All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S07E11 - Internal Displacement (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing:

Can you brief me on this
Kazakhstan situation?

Has a deal been struck
to keep Chinese troops

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

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

Also classified, if
there were details.

New Hampshire, first district.

We'll have a good shot
at the seat.

I think so. And I think
I'm the man to do it.

I think with a little help

from you fine people,
I'm gonna be elected

to the United States
House of Representatives.

If the worst thing
they can say about me

is that I'm Jeb Bartlet's
son-in-law?

Once the public gets to
know me as an individual,

it's an entirely different race.

You're the politician.

Why the hell don't you run?

I don't want it.

Then why would you let Doug?

Because he's my husband,
and he asked me to.

For three years, I've
been thinking about

what might have been if it
weren't for the conflict.
Yeah?

And I'm almost over it.

I mean, I'm right there,

and you come back.

( typing )

Forgive me.

For what?

You should be drinking.

You look incredible.

Stop.
No, you do.

That's unnecessary.

You okay?

I'm just great.

Have a seat.
Thanks.

So how's the President?

We off the record?

Please, yes.

He's doing great.

I wouldn't want that
to get around.

I'm surprised you called.

I vaguely remember shunning you.

Dignity's not my forte.

So...

They kept the kitchen open.

Oh, then we should order. Hi.

Thank you.
Mm-hmm.

Would you like to hear
the specials?
Please.

Well, tonight, we're featuring
New Zealand lamb...

Is this from a list?
I'm sorry?

The specials, are they
written down somewhere?
Yeah, they're right here.

Just give us that. We'll
read them. We're readers.

Whatever you want.

Just easier that way.

Then you don't have to perform.

Fine with me.

Thanks.

A night out.

This is like a week in Aruba.

Except it's cold and dark.
What?

I was making a joke.

Oh, you don't have to do that.

Relaxing makes me nervous.

It feels like I'm
missing something.

You want a drink?

No.

So what's up?

What's up?
Why am I here?

You really want me to just...

Cut to the chase, I do.

All right, well...

I'm having a bit
of performance anxiety here.

Get yourself together.

I'll look at the menu.

I wanted to see you.

That's it?

How am I supposed to...

I know you've always
had a thing about reporters.
A thing?

When you were press secretary,
you had a thing.

I wouldn't call it a thing.
No?

They tick me off is all.

You want to know why?
No, that's okay.

Because they care more about
coming up with a good story

than they do about
telling the truth.
I see.

So now, I have to live in
a culture where what's important

doesn't matter, because we're
too preoccupied with people

who are more attractive
than we are

playing musical genitalia
in Hollywood.

Wow.
It's disgusting.

I cover politicians.

Most of them are homely,
so no one cares.
That's true.

Maybe if they made up for it

with guts,
we'd write better stories.

Maybe if we had the support of
a well-informed constituency...

As opposed to what, leading?

You want to know
why politicians tick me off?
Can't wait.

They're attracted
to arenas of false heroics.

I don't know what that means.

There's two places
where you can see a pumped-up

egomaniac slathered with man-tan
talking about how great he is

and how he's gonna kick
his opponent's ass.

One is a professional
wrestling match;

the other is a national
political convention.

Can't do anything if
you don't get elected.

Your boss never has
to get elected, ever again.

But you guys are content running
out the clock with the same game

of well-intentioned defense
you've always played.

That's not true.
You could do more

in a day than most people
can do in a lifetime.
You think

I'm not aware that I'm living

the first line
of my obituary right now?

So don't get hypnotized
by complexity.

Make it count.

What are you working on?

Right now, I'm trying to
keep China and Russia

from annihilating the
northern hemisphere

over oil in Kazakhstan.

What are you working on?

Couple of house races.

No good comes from that.

No.

Have you heard anything
about Doug Westin?

Yeah, looks like the President's
son-in-law might be the next

freshman congressman
from New Hampshire.

He's only down three points.

Yeah, and I guess he
doesn't care about

being his own man anymore.

He's asking the President
to fly up

and stump for him in Manchester.

Really?
Yeah.

Why?

He's getting a lot of heat,

bunch of profiles,
rising star crap.

And I was surprised
because the one time I met him,

he seemed kind of...

Unimpressive?
Yeah.

Are you implying
that success in politics

isn't a question
of inherent value?

No, I would never do that.
Good.

Okay, let's get
a move on here.

Fish is a stupid thing to get
in a restaurant.

I think he may be
banging the nanny.

I want a big slab of...

What?

I think the President's
son-in-law

may be banging the nanny.

Is that a euphemism?

No.

Well, banging is, I guess.

It's just a rumor,

no official corroboration,

but it's flying around
pretty heavy up there.

And it could break any minute.

The President still has

a lot of political enemies
in New Hampshire

who might want
to create a circus

or just hurt him for spite.

Got you. Great.

Thank you. I'm gonna go.

You're what?
I got to go.

Ah, shoot, I ruined the...

Tomorrow's a big day
that just got bigger.

You got to eat.

Get the steak,
tell me how it was.

Can I see you again?
Sure, it was swell.

When?
Soon as we're out of office.

if we can't guarantee the safety
of our own election monitors?

It's gonna diminish
turnout, no question.

You think?

Ethnic Chinese want revenge.

They're not looking
for a referendum.

Is there some kind
of legitimacy threshold?

You mean participation?
Yeah.

No.

Chinese troops are
holding on the border?

Yeah, but any further loss of
life, they'll have no choice.

They'll have to go in.

Kazakhs understand that one
hungover riot cop goes nutso,

and everyone gets to live
in a sarcophagus?

Tarimov understands the stakes.

He's rattled, but he gets it.

I mean, these people
love their vodka.

Don't drink and play
thermonuclear war.

That's what I'm saying.

Whatever communication
we have with the Russians,

we emphasize that everybody
needs to bury their dead

and vote in peace.
Right.

What do we know about
these attacks in the Sudan?

The refugee camp in Darfur?

Yeah.

Janjaweed warriors on camel
and horseback attacked the camp

along with government troops
out of Khartoum.

This is new, right?

Attacking the camps is new.

And it's directed by the
government in Khartoum?

African Union Peacekeepers
say the Janjaweed

and the Sudanese government
are the same thing.

Government helicopters
were part of the assault.

There's rape trauma
in the camps, amputations.

All the men are dead.
We've seen it before.

MAN:
And as the President's
son-in-law

comes to town this week

to meet with Democratic leaders
and donors,

the big question is,

will there be another member
of the Bartlet family...

Look good.

...in the capital
come next January.

Mr. Westin, who has insisted...

So the Peacekeepers
are overwhelmed.

Yeah.

The minute
it gets too dangerous

the humanitarian groups pull out
and we have genocide on smack.

Let's move on this.

Really?
I want to see if we can

get a resolution
through the UN.

There's a Security
Council meeting

on the books, isn't there?

Yeah, next week.

Let's chop the
financial balls off

these genocidal bastards
in Khartoum.
How?

We sanction their oil revenues.

I thought we agreed...
To sit on our butts?

That China would veto. That's
why we've never tried it before.

China needs us now.

They need an honest broker
with the Russians

to make sure this election
in Kazakhstan is legitimate.

Is this coming
from the President?

It's coming from me.

I'm gonna see what I can get
and then take it to him.

If we can assure them their flow
of oil in Kazakhstan is secure,

they may be willing to sacrifice
something in the Sudan.

We trade pots of oil.

They give up what they're
getting from the Sudan,

we make sure they're getting it
from Kazakhstan.

You don't want to jeopardize
our neutrality in Kazakhstan.

No, they can't know
it's coming from us.

We find a proxy.

Yeah.

France and Germany want us

to let them sell arms
to China again.

Margaret?

I need the French ambassador.

Will's here.

Will?
Yeah.

Send him in.

I'm gonna take off.

Great, thanks.

Campaign Coordination
in the Roosevelt.

Josh is waiting.

That's a conference call.

Actually, he's in town, so he

wanted to do it in person.

And Steve Laussen called again

from Refugees' Rights Alliance.

He wants five minutes
this afternoon.

Actually, it's more like
he demanded five minutes.

I told him no.

Squeeze him in.
Really?

Why not?

You I need. Come here.

What's wrong?

Close the door.
I didn't do it.

Close the door.
Toby did it.

Shut up.

You gonna talk now?

Seriously.

I don't react well to this.

It's like staring at a dog.

I think Doug Westin is having
an affair with his nanny.

Jeez, I don't want to know that.

Why did you tell me that?

Because you deal
with the press,

and I don't want you
to get blindsided.

Exactly. I work with the press.

I do my best work

when I'm the least informed
person in the room.

You taught me that.

Suck it up.
I can't act.

I'm a terrible actor.

You were in New Hampshire...
I don't like to pretend.

...during the primary.
So what?

So find out if there's
any truth to said rumor.

How?
You'll figure it out.

Wow.
You think?

I've got the President
flying up there next week

to lend his credibility
to the alleged fornicator.

Really bad.

We've already lost a vice
president in a sex scandal.

I feel like I'm handing out
towels at the Playboy mansion.

It's not your fault.

Oh, really now?

Open the door.
What?

Open the door.

Did you take an awkward pill?

What? I'm always like this.

Thank you.

Briefer Boy, I caught
you on C-Span.

You look real
cute in makeup.

Withering sarcasm,
I love it.

Those are some
brutal briefings.

Looks like some sort of
medieval wonk-baiting.

Support me in public,
that's all I ask.

C.J.:
On Tuesday's call,
we were talking

about how many more
Cabinet members

you want
out on the trail.

Yeah, since I'm in town,
I thought I'd nail down

the President's availability
for the rest of the campaign.

I'm back at 4:00
to sit with

Cabinet Affairs
and work out a calendar.

We're gonna need
some people left

in the building
to run the country.

I don't care about that.
But we're going to do
everything we can

to support you in your
targeted media markets.

And I talked
to the President;

he's fine doing
the radio address

on deficit reduction,
and I'm assuming

you're going to keep
slamming Vinick

on the impact of
his tax cut, right?

Yeah.

What else?
We're all looking at
the same polling:

Santos does better
where people think

the country's moving
in the right direction.
Sure.

I don't want you to do anything
you wouldn't be doing anyway.
Of course not.

But, whatever you have,
in terms of research grants,

infrastructure initiatives,

it's a waste
to piddle it out

in some Department
of Commerce

press release,
let's highlight it,

have the secretary show up,
create some sizzle.

We've got some
small business loans

and light rail stuff
coming down the pipe.

We'll keep you posted.

Thanks, whatever you got.
That's easy.

I want it all.

You will have it.

I also want
something big.

Like?

The Molecular Transport Lab.

The biotech chemical
genome thing.
What about it?

Be nice to make the announcement
in Texas next week.

You just said you didn't
want us doing anything

we weren't doing anyway.

I don't.
I just want you

to move the
announcement up.

It'd be huge for us in Texas.

Could make the
difference down there.

The location hasn't
been decided yet.

It's still working its way

though the agency
review process.

That's not
what I hear.
No?

No. It's going to Austin.
All $2 billion worth.

I gotta go.

I'll be back at 4:00
for Cabinet Affairs.

You should check that out.

How does he know we already
made a decision?

Maybe he doesn't,
maybe it's just a rumor.

Maybe it's
wishful thinking,

and he's trying
to jam it home on us.

If we announce that

a $2 billion federal
research investment

is going to Texas
before the election,

the Senior Senator
from Kentucky

is going to blow
a gasket.

Yeah, it's a good way
to make an elder statesman

look like a doddering,
ineffectual fool.

The French Ambassador
is in the Mural.
Yeah.

He's fine. I gave
him a beverage.
Thanks.

Where did you leave it
with the senator?

Well, Bowles knows
it's going to Texas.

He's fighting
for his life.

His constituents don't like
his politics anymore,

"schwing" with the federal
purse is all he's got.

He didn't promise
them anything.

All he's asking is
that we hold off

on the announcement
until after the election.

What'd you tell him?

I told him we'd hold off
until after the election.

We're not risking
a senate seat.

You're doing it again.
Doing what?

Just standing there
in front of me.

I thought we
were talking.

That's over now.

Go see what you can find out
about the nanny.

I still don't
understand how...

Walk away from me now.

So proud to serve in
these hallowed halls.

We are very concerned about
the reports out of the Sudan.

The attacks on the
Internally Displaced
Peoples' Camps

in Darfur--
yes, it's awful.

We would like to turn off
the financial spigot

that is supporting the
government in Khartoum.

There's no reason
not to expect

more mass killings
and more displacement.

Well, as you know,
the European Community

has formally condemned
this activity.
Yes,

and as you know,
the perpetrators do not care.

Our students have launched
a very effective

divestiture campaign.

Which we admire.

We believe you have
the domestic constituency

to support bold action.

Yes, that's true.

We may be willing
to support

reopening your
arms sales to China.

In exchange for what?

A U.N. Resolution sanctioning
all oil revenues

to Khartoum.
The Chinese will veto it.

They might.
C.J., they will.

Look, if it was up to me,
NATO troops would have been

on the ground in
the Sudan years ago.

Are you offering
French troops to a NATO

peacekeeping
effort?

The African Union
troops are

clearly doing their best
to protect the camps.

There's been
improvement there.

People are still dying.

No, I know it's
not the solution.

But I believe
an African problem

will require an
African solution.

We would all prefer
an African solution,

but it's not working.

But you have to ask
yourself, C.J.,

how did we get here?

We saw it coming.

We did.
Perhaps

a murderous government with
intelligence on international

Islamic terrorist
organizations...

Could provide the United States
with crucial information?

Absolutely.

Perfectly
understandable.

But when we push
things to the side,

often they come back
to haunt us.

We all make calculation,
Jacques.

And your investors

who continue to trade
shares of the multinationals

who do business
with these killers

on the New York
Stock Exchange,

that's another
"calculation," yes?

And there's plenty of hypocrisy
to go around.

True. True.

Unfortunately, C.J.,

we cannot afford
to introduce a resolution

so obviously aimed
at the Chinese.

You are so fond of
calling yourselves

"The Leaders of
the Free World."

So... lead.

What do you got?
I have nothing.

He didn't do it?
No, I mean
I didn't get...

I told you to...
To what?

Casually call people
in New Hampshire

and ask them if they think
the President's son-in-law

is committing adultery
with the nanny?

You have to be a little
more artful than that.

There is no art in
trying to find out

if somebody slept
with someone else:

You ask it straight out,
or you don't-- "art"?!

Didn't say it would be easy.

A segue hasn't
been invented

that takes us from
"How's the weather,"

to "Is Doug Westin
hammering the nanny?"

So you have nothing?

No, I found out

it's really cold
in New Hampshire.

You're useless.
And...

that the Westin's 26-year-old
nanny of three years

was let go in
August and is now

traveling
in Europe.
Okay...

And there do
seem to be

a lot of reporters focusing
on Doug, digging around.

That doesn't mean...
Sheila Jacobs, Tom Weller,
Danny Concanon.

Danny Concanon, yeah.
They're all
talking to people

off the record about Doug.

Non-politicos.

And I pulled this picture
of the whole family,

at a butter festival,
off the Internet.

That's the nanny
right there.

Which makes me
think he... did it.

I mean,
just look at her.

What's that
supposed to mean?

I'm just saying...
Yeah, I can see
your mouth moving,

you're just
saying what?
That she's really cute

and he probably
did it.
They have children.

Sure. It'd be stupid
to have a nanny

if you didn't have kids.

Especially one
that looks like that.
Okay...

No, I'm just saying
if you're interested

in the male
perspective.
Always.

I find it raises the level
of the discussion.

Can I give you
one piece of advice

before you ask me
to leave my own office?

What?
I don't know where
you're going with this...

I'm protecting
the President.
Right. Whatever.

This much I do know:

There's only one thing
worse than telling

the President
of the United States

his son-in-law's
having an affair.

What's that?
Telling the President
of the United States

his son-in-law's
having an affair,

then finding out
you were wrong.

( cell phone ringing )

This is Danny.

C.J.:
I know you're working
on this story,

and I'll get to that later,
but right now,

I'm concerned with
the President,

and I don't want to have to walk
your dumb-ass gauntlet

of journalistic ethics,
so I'll make this easy for you.

I'm going to say a sentence,
and if it's true,

you just don't say anything.
Clear?

I don't say anything.

If you don't say anything,

it means that
what I said was true.

Uh... okay.
Got it?

Isn't that kind of risky?
What do you mean?

Well, what if you say
something that's not true

and my cell phone cuts out?

Well, that's not
going to happen.

I just got in an elevator.

Well, get off now, mister!

Whoa, whoa!
Hang on. Whoa. Sorry.

( knocking )

You okay?
I'm fine, I'm fine.

Oh!

DANNY:
Hello?

Hello?
What the...

I'm holding the fish now.

You... want your privacy,
don't you?

DANNY:
Hello?
I really do.

Steve Lawson from Refugee Rights
Alliance is out here.

Give me a minute.

I'll do that.

You there?

Yeah.
You okay?

I almost killed my fish.

On purpose?

Why would I do that?

Well, you been under
a lot of pressure.

Okay, listen up.
I'll tell you

anything you want to know

if you have dinner
with me tomorrow night.

I just want to see
What?

if we can get through
an appetizer together.

Okay.

Same place?

Sure.
Great. Shoot.

If I went to the President
with the information

you brought to my attention,
would I be making a mistake?

Nope.
See you tomorrow night.

( sighs )

Steve. Come in.

It's good to see you.
Thank you.

I'm glad we could
make this happen.
Me too.

Have a seat.

You're aware of
the situation in the Sudan?
Yeah.

The attacks on
the displacement camps.

Janjaweed warriors backed
by government helicopters?

Right.
Has there been

any official response
from this administration?

We condemned it.

What do you want
to hear, C.J.?

You want to hear
the numbers first,

or you want to hear
the horror stories?

Neither.
Well, I'll just
run down

the talking points
real quick, then.

Three million displaced,
400,000 dead.

Children forced to watch
their mothers raped

and their fathers killed.

Current death toll
per month: 6,000.

If the humanitarian
organizations

are forced to withdraw:
100,000 per month.

Steve?
I have some photographs.

I don't need
to see photographs.

When the babies die,

the mothers don't know
how to put them down,

so they carry them around.

On this planet.

On your watch.

Yeah.

You remember the picture
of the Vietnamese monk

who lit himself on fire
to protest the war?

I used to think
that guy was nuts, now...

it seems like the only
logical response.

Won't help.

We need strong
preemptive action

led by the Bartlet
administration.

Overwhelming American
military might?

Followed by a decade
of nation building

in a part
of the world

where many
consider us infidels,

so that we might
bring forth

a new and benevolent
democracy?
Of course not.

Come on, C.J.!

I mean, when did it become naive

to try to put an end
to genocide?

We are monitoring
the situation carefully.

Of, for the love of...
Steve, you don't
need to...

I need my government...
The President is
fully aware...

...to assert what is left
of its moral authority!

Okay.

( sighs )

I want five minutes
with the President.

This was your five minutes
with the President.

I'm sorry, Steve,
I'm late for a meeting.

( sighs )

You've got the German
ambassador in the Mural

when you come back.
Great.

Doug Westin's in town,
I need to see him tonight.

I'll track him down.
Alone.

Alone?
Alone.

( sighs )

I smell bacon.

Hello, Josh.

A heapin' helpi''

of sizzling
federal pork butt.

I can't talk right now.

Just perfect for
a Texas barbecue.

I have to make a call.

I just finished up
with Cabinet Affairs,

I thought you might
have some news.
I don't.

'Cause it would be
really helpful

to make the announcement
in Texas next week.

We can't announce something
we haven't decided yet.

See, this is weird,
because when the EPA

did the environmental
impact study in Kentucky,

they concluded
it had to go to Texas.

Oh, really now?

Yeah, I have the data.

Plus the University of Texas
has everything they need

in terms of research
coordination.

You know know all this.

You're playing with me, right?

I'm not.

We haven't made a decision.

You have bad information.

I feel pretty confident
about my information,

since I actually work here,
and you actually don't.

And now I have
to make a phone call.

The President needs
to fly down to Texas,

stand next to the congressman,

and make the announcement
next week.

It's not
gonna happen.

It's gonna come out before
the election, anyway, C.J.,

you can't keep this
kind of information quiet.

The only question is,
you want the President to be

a part of the story or not?

Think about it.
I'm around.

Please, have a seat.

What can I do
for you, C.J.?

We've been monitoring these
developments in the Sudan.

Disturbing. Tragic.

As long as the oil revenues
flow into Khartoum,

the humanitarian situation
will continue to deteriorate.

Germany has completed
a large deal,

and one of our companies
is building a...

The diesel electric plant.
Yes, we are aware.

Good.

I want to be honest
with you. Good.

We are looking for
a U.N. Resolution.

From who?
From you.

The Chinese will veto.

They might.
100%, they will.

One hundred percent.

This is something
that the President needs.

Yes. You already made the
same request of the French.

We talk often.

We have a union now.

If you want this
resolution so much,

why don't you make
it yourselves?
Because right now,

we are doing everything we can

to avoid World War III
in Kazakhstan,

and at the same time, we would
like to do whatever we can

to prevent an unnecessary
and massive loss of human life.

Then focus
on humanitarian needs.

If we start mixing human rights
with oil exports,

we'll all be riding bicycles.

The parliament
of the European Union declared

what was happening in Darfur
to be tantamount to genocide.

Tantamount, yes.
Overwhelmingly.

In exchange
for your introduction

of a new resolution,
we will drop our opposition

to your resumption of arms sales
to China

And, of course, we can assure
you of a sympathetic hearing

at the next round
of trade negotiations.

There may be another
construction project

in conjunction with the diesel
electric plant in Khartoum.

It will be grandfathered
into the sanctions.

Well, then,
how can I refuse you?

You're very
persuasive.

Thank you,
Mr. Ambassador.

The President
will be thrilled.

How will you avoid
a veto from China?

You just said it yourself,
Franz.
Yeah.

I can be very persuasive.

( wry laugh )

where the research disciplines

can no longer afford
to function separately.

( over TV ):
Our understanding of our natural
world is beginning to inform

our technological future,

and our understanding of
technology stands on the verge

of revolutionizing our ability

to detect and treat
countless number of illnesses.

That's why federal investments,

like the proposed molecular
transport lab, are so important.

There's about to be another
biotech explosion, my friends,

and let me tell you this: I've
looked closely at this project,

and I believe that,
in the next couple of days,

we're going to be hearing
some good news

for the great city of Austin
and the great state of Texas.

Son of a bitch!

Dial Josh now.

( audience applauding )

Son of a bitch.

You got him?

On two.

Hello.

Hey, what's up?

I hate it
when I make myself clear...

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

...and I'm not received.

It's a done deal, C.J.

This is not your call.

He didn't announce it.

He said that Austin was the most
viable site-- he didn't make...

Don't make distinctions
with me, Josh.

I've known you too long.

You're right.
Way too long.

I understand that Calvin Bowle''
Senate seat is a priority.

Calvin Bowles...
Yeah, you know,

pious old pork hog,
who votes like a schizophrenic.

You done?
Yeah, go ahead.

Calvin Bowles
is a breathing Democrat.

That's debatable.
And we cannot afford

to lose any more
of those right now.

Where does holding
onto the White House

fit into your priorities?

I'm sorry...
Doug Westin is here.

Tell him I'll be
right there.

Listen up, Josh,
I work for Jed Bartlet.

I wouldn't be doing my job
if I wasn't trying

to preserve his legacy
under all eventualities.

The transporter announcement's
off the table

until after the election.

Is that clear?

Now, if you'll excuse me...

C.J., C.J., listen to me.

You want to cover
all eventualities?

Have the President join us
in Texas for the announcement,

then he and Santos
will fly to Kentucky

to stump for Senator Bowles
together.

All your problems are solved.

I have to go now.

( receiver slams )

Hmm.

Come in, Doug.

C.J., how are you doing?

I'm just great.
Good.

You know the first thing
I'm going to do

when they declare me
the winner?

What are you
going to do, Doug?

I'm going to ask
for a recount.

( laughs )

That's not my line,
but I love it.

It's great, isn't it?

Yeah, great.

I am so jazzed about this event
with the President next week.

We are going to win
this thing.

I've never felt so strongly
about anything in my life.

But until that last vote
is counted, I'm going to operate

under the assumption
that I'm going to lose.

Nothing for granted.

I mean,
look who I'm talking to.

You know exactly
what I'm going through.

Don't say it.

Do not tell me the President
needs to go to Zurich

or something next week to work
on this Kazakhstan thing.

Don't tell me that.

No, he doesn't.

Good.

I don't care what
you do privately.

( chuckling ):
Okay.

I really don't.

I'm a little...
But when you
do something

that affects my bos''
ability to do his job,

that could embarrass him

on a political trip
to New Hampshire,

and will take attention away
from urgent national--

and at the moment,
international-- issues,

I begin to care very deeply,

Right now, I'm
trying to get

the Chinese ambassador
here to put an end

to some unimaginable
human suffering,

so if you have a problem
with your zipper,

get it out of my face right now.

Do you
understand me?

I think I do.

I think you do, too.

( sighs )
Yeah.

( knock at door )

Chinese ambassador in the Mural.

Thanks.

( door closes )

Here's what's going
to happen now.

You're going to
walk up the hall

to the Office of
Political Affairs.

You will tell the people in that
room that,

on second thought,
you don't want

to be overshadowed by
your father-in-law.

You want to win
this thing yourself,

on your own merits,
and thanks but no thanks,

you are withdrawing your request
to have the President

appear with you
in Manchester next week.

Do that for me, will you?

That'd be great.

It is an irresponsible moment
for the Germans

to propose sanctions
on the Sudan.

Two nuclear powers
are mobilized.

We have troops massed
on both borders of Kazakhstan.

We're standing on the edge
of the abyss here.

I agree, the
timing is odd.

It is not appreciated.

Yeah.

And stupid.

These Europeans,
they're always pretending

to have a significance
they no longer possess.

I have spoken to them, and I
would like to make a proposal.

What is it?

You are interested

in purchasing arms
from the French and the Germans.

We're interested in all markets.

There have been
no sales

since Tiananmen, correct?

Israel. Other countries
have done business with us.

Six months ago,

the French and the Germans
told us

they would like to sell
to you again.

They should--
it's a meaningless restriction.

They're simply losing money.

We objected strongly.

I was there.

There may be some latitude now.

With the arms sales?

Yes.

It would be difficult
to justify

closing off such a significant
source of oil.

We're thirsty.

We're trying to grow an economy.

We want to make sure
your oil supply

is preserved in Kazakhstan.

You can show yourselves
to be responsible members

of the world community
with a simple abstention

on the German
resolution.

It will allow us to put American
election monitors on the ground

to ensure a fair vote there.

That's it?

That's a lot.

I will disappear
into my massive bureaucracy

and see what I can do.

( chuckles )
You're funny.

Thank you, ambassador.

( chuckles )

You know what I think about
a lot,

when I'm having these
kind of discussions?

What, sir?

Capitalism vanquished
Communism,

obliterated it.

And here we are, having
a discussion where you

are trying to restrict
our markets.

We're trying to address
a humanitarian situation

in the Sudan.

Exactly.

But you have always taught us

that liberty is the same thing
as capitalism,

as if life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness

cannot be crushed by greed.

Your American Dream
is financial... not ethical.

This is a good deal
for the Chinese.

I hope you will
consider it carefully.

Of course.

Thank you.

No, thank you.

You have taught us well.

( both say farewells
in Chinese )

The President needs you
in the Oval,

and I have a yogurt here.

What for?

To eat.

He's in there?
Yeah.

And... he's grumpy.

( knock at door )
Come in.

How you doing, kid?

Very good, sir.

Glad to hear it.

Teddy Barrow just called
from State-- what the hell

is going on
with the Sudan thing?

I'm working on
a Security Council resolution.

Sanctioning oil revenue?

Yes, sir, to be introduced
by the Germans.

And then vetoed by the Chinese.

Not necessarily.
Probably.

Could be.
I am trying to defuse
a nuclear standoff.

Why on earth would we want

to antagonize the Chinese
right now?

We're not.

This is coming from the Germans.

You don't think the Chinese
are going to figure it out?

We owe these people
$350 billion

for God's sake--
they're not stupid.

We're out of time.

We've all been hypnotized
by the complexity

of this thing in the Sudan--
the E.U... the U.N., State.

This isn't a solution,
but it's a start.

I can't have anything

compromising our neutrality
in Kazakhstan.

This won't.

as far as China knows,

this is Europe holding
their feet to the fire, not us.

We're the ones brokering
the face-saving deal.

China would owe us.

This could even help us
in Kazakhstan.

( sighs )

Is this about the
Sudan or the fact

that we're all about to get
kicked out of this building?

When the babies die, the mothers
carry them around for days.

They can't put them down.

Yeah.

Keep working the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Why is Matt Santos
stomping on what's left

of my goodwill
up on the Hill?

The transport lab.

I got an irate
phone call

from the senior senator
from Kentucky.
Right.

At least I think he was irate.

He didn't have his teeth in,
so I'm not sure

what the hell
he was talking about.

The Santos campaign
got some polling

telling them a huge federal
investment in Austin

could help them win Texas.

Yeah.
Which is why
I think

we should send
you to Austin

to announce the transport
lab with Santos,

then we send you
both to Kentucky

to help stump for Bowles.

When is that going to happen?

Thursday.

Doug Westin withdrew
his request

for you to campaign with
him in New Hampshire.

Why did he do that?

I think he wants to prove
he's his own man.

By losing?

If that's what it takes.

Liz is going to kill him.

Doug just changed his mind?

Was there anything else?

No, sir.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

Hey.

I should know something
over the weekend.

It's worth a shot.

Yeah.

Hey. Come here a sec.

What's up?

I need to tell you something.

You all right?

Doug Westin...

Yes?

Doug Westin had an affair
with his nanny.

Get... out.

It might break, it might not.

Is she cute?
Who cares if she's...

I've spent my life
surrounded by men in uniform.

I don't...
Biology kicks virtue's ass
in my experience.

She's 26.

Yeesh.

Okay.

So she doesn't have to be cute.

I'm...
That's disgusting.

Yeah.
He should die.

The bastard should just be dead.

Did Liz leave him?

I don't think she knows.

I should sic
Special-Ops on him,

make him a tragedy
she can cry over.

I made him withdraw his request

for the President to appear with
him in Manchester next week.

You're telling me this,
because...

I don't know if I should...

Tell her? No.

No, no, no, no.

Now's the time everybody
just looks at her funny

till she figures it out.
I know.

I just don't know
if I owe the President...

( knock at door )
Sorry. Liz Westin's
in your office.

She needs to talk to you.

Good luck.

Okay.

( sighs )

Hi, Liz.

C.J., hi.

I'm sorry to barge in on you.

Are you busy?

Well, you know,
thermonuclear war, genocide...

I don't mean to bother you.

It's fine.
It's good to see you.

Have you seen Doug?

He was here yesterday, right?

Yeah.

He marched into
Political Affairs and told them

he didn't want
my father to come up

and do the event
with us next week.

I heard that.
I can't believe it.

Do you have any idea
how long it took me

to convince him
to let my father help?

I know from the start,

it was important for him
to be his own man, to win

or lose this
thing on his own.

His father-in-law's
the President; it's a fact.

He can't run
away from that.

It's got to be hard to try
and live up to the President.

You can't.

No.

But he is the father
of my children.

And I want them to be able

to look up to him.
Sure.

No matter what he's done.

Do you understand
what I'm saying, C.J.?

I think I do.

I think you do, too.

Talk to him.

Tell him it's
political suicide

to run away from Dad.

I know you're trying
to do what's best for Doug...

Marriage is complicated, C.J.

This isn't ideal.

But it's the best thing
for my children.

I understand.
Good.

But my job
is to protect your father.

My father would want
to protect my children, too.

I'm sorry, Liz,
we've given the date away.

Already? You can't have.

It's gone.

So... on his own merits,

we let the voters decide?

I think it's best.

Yeah.

I need some Schedule C's
who might be willing

to take unpaid leave and hit
the road with a candidate.

I'll put together a list.

The least humiliating
public speakers possible.

Hey.

I've cleared the President
to fly to Austin on Thursday

to announce
that it will be the new home

of the nation's
first Molecular Transport Lab.

He will then fly to Kentucky
to campaign for Senator Bowles.

Would Congressman Santos
like to join him?

I'll have to get
back to you on that.

Go to hell.

LAUSSEN ( on TV ):
I'm embarrassed, Tom.

I'm embarrassed that my country
is content to stand by

and let other countries
take the lead

when it comes to the key
moral question of our time.

Half a million dead.

At what number do we say,
"Enough"?

We've called it what it is.

It is genocide.

This is an unprecedented moment
in American history,

where we have acknowledged
that system...

( turns TV off )

U.N. delegation just
notified State.

There's a Security
Council negotiation

on language for a
Sudan resolution.

Where are the Chinese?

They're in the room.

Threatening to veto?

Not out of hand, no.

They're talking?

They are.

Huh.

It's a start.

Yeah.

Do you want to
get some food?

I can't.
I have a date.

You do not.

What?!

( laughing ):
I have a date.

With whom?

With a guy
I used to go out with.

I'll walk out
with you.

You go ahead.

I need to talk
to the President.

The Doug story's
going to break,

and it's going
to be terrible for him

and I want him
to hear it from me.

( knocking )
He's ready.

Okay.
See you tomorrow.

Yep.

( sighs )

C.J.:
Men are like salmon

swimming upstream,
hosing down the riverbed

with their indiscriminate
seed, until they die...

Indiscriminate seed?
Did you just say
indiscriminate seed?

...bloated and spent,
belly up in the sun.

Oh, quit sweet-talking me, baby.

Unless they get taken out
by a bear paw in the waterfall

as they deserve to be.
So you're struggling
with trust issues.

I'm struggling
with reality.

What's your dessert policy?
What?

You want me to spare you
the monologue?

Oh, I really do.

I figured.

I'll get you
some more water.

Oh, gee, I'm sorry.
I'll shut up and leave now.

She hates my guts.

She does a little bit.

I'm sorry about
the other night.

Why?

Because I was behaving
like the kind of Type-A

career woman freak automaton
that I so very much

do not want to become.

Please.

I wanted to see you.

And I haven't felt
that in a long time

and I just got all
awkward and antagonistic.

That's okay.

As long as you didn't
kill our fish.

But don't get
me wrong.

I don't want
to see you again

until after
the inauguration.

You don't have to.

I want to do my job.

I want to suck
every morsel of meat

off this experience
before it's over.

Just get something done,
will ya?

That'll come down to what it
always comes down to.
What's that?

How dirty to my feet
have to get

without disappearing
into the mud

in order to get
an inch of what
I really want done.

Doesn't sound
very heroic.

It's not.

So what's the deal?

You still creeped out
by reporters or what?

Why, you got another
unholy bomb to drop on me?

Is that what
these dates are about?

No, that was an attempt
at a real date the other night.

And this?
Another attempt.

Hey, if didn't want
to publish that story

I wouldn't have
given you the heads up.

I can't write that kind
of crap anymore.

I don't, I don't even know

if I want to be
a reporter anymore.

Really?

Doug Westin's libido
broke the camel's back.

What do you want to do?

I don't know.

Can I ask you something?

Yeah.

Why'd you come here tonight?

'Cause you made me
promise to.

Why'd you come?

I wanted to see you.

Thank you.

You going to do
a magic trick?

Uh, I'm flying
a little blind here.

I'm halfway
through my life

and I'm never quite sure
if I'm doing anything right

until I'm completely done
doing it wrong.

Work with it.

So this may not
come out right.

I forgive you.

Then incrementalism
is not an option.

I'm forced
into a heroic posture.

Heroic can be good.

Feels funny.

You can do it.

Okay. Uh,

we're both about
to fall off a cliff.

And I don't know what I'm going
to do with the rest of my life,

except I know
what I don't want to do.

And on Inauguration Day,

you're going to be released
from that glorious prison

on Pennsylvania Avenue with...

...no human skills.

Seems to me...

I should punch you
in the face, but yeah, okay.

That's what I'm talkin' about.

Keep going.

So, if I'm going
to jump off the cliff,

and you're going
to get pushed off the cliff,

why don't we hold hands
on the way down?

( pager beeps )

Oh, shoot.

Oh, turn it off.

I can't.

Just for a couple
of seconds.

Oh, my God.

You okay?
Oh, my God.

I have to go. I have to go.

Okay. No, no. Go, go.

I'll see you later.

( quietly ):
I'll see you later.

What's happening?
Did the Chinese invade?

No, Kazakhstan
is stable.

What is it?

Some kind of
nuclear accident.

Lord. A weapon?

Power plant.

Is it Russia?

San Andreo, California.

They think it might blow up.