The nationwide teachers' strike has been going on for several weeks, and this strike has aroused attention and discussion from all walks of life.At this critical moment, in order to control the situation, the President decided to compromise and cancel the performance appraisal amendment.However, the decision did not completely quell the strike, but instead opened up opportunities for some.
Frank, an influential political figure, saw the opportunity.He asked for a week to resolve the strike to restore the president's confidence in him.In the process, Frank demonstrates his resourcefulness and strategy, using various means to advance his agenda.
In the early morning, Carlisle invited the bodyguard Meacham who was guarding the door to come in for coffee.This scene seems ordinary, but it foreshadows the next plot.When a brick smashed through the window and flew into the house, Meacham immediately chased him out of the house and aimed at a fleeing man not far away and shot, but missed.The incident triggered police protection and left Frank thinking about how to use the incident to further his own agenda.
At this critical moment, Frank learned that his former bodyguard Steve had terminal pancreatic cancer and only had a few weeks to live.This news leads Frank to consider how he can use the situation to further his plans.He immediately instructed Zoe to write an article directed at Marty and the teachers union below him.The article attempted to pave the way for Frank's agenda by placing the blame for the strike on Marty and the teachers union.
Marty didn't buy it. He thought he had a clear conscience and didn't want to waste time explaining it.However, Frank has no intention of letting him go.He stepped up the intensity, having a group of student parents who opposed the strike hurl foam bricks at Marty.After the scene was broadcast live by the media, Marty could only agree to debate Frank on television.
During the debate, Frank attempts to get Marty to apologize to Carlisle in order to gain sympathy and establish guilt for the violent attack by the teachers union.However, Marty's counterattack disrupted Frank's position. He accused Frank of using his wife to win the debate and it was very shameful.This counterattack put Frank into a dilemma. He responded in a hurry and was full of loopholes, almost losing his composure.
At this critical moment, Frank did not give up.He continues to look for opportunities to advance his agenda.He asked Peter to join Alcoholics Anonymous and to pursue a project to improve the river basin near the shipyard.These actions were all intended to increase Peter's votes and influence, thereby paving the way for his own agenda.
Finally, an unexpected event provided Frank with a turning point.Frank sees an opportunity when a boy is killed by a stray bullet during a gang fight.He immediately asked Zoe to comment on Twitter, placing the blame on Marty.In a subsequent television interview, Frank called on teachers to stop the strike and allow children to attend school, and invited Marty to the congressional office to discuss ending the strike.
Marty was forced to interview Frank under pressure from public opinion.However, Frank did not intend to negotiate with him but rather to provoke him.He took out the bricks he smashed into the house that day and told Marty that the whole thing was designed by him to frame Marty.Marty loses control and punches Frank before realizing he has been tricked again.In order to avoid being prosecuted for the felony of assaulting a congressman, Marty could only stop the strike movement.