- [first lines]
- Vanessa Moss: [all sitting around the table laughing amiably] Mmm. It's delicious. Olivia, I love it.
- Olivia Pope: I'm so glad. It's their signature cake. 20 layers of crepes, each one lined with just the perfect amount of pastry cream. Dad, what do you think?
- Rowan Pope: I think I've never heard you describe a dessert before.
- Jake Ballard: But I am in love, Olivia. I am marrying a woman I love. She's smart, she's beautiful, and best of all, she's capable of loving me back.
- Olivia Pope: Your girlfriends aren't girlfriends. They're marks. Nothing you do is real.
- Jake Ballard: I *must* be plotting something, because Vanessa likes Hugh Grant movies, she reads Vogue, and takes multivitamins. But, Liv, that is precisely what I want.
- Abby Whelan: I want to run that mother!
- Olivia Pope: And you don't think you should wait your turn?
- Abby Whelan: Cyrus has been a great friend to me. He's also one of the worst human beings on the planet.
- Olivia Pope: That doesn't answer my question.
- Abby Whelan: It does. A good person would wait their turn. But a Cyrus wouldn't. A true monster would never wait. A monster cuts in line. A monster takes. And you and I both know that this town is run by monsters. They have the power. The biggest dogs with the sharpest teeth own the room. So, how long should I wait? How long do you think it'll be before a big dog will rip my throat out and take my spot in line?
- [thoughts cross her mind]
- Abby Whelan: But how do the big dogs sleep at night? I mean, what if I do this and I... can't sleep at night?
- Olivia Pope: Abby. You're a good person. You're just standing too close to the Oval. You can feel the power, and you want it. Everyone does. But don't - don't let that place corrupt you. Once you drive that stake through Cyrus's heart, there will be no turning back. Once you take the white hat off, it's gone. You will no longer be you. And the thing is, being a big dog isn't as great as it seems. Be a better person. Okay?
- Abby Whelan: [lecturing the president] If you allow Cyrus to depart amicably, if you accept his resignation, he's safe. He can decide to work for Vargas after leaving the White House. You neutralize him, you keep the optics in your favor. You win. And you don't have to spend a single second looking for a new chief of staff. I'm right here, I'm exceedingly qualified, I will raise my sword, run at the enemy, and fight the good fight every single day. I will be the best West Wing general you've ever wished for and the scariest monster you never knew you needed. I'm loyal, I'm tough, and I'm not afraid to tell you when you're wrong, and you are wrong right now. Because it is easy, Mr. President. Fire him. Hire me.
- President Fitzgerald Grant: Let me know when it's done.
- Abby Whelan: Yes, Mr. President. When *what* is done?
- President Fitzgerald Grant: When you fire him.
- Abby Whelan: You want *me* to fire Cyrus?
- President Fitzgerald Grant: You want the job? That's the job.
- Abby Whelan: I'll let you know when it's done, sir.
- [turns around and grins]
- President Fitzgerald Grant: You do not yell at me in this office.
- Susan Ross: Where *do* I yell at you? I want to go there. Take me to the place where I yell at you, because I am not done!
- Elizabeth North: Why don't we...
- Susan Ross: Get out!
- Olivia Pope: [walking into her office] It's because of you.
- Quinn Perkins: What?
- Olivia Pope: The reason I can be selfish, the reason I can turn my back. You held things together when I went to the island with Jake. You ran this place when I left for the White House, and I didn't think twice about leaving you alone, because I know, no matter where I am, or what I'm doing, you'll jump in. You'll do whatever you have to. You'll take care of everyone. You'll handle the situation.
- [she walks back out]
- Marcus Walker: Island?
- Quinn Perkins: After Liv found out her mom was a terrorist and her dad killed the president's son, she went to a secluded island with Jake. Is there anything else you want to know?
- Marcus Walker: Quinn, have you ever killed anyone?
- Quinn Perkins: I think that's enough sharing for today.
- [last lines]
- Olivia Pope: I wish I could, but I can't stay.
- Vanessa Moss: You sure?
- Olivia Pope: There's a crisis at work. I'll let you two enjoy your evening. It was nice to see you both.
- Jake Ballard: Thanks for stopping by, Liv.
- Olivia Pope: [making a phone call as she walks out of the restaurant] Quinn, let's step up our surveillance on Jake.