All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S07E05 - Here Today (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing:

Greg Brock
just released a story

about a classified military
space shuttle

that could be, but hasn't yet
been sent up

to rescue those astronauts.

It's a federal crime

to divulge classified
information.

I want this leaker found.

C.J.:
Did David ever mention anything

about a noncivilian shuttle?

Hey, I got subpoenaed.
Congratulations.

You?
Nope.

Last one to get a subpoena
is a rotten egg.

Last one to get a subpoena

is the focus
of the investigation.

Can you tell me about

the nature of your relationship
with Greg Brock?

I'm the suspect?

C.J.:
You would not believe
the day I've had.

I'd tell you about it
if I could talk about it,

but a bunch of stuff happened
today that I can't talk about

so I guess I should...

stop talking about it.

But the truth is,

I'm so strung out
and wired on caffeine

I can't even tell
what room I'm in.

C.J.

Let's open that bottle
of champagne

you gave me for my birthday.

Maybe the alcohol
will balance out the caffeine.

C.J., the leak...
Let's have a toast.

One final toast

before I leave the White House
for my perp walk in leg irons.

Here you open it.

I'll take out your eye.
C.J.

Fine, I'll open it.

But just, uh, listen
to what I have to say.

Leo's in trouble.

I know.

You do?

I got a lawyer.

What?

I got a lawyer.

( clears throat softly )

I did it.

Call the White House
Counsel's office,

send someone over immediately.

I just didn't want you
to think...

We really can't have
any further conversation

without Counsel present.

( sighs )

( knock on door )

MAN:
Oh, excuse me.

I was told to come right in.

C.J.:
Mike, is it?

Uh, sorry.

Mike Wayne, Associate Counsel.

Mr. Ziegler.

Toby, would you tell Mike
what you just told me.

I was the one
who leaked the information

about the... classified
military space shuttle

to Greg Brock of
the New York Times.

Where's Oliver Babish?

Out to dinner.

I'll need the key
to your office.

Where are you going?

Key's on my desk.

I'll have to ask you
to accompany me

directly to
the Roosevelt Room.

You'll need
to wait there quietly

while I retrieve
your key,

lock your office,
and post a uniformed

Secret Service agent
at the door.

That needs to
happen right now.

We're going to need the room.

There was nothing
on the schedule.

Yeah. We're going to
be needing the room.

Sure.
Absolutely.

I'll be back
as quickly as I can.

I'll have to ask you
not to speak to anyone,

about anything, in my absence.

Every conversation you have
from this point forward

only increases the witness list.

HELEN:
Watch a movie.

SANTOS:
We land in 40 minutes.

Watch part of a movie.

I have
to eat my vegetables.

It's something we
can do together.

Our own machines,
our own headphones,

how are we
doing it together?

It'll be a
shared experience.

You remember those?

I have to scan
the stump speech

for racial code words.
Really?

Yeah, this
black professor's saying

the section about immigrants
"who do work Americans won't do"

is code for "the black
underclass is lazy."

He's got a point.
No, he doesn't.

You're not going to solve
interracial sensitivity

in the next 40 minutes.

Honey,
I have to do this.

( snores )
All work and no play.

You calling me a dull boy?

I'm sorry. Were you
saying something?

Just try not doing that
in front of the electorate.

Come on, the headphones
thing should be a plus.

You hate it when
I talk in movies.

You'll just get louder.

You're not going
to fool me.

Thought you liked
it when I got loud.

In this, as in all things,
context is king.

Fine.

Try not doing that
in front of voters either.

Charles.

FROST:
Commander.

You're a hard man
to find.

You can't be
too careful.

You can, actually.

Whom will I be addressing
in the Situation Room?

That would be no one.

You're not going
in the Sit Room.

You're going to tell me
what you have to say

and then I'm going in,
but first--

you can't stalk
the White House Chief of Staff.

She wouldn't
return my calls.

She's a little busy
helping run the free world.

I doubt she calls
her mother back.

Her mother's dead and her
father's Alzheimer's

so bad he'd have no idea
if she ever called or not.

Do you try
to come off this creepy?

'Cause, I gotta tell you,
as a strategy

for getting people
to take you seriously,

it leaves a bit to be desired.

Do you have
any idea how thoroughly

I could
get you bounced over this?

I was right,
wasn't I?

"Thank you,
Commander Harper,

"for letting me keep my job,
which is everything to me,

as you can see
by how I dress."

I was right.

Before we discuss how right
or not right you are,

were, or have ever been,
I need a solemn vow

you'll never ambush a senior
White House official again.

I'm waiting.

Fine.
Thank you.

Now let's discuss this
assassination in Kazakhstan.

( indistinct TV news )

I reached Oliver Babish.

He says you owe him a raspberry
panna cotta cheesecake.

C.J.:
He'll live.

Longer, probably.

It's morning in Jerusalem.

You wanted to call
about the Farad funeral.

Right, right.

So you...
want me to...

Yeah, let's do that.

I didn't want to.

I tried not to say anything...

I'm sorry?

The Committee.

I hope my testimony
didn't do anything

to make things
more difficult for you.

Don't worry
about it.

If I caused you any problems...

I'm sure you didn't.

I'll... I'll place that call.

ED:
Toby, got a minute?

No.

LARRY:
We just want to get your
take on these OMB numbers.

Go away.

Okay.

All right, we'll
leave them on your...

Go.

LOU:
What's wrong
with the word vigorous?

JOSH:
Sounds like we're
taking a shot at Bartlet.

LOU:
We're not
running against Bartlet.

We're running against
a Methuselah Republican.

Vigorous isn't
the opposite of old.

It's the opposite
of vigor-less... ness.

It's gonna come off like
we're referencing the MS.

That's a win-win
in my book.

Look, Arnold Vinick
isn't some broken down feeb,

doddering from one
campaign stop to the next.

He's got more
energy than I do.

He is inconveniently spry.

Use that.
What?

Spry.

It's a word that's only used
to described old people.

Ever hear of anyone
under the age of 70

who's ever
been called spry?

Say "old guy versus young guy"
without mentioning age.

Just got the new
tracking numbers.

Nine and holding.

( groans )

Couple weeks ago
you were doing cartwheels

over only being
nine down.

That was a couple
weeks ago.

With the margin of error,
it could really be just six.

When the polls spit out the same
number, day in and day out,

it's time to stop talking
margins of error.

Nine points
is nine points.

That's what I thought then,
but you all were so happy.

So, basically, you've been
wrong about this twice now.

( dialing )

Alana.

Toby Ziegler.

As my attorney,
you should probably know

that I just confessed...

( clears throat )

...to C.J. Cregg
that I was behind the leak.

( door opens )

I'm about to be debriefed
by White House Counsel.

You left him
in a room with a phone?

I'll talk
to you tomorrow.

( hangs up phone )

Toby.

Oliver.

Who were
you talking to?

My attorney's voice mail.

My instructions were
that you sit quietly.

I'm pretty sure

I used my indoor voice.

Who else have
you called

or spoken to since
Mike's been gone?

No one. Ed and Larry.

Who?

They stuck their heads in,
wanted to run something by me,

I told them to go away.

Did you discuss the leak
or the investigation

in any way?

We didn't discuss anything.

I was curt and dismissive.
As instructed.

Yeah, I'm gonna need their
full names and extensions.

They were here
maybe ten seconds.

Mike's gonna need
to speak with them.

( writing )

Thanks.

You're in some trouble.

Um... and I'm personally
truly sorry about.

Thank you.
Unfortunately,
at the moment,

that is of incidental
concern in my capacity

as White House Counsel.

You've put this administration
into difficulty,

so my immediate
professional concern

is whether you put the President
into jeopardy as well.

So, I'm gonna have
some questions for you.

Get comfortable.

We're gonna be here for a bit.

Yes.

Did anyone instruct you
to leak this information?

No.

Anyone suggest
you leak it?

No.

Hint?

No.
Nudge? Wink?

Did anyone employ
non-verbal means

of any kind to suggest--

in an explicit or
implicit fashion--

that you leak
this information?

No, it was conceived
and executed

solely and completely
on my own.

( writing )

You tell anyone you were
planning on leaking this?

No.

Discuss that you were
considering doing so?

No.

Did you speculate to anyone
that an individual might

be inclined to contemplate
making such a leak.

We're gonna be here
for quite a while, aren't we?

I need you to answer
the question.

No, I didn't speak to anyone,
at any time,

of any scenario involving myself
or someone else

thinking, planning, dreaming, or
having an out-of-body experience

related to the making
of this sort of leak.

That's cute, the
out-of-body thing.

But I don't recommend
it with the FBI,

or the Congressional
committee,

the federal prosecutor,

or any of the people
who'll be following me.

( writing )

ABBEY:
That was lovely.

PRESIDENT:
Mm. I have to call Zahavy.

I don't blame him
for not wanting

to go to Farad's funeral--
I wish you didn't have to go.

Isn't that what
vice presidents are for?

PRESIDENT:
No.
Then what good are they?

The two I've had?
An enduring mystery.

God, I'm exhausted.

You haven't forgotten
Ellie and Vic are coming by.

No. Our daughter's getting
engaged to the fruit fly guy.

He's a research
scientist.

ABBEY:
Stop making him sound like
something out of a horror film.

Did you know that
fruit flies reproduce

at a prodigious rate?

PRESIDENT:
You've been whining about
more grandchildren.

I just meant they're more
than usually enthusiastic.

All right.

In fact, they make bunnies
look like dysfunctional prudes.

That's our daughter
you're talking about.
Indeed.

Yeah. How about that?

Are you...

A little.
What about you?

Astonished, actually.

Why? Did you
and she never discuss...

Oh, no, there are some
things that are outside

even the mother-
daughter bond.

At least for us--
did you and she...

We always adhered
to a strict

"don't ask, don't
tell" policy.

Clung to it, actually.

She is one's daughter,

and wants her to be happy
in whatever.

Of course, true
to herself.

There's nothing wrong
with that inclination.

Nothing whatsoever.

But God Herself strike me dead,
it is not to be denied

that I'm not unhappy that my
daughter is straight after all.

At least straight
enough to be marrying
the fruit fly guy.

RONNA:
Someone in the
Texas AG's office

has obtained the
complete medical records

of 120 women who had
abortions in three of
the clinics there.

Please tell me
one's not in Houston.

And San Antonio.

NED:
The pretext is looking
for unreported cases

of sexual abuse
and statutory rape.

ZEKE:
But it's an obvious
smoke screen.

RONNA:
We've fooled with some language.

We're not commenting.

We have to.
This is a state matter.

From the Congressman's
home state.

I'm familiar with
the bio, thanks.

It violates the
spirit of Roe.

How important is Texas?

With Vinick's lock
on California,

it's just the whole B.O.W.

Ball of wax.
Why wade into an issue
that's not gonna

gain us no one who wasn't
gonna vote for us already?

NED:
Because all it costs us

is people who weren't gonna
vote for us anyhow.

We don't need those people--
we need them to stay home.

RONNA:
Single issue pro-lifers don't
like Vinick any more than us.

Why energize them?

Let's let this particular
sleeping dog lie.

NED:
That's crazy--
we're Democrats,

we have to
come out strong

for a woman's
right to choose.
Ever had an abortion?

Little personal,
don't you think?

Don't talk to me about what
we have to do on this subject.

Whatever you say.

I was thinking
while you were asleep.

I wasn't asleep.

Oh, really?

With the drooling,
the twitching,

and the muttering to yourself,
which might otherwise

be described
as a schizophrenic episode,

I'd go with
you were sleeping.
Okay.

Campaign is stagnating
because the poll numbers are.

Doldrums,
horse latitudes.

It's still mid-August.

Wind'll pick up.

You and I need
to be a stiff wind

that blows through the staff
and carries a bunch away.

Way to stick with the
meteorological metaphor.

Still it's
a little hysterical.

LOU:
This group isn't
cutting it.

We're fine.

Last week the advance team
went to Springfield, Illinois

for an event in
Springfield, Missouri.

Every campaign
has a few bumps.

We need more
experienced hands.

Look around you--
we're a little heavy on
the wide-eyed and dewy.

We got a young staff.

Guess what?
We're Democrats.

Well, Vinick's
got grown-ups.

We're running a
children's crusade.

It got a virtual unknown

the Democratic
presidential nomination.

Well, now it's got him

consistently tracking
nine points down,

which is, I believe, a
loss, and not a small one.

We start firing people,

it's gonna look like
the campaign's in trouble.

The campaign is in trouble.
It'll look like we noticed.

First pass of
the staff list.

That's a lot of names.

Anyone you want
to fight for?

Ned?
He's not built for this.

He's been
with the Congressman forever.

Santos'll never
let me can him.

That's why he's got to
go-- it'll kill morale

if you fire all these
people and keep him.

So we don't fire anyone.

Keep whistling past
the graveyard,

but it'll be your
future gets buried

when you preside over
a 49-state wipeout.

MARGARET.:
Can't leave
before the boss leaves. You?

KATE:
Time and assassinations
wait for no one.

Pithy.
Thinking of putting out
a line of twisted samplers.

When's your turn?
With the committee?

Supposedly Friday, but if they
spent all day on you...

Really looking
forward to things

getting back to
normal around here.

BABISH:
Did you have any
private conversations

with the President

regarding the existence
of a military shuttle?

No.

Participate in any
group discussions

on that subject
that included the President?

No.

Did you have any internal
White House conversations

with anyone, at any time,
about the United States

possessing a classified
military space shuttle?

Yes.

With whom?

Who'd you talk
about it with, Toby?

C.J. Cregg.

KATE:
Frost thinks...

HUTCHINSON:
I know what Frost thinks--
about everything.

If it rains on a picnic,

Frost thinks Al Qaeda
seeded the clouds.

SLATTERY:
Why do you keep
him in the job?

SLIGER:
He's a good analyst.

Good analysts spend
a lot of time being wrong.

HUTCHINSON:
Funny, at Defense Intelligence,
we like our guys to be right.

Different strokes.
SLIGER:
Are there Islamic extremists

who dream of a new
China-to-Spain caliphate? Sure.

Do we think they're
gonna start by assassinating

the Palestinian chairman
and the President of Kazakhstan?

I mean, come on.

Margaret, will you call Leo
for me?

BABISH:
When you spoke to Greg Brock
of the New York Times,

you were aware you were
speaking on the record?

TOBY:
I'm the White House

Communications Director--
I have a rough understanding

of the protocol involved
when speaking with journalists.

BABISH:
That'd be a "yes"?

TOBY:
That would be
an "of course."

BABISH:
And your intention in conveying
this information to Greg Brock

was that it be published
in his newspaper?
Yes.

You were aware this
information was classified?

Excuse me?

Can you answer
the question?

You're asking me if I knew

that the military
space shuttle was classified?

One of the most
closely-held

pieces of information
I've experienced

in my seven and a half
years in the White House?

Which no one would
so much as hint at,

much less acknowledge, much
less ever actually discuss?

Which revelation of same

caused a governmental
security crisis,

international consternation,

and the launching of three
separate investigations?

You're asking me if I realized
it was classified?

Yeah, I had a vague inkling.

Were you personally authorized
to have this information?

Alana Waterman, Mr. Babish.

I'm Mr. Ziegler's
attorney,

And as such, I must inform
counsel that my client

will not be answering
any further questions.

It's okay, thank you.

No, it's most certainly
not okay,

and you're not to say
anything else.

You know, I'm really getting fed
up to here with lawyers

ordering me around.
Probably should've
considered that

before passing state secrets

to New York Times Reporters,
which brings up:

did you leak to anyone
other than Greg Brock?

Do not answer that.
No.

If I may have a word in private
with my client?

I'll be right outside.

( door closes )

I really appreciate
your concern,

but I am taking
full responsibility,

and I am prepared and ready
to face the consequences.

Well, that's very noble
and very stupid.
Thank you.

You have to listen to me now.

If you were truly
the only one involved...

I was.
Well, then
that's unfortunate,

because it means
you have no bigger fish

to turn over to the prosecutor,
which is what he

and the Congress will be
looking for, and obviously

would've been the best and
fastest way to make a deal.

I don't care about that.

Well, it's my job to,
and we're not starting

with a lot
of bargaining chips.

And we have less

every time you open your mouth.

I'm not looking to cut a deal.
Oh, really?

'Cause the last time I checked
the sentencing guidelines,

even for somebody who's
a first-time offender,

were 63 to 78 months jail time.

63 to 78-- how do they
come up with those numbers?

Pick out of a hat?

Dart board?
You have an obligation...

Please, don't bring up my kids!

When you hire someone

like me, you take on
a responsibility.

To my reputation.

If you decide
you want to go down

in some quasi-orgasmic blaze

of self-pitying,
self-destructive,

self-aggrandizing
attempted glory,

all anyone's going to say
is, "How did Alana Waterman,

"that smart, tough, savvy,
Washington in-fighter,

"let her client do something
so crushingly

boneheaded moronic
as to get himself

six years in jail?!

Now, you have
a decision to make.

If you want me to continue
as your attorney,

when the White House Counsel
reenters the room,

you either decline

to answer any further questions,
or you watch me walk

not only out of this room,

but off the case.

( door opens, closes )

Who was it who first
informed you of the existence

of a classified
military space shuttle?

I decline to answer
on the advice of counsel.

Please wait here.

( door opens, closes )

Well, you certainly
earned your fee today.

I'm deeply gratified that you
decided to heed my guidance.

No, I just meant
it was the first time tonight

he used the word "please."

If you gentlemen are done
for the night,

you should
probably go home.

KATE:
C.J.

Catch me up.

HUTCHINSON:
Commander Harper's been
entertaining us-- well,

given the hour, I'm not sure
entertaining is the right word--

with her theory on this
assassination in Kazakhstan.

C.J.:
Mr. Secretary, through
no fault of your own,

your customary
default acerbity,

which some might
characterize as snide,

but which I never fail
to find delightful,

is perhaps not
the right tone

for my particular mood
this particular evening.

Now, would you
catch me up?

KATE:
Assassination's been
a historic tactic

of Russian
security services.

I feel there's
reason to look in
their direction.

The Russians and
Kazakhs are allies.

KATE:
Kazakhstan's been cozying up
to Beijing.

They recently announced
the establishment

of a strategic partnership.

KATE:
This is on top
of the oil pipeline

the Kazakhs had already agreed
to build to China.

When they announced
this alliance, they took pains

to stress it wasn't directed
against any third party.

Doth protesting
perhaps a bit much.

You buying this?

We're catching her up.

KATE:
Moscow's not thrilled
with this budding relationship.

Not only is it competitive

with Russia's own
oil interests,

but it's emblematic
of China's growing
dominance in the region.

Who takes over
in Kazakhstan
with Issenov dead?

Constitutionally,
Prime Minister Tarimov.

SLIGER:
Who has ties that go back
to Moscow from the USSR days.

It's Russia's interests
that are most directly served

by removing the
sitting President.

What will the Chinese do?

That's the question.

Russia and China, eyeball
to eyeball in Central Asia.

Over oil.

HUTCHINSON:
With 900 U.S. Marines stuck

right in the middle.

Oh, God!

This is so scary!

JOSH:
Congressman,
you got a minute?

Yeah, sure.

What's she watching?

That latest Rob Zombie film.

Seems to be
enjoying it.
( Helen screams )

I guess.

SANTOS:
You a big Rob Zombie fan?

I prefer his earlier, funnier

movies.

Lou and I have been discussing
the staff.

What about them?
Making some changes.

HELEN:
Are you kidding me?

SANTOS:
She's not

talking to you.

JOSH:
The campaign's
not hitting

on all cylinders.

Could be time
for a mid-course correction.

How many people
are we talking about?

About 45.

HELEN:
You can't be serious.

You can't do that.

It's a lot of people.
HELEN:
It'll look

like panic.

We can bring in more operatives
with experience and savvy.

HELEN:
Have we been
turning them away?

"I'm sorry, you
can't work for us.

You have too much
experience and savvy?"

JOSH:
We need to make
some changes.

Are we panicked?

No. 'Course not.

Well, you're running this thing.

It is a big layoff,
and it's gonna get noted

in the press,
but if you think it's needed...

I do.

One of the people
is Ned Carlson.

HELEN:
What?

JOSH:
I know he's been
with you a long
time; I'm sure

he was a real asset in the
Congressional office...

You can't fire Ned.
JOSH:
...but he is not

cut out for this.

The pace, thinking
fast on your feet...

Send him back
to the Congressional office.

( Josh clears his throat )

And we will get him something

in the administration
once we're in.

Matt...

Anyone not getting the job done
is gonna go.

Do you want to be the one
to tell him?

You can take care of it.

Mrs. Santos.

BABISH:
That's as far as I got before
his attorney intervened.

C.J.:
Do you feel you got
the whole story?

Toby mentioned
he discussed the existence

of the military shuttle
with you.

He did.

Did you direct him
to leak the information?

I did not.

Urge it?
No.

Subtly hint?

Absolutely not.

Why, did Toby give
any indication that I had?

No.

His account matches yours.

It's important that
everyone's stories are in sync.

They are.
That's because it's the truth.

Have you discussed this
with anyone since

Mike and you last spoke?

No.

No comment on what's been
going on in the Roosevelt Room

or Toby's office?

Of course not.

And others you've encountered
will so testify?

Yes.

Spoken to anyone
outside the building?

No.

And the White House phone logs
will so confirm?

I placed a call to Leo McGarry.

For what purpose?

For what purpose, C.J.?

I didn't reach him.

But had you, was your intention
to discuss the fact

that Toby Ziegler
was the White House leak?

I didn't reach him.

He and you should be very glad
about that.

What, if any, message
did you leave?

I told Margaret not
to leave any,

that it wasn't
anything important.

Were those your exact words?

I don't know, I...

I may have said not
to even mention that I called.

You have between now

and tomorrow morning--
when I imagine

the first question will come
about this--

to consider whether
you had a particular reason

to phone Leo McGarry
this evening,

other than discussing
courses of action

in dealing with this news
regarding Toby Ziegler--

which might, to outsiders,

appear like consideration
of a cover-up.

It's time to tell the President.

What will be the recommendation
of the Counsel's office?

The same as yours.

( glasses clinking )

PRESIDENT:
Congratulations.

ABBEY:
I want to see
that ring.

Oh, it's lovely.

ELLIE:
You don't think
it's too big?

Oh, there no
such thing, dear.

( laughter )
Almost got you

a rebate there.

I, uh, only wish I
could have afforded
an even bigger one.

Hmm.

ABBEY:
Well, I want to hear all
about the proposal.

Tell me everything.

We went for a
mountain bike ride

to a secluded spot
in Rock Creek Park.

We did it there.

ABBEY:
Oh.

I did it there.

Romantic.

ELLIE:
Very. The two
of us and

my Secret Service detail.

Mm.

When are you thinking
about having the wedding?

As soon as possible.

PRESIDENT:
We don't want
to distract

from the
election,
of course,

but any time
after that could work.

A White House wedding
at Christmas?

I don't... I don't
think she wants that.

What?
To do it here.

What could be
more wonderful?

Oh, no, no, undoubtedly.

A White House wedding
would be very beautiful

and terribly romantic,
but inevitably,

it would be quite a bit
of a spectacle.

You know, and of all of us,
Ellie has been the one

who's most shied away
from the spotlight.

Why don't you consider
having the wedding

after your father
has left the office entirely?

Sure. If you want
to turn your back

on a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.

Hopefully, the
wedding is

the once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.

You would seriously consider

not getting married
in the White House?

Well, you could
do something

very private at the farm.

Where,

at the moment, is

the less pressing concern.

There's another consideration

that may need
to take precedence.

As far as scheduling goes.

And, you know,

why we...

might not want to... wait.

Oh.

Well,

we should probably get right on
to scheduling that then.

NANCY:
I'm sorry for the interruption,
Mr. President.
Hmm?

Ma'am, Ellie.

Nancy, this is
our... new...

son-in-law to
be, Vic Faison.

NANCY:
Oh, nice to
meet you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

NANCY:
Sir, uh, C.J.
and Oliver Babish

would like to
speak with you.

Of course.
Excuse me, please.

Oh.

TOBY:
Self-aggrandizing
and self-destructive?

I was trying to make a point.

Quasi-orgasmic might have been
a bit much.

Oh, colorful rhetoric--
occupational hazard.

Why'd you do it?

To save lives.

Your brother was
an astronaut.

Astronauts' lives
in the short term.

Start a discussion
about whether we want

to extend mankind's capacity
for warfare into the heavens.

The weaponization
of space.

I believe in an open society.

You debate these things
in the light of day.

That's what's supposed to happen
in a democracy.

Yes, global pacifism,
freedom of information.

These are things
that people will rally around.

We can get a lot
of lefty support.

College campuses,
Hollywood...

Good. Help defray
my legal expenses.

I'm serious.

So am I.
I know what you charge.

A couple of
well-placed
editorials,

some cable news spots,
public demonstrations.

This could be
very helpful.

Certainly not
gonna hurt, huh?

Won't keep me out of jail.

There's a lesser
criminal statute,

35 USC 799, which
makes it a misdemeanor

to disobey a regulation
set forth

by the NASA administrator.

Penalty's likely a fine,

no more than a
year's jail time.

Yeah, I know,
it's a little

pie-in-the-sky around the edges.

Keep thinking, Counselor.

It's what you're good at.

Toby.

Is it possible to be astonished

and, at the same time,
not surprised?

BABISH:
I've debriefed him, sir.

It seems to have
involved no one else.

C.J.:
Obviously, there will be
a partisan push

to probe past Toby to cause us

and the Santos campaign
more difficulty.

The fact that there's
no there there

should limit the other side's
ability to get traction.

The political fallout
is not my first concern.

BABISH:
We should move quickly, sir.

C.J.:
Oliver's pointed out
that not only

do we not want
the appearance of a cover-up,

we don't want the appearance
of, even for a moment,

having considered anything but
full and immediate disclosure.

I'll make a statement.

And Toby...

I'll take care of that, sir.

No.

Bring him here.

BABISH:
Respectfully, Mr. President,
you should not be

in the same room
with Toby Ziegler.

He is radioactive, sir,

potentially toxic
to the presidency.

Thank you for your counsel,
but I have to do this myself.

Then I have to insist
on being present.

Give me a moment.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, sir.

( sighs )

God.

See, this is
what puts people off.

Lurking.

No one likes a lurker.

How'd it go in there?

For your theory?

Not well.

I think there's a better one.

Can't be better
if it's wrong.

Good night, Charles.

The pattern is
so patently obvious, children,

even kindergartners
would see it!

I am trying
to save everyone's

jobs, okay?!

What?

All right, your theory,
what is it? Tell me.

It's a pretty scary scenario,
actually.

It leads to Russia and China
on the brink of confrontation,

two neighboring nuclear powers,
India and Pakistan,

poised to pick sides,

Japan and the United States

being drawn in
against their will.

It's your basic horror show--

World War Three nightmare.

Very cool.

Do you want to grab coffee?

Ned, hang on a minute.

What's up?

Am I in trouble?

You know this kind of thing

is never easy, but we've
decided to make a change.

Sorry?

We're shaking up the staff

and you're one of the people
we're going to let go.

I'm sorry.

You're joking.

I'm not.

You're firing me?

It's reassignment, back to
the Congressional office.

No, um, you don't fire me.

Does the Congressman
know about this?

He signed off on it.
Yeah.

Well, due respect,

I'm really going to have
to hear it from him.

He's going straight
to the meet-and-greet

and then, I really hope,
straight to bed.

Well, he's going to need
to find some time.

Listen to me.
Talking to the Congressman
isn't going to change anything.

I want to thank you
for all your hard work.

Screw you.

You know,

you can fire as many of
us grunts as you want,

but you want to know why this
campaign is floundering,

look in the mirror.

C.J.?

Something break
in the leak investigation?

Since I'm supposed to be
heading it...

I can't talk about this
right now.

I feel like
I owe you an apology.

You don't.

And I really can't
discuss this right now.

The President
wants to see you.

Just Toby.

I'm afraid I have a
problem with that.

I'm sure I didn't
just hear you invite yourself

into the Oval Office.

You're hearing me request that
the courtesy of an invitation

be extended to
Mr. Ziegler's attorney

or my client's
not going anywhere.

TOBY:
It's okay.

Toby.

It's all right.
Go home.

( knocks )

Mr. President.

Toby.

I was hoping we would be able
to speak in private, sir.

Your actions have pretty
much made that impossible.

I haven't had much time
to absorb this news,

so I'll apologize in advance

if I express any
half-formed thoughts.

But the one thought
that hits the hardest

is that this was
somehow inevitable.

That you've always been heading
for this sort of crash and burn,

that self-righteous superiority.

Not that you were
smarter than everyone.

That you were purer,
morally superior.

Due respect, sir,

I don't think I'm
morally superior to everyone.

No.

Just to me.

Sir, I've drawn up
a letter of resignation.

What is that, the third one?

Rip it up.

Sir?

I can't accept your resignation.

I have to fire you.

For cause.

BABISH:
You'll need to turn in
your credentials.

A guard will come to escort you
from the building immediately.

You may not take
anything out with you.

All personal effects will be

sent to your home
after Counsel staff

has catalogued the
contents of your office.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Toby.

When you walk out of here,
there'll be people out there,

perhaps a great many,
who will think of you as a hero.

I just don't, for a moment,
want you thinking

I'll be one of them.

C.J.:
Hey.

Is he in?

Thanks.

Hey.

Hey, what's up?

I'm offering...

well, um, not so much offering
as dragooning you

to be the new White House
Communications Director,

starting immediately.

Congratulations.

I'll smooth things
over with the V.P.,

but first, you should know the
President's making a statement

in, oh, three or so minutes
in which he'll announce

that Toby Ziegler has been fired

for an egregious national
security violation.

( whispers ):
Toby.

Said termination taking place
within the hour

of Mr. Ziegler's confession
of responsibility for this act.

Uh, does the President want me
to help with the statement?

I think he's got a
pretty good handle on

what he's going to say.

White House Counsel sealed
Toby's office,

so feel free to use Annabeth's
old one for the time being,

which, come to think of it,
used to be yours.

Funny how things work out.

Not so funny, really.

No, not so much.

Rough in there.

To be expected.

I thought he'd thank
you for your service.

He's angry.

Someone should thank you
for your service.

AGENT:
Mr. Ziegler?

I'll need your hard pass, sir.

If you'll come with me.

PRESIDENT:
Good evening.

Less than an hour ago,

White House Communications
Director Toby Ziegler

confessed to making
an unauthorized disclosure

of classified
national security information

to a reporter from
the New York Times newspaper.

This admission was promptly
brought to my attention

and Mr. Ziegler was immediately
fired from his position

in this administration,
effective at once.

He's been relieved
of his credentials

and asked to leave
the White House directly.

Authorities at the Federal
Bureau of Investigation

and the office of the federal
prosecutor have been
alerted...

( no audio )