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Buckle Up

Buckle Up

Air Date: April 28, 2016 — Writer: Michelle LirtzmanDirector: Olivier Bokelberg
Previous Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" — Next Episode: "Trump Card"


Buckle Up is the nineteenth episode of the fifth season of Scandal, and is the eighty-eighth overall.

Plot[]

As Mellie, Susan and Hollis prepare to meet with Florida’s governor and vie for her influential endorsement, a spin war between Abby and Olivia threatens to keep their candidates grounded. Meanwhile, Cyrus is faced with a decision that could dramatically alter his future.

Recap[]

Presidential candidates Mellie Grant, Susan Ross and Hollis Doyle are off to Florida seeking the endorsement of Louise Baker, the governor of that fine state. They’ll all have schmooze her if they want to get in her good graces. Too bad Mellie is going to miss a dinner with the guv thanks due to her plane being temporarily grounded. Olivia is ticked. She knows Abby is behind the delay.

Olivia begins a press war with Abby over the bogus mechanical difficulties allegedly keeping Air Force One grounded thereby delaying all others takeoffs. Quinn wants to know why she’s engaging in this battle of wills with her former gladiator pal. This leads to Olivia blowing a mini-gasket.

Marcus suggests Mellie take charge of the situation. So she does. Mellie steps out onto the tarmac. She gives a little wave into Air Force One. Fitz has no choice but to join her outside. The press is covering every moment of this impromptu meeting. They can’t hear the discussion. That’s a good thing. Otherwise they would have heard Fitz clue in Mellie about how Olivia killed Andrew and how that action has changed her.

Governor Baker lets David know that she’s leaning toward backing Mellie. She may change her mind if David drops a major case he’s investigating. Susan doesn’t want him to do that. If the governor wants to play dirty, then she doesn’t want her support. As usual, Elizabeth is exasperated.

After his tarmac meeting with Mellie, Fitz orders Air Force One to take off immediately. Mellie is on her way to Florida. They are late for a dinner where Hollis Doyle is monopolizing all of the governor’s time. That doesn’t last. Mellie is invited to sit next to the governor after Fitz swoops in to say that her delay was his fault. This move was orchestrated by Olivia.

Susan Ross doesn’t say much at dinner. When she does speak up, she pretty much puts the governor in her place. David says he was proud of her as he takes his place on the floor next to her bed. Susan tearfully admits that she forgot what type of a man he is deep down. She then extends her hand. David takes hold of it promising to do his best to never hurt her again.

The next day, Susan is shocked to discover that Governor Baker is endorsing her for president. Yet, when all is said and done, the primary winner for the state of Florida is Hollis Doyle. Elizabeth later learns that David made a deal with the governor. That’s why she endorsed Susan.

Alex Vargas harasses Michael into helping him get dirt on Cyrus. As far as the campaign, there’s a need to find a wedge issue between Frankie and Edison Davis. Alex’s thought of using his brother’s sick daughter to accomplish this is quickly dismissed. Later, at home, Cyrus admits to Michael that he’s sleeping with someone else.

Michael is devastated. He turns over incriminating info to Alex, or so it seems. The flash drive Michael gave him was actually a setup to make it look like Alex leaked a photo of his brother with his sick daughter. Cyrus calls Michael to thank him for his help. He agrees to go to counseling. Cyrus returns home to discover that Michael has left him and taken his daughter as well.

Huck tells Olivia that she should be at home. She needs to grieve after killing Andrew. Olivia says that she actually feels good about what happened. Huck doesn’t budge. He knows there more that needs to be said. Olivia finally reveals her father’s threat to kill Jake. Then she finally breaks down. Huck holds her close.

Abby goes off on Fitz for how he overruled her. She runs him so he can run the country. That’s their jobs. Abby continues to rant. Then she breaks down. Everything that’s coming out is part of the aftershocks of Olivia’s killing of Andrew. Fitz takes Abby by the hand. He’s been in that dark place where she is now. He offers her advice on how to climb out of it.

Olivia lets Mellie know that no one can keep her down. They are a team. They will win the presidency together. She later meets up with Abby, who calls out her former friend for how she treated her once she got a little power. Then Olivia declares that the reason she’s so angry is that she wants her White House back. It’s what she built and she was forced to walk away from it. Olivia and Abby know that they both lost today. Now they need to do what they should have done a long time ago—take down Hollis Doyle.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Guest Cast[]


Long Speeches & Rants[]

"I run you. You run the country. That's the job. I run you, so you can run the country. I make these decisions so that you don't have to. So that you can decide who lives and who dies when you bomb a village looking for terrorists. So that you can go hold the hands of broken mothers when a classroom full of first graders gets gunned down by some school shooter in Illinois. So you can take us to the moon or Mars or wherever is next. I run you, you run the country. That is the job, and you don't question it. You do not get to cage your monster."  

 Abby Whelan to Fitz Grant

"I'm happy for you, Abby. I am. But I taught you. I raised you. I made that Oval. I built that president. I had to walk away from the White House because of him. I want it back. I want my White House back. I earned it. I'm rooting for you, but not if it means I lose. I'm done losing!"  

 Olivia Pope to Abby Whelan

Gallery[]

Promotional Photos[]

→ See and enjoy 44 pictures from Buckle Up at Images from Buckle Up.

Quotes[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Promotional Videos[]


Sneak Peeks[]

Episode Clips[]

References[]

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