Chapter 31 

Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.

Director:

James Foley

Writers:

Michael Dobbs (based on the novels by), Andrew Davies (based on the mini-series by)

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Spacey	...	Francis Underwood
Robin Wright	...	Claire Underwood
Michael Kelly	...	Doug Stamper
Mahershala Ali	...	Remy Danton
Molly Parker	...	Jackie Sharp
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Heather Dunbar
Derek Cecil	...	Seth Grayson
Nathan Darrow	...	Edward Meechum
Reg E. Cathey	...	Freddy
Kim Dickens	...	Kate Baldwin
Larry Pine	...	Bob Birch
Benito Martinez	...	Hector Mendoza
Alexander Sokovikov	...	Alexi Moryakov
Chuck Cooper	...	Barney Hull
Shawn Doyle	...	Dr. Alan Cooke

Storyline

Frank declares war on Congress to jump-start his jobs program. Claire spars with the Russian Ambassador.

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Plot Keywords:

united nations delegate | united nations | israeli ambassador | reference to israel | reference to russia | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 2015 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

52 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When talking to Thomas Yates, Frank Underwood states he prefers shoot 'em up video games because he needs the adrenaline, he is seen playing violent video games throughout the series but this could be a reference to Kevin Spacey portraying the main antagonist in the hugely successful action game Call of Duty (2003) in 2014.

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Goofs

During the phone call between the car and homeland security the camera shifts to the touchscreen. During the scene the car is driving but in this shot the speedometer reads zero.

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Quotes

Doug Stamper: You need someone who's willing to do the things that people like her won't do.
Heather Dunbar: You asked me for a job. You said you wanted to turn over a new leaf.
Doug Stamper: I have a certain skill-set, Miss Dunbar. For me, turning over a new leaf is using my skills for the right reasons. Like putting you in office.

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Connections

References Field of Dreams (1989)

User Reviews

Anything Goes

We are now in recklessness mode where Frank is going to let it all hang out, knowing that goof up along the way could really be destructive. He does an end run around the UN and instead of trying to appease the Russians who have threatened to arm Iran, he is going to beef up the borders and attack any effort to move arms. Claire is told by the Russian ambassador that she is incompetent. She delivers an ultimatum to him, sitting on the toilet in the lady's room. A really in your face statement. Doug is brought into Dunbar's fold by offering damning evidence of the first lady's lies, counting on Dunbar rejecting the use of this stuff. One of the conditions of the Russian thing is the release of a gay man whose partner is helping the Dunbar campaign. If Claire is given credit for the release, it neutralizes a good deal of the effect of Dunbar's efforts. Her being seen as a hero, as it were. Frank wants a book written and goes to a National Book Award winning author. Nothing ordinary for Frank. Meanwhile, he has fund money for the Washington, D. C. mayor to hire a slew of people to show how his jobs program works. Everything is show and he putting on a good one. Obviously, sustaining this is way too big for the whole country. Frank just wants to get elected and then let the chips fall.