Madam Secretary (TV Series)

Waiting for Taleju (2015)

Tim Daly: Henry McCord

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Quotes 

• Henry McCord : [During a televised interview, responding to a caller's question about Stevie's relationship with the President's son]  You ask an interesting question, Jeff. And I'd like to start by making a distinction that I usually make on the very first day of my morals and ethics class. A lot of people say that morals are how we treat the people we know, and ethics are how we treat the people we don't know. So, morals are what make us a good parent, a good friend, a nice neighbor. But, ethics are how we build a society. That's the *true* test of our higher self. But, what happens, Jeff, when society is ruled by the subjective morals of say, you and your family, and you choose to project that onto complete strangers is that we all end up with is a society that's governed by self-aggrandizement. So, really, by calling to make sure you're the first little peasant to jump off your chair and teach me a lesson with smug superiority about your own particular moral point of view when you know precisely nothing of the situation, you've done your part to contribute to the erosion of our entire social fabric. Pat yourself on the back. Bravo.

• Henry McCord : May I make a request?

  President Conrad Dalton : What is it?

  Henry McCord : Before you finish questioning this guy... fifteen minutes alone with him. Off the radar.

  President Conrad Dalton : You got it.

  Elizabeth McCord : [after they left the oval office]  Well, that was very Godfather. You thinking piano wire or bare hands?

  Henry McCord : I haven't decided yet.

  Elizabeth McCord : Is it wrong that I find it kinda hot?

  [Henry turns to her] 

  Elizabeth McCord : Don't answer that.

  [He leans in, whispers in her ear, and they both laugh] 

• Henry McCord : [Via phone]  How bad did I make things for you?

  Elizabeth McCord : You're still my hero.

  Henry McCord : No, I'm not. I went off like a hopped up undergrad.

  Elizabeth McCord : You did what I have been wanting to do all day. Instead, I have to listen to my staff imply that I shouldn't be sitting down with the virgin goddess of Nepal while my slutty daughter is all over the internet.

  [Under her breath to Grant] 

  Elizabeth McCord : Not you.

  Henry McCord : [In a hushed reverent tone]  You have a meeting with the Kumari?

  Elizabeth McCord : [to Grant, endeared and in love]  He knows what a Kumari is.

  [to Henry] 

  Elizabeth McCord : Don't ever change.

• President Conrad Dalton : You opened Pandora's box over there!

  Elizabeth McCord : [During an increasingly heated argument with the President and First Lady]  Now I'm Pandora? What'd they do to her? Chain her to a rock?

  Henry McCord : That was Prometheus.