Carrie finally makes a choice, while Keane gives in to her paranoia.
Hey, the shows not calledFranny.
The strength of this hour, unlike much of this seasons wobbly first half, came from Carries story.
Claire Danes on ‘Homeland’.Credit: Antony Platt/SHOWTIME
Its grueling to watch.
When Carrie recovers, Ansons there to bring her orange juice and her custody lawyer, Ronda.
If she agrees to the terms, theyll skip the hearing and ensure that Carrie will retain visitation rights.
If she doesnt, the hearing could result in Carrie never seeing Franny again.
If they want Franny, Im not going to just hand her over, she says.
And so she does, while on a walk with Anson.
What could possibly be used against Maggie?
And how low could Carrie really go?
Thatd revoke Maggies medical license, Anson points out, and would certainly help Carries case.
But Carries not ready to throw her own sister under the bus.
Clarity, shes written.
Still, does that mean she wont screw up again or know how to prevent another meltdown?
Just then, Saul enters her room to check in on how shes doing.
Instead, maybe theres somethingshecan do.
(Does it sound cliche?
Do we know its true?
Also, yes.)
Anson asks if he should go there, and Carrie hesitates but eventually gives him the green light.
Meanwhile, at Vice President Warners residence, an even more awkward conversation is taking place.
Senator Paley, after Dantes death, has flip-flopped again, and gone all in on taking Keane out.
Only thing is, the amendment cant be ratified without the VPs signature.
And so, Wellingtons there to ensure the VPs support.
It must gall her that the survival of her presidency would come down to me, Warner gleefully remarks.
He took an oath to support the office of the president, and hes going to keep it.
If only it were that easy.
In other words, Keane is covering up crimes, and its up to them to take her down.
She calls the VP and leaves a message for him to call her back as soon as possible.
The next day, Keane looks a lot less assured than she had been the night before.
DCs just waking up, but it looks like Keanes stayed up all night stressing over the VPs actions.
It would be a terrible move for a president to make, and Wellington rightly points it out.
By firing her Cabinet members, shell be positioning herself a tyrant and then shell haveno oneon her side.
Except the Russians, because by defying the Constitution this way, shes playing right into their hands.
But Keane doesnt bend.
(Of course, that makes her easier to break.)
Carrie, at the same time, is about to have her own fitness interrogated.
She spies her sister across the lobby, and they share a tense look before the hearing begins.
Hearing that, Carries face falls.
And then Maggie takes the stand.
Carrie appears hurt and just grits her jaw.
But its the next portion of Maggies testimony that finally breaks Carrie.
Its a powerful testimony: I am not extraordinary like you, Carrie, Maggie says.
But as it turns out, safe has its advantages, too.
A family, a stable home life, these are the things I can offer Franny.
Things that you cant.
Its a chance to be normal.
Im giving up all of it.
Im seeing that clearly now.
Thats when Maggie finally says what Carrie needs to hear that she doesnt believe Carrie can keep that up.
Im sorry, I really am.
And at that, Carrie has no response, because what Maggie says is true.
It wont be a permanent loss, at least.
They sign the papers, she never opens the package Anson delivered, and thats that.
If only Keane could have some clarity, too.
Shes lost sight of the bigger picture and Warner, of all people, tells her that.
It doesnt have to be such a snake pit, Elizabeth, he says.
She fills him in on the custody battle, then asks if she can join.
There, she observes Maggie with Franny and seems at peace with leaving Franny behind.
Carries caught off guard when Franny wonders if shell come back.
OfcourseIm coming back, she tells Franny, and then the two hug.
Carrie then leaves the house, strides toward a waiting car, and greets Saul inside.
They drive away, and the camera lingers on her face.
