All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S06E06 - The Dover Test (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously, on The West Wing...

Oh, people shouldn't
be sending me flowers.

They're for Leo.

So, how's it going?

How did you manage it
for seven years?

I had a heart attack.

TOBY:
The President wants

a unanimous
Security Council vote,

and we've lost three countries
in the last hour,

and both our diplomatic heavies
are in a cardiac ward.

How do you get women?

Are you trying to get fired?

C.J.:
Come work for me--
you're smart,

responsible,
you know the President.

Why wouldn't I hire you?

You're not gonna ask me
about my kids?
How are your kids?

They don't recognize me.
One more term.

"Who's that guy hugging Mommy?"

I don't want
to be good at this.

Don't worry, it was better.

Good's still a ways off.

( crowd chatter,
chamber music playing )

BARTLET:
Of course,
the buildings were vacant

and in disrepair by then.

I snuck my first cigarette here.

You'll want to add
a commemorative plaque.

MAN:
Congratulations
on the library, sir.

Thank you.
Michael, thanks for coming.

Are you also
celebrating
today's polls?

I don't pay attention
to polls.

MAN:
In the wake of your
Middle East Peace Plan,

57% of Americans questioned

say they'd vote for you
for a third term.

Don't say that
in front of an architect.

He'll think
it extends his deadline.

"Photos-only" means photos-only.

TOBY:
You're not still
calling this guy?

Matt Santos...
Is a quitter.

Got him reelected twice,
and by huge margins.

And he's popular
in his district.

And a quitter.
Don't waste our time.

Santos called me--
he wants to sit down
again, tomorrow.

Think he woke up and said,
"Hey, I'm a guy

"with an uncontested seat
in the United States Congress,

maybe I'll stop whining
and do my job"?

I leaned on him
pretty hard.

DONNA:
But he's so persistent;
it's embarrassing.

Enjoy the attention,
it doesn't have

to turn into anything.
Always talking shop,
these two.

Aren't you sweet.

I'm sorry. Did you... Here.

I don't drink red.

I knew that.
You drink red.

I'll get you a white.
Margaret?

I drink red.

Or...
champagne's fine.

BARTLET:
I want to thank all of you
for being here

for the unveiling of these plans

( pager beeps )
for the Bartlet
Presidential Library

to be housed
in a restored section

of the historic Amoskeag Mills
in Manchester...

The Secretary of Agriculture's
in the Rose Room.

You know the protocol?

BARTLET:
...hopes to meet with each
and every one of you personally.

The Secretary of Agriculture's
in the Rose Room.

You're saying the
Secretary of Agriculture's
in the Rose Room?

Yes.
There's no chance

the Secretary's actually
in the Rose Room?
No.

You'll take it
directly to the...

As the President's
Personal Aide,

I went straight
to the President.

As Deputy Special Assistant,

I alert C.J.
and clear it with you.

Excuse me,
Mr. President,

can I talk to you
for a second?

Sure.

What are you getting?

TOBY:
CNN's reporting
an attack

on our peacekeeper's
compound in Darom,

south of Gaza City.
Up to eight injured
and one dead.

The peace mission's
first casualty.

I'm gonna work
on a statement.

C.J.:
The Joint Chiefs have
CTAF on the line.

They didn't even let us
get the peacekeepers deployed.

They're Army advance;
construction crews.

Excuse me, sir. Toby?
Yeah?

In our statement,
when we say "casualty,"

don't say "first."

explosives strapped
to his chest,

leaving no doubt that
President Bartlet's...

C.J.:
Great.

The White House fiddles
while Darom burns.

TOBY:
Where's the President's
statement?

We have no details.

I'm hearing what you're hearing.

REPORTER:
So while the White House
struggles with a response

to this ominous act of terror...

He uses that,
he doesn't use
our statement.

I like how you were leaning

on the podium, though--
more engaged.

I referred them to
the Pentagon ten times.

It'll be 50 times today.

A wise man once said,
"Stonewalls are built

one stone at a time."

I was hiding behind my
desk when I said that.

Stonewalling's
not gonna work

with a controversial
peace plan

at stake and
American lives...

One American life.
on the line.

Don't give this momentum.

"We're faced with

the tough work
of making peace."
Not yet.

See if events force us there.
Take a breath.

Did the Pentagon
release a name

for the dead soldier yet?

They have to notify
next of kin.

It takes 15 hours?

Actually, they told
the soldier's father,

but the parents are
divorced, and they
haven't located Mom yet.

So we stick with
"pending notification"?

Stick with "no"-- you give them
"pending notification,"

they'll drag you
into 20 questions about

what's the snafu
and why can't the army

improve services
to dependents.
Right. Makes sense.

"I'm hearing
what you're hearing," Toby?

C.J. and I just did this.

At least your forehead
wasn't as shiny.

JOSH:
So, what's up, Congressman?

My bill died in committee.

Patients' Bill of Rights?

Common sense,
common good kind of thing

that failed to get the votes
six times in six years.

Well, on the positive side,

you've almost passed it
so often,

people think it's already law.

Till somebody gets sick
and needs their HMO.

Senate eked out a version
last week.

Well, I'm sorry
to disappoint

the President, but, uh,
my House bill's DOA.

Oh, we appreciate all your work.

So I'm signing on
to Strickman's bill.

Strickman's a Republican.

He mentioned something
about that.

Strickman calls his bill
Patients' Bill of Rights

'cause it sounds
better than...

Love Letter to the
Insurance Industry.

Patients can't even sue.

A million-five cap, Josh.

That's a parking
ticket.

Your kid loses
his legs after

your health plan
denies treatment?

Your kid dies?
You can't take
'em to court.

It's a bad bill.

So why dignify it by
making it bipartisan?

I wouldn't do it

if I thought I could tip
the balance, but...

Strickman can't
get enough votes
to pass this thing.

Strickman's an old hand.

If he courted you,
he's got something
up his sleeve.

When I came to the Hill,
you couldn't get agreement

on the right
to the closest
emergency room.

You couldn't negotiate
a woman's right to OB-GYNs or...

a kid's right to pediatricians.

Forget about liability,
you couldn't find support

for a right to arbitration.

It's all common ground now.

I want to keep
these parties talking, Josh.

So this is basically
all warm-up

to announcing that...
you're gonna run.

No.
This isn't some

convoluted legislative way

I haven't figured out yet
of asking for a favor?

Well, I wouldn't mind
if you let me keep my huevos

when you eviscerate me in public
for, uh, breaking ranks.

You're a deserter--
you can have 'em back
at the airport.

MARGARET:
57, 58, 59...
You don't need to tag along.

It's my office.
Probably it's not.

70. The basement?

I'll be fine down here.

80. You're Deputy
Special Assistant to
the Chief of Staff now.

So are five other guys;
I'll crowd in with them.

They're not special
Deputy Special Assistants.

You're special.
Honestly, I...

Okay, no.

It's outside the zone.

There's a zone?

Less than 100 steps
from C.J.'s office.

I could run

MAN 2:
You think this is a result
of the hasty way

MAN ( over TV ):
So there's no question
there will be more attacks

on our people
in the occupied territories.

We've rushed headlong
into a powder keg.

this operation
was pulled together?

MAN 1:
Absolutely. 2,000 troops

are being deployed
to the Middle East.

MAN 2:
And we can only guess
this is the first wave...

( groans )

What are you doing?
I dropped a cufflink,
and it went...

This is when
you call me.

You want me yelling "nurse"
every five minutes?

I don't want you
yelling "nurse" at all.

Do I call you "patient"?

I yell "Ms. Chakrabarty,"
I'll need a another bypass.

You didn't eat one bite.
I'm not hungry.

Sit.

Why you need
a tie and jacket?

What would you recommend?

When Gandhi went to
London to meet the
king of England,

he wore only a dhoti.

The reporter asked,
"Aren't you ashamed

to visit a king,
wearing so little?"

Gandhi said, "No..."

"The king will be wearing
enough for both of us."

One difference between
the Mahatma and myself.

I warn you, there are others.

You may browbeat me
into using the
breath spirometer.

You may mother me
about wound care.

You may dole out
the Vicodin like
my AA sponsor.

You may even entertain me
with nutrition lectures.

You need to eat.
You may not...

may not offer fashion advice.

Shall I come with you?

You shall not.

Then I'll time you.

Splendid.

Set your watch.

You've been doing ten minutes.
Try for 12.

Two more minutes
on my own?

I'll give it my all.

( labored breathing )

( breathing quiets )

( over TV ):
...two peacekeepers remain
listed in critical condition.

Need something?
I was just...

looking for the breakdown
on the markup.

Uh-huh.
You're getting
pretty good on those.

Thanks.
Is that a new cast?

Two weeks ago.

Those are nice flowers.

But, come on--
"I'm not going anywhere"?

From a photojournalist?

You read my card?

I'm keeping an eye
on Blarney Boy.

The flowers
aren't from Colin.

And why are you reading my card
on my flowers on my desk?

I thought they were for me?

Got a minute?
Sure.

Okay, you have seen
the Vice President's schedule

for the last
four months, right?

It hasn't somehow
eluded you that

he's top-heavy on toasts
at the AMA,

keynotes to the American
Association of Trial Lawyers,

potlucks with the Juvenile
Diabetes Foundation

and picnics with
the National Alliance
for Mental Illness?

No, I know.
So you don't need me

articulating my subtext.
I should've called.

Damn straight
you should've called me.
The Vice President's been

positioning himself
on patients' rights.

He's been up to his elbows
and rolling in it.

By Iowa, he's gonna smell
like patients' rights.

Unless it suddenly
evaporates.

It's not going to.
The Senate passed
a bill last week.

Now the House has
a bipartisan effort--

graced by Matthew Santos.

And all that elicits
from the White House

is a bland we-agree-
to-disagree statement.

I thought
this was Toby.

I expect this from Toby.

I draw comfort
in the predictability

of it coming from Toby.

It was me. I can toughen it up.

But the Vice President
doesn't have to worry.

Strickman's bill
has no support.
Strickman's no fool.

The Republicans might try
to run with it.

I spoke to Santos.

He's gonna keep it
on a low flame.

Patients' rights will
be alive and kicking

as a campaign issue
for the Vice President.

I promise.

PRESIDENT:
Yes, Madam Prime Minister,

it is a tragic loss.

But I wouldn't
call it a harbinger.

Our troops responded swiftly
to correct the vulnerability.

I'm not taking my cues
from your cable broadcasts.

That's a relief.

But I am concerned about
deploying more peacekeepers

without a secured base.

And I am, too.

We have installed
more anti-RPGs,

and we're enlarging
the control area.

But I can assure you

our confidence in the mission
has not altered.

You still expect
full deployment by...?

March. General Danzig at UCOMM
will confirm the timetable

and security measures
with General Whitehead.

I see no problem on our end.

That's good news.

My best to Reggie.

And mine to Abigail.

Thank you.

That was brisk.

Which is good.

When she mulls, it's trouble.

Have we contacted
the soldier's family yet?

It's still just
the father, sir.

I'll get him
for you now.

Thank you.

The Palestinian Authority

uncovered a stockpile
of explosives today.

Apparently,
the good news is...

That they actually
told us about it?

One day at a time.

That's how we're going
to make this work.

What else?

You think this is a result

of the hasty way this operation
was pulled together?

Absolutely. 2,000 troops,
to be precise,

are being deployed
to the Middle East...

I hate these calls.

And we can only guess this is
the first wave. Am I correct?

You want me to...?

You don't work here anymore.

Hello, Mr. Godfrey?

I'm calling
from the White House.

I'm sorry to bother your family
at this difficult time,

but I have President Bartlet
calling for you.

May I put him on?

No, you may not.
I have no interest...

I under... Sir, I... I'm sorry.

Yes, sir,
I unders...

Of course. It's your...

I will.

And, if you'd like,
I can arrange for you...

Is he on?

Not exactly.

Either I'm getting used
to these meetings

or that wasn't all bad news.

36 hours, and no
secondary attacks
on our peacekeepers.

Did a chaplain contact
Lieutenant Godfrey's
father yet?

Yes, ma'am.

The chaplain joined
the Casualty Assistance Officer

at the family home
last night.

Of course, the father
still may speak out.

That's his prerogative.

I have a question

about your troop
depletion estimate--

or rather lack
of estimate.

"Force Depletion."

We call it
"Force Depletion."

But I am correct this
is the DOD estimate

of how many troops we may expect
to lose in the mission?

Oh, we don't break
it out that way.

Is that why "Force Depletion
Estimate" is left blank here?

No, ma'am. Leo liked
us to leave our
number unpublished

until he got
the NSA estimate.

That way, the two
projections were
decided independently.

But you would share
your estimate with Leo?

When he asked.

I'm asking.

How much of "our force" may
be "depleted" in JTF Palestine?

All due respect, that's
a complex question.

Based on past
Israeli losses,

previous
peacekeeping missions,

we're currently
prepared to respond

to one-quarter to one
percent depletion
over 12 months.

That's 200 soldiers.

This isn't a body count.
The one percent

includes the entire
military force strength--

munitions, structures,
aircraft...

And troops?

Oh, if you're going
to be concerned
about the Dover Test,

it's too early
to worry about that.

The Dover Test?

Erosion
of public support

based on arrival
of coffins

at our air base
in Delaware.

I wanted to understand
your projections.

The Dover Test
wasn't my concern.

But would you
excuse me, Commander?

Margaret, has the press briefing
started yet?

No. The Pentagon has not
released the soldier's name.

That's all the information
I have.

So you can't
comment on whether

there's a problem
identifying the remains?

I can't. Chris?
Good toss.

Sorry to harp on this,

but there are only about a
thousand troops in the region...

Peacekeepers. 1,100.

So it's hard to believe

the Pentagon can't
identify the casualty.

Why I'm not commenting.

That's Mr. Sligh's speculation.

Get a comment from his network.

Now, hold on, Toby.

I get to defend myself.

No, you don't.

The reason why
I'm forced to speculate

is that I'm getting
no information.

Was Toby was briefed
on Dover policy?

He said he
didn't need to be.

The Pentagon is the right place
to go for that information.

There's no
stalling here

in order to delay putting
a face on this loss?

Absolutely not. Brad?
Quick follow-up.

Move on.

I have to move on.

Just to confirm.

If President Bartlet
is not trying

to pull the curtain over
the cost of his peace plan,

why are the press
being kept away

from this slain
soldier's homecoming

at Dover
Air Base tomorrow?

The Dover mortuary
has restricted press coverage

for the last 13 years.

The DOD suspended access

during the previous
administration.

Which this administration
has regularly ignored.

We've had access.
Why the sudden clampdown?

It's not sudden.

We issued a directive
six months ago,

not that any of you
bothered to read

No, no, no, no, no.
Your 11:00 is here.

Six months ago,
the decision was made

to deny press access to Dover?
Yes.

What was the rationale
for the change?

A request came from the Pentagon

based on concerns
of family members.

Historically, these events
were not public.

Th-Th-They had evolved
into media events

that competed
with official memorial services.

But why wasn't the policy change
announced publicly?

Toby...
It wasn't a change.

It was adhering to a policy
already in place.

But the administration
altered its stance.

Was an announcement
even discussed?

Of course.
You were in the room?

I was in the room.

And no one argued that,
by burying this

in a directive,
it would look like

you had something to hide?
Nothing was buried.

Some people argued
to announce a change.

That would be me.
Because it was seen
as controversial?

Wrap it up. Adios.

Look, the Dover closing
was, uh... wasn't taken lightly.

I weighed in.
Others weighed in.

Ultimately, it was
the way we decided to go.

So you believe the
press should have

continued access
to the air base?

I appreciate the Pentagon's need
for a precedent.

Why? Why worry
about precedent

unless you expect
a growing body count?

Shut it down.
Yeah.

Is that what's expected?

More coffins?

The number of coffins isn't...

Each life matters.

Whether it's one or a hundred,
access should be consistent.

A hundred? Do you expect there
to be a hundred bodies?

You want him
in your office?

Oh, yeah.

Stop.

I... I am not.

Because you're pressuring me.

I have work to do.

No. I...

I said I would sleep on it.

But I did, and...

It's just not how I do things.
It's not...

No means no.
Leave her alone.

Who is this jerk?

Some slacker from
physical therapy?

I'll kick his ass.

You could thank me
for my chivalry.

Toby...

how's that search for
a Press Secretary coming?

I got rattled.
Said more than I meant.

We were both

in that room
six months ago.

You didn't like the
idea of closing Dover

and, today, you
couldn't resist

voicing your
personal opinion...

Exactly
what I predicted.

The Pentagon
gets what it wants,

we look like
we're hiding casualties.

I don't care about your
insights or predictions,

brilliant as they may be.

The decision was wrong.

We settled on a message.

I buried my own opinions
out there every day.

Why were you doing back there?

Don't you have a White House
to run?

The briefing room
is not your bully pulpit.

I got rattled.

Yeah,
you got rattled,

and your ambivalence
toward policy came out.

You had ambivalence toward
the peace plan. Is that...?

Are you questioning my loyalty?!

I'm questioning
your self-control!

If you can't stick
to our message--

I don't care
if that podium stands empty--

I don't want you
out there again!

Ooh!

It is close to C.J.

The President
won't like it.

On the other hand,
he won't know.

It is a storage area.

That might be
an exaggeration.

We can't do better?

Yeah. It's a no.

WILL:
Two more Democrats

have jumped on Strickman's bill.

So, at a rate
of two a week,

they'll have
enough votes
to pass the thing

midway through President
Russell's first term.

It's Horwitz and Chambers
who came on.

Chambers is
a pain in the ass.

Yeah. I called him
and told him that.

He said he was lobbied hard
by your man.

Santos is out
whipping votes.

Chambers thinks Santos
is all about the meteoric rise;

centerfold in Roll Call.

Chambers has
one foot out the door.

He's whipping votes?

Oh, and I misspoke before.

It's not Strickman's bill
anymore.

It's the Strickman-Santos

Patients' Rights Bill.

Donna! Get Congressman Santos
on the phone!

No.

Tell him
I'm on my way.

I'll set him straight.

I'll back you up.

Good evening.

Leo?

Otis. Haven't
seen you lately.

I thought maybe
you upgraded to the Ritz.

These days
it's mostly the Oriental.

That's right.
Bangkok.

I knew you wouldn't
stay retired.

Sorry to hear about...

Well, you...
you look great.

I never figured you
for sainthood,

but Deputy Director
of the WTO?

Keep it down.
We'll have protesters.

My son was mortified

by my career at CultiCo.
I remember.

Now my grandson has

this WTO connection
to live down.

Thankless.

Oh, God. Did you
hear from Phil?

He starting in again?

It's what I'd do

if I were still CEO.

If you don't go back
to the White House,

CultiCo would love to
put you on their board.

Yeah, yeah.

There's a lot of great
things happening
in germplasm.

It's not just
petrochemicals anymore.

And the pressure's
not so...

Oh, not to interrupt.

I got worried.

( phone ringing )

Congressman Santos'
office.

Want to see if they
have any magazines?

You don't have to wait.

I'm fine.

I'm really sorry, Mr. Lyman.

Does he know
we're still waiting?

He'll call in
as soon as he's free.

Is he in the building?

He's tied up.

Excuse me.

Congressman Santos'
office.

Mr. Vacarro.

I'm glad they found you.

Let me see if I can get him.

Is he putting
that through?

Huh?

Is that call
going through?

I'd say yes.

Doesn't a Vacarro
run Metson Health?

The same Metson Health that's
looking for a new chairman?

What do you
want to bet

our guy's up in Strickman's
conference room right now,

feathering his own nest?

One way to find out.

JOSH:
Congressman?

I'm sorry.
I couldn't break free.

This is Will Bailey, from
the Vice President's office.

This isn't a good
time right now, Josh.

I'm going to
call you tomorrow.

Hey, Congressman, hold up.

What's going on?

I'm, uh, busy right now.

Whipping votes
for a bill

your leadership
doesn't support?

This isn't what
we talked about.

But it's what I do.

What? Sell out
your president?

Look who you're with.

Come on, this
isn't about the
President's agenda.

The President
doesn't want

a regulatory bill
with no regulations.

If patients can't
sue their insurers

even when there's
outright negligence...

A million-five cap
is a foot in the door...

A million-five cap
isn't a pinkie in the dam.

Have you seen
the costs for
catastrophic illness?

Metson Health could
probably give you
a peek into that.

You need to slow down.

Yeah, he slows down
long enough,

you're going to ram
this sucker through.

It's not this bill
you don't want.

It's any bill.
You'd let

sick Americans suffer
to help elect
your candidate..

This from the guy who's
bailing on his constituents.

Some of us are in this
for the long haul.

We're going to keep governing
around here after you're gone.

Gentlemen,
this is governing.

This is getting
your resume to
the top of pile.

Making pals in
the private sector.

What the hell do you think
I'm doing here?

I think you'd settle for less
on this bill

to set up your next career move.

Settle for less.

This is from the guys

that are running
Bob Russell for President?

I'm sorry, gentlemen.

You make quite a tag team.

But if you're
on a deadline...

Fair enough.

I won't... I won't
make a decision

without giving
you that chance.

You, too.

I thought you had
to leave early.

Don't you have
a thing tonight?

A wedding.

When my family asks
why I missed the puja,

I'll say, I'm sorry,
I couldn't leave;

my patient refused to eat.

I'll eat it later.

You're taking a job?

Not without consulting you.

It's not wise.

I know you'd like to keep me
under your thumb forever.

Yes, my dream is to stay here,
watching you starve to death.

I have no appetite
because I don't do anything.

Maybe if I agree to part-time...

You don't want me
to go back to work at all?

Ten breaths every hour.

This one if you can't sleep.

Are you from Haryana?

I don't have to be.

It's in my country.

A lot of folks...
died there in '86.

CultiCo is a different
company now.

It has a different name.

And different
people in charge.

People who helped
clean up what happened.

I'm late. I'll call you
to check in.

( door shuts )

Hutchinson said no
to a Sunday spot?

We said no
to Hutchinson

'cause he won't
let me prep him.

You go, girl.

Do people still say that?

Not really.

But the line-up
I like best

for Sunday morning
is, I give them you.

New Chief of Staff.

Most powerful woman in D.C.

That'd get 'em off
the woes of Gaza.

I'll think about it.
What else?

Pentagon finally released
Lieutenant Godfrey's name,

the dead peacekeepers.

Which brings me
to the last thing

I need to bug
you about.

The lieutenant's dad lives
here in the District.

To get out in
front of this,

we thought the President might
want to attend the funeral.

Show of respect.
Commander-in-Chief
handing over the flag...

This memorial service
is a private event.

But when those reporters
find out where he's from...

The father is not a fan.

The President has a 90%
approval in the District.

Well, Godfrey Senior's
squarely in the minority,

and it's not necessarily
a silent one.

Looks like he may issue
a statement later today.

When were you going
to loop us in on that?

I just did. Easier
to say no comment

when you have no comment.

That used to piss you off.

And now it's pissing you off.

Anything else?

JOSH:
We need a stronger response

on the Patients Bill.
Tell her...

DONNA:
To juice it up.

High octane.

I thought we wanted a
Patients' Bill of Rights.

Not this demon seed.

The Republicans won't budge
on the liability cap.

Patients won't even be able

to recoup their
out-of-pocket expenses.

Some rights.

So when Will said
Santos picked up

eight more votes
from our side...

And a stampede of Republicans.

It's bad news. You want to
distance the White House.

I want the White House
in a different galaxy.

Excuse me;
Annabeth wondered

if she could get
a minute later.

Donna's got something
for her now.

It's Donna
she needs.

About the Dateline interview.

When am I doing Dateline?

Never.

I mean, I said no
on your behalf.

I'll follow up.

Well, I would characterize
the Congressional support

as hesitant, at best.

When we voted to approve
Peacekeepers in the Middle East,

we were led to believe
that the President

had a viable strategy in place.

First and foremost, to secure

the safety of our American
troops on foreign terrain.

( groaning )

I would characterize
the Congressional support

as hesitant, at best.

When we voted to approve
Peacekeepers in the Middle East,

we were led to believe
that the President

had a viable strategy in place.

First and foremost, to secure

the safety of our American
troops on foreign terrain.

Now less than 15 days
into the mission,

the President's promises
have been broken.

We've lost one life,
so I am asking the question

every American is asking:

Are there more to come?

( TV clicks off )

( door opens )

( child laughing )

( door shuts )

What are you doing here?

I brought you food.

You're a broken record.

Be very quiet, huh?

Mr. McGarry
needs his rest.

This your little one?

This is Malti.

Say hello.

Hi.
( giggling )

Hello.

A nice wedding?

Very nice.

You took your pill?

Mm.

Mmm...

That smells good.

Nan.

Still warm.

Try it.

GODFREY SR ( on TV ):
Yeah, but do you
even stop to think

that maybe we ought to stop
butting in other...

I'm sorry. Am I
interrupting?
Not a bit.

Thanks for stopping by.

You heard
from Dateline?
(turns off TV )

I already told them no,
and three others.

That'll make them
chase you harder.

Now I've got CAA calling.

What's the CIA want?

No, CAA. Talent agency.

They think you need
representation.

Is this about
the CBS thing?
Yeah.

I didn't even want to do an
interview. Now I'm a movie?

MOW.

Is that different?

More likely to get made.

It's all ridiculous.

Why?

Girl-next-door travels
to a war-torn spot;

survives a terrorist act
to bring a message of peace

back to her President--
it's heroic.

Could it be good for us--
for the Peace Plan?

Maybe. But since you get
paid for the rights,

you couldn't keep working here.

Well, then forget it.

Paid how much?

( chuckling )

We are getting
a lot of bad press.

Maybe I should at least
do a news interview.

No pressure,

but my gut is you'd pop.

Or you can talk to Toby.

Or C.J. She'd know best.

( sighing )

The thing is...

I wasn't heroic.

I was in the wrong place
at the wrong time.

I couldn't...

With the soldier
who was just killed,

and the ones
that were wounded--

those guys chose that.

They volunteered for a job

they knew would put
them in harm's way.

That's heroic.

Talk to Will?

Just now.

Is he thinking
pills or razor?

No, he's got a
ledge in his office,

but it's only on
the second floor.

You're gloating.

Over a certain colleague's
misfortune, yeah,

and not ashamed of what it
says about me as a person.

And the President's
about to be faced

with a crummy excuse
for legislation.

Good title, though:
A Patients' Bill of Rights.

Hard not to love that.

Maybe it'll fix in Conference,

or we proclaim it
National Veto Month.

The President's not
going to veto this.

He's not going to sign it.

It's grand theft governance--

they stole the issue
and stripped it for parts.

Have you read the bill?

Yeah, I read it.

Lately? The
Strickman-Santos

Bill the House just passed?

Why?

Read the bill.

ANNABETH:
Hey, I was afraid
I missed you.

Almost a clean getaway.

This won't
take long.

I had an idea.
Yeah?

It's good for the President.

It'll turn the tide
on a tough news cycle

and give us a fresh start.

There's a catch?

We have to sell it to C.J.

And you think I'm
the guy for that?

You know her best.

What's the pitch?

Millet?

That's the secret.

A special seed that
gives a certain oil.

Only grown in one small
area of the Punjab.

You found your appetite.

They ought to market this.

It has no shelf life.

My aunt had to smuggle it
on the plane.

So, basically, I have
to move to the Punjab.

Even there, it can't
compete now.

Most farmers grow GMO corn.

And make better money doing it.

Yes, they never
had money before.

Or debt.

My uncle had to sell his land

to pay off seed
he can't replant,

engineered for chemicals
he cannot afford.

No one's forced
to use biotech;
they want it.

These advances
will feed the world.

People starve because
they are kept poor.

So, now CultiCo's responsible
for Third World corruption?

I didn't say CultiCo.

Open markets
redistribute wealth.

You're right.

Sure.

there are blind spots
in the corporate view.

Mmm-hmm.

That's why I left
the first time.

Mm-hmm.

Enough money...

profits...

These guys...

never say "enough."

Not made that way.

So they replace
small farmers

growing many seeds
with monoculture.

We all lose the means
to feed ourselves.

What?

You found your appetite.

Hope you're about
to reassure me

the President
won't sign this.

Santos got the cap raised.

From laughable
to slap on the wrist.

$5 million's not nuthin'.

Gee, you think the Vice
President pushing the issue

did anything to scare the
Republicans up to that figure?

Absolutely. Still,
the Bill's impressive.

If that's what
impresses you.

Some would be impressed
with the $20 million

Russell's raised so far
for his war chest.

It would impress some folks
that their Vice President

got endorsements from Lasko
and Carpenter last week.

Yeah, I meant to...
If you guys--
and I'm not talking

about President Bartlet;
we have his respect--

but the rest of you
are so busy making fun

and throwing up roadblocks,
you haven't noticed

it's three months till
the Iowa Caucuses and nobody--

don't say Baker--
nobody who's

actually declared-- is polling
within ten points of my guy.

I have noticed.

And could you sound
more miserable?

Forget Patients' Rights.

With or without it,
Russell is on his way

to being the nominee, and God
willing, our next President.

So get on board
or get out of my way.

You see the Times?
Yeah.

We're hiding the price
of peace in the Times now."

Yeah. You have a sec?

I want to run something by you.

C.J. won't like it.
C.J. won't see it.

That's not
the only...
When C.J. needs
something,

I'll go to her office.

All right? Hey, you guys.

Hey, Charlie.

There isn't
even a desk.

Rumor is, one's
buried under here.

What is all that?
My fellow Deputy

Special Assistants tell me

these are back-burner
commission reports

and policy initiatives
no one's gotten around to yet.

I'm hoping most
of it's recycle.

Gotten an assignment
yet, Charlie?

Pile on.
Well, maybe

for the time being.

Call when you need me.

( knock at door )

NURSE:
Mr. McGarry?

Did you fall in?

Going through
my trash now?

Nice sweater.

Cashmere?

You coming along or what?

We hand-pick the pool,
choose their camera positions.

Could be good for everyone.

It's worth taking it
to him.

How long would Advance need
in terms of logistics?

Advance already spoke
to Walter Reed.

The five wounded soldiers
arrived yesterday

and are all medically stable.

Are you worried it'll look

like a photo op,
too eager to show he cares?

He does care, but yeah,
we'd be vulnerable to that.

But after all the focus
on casualties,

here are the survivors,

with their
Commander-in-Chief.

JOSH:
It's not a bad way
for the President

to reiterate his budget
increase for Veterans Affairs.

We don't want
to appear to exploit,

or worse, actually
exploit anyone.

I think we can trust this
President to be authentic.

Advance cleared it

with the wounded soldiers.

They're all okay with it.

( sighing )

I'll recommend it
to the President

with one small adjustment.

LEO:
I haven't decided

not to work.

I'm just not rushing
into something new.

NURSE CHAKRBARTY:
Ah.

I'm going to give
myself some time.

What's for dinner?

Hungry?
Yeah.

We're going
to have to start

watching your
cholesterol.

Okay, okay.

The body is predictable.

One month after a bypass,
the appetite returns.

Soon your sleep
will grow less disturbed,

and your heart
will quiet down.

My heart?

Haven't you
heard it beating?

In surgery, they cut
the pericardial sac,

which insulates the heart.

Afterwards it seems to pound.

They can't repair it?

Heart's too swollen.

You have to wait
until it settles down...

scars over on its own.

I might miss the sound.

I've gotten used to it.

Part of healing.

Going on.

Congressman, I believe
I owe you an apology.

You want a beer?

Sure.

So either you got
the cap to move

by promising
you'd deliver Chambers,

or you got Chambers on board by
promising movement on the cap,

or some of both.

Glass or you all
right with a bottle?

Bottle's fine.

Once the momentum got going,

you called a couple
of the friendlier HMOs

to let them know, for their
own good, that a $5 million cap

was still a cap, and
they sure didn't want

this thing passing
with the sky the limit.

But what I'd like
to know is if

you let your own bill
self-destruct

and joined with Strickman,
knowing there was

an opening if you
let them take the lead,

or if it just
started tipping

that way and
you went with it.

It didn't hurt
the other day in the hall

when you demonstrated
my independence.

I'm always happy
to do my part.

The Vice President

softening up
the battlefield

didn't hurt.

Nothing motivates Republicans
more than a chance

to hijack one of our issues.

So, House Bill,
Senate Bill,

not very far apart.

Recess next week,
here you are drinking a beer?

Don't tell me you're
already out of conference.

Something will be coming

the President's way
first thing tomorrow.

You're too good at this.

You can't just walk away.

Watch me.

I'm glad we're doing this.

Me, too.

TOBY:
She took your suggestion.

ANNABETH:
Except for the press part.

Well, they're in
the parking lot.

A photo op with no photos?

I'll see you inside.

No press allowed,
but we need

a Deputy Press
Secretary?

I wanted her here.

You knew cameras
didn't belong in this,

but you had her bring
it to me anyway.

You seemed to
want to weigh in.

Leo used to weigh in, Toby.

And when it bothered me,
I said so.

I'm not ignoring you.

It's my job now.

You can't do it if you
spend all your time

guarding your old turf.

PRESIDENT:
I'll check on that
for you, Private.

Thank you, sir.

The new ones are state
of the art, Doc told me.

That's what I hear.

They'll have me fitted,
up and walking in no time.

Yes, son, you know the Army.

They're not going to let you
lay around on their dime.

I want to go back, sir.

Well...

I'll put in a word
with the Joint Chiefs,

but at the moment,

your doctor is
your Commanding Officer, so...

make sure
you follow her orders, okay?

ANNABETH:
And this is Lieutenant Martinez,
Mr. President.

PRESIDENT:
Lieutenant.

Did I say
your name right?

Yes, ma'am.

But you don't have
to remember it

when you start talking
redeployment, sir.

Is there anything
I can do for you?

How about a prayer?

( President reciting
"The Lord's Prayer" )

I needed some air.

It ain't no photo op.

You knew that.

Now Annabeth knows that, too.

You think I'm micro-managing.

Yes.

I don't want to let
the President down.

Me neither.

How old do you think
those guys are in there? 20, 22?

Tops.

We're not going to let
the President down.