In a calculated twist of fate, the 45th president of the United States is Cyrus Beane. Season 6 of Scandal opened just moments before the end of the presidential election between Mellie Grant and Francisco Vargas, with Vargas taking San Benito County, the state of California and the presidency.
However, Vargas was shot moments after Mellie conceded. The president elect suffered three gunshot wounds, including one through his face and into his brain. He was taken to St. Ann’s Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Olivia, who is Mellie’s campaign manager was certain that Cyrus Beane, Vargas’ vice president ordered him shot so he would be elected president. However, since Vargas was never sworn in as president, the Cyrus doesn’t automatically get the position.
Vargas’ death created an extremely precarious situation. Attorney General, David Rosen discussed with current president Fitzgerald Grant that it was up to him to decide who the next president would be, explaining that anyone with the minimal qualifications could take the position if offered.
Fitz spoke with Mellie about whether she still wanted to be president, while Olivia went to the hospital to confront Cyrus. Once she got there, she saw that Cyrus appeared to be in shock and unable to speak. Olivia believed she was mistaken in thinking that Cyrus had Vargas killed and Fitz gave Cyrus the Oval.
However, Cyrus’ shocked state could all be an act. Olivia’s team at Pope and Associates were combing through a tips hotline call log of 831 messages, when they realized that a message was deleted. Once they uncovered the deleted message, they realized it was from a campaign member named Jennifer Fields. She made a phone call moments after Vargas was shot saying that Cyrus had killed him.
Quinn and Charlie went to track the woman down in a cabin in the woods; however, once they found the cabin, it exploded in front of them. They were able to recover Fields’ remains and confirm her identity by the ruby ring on the finger of her severed hand.
By this time, Fitz had publicly announced Vargas’ death and Cyrus as the next president. Olivia went to visit Cyrus under the guise of congratulating him, but she instead told him she knew he was murdered Vargas. "I know you killed him, and I'm going to prove it," she said.
In the coming Season 6 episode 2 of Scandal, Olivia is hell bent on proving that Cyrus killed Frankie Vargas and making Mellie Grant the next president of the United States.
Scandal Season 6 episode 2 airs Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
