All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S07E10 - Running Mates (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Good evening.

On December 16, we lost our
dear friend and colleague,

John Spencer.

Through our shock and grief,

we can think of no more fitting
memorial to this wonderful man,

this extraordinary actor,

than to share with you,
beginning tonight,

the last few months of his work
here on The West Wing.

Johnny, it seems
we hardly knew you.

We love you
and we miss you.

Previously on The West Wing...

SULLIVAN:
You're looking at
the next vice president.

For the next front runner

for the Republican nomination
for president.

Do you own a tux?

Excuse me?

I mean, I was just
going to go stag, but...

if you're not busy later.

MILES:
There's been an incident
in Kazakhstan.

The protests
at Alma Ata

turned violent
and Tarimov sent in riot police.

Any casualties?

Could be up to 200,

many of them
ethnic Chinese.

SANTOS:
What's this?

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

Don't worry
about it.

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

LEO:
I'm just saying,

I been at this
for a while,

I don't need
the babysitting.

Just because you've trained
a Preakness jockey

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

So how are you?

Indicted. You?

Health care
in this country's a mess.

Wait.

It's "health care is broken."

I think "mess" is better.

I know broken's what
we have a line for,

but we should work
the word "mess" in.

Let's start again.

Health care's a mess,
the system is broken.

"Broke?"

"Broken" is what they agreed on.

I'm sorry.

No.
No, no.

Sorry.

What'd you say,
"broke" or "broken"?

"Broken"-- it sets up
the bite better.

Health care in this country
is broken,

and the Republican Congress's
attitude is...

"Seems to be"?

"Is."
"Is" is stronger.

The Republican Congress...

"Congressional Republicans"?

The Republican Congress's
attitude is

if it ain't broke,
don't fix...

Ah!

"It is broke."

I can't believe...

I screwed it up.

Idiot.

I screwed the line up.

ANNABETH:
Leo, it's all right.

The Republican Congress's
attitude seems to be...

"Is."

The Republican Congress's
attitude is,

if it is broke,
don't fix it.

No, wait.

No, that's it.

That didn't sound right.

That's the line.

Yeah?

That was it.

Really?

Hallelujah.

Anybody got a cigarette?

ANNABETH:
We just started.

I know.

But I'd like to smoke it,
then have someone shoot me.

( laughs )
I'm sorry.

No, it's fine,
that's what this is for.

Keep going.

Governor Sullivan,
your response?

Mr. McGarry keeps
falling back

on the same trick.

When it's something good

that's happened
in the past eight years,

he touts his service
in the Bartlet White House.

When it's something
he disapproves of,

he lays the blame
on the Republican Congress.

Now, I submit that if the
health care system is broken,

it happened on his watch.

If your repairman
can't fix something

after eight years
of trying,

I think the American
people realize

it's time to try
someone else.

Mr. McGarry?

Mr. McGarry?

I need, um...

Boy, that's a good answer.

I'm going to need, um...

This broke thing,
it's a trap, isn't it?

I'm just leading with...

I'm leading with
my chin here.

These canned...

These pre-canned...

Can we take a break?

( sighs )

Yeah, Josh...

about the V.P. debate Sunday.

We may have a problem.

until the election, right?

DONNA:
No idea, does he?

Let me put it another way:

tell him this is his last trip
home until the election.

You didn't tell him?

JOSH:
Not in so many words.

In any words?

Tell me what?

Josh said this is
your last trip home

until the election.

Donna!

What?

Some deftness.

Little finesse.

I know.

He knows.

That's not the point.

Tell Josh to chill.

DONNA:
Josh, chill.

Did you just tell me to chill?

It would appear so.

Is it somehow not clear
that I'm your boss?

Congressman's recommendation.

Oh.

With which
I heartily concur.

Yeah. I-I don't think
you tell me to chill.

I wanted to scream it everyday
for eight years.

Whatever inhibition
prevented you,

summon it.

It's here!

I got to go.

How does Lou look?

Like she
always does.

Be kind of butch on me,
but Lou makes it work.

Does she look happy?

Worried?

"Stricken"might be the word.

Hyperbole, right?

Your well-known
predilection

for panic and exaggeration?

Well, I don't have
a predilection

for panic and exaggeration.

For the purposes
of this moment,

let's stipulate
that you do.

Is it really that bad?

No.

It's worse.

( inserting videotape into VCR)

Why won't you
and Congressman Santos

commit to a pledge
not to raise taxes?

Because it's
a lie.

OTTO:
Is my opponent calling

Senator Vinick
and myself liars?

LEO:
The American people want

the services
government provides.

They cost money and
have to be paid for.

We're running out unacceptable
deficits as it is.

He gets better, yes?

This is
the high-water mark.

( sighs )

Switch it off.

they can get
something for nothing...

( ejects tape )

What?

LOU:
Sullivan's
a killer,

the kid did what he had to do.

The rest of it's...
really that bad?

Watch it.

Can you fix it?

Have to,

the debate's in two days.

Anybody breathes

a word of this to the outside,

I will devise a punishment that
would make Torquemada blanch.

Why not leak it?

Play the expectations game.

That doesn't work when
you lower expectations

and your guy meets them.

( intercom buzzes )

Yeah?

Yeah.

It's, uh,Leo, line two.

Hey.

LEO:
Hey.

So?

I never got to see it.

The machine ate
the tape.

You didn't see any of it?

JOSH:
No, the-the damn thing
just fried.

Smoke and everything.

I was worried it was going
to set off the sprinklers.

That the only copy?

Yes, it's the only copy.

That's too bad.

So, what was the report?

JOSH:
Uh... it was good.

You know, some bumps...

in spots...

things to work on.

That's was debate prep is for.

We'll fine tune tomorrow.

Yeah.

Get some rest.

We need you to look

pretty for 20 million
TV viewers.

That's what we're counting on,
campaign's doomed.

See you tomorrow.

We should let them set up.
We want pictures.

The candidate's return.

Reconnecting
to his loving,
photogenic family.

Cause God forbid
any normal human behavior

should go unpoliticized.

Vinick's kids are approaching
menopause.

We want to get
some heartwarming footage

of your adorable young children

hugging their hale
and vital dad.

( laughs )

"Vital."

A subliminal reminder
that actuarially,

you're far less likely
to keel over in the Rose Garden

than your esteemed opponent.

We're set.

Out on the lawn?

Makes a prettier
picture.

( whistles )

Hey!

Hey, how you doing!

How you doing, Buddy?
Good.

What's happening?
( laughing )

How are you?
Take it easy,

he's not
feeling well.

Oh, really?
What's wrong,
Buddy?

Got a cold.
Ooh.

Oh, thank you
for that gift.
Oh, sweetheart!

( family laughing )

Hey, sweetie!

Welcome home, Daddy.
Oh...

Thank you, Angel,
it's good to be home.

My throat's scratchy.

Okay...

Hey.
How are you?

Had a little touch
of Ebola,

but I think I'm over
the worst of it.

Hi, guys!

How's it going?

LEO:
They're looking over
their shoulder.

And we've got movement
in Illinois,

solidifying nicely
in New Jersey...

trending well in Florida.

Mention Illinois.

Thing is definitely
tightening up.

Yeah, well, fortunately
there's nothing less impactful

than the V.P. debate.

I shouldn't hurt us
too bad.

Okay, Bob,
talk to you soon.

When I was in business,
all we talked was politics.

Now that I'm running for office,
all I talk is money.

Shake some loose?

We'll see.

So?

How'd I do?

The mock debate?

Well, I don't think
I have the standing

to critique
the substance.

An artful dodge.

Uncharacteristic.

Your usual
conversational mode

tending more toward
blunt instrument.

On style, then.

Uh!

That was horrible.

Hey, there's the cudgel.

But, we can
relax your posture,

relocate the voice,

corral that fidgeting,

and knock
some years off.

Not again with the Botox.

Hair and makeup room--
man's best friend.

Plan to spend some time there!

It's a hair
and makeup room,

it's not
a time machine.

None of this is
your problem.

You're going
to tell me what is.

Your smirk.

My what?

Yeah. You're doing it now.

No, I'm not.

It's your
default expression, Leo.

What are you
talking...

That's a scowl.

I am scowling,

which is, in itself,
probably not great.

That's the way
my mouth forms.

From decades
of smirking.

In the right context,

extremely effective--

commanding, reassuring,
even devastatingly sexy.

Sexy?
In the right
context.

In a debate,

under the best
of circumstances,

it reads as smug
and condescending.

In the context
where

you're getting waxed
by your opponent,

it comes off as...

clueless, defensive,

and not a little pathetic.

You seem to have
graduated from cudgel

to bludgeon.

But we're going to fix it.

Are we?

Mm.

Now you're scowling again.

Wonder why.
Mr. McGarry...

can you explain why,
after eight years

of the Bartlet presidency,
health care costs have exploded?

Three little words:
the Republican Congress.

( mimics game-show buzzer)
Now, that calls
for a little smirk

as underlining, punctuation...

It depends. Want to come off
as wise or wise-ass?

I wasn't done.

Finish.

Give the Santos-McGarry
Administration a...

No, the whole thing.

Why has the cost
of health care exploded

under Bartlet? Go.

Three little words:
the Republican Congress.

Give the Santos-
McGarry Administration

a Democratic
congressional majority,

we'll bring health care
costs under control

our first year in office.

You're doing it again.

I am not!

Leo... what's this?

Want to lose those,
clear to the knuckle?

I want to see this,
not this.

What my life has come to.

And it wouldn't kill you
to throw in a few specifics.

Thought you
didn't do content.

Ah-ah-ah.

Hey, you looking for me?

If you've
got a minute,

can you brief me on this
Kazakhstan situation?

The press is starting
to ask me more questions

than I have answers.

Sure. What do you
want to know?

Has a deal been struck
to keep Chinese troops

on their side
of the border?
That's classified.

So if there was a deal,
the details would be...

Also classified, if
there were details.

If there was a deal,
which is...
Classified.

As you said.

Have elections
been rescheduled?
In Kazakhstan?

That's our subject.

Also classified, though,

for the life of me,
can't imagine why.

You're enjoying this,
aren't you?
Not really, no.

Have the parties agreed to
U.N. monitors in this election

that may or may not
be rescheduled?

Classified.

You're just playing with me now.

Honestly, I'm not.

Is the subject of monitors
being discussed?

It's in the papers it is.

They didn't hear it from us.

So it's being
considered?

Debated? Negotiated?

Anywhere?

By anyone?
I'm so sorry.

Makes you feel powerful.

"I am woman;
hear me withhold."

It's not like that.
A little.

At moments.
This moment?

A bit.

It's disturbingly
compelling.

What's that say about you?
Nothing good.

( chuckles )

Oh, I want to thank you

for all the illuminating help.

Any time.

Nice to be home, honey.

A little semblance
of normalcy.

( laughing ):
Normalcy ain't what it
used to be.

Yeah, well, I'm sorry
about all this.

Small price to pay
to have you home.

So those Secret Service
guys, they're okay?

They stay outside?

Yeah.

And all the neighbors,
they're all right

with the guys with
dark glasses posted
around the house?

Are you kidding?

They now live on the safest
block in America.

( sighs )

Sir, did you want
to go somewhere?

I was just going
to get the mail.

Of course, sir--
we'll just need a few minutes

to shut down the street.

To walk to the mail box?

Anytime you go
into the front yard.

Do we really need
to get into all that?

I'm afraid so, sir.

Uh, it's okay, it's...

( whistles )
Never mind!

We'll get someone
to retrieve the mail for you.

Fine.

Then it'll need
to be screened.

Do whatever
you have to do.

What's that noise?

Those are our vehicles.

We keep their engines running.

The neighbors must love that.

Yes, sir.

"McGarry Debate Debacle?"

Where did he get this?

Who knows how these bloggers
get their information.

Well, considering it has
all the gory details,

I'd have to say it
was from one of us.

Don't say "us"
when you mean "you."

I didn't
leak anything.
Me, neither.

I'm this far
from ordering

polygraph tests.

Nobody mention this to Leo.

His confidence as shaky
as it is.

Hey.

You see this?

I heard...

something about it, yeah.

Let's get started.

We evidently have
some work to do.

as the transparent ploy it so
obviously is-- old as politics.

We fully expect Leo McGarry
to be a fierce

and formidable debate opponent.

Off the record?

I think you can sum up
the mood here

at Vinick-Sullivan headquarters
as "yippee."

Yeah. Thanks, Harv.

Everyone's got it.

God bless the Internet.

It giveth and it taketh away.

It's giving with both
hands on this baby.

Let's not
be overconfident.

You know, the best thing
about being warned

about overconfidence
is it means you got

a hell of a reason to feel
pretty damn confident.

I'm not going
to be lulled by this.

McGarry is verbal and tough.

It's one thing to argue
behind the scenes.

It's a whole
other ballgame

doing it in a debate setting.

Concerned about presentation,
tone...

Clarity.
Concision.

It's hard enough
for veteran politicians,

let alone a neophyte
like McGarry.

Leo's no neophyte.

At being a candidate,
he is.

You can go balls to the wall
all you like in private

with the President-- try doing
that in public, on TV.

Scares the horses.

We go in just as hard,
just as strong, just as focused.

MAYER:
You'll wipe the floor
with him.

That was my plan,
regardless.

If he's really that bad,
you might want

to dial it back a notch.
You don't
want me to look

like a bully?
Trick is to beat
his brains in

without making people feel sorry
for the guy.

Well, let's get to work.

SANTOS:
So what speech am I giving?

Plus the fundraising
appeal?

Mm. Modified
stump.

Modified.

Shorter.
Less filling,

tastes great.
Hopefully.

It's Houston--
these people know you.

Oh, they're sick
of hearing me talk.

DONNA:
Conceivably.

Thank you for your support.

De nada.

Anybody speak Spanish here?
( all chuckling )

BRAM:
You want to spend less time
telling your friends

what they
already know

and more time
looking them in the eye

and... asking them
for cash.

There's a squirm factor
we're counting on.

I could just hold them upside
down by the ankles,

give them a good shake.
You may be after

more than what they've got
in their pockets.

Hey, this
is Houston.

You never know.

It's all about the dinero.

That's money, right?

( laughter )

Uh, hey.

Remember, we're trying
to build confidence,

so hold back a little.

This is only useful
if it's real.

Don't hold back.

JOSH:
Ready?

Where's the camera?

Uh, no taping--
the only people

who need to see it
are right here.

No, for my
own edification.

Review?
Don't need you

too self-conscious.
JOSH:
No split focus.

We want you to concentrate
on your performance,

not whether
your forehead is shining.

ANNABETH:
For the record, your forehead

is gorgeous,
actually making me hot.

Let's get started.

JOSH:
Uh, Mr. McGarry,

the United States refuses
to recognize

the U.N. International Criminal
Court's jurisdiction

as it applies to itself,
yet implicitly

seems to expect the rest
of the world

to submit to that body's
legal authority.

Isn't this arrogant
and hypocritical?

Yes.

Congressional withholding
of recognition of the I.C.C.

has been one of the factors
contributing

to growing
international resentment

toward the
United States.

And I know the argument
on the other side.

Because the U.S. regularly
takes a leading role

in military interventions
overseas,

it leaves itself
especially vulnerable

to potentially illegitimate
legal claims, motivated solely

by ideological

or political animus
with no countervailing

checks or balances.

But... to get back
to our position,

the I.C.C. requires
the participation,

to have true legitimacy,

of the world's remaining
superpowers,

sole remaining...

Time.

Lou?

Okay.

That was good.

You spent, perhaps,
a little more time

laying out the other side's
position, rather than your own.

I felt that.
Yeah?

Good.

And the language was
a bit dense.

Dense?

Help me out here.

Dense is good.

Could be more plainspoken.
That's it.

LOU:
Plainspoken, exactly.

JOSH:
Plainspoken.

( reporters clamoring )
WILL:
Yes, Steve.

Do you have an update
on the situation in Kazakhstan?

Things seem to be
in a holding pattern.

"Seem to be"?

Has a deal
been reached

to keep the Chinese
and Russian troops from crossing

their respective borders?
Not that I'm aware of
at this time.

Is one currently
being negotiated?

Couldn't say.

But you could say?
I'm sorry,

I should have said
I have no knowledge

of whether an agreement
is being discussed or not.

Are you just obfuscating here?

Luckily for all of you,
if perhaps not so much

for the Administration,
should it ever come to that,

I couldn't possibly pull it off
this convincingly.

STEVE:
If it turns out

we're on the brink
of World War III,

this won't seem quite
so amusing.

In that horrible event,
one might assume

we'd all have
more pressing concerns.

( reporters clamoring)
Mark.

There you are.

We finally finished revising
those stimulus numbers

based upon
that latest C.B.O. package.

That what you guys
have been doing?

Every time I walked by
there, all I heard
was people laughing.

Well, we enjoy
each other's company.

Yeah, evidently.

There a problem?

It's just that when you said
you were coming home

to spend time with the kids,
I just got the idea that perhaps

you were going to spend time
with the kids.

I played with them
this morning.

Practically handling them
with tongs.

( chuckles )
I didn't want to get
in their faces.

They're sick.
They have head colds.

It's unlikely you'll start
bleeding from the eyes.

I'm in the middle of a
presidential campaign.

That's where
you've been nights.

I know it's been rough.

Kids being issued
panic buttons

and the house transformed
into an armed camp?

Bit of an exaggeration.

The windows in here
look any different?

No, not really.

Yeah.

It's amazing the natural
look they can achieve now

with bulletproof glass.

Labor Day, the barbecue?

I had to provide
the Secret Service

with everybody's names, social
security numbers, birth dates.

To come by and have a hotdog,
everyone had to be issued

ID pins.

My mother walking
around tagged

like she was some
threatening wacko.

If you're considering
this an opportunity

to crack a
mother-in-law joke,

you are seriously
misjudging

the mood of your audience.

I had a real
good one, too.
( laughs )

Yeah, what?

Too late.

I'm sorry.

Tomorrow will
be better.

( laughs )
Yeah.

Hey, think about the neat
place we get to live in

once we win this thing.

My throat's
really hurting.

HELEN:
Oh, sweetie.

Come here, honey.
I'll handle it.

What's wrong, angel?

I want Mommy.
Okay.

I'm here, baby.

Yeah, you're a little warm.

Let's go take
your temperature, okay?

Okay.
Okay, honey.

Come here.

as one who could be called upon
to assume the presidency,

what's your response to voters

concerned about
your medical history?

I say the House Speaker
shouldn't skip any checkups.

He can't be flippant about this.

I thought it was funny.

Defusing.
Sullivan will jump
all over it.

LOU:
Do an aria about

the awesome, sacred
responsibility of succession.

And he'll look like an idiot.

And Leo will sound
like he could care less.

How can we help him
if we can't even agree?

He never figured out
we were taping?

ANNABETH:
Nope.
Nice job.

JOSH:
Lipstick cameras.

You use these at home
for your personal pleasure?

Wouldn't you like to know.

Not really, no.

Should we cancel?

The debate?

It's the right question.

It'd just nakedly be saying
we were worried

about him looking bad.

Better than moving forward

and him, in fact, looking bad.

We don't cancel,
we keep working,

do another practice session
tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the debate.

Is it? Really?

Gee, slipped my mind.

Okay, guys, thank you.
You can go.

He'll be fine.

Acceptable.

I'll take anything
over train wreck.

( phone ringing )

( sighs )

Yeah.

SANTOS:
Hey.

Congressman,
how'd the event go?

Asking people
who've already given

money to give more money?

You got to be shameless.

It's shameful
how shameless you get.

What are you up to?

Cramming.

I know the feeling.

Karmic retribution

for every candidate I ever
glibly told, "Just work harder."

You saw the blog report.

Don't let that worry you, Leo.

Every time you and I argue
policy, you kick my ass.

Hardly.

Piece of advice?

Please.

Don't let all those advisors
mess you up.

All of that well-intentioned
counsel

can get you so self-conscious,

Trust your instincts.

You have a practice session
tomorrow?

Yeah.

Blow it off.
Go to the movies.

Get everybody out of your head.

How's the homecoming?

Great.

A little reentry problem?

A little bit.

She right there?

Home with the kids.

Miranda's got a fever.

You two will be all right.

My best advice--
don't get on a plane angry.

Says the divorced guy.

That make the advice better
or worse?

No idea.

( laughs ):
Get some rest, huh?

Thanks for calling.

Good luck.

( sighs )

What are you doing here
on a Sunday?

No life.
You? Wait.

Let me guess.
You can't tell me.

You're getting good at this.

Coffee?
Uh-uh.

You know it
occurs to me,

if you ever used--

and the fact that
you haven't earns you

major cliche-avoidance points--
the old

"I could tell you, but then
I'd have to kill you" trope,

that, given your background,
you probably actually could.

With my bare hands.

Again, alarmingly alluring.

You do have issues
to work on.

Which I tend to find

compelling to my
continual misery.

Really?

Dismayingly so.

Anyway,

I just came by to say
that I thought, given all,

you acquitted yourself well
at yesterday's briefing.

Apocalypse Maybe.
Nimbly done.

Don't change the subject.
From?

The end of the world
as we know it.

I can assure you,

Armageddon--
not necessarily imminent.

May I communicate same
to the White House press?

I can't think why not.

You have the thanks

of a grateful
Communications Director.

Though the prospect of the world
ending did have one upside.

Figured it gave license
to ask whether

you might want
to have dinner with me

before we and the planet went up
in cinders.

Oh.

Well, that is
an opportunity lost.

Though, I said
it wasn't imminent,

not that it was out of the range
of possibility.

So, then...?

How's tonight?

It's all over the press

that Leo had another
bad debate practice.

Somebody's leaking.

You can't seriously think
it's one of us.

You told a friend.

They told a friend, the friend
told The Washington Post.

I haven't spoken
to a friend in two months.

I don't think I have
any friends left.

All my friends

are in this room.
Okay, you win most pathetic.

Yeah.
( knock at door )

Am I interrupting?

Hey. No, no.
Not at all.

I'm canceling today's
debate prep.

I'm not sure
that's the best plan.

Too many voices.

Need to clear my head
a little bit.

We could just make it
Josh and me.

Or just Lou,
or-or me.

Think I'll do better on my own.

Short session?

Don't want to leave it
in the locker room.

Right.

See you all tonight.

Okay.
ANNABETH:
See you in a bit.

Bye.

( door closes )

Okay, forget what I was saying.

I want you to get out there
and lower expectations now.

Beyond what's
already out there?

Lower than low.
Go for low.

Hades low.

Spinning iron core
of the planet low.

Low.

Yeah, between the, uh,
security sweep,

the metal detectors,
and the, uh, perimeter detail,

that was about the safest mass
performed in America today.

( laughs )

( Santos and Helen laughing )

What's so funny?

Yeah, what's
so funny?

Uh, kind of
everything.

( laughter )

Did Teddy's father
get his gun back?

( laughter )
I don't know, Pete.

You're gonna have
to ask him.

What?

All right, kids,
get changed.

Sorry. You guys had them
all day yesterday.

It's the Sabbath--
day of rest.

There's something both of you
are gonna want to see.

What is it?

Uh, photos hit the papers
you're not gonna like.

I've probably
looked worse.

( laughs )

It's not of you.

Think they planted it?

Distract
from the debate tonight?

Only a man would ask that.

Beg your pardon.

Sorry, you're right.

Only you.

It's all over
the Internet.

What are we doing
about Illinois?

Not panicking.

Four points up
is still up.

SHEILA:
Senator to Chicago

and the suburbs.

I go downstate.

Santos ain't
playin' in Peoria.

They're talking
about canceling.

Who?
Santos-McGarry.

I hear they're in
panic mode over there.

That's why you leak
the Helen photo.

Will you stop?

They set the bar so low,
the only way

McGarry can look bad is
if he trips over it.

You go out and do your thing.

Just watch out it doesn't look
like you're kicking a cripple.

And we let this man talk
to reporters.

What?

SANTOS:
This is out of bounds!

I want you to contact
every media outlet

and let them know
that anyone using
this will no longer

receive cooperation
from this campaign.

Honey, I'm sorry
about this.

I...

I guess this is speechless.

It-It's trash journalism.

The lowest kind
of tabloid stuff.

This'll backfire.

They'll only sell out
every copy.

I'm so sorry, Mrs. Santos.

I can understand
how you must feel.

Can you? What kind of underwear

are you wearing
right now, Donna?

Ah.

Put me on the phone
with this publisher.

I'm not sure
that's the best...
Put me on the phone with him

right now.

Hey. Is this a bad time?

No. You caught me
in between arraignments.

Surprised you haven't changed
your cell number.

You disappointed
to actually get me?

No. I...

Somebody dead?

I've talked to you.

Once every six weeks.

You can set an extremely slow
clock by it.

I didn't think you wanted
to hear from me.

Because I-I don't feel

cut off enough?

All right, I-I wasn't sure
I wanted to talk to you.

Last time you were more
than usually assholic.

( laughs )

Is-Is that the reason
you're calling?

Because I'm not sure
I'm in the ideal head space

for a character critique.

Have you seen the stuff
about Leo?

Lowering expectations.

It's not us.

Really? You mean,
he actually...?

Yeah.

News for a day.

Not even,
with this tattoo thing.

That was you, right?

No.
TOBY:
Huh.

Really on top
of the information flow, huh?

I think we can do
without your usual disparagement

of my job performance.

I just feel like
I really screwed up.

It's the V.P. debate.

The very definition
of low impact.

Well, the campaign'll survive.

It's-It's... It's Leo.

He'll survive, too.

I put him in this position.

If he goes out and embarrasses
himself, it's my fault.

He's a big boy, Josh.

He did this for me, and now...

Now I've put him
in this position

where he can fail
on national TV.

I'm sorry. He did this for you?

Well, you know what I mean.

Leo McGarry did not accept
his party's nomination

for the Vice Presidency
of the United States

because he thought
it might make your socks

roll up and down.

I just hate
to see him struggle like this.

It's not what he deserves.

I-I can't help it
if it sounds self-aggrandizing.

I feel responsible.

He's really that bad?

Watch tonight.

Actually, don't watch.

( sighs )

This must all sound
pretty trivial.

You mean to someone
under indictment?

It does concentrate the mind
just a little.

How's that going?

Can't talk about it.

Too tough?

Legally proscribed.

Right.

Give yourself a pass
on this, Josh.

( sighs ):
Yeah.

I'll talk to you

in six weeks.

Election day.
JOSH:
I forget.

In D.C.,
they-they let felons vote?

Too soon?

Just a little bit.

See you.

( sighs )

You okay?

"Okay" may be a bit
much to hope for.

I'm sorry about all this.

It's not your fault.

In a way.

What are you gonna do?

That shouldn't be a
part of all of this.

Everything is a part of this.

If you don't see that,
you're not paying attention.

No pizza delivery on the block
is a part of this.

Mass starting an hour late

so they could
mag wand the choir.

The kids getting sick.

The kids? How are they?

Dragging them
across the country.

Kids whose fathers aren't

running for president get colds.

Well, I'm not gonna
do it anymore.

They enjoy it, Helen.

Sitting in hotel rooms,
waiting for Daddy?

Can we talk about this
when you're not so upset?

You should change.

You promised Peter
you'd throw the football around.

( knock at door )

Hey.

You all set for tonight?

I'd better be.

Got a suit picked out?

Tie?

You here to approve
my wardrobe?

No, I'm not.

I'm not worried about that.

I'm not worried at all.

Thanks for saying it, at least.

Listen.

We should move
Rock the Vote up.

That's gonna give Santos
his boxers or briefs moment.

Helen should do it with him.

She won't do it.

He's pretty pissed.

We make lemonade.

We put them both on.

Youthful, attractive...

Camelot for
the 21st century.

We turn that
vote out, we win.

They never come out.

They haven't had anyone like him
to vote for since Kennedy.

I'll get on it.

There's still time
to go over stuff for tonight.

I'm good.

Last minute review?

I'd rather take
it easy, rest up.

It's gonna be good.

It's gonna be what it is.

Okay, well...

Thanks for coming by.

Yeah, I'll see you there.

( door closes )

SANTOS:
Oh, Leo's gonna be better
than people think.

But you know, it's the message,
not the messenger.

Do you have any twos?

( whispers ):
Go fish.

No, we're gonna score tonight,
because what we've got to say

about this country is
forward-looking and inclusive.

Dad...

I have every confidence

that when Leo McGarry
challenges Ray Sullivan

on the issues, he's gonna show

that the Vinick campaign's
so-called sensible solutions

are neither sensible
nor solutions.

Sorry for the
mix-up, Mr. Santos.

Produce I.D.,
pass through a metal detector,

enter my own brother's house.

We were told you
were out of town.

That's why you weren't on
the pre-clearance list.

Plus, they got my name wrong.

It's Jorge.

It's not George.

They just went with
what's on your driver's license.

Getting it changed.

Hey. You made it
after all, huh?

Hey.

What? I thought I was
gonna get cavity searched.

( chuckles )

BRAM:
He wasn't on the list.

Standard operating
procedure now.

You can make it up to me.

Listen, I invited over a
couple business associates

for drinks and a photo.

Think we can get them
past your storm troopers?

Sure.

I'll see what I can do.

Haven't had a chance to say
you have a lovely home.

It's even nicer when you
don't have shouting protesters

holding pictures of fetuses
just up the street.

I'm sorry for snapping
at you before.

Completely understandable.

Personal embarrassment aside...

( chuckles ):
Embarrassment is
when you nod off

at a PTA meeting.

When entire cable news segments
are devoted to debates about

whether you seem
kind of whore-y,

I think we've upgraded
to outright humiliation.

I was just gonna say, actually,

it probably helps
more than it hurts.

Makes you and the Congressman
seem sexy and hip.

Um... glad to be of service.

One of the reasons these
stories may get so much play

might be because it's all
the public knows about you.

You haven't really
defined yourself.

Well, I'm not running
for president.

With all due respect,

we both know
you're not that naive.

The option to be
left alone took a hit

when the Congressman
signed on to run

and pretty much got obliterated

once he gained the nomination.

It'll be a distant memory
when he wins this thing.

Might be time for you
to start talking about

the kind of First Lady
you want to be.

I'd like to help you with that
if you'd let me.

Can't tell you what kind of
First Lady I'd like to be.

Too busy deciding
if I want him to win.

Eye contact. Start
on the monitor.

Points youpunch,
straight to camera.

When Sullivan talks,
you look at him.
But don't stare.

Don't look bored.
Even when he's boring.

He'll be boring.

Hey, look at me.

Gorgeous.

Oh, get her away from me.

Man cannot take
a compliment.

They're ready for you.
Go get 'em.

Good luck.

Hey, McGarry.

( whispers ):
You're smirking.

Yeah.

( clears throat )

Good.

You.
Thank you.

Me.

A Carciofi salad,
shaved parmesan.

Little order envy.

Take it.

No.

One time, first date offer.
I'd seize it.

First?

Optimist.

Take-out dinner
in your office-- you must be.

Hey, it started.

MODERATOR:
Mr. McGarry, your response.

LEO:
Senator Vinick
and Governor Sullivan

oppose the Kyoto treaty
because they don't want

foreign governments dictating
our emissions standards.

They oppose
the International Criminal Court

because they don't want
a foreign body

to have legal jurisdiction
over U.S. citizens.

But they apparently

have no problem ceding
enormous, unprecedented leverage

over our economy
to bankers in China.

Our opponents evidently favor
sending even more

billions of U.S. dollars
China's way.

Matt Santos and I would
bring that money back

to our shores for our citizens,

and return control
of our economy back home,

where it belongs.

MODERATOR:
Mr. McGarry,
next question's for you.

Many Americans consider
the Vice President's role

in Presidential succession

to be the most important
responsibility...

Never said he was gonna
gibber like a gibbon.

...given your medical history,

why shouldn't voters
feel concern about you?

LEO:
By an overwhelming percentage,

the first warning symptom
of a heart attack is death.

I'm fortunate to be here.

But it wasn't all luck.

I was the beneficiary

of the finest medical care
in the world--

medical care available to me,
to Governor Sullivan,

but not to the millions
of Americans

with no or inadequate
health insurance.

They have their noses
pressed against the windows

of the world's
greatest hospitals,

best-trained doctors
and nursing professionals,

and when they most need--

most desperately need their
services, they can't get in.

Matt Santos and I don't want
to leave anyone out in the cold

if they get sick like I did.

I could kiss somebody.

We want every man, woman,
and child in this country

to have full and equal access
Or, you know, not.

to the first-class treatment

that I firmly believe
saved my life.

He didn't really
answer the question.

Doesn't matter.

Doesn't matter.

Damn straight!

You said a swear.

( applause ):
Thank you, thanks.

Thank you.

Hopefully, didn't
embarrass us too bad.

Are you kidding?

Josh and Lou
are in the spin room.

You gave them
a lot to work with.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Are you coming next door
for a drink?

Soon as I scrape
the makeup off.

Son of a bitch.

Very nice.

You sandbagged.

Get a head start
on that drink?

Didn't you?

You're not smirking.

What was all this about?

The truth?
Yeah.

I was really that lost.
Oh, come on.

Couching answers

in tame, time-pressured
sound bites.

And then when
Josh wouldn't even

show me that tape,
scared me to death.

So I leaked it.

You did.

I was worried he was so
worried he wouldn't.
So you just

called up a bunch of reporters,
said, "Hey, Leo McGarry here.

Just letting you know
I'm one sucky debater."

I covered my tracks.

I've been at this awhile.

Let a couple think

it was you.
Wasn't the voice a big tip-off?

There's not enough
helium in the cosmos.

So I borrowed your
e-mail account.

Excuse me...

Never use your cat's
name as your password.

JOSH:
Hey, I got to get back in there.

I just want to say good going.

Got through it.

JOSH:
You did better than that.

Just never
make me do this again.

In four years, book it.

JOSH:
I'll see you at the thing.

If you'll excuse me, too,
I have a password to change.

So I'll see you
in Phoenix on Thursday.

I'll be there.

I hear that the hotel's
got this waterslide.

Oh, pack a Victorian
bathing dress.

( chuckles ):
I meant for the...

( chuckles ):
I know what you meant.

Ah, it's probably
not a good idea

that they go swimming anyway
with the colds and all.

No, probably not.

I miss them like crazy.

I know you do. I know.

I miss you, too.

I'll be there in Phoenix.

Yeah?
Mm-hmm.

( sighs )

WOMAN:
McGarry did
all he needed to do,

exceed expectations.

MAN:
How couldn't he, the way
the Democrats spun the run-up?

WOMAN:
And we fall for it every time,

reviewing that spin
instead of the substance.

MAN:
Substance? In a debate?

I'd be surprised if this debate
changed anyone's mind.

WOMAN:
Arguably, the best outcome for
the Vice Presidential debate.

At least, don't send the voters

running into the arms
of the other guys.

( sneezes )

MAN:
Bless you.

Thank you.