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The already-electrifying second season of ABC's Scandal ramped up the drama up one-million notches when President Fitzgerald was shot in the closing moment of last week's episode, causing #WhoShotFitz to trend for hours.

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How will Olivia react? Was Mellie involved in her husband's attempted assassination? What does this mean for James' vote-rigging expose? Two of those questions are (seemingly) answered in ETonline's exclusive clip from Thursday's Scandal, which -- much like this sensational sophomore year -- is heartbreaking and heart-pounding in equal measure!

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Titled Happy Birthday, Mr. President, the episode not only forces Olivia to return to work at the White House, but gifts the audience with another string of fascinating flashbacks, revealing the inaugural days of Fitz's presidency. 

Watch ETonline's exclusive sneak peek of the most important Scandal to date, airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

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