Gretchen: When do you want to go vote tomorrow?
Anthony: Do we have to go together? Do you not trust me to vote on my own?
Toby: I’m not old enough to vote.
Gretchen: I wasn’t referring to you, honey. Just meant your father. And, it’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that… you are forgetful. You don’t think about politics constantly like I do.
Anthony: I won’t forget to vote. In fact, I’m probably going to go in and vote before work.
Gretchen: Great, I’ll come with you! It’s good for appearances.
Anthony: Appearances? You’re not running again, why do you care what anyone thinks about you?
Gretchen: Just because I’m not running again doesn't mean I want people talking smack about me. We aren’t seen in public together very often, people are starting to wonder.
Anthony: That’s nonsense. We’re together plenty!
Gretchen: Not according to Massachusetts. She says the internet thinks we’re getting divorced when I leave office.
Anthony: The internet believes a lot that isn’t true.
Toby: Mom, you should just be glad the internet still thinks you’re relevant to make up conspiracy theories about.
Gretchen: You know what? That’s a good point. I’ll think of it that way.
Toby: You’re welcome!
Anthony: So, who am I voting for tomorrow? Carol of course, and Carrie Lione… anyone else in particular?
Gretchen: I don’t know, look up the other candidates.
Anthony: You don’t know who the other candidates are?
Gretchen: I live a very busy life.
Anthony: In politics…
Gretchen: Look, don’t give me the third degree. I already got it from my brother on this same subject. Well, I started it, but still.
Anthony: I’m gonna go research candidates. I don’t want to be an uninformed voter.
Gretchen: Yeah, I get it, you’re so much better than me.
Anthony: You don’t need to take it so personally.
Gretchen: You’ve insulted my life’s work.
Anthony: You know what? I know you’re just stressed about the primary for governor and you’re lashing out. I’m not going to get upset about it.
Gretchen: Thank you. I’m very nervous! I know Jeanne is shrouded in scandal, but I still worry she can win if the field is split enough. And if Pratt wins, then I’ve burned my bridge with the next governor for no reason. She would’ve been willing to let me have a voice in the administration if I’d supported her. Now… why should she?
Anthony: Hey, she could still lose to the Republican!
Gretchen: Yeah, she’s the one who that’d most likely happen to. I don’t think so, though. Nor would I want that. But I just really hope Carrie wins. And I really hope Carol wins. I think this would be so good for her. And it would be good for Rhode Island. Oh, I’m so nervous. You know how I get before an election. And I’ve been burned before. I should be vice president! We should all be in DC right now!
Toby: I like Rhode Island.
Anthony: I do, too!
Gretchen: Of course I like Rhode Island, too! I’m just saying… how cool would it be if I were vice president right now? It would probably help Carol’s campaign, too!
Anthony: I don’t think Carol would be bailing on serving as chief of staff to the vice president, to be fair.
Gretchen: Oh, so you’re saying she quit on me because the job’s not cool enough?
Anthony: No? But it was about to be over anyway, so she stepped down to seek a new job. Nothing wrong with that, I’m not judging.
Gretchen: Well, I really hope it works out for her. I want good things for her, she deserves them.
Later that night…
Christina: Mom, you there?
Gretchen: Yes, I sure am!
Christina: I need help.
Gretchen: With what, kiddo?
Christina: I forgot to mail in my ballot! I filled it out, it’s on the table in my apartment. I just… didn’t get around to mailing it.
Gretchen: You have a mailbox in your complex, no?
Christina: Yeah, I just forgot about grabbing it every time I left the apartment.
Gretchen: All right, here’s what you have to do: take it by hand to the board of elections in Cranston.
Christina: Cranston? I don’t want to go to Cranston!
Gretchen: No one does! It’s a necessary evil sometimes.
Christina: I have classes all day. I don’t know if I’m going to get there in time.
Gretchen: This is the most important election of our lives! Make sure there’s time! Skip a class!
Christina: Skip a class? Mother!
Gretchen: It’s that important!
Christina: Are the polls that close?
Gretchen: Every vote matters!
Christina: All right, I’ll make time.
Gretchen: Thank you! Tell all your friends to do the same and vote for Carrie and Carol, the ticket that cares for you!
Christina: I never heard that before.
Gretchen: I’m trying it out. I think it’s effective.
Christina: You’re workshopping a slogan the night before the election?
Gretchen: Look, I gotta do something to distract myself. I’m very nervous. I’m a naturally nervous person.
Christina: I’m aware of that.
Gretchen: Everyone who knows me is.
The next day…
Gretchen: How’s it lookin’, ladies?
Sarita: Like it’s 8:30 in the morning.
Esther: Which means you’re late!
Gretchen: Voting is more important! I don’t see your “I Voted” stickers, that’s unacceptable!
Sarita: I voted by mail.
Esther: I’m voting at lunch. The line’s not as long.
Gretchen: You have a long line at your polling place at 8 AM in the primary?
Esther: Sometimes! It’s a very exciting election, I bet there are a ton of people in line!
Gretchen: I’d bet against that.
Sarita: Do most people ever know there’s an election today? I mean, it’s September, most people probably thing the primary happened already and they just missed it.
Gretchen: Yeah, we gotta work on moving the election up. This is too late. Survivor’s almost back, this is ridiculous.
Sarita: I don’t mean to judge, but you did have eight years.
Gretchen: Seven and a half, let’s not rush it! We have plenty of time to make it happen.
Sarita: In the lame duck?
Gretchen: It’s not a lame duck session until the November election, let’s not rush it. Also, it’s mean to call someone a lame duck at all. Let’s not do that.
Sarita: How was the turnout when you went to vote?
Gretchen: Um… there were a few retirees in line.
Sarita: Yeah.
Gretchen: I tried my best to sway them to vote for Carrie and Carol. I did get in trouble.
Sarita: You can’t electioneer at a polling place! My goodness.
Gretchen: I was not electioneering. I was simply making a humble suggestion to my fellow citizens.
Sarita: Sure.
Gretchen: Has anyone from either campaign reached out with any news?
Sarita: It’s the morning. They don’t know any more now than they did yesterday, or the day before. Cautiously optimistic is what they said.
Gretchen: I’ve heard that so many times before the candidate lost.
Sarita: Patience, Gretchen. We’ll find out in about twelve hours.
Gretchen: That’s so long!
Sarita: It’s not that long.
Gretchen: It’s very long!
Esther: You know, there’s no one else here today. Everyone’s busy campaigning. Why are we here?
Gretchen: No rest for the weary!
Esther: What does that have to do with anything?
Gretchen: I don’t know, I just thought it sounded good.
Later that night…
Gretchen: Carol! This is exciting, right? My god, I’m so proud of you! All these people are here for you!
Carol: I’m stressed, Gretchen. How did you do this so many times?
Gretchen: I mean, you know, I always knew I was gonna win.
Carol: Did you?
Gretchen: No, god no. I thought I was gonna lose at least half the time, even when you assured me I wasn’t going to. I don’t listen, really.
Carol: I’ve been told we turned out the voters we needed to, and that I’m on a path to win. I don’t know how they can really tell, I never have, but people smarter than me assure me I’ll be the next lieutenant governor of this state.
Gretchen: I’m very happy for you.
Carol: If it’s true! It might not be!
Gretchen: How about Carrie?
Carol: It’s close. Her and Pratt have both gained in the polls recently. They’re saying that it really could come down to how much of the vote Seider and Matthews get.
Gretchen: There’s always a spoiler!
Carol: I know Carrie’s a mess. It’ll be down to the wire.
Gretchen: Could I have done more?
Susana: More for what?
Gretchen: Susana! Oh my god, you look wonderful! It’s been too long!
Susana: You look great, too!
Carol: Yeah, she’s got that “impending unemployment glow” to her.
Gretchen: Let’s not say that.
Susana: How’s it looking, mom?
Carol: I just told Gretchen that I’m apparently on track to win, but Carrie’s race is close
Susana: I voted for both of you!
Carol: I would hope so! By the way, thanks for putting a good word in for me with Judith.
Susana: She was happy to support you. She’s quite a fan of me!
Gretchen: Gosh, it’s so good to all be back together again. I didn’t know if you were gonna make it or not.
Susana: I couldn’t miss this for anything. Judith was very understanding, too.
Gretchen: I’d hope so. You don’t get to see your mom get elected just any time.
Carol: And it still might not happen, let’s not jinx it!
Susana: I’m just really excited for her to get her moment in the spotlight. She’s worked so hard behind the scenes, she deserves this.
Carol: I’m right here!
Susana: You deserve this, mom!
Carol: Thank you! I like to think I do deserve it. I’ve never thought this would happen for me.
Mary: Carol, where are the snacks?
Carol: Snacks?
Mary: You don’t have snacks? I’m the goddamn speaker of the house, for Christ’s sake! Somebody get me a bag of pretzels!
Susana: I think I saw a snack table over by the wall.
Carol: That’d be news to me.
Mary: Thank you, darling.
Gretchen: Excuse her, Carol. She’s drunk.
Carol: I could tell.
Gretchen: It’s a very exciting day for some of us.
Carol: I’m the one running, I think I have more of an excuse to get drunk than anyone.
Susana: But let’s not do that, okay?
A bit later, Gretchen is on the phone with Carrie.
Gretchen: How’s it looking over there?
Carrie: It’s hard to be confident before any of the votes are in. The only poll that matters is the one on election day!
Gretchen: Oh no. That’s what all the losers say. Don’t tell me -
Carrie: It’s going to be a nail biter.
Gretchen: Pratt? People are actually going to elect Pratt?
Carrie: I’m still very much in this.
Gretchen: I wish I could’ve done more, Carrie.
Carrie: You’ve done absolutely everything you could. You’ve been fantastic! If I fall short tonight… I’m running statewide for the first time. Everyone else is just better known. I’m just honored to have been considered a top candidate at all.
Gretchen: I could rig the vote for you. Give me time.
Carrie: Don’t even joke about that! Jeanne’s probably tapped my phone.
Gretchen: She would n- yeah, she would. Well, good luck. We’re going to find out the results soon.
Carrie: Thanks, Gretchen. I hope it’s the result we both want.
One hour later…
Annie DeMarcus (news anchor): Well, we have the first major projection of the night in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. It was a race filled with unusually high spending, but Governor Raymond’s former chief of staff, Carol Mockley, has been selected by Rhode Island Democrats as their nominee, defeating Providence Osyters GM Jeremiah Franklin. If elected, she’ll serve as the lieutenant governor of a nominee that’s still yet to be named, as senator Carrie Lione, lieutenant governor Samantha Pratt, and majority leader Jeanne Rivero remain locked in the closest primary election this state has seen in decades.
Gretchen: Carol, I am so proud of you.
Carol: I really just hope I don’t have to be Jeanne Rivero’s lieutenant governor!
Susana: That’s what you’re worried about right now?
Gretchen: Look, it’s a natural fear. She is terrible. But I think Washington County just has an outsized portion of the vote right now. None of Carrie’s base is reporting yet. Carrie will drop.
Carol: She better! I’ll drop out if I have to try playing nice with her.
Susana: You will not be dropping out.
A bit later…
Samantha: Carrie, it’s been a long night.
Carrie: Yeah, it sure has been.
Samantha: I don’t know if you’ve talked to Jeanne yet.
Carrie: Nope!
Samantha: I just wanted to congratulate you on winning the primary. You have my full support, and I think you’re going to be a fantastic governor.
Carrie: I’m really honored to hear that, madam lieutenant governor.
Samantha: And I’m sorry Jeanne’s being a sore loser. She came in third, I don’t know what she’s waiting for.
Carrie: I don’t want to say anything negative about her, as I’m supposed to be uniting the party. But, uh… just know I’m thinking it.
Samantha: So am I! Good luck, Carrie.
Carrie: you ran a great race. I’m glad it came down to us in the end.
Samantha: I’m less glad it took until 2 AM to call, but… them’s the breaks.
Carrie: Get some sleep, the campaign really begins tomorrow, and I want you there!
Samantha: We’ll see. I might sleep a good ten hours. It’ll be my first good sleep in months!
Carrie: I’m hopefully about eight years away from having a “good sleep” again.
What did you think of this episode of Raymond Island? Let us know in the comments and make sure to read the season premiere of Marietta next Monday!
