Designated Survivor (TV Series)

#thesystemisbroken (2019)

Julie White: Lorraine Zimmer

Quotes 

• Lorraine Zimmer : The history of American presidential elections certainly has its conventional wisdoms.

  Tom Kirkman : An Independent candidate has never won.

  Lorraine Zimmer : Not since George Washington. And there's never been a third party incumbent, so I feel the same way about conventional wisdom as I do about conventionality.

  [she blows a raspberry, and Tom laughs] 

  Lorraine Zimmer : I mean, there's no certainties. There's only outcomes. But that being said, I do like to have as much information as possible at my disposal. So I had my girl do some quick polling, and I have never seen anything like it. You, Moss... 'cause, yeah, it's gonna be Moss. And a generic Democratic candidate. At this point, it is a virtual three-way dead heat. I mean, even Ross Perot only pulled 19% in '92.

  [impressed whistle] 

  Lorraine Zimmer : This is gonna be a fascinating election. I honestly cannot wait.

• Tom Kirkman : Well, I've heard great things about you, Lorraine, but you're even more impressive in person. We will be thrilled to welcome you aboard.

  Lorraine Zimmer : Oh. Mr. President, that's so very sweet of you, but I didn't say I was coming aboard.

  Tom Kirkman : I-I'm sorry, I thought by you coming here to the White House, that meant you were interested.

  Lorraine Zimmer : Yes, I wanted to meet you.

  Tom Kirkman : [realizing]  Moss. I've heard rumors that Moss is not happy with his current team.

  Lorraine Zimmer : The man's very rarely happy.

  Tom Kirkman : Are you joining his campaign?

  Lorraine Zimmer : He has asked, and I am considering it.

  Tom Kirkman : Do you mind if I asked why you're not interested in joining my campaign?

  Lorraine Zimmer : You've never run for office. You've never done retail politics. You've never campaigned. Mr. President, people like you and they like that you're Independent. They sure liked your wife, and they were sorry for you when she died. But aside from that, I don't know who you are. And I can't sell a product if I don't know the brand.

  Tom Kirkman : I understand. Thank you for your time.

• Cornelius Moss : So it was your plane that was holding us up. I should have known it. You know Lorraine Zimmer, of course.

  Tom Kirkman : Yes.

  Cornelius Moss : Lorraine has decided to rejoin my team.

  Lorraine Zimmer : If I can fit you into my schedule.

  Tom Kirkman : Congratulations to both of you.

  Cornelius Moss : Ah, campaigning, am I right? Then again, I don't suppose you'd really know about that, would you?

• Lorraine Zimmer : I have a really big ego, so I can confess when I am wrong. Washington is an echo chamber. Time to time, I forget that. I think that what we're saying to each other is the same thing that folks are saying out there amongst themselves. The media made your State of the Union out to be a self-inflicted wound. But they are wrong. What you did is really resonating with Jane and John Q public.

  Tom Kirkman : Aha. My devious plan is working.

  Lorraine Zimmer : Ooh, and the Tom Kirkman I saw today, with that common touch, that empathy... that Tom Kirkman might make a pretty decent campaigner after all.

  Tom Kirkman : So am I to understand you're no longer working with Moss? Helping him with his dirty tricks?

  Lorraine Zimmer : He doesn't need my help with that.

  Tom Kirkman : You know, this is a win-win for you. If I manage to get elected, you'll be credited with accomplishing something that no one has ever accomplished. And if I lose, well, it'll be known as unwinnable fight.

  Lorraine Zimmer : I don't believe there's such a thing as an unwinnable fight. It all depends on what you are willing to do to come out on top. So, there are four things that I'm gonna need from you. Number one: unrestricted access. I need you, I get you. Number two: I need the authority to hire and fire all campaign staff. Their job is to get you elected, but they work for me. And number three: I need you to make fundraising a priority.

  Tom Kirkman : And number four?

  Lorraine Zimmer : Fuck me, I forgot what number four is.

  [he laughs] 

  Lorraine Zimmer : But I reserve the right to come back to it in the future. Okay, you're sitting down. You wanna discuss my salary?

• Lorraine Zimmer : [on the phone with her ex]  Well, don't forget I'm paying for your divorce lawyer, Alan. I don't care if we have to sell the boat. You're probably gonna sink it anyway. But, hey, must be nice to know that if you needed to, you could use your new girlfriend's fake tits as a floatation device. I'm in the White House. Don't make me tell you to go fuck yourself.

• Tom Kirkman : So, weren't you supposed to be on your way to Des Moines?

  Lorraine Zimmer : I was, but Cornelius' beater of a plane had engine trouble. And while we were waiting on repairs, I was scrolling Twitter, like I do, and I came across a Periscope feed from a very lively Cedar Rapids mall. I just had to check it out for myself.

  Tom Kirkman : Can I offer you a drink?

  Lorraine Zimmer : No, thank you. Actually, I always bring my own. It's one of the perks of not flying commerical. Do you partake?

  Tom Kirkman : Tonight, why not?