All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S07E21 - Institutional Memory (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing...

DANNY:
You can 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?

Kennedy School's
looking for a new dean.

Everyone wants you.
You really think

today's the day for this?

How about
Secretary of State?

You gonna go with Reynolds?

If I don't get my first choice.

Who's that?

That would be you.

If I'm gonna jump off the cliff,

and you're gonna get
pushed off the cliff,

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

( water running )

You could leave it here,

you know, on
the off chance

you're back someday
with bad breath.

You're sweet.

What time is it?
6:45.

How'd that happen?

I thought maybe
Barton's tonight.

For dinner?

Yeah.

I have the Trade Commission.

Oh, okay.

Did I say I was free?
Yeah.

I'm sorry.
I shouldn't speak

That's okay. My sister's
in town tomorrow night.

You want to meet us?
We're finalizing the budget.

Well, she's here Thursday, too.

Intelligence Review.

All right,
I'm bailing on dinner.

I'm sorry.
This week is just...

No worries.

I feel bad.

I'd love to meet your sister.
You would.

She's like me but with
bigger teeth; it's something.

This week is just...

"No" is a perfectly
acceptable answer.

I've got to be able
to ask, right?

I just feel bad
saying "no" all the time.

It makes me feel like a heel.

So I shouldn't ask?

I should sit by the fire
and wait for my booty call?

Of course not.

I mean, it's okay.

I'm not turning it down,
but it's limiting.

You make it sound like
I'm trying to avoid you.

I didn't say that.

I don't make booty calls.

You don't make any calls,
kind of how it works out.

What?
You're elusive.
Part of the draw.

You know what?

It's way too early for this.
What?

It's 6:45 a.m.

Hey, I'm kidding.

Are you?
Yeah.

Everybody take a breath.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

There's nothing
to be sorry about.

You're right.

This will all be easier
in two weeks, it really will.

MARGARET:
Hi.

C.J.:
Tell Kuber I found
14 errors in 16 pages.

They should think about
proofing these things

before they hit my desk.

Would you like
to take a walk?

What did you think
was happening now?

I thought you could
go across the street,

get some breakfast,
maybe a scone.

I don't want a scone.

They have fruit.
I'm not hungry.

It's a nice day
with fresh air.

You could have
a little fun.

I still have
a schedule, right?

We're not just pretending
I have a job,

like Dad, who no longer
runs the company

but still shows up at
the office every day?

It's a full day,
but not crazy.

You could say hello
to Will Bailey.

Step aside.

Charlie and I were trying
to get a jump on some filing.

We thought we'd have it all
cleaned out before you got in,

but things got a little

out of control.
I've seen messy before.

I don't think
you should go in there.
I'm getting that.

Seriously.

Margaret.

You're not filing,
you're packing.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

Most of this is going
to the Archive.

A guy named Martine is
supposed to come pick it up.

Don't worry about it.

We're gonna move it somewhere
in the meantime,

but we haven't
settled on where.

Margaret.
I shouldn't
worry about it.

You shouldn't.
Get Fred and Herb in here.

Wow!

Nice, huh?

This is grim.

Roosevelt Room in ten.

What am I doing there?

A casual conversation
about your future.

Another one?

We're nearing the
end of the list.

This is a guy
from Hollis.

How about this is
the end of the list?

How about we cancel the rest
and send a thanks but no thanks?

Ten minutes.
Job interviews?

Headhunters waving stock options
and corporate jets.

And all I have to do is show up
at the occasional board meeting.

Why should I
find that appealing?

They don't know
you're a masochist.

I like working for a living;
is that odd?

I get it.

You must be getting these.

Yeah. Defense
contractors mostly.

You interested?
Maybe.

It's hard to get excited
about anything after this.

Yeah.
I've got a call

with the Chinese Defense
Minister at 4:00.

You should sit in.

Tell Margaret.

Where's your
transition memo?

It's coming.

When?
Soon.

Did you start it?
Yeah, sure. Final touches.

I want it today.

Absolutely.

( knocking )

We were summoned?

You were.

I read the first half
of the budget last night

and couldn't find
the deficit reduction.

It shouldn't be buried on
page 600, it should be up top.

Is it on page 600?

No.

Where is it?
There isn't any.

What do you mean
there isn't any?
There's no...

The President said he wanted
deficit reduction

worked into this budget.

I said it should be 50%.
Was that not clear?

We thought it was along the
lines of "I'd like a pony."

Nobody actually
expects to get the pony.

I want the pony.

50% deficit reduction
is unrealistic.

C.J.:
It isn't.

Go back and find enough
revenue raisers and cost savers

to cut the deficit in half

and then release it
to White House, OMB

and the Agency senior staff
this afternoon for comments.

We need to integrate
everybody's feedback.

What?

You're talking about
doing a ton of work

on a document nobody
will ever read.

It's a formality.

We're leaving office.
Really?

I don't know where we're
gonna find $150 billion.

I told you where you could
find it. Did we or did we not...

The tax you proposed
was massive.

Was that your idea
or the President's?

It was the President's idea
to cut the deficit,

it was my idea
to propose doing so with...

With a massive increase...
Stop saying "massive."

We have to get jobs
when we leave here.

We can't propose...
Do it!

And send the damn thing out
for departmental review, now.

Okay.
Yeah.

What?

I wanted to see what
all the yelling was about.

What, are you just
walking around?

Senioritis.

Having a little trouble
getting motivated.

I probably shouldn't share that
with the boss, huh?

Where's your
transition memo?

My epitaph?

They're important documents
that make it possible

for your successor
to take the baton.

Write one.

Greg Thatcher's
moving over to State.

Santos made
him an offer,

and he wants to get started
as soon as possible.

Did he write a tran...
I'll deal with the
transition memo.

Then I guess it's okay.
He's leaving Friday?

Today, I think.

You should say
good-bye or something.

Yeah.
Tell him to stop in.

You're needed
in the Roosevelt Room.

I want you to call all
30 department heads

and explain
that when I said

I needed the
transition memos today,

I wasn't making a funny.

Your Hollis meeting
is right now.

Give me five minutes.
Get him a Coke.

I don't think we should
keep him waiting.

He's a headhunter,
I'm a highly-placed official

in what was once considered a
fairly prestigious organization.

He can sit quietly
and have a Coke.

It's not a headhunter from
Hollis, it's Franklin Hollis.

Franklin Hollis
is in the Roosevelt Room?

Yes.
No, he's not.

What do I get out of
lying in this moment?

WILL:
Franklin Hollis
is in the Roosevelt Room.

Really?
Hey, there's a guy
in the Roosevelt Room,

looks just like Frank Hollis.

The hair, glasses, whole bit.

WILL:
It's Frank Hollis.

Really?

He just bought an
island and Montana.

He didn't buy Montana.

He bought most of Montana.

Oh, my God.

Don't stare.
Can I meet him?

I want to meet him.
We shouldn't
go in together.

It would look
not cool.

What was the last thing
you did that looked cool?

I touched his hand.

We shook.

WILL:
Now I'm uncomfortable.

Hey, tell him you want
a piece of Montana.

He's not giving it away.

Why? What's he
gonna do with it?

Teeth.
You're fine.

Ew.

Okay, thanks, guys.

I'll catch up with
you in the lobby there.

Good morning, Mr. Hollis.

I'm C.J. Cregg.

Call me Frank.

My dad had 200 shares
of Hollis in 1992.

Sold them.
You're kidding.

Didn't see it
going anywhere.

Think C.J. goes
to work for him?

He probably wants a toady
to make nice with the FCC.

WILL:
I'm heading over to the
D-triple-C in a few minutes.

They're making
you an offer?

I think so.

Will Bailey,
Executive Director

of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee.

Sounds pretty good.
Could be.

Nice place to work.

I get my hands
in a lot of races

without the water torture
of any one race.

And I'd stay in Washington,
which is nice.

You think?

Yeah.

I mean, no pressure, but I like
the idea of giving the future

an opportunity to unfold
of its own accord.

Our future?

Yeah.

I like that idea, too.

I'm prepared to put together
a fairly attractive package

if you're willing to...

( sighs )

I'm not boring you, am I?

No, certainly not.

Usually doesn't happen till

I start in on
the nanotechnology.

No, I'm sorry.

I'm just...
( clears throat )

familiar with the package
these days.

Well, what does the package
look like these days?

You're prepared
to dramatically

change my standard
of living,

if I'm prepared to sit on your
board and spend an hour a month

advising you on your strategic
relationship with the FCC.

I don't know,
that sounds like

a waste of your time to me.

It does?

That's not the package.

Okay.

I'm starting a foundation,

because if I hold onto all this
money, I start to look impolite.

I want to find
a single problem

I can attack, something
which might actually have

some kind of substantive effect.

Maybe I should be
fighting AIDS in Africa.

Maybe it's malaria.

Could be clean air
or election reform.

I don't know.

But my sense is that you would
have a unique perspective

on what that could be
and how to make it happen.

A single problem.

It's a complicated question...

Highways...

is what you're looking for.

Really?
It's not sexy.

No one will ever
raise money for it.

But nine out of ten
African aid projects fail

because the medicine
or the personnel

can't get to the people in need.

Infrastructure's the problem.

Blanket the continent
with highways,

and then maybe
get started on plumbing.

Also not sexy.

Makes for a lousy telethon.

It does.

Well, if you think
that's what needs fixing,

I'll give you
$10 billion to fix it.

MAN:
Hey, Will, come on in.

How goes it?
Good. Thanks.

Listen, Andy Lowry--
he's going to be calling you

about tickets
to the Inaugural.

We're out.

I'm sure you guys
probably are, too,

but I had to get him off
my call sheet.

I'll see what
I can dig up.
Thanks.

So, uh, you going
to take some time off,

go sit on a beach
or something?

Maybe.
I thought about

hiking the Appalachian Trail,
which I've always wanted to do,

but I don't really want
to do it in February,

and if sit around until
May when it's warm,

I'll lose my mind.

Well, weekend
in Vegas.
More likely.

Yeah, listen,
we wouldn't rush you.

The D-triple-C--
we are dead until March anyhow.

Takes us that long just
to recover from the Inaugural.

So, you know, you come back
when you're ready,

help us put together a strategy
for the whole board.

Which races you think
you're looking at?

Maryland 3rd,
North Carolina 1st.

Florida 15th's going
to be a big one.

Oregon 4th?
Heffinger is stepping down?

No. There's always the hope
that we can unseat him,

but it's obviously a long shot,

and I should probably
take it off the list.

He's a real son of a bitch.

If you can boot him, you should.

I ran Chulo's campaign
against him in '94.

Lost by 15 points,
but he's one mean bastard.

Yeah, well, he's got
an iron grip on the district.

And he hasn't done a thing
for 'em.

He's barely a seat warmer.

There's got to be someone
who can kick his ass.

Yeah, but the question is who.

I'm sure you'll
dig up someone.

You're not going to find
a sane person on this planet

willing to pick a fight
with John Heffinger.

Really?
Mm-mm, no way.

I mean, go for it.
I love the attitude.

If you find me someone,
we'll run him.

I'm just not going
to hold my breath.

Mm.

Illinois 5th
should be exciting.

Looks like
Faye Green wants to retire,

and there's going to be all
kinds of craziness in Arizona.

How was it.
Was he fascinating?

He may not have
people skills.

He's used to talking
to machines.

You can't hold that
against him.

I think you should consider it.
You can't say no to everything.

At least think about it?

Oh my gosh,
you're thinking about it.

It was just
a conversation.

But it was
an interesting one.

Very.
Hi.

Andy!
How are you?

Well, it's good
to see you.

I didn't want to interrupt.
I was in the building.

I thought I'd
ask Margaret

if you had a hole in
your schedule somewhere.

I wish I could.
I'm a little slammed today.

You can do it now.

Really?

You have nothing now.

I have nothing.
Come in.

How are the twins?

Oh, amazing.
Inexhaustible.

Uh, we spend a lot of
time arguing about socks.

You're pro,
they're con?

Oh, Molly's con,
Huck's pro.

But never more
than one at a time.

God, they're gorgeous.

Yeah.

They get to spend more time
with their dad these days,

now that Toby's...
not working.

That must be... nice.

So, presidential pardons.
'Tis the season, right?

It is.

Is Toby on a list somewhere?

The DOJ and the Pardon Attorney
are reviewing applications,

but I don't think anybody's
had an opportunity

to talk
to the President about it.

Are you planning to?

Bring it to the President?

I know this is awkward,
and he's pissed off

a lot of people, including you,

and God knows, the President,
but he was attempting

to the save the lives
of three astronauts

suffocating to death in a tin
can somewhere west of the moon.

Yeah.
The Union for Concerned
Scientists thinks

he should get a medal.

So does the Alliance
for Nuclear Accountability,

the Arms Control
Advocacy Collaborative,

the Council
for a Livable World.

Andy.
Did you read the profile
in the New York Times Magazine?

There's a petition.

I saw it.

Thousands of names, C.J.

A lot of people who think
it's time for Bartlet

to come home to his base
and acknowledge the fact

that carpeting the heavens
with nukes is a crappy idea.

I know the President
was angry.

He has every right to be...

but we're talking about prison.

Maybe the President's
calmed down.

I'd like you to talk
to him about it.

I'll see what I can do.

He was your friend
for a long time.

I'll see what I can do.

You should get going.

Yeah.

Did you call Charlie?

He's on his way.

Herb told me to tell you

the budget went
to department heads
for review an hour ago.

He didn't want me
to check the changes
before it went?

I think he didn't.

He's a little turd.
I'll let him know.

CHARLIE:
This is the preliminary list.

DOJ and the Pardon Attorney

are finalizing
their recommendations.

This didn't go to
the President yet.

No. They're going to send it
to him in the next day or two.

This is just the people
who actually applied for pardon.

The President can
add his own names,

but I don't think
he's added any yet.

This is everyone who applied?

They've cut some
people already.

They've been through it
a few times.

Did you see the earlier lists?
I've got copies.
You want me to...?

Did you read them?
Yeah, but I don't
remember every name...

Toby Ziegler.

Never appeared on a list.

Which means he didn't apply.

Nope.

But if the President wanted to
commute his sentence, he could.

He could do whatever he
wants to in this area.

Yeah.
Is he asking about it?

The President? He isn't.

Are you?

I don't know.

It's a tough call.
Yeah.

Thanks.

Anything serious you can find me
at the President-Elect's office,

but I can't imagine
this taking any longer
than 15 minutes.

They asked for a CV.

The Santos people?
Yes.

They asked for
my resume?

Yes.
Hi.

Should I send them a list
of references?

No, you shouldn't.

I'd be happy to speak
on your behalf.

To the Santos people?

Oh. They really shouldn't
need references.

They're offering me a job,
purely as a courtesy,

which I'll pretend
to consider, purely
as a formality.

I think
there are some mistakes

in the budget
draft that went out.

You read it already?

Yeah.
It's 800 pages.

Okay, I didn't.
But Lucy Benoit did,

and she's got
some crazy stories.

Well, who's Lucy Benoit?
New reporter.

Business desk
at the Times.

What happened to Jack?
Shingles.

Really?
Raging.

Well, shingles doesn't force
a man into retirement.

Tax fraud is,
I think, the real story.

Shingles is a cover.

If I'm in the market
for a cover,

I think I'd pick something
that's not...

Viral?
Yeah.

Any port in a storm.

I'm going across
the street.

Will you be sad you
don't have a coat?

I'm fine.

C.J.:
So Whosy Benoit?

Lucy, yes.
She seems to think

we're proposing a 50-cent-
per-gallon gas tax,

which I assume
must be a mistake?

Why does a reporter have a
budget I haven't released yet?

73 department heads
have it.

Well, they've had it for
less than two hours.

Don't you think they'd want
to read a page or two

before they start leaking?

I'm thinking no,
since

she's not the only reporter
with a question.

Can I tell her
it's a mistake?
You can't.

Because we're not talking
about it yet?

That, too, but it's
also not a mistake.
50 cents a gallon?

You don't mean five cents?
I don't.

That's insane. You know how many
people you're going to piss off

with a tax like that?

Many, many.

Why does the President want
to stir up so much animosity

two weeks before
we leave office?

I don't know-- because
he's old and dotty?

He has a reason.
He does.

But we're not ready
to discuss it with the press.

We're really not.
I will kill the rumors.

Yeah, kill whoever's
blabbing about it,

'cause we're not ready
to release it.

It's really
cold out here.
I told you to wear a coat.

Hey, what do you think
about Tony Sharkey?

From Treasury?

His wife is younger
than his daughter,

but otherwise, he's okay.

You think he gets anywhere in
a race against John Heffinger?

Oregon 4th? Hmm.

Probably not.

D-triple-C's afraid to run
anybody against Heffinger.

I think they're wimping out.

Well, if Tony Sharkey's their
only option, I see their point.

Tony Sharkey's
my opening salvo.

I'm asking if you've
got anybody better.
From Oregon?

Yeah, I was thinking
maybe Ina Horton,

but she keeps publishing
these articles on eminent domain

that make her sound
a little like Mao Tse-tung.

Paul Kravitz is from Oregon.

He put together our whole
immigration plan.

He'd scare
Heffinger's pants off.

Also, Gil Siverly'd be great.

You've been very helpful.
No problem.

Hello.

Hi.

I believe I'm here
to see the President-Elect.

Great. What's your name?

C.J. Cregg.

Ms. Cregg!

Ronna Beckman.
We met in Pittsburgh.

Good to see you.
Nice to see you, too.

The President-Elect is
just finishing a call.

Can I take your coat?
Sure. Thanks.

Hey.
Gil Siverly!

How's it going?

Good.
Thanks for coming by.

Wow, people are
packing up, huh?

Weird, isn't it?
Sure is.

Have a seat.

D.O.E. must be in
boxes, too, right?

Well, the secretary's
on his way out.

We assumed that Santos would
want a whole new staff,

what with his Education
Program and all,

but so far, they're asking a lot
of us to stay put.

Were you ready to move on?

I've been at the Department
of Education for six years.

A change wouldn't be
the worst thing in the world.

Ever think about running
for office?

Really?

D-triple-C thinks
John Heffinger's seat

in the Oregon 4th is ungettable.

I think they're wrong.

Oh, Heffinger's been there
for 15 years.

I mean, they love him.

They know him.
Nobody loves him.

Be a nasty fight.

The best ones are.

( sighing ):
I don't know.

Don't get me wrong.

I think Heffinger is an idiot,
and he's probably corrupt,

but I don't want
to move back home

and spend the next two years
of my life begging money

from everybody I know, just so
I can get my ass handed to me.

I think you're underestimating
the voters.

We've been running dead fish
against Heffinger

the last ten years.

We put someone with a heartbeat
in the ring, he's going down.

If it was anybody other
than Heffinger.

Yeah.

SANTOS:
Let's talk about you coming
to work for me.

Sir, I'm-I'm so flattered
that you'd even consider it,

but Josh is going to do a
terrific job as Chief of Staff.

Of course he is.

And I'll be available to answer
questions on the phone anytime.

You don't need
to create an emeritus position

just to keep me as a resource.

Who said anything about
an emeritus position?

Sir, you're a true gentleman,
and I appreciate...

C.J., this isn't a courtesy
call, this is an offer.

Seriously?

Institutional memory

is an invaluable commodity.

I'm not dumb enough
to think

that we should be
reinventing the wheel here.

Your name comes up at
the top of every "must
hire" list we've made.

We are going to take
office in the middle

of a military incursion
that you helped launch.

We don't just want
you, we need you.

The Russians are much more
willing to talk now

than they were
before the election.

Between Josh
and your Secretary of State,

the situation will be
well-supervised.

I don't think you have anything
to worry about.

My Secretary of State is going
to be Arnold Vinick.

What?

I'm waiting a couple days
to announce it,

but he's on board.
Arnold Vinick?

He'll be a huge help

with Central Asia,
but it's a big job,

and I don't want it taking over
my presidency.

We've got a Cabinet to break in,

we've got a legislative program
to sell...

Sir, I really never entertained
the notion

I'd stay in the White House.

I've been here
a long, long time.
Give me two years, C.J.

Just until
we get things settled.

Special Counselor
to the President?

( knock at door )

Sir, I-I wish that I could...

I'm sorry,
we've got to...

Uh... I'd love to talk
to you more about this,

but, uh, they've kind of
got me on a sprint today,

so I see I'm going to have
to make this fast and dirty.

I'm the President-Elect
of the United States,

and I'm asking you
to help your country,

so I'm probably not gonna
take no for an answer,

so you go home, and
you think about it,

and call me back with a yes.

Thanks for coming in, C.J.

( sighs )

Hey, there you are.
Yes.

You know how
I asked you to be
on the phone

with the Chinese
Defense Minister?
Yeah.

Looks like we're
going to need you
to make the call.
Okay.

Signal will put it through,
but the defense minister

wants to feel like
we're approaching him--

so don't say anything like
"Thanks for calling."
Got it.

Transition memos.
These are
all of them?

So far.
There's supposed to
be 30, this is three.

More to come.
Is yours in this pile?

Not yet. Soon.

What exactly is the problem?!

You may be asked to
stay on, you may not.

You may get promoted.

Other people are coming in.

They need to know
where to find the pencils,

they need to know what
your staff was up to,

or finishing,
or starting.

They need to know
how to do what you do.

This is an important
part of governing.

We're still governing.

Why is this like
pulling teeth?

You'll have it
by the end of the day.

Thank you.

( sighs )

( sighs )

Are you okay?

I think I just got
an offer I can't refuse

from Matt Santos.

That's great.

That's not great?

You've been here
two years,

it looks different on
the far side of eight.

Still.

Nice to get the offer.

They'll be approaching
you soon, I'm sure.

Sure.

Um... what do
you think happens...

if I ask the President

to commute Toby
Ziegler's sentence?

Are you going to ask him?
I don't know.

Really?

I'm asking for
your opinion.

My opinion is he compromised

a crucial Defense
Department program.

He undermined
the President's authority.

He committed a federal offense--
he goes to jail.

He's got young children who,
for the next five years,

are going to have
to look at him

in an orange jumpsuit
an aluminum picnic table.

And don't get me wrong,
I'm furious at him--

I want to kick him in
the stomach a few times--

but I don't want him to rot
in the federal pokey.

Well, it's not your decision,
it's the President's.

If he wants
to pardon him, he will.

So you think I don't
even bring it up.

If you want
to bring it up,
bring it up,

but I don't think this one
slipped the President's mind.

Yeah.

Did Toby apply?
No.

He may not want
to put the President

in the position
of saying yes or no.

Oh, I'm sure he doesn't.

Still...

You should talk to him
at least.

No matter what you do,
give him a call.

Yeah.

Have you spoken?

To Toby? Uh... no.

Not since he left.

Hi.
Hi.

Bye.

Yes.
Yeah.

Got a few minutes?

Right now?

Yeah, can I kidnap you?
Quick lunch?

It's a little late for lunch.
You eat already?

I didn't...
See?
You got to eat.

Come on.
I have a packed day.

We'll make it quick;
very snappy.

Come on, I want to...

It's important.

( knocks )
Got a minute?

Of course.

The Santos people
offered

National Security Advisor
to Glen.

Really?
Yeah.

And he's saying yes?
Yeah.

Damn.

I know.
I knew it was a long shot

and I'm young for it,

but still...
You wanted it.

Well.

They'll offer you

something else.

Not under Glen;
he can't stand me.

He's probably
scared of you.

Whatever.
He's not giving me a job.

That sucks.

Sucks a lot.

How'd it go at D-triple-C?

Nice offer, but could be
a little crazy-making.

It's already monopolized
my whole day--

I got stuck on
this one race that

they think can't
be won, and I do.

Which one?
Oregon fourth.

I thought if I could
find them the right guy

maybe they'd get
behind the idea,

but as it turns out,

there's a real dearth
of ballsy Oregonians.

Open it up.
Find somebody good.

They can always establish
residency in Oregon, right?

Sure. They buy a house 180
days before the primary

and they're in, but then
we're running a carpetbagger

against a 15-year
incumbent.

Yeah, but it's
better than nothing.

I mean, what are you
looking for,

if Oregon weren't
a factor?

Place needs a fresh face.

Somebody smart,
but not so wonky

that you can't put him
in front of a TV camera.

No, don't worry about that,
find someone you like.

You can always coach them
through talking on the camera.

I mean, after the
Press Secretary stint,

you pretty much
have that down.
More or less.

And you know all there is
to know

about policy,
and campaigning.

You could probably push a monkey
through the process.

Between your
Washington experience

and your local
politics experience...

No.

That doesn't make any sense.

Yeah, it does.
It doesn't.

I'm not moving to Oregon,
for one thing.

Of course you are.

No, I'm not. We're...

We're what?

You'll win.

You should run.
No, I won't, and...

It's the right
thing to do.
No, seriously...

You'll win.

You could...

What? Move to Oregon?

I don't know.
I'm not moving
to Oregon.

This is stupid-- I'm not
moving to Oregon, either.

No, I think you are.

( rapid footsteps )

DANNY:
You cold?

I'm fine.
You're racing there,

you want to slow down?
I'm sorry.

I just I want
to get to the place

so we have time to eat
and get back.

Well, there's no place,
this is it.

There's a vendor
up the block,

we'll have a hot dog.

Great.

So, what was so important?
What?

You said
it was important.

It's this:
the walk, the day.
That's it?

You're locked up in that
building all day long,

it was gorgeous
out here,

I thought
you should see it.

I have a packed day.

That's really sweet,

but today is not
the time for it.

Okay. Sorry.
No, it's okay.

I thought
it might do us good

to see each other
in the daylight.

We're together from
11:00 to midnight,

or 5:00 to 6:00 a.m.

We're both half asleep.

Leads to
a lot of tension

that I think is
probably unnecessary--

like this morning,
for example.

I thought this might be
a healthy 20 minutes.

You could tell me
about your day.

My day.
Yeah.

Franklin Hollis
showed up in my office

with the most attractive offer
I think I've ever heard,

which I believe
I'll have to turn down

because I had a meeting
with the President-Elect,

and it looks like I'm going
to work in the White House

a couple more years.

I don't see a guy
with a hot dog.

Did you say yes?

To Santos?

Not yet.
Probably tomorrow.

That's great.

Just... Wow.

What?

Did you consider
talking to me about it?

Are you serious?
Yeah, I'm serious.

No, I didn't.

That's great.

We don't have that
kind of relationship yet.

Apparently.

What made you think
you should be making

decisions about my career?

One, I'm not trying
to make them,

I'm trying to be a part of
a conversation about them,

and, two, if we don't have
that kind of relationship,

what kind do we have?

I don't...

I don't want to answer
that question right now.

We agreed to discuss this
after the inauguration.

Not if you're working for
Matt Santos we're not.

You know what?

First hundred days,
agenda setting.

His first State
of the Union.

"Talk to me after
we release the budget."

Summit at Tashkent.

What else?
Okay.

We keep shoving this
conversation downstream.

At some point, you have to
choose to have a relationship.

We're not 25 anymore!
At our age,

you can't date a little,
and screw a little,

and wait around to see
if you get sentimental
at Christmas.

You have to decide
you're going to make

another person
a part of your life.

A partner.

I don't have time
for this right now.
Yes, you do!

I called Margaret before
I came by-- I'm not a moron.

I called,
and you have 20 minutes.

Hell, you have an hour.

You're not the busiest
girl in America.

That's not
your life anymore.

Look...

I'm not trying
to turn you into Doris Day.

I know if we have
a future together,

I'd be Mr. C.J. Cregg--
that's fine.

But you don't even see me
in the picture, do you?

Thank you.

That's useful information.

President-Elect
needs to speak to you.

Right now is not
the best time.

I tried to push it, but
he's already in the building.

Fine.

Sorry.
It's fine.

But I have to go through
the federal budget

with a lice comb,
it'll take hours.

That's why we left
room in the schedule.

This is not a quiet day,
it's a full day.

He's here.
( sighs )

Mr. President-Elect.
Hi.

Walk with me to
the Situation Room.

Fifty cents
on a gallon?

You read our budget.

It's supposed to be
a placeholder document.

Paperweight, yes.

You're proposing a tax

that would hammer
the working poor

It'll cut the deficit,
improve air quality,

reduce greenhouse gases,

curb our addiction
to Middle East oil--

you don't think there's
a way to sell an upside?

Well, of course there is,

but Senate Republicans are
going to set their hair on fire.

The President wanted
to present the country

with a roadmap
for reasonable governing.

A roadmap, huh?
For the country or me?

It's exactly what
he would've done

if he didn't have
to mud-wrestle Congress

over every line of...
Congress isn't
going anywhere.

It opens a dialogue.

C.J., now is not
the time to...

Now is exactly the time.

We're hemorrhaging money
into Kazakhstan,

the Republican Congress

spent us into
a bottomless hole.
I noticed.

You've got a hundred days
to corral House Democrats

and launch
a legislative program

that brings the budget
back to balance,

or you're going to spend
the next four years

living in the shadow
of our failures.

Look, I'm not arguing
on limits on deductions,

and you've got $100 billion
in spending cuts

that I'm all for,
but come on...

Congress will reject your
first budget out of hand--

unless the Bartlet version
is so inflammatory

yours can't help but look
reasoned and measured.

Why not go after,
uh, capital gains?

Or up the income ceiling
on Social Security taxes,

if you want
to raise a ruckus?

The President's been talking
about that for five years.

Yes, but...
He's never even considered
a gas tax before.

Was this even his idea?

The President supports...
"Yes" or "no."

If we propose
a 50-cent gas tax,

it's a non-event if you
propose a five-cent tax.

Jed Bartlet just saved you
$30 billion.

( scoffs )

You mean you just
saved me $30 billion.

Well...
You're not wrong,
it's a good idea.

How long did it take you
to talk him into it?

( sighing ):
More than five minutes,
less than 20.

If your staff can't get you
onboard faster than that,

they don't know
what they're talking about.

Yeah, that's a good
rule of thumb.

We're not trying to leave
a dead cat on your doorstep.

A gas tax increase
may the single best thing

that could ever happen
to this country.
Yeah.

Tell the President
I'd appreciate it

if he pulled it from his budget.

You think it's worth doing?

Come work for me;
we'll do it together.

( knocking on door )

Good evening, sir.
Mind if I take a quick look?

All clear.
Thank you.

Thanks.
It's not a gift.

I need a drink.
Okay, then.

Would you like to sit?

I sit all day.

( clears throat )

Should I be feeding you,
or just the booze?

Booze is fine;
I can't eat today.

You sure?
I made a chicken.
No.

So, how are you?

Oh, groovy.

When do you go?

The 26th.

What have you been doing?

Well, cooking this chicken
took some time.

I read a lot.

I've read, really,
all the books at this point.

Anything good?
I'll make you a list.

I read the Constitution--
I think I found a typo.

In the Constitution?
Yeah.

Did you call
the publisher?

I think it's a typo
in the original.

Constitution?
Yeah.

Sounds unlikely.

I read two versions,
because I have time,

and there is
an inconsistent comma.

No.
So I looked at every

English language publication
that exists.

Half of them have the comma,
half of them don't.

Really?

Yeah, so I called
the National Archives

and had some woman
look at the original.

She said she wasn't sure
if it was a comma or a smudge.

There's a smudge?

Yeah, a smudge of law.
Does it change the...

It changes the meaning
of the takings clause.

Seriously?
I'm sure it doesn't.

I called Tom Merrill;
he thinks it does.
Really?

Should we...
do something?

I'm going
to write it up.

I have a window
in the calendar.

It's Petersburg, right?
Yeah.

Low security, which certainly
outshines the alternatives,

but still...
Yeah.

Bunks, ten in a room.

Like camp.

Exactly, like camp.

I'm sorry.

Maybe we should try
to do something.

Dig a tunnel?

Andy came by.

She mentioned the idea
of a pardon.

She and I apparently
need to have a conversation

about who talks to whom
concerning my future.

She's worried about the twins.

For a moment,
I actually thought you came here

'cause you gave a crap and
wanted to see how I was doing!

I gave a crap enough to inquire
if you wanted a pardon,

despite the fact
that you walked out on me

and walked out
on the President

while we still
had a job to do.

You don't need a pardon,
you need a frying pan

to the side of your head.

I don't want a pardon.

Well, that simplifies matters.
Thanks.

You don't want to consider what
this will do to Molly and Huck?

You think I haven't?

Okay.

And you?

They must be flocking.

Yeah.

Well, that's got
to feel pretty good.

Frank Hollis made
me an offer.

Yeah?
But so did Matt Santos.

Well, he has to.

No, it's a serious offer.

He made me an offer.

He made Arnold Vinick an offer.

Secretary of State.

He did not.
He did.

Wow.

That might be the smartest thing
he's ever done.

Impressive, huh?

Well, you'd be a get, too.

Are you going to do it?
Mm.

Probably. I...

I don't know;
it's complicated.

Why?

Danny Concanon.

Yeah, I heard something
about that.

We've been spending
time together,

which is perfectly nice,

but he's getting
way ahead of himself.

I mean, I'm not ready
to shape my life

around a guy I've
been with for a month.

It doesn't make sense.
You didn't pick him up

at a bar last Thursday.

You've been close
for eight years.

That doesn't mean it
magically falls into place

once we take the leap.

What? I'm not resisting.

You're not?

I'm not one of those women
who can't handle a good thing

when it's standing
in front of them.

Good.
Why don't you sound convinced?

You spend your whole life
working for powerful,

demanding men 24-7.

That's a lot of testosterone
in your world.

Well, maybe you didn't
need to date.

You got Josh and Sam and me and
180 reporters flirting with you

day in and day out.
Come on.

It's a lot of positive
male attention.

( chuckling ):
Now you're slotting in
Matt Santos, maybe Frank Hollis.

So, what, you think this is all

some sort of Freudian
temper tantrum?

You showed up here at 8:00
at night with a bottle of wine

asking me about a pardon

we both know is
out of the question,

telling me about a man
who's crowding you.

I think a lot of things.

You think I came here
to take advantage of you

before they cart you
off to the big house?

I think you don't know why
you came here.

You're a woman
with a lot of options.

You're acting like the world's
backing you into a corner,

bouncing from one thing
to the next,

from Bartlet to Santos
to Danny to me.

Maybe you should stop bouncing,
pick something.

What do you want?

I don't know.

I'd like to learn how to
make a chicken like that.

Stick a lemon up it
and throw on some rosemary.

Yeah?
Yeah. Little salt.

I'd like to learn
how to ski.

I think that would be
soothing, be a ski bum,

operate the ski
chair for six months,

clear my head.

It's a chair lift.

Well, first, I'd
learn the lingo.

Take it from there.

( both laughing )

I missed you.

( laughs )

Yeah.

We had it good there,
for a while.

Yeah, we did.

You should go.

You kicking me out?

Yeah.

Okay.

Thanks for asking
about the pardon.

Of course.
No, not "of course."

You didn't have to.

*

Where to?

( knock at door )

Good evening, sir.

Thank you, sir.
Thank you.

( sighs )

I missed the window.

That's what's going on here.

I... missed the window to
figure out how to do this.

How to...
Share my life with
another person.

How to be a partner or
whatever condescending way

you put it this
afternoon...

Oh, I wasn't trying...
I don't know
how to do it.

Maybe at one point I
did, maybe I never did,

but it's over now;
it's too late.

This and skiing,
it's too late,

It's not gonna happen.

C.J...
You said yourself,

it's not an accident that
this hasn't come together.

This is who I am.

I'm good at my job, Danny.

I'm good at working.

I'm not good at this.

You're right,
you suck at it.

You're going to need
a tremendous amount of training.

( chuckling ):
You're not going to...
I am, actually.

...train me!

I'll call it something else--
that sounds bad--

but we'll deal with it.

I don't need training.

No, of course not.
That's not funny.

No, it isn't--
you're gonna get good at it.

We're going to get good
at new things.

You don't know that.
I do.

Don't make it sound
like it's nothing.

You didn't miss it.
What if I did?

You didn't miss it.
What if we can't...

We'll figure it out,
all of it.

( deep, heavy sigh )

You can be scared.

That's okay.

But you're not gonna walk away
from me because you're scared.

I'm not that scary.

So, uh, do you
want me to take...

one of the board
of directors jobs?

It's only a couple
hours a month.

Where the hell
did that come from?!

I'm trying.

You want to be
involved, I'm...

I want you to do what you want.

Take the job
at the White House.

I just want you
to talk to me about it,

I want us to talk about what
it'll mean

and how we'll make it work.

I want us to talk like we're
going to figure it out together.

I want us to talk,

because I like the sound
of your voice.

I just want to talk.

Franklin Hollis wants me
to take $10 billion

and go and fix the world.

That sounds like fun.

Does that sound like fun to you?

Do you want to work
at the White House?

There's a typo in
the Constitution.

Well, someone should look
into that.

Toby's going to deal with it.

Okay.

What else?