Ep 1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1 from season 1 of House of Cards starts with Congressman Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) in his office after being passed over for the position of Secretary of State by the new President. Francis is a seasoned politician but is not satisfied with his position and decides to concoct a plan to get what he wants.

His wife, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), who runs a non-profit organization that is looking to convert a military base into a jobs hub is concerned about the state of their marriage. Francis is friendly with Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) who works for the Washington Herald, and he uses her to plant a story that will help his cause.

After a confrontation with the President's Chief of Staff, Francis decides to take matters into his own hands and comes up with a plan that involves getting the support of a junior Congressman, Representative Peter Russo (Corey Stoll), who has a tendency to drink a lot. Francis sees an opportunity to manipulate Russo into doing what he wants without letting him know that he is the one pulling the strings. Russo is initially skeptical of Francis' intentions but eventually agrees to help him out.

However, things do not go as smoothly as planned as Russo has a hard time sticking to his end of the bargain due to his addiction issues. Meanwhile, Zoe publishes her article on the military base but gets frustrated when she realizes that it is not getting much traction. She reaches out to Francis for help in getting more exposure for her work, and Francis sees this as another opportunity to further his agenda.

Chapter 1 sets up the rest of the season by introducing us to the main characters and their motivations. We see Francis as a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead and who is not afraid to manipulate and even destroy people in the process. Claire also seems to be a woman with her own agenda, and we can see that their marriage is not one based on love but rather on mutual gain.

Zoe Barnes is a young and ambitious reporter who is looking to make a name for herself, and it is clear that Francis sees her potential but is also wary of her. Peter Russo is a flawed character, and we can see that he is struggling to hold things together due to his addiction issues.

Overall, Chapter 1 sets the tone for the rest of the series, which explores the complex world of politics and the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. It is a dark and gritty show that delves into the often-unsavory aspects of politics and human nature.