Original subtitles

EXCUSE ME, HAVE YOU SEEN THE FIRST LADY?

C.J.!

YOU KNOW HOW MANY

HOW MANY? OTHER PEOPLE I COULD HAVE MARRIED?

I´VE BEEN TRYING TO LISTEN TO YOUR LESSONS

ON HOW TO BE A BETTER BOYFRIEND.

NO, THIS IS ONE OF THE TIMES WHEN IT´S OKAY.

IT´S HARD TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THOSE TIMES AND THE OTHERS.

DOESN´T THAT SUCK?

THIS IS SPECIAL AGENT GINA TOSCANO.

ZOEY´S GOT A NEW AGENT.

I HEARD.

WALKING AROUND CAMPUS

WITH A WIRE IN THEIR EAR.

ARE THEY WHITE SUPREMACISTS?

I CAN´T TELL YOU FOR SURE

BUT I KNOW WHAT I´M LOOKING FOR

IN A CROWD, IF THAT´S WHAT YOU´RE ASKING.

ZOEY, WALK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ME.

Woman: 30 SECONDS, MRS. BARTLET.

Abbey: I DON´T WANT YOU TO BE NERVOUS.

Boy: OKAY.

IF YOU´RE NERVOUS, I´LL DETECT IT

AND MOCK YOU MERCILESSLY ON TELEVISION.

OKAY.

PEOPLE MIGHT THINK IT´S CRUEL FOR THE FIRST LADY

TO MOCK A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY

WHOSE ONLY CRIME IS GETTING NERVOUS ON TELEVISION

IN FRONT OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

BUT I´M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

I UNDERSTAND.

JEFFREY...

YES, MA´AM?

I WAS KIDDING.

NOW...

IF YOU GET NERVOUS

LOOK AT ME OR YOUR PARENTS.

OKAY.

YOU WON´T GET NERVOUS, ´CAUSE IF YOU DO, I´LL BEAT

YOUR BRAINS OUT.

YES, MA´AM.

NOT ME PERSONALLY-- I HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO THAT FOR ME--

BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.

MRS. BARTLET, TEN SECONDS.

LILLI, SHOULD HAVE WORN THE GRAY SUIT.

YOU´RE GOOD.

AND HERE WE GO.

25 minutes past the hour and 42 degrees

outside our Rockefeller Center studios.

Abigail Bartlet is no stranger

to the fight for children´s health around the world

and she´s taken the time to speak with us this morning.

Good morning, Mrs. Bartlet.

GOOD MORNING, MELISSA.

You´re speaking with us

from the Mural Room, is that right?

THAT´S RIGHT, AND I´M HERE

TO INTRODUCE THIS YOUNG MAN ON MY LEFT

JEFFREY MORGAN.

JEFFREY HELPED OPEN MY EYES

TO THE ISSUE OF CHILD LABOR EXPLOITATION AROUND THE WORLD.

Jeffrey, you started your organization

because of a pen pal you felt was in trouble.

Jeffrey: Yes, and I thought...

WHEN DID JEFFREY HAPPEN?

SAM...

LILLI, WHEN DID JEFFREY HAPPEN?

I DUG IT UP FOR HER YESTERDAY.

YOU´RE GOING TO LOVE HIM.

LET´S FIND OUT.

Your organization, the Kids´ Crusade...

The Children´s Crusade.

The Children´s-- I´m sorry--

The Children´s Crusade

was created when your pen pal was sold into slavery

is that right?

Well, that´s not what they call it in India

but that´s what it is.

You see, Panshin´s mother borrowed $25

and Panshin had to go to work to pay back the loan.

HE´S GOOD. YEAH.

Abbey: She borrowed the money

from what we would call

a loan shark, Melissa.

Then Panshin was bonded

to work for the loan shark

but could never pay back the loan...

SO HERE´S MY THING.

WHAT?

WHAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT

NOT GOING UP TO THE HILL FOR THE BUDGET MEETINGS TOMORROW

BUT BRINGING THE LEADERSHIP TO THE WHITE HOUSE INSTEAD?

WHY?

WE WANT THE NEWS CYCLE.

LILLI...

SHE´S GOT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB TOMORROW

IT´S HER FIRST MAJOR SPEECH SINCE COMMENCEMENT SEASON

IT´S CHILD LABOR, AND WE WANT THE NEWS CYCLE.

THE NEWS CYCLE DOESN´T BELONG TO US, LILLI.

IT´S NOT OURS TO GIVE AWAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

WE WANT TO SHOW THE PRESIDENT

IS REACHING OUT FOR BUDGET COMPROMISE.

HE´S LITERALLY GOING TO CONGRESS.

HE´S BEING DRIVEN SIX BLOCKS IN A STRETCH LIMO, SAM.

IT´S NOT LIKE HE´S HENRY CLAY.

IT´S A SYMBOL.

YOUR GUY STEPS OUT OF A MOTORCADE

AND THAT´S THREE COLUMN INCHES ABOVE THE FOLD.

MY GUY´S ON PAGE 23.

YOUR GUY´S MARRIED TO OURS

AND OURS WON AN ELECTION.

JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO.

YOUR GUY HAS A 48 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING.

MY GUY´S AT 61.

AND BITE ME.

AH... POINT WELL ARGUED.

Melissa: Mrs. Bartlet

does the company know

that its subcontractors are using child labor?

Abbey: Melissa, if they don´t

then they´re criminally negligent.

If they do, then they´re simply criminal.

THERE IT IS.

THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD PITCH TO HIT.

COME ON, SAM, SEE TOBY.

GIVE US SOME ROOM TO RUN.

LILLI...

CHANGE THE CHANNEL. TOBY...

HI, TURN TO CHANNEL FIVE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

BERNIE DAHL DIED.

Abbey: ...80 hours a week in darkness and silence.

...after suffering what is being described

as a massive heart attack

was pronounced dead upon arrival at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

Mr. Dahl, widely respected on Wall Street

as the chief architect

of the longest peacetime economic expansion in history

was in the fourth year of his second four-year term

as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

YOU JUST LOST YOUR NEWS CYCLE.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A COUP?

Man: EXCUSE ME, SIR?

IS THERE GOING TO BE A COUP?

NO, SIR. WE BELIEVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

THAT OPADOKAN WILL APPOINT THEIR SUCCESSORS

FROM DIVERSE REGIONS INCLUDING THE IBO FROM THE EAST.

THEY´VE BEEN COMPLAINING OF UNDER-REPRESENTATION.

AND THIS IS ON PAGE...?

17 IN YOUR CLASSIFIED BOOK.

PAGE 17...

EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESIDENT.

YEAH.

OH. EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

LEO, THE INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS...

I KNOW.

THERE ARE MORNINGS I´M JUST NODDING MY HEAD

AND THAT CAN´T BE GOOD FOR ANYBODY.

BERNIE DAHL HAD A HEART ATTACK.

NO...

YEAH, HE DIED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

HE DIED?

ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.

BAD TIMING.

I´LL SAY.

WHO KNOWS SO FAR?

WE GOT IT OFF THE NEWS.

DAMN IT.

YEAH.

MARKET´S GOING TO OPEN 200 POINTS DOWN.

IF WE´RE LUCKY.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE WERE LUCKY?

SUPER TUESDAY.

IT´S GOING TO BE

300, 350.

ANNOUNCE RON ERLICH.

NOT YET.

ANNOUNCE RON ERLICH AS DAHL´S SUCCESSOR.

NOT YET.

YOU DO IT THIS MORNING WHEN TRADING OPENS

EVERYBODY CALMS DOWN.

I´M SAYING I´M NOT SURE IT´S ERLICH.

SIR...

I´M NOT SURE. IT´S THE FED CHAIRMAN. GIVE ME A DAY.

IT´S GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE DAY.

HOW EXPENSIVE?

YOU SAY 300 POINTS, IT COULD BE MORE.

WALL STREET NEEDS TO TRUST ME.

SHOULD I GO TELL THEM THAT?

A DAY, AND I´LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE--

YOU COULD´VE BEEN NICER TO ME DURING THIS CONVERSATION.

HOW?

BY SAYING THAT WALL STREET DOES TRUST ME

AND THE MARKET´LL HOLD UNTIL I APPOINT A NEW FED CHAIRMAN.

SURE.

JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE TO CALL MY BROKER

AND DUMP MY PORTFOLIO.

I´M TAKING THE DAY.

I´M GOING TO LEAK IT´S ERLICH.

GET THE NEWS TO OUR PEOPLE.

IT´LL CALM THINGS DOWN. NO.

MR. PRESIDENT...

I´M NOT READY

TO JUMP INTO BED WITH RON ERLICH YET.

MAKING ME ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY WHO CAN SAY THAT.

YES, SIR.

SO...

THAT WAS PAGE 17.

YES, SIR.

THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

MR. MOHAMMED ASHOROBI...

SO I´VE BEEN READING THIS BOOK...

I´M ON THE PHONE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW? YOU´RE ON HOLD.

THE LIGHT WAS BLINKING.

WHAT BOOK?

IT´S ABOUT WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

DONNA, THE FACT THAT I´M ON HOLD NOW...

THAT SHOULDN´T BE YOUR CUE TO TELL ME

WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

FOR INSTANCE, A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

WOMEN WASHED THEIR HAIR ONCE A MONTH

AND THEY USED BORAX OR EGG YOLKS FOR SHAMPOO.

I´M HERE.

FLORENCE AND BERTHA WERE AMONG

THE TOP GIRLS´ NAMES.

I´M MEETING HIM IN FIVE MINUTES.

TODAY THEY DON´T MAKE THE TOP 10,000.

EXCUSE ME... WHAT?

FLORENCE AND BERTHA AREN´T AMONG

THE TOP 10,000 NAMES TODAY...

I´M ACTUALLY BACK

ON THE PHONE NOW.

I´LL WAIT.

TOBY´S GOING TO BE FINE. DON´T WORRY.

TOBY´S IN HIS OFFICE?

YEAH. THE POPULATION OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WAS 22.

I´M GOING TO GO TO MY MEETING NOW

BUT YOU SIT HERE AND KEEP TALKING.

IT´LL BE LIKE I NEVER LEFT.

HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE?

DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS WERE A PROBLEM IN DENVER.

YEAH. A HUNDRED YEARS AGO?

WHAT WERE THEY DRIVING?

I´M GLAD YOU ASKED. HORSES.

YOUNG BOYS ON HORSEBACK RIDING THROUGH TOWN

SHOOTING AT, I SUPPOSE

STAGECOACHES AND WHATNOT.

WHEN DO YOU HAVE TIME TO READ?

IT´S IMPORTANT TO MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF.

I NOTICE YOU´RE ABLE TO DO IT RIGHT HERE.

I´M ADAPTABLE.

AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Toby: SAM?

YEAH?

C.J.´s GOING TO NEED

A REASON WHY THE PRESIDENT´S WAITING A DAY

THAT DOESN´T SOUND LIKE WE´RE RECONSIDERING ERLICH.

I JUST GAVE HER ONE.

WHAT?

RESPECT.

THE MAN JUST DIED.

OUT OF RESPECT FOR HIS MEMORY AND HIS FAMILY...

IT WOULD BE WRONG TO NAME A SUCCESSOR...

RESPECT WORKS.

I´LL TELL YOU THIS, THOUGH--

I´M GOING TO THE GYM TODAY.

OKAY, THAT DOESN´T SEEM

TO BE ABOUT ANYTHING THAT INTERESTS ME.

BERNIE DAHL HAS A HEART ATTACK, BAM, RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE?

IT´S HIS FIFTH HEART ATTACK, SAM. HE´S 138 YEARS OLD.

THESE ARE STRESSFUL JOBS.

I HAVEN´T BEEN TO THE GYM IN THREE WEEKS.

SAM, LOOK AT YOURSELF.

HOW MUCH HEALTHIER DO YOU WANT TO BE?

IF ANYBODY NEEDS ME AT LUNCH, I´M AT THE GYM.

THAT´S GOING TO BE SAD FOR ME

BECAUSE I´M GOING TO LIVE LONGER THAN YOU.

DON´T COUNT ON IT.

TOBY.

WE ARE WAITING A DAY

TO MAKE OUR ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF RESPECT, JOSH.

FOR WHOM?

THE DEAD-- AND HOW I WISH

I WERE ONE OF THEM.

YOU´RE GOING TO LOVE THIS.

BET YOU I´M NOT.

TOBY...

IT´S LOCKED DOWN.

I KNOW THAT.

IT´S LOCKED DOWN

WITH SOME 15 VOTES TO SPARE.

THERE IS VALUE TO HAVING

THESE THREE CONGRESSMEN ON BOARD.

WHAT IS IT?

A CLEAR AND PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION

THAT THE PRESIDENT´S LIBERAL BASE

HASN´T TURNED THEIR BACKS.

IN THE CASE OF THESE THREE PEOPLE

I´D LIKE TO SEE A CLEAR AND PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION

THAT THEY´VE TURNED THEIR BACKS AND RUN

AS FAR AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

I THINK YOU THINK IT´S BENEATH YOU TO ASK.

IT IS BENEATH ME TO ASK!

IT´S SEWN UP-- BY 15.

WE´VE GOT THE TRADE BILL-- IT´S SEWN UP--

AND IT´S AS BIPARTISAN AS WE´RE LIKELY TO SEE.

THERE WAS A VICTORY AND WE´RE THE VICTORS

AND I´M NOT GOING IN THERE HAT IN MY HAND...

NO ONE´S ASKING...

YOU´RE ASKING ME TO.

NO, WE´RE GOING TO DO "GOOD COP, BAD COP."

NO, WE´RE REALLY NOT.

´CAUSE THIS ISN´T WHY NOT?

AN EPISODE OF HAWAII FIVE-O.

HOW ABOUT YOU BE THE GOOD COP, I BE

THE COP THAT DOESN´T GO TO THE MEETING?

I TOLD THEM YOU´D BE AT THE MEETING.

IF YOU´RE NOT THERE, THEY´RE GOING TO START RIGHT OUT INSULTED.

IF I GO, THERE´S A DECENT CHANCE

THEY´RE GOING TO END UP INSULTED.

LET´S GO.

I NEED TO GET TO EXERCISE MORE.

TOBY...

GOT TO EXERCISE MORE, GOT TO EAT BETTER.

TOBY, YOU´RE GOING TO SIT IN THAT ROOM

AND YOU´RE GOING TO BEHAVE YOURSELF, I SWEAR TO GOD.

YOU´RE GOING TO SIT THERE

WHILE I COURT THESE PEOPLE´S VOTES, AND EVERY SO OFTEN

YOU´RE GOING TO SMILE SO AS TO INDICATE WARMTH.

I CAN STILL KICK THE CRAP OUT OF YOU.

WE´RE CLEAR ON THAT?

YEAH.

WHAT THE HECK ARE WE WAITING FOR?

TOBY? I´LL BE NICE.

THE PRESIDENT´S SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

HE SHOULDN´T BE.

SO YOU´VE TOLD HIM MANY TIMES

BUT HERE THESE PEOPLE ARE

SO I GUESS THE PRESIDENT DISAGREES WITH YOU.

GIVEN THAT...

I UNDERSTAND. LET´S GO.

SO YOU´RE JUST GOING TO SIT THERE?

IF YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH

IT´LL BE TO SAY SOMETHING NICE?

YES.

OKAY.

IT´S SEWN UP, JOSH.

WHATEVER.

BY 15 VOTES.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU?

SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

C.J.: HE IS SHOCKED AND SADDENED

BY THE DEATH OF HIS COLLEAGUE.

FOR OVER 11 YEARS, BERNARD DAHL

OVERSAW THE LARGEST ECONOMIC EXPANSION

IN THE COUNTRY´S HISTORY

AND I CAN ASSURE YOU HE WILL BE...

C.J.?

...MISSED. KATIE?

IS RON ERLICH THE NEW FED CHAIR?

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GOOD CANDIDATES. WHO´S ON THE SHORT LIST?

I WANT TO BE CLEAR: NO SUCH LIST EXISTS.

OBVIOUSLY, FROM HIS POST AS THE NUMBER TWO MAN AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE

RON ERLICH IS A CANDIDATE.

SYDNEY BLOOM?

SYDNEY BLOOM IS A CANDIDATE.

LAWRENCE OTTENBERG? MR. OTTENBERG

IS A CANDIDATE.

C.J., MRS. BARTLET´S DECLARED A PREFERENCE FOR RON ERLICH.

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK THAT´S GOING TO WEIGH IN

ON THE PRESIDENT´S DECISION?

I´M AWARE OF NO SUCH DECLARATION.

IT WAS A WIRE PIECE.

UNNAMED PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE FIRST LADY

ARE SAYING SHE HOPED THE PRESIDENT

WOULD APPOINT RON ERLICH WHEN BERNIE DAHL´S TERM EXPIRED.

I DON´T KNOW WHO THE UNNAMED PEOPLE ARE

BUT I SUPPOSE IT´S POSSIBLE

THAT ON A SOCIAL OCCASION...

OKAY.

C.J., WHEN´S THE PRESIDENT GOING

TO NAME THE NEW CHAIRMAN?

WE´RE HOPING TOMORROW.

WHY THE DELAY?

RESPECT.

GET ME A COPY OF THE WIRE REPORT.

IT´S ON YOUR DESK.

COULD I HAVE SOUNDED ANY STUPIDER SAYING "RESPECT"?

YOU WERE FINE. SAM?

YEAH. I NEED YOU.

I´M GOING TO THE GYM.

I´VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT MRS. BARTLET

STATING A PREFERENCE FOR RON ERLICH.

PUBLICLY?

IT´S IN A WIRE PIECE THAT´S ON MY DESK.

GINGER.

BACK TO YOUR OFFICE?

YEAH. THANK YOU.

Lilli: SHE WAS FANTASTIC THIS MORNING

AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT´S JUST THE OPENING SALVO.

THE FIRST LADY IS GOING TO LEAD THE CHARGE

AGAINST CHILD LABOR.

THERE´S SOME INDEX CARDS ON PATTY´S DESK.

I NEED THEM FOR THE RIDE OVER.

HI.

HI.

YEAH, CALL ME BACK LATER

AND I´LL GIVE YOU TEN MINUTES.

DID YOU SEE THE REST

OF THE INTERVIEW?

I DIDN´T.

JEFFREY AND HIS CLASSMATES RAISED ENOUGH MONEY

FOR PANSHIN AND EVERYONE

IN THEIR VILLAGE TO GET OUT OF DEBT.

WELL, THAT SOLVES THAT, THEN.

ABBEY´S RUNNING WITH THE BALL.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE´RE THE ONES CALLING THE PLAYS.

WHAT´S THE PROBLEM?

C.J. GOT A QUESTION

REGARDING THE FIRST LADY´S PREFERENCE FOR ERLICH.

HER PREFERENCE IS FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN.

THIS TIME IT WAS IN A WIRE PIECE--

"SOURCES CLOSE TO MRS. BARTLET."

I DON´T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT WASN´T YOU?

I JUST SAID I DIDN´T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WE´LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE WANT SOMETHING LEAKED. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

SAM, I´M STANDING HERE AND I´M TELLING YOU

THAT I DON´T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT

AND IF C.J. WANTS TO COME UP HERE

AND CALL ME A LIAR...

C.J. DIDN´T COME UP HERE.

I DID. NO ONE´S CALLING YOU A LIAR.

WE´VE GOT TO FIND A WAY

FOR OUR TWO STAFFS TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER THAN THIS.

NO, WE DON´T.

WE NEED A WAY FOR YOUR STAFF

TO WORK BETTER WITH OUR STAFF.

WELL, THAT´S THE SPIRIT, SAM.

LOOK...

I´M LATE FOR A SPEECH.

LILLI...?

THAT WAS A NICE BIT OF DIPLOMACY

I JUST DID THERE.

I WAS GOOD.

I´M GOING TO THE GYM NOW.

OKAY.

OKAY.

President: WITHOUT REGARD TO THE VALIDITY OF PAST ARGUMENTS...

Leo: THAT THE NATIONAL DEBT

WAS SO HIGH, IT REQUIRED US

TO SUCK UP TO THE BOND MARKET?

YES, AND I´M SAYING THAT CONDITION

DOESN´T EXIST ANYMORE.

WELL, MAYBE SO.

HISTORICALLY, AMERICAN PROSPERITY

HAS BEEN BUILT ON BROAD GROWTH

IN THE G.D.P OF FIVE PERCENT OR GREATER

AND NOW, WITH THE DEFLATIONARY PRESSURES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

THAT KIND OF GROWTH CAN BE ACHIEVED

WITHOUT THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF RAMPANT INFLATION.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I´M SAYING?

C.J. DOESN´T UNDERSTAND A WORD OF IT.

I UNDERSTAND THE OEUVRE.

I GET THE BASIC MISE-EN-SCENE

OF WHAT YOU´RE SAYING.

I REALLY DON´T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

MY POINT IS, RON ERLICH MIGHT NOT BE THE GUY.

IT´S NOT A MORTAL LOCK.

SO LET ME SUGGEST, MR. PRESIDENT

THAT I TALK TO THE FIRST LADY

AND ASK HER TO CLARIFY... NO.

THAT HER POSITION... NO, NO.

"MY HUSBAND WILL CHOOSE THE BEST MAN FOR THE FED.

I SUPPORT..." NO...

SIR... C.J.

WE DON´T HANDLE MY WIFE.

WHEN WE TRY, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS

AT THE OTHER END OF THIS BUILDING?

GET A LITTLE PUNISHMENT.

I GET A LITTLE PUNISHMENT.

SCREW IT. LET´S MOVE ON.

IT´S NOT A BIG DEAL.

YES, SIR.

BUT, TRY TO FIND OUT WHO THOSE FRIENDS

OF MY WIFE´S ARE IN THE WIRE PIECE

THEN TAKE ´EM OUT BACK AND HAVE ´EM SHOT.

CAN I DO THAT?

YEAH.

YEAH, LEO SAYS I CAN DO THAT.

IT´S GOING TO BE PHYLLIS

WHO NEVER LIKED ME, AND SUSAN, WHO THINKS

I´M XENOPHOBIC ´CAUSE I DON´T LIKE MEXICAN FOOD.

THESE ARE MY WIFE´S FRIENDS.

MR. PRESIDENT.

YES. COULD BE

OUR OLD NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS

HERB AND MARJORIE DOUGLAS.

THEY´RE STILL ANGRY AT ME ´CAUSE

I ACCIDENTALLY RAN THEM OVER WITH MY CAR.

ZOEY´S HERE.

THANK YOU, MRS. LANDINGHAM.

ANYTHING ELSE?

NO.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, C.J.

I´LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE.

HISTORICALLY, 2 TO 21/////2 PERCENT G.D.P. EXPANSION

IS CLASSIFIED AS "LACKLUSTER," EVEN "ANEMIC" ECONOMIC GROWTH.

41/////2 TO 5 PERCENT IS NEEDED

JUST TO BE CONSIDERED "ROBUST" AND NOT EVEN "SPECTACULAR."

SOMETIMES I DON´T EVEN KNOW WHAT

YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT.

SOMETIMES I´M JUST MAKING IT UP.

HELLO, SWEETHEART.

YOU USED TO GO TO SCHOOL IN OVERALLS, WITH A LITTLE HAT.

YES, I USED TO BE FIVE.

WHAT´S UP, ZOEY?

JUST KEEPING IT REAL.

HMM?

WHO THE HELL KNOWS?

ANYTHING ELSE? NO.

THANK YOU, LEO. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

WHAT YOU GOT TODAY?

GOT INTRO TO CINEMA

AND 19th CENTURY AMERICAN STUDIES.

WHAT ABOUT MATH?

WHY AREN´T YOU TAKING MATH?

´CAUSE I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU CAN WISE-ASS ALL YOU WANT

BUT YOU´RE COMING OF AGE IN THE 21st CENTURY

A CENTURY IN WHICH, I PROMISE YOU

MATHEMATICS IS GOING TO PLAY A STARRING ROLE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I WOULD DEFINITELY

PUT MY SHOULDER INTO INTRO TO CINEMA.

INTRO TO CINEMA IS WHAT GOT ME WHERE I AM TODAY.

DID YOU CALL ME OVER TO MAKE FUN OF ME?

WAS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF MY DAY.

DAD...

I MET WITH BUTTERFIELD

AND SOME SECRET SERVICE AGENTS THIS MORNING.

WHAT DID I DO?

YOU DIDN´T DO ANYTHING.

THEY THINK YOU SHOULD BE TAKING

MORE MATH, BUT... DAD...

IT´S TIME FOR ME TO TELL YOU

ABOUT SOME LETTERS WE´VE BEEN GETTING.

THREATS?

YEAH.

THEY DON´T LIKE THAT THE DAUGHTER OF THE PRESIDENT

IS DATING A YOUNG BLACK MAN.

CHARLIE?

ZOEY, PLEASE DON´T TELL ME YOU´RE DATING MORE THAN ONE GUY.

NO. OKAY.

WHAT DID...?

´CAUSE ONE GUY FOR YOU

IS ACTUALLY ONE MORE THAN I´M COMFORTABLE WITH.

SO YOU´VE SAID.

AND I CAN SEE IT´S HAD A REAL IMPACT ON YOU.

HOW BAD ARE THE LETTERS?

NO WORSE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THEY INTERCEPT.

EXCEPT THESE ARE FROM WHITE SUPREMACISTS?

YEAH.

WHY DID BUTTERFIELD AND THE GUYS MEET WITH ME?

APPARENTLY THERE´S A NATIONAL CONVENTION

OF SOME SORT IN VIRGINIA

AND IT WAS IN THE PAPERS YESTERDAY THAT YOU AND CHARLIE

ARE GOING TO SOME...

CLUB OPENING THIS WEEKEND.

YOU WANT ME TO CANCEL?

YOU DON´T HAVE TO CANCEL

BUT YOU CAN´T BRING CHARLIE.

OKAY.

YOU WANT ME TO TELL HIM?

WE´RE MEETING FOR LUNCH.

I´LL TELL HIM.

YOU GOT TO TELL HIM THE TRUTH, ZOEY.

DON´T MAKE SOMETHING UP.

HE´S NOT GOING TO LIKE IT.

YOU SURE YOU DON´T WANT ME TO TELL HIM?

YEAH.

OKAY.

MR. PRESIDENT? THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF TREASURY.

OKAY, YOU GOT TO GO.

HEY, I´M SORRY ABOUT BERNIE DAHL.

I NEVER REALLY KNEW HIM THAT WELL.

IS RON ERLICH GOING TO BE THE NEW FED CHAIR?

I DON´T KNOW. YOU WANT THE JOB?

YEAH. CAN´T HAVE IT.

KNOW WHY? WHY?

NO MATH. GOOD-BYE.

JOSH, WE´RE DEMOCRATS.

SINCE WHEN DO WE LIKE LOWER TAXES?

Josh: WE DON´T. WE LIKE LOWER TARIFFS.

LOWER TARIFFS ON EVERYTHING

FROM INDIAN TEXTILES TO GERMAN CARS

TO CHILEAN WINES, NEGOTIATED BY OUR TRADE REPS IN GENEVA

WITH 130 OTHER COUNTRIES OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

THE GLOBAL FREE TRADE MARKETS ACCESS ACT

IS NOW ON ITS THIRD PRESIDENT

AND WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT IT´S FINALLY READY

TO BE VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE.

WHERE IT WILL WIN, BY THE WAY, BY SOME 15 VOTES.

THANK YOU, TOBY.

ANYONE EATING THAT DOUGHNUT?

ALL YOURS. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU LOWER THE COST OF SOMETHING?

ECONOMISTS OF EVERY STRIPE, INCLUDING THE ONE

IN THE OVAL OFFICE WILL TELL YOU YOU GET

A MORE EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF ECONOMIC RESOURCES.

NOW, THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH TO YOU AND ME

BUT TO AN ECONOMIST, THAT´S A WEEK IN ST. BARTS.

JOSH, THERE´S NO REASON

TO TALK TO US LIKE WE´RE 12.

JOSH, LOOK, WE´RE VERY CONCERNED

ABOUT THE EFFECT THAT THE FLOW

OF CHEAPER GOODS INTO THIS COUNTRY

WILL HAVE ON AMERICAN LABOR

AND AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

WE´RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK

OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.

CONCERNS WHICH ARE ENTIRELY REASONABLE.

ABOUT AMERICAN LABOR AND MANUFACTURING?

YEAH.

WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?

TOYOTA.

THEN SHUT UP.

EXCUSE ME.

WHAT TOBY MEANT TO SAY

IS THAT WE DON´T GET TO SEE YOU GUYS OFTEN

AND IT´S A CRYING SHAME.

HEY, EVERYBODY, SIT TIGHT.

WE´RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU´D LIKE FOR LUNCH.

ALSO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WON

AND WE´RE STILL HERE COURTING YOUR VOTE

FOR REASONS PASSING UNDERSTANDING.

GET OUT HERE.

THIS, RIGHT HERE-- THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE

A REPUTATION AS A PAIN IN THE ASS.

I CULTIVATED THAT REPUTATION.

COULD I GET YOU TO TRY HARDER?

SURE, ´CAUSE RIGHT NOW, I´M NOT TRYING AT ALL.

GUYS, I´M STANDING HERE.

I DON´T KNOW IF YOU...

YEAH.

THE WIRE HAS A PIECE.

"SOURCES CLOSE TO THE FIRST LADY SAY SHE..."

RON ERLICH? YEAH.

WHO ARE THE SOURCES?

SAM SPOKE TO LILLI.

SHE DOESN´T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IS IT LILLI? YEAH.

MRS. BARTLET SHOULD SLIDE

IN A STATEMENT-- BACK DOOR.

"RON ERLICH IS AN OLD FRIEND

BUT SHE SUPPORTS WHATEVER..."

YEAH, BUT SHE´S NOT GOING TO

UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS HER TO.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS AN AWFUL LOT

LIKE YOUR JOB, C.J.

YEAH, BUT I WAS JUST IN THERE

AND THE PRESIDENT DOESN´T WANT ME

TO HANDLE THE FIRST LADY.

DID HE SAY IT ´CAUSE HE DIDN´T WANT YOU TO

OR DID HE SAY IT LIKE, "HANDLE THE FIRST LADY

BUT I´M NOT THE ONE WHO TOLD YOU TO"?

THAT´S WHAT I DON´T KNOW.

YOU GOT TO LEARN THE SIGNS.

I´VE GOT MOST OF THE SIGNS.

YOU DON´T HAVE THAT ONE.

I´M LEARNING THAT ONE.

WHERE´S SAM?

HE WENT TO THE GYM.

PAGE SAM. TELL HIM TO TALK TO LILLI AGAIN.

WHAT IF THE PRESIDENT MEANT IT?

WE´RE NOT HANDLING MRS. BARTLET.

WE´RE TALKING TO HER STAFF.

JUST PAGE SAM.

I KNOW MOST OF THE SIGNS.

JUST GO.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE

IF THE GUY TOLD YOU HE DROVE AN AMERICAN CAR?

FIND SOME OTHER WAY OF HUMILIATING HIM.

YOU LIKE WINNING, DON´T YOU?

SAVES YOU FROM HAVING TO SAY THE WORD "PLEASE."

LET´S GO.

ABSOLUTELY.

OW.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

CONGRESSWOMAN.

YES, I´M FINE.

I HEARD THE CLANG AND THE "OW"

AND I FIGURED IT MUST BE SAM SEABORN.

I´M JUST TRYING

TO GET HEALTHY.

HOW´S YOUR HEAD? I´M FINE.

LISTEN, I ACTUALLY CAME OVER HERE

FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

UM, CAN I TALK TO YOU OVER THERE FOR A SECOND?

CONGRESSWOMAN?

BECKY´S FINE.

OKAY.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS ON THE TRADE BILL?

JOSH AND TOBY SAY WE´RE 15 VOTES UP.

WE´RE MEETING WITH SOME FRIENDS

OF YOURS NOW TO TRY AND RUN UP THE SCORE.

UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I´M TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW AS A COURTESY.

OKAY.

THERE´S NO OBLIGATION FOR ME TO COME TO YOU

AND MY TELLING YOU THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION

FOR YOU TO TRY TO TALK ME OUT OF IT.

THAT´S NOT WHY I´M DOING IT.

BECKY, TELL ME YOU´RE NOT OFFERING AN AMENDMENT.

BECKY... I AM.

CHILD LABOR RESTRICTIONS.

THE FIRST LADY BLEW THE TRUMPET.

NO, SHE DIDN´T.

SAM, SHE DID IT ON TELEVISION

AND I CAN´T BE LEFT OUT OF THIS.

YOU´RE NOT BEING LEFT OUT.

I´M TALKING TO YOU AS A COURTESY.

THIS IS WHY WE FAST-TRACKED THIS

TO AVOID JUST THIS...

I´M TALKING TO YOU AS A COURTESY.

THIS WILL BLOW THE VOTE OUT OF THE WATER.

JOSH AND TOBY HAVE

A HARD-NOSE COUNT THAT PUTS US OVER...

I AM TALKING TO YOU AS A COURTESY, SAM.

I´M INTRODUCING THE AMENDMENT TONIGHT.

JOSH AND TOBY ARE JUST GOING

TO HAVE TO COUNT AGAIN.

YOU SHOULD PUT SOME ICE ON THAT HEAD.

Danny: GLOBAL FREE TRADE MARKET ACCESS ACT--

G.F.T.M.A.A.

DANNY?

JOANIE, I´LL CALL YOU BACK.

YOU DON´T HAVE TO GET OFF. NO PROBLEM.

TAKE A WALK WITH ME.

I´M ON MY WAY OUT.

Danny: SAY, LEO

I NOTICED THE MARKET OPENED 320 POINTS DOWN.

WE NOTICED THAT OURSELVES.

IT´S REBOUNDING. YES.

NOT VERY FAST. IT´LL BE FINE.

THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO NAME A NEW FED CHAIR. HE WILL.

I GOT A HALF YEAR´S SALARY IN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS

I HAD A HUNCH. IS WHAT I´M SAYING.

THE PRESIDENT WAS WONDERING WHAT DO YOU NEED?

IF YOU HAD A FEW MINUTES TO SPARE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

YEAH.

IT´LL JUST BE YOU.

IT´LL BE INFORMAL AND OFF THE RECORD.

THERE´LL BE A RECEPTION

AT 5:00 FOR THE MICHIGAN WOMEN´S DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

HE´LL STEP OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

HMM.

WHAT?

WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE...

LIKE THE PLACE WILL BE LOUSY

WITH FEMALE DEMOCRATS?

YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANKS.

HEY.

HOW YOU DOING? HELLO, DANIEL.

OKAY. I DON´T HAVE TIME FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

YEAH? SAM?

I PAGED YOU.

YEAH. I GOT YOUR PAGE AND THEN I HIT MY HEAD

AND BECKY REESEMAN CAME OVER.

I GOT TO TALK TO JOSH AND TOBY.

I NEED YOU FOR A SECOND FIRST. WHAT IS IT?

I MENTIONED THE WIRE PIECE TO THE PRESIDENT. WHAT´D HE SAY?

HE SAID HE DIDN´T WANT THE FIRST LADY HANDLED.

DID HE MEAN IT, OR DID HE MEAN HE WANTS YOU...?

I DON´T KNOW. C.J....

I DON´T HAVE THAT SIGN.

YOU GOT TO PICK UP THE SIGNS.

I HAVE MOST ALL OF THEM.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE TO LEARN.

TOBY THINKS IF YOU TALK TO LILLI MAYS AGAIN...

CLARIFICATION?

STAFFER TO STAFFER, GENTLY NUDGE HER

IN THAT DIRECTION.

ALL RIGHT. WHERE ARE JOSH AND TOBY?

STILL IN THEIR MEETING.

GOT TO LEARN THE SIGNS, C.J.

I KNOW.

Congressman: CAN YOU DENY THAT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN BUY

A BRITISH-MADE RANGE ROVER

HAS HURT FORD TO SOME DEGREE?

NO, BUT...

I CAN.

TOBY...

I CAN DENY IT.

RANGE ROVER INSPIRED FORD TO DESIGN THE EXPLORER

WHICH IS THE BEST-SELLING VEHICLE

IN ITS CLASS

AND FORD´S MOST SUCCESSFUL MODEL

IN YEARS.

WILL YOU EXCUSE US FOR A MOMENT?

ARE WE KEEPING YOU FROM SOMETHING IMPORTANT?

MANY, MANY THINGS.

I HAVE TO SAY, IF THERE´S AN IMPROVEMENT

IN YOUR ATTITUDE, IT´S BEEN MARGINAL.

WE´RE ON HOUR FOUR NOW, YOU UNDERSTAND.

GUYS... YEAH?

I THOUGHT YOU WERE AT THE GYM.

I WAS, AND THEN BECKY REESEMAN CAME OVER TO TALK TO ME.

SHE MADE IT VERY CLEAR IT WAS JUST A COURTESY.

WHAT´D SHE SAY?

NO... SHE´S ATTACHING...

SHE´S ATTACHING A CHILD LABOR AMENDMENT.

TO WHAT? TO THIS.

SHE CAN´T. SHE IS.

WHEN? TONIGHT.

THIS IS WHY WE FAST-TRACKED IT.

SHE´S ON WAYS AND MEANS.

( groans )

SHE WAS SERIOUS?

THIS WASN´T ONE OF HER FUNNY JOKES?

SHE WAS INSPIRED BY THE FIRST LADY.

SHE THOUGHT THIS MORNING THERE WERE TRUMPETS

AND SHE DOESN´T WANT TO...

THERE WERE TRUMPETS?

THE TRUMPET CALLED. THE TRUMPETS... SOUNDED?

WHAT THE HELL GOES ON AT THAT GYM?

SHE THINKS THE TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION

AND SHE WANTS TO BE OUT FRONT ON THIS.

SOMEBODY´S GOT TO TALK TO MRS. BARTLET--

TELL HER TO GET BECKY REESEMAN TO BACK OFF.

WHAT IF SHE WAS DOING THIS ON ABBEY´S INSTRUCTIONS?

I´LL TALK TO LILLI MAYS.

I´M ALREADY GOING IN ON THE RON ERLICH THING.

IF I´M GOING TO TAKE A HIT, I MIGHT AS WELL TAKE TWO.

IMPRESS UPON HER THE FOLLOWING:

IT´S TAKEN SEVEN YEARS

TO GET THE BILL THIS FAR.

IT´S LOCKED DOWN.

ADD THIS AMENDMENT NOW

I GOT GO BE NICE TO THESE PEOPLE.

YEAH.

BRING THIS ONE HOME, SAM.

( sighs )

AFTER YOU.

AFTER YOU.

Zoey: YEAH, IT´S CALLED

WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A CHILD.

Charlie: LEIGH RUTLEDGE?

YEAH.

I JUST READ A REVIEW.

IT´S REALLY GREAT.

OKAY, IT BEGINS, "IN THE SUMMER OF 1900

WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A CHILD..."

AND I SEE YOU TOOK NOTES.

YOU KNOW WHY?

´CAUSE YOU´RE TOTALLY ANAL?

NO.

WELL, YES, THAT´S IT.

"100 YEARS AGO, THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY

OF THE UNITED STATES WAS 47."

ONLY 14% OF THE HOMES

IN THIS COUNTRY HAD A BATHTUB.

EIGHT PERCENT HAD A TELEPHONE.

MORE THAN 95% OF ALL BIRTHS TOOK PLACE AT HOME.

"90% OF ALL PHYSICIANS HAD NO COLLEGE EDUCATION."

THIS IS A FUN LUNCH, ZOEY.

IT´S A LITTLE TIME TRAVEL THING WE´RE DOING.

YOU REALLY WANT SOME OF MY EGG SALAD, DON´T YOU?

I REALLY DO.

DO YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE OFFICE?

I´VE GOT A FEW MINUTES.

I TOOK BACK THE SUIT. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT.

I LIKED IT, YOU DIDN´T-- THAT´S OKAY. CHARLIE...

I´M HERE FOR YOU, I DRESS FOR YOU. LISTEN...

I GOT A POWDER BLUE TUXEDO WITH RUFFLES.

I´M KIDDING ABOUT THE TUXEDO.

LISTEN TO ME.

WE CAN´T GO FRIDAY NIGHT.

THAT´S OKAY.

WHY NOT?

CHARLIE, YOU´VE BEEN GETTING DEATH THREATS.

FROM...

YEAH.

´CAUSE OF YOU?

BECAUSE OF ME AND YOU, YEAH.

THERE´S GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF A MEETING

OR CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND

AND THE SECRET SERVICE

JUST DOESN´T THINK THAT IT´S...

WE TRIED TO SECURE THE PLACE, CHARLIE.

WE DON´T LIKE IT-- TOO MANY DARK CORNERS

BACK-ALLEY DOORWAYS... WINDOWS.

THERE´S A LOFT... A CELLAR.

WE CAN´T SECURE THE WEST END OF THE STREET...

I DON´T GIVE A DAMN.

CHARLIE...

I DON´T GIVE A DAMN.

I BOUGHT A NEW SUIT.

IN FACT, I´VE BOUGHT TWO NOW.

CHARLIE...

WE CAN´T GO.

OH.

OKAY.

HEY, LOOK, IT SAYS HERE THAT 100 YEARS AGO

A BLACK GUY COULDN´T SHOW UP TO A CLUB OPENING

WITH A WHITE GIRL

FOR FEAR HE´D BE KILLED.

I HAVE TO GO TO THE LADIES ROOM.

MM-HMM.

BOOKBAG´S UP.

YOU KNOW

IF NOTHING ELSE

I THINK IF EITHER ONE OF US IS GOING TO BE PISSED

IT REALLY OUGHT TO BE ME.

YOU´RE LOOKING AT THE GIRL WHOSE JOB IT IS

TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THE BULLET.

I LIKE IT WHEN SHE STAYS IN HER DORM AND WATCHES VIDEOS.

I GOT TO GO.

TELL HER I HAD TO GO?

HEY, COME ON.

TELL HER YOURSELF.

I´M BACK AT THE OFFICE.

HEY, THERE. HI.

IS LILLI IN? SHE´S EXPECTING ME.

YOU CAN GO ON IN.

HELLO, SAM.

MRS. BARTLET.

LILLI TELLS ME WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

YES, MA´AM.

IT´S THE TACTICS, SAM, THE STRATEGIZING.

AND I DON´T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE USED TO BE VERY CLOSE

AND NOW IT SEEMS TO ME I HAVE A LARGE AND ENERGETIC STAFF

WHOSE MAIN FUNCTION SEEMS TO BE WAGING WAR WITH YOUR STAFF.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

NO, MA´AM, I DON´T THINK IT IS.

WE´RE THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL.

NO, MA´AM, I DON´T THINK YOU ARE.

I BEG YOUR PARDON?

I LIKE LILLI MAYS.

I THINK SHE´S TOP-NOTCH.

YOU KNOW THAT I DO.

YOU KNOW IT WAS HARD FOR US TO GIVE HER UP. YES?

BUT... I BELIEVE THAT YOU´RE PRONE TO AMATEUR MISTAKES.

SO.

MY STAFF IS PROFESSIONAL--

JUST NOT ME.

MRS. BARTLET, YOU CAN´T GO ON NATIONAL TELEVISION

AND DECIDE TO HAVE THAT KID SIT NEXT TO YOU ON A WHIM.

YOU GOT TO VET THIS STUFF THROUGH MY OFFICE.

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTERVIEW?

THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE INTERVIEW

EXCEPT IT LOOKED LIKE YOU DISCOVERED

A CHILD LABOR PROBLEM

´CAUSE A 14-YEAR-OLD TOLD YOU ABOUT IT.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE EXERCISE

IS GOING TO MAKE ME HEALTHIER

BUT I DIDN´T GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL-- YOU DID.

YOU SAY SO, AND I GO TO THE GYM.

SAM...

I SAY THIS WITH ALL RESPECT

YOU GOT TO TALK TO BECKY REESEMAN

AND TELL HER NOT TO OFFER THAT AMENDMENT.

AND SO I WILL.

EXCUSE ME?

I SAID I WILL.

OKAY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?

NO, MA´AM.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MA´AM.

HOW YOU DOING, MRS. LANDINGHAM?

FINE, THANK YOU, DANNY.

YOU´RE GLANCING OVER LIKE YOU´RE AFRAID

I´M GOING TO STEAL SOMETHING.

NO. I´M JUST NOT USED TO HAVING MEMBERS

OF THE PRINT MEDIA IN HERE.

I´LL TRY NOT TO GET INK

ON THE FURNITURE.

AW, DANNY, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO OFFER YOU A COOKIE.

AND NOW?

NO.

CHARLIE, I´LL BE BACK

IN A FEW MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MRS. BARTLET.

GOOD EVENING, MA´AM.

HELLO.

ARE YOU COVERING THE EVENT?

THE... MANY WOMEN OF MICHIGAN?

MICHIGAN WOMEN´S DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

AH.

YES. NO, ACTUALLY, MA´AM

I´M HERE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.

REALLY.

YES.

OKAY.

SO, WHAT´S UP?

NOT TOO MUCH.

SO, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO THE OPENING.

NO. NO?

SECURITY.

IS ZOEY BUMMED?

DANNY, YOU´RE A GOOD GUY, BUT I SAY IT HERE

AND TEN MILLION PEOPLE READ IT TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR THE BOOST IN MY CIRCULATION

BUT I´M OFF THE RECORD UP HERE.

IT´S NOT GOING TO WORK.

WHAT´S NOT GOING TO WORK?

YOU KNOW WHAT I´M TALKING ABOUT.

YOU AND ZOEY?

YEAH. WHY?

LOOK, I DO WHAT I DO, I GO WHERE I GO.

IF IT´S A PROBLEM FOR THE SECRET SERVICE I´M BLACK

THEN THAT´S THE WAY IT IS, BUT NO CANDY AND FLOWERS, KNOW WHAT I´M SAYING?

I DON´T THINK THE PROBLEM IS YOU´RE BLACK.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU´RE STUPID.

WELL, THANKS, DANNY, YOU PICKED ME RIGHT UP.

YOU BET.

THE HARDY BOYS IN THESE LETTERS

THEY´RE TALKING ABOUT--

THEY MAY BE HEAVILY ARMED

BUT I WOULDN´T BET ON THEIR MARKSMANSHIP.

ONE DAY THEY´RE GOING TO MISS HER AND HIT ME.

2,000 MARRIAGE PROPOSALS, 2,000 DEATH THREATS

A DOZEN BODYGUARDS.

EVERYONE WANTS TO GET CLOSE.

EVERYONE WANTS A THING.

PLUS, AND I SAY THIS STANDING 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE OVAL OFFICE

LIFE WITH FATHER COULDN´T HAVE BEEN

A REAL COMPANY PICNIC, YOU KNOW.

IF IT WAS ME, JUST FOR NOW

I´D MAKE SURE I WAS THE ONE GUY IN HER LIFE

WHO WAS TOTALLY HASSLE-FREE.

THAT´S JUST ME.

DANNY.

YES, SIR.

PLEASE.

HEY, DANNY.

GOOD EVENING, LEO.

YES.

I´D JUST LIKE TO SAY

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THAT I STRONGLY URGED THE PRESIDENT

NOT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

SO I´M JUST A GUY SITTING HERE.

WE´LL NOTE WITH SURPRISE YOUR LACK OF CONVICTION, LEO.

NOTE IT WELL, SIR.

I MISS OUR LATE- NIGHT TALKS, DANNY.

YES, SIR.

OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AMES, IOWA

TULSA, SKOKIE, CENTER CITY

TALLAHASSEE

ALBANY, SAN ANTONIO

JASPER, WYOMING.

YES, SIR.

WE GOT VERY CLOSE.

I´M FLATTERED BY THAT, SIR.

YOU COVERED THE FIRST LADY AS WELL.

YES, SIR.

YOU LITERALLY WROTE THE BOOK ON MY WIFE.

YES, SIR.

ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO EMPHASIZE

THE STRONG PERSONAL BOND WE BUILT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

OH, FOR GOD´S SAKE.

DID YOU CALL ME IN TO ASK

IF I KNEW WHO THE SOURCES

WERE CLOSE TO THE FIRST LADY?

I WAS... GOING TO... IN

A... PROPER, GENTLEMANLY...

EVEN BYZANTINE.

WAY...

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, SIR. DANNY...

YOU MUST SAVE ME FROM HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH MY WIFE.

MR. PRESIDENT...

OR AT LEAST SEE TO IT

I´M BETTER ARMED WHEN I INEVITABLY DO.

I´M SORRY. DANNY.

I´D BE REVEALING

SOMEONE ELSE´S SOURCE.

OFF THE RECORD.

ALSO, I´D GET IN TROUBLE

WITH THE FIRST LADY.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB, DANNY.

WE HAD SOME JACKETS MADE.

LET HIM GO.

ALBANY

TULSA, WICHITA.

I´M NOT GETTING A PERSONAL BOND HERE, DANNY.

SIR, IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL ANY BETTER

I JUST GAVE SOME VERY SAGE DATING ADVICE TO CHARLIE YOUNG.

YOU´RE COACHING MY PERSONAL AIDE

ON HOW BEST TO SCORE WITH MY DAUGHTER.

YES, DANNY, THAT DOES MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.

WELL, ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, SIR.

GO AWAY. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANKS, DANNY.

IT´S AN INTERESTING BOOK.

THE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THING?

SOME MEDICAL AUTHORITIES WARNED

THAT PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESSES

WERE APT TO BECOME SEXUALLY AROUSED

BY THE STEADY RHYTHM OF THE FOOT PEDALS.

THEY RECOMMENDED SLIPPING BROMIDE

WHICH WAS THOUGHT TO DIMINISH SEXUAL DESIRE

INTO A WOMAN´S DRINKING WATER.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DIMINISH

A WOMAN´S SEXUAL DESIRE?

WE CAN GET OUT OF HAND.

HERE WE GO.

EXCUSE ME.

WOULD YOU MIND IF I HAD A WORD

WITH CONGRESSWOMAN REESEMAN FOR A MOMENT?

OH, SURE.

I´LL FIND YOU IN A MINUTE.

OKAY.

THAT´S A BEAUTIFUL SUIT.

BECKY.

DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR THE SENATE AND NOT TELL ME?

ABBEY...

´CAUSE YOU KNOW THAT JED AND I WILL BE THERE

WITH ANYTHING YOU NEED.

I KNOW THAT THE AMENDMENT COMES

AS A BIT OF A SURPRISE, BUT...

YOUR CHILD LABOR AMENDMENT

IS A POISON PILL THAT WILL KILL THE G.F.T.M.A.A.

IN THE FOLLOWING WAY: THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP

WON´T ALLOW THEIR GUYS TO WEAR THE BLACK HATS

AND THEY´LL BE RELEASED FROM A PARTY-LINE VOTE.

THIS WILL SURPRISE BUT NOT SHOCK

THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

BECAUSE THEY´VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

THE VOTE WILL PASS THE HOUSE

´CAUSE THAT´S HOW SURE THEY ARE IT´LL NEVER PASS THE SENATE

AND WHAT´S MORE, YOU KNOW IT.

IT FELT LIKE THE TRAIN

WAS LEAVING THE STATION, ABBEY.

WHEN THE TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION, YOU´LL KNOW THAT, TOO.

THERE IS A SENATE SEAT OPENING UP.

AND I´M SURE THE PRESIDENT

WILL DO WHAT HE CAN FOR YOU.

I´VE HEARD THAT BEFORE, ABBEY.

WE´RE NOT ON THE BACK OF STEVE´S BOAT NOW, BECKY.

DON´T BARTER WITH ME HERE.

I PUT THIS AMENDMENT BACK IN MY POCKET BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO

I´M GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS OF MY OWN.

HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW?

YOU, STEVE, MY STAFF.

I´M SURE, BY NOW, THE PRESIDENT´S STAFF.

THEN YOU´RE FINE.

OH, WAIT... AM I SUPPOSED

TO TRUST THE PRESIDENT´S STAFF?

YES.

ARE WE DONE?

YES.

THANK YOU.

President: THE RHYTHM

OF THE SEWING MACHINE PEDALS?

THAT WHAT IT SAYS.

MARIJUANA, HEROIN, MORPHINE WERE ALL

AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER

AT DRUG STORES.

ACCORDING TO ONE PHARMACIST

"HEROIN CLEARS THE COMPLEXION

"GIVES BUOYANCY TO THE MIND, REGULATES THE STOMACH AND BOWELS

AND IS, IN FACT, A PERFECT GUARDIAN OF HEALTH."

NOW THEY TELL ME.

MR. PRESIDENT?

I´M OUT OF HERE.

STAY. RIGHT.

CHICKEN.

YEP.

HELLO.

HELLO.

HELLO, PUMPKIN.

ABBEY?

HELLO, GUMDROP.

LISTEN...

SAM SEABORN CAME TO SEE

MY CHIEF OF STAFF TODAY.

IN FACT, HE DID IT TWICE.

WELL, YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF

IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN.

MAYBE HE WAS, YOU KNOW...

JED...

ABBEY...

I TOLD C.J. SPECIFICALLY...

THEN C.J. GOT THE SIGNAL WRONG.

NO, SHE DIDN´T.

WHAT?

SHE DIDN´T GET THE SIGNAL WRONG.

I WANTED HER TO SEND SOMEONE.

ARE YOU TELLING ME...?

THIS WIRE THING IS A PROBLEM FOR ME.

THE KID ON TV WAS A MISTAKE

AND THE AMENDMENT

FROM BECKY REESEMAN... I JUST KILLED IT.

WILL BRING DOWN A TRADE BILL

THAT´S BEEN WORKED ON FOR YEARS.

I SAID I JUST KILLED IT.

FINE.

JED, WE SHARE A BED.

WHY DIDN´T YOU

JUST COME TO ME?

I STAFFED IT OUT TO C.J.

YOU STAFFED IT OUT.

THAT´S RIGHT.

YOU DON´T STAFF ME OUT.

YOU DON´T GIVE C.J. SIGNALS.

YOU DON´T SEND SAM

AND YOU DON´T BRING DANNY CONCANON UP HERE.

DON´T HANDLE ME, JED.

THEN DON´T PLAY ME, ABBEY!

DON´T WORK ME!

LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE THINK IT WAS LILLI MAYS

WHO PLANTED YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR RON ERLICH.

IT WASN´T LILLI MAYS.

I KNOW IT WASN´T. IT WAS YOU.

YES. YES.

YES, AND I´M SORRY ABOUT THAT

BUT I WANTED RON TO KNOW THAT HE HAD MY SUPPORT.

WELL, YOU PUT ME IN A BIT OF A SPOT THERE, ABIGAIL.

I NAME RON ERLICH NOW, WHICH I WAS GOING TO DO ANYWAY

IT LOOKS LIKE I´M TAKING INSTRUCTIONS FROM MY WIFE!

STILL, IT WAS WRONG!

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOU OR ME?

I´M TALKING ABOUT YOU.

I´M TALKING ABOUT YOU SENDING PEOPLE TO ME

AND I´LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE I´M TALKING ABOUT.

I´M TALKING ABOUT YOU WAITING A DAY

TO NAME A NEW FED CHAIR BECAUSE 30 YEARS AGO

THE NEW FED CHAIR WAS MY BOYFRIEND FOR SIX MONTHS.

I AM TALKING ABOUT SENDING ME MESSAGES THROUGH THE PRESS

AND STAKING OUT AGENDAS ON MORNING SHOWS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THESE PEOPLE, ABBEY.

I´M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

I´LL WALK UP TO THE HILL RIGHT NOW

AND I WILL GIVE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MY RESIGNATION.

THE HOUSE ISN´T IN SESSION.

WANT TO SEE ME PHONE AND PUT IT IN SESSION?!

DON´T RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME.

IT WAS NINE MONTHS, ABBEY, NOT SIX MONTHS

AND I WAITED A DAY ON SKIPPY

BECAUSE THE FED CHAIR

IS A FAIRLY IMPORTANT POSITION AND I WANTED TO MAKE DAMN SURE

MY DECISION WAS RIGHT!

YOU ALREADY DECIDED.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?

YOU JUST SAID SO.

"I NAME RON ERLICH NOW, WHICH I WAS GOING TO DO ANYWAY

AND IT LOOKS LIKE I´M TAKING INSTRUCTIONS FROM MY WIFE!"

YES.

YES.

YES.

OKAY.

SO EASY THERE WITH THE HIGH GROUND.

ON THAT POINT, I CONCEDE THE HIGH GROUND.

AND I CONCEDE I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE THING.

GOOD.

HOWEVER...

NO, NO HOWEVER. JUST BE WRONG.

JUST STAND THERE IN YOUR WRONGNESS AND BE WRONG.

HOWEVER... NINE MONTHS.

HOWEVER...

YES?

I´M STILL GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS

ON CHILD LABOR.

ABBEY, PLEASE.

JED...

IF IT WAS ONE OF OUR GIRLS

IN THAT FACTORY, YOU´D SEND IN THE MARINES.

YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST OVAL OFFICE FIGHT.

YEAH.

YOU TALK TO ZOEY TODAY?

SHE WENT BACK TO HER DORM.

SHE AND CHARLIE HAD A FIGHT

BECAUSE THE SERVICE DOESN´T WANT THEM

TO SHOW UP AT THIS THING TOGETHER.

MAYBE SHE´LL BE SO TRAUMATIZED

BY THIS EXPERIENCE

THAT SHE´LL NEVER DATE ANOTHER BOY AGAIN.

WELL, HE LEFT HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO

AND I´D SAY THAT IN ABOUT AN HOUR

THE LIGHTS WILL BE OFF

THERE´LL BE A SOCK ON THE DOOR KNOB AND...

DON´T FINISH THAT SENTENCE.

I´M A MAN OF QUESTIONABLE HEALTH.

OKAY.

MICHIGAN WOMEN ARE WAITING FOR ME.

OKAY.

HI.

YES?

I CAME TO APOLOGIZE.

YOU LEFT ME SITTING IN THE RESTAURANT.

I FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT, TOO?

YES.

NAME THEM, PLEASE.

I...

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD

I WOULDN´T BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU

A COMPREHENSIVE LIST.

JUST SUFFICE IT TO SAY

THAT ANYTHING I´VE DONE TO UPSET YOU

EVEN IF IT ONLY EXISTS

IN YOUR KIND OF CONFUSED LITTLE MIND

I REALLY APOLOGIZE FOR.

WHAT DID YOU BRING ME?

I BROUGHT YOU FLOWERS.

OH, I CAN SEE THAT.

WHAT ELSE?

A BOOK. INTRODUCTION TO

ADVANCED TRIGONOMETRY.

YOUR FATHER MADE ME PICK IT UP.

WHAT ELSE?

POPCORN.

WHY THE POPCORN?

´CAUSE I BROUGHT VIDEOS.

GET IN HERE.

BOOKBAG´S IN FOR THE NIGHT.