POTUS tells the priest that he had his staff search for reasons the public would find palatable to commute Cruz's sentence -- a technicality, or any evidence of racism. Father Cavanaugh compares Jed to the kid in right field hoping the ball won't be hit to him. Jed reminds Father Cavanaugh that he's the leader of a democracy in which seventy-one percent of the people support capital punishment. The priest asks whether Jed's called the Pope. Of course, when he finds out that Jed has called the pontiff, he wants to know how Jed does that, too. The priest gives him some "you're just this kid from my parish, and now you're calling the Pope" stuff. Jed says that he really did look for a way out. "'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,'" quotes Father Cavanaugh. "Do you know what that means? God is the only one who gets to kill people." Jed says he knows. The priest tells him that was his way out, and asks if he prayed. POTUS says he prayed for wisdom. Father Cavanaugh inquires, "And none came?" Without a trace of sarcasm, POTUS says, "It never has. And I'm a little pissed off about that." Jed checks his watch, which reads 11:59:55 PM, and adds softly, "I'm not kidding." Father Cavanaugh tells a little morality tale, the point of which is that the faithful do not always recognize God's help when it's staring them in the face. Father Cavanaugh tells Jed that God did send him help: "A priest, a rabbi, and a Quaker, Mr. President," which sounds like the beginning to one of those "three guys go into a bar..." jokes. I can only assume the priest knows about the rabbi and the Quaker from a phone call, since they haven't discussed it here. The priest adds, "Not to mention His Son, Jesus Christ. What do you want from Him?" Just then, C.J. knocks and without a word, brings in the note that Cruz is dead. The music that was being rehearsed at the synagogue is playing quietly and Jed looks at the note, even though he doesn't need to read it. He gets up and walks over to his desk, leaning on it and looking teary. Father Cavanaugh asks, "Jed? Would you like me to hear your confession?" Jed would like that, and Father Cavanaugh takes out and unfolds a length of purple satin that he wears as a sort of portable vestment. I'm sure I used to know the name of that thing but it's completely escaping me at the moment. Jed gets down on one knee next to the priest, crosses himself with his rosary, and says, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned..."