ABOUT ME

-

Today
-
Yesterday
-
Total
-
  • Episode 2.14 -- “The War At Home”
    The West Wing Scripts/Season 2 2008. 11. 6. 17:14
    THE WEST WING
    "THE WAR AT HOME"
    WRITTEN BY: AARON SORKIN
    DIRECTED BY: CHRISTOPHER MISIANO
    
    
    TEASER
    
    FADE IN: EXT. WHITE HOUSE COLONNADE - NIGHT
    Bartlet stands in the cold smoking. Leo enters from the Oval Office. He gathers his suit 
    coat around him. Secret Service Agents line the colonnade. 
    
    LEO
    Mr. President? 
    
    BARTLET
    It was just three hours ago I gave the State of the Union. 
    
    LEO
    Yeah. 
    
    BARTLET
    Do you believe that? 
    
    LEO
    [shivering] What are you doing? It's freezing out here. 
    
    BARTLET
    I'm not allowed to smoke inside anymore. 
    
    LEO
    I thought you were allowed to do pretty much whatever you want? 
    
    BARTLET
    Up to the point where you accidentally burn holes in priceless antiques. 
    
    LEO
    You should stop smoking. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why? 
    
    LEO
    You'll live longer. 
    
    BARTLET
    I smoke two cigarettes a day. 
    
    LEO
    It's a bad example. 
    
    BARTLET
    For who... Russian spy satellites? [points up] George Bernard Shaw says, "You don't live 
    longer, it just seems longer." 
    
    LEO
    I'm not sure it was Shaw. 
    
    BARTLET 
    I'm not sure it was either. [looks at his watch] Is it time? 
    
    LEO
    Yeah. 
    
    Bartlet takes a last drag and puts the cigarette in the ashtray. He follows Leo in.
    
    CUT TO: INT. SITUATION ROOM - NIGHT
    Leo and Bartlet enter. 
    
    OFFICER
    Ten hut! 
    
    Everyone rises. Bartlet motions them to sit. 
    
    BARTLET
    Where are we? Everyone sits. 
    
    ARMY OFFICER
    Sir, a C-141 with two Delta Force teams has been in the air for 85 minutes. 
    
    BARTLET
    Tell me what happens when I give the order 
    
    ARMY OFFICER
    They'll enter Columbian airspace.
    
    JACK
    At the same time a 19-man unit, Special Forces Alpha Team that's already on the ground 
    at Tres Encinas, will head to Villa Cerreno. 
    
    BARTLET
    What'll they do when they get there? 
    
    JACK
    They'll hike 11 miles into the jungle and hold still. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why? 
    
    LEO
    It'll be daylight by then. 
    
    BARTLET
    Nineteen guys are going to have to lay face down in the jungle until sunset? 
    
    JACK
    That's when the hostages are going to be moved. 
    
    OFFICER
    And that's when we go.
    
    BARTLET
    They're moving the hostages from where to where? 
    
    JACK
    From the Tasco outpost to the Affronte Command Center. 
    
    LEO
    On foot. 
    
    JACK
    Yeah. 10.7 kilometers down the road there's a plateau called Mesa del Oro. That'll give 
    the Deltas maximum maneuverability. 
    
    BARTLET
    Code name's Cassiopeia. 
    
    JACK
    Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Mickey, you look like you want to say something. 
    
    MICKEY
    Yes, Mr. President. I... I think you should wait. 
    
    LEO
    For what? 
    
    MICKEY
    To see how negotiations continue with Guerra. 
    
    LEO
    Guerra wants Aguilar out of a Columbian prison. Are there any other circumstances under 
    which he's gonna give these hostages back? 
    
    MICKEY
    Possibly. 
    
    LEO
    Crap!
    
    MICKEY
    We know if we keep talking we're not running the risk of these hostages getting shot 
    during a rescue. 
    
    LEO
    What difference does it make it make if they're shot during a rescue or at Affronte 
    Command at Villa Cerreno? 
    
    MICKEY
    I believe we can keep them alive longer if we let them be taken to Villa Cerreno. 
    
    BARTLET
    Are we going to keep them alive longer, or is it just going to seem longer? 
    
    Mickey looks confused. 
    
    MICKEY
    Sir?
    
    BARTLET
    I've been given reason to believe they'll be tortured at Villa Cerreno. They're U.S. drug 
    agents. They know things these people want to know.
    
    The Air Force officer puts down a phone. 
    
    AIR FORCE OFFICER
    Sir, the C-141 is approaching Columbian airspace. 
    
    Everyone looks down the table at Bartlet. He looks at Mickey, then at Leo.
    
    BARTLET
    Go. 
    
    SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES 
    END TEASER
    * * *
    
    ACT ONE 
    
    FADE IN: EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT
     
    MARK [VO]
    Tonight's State of the Union took 8,756 words...
    
    CUT TO: INT. C.J.'S OFFICE - NIGHT
    Officer Sloane watches the TV.
    
    MARK [on TV]
    It was second in length only to his Inaugural Address. And 75 minutes longer than 
    Washington's first address to Congress.
    
    C.J. walks quickly in. 
    
    C.J.
    Officer Sloane? Would you be willing to go on television tomorrow? 
    
    She grabs the TV remote. 
    
    SLOANE
    They knew how many words there were! 
    
    C.J.
    In the speech? 
    
    SLOANE
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    [turns off the TV] About 8700?
    
    SLOANE
    Yeah. 
    
    She sits on her desk.
    
    C.J.
    Would you be willing to go on TV? 
    
    SLOANE
    I think I'd really rather just go home. 
    
    C.J. 
    This is going to be a part of the news cycle tomorrow whether you go home or not. 
    
    SLOANE 
    And how do you know that? 
    
    C.J.
    Roughly the same way I knew there were 8700 words in the speech. I have some experience 
    at this.
    
    SLOANE 
    What'll happen? 
    
    C.J.
    You'll do a very quick satellite interview. [rehearsing] "What was it like being at the 
    State of the Union?" "Did you meet the President"... It was a thrill and an honor. 
    "Talk about your act of heroism that brought you to the attention of the White House..." 
    Well, I wouldn't really call it heroism but..."Now, I understand you had some trouble 
    back in the early 80's... I'm glad I have a chance to talk about that." And you tell 
    your story just like you told it to me. 
    
    SLOANE
    Do I wear my uniform? 
    
    C.J.
    Coat and tie. 
    
    C.J. gets up and walks to the door. 
    
    C.J.
    [yelling] Carol! 
    
    CAROL
    [walks in] Yeah. 
    
    C.J. 
    Would you make sure officer Sloane gets back to his hotel? 
    
    CAROL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J. looks at Sloane and leaves.
    
    CUT TO: INT. JOSH'S BULLPEN - NIGHT
    C.J. joins a group huddled around a TV. 
    
    MARK [on TV]
    I'd like to thank all our guests tonight: Henry Shallick, David Sachs, Toby Ziegler, 
    Bob Woodward, Jeff Greenfield... 
    
    In the LOBBY, Mark Gottfried broadcasts from the Capitol Beat set. 
    
    MARK
    ... C.J. Cregg. And of course the White House for allowing us to broadcast live from the 
    West Wing on this historic night. You've been watching a special expanded edition of 
    Capitol Beat. I'm Mark Gottfried. 
    
    C.J. leaves the crowd in the bulllpen and walks to the LOBBY.
    
    Mark [on TV]
    Have a good night. 
    
    STAGE MANAGER
    We're out.
    
    Mark and the stage crew applaud. C.J. walks in.
    
    MARK
    Great job everybody! [takes off his mic and stands] You said 20 minutes. 
    
    C.J.
    I was called in to a meeting. 
    
    They walk. 
    
    MARK
    It's now 40 minutes. 
    
    C.J.
    I was called in to a meeting...
    
    MARK
    At midnight? 
    
    C.J.
    It's not midnight everywhere in the world, Mark! 
    
    MARK
    What's the story? 
    
    C.J.
    He's innocent. 
    
    Mark stops and looks at her. 
    
    MARK
    You just decided? 
    
    C.J.
    No, a Grand Jury, a DA and a Civil Court Judge decided 17 years ago. Nobody brought 
    charges and the civil suit was dismissed. 
    
    MARK
    Then why on his record? 
    
    C.J.
    The Detroit police department cited him for excessive force to calm down the black 
    community. It was a robbery. They were climbing through windows and jumping over walls. 
    The guy's leg was already fractured when Sloane got there. He's going to do your show 
    tomorrow morning. 
    
    MARK
    Is he doing everybody else's show too? 
    
    C.J.
    No. 
    
    MARK
    Why not? 
    
    C.J.
    'Cause you waited 40 minutes. [leaves]
    
    CUT TO: INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT
    The Post Address party is winding down. Toby sits alone at a table smoking a cigar. 
    He looks tired and frustrated. A rumpled Sam walks up with a beer. Toby glances at him 
    as he sits down. 
    
    SAM
    Hey. 
    
    Toby looks at him for a moment. 
    
    TOBY
    Hey. 
    
    SAM
    Bill Dryer from Gillette's office called. He wants to have a meeting with you. 
    
    TOBY
    [confused] Dryer? 
    
    SAM
    Gillette. 
    
    Toby rolls his eyes and sighs. 
    
    TOBY 
    I'll bet he wants to have a meeting with me. 
    
    SAM
    Yeah. 
    
    TOBY
    [smiles] It's not gonna happen.
    
    SAM
    Toby...
    
    TOBY
    It's not gonna happen. 
    
    Toby gets up and walks away. Sam follows. 
    
    TOBY
    We got enough input from him during the six weeks we were writing the thing. I don't 
    need to hear his...
    
    SAM
    He's very upset. 
    
    TOBY
    I know. 
    
    Toby grabs a knosh off a table. 
    
    SAM
    More I think than we calculated he was going to be. 
    
    TOBY
    We've upset him? 
    
    SAM
    Yeah. 
    
    TOBY
    Well, we're going to have to learn to live with that pain. 
    
    SAM
    Look...
    
    TOBY
    He's not the President of the United States. He's a junior Senator from North Dakota 
    where nobody lives! Cause it's too cold and they don't have a major sports franchise. 
    
    SAM
    Do I have to lay out the ways in which this man is important to us? 
    
    TOBY
    No. 
    
    SAM
    He is adored by the Left. 
    
    TOBY
    Stop laying out the ways. 
    
    SAM
    He's our link to the Environmentalists. 
    
    TOBY
    Stop laying out the ways! 
    
    SAM
    Toby, asking for this meeting isn't out of line and you should take it. In fact you 
    should take it tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the Hyatt. 
    
    Toby turns and looks at him. 
    
    TOBY
    You set it up already? 
    
    SAM
    [smiles] Just the time and place. 
    
    TOBY
    [smiles] And you expect me to explain myself to him. 
    
    SAM
    Yes. Yes, I do. 
    
    TOBY
    [sighs] Fine. 
    
    C.J. [OS]
    Toby! 
    
    TOBY
    C.J.? 
    
    Toby walks off unhappily. 
    
    SAM
    7:30.
    
    Sam heads off. Toby meets up with C.J. who is walking down the hall with a newspaper. 
    They walk.
    
    C.J.
    The Post is calling it [reading] "sleek, challenging, and often times witty." 
    Not, unlike myself. 
    
    TOBY
    Who's Jack Sloane and why am I just hearing about this now? 
    
    C.J.
    Sloane was the invited guest. He was the police officer. 
    
    TOBY
    The one we stepped in over the weekend? 
    
    C.J.
    Yeah. 
    
    TOBY
    And what happened? 
    
    C.J.
    A long time ago he was cited by the Detroit Police Department for excessive force. 
    
    TOBY
    Against a black suspect? 
    
    C.J.
    Yeah. 
    
    TOBY
    [pained] C.J.. 
    
    C.J. 
    Toby...
    
    TOBY
    How was this guy not vetted?! 
    
    They stop walking. 
    
    C.J.
    Cause he wasn't. Cause it was last minute!. 
    
    TOBY
    What are you doing about it? 
    
    C.J.
    Mark Gottfried's going to interview him in the morning. 
    
    TOBY
    It's a bad idea. 
    
    C.J.
    Why? 
    
    TOBY
    Why?! 
    
    C.J.
    Yeah! 
    
    TOBY
    [angry] Cause blacks aren't going to react well to our supporting a brutal cop. 
    
    C.J.
    He's not a brutal cop. 
    
    C.J. walks off. 
    
    TOBY
    Says you! 
    
    She quickly turns back. 
    
    C.J.
    [angry] Says me, a Grand Jury, 2 Judges, the District Attorney and common sense! 
    
    TOBY
    C.J....
    
    C.J.
    It's going public anyway, Toby. Gottfried got the story on his own. 
    
    TOBY
    Fine. [She turns to leave.] Where's Josh? 
    
    She turns back again. 
    
    C.J.
    He went back to the phone banks. 
    
    TOBY
    Is the electricity back on? 
    
    C.J.
    No. 
    
    TOBY
    Then what's he doing there? 
    
    C.J.
    Hoping the electricity goes on. 
    
    C.J. walks off. 
    
    TOBY
    [mumbles] Well that outta do it. 
    
    Toby sighs, looks at the uneaten knosh in his hand and walks away.
    
    CUT TO: INT. NATIONAL STRATEGIES GROUP - NIGHT
    Josh and Donna stand in the dark. Kerosene lanterns are set on desks. 
    
    DONNA 
    Josh...
    
    JOSH
    Yeah. [leans on the counter]
    
    DONNA
    [baiting] Can I tell you something about women? 
    
    JOSH
    Oh God. [covers his face] Please don't...
    
    DONNA 
    They like... to be wooed. 
    
    JOSH
    Donna! 
    
    DONNA
    She wants you to ask her out, Josh. 
    
    JOSH
    She really doesn't! 
    
    DONNA
    You're missing the signs. 
    
    JOSH
    I'm really not! 
    
    DONNA
    I know a thing or two about the ways of love. 
    
    JOSH
    No, you don't. 
    
    DONNA
    You're missing the signs. 
    
    JOSH
    I'm thinking of firing you. 
    
    DONNA
    You fired me twice already tonight. I'm impervious. 
    
    Joey and Kenny walk up.
    
    JOEY
    Josh...
    
    JOSH
    Among other things. [to Joey] Yeah?
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    Let's pack it in. We'll start over tomorrow night. 
    
    JOSH
    Why? 
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    It's already 9:30 in California. The power isn't on. We're missing half the window. 
    
    JOSH
    Joey... 
    
    JOEY
    Pack it in. 
    
    Josh looks frustrated for a moment then turns to the workers. 
    
    JOSH 
    [yelling] Okay. Folks, we'll start over tomorrow night! 
    
    JOEY
    See ya. 
    
    JOSH
    Take it easy. 
    
    KENNY
    Good night. 
    
    Joey and Kenny leave. 
    
    DONNA
    So you have to wait another day. [starts to clean up the counter]
    
    JOSH
    I'm not good at waiting.
    
    The workers grab their coats and leave. 
    
    DONNA
    [mocking] No kidding. 
    
    JOSH
    Donna... [leans on the counter]
    
    DONNA
    Why do you expect our internal polling to be any different than any other polling? 
    We've got dial up groups. We've got CNN, USA Today. We've got Gallup. Why is our poll 
    going to be any different? 
    
    JOSH
    We're asking different questions. 
    
    DONNA
    I'll get your coat. [starts to walk off] By the way, right there, back when she said, 
    "see ya,"... 
    
    Josh looks up at her.
    
    DONNA
    That was a sign. 
    
    JOSH
    You're fired. 
    
    DONNA
    [over shoulder] Impervious! 
    
    Josh leans against the counter in the dark.
    
    CUT TO: EXT. PORTICO - NIGHT
    Bartlet sits on a bench playing chess. Leo, bundled in a long coat, walks up. 
    
    LEO 
    Mr. President...
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah? 
    
    LEO
    You understand we've got heating inside, right? 
    
    BARTLET
    This isn't cold. It's crisp. 
    
    LEO
    No, it's cold. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Well you're a big wussie. 
    
    Leo sits on the couch and looks over the board. 
    
    LEO 
    Knight to King 4. 
    
    BARTLET
    It'll leave the Bishop open. 
    
    LEO
    You're gonna sacrifice the Bishop for the Queen's rook. 
    
    BARTLET
    Where? 
    
    LEO
    Four moves down. 
    
    Bartlet makes a rapid succession of moves. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Abbey's pretty pissed at me. 
    
    LEO
    How bad? 
    
    He continues to play.
    
    BARTLET
    Pretty bad. 
    
    LEO 
    King's Knight 3. 
    
    Bartlet moves, then studies the board. 
    
    BARTLET
    You know I have this image in my mind of the dead soldiers coming back from Vietnam... 
    the caskets coming off the plane. I don't know from where. 
    
    LEO
    Television. 
    
    BARTLET
    [surprised] Caskets coming off the plane? 
    
    LEO
    Yeah. 
    
    BARTLET
    Are they down? 
    
    LEO
    Yeah. Delta's landed at Tres Encinas. Alpha moved out and will be in Villa Cerreno 
    at 0700. 
    
    BARTLET
    Where they'll wait. 
    
    LEO
    Yeah. 
    
    BARTLET 
    I'll see you in the morning. 
    
    LEO
    Thank you Mr. President. 
    
    Leo picks up his briefcase and walks up the portico. Bartlet studies the chessboard. 
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT ONE 
    * * *
    
    ACT TWO 
    
    FADE IN: EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY
    WEDNESDAY MORNING 
    
    CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
    Charlie and Mrs. Landingham walk up the hall. 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Good morning, Charlie. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Good morning, Mrs. Landingham.
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Did you ever solve the mystery? 
    
    CHARLIE
    Of the $500 check? 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Yeah.
    
    CHARLIE
    Yes I did. I solved the mystery. 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Well what was it?
    
    CHARLIE
    [proudly] I'm a mystery solver.
    
    They enter the OUTER OVAL OFFICE.
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    That's wonderful, sweetie. What was it? 
    
    Mrs. Landingham hands Charlie her bag and hangs up her coat. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Mrs. Bartlet wrote the check to a woman she read about in the paper who's now living in 
    a battered women's shelter. You know why the woman never cashed the check? 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Because it was from the First Lady and she had it framed instead? 
    
    She takes back the bag and walks behind her desk.
    
    CHARLIE
    Yep. That was the mystery. 
    
    She glances at an appointment book on her desk. 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    It's a good one. Does the President know he has breakfast with Josh and Sam? 
    
    CHARLIE
    He's on his way. 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM
    Good. 
    
    CHARLIE
    It was a good mystery. I just think you solved it fast because I loosened the ketchup 
    bottle up for you. 
    
    MRS. LANDINGHAM 
    [smiles sweetly] Okay. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay.
    
    Charlie walks over to his desk.
    
    CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - DAY
    Josh and Sam walk down the hallway. 
    
    JOSH
    Can I tell you something strange? 
    
    SAM
    Sure. 
    
    JOSH
    [smirking] All last night at the phone banks, Donna was telling me I should ask Joey 
    Lucas out. 
    
    SAM
    You should. [smiles]
    
    JOSH 
    Fine. But... that aside. What do you make about Donna being the one pushing...
    
    They enter a PRIVATE DINING ROOM. A table with three place settings sits inside. 
    
    SAM 
    I don't think anything. 
    
    JOSH
    You wouldn't think she'd be jealous? 
    
    SAM
    She goes out with guys. Are you jealous? 
    
    JOSH
    No. 
    
    SAM
    See. 
    
    JOSH
    [quickly] I don't get jealous. 
    
    SAM
    So? 
    
    JOSH
    I don't like it and usually do everything within my considerable capabilities to 
    sabotage it. 
    
    They sit down at the table. 
    
    SAM
    Yes. 
    
    JOSH 
    [takes a deep breath] Which is why its curious that Donna would do nothing to discourage 
    and in fact everything to do encourage a date with Joey Lucas... who, quite frankly, 
    [his voice goes sky high] is a very attractive woman! 
    
    Sam stares at him. 
    
    SAM
    Josh? 
    
    JOSH
    Yeah. 
    
    SAM
    You know your voice just got really high at the end of that. 
    
    JOSH
    Yeah, sorry. 
    
    Bartlet enters carrying his coffee. 
    
    BARTLET
    Hey. 
    
    They stand. 
    
    SAM
    Good morning, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Thanks for having breakfast with me. 
    
    SAM
    Yes. 
    
    BARTLET
    Did you order something? 
    
    SAM
    No sir, we were waiting for you. 
    
    BARTLET
    [loudly] Billy! [to Josh and Sam] You want scrambled eggs? 
    
    They sit. A steward, Billy, enters. 
    
    SAM
    Yeah, thanks. 
    
    BILLY
    Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Could we get these guys some scrambled eggs? 
    
    BILLY
    Yes. Nothing for you, sir? 
    
    BARTLET
    No, I'm fine. 
    
    JOSH
    Then... we're fine, too. 
    
    SAM
    Yeah. 
    
    BARTLET
    No! 
    
    JOSH
    Sir, we're fine!
    
    BARTLET 
    Bring them some food, would ya? 
    
    Billy
    Yes, sir. [leaves]
    
    BARTLET 
    You guys understand I can't discuss with you any rescue mission that may or may not be 
    in play right now? 
    
    SAM
    Of course. 
    
    Bartlet scans the newspaper. 
    
    JOSH
    I'm assuming State has people negotiating with Nelson Guerra? 
    
    BARTLET
    Nelson Guerra wants me to tell President Santos to release Juan Aguilar from prison. 
    
    JOSH
    I wouldn't make that phone call with a gun to my head. 
    
    BARTLET
    I have a gun to my head and I'm not making that phone call. I inherited the war on drugs 
    from a President, who inherited it from a President, who inherited it from a President 
    before that. I'm not a hundred percent sure who we're fighting but I'm sure we're not 
    winning. Ten years ago we spent $5 billion fighting drugs and we did such a good job that 
    last year we spent $16 billion. Sixty percent of Federal prisoners are in jail on drug 
    charges as opposed to two and a half percent in jail for violent crime. We imprison a 
    higher percentage of our citizens than Russia did under Communism and South Africa under 
    Apartheid. Somewhere between fifty and eighty-five percent of our prison population has a 
    drug or alcohol abuse problem. We've tried "just say no." I don't think it's going to 
    work. [looks at his watch] I'm mentioning this because I'd like you to give me any 
    thoughts you might have on the subject. 
    
    He gets up. Sam and Josh rise as he quickly leaves. 
    
    JOSH
    Thank you, Mr. President. 
    
    SAM
    Thank you, sir. 
    
    Sam and Josh look at each other.
    
    CUT TO: INT. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE - DAY
    Ainsley is waiting as Sam walks in.
    
    AINSLEY
    Hello. 
    
    SAM
    What are you doing here? 
    
    AINSLEY
    I came in early. 
    
    SAM 
    Bonnie...
    
    AINSLEY
    I've been here for an hour. 
    
    SAM 
    [walks to Bonnie] Are we releasing the names of the agents or are we not releasing them? 
    
    BONNIE
    Yeah. 
    
    AINSLEY
    You've got to give me another chance. 
    
    Sam picks up phone messages from Ginger. 
    
    SAM 
    At what? 
    
    AINSLEY
    At meeting the President. 
    
    SAM
    [reads the messages] You met the President last night.
    
    AINSLEY
    I was wearing a bathrobe. 
    
    SAM
    You sat in paint!
    
    They enter SAM'S OFFICE.
    
    AINSLEY
    [upset] I was singing and dancing! 
    
    SAM
    You were happy. 
    
    AINSLEY
    [upset] I threw my drink up in the air! 
    
    SAM
    [walks behind his desk] Yeah, but not that much landed on your head. 
    
    AINSLEY
    [upset] I looked like an idiot and it's your fault! 
    
    SAM 
    [looks up quickly] How is it my fault? 
    
    AINSLEY
    You arranged the meeting over my express wishes. 
    
    SAM
    I'm not the one who got you jumping around like Joey Heatherton. 
    
    He sits. She paces.
    
    AINSLEY
    You have to do something for me...
    
    SAM 
    Arrange another introduction? 
    
    AINSLEY
    You have to arrange another introduction! 
    
    SAM
    Last night you were scared to meet him.
    
    AINSLEY
    [upset] And I'm still scared to meet him but I'll overcome that in order to erase the 
    humiliation I have brought upon myself and my father. 
    
    SAM
    You're just in your own little Euripides play over there aren't you? 
    
    AINSLEY
    Please arrange another introduction. 
    
    SAM
    Fine. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Really! 
    
    SAM
    Yes. 
    
    AINSLEY 
    [relieved] Thank you. [rushes out]
     
    CUT TO: INT. WASHINGTON, D.C. HYATT RESTAURANT - DAY
    Toby and SETH GILLETTE eat breakfast in the crowded restaurant.
    
    SETH GILLETTE
    You should've given me a heads up on the blue ribbon, Toby. 
    
    TOBY
    Seth...
    
    GILLETTE
    You should've given me a heads up. 
    
    TOBY 
    It happened five minutes before the man walked into the House chamber. You're a Junior 
    Senator from North Dakota and you don't get script approval [laughs] on the State of the 
    Union! 
    
    GILLETTE
    Whatever language you may have couched it in was not an insignificant change. 
    
    TOBY
    Seth... 
    
    GILLETTE
    You started off with "We will not cut Social Security"... period, wound up with "We are 
    announcing the formation of a bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission to study new options with 
    regard to Social Security." 
    
    TOBY
    What exactly is the danger of studying new options? 
    
    GILLETTE
    What's the danger in the White House getting behind my reform bill? 
    
    TOBY
    Diverting General Revenue into the trust fund is not reform. 
    
    GILLETTE
    It's the only Social Security reform bill supported by any Senate Democrats. 
    
    TOBY
    How many votes did you get for it last year? 
    
    GILLETTE
    If the White House... 
    
    TOBY
    Eighteen. 
    
    GILLETTE
    If the White House...
    
    TOBY
    82 U.S. Senators think your reform bill sucks. So unless you have a plan for picking up 
    a majority, I don't know what's so wrong with saying we're open to hearing new ideas? 
    
    GILLETTE
    And compromise essential Democratic Party principles to cut a Social Security deal with 
    the Republicans? 
    
    TOBY
    It's simply not what we're doing.
    
    GILLETTE
    [emphatically] If your commission recommends raising the retirement age one day... 
    reducing benefits one dollar... reducing quotas. If your commission recommends partial 
    privatization of Social Security...
    
    TOBY
    [smiles] Are there cameras on someplace? 
    
    GILLETTE
    ...I will condemn it the act of a group intent on destroying Social Security...
    
    TOBY
    ...and ruling the galaxy. 
    
    GILLETTE
    Oh, you think this is a joke? You think I won't publicly condemn a member of my party? 
    
    Toby stares at him. 
    
    TOBY
    The President is not a member of your party. He is the leader of your party. And if you 
    think demonizing people who are trying to govern responsibly is the way to protect our 
    liberal base, then speaking as a liberal... go to bed, would you please! 
    
    GILLETTE
    You're running to the right on the environment. 
    
    TOBY
    We admonished environmental terrorism. 
    
    GILLETTE
    Please! 
    
    TOBY
    You in favor of it? 
    
    GILETTE
    It was a cheap shot and you lost a lot of friends that night. 
    
    TOBY
    We made more than we lost. 
    
    GILLETTE
    Then you go on TV this morning with this ridiculous defense of a cop who kicked the crap 
    out of a black kid cause you guys don't want to admit you screwed up on the vetting and 
    he never should've been invited in the first place. [counts on his fingers] Seniors... 
    Environmentalists... African Americans. You tell me which you think has a greater chance 
    of happening, my reform bill getting passed or the President getting reelected without 
    the three groups I just mentioned? 
    
    TOBY
    You just named three groups that'll never desert the President. 
    
    GILLETTE
    Not unless I run as a third-party candidate, no. Oh! Those eighteen votes are looking a 
    little bigger now aren't they you patronizing son-of-a-bitch! 
    
    Gillette drops his fork on the table loudly and looks around angrily. Toby shakes his 
    head and smiles. 
    
    TOBY 
    I was just thinking about this cartoon I once saw. A bunch of tiny fish are swimming 
    through the leaves of the plant but then one of the fish realizes it's not a plant, 
    it's the tentacles of a predator. And the fish says, "with friends like this, who needs 
    anemones?" 
    
    Gillette looks confused. Toby signs the check.
    
    TOBY
    Come at us from the left, I'm gonna own your ass. 
    
    Toby grabs his paper and coat and leaves. Gillette watches him go.
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM - DAY 
    
    ABBEY
    Carrie, can you have someone from my office bring the notes on the new speech? 
    
    CARRIE
    Women in the arts? 
    
    ABBEY
    Yeah. 
    
    CARRIE
    Yes, Ma'am. 
    
    ABBEY
    And would you have a sweater for the plane? 
    
    CARRIE
    Yeah. 
    
    Charlie knocks and enters. 
    
    ABBEY
    Hey, Charlie. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Good morning, Ma'am. You headin' out? 
    
    ABBEY
    Not till tonight. Chicago then Seattle. 
    
    CHARLIE
    I wanted to check to see if I had your permission to draw $500 in cash, and walk it over 
    to that woman in the shelter. 
    
    ABBEY
    Oh! I appreciate that. Thank you! 
    
    CHARLIE
    Is there anything else I can do for you? 
    
    ABBEY
    No. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Thank you, Ma'am. 
    
    Bartlet walks in. Abbey looks uncomfortable and avoids looking at him. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [to Charlie] Hey. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Good morning, sir. I'll be in the office. [walks out]
    
    BARTLET 
    [to Abbey] What was that about? 
    
    ABBEY
    Charlie's going to bring cash over to Jane Robinson. 
    
    BARTLET
    Packing already? 
    
    ABBEY
    Yeah. 
    
    Abbey folds clothes and avoids him.
    
    BARTLET
    You aren't leaving till tonight, right? 
    
    ABBEY
    Yeah. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Men and women are completely different in this regard. 
    
    ABBEY 
    [sharply] When was the last time you packed a suitcase at all? 
    
    BARTLET
    I don't know. I just had breakfast with Sam and Josh. Toby's having breakfast with 
    Seth Gillette, who's every bit as pissed at me as you are.
    
    Carrie glances nervously at him. 
    
    BARTLET
    Abbey, can we...
    
    ABBEY
    [to aides] Guys... can you give me a minute? 
    
    Bartlet smiles tensely at the aides as they leave. Bartlet sits on the bed by Abbey. 
    
    BARTLET 
    We didn't get a chance to talk again last night. 
    
    ABBEY
    I don't think we should. 
    
    BARTLET
    Talk? 
    
    ABBEY
    No. 
    
    BARTLET
    Ever? 
    
    ABBEY
    [angry] Oh if wishing made it so, Jed. 
    
    BARTLET
    Look...
    
    ABBEY 
    [angry] I don't think it's a good idea for us to talk about this now. [gets up]
    
    BARTLET
    Why? 
    
    ABBEY
    Cause you've got to focus on Columbia. 
    
    BARTLET
    [angry] I can do two things at once. [throws up his hands]
    
    ABBEY
    [angry] You don't have two things at once, Jed. You have ninety-two things at once and 
    one of them is five hostages in Columbia. 
    
    He gets up and faces her. 
    
    BARTLET
    [shouting] Yes and I'd like to go about my day without this black cloud around me so 
    I'd like to talk now! 
    
    ABBEY 
    [angry] And I'm saying this is a longer conversation than that. I don't want you all 
    over the place and we can talk about it later and you should focus. 
    
    BARTLET
    [shouting] What are you, my Zen master? Can I be in charge of my own mind?! 
    
    She faces him angrily. 
    
    ABBEY
    [shouting] Let me tell you something, jackass! Get as chippy as you want if that makes 
    you feel better. I am your wife... I love you... you have a crisis... you have to deal 
    with it. When it's done we'll talk. 
    
    She sits down on the bed and packs, ignoring him. He looks at her angrily. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [mumbles] I feel better already. 
    
    He throws open the door and storms out. 
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT TWO
    * * *
    
    ACT THREE 
    
    FADE IN: EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT
    WEDNESDAY EVENING 
    
    JOSH [VO]
    I'm on hold.
    
    CUT TO: INT. JOSH'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
    Josh paces in his darkened office, phone held to his ear. 
    
    JOSH
    I'm on hold. [paces] I'm on hold. [bangs the receiver on his desk loudly, then puts it
    back to his ear and continues pacing] I'm in some hellish hold world of holding. 
    
    DONNA
    [comes in] Josh? 
    
    JOSH
    I'm on hold. 
    
    DONNA
    They'll call us and tell us when the power's back on. [puts a file on his desk]
    
    JOSH
    They did call us.
    
    DONNA
    What happened? 
    
    JOSH
    [holds out the phone] I'm on hold. 
    
    DONNA
    I'll wait with you. [sits on a table]
    
    JOSH
    That'll be a lot of fun. 
    
    DONNA
    So, you never told me why this poll is different. 
    
    JOSH
    Hmm? [listening to the phone] 
    
    DONNA
    You never told me why you're interested in these particular numbers. 
    
    Josh sits on his desk, still listening to the phone. 
    
    JOSH
    There five Congressional districts that are concerning me. 
    
    DONNA
    Which districts? 
    
    JOSH
    Kentucky 3rd... that's Louisville. 
    
    DONNA
    Or Jefferson...
    
    JOSH
    Yeah, Louisiana 4th, Missouri 9th, Missouri 6th, and Ohio 12th. 
    
    DONNA
    What's with those five districts? 
    
    JOSH
    The President last night announced a crime package that would among other things...
    
    DONNA
    ... require a five-day waiting period for a background check. 
    
    JOSH
    The five Congressmen in those districts...
    
    DONNA
    ... are sitting on the fence. 
    
    JOSH
    Right. 
    
    DONNA
    So, you want to know how the crime package polled in those five districts. 
    
    JOSH
    Yes. 
    
    DONNA
    If it polled well, you've got your gun law...
    
    JOSH
    Probably. 
    
    DONNA
    If it tanked you've got to shut up or lose five democratic seats in the house. 
    
    JOSH
    Why are you asking a question when you're going to have the conversation all by yourself? 
    
    DONNA
    You want me to hold the phone for a while? 
    
    JOSH
    I can hold the phone. 
    
    Donna looks at him.
    
    JOSH
    Take the phone. 
    
    Josh jumps up and hands her the phone. Donna just holds the phone. She knows it's coming. 
    Josh immediately spins around and reaches for the phone. 
    
    JOSH
    [impatiently] Give me the phone. 
    
    She hands him back the phone. As he listens, he stares at her.
    
    JOSH
    Why are you trying to... fix me up... with Joey Lucas? 
    
    DONNA
    [quickly] I think you'd make a nice couple. 
    
    JOSH
    Fine. 
    
    DONNA
    If you got married you'd be Joshua and Josephine Lucas Lyman. You wouldn't have to get 
    your towels re-monogrammed. 
    
    JOSH
    [into phone] Thank you. 
    
    Josh hangs the phone up and sits behind his desk.
    
    JOSH
    The power's back on. 
    
    DONNA
    Excellent. 
    
    JOSH
    Yes. 
    
    DONNA
    What do we do now? 
    
    Josh sits uncomfortably. 
    
    JOSH
    We wait.
    
    CUT TO: INT. COMMUNICATION OFFICE - DAY
    C.J. and Ainsley pass in the doorway...
    
    C.J.
    How you doing, Ainsley? 
    
    AINSLEY 
    [readily] Well, my mouth is dry, my hands are moist and I have to pee. 
    
    C.J.
    Okay... .
    
    C.J. exits. Ainsley turns to see Sam.
    
    SAM
    Hey, you ready? 
    
    AINSLEY
    Yes. [straightens her jacket] 
    
    SAM
    You sure?
    
    They head down the hall. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Yes. 
    
    SAM
    Let's go. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Call it off. 
    
    SAM
    [enthusiastically] Here we go!! 
    
    AINSLEY
    No, really. 
    
    SAM
    Ainsley? 
    
    AINSLEY
    I'll meet him another time. 
    
    SAM
    What other time? 
    
    AINSLEY
    A better time. 
    
    SAM
    What's a better time?
    
    AINSLEY
    Tomorrow. 
    
    SAM
    Don't you have to absolve yourself of the humiliation visited upon your family and the 
    House of Atrix? 
    
    AINSLEY
    Yes, but I believe I'm going to compound the humiliation. 
    
    They walk into MARGARET'S OFFICE AREA. Leo stands by Margaret's desk reading a file. 
    
    SAM
    It'll never happen. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Really? 
    
    SAM
    No, probably will. 
    
    LEO
    [to Sam] Hey. 
    
    They head towards LEO'S OFFICE. 
    
    SAM
    Is he coming? 
    
    LEO
    He's stopping in on his way from the... thing. 
    
    He stands behind his desk. Ainsley stands looking at her feet. There is an awkward 
    silence as they wait.
    
    LEO
    How you doing, Ainsley? 
    
    AINSLEY
    I'm concerned about peeing on your carpet. 
    
    LEO
    Okay. Well... now I am, too. 
    
    SAM
    Tell her it's going to be fine. 
    
    LEO
    Your skirt's on backwards. 
    
    AINSLEY
    May I use the bathroom? 
    
    LEO
    Yes. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Thank you. 
    
    Ainsley turns and walks into the closet.
    
    LEO
    Ainsley...
    
    BARTLET
    [enters] Hey. 
    
    SAM
    Good evening, Mr. President. 
    
    BARTLET
    Is she here? 
    
    SAM
    Ainsley Hayes? 
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah. 
    
    SAM
    Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Where is she? 
    
    SAM
    Well, she's in the closet, Mr. President. 
    
    Bartlet turns and looks at the closet. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why? 
    
    SAM
    She thought it was a bathroom. 
    
    Bartlet looks at the closet again. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why is she still in there? 
    
    SAM
    That's kind of hard to say, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why don't we get her out here? 
    
    SAM
    Yeah. [approaches the closet] Ainsley? 
    
    AINSLEY [VO]
    Yes? 
    
    BARTLET
    Ainsley, why don't come on out of there...
    
    Ainsley steps out of the closet looking very embarrassed. 
    
    BARTLET
    How you doing? We met last night. [shaking her hand] You were singing and dancing in a 
    bathrobe. 
    
    AINSLEY
    Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Why were you in the closet? 
    
    AINSLEY
    I had to pee. 
    
    BARTLET
    They won't let me smoke inside but you can pee in Leo's closet. 
    
    AINSLEY
    [embarrassed] Mr. President... I...
    
    Leo answers the phone. 
    
    BARTLET
    I appreciate you coming to work for me, Ainsley. You're an exceptionally bright young 
    woman. Is your father proud of you?
    
    AINSLEY
    [pauses and smiles] Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    I bet he is. [pats her arm] Listen...
    
    LEO
    [interrupting] Mr. President... [nods to him] Sam...
    
    Sam escorts Ainsley out. Leo and Bartlet exit to THE OVAL OFFICE. The Suits and Uniforms 
    from the Situation Room are gathered. Included are the Jack, Mickey and Charlie. 
    
    BARTLET
    What happened? 
    
    They look at him. Bartlet motions to Charlie. 
    
    BARTLET
    Charlie, get the door. 
    
    Charlie closes the door as he leaves. 
    
    BARTLET
    What happened? 
    
    JACK
    Mr. President...
    
    BARTLET
    Did we lose the hostages? 
    
    JACK
    The hostages weren't there. 
    
    BARTLET
    What are you talking about? 
    
    LEO
    Oh, God...
    
    BARTLET
    What are you talking about?! 
    
    JACK
    The radio communications we've been intercepting on the Signet were wrong. When the 
    Delta's got to the area it was a dry hole. That's when...
    
    BARTLET
    No...
    
    JACK
    ...one of the two Blackhawk helicopters was shot down by a shoulder-mounted 
    surface-to-air missile. 
    
    Bartlet walks behind his desk. 
    
    BARTLET
    How many guys were on the Blackhawk? 
    
    JACK
    The Pilot, the Engineer, and seven Deltas. 
    
    BARTLET
    [angry] So I've got nine more guys now on the ground we've got to get back. 
    
    Leo looks at Jack, then back at Bartlet.
    
    LEO
    Mr. President...
    
    SECURITY ADVISOR
    Sir, the second Blackhawk went in and recovered the bodies. 
    
    Bartlet looks at them, then at Leo who shakes his head. 
    
    BARTLET
    [to Leo] They're dead. 
    
    JACK
    Yes, sir. 
    
    Bartlet looks shaken. 
    
    BARTLET
    I want the President of Colombia on the phone. I want a translator in this room right now. 
    
    Bartlet exits to the PORTICO. Rain falls and we hear thunder. Secret Service Agents stand 
    post. Bartlet walks down the patio, fists clenched. 
    
    BARTLET
    [shaking his fists] DAMMIT! [paces, obviously livid] DA...! [shaking his fists] 
    
    Bartlet calms down and leans against a post as Leo comes out. 
    
    LEO
    Sir? 
    
    BARTLET
    How the hell did that happen? 
    
    LEO
    [quietly] It was bad intelligence. 
    
    BARTLET
    [shouting] YOU THINK!? 
    
    LEO
    Fronte left behind a radio and a soldier at the outpost. They were deliberately sending 
    misinformation. 
    
    BARTLET
    We've never anticipated the possibility that somebody might try that? 
    
    LEO
    Sir... . 
    
    BARTLET
    [gestures angrily] We weren't prepared for someone to try to outfox us with a stratagem 
    so sophisticated it's an entire generation beyond "Hey look, your shoelaces are untied"!? 
    [shouting] IS THAT HOW I JUST LOST NINE GUYS TO A DAMN STREET GANG WITH A HAM RADIO!?
    
    Leo looks down as Bartlet paces.
    
    BARTLET
    [shouting] THEY LURED US THERE SO THAT THEY COULD KILL NINE [voice breaking] AMERICAN 
    SOLDIERS!!! 
    
    Leo quietly watches Bartlet lean against the post.
    
    BARTLET
    Where are the bodies? 
    
    LEO
    [quietly] They're on their way back. 
    
    BARTLET
    Where? 
    
    LEO
    [quietly] Dover... around 4 a.m. 
    
    Bartlet leans against the post and looks down. A staffer comes out of the Oval Office. 
    
    STAFFER
    Mr. President... . 
    
    Leo looks at Bartlet as he takes a deep breath. He straightens his tie and pats down 
    his hair. They re-enter THE OVAL OFFICE. Jack walks with the President to the phone at 
    his desk. An interpreter holds a phone nearby. 
    
    JACK
    We have a secure connection. 
    
    BARTLET
    Is somebody translating on the other end? 
    
    JCK
    Yes, Sir. 
    
    Bartlet picks up the phone. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] Mr. President, this is the President of the United States. 
    
    INTERPRETER
    Good Evening, Mr. President. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone, looks at his watch] Mr. President, 90 minutes ago the United States invaded 
    Columbian airspace. Two Blackhawk helicopters went into Tres Encinas with 20 Delta 
    Commandos on intelligence that the hostages were being moved. One of the Blackhawks 
    was shot down. They were nine military fatalities. 
    
    INTERPRETER
    I'm terribly sorry to hear that, Mr. President. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] I'd like to ask for your assistance in confirming that the five hostages 
    are still alive. 
    
    INTERPRETER
    The hostages ARE alive. 
    
    LEO
    How's he know that? 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] How do you know that? 
    
    INTERPRETER
    We have confirmation that we're transmitting to you through channels. [pause] 
    Mr. President...
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] Yes? 
    
    INTERPRETER
    I respect and appreciate your diplomacy in not yet asking to release Juan Aguilar from 
    prison. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] I'm not going to ask you, Miguel.
    
    INTERPRETER
    I'm wiling to do it at this point. 
    
    Everyone looks at each other. Mickey shakes his head. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] Say that again.
    
    INTERPRETER
    I'm willing to let Augilar out in exchange for the hostages if you ask me too. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone,long pause] Well I appreciate your making that offer but I don't think 
    that's a very good idea. 
    
    INTERPRETER
    I agree with you but I'm making the offer and leaving it up to you. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [into phone] Okay. Thank you, Mr. President. 
    
    INTERPRETER
    Thank you, Mr. President. 
    
    Bartlet and the interpreter hang up.
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT THREE
    * * *
    
    ACT FOUR
    
    FADE IN: EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT
    
    CUT TO: INT. ROOSEVELT ROOM - CONTINUOUS
    The room is crowded with the senior staff, Bartlet, Charlie, military advisors, and other 
    staffers. Bartlet stands across the table from Toby and Sam.
    
    SAM
    Wait, Toby...
    
    TOBY
    [loudly] Hang on a second Sam, you give into terrorist demands and that's the ballgame! 
    
    SAM
    I understand the principle but there are real lives at stake! 
    
    TOBY 
    Ah, it's real easy to stick to principles when nothing's at stake Sam! 
    
    SAM 
    [to Bartlet] Well sir, lets argue principles when these five guys get home. 
    
    BARTLET
    Juan Aguilar runs one of the largest drug cartels in the world. 
    
    SAM
    Sir...
    
    BARTLET
    He has produced $15 billion worth of cocaine in two years. 
    
    Donna comes in and stands next to Josh.
    
    BARTLET
    He's murdered or ordered the murder of eight Supreme Court justices, a pro-extradition 
    Prime Minister and three Federal police officers in Bogotá. And from his prison cell I 
    guarantee you he orchestrated the kidnapping of five U.S. DEA agents and the killing of 
    their rescuers! 
    
    TOBY
    I believe he did it as well Mr. President, which is all then evidence you need that it 
    couldn't matter less whether Juan Aguilar is in prison, or not! 
    
    BARTLET 
    I'm not letting him out. [slams shut his folder] I'll share a cell with him before I let 
    him out. I want military options! 
    
    LEO
    Yes, sir. 
    
    They all rise as Bartlet leaves. 
    
    MILITARY ADVISOR
    Yes, sir. 
    
    TOBY
    Thank you, sir. 
    
    LEO
    Thank you, Mr. President. 
    
    Josh follows out to the HALLWAY as the room starts to clear.
    
    JOSH
    Yeah? 
    
    DONNA
    Joey says it's probably just another hour. 
    
    JOSH
    She'll bring me the numbers here? 
    
    DONNA
    Yeah.
    
    Josh sighs as they walk to the LOBBY.
    
    DONNA
    Josh, how is this not a no-brainer? 
    
    JOSH
    Columbia? 
    
    DONNA
    Yeah. 
    
    JOSH
    You say get'em home? 
    
    DONNA
    Of course I say get'em home. Who doesn't say get'em home? That should be the person who 
    has to make the phone calls to the families. 
    
    They face each other in the doorway of Josh's office. 
    
    JOSH
    And who calls the families of the nine commandos who just died trying to save five guys 
    it turns out we could've freed six hours ago. 
    
    DONNA
    That's not a good enough reason. 
    
    JOSH
    The good enough reason is you give in to terrorists it gives them a pretty good incentive 
    to keep terrorizing. 
    
    DONNA
    Not negotiating with them hasn't given them much of a disincentive. 
    
    JOSH
    How do you know? 
    
    DONNA
    Please...
    
    JOSH
    You don't think they're going to kidnap five more people tomorrow morning and demand 
    twelve months of free cable? 
    
    DONNA
    So you give them free cable. 
    
    JOSH
    How about the keys to the Situation Room? 
    
    DONNA 
    [unsure] You draw a line. 
    
    JOSH
    Where? [looks at his watch] Did she say about an hour? 
    
    DONNA
    On early numbers? 
    
    JOSH
    Yeah. 
    
    DONNA
    Yeah.
    
    Josh walks into his office. Donna heads off to her desk.
    
    CUT TO: INT. SITUATION ROOM - NIGHT
    Mickey, Leo and military advisors sit around the table. Bartlet stands at the head. 
    
    BARTLET
    Do we know where they are? 
    
    MICKEY
    They were moved about sixty miles into the jungle at Villa Cerreno. 
    
    BARTLET
    What would it take to get them back?
    
    MICKEY
    Alive? 
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah. 
    
    Leo looks at Mickey. Mickey looks at the military advisors uneasily. 
    
    MICKEY 
    Mr. President, uh...
    
    BARTLET
    What would it take to wipe them out? 
    
    JACK
    Affronte? 
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah. What would it take? 
    
    MICKEY
    Mr. President, for the kind of victory Americans are used to, for the kind of victory 
    Americans demand from a war you need a ten to one ratio. 
    
    Bartlet looks at Leo who nods. 
    
    MICKEY
    It was only after we built up a 10:1 ratio in the Gulf we felt comfortable making a move. 
    The Fronte has 20,000 well-armed, well-trained soldiers, each of whom has a financial 
    stake in heroin and cocaine. We'd need to put 200 to 300,000 men into a jungle war. 
    And I think we'd lose as many as half. 
    
    BARTLET 
    [surprised] Half?
    
    MICKEY
    Yes, sir. 
    
    Bartlet looks down at the table and shakes his head. 
    
    BARTLET
    [to Leo] You've really got to ask yourself what's the point in being a Super Power 
    anymore. 
    
    They rise as Bartlet leaves.
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
    Abbey's two aides carry her suitcase to the door. Abbey enters carrying a sweater. 
    
    ABBEY 
    I wanted to bring that book for the Governor...
    
    CARRIE
    The Truman biography? 
    
    ABBEY
    Yeah. 
    
    She hands Carrie a sweater. 
    
    ABBEY
    You got a sweater for the plane? 
    
    CARRIE
    Yes, Ma'am. 
    
    ABBEY
    And you guys should both take sweaters.
    
    BARTLET 
    [enters] And then there's the repack! 
    
    Abbey looks at him. 
    
    CARRIE
    Good morning, Mr. President. 
    
    He glances at the suitcase. 
    
    BARTLET
    First there's the preliminary, or the dry run. Then there's the actual packing. [joking] 
    Abbey, you're just going away for two days, right? 
    
    ABBEY 
    [to aides] Guys...
    
    The aides leave, closing the door behind them. 
    
    BARTLET
    [seriously] Right? 
    
    ABBEY
    What happened? 
    
    BARTLET
    It was an ambush. 
    
    ABBEY
    Oh God... [sinks into a chair]
    
    BARTLET 
    A guy with a shoulder thing shot down a Blackhawk. Everybody's dead. [sits facing her]
    Nine guys. Meanwhile, they've moved the hostages 60 miles into the jungle where we'd need 
    a pair of tweezers to get them out. 
    
    ABBEY
    [concerned] Do you want me to stay? 
    
    BARTLET
    [shakes head] No. 
    
    ABBEY
    I can stay. 
    
    BARTLET
    No. I didn't make the decision to run again. I wouldn't do that without talking to you 
    first. 
    
    ABBEY
    [sighs] Oh, we don't need to talk about that now. [gets up and starts pacing]
    
    BARTLET 
    When, Abbey? 
    
    ABBEY
    Jed! 
    
    BARTLET
    I didn't make the decision to run again! 
    
    ABBEY
    Yes, you did! [faces him angrily] If we're gonna talk about this, let's talk about this. 
    The moves over the last few weeks... the changes in last night's speech. This whole place 
    is in reelection mode. 
    
    BARTLET
    That's what we do, Abbey. We run for things! From the day a Congressman is sworn in he's 
    got to raise $10,000 a week to get reelected! A President gets to govern for eighteen 
    months. We try to get people to vote for us and in the process we hope the people force 
    us to do good things. 
    
    ABBEY
    [hurt] We had a deal! 
    
    BARTLET
    [angry] Yes, we had a deal. 
    
    ABBEY
    Yes, Jed. 
    
    She walks back over and sits across from him. She leans in to eye level.
    
    ABBEY
    Look at me! 
    
    He reluctantly looks at her.
    
    ABBEY
    [tearfully] Do you get that you have M.S.? 
    
    BARTLET
    [scornfully] Abbey...
    
    ABBEY
    Do you get that your own immune system is shredding your brain? And I can't tell you why. 
    [tearfully] Do you have any idea how good a doctor I am and that I can't tell you why? 
    
    BARTLET
    I've had one episode in two years. 
    
    ABBEY
    [tearfully] Yes, but relapsing-remitting M.S. can turn into secondary-progressive M.S. 
    oftentimes ten years after the initial diagnosis which is exactly where we'll be in two 
    years! Do you know what that's going to look like when it happens? 
    
    He looks away. 
    
    BARTLET
    [quietly] I know what it's going to...
    
    ABBEY
    Fatigue... an inability to get through the day...
    
    BARTLET
    Look...
    
    ABBEY
    ...memory lapses... loss of cognitive function... failure to reason... failure to think 
    clearly. And I can't tell you if it's going to happen. I don't know if it's going to get 
    better I don't know if it's going to get worse. But we had a deal. And that deal is how 
    you justified keeping it a secret from the world. It's how you justified it to God. 
    [hurt] It's how you justified it to me. 
    
    He looks up at her. Carrie knocks on the door and sticks her head in.
    
    CARRIE 
    Mrs. Bartlet. 
    
    ABBEY
    [to Carrie] Yeah. 
    
    Carrie leaves.
    
    ABBEY
    You sure you don't want me to stay? 
    
    He avoids looking at her. 
    
    BARTLET
    [quietly] Yeah. 
    
    ABBEY
    [quietly] Okay. 
    
    Abbey rises and heads for the door. 
    
    BARTLET
    Have a good trip. 
    
    She turns back to him as he rises. 
    
    BARTLET
    Call me when you get there. 
    
    ABBEY
    I will. 
    
    He gives her a long look. 
    
    BARTLET
    I love you. 
    
    ABBEY
    I love you too. 
    
    Abbey quietly leaves. Bartlet sits back down and thinks.
    
    CUT TO: INT. JOSH'S OFFICE - NIGHT
    Josh dejectedly leans over the polling results on his desk. Donna stands next to him. 
    Joey sits across the desk. Kenny stands next to her. 
    
    JOSH
    Son of a bitch. 
    
    DONNA
    That's okay. 
    
    JOSH
    A five day waiting period, that's all. A person can't wait five days to buy a gun? 
    If someone needs a gun right now, right this second, isn't that something the public 
    should be concerned about? 
    
    DONNA
    On the other hand taking the feelings of gun owners into account, if you've got to shoot 
    somebody it probably isn't something that can wait. 
    
    Josh looks at the numbers. 
    
    JOSH
    Yeah. 
    
    Donna looks at her watch. 
    
    DONNA
    Mind if I take off? 
    
    JOSH
    What time is it? 
    
    DONNA
    2 a.m. 
    
    He looks at his watch. 
    
    JOSH
    All right. We'll call it a full day. But come in early in the morning. 
    
    DONNA
    Yeah. 
    
    Donna heads for the door. Joey glances at Josh as he watches her go. 
    
    JOSH
    You all right getting home? 
    
    DONNA
    Yeah. [to Joey and Kenny] Good night, guys. 
    
    KENNY
    Good night. 
    
    Josh watches Donna leave. Joey smiles at his distracted look.
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    They're just preliminary numbers.
    
    Josh sits down with a sigh and puts his feet on his desk. 
    
    JOSH
    They're not gonna change. 
    
    JOEY
    No. 
    
    JOSH
    Five day waiting period... 
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    It tested well nationwide. 
    
    JOSH
    Yeah.
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    58%. 
    
    JOSH
    I didn't need nationwide. I needed those five districts. Now we're gonna have to dial 
    down the gun rhetoric in the Midwest. 
    
    JOEY
    Why not dial it up? 
    
    JOSH
    Because these numbers just told us that...
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    You don't know what these numbers just told you. I'm an expert. I don't know what these 
    numbers just told you. 
    
    JOSH
    We know. 
    
    JOEY
    Really? 
    
    Kenny sits next to Joey. 
    
    JOSH
    Numbers don't lie. 
    
    JOEY [KENNY]
    They lie all the time. They lie when 72% of Americans say they're tired of a sex scandal, 
    while all the while, newspaper circulation goes through the roof for anyone featuring 
    the story. If you polled a hundred Donnas and asked them if they think we should go out, 
    you'd get a high positive response. But, the poll wouldn't tell you it's because she 
    likes you. And she's knows it's beginning to show and she needs to cover herself with 
    misdirection. 
    
    Josh stares blankly at Joey.
    
    JOSH
    Believe me when I tell you that's not true. 
    
    JOEY [KENNY] 
    You say that these numbers mean dial it down. I say they mean dial it up. You haven't 
    gotten through. There are people you haven't persuaded yet. These numbers mean dial it 
    up. Otherwise you're like the French radical watching the crowd run by and saying "There 
    go my people, I must find out where they are going so I can lead them." 
    
    Josh sits quietly with a thoughtful look on his face. 
    
    JOSH 
    [distracted] Yeah. 
    
    JOEY [KENNY] 
    We'll go through the rest of the numbers in the morning. 
    
    Josh looks at her with a confused smile. 
    
    JOSH
    [to Kenny] Ok. 
    
    Joey smiles and they leave. Josh sits with a bemused expression.
    
    CUT TO: EXT. PORTICO - NIGHT
    Bartlet walks tiredly towards the Oval Office. He passes Charlie who is waiting. 
    
    CHARLIE
    Good evening, sir. 
    
    Charlie walks with him. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Hey, Charlie. You shouldn't be out here without a coat. 
    
    CHARLIE
    I'm ok.
    
    Charlie stops outside the outer office. Bartlet walks on deep in thought.
    
    CHARLIE
    Mr. President? 
    
    Bartlet stops and turns. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Yeah?
    
    CHARLIE
    Is there anything I can do for you? 
    
    BARTLET 
    No. Thanks.
    
    Bartlet walks on to THE OVAL OFFICE. A Secret Service Agent opens the door for him. 
    Leo is waiting inside. 
    
    BARTLET
    Hey! 
    
    LEO
    I checked outside. I thought you'd be having a cigarette. 
    
    Bartlet walks behind his desk. 
    
    BARTLET 
    Let me tell you something, Leo... [sits] After heroin and cocaine, tobacco is next. 
    
    LEO
    Great. Another criminal empire we can give birth to. There'll be speakeasies all over 
    Chicago where you can get smuggled cartons of Marlboro lights. [sits] 
    [quietly] I fought a jungle war. I'm not doing it again. If I could put myself anywhere 
    in time it would be the Cabinet room on August 4, 1964, when our ships were attacked by 
    North Vietnam in the Tonkin Gulf. I'd say, Mr. President... don't do it. You're 
    considering authorizing a massive commitment of troops and throwing in our lot with 
    torturers and panderers. Leaders without principle and soldiers without conviction with 
    no clear mission, and no end in sight. This war is at home. The casualties are in our 
    prisons, and not our hospitals. The amount of money the American government is spending 
    in Columbia is the exact same amount American consumers are spending buying drugs from 
    Columbia. We're funding both sides of this war and we'll never win it that way. 
    
    BARTLET
    Leo, I can't possibly reverse our...
    
    LEO
    No one...
    
    BARTLET
    I can't possibly reverse our position on negotiating...
    
    LEO
    No one's gonna know. You don't make another phone call, it happens someplace else. 
    Santos is gonna be the one to let him out. 
    
    BARTLET
    There were just fourteen people in this room who heard Santos make me the offer. 
    
    LEO
    Those fourteen people keep bigger secrets than this. 
    
    Bartlet stands and stares out the window. 
    
    BARTLET 
    You know what Truman Capote said was the bad part about living outside the law? 
    
    LEO
    What? 
    
    BARTLET
    You no longer have the protection of it. What's to stop me? Two hundred CIA operatives... 
    Black Ops. Two hundred guys with no wives, no kids, no parents. [faces Leo] I send 200 
    operatives down there. Monday morning I read in the paper Juan Aguilar is dead. What's 
    to stop me? 
    
    LEO 
    [stands] We lost this one, Mr. President. It was bad intelligence and we lost this one. 
    
    BARTLET 
    It was the Queen's Rook. That's why I couldn't trade the Bishop. It was over six moves 
    ago. Arrange for their immediate release. 
    
    LEO
    Yes, sir, Mr. President. 
    
    BARTLET
    [warning glare] If they so much as experience turbulence on their way out...
    
    LEO
    Yes, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    I want to go to Dover later tonight. 
    
    LEO
    [nods] Yes, sir. 
    
    BARTLET
    Thank you. 
    
    LEO
    Thank you, Mr. President. 
    
    Leo leaves as Bartlet turns back to look out the window. 
    
    CAROL [VO]
    Folks, take your seats, please, the briefing will start now. 
    
    DISSOLVE TO: INT. BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT
    The room is murmuring with activity. 
    
    CAROL
    Folks, can you take your seats? 
    
    C.J. steps up to the podium. 
    
    C.J. 
    Good evening. Thank you for coming back so late. 
    
    DISSOLVE TO: EXT. DOVER AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT
    The Presidential motorcade speeds onto the tarmac. 
    
    C.J. [VO]
    I want now to fill you in on some events that have taken place in the last 24 
    hours. When I'm through there'll representatives from the...
    
    CUT TO: INT. BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT 
    
    C.J.
    ... Pentagon, State Department and Justice Department who'll continue with your questions.
    
    CUT TO: EXT. DOVER AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT
    Bartlet exits his limo. An Honor Guard stands in front of a cargo aircraft. 
    
    C.J. [VO]
    Yesterday at approximately eight p.m. eastern time, five agents from the DEA were taken 
    hostage in the...
    
    CUT TO: INT. BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT 
    
    C.J.
    ... Punta Maya region of Columbia by members of Affront. 
    
    CUT TO: EXT. DOVER AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT
    Bartlet walks past Mickey. 
    
    C.J. [VO]
    Hold your questions. There was a demand for the release of a Columbian prisoner...
    
    MICKEY
    The hostages are out. 
    
    BARTLET
    I'll call their families afterwards...
    
    CUT TO: INT. BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT 
    
    C.J.
    ...whose name we are not releasing at this time. President Miguel Santos, acting on his 
    own authority has...
    
    DISSOLVE TO: EXT. DOVER AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT
    The first detail carries a flag draped coffin past the Honor Guard. They pause in front 
    of Bartlet and Mickey. Bartlet gazes past the coffin as an Honor Guard carries a second 
    coffin out of the cargo bay. Bartlet looks on with a tired expression as another coffin 
    is carried off... and another... and another. 
    
    DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
    FADE OUT.
    THE END
    * * *
    
    The West Wing and all its characters are properties of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells 
    Production, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.
    
    Episode 2.14 -- “The War At Home”
    Original Airdate: February 14, 2001, 9:00 PM EST
    반응형
사고전서의 옳게 치우치기