Original subtitles

So, tell me what the problem is, Toby?

Previously, on The West Wing:

I'm Sam, sir.

And I am the Deputy Communications Director.

I'm Leo McGarry, White House Chief of Staff.

Well, I'm personal aide to the President.

I'm the Press Secretary.

It's an unavoidable conflict of interest.

You're the Communications Director, Toby.

I'm a speechwriter.

Matter of fact, I'm the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Which I guess makes me Deputy Deputy Chief of Staff.

C.J.: Ladies and gentlemen

the President of the United States.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Man: Yeah, I'm going to need Romero and Rydell on a backup.

I'm going to need them there in 20.

In about 20...

Yes, because we need a support team out there, over.

Right.

Oh, take these right over there, okay?

Commander Cale.

Yeah?

Joseph Russo, INS.

It's the container ship Horizon.

We're holding them a half mile out.

They started from the Fujian province.

How many?

Maybe a hundred.

Did you call the State Department?

Yeah. We're going to need translators who speak Mandarin.

We have them.

Are we talking about expedited removal or...?

I'm sorry?

Are we talking about expedited removal?

That's not up to me.

A small band of pilgrims sought out a place in the New World

where they could worship

according to their own beliefs...

and solve crimes.

Sam... It'd be good.

Read the thing.

By day, they churn butter and worship

according to their own beliefs.

By night, they solve crimes.

Read the thing. Pilgrim detectives.

Do you see me laughing?

You're laughing on the inside.

Okay. With the big hats.

Give me the speech.

Have either of you heard of...

I don't know, the something...

the Jamestown Mayflower Daughters

of the American Revolution Preservation Society?

The Jamestown Mayflower Daughters?

I may have the name wrong.

They're inviting the White House

to participate in some kind of, I don't know

Thanksgiving Revolutionary War re-enactment.

C.J., let's not torture American history

completely to death.

Who the hell...

Jamestown was the 16th century.

The Mayflower landed at Plymouth in the 17th century.

The fathers of the Daughters

of the American Revolution fought in...

the 18th century!

It's a festival

feast of some kind.

Who cares?

Somebody needs to learn

the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

Re-enactments and...

proclamations

and Native American corn husk hanging contests with...

Corn husk hanging? Whatever.

I'm the Thanksgiving cruise director around here.

It wasn't like this last year?

I wasn't here last year.

Where were you last year?

They sent me home last year.

You don't remember me having a 101.7 degree fever

and flu-like symptoms? No.

That's 'cause every time we come up on a holiday

you guys check out like seniors who are done with finals.

We're writing an important

Thanksgiving proclamation.

And possibly a new action-adventure series.

Nobody here has checked out.

Hey, I was just flipping a nickel in my office.

16 times in a row, it came up tails.

I'm going home.

Have a good night.

Yeah, yeah.

16 times in a row.

Yeah.

Excuse me, fellas...

It's okay, you can come in here.

This is Morton Horn from Jasper Farms in Virginia.

Tell them what you're doing here, Morton.

I'm dropping off the turkeys.

He's dropping off the turkeys.

What are, uh...

Nobody left me instructions.

He had a pass for the northwest entrance.

I'm dropping off the turkeys. Yeah.

Where should I put them?

C.J.'s office. C.J.

I'd definitely put them in C.J.'s office. Good idea.

C.J. Cregg's office.

Well, C.J.'s office is right here.

C.J. handles all the... birds. Donna will show you.

C.J., yeah.

Okay.

And, Morton...

Ms. Cregg is gone for the night

and her office is secure, so you should feel free

to let the turkeys out of the cage

and allow them to, you know, roam freely

as they were meant to do. Absolutely.

Okay.

Okay.

Show her who's slacking off.

Pizza?

Yeah.

Josh. They need you on the phone.

What's going on?

A Commander Cale of the Coast Guard

is talking to the Watch Commander

in the Situation Room

and they want you to sit in on the call. Why?

Something about a boat from China.

Josh Lyman.

Josh: It's an 800-foot container ship

called the Horizon.

83 Chinese were stowed away in containers in the hold.

I heard 96.

13 of them died on the way.

What happened to the dead bodies?

They came over with the 83 live ones.

INS has them in a temporary detention facility by the water.

Brief C.J.

You doing anything for Thanksgiving?

The First Family. What about you?

Toby, Sam and I are going to watch football.

Brief C.J. on the Chinese.

Yeah, Leo, do me a favor, would you?

Don't tell the President we're just watching football.

He'll want to invite us for dinner.

Yes, I'm sure upon hearing the news

you're free, the President of the United States

will insist that you join him for dinner.

I'm just saying, we've been working hard

and we'd prefer to watch football

rather than listen

to a history of the yam in Latin.

Brief C.J.

Yeah.

Josh: Hey.

Hello.

Listen... What?

About a hundred Chinese stowed away

in the cargo hold of a container ship.

INS has them in a temporary interment camp

in San Diego.

I'll need more than that.

I'll have more in a few minutes

so stay out of the press room until you talk to me.

What about the recess appointments?

Toby wants to talk to the President about adding a name.

Who? Josephine McGarry.

Really? Yeah.

Is this as a favor to Leo?

This is Toby sniffing around

for a fight on school prayer.

He'll get one. Yeah.

Well, I'm going to see what's next for me

in this week of unendurable Thanksgiving nonsense.

Okay.

Hey, C.J.

Hey, Carol.

Oh, yeah.

The turkeys came.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, I'm coming!

I didn't think you were here yet.

I am.

The turkeys came.

So Carol said.

Excuse me.

Josh, Toby and Sam said they should go in your office.

Yes.

These are the turkeys.

Turkeys for what?

You weren't here last year.

When? Oh, for Thanksgiving.

You were sick.

Yes. Every year on Thanksgiving

the President pardons a turkey.

He pardons a turkey.

Yeah, it's your event, so...

Why are there two?

I'm sorry?

Why are there two turkeys?

Customarily, the Press Secretary decides...

No.

which of the two finalists is more photogenic.

Their names are...

I don't want to know their names.

This one's Eric and this one's Troy.

Eric and Troy?

Yeah.

And I'm to choose the more photogenic of the two

to receive a Presidential pardon?

Yeah.

Okay, I have a Master's degree

from the University of California at Berkeley.

That's a good school.

Yeah.

They eat grain, or really whatever's lying around.

And Troy doesn't like to be touched.

Okay, I'd like to be alone now.

I understand.

( flapping wings )

Hey. Hey, Sam.

What's going on?

I'm shopping for a new carving knife for the President.

This President takes carving knives very seriously.

Yes, I've discovered.

I'm going to need a few minutes

to talk about the Chinese in San Diego.

Something's going on.

What? I'm just getting it in now.

How'd it go?

I think I've got it this time.

Well, I wouldn't get your hopes up, dear.

No, this is a very good knife.

He's very particular.

That's one word for it.

I heard that.

Mr. President.

Ah...

I think you'll find these to your liking.

Yes, yes, indeed I do.

Excellent.

The Chef's Choice.

Twice the amount of carbon

which means it'll hold a sharp edge

up to ten times longer.

And you can see the handle

which is texturized molded polymer.

It has no rivets or air pockets.

Well, I'm glad you're happy, Mr. President.

This is an American knife.

Yes. No German knives for us.

No, sir. Good job.

Thank you, sir. Hold on.

Sir?

Nah... Nah.

No, the balance isn't right.

I'll take it back, sir.

Yeah, you know what we need?

A German knife?

Yeah. I'll get on it.

And Mr. President

Sam asked me to give you a heads up.

He'll need a few minutes to talk about San Diego.

You tell him they already briefed me.

He said there might be something else.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. President.

The Germans know how

to make a knife, Charlie.

Yes, sir.

Josephine McGarry?

She's been put on a lot of short lists, why not pull the trigger?

She's a pretty controversial woman.

That's not a flaw.

It is when it's a recess appointment.

Recess appointment

assumes the Senate's

going to have no problem with the nominee.

The Senate will have a considerable problem

with this nominee.

That's the Senate's problem. Toby...

Mr. President, you want to have a debate on school prayer.

Yes, I do. This will start it.

I've got to say, look, I'm just...

Toby, I'm not wild about the woman.

I've known her for 25 years

and I think she's All About Eve.

Well, I wouldn't cast her in a play

but at the Department of Education...

( door opens )

Good morning.

Want a debate on school prayer?

Yeah. This will start it.

What are we talking about?

Recess appointments.

I've got the final list

right here.

Hey, Leo.

"James Elkins

"Assistant Secretary

"of Transportation for Aviation

"Leslie Cryer, Assistant Secretary

"of Commerce for Economic Development

Umberto Sepio, Deputy Administrator for the EPA."

Leo, we're adding a name.

Who? Josey.

No, no.

Assistant Secretary for Primary

and Secondary Education.

Did my sister...

We want the debate. Did my sister call you

and ask you for this?

She did not call me.

I'm amazed.

She called me.

I'm less amazed.

Take her name off the list.

It's not patronage if she's qualified.

Sir... Which she is.

A Ph.D. in Education, six years as a principal

four years as superintendent

and a significant Democrat.

They'll bring up school prayer.

No kidding.

Mr. President, please

don't hop on the back of Toby's horse.

It'll take you to a fight we're not geared up for.

We are geared up for it

and if we're not, we should get out.

Sure, you first.

I'll take the meetings.

You're damn right.

And you'll start with aides

to the Republican leadership

and you'll gauge exactly

the volume of dumbness with no reward we can expect.

Excuse me, Mr. President.

Take the meetings.

I'm very happy to. Yeah?

Mr. President, there's a wrinkle in the situation in San Diego.

What is it?

You're not going to believe it.

What? They're claiming they're

Christian evangelicals fleeing persecution.

You're kidding me.

They're seeking

religious asylum.

You're kidding me.

No.

The Christian community's going to scream "stay."

China's going to say send them back.

INS is going to say the law's the law.

This is a whole new thing.

Yeah.

C.J.: Well, the INS conducts

something called a "credible fear" interview.

This is not a hearing on whether or not to grant asylum

just a hearing to determine

if the detainee has a credible fear

that they'll be harmed

if returned to their country. Steve.

C.J., will the White House be meeting with leaders

of the Christian community to hear their input?

Yes, we will. In the following days

we'll be meeting with the Reverend Al Caldwell

members of Beijing's Embassy and INS agents.

The President has asked Josh Lyman and Sam Seaborn

to run these meetings

so it's entirely possible that by week's end

we'll have alienated Christians, China and our own government.

( reporters clamoring ) That's all I have on the refugees.

I was going to release the list of recess appointments

but I'm going to wait a day.

I can tell you the list has been sent

to the appropriate committee chairs

and I imagine one of them

will leak it to you sometime this afternoon.

I'll also remind you that it's Thanksgiving week

which means the traditional Presidential pardon, you know...

of the chosen turkey.

That will be Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday morning

the President will make his Thanksgiving proclamation

in the Rose Garden.

Among the guests will be

members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America

and members of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.

Will you be leading them in song?

I'm sorry?

The Press Secretary usually leads the kids in song.

Yes, of course I will be leading them in song

for I am the Press Secretary.

Thank you.

Reporter: C.J., happy Thanksgiving.

I got to learn some songs.

Don't bring it up at the meeting.

Josh...

Don't bring it up at the meeting.

The guy threatened to blow up the theater in the name of God.

Yes.

A theater with people in it.

Yes.

But sending illegal Chinese immigrants

back to China is objectionable.

Don't bring it up at the meeting.

It might slip out.

Okay. Shove it back in.

Morning, Reverend Caldwell.

Oh, morning, Josh, Sam.

La Salle: Good morning. Reverend.

Josh: Good morning, everybody. Welcome.

Morning, Mary.

Josh, the White House will face

considerable embarrassment

if the President continues to maintain

his stranglehold on indifference

when it comes to persecuted Christians

around the world.

Okay, we're done with "good morning."

These are people from a country

that oppresses Christians.

The President has to grant their asylum request.

The President doesn't grant asylum requests.

The INS judge does.

The INS judge is going to do

what the President urges him to do

and if the President doesn't urge the INS judge

to grant the asylum, he's going to wish he had.

Mary, I swear to God, you're not going

to get anywhere in this building by threatening me.

Do we know that they were persecuted in China?

Excuse me?

Do we know they were persecuted?

They're Christians.

I believe that.

I'm asking if they were persecuted.

Yes.

They stuffed How do you know?

themselves in 20 by 20-foot container compartments

for a month and a half.

Why else would they be here?

The leaders of the Fangcheg Church

were thrown into labor camps.

Last August, three Taiwanese-born American evangelicals

were arrested in Henan province...

For-- I'm quoting now--

"activities incompatible

with tourist status under which they entered China."

In other words, for spreading the Gospel

100 of their followers were detained

and one woman was beaten by the police.

Chinese Catholics are being arrested by the wagon load

for recognizing the Vatican's authority.

Caldwell: An 82-year-old bishop was released

after 30 years in prison, then arrested again.

An 84-year-old bishop was tortured until he passed out.

He's now in a coma.

China harasses Christians, Josh.

The State Department says so.

Amnesty International says so.

I say so.

It is fact.

Marsh: And the scores of millions

of American Christians

and Christians around the world

will not stand blithely by

while religious freedom is threatened.

Sure, you will.

Sam...

No, they will stand blithely by

while religious freedom is threatened.

They're just not doing it this time.

Okay.

Is this about the play?

A guy writes a play

called Apostles

in which Jesus Christ is gay, and you protest-- fine--

but when a guy threatens to blow up the theater

you guys are nowhere to be heard from.

That play was disgusting.

So you're committed to religious freedom

for all people unless you don't like what they have to say.

That's not what I'm... Don't look now, but I think the playwright's

headed to China.

Josh?

Yeah.

Sorry about that.

No, Sam's right, and it's a point well taken.

I just don't want to get bogged down

in a Mary Marsh mud-fight.

Yes, sir.

This is too important.

Yes, it is.

And I want you to know, I want the President to know:

My church will pay out the bond for each of the refugees.

Well, we might be talking about more money...

I know how much we're talking about.

My church'll pay it.

If they won't, I will.

Okay, thank you, Reverend.

I'll pass that along.

Thank you.

Good morning, Toby.

Good morning, Reverend.

You look determined.

I am, sir.

Good boy.

( door opens )

Aide: Before we get to anything else

I want to object to the totally crappy way

we were informed about this.

You knew you were getting the list of recess appointments.

Toby, what makes you think you can just...?

Article II, Section 2: "The President shall have

"the power to fill all vacancies that may happen

"during the recess of the Senate by granting commissions

which shall expire at the end of their next session."

You can't just slip her in, Toby.

Slip who in?

Don't be cute.

I can't help it.

McGarry's sister. It's Mr. McGarry

and her name is Dr. Josephine McGarry.

She has a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell.

She's published many scholarly essays on public education.

She was superintendent of the Atlanta School District

servicing 58,000 students

with some of the highest standardized test scores

in the country.

What in particular troubles

the senators you work for about her resume?

I think you know.

I do, but I'd like you to say it.

She's anti-religion, Toby.

Is she?

Yes, she is.

Hmm... She's on the Board of Visitors at her church.

She teaches Sunday mornings

at the Immaculate Heart of Mary school.

You know what we're talking about.

She's against prayer.

She's against prayer?

School prayer.

Ah.

As she's published many times in her scholarly essays.

You want to know who else is against it?

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Organized prayer in public schools is prohibited

and your problem with her

is that, while superintendent, she enforced the law.

A law that 70% say is wrong.

70% of the people say...

Laws don't work like that, Wayne.

We don't ask for a show of hands.

You understand that the Senate Republicans...

No, I don't.

Can you explain it to me slowly

using small words and visual aids?

Toby...

The Senate Republicans

will hold up the confirmations of other nominees.

This is an abuse of the recess appointment.

It's there for convenience.

It's not there to circumvent

the Senate's Constitutional right to confirm nominees.

Neither is the filibuster.

I'll put down my gun when you put down yours.

The fact is, if you don't think

she'd be confirmed, then it's outrageous that...

No, what is outrageous is that this would never come to vote

if we did it in session.

There's no way the Senate could not confirm her.

She's too qualified.

This would never come to a vote!

So... hold up all the appointments you want

shut down the government

'cause a teacher did as she was told.

You'll have given us a second term

and we won't even have to leave the building.

But not because I'm right and you're wrong

though I am and you are

but just because I am better at this than you.

Not this time.

I'm sorry?

You're not better this time.

This... is a picture of her.

Doing what?

Enforcing the law.

( Toby sighs )

It was a home game.

There was an organized prayer

and she's breaking it up.

Yes, she is.

It's not good, but it's not...

These are high school students.

Two of them are on their knees praying

while being handcuffed

with my sister standing next to the cop

whose hand is on his nightstick.

He's resting it on his nightstick.

I'm sure that explanation will be in the caption.

Leo...

One of the students is wearing

his marching band uniform.

One of the students is black.

Listen... And you say, "It's not good"?

Yeah, look... That's a penetrating diagnosis

from the White House Communications Director.

It's not like we weren't aware of the incident.

We didn't know there was art.

It's a local paper.

It's not local anymore!

Well, I can save it.

Does she know she was submitted? Yes.

How? I called her.

Toby...! I can save this.

Margaret!

Leo...

Oh, a football game, high school marching band

on their knees.

The only thing breaking up Normal Rockwell

are the cops, the handcuffs, the nightstick

and my sister. Yeah?

Get Josephine on the phone.

Yeah.

I begged you to go slow with this nomination.

The post needed to...

The post did not desperately need

to be filled.

Neither the economy nor national security

nor infrastructure will collapse

without an Assistant Secretary

of Primary and Secondary Education.

It brings the problem front and center.

Great.

And what prize do we get for that?

Leo... What prize do we get

for bringing it front and center?

Leo?

What?

Your sister.

I'll be in my office.

It brings your problem front and center

Toby.

Leave the newspaper.

Hey, Jo.

C.J.: Donna? Hey, C.J.

Can I borrow you for just a minute?

Josh: Hey, C.J.

You know, I'd love to stand around and talk with you, Josh

but I have a turkey pardoning in five minutes.

I thought that was tomorrow.

No. Tomorrow's the singing.

You're singing?

I'm leading the children in song.

Excellent! Yes. I need Donna.

You need help with the song?

I don't need help with the song. Donna?

The INS guys will be here in a minute. Yep.

What do you need? I need help with the song.

Isn't it the usual song? There's a usual song?

"We Gather Together." That's the song.

That's the usual song. So you know it?

Everybody knows it. I don't know it.

Didn't you go to elementary school?

Yes. Right before being a National Merit scholar.

The madrigals will know the song.

The madrigals? A couple of guys wearing costumes

and playing the lute. It's no problem.

Y-you're not the one conducting a musical on CNN.

You want me to teach you the song?

Yes.

Now? Not now.

Right now I have, you know, actual...

serious work to do.

Okay. Show time, guys.

I've observed you under a number of conditions

and this is the final.

I can't have you wigging out in the President's face--

"I just don't like the photo."

So...

You both did fine.

( turkey gobbling )

Troy, I want you to know it was neck and neck

but I'm giving it to Eric.

You were in it right to the end, but it's

the flapping thing you got going on.

I'll tell you what's of some concern to me--

that I've been talking out loud this whole time.

That's very unsettling.

Okay, Eric, here we go.

( gobbling )

Come on, Eric, let's go.

The guy said to support him under his hindquarters.

Well, I don't know where his hindquarters are

and I'm not going to look that hard.

Come on, Eric.

( snapping fingers )

( whistling ): Troy?

Passage usually costs anywhere from $20 to $40,000.

$40,000 buys them a spot in the container?

Yeah.

How do these people have $40,000?

They don't.

That's the problem.

They have to pay off the smugglers

when they get here

so they become indentured servants.

Sweat shops? Drugs, prostitution.

You should know

that Al Caldwell and the Christian League

have offered to pay their bond.

Caldwell should know it's not uncommon

for them to be coached.

On religious persecution?

It's a good alibi.

Listen, it's not for me to say

but you got to be serious about illegal immigration

and you got to do these things within existing laws.

Thanks for coming by.

Good seeing you.

Take it easy.

You, too.

A lot of them left their families.

Two months on the water in a container.

Dead bodies in there.

They had to want it.

( sighs )

( knocking )

Mr. President?

Yeah?

We're all set.

What am I doing?

Pardoning a turkey.

Okay.

Mr. President?

Excellent.

I think you'll like this.

The Messermeister.

Meridian 3000 series.

One-piece forged blade, riveted pom handles.

Terrific.

I don't like the handles.

Okay. Mr. President?

How's it going?

Sir, we've taken a couple dozen meetings

in the last two days.

You met with Chinese embassy officials?

Last night. They say...

Christians aren't persecuted in China.

Since they're not oppressed

they don't qualify for refugee status...

...under U.S. or U.N. conditions, yeah.

They also make the point that they broke Chinese law

when they left the country illegally

and should be sent back

to their country of origin.

It's a fair point.

The INS agents also feel

it's not uncommon in this situation

for refugees to--

how do I put it--

feign faith.

Yeah. They'll be coached.

How do you tell the difference...?

You guys know what a shibboleth is?

It's a catchphrase, isn't it?

A cliche.

Comes from the Bible:

"Then said now unto him

"'Say now shibboleth!'

"And he said, 'Sibboleth'

for he could not frame to pronounce it right."

It was a password-- a way the army used

to distinguish true Israelites from impostors

sent across the river Jordan by the enemy. Sir...

I'm having one of the Chinese refugees flown here.

I'll meet with him tonight.

Mr. President, I can't, you know...

indefinitely with the turkey.

Yeah. Josh: Excuse me.

what are you going to ask the Chinese refugee?

I'm going to ask him to say shibboleth.

Leo?

She's here?

Yeah.

Okay.

I understand they've already started

beating the drums over the me.

Yeah.

I don't think I need to tell you

that I'm not going to shrink from a fight.

No, you don't.

In fact, you look for them.

Just like my brother.

I don't look for fights, Josey.

There are enough that look for me.

Leo...! And I am trying to stage manage

an undisciplined White House

through what I would say was a difficult time

except I haven't experienced an easy one yet.

This is going to be a big victory

for us, Leo.

I will have support lined up from the AFT, the NEA.

I will have...

Josey, I want you to withdraw your name from consideration.

Why?

You feel you can do more as Superintentent in Atlanta.

No, I mean, wh...?

'Cause the president won't

and even if he would, it'd look bad.

No, I'm asking you why you've...?

They've got a newspaper picture.

Of what?

You know of what.

There were a lot of pictures, Leo.

This one is special.

This one is game's over.

The handcuffs.

Yeah.

And you wouldn't even consider

sticking by me?

A few years ago

on a campaign swing through the South

I met a stringer photographer named Odabee Jones.

It was an unusual name

and so I've remembered it.

He told me he had you to thank

for starting his career in photojournalism

'cause you'd give him a heads up

when there was going to be

something worth shooting.

Leo, what in God's name...?

Look at the photo credit on the picture.

You called the photographer.

You wanted a picture taken of that.

Those kids are commendable.

In this day and age, those kids are phenomenal.

Now we have laws, and they are difficult

and they have to be enforced

and it's right that they're enforced.

But we do not strut... ever.

Is there something you need me to sign?

Anything else?

Kiss your kids hello for me.

She'll get over it.

She hasn't gotten over my making her return

the stolen Milk Duds.

( clears throat )

You were right.

I know.

Josey was the wrong face to put on this.

Yes.

But I'll tell you why it should be front and center.

It's not the First Amendment.

It's not religious freedom.

It's not Church and State.

It's not... abstract.

What is it?

It's the fourth-grader who gets his ass kicked at recess

'cause he sat out the voluntary prayer in homeroom.

It's another way of making kids different from other kids...

and they're required by law to be there.

That's why you want it front and center.

Fourth grader.

That's the prize.

What'd they do to you?

Leo?

Yeah.

You're right about that part.

That part needs to be talked about more.

It does.

Okay.

What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?

'Cause Josh and Sam and I

are watching the game.

I'm with the First Family.

Okay. Hey, Leo, do me a favor.

Don't tell the President...

Oh, the President could honestly give a damn

what you guys are doing tomorrow, Toby.

Yeah.

That's...

( clears throat )

Mrs. Landingham: Ah, Mr. President.

President: Is he here?

Yes, sir.

Good.

Did we get an interpreter?

He speaks English.

He's a chemistry professor.

Yeah?

There was a while there I wanted to be a chemistry professor.

What happened?

I never actually studied chemistry.

A lot of these college chemistry departments

are really demanding that way. Yeah.

Mr. President.

Jhin Wei?

Yes, sir.

I'm Jed Bartlet, this is Leo McGarry.

How do you do?

Thank you for coming

all this way.

Yes, sir.

Fellas...

would you mind waiting outside?

Would you care to sit down?

It's perfectly all right.

There are some sandwiches here.

If you get hungry, you should feel free

to eat as much as you please.

Yes, sir.

There are questions

as to the veracity of your claim to asylum.

Yes, sir.

How did you become a Christian?

I began attending a house church

with my wife in Fujian.

Eventually, I was baptized.

How do you practice?

We share Bibles-- we don't have enough.

We sing hymns.

We hear sermons. We recite the Lord's Prayer.

We are charitable.

Who's the head of your church?

The head of our parish is an 84-year-old man

named Wen Ling.

He's been beaten and imprisoned many times.

The head of our church is Jesus Christ.

Can you name any of Jesus' apostles?

If you can't, that's okay.

I usually can't remember the names of my kids

or for that matter...

Peter, Andrew, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas

Matthew, Thaddeus, Simon, Judas and James.

Mr. President, Christianity is not demonstrated

through a recitation of facts.

You're seeking evidence of faith

a wholehearted acceptance of God's promise

of a better world.

"For we hold that man

is justified by faith alone"

is what Saint Paul said.

"Justified by faith alone."

Faith is the true...

uh... I'm trying to...

...shibboleth.

Faith is the true shibboleth.

Yes, it is.

And you, sir, just said the magic word

in more ways than one.

Thank you.

It was a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We're trying to sell more 747s to China

already a big customer.

We want China to crack down

on violators of American copyrights.

We're trying to get China

to negotiate a settlement with Tibet...

Right.

Right.

We don't have to grant asylum.

If you're suggesting what I think you are

you should know it's happened before.

Where are they?

An INS detention facility in Otay Mesa.

They're being guarded by INS agents, aided by members

of the 22nd Division of the California National Guard.

Not the Coast Guard?

No.

Before... when it happened before...

how did it work?

Well, you don't want to piss off China

and you don't want to send them back

so you got to ask yourself

how secure is the INS detention facility?

Mrs. Landingham?

Yes, sir.

I need to talk to the Governor of California.

Carol. Yeah.

We're starting in five minutes.

You can move the press to the Rose Garden.

Yeah.

Hey, Toscanini. I'm busy.

You learning the song?

I know the song. You don't know the song.

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing.

He chastens and hastens his will to make known."

Know what it means?

I don't have to know what it means.

I don't know what you're doing for dinner tonight

but Josh and Sam and I...

It's about damn time you asked me.

I have been sitting here for two weeks

turning down all kinds

of very, frankly, glamorous invitations

from people I like a lot more than you.

You can't ask a girl at the last minute...

Well, if you can't come, that's okay.

No, I can come, I can come. Good.

Should I bring anything?

Yeah, do you know how to, you know, cook food?

We're in the Rose Garden in five minutes.

C.J., this is Morton Horn.

He's from Jasper Farms.

He's here to take one of the turkeys back.

What do you mean?

Well, I got to take one of the turkeys back.

No, no, these turkeys are going

to a petting zoo in Delaware.

Well, one of them is.

Yeah, but I'm going to send both of them.

C.J., Jasper Farms donated one turkey

and then the other one...

Right, but I'm going to take them both.

No, I got to take a turkey back.

I'm going to buy him from you.

What's he, 30 bucks?

These turkeys are $275.

For a turkey!?

They're specially raised.

At the Waldorf?

Ma'am, I... I'll pay it.

It's already been sold.

Give them a different turkey.

Well, all the turkeys have been sold.

C.J., I think...

Ma'am, it was my understanding

that one of these turkeys was to be pardoned

the other one sent back to Jasper Farms.

Yes, and I chose Eric

'cause Troy doesn't like to be touched

which, surely, we're not going to execute him for.

Ma'am, I have a job and I...

Come with me, please.

Ma'am!

Grab the turkey and come with me.

All right.

Mrs. Landingham, can I look at a copy

of the Thanksgiving proclamation?

Sir, why don't you use the intercom?

'Cause...

'Cause you don't

know how to use the intercom.

I was standing at the door.

Maybe after this ceremony

you can get one of the fourth graders

to come in and show you

how to use the intercom.

Can I look at a copy...

Sam is bringing it.

Mr. President.

What you got, Charles?

A winner, Mr. President.

The 1985 Komin Yomada

made in Japan from the best materials available.

Lighter weight blade.

Which facilitates cutting and reduces user fatigue.

I once test-drove the Komin Yomada. And?

Not wild about it-- How about this?

Okay, Mr. President

I say this with all possible respect

but each of these knives

cuts, you know, meat.

Why is it important...

Because it's something we pass on.

It's something with a history, so we can say

"My father gave this to me

"and his father gave it to him

and now I'm giving it to you."

Well, okay, sir, but if that's true

then why don't you already have one?

I do have one.

Why do you need a new one?

I'm giving mine away.

To who?

Whom.

To whom?

Funny you should ask.

Charlie, my father gave this to me

and his father gave it to him

and now I'm giving it to you.

Take a look.

The fully tapered bolster allows for

sharpening the entire edge of the blade.

It says "P.R."

I thought I knew them all

but I don't recognize the manufacturer.

Yeah, these were made for my family

by a Boston silversmith named Paul Revere.

( knocking on door )

Mr. President.

I'm proud of you, Charlie.

Thank you, sir.

Five minutes in the Rose Garden.

Yeah.

( clears throat )

Mr. President?

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm sorry to ask you this, sir, but...

Not too late to stop yourself.

I need you to pardon a turkey.

I already pardoned the turkey.

I need you to pardon another one.

Didn't I do it right?

You did it great, but I need you

to come out and pardon another one.

Aren't I going to get a reputation

for being soft on turkeys?

Sir, can you come out here

and just get this over with?

No, I'm not going to...

What the hell's going on?

They sent me two turkeys.

The more photo friendly of the two

gets a Presidential pardon

and a full life at a children's zoo.

The runner-up gets eaten.

If the Oscars were like that, I'd watch.

Mr. President...

Just buy the second turkey.

They already sold it.

There's not much I can do.

You can pardon the turkey.

The turkey hasn't committed a crime.

Sir...

C.J., I have really no judicial

jurisdiction over birds.

Yes, I know that and you know that

but Morton Horn doesn't know that.

He's the high school kid

from the... turkey place.

He's in high school and he doesn't know I can't pardon his turkey?

That's what I'm betting.

C.J., if we don't, and I mean completely

overhaul public education

in this country...

Yes, sir, but maybe this is not the...

Where the hell is he?

Right out here.

Morton, this is President Bartlet.

Hey, Morton.

Wow.

Well said.

Is that the turkey?

Yes. You're pardoned.

Sir? What do you want?

Well, you know.

By the power vested in me

by the Constitution of the United States

I hereby pardon you.

Okay.

No, it's not okay.

Sir...

Morton, I can't pardon a turkey.

If you think I can pardon a turkey

then you have got to go back to your school

and insist that you be better prepared

to go out in the world.

You can't pardon a turkey?

No.

I tell you what I can do.

I'm drafting this turkey

into military service.

In the meantime

somebody will be drafting a check

which will have my signature on it

so the folks can buy themselves a Butterball.

Okay.

C.J.: Donna, would you have

Morton take Troy back

to his pen and remember to support

his hind quarters.

What's wrong with him?

The turkey's hindquarters.

I'm still waiting for the thing.

Right here.

Let's go in.

Sir?

Give me two minutes.

I'm going to step out there

and begin the singing and lute playing.

President: Whatever.

I'm assuming you've heard.

By the way, the Latin word for "yam"

is "dioscorea."

You've heard.

About the Chinese refugees?

They escaped.

I know. Can you believe it?

No, as a matter of fact, neither of us

can believe it, sir.

That detention center was being guarded

by the 22nd Division of the California National Guard.

Now, what does it say about our reserve army?

That 73 men, women and children who haven't eaten in two months

staged a prison break?

Let me read this.

"Well over three-and- a-half centuries ago

"strengthened by faith

"and bound by a common desire for liberty

"a small band of pilgrims

"sought out a place in the New World

"where they could worship according to their own beliefs.

"Now, therefore, I, Josiah Bartlet

"President of the United States

"by virtue of the authority and laws vested in me

do hereby proclaim this to be a National Day of Thanksgiving."

I'll see you out there, sir.

You asked the Governor to stand down the 22nd Division.

And call in the Red Cross.

We didn't do anything illegal.

You're not involved in any massive criminal conspiracy.

There's no way I was letting them go

and we needed to help China save face

so now they can tell their people

that the mighty American military was overpowered by...

Yeah.

So, the guy passed the test, huh?

You think I would have sent him back

if he'd failed catechism?

Let me tell you something.

We can be the world's policeman

we can be the world's bank

the world's factory, the world's farm.

What does it mean, if we're not also...

They made it to the New World, Josh.

You know what I get to do now?

I get to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving.

Man ( in background): Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls

the President of the United States.

This is a great job.