All language subtitles for The.West.Wing.S06E14.WEBRip.x264-FGT

Previously, on The West Wing:

Get the President your report
on domestic storage capacity.

Hang on; I'm not sure
we're ready to...

He asked me for it.
We done?

What we need to focus on
is the best way

to manage his symptoms.

How many hours a day
can we schedule him?

Six or seven and he's going
to need a nap midday.

A nap? He's going
to love that.

The both of us, sir,
this is our last game.

Let's leave it all
out on the field.

( Verdi's Otello playing )

*

Sir?
Evening.

I thought you were
heading back to
the residence.

Thought about it.

Then I thought I'd sit here

and enjoy the art
for a while.

Sir, do you want me
to get Curtis...?
No, no.

I'm a bachelor tonight.
So I heard.

Abbey's in Baltimore with Ellie

and what's-his-name,
the new boyfriend.

I hear we like him.

What's not to like?

The guy's spent
the past 15 years

studying the mating rituals
of Drosophila melanogaster.

He likes
fruit flies.

And my daughter.

Hopefully, not in that order.

What say we grab Toby
and head out on the town.

Trip the light fantastic.

Are we going to throw on
sailor caps

and chase after Miss Turnstiles?

Come on,
the old lady's out of town.

The old lady'll have my head

if I don't get you to bed
in the next half hour.

Yeah.

Besides, I understand you've
got a big date tomorrow night.

I actually convinced her

to let me out of the house
for Valentine's Day.

You're taking her
to the opera?

Verdi's Otello.

Romantic, huh?

Isn't that the one where
the guy kills his wife?

It's in Italian.

I'm hoping she won't notice.

You sure you don't want
me to call Curtis?

I'm good. Night, C.J.

Night, sir.

Get some rest.

Yeah.

( Verdi's Otello
continues playing )

Margaret.

Will you ask Debbie

to move the President's
wake up call back to 8:30?

And I'd like to take a look

at the President's schedule
for tomorrow.
You got it.

TOBY:
And Shevardnadze just pulled
the section on executive power?

MAN:
Replaced it with his own.

The old constitutional
bait and switch.

Hello.
C.J. Cregg,

I'd like you to meet
Professor Lawrence Lessig.

Hi.

He's a constitutional writer.

He's helping
the folks from Belarus

write their constitution.

You would've thought
they would've

written one of those
by now.

They have.

It's three lines
pledging allegiance

to the Supreme Soviet.

Hence the rewrite.
Hence.

PRESIDENT:
C.J., you have a copy of
the BLS mass layoff report

I can read in the residence?

Sir.
Good evening,
Mr. President.

Am I interrupting?

Sir, this is Professor
Lawrence Lessig.

The Future of Ideas.

That Lawrence Lessig?

He's here to help
with the Belarus constitution.

He also helped with
the Georgian constitution...

Founding father for hire.

Have quill will travel.

No, no, no, no.

The Belarusians
will be the founding fathers.

I'm more of a midwife.

Well, it's God's work
if you can help us

bring some stability
to that mess.

TOBY:
Professor, maybe
we should...
Sir.

Where do you start--
a document of that importance.

I like to begin with a series

of conceptual questions,
and then...

Excuse me, Professor Lessig,
I'm sorry.

This sounds fascinating, but
the President really needs...

Oh, I think we can
spare five minutes

to discuss the
roots of democracy.

That is, if the
professor has the time.

It would be an honor, sir.

Come then, let us
sit as men do

and discuss
important things.

( door closes )

( sighs )

( phone ringing )

WOMAN ( on phone ):
Ms. Cregg, this is
the White House Operator.

You have a call holding
with Commander Harper.

Go ahead.

Tell me you're calling about
some guy you just met in a bar.

A United Britannia flight

from London to New Delhi
went off radar

over the Caspian Sea
an hour ago.

A commercial plane?

About a hundred passengers.

Mostly British and French.

How many...?
Six Americans.

We think it was a crash?

It's too early to tell.

The plane was off course

and drifting
into Iranian airspace.

I'll be right in.

Can you transfer me
back to the switchboard?

( phone rings on line )

OPERATOR:
Ms. Cregg?

Let's wake some people up.

Yes, Madam Prime Minister,
but...

Ma'am, we've had no indication
the Iranians were involved.

And I think
it's in all of our interests

not to jump to
conclusions.

Yes, ma'am. Yes.

The British Prime
Minster?
In all her glory.

Funny, when I stopped
working for the President,

I thought I might
start going home nights.

At least you can't complain
you're not getting overtime.

You don't pay me overtime.

Oh, that's right.

You wake up the
guys from State?

The Great Britain Desk
sent over some language

for the condolence statement.
Good.

And they suggested
we invite

the British Ambassador
for breakfast.

Just what we need: more
international intrigue.

I thought
you liked Lord John.

I adore Lord John.

And when I was press secretary

I could adore him from afar.

You going to be in the
Sit Room for a while?

Hoping to catch
a ball game?
Maybe a nap.

Call Barrow at State.

Set up some time with Chet.

Chet?
He'll know.

KATE:
30 minutes out of London,

the flight was already
six miles off course.

HUTCHINSON:
We think they accidentally

left the autopilot
in heading mode.

You see the trajectory
of the plane?
Yeah.

I just got off
with the Prime Minister.

They're coordinating
with the Ukraine

on a search party
in the Caspian,

but she's already
pointing fingers.

C.J.:
She pointing them
for a reason?

I'm sorry,

are we waiting
for the President?
No.

Do we have
any reason to believe

the Iranians were involved?

We've been flying RC-135s
off the northern coast of Iran.

Spy planes.
Since last March.

And the Iranian MTI
that tracks the RC-135

produces very rough
CAPPI readouts.

English.

The United Britannia flight
drifted into Iranian airspace

on a track very close
to our RC-135's flight path.

You think the Iranians mistook
the flight for a U.S. spy plane

and they took a shot at it?

It's possible.

The RC-135 is roughly
the same size as a 737.

A 737 with a large dish on it.

A banner that says spy plane.
But on a dark and stormy
night...

We're going to have
to find out what
happened up there.

We're talking to the Israelis.

And Signals Intel
has a bunch of Iranian feed

from the time
the plane went off radar,

but it's going to take a while
to translate.

I want updates every half hour.

C.J.:
So the Iranians taking
potshots at our spy planes,

technically,
that's fair game.

Also we don't
let them hit us.

Did the President get into it
with Prime Minister Graty?

He wasn't on the call.

She got pretty hepped up
all by her lonesome.

State's been conducting
secret talks

with the Iranians on
their nuclear program.

We've been making progress.
It's a fragile conversation.

If Iran's involved
and Graty makes this a thing...

I put in a call to Chet.

You find it odd,

calling a high-ranking
Iranian official Chet?

It's easier to say than
Asefi Hossein Kamal Bin Hamid.

Man, I'm fried.

You up late last night?

Ten-part lecture
on the future of
democracy in Belarus.

Democracy? The last guy
scrapped term limits

and made his political
opposition disappear.

Literally.
Why they've asked for help.

C.J.?

Prime Minister Graty...

she tends to overreact.

She's a runaway train.

The President
usually likes a heads up

if there's a chance
she's making decisions

with international
ramifications.

He'll be awake in a few hours.

Make sure I get those updates.

Yes, ma'am.

NEWSCASTER:
Debris from what appears

to be a commercial plane crash

has begun to wash up
in Astara...

You have my schedule?

Officials fear this could be

the wreckage of United Britannia
Airlines Flight 101...

Yeah, we're going to need
to pare this down.

Get rid of my 10:30.

Have Charlie
take the 12:00 with Karshner.

Please tell me this is a joke.

No, ma'am.

I'm meeting with Miss World?

She's from Bhutan.

I have her bio,

so you can be prepared.
For Miss World.

It's a tradition. Every
year the new Miss World

comes in to lobby
the White House.

On what?
AIDS in Africa,

world hunger--
she generally has
a very good cause.

And she gets to meet
with the Chief of Staff

to the President
of the United States?

Leo always thought

that as a show of
international good faith

we should accord
all due respect to...

Pretty girls everywhere?

She's a
brilliant flautist.

Get it off my schedule.

You're in early.

Toby?

Yeah.

Whatcha doing?

Reading.

Constitutional Choices.

It's amazing how tricky
emergency powers are.

Okay.
If you're the executive
in a young republic,

you're going to need
some type of emergency power,

so do you write that
in the constitution,

or does that lead to abuse?

Great. I really just
came in because...

See the predicament?
Toby.

Right, we need to put out
a condolence statement

on the United Britannia crash.

I'll put Annabeth on it
as soon as she gets in.

Good. Charlie's got some
language from State.

Building on a democracy.

How do you shape a new world?
Right.

Have you reassigned Miss World?

Well, I thought maybe...

I'm sending Toby
a Valentine.

We just got a call
from our base in Incirlik.
Okay.

This is the satellite
surveillance of the
Caspian Sea

from the time the
plane went off radar.

And these are...?

Two jets flying out of the
Iranian air base in Rasht

on course to intercept
the United Britannia flight.

Margaret,
call the switchboard.

Ask them to wake the President.

Good morning, ma'am.

( knocking on door )

CURTIS:
Mr. President?

Good morning, sir.

( groggy groan )

Why are there three of you?

Mr. President, we think
the Iranian Air Force

mistakenly shot down a
British commercial airliner.

PRESIDENT:
I need to speak
with Prime Minister Graty.

C.J.:
Sir, I spoke
to her earlier

and asked her to wait for us
before making a statement.

What's Iran saying?

KATE:
Not much.

I'm sure
that's going over well.

Intel's working on
the Iranian feed.

Sir, if the Iranians
were aiming at our plane,

it at least provides
some explanation
for their actions.

Have we called Marbury?
He's already on his way.

And we should call Chet.
Also on his way.

Damn it, we were just making
progress with the Iranians.

If Graty gets revved up
and starts quoting
Churchill...

Yes, sir.

She gets aggressive,
Iran gets defensive,

this thing's going to spiral.

I need to talk her down.

Let's get her on the phone.
Sir.

GRATY:
We condemn the attack by Iran

against 109 innocent men,
women and children

aboard an unarmed
United Britannia plane.

This is a barbaric,
monstrous crime

committed against Great Britain,
against Europe,

against the United States,
against humanity.

There can be absolutely
no justification.

Well, I guess I'll have to wait
till she's off camera.

GRATY:
It shall not stand.

KATE:
Debbie's still trying.

Were we talking
with British Intelligence?

C.J.:
Yes, sir.

They must have had something
they haven't shared,

or she wouldn't
have been getting

all Hans and Franz
in prime time.

Where's the latest
report from Hutchinson?

It's right here, sir.

Marbury on the way?
He's on his way.

And the networks;
we schedule time

with the networks?

We should discuss
whether that will be necessary.

It wasn't an hour ago,
but now that there's been

a "monstrous crime" committed

against Britain
and the United States,

I'm going
to have to say something.

Debbie, is she on
the phone yet?!

Thank you.
Thank you, sir.

I want an update
from Hutchinson,

and you should put
in a call to Barrow,

see where we are
with Chet.

Mrs. Bartlet.

Hello, there.

Did you just get in?

About a half
an hour ago--

Around the
time I noticed

my husband wasn't in bed.

I checked the bathroom,
the sitting room--

he was nowhere to be found.

I get a little nervous.

My husband's not
the healthiest guy, you know.

So, I call Curtis.

He tells me the President's
in the Oval.

Can you imagine my surprise?

There was a development.

You do remember waking me
at 4:00 a.m.?

I thought we agreed
to let him sleep.

I let him sleep until I couldn't
let him sleep anymore.

How late was he up last night?

Ma'am, I let him sleep
as long as I could.

CAROL:
Toby Ziegler,
this is Alexander Zubatov,

head of the delegation
from the Republic of Belarus.

A pleasure to
meet you, sir.

And, uh, we thank you
for having us.

DELEGATE:
Hello.

Hi. Hello.

Could you check the lobby,
and see if you can find

Professor Lessig?

No problem.

Please.

Is that a copy of
our constitution?

ZUBATOV:
Yes.

You know this document?

Yes, I do.
I have many question.

Well, that's a good thing.

Hopefully, over the course
of the week, we can...

For example,
it says here,

President shall be Commander

of Army, Navy, etcetera.

Ah, yes.
Here...

it says, uh, Congress
shall have power to declare war.

Yes.
Commander

does not declare war?

Theoretically,
Congress needs to...

"Theoretically."

So, your habit
is to ignore document.

No.

Well, occasionally.

( chuckling )

LESSIG ( in distance ):
Good morning.

Excuse me.

Good morning.
Morning.

Sorry I'm late.

I was having breakfast
with Justice Lang,

and we got into the most
fascinating discussion

over the reformation

of the rule
against perpetuities.

Ah, I see we've got
our noble patriarchs.

Have you started?

TOBY:
Well, I've
been answering

a few questions.

Excellent.

Gentlemen, let's begin.

I'll be right back.

Excuse me; sorry.

She needs to see you.

You put a beauty
queen on my schedule?

MARGARET:
She did it.

You put a beauty
queen on my schedule?

The United Brittania flight

was shot down
by two Iranian fighters.

On purpose?
We think it might've
been a mistake.

Kate's going to give you more.

You need to brief.
Okay.

And tentatively set up

some time with the networks.

Graty's a little excited.

He wants to distance himself.

If he went on TV every time
Graty blew a gasket...

Tentatively schedule.

And Toby, in the briefing...

"Since the early hours
of the morning,

the President has done
everything in his power
to assist the British."

Yeah, but don't
say "President."

The White House has done
everything in its power...?

Yeah.
That's gonna
make it sound

like he got
a good night's sleep.

MARBURY:
Gerald?

Gerald? Gerald!

Good Lord.
C.J.?

Toby, I got to...

Lord John?

Hello.
You look familiar.

C.J. Cregg.

We've met a
number of times.

Yes, yes.
Where's Gerald?

I do hope he's recovered.

Leo has moved
down the hall.

Oh, yes, I heard.

Demoted on account
of a heart attack.

That's cutthroat,
even for American politics.

Actually, he's been...

No, no, there's
no need to hedge.

So, you're the...
new Gerald.

I suppose.

Delightful.

If you'll just...

PRESIDENT:
Maureen, of course

we support...

Yes, but until we
know all the facts...

Yes, Madam Prime Minister.

We'll be in touch.

Thank you.

So much for a stiff upper lip.

C.J.:
Mr. President.

PRESIDENT:
John, thank God.

Kate Harper, may
I introduce...?

I'm Lord John Marbury,

the hereditary
Earl of Sherlbourne,

the great-great-grandson
of the former Viceroy.

I have served as the Queen's
Minister in India,

the Queen's Minister
in Pakistan,

and I am presently
the British Ambassador

to the United States.

Oh, and I have an uncle
who once performed

in the London Opera
Company's production

of The Mikado
in the role of Nanki Poo.

It's a pleasure.
Yes, isn't it?

John, please, I'm
afraid your Prime
Minister is doing

her William the Conqueror
thing again.

Prime Minister
Graty's

own party thinks
she's soft on Iran;

her government
is far from stable;

and we have just lost
almost 100 countrymen--

so, are you surprised?

Not at all, really.

But we think this
might have been a mistake.

They accidentally

fired two Anab AA-3 missiles
at the side of a passenger jet?

Lord Marbury...

Please, uh...
call me John, heh?

Uh, John, it's possible

the Iranians
thought

they were shooting
at a U.S. spy plane.

So, it's your fault.

John...
You've been spying

on their nuclear facilities?

Yes.

Why do you think

they want you to stop?

Either the Iranians
deliberately killed

innocent British
and American citizens,

or they tried to shoot down
your spy plane

because they want to continue
building nuclear weapons.

They are
a rogue nation

on the verge of becoming
a rogue nuclear power,

and while I,
by no means,

wish to trivialize the...

most appalling loss of life
earlier this morning,

one need not reread Thucydides
to see this

as an opportunity.

She's going
to use this as an excuse

to bomb their nuclear plants?

MARBURY:
Heavens, no.

Of course, the Prime Minister

must demand remuneration
for the victims,

perhaps a formal apology,

even some
elegiac groveling.

We all know
the Ayatollah

will never pay, let alone
apologize for anything.

Well, then we will be forced
to take appropriate measures.

Will there be mimosas
with breakfast?

Toby, will the President
back the British

if they respond with force?

TOBY:
I'm not going
to speculate.

If they need logistical support?

I'm not going to speculate
on Britain's response.

What was
the President's reaction

to Prime Minister Graty's
address?

I haven't discussed it with him.

Were we consulted before
the Prime Minister's address?

TOBY:
The White House has been working

with the British
since early this morning.

GORDON:
But was there a call

with the British Prime Minister?

I don't have
the details right now.

GORDON:
When can we get

the initial ticktock?

Toby, the Prime Minister's
address...

I don't have any more for you
right now.

She called it a monstrous crime.

Is that how the President...?

The President is scheduled
to address the nation at 6:00.

I'd tune in.

For you.

Why?

It's Valentine's Day.

Go ahead, they're yummy.

Hey, what's the ticktock?

It's a minute-by-minute
accounting

of the President's actions.

The press...

Often ask for it
during a crisis.

If you know,
why do you ask?

"The White House has been

working with the British
since early this morning"?

Yeah?

"The President needs
to look strong."

"The President
needs to look like
he's up to this."

"The President has been
working with the British
since early this morning."

I got it. I got it.
Apparently not,

or they wouldn't have asked
for the ticktock.

Yeah.
Good, huh?

I've got more, if you want,
for your special someone.

Excuse me?

* I like Bhutan in spring,
how about you...? *

I'm still meeting
with the beauty queen?

Oh, yeah.

LESSIG:
And we say the President

is the sole representative
of the people,

because while he is
elected by electors,

these electors are
elected by the people

upon the premise that
they will vote for him.

I can go through it
one more time,

if you'd like.
No.

Is he explaining
the electoral college?

We've covered it
in detail.

Toby, we've been discussing
the American executive.

I'm sure you could
shed some light.

I was thinking maybe we should

push beyond
American-style government.

Push beyond?

Yeah.

Mr. Zubatov has many questions.

Yes, but perhaps this time
would be better spent

discussing
a parliamentary system.

We don't want
parliamentary system.
Okay.

No, no, no-- President Eliches
needs broad powers.

Like American President.

Sir, your country has a history
of brutal dictatorship.

I don't think a strong executive
is-is such a good idea.

You agree with this?

Not entirely.

Half the faculty at Yale Law

describes the American
Presidential system

as one of this country's
most dangerous exports,

responsible for wreaking havoc

on over 30 countries
around the globe.

It is a recipe
for constitutional breakdown.

Well, I can see this is going
to be a vibrant discussion.

PRESIDENT:
John, you can't focus

on the Ayatollah.

President Alijani is
a champion of reform.

If our negotiations
with Iran progress...

Alijani's weak and
nonproliferation agreements

won't stop their efforts.

It'll just drive them
underground.

Bombing is the better solution.

The Iranians have spread out
their nuclear facilities.

We don't even know
where half of them are.

Well, we'll bomb
the half we can find.

( laughing ):
Abigail!

Blanket my loins,
I'm tied to the stake.

Here we go.

Lovely to see you, John.

So many distractions,
Mr. President.

How do you get anything done?

God only knows.

Where's C.J.?

With Secretary
Hutchinson.

May I have Kate for a minute?

Tarry not long,
gentle courtesan.

Did he just call me a...?

Isn't he delightful?

Yeah.
The President

needs a break.

Okay.
He was up late
last night.

He was up early
this morning.

He needs a break.

Well... we've got
the French Ambassador

and then the Iranians,

but maybe after...
I mean now.

Maybe I should just check
with C.J.

You could do that...

or you could go back in
there and get my husband.

Yes, ma'am.

"whose nest is in
a watered shoot;

"My heart is like
an apple-tree

"whose boughs are bent
with thickset fruit;

"Raise me a dais of
silk and down...
( phone rings )

"Hang it with vair
and purple dyes...
Kate Harper.

"Carve it in doves
and pomegranates...

Sorry, can you
repeat that?

And peacocks with
a hundred eyes..."

Yeah, we'll send
it over right
away, thanks.

Um, hello.

Thank God.

C.J., so good
of you to return.

Where's the President?

Apparently on recess.
Uh, may I use your phone?
( pager beeps )

He went back
to the residence?

The First Lady
wanted him to rest.

Yeah. I guess we can try
to delay the French.

I'm sorry,
should I have...?

No.
Just... wasn't quite
clear on the chain

of command.
Really, it's fine.
Margaret?

Can you find Charlie
and see if Leo's in yet?

Slovakia, Slovenia,
Bulgaria--

they all chose
parliamentary systems.

Hamilton, Madison,
Jefferson--

they all chose a
presidential system.

Only four presidential
democracies have lasted

longer than 30 years.

Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison--
they got lucky.

They want a unifying
national figure.

We need a unifying figure.

British Prime Minister is
a unifying national figure.

Prime Minister Graty's weak.

Subject to shifting coalitions.

Subject to the people's
representatives,

so she can be ousted
if she summarily starts

locking people up who don't like
the White Album."

President Eliches is good man,
and he wouldn't do this.

He would create a stable
environment for the new country.

For the next ten years, yes,

but this document isn't
about President Eliches.

It's about the 60 guys
who come after him.

You need systemic protections,

safeguards that can last
beyond a generation.

You've got to look
beyond the moment,

beyond the here and now.

Your 12:30 is here.

( clears throat )

My, uh... 12:30...

I need you to take
my 1:30 with Conrad

and my 2:15 with Lauer.

No problem.

You rang?

Uh... uh... Gerald!

Sweet Lord in heaven.

It's been too long.

Oh, I don't think it has.

One moment.

I trust you've heard our news.

Oh, terrible tragedy,

but if it means
that our paths may cross again,

well, there is indeed
some small consolation in that.

Yes...

Leo, I hate to pull you
into this,

but Toby's plate is full,

and with Josh gone...
What do we got?

Well, the President's
in the residence,

the Iranians are in the mural,

the French are at the gate,
and then there's Maude.

The ball is in your court.

I really can't believe

that we still let him
in the building.

Tell me about it.

We have diplomatic relations
with the Iranians now?

No, we have Chet.

Chet's the new Phil?

Phil?

Chet's the new Phil,

but I was hoping
you'd take the French,

or you could...
No, I'm not of that opinion.

Uh, French are fine.
C.J.:
Excellent.

You take the French,
I'll take Chet,

and Kate can stay and entertain
Lord Flibertygibit.

Good.
Not good.

C.J.:
Have fun.

So, you-you said
you were from...

Bhutan.
Uh-huh.

I'm sorry, uh, uh,
say that again.

Toby, didn't you ask
for the...

the Asian Carp report?

TOBY:
No.
You sure?

Pretty sure.

( clears throat )

Uh, sorry, you were saying...

Yes, Bhutan.
It's just south of...

Toby, I brought you
the latest...

Okay.

Thanks.

( whispering ):
You're the man.

So, Bhutan.

Just south of...
MARGARET:
Hi.

Hello.

Do you need something?

Do you need something?

No; good; thank you.

Great.

* You're my funny valentine

* Sweet comic valentine

* You make my smile
with my heart... *

Annabeth?

Happy Valentine's Day.

I'm still waiting
for the ticktock.

Would you settle
for a chocolate heart?

Why wasn't the President
on the early call

with Prime Minister Graty?
So that would be a no.

I've got a tip from the Guardian
he wasn't on the call.

Well, the British papers
can be kind of dodgy.

( chuckles )

Is Toby around?
He's a little busy
at the moment.

Annabeth, if the President
wasn't up,

the country has
a right to know.

I've got candy hearts.

I can post this story
with or without comment

from the Administration.

Maybe now would
be a good time

to talk to Toby.

No, I think large
scale study

of gene expression is
a very noble cause.

Excuse us,
I hate to bother you,

but Gordon had a...

Oh, and this is...

I'm sorry,
I didn't get

your name.

Lyonpo Palden Wangchuk.

Right. This is Gordon.

He's a famous journalist
from the Washington Post.

In fact, Gordon has written
some columns

on the mapping
of the human genome.

WANGCHUK:
Oh, yes?

And Miss...

Wangchuk.

...Wangchuk is
very interested

in microarray-based

gene expression studies.

GORDON:
Really.

WANGCHUK:
Yes.

Would you excuse us?

GORDON:
Uh, sure, sure.

WANGCHUK:
Yes, sure.

TOBY:
What in God's name...?

Gordon got a tip
the President wasn't on

the early call
with Graty.

Okay.
I figured we might want
to stall him.

And you really
think that...

( indistinct conversation )

Okay, it might work.

Toby, I have
the First Lady for you.

You have to control
the British.

They are jeopardizing
more than just

the nuclear talks.
They're understandably upset.

Maybe, but with Graty's
saber rattling,

even the educated are rallying
around the Ayatollah.

President Alijani is worried

about the future
of our reform movement.

Which is why the Ayatollah
needs to apologize.

The President has been trying
to reason with him,

but with Graty's threats,
the Ayatollah can't apologize,

and really, why would
he consider it?

Maybe to avoid compromising
a potential relationship

with the United States.

Did the United States apologize
when the U.S. Navy shot down

Iran Air flight 655,
killing 290

innocent people?

And even if it were
in his best interest,

the Ayatollah's
a very proud man,

especially when it comes
to his air force.

You'll do what you can.

I will try... but if you cannot
control the British...

Miss Cregg.

Things went well with Chet, huh?

Yeah. How'd it go
with the French?

Like talking to Madam Defarge.

The EU is scared to death
of an Iranian nuke.

Opportunity knocks...

Maybe we should just fall
in line.

Got to believe
in the future of Iran.

They've got garage rock bands
and pro-America rallies.

We play nice, democracy
could be around the corner.

The reform movement has gained
a lot of ground

over the past
ten years.

Why do you think
the Ayatollah's
refusing to budge?

I mean, he can rebuild
his nuclear plants,

but the anti-Western sentiment
it'll generate

if the RAF starts
dropping bombs on Tehran...

I just got a call
from the First Lady.

She wants to cancel
the President's
address tonight.

Excuse me?
She wants us to issue

a statement instead.

She thinks he's
not up to it.

That's not her call.
Pretty much what I said.

I'll talk to her.
Good.

Is that the Miss...

TOBY:
Yeah.

I used to love
this time of year.

Why is she with Gordon?

TOBY:
He was asking
for the ticktock.

How long do you think
we can...?

Annabeth thinks
quite a while.

Keep me posted.

So, Abbey's been
more involved

since you got
back from China?

Yeah.

Thank God for
early retirement.

After China, Abbey and I met
with the doctors.

We came up with a plan.

A full night's sleep,
a nap during the day,

a way to manage things.

Of course, getting him
to cooperate is another story.

I called Abbey
last night.

I thought we
should wake him,

but he'd been up till
almost midnight and...

I always thought
the wake up call was

one of the hardest decisions
to make.

The President's always going
to want the call.

But really,

all you have to ask yourself
at the end of the day is,

would it have made a difference
if he'd been awake?

VINICK:
It's no surprise.

Iran's always been a problem,

but this time,
they've painted themselves

into a corner,
and I urge the President

to take all
appropriate measures.

Easy for him to say.

Hey.
Where's Lord John?

He lost interest.
Something about a Miss World?

Can you believe
these people?!

Which people would
you be referring to?

Hoynes, Vinick, Walken--
pick one.

All on the "Iran
is evil" bandwagon?

Apparently,
when you're campaigning

for the American presidency,
there's no need for nuance.

It is a French word.

When are we meeting
with the French?

Leo sat with them.

They're on the bombing
bandwagon, too.

When do we sit with Chet?

We didn't have much luck
there, either.

You talked to the Iranians
without me?!

Kate, Leo, can I have
the room, please?

I'd appreciate it
if you wouldn't raise

your voice at me
in front of the staff.

I need to manage this crisis.

I needed to be
in those meetings.

We handled the meetings.

Yeah, you're right.

I don't think my presence
would've added much.

You were up in the residence,
sir; you were unavailable.

All I have in this situation
is influence.

Influence and relationships.

If you take those things
away from me, I am powerless!

The Ayatollah is
praying for rain.

I'm not sure
Muhammad himself
could convince him

to change his mind.
Do you know

how many hours I have sat
with the Iranians,

with the French,
with Prime Minister Graty?

I put in my time;
I built relationships

with these people
so that I can know

when they're headed
for the deep end

and I can rein 'em in,

which is exactly
what I would've done

if I were awake
this morning!

I doubt that, sir.

From the moment that Iranian
pilot pulled the trigger,

Prime Minister Graty
was writing speeches.

All the king's horses
and all the king's men

weren't going to keep her
from opening her mouth.

So no, had you been in London
on her doorstep

this morning, I don't
think you could've
reined her in.

And the funny
thing is, sir,

I'm pretty sure you don't think

you could have, either.

Hey, how's
everybody doing?

Fine, fine.

Great, great.

The President's speech
is in the printer.

Assuming there is one.

How are they?

Dandy.

Don't you just love
Valentine's Day?

( men speaking quietly
in native language )

I think I'm managing
to pick up a few phrases.

It's not all that different
from Polish, actually.

Still on a lunch break.

Oh! They love
the roast beef.

You're giving them
a two hour lunch

after wasting the morning
on a system of government

that's never gonna work
for these people?

I wouldn't call it a waste.

These guys have to walk
out of this building on Friday

with a set of laws
to take back home to Minsk.

Not a set of laws--
a sense of the rule of law.

You're not planning on writing
a constitution this week?

Are you familiar with
Meyer v. State of Nebraska?

Nebraska passed a law
making it illegal

to teach anything other than
English during World War I.

Meyer wanted to teach German.

Supreme Court said the law
was unconstitutional.

Good.

Now, where in the constitution
does it say

you've got a right to teach
German in school?

You're saying the document
is irrelevant?

No, I'm saying the document
is just the beginning.

A constitutional democracy

succeeds only
if the constitution

reflects democratic values
already alive in the citizenry.

Yes, but these Belarusians
don't have those values.

Which is why
our most important job

is to instill those values
in their leaders

through discussion and debate.

You're talking
about eight guys

on a sightseeing trip
to Washington.

You think you teach democratic
values to these eight guys

you're gonna reverse 50 years
of brutal dictatorship?

Mr. Helakal

was known as the only

honest legislator
in the government.

Mr. Lipecki

is the most respected
judge in the country.

And Mr. Zubatov, well,

Mr. Zubatov is the
editor-in-chief

of Sovetskaya Belorussiya.

His articles helped bring
down the last dictator.

How many guys
do you think it takes?

You got a cigarette?

First Lady get to you?

Yes, sir.

Come on, cough 'em up.

Aren't those bad for the MS?

You wanna play
doctor, too?

Suddenly I've got 17 nursemaids.

She didn't wake me
up this morning.
Okay.

If I was awake this morning,
I could have...

What?

Prime Minister Graty thinks
you're an intellectual snob;

a Yankee-Doodle windbag.

Likely as not, you would
have made things worse.

If an American dies

and there's even
the slightest suspicion

of international intrigue,
she's supposed to wake me.

Since when?

If I'd used that rule,

you'd be dead by now
from sleep deprivation.

Damn it, Leo, five minutes ago,

you were telling me to leave it
all out on the field.

Now you're telling me
to stay off it?

I'm telling you
to let her do her job,

so you can do yours.

C.J.:
Excuse me.

Do you have
a minute, ma'am?

I sent him back to work.

Yes, I saw him.
Thank you.

Ma'am, I can't have you
confusing my staff.

Okay.

If you have a question,
a concern,

I need you to come to me.

What if I can't find you?

Find me.

You gonna take away my key
to the executive washroom, too?

Ma'am...

I made a mistake
this morning.

He needed to sleep.

Yes, I agree with you.

The mistake was not making
the decision on my own.

You can't make these decisions
by yourself.

I'm the Chief of Staff.

You're not a doctor.

It's not a medical decision.

It's a question as to whether
the leader of this country

needs to be informed
about something

that puts the country's citizens
in jeopardy.

What he does with that
information,

how he manages his disease,

those are
his decisions.

He was up until midnight.

He's not managing his disease.

You're gonna have to take that
up with him, ma'am.

( pager beeps )

I'm sorry.
If you'll excuse me.

( door opens )

John...

thanks for
sticking around.

No trouble at all, really.

We've translated two
radio transmissions

from before the incident

that we'd like
to share with you.

By all means.

At 02:30 Greenwich Mean Time,

we believe this is
an Iranian fighter

calling in to military radar
ground control in Rasht.

( man speaking
foreign language )

( translating ):
Unable to establish
visual contact with RC-135.

Hailed on
military channels.

No response;
please advise.

( stops tape )

They thought it was our plane.

Here's the response

at 02:33.

( man speaking foreign language
resumes )

Iranian Air Defense Command
radar signal confirms aircraft

as US RC-135.

You are instructed to fire.

Now, this is all
very lovely indeed,

but I'm not sure
how it changes anything.

Damn it, John,

the reform movement in Iran
has real promise.

Demographics are on our side.

Yes, you've been making that
argument for some time now.

You're going to drive
the Iranian people

right back into arms
of the hard-liners.

The Iranians have
a ballistic missile

that reaches 2,000 kilometers.

That's half
the distance to London.

And they're making improvements.

To their weapons technology,

to their already
formidable air force.

How long do you think
we can wait for democracy

to sweep through Tehran?

Five years?
Ten years?

Would you bet
your capital on it?

We threaten to make this public.

We call an emergency meeting
of the Security Council,

tell them we're going
to play the intercepts.

The intercepts prove

that the Iranian Air Force
shot down our plane.

The Prime Minister won't budge.

Not the Prime Minister,
the Ayatollah.

The Iranian Air Defense Command
couldn't tell the difference

between a commercial airliner
and a spy plane.

It's a little embarrassing.

For a man who's proud
of his air force.

We let the Ayatollah know
what we have,

odds are, he jumps at the chance
to apologize

for the actions of a rogue pilot

rather than humble Iranian
Air Defense Command.

And if they issue even
a vague apology...

Mr. President,

Jack Stanley
and his fiancée

perished in that plane
last night.

Nicolas Ashe
and his three small children.

He was a fellow at Oxford.

The list goes on,

but the casualties
are nothing

compared with
what might happen

should Iran successfully
develop a nuclear weapon.

They have
over a hundred

nuclear facilities.

So, it's not a matter
of three or four bombs,

it's a matter of 300 or 400.

And this regime

will not be afraid

of selling
to the highest bidder.

Kate, set up the meeting

with the UN.

And have Chet get word
to the Ayatollah.

He can apologize now or after
he reads about it in the Times.

Yes, sir.

You do realize

the Ayatollah will be
embarrassed and weakened.

He'll do nothing but redouble
his nuclear efforts.

Diplomacy, John.
The job of statesmen.

And I thought it was
drinking and dancing.

Tell the networks they
can have their time back.

The Iranians
are apologizing?

Let's work on a statement
for tomorrow's papers.

Where are we with Gordon?

And I always looked down
my nose at beauty pageants.

You know, we should
at least consider...

Yeah, give him
the ticktock.

Tell him the Prime Minister
was a courtesy call.

I wasn't sure
Iran was involved.

I didn't think we needed
to wake him.

Just because the public
thinks the President's

supposed to be up, doesn't
mean he's supposed to be up.

You know what
the story's gonna be.

They're gonna be
writing MS stories

till the end
of this administration.

Give him the ticktock.

So maybe we should
cancel the address.

I took care of it.

Iran's apologizing.

Britain's backing down.

There's no need for you to
distance yourself from Graty.

You've got to trust me
to make these decisions

or there's no point
in having me in this job.

Yeah.

I spoke to Mrs. Bartlet.

From now on,

I'll be making
the wake up calls on my own.

And your MS won't be
a factor in my decision.

Thank you.

Sir...

these international crises
drag on for days,

one rolls right into the next.

You need to take care
of yourself,

because there are
going to be mornings

when I'm going to have
to wake you at 3:00 a.m.

Good night, sir.

Night.

Happy Valentine's Day.

That's what you're wearing
to the opera?

You have a 7:00 a.m.
call in the morning.

I canceled the opera.

The whole opera?

No, just the part where we
give the usher the tickets...

Damn it, Abbey,
I can manage my health

without you taking my pulse
every five minutes!

Is that what you were doing
when you decided to stay up

gossiping with the
children last night?!

PRESIDENT:
I was talking to
Professor Lessig!

ABBEY:
Oh, shove it, Jed--
"It's my disease,

it's my health, I can handle
it"-- the hell you can!

You think you can
run this country

on four and a half
hours sleep

with secondary
progressive MS?!

You're out of your mind!

( yelling continues muffled )