All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S07E01 - The Ticket (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing...

VINICK:
The President can't give me
the job I want.

Which one?

His.

VINICK:
It is with great humility
that I accept your nomination

for President
of the United States.

We start working
to beat this guy right now.

Something's gone wrong with
the International Space Station.

Are we weaponizing space?

It's a federal crime to divulge
classified information!

The FBI thinks it came
from inside the West Wing.

They have a theory, one
you're not gonna like.

Josh wants me to run
for president.

Of the United States?

I'm in, if you're in with me.

PRESIDENT:
So is he gonna step aside?

LEO:
I think so.

We are one nail in the coffin
away from dead.

You have to quit, Congressman.

CROWD ( chanting ):
Santos! Santos! Santos!

Vote for the person
who shares your ideals,

( loud cheering )
your hopes, your dreams.

We still got
to line up a VP.

So who is it?

You.

VINICK:
Okay,

let's go win this thing.

Welcome.

Nice to see you, sir.
And you.

Look at that tan.

I was gonna ask
you to come up

to the farm for a week,
but we should come to you.

You'd love it, sir.
Santa Monica's your
kind of town.

Really?
Not really, no.

Abbey wants a picture
of the baby.

I thought we e-mailed you one.

Something she can
tape to the fridge.
Oh.

I'll see what I can dig up.

Glad you could make it.

Thank you for
the invitation, sir.

How's Columbia?
Not such a bad place
to spend some time.

I read your book.

Gorgeous prose.
Thank you.

Did you read her book?
CHARLIE:
Load of hogwash.

Nice job in Jakarta.

Thank you. Just trying
to get them talking.

Don't anyone hold your breath.

Congressman.
Mr. President.

Ways and Means?
Backbencher.

I sit tight for
another 32 years,

I got a shot at Chairman.

All set with your speech?
I think so.

A little meandering
in the middle, but...

( all offering help )
No, thank you.
I'll be fine.

Sir, can we
get you to...

There he is.

Wow, quite a collection
of dignitaries.

Sorry.

You were saying, Josh?

The President's here.

( loud cheering and jeering )

Hi. How are you?

Good to see you.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Good to see you.

Thank you so much.
Thank you.

Welcome back.

Wow, look at that.

Is it out yet?

Not yet. What'd I miss?

Uh, rally in Columbus
was fantastic.

The crowds were
going wild.

Q&A in Dayton got
a little sticky.

They wouldn't shut up
about the ticket.

About Leo?
Yeah, the congressman
was pretty irritated.

It'll pass. We want copies
of these, like 500.

How's headquarters?
It exists, which is
a start. What else?

Um... that's it.

I been away from you people
for a whole day.
You got nothing?

Same speech 27 times, dude.

Okay, ten minutes
of grip and grin,

followed by the speech,
followed by a quick stop
in Bakersville.

What happened to
the conference call
with the policy team?

They decided they
don't need you on a call,
they need you in Bakersville.

Let's remember
to call him Santos.
The candidate?

That's what he calls himself.
What'd I call him?

"Sahn-tos," with an "ah,"
instead of an "aa."

Ah's not more correct?
In Mexico.

I say "ah"?
Leo, you're inconsistent.

We just don't want
to give the impression

you're iffy on your
running mate's name.
Certainly not.

Now I'm confused.
Which is it?

Aa.
Aa.

Aa.

It's not out yet.
Did I ask?

No, but you wanted to.

You wouldn't tell me
even if you had it,

because I'm about to go
on stage, and you feel

it's your responsibility
to manage my mood,
which it isn't.

You know I left a great job
to come work for this campaign.

I'm just saying I've been
at this for a while.

I don't need
the baby-sitting.

You most certainly do.

Just because you've trained
a Preakness jockey

doesn't mean you know
how to sit a horse.

Hey, is it out yet?
Not yet.

You sure?
He checked.

We'll get it
when we get it.

We hear anything yet?
Not yet.

Thought we were gonna get it
an hour ago.
We didn't.

Think we should call them?
This is one poll.

Yes, it is a Gallup Poll.

Yes, it is our first
public polling data.

Absolutely, it will shape
our message and our strategy,

but it will not change
the fact that

four days out of the convention,
the Santos-McGarry ticket

is incredibly strong
and poised for victory.

The congressman's not worried
about it,

I'm not worried about it,

everybody should stop worrying
about it.

Is it out yet?

No, sir. Not yet.

Right after this,
we head back to Washington,

where we have one day
at our new headquarters,

to sit you down
with the department heads,

brief you on electoral strategy,
policy direction,

make sure we're
not re-litigating
this stuff every day.

That's great.
I'll be in and out
interviewing new staff.

How many do you
still need to hire?
About 90.

Today?
There's a bathroom up there,
if you want...

Uh, that's not a
bad idea. Excuse me.

You don't think that's
micromanaging?

He went, didn't he?

LEO:
Matthew Santos
served his community

for two terms
as mayor of Houston,

served his state for
three terms in Congress,

served his country for 12
years in the U.S. Navy.

Marine Corps.
For 12 years in the
U.S. Marine Corps.

I am proud to join
this bold leader...

Say, are we meeting with
the White House today?

I am. I may take
Leo with me.

Before or after
your 600 interviews?

You don't need Leo
at the White House.

I want him in the briefings,
make sure he's clear

about what our
direction is.
Mrs. Santos, this is Chet.

He's going to seat you
down front with the chancellor.

Knock 'em dead, honey.

Hopefully you two
will have some time

this afternoon to get
to know each other.

Maybe lunch.
Who?

You and Leo.

We've got one day in D.C.

You really think we should
spend it on lunch?

We're talking takeout,
not wine and candles.

Okay, go get 'em, sir.

It will be out soon, right?

You'll know the second I know.

Get me an advance copy
of this damn poll

before I chew my arm off.
Thank you...

Has the campaign seen this yet?
No.

Gallup slipped us
an advance copy.

They'll publish
in about an hour.
( knocking )

Sir, we should have Moscow
any minute now.
Thank you.

This ought to be fun.

How much do you plan
on telling them?

I'm telling them
the military space shuttle,

whose existence
we've flatly denied,

will be hurtling up from
Vandenburg in about an hour.

Comprehensive?
Hutchinson'll want you
downstairs for the final go.

And we've set up calls for you
with China,

France, Germany, Japan, everyone

with a satellite
that'll pick it up.
How about the wives?

Of the astronauts?

Not until we know we're actually
gonna get them back.

Senator Wellers started
his own investigation

of the leak.

We're running an investigation;

the AG's running
an investigation;

what does he think Congress
is gonna find out that we won't?

He doesn't think

the AG's objective.
The AG

hates us, we hate him.

It doesn't
get more objective than that.

No.
God bless.
What else?

Haffley's giving us a hard sell
on this education plan.

He's talking about moving
on teacher incentives.

He's prepared to actually
pay teachers more?

If they meet higher standards,

they get a cash bump,
pay for performance.

Santos' campaign's
gonna be livid.

Education's a tent-pole issue
for them, and performance pay

was a big part of their plan.
Likely as not,

Haffley's baiting us, hoping we
take the issue away from Santos.

You think we should skip it?

No, I think
we should call his bluff.
We steal a lot of

thunder away from the campaign
for an education plan

that'll die before it hits
the floor of the House.

Maybe, but I'm not prepared
to walk away from it yet.

Let's try and figure out
if Haffley's serious.

The campaign's in town today;
we'll give them

a heads up-- I'll be back in
when you've got Moscow.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you.

What they won't tell you
is that 5.4 million jobs

were actually lost
in the last eight years,

and beyond sheer optimism...

Buon giorno.

Oliver Babish.

We don't have to talk yet.

My caffeine uptake's
a little logy.

An honor just to be in the
White House Counsel's company.

What's your day like?

People talk about these things
with my assistant.

Mm. I'm about to monopolize
a bunch of your morning

with this NASA crap.

She should cancel things.

I've had the NASA conversation
with the FBI three times.

I've got my spiel down
to a brisk ten minutes.

You're giving me more than that.

( knocking )

I was going to say
White House Counsel

would like a moment,

but I guess he took
care of that.

Nice to see ya.

He needs you back in there
already.

Margaret will call you
when I'm done.

I'll wait.

SANTOS:
Folks, we're here this afternoon
because we love our country.

Wallingford's office still
hasn't called back.

He's supposed to do the intro
at the Denver rally.

Call him again.

Remind him the Democrats
looked like feuding inbreds

at the convention last week.

We need their help with
our party unity strategy.

We need congressmen

lined up with smiles on
at every one of our events.

That includes Wallingford,
on stage, clapping.

...tax breaks that make
companies shift jobs overseas.

The press is here
for the Q&A.

Now remember, you control
the conversation.

If you don't like
what they ask,

don't accept the premise
of the question.

That's my line, you know.
You're quoting me.

I thought
it was Toby.

Where do you think
he got it?

I've been rejecting
the premises of questions

since the Hoover
administration.

Mr. McGarry, are
you still in AA?

It's good to see
you, Christine.

When was the last time
you went to a meeting?

I've made statements
about that before.

You should take
a look at them.

MAN:
Does your cardiologist
think you can handle

this kind of stress?

My cardiologist
has already made
a statement.

You should take
a look at that.

See, what I'd like
to talk about

is what Matt Santos can do

to improve the public schools
here in Pennsylvania

and across the country.

( reporters clamoring )

Hey, she in there?

She's in with Babish.
Could be a while.

Why?

Apparently, he's got
a lot to talk about.

Do me a favor,
call me when
she gets out?

Thank you, Governor.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Oh, thanks. Thank you. Thanks.

I'm getting a lot of questions
about McGarry's health.

I'm going to need
a better answer than,

"He's cut out red meat."

REPORTER:
Congressman! Congressman!
Congressman!

Come here.

Nine points.

That's all?

We trail a tiny bit
on strong leader,

but we're neck and neck
on values,

got a solid lead
on "cares about our needs"

and "optimistic vision
for the country's future."

Joey Lucas'll break this down
at HQ, but... man!

Only nine points down?

You heard it from Nancy McNally?

I heard it straight from Kelwick
at NASA,

and he wasn't going
to blab anymore than he had to

because the whole thing made
his department look terrible.

The space station's
losing oxygen.

We've got a $4 billion
space shuttle fleet,

and not one of them is
ready to leave the ground,

because of a retrofit
he ordered.

Embarrassing.

Little bit.

You ever notice his eyebrows?

Kelwick's?

Very... active.

Are they?

I'm vamping.
I brought the wrong folder.

Humor me, though.

Who else knew before
the story went public?

NASA Director of Ops,
NASA ISS Project Manager...

Yeah, who at the White House?

You rang?

C.J.'s with Babish.

Right now?

Did you talk to him?

Yesterday.
What did you tell him?

I didn't tell him
anything.

I said the FBI thinks
they're seeing a trail.

A trail?

Yeah, if they have a theory,
they have to follow...

You handed C.J. Cregg
to the White House Counsel?

I did nothing of the kind.

Do you have anything
that resembles
hard evidence?

I'm not handing them
C.J. Cregg.

I'll be in my office.

43 on strong leader...

Six points up on
"will unite
the country."

This is Christmas morning
here in Santos-McGarry land.

Let me see.

Check out state-by-state.

That's a nice shot.

My wife wants to make
T-shirts out of that one.

Well, tell her to photoshop out
the question mark.

What's this?

That's Leo's approval
rating on his own.

Don't worry about it.

It's not
a relevant number.

Sticker shock on the part
of the voters is all.

It's not like he's
a drag on the ticket.

People are voting for the top
of the ticket anyway.

We got plenty of time
to pull his numbers up.

One poll.

Yeah.

Nice building.

SANTOS:
Do you know somebody
named Jackie in Advance?

No.

Somebody told me
there was a staffer

who put us 18 points
down in the pool.

There's nobody
in Advance named Jackie?

Not anymore
there's not.

The office is still mostly
in boxes.

We've only hired
about half the staff

so far, but
it's a start.

Well, as long as you got
a couple of people here

to get the ball
rolling, I guess. Hi.

That I think we got.

Welcome to the
mothership.

The 2:00 Michigan advance
meeting has been pushed to now.

Anyone on press advance
or site advance,

we are moving
to the puke-green room.

Joe Kaplan's team,
Rob Sewell's team...

Somebody find Meredith
and tell her we are moving.

Edie.
Josh.

Oh, my God,
the Congressman!

Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Stop.

Thank you all.
Thank you.

Stop.

( whistles )
That's enough!
Back to work!

Come on in.
Lord Almighty.

This is Edith Ortega,
Deputy Campaign Manager

for Strategic Planning.

Anything I'm not
handling, she is.

Pleasure to meet you.
Thrilled
to be on board.

Julian Mirada,
Deputy Policy Director.

I'll take credit for
most of what he does.

Hi, Julian.
Ralph Li, Veterans
Coordinator. Steve Lacey.

Steve's our African-American
Steering Committee Chair.

Mary DiMartino next to him,

Women For Santos.

John Vega, Latino Committee
Coordinator.

It's kinda minority row there,
now that I think about it.

Angie!
Angie Worister's

our blogmaster.

Hey, Angie.

Angie's assistant Craig,
and this is his crew.

They're making
a documentary on Craig.

I'm not entirely clear why.
Smile.

Craig's doing a great job.
We're proud of him.

Very proud.

BRAM:
Mr. Santos, we need
to get you to Georgetown.

Speech to the DNC
Women's Caucus.

Right.
See you tonight.

I've got to swing
through Virginia.

I think we catch up
with you in Denver.

Good thing I carry
a picture.

Call the kids
before 7:00.
Yeah.

My office
is over there.

You're welcome
to drop your stuff.

Where's mine?

You don't have
an office.

I don't have
an office?

You're never going
to set foot

in this building again.

Congressman,
these are
for you.

Josh, Gregory Ward,

he's interviewing
for Midwest Regional
Political Director,

and Dana Sharpey's
after that.

Congressman, if you need
to use Josh's office,

Stan Pickett needs you
right now.

He's one of the Deputy
Communications Directors.

Send him in.

I finally heard back from
Wallingford's guy.

He can't do
the Denver rally.

He's going
to be in Washington.

You explained
how integral
the little turd

is to our party
unity strategy?

I did.
Hammond wasn't
free, either.

Then get someone else

from the Colorado
Congressional delegation.

REPORTER ( on TV ):
...after bypass surgery
last year,

he was on a severely limited
work schedule.

It's a hard sell,
no doubt about it.

But Santos knew
what he was getting.

You don't pick Leo McGarry
as a running mate

with all that baggage
because you want to,

( volume rising ):
you do it because you have to.

Santos needs that heft
and foreign policy savvy,

which he certainly doesn't have
himself.

C.J.:
Where was I?

Kate Harper.

Yes, she was briefing me

because she was
in the sessions
with NASA and DOD.

Do you like her?

Sure.

She's an achiever.

Young for the job,
but I think she's
earned it.

Moving up.

Nancy McNally trusts
her quite a lot.

Do you?
Sure.

So she was your go-to gal
with questions or anything else?

For the most part.

Well, what about
the other part?

No, she was really it.

You, uh, consult
with anyone else

before you briefed
the President?

I... no.

I mean, I had
a conversation
with Leo McGarry

about some of
the technical elements

that were put in place
while he was here,

and I spoke
to Toby Ziegler
about it

and I had Hutchinson's
deputy brief me on...

Whoa. That's a bunch of people.

Kate Harper didn't have
all the information?

No, I'm sure she did.

You think she might have

shared it with Greg Brock?

Oliver, she's running
the investigation.

That wasn't my idea.

Next time
I'll check
with you.

Well, you're the one
that didn't

want to talk
to her about it.

It's not that I didn't want to.

But you went to Leo and Toby.

So let's go back
to the earlier question.

You trust her?

Jennifer Howard,
interviewing for Deputy
Policy Director

for Healthcare, and
Don needs you.

You got to give me
five minutes.

I just did 12 interviews
back to back.

Well, you're eight
interviews behind.

Can we let Chuck
do some of these?

No.

Mr. McGarry just got in.

Leo's here?

Welcome
to our happy home.

Hi, kid.

We need a sit-down
with your healthcare guy.

This Medicaid reform thing
is way off.

We'll look at it.

When are we
at the White House?

You can sit
that one out.

Give you some time
with the guys here.

I'll sit quiet
and keep my mouth shut.

Be nice to just say hello.

Sure, uh, we've got
to make it quick, though,

make sure you don't miss
any policy briefings.

Sir, can you take
a quick look?

We've made some changes.

Hey, Annabeth,
these are his clips

as of about a
half hour ago.

Did you see
these yet?

Excuse me, Mr. McGarry?
Can I grab you for a moment.

Sure.

Hey, are those clips...?

Bram needs you,

and then we have a makeup
consultant waiting.

The base is looking
a little orange under
the fluorescents.

She doesn't want me
to look at clips.

Mr. McGarry,
this is Special Agent
Ellis Taylor.

How do you do?
Good to meet you
face to face, sir.

I know you've been
meeting the detail
in dribs and drabs.

I thought it may help
to get everybody together...

talk about any questions
you might have.

Okay, so who's on
the Congressman's detail,

and who got stuck with me?

Oh, no, sir,
this is all you.

JOSH:
Ouch.

Ooh.

The Congressman
getting hit like this?

Not like this.

Joey Lucas is here.

All right, uh...

tell Ronna
to halt the interview parade,

until I'm done with Joey.

Those Mr. McGarry's
clips?

Yeah.
You see the Wizard
of Oz cartoon?

Matt cowering in front
of the big head?

Of Bartlet?

He's there, too.

Who's the big head?

Leo.
Leo's the big head,

Matt's in a
Dorothy costume.
Where's Bartlet?

The guy behind the curtain
pulling the strings.

VINICK ( on TV ):
I'm going to cut your taxes.

This isn't about economics
or marketing.

This is about...

You know, we could put our guy
in front of a camera

every now and then, too.

I'm working on it.

You happy?

You tell me.

Nine points is nothing
to sneeze at.

I'm not sneezing.
I'm ordering champagne.

Premature.
( telephone rings )

Ned?

Jake, can you get that?

Page 12.

"Shares Our Values" is
at 40, that's workable.

"Honest and Trustworthy"
is at 49, very good.

But flip the page.

Ask people to describe
their impressions

of Matt Santos
in one word, you get...

"Appealing."
Right.

Followed by "charming"
and "vital."

Strong, yes,

but not in a "defend our
borders" kind of a way.

It's more of a "hold me in
your arms and stroke my hair,

"while we gaze at the fire,

and I run my hands
over your biceps."

This is the kind of comment
you really don't want to hear

coming out of Kenny's mouth.

Women love him, men want
to have a beer with him.

It's just not clear

that it would occur to anybody
to vote for him.

We've got to convince people
that he's substantial.

How's things going with Leo?

First few days are tough.

But the Congressman's happy?

Yeah, he doesn't know
Leo all that well.

It's not like
they were old friends.

Congressman's
looking for you.

Strategy was supposed
to start ten minutes ago.

Sorry, we got backed up.

Josh is in the market
for a deputy,

someone to help him out,

if anybody's got a cousin
who needs a job.

What do we got?

EDIE:
Okay, the current
schedule is yellow.

If you have a blue copy
or a pink copy, burn it.

It is tragically out of date
and will put you in Kansas

when the rest of us
are in Michigan.

Where's Leo?
He's talking with

Lorraine about the Medicaid
piece; he'll be right in.

Maybe we should wait a second.

What else?

OTTO:
Media bookings.

Yeah.
Obviously,
we're in all the news

shows, but The View and The

Daily Show are also interested.

We want to
go that way?

It's a mixed bag.

Because?
It has something
to do

with strong arms
and fireplaces,

and you don't want
to hear it from Kenny.

He's hunky.

See, I would have
gone with "telegenic,"

but if "hunky" works for you,
I'll take it.

You read the summary?
Yeah, I did.

I'm, uh, appealing.

I just want to make sure no one

mistakes that for
"insubstantial."

Well, appealing is
what they believe.

Maybe we should
play into it.

Lock it up, build on it.

ANNABETH:
It's good news.

You've got
the charisma factor.

You can't teach that.

Now let's just see
if we can project some depth.

I could carry around
a copy of Proust.

JOSH:
So scheduling
needs to make room

for more Q&A's.
Let everybody know
he's not

just a pretty face
with nothing to say.

EDIE:
Two a day?

How about one
after every speech?

That's a lot of time
out of the schedule.

It'll be worth it.
He's right.
We're talking

five conversations with
the press pool every day.

Five?
Easily.

And remember, you control
the conversation.

You don't like
what they're asking,

don't accept the premise
of the question.

OTTO:
Interest groups.

We need to figure out
who we're going

to spend time meeting with
in the next week.

Leo McGarry,
ladies and gentlemen.
Sorry,

a little mix-up with
some of the Medicaid figures.

Good to have you here.

Interest groups.

JOSH:
Broad-based moderate
groups first.

Careful.
This isn't
the primary anymore.

We've got to tack center, hard.

Arnold Vinick is a moderate
Republican; there's not a lot

of center he doesn't
have a hold on.
She's right.

We need the left flank.

You can't concede the center.
Battle's won or lost there.

And without the Democratic base,

I'm not going to make it
onto the battlefield.

OTTO:
So he needs
to meet with...

Everybody. What else?

There's been
a lot of interest

in Mr. McGarry's
personal history.

Do we want to reevaluate
the way we're addressing that?

I've made statements
about all of it

in the past--
the addiction,

the health stuff,
just refer them to those.

I'm not sure the press
is satisfied with that.

We could reconsider
doing a mea culpa.

Nightline?
Or20/20.

You tell your story, cry a
little, and get on with it.

Might simplify matters.
If I thought
it would work,

I'd cry all afternoon.

I don't think it'll help.

What's the Mallory
situation?

My daughter, Mallory?

Yeah, she might enjoy
joining you on the road.

I sincerely doubt it.

But I understand
the press might enjoy it.

I'll give her a call.

OTTO:
If the Congressman's
doing five Q&A's a day,

we have to make sure that Mr.
McGarry's doing at least three.

Five a day?

It's a new strategy.
We're testing it out.

That's a lot of
feeding the beast.

We're gonna try it.
I'm not sure

you want to give the press
that many shots at you.

What else?

Any chance Mallory
would be willing

to bring the baby on the road?

Is it a
photogenic
baby?

Hey, not all of them are.

JOSH:
How are you holding up?

LEO:
Fine.

A lot of flashbulbs.

You may get more
mileage out of me

in a room with
the strategists,

instead of the cameras.

It's that prizewinning face.

The media gal's right.

The press is doing
a lot of talking

about my love for
sedatives and single malt.

We knew it was coming.

You worry too much.
That's my job.

You're not worried?

We're only
nine points down.

White House, half an hour,
you and me.

Mr. McGarry,
we need to get

a couple shots of you
and the Congressman.

We think it'll be better
with you in this shirt.

The Congressman's
wearing white.

Mr. McGarry?

Yeah.

Thank you.

You want to order lunch?

I've got a meeting.

The Santos campaign
and the West Wing

need to coordinate agendas.

I'll order lunch
and we'll eat when you get back.

You're a lonely man, aren't you?

Do you miss 'em?
Who?

Josh, Leo.

You guys are spread
a little thin.

Half your staff
bleeding to the campaign,

you with the Chief of Staff job,

probably still a little
Press Secretary business

on your plate.

Not really.

Really?

Not at all.

Well, so why's Greg Brock,
of the New York Times

appear on your call log
an average of

five times a week
in the six months

before he published
his leak story?

He spent that much time
with Leo McGarry?

I really have to go now.

I'm thinking...
turkey club for me,

you want some kind of salad?

Annabeth camped out
on your shoulder,

that's got to be something.

Six kinds of makeup.

Yeah, she's relentless.

I worry tomorrow
she's gonna braid my hair.

C.J.:
Sorry.

Hey.

Sight for sore eyes.

And you,
God, look at this.

I feel like we should
take a picture.

We should have got lunch
or something.

Well, I'm lunching
with Oliver Babish.

He has his heart set
on ruining my day.

Sit, sit.

Did you see our numbers?

I did. How the hell
did you pull that off?

Have no idea.

Soon as you get
a message calendar,

send it over, we'll be
sure to back you up.

That's great.

The President is planning
a big push on jobs.

It should be
a good issue for you.

And we're planning
to steer clear of health care

altogether
next couple of months.

So you can have that
all to yourselves.

JOSH:
Perfect.
We're getting
some movement

from Congress on education.

What kind of...
We'll get you
a summary,

but probably
class-size reduction,

a little
infrastructure money,

some version of performance
incentives for teachers.

That's right out
of the Santos plan.

He probably doesn't
have the votes for it.

He definitely
doesn't have the votes.

But if he's expressing
an interest...

He's expressing an interest

because the Vinick camp
told him to.

Could be.

Education may be
the only thing

the public knows
about Matt Santos,

other than his hair color.

We would be thrilled
if you kept the hands off.

TOBY:
Wow.

Okay.

You think we can
bring it up in a debate

after Jed Bartlet's
already moved on it?

We'll look like idiots.

That's unfortunate.

Okay, everybody.

Let's take a breath.

Haffley's extending
an olive branch.

I'm sure the President
is just being polite.

He knows he can't
get an education bill passed

in his last six months.

The guy's got
a 66% approval rating.

We're not rolling up the rugs.

A new Democratic
administration

will pass a much more
powerful bill.

You people are nine points down.

It's better than 20 points down,

but it's not
what I'd call a win.

Hey.
The only reason
the Speaker

is opening
the door at all

is because he thinks he
may wound your campaign.

You think he's going to walk
in here a year from now,

and offer it to the bright-
eyed new President?

Haffley's playing you.

No, actually, he's screwing you

and for the moment,
we are comfortable with that.

He's screwing
the party.
Leo.

He's screwing the party,

and using this administration
to do it.

C.J.:
The President did not

take an oath of party.

He took an oath of office.

( wry chuckle )

This has been great.

Coordinate your
message calendar with Toby.

Is there anything else
I can do for you?

Hey.

Babish is still
in your office.

Yes.

Were you on the call
with the Chinese?

There was a lot
of yelling.

The shuttle launch
is in a few minutes.

You should probably
be down there.

LEO:
If he has a minute,
I'd like to say hi.

He's just on his way out.

I thought I
heard that voice.

I'm headed
to the dungeon.

Care for a stroll?
Love to.

Surprised they let
you off the trail.

I ducked out with Josh
to do a house call,

coordinate policy
with Toby and C.J.

Well, you're not
a campaign manager now.

You're a candidate.

They mentioned
something about that.

You having a good time?

( sighs ):
It's quite a ride.

We spoke with C.J. and Toby
about this education plan

Haffley's putting
on the table.

You think
it's going anywhere?

I'm rolling the dice.

It screws us a little bit.

Yeah.

Maybe you back off,
leave it for the new kid?

If you were my Chief of Staff,
what would you tell me to do?

I'd tell you when
you walk out of here,

somebody else
has to walk in.

You do what you can to
make sure it's a Democrat.

You want to try that again?

You got to think
about the future.

If you were
my Chief of Staff?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what
I thought.

REPORTERS:
Mr. McGarry!

Mr. McGarry!

Mr. McGarry, are you finding
the campaign trail exhausting?

Invigorating, Kevin,
thanks for asking.

Is Speaker Haffley floating
an education initiative

with the White House?

I don't know what's going on
in the Speaker's office,

but I can tell you Matt Santos
has the most practical approach

to improving teacher quality
we've seen

in a long time.

Is it similar
to Haffley's plan?

The Santos plan
is a comprehensive...

Why is the President
working with Haffley

if this is the
candidate's baby?

Because the
Constitution

empowers the President
to sign bills into law

and doesn't empower candidates
to do anything.

Does Santos
feel he's powerless
to affect change?

Why did Santos raise
the issue if he...?

Thanks folks,
it's been a real pleasure.

( reporters yelling )

Mr. McGarry!

I accepted the premise
of the question, didn't I?

You sure did.

Just met with Lily Schultz,
who we're hiring,

and Dave Blumberg,
who we're not.

Tell Isabel.

I can't get anyone from
the Colorado delegation

to do the Denver rally.

No one?

They're all in D.C.
this weekend.

Congressmen don't stay
in D.C. on the weekend.

They go home
to their districts
to make nice with...

Son of a bitch.

Get Wallingford's
Chief of Staff
on the phone now.

Son of a bitch!

Little hiccup.
What?

Leo just inadvertently suggested

to the press that the reason
the President's

moving on
his education bill

is because the Congressman's

a generally
powerless individual.

Annabeth...
Momentary lapse
of reason.

We should probably
get out in front of it.

Good afternoon, sir.

He feels awful.

What was that?
A little stumble.
Bram!

Kendra in Wallingford's
office on line three.
The Congressman

is about to tell the press
how excited he is

that the White House
is making inroads

with the Speaker of the House
on an education bill.

Have Tricia draft a release.

The Congressman doesn't
like that idea very much.

It's one of those
"close your eyes

and think of England" moments.

Josh, Sandy's waiting
for comments on this.

Leo?
Let's not worry
about that right now.

You've got a press avail
in the conference room.

Big smiles.

Kendra, for the love of God,
you can't do this to me!

I started without you.

That's okay.

Where were we?

Greg Brock?

Name sounds familiar.

You got any mustard?

On your salad?

Yes or no?

So, uh, so you guys
spent some time together.

Brock?

We can fill
a conversation.

He's the guy?

Which guy would that be?

Your fave.

I don't play favorites.

I'm thinking
you play favorites.

Given the number of times his
name appears on your call sheet.

And also given the fact

that six reporters
from the White House Press Corps

say you play favorites.

( chuckles )

Used to be Danny Concanon,
now it's Greg Brock.

So...

it's... a crush,

or an affair,
or a mutually acknowledged,

but unrequited...
what are we talking about here?

Oliver, I have
a whole lot to do.

It got personal
with Danny, right?

If he's the new Danny...
We're not doing this.

You talk to him every day.

He drops by

more than a guy with a phone
in his pocket needs to drop by.

And he published code word
classified information

on the front page
of his newspaper.

So this does not fall
into the category

of things to which
I do not need an answer.

You think the leak came from me?

I'm the suspect.

Can you tell me about
the nature

of your relationship
with Greg Brock?

JOSH:
Where's the Congressman?

BRAM:
He's still in front
of the cameras.

Okay, shut the door.

Wallingford's
avoiding our events

because Vinick is polling 28
points ahead in his district,

and he's not the only one--
it's a bunch of the Democrats.

28 points?
Vinick's a known quantity.

Santos appeared
out of nowhere

at the 11th hour
of the convention.

So we're scrapping
the party unity strategy.

New strategy is we don't put

members of Congress
up on the stage

at events, 'cause Santos
isn't a party hack.

He's his own man.

What happened?

JOSH:
Wallingford's
avoiding us.

So is Hammond, Warren,
Campbell and Ross.

What other districts have Vinick
ahead by more than 20 points?

ANNABETH:
Uh, looks like...

Kelly, Grader,

Harrison, Zwick...

Harrison?!
JOSH:
I've got Marcus,

Scott...

and Lester.

Okay, the Congressman
calls this list,

Leo this,
within the next 24 hours.

We got to do some
hand holding.

Kelly and I go way back, Zwick,
too-- put them on my list.

I'll call them all.
I'll do all the calls.

Who else?

Um...

( paper rustling )
Houfek, Fenton.

That's the whole
Colorado delegation.

BRAM:
Sir, the CNN guy's

still waiting.
Tell him I need five minutes,

but get Houfek on the phone
for me right now.

BRAM:
Okay.

Josh, you've got
another interview.

I told Chuck,
everybody who's still waiting,

come back tomorrow.
Chuck said

you'd want this one.

Well, Chuck is wrong.

C.J.:
What else?

Hang on.

That's it.

That's it?

I'm sure it isn't.

That's it.

You didn't even ask me.

Ask you what?

"Did you tell Greg Brock
of the New York Times

of the existence of a classified
military space shuttle?"

I don't want to know.

( sighs )

I need to see the President.

Nice headline
in the Post today.

That's got to feel good.

Yeah, it does,
heady stuff.

How's Will?

Oh, back in the VP's office.

He wanders around a lot,

like a guy
who can't find his glasses.

Yeah. You going
back there, too?

Vice President's office?

I'm glad you brought that up.

I'm proud to say...

I've grown a lot
in the last few months.

The Russell campaign gave me
some wonderful opportunities.

I took an active roll in
drafting policy positions,

and eventually was promoted

to the role
of campaign spokesperson.

Donna.
Let me get through this--
it's one of the more

awkward moments
of a lifetime.
I can't do this.

I'm good... is the point.

I'm as surprised as you are.

And rumor has it...
you could use a deputy.

"'Matthew Santos is throwing
a ton of numbers at you,

'hoping you'll
be so confused as
to miss the fact

'that his education plan is both
impractical and unaffordable.

'He was a House member.

You'd think behavior like
that would irritate him''

"Donna Moss, Spokesperson,

Russell for
President Campaign."

I didn't mean that he...
"'Claiming three

'House terms qualifies
you to be President,

'is like me saying I'm a
foreign relations expert,

'because I ordered
kung pao last night.'"

I didn't say that, did I?
February 26,

"Coffee Cake and Candidates,"
Raleigh, North Carolina.

"'He wasn't a military
strategist, he was a pilot.

'Ask him about
the overhead compartment,

not about defense.'"

You called Russell a cowpoke.

You said the President
avoided him in the halls.

You hummed "These Boots Are Made
For Walking"

every time the press

mentioned his name.
Yeah, but I won.

It was my job, Josh.

You're not used to me being
in a position of authority.

I'm sure that's uncomfortable.

I got an airplane hangar out
there filled with 500 strangers

looking to me for direction.

I've got a candidate who doesn't
trust any of them.

Frankly, neither do I.

And if you think
I don't miss you every day...

I can make a
couple of calls.

( softly ):
Thank you for your time.

BABISH:
You need to stop
the internal investigation

of the security leak.

Excuse me?

A White House investigation
is, at best, superfluous.

Are you getting tired?

We can give this
to somebody else.

I appreciate that, sir.

I know you have
a lot on your plate.

You know, that's true.

This was a massive
security breach.

Not only will we
continue our investigation,

we'll make it abundantly clear

to the American people

that it is among
our highest priorities,

and not even remotely
superfluous.

The evidence thus far
suggests that the leak

came from inside
the White House.

This was not NASA

or DOD.

This was us,
and we are not qualified

to investigate ourselves.

We're not?
I don't have
subpoena power.

I can't put people under oath.

If you want answers,

cooperate with the
Attorney General's investigation

and with Congress.

You have a suspect.

Otherwise, we wouldn't be having
this conversation.

( knock at door )
PRESIDENT:
Come in!

We're gonna get
slammed for this.

The press is going to say we're
running like frightened rabbits

down the nearest hole,
and they'd be right.

( sighs )

You're not going to tell me
who your suspect is?

No, sir, I'm not.

Is this a bad time?

Oh, if you're waiting
for a good time,

you may be waiting a while.

I made a misstep today
with the press.

The President's gonna
pass an education bill

because he's powerful,
and I'm a lot of hot air?

Yeah, that was ugly.

And I apologize.

It was truly embarrassing.

Leo?

Do a 20/20 interview.

Tell them the story
they want to hear.

They'll stop gunning for you.

I could talk about addictions
and heart attacks

until I'm blue in the face.

Best strategy
is call it old news and move on.

It's not the
best strategy.

It's not working--

I'm spending half my day
talking about it.

Do the interview.

If you're having second
thoughts, there are options.

You trying to quit?

No, certainly not.

You're either
trying to quit or

you're trying to
get me to fire you.

Well, it's something
to think about.

I'm not gonna fire you.

You want out,

you're going to have to drum up

another heart attack
or something.

Thank you,
that's a beautiful sentiment.

I'm just, I'm not sure what
your vision for my role is.

At the moment,
it's stumping

and smiling
for the camera.

Not hurting policy advisors

and running over
to the White House with Josh.

You can't do his job for him.

My strength is my experience and
my relationships on the Hill.

What happens
if you get on the phone

with Hammond and Kelly
and Zwick?

I can't win a race
if we tell people

that when things
get really serious,

they're going to be
getting a call

from Leo McGarry.

You saw the poll.

America thinks
you're the chaperone

and I'm running for prom king.

If you can't utilize
my expertise,

I'm just a drag on the ticket.

Look, nobody hired you

because you'd be a
brilliant campaigner.

( chuckling ):
You're a beginner in all this.

Yes, at the moment,
you're a liability,

but you'll get the hang of it.

You're here because you know
how to run a country.

The conversation
I'm interested
in is how do we

build a four-year plan
when you don't know

what kind of Congress

you're gonna
have to work with?

That's what transition is about.

I don't want to wait
till transition.

I want a plan in place.

I want to spend
transition hiring a staff

that can execute it.

And on day one,
I want to get to work.

Not dickering around for
the first three months.

You want something
to worry about,

worry about that.
Okay.

Well, let's start
by reframing the question.

Forget about
a four-year term.

The presidency
is 18 months.

That's your window.

After that, there's midterms.

No one on the Hill's got time
to do business with you.

They're too busy
getting reelected.

( chuckles )
Then, suddenly,

you're running again.

So I'm basically throwing out

everything but my first
five pages.

In the garbage.

Realistically, one page.

But we can do this in phases.

BRAM:
Hey, Costo's waiting.

I've got to pull him.
Later.

What are they doing?

Making plans.