1600 Penn Episode 1.07 To the Ranch

The President is having trouble deciding on his final choice of candidates for the Supreme Court. At Emily's urging he decides to take the family to his Nevada ranch for a getaway. Skip continues to plot how he'll patch things up with Stacey - but then notices her kissing a fellow White House aide in the hallway. Skip's crushed.

The First Family arrives at the ranch and the President and First Lady are immediately invigorated. The kids, with the exception of Becca, couldn't be more detached. Xander and Marigold stare at their phones, while Skip lies on the couch crying as he watches "Bridges of Madison County." Emily's appalled. She snatches the two younger kids' phones and hands them off to the Secret Service to hide them. She hands them compasses and maps and explains they'll have to use some outdoor skills to find their beloved devices.

The President takes Skip outside to chop some wood, explaining that honest labor is just the tonic for clearing one's head. He's still ruminating over the Supreme Court appointment. Skip's still heartbroken. The President cuts a tree down with an axe, but Skip fears it'll fall on his father and rushes in to save him - squashing him in the process. The President's back has been injured.

Becca helps Marshal with his speech for the President on the Supreme Court choice. Becca made a point of leaving DB back in Washington. Her conversancy with the pros and cons of each justice candidate impresses Marshal; they write the speech together as beautifully as if they were making music. There's clearly still a spark still there.

Out in the wilds of the ranch, Emily introduces Xander and Marigold to the beauties and challenges of the outdoors. With a little help from nearby Secret Service agents, they make camp and crack open a few cans of food. Night falls, and the kids are out cold. Though she doesn't care to admit it to the kids, Emily actually hates camping and is soon beset by spiders. She hops up and heads for the safety of the Secret Service SVU, where she promptly falls asleep.

The President's in bed, nursing his back injury. Skip joins him, pestering him with question after question. Finally Dale's had enough and blurts out that Skip lost Stacey because he couldn't just shut up for once. It's a deep cut, and Dale knows he's been rash. He works on repairing Skip's bruised sensibility.

Marshal finds Becca at the ranch's shooting range, taking out a little pregnant angst. Soon they're talking like old friends. Becca can't take it any more: she plants a big kiss on Marshall's lips. Seconds later DB appears out of nowhere. He's hopped a plane from D.C. to deliver Becca's pregnancy pillow. Awkward.

It's the end of the day and the First Family, Marshall and even DB have all ended up at a scenic overlook. They can't help but be taken in by the setting sun; somehow the ranch has soothed their fears, spats and resentments. It's a testament to family, friends and the power of the outdoors to heal.