‘Scandal’ Tweet-cap: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Warning: This recap for the “Trojan Horse” episode of Scandal contains spoilers.

Hail Fitzgerald Grant, President of the United States and honorary gladiator.

While Fitz is a good and decent man, he hasn’t always been the sharpest knife in this drawer full of rapiers that is known as Scandal. He pales in comparison to Olivia, Cyrus, or even Mellie, who are schemers of the highest degree.

But this lame duck proves he’s learned how to swim amongst the sharks. He proves his mettle and his morality — Fitz stands by his man, Cyrus, in the contest for the electoral college, and he refuses to let Olivia take the fall for her father for Frankie’s assassination.

Just like he did last week, Fitz stands up for what’s right. That may complicate everyone’s lives for some time, but it’s noble that he wears that white hat so tightly.

Here’s a rundown of this week’s episode, including our live tweets:

Whoa… the episode opens with a steamy sex scene between David and his girlfriend “Samantha,” aka Marjorie. Afterward, when David goes to get some water, Jake confronts him quietly to tell him the truth about his lover.

Also learning the truth about the Mystery Power People? Mellie. She’s horrified looking over all the evidence that Olivia and her gladiators have amassed. Olivia counsels Mellie to cede the presidency to Cyrus, but Mellie hesitates. She doesn’t want to give up on the American people. Liv reminds her that Frankie won the election. Put on the white hat, she says. Mellie throws a tantrum.

But ultimately, Liv convinces her that she’s too decent of a person to fight this. “You would’ve been a great president,” she says sadly. Just not now.

David goes on TV to announce that Cyrus has been exonerated of all charges and will be freed from prison. Abby is with the prisoner when he receives the news and he is tearfully joyful. She takes him to a hotel room where he can recuperate and rest until the electoral college vote.

Meanwhile, Mellie is supposed to give her concession speech soon, but Lizzie North arrives at her office to argue against it. Why should Mellie roll over? “You belong in the Oval and you know it,” Lizzie says. And Mellie, who was already hesitant to give up her bid, goes along with her — even though it royally pisses off Olivia.

So, Olivia decides to take on Cyrus like a client. They will get him elected, if it’s the last thing she does! They need to remind electors that Cyrus is experienced and completely innocent of Frankie’s assassination.

To that end, Olivia needs Cyrus to show his face and help convince electors. But he’s been holed up in his hotel room for days. When she shows up to give him a couple of suits, he is a mess. Michael is refusing visits from his daughter. He’s ordering room service at all hours. He’s living in a bathrobe.

Liv tries to gently coax him back to life, but Cyrus brushes her off. After all, she once pledged to never speak to him again. She left him for dead in prison. Why should he trust her now? He shuts the door in her face.

Liv has to resort to other means to buff up Cyrus’s image, like having Frankie’s widow give an interview endorsing him. But then, she gets a call from her father. Rowan is in a panic and orders her to stop trying to make Cyrus president. Rowan says he’s only alive because of his influence over Olivia. If he can’t persuade her to drop this, Peus and Marjorie will kill him.

Meanwhile, at the White House, Fitz is in bed with Angela, who is starting to ask a lot of questions about Olivia’s involvement in this Cyrus thing. One day, she’s trying to bury him, and the next, she’s trying to get him elected? It’s fishy. Fitz just ignores her.

Frankie’s widow’s interview boosts Cyrus, but then his ex Michael gives one, too, and it is damaging. Michael admits Cyrus didn’t kill Frankie, but he’s still a liar, cheater, and manipulator. And he most certainly does not have Michael’s vote.

Liv appeals to Fitz to talk to Cyrus after that, to give him a pep talk. Fitz goes to the hotel room, and it’s good to see the two men together. Fitz apologizes for his part in Cyrus’s incarceration and reminds him of what he gave Cyrus at the hospital on the night of Frankie’s death: America. “As president, I’m asking you to take it,” he says. “Can you do that?”

Fitz’s pep talk wakes up Cyrus, as he gives a press conference on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. When a reporter asks if he deserves to be president, Cyrus shakes his head. No, he doesn’t — he is a liar and manipulator, just like his estranged husband said. But Frankie did deserve to be president. He was everything that was good, kind, and wonderfully American. It’s why he won the election. Cyrus is a meager replacement, but in Frankie’s absence, he promises to strive to honor his legacy.

Mellie returns to her office to find Lizzie there with… Peus and Marjorie! She’s horrified that her chief of staff is working with these murderers. Peus informs her that they’ve “taken care” of the electors (bribed/threatened them), but Mellie refuses to win this way. She promises to see that they are punished for Frankie’s murder.

And then Marjorie takes a whack at Lizzie’s head. And another, and another. Lizzie is dead and bloodied on Mellie’s carpet. She’s in complete shock. Peus tells her that she will do what they say and become president, not report them, and make Marjorie her chief of staff — or they will kill her children.

At the White House, Angela storms in to show Fitz an arrest warrant for Olivia. They found the money connection between Liv and Tom Larson that the Mystery Power People set up as a bargaining tool. Fitz dismisses it and tells Angela she’s basically being a crazy girlfriend. “Boy! I’m the director of the FBI!” she says. She’s going to arrest Liv whether he likes it or not.

Olivia arrives at Mellie’s office after getting a call from her. She is shocked to see Lizzie’s dead body on the floor and Mellie splattered with blood. Mellie incoherently fills her in on Peus’s demands and how they will kill anybody who gets in their way. Liv leaves her with Jake, who calmly assures her he will clean up all her messes. He is her VP, after all.

Olivia marches to the White House to tell Fitz the latest news. He, in turn, says Angela is about to arrest her. She actually thinks it’s a good idea! If she goes down, then Mellie will go down with her and the electors can’t possibly vote for her! Cyrus will be president. Even if it’s the last thing she does before prison.

Fitz pleads with her not to follow this plan. She can’t go to prison — it’ll mean he loses her forever. He wants them to pin it on the real killer, Rowan. But Olivia won’t put her father in prison. It is a certain death sentence. “You’re always the smartest person in the room — until right now,” Fitz says. Olivia won’t listen. She says goodbye and leaves.

The electoral college meets to cast their votes and they vote for Mellie. She will be the next POTUS, and both she and Cyrus are sad about it.

Meanwhile, Angela is mad because she’s being transferred to Omaha and the arrest isn’t going through. Fitz smiles. They have a new suspect in custody — Rowan!

Of course, this infuriates Olivia, who confronts Fitz about going against her wishes. He shows her video of her father… in the Oval Office. He was taken into custody, yes, but by the president. They will fight against the Mystery Power People because it’s the right thing to do.

Olivia melts. They stare into each other’s eyes and begin kissing. And then she leads him into the bedroom.

Scandal airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

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