay?

Yeah.

How many are out there?

Mm, 10,000.

I shipped in extra

cops for crowd control.

You ordered riot gear?

Just a precaution.

What's that in your hand?

A letter from my mother

begging me not to sign the law.

Why?

I mean, I can guess why.

What does she say?

She said that it's

a sin against God

and that she didn't

raise me to be this way.

- What way?

- Impio.

Means "wicked," "godless."

- That I'm damned.

- Please.

Think the bishop is behind this?

She's still a parishioner

in his diocese.

This has nothing to do

with him. This is about me.

We start in 30 minutes.

Press are already here.

Senator Adelson's on his way up.

You're not thinking

of, uh, delaying this?

We're up 35 points.

Shut up, Jess.

Stall him?

What's the matter?

You know how I got around

the same-sex marriage bill?

As a Catholic, I mean.

As a Catholic, you are

taught to love one another,

to be tolerant, right?

Do for others.

But in my mind, I'm like,

"Look, you wanna love someone,

who am I to tell you that

you can't be together, right?

You're not hurting anyone."

I mean, it might not

be natural, but...

It's natural to me.

That's not what I mean.

Nico, you know that.

The point is, I can wrap my head

around the same-sex

marriage bill

because I can rationalize it.

That's why I can give Roland

the big f*ck you.

But this... is different.

How is this different?

- How is this different?

- Because I can't defend it.

I don't need you to defend it.

I don't need you

to believe in it.

I just need you to sign it.

- Well, it's not that simple.

- It is that simple.

I wanna show you something.

These are the pictures

that they stuff

into my hate mail.

- These should have been vetted.

- Yeah, well, apparently they

weren't vetted

- on my mother's stoop.

- Jesus Christ.

- Or my kids' locker.

- I will get this resolved.

Don't bother. I took care of it.

The point is that I

have a real problem

signing this bill.

We don't have that luxury.

The bill is passed.

It's sitting on your desk.

You're committed to it.

I'll delay.

And do what? Pin

it on your mommy?

f*ck you.

You're the one

out front on this,

and I built a

platform around it.

The first governor to sign

marriage equality into law,

and now late-term ab*rtion.

We need to show

that you're progressive.

We need to show

that you have the ability

to go against the establishment.

And, and we need both

those things if you're to get

- the presidential nomination.

- I know.

And now you have both those.

So what's the problem?

This never should have passed.

It didn't have the votes.

Not until you were

excommunicated.

Look at what we've

had to overcome.

Carl Reyes is history.

It's because Carl Reyes

has a penchant for

22-year-old interns.

I'm glad we leaked that.

It's all come together for us.

The tide has changed.

You are on the verge of history.

I want a delay.

How long a delay?

In ten days,

it becomes law unless you veto.

Oh, that is such

a f*cking cop out.

- Nico.

- Nico what?

You don't wanna sign

it? Don't sign it.

I'll let everyone know

that you had a change of heart,

that you realize it's a sin

and that everything you've said

for the past four years

is bullshit.

Just understand,

if you don't sign this

bill into law, it's over.

I'm not even talking

about the riots outside.

- I mean your career, gone.

- Yeah, well, maybe I'm worried

- about something more than my

career. - Oh, don't be so

dramatic.

If you can't sign this bill,

what are you gonna do when it's

time

to send in the troops?

That's a sin.

Or push the button.

My point is, if you

can't sign this bill

based on what Roland believes...

What the Church believes.

What the Church believes,

then you are no different

than any extremist

who's willing to strap

a b*mb to his chest

because their Holy Book says so.

They're ready for you.

Nico.

What if it's what I believe?

Listen, you're not their pope,

you're not their savior.

You're their governor,

and this is what they want.

Governor, may I

tell you something?

Why not?

Everybody else is.

- Today isn't about your faith.

- Oh, no?

- No. - I don't think you know

what you're talking about.

And I think you're wrong.

Today isn't about faith,

but about free will.

Catholics, they go hand in hand.

Not your free will,

but mine.

What you're doing today

is giving me the right

to make one of the most

difficult decisions

I may ever have to make.

And if you're willing

to defend that right,

even though you may be

personally against it

that's what makes you

not only a great governor,

but a great human being.

And for that, I just

wanna thank you.

- Good morning.

- Morning.

- Wheels up in 20 minutes.

- Okay.

At 11:05, you have

one video conference

with the Secretary

of Transportation

on gas emissions

and proposal S213.

Mm. Bump that.

Do you want me

to swap in your biographer?

No.

Wheels down at 11:35,

exit AF1, 11:53.

- Press?

- Open press.

There will be three greeters

at the base of the stairs,

Senator Gaines,

Mayor Elise Tandor of Orlando

and Councilman Yosef Shaw

of District Three.

Proceed to rope line

of military family and friends,

ten minutes right to left,

then directly to the limo

where you will have further

briefing in the car.

And then once we reach

the convention center,

then we'll be going over

directly to holding.

We're adding a stop.

Your visitor is here.

- Bishop.

- Madam President.

I'm no longer your bishop.

Yes, sorry. But you

are still a bishop.

Just a title. I'm only a servant

in the eyes of God.

We both are.

Either way, it's

good to see you.

You, too. Although under cover

of darkness.

Well, that's for

security purposes.

I understand.

May we talk?

Of course.

Thank you, Jamie.

Jamie, come here.

Father Jamie Allante,

this is our president,

Angela Porra.

- We've met.

- Oh, that's right. Forgive me.

This time under

better circumstances.

- I hope so.

- Me too.

It's a pleasure

to see you again.

Jamie's

become a fine priest,

and a good friend.

He cares for you.

He was offered his own parish,

but he elected

to come down here with me.

Loyalty.

You began here.

I was born in a small

town up the road.

This parish was my

first assignment.

It's beautiful.

I'm told that people come from

all over the country to hear you

speak.

Gathered quite a following.

I saw the tents as we came in.

I hope I have something to say.

And there was some land

cleared down the road?

- You saw that?

- Well, I'm told.

Oh, yeah, one of our

parishioners donated the land.

We're gonna build a new parish

and an outreach center for

teens.

A new parish?

- New parish.

- And an outreach center.

Heroin has made a comeback.

Yeah, I know. It's terrible.

Terrible.

I'm sorry, but

what is that smell?

Bad plumbing.

You don't mind?

They say a shepherd

should smell like his sheep.

I think the shepherd

needs a plumber.

You don't mind me

coming here to talk to you?

Why should I mind?

It's not every day the president

comes to Edgewater.

I hope you didn't come

down here just for me.

Are you not important enough

to fly down for?

Not anymore.

- That's not true.

- Sure it is.

Just ask the Pope.

Well, I came down here

to ask you for your help.

Why? The Church seems

to have welcomed you back.

Have they?

I hear my replacement

gives you communion

every Sunday.

Yes, when I'm in New York.

The new bishop is very kind.

So I take it you've

confessed your sins?

The new bishop is very kind.

I guess he is.

Cardinal Russo retired.

Yes.

And you've come

home to Edgewater.

See there? Everybody's happy.

I was thinking

about the last

time that we spoke,

when you said that you wanted

to stop the bleeding.

I remember.

Well what if I offered you

a way to stop the bleeding?

I want to form a

religious coalition

made up of all faiths.

I would try to

find some funding.

The board would be charged

with bridging the gap

between religion and politics.

See what values we share,

where they're lacking.

Let's look at the

underlying laws

and see what those laws

could be, what they should be.

And I would like you to be the

board's representation to the

Vatican.

How is the president

gonna explain

why she placed the man

who excommunicated her,

was subsequently disgraced

and is now a parish priest,

under such a powerful

and influential board?

Because I'm...

Magnanimous?

Well, I wouldn't

say magnanimous.

That word has an air

of condescension to it. Um

I just think you could

do a lot of good.

I do good here.

So I smell.

Sorry.

That was a cheap shot.

I just... I really think

you could do a lot of good

on the national stage.

I'd love to give you

that opportunity.

I appreciate it.

I need to think about it.

That sounds fair.

I've been following

your presidency.

- How am I doing?

- You've had some challenges.

That's the job.

I think you're a

little heavy handed

with the trade restrictions.

- Maybe.

- And if we're being honest,

I think that's a reflection

of your foreign

policy in general.

We have problems at home.

I think we need

to get our people

back to work here.

You've increased

spending on education,

- which is a good thing.

- Thank you.

Although at the

expense of welfare.

That's kind of the point.

Mm.

I'm a lot better than

who the Republicans are pushing.

- He's a little tough to

swallow. - Yeah.

- Have you met him?

- I have.

Well, he seems to be a lot

more in line with your feelings.

- My feelings?

- Your point of view.

I think he understands

that the country's divided

and, rightly or wrongly,

religion is a factor.

That's what I'm afraid of.

- Either way, it's coming.

- What is?

A reckoning.

I did what I thought was right.

I never said you didn't.

Wait until you have

to make a decision

that affects a life

or a million lives,

and then we'll see

how quick you are to judge.

- I'm not judging you.

- Then what are you doing?

I'm trying to understand.

Please, don't take

this the wrong way,

but understanding is

not your strong suit.

I'm working on it.

Forgive me, I didn't mean

to jump down your throat.

Can we start over?

Okay.

How's your family?

Good.

Good. My oldest, Tomas, is 17

and he's starting college.

- Where?

- Yale.

He must be very bright.

Not terribly.

And my youngest,

Elena, mi cielito,

she is starting high school.

High school. It's a big change.

Indeed.

It doesn't help that

she's beautiful.

Like her mother.

Flatterer.

She's starting to date?

Oh, there are boys

sniffing around,

but being guarded by

the Secret Service

can be a great deterrent.

- Perks of the job.

- Indeed. Yes, sir.

And, uh, how have they, uh,

adjusted to your presidency?

They had a taste of public life

when I was governor,

but now they're much more aware.

I must say, it is not healthy

to hear your name slandered.

Kids are resilient.

They, uh, understand a lot more

than we give him credit for.

It's true. But it doesn't

make it any easier.

The press can be cruel.

And your husband, how is he?

He's good. He's fine.

He's happy to be in the shadow.

We worked in a bodega together

when we were kids,

and he was always

quiet like a mouse.

- I did most of the talking.

- You don't say?

I used to tell him

about my grandiose plans

to be on the city council.

I think you overshot.

You know that we

bought the building

that the bodega was in?

Has some apartments on top.

It was sort of a memento

to remind ourselves

where we came from.

If we had kids, we

could tell them,

"Look, this is the

hole that your parents

dug themselves out of.

Appreciate what you have."

Where was it located?

Williamsburg.

I wanted to move

my mother in there.

Yes, I wanted to say,

I read that she had passed.

- I'm sorry.

- Thank you.

I was traveling when

I received word.

So sudden.

I sent, uh, condolences

to the diocese.

She was a wonderful woman.

You'll be happy to know

that she never forgave me

for signing that bill into law.

Which one?

She said I needed

to make amends.

You know, she came to see me.

No, when?

Uh, after.

After my excommunication?

- She felt guilty.

- She felt guilty?

My mother felt guilty after you

excommunicated her daughter?

Always the martyr.

You know, she wore black

to my inauguration.

Which one?

She worried for you.

All mothers worry

for their daughters.

But all daughters

don't have the power

to make such change.

But change should not

only be for the few.

Seventy million

Catholics are not a few.

Neither are five million Jews

or ten million Muslims

or 100 million women

for that matter.

But you're not a Jew, Angela,

a Muslim, or an atheist.

You're a Catholic.

Baptized and confirmed.

No matter how you slice it,

you have an obligation

to your faith.

'Cause you may be a president,

but in the end,

you're just one woman.

You will be judged.

You sound just

like her.

She was a smart woman.

I miss her.

I miss talking to her.

You can always talk to me.

It would be good

to have someone to talk to,

someone who's not

gonna "yes" me to death.

Well, I'd be happy

not to yes you to death.

Clearly.

So we can do this

every once in a while?

I'd like that.

Just you and I, no, no press.

Whatever you want.

Good. Because with

our history...

Our history's history.

Well, yeah, it's

not that simple.

I begin my run

for reelection in six months,

and there are some states

that will be important to me.

And after I became president

and you, um... left Brooklyn

the controversy surrounding

my excommunication

has not gone away.

In fact, it's kicked up some.

And not by the Church, mind you.

It's this subsection

that's hanging their hat on it,

my excommunication.

We call them

Roland's Crusaders.

- Sounds like a rock band.

- No.

Well, a rock band I can handle,

celebrities I can handle.

But your support in

the state of Florida

would not be a bad thing.

- I see.

- But I don't want you to think

I came down here for that

because I didn't.

I just need to be smart.

And if we go public

with our friendship

too far ahead of the election,

it could hurt me in states

where I have a plurality.

That makes sense.

But I would still like

to be able to call upon you?

- And you can.

- To talk?

Just to talk.

Good. Good.

How are you adjusting here?

Is there anything that I can do?

Get a new pick for

the Supreme Court.

Within reason.

Well, the town

has issued us some violations

when the parishioners

set up the tents.

They say we need a permit.

I can do that. What else?

When the time is right,

you can come to mass.

- Will you fix the plumbing?

- Probably not.

It's a date.

- Good.

- Good.

I love the silence of a church.

Me too.

I wanna say, at the

risk of being forward

how sorry I was to hear

about the loss of your baby.

Thank you.

Your mother said

there were complications.

That was not for publication.

I've told no one.

No, I mean

she knew that was

not for publication.

Angela, we talked once a month.

We were friends.

She told me in confidence

and that's what it

is, in confidence.

What else did she say?

She told me how happy she was

that you were pregnant

and that there

were complications.

And, uh...

A few days before you

issued the press release,

she told me that

you lost the baby.

Were those her exact words?

I don't understand.

Were her exact words

that I "lost the baby"?

She said that you were working

too hard, that, uh, there were

complications

and you... suffered

a miscarriage.

It had nothing to do with work.

They said it had to do with age.

Originally, when they

did the ultrasound,

they picked up something

in the kidneys.

- Yours?

- No, the baby's.

And the brain.

It had gaps, I guess?

I thought I would wait and

hopefully that it would develop.

Even if it had disabilities,

it could live a life.

I could give it a life.

It?

Him.

I will pray.

I did pray.

I did pray.

Every day I prayed.

And they told us

he was never gonna get better.

My boy was never

gonna get better.

And I waited as long as I could.

- Angela. - The doctors told us

to expect the worst.

Maybe take steps.

And that's when I realized.

God has cursed me.

Please don't believe that.

I remember

that day in my office

signing the bill,

- and I struggled.

- I know you did.

But I thought, "It isn't me.

This is, this is someone else.

And if this is what they want,

I will give it to them."

I have... read all the research,

I've seen the graphs,

the pie charts.

I've read it all.

I thought I understood

the reasons.

But despite all of that,

despite the politics,

despite my mother, despite

what I thought I believed,

what it came down

to was it wasn't me.

It wasn't

my own.

Until it was.

How am I supposed to bring

a child into this world

whose only purpose

is to breathe through a tube,

to eat through a tube

that I could never kiss or hold

and I would just watch him

waste away to nothing?

I couldn't. I couldn't

bear that pain.

- Let me help you.

- You cannot.

Why not?

Because I don't want

your forgiveness.

What else can I give you?

Your understanding?

Do you know I played football

for Florida State?

- I'm sorry?

- Football.

I was good. I was

on scholarship.

Yeah, I think I did know that.

Anyway, I was a defensive back.

I, uh, started, which was

no small feat for a freshman.

I could read an

offense like a book.

I hit like a truck.

Now this was 1970,

and there was a w*r going on.

Most of my classmates

were protesting,

going on marches,

burning the flag.

But as students,

we were deferred from the draft,

so what did I care?

I was the big man on campus,

I got my beer for free,

I was dating this cute little

Creole gal from Louisiana.

Her name was Dapheen Gaffney.

She was beautiful.

I had the world at my feet,

so, of course, I flunked out.

And then I got drafted.

My parents were mortified.

I was terrified.

Dapheen said that

she would write.

I shipped out for

Vietnam in early '71.

They say it's beautiful now.

Anyway, uh, within

my first few weeks

we suffered casualties.

No one spoke their language.

To us, everybody looked

pretty much the same,

so it was easy to get ambushed.

Just... never knew

where it was coming from.

The villages that we swept

were forced to harbor

Viet Cong soldiers

or stash their weapons.

If the villagers refused,

they were k*lled.

If we found them out...

Well...

One day, we came

upon this, uh... farmer.

He was tending his livestock.

His entire life, he

probably wouldn't travel

more than a few miles

from where he was born.

I'm sure his father

was a farmer,

his father's father,

right on down the line.

Just as I passed,

I heard this snap on my right.

Out of the jungle, I saw

something running right at us,

me and that

poor, ignorant, peasant farmer.

I raised my r*fle.

That poor child never

knew what hit him.

And you know what I did?

I left his father

wailing on the road.

That kind of regret

it leaves you empty.

I needed something to fill

that hole inside of me

and I didn't find it in a

letter from Dapheen Gaffney.

For a while, I found

it in a needle.

After I got out of that haze,

I realized I needed

to believe in something

bigger than myself

if I was gonna survive.

For me, that was Christ.

For you, maybe

it's the knowledge

that your decisions are based

on something other than faith.

Maybe you just

believe it's right.

Forgive me.

The press are gathering outside.

Thank you, Jamie.

- Excuse me.

- Mm-hmm.

- Well, seems

you've been discovered.

- Yeah.

- What will you tell them?

That I came to see my friend.

Madam President,

they're ready for you.

Open the doors.