"Chapter 4" | |
---|---|
House of Cards episode | |
Episode no. |
Season 1 Episode 4 |
Directed by | James Foley |
Written by |
Rick Cleveland Beau Willimon |
Produced by |
|
Featured music | Jeff Beal |
Cinematography by | Eigil Bryld |
Editing by | Sidney Wolinsky |
Production code | HOC-104 |
Original air date | February 1, 2013 |
Running time | 52 minutes |
"Chapter 4" (or "Episode 104") is the fourth episode of the first season of the American political thriller drama series House of Cards. It premiered on February 1, 2013, when it was released along with the rest of the first season on the American streaming service Netflix.
Frank (Kevin Spacey) learns that House Speaker Bob Birch (Larry Pine) and Linda (Sakina Jaffrey) are refusing to compromise on the education bill. He discourages President Walker (Michel Gill) from compromising on the bill, saying doing so will make the Oval Office look weak. Frank offers to help Majority Leader David Rasmussen (Michael Siberry) become the next Speaker in exchange for ousting Birch. Frank and Doug (Michael Kelly) also offer Black Caucus leader Terry Womack (Curtiss Cook) the Majority Leader position once Rasmussen becomes Speaker.
To win Womack's support, Frank forces Russo (Corey Stoll) to allow a shipyard in his district to close in order to keep a military base open in Womack's. Russo agrees, despite his fear that the resulting job losses will erode his voter base. After Russo gets drunk and leaves his children alone at his apartment, Christina (Kristen Connolly) breaks up with him. With Womack's support, Frank gets enough votes in the House to oust Birch, but tells the Speaker that he will not vote against him if Womack is appointed as Rasmussen's replacement. Both Frank and Birch announce their agreement to Rasmussen, who resigns.