Chapter 6 (House of Cards)

Plot

The National Teacher's Strike endures for almost a month incensing protesters enough to cause the White House to panic. Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffery) speaks with Frank (Kevin Spacey) to inform him of United States President Garrett Walker's (Michel Gill) decision to modify the education reform bill in order to appease the teachers. Frank, however, is reluctant to concede to the demands of the teachers and pleads Linda to give him a week to end the strike without compromising the bill.

Claire (Robin Wright) invites their bodyguard Edward Meechum (Nathan Darrow) inside the house for a cup of coffee where he acquiesces to Claire invitation, despite his reluctance. Soon after, a brick is thrown at the Underwoods' window. Meechum gets in trouble when Frank imparts his displeasure at the bodyguard leaving his post and using his weapon at a residential neighborhood. Frank demands Meechum’s termination and the reinstatement of their former bodyguard, Steve. The Underwoods learn that Steve (Chance Kelly) is suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer. Meechum reaches out to Frank accepting responsibility and pleading mercy. He requests Frank talk to Captain Cardiff (Brian Russell) for his reinstatement but he refused to help.

Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) receives a call from Frank who wants her to write about the brick incident pointing the story at Spinella (Al Sapienza). Claire comes up with an idea and calls Spinella's leadership as disorganized labor. Soon everyone on the news begins calling Spinella's union leadership as disorganized labor and blames him for the violence. Marty begins to figure out a way to strike back while his media consultant recommends making a statement with the addition of assigning blame to Congress. He believes that the issue with the brick will disappear, but his team reminds him that the support for the strike has dipped, because of the incident.

Following the acceptance of the Governor of Pennsylvania proposal, Congressman Peter Russo (Corey Stoll) asks Frank for his help, claiming over a monthlong sobriety. Frank speaks to Claire about Peter and asks for her help with the campaign. Frank tasks Claire with putting together a bill that will create jobs in Peter's district, one that will buy the support of the shipbuilders. Already buried with her international projects, she rejects Frank's request but after he insists she agrees to help in exchange for getting CWI’s water filters through Sudanese customs, which Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson) has put a hold on. Frank promises to speak to Catherine. Adam (Ben Daniels) calls Claire after the incident to check on her and both talk about their affair. Later, she pays Steve a visit at the hospital genuinely expressing her concern. Frank and Doug hatch a plan after Doug found foams that look like bricks. On Frank's instruction Doug orchestrates a fake protest throwing the foam bricks at Marty and his crew causing the teachers to retaliate with violence. The scene that showed teachers throwing punches at the people that threw foam was caught on tape. Marty's team suggests going on a live debate against Frank on CNN. Marty is hesitant about the debate knowing Frank's adeptness with the platform, but he agrees with the last resort.

The debate ensues and Frank reproaches the teachers union for the strike that costs the taxpayers $2 billion. Marty assigns blame on Congress, holding it responsible for the strike after it threatened the teachers ability to negotiate as a union, their job security, and livelihood. Frank then brings up the issue of the brick thrown at his house which allowed Marty to express his condemnation of the use of any form of violence or intimidation. Frank retorts with Marty's inability to control his union and speaks of disorganized labor. Marty, however, is prepared and easily dismisses the criticism. He instead segues to Congress’ failure to fulfill its promise of providing better education for the children. Frank unprepared to deal with the issue circles back to the issue of the brick and uses Claire as a last resort. He demands an apology from Marty for the brick incident claiming the terrifying ordeal he and his wife suffered. Marty acquiesces and provides a sincere apology without claiming responsibility. More than that, Marty expresses his disgust at Frank’ decision to use her in order to win the debate. Frank begins to sweat bullets and makes the mistake of claiming that there is not a U and I in the word education digging a deeper hole for him. Frank is mired in a flawed vowel game he started embarrassing himself even more. Frank's failed debate becomes news as the media replays his laughable vowel game repeatedly on various media platforms.

Frank takes a break from the teachers strike after the disastrous debate. He speaks with DNC Chair Patricia Whittaker (Suzanne Savoy) about Russo's recommendation as a gubernatorial candidate for Pennsylvania. Patti is disinclined with his recommendation knowing that Russo does not have a donor base or the infrastructure to win the election. Frank vows to personally oversee Peter's campaign and raise funds for it if DNC agrees to provide initial funding for the campaign. With no other acceptable candidates in sight, Patti accepts Frank’s recommendation. Frank informs Peter that the DNC Chair has approved his nomination as the gubernatorial candidate and that the DNC has agreed to provide $4 million in start-up funding. He tells him that they are to announce his candidacy in August, but the campaign will start that very day. Frank, however, demands that Peter attend AA, because his sobriety is the biggest hurdle they have to jump. Peter rejects the idea of attending AA meetings, but Frank makes it his one requirement otherwise he withdraws his support. Peter acquiesces and Frank assigns Doug as his sponsor for his chief of staff has been sober for fourteen years. Claire discusses the plan to pass a Watershed Act for the Delaware River making use of the 1,100 acres of land made available by the closing of the shipyard. The plan is to create thousands of jobs through the development of the land. Peter’s role is to speak with the representatives of the districts that the watershed will affect and to take on the environmental legislation with the help of his and Claire's staff. Peter leaves a voicemail message to Christina Gallagher (Kristen Connolly) informing her of having taken the first step to sobriety.

President Walker reproaches Frank for allowing the strike to endure, he orders Frank to gut the bill in order to put an end to the strike. Frank argues that they must not concede to the demands of the teachers union, but the President has lost confidence in him after the disastrous debate. Surprised with Frank's defiance, President Walker allows him to keep the bill intact. Frank decides to speak to Captain Cardiff about giving Meechum his job back. The next morning Frank hears of a drive-by shooting on the police radio. Meechum drives Frank to Zoe’s apartment in order to instruct her to tweet about the death of Tyler Davis, an 8-year old Washington D.C. boy. A stray bullet from a gangland shoot-out struck the third-grader at Vernon Baker Elementary that was out of school due to the teachers’ strike. Frank uses this situation to blame the boy’s death on the strike and calls for an end to it. Marty arrives at the Capitol to meet with Frank believing that they are meeting to negotiate. Frank confesses of having lied to him for he has no intention of working out a compromise. Marty prepares to leave when Frank hurls insults at him. Marty just shrugs off his insults, but Frank shows him the brick thrown at his house. Moreover, he divulges that Doug Stamper threw it and that he had instructed Claire to distract his security. Frank comes within inches from Marty’s face when he confesses to having arranged the supposed attack against him. Marty throws a punch at Frank hard enough to cause him to bleed, which is exactly what Frank had hoped. Frank threatens to press charges for assault of a United States Congressman, which is a felony, if Marty does not end the strike immediately.

Claire Underwood accepts Steve’s request for her to visit him again at the hospital. Claire arrives at the hospital and learns the reason for Steve’s text message. Steve takes the opportunity to express his loathing for Frank Underwood and his fantasies of being with Claire. Claire comes in defense of Frank and discloses his proposal that promised her freedom from boredom. She declares that Frank is the only man who understood her. Claire then performs a hand job on Steve embarrassing the man enough for him to ask her to stop. Later that night, she informs him of having visited the dying bodyguard again leaving out the details of her visit. She finds no need for Frank to pay him a visit, but she informs her husband that they are to pay for his funeral.

Cast

Following is the list of billed cast.

Main cast

Recurring characters

Guest characters

Reception

The episode received positive reviews from critics. In a lukewarm review, Ryan McGee of The A.V. Club said, "That’s a problem with the show in general, which focuses as much on process as character development through this, the nearly halfway point in the first batch of episodes we’re still calling a “season” of “television.” Both need to simultaneously exist in order for House Of Cards to operate at maximum efficiency, but the show hasn’t struck the balance effectively to date."