All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S05E08 - Shutdown (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing:

Mrs. Bartlet, may
I say we miss you.

Please don't be offended
if I say I don't miss you.

You can't believe
the calls I'm getting

from the DNC membership
state party chairs.

No one wants you here.

What happens if we don't
get a budget deal?

Get another continuing
resolution.

They're not willing to continue
funding at the current level.

They want a one percent cut
on everything

but defense
and homeland security.

I know we talked about
a one percent cut...

It's gonna have to be three.

We had a deal at one percent.

There is no altering this offer,
Mr. President.

And I said no.

Let's be clear, sir--

You will be
held responsible

for shutting down
the federal government.

Then shut it down.

Mr. President.

Mr. Speaker.

Here they come.

Six minutes.

The meeting lasted

six minutes.

That's good, right?

Maybe not.

There's no
agreement.

How far apart are we?

They're leaving
the building.

Without a continuing
resolution?

Haffley said the only
way he could sell it

was with a three percent cut.

We had a deal
at one percent.

JOSH:
He's bluffing.

We'll never know
because the President
ended the meeting.

Will...

It's only 8:30.

We'll get a deal
before midnight.

I don't know.

I'm gonna...

Yeah.

I hate November.

No, no, Christmas
came early this year.

( reporters shouting questions)

So you want to talk about
what just happened?

You were there.

Make sure Nancy sees me
in the morning

about the IMETs to Indonesia.

I don't want any training
east of Kupang.

Anything else?

We need a continuing
resolution by midnight

or 940,000 federal employees

aren't gonna show up
in the morning.

You give 'em your shirt
and they want your belt.

We gotta get them
back in...
Not tonight.

Damn, I probably missed
the first half.

Sorry?

Providence is gonna get a
whooping from my fighting Irish.

Is he coming back?

What do you need?

Toby and Josh
are here.

What the hell happened?

Haffley asked for
three percent.

Now what?

We shut it down.

while we work through
our differences.

But this President
couldn't find three percent

of a $1.2 trillion budget to cut

to keep the government
open and working.

( people chattering )

Listen up!

Hey!

Hey, everybody, shut up!

( chattering stops )

Thank you.

Effective immediately,

the U.S. government
is shut down.

We have no operating budget,
so all nonessential personnel,

anyone below Special Assistant,

non-National Security
and Public Safety,

go home until further notice.

The President thanks you
for your hard work and service.

Questions?

( staff clamoring )

How long do you think
it will last?

Hours probably, maybe a day.

Maybe a couple of days?

Maybe.
Maybe a couple of weeks?

It'll last as long as it lasts.

Listen, guys, I'm sorry.

CHARLIE:
How will we know
when to come back?

Are they coming
back tonight?

I sure as hell hope so.

Amtrak, the courts,
federal prisons, border patrol,

National Weather Service,
all open.

And meat inspectors
will remain on the job.

Nothing jeopardizes the sanctity
of the American hamburger.

The EPA's suspending

60 percent of their
factory inspections.

Good news for polluters.

Sell me.

We had agreed
to a one-percent cut

on a thirty-day
continuing resolution

but the Speaker pulled
a bait and switch.

One percent, two percent,

what's so unreasonable
about three percent?

Three percent equals
"x" dollars,

which is "y" flu vaccinations,
"z" school lunches.

It's more convincing
with numbers.

Carol.
I'm gonna need
a minute

because we just sent
Research home.

And, um, we just
sent me home, too.

I'll get you
the numbers.

The President thinks we can
restart this economy

through more
government spending.

He's on the front lawn?

He wrangled reporters
from our room.

Is there anyone left?
A couple.

Should I wait
for Haffley to finish?

We gotta start
reclaiming ground.

Okay, but I need numbers fast.

Maybe some garlic
and a crucifix.

What should I...

Go home.

Doesn't just want to throw
good money after bad...

Good evening, everybody.

Katie, get back here.

Let's start with
the good news--

National Security
and Public Safety
will not be affected.

This is so unfair.

We're already understaffed.

Yeah.

I've canceled tomorrow's
meetings with SBA and the FCC.

You do realize you're not
a Special Assistant?

Thanks for reminding me.

How far out do you
want me to...?

Donna, listen carefully--

You have to go home.

Seriously?

So when Leo said everybody
below Special Assistant...

He meant you.

...that the way to prosperity
is through innovation,

allowing Americans
to create more jobs

rather than allowing government
to create more bureaucracy.

( telephones ringing )

Your phones are ringing.

Yeah, Margaret
went home.

What's the President doing?

Watching basketball.

Does he have a plan?

I think it was
pretty spontaneous.

If it doesn't end now,

it'll become a referendum
on the Bartlet Presidency.

Yeah.

You want me
to talk to him?

No, I've got it.

C.J.:
George.

Isn't this a bluff?

I mean, there's going to be
a deal reached by midnight,

just like every year, right?

I cannot speak for Congress,

but the President will not cut
essential services,

which is what their CR does.

Isn't it
irresponsible

of the President
to refuse to sign,

disrupting people's lives and
paychecks, over three percent?

Three percent equals more than
a billion dollars

in education funding,
clean energy research,

highway safety to name a few.

I'll get you exact figures.

The Speaker said
this continuing resolution

was the expressed will
of both the House and Senate.

It wasn't the will

of the 196 congressmen
and the 44 senators

who voted against
all 14 appropriations bills.

If these services
are so vital,

why isn't the President
still negotiating?

1'm taking stationary,
a stapler,

three pens of various colors,
the budget files...

Why don't you just
take them on disk?

Because I don't have
a computer.

Can I take
a computer home?

Not unless you want
three federal agents

trailing you home.

Do I get to pick
which three?

I can survive for a day.

Is that all it's
going to last,

a day?

Okay, take my laptop.

Start a tally of programs
affected by the shutdown

and e-mail it to me as you go.

And don't read anything
in the folder marked "private."

Don't take my laptop.

You coming? War room.

What's happening?

Remember when we went
to Atlantic City?

We never went
to Atlantic City.

You remember when I
went to Atlantic City

and I came back complaining
that all the pro poker players

suck all the fun
out of the game.

No cigars, no pizza
or canned beer.

You played one hand.

Those guys, they bet
the bank when they
have a good hand.

And you either fold or you
go in all the way with them.

I think the President
is gonna stay in.

And how good is Haffley?

He's better than
anyone we've seen

on the other side
of the table in a long time.

I figured they'd negotiate us
down to two, but a shutdown?

They're not
prepared for this.

Are we?

We didn't shut down the
government, Bartlet did.

He's the one who's going to have
to explain it to the country.

Sorry, took me
a while

to figure out how
to unjam the copier.

If they come back
with two percent,

we can pass a CR tonight.

Why would we?

He thinks people want
his big government,

let's show him how well
Americans can get by

without the Deputy Director
of Regulatory Intrusion.

They'll call tonight.

They won't want it
to drag on.

You've spoken
to Russell?
Not yet.

But that's who they'll use
as a go-between.

So long as they blink first,
it doesn't matter who calls.

In the meantime,
we've got Congressmen

looking for
toner cartridges

and I've got 35,000
federal employees

in my district out of work.

Get on the phone
to your local media.

Make sure they know who threw us
out of the White House.

Make sure those 35,000 people
know who sent them home.

Hey, Advisory Board
still at 10:00 tomorrow?

Yeah.

Treasury's worried about
the debt ceiling.

I left word with
Violence Prevention

and Business Roundtable.

But what about the address
to the NAACP tomorrow?

Should we cancel?

It's non-governmental,
we'll need advance.

Don't cancel
anything yet.

Angela thinks we'll get
an agreement tonight.

What kind of agreement?

My guess is that he would have
settled on two percent

had the meeting continued.

It's probably still available.

And tomorrow?
Depends on how it plays
in the morning papers.

We have to call Haffley out
for what he is really doing.

It's a coup.

He's trying to defund
every Bartlet initiative

we've passed
in the last two years.

The President has a full
schedule tomorrow, Josh.

Go make sure everyone knows
he intends to keep it.

Can we downplay this
to the press?

TOBY:
That's what Haffley wants,

940,000 federal employees
out of work,

but we say "No worries,
it doesn't matter."

WILL:
I may be having some
kind of mental log jam,

but why did the
President snap?

LEO:
Angela had
the thing wired

and Haffley tried
to roll us.

It was a mugging.

Yeah, but it's also
a negotiation.

You don't shoot a
duck for quacking.

LEO:
Are you speaking for
the Vice President?

WILL:
Quacking thing kind of gives it
away, doesn't it?

Help.
Don't go out there again
until morning.

Okay, but the
enemy's advancing,

and you better give me
more than a squirt gun

before the sun comes up.
WILL:
We need some coffee.

Anybody know where
we can get coffee?

Mess is closed.
There's no coffee.

Starbucks closes at 7:00.
Try Swing's at 17th and G.

LEO:
What else?
The British
Prime Minister.

Isn't visiting for four days.
One day at a time.

It's a State Dinner,
216 guests, formal attire.

Josh can handle it.
What else?

We can put together a strategy,

but, Leo, there isn't anything
else until we sign a deal.

You have to talk
the President down
off the ledge tonight.

If I go back and hammer out
a deal at two percent,

he has to sign it.

( knocking on door )

Come in.

Good evening, sir.

Hey, grab a seat.

What's the score?

Doesn't matter.

The game is won or lost
in the last five minutes.

So the Irish are down.

Sir, I've got Angela
running the War Room,

but we don't have
a lot of support

inside or outside
the building.

Angela feels they'll
close at two percent.

I took his Vice President.

I dropped my stimulus package,
my college tuition tax credit.

And now we're haggling
not over the budget,

but how much to cut
from last year's...

It's a bad deal.
A bad week,

a bad year.

But our approval's in the 30s

and we're out of allies
on the Hill.

Let's get past
this budget cycle.

Make a deal at
two percent tonight.

Not let it become a noose
around our necks.

Then we can get back on message,

be bold at
the State of the Union,

take back Congress...

They're not...

They've got
a seven-foot center

and the best power forward
in the game.

Why zone?

It's not always enough
to be right, sir.

We drove all the way
from Huntsville

to see Grandma
and the Constitution.

But the Smithsonian's closed.

Now we're only going
to see Grandma.

LEO:
How'd the press react

to you closing down
the briefing room?

Let's just say it
hasn't won me

any new friends
in the media.

This thing's going
to be won or lost

by how it plays on TV.

They're blaming us.

Any change
in the overnights?

They keep saying they're
Scrooge denying the needy.

They say we're
addicted to spending.

Both our negatives are up,
but ours more.

You see Newsweek?

It beats the cover of Time.

The Post is reporting
193,000 veterans

can't get their
home loans processed.

We can't be doing this
over the holiday.

We won't be.

So what's the plan?

Plan? Who said we had a plan?

You got a minute, Leo?

Of course,
Mr. Vice President. Please.

I'll see you
at the thing.

How's the President doing?

He's fighting a cold.

You think it's
about time

for me to talk to a few of my
former colleagues in the House?

Not yet, sir, no.

I served on Energy
with Haffley.

I appreciate that.

I sang in the Congressional
Quartet with the majority whip.

I've gotten drunk on
fact-finding trips

with most of the guys...

With all due respect, sir,

You saw their deal
two days ago

and you turned
them down.

If you're waiting for Haffley
to call,

you've misjudged your man.

You can't treat the speaker...

The President will decide
the terms.

No, he won't.

Like it or not,
we have a Republican congress.

They get to write the budget.

The president only gets
to edit it a bit.

You want to blame someone,
call James Madison.

Thanks for the history lesson,
sir.

I'll be sure to pass it on
to the President.

You know what they call a leader
with no followers?

Just a guy taking a walk.

You need any help with that?

Excuse me?

I compiled clippings
over at Energy.

Ah... no, thank you,
I've got it.

Sorry, we should have cleaned up
the mu shu yesterday.

Oh, no, no.
That's not a problem.

So, where are we?

Did you see the Post/ABC
poll this morning?

Yeah...

Excuse me.

Do any of you guys know
where the Dumpsters are?

Yeah. It's okay.
I'll find them.

Who's that?

A walking lawsuit.

Where are we on
the State dinner?

It's still on the schedule.

Except we don't have food,
chefs or help.

Josh is coordinating
with the British.

We've got another day
before we have to decide.

Any change?
Not according to Time.

How'd it go with
the minority leader?

I got the House Dems
for one more day,

but she's threatening
to cut bait.

If we lose her, House Dems
will start lobbying the Speaker

instead of us for table scraps.

Then Haffley's running
the government.

Okay.

Today is the day.

Work the VP and the Minority
Leader and contact Haffley.

Make sure we can still get

a deal at three percent.

What happened to trying
for two percent?

12 hours passed,
that's what happened.

Tell the Speaker

we're taking their temperature,

but the President
isn't involved yet.

And that has that rare quality
of also being true.

I want a continuing resolution
by the close of business.

MAN:
They blinked?

HAFFLEY:
Yeah. The Vice President's
working

with the Minority Leader.

We're going to get a C.R. today.

The President's not
on board yet.

It's just a tactic so
Bartlet doesn't look weak.

They're going to swallow
three percent?

Right now they'd
swallow five,

but we're going to be
magnanimous.

We're only $50 billion apart
on the final budget.

Why don't I call Russell,

suggest we skip
the continuing resolution

and cut a budget deal.

We can get a much better
deal on the budget

if they sign our C.R.

They caved, we won.

How much more leverage
do we need

before we start
governing again?

We are governing.

We're slowing the rate
of federal spending increases.

We're stopping this president
from driving the country

deeper into debt and leaving
our children to pay for it.

We're doing what
we told the voters

we would do if they elected us.

The cover of Time, huh?

( chuckling )

No.

It's a good deal.

Three percent on the C.R.

and we live to fight
another day.

One percent like we'd agreed.

Sir, we're not going
to get one percent.

We need to get past this,
focus on the future.

House Democrats aren't
going to stick.

They have to head home
for the holidays

and defend why we've shut down

the federal government over...

No.

Sir, you're putting all
our chips down

on a single hand we can't win.

We had a deal, Leo.

Oh.

You need a new bulb?

Uh... yeah, sure.

Thanks.

Rena, right?

Yeah, it's short for Marina.

Are you Greek?

No. I was born on a boat.

How'd you get here, Rena?

Bus.

No, I mean...

why weren't you laid off
like everybody else?

Oh. My program wasn't affected.

I'll see what I can scrounge up.

( rock music playing )

Josh Lyman's office.

Where are you?
It's really loud.

I went to that shutdown party.

So this list of shutdown effects
you faxed...

Yeah. The one about

the elks overpopulating
is true.

They stopped issuing
hunting licenses.

Why'd you put Social Security
on the list?

It's an entitlement.

Yeah, but we sent home
the people

from the Social Security
Administration

who run the machines
that cut the checks.

Checks won't go out?

Not unless we get the GAO
to issue a ruling

to bring those guys back in.

What did counsel say about
the other thing?

It's considered coercion

if you come back
to work as a volunteer.

But it's not coercion to work on
a cell phone

and run to Kinko's every
ten minutes

to send you faxes and e-mails?

The AARP considers
you essential.

When do you think I'll get
my essential paycheck?

Rent's due end of the month.

I'll lend you money.

But wouldn't that just be
emblematic

of all these stopgap
continuing resolutions?

Taking out a loan,
begging for an extension

rather than grappling
with the hard reality of...

You're right.
Get a cheaper apartment.

I want to come in and do my job.

Tell me about it.

Stop being a baby and just go.

Leo's not going to send you
an engraved invitation.

I don't need calligraphy.

He knows where my office is.

Well, yeah.

Bye.

Social Security's
an entitlement.

That's what the people who get
their checks every month think.

Well, it's one way
to make the shutdown
seem real to the country--

don't mail
11 million checks.

It'd be catastrophic,
if we don't fix this.

FDR will rise
from the dead?

Millions of angry grandparents

are going to march on
Washington,

burn us in effigy.

Josh is on it.

Thousands of grannies
in walkers,

tens of thousands
of ancient veterans on oxygen

singing "We Shall Overcome."

Josh is taking
care of it.

We still have their offer.

They're holding
at three percent.

Will the President accept it?

He has to.
Yeah, but will he?

Desperate times call
for desperate measures.

I made a call.

To who?

Really?

LEO:
Yeah.

Who? Who'd he call?

What the hell have you all
been doing down here

while I've been gone?

ABBEY:
A bit desperate, Jed,

shutting down the government
just to get me back here.

Apparently it worked.

Peanut butter and jelly?

That's what you're
having for dinner?

The mess is closed.

When this is gone,

I'm going to have to start in

on the grandkids'
elbow macaroni.

You sound stuffy.

Yeah, there's something
going around.

They said your motorcade

arrived an hour ago.

Where have you been?

Downstairs in your war room.

Oh?

Which I noticed you were not in.

What happened,

you lose your temper?

Haffley reneged on the deal.

So now you're just sitting up
here, waiting for what, exactly?

Your staff wants
to bring you an offer.

Haffley came to us with a deal?

Damn it! I told Leo no.

Did he go ahead and contact
the leadership...?

Don't be so melodramatic.

They don't understand
what you want them to do.

Do you know what
you want them to do?

You staying
through the holidays?

Depends on how long
it takes your damn government

to get back up and running.

Jed?
Hmm?

Where is Josh?

We're supposed to get
a $200 fuel subsidy

from the government.

I called the hot line.
Nobody answered.

I never thought this
administration would abandon us.

It's going to be ten degrees
tonight, and we got three kids.

I'm on my way outside for
the briefing. Anything new?

Times/CBS has us down
another six points.

I don't think I'm going
to bring that up.

Josh still in there
with Leo and Angela?

Round 12, or maybe it's 13,
I've lost count.

Toby, we've all been assuming
this is the President

not understanding
what's really going on.

He's been so out of it
since Zoey, you know,

and we've all been
protecting him--
you, me, Leo.

What if it's
something else?

It's not.
But what if it is?

The Republicans have us,
and they know it.

He and Josh are
the only ones who don't.

Okay, it's something
else-- like what?

Leadership.

The President's already said

that three percent
is unacceptable.

ANGELA:
That was three days ago.

Three days or three years,
it's still unacceptable.

The Speaker
of the House...

Was elected by 115,000 residents
of Spokane, Washington.

The President was

elected by 51
million Americans.

One percent, three percent,
five percent--

the CR is nothing if we never
get around to passing a budget.

We can use Royce...
Royce isn't going
to take on Haffley,

and Haffley's convinced
they've already won.

Only 'cause we blinked.

LEO:
Well, of course
we blinked.

We lost all meaningful
support in Congress,

and the public is
blaming this mess on us.

The President is going to be
down here any minute, Josh.

I need unanimity.

This is the come-
to-Jesus meeting.

Who's coming to Jesus, Leo,
me or you?

ALL:
Good morning, President.
Good morning, sir.

Three percent.

60 days.

Mr. President, it's a gift.

( sighs )

Toby?

People are frustrated
with both parties.

It's a plague
on both our houses.

LEO:
We gave it
three days

to turn in our favor, sir.

It didn't.

Josh?

What do you want, Mr. President?

I want to be able to govern.

ANGELA:
Our bargaining position

is weakening every day.

There's a deal
on the table.

Republican leadership are
in their conference room

waiting for our reply.

Let's go up to the Hill
and see them.

We can't go to the Hill.

We'll look even more desperate.

JOSH:
The country's waiting
for someone to step up.

It should be us.

Sir,

if we go to
Haffley's office,

it's going to set
a dangerous precedent

for future negotiations.

Let's go.

LEO:
Mr. President, you have
a video conference

with Admiral Vadney
and PACOM at 5:00.

Then I suggest
we get a move on.

They're leaving.

Go.

Charlayne.
Is there going
to be any movement

on the part of the President
toward a compromise?

I want to reiterate that
talks are ongoing, just
not formal negotiations.

So you're talking
about talking?

We're talking about negotiating.
George.

Is the President
going to cancel

the State dinner
tomorrow night?

I certainly hope not-- I bought
a shiny new Donna Karan,

and I'll be very disappointed
if it has to stay in my closet.

Mark?
It's cold out here.

You want me to comment
on the weather?

I want you to open
the press room.

C.J., where will
the President

and the Prime Minister
be dining, then?

I don't know, IHOP?
Thank you, everybody. Yeah?

JOSH:
Hey, where are you?
I just finished the briefing.

Get back to the press corps.

POTUS is going up to the Hill.

We're going to pay
a surprise visit to Haffley.

Did you hear me?

Okay, I got it.

ANGELA:
If I have to suffer through

Haffley pontificating
on congressional powers

and the role of Federalism...

He's only been speaker
for a few months.

ANGELA:
Everything this guy has done
has taken us by surprise.

And nothing we've done
has surprised him.

Stop the car, please.

Kansas plates.

That's a long way to travel
to find a "closed" sign.

Hello.

Hello,
Mr. President!
How you doing?

Ay.

They'll have a few
things to talk about
when they get home.

( cell phone plays
electronic melody )

Yeah?

You there yet?

He stopped to address
a group of tourists.

The President's talking
to tourists?

Yeah, the bus says "Kansas."

Blue Jays, Jayhawks--

whatever the hell you call it.

You wait another 30 seconds,

he'll also be addressing NBC,
ABC and CNN.

Yeah?

Thanks.

How long a walk would
you say it is from here
to Haffley's office?

Five or ten minutes.

Secret Service
is going to love this.

BARTLET:
During the campaign,

I visited the Westford
Rehabilitation Center.

It's closed today, too,
because of the shutdown.

But if Congress has their way,

they'll lose 40%
of their funding.

I'd rather see it shut down
for a week than for good.

Mr. President.
Excuse me.

Yeah?

The Capitol's just a five-
or ten-minute walk from here.

Care to stretch your legs?

I'm sorry, folks,
I've got a meeting on the Hill.

You go get 'em,
Mr. President.

You bet.

Randy.
Sir?

What do you say we
walk the rest of the way?

Yes, sir.

Counter Assault Team,
deploy east.

I need two
forward positions

along Pennsylvania.

POTUS is on foot.

Hello. President Bartlet is
here to see Speaker Haffley.

We're... wrapping up.

Please bear with us a minute.

We'll be right there.

They're finishing
something up.

Then we'll just have to wait.

It's a stunt.
People will see through it.

Give them some credit.

The President has come to us.

We don't keep him waiting.

He's desperate--
he wants a deal.

Let's bring him in,
see what he's got.

We exchange niceties, and then
what, he counters our offer?

We're missing
something.

No, hold on. Wait,

damn it!

We don't go out there
until we agree on a game plan.

( camera shutters clicking )

This is a disaster.

( clears throat )

No.

This is great.

Mr. President.

Hm?

Let's go.

Right now.

So we stick at three percent,

and if he also wants
to do the final budget,

he finds the $50 billion
on his side of the aisle.

Agreed?

Let's get the leader
of the free world.

while the Republicans cowered
in the Speaker's office.

Yeah, but, I've got to ask.
Why was he walking?

Because it was a stunt.

Because he was consoling some
frustrated voters

who hoped to see the grandeur
of their nation's capitol,

and let me tell you,
they saw it.

It was a stunt,
a beautiful,

symbolic, crowd-pleasing stunt.

And I have to admit,

the Speaker made a
huge tactical error

by refusing to meet
with the President.

I'll call Russell.

This doesn't change anything.

We still get our budget,
our cap gains cut.

You better hope so.

C.J.?

Mrs. Bartlet.

On your way to the
morning briefing?

Yes, ma'am.

Can you tell them
the First Lady is
making chicken?

Ma'am?

Tonight's State Dinner

will be just the
British Prime Minister

and his wife joining
us in the residence.

Coronation chicken,
the Queen's own recipe.

Thought someone in the pool

might want to watch me
dress a nice bird.

Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Bartlet?

It's good to have you back.

C.J.:
The Bartlets will also be
serving their guests

a Colorado beet salad
and California green beans.

Yeah, Mark?

The new Gallop/CNN poll
shows the President's popularity

ticked up slightly overnight.

Do you attribute that
to his visit to the Hill?

I attribute it to the
President's sincere desire

to reach a settlement.
Charlayne?

Is the President concerned

that the shutdown will last
through the holiday?

The President is more concerned
that successful programs

will be shut down
through holidays to come.

Are you saying this could last
until Christmas?

Oh, sorry.

I was going to try
and clean up a little

Go ahead.
before anyone got here.

REPORTER:
Yes, but is there an end-date?

C.J.:
When the Republicans agree
that we can't lay off

20% of the Environmental
Protection Agency...

AmeriCorps. That's, um...
that's that program

where they pay you
to volunteer, right?

Yeah.

That seems weird.

I mean, paying
you to volunteer.

Isn't it just a job
if you get paid?

It went over
something like

50 million bucks didn't it?

They got more volunteers
than they expected.

So you guys can just write
a bigger check?

Wish my bank
would let me do that.

It's a successful program.

That's what happens
when something succeeds.

$200 billion deficit,

you guys must have a lot of
really successful programs.

Those people should get
combat pay.

They go into inner cities to
teach children with no parents,

work in soup kitchens, try
to get addicts off the streets.

Oh.

You're Toby Ziegler, right?

It would be great if you could
write me a recommendation

for my personnel file.

LEO:
Royce isn't coming.

TOBY:
Are you sure?

He told the Vice President
it would be more productive

if Haffley met with
the President one-on-one.

What are they offering?

ANGELA:
Don't know, but Haffley's
not going to surrender

just because we
walked to his office.

Leo, is the President
up for this?

I don't know.

( knock on door )

Excuse me, Mr. President.

Hello, Abbey.

Leo.

The Speaker's here.

Okay.

Time for me to go get
dressed for dinner.

They'll be coming in two hours.

Jed, try not to be late.

I won't.

You sure you want
to do this one-on-one?

I'll be fine.

You can expect him
to be very...

I'll be fine.

Leo...

These last months-- thank you.

Thank you for everything.

I'll send him in,
Mr. President.

Mr. Speaker, please.

Mr. Speaker.

Mr. President.

Have a seat.

( door closes )

( sighs )

( coughs )

How are you?

I think I'm coming down
with a cold.

Yeah, it's been going around.

Well, we should get started.

Abbey's having the Prime
Minister and his wife
over for dinner

and I promised to be on time.

Yes, I saw her cooking on CNN.

( chuckles softly )

So... three percent for 60 days
on a continuing resolution to...

We're not doing another
C.R., Mr. Speaker.

This room was designed
to throw people off balance.

Wyeth's intent was to inspire
the English notion of levee...

To remind guests that
this is the office

of the President of
the United States,

and the person on this side
of the desk is the President.

Historically,
the Commander-in-Chief's
purview was foreign policy,

while Congress tended
to their constituents at home.

That's why the Constitution

put Congress in charge
of the budget.

And gave the President
the veto.

Fortunately, your Congress
put together a budget.

I understand more
than 2,000 people

worked with interest
groups, unions,

industry and 535
elected officials

to arrive at that 15,000
page document over there.

All 14 appropriations bills,

exactly as we left
them four days ago.

Took us what,

ten months to work out our
differences on those bills?

We still haven't
cut enough spending.
I agree.

I want you to cut
Agriculture subsidies

and you want me
to cut Medicaid-- again.

You know I'll veto
any Medicaid cuts

and I know you won't give
me any Agriculture cuts.

So here we are.

Then we're back
to a continuing resolution, sir,

which I can probably pass
with a two percent...

No. We were
$100 billion apart

and I met you halfway
at $50 billion.

Then we were
$50 billion apart

and I suspect if
I had gone down to 25,

we'd be $12 billion apart.

A billion here,
a billion there...

We dole it out
like candy to children.

Welfare paternalism,
regulation,

taxes and quotas
are why people can't find jobs.

This government has created

the greatest amount of
wealth in history...

Which is a testament
to the resilience

of the American spirit,
not Washington's bureaucrats.

Not everyone can
pull themselves up

by their bootstraps,
Mr. Speaker.

I couldn't agree more,
but the solution

is for government to get off
of people's backs.

We could give every student
in America $10,000 a year,

but instead we fund
the Department of Education.

You're not going
to demonize

the millions of
selfless teachers

and public servants
who are...

They're trapped
in a failed system.

I can't stand by and...

I'm not going to
negotiate with anyone

who holds a gun to my head.

We had a deal.

I don't care if my
approval ratings drop
into single digits,

I am the President
of the United States

and I will leave this
government shut down

until we reach an
equitable agreement.

110 minutes?

Could mean anything.

It's a good thing.

Hey.

Don't call the Feds.

I'm just dropping off forms
for the Treasury employees.

So you're the one
who saved Social Security.

Nice catch.
Thanks.

I just wish...
there's so much going on

and I wish I could help more.

JOSH:
You ever hear
about the NBA rookie

who pulled his first rebound

the night Wilt Chamberlain
pulled 55?

Uh-uh.

Said it was the proudest
day of his life.

Together he and Wilt went for
34 points and 56 rebounds.

I pulled a rebound?

You pulled 11 million.

I'm Wilt Chamberlain?

No. You're the rookie.

TOBY:
It is worth noting

that Philadelphia
lost that game.

Haffley just left.

What do we got,
another continuing resolution?

No.

A budget.

Their cap gains tax cut?

No.

What about our college tuition
tax credit?

No... but it's a tax cut.

Republicans are always in favor
of tax cuts.

So if we can find a way to make
it revenue neutral next year,

it stays.

The $50 billion gap?

We'd already done our part

so the Speaker graciously agreed
to do his.

Yow!

( chuckles )

Okay.

Abbey says I've got about
five minutes before dinner.

What's next?