House of Cards Season 3, Episode 1: Frank Returns Home
James Foley
Director
David Fincher
Director
Kevin Spacey
Francis Underwood (Frank)
Robin Wright
Claire Underwood
Michael Joseph Kelly
Doug Stamper
Kristen Connolly
Christina
Plot Summary:Now President, Frank Underwood returns to his hometown of Gaffney to visit his father's grave—a calculated PR move to win public favor. Doug Stamper, found unconscious after being attacked by Rachel, is rushed to the hospital. He survives but suffers cortical damage, leaving his right leg impaired and requiring long-term rehab. Doug's biggest concern is whether he still has value to Frank, especially since Remy Danton is now Frank's Chief of Staff. Though Frank and Claire send flowers, they don't visit. Doug, feeling isolated, clings to the news, hoping to quickly return to Frank. Claire visits Doug, showing more interest in the details of his attack than his health, but Doug lies, claiming he was carjacked at a traffic light. Unable to extract Rachel's location, Claire leaves him a cell phone. Discharged but needing a cane, Doug is touched to find his room cleaned by Frank's staff. He pushes away his caring brother, Gary, clinging to his solitary habits. Frustrated by dismissive news coverage and Seth's unconcerned attitude on the provided phone, Doug feels abandoned. To redeem himself for his failure with Rachel, Doug seeks out the hacker Gavin but lacks leverage. Forced to seek Frank's help, Doug calls Seth again, demanding a meeting. Frank, increasingly autocratic, pushes hard for his jobs bill to boost his reelection bid, ignoring strong divisions within his cabinet. Doug rushes to the White House with a broken left hand, only to find Frank primarily concerned with resolving the 'Rachel problem,' and then quickly leaving on an urgent matter. In the Situation Room, the military locates a terrorist in Yemen. Frank mandates a no-civilian-casualty strike. Meanwhile, Claire pressures Frank to nominate her as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Frank fears the nepotism will undermine his jobs bill in Congress, but Claire insists, despite facing bipartisan skepticism. Frank grants her permission to observe the drone strike to dissuade her, but after watching the deadly strike, Claire remains firm in her request, and Frank concedes.