Our Scandal season 4, episode 2 recap breaks down the emotional State of the Union and Olivia’s big return to town.

Olivia’s back in action

Scandal season 4, episode 2 begins with Cyrus and Olivia meeting in the park (where Olivia was just in the middle of a run, and yet she’s not out of breath — impressive!). Fitz’s Chief of Staff reveals he has placed a “considerable sum” into Olivia’s bank account to encourage her to help pull Fitz’s State of the Union subjects into D.C. Strangely, they’ve missed two flights into the city, thus the need for Olivia.

And if Olivia doesn’t want to get involved in Fitz’s business? Well, she has no choice. “I’ll tell [Fitz] you call every day,” Cyrus threatens. “I’ll tell him you call asking about him every day.”

Then we learn about Fitz’s invited guests. James Elliot is a war hero, and his wife Lisa was a teacher who was a hero during a school shooting. They’ve dedicated themselves to getting guns off the streets and even wrote a book about it.

They’re a perfect couple — or are they? Olivia visits their home in New Mexico to find out why they haven’t come to D.C. and discovers they’re at each other’s throats.

Olivia drags them into town, and Huck and Quinn are assigned as babysitters to James and Lisa in their separate hotel rooms. Abby notices that Olivia is getting involved in the situation and tells Pope to stay out of it. She breaks the news to Olivia that Huck and Quinn have been shacking up.

The calm atmosphere in James and Lisa’s rooms breaks when Huck and James start drunkenly singing together. Olivia shows up to take control of the situation.

She puts a handle on things, but only for a night. The next morning, James is threatening to leave town before the speech, so Olivia jumps into action and proposes they divorce. She promises the troubled couple that they can stay successful after being separated.

It does the trick. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot are brought to the event via Olivia. Ms. Pope can’t enter, however. She then has a moment with Fitz.

“I need to know what you think,” Fitz asks about his speech.

“No,” she replies.

“Don’t you think you owe me this much?”

She takes his speech and reads it over, and offers some advice after some pushing.

Her tip? Offer an off-script update on the Grant family. Fitz accepts the advice, and decides to talk about what he and Mellie went through with Jerry Jr., as his wife watches with James and Lisa.

The speech — off the cuff — transitions from the loss of Fitz’s son into a reminder about the problems with the Second Amendment. He reminds the country that the Second Amendment is well and good — until it’s your child who dies. It’s a politically-infused moment for Scandal that may upset or inspire many viewers.

After the speech, Mellie exits and breaks down in a private hallway. Fitz comes in and comforts her. It’s quite an emotional moment.

Rosen is set for Attorney General

Elizabeth, AKA “Lizzie Bear,” doesn’t want Fitz’s speech to be about gun control — because they’re Republicans and they don’t do that!

Later, Lizzie finds the fake evidence of Rosen committing domestic abuse, which viewers first saw in season 3. With this evidence in hand, she tells Cyrus that Rosen must decline the Attorney General invitation, which leaves us thinking he’s been forced into a corner.

Not so! Rosen blames Olivia for this whole situation and wants to keep the nomination, so he blackmails Senator Watson, who is forced to endorse David.

Mellie’s recovery

When we first see Mellie this episode, she’s propped up against her son’s gravestone eating some potato chips when the paparazzi catch her in this delirious state of mind. “This is bad, Cy,” Olivia tells Cyrus. Meanwhile, Abby is fielding questions from the media, but has room for improvement in terms of how she handles things. She’s no Olivia!

Fitz and Cyrus show the paparazzi photos to Mellie — who’s sitting on the White House balcony eating chicken wings. The President asks Mellie to attend the State of the Union, but Ms. Fitz isn’t interested because her husband is only looking out for himself. Even a heart-to-heart with Cyrus about their departed love ones doesn’t do the trick. “We are not the same,” she tells him.

Are we out of luck? No! Abby approaches Mellie on the White House balcony (the two have apparently never met) to put an Olivia Pope-like spell on her. Abby argues that lots of people lose their kids, but they don’t have the luxury of being upset for three months. She gives Mellie a heartfelt speech about the First Lady’s job, and it appears to convince her! Abby redeems herself in this moment — now she is an Olivia Pope-like problem solver.

Cyrus’ man

Cyrus is deeply upset by the conversation he has with Mellie because it brings up old thoughts about his James. At the bar (perhaps a gay bar, judging by the music) that night, Cyrus is approached by a man who tries to buy him a drink. He can’t accept, but at the end of the episode he finds him again and they start making love.

It turns out he’s a sex worker hired by Elizabeth. Cyrus doesn’t know who hired him, and he begins to back out because he’s uncomfortable with paid sex, but after Michael strips fully, he changes his mind.

Booty calls

Olivia’s booty call to Jake doesn’t go over well because each of them wants the other to come to their respective home. Jake refuses to visit Olivia’s if they’re not officially together, while Olivia…just doesn’t want to leave her bucket of popcorn and wine.

After saving the State of the Union situation, Olivia makes a beautifully dramatic exit and heads to Jake’s for the booty call they’ve both been yearning. She gets naked FAST and they begin to make love.

Quote of the night: “I am never concerned that Olivia Pope will fail.” – Cyrus

What did you think of ‘Scandal’ season 4, episode 2?

Scandal season 4, episode 3 airs Thursday, October 9 at 9 p.m. eastern/pacific on ABC.