ABOUT ME

-

Today
-
Yesterday
-
Total
-
  • Episode 3.5 -- “War Crimes”
    The West Wing Scripts/Season 3 2008. 11. 6. 17:31
    THE WEST WING
    "WAR CRIMES"
    TELEPLAY BY: AARON SORKIN
    STORY BY: ALLISON ABNER
    DIRECTED BY: ALEX GRAVES
    
    
    TEASER
    
    FADE IN: INT. THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM - DAY
    SUNDAY
    From T.V. screens to cameras to more T.V. screens, we follow several reporters as they 
    head inside to take their seats. From a nearby television, we hear sounds from a football 
    game. A briefing is about to start. And as the Press Corps takes its respective seating, 
    C.J. enters and goes behind the podium. She speaks while getting settled.
    
    C.J.
    Okay.
    
    CHRIS
    C.J., do we know what kind of gun it was?
    
    C.J.
    Which gun?
    
    CHRIS
    The first gun.
    
    C.J.
    It was a .38 pistol. Okay, here are a few confirmations and a few more details. The 
    shooting took place approximately 15 minutes into the 9:00 service at United Baptist 
    Church in Abilene, Texas. [notices a familiar man seated in the middle row to her left]
    Will Sawyer, is that you?
    
    WILL SAWYER
    Yes.
    
    C.J.
    You back in the country?
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    You working for the San Francisco Chronicle now?
    
    WILL
    No.
    
    C.J.
    Then you want to get your ass out of their chair?
    
    Laughter. WILL SAWYER stands up.
    
    WILL
    There's assigned seating?
    
    C.J.
    You see the little brass plaques with the names of media outlets on the front of the 
    seats?
    
    WILL
    I thought that meant they made a generous contribution.
    
    C.J.
    Find a seat in back. 
    
    Will does, and C.J. continues. 
    
    C.J.
    Fifteen minutes into the service, Daryl Bechtell, B-E-C-H-T-E-L-L, walked into the 
    sanctuary. Reports indicate he was looking for his estranged wife. He fired off a 
    round -- that was from the .38 -- missing his wife and hitting Harold Winter in the 
    left shoulder. Mr. Winter is 65 and currently undergoing surgery at Abilene Regional 
    Medical Center. 
    
    Carol quietly enters the room.
    
    C.J. [cont.]
    Mr. Bechtell fired off anywhere between two and four more rounds at that point -- reports 
    differ -- as the crowd began to scatter. That's when Ron Cahrl pulled a nine millimeter 
    Glock from under his suit coat and fired off three rounds in the direction of Mr. 
    Bechtell. It's unclear which of those rounds struck Melissa Markey.
    
    STEVE
    Confirmation on her age?
    
    C.J.
    She's be nine years old tomorrow.
    
    STEVE
    Can you speak to what either Daryl Bechtell or Ron Cahrl might be charged with?
    
    C.J.
    No. The Abilene Sherrif's Office will address that. I can tell you that Mr. Bechtell's 
    gun was registered and that Ron Cahrl had a license to carry a concealed weapon.
    
    ARTHUR
    Doesn't Texas law prohibit carrying a weapon in a church or synagogue?
    
    C.J.
    Again, I'll have the Sheriff's Office speak to that, but I'll tell you that it only 
    prohibits it if the church or synagogue posts such a prohibition in plain sight.
    
    Carol takes this time to give C.J. a note.
    
    REPORTERS
    C.J.!
    
    C.J.
    Hang on. [reads the note] Well... Melissa Markey died.
    
    SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.
    END TEASER
    * * *
    
    ACT ONE
    
    FADE IN: INT. WHITE HOUSE LOBBY - DAY
    Sam and Donna are standing in front of the doors.
    
    SAM
    If you don't understand a question, say so. They'll repeat it. Or they'll rephrase it.
    
    DONNA
    Yeah.
    
    SAM
    There's nothing wrong with not understanding the question.
    
    DONNA
    Right.
    
    SAM
    There's nothing wrong with saying 'I don't recall.'
    
    DONNA
    I appreciate this.
    
    SAM
    Yeah. Don't you want to go to this with Josh?
    
    DONNA
    He's pissed at me.
    
    SAM
    No, he's not.
    
    DONNA
    He's... Yeah, he is.
    
    SAM
    He didn't say anything.
    
    DONNA
    He doesn't say anything.
    
    SAM
    All right.
    
    DONNA
    Anyway, I appreciate this.
    
    SAM 
    [as he sees Charlie passing by] Charlie, hang on a second. [to Donna] You're going to be 
    sitting in a room. It's going to feel like you did something wrong. But guess what?
    
    DONNA
    What?
    
    SAM
    You didn't! So, you got a cab up front?
    
    DONNA
    Yeah. 
    
    SAM
    Come back when it's over?
    
    DONNA
    Thanks. [leaves]
    
    Sam follows Charlie.
    
    CHARLIE
    You make a pick?
    
    SAM
    Oakland over Dallas!
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay.
    
    SAM
    It's a lock.
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay.
    
    SAM
    Everybody's staying away 'cause they want to keep Oakland down the road. But if you're 
    like me, you're not as impressed with the pre-season hype. You pick the Raiders at home, 
    and you bank on them not being a prohibitive favorite going into the playoffs.
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay.
    
    SAM
    You think I should take Tennessee over Detroit?
    
    CHARLIE
    I didn't say that.
    
    SAM
    You said it with your eyes.
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay.
    
    SAM
    I'll take Tennessee over Detroit.
    
    CHARLIE
    I'm writing it down.
    
    SAM
    Write it down. Wait. No. Give me Oakland over Dallas.
    
    CHARLIE
    Okay. They stop in front of the opposite White House entrance.
    
    SAM
    Except make it New Orleans over Atlanta.
    
    CHARLIE
    The first games are about to start.
    
    SAM
    New Orleans over Atlanta!
    
    CHARLIE
    I'm writing it down.
    
    SAM
    Write it down. [leaves]
    
    The doors open. Bartlet and Abbey walk inside.
    
    CHARLIE
    Good afternoon.
    
    ABBEY
    Hi, Charlie.
    
    CHARLIE
    How was church?
    
    BARTLET 
    [mumbles] It sucked.
    
    ABBEY
    It was fine. [to Bartlet] Stop it! 
    
    BARTLET
    It sucked!
    
    ABBEY 
    [sighs] You're talking about church.
    
    BARTLET
    Oh, like I'm not already going to hell.
    
    CHARLIE 
    [follows them a pace behind] What was the problem?
    
    ABBEY
    He feels the homily lacked penache.
    
    BARTLET
    It did lack penache.
    
    ABBEY
    It was a perfectly lovely homily on Ephesians 5:21. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ 
    loved the church and gave himself up for her."
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah. She's skipping over the part that says, "Wives, be subject to your husbands as to 
    the Lord, for a husband is the head of a wife as Christ is the head of the church."
    
    ABBEY
    I do skip over that part.
    
    BARTLET
    Why?
    
    ABBEY
    Because it's stupid!
    
    They walk in THE OVAL OFFICE.
    
    BARTLET
    Okay.
    
    ABBEY
    "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that 
    he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by washing of water with the word that he 
    might present the Church to himself in..." something.
    
    BARTLET 
    [behind his desk, puts on glasses] "In splendor." And I have no problem with Ephesians. 
    And any time you want me to cleanse you with the washing of water, you know I'm up for it.
    
    ABBEY
    Then what is your problem?
    
    BARTLET
    Hackery! 
    
    Abbey waves her arms at him and walks out to the PORTICO. Bartlet follows.
    
    BARTLET
    This guy was a hack! He had a captive audience! And the way I know that is that I tried 
    to tunnel out of there several times. He had an audience and he didn't know what to do 
    with it.
    
    ABBEY
    You want him to sing "Volare?"
    
    BARTLET
    Couldn't have hurt. Words...
    
    ABBEY
    Oh, God, no.
    
    BARTLET
    Words, when spoken out loud for the sake of performance, are music. They have rhythm, 
    and pitch, and timbre, and volume. These are the properties of music, and music has the 
    ability to find us and move us, and lift us up in ways that literal meanings can't. Do 
    you see?
    
    ABBEY
    You are an oratorical snob.
    
    BARTLET
    Yes, I am. And God loves me for it.
    
    They stop and face each other.
    
    ABBEY
    You said he was sending you to hell.
    
    BARTLET
    For other stuff, not for this. You can't just trod out Ephesians, which he blew, by the 
    way, it has nothing with husbands and wives, it's all of us. Saint Paul begins the 
    passage: "Be subject to one another out of reverence to Christ." [passionately] "Be 
    subject to one another." In this day and age of 24-hour cable crap, devoted to feeding 
    the voyeuristic gluttony of the American public, hooked on a bad soap opera that's 
    passing itself off as important, don't you think you might be able to find some relevance 
    in verse 21? How do end the cycle? Be subject to one another!
    
    ABBEY
    So... This is about you.
    
    BARTLET
    No, it's not about me! Well, yes, it is about me, but tomorrow it'll be about somebody 
    else. We'll watch Larry King and see who. [shouts] All hacks, off the stage! Right now! 
    That's a national security order.
    
    ABBEY
    I'm going to the Residence. I'm taking a bath; I'm turning on Sinatra.
    
    BARTLET
    How does Mrs. Sinatra feel about that?
    
    ABBEY
    Peace be with you. [turns to leave]
    
    C.J. comes outside behind Bartlet.
    
    BARTLET 
    [sings] You make me egg foo yung...
    
    C.J.
    Good morning, Mr. President.
    
    BARTLET 
    [turns to her, sings] You make me feel there are songs to be sung...
    
    ABBEY 
    [to C.J.] He's feisty. Please, don't ask him about church.
    
    C.J. 
    [quietly] No, I won't. I'm sorry, Mr. President, Melissa Markey died.
    
    BARTLET 
    [smile fades away] Yeah, okay. 
    
    Abbey approaches him.
    
    BARTLET
    Ah, damn. Charlie, can I see Leo?
    
    CHARLIE
    Yes, sir.
    
    ABBEY
    She would have lost too much blood at the scene, Jed. She didn't have a chance.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    ABBEY
    All right... I'll be over in the Residence. I've got to see Babish this afternoon. 
    [pats him on the shoulder and leaves]
    
    BARTLET
    Okay. [walks with C.J. quietly] When do you think I should go in there?
    
    C.J.
    I'd wait a couple of hours till we hear some more facts.
    
    BARTLET
    You'll talk to the sheriff's office and...
    
    C.J.
    Yeah.
    
    BARTLET
    I guess the DA.
    
    C.J.
    Yeah, but you don't want to walk too far into that.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    Leo is waiting by the entrance to Oval Office.
    
    LEO
    Good morning.
    
    BARTLET
    You heard?
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    BARTLET
    C.J. thinks I should wait a few hours.
    
    LEO
    I would.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    Thank you, Mr. President. [walks off]
    
    BARTLET
    Be subject to one another, Leo. What can I do to be of subject to you?
    
    LEO
    I'm fine.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah?
    
    LEO
    I've got Margaret.
    
    BARTLET
    Okay.
    
    They walk back in THE OVAL OFFICE. Bartlet sits behind his desk. Leo sits hear him.
    
    LEO
    I think you should send Hoynes to Texas.
    
    BARTLET
    He's not going to want to do it.
    
    LEO
    What do you care?
    
    BARTLET
    What are you doing today?
    
    LEO
    I'm meeting with Adamley.
    
    BARTLET
    What about?
    
    LEO
    He wants to talk to me about the War Crimes Tribunal.
    
    BARTLET
    Keep me out of it, all right?
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    BARTLET
    You think I should send Hoynes to Texas?
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    BARTLET
    All right, get him over here.
    
    LEO
    Now?
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    LEO 
    [stands] Thank you, Mr. President.
    
    CUT TO: EXT. THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE BUILDING - DAY
    
    CLIFF [VO]
    This proceeding is known as a deposition. The person transcribing a deposition is a 
    House reporter and although she's not a notary public you were just sworn in by a notary 
    public and were placed under oath. Do you understand?
    
    CUT TO: INT. A ROOM IN THE BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 
    A long table is occupied by many people, Donna and Cliff sit opposite each other.
    
    DONNA
    Yes.
    
    CLIFF [VO]
    Because you were placed under oath, your testimony here today has the same force and 
    effect as if you were testifying before the committee in a courtroom. Do you understand?
    
    DONNA
    Yes.
    
    CLIFF
    This committee has been granted authorization pursuant to House Resolution 173, my name 
    is Clifford Calley. I'm Majority Counsel for the House Government Oversight and Reform 
    Committee. Would you state your full name for the record, please.
    
    DONNA
    Donnatella Moss. D-o-n-n-a-t-e-l-l-a M-o-s-s.
    
    CLIFF
    At this point I'd like the record to indicate that the Majority Counsel has met the 
    witness socially on several occasions, and without objection, I'd like to proceed.
    
    WOMAN
    No objection.
    
    CLIFF
    Counsel?
    
    COUNSEL
    No objection.
    
    CLIFF
    I'd also like to express the Committee appreciation to the witness appearing on a Sunday. 
    Ms. Moss, are you here voluntarily or as a result of a subpoena?
    
    DONNA
    A subpoena.
    
    CLIFF
    No need to thank me. [beat] Donna, this is going to be easy, you can laugh. Were you 
    recently asked to help organize documents pursuant to this Committee current 
    investigation?
    
    DONNA
    Yes.
    
    CLIFF
    Would you describe how that works?
    
    DONNA
    On instructions from Joshua Lyman and the White House Counsel's office, I took over a 
    storage room at the OEOB and began sorting through any interoffice or interdepartmental 
    documents, both from the campaign and from the West Wing.
    
    CLIFF
    And for the record, the campaign you're referring to is...
    
    DONNA
    Bartlet for America.
    
    CLIFF
    How'd you guys do?
    
    DONNA 
    [very seriously] We won.
    
    CLIFF
    Okay. [beat] My colleagues are going to ask you some questions. Then we'll get back to 
    me and finish up.
    
    DONNA
    Okay.
    
    MAN
    Ms. Moss? Do you keep a photo album?
    
    DONNA
    No.
    
    MAN
    Okay. Do you keep...
    
    DONNA
    I'm sorry. Uh... I keep photographs, I don't have them in an album.
    
    MAN
    Okay. Do you keep a scrapbook?
    
    DONNA
    No.
    
    MAN
    Do you keep letters, notes, or other correspondence you receive from people?
    
    DONNA
    Sometimes a birthday card or a letter from my father.
    
    MAN
    Do you keep a diary?
    
    DONNA
    No.
    
    MAN
    Okay. Do you receive gifts from anyone who's currently...
    
    CLIFF
    I'm sorry, hang on. [to the transcriber] Would you read that back?
    
    TRANSCRIBER
    "Question: Do you keep a diary? Answer: No. Question: Okay. Do you receive gifts from..."
    
    CLIFF 
    [looks at Donna] Okay. Okay, go ahead.
    
    MAN
    Do you receive gifts from anyone who's currently working at the White House?
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT ONE
    * * *
    
    ACT TWO
    
    FADE IN: INT. C.J.'S OFFICE - DAY
    Thunder rumbles. It already started to rain. C.J. is not in her office. Will Sawyer is. 
    He is sitting behind C.J.'s desk and is playing with some of her things. Seconds later, 
    C.J. enters and sees him.
    
    C.J.
    How are you doing?
    
    WILL
    Good.
    
    C.J.
    You're sitting in my chair.
    
    WILL
    It didn't have a plaque on it.
    
    C.J.
    [chuckles] Oh, I've missed you.
    
    WILL
    Yeah. [stands and finds another chair across C.J.'s desk]
    
    C.J.
    Well, you've been gone three weeks.
    
    WILL
    I've been gone two and a half years.
    
    C.J.
    Really?
    
    WILL
    Yes.
    
    C.J.
    So what happened? I thought you were our man in Myanmar.
    
    WILL
    I got kicked out of Myanmar.
    
    C.J.
    Well, is there a third world country you haven't been kicked out of?
    
    WILL
    Hey, I've been kicked out of plenty of industrialized nations, too.
    
    C.J.
    Why'd they kick you out?
    
    WILL
    Well, first of all, they didn't kick me out exactly. In fact, they love me in Myanmar.
    
    C.J.
    What happened?
    
    WILL
    They put a bounty on my head. [C.J. laughs.] It's not funny. The Myanmarese government 
    is built on narcotics trafficking. Myanmar, Thailand, Laos. I was this close to the story.
    
    C.J.
    Yeah?
    
    WILL
    I had interviews with Pau Jiasheng, Pau Yujiung, Li Zuru. I was tight with narco-barons.
    
    C.J.
    Until?
    
    WILL
    The Myanmarese army...
    
    C.J.
    Put a bounty on your head.
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    How'd you know?
    
    WILL
    The State Department came and got me.
    
    C.J.
    Oh. That had to be embarrassing in front of your narco-baron friends.
    
    WILL
    Anyway... I'm assigned to the White House Press Corps until they can find me, you know, 
    a reporting job.
    
    C.J.
    No. No offense taken.
    
    WILL
    Thanks.
    
    C.J.
    Why did you want to see me?
    
    WILL
    I have a quote if you want to comment.
    
    C.J.
    What is it?
    
    WILL
    Toby Ziegler says, "If the President wins reelection, it will be on the Vice President's 
    coattails."
    
    C.J.
    "If the President wins reelection, it will be on the Vice President's coattails"?
    
    WILL
    [consults his notepad] I think that's, uh... yeah.
    
    C.J.
    He said this to you?
    
    WILL
    No.
    
    C.J.
    Where'd you get it?
    
    WILL
    The person he said it to.
    
    C.J.
    Will, do me a favor. Give me a little time to check it out, would you?
    
    WILL
    Yeah. [stands]
    
    C.J.
    You've been gone two and a half years?
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    Seemed like less than that.
    
    WILL
    People lose all track of time and space when I'm not around.
    
    C.J.
    Yeah.
    
    Will takes his jacket and leaves. Out in the hallway, he looks left, right, and walks off. 
    
    SAM [VO]
    It's 30 billion in School Modernization Bonds.
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY
    Sam is meeting with Congressional Aide TERRY BECKWITH. Ginger walks in with a tray and 
    two coffee mugs.
    
    SAM
    Thanks, Ginger. Thank you.
    
    GINGER
    Sure.
    
    Ginger puts down the tray on the table and exits.
    
    SAM
    It's 30 billion in School Modernization Bonds.
    
    TERRY BECKWITH
    Interest-free?
    
    SAM
    Interest-free for school districts. We're estimating it will help build and modernize 
    7,000 schools nationwide. There's another 1.5 billion for urgent repairs targeted to 
    high-need districts.
    
    TERRY
    Like roof repairs?
    
    SAM
    Roof repairs, heating and cooling systems, electrical wiring. The point is we think we 
    need the Congressman's vote to get it out of the full Appropriations Committee and on the 
    floor.
    
    TERRY
    He'll be with it.
    
    SAM
    That's what I thought.
    
    TERRY
    He's just looking for the President's support on a bill that he'll be sponsoring.
    
    SAM
    What's it called?
    
    TERRY
    It's called the "Legal Tender Modernization Act."
    
    SAM
    Which provides for?
    
    TERRY
    The elimination of the penny.
    
    SAM
    I'm sorry?
    
    TERRY
    It would permanently halt production of the penny.
    
    SAM
    Why?
    
    TERRY
    I'm glad you asked.
    
    SAM
    Yeah.
    
    TERRY
    Last year, the U.S. Mint cut 14 billion pennies and shipped them off to the Federal 
    Reserve, which dumped them in our laps. They're worthless.
    
    SAM
    Well, they're actually worth one cent.
    
    TERRY
    The dollar has the buying power today that the quarter had 30 years ago. The penny's 
    buying power shrunk to nothing.
    
    SAM
    Well, that's not true. You can get yourself a gumball.
    
    TERRY
    No, you can't. They cost a nickel.
    
    SAM
    Really?
    
    TERRY
    [sighs] I'm gonna need to give the Congressman a good reason why the White House won't 
    support the bill if they won't support the bill.
    
    SAM
    Oh, don't make me give you a good reason.
    
    TERRY
    You want your $30 billion in school repairs?
    
    SAM
    Well, we're already well on our way with 140 million pennies.
    
    TERRY
    Sam...
    
    SAM
    I'll get you a good reason.
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY
    Bartlet is at his desk looking at a piece of paper. He calls.
    
    BARTLET
    Charlie!
    
    Charlie opens the door and walks in.
    
    CHARLIE
    Yes, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    You took Indianapolis?
    
    CHARLIE
    Yes, sir.
    
    They continue, but we follow a MOVING SHOT out into the Outer Oval Office. The Vice 
    President arrives, and Nancy takes his coat.
    
    BARTLET [OS]
    You didn't want to take Kansas City over Arizona?
    
    CHARLIE [OS]
    No, sir.
    
    BARTLET [OS]
    Kansas City's got three players out of Notre Dame.
    
    CHARLIE [OS]
    Yes, sir.
    
    BARTLET [OS]
    You always go with the team who's got the most players out of Notre Dame.
    
    CHARLIE [OS]
    That's a heck of a system, sir.
    
    BARTLET [OS]
    What's your system?
    
    CHARLIE [OS]
    I compare the team's record to the record of its opponent.
    
    BARTLET [OS]
    That's a little simplistic, isn't it?
    
    CHARLIE [OS]
    Yes, sir.
    
    After she hangs the coat, Nancy stands by the door.
    
    NANCY
    Excuse me, Mr. President?
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah?
    
    NANCY
    The Vice President.
    
    BARTLET
    Thank you.
    
    Charlie takes his leave. Bartlet and Hoynes meet and shake hands.
    
    HOYNES
    Hey, Charlie.
    
    CHARLIE
    Good afternoon, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    Hey, John.
    
    HOYNES
    Good afternoon, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    Do you know this church?
    
    HOYNES
    No.
    
    BARTLET
    The United Baptists Church in Abilene?
    
    HOYNES
    No.
    
    BARTLET
    Listen, you feel like having a beer with me?
    
    HOYNES
    No, I'm fine.
    
    BARTLET
    On Sundays, when we got back from church, my father would let my brother and me split a 
    beer. It got to be a habit.
    
    HOYNES
    You mind if I split some water with you?
    
    BARTLET
    Nancy? [to Hoynes] I need you to go to Texas, John. [Nancy walks up.] Nancy, could I get 
    a cold beer and some ice water?
    
    NANCY
    Yes, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    And close the door please. [sits] Nancy does what she was told.
    
    HOYNES
    You want to send me to Texas?
    
    BARTLET
    It's what Texans do. [beat] You know, a decade ago, we passed a few national gun control 
    laws, and the gun lobby turned its back on Congress and started focusing on the states. 
    [Hoynes sits] The NRA systematically worked the legislatures to weaken conceal-and-carry 
    laws, the effect of which is to increase gun sales and pad its own membership.
    
    HOYNES
    Well, I don't necessarily agree with that, but...
    
    BARTLET
    The National Conference on State Legislatures is meeting this weekend at the Convention 
    Center in San Antonio.
    
    HOYNES
    And you want me to go to Texas and speak for you.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    HOYNES
    'Cause that's what Texans do.
    
    BARTLET
    [pause] It's also what Vice Presidents do.Nancy comes in and serves them beer and water.
    
    BARTLET
    Thank you, Nancy.
    
    HOYNES
    Thank you, Nancy.
    
    CUT TO: INT. NORTHWEST LOBBY - DAY
    GENERAL ALAN ADAMLEY is patiently waiting before Leo walks up.
    
    LEO
    Alan.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Hey!
    
    They exchange big smiles as they shake hands.
    
    LEO
    Come on back.
    
    Into the HALLWAY they go and head for Leo's Office.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Thanks for taking the time.
    
    LEO
    No, no. [beat] So how did it go?
    
    ADAMLEY
    It was a good trip. I met with, uh, Hassan, and I met with the Aviation Prince.
    
    LEO
    You know what we need in this country?
    
    ADAMLEY
    An Aviation Prince.
    
    LEO
    That's right.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Well, let me tell you something. Sultan Bin Abu Azir ain't what he used to be. Last time 
    I was in Kuwait, he gave me a gold inlay Gadara sword, originated from the, uh, Binhalmar 
    tribe.
    
    LEO
    What'd you get this time?
    
    ADAMLEY
    Nothing.
    
    LEO
    You want to go down the Situation Room, and blow them off the face of the earth?
    
    ADAMLEY
    Yeah.
    
    LEO
    [smiles] So...
    
    ADAMLEY
    The, uh, NSC Communications Office cabled me a draft of the President's radio address 
    for next weekend.
    
    LEO
    Alan, it's a...
    
    ADAMLEY
    [reads from a file] "At the close of the last World War, our nation was instrumental in 
    the creation of both the United Nations and the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal. Now, at 
    the dawn of the millennium, we cannot betray that tradition of moral leadership." 
    He's made up his mind.
    
    LEO
    It's an early draft. It's not a big thing.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Well, I know that Hutchison and Berryhill are for it, but to me, to Fitzwallace, the 
    Pentagon, the House and Senate Armed Services, and the House and Senate Foreign 
    Relations, it's a thing of catastrophic proportions.
    
    LEO
    Let's go inside and talk.
    
    CUT TO: INT. TOBY'S OFFICE - DAY
    Amidst the bright Communications Bullpen, Toby's office is a lot darker. With his feet 
    up, Toby is sitting on his couch reading a newspaper. C.J. walks in the bullpen and puts 
    a file on a desk. She was just about to leave when she sees Toby. She walks inside. 
    Toby becomes flustered, a bit nervous.
    
    C.J.
    Hey.
    
    TOBY
    I-I-I'm not here.
    
    C.J.
    I called you at home. I had you paged.
    
    TOBY
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    I didn't know you were here.
    
    TOBY
    [covers his face with the newspaper] I'm not.
    
    C.J.
    I think the jig is up.
    
    TOBY
    Clearly, I'm here, but I-I-I'm not open for business. I heard the President was meeting 
    with Hoynes, so I-I-I wanted to see how-how it goes.
    
    C.J.
    Listen...
    
    TOBY
    And I see you picked Chicago over Cincinnati so let me explain to you why your money's 
    gonna be in my pocket.
    
    C.J.
    If the President wins reelection, it's gonna be on the Vice President's coattails?
    
    TOBY
    [pause] You want to know what's weird? I-I-I just said... that exact same thing a couple 
    of days ago.
    
    C.J.
    I know. You know how I know? Will Sawyer just told me.
    
    TOBY
    Will Sawyer's in Myanmar.
    
    C.J.
    He got kicked out of Myanmar. He's in the room now.
    
    TOBY
    C.J., I said it... I said it at that W.A. meeting. I said it a the end of the meeting. 
    We were talking about areas where Hoynes is polling stronger than... It was... 
    [awkward chuckle] I said to our own... [pauses and sighs] Do I have a little time?
    
    C.J.
    A little.
    
    TOBY
    Thank you.
    
    C.J.
    You're here now?
    
    TOBY
    [chuckling] Yeah.
    
    When C.J. leaves, Toby calls.
    
    TOBY
    Ginger?
    
    She walks up.
    
    TOBY
    [stands] I want you to page every junior staffer and senior assistant who works in the 
    West Wing, every single one. I want them to assemble downstairs in the mess in two hours.
    
    GINGER
    What if...?
    
    TOBY
    If they can't be here in two hours, then they don't need to come in tomorrow morning.
    
    CUT TO: EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C. - DONNA'S APARTMENT STOOP - DAY
    The thunder rumbles lightly. It's raining hard, and passersby have their umbrellas up. 
    A black car is parked in front of Donna's apartment, and someone is sitting on her stoop. 
    From up the street, Donna walks up slowly and sees him. It's Cliff. He's been waiting for 
    her to come home.
    
    DONNA
    Hey.
    
    CLIFF
    How you doing?
    
    DONNA
    How'd you get here before me?
    
    CLIFF
    I drove.
    
    DONNA
    Should you be here?
    
    CLIFF
    No.
    
    DONNA
    Then what...?
    
    CLIFF
    I need to know why you lied before.
    
    DONNA
    When?
    
    CLIFF
    Donna...
    
    DONNA
    I didn't lie.
    
    CLIFF
    I saw your diary. When I was over that night. You keep a diary. Why'd you say you didn't?
    
    DONNA
    I don't keep a diary.
    
    CLIFF
    I saw it.
    
    DONNA
    You didn't 'cause there is no diary.
    
    CLIFF
    Donna. [stands] It's me and you. Now what's in it that you had to lie to the Committee?
    
    DONNA
    It's me and you? You're lead counsel for the Committee investigating me, my friends, my 
    boss, and the President of the United States.
    
    CLIFF
    That's right.
    
    DONNA
    And I thought you were a little bit smarmy with your "Donna, it's okay. You can laugh. 
    You're just..." Was that charm?
    
    CLIFF
    Tell me what...
    
    DONNA
    There is no diary.
    
    Donna starts up the stoop. Cliff interrupts.
    
    CLIFF
    18 U.S.C., 1-0-0-1. Lying to Congress: 10,000 dollars and not more than five years in 
    prison.
    
    DONNA
    Cliff...
    
    CLIFF
    18 U.S.C., 1-5-0-5. Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and 
    committees: Not more than five years. Two U.S.C., 192. Contempt of Congress: A thousand 
    dollars and imprisonment in a common jail for not more than 12 months. It was a perfectly 
    innocent mistake. Now let me talk to your lawyer and help you walk this back.
    
    DONNA
    Just out of curiosity, what would you say? [beat] That you thought you saw a diary while 
    you were hunting around for your boxer shorts? [pause] You shouldn't be here.
    
    They part ways. Donna runs up her stoop and goes inside her apartment. She shuts her 
    umbrella and the door as well.
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT TWO
    * * *
    
    ACT THREE
    
    FADE IN: INT. COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN - DAY
    Josh is leaning by Sam's doorway. He looks at his watch. Sam is sitting by a desk in 
    the bullpen.
    
    JOSH
    Why?
    
    SAM
    Why?
    
    JOSH
    Yes.
    
    SAM
    Because this country is populated with unbalanced people. Many of whom find their way to 
    Washington. As if the continent funnels them into this one spot.
    
    JOSH
    He wants to abolish the penny?
    
    SAM
    He doesn't want to abolish it, as much as he wants to give his boss a reason why we can't.
    
    JOSH
    Well... it's stupid.
    
    SAM
    Yeah, but the thing is it isn't really.
    
    JOSH
    Really?
    
    SAM
    It turns out the majority of pennies don't circulate. They go in jars and sock drawers. 
    Two-thirds of the pennies produced in the last 30 years have dropped out of circulation.
    
    JOSH
    You've been reading about this?
    
    SAM
    It's interesting.
    
    JOSH
    No, it's not.
    
    SAM
    [stands] The Mint gets letters with pennies taped on notebook paper. Letters from 
    citizens who found the pennies on the street and mailed them back to the Treasury to 
    help pay down the debt.
    
    JOSH
    It's almost hard to believe that plan hasn't worked.
    
    SAM
    It's also bad for the environment. Production requires the mining of millions of tons of 
    copper and zinc each year.
    
    JOSH
    Zinc?
    
    SAM
    In 1982, they changed the composition to 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper.
    
    JOSH
    Sam?
    
    SAM
    I'm turning into one of the funnel people.
    
    JOSH
    Yeah.
    
    SAM 
    [pause] Donna thinks you're still pissed at her.
    
    JOSH
    I'm not. I wasn't before. When did she tell you that?
    
    SAM
    Before she left. [sits]
    
    JOSH
    You've heard from her?
    
    SAM
    No.
    
    JOSH
    She should be done by now.
    
    SAM
    Here's a riddle. What is the most ubiquitous man-made object in America that does not 
    interact with any mechanism or machine?
    
    JOSH
    The penny?
    
    SAM
    Then penny. You can't even throw it in a tollbooth. Well, except for Illinois.
    
    JOSH
    Why can you use it in Illinois?
    
    SAM
    That's an interesting question.
    
    JOSH
    No, it's not. [walks off]
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE PRESS ROOM - DAY
    C.J. finds Will in the room.
    
    C.J.
    Hey.
    
    WILL
    Hey.
    
    C.J.
    I'm gonna have something for you soon. Toby's talking to some people.
    
    WILL
    Okay.
    
    C.J.
    Hey, are you a king?
    
    WILL
    No.
    
    C.J.
    Somebody said you were hanging out with some tribe, and they made you a king.
    
    WILL
    I'm a god.
    
    C.J.
    Oh.
    
    WILL
    I'm the only white man to ever witness the sacrificial rites of the Bau tribe of Fiji. 
    I was almost a victim myself, until they made me The Supporter of the World.
    
    C.J.
    How'd you swing that?
    
    WILL
    Using my Palm Pilot, I convinced the Bau I had the power to make the gods' writing appear 
    at will, and more significantly, predict the next day's weather.
    
    C.J.
    So you're a god?
    
    WILL
    I'm the god of Good Harvest and the Land of the Dead.
    
    C.J.
    I gotta go there and bring my laptop. It quacks when I have e-mail.
    
    WILL
    No, you're too tall.
    
    C.J.
    What would happen?
    
    WILL
    They would paint your face and [points] other body parts black [C.J. looks] so as to 
    resemble a warrior ornamented for feast or combat. Then you would be garroted by a length 
    of boar tripe.
    
    C.J.
    Yeah. No, good safety tip.
    
    WILL
    Alan Adamley here?
    
    C.J.
    Yeah.
    
    WILL
    Why?
    
    C.J.
    He's meeting with Leo McGarry.
    
    WILL
    Why?
    
    C.J.
    I don't know. Listen, you made a joke before.
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    About being assigned to the White House until you could get a real reporting job.
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    Was it a joke?
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J.
    Okay. I'll have something for you on the other thing soon.
    
    WILL
    Thanks.
    
    C.J. walks off.
    
    CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY
    Bartlet and Hoynes are still conversing. Between them is the Seal on the carpet.
    
    HOYNES
    That's not true.
    
    BARTLET
    John...
    
    HOYNES
    It is not true, Mr. President. Twenty-nine states have "shall issue" laws.
    
    BARTLET
    And if you look at the state of New Jersey, which has a "may issue" law-if you look at 
    changing that one word...
    
    HOYNES
    Look, I'm not saying...
    
    BARTLET
    Changing that one word means law enforcement can decide who gets a concealed weapon and 
    when and where they can carry it. Texas has a "may issue" law in front of a legislature 
    right now, and you going down there...
    
    HOYNES
    Me going down there is suicide, sir, and you know it.
    
    BARTLET
    It's counter-scheduling. You go in front of an unfriendly audience. You tell them 
    something they don't want to hear-it shows you have courage.
    
    HOYNES
    So the editor of The New York Times will think I have courage, while the people who 
    decide elections...
    
    BARTLET
    You're a hero in Texas.
    
    HOYNES
    I was a hero in Texas.
    
    BARTLET
    Texans don't like that you have the courage of your convictions?
    
    HOYNES
    They're not my convictions. They're yours.
    
    BARTLET
    [beat] Oh, yeah. I forgot.
    
    Bartlet stands and paces. Hoynes sighs and clears his throat. He stands as well.
    
    HOYNES
    Mr. President, we're not gonna get anywhere by treating gun owners like psychopaths, 
    and particularly in the South, where guns are a tradition and a heritage that's passed 
    on from father to son. You can't...
    
    BARTLET
    That's not good enough.
    
    HOYNES
    Sir?
    
    BARTLET
    A tradition that's passed on from father to son? We tamed the frontier, John. We did that 
    already.
    
    HOYNES
    The NRA is gonna say you're taking advantage of the shooting in Abilene. That you like it 
    when these things happen, 'cause it gives you a chance...
    
    BARTLET
    Let them stand in this room and say that. On this day. Let them stand in this room. 
    I like it?! She was nine years old! 
    
    Charlie knocks and walks in. He gives Bartlet a note then leaves. Bartlet reads it.] 
    
    BARTLET
    Green Bay lost. [beat] She was nine years old.
    
    HOYNES
    You know, last month in Idaho, a man killed six members of his family, including his 
    pregnant wife. And you know why the liberal intelligentsia didn't go crazy? Because he 
    did it with an ax. [beat] You think we need ax control?
    
    BARTLET
    Well... that is an excellent point. I never saw it that way.
    
    HOYNES
    I'm playing devil's advocate.
    
    BARTLET
    Tighter ax control.
    
    HOYNES
    You come down on firearms, you come down on tobacco, you come down on alcohol, but you 
    let Griffith run around talking about legalizing marijuana.
    
    BARTLET
    She didn't...
    
    HOYNES
    Sir?
    
    BARTLET
    You know what? Last year, gun deaths? 30,708. Alcohol deaths? 35,450. Tobacco deaths? 
    400,000. Marijuana deaths? Zero. This guy, the second shooter-Rambo? He's gonna get 
    nothing. He's gonna get a parade. You know why? There was no sign posted in the church 
    saying you can't carry a concealed weapon. [beat] I'm just playing devil's advocate. 
    She was nine years old.
    
    CUT TO: INT. LEO'S OFFICE - DAY
    Leo and Adamley are now seated and talking.
    
    LEO
    Two things: One, technically, it's not just a court for war crimes.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Technically?
    
    LEO
    And two, the President hasn't made up his mind yet.
    
    ADAMLEY
    The UN has.
    
    LEO
    The UN made up its mind in 1948, when they recognized the crime of genocide.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Yes...
    
    LEO
    A crime so immense as to exceed the jurisdiction of any single court or government. Alan, 
    systematic extermination of civilians, enslavement, torture, rape, forced pregnancy, 
    terrorism-doesn't the world need a permanent standing body...?
    
    ADAMLEY
    National sovereignty is at stake. Americans are answerable to no one but their own 
    government and their own laws.
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    ADAMLEY
    And people need to be reminded that the UN is not a democratic organization. There's no 
    input in its deliberations by any...
    
    LEO
    Come on. The court is designed with plenty of safeguards, to say nothing of if we don't 
    subject ourselves to the treaty, it'll encourage other countries...
    
    ADAMLEY
    Sure.
    
    LEO
    And you don't think that'll undercut the UN's campaign against war crimes?
    
    Suddenly, Sam knocks and pokes his head in.
    
    SAM
    Excuse me. Excuse me, General.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Hey, Sam.
    
    SAM
    Margaret wasn't out here.
    
    LEO
    What do you need?
    
    SAM
    No, if you're in the middle of something, I can come back.
    
    ADAMLEY
    We're eliminating genocide. What are you doing?
    
    SAM
    Eliminating the penny. So I'll come back.
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    ADAMLEY
    See you later.
    
    Sam closes the door. We follow him out to the HALLWAY where he meets Donna. She just got 
    back and a bit in a hurry. They walk.
    
    SAM
    Hey.
    
    DONNA
    Hi.
    
    SAM
    How'd it go?
    
    DONNA
    It went fine.
    
    SAM
    Just background, right?
    
    DONNA
    It was fine. Is Josh in his office?
    
    SAM
    He's around someplace.
    
    DONNA
    Thanks.
    
    SAM
    [pause] Do you know the only thing pennies interact with are those coin-wrapping machines 
    people buy to get rid of pennies, which kind of proves the point.
    
    DONNA
    What point?
    
    SAM
    I don't know. It went okay?
    
    DONNA
    Fine.
    
    They reach JOSH'S BULLPEN AREA just as Sam walks off. Donna stops. She looks toward her 
    desk and sees her boss. With courage, she approaches. Josh immediately sees her.
    
    JOSH
    How'd it go?
    
    DONNA
    I really need to talk to you for a second.
    
    JOSH
    What happened?
    
    DONNA
    I need to just... Can we go in your office?
    
    They head for his office. Ginger passes by.
    
    GINGER
    Hey, how'd it go?
    
    DONNA
    Fine.
    
    When they both get in JOSH'S OFFICE, Josh closes the door.
    
    JOSH
    What happened?
    
    DONNA
    I was asked if I kept a diary, and I said no, only I do keep a diary.
    
    JOSH
    Why did you say you didn't?
    
    DONNA
    I don't know.
    
    JOSH
    What do you mean you don't know?
    
    DONNA
    Nothing in the diary is relevant. I'm the only one...
    
    JOSH
    Is there anyone else in the witness list who knows you keep a diary?
    
    DONNA
    Well, there's nobody who knows I keep a diary, except the thing is... Cliff saw it.
    
    JOSH
    [beat] What do you mean?
    
    DONNA
    Cliff came to me after the deposition and told me he saw the diary when he was in my 
    apartment.
    
    Josh walks around behind his desk. He knows they're in trouble.
    
    DONNA
    I swear it wasn't premeditated. Nothing in it was material. Nothing in it was...
    
    JOSH
    You don't get to decide that! You don't get to decide what's material and what isn't, 
    Donna!
    
    DONNA
    Please keep your voice down.
    
    JOSH
    This is how it happens. They got nothing on the President with MS. They're trolling, 
    then you go in and hand them a...
    
    DONNA
    I know.
    
    JOSH
    You were subpoenaed! You were under oath! You answer the damn question!
    
    DONNA
    I screwed up.
    
    JOSH
    YOU THINK?!
    
    Donna, in shock, does not respond. Josh sits and touches his head.
    
    DONNA
    What should I do?
    
    JOSH
    Do nothing. Do absolutely nothing.
    
    Donna quietly leaves and closes the door.
    
    FADE OUT.
    END ACT THREE
    * * *
    
    ACT FOUR
    
    FADE IN: INT. HALLWAYS OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE MESS - DAY
    Toby walks down the hall. The chatter of staffers gets louder as he approaches the 
    WHITE HOUSE MESS. When he walks in, Toby sees 30-40 staffers sitting and standing on 
    one side of the room. Ginger is standing in the middle of the group near the back.
    
    STAFFER
    Shhhhh.
    
    The group quiets down. They all look pretty somber, like they're anticipating a severe 
    tongue lashing. Toby sits down on the edge of a table, facing the group, and hesitates 
    for a few moments before speaking.
    
    TOBY
    There's an old saying: "Those who speak, don't know; and those who know, don't speak." 
    I don't know if that's true or not, but I know that by and large the press doesn't care 
    who really knows what as long as they've got a quote. Last Friday, we had our Week Ahead 
    meeting in the Roosevelt Room. Some of you were there, most of you weren't, but I'm 
    talking to all of you now. Bruno Gianelli and I were leading a discussion about whether 
    or not the President should stop in Kansas on his way back from the West Coast, and I 
    remarked that the Vice President is polling better than the President right now in the 
    Plains states... 
    
    Sam walks into the room. He stands in the doorway, looking far more stern than Toby.
    
    TOBY [cont.]
    ...and that if the President is re-elected, it's gonna be on the Vice President's 
    coattails. That remark made its way to a White House reporter... We're a group. 
    [chuckles cheerlessly] We're a team. From the President and Leo on through, we're a 
    team...We win together, we lose together, we celebrate and we mourn together. And defeats 
    are softened and victories sweetened because we did them together...And if you don't like 
    this team... then, there's the door... It's great to be in the know. It's great to have 
    the scoop, to have the skinny, to be able to go to a reporter and say, "I know something 
    you don't know." And so the press becomes your constituents and you sell out the team... 
    So, an item will appear in the paper tomorrow, and it'll be embarrassing to me and 
    embarrassing to the President. I'm not gonna have a witch hunt. I'm not gonna huff and 
    puff. I'm not gonna take anyone's head off. I'm simply gonna say this: you're my guys. 
    And I'm yours... and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you.
    
    They all look pretty deflated and chastised. Toby stands up and walks out. Sam walks with 
    Toby back upstairs.
    
    SAM
    That was unexpected.
    
    TOBY
    [sighs] Yeah... You're a good deputy, Sam.
    
    SAM
    What do you mean?
    
    TOBY
    That.
    
    SAM 
    [chuckles] You won money on football today, didn't you?
    
    TOBY
    Yeah, but I mean it anyway. What can I do for you today? How can I help you out?
    
    SAM
    You can give me a reason why the White House can't support the elimination of the penny.
    
    TOBY
    This is the Legal Tender... Huckleberry Bill?
    
    SAM
    Modernization Bill, yeah.
    
    TOBY
    We can't support it 'cause it'll never get to the floor.
    
    SAM
    Why not?
    
    TOBY
    Where's the Speaker of the House from?
    
    They've reached the STAIRS up to the main level.
    
    SAM
    He's from Illinois, which, by the way, is the only state where you can put pennies in 
    a toll machine. Why is that, do you suppose?
    
    They pause in the middle of the stairs.
    
    TOBY
    It's because...
    
    SAM
    It's 'cause Lincoln's from Illinois! And... so is the Speaker.
    
    TOBY
    Yes.
    
    SAM
    Well, that's a good reason. Well, it's a dumb reason, but it's good enough, right?
    
    TOBY
    Sure. They start walking up the stairs again.
    
    SAM
    Thank you.
    
    TOBY
    Yeah.
    
    SAM
    And thanks for the other thing.
    
    TOBY
    Yeah.
    
    CUT TO: INT. C.J.'S OFFICE - DAY
    C.J. breezes into her office, passing Will who's perched on the edge of Carol's desk.
    
    C.J.
    Hi.
    
    WILL
    Hi.
    
    She walks behind her desk and starts shuffling papers around. He stands up and leans in 
    the doorway.
    
    C.J.
    What do you need?
    
    WILL
    You called me.
    
    C.J.
    Yes, I did... Well, Toby made the remark in response to some new polling data. It was 
    offhand. Obviously, he meant it as a joke. He regrets it.
    
    WILL
    Okay.
    
    C.J.
    He'll be happy to go on the record with you.
    
    WILL 
    [shrugs] Nah, that's all right.
    
    C.J.
    What do you mean?
    
    WILL
    I don't need him.
    
    C.J. walks toward him having gathered up the papers she needs. They walk out into the 
    HALLWAY.
    
    C.J.
    You're not gonna let Toby explain himself?
    
    WILL
    I'm not writing it.
    
    C.J.
    Why not?
    
    WILL 
    [mildly indignant] It's not news.
    
    C.J.
    Really?
    
    WILL
    Yeah.
    
    C.J. 
    [surprised and pleased] Okay.
    
    WILL
    I'll see you in there.
    
    He turns to walk away. She keeps walking, with a happy yet puzzled look on her face, but 
    then she turns around.
    
    C.J.
    You weren't joking before, were you?
    
    WILL
    When?
    
    C.J.
    When you said...
    
    WILL
    No.
    
    C.J.
    [walks toward him a little bit] Why do you think the White House is a bad beat?
    
    WILL
    I don't like being a stenographer. And I don't like writing gossip. 
    [walks toward her a little bit] I read a column last week where a lady bemoaned the 
    decade of scandals she's had to cover, as if the news was to blame for the quality of 
    journalism. I don't know if there's ever been a more important time to be good at what 
    I do. Can you imagine how much I don't give a damn about what Toby said to a staffer?
    
    C.J.
    Yeah... All right. 
    
    She walks away, but just before she opens the door to the Briefing Room, she turns around.
    
    C.J.
    You can sit anywhere you want. 
    
    She goes into the Briefing Room. He walks back down the hallway, his hands in his pockets.
    
    CUT TO: INT. LEO'S OFFICE - DAY
    The camera pans up on the globe by the desk. Adamley is sitting on the sofa. Leo is 
    walking over to his chair.
    
    LEO
    139 countries have signed. 35 have ratified. Once 60 ratify, that's the ball game. You 
    want to be left out? [sits]
    
    ADAMLEY
    Absolutely. And I'll tell you what else. This is gonna raise nineteen kinds of hell in 
    Congress.
    
    LEO
    What doesn't?
    
    ADAMLEY
    There're already extreme Republicans who are attaching amendments to bills cutting off 
    military aid to any NATO member that signs the treaty...
    
    LEO
    That won't happen.
    
    ADAMLEY
    ...and committing the U.S. to forcibly rescue any American soldier held and tried in such 
    a court. Leo, this commits the United States to a scenario...where we'd be invading 
    Holland!
    
    LEO
    How much of this is about hedging our bets?
    
    ADAMLEY
    It's not about...
    
    LEO 
    [hollering] Look, we set up Nuremberg! We set up the Tokyo War Crimes Trial. And that was 
    fine until we realized the Cold War threat was gonna take precedence. So when the German 
    rocket scientists came here to help us get into space...
    
    ADAMLEY
    Oh, please...
    
    LEO
    ...we looked the other way, while SS officers followed right behind, protected by 
    American intelligence services, 'cause they were gonna help us with the Communists. Oh, 
    please, Alan...So how much of this is hedging our bets?
    
    Adamley clears his throat. Leo watches, curious, as Adamley picks up a file from the 
    coffee table.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Remember Operation Rolling Thunder?
    
    LEO
    Yeah. I think I do, yeah.
    
    ADAMLEY 
    [opens the file] September 1966?
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    ADAMLEY
    You were piloting an F-105 Fighter Chief. This was our first unit, 355th Tactical Fighter 
    Wing out of Thailand.
    
    LEO
    Yeah.
    
    ADAMLEY 
    I was Forward Air Commander. I gave you your directions. [reads from file] "From I.P., 
    heading 273 for 10.5 miles. Your target is north-south running bridge over river, one 
    kilometer to the tree line running east-west."
    
    LEO 
    [impatiently] Yeah? 
    
    Adamley shakes his head "No." Leo shakes his head in confusion. 
    
    LEO
    [defensively] It was a military target.
    
    ADAMLEY
    It was a civilian target. It was a dam. There were eleven civilian casualties.
    
    Adamley slaps the file down on the table. Leo sits frozen and silent for a long time. 
    The reality of Adamley's words slowly sinks in. He looks increasingly stunned and shaken, 
    struggling to make sense of what he's just heard.
    
    LEO
    Why did you tell me that?
    
    ADAMLEY
    Because you could be charged and tried for a war crime.
    
    Leo still can't believe what he's heard. He sighs deeply, overwhelmed, and puts his hand 
    up to his face. Eventually he looks up at Adamley again.
    
    LEO 
    [angrily] Why did you tell me that?!
    
    ADAMLEY 
    [coolly] All wars are crimes.
    
    Adamley sighs. Leo leans back slowly in his chair, shaking his head, and stares at 
    Adamley.
    
    LEO
    We've been here awhile.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Yeah. [stands up, buttoning his jacket]
    
    LEO
    Maybe we'll call it a day.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Yeah.
    
    LEO
    I'll get you some time with the President this week.
    
    ADAMLEY
    I appreciate that.
    
    LEO
    [stands and sighs heavily] Thank you.
    
    Adamley looks a bit uncomfortable as he starts to leave.
    
    ADAMLEY
    Thank you. [leaves]
    
    Leo stands stiffly in the middle of his office, looking somewhat disoriented. He stares 
    out the window and rubs the back of his neck.
    
    FADE TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY
    Bartlet and Hoyens are seated on the sofas facing each other. They're both leaning 
    forward.
    
    BARTLET
    Can I ask you a question, just out of curiosity?
    
    HOYNES
    Yes, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    If guns are meant to deter the threat of crime, what's the point of concealing them? 
    I mean, wouldn't you want the criminal to see that you've got a gun?
    
    HOYNES
    [puts his glass down on the table] I suppose you would.
    
    BARTLET
    Then what's the answer to that?
    
    HOYNES
    I really don't know.
    
    BARTLET
    You don't know?
    
    HOYNES
    No, sir. I suppose the concern has more to do with the threat to the Second Amendment.
    
    BARTLET
    We can't all just agree it's a stupid-ass amendment that was written before there were 
    street lamps, much less police forces, and move on?
    
    HOYNES 
    [wearily] Sir...
    
    BARTLET
    There's no need for a citizen militia.
    
    HOYNES
    I agree with you.
    
    BARTLET
    Then say so.
    
    HOYNES
    Forty percent of Americans have a gun in their home.
    
    Bartlet stands up, walks across the office, and sits on the edge of his desk.
    
    BARTLET
    Only 16% believe gun ownership is an absolute right. Only 9% believe it's an absolute 
    wrong. There's a middle. We can win them!
    
    HOYNES 
    [testily] Not when we're running the MS defense, Mr. President!
    
    BARTLET
    Which we wouldn't have been doing if...
    
    HOYNES
    If what, sir?
    
    BARTLET
    Nothing. 
    
    Hoynes stands up. 
    
    BARTLET
    [fuming] You outed me, John. With that trip to Nashua, with the oil companies. You wanted 
    people to start asking questions.
    
    Hoynes walks toward Bartlet until he's only a few feet away.
    
    HOYNES 
    [angry] I needed to start running because nobody told me I wasn't! And you announced it! 
    And I found out on television!
    
    BARTLET 
    [yelling] So did my wife.
    
    HOYNES 
    [yelling] This whole thing was mismanaged, sir!
    
    BARTLET
    Look...
    
    HOYNES 
    [yelling] It was blown!
    
    BARTLET
    Yes, it was.
    
    HOYNES
    Yes, it was!
    
    They glare at each other for several long moments.
    
    BARTLET
    It's not easy being my Vice President, is it?
    
    HOYNES 
    [sighs] No, sir.
    
    BARTLET
    I wouldn't think so. [walks around behind his desk and leans on it] But it's the only way 
    you're gonna get the nomination. You know that, right? If I win.
    
    HOYNES
    Yeah. And the only way you're gonna win is if I'm on the ticket. You know that, don't 
    you, sir?
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah. 
    
    Hoynes starts to leave.
    
    BARTLET
    You'll go to Texas?
    
    HOYNES 
    [nods] I want a seat at the table.
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah.
    
    CHARLIE
    [knocks and enters] Mr. President?
    
    BARTLET
    Yeah?
    
    CHARLIE
    They're getting ready for you in the Briefing Room.
    
    BARTLET
    Thank you.
    
    Charlie goes back to his desk, but leaves the door open. Bartlet and Hoynes aren't 
    looking at each other. 
    
    HOYNES
    I'll be back in my office. Is there anything else, sir?
    
    Bartlet is buttoning up his shirt cuffs. He has a stern look on his face.
    
    BARTLET
    No.
    
    HOYNES
    Thank you, Mr. President.
    
    Hoynes leaves. Bartlet finishes straightening his shirt and grabs his suit jacket off 
    the back of one of the chairs. As he leaves the Oval Office for the briefing, thunder 
    rumbles outside and rain coats the windows.
    
    FADE TO: EXT. PARK IN WASHINGTON, D.C. - NIGHT
    The rain has stopped. Josh and Donna are sitting on a park bench next to a large, elegant 
    fountain. They seem very tense and uncomfortable. Suddenly, Cliff appears from behind the 
    fountain. Josh sees him, stands up, and walks over to him. Donna watches them for a 
    moment, but then she looks away.
    
    JOSH
    There's a coffee shop across the street. You can read it there. You've got an hour. 
    I haven't read it, but if anything bothers you, you'll issue a subpoena in the morning. 
    You'll have it back before the end of the day. If not, that's that.
    
    CLIFF
    Yeah.
    
    JOSH
    If I read any of this in the newspaper, or anything happens I don't like, I've got the 
    entries for October 4th and 5th.
    
    CLIFF
    What's October 4th and 5th?
    
    JOSH 
    [pointing] You.
    
    CLIFF 
    [nods] That's fair. Thank you.
    
    Donna is sitting stiffly on the bench, staring straight ahead. Josh gives Cliff the 
    diary. Cliff takes it and walks away. Josh stands still for a few moments, watching 
    Cliff. Then he turns around, walks back to the park bench, and sits down next to Donna.
    
    JOSH 
    [shivering, sighs] It's starting to get cold already. 
    
    Donna looks at him, her eyes slightly downcast. He puts his arm behind her on the back of 
    the bench, although she's not sitting close enough to him for his arm to really be around 
    her shoulders. It's a slightly awkward, but well-intentioned, gesture.
    
    JOSH
    It's gonna be fine.
    
    Donna looks at him blankly, like she'd like to believe him. Josh looks like he's trying 
    to convince himself, but he hasn't quite succeeded yet. And so they sit, side by side, 
    and wait.
    
    DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
    FADE TO BLACK.
    THE END
    * * *
    
    The West Wing and all its characters are a property of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells 
    Production, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.
    
    Episode 3.5 -- “War Crimes”
    Original Airdate: November 7, 2001, 9:00 PM EST
    
    Transcribed by: Giorgio, Irene, and Amanda
    March 4, 2002

    'The West Wing Scripts > Season 3' 카테고리의 다른 글

    Episode 3.6 -- “Gone Quiet”  (0) 2008.11.06
    Episode 3.4 -- “On The Day Before”  (0) 2008.11.06
    Episode 3.3 -- “Ways and Means”  (0) 2008.11.06
사고전서의 옳게 치우치기