Original subtitles

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.