This time, it's the capture of three American journalists in Tehran. After interrogation, they confessed to being spies for the U.S. Elaine is just learning about this in the Situation Room at the White House. President Hakam is threatening a trial and death sentence in the next 48 hours unless Garcetti negotiates for their release in person. Elaine is flabbergasted. Then she realizes nobody else in the room is flabbergasted. "How long have you all known about this?" she asks. Vice President Gomer Pyle pipes up with, "Well I, for one, am just finding out." Elaine is still baffled as to why they wouldn't call the nation's top diplomat. Everyone's all, "Oh, well, we didn't want to bother you since you have your son's engagement party this week." She makes a mental note to wear hip waders to the next shit-filled meeting. She can't figure out why Hakam is pushing this sham trial right now. Everyone acts like they don't know, but clearly they do. Douglas gets all het up when Garcetti wants Elaine to read a prepared statement, which is apparently against policy.

Douglas is still fuming when he gets back to his mother's office. He's railing about lies and corruption and taking a stand and then his mother bats him about the head with a handful of rolled-up papers like he's a misbehaving puppy. (Note: Please do not hit any actual puppies with rolled-up papers.) Elaine gets him back to the real issue at hand, which is the capture of the three Americans. She can't figure out what Hakam has to gain by picking this particular fight at this particular time. Elaine goes to the press conference with a statement from her own speech writer.

At Elaine's pad, everyone's getting ready for a dinner party. They're calling it a "salon," which is what I'm going to call all my small dinner parties from now on. Elaine comes home to find her mother and T.J. already drinking (Jack Daniels margaritas -- shudder) and complaining about "that bitch Susan Berg." Thomas follows his mother up to her room, excitedly telling her about meeting with some investors. He wants $50k from each of his parents to invest in a nightclub/restaurant. Elaine is halfway through turning him down when she notices the gold brocade dress on her bed. It's a slightly less frumpy version of Hillary's 1997 Inaugural Ball gown. Thomas picked it out for his mother to wear, saying, "I didn't get all the gay genes, but I got the style one." Based on this sartorial choice, I'm going to say... no, you did not. Elaine tells Thomas that Susan Berg has the story of what happened to him last December. Thomas tries to act like it's no big, but he's putting on a brave face. His mother knows it, too. She agrees to give him the investment money if his father also agrees. Then it's all smiles and hugs and happiness. Thomas offers to help his mom with her hair, because apparently there's a gay gene for that, too.