The Gladiators saddled up for a singular mission on Scandal Season 4 Episode 11: bring Olivia home.
Were they successful?
Fresh off Andrew’s taunting, Fitz knew there was little he could to in terms of signaling for help, considering the Vice President had managed to switch out the POTUS’ Secret Service detail with some treasonous agents, while also embedding snoops with the White House support and butler staff.
We love Scandal because we can write that sentence.
But Fitz was loving the fact that “every phone call, every toilet flush” will now not go unnoticed.
Still, on the balcony later on, Fitz whispers to Mellie about the “bone fide American coup” being orchestrated by her “boyfriend.”
Should he let Olivia die or let American troops die, huh, Mellie? The FLOTUS replied with honesty, by saying she thought her husband was totally in love and Olivia wasn’t some "cheap screw." So he knew what he had to do.
Fitz went on television and announced the onset of military action vs. West Angola.
Olivia, meanwhile, was a mess. As one would expect her to be. She as forced to read a script on camera as proof of life. She stopped to ask for a drink while doing so and caught a reflection of her captor in the process.
After disgraced Secret Service agent Tom set up a private meeting between Fitz and Jake, the former handed off his copy of the video. This led to Huck eventually seeing the reflection, though the man he saw (Ian) didn’t show up on any databases.
Fortunately, the Gladiators caught a break when Marla Gibbs came knocking at OPA, searching for “the black lady.”
She’s looking for her missing friend Lois, who lives across the hall from Olivia. Upon searching that residence, Huck finds Liv’s ring. She was there at some point!
They use the Web router to ID Otto… which leads them to Ian Woods (and all his pseudo names).
Huck then threatens the daughter of Elizabeth North if Elizabeth doesn’t help them find Olivia. There’s some torture that takes place, which prompts Elizabeth to go to Mellie with the truth, saying she had no role in the abduction.
Mellie takes this intel to Andrew, telling him she knows his Olivia game and wonders about her role in his potential administration. Andrew falls for it… they get it on… and when he passes out, Mellie snags his cell phone.
This allows Huck to narrow down Ian’s pings to a Harrisburg airplane hanger.
Via the help of David Rosen, the DEA launches a “drug raid” on the hangar, with Jake along for the ride — but Olivia has vanished from the temporary prison. Darn it!
Why did this happen? Watch Scandal online to see how Olivia suggested to Ian that he sell her on the open market and be an actual boss, rather than simply “honor his contract.”
Own Olivia Pope, you own the president! she pitches to him.
So at hour’s conclusion, Fitz receives a call from a cleaned-up Olivia, who only gets in a quick “hi” before Ian grabs the phone and gives the leader of the free world a heads-up on the bidding that’s about to take place.
And, courtesy of the “chatter” going on about the POTUS’ girlfriend being up for grabs, Huck gets more digital bread crumbs to follow.
Okay, you can return to breathing now as you anticipate next week’s new episode. Whew!