Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

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Template:Episode3Flashback Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the fourteenth episode of the third season of Scandal, and is the forty-third overall. It was written by Mark Fish, directed by Paul McCrane and aired on March 20, 2014.

Plot

The White House is in mourning after news breaks that James Novak was shot and killed in an attempted carjacking. Cyrus flashbacks to all the first memories he has of James. Olivia tried to do Cy's job for him all while putting the "true" pieces together of James' death. Each one of the gladiators comes to the same conclusion but different ways as to who truly is behind James' death.

Sally sets a meeting with the NRA which sends The White House into a tailspin. Olivia and Huck come to shocking realizations and a surprising person asks for help from Pope and Associates.

Mellie and Andrew head off to Texas to get the support of the NRA, which results in some "heated" moments.

Scandals

coming soon

Recap

In “No Sun on the Horizon ,” two women were shot dead in the street. Executed. A third bullet ripped through the night. The shooter: Jake Ballard . His next target is either David Rosen or James Novak . The latter is gunned down while trying to escape the carnage. Jake points his gun at David. He’s always liked him. He wants to continue liking him. Jake asks him to work with him regarding their current situation. A short time later, David Rosen is heading the investigation into what’s being dubbed the carjacking murder of White House Press Secretary James Novak , beloved husband of Cyrus Beene .

Olivia orders blubbering White House aide Ethan to get it together pronto or he’s fired. He needs to take care of Cyrus. Olivia notices that Vanessa Chandler the reporter isn’t at the press briefing. She wants to know if David’s NSA girl, Shelby Moss, is also missing. This could have been a hit. Abby realizes David could be in danger. He’s not. He’s obviously worked something out with Jake, who is hard at work burying the bodies of the two other people he killed.

There’s an upcoming gun lobby event that Fitz wants to skip but Sally Langston is embracing with open arms. Cyrus knows the vice president is going behind their back to steal an endorsement. He’s all fired up. Olivia wants him to settle down. That’s not going to happen. He needs to work. Cyrus makes a plan with Fitz and Olivia to send Andrew and Mellie to the gun lobby event. They conspire to derail Sally’s jaunt to the Lone Star State. Andrew and Mellie work their magic. All Fitz needs to do for the endorsement is give a speech about the Second Amendment. Obviously, the timing isn’t ideal.

Cyrus wants him to come out in favor of gun control. They’d be using what happened to his husband to get votes. Flashback, Cyrus met James years ago in Indiana during the primary election. He was in denial about being gay. The two men eventually give in to their feelings for each other. Cyrus later tells Fitz that he’s in love, though he doesn’t reveal a name. Back in the present, Fitz gives the speech Cyrus recommended. It sends his approval rating up. In Houston, Mellie and Andrew have an impromptu gun debate over drinks. The spirited conversation ends the moment they start kissing and rolling around on the floor.

Charlie and Quinn meet with a man named Lance McCullum. The guy has six months to live unless he gets a liver transplant. Charlie lets him know that he’d get free medical treatment if he was an inmate. Lance is fingered as the prime suspect in the murder of James Novak . There’s lots of evidence, but David doesn’t want the guy arrested just yet. He finally tells Abby the truth about what’s happened to him.

Huck realizes that someone has been looking through Olivia’s safe. He knows it was Quinn. He also knows that she wanted him to find this out. He believes that somewhere inside she’s still a gladiator. Quinn responds to this by spitting in his face. Huck responds to this by kissing her hard. Quinn actually kisses him back. There’s awkwardness when they break the lip-lock. Quinn says, “If you’re not gonna kill me, get the hell out.” So Huck leaves.

Abby, Harrison and Huck all come to their fearless leader revealing their assortment of problems. Olivia has no answers for any of them. Instead, she silently leaves the office. She later meets with David, who tells her about Lance the patsy. Olivia wants him to make the arrest. The problem isn’t Jake . It’s the existence B-613 . He should focus his energy on that. She’ll help him. To take down the organization, they need to lose this battle so they can win the war. Later, Olivia lets Cyrus know that his husband was killed in a carjacking gone wrong. That’s it. End of story!

Against Olivia’s advice, Cyrus rushes into the press room to make a statement. He confirms that a suspect has been taken into custody in the murder of James Novak . While at the podium, he recalls in his mind (in a flashback) the time he brought James into a political party to share a dance with him. It was the first time he acknowledged their relationship in public. Back in the present, Cyrus breaks down in front of the entire press corps. Fitz is there to comfort his friend. He leads him out of the room amidst a flurry of flashbulbs. Olivia finishes the press conference. She reveals the name of the suspect. Her fellow gladiators watch on TV silently back at the office.

We jump back to the night of the murder. Jake loads the bodies of the two women - Vanessa Chandler & Shelby Moss - into the trunk of a car. He steps back to James, who is still alive. Jake apologizes for being so sloppy with him. He had to do it this way so it would look like the murder was done by an amateur. His death will be slow and painful. Jake says he will stay with him so he won’t die alone. He assures James that his daughter will be safe. Jake says it won’t be long now. James looks up at him. He takes one last breath. Then he’s gone.

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~ Special Thanks to ABC.com for providing the recap for Kiss Kiss Bang Bank ~

Cast

(This list is based on actors and characters known to be in the episode. It will be updated as more information is released)

Main Cast Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope Columbus Short as Harrison Wright Scott Foley as Jake Ballard Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins Guillermo Díaz as Huck Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene Joshua Malina as US Attorney David Rosen Bellamy Young as First Lady Mellie Grant Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant

Supporting Cast Dan Bucatinsky as James Novak Kate Burton as Vice President Sally Langston Joe Morton as Eli Pope Jon Tenney as Andrew Nichols Khandi Alexander as Marie Wallace Recurring Cast Paul Adelstein as Leo Bergen Nazanin Boniadi as Adnan Salif Sharmila Devar as Lauren Wellman Vanya Asher as Ethan Dinora Walcott as Reporter Carol Reece Rios as Reporter Peter Jennifer Peo as Vanessa Chandler Julia Cho as Shelby Moss

Credits

(This list is in the order as they appeared on the original airing of the episode.)

Guest Stars Jon Tenney as Governor Andrew Nichols Kate Burton as Vice President Sally Langston Dan Bucatinsky as James Novak George Newbern as Charlie Khandi Alexander as Marie Wallace Nazanin Boniadi as Adnan Salif Sharmila Devar as Lauren Wellman Paul Adelstein as Leo Bergen Joe Morton as Eli Pope

Co-Stars Vanya Asher as Ethan Romi Dias as Detective Monica Sanchez Scott Michael Morgan as Lance McCollum Jim Garrity as Richard Keckler Dinora Walcott as Reporter Carol Reece Rios as Reporter Peter Barry Levy as Secret Service Agent Jim Julia Cho as Shelby Moss Jennifer Peo as Vanessa Chandler Rachel Stander as Sheila Parson - Deputy Press Secretary Brandon Ford Green as Jeffrey McDougal Ilia Volok as Dmitri Belenko Michael Filipowich as Pavlo

Trivia

• Tony Goldwyn was asked to describe this episode in one word by a twitter fan, he responded: "Heartshredding"

Production Dates

• (1/27) - Bellamy Young was on set filming in an stunning dress.
• (1/28) - Kerry and co were on set filming. Bellamy & Tony Goldwyn were on set filming a Viennese waltzing scene.
• (1/29) - Filming continues, on location. Co-Executive Producer/Lead Director Tom Verica was on set making calls. Darby Stanchfield was on set filming. Dan Bucatinsky was dressed up in Hugo Boss for shooting.
• (1/30) - Filming continues with a big scene that is going to blow fans away, says Tom Verica, Co-Executive Producer. Dan & Scott Foley were on set for another day of shooting. Also on set was Vanya Asher (Ethan).
• (1/31) - Tony was on set filming a scene in the Oval Office.
• (2/03) - Bellamy was on set filming with Jon Tenney.
• (2/04) - Paul Adelstein was on set filming. Scott was on location filming. And Bellamy was on location filming.
• (2/06) - Filming continues. Darby was onset filming. Dan and Joshua Malina were also on set filming.
• (2/06) - Double day of filming; while filming this episode Mama Said Knock You Out was being filmed.
• (2/07) - Filming wraps up.

Gallery

Behind the Scenes

These pictures are courtesy of the actors and production team's Twitter posts.

Director Paul McCrane, Dan Bucatinsky (recurring guest star), Co-Executive Producer Tom Verica, and series regulars Tony Goldwyn & Scott Foley.

Lights, camera... ACTION!

Director Paul McCrane watching a scene with Tony Goldwyn & Jeff Perry... or at least it looks like Jeff from behind!