3. Hunting Season

Complete story — includes the ending

Olivia watches Kimberly Mitchell's talk show discuss President Grant's decision on whether or not to go to war with Libya over photo-shopped photos of dead Sudanese children. Olivia sees Senator Edison Davis on the talk show and calls him to tell him that his tie is distracting on screen. He is glad to hear from her, considering it's been three years. When Olivia gets into her car a government official named Artie Hornbacker claims that the government is using a new technology called "Thorngate" to spy on U.S. citizens. He claims he knows about her late-night phone calls to the West Wing. Artie explains that while he was doing data entry he noticed some descrepencies leading to his discovery and subsequent stealing of "Thorngate" from the NSA. Abby, Harrison, and Quinn look into Artie and become convinced he's crazy. They get "Thorngate" up and running, and Artie reveals that he told someone else about "Thorngate." Edison wants Olivia to ask him out, but she asks him about "Thorngate" since he's on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Cyrus informs Fitz that "Thorngate" has been stolen and Olivia is representing Artie. He tells Fitz that he is a ticking time bomb, faking being happy since Olivia won't return his phone calls. Fitz finds out that Edison is Olivia's former fiancee and is back in her life when a secret service agent gives him photos as proof. Fitz goes duck hunting with Hollis Doyle. Fitz summons Olivia to join him hunting where he reveals to her he that knows about Edison. They kiss against a tree, ignoring Tom and Hal standing a few feet away, but afterwards Olivia claims their relationship is over. When Fitz returns home, Mellie tells him that if he sees Olivia again he won't be re-elected. Olivia picks Kimberly Mitchell to do an interview with Artie. Fitz puts an injunction against the network, making it treason for anyone to go through with the interview, but Olivia gets them to do it anyway. Artie escapes from Huck's house with the recently decrypted "Thorngate." The NSA shows up at OPA looking for Artie, but Olivia improvises and gets the NSA to give her 12 hours to find him. Fitz realizes that Cyrus used "Thorngate" on him; that's how he knew that Olivia wasn't taking his calls. Huck finds Artie and greets him with a toolbox. David joins OPA to uncover the true story behind the Lindsay Dwyer case. Edison declares himself a client of OPA. David and Abby have sex. Huck vows that his torture issues are under control.