Scandal – The Miseducation of Susan Ross

By: Jamie Steinberg

The great debate begins and Susan (Artemis Pebdani) is like a deer in headlights. As Doyle (Gregg Henry) and Mellie (Bellamy Young) battle, Susan just stands there looking nervous and out of sorts. Sally Langston (Kate Burton) is moderating the debate and inquires with Mellie as to who she would vote for should she not get the nomination. Mellie agrees to vote for Susan because she is a public servant and far more deserving. Doyle explains he’s the only person to ever do an ounce of business between the three of them and wants to know how it feels for Mellie to have Fitz’s mistress running her campaign. During a break in the debate, Susan receives a call from Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) to help snap her out of her funk. He explains that her previous responses will go unnoticed as long as she gets one good punch in. Back in the battle, Doyle is comparing Grants and Mellie explains that if you look at a man these days you can’t assume that his wife will share his same beliefs. Sally asks Susan if she agrees that women aren’t the keeper of their husbands or if Mellie should be held accountable for her husband’s decisions. It is right here that “Scandal” fans get their first deep and delicious taste of writing at its best when Susan finally opens up! Susan goes into a story about how her husband was in the military and stationed in Afghanistan. She asks if he is busy there guarding a prison or even if it was a village that needed protecting – No. It’s a pipeline that the Afghani government was letting US companies build on – like Doyle Energy. She asserts, “We are not our husband’s keepers, but perhaps we should be America’s.” WOW!

At Olivia Pope and Associates, the team has gathered to hear Olivia (Kerry Washington) announce that Susan Ross is liar. She wants to find out why and then take her down.

Elizabeth (Portia de Rossi) is in Susan’s office with David (Joshua Malina) where she is explaining to the two of them that it is critical for them to sell their love story. David is willing to do whatever he it takes because, “I want her to be President. I owe her that.”

Marcus (Cornelius Smith, Jr.) doesn’t want to micromanage Mellie. The others are occupied, but he is balking at playing body-man for her. Quinn (Katie Lowes) and Huck (Guillermo Diaz) break down Susan’s husband. He has discovered they were never officially married and Quinn wants to go to the press. Olivia thinks that if she lied about not being married then Susan could spin that, but if it was to collect military benefits then she was defrauding the government.

Olivia meets with Alex Vargas (Danny Pino) for details on Susan’s husband and his source. He can’t verify Olivia’s information on Edison so she gives up her goods for his. Heading to a prison, Olivia meets with an inmate about his relationship with Susan Ross. Meanwhile, Alex gathers with his brother and Cyrus (Jeff Perry) to tell them about Edison. Cyrus doesn’t think this mental health matter is an issue and Victor (Ricardo Chavira) isn’t interested in commenting on rumors. Cyrus warns Alex that he is close to burning bridges with his brother.

Mellie is at Jimmy Kimmel’s studio and is upset at being asked to read some mean tweets about herself. Meanwhile the inmate is telling Olivia that he grew up with Susan. Olivia wants to know if he was aware that Susan’s daughter is actually his child. She offers to get him out of jail if he submits to a paternity test and admits that Casey is his kid. He isn’t interested because it wouldn’t be of benefit to Susan’s campaign. Olivia lets him know that if he is willing to play ball she can get him bounced out of prison. Ronnie, the inmate, wants to think about the offer. Huck doesn’t think it will work though because during his trial the District Attorney offered a reduced sentenced for testifying against his friends and Ronnie wouldn’t do it.

In Susan’s office, Rosen is back begging for forgiveness. He cheated on her so they are now looking for a way out of their public relationship unless he is willing to own up to being “an impotent alcoholic that hates kids, dogs and God.” He says that he is willing to say whatever it takes, but he prefers to say “I love you.” He wants to be forgiven and have the chance to earn her trust back.

A news report comes on announcing that allegations have been made against Edison that he spent time in a mental health facility. On a campaign bus with the Vargas brothers, Cyrus says that if this comes out the wrong way they could take a serious hit in the polls. Victor assures Cyrus that Alex got confirmation of it being the truth. Over at Papa Pope’s house, Edison meets with him and Jake to discuss this leak. He wants Rowan (Joe Morton) to put Olivia in her place, but that’s a no-can-do. Rowan doesn’t take orders and pushes back (with some serious fury) that Edison should want to “be a boss.” Rowan assures him this won’t be an issue as he will handle it.

Another news report airs a press conference where the head of the mental health facility in question announces Edison was never a patient. Victor is furious at his brother and Alex is one step beyond that, heading to Olivia to find out what happened. Olivia assures him that someone got to them so he should back off of her as it wasn’t her fault.

Mellie is still balking at having to read mean tweets on Kimmel’s show. Having had enough of her ranting and raving, Marcus puts his foot down and stands up to her. He’s tired of listening to her complain, explaining, “I don’t like you even though I’m being paid to like you.” He tells her that’s exactly while she’ll never be President.

Olivia heads over the prison to confront Ronnie and push him for that paternity test. He says that he can’t do it because he can’t ruin the lives of people he cares about. An infuriated Olivia says this is his chance to get out, but he says that when Susan becomes President he’ll have the same opportunity as she’ll convert his sentence. Still beyond her limits, Olivia threatens to plant evidence in Ronnie’s cell if he doesn’t do her bidding. A disappointed Huck looks on at this power play. Ronnie doesn’t think she can make it happen, but Olivia assures him, “You have no idea what I am capable of.” At OAP, Huck thinks Olivia is crossing a line and he refuses to help. Quinn tricks Abby (Darby Stanchfield) into meeting up to talk Olivia. Abby says that the election is rough, but Quinn feels that this is more a matter of friendship.

Fitz arrives at the office as well and is wanting to give her some advice. He says, “We’re keeping it real with each other now. Can I keep it real with you, Liv?” Humored, Olivia says whoever taught him that phrase should be fired and then is willing to hear what he has to say. He mention’s Ronnie and notes her being back to her old evil tricks. Olivia says he’s trying to shame her into keeping his identity to herself. Olivia says that she has a great candidate, one in fact he married and had children with her. But Fitz doesn’t want what happened to him to happen to Mellie. He doesn’t want her to win by deceit. Fitz says he wants her to move forward in a heartfelt, competitive way. They don’t need to be who they once were – cutthroat.

Susan meets with Fitz who shares what he knows about Ronnie. Fitz thinks that the truth about her daughter Casey will help her, she just has to confess. He feels that if she notes she is human, made a mistake and asks for forgiveness that she still might have a shot at the White House. Fitz asserts, “What will destroy you is if you take this office and you didn’t earn it. I did not earn this office. I was not fairly elected to this office. I did not earn it.” A confused Susan doesn’t understand, which is when Fitz offers to tell her his story – hoping that when he’s done she’ll tell him who she wants to be.

At Kimmel, Marcus reads some mean tweets to Mellie – mean tweets about him when he was running for Mayor. These get a giggle out of her, lightening the tension and giving Marcus the chance to explain that if she can laugh at herself that she’ll give off a side of her that American can fall in love with – letting her win.

Susan heads over to see Fitz to let him know she’s made a decision, but he stops her to say that he has had some news. Quinn walks into OAP to let Olivia know that Ronnie killed himself the night before. At Vargas’ headquarters, Victor wants Alex to give his list of Field Directors over to Cyrus. It seems that Cyrus has had a victory. Susan speaks with a news reporter to discuss her relationship with David. With the feed down, David hopes she has forgiven him. Sadly, he is told he’s just a prop. Olivia meets with Fitz and agrees to handle the election with pride and dignity.