And the Republican candidates will have Sally Langston as their moderator.
Susan, meanwhile, is deep in debate prep, talking about immigration with Fitz subbing in as Hollis.
And…shes kind of killing it.
Credit: Greg Gayne/ABC
Before they hang up, Abby has one question for Olivia: Has she heard the rumors?
Liv says shes looking into it, and we get quick confirmation of what they are.
Hes announcing the next morning but first wanted to check with Liv about something called Meridian Terrace.
She says not to worry about it and tells him hell be a great candidate.
I figure its about time we had our first black president, he tells her.
Liv nods, then responds, I think its about time we had our firstwomanpresident.
(Amen to that!)
They wish each other luck in the election and part ways.
Meanwhile, David Rosens gross two-timing finally (FINALLY!)
Abby, smartly, wants to hear none of it and tells him to get out.
He leaves her office only to get pulled into another with those exact two women.
Susan says thats a lot to ask, but he says hell do it for her.
She looks thrilled, which makes me feel even more rage toward David than usual.
(More on him in a bit.)
Hes also Frankie Vargas brother, Alex Vargas (Danny Pino).
Olivia doesnt mince words either.
Oh man, what a disaster this was.
She lies and says yes.
They ask her where.
take another crack, Mellie, because apparently Gettysburger is closed on Sundays.
So the Gettsburger Test becomes Burgergate because naturally something like that would become a trending topic almost immediately.
Mellie is pissed at Olivia because it was her idea, and Olivia is pissed at Mellie for lying.
Definitely not a great thing to happen right before a big debate.
Or some sort of file?
Its something of his, is the point) on her desk and asks what its doing there.
He has dirt on Susan Ross, and he wants dirt on Edison Davis.
According to Huck, this guy has successfully run all his brothers campaigns up until now with an M.O.
to win by any means necessary.
Olivia turns him down, saying she doesnt play dirty.
Then, she goes to her father and asks him if she should do just that.
Mellie is polling third after Burgergate, so should she take Alex Vargas intel on Susan Ross?
Instead, he tells her Edison has been nothing but nice to her.
Shes played dirty but only with people she loathes, and this would be hurting someone she respects.
Shed no longer be playing Robin Hood.
Shed be…her father.
And does she really want to do that?
Id hate to see you do the same thing to yourself.
Youre getting into bed with a monster, she warns him.
His reply: Correction: Im getting into bed with a monsters father.
Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by.
Olivia then interrupts a cozy dinner between Jake and Vanessa to let him know shes onto him.
His phone pings, and he leaves the table, finding Liv waiting by the ladies room.
They go in, and she pushes him against the door, locks it, and kisses him.
She unbuckles his pants while calling BS on him wanting someone normal over her.
Susan, devastated, confronts Rosen and asks for the truth.
Are you cheating on me?
He denies it, lying straight to her face, and says he wants her and only her.
Not even one of the main ones!).
Elizabeth tells him she actually liked him and wasnt sleeping with anyone else while they were together.
Fitz pays Susan a visit before the debate.
She apologizes for being off her game earlier and asks him to ask her a policy question.
Why does anyone cheat?
She wants to believe David but doesnt know if she should.
Fitz gives her a surprisingly honest answer.
Susan takes this in with a deep breath and then answers his deficit question perfectly.
Then, right before the debate, she goes and dumps him.
She then goes outside and meets Alex Vargas for that information swap.
And with that, the candidates step onstage and Sally preps the audience for what to expect.
Next week: they debate!
