All language subtitles for The.Contender.2000.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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("Ring Of Fire" playing)

* Oh love *

* Is a burning thing *

* And it makes *

* A fiery ring *

* Bound by wild desire *

* I fell into a ring of fire *

* I fell into a burning ring
of fire *

* I went down down down *

* And the flames went higher *

* Burn *

* Ring of fire *

* I fell into *

* Ring of fire **

(birds chirping)

MAN: Well, I bet you've been
gettin' a lot of, uh...

Churchills...

probably Mandela.

Some de Gaulles.

I'd have to go with, uh...

Anwar Sadat.

Anwar Sadat?

The former Egyptian president.
Right.

No, no, yeah, I know.
Two years at the paper,
I never heard that one.

I'd have to say Sadat.

Talk about standing up to
political and popular pressure.

I'd like to think that
I had those kind of balls.

There's a guy who did not
die in vain.

He died for peace.

Are there any ideas
you'd die for, Governor?

Well, obviously, I'd die
for this country.

I served, you know,
not in Vietnam

but Desert Storm.
Right. The Bronze Star.

There wasn't whole a lot of shit
to get in over there, but
when there was, I was in it.

What I meant was, uh...

would you take a bullet
to advance abortion rights,

flat taxes, things you've been
behind for years?

I'd like to think that
I'd die for civil rights.

(tires squealing)
Jesus!

(rumbling, rattling)

(yelling)

Jesus Christ! What the...
Governor! Governor!

Governor Hathaway!

Christ! What the...
Governor! Governor!
Jesus!

** ("Ring Of Fire":
distorted)

Yes! No... a car...

(song continues)

No, the... uh...
Off the...

I-I don't...
I'm under a br...

Somebody's obviously in the car.
The governor is in the water.

(song continues)

Yes, Governor Hathaway
is in the water.
(gasps)

You gotta send
somebody out...

MAN: No, no, I want to see
the car come out of the water.

Back it up. Back it up.

MAN 2: Okay, rewind!

(indistinct chatter)

No, thanks

You okay?

I don't know
about this, Fiona.

Governor...
(clears throat)
excuse me. Um...

Bottom line. You put your ass
on the line out there.

You have this guy
from the Post...
Paul Smith is his name.

He's describing what you did
as if you should get
the Medal of Honor.

But that isn't
the reality, is it, Dan?

She died. I mean,
in the end, that's the reality.

There's one reality here,
Governor.

The people have given you
Reagan-like approval numbers.

Last week, you were in the 50s.
Today, you are 82.

I mean, look at it
this way, Jack.

That girl died. Okay?
That's a tragedy. It is.

But you did everything
you could possibly do
to save her.

I mean, they couldn't save
the Alamo either,

but everyone who
died there's a hero.

We're at a commercial.
You're almost up, okay?

Okay.

Show your remorse
but don't be broken.

You're a national leader now.
Think that way.

Sit here.

FIONA: So...
MAN: All right, ready?

Is Bert on our side?
Absolutely.

MAN: ...three, two, one.
DAN: This is it.

FIONA: After this,
everybody will be on our side.

He has long been
considered at the top
of President Evans' list

to fill the vacancy left
by the death of
the vice president

almost three weeks ago.

But after the heroics
that have become

the stuff of national legend
in the last couple of days,

Governor Hathaway has become
the nation's choice

to take on the post
of the heir-apparent
to the presidency.

Governor, thank you
for joining us.

Thank you, Bert.
To say the least...

That's a nasty bit of business
what happened on that river.

Nasty.

It's a damn shame you were
the unlucky bastard
in that spot.

Six and a half years
in the White House,

press still hasn't gotten wind
of these little bastards.

Yeah, it's pretty, uh...

pretty heroic,
what you tried.

Just like everybody's
been saying, very, uh...

Pure Audie Murphy.

Well, thank you, sir.
I only wish I could have...

If it was me, I don't know
if I would've dove in there.

Might have.
But honestly, I don't know.

(exhales forcefully)

Well... uh...

At least for once,
the press is turning
one of us into a hero.

What was it like?

It was...
It was cold.

Oh, sure,
this time of year.

You were risking your life
saving that woman.

The cold alone could've
snapped you like a twig.

It was dark under the water.

The, uh, headlights were on.
So were the interior lights.

I could see her face.

She was very pretty. Young.

She was terrified.
Wow.

It was like, it was like
she was being buried alive.

She looked at me.

And then she had
this look of helplessness.

I-I tried to pull
at the door, but, uh...

I-I needed air, you know?

I couldn't...

No. By the time I got back down
to the car, she was dead.

Her face was frozen
in that look.

She carried
that look of terror

right into her death.

You did more
than most men would.

I wonder.

Look, Jack, it's just
not gonna happen.

I can't nominate you.

I can't put you up.

We can't have
another Chappaquiddick ever.

Chappa...

I tried to save her.
Kennedy ran away, remember?

I tried...
You failed.

Nobody's saying
it was your fault,

but you failed.
It's a bad beef, Jack.

You're...
(inhales deeply then exhales)

...one of the leaders
of this party, a rising star,

but you've got
a Republican-heavy Judiciary.

They're not gonna give
a rat's ass about that.

They're not gonna care
about your

years of service or what
you've done for education
in your state.

This would be it.

You know?
A girl died and...

This administration needs
a smooth confirmation.

...you let it happen.

We had a rocky time
over the crime bill.

Can't have any more obstacles
put in front of us.

Well, I appreciate you
telling me personally,
Mr. President.

I'll, uh...

I'll support
whoever you select, of course.

I know that.

You're the future
of the Democratic Party,

and you always will be.

Well... there's a boatload
of press out there.

I don't think
you should avoid them.

Take it easy, Jack.

(sighs)
I don't understand this, Kermit.

Six years ago, I was
the best man for the job,
and I'm still the right guy.

I have a great relationship
with Runyon.

Listen to me.
Isn't there something
we can do about this?

Believe me, Jack, I've tried.

He's made up his mind.

Filling this slot may well be
his swan song.

Wants to be careful with it.
Let's not push it.

Why not keep
in his good graces?

You're a good man, Jack.
Want to see the governor out?

Jerry, you want to come in?
Yes, sir.

KERMIT: Mr. President,
Jerry's here.

That was as rough
as it comes.

Never seen anybody look
so defeated.

Yeah, poor son of a bitch.
JERRY: Mr. President?

Saw the governor out there.
He looks like he had
the shit kicked out of him.

If I have any more caffeine,
then I'll be voting
for the flat tax.

I got this tea
from the Greek ambassador.

Go on, sit.
Never thought of Greece
as a tea-producing country,

but, Jesus Christ,
if this isn't the tea
to end all teas.

Well, looks like
ol' Jack Hathaway's
had a shitty week.

So Hathaway, he's out?
That's solid?

That leaves us
with Malloy or Hanson.

It's gotta be Hanson.
Malloy's out.

Now, Mr. President,
I think you know...

It's Hanson.

You know how I feel,
Mr. President.

Hanson may have turncoated
our way,

but a turncoat's a turncoat.

Okay, we've had a vacancy
for three weeks now.

The nation's moved
from mourning to anxiety.

I need a vice president.

And I need a person
who's gonna reflect my politics.

Fill it with Frank Malloy.
No, no.

Malloy, he's-he's got
an inflammation of ambition.

He won't be doing his job.
He'll be preparing to do mine.

He's not even my second choice.

If it doesn't work with Hanson,
we're gonna go back to Hathaway.

Sir, do you think that
Hanson's a team player, really?

Senator Hanson is gonna work.

And it's the job of you two
to make sure that

that confirmation gets through.

Sir...
I need to know
I can count on you.

Of course you can,
Mr. President.

JACK (on TV):
The president and I
discussed, uh...

several issues,
including the vice presidency.

REPORTER: Sir, did
the president offer you
the position?

JACK: Actually, I asked
the president...
(telephone ringing)

...to withdraw my name
from consideration.

WOMAN:
Don't answer it, please.
Don't answer it.

MAN: I gotta get it.
It's the red line.

WOMAN: No, no, no, no.
Don't answer it.

Hanson here.

JACK: No, that conversation
never came up except...

Yeah, of course I'll hold.

Shh. Quiet.

Hello, sir!

I'm great, sir,
thank you. Yes.

As a matter of fact,
we're watching him
on C-SPAN right now.

No names were discussed.

Yes, she is.
One second, sir.

REPORTER: Sir, there are
rumors about you forming
an exploratory...

It's the president.
He wants to talk to you.

You wanna speak to him?

JACK: I have
no plans underway...

Um, hello, sir.
This is Senator Hanson speaking.

Oh, Christ.

That's what the prick said
to you? He actually said,

"We can't have another
Chappaquiddick, Jack"

No, not Evans.
That was Newman.

Newman said the thing
about Chappaquiddick.

What the fuck is that
supposed to mean?

I mean, I don't even know...

That doesn't even make
any sense, Jack.

You weren't some fucking drunk
who drove your car

off a fucking bridge
and abandoned the whore
you were fucking to die.

JACK: That's what I told them,
Fiona. Not in those words.
Not the way you say it.

You know, this is
the second time
they fucked us over.

Well, did he say
who he was going with?
No.

It's gonna be Malloy.
That's what I'm hearing.

Fucking Frank Malloy.

Jack, he isn't worthy of...

FIONA:
This isn't happening to me.

You can go.

So you're gonna take it
up the ass, Jack.

You want to bend over and make
their job a little easier?

You understand
what's going on here?

This is it. Okay?

The whole fucking plan, Jack,

everything was to get
to this point.

We have one shot at this,
and it's gone!

And you're gonna mope around
like some fucking
12-year-old girl

who can't get a date
to the dance?

"Frank Malloy,
that's what I'm hearing."

What would you like me
to do, Fiona?

I'd like you to give
a shit, Jack.

I'd like you to call
Shelly Runyon back,

and I'd like you to get
this fucking thing fixed!

Why not?
Because you've already
gone over it.

I mean, It's done.
It's ancient history.

I don't feel reconciled
about it yet.

(indistinct chatter)

WILLIAM: Really? I don't think
it's necessary.
LAINE: Really?

Okay, well, I'll think about it.

WILLIAM: No, I think it's fine.

Okay, I'm not convinced.

Well, I...

Will, you sure you want
to have alcohol on your breath

the first time you meet
the president?

No, you're right.
No offense. Just wondering.

I'm married to
the vice president, huh?

MAN: Whoa, whoa!

I haven't been confirmed yet.

In fact, I haven't even
been asked yet.

You know what we gotta do
pronto, Hollis?

We gotta start working Runyon.

Runyon's gonna be a problem.

HOLLIS: Why is Runyon
gonna be a problem?

WILLIAM:
'Cause he's head of Judiciary.

Yeah, but the Senate
takes care...
WILLIAM: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Everything but
the vice president.

Twenty-fifth amendment doesn't
specify who runs the show

on that confirmation.

Rumor has it that, uh...

the House has advise
and consent on this one.

I guess Runyon lobbied
just hard enough to get
his committee the gig.

Yeah, I think he did.

You know what? I know
his number-two guy, Ted Baker.

We went to college together.
I'll get him on the phone,

and I'll just start
pummeling him right way.

No, no, no.
Don't say anything to him yet.
WILLIAM: Why?

Let's just get it on
our own merit for right now.
Let's not do anything...

All right. You know what?
I'm not gonna argue with you.

Not only are you right,
but you're about to go meet

the president,
and you look great.

So... Doesn't she look great?

WILLIAM: Yeah, she looks great.

What do you think, Stevenson?

I'd go for the number six,
slightly right of center, sir.

(smacking lips)
That's what I was thinking.

(chuckles)

(bowling ball rolling)

That's what I was thinking.

EVANS:
How's your average?

One forty-five
last time out, sir.

That's not bad.

No!

(flubbering)

That's, that's what I get
for my leftist tendencies.

Sir, Senator Hanson
and her husband are here.

Shall I put them in reception?
Bring 'em in.

Yes, sir.

Stevenson, I'm gonna need
some time with the senator.
Yes, sir.

Senator!
LAINE: Mr. President.

I'm sure you remember
my husband.
Oh, Will Hanson.

Yes.
The McMahon campaign.

Oh, we tried to steal
your husband away.

He runs a hell
of a campaign.

Hell of a campaign.
Thank you, sir.

You gave me nightmare visions

of, uh, having to return
to my law practice.

Hi. Jackson Evans.

Hollis. Lewis Hollis.

What was that...
What was the first name?

Hollis.

No, Lewis is my first name.
Lewis. Welcome, Lewis.

So, have you guys
been down here before?

BOTH: No.

Johnson, he, uh

built it in '65.

Right now, some...
terrorist camp in Libya

is being spared
a bombing raid

because I'm obsessed
with beating my 150 average.

You guys bowl?

LAINE: Uh... once in a while.
WILLIAM: Well, uh... yeah.

Uh, what's your,
what's your average?

Seventy.
I don't have one so...

Hungry? You want some lunch
before we speak?

LAINE: No, thank you, sir.
WILLIAM: Fine, thank you.

Yeah? I saw this,
uh, this movie once
where the president

is just tickled that anything
he wants to eat he can get
in a moment's notice.

Here. Turns out,
it's the perk of the century.

Otto?
OTTO (over intercom):
Yes, Mr. President?

Yeah, sorry
for the late notice.

Uh, for lunch,
could you arrange
some coq au vin...

with a side of penne?

OTTO: Spicy or mild?
Spicy.

And, uh... Oh...

hazelnut pudding for dessert.
OTTO: No problem, sir.

One day, I'll catch him napping.

Anyway, how much
did we win that one by?

61 to 33, sir.
Ah.

It's pretty easy getting
over things when you win.

I guess Sudan is where the press
will make its first hay.

I think if we announce,
the press might have
other things on its mind.

But, uh, you know, sir,
Sheldon Runyon and Jack Hathaway
have been friends for years.

And Runyon is going
to come after me
with all guns blazing.

No. Senator...
You know that...

...why do we have to worry
about Shelly Runyon's guns
when I control the atomic bomb?

We'll introduce you
to the Cabinet in one hour.
I'll make the announcement then.

That's fine, Mr. President.
That's the way Jerry Ford
did it with Rockefeller.

I always thought it was
pretty damn classy.

Have we notified
all the networks?

Oh, yes. All the pundits are
in a guessing feeding frenzy.

Box of Malomars says
they've already anointed Malloy.

You look great, by the way.

Just great.
Thank you, sir.

Okay, guys, one hour,
the Cabinet Room.

Off to the races!
(claps)

Senator, is this
what you're gonna wear?

She looks fine.
No, she does.

You look beautiful, Senator.

Thank you.
Very becoming.

I think it works.

Let me explain
how this is gonna work.

In a minute, POTUS is gonna
come in. He's gonna make
an announcement.

He's gonna introduce you to the
vice presidential designate.
WOMAN: Jerry.

Jerry, we hear that
the president's decision
is Malloy. Can you confirm this?

And I will ensure you
in ten seconds,

you're gonna have your answer,
okay? So calm down.

All right. Then after he's made
this announ... Dave.

I'm gonna give you guys,
what do you say, 20 minutes
for questions and answers.

So keep them short and,
hopefully, sweet. All right?

And you can roll starting now.

And I'll introduce him
in five... thousand...

four... thousand,
three... thousand, two.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the president of
the United States.

Welcome. Good afternoon.
Please.

Thank you for coming here
on such short notice.

WOMAN: Laine Hanson.
MAN: From Ohio

WOMAN: Ohio. Got it.

As I embarked on the task
of selecting a vice president

I was driven by the emotion
of wanting to make a choice

that would've made Troy Ellard,
my friend, proud.

Senator Laine Billings Hanson
of Ohio is that person.

WOMAN: Senator, Senator...
MAN: Sherri, you are first.

Ms. Hanson, do you feel that
your being a woman played
any type of a role

in the president's decision?

Well, I, uh... Well, first,
I just would like to say

what an honor it is for me
to be here before you
in this position.

And I hope to serve
up to the standards

which President Evans
set for me in that
wonderful introduction.

Thank you so much, sir.

And, uh,
to answer your question...

First rate, Mrs. Hanson.
First rate.

Thank you. I learned
a lot from Will.

Ah, yes, Will.

You, sir, are gonna have
to make yourself scarce,
I'm afraid.

No, of course.
I'll give you your privacy.

No, I mean scarce.

During the confirmation period,
I want you out of sight.

Pardon me?
A wife who's always there

behind her husband
is perceived as supportive.

A husband following
around behind his wife
is perceived as a puppeteer.

Yeah, well, but I think--
No, no, honey.

No. I-I think Mr. Newman's
right on, actually.

Let Hollis handle
the day-to-day,

and I'll be the man
behind the curtain.

So, where do we go from here?

JERRY: One: The FBI's
gonna have to do

an extensive background check.

Director Friend will handle
the investigation personally.

Yes, we made sure of that.

Just about every aspect
of your life will be uncovered.

Your bank accounts,
your medical reports.

You know?
What am I forgetting?

Oh, correspondence to
government agencies
and speeches

When Nelson Rockefeller
was confirmed, they had over
300 agents working on him.

Wow. Well, they had
a lot more life and cash
to investigate, huh?

(laughter)

HOLLIS: You know, we'll do
our own background check too

in case anything falls through
the cracks, just to be safe.

Yes, and at the same time,
the House will put together a...
(knocking on door)

Come in.

The House will put together
its bipartisan subcommittee

of the Judiciary
to interview you and advise

and consent to your nomination.

Shelly Runyon's
running the show there.

Cheyenne, Wyoming,
you're on with Vice President
Designate Laine Hanson.

MAN (on phone):
Hey, Larry, how are you?
I'm fine. Thanks for calling.

Yeah, I just wanted to say
to the senator that, uh,

all of Cheyenne is with her.

That we think she's
absolutely great
for the country

and this administration
and congratulations.

LARRY:
What's the question, sir?

MAN: I, uh, I just wanted
to ask the senator,

if she could pick
one person from history

to serve as her model
for how to behave in office,

who would that be?
(knocking on door)

LARRY: Good question, Senator.
KERMIT: Shelly?

LAINE (on TV): It sounds like
a question I should...

Hey, guys. How are you?
Nice to see you, Jerry.

KERMIT:
Sorry to barge in on you.
No, no, no, no.

I'm just watching your girl.

Gandhi, first female
prime ministers?

Well, they were great leaders.

Would you put Thatcher
in that category?

Oh, no, I don't think so.

Um...

You know what? I would have
to say Thomas Jefferson.

RUNYON: Well.
LARRY: A man?

JERRY: She's really something,
isn't she?
I don't really know her.

We served together
a few years ago, and...

Well, I guess we,

we just ended up
in different company.

Take a...
take a seat.

JERRY:
Congressman, the president
asked us to come down here.

He'd like to let you know
that he'd very much

appreciate your support
in the senator's confirmation.

Really?

He asked me directly, Shell.

But the president didn't
consider it important enough

to, uh, ask me personally?

You know it's important, Shelly.
It's the old man's swan song.

Putting a woman in office
means something to him.

In any case, Laine Hanson is
the absolute best choice.

Oh, you don't believe that, K.
Come on.

You're too smart.

Look, I, uh...
I don't mind she's a woman...

but I'm, uh,

I'm not confirming a woman
just because she's a woman.

I mean, Laine Hanson
has an extra burden.

She has to come
on the world stage
with perfect credentials.

Margaret Thatcher didn't have
perfect credentials.
The world respected her.

The world accepted
Margaret Thatcher

because they knew she had
to answer to Ronald Reagan.

A woman better be
pretty damn qualified
to have nobody to answer to,

and Laine, uh,
Laine Hanson is not that.

Look me in the eyes

and tell me that Laine Hanson

is your first choice
for the vice presidency.

Laine Hanson is
my absolute first choice.

Oh, I'd so want you
in my poker game.

Country needs
a smooth confirmation, Shelly.

The president needs
a smooth confirmation.

The country needs a,
needs a competent
vice president.

(phone ringing)

Excuse me a minute.

There's, uh...

There's only one person
in the world that has
that phone number.

So who's the, uh,
second choice?

Well, we haven't really settled
on anybody yet, congressman.

Tell me,

if Laine Hanson were
to be hit by a flying car,

well, who would
the president then select?

(sighs)

I think the president
still likes Jack Hathaway...

Congressman.

SHELLY: You know, uh...

Jack Hathaway,
there's a good man...

for a Democrat.

There's a man
I would say would have...

a smooth confirmation.

Jack Hathaway?

Smooth as a baby's ass.

Well, he's already
taken himself out of it, so...
Right.

Right! Well, who the hell knows?

Perhaps Lainey
will shock the world

by pulling out
her brilliance...

and erudition at the hearings
that none of us know she has.

So, Shelly, can we ask
for basic fairness?

Fifty-fifty, Democrat
and Republican at the hearings?

Of course you can.

Congressman! Congressman!
Mr. Runyon.

Just wanted to steal you
for a second, sir.
I'm, uh, Reg Webster.

Oh, you're one
of Stoney's boys?

Uh, no.

Hi, David.
Hi, Shelly.

You staff or intern?

Actually, I'm
a representative, sir.

Reginald Webster of Delaware.
Oh!

Fuck me. I'm sorry, Webster.
What can I do for you?

I'm running a little late.

Well, I was just hoping
I could grab your attention
for a second.

So, uh, what's the skinny?

Well, uh...

Well, I'm late,
Mr. Webster.

Yeah, I just...

I understand that a chair's
opened up in the committee,

and I'd like
to put my name forward.

I believe you'll find me
industrious and hardworking.

Well, the Judiciary's
for senior members.

Wheeling was in for five terms
before we let him in.

My, uh, hands are tied.
There's nothing I can do.

Shelly, I've been trying
to reach you for five days.

I left you 32 messages.
Well, leave me a 33rd.

Uh, where you from?

Delaware.

Oh, yeah, you, um...

You were...
You knocked Emory Bettis out.

Emory used to be
in the Thursday night game.

He was always good
for a few hundred bucks.

I guess he ran his campaign
like he played poker.

I take it you have
a predisposition.

About the confirmation, I mean.

Uh... no.
Actually, I'm 100% objective.

Mmm. Do you have
a dictionary, Mr. Webster?

Yeah.
Well, take a Magic Marker...

cross out the word
"objectivity."

Your constituents want you
for your opinions,

your philosophy...

for your subjectivity.

Laver has to duck
out of the way of that one.

There's one that
Laver can't get.

He's still trying to recover.

And he zings another
powerful forehand past Laver.

See that, Tim-Tim?
Know what we call that?

We call that topspin.
You know how we get topspin?

Uh-huh.

Yeah? Tell me.
'Cause Baby Jesus made topspin.

Wh-What?

Baby Jesus gave it topspin.
Jesus?

Ah! Why do you say that?

Because Baby Jesus
made everything.

Yeah? And who
told you that?

Miss Moyer in kindergarten,
and Mommy says that

I have to listen
to Miss Moyer.

Wow, this is news to me.

I gave up my career
trying to strike that nonsense

out of the public
school system.

Well, maybe I ought to put him
in public school, then.

Remember what I told you
about moving your grip down

and to the left?
Uh-huh.

Yeah. Why don't you
go see if Dad's found
his bathing suit yet.

Okay?
Gimme a hug, will you?

Yeah. Thanks, champ.

(chuckles)

They are paid to teach, not...
To preach.

I know, I know,
but he's six years old, dad,

and he also believes
in the tooth fairy

and that George Washington
never told a lie, so...

Well, it just,
it drives me crazy.

Mary, you wanna turn
the ball machine off?

MARY: Yes, Mr. Governor.
Thank you.

(sighs)

Thanks for seeing me, Dad.

Why wouldn't I see you?

Partisanship.

I gotta love
at least one Democrat.

You know, Dad, uh,

I'm getting some reports
that you might not be ready
to back me.

That you're opposed
to my confirmation...

So, you've heard quotes
where I've said--
No, I haven't heard.

It's just that we should
expect to be reading
of your opposition, so...

Well, pardon my Swahili,
but you're being led
a line of pure bullshit.

I haven't said a word.
I know, Dad.
Maybe it's just that.

Maybe, you know,
you've been quiet.

I hate the press.
I know, Dad.

When I left the mansion,
I swore I would never talk
to them again.

I remember.

I suppose you're gonna force
my hand on this, huh?

You wouldn't have
to say much, Dad.

Just a little something.
Okay, okay, okay.

I, uh...

I'll call back
Joe Glynn at the Times.

He's okay.
He'll write it up well.

I once leaked him
some shit about Buchanan.

Damn near won him the Pulitzer.

Thanks, Dad.

Sure.
Thanks.

What would you do,
or have done, in my case?

Well...
(sighs)

when your president
asks you to jump,

it's pretty hard not to jump,
that's for sure.

Yeah, but you remember
what Ben Franklin said
about the vice presidency.

No, I don't rem--
What did he say?
I didn't talk to him this week.

He said he ought
to be addressed as
"Your Superfluous Excellency."

You know, in the past ten years,
I've enjoyed the kind of power

that the vice presidency
can't offer.

I mean, why would anybody want
to give that up?

Am I crazy?

Baby, power is
where power goes.

Think you can beat me?
Uh, yeah. Okay.

Hey, Tony!

Foul!

Can't trust
those fuckin' people.

Speaking of which,
Mr. Webster,

god damn it, it turns out
you're a Democrat.

I, uh, wasn't keeping it
a secret.

Sad to say,

I don't think I can bring you
aboard the committee, son.

Ray Spies makes
all the decisions
regarding the other party.

It's a courtesy.
But not a requirement.

No, it's not, that's true.

If Ray Spies interviewed me,

he'd refuse to put me on the
committee even for a minute...

because he'd find out that
when it comes to Laine Hanson,

I went to my dictionary
and crossed off
the word "objectivity."

Are you suggesting...

Mrs. Hanson may not be
your first choice for the
position of vice president?

I'm suggesting that Laine Hanson
has stricken our party
with policies and attitudes

that are best served across
the aisle from where she came,
that's all.

I take it, like most
members of your party,

your selection would be
Governor Hathaway.

Well, governor Hathaway's
a great man.

He's a visionary,
he's a bona fide hero.

But he withdrew his name
from consideration.

Minds can be changed.

How much, uh, discretion
can I count on from you?
A hundred percent, sir.

Even from your own leadership?
I said a hundred percent, sir.

Good.
(panting)

Good man. Good man.

I think if I make the rounds,
do the Sunday morning
talk shows,

raise the level
of the game a bit,

outtalk her on the issues--
Issues?

What kind of fucking campaigns
are they, uh, running
in Virginia these days?

Not the kind I'm used to.

Jack, this whole thing
with the girl drowning,

It's bullshit!
JACK: No, no,

I was there, Shelly.
The president told me himself.
It's an excuse.

Jackson Evans
has chosen to make

putting a woman in office
his swan song.

Laine Hanson is
the only reasonable choice
in your party.

He's not going with Boxer.
She's, uh, she's too liberal.

He's not going with Jones
because she's older than he is.

There's Winslet.

She's not coming off
the Supreme Court.

Laine Hanson is attractive.
She's a looker.

The mere fact that
she was a Republican

means that she can't be
too far to the left.

It's a perfect pedigree.

We can't get you in
by convincing him

that you're the right man
for the job.

We have to convince him
that she's wrong.

Once we do that,
you're in.

And Toliver,
he's as much as told me...

Look, I'm not going
for a low blow, Shelly.
It's not my way.

I think what he's trying
to say, Governor, is that
you won't have to.

MAN: We have to go after her.

We have to make her wade
in her own blood.

Excuse me,
who did you say you were?

I'm Makerowitz.

Makerowitz.
JACK: I'm sorry.

That doesn't
mean much to me.

Web got somebody...

A friend of
the Hathaway campaign.

Who is footing the
not-too-unimpressive
bill, Mr. Makerowitz.

Private citizen wants to do
their own investigation...

What is it exactly
you are trying to find out?

Campaign irregularities, bribes?

Isn't that the FBI's
responsibility?
Yes, it is.

But the FBI would not
find anything. All of her money
is tied up in blind trusts.

The kind of improprieties
you're talking about there,
I think that only helps her.

Personally, I think the nation
would be relieved to know that
just because she's a woman

it doesn't mean she can't be
as ruthless as the rest of us.

MAKEROWITZ: Governor?

You ever stabbed a man
in the navel?

You?

Me? No, I haven't.

Stab a man in the navel,
and that's all she wrote.

Bleeding is so swift and severe,
it wouldn't matter

if Jesus himself put
His healing hand on the wound.

The bastard is dead.

We have to gut the bitch
in the belly.

We all have to understand,

we're going to obliterate
her life...

but it will get you
the vice presidency.

(song playing indistinctly
on radio)

(indistinct chatter)

Hey, Dog!
Hey, Lewis, how are you doin'?

Wow, that's a plate
of food!

Hey, you didn't have
to dress up for me.

I had to accompany the senator
to the Gridiron Lunch.

Tell you what,
if John Q. Public

could see the money
that the knuckleheads
that run this country

spend on these lunches,
there would be
a second revolution.

I'm telling you, man,
there is some

money spent
on these stupid lunches.

What is this?
It's the reason you're here.

You can't let anybody know
where you got this from.

And if Runyon found out
I gave this to you,

man, he'd-he'd fire me,
and I don't want him
as an enemy.

That's Lainey Hanson
getting gang-banged. Yeah.

Looks like something
out of Hustler.

(exhales forcefully)
That's her for sure.

I know it's hard to tell
with her... her face
in someone's crotch...

but that's her, man.

Why are you showing me this?

I will not be party
to an ambush.

Why are you
showing me this, Ted?

Okay.

I want out
of Runyon's office, see?

And I thought maybe
you could get me on staff

with the senator or something?
This is the best you could
come up with? This shit?

This is shit.

Read the deposition
of the LaVamere lady.

WOMAN:
She was putting on a sex show.

MAN 1:
How long did this go on for?
It was hours.

MAN 2: How many hours?
Three or four.

MAN 2: Which one? Three or four?

WOMAN: Three, I guess.
MAN 2: Three.

WOMAN: In her defense,
she was drunk.

To be honest, once she finished
fucking and sucking
those two assholes

she was carried
into another room,

and boys were going in
and out of there,

but I don't know
if she was fucking them.

When she came out, though,
she was covered in cum.

It was awful.
Excuse me, Counselor.

I, um...

May I?
Of course.

Just to clarify, uh,

why exactly was
Mrs. Laine Hanson...

Strike that. Laine Billings
involved in this, uh...

appalling and disgusting
behavior?

That's...
That's what's important.
COUNSELOR: Exactly.

LAINE: Thank you so much.
It's great to see you guys.

There... there you go.

Thank you so much
for your support. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey.
Hey, Madam Senator.

How you doing?
I'm okay.

I wish you'd heard the speech.
Yeah?

That line that
you gave me about, uh,

"If we can put a man
on the moon, then why can't we
put all men on the moon?"

Mmm. Yeah.
It was perfect.

It really broke the ice.

Great audience for that, huh?
Yeah, it was great. Yeah.

(sighs)

What's goin' on?

Uh...

well, it looks like Runyon
or, uh, or somebody close to him

has been running
a little private investigation,

looking for stuff that
the Feds wouldn't even touch.

It's, um...
Yeah?

What is it?

What the...

(phone ringing)

KERMIT: He doesn't know
anything about it.

So you're asking me
to step down?

I'm asking you to do

what's in the best interest
of the party...

and this president.

Well...

I'm sorry. I can't do it,
not over this.

And if I know our president,
he's not going to allow me
or himself

to get shot down over

what would've been
a private sexual encounter.

Some swan song
for the old man, huh?

(sighs)
It's just fuckin' awful.

Look, the senator got
a little wild when she was 19.

What is the big deal?

Well, let me explain
the big deal to you.

The people of this nation
can stomach quite a bit.

But one thing they can't stomach
is the image of a vice president

with a mouthful of cock.

WILLIAM:
Well, you don't have to use...

Look, let's use
the word "alleged."

They got photos!

They got witnesses!

They got the "alleged" slut...

Hey! Let me tell you something.

I'm her husband first.
I don't tolerate talk like that!

Will, calm down.
Will, come on.

You better get used to it, Will.

Especially when not even
your wife will defend herself.

Give me something, Laine.
Anything.

Hell, just deny it.
Why don't you just deny it?

It is simply
beneath my dignity.

Dignity! Right.

Well, we'll just have to make
this all not worthwhile
for Mr. Runyon.

What have you got on the
distinguished gentleman
from Illinois?

Some pretty good stuff,
actually.

Um, SEC Investigation, 1985...
You got stocks?

I want something embarrassing!

Something sexual!

Little boys, midgets,
that sort of thing.

Cows! I don't give a goddamn!
Come on, Kermit.

If we do that,
we're no better than he is.

We are no better than he is.

MAN: There's nothing there.
He got married when he was 21.

There's no evidence
he ever cheated on his wife.

Oh, wow, it's too bad
we're not running in France.

We could really nail him
on that one.

When do you have
your lunch with him?

With Shelly Runyon? No.
I'm not having lunch with him.

HOLLIS: Friday, 1 o'clock.
It's scheduled tomorrow.

It's automatic.
He's the committee chairman.

It was set up. SOP.

** (classical music)

(indistinct chatter)

Really appreciate it.

Hank, it's good to see you.

Laine.
Shelly.

I'm sorry I started.
You were late.
I see.

I'm not too late, I hope.
A minute or two.

Were you tied up with anything?

No, sorry. I'm just late.

Hi, Clem.
Senator.

Nice to see you.
You too.

I ordered you the porterhouse.
Oh, no, I don't eat meat.

I'll have the penne. Thanks.
You should...

You should really... Mmm.

Try the steak. Ask Hugo
to burn it on the outside.
No, thank you.

Thanks, it's okay.
I-I really don't eat meat.

I'll just go ahead
with the penne.

Spicy?
Yes, please.

Okay.
Thanks.

(sighs)

So, how are...
Will and the boy?

Let's forego
the small talk today, Shelly.

It'll make me feel cheap.

Let the big talk begin.

Have you seen this?

That's my... That's my file
on you, Senator.

Mm-hmm.
How did you get it?

Have you read it yet?

How did you get it?

Have you read it?

(sighs)

What do you have
to say for yourself?

With all due respect...

um, Senator...

it doesn't matter
what I have to say for myself.

Oh, it doesn't?

It seems to me, Mr. Chairman,
all you can claim about me...

claim, is that I had sex...

Deviant sex.
Oh, deviant?

Who says it was deviant?
I do.

And what I say,
the American people
will believe.

And you know why?

Because I'll have
a very big microphone
in front of me.

Oh, wow, you must
really hate me, Shelly.

I don't hate you.
It's not possible to hate you.

You're...

What the hell was it that
Reynolds called you
the other day?

Groovy.
You're a groovy chick.

No, what I, um, what I do detest
is your selfishness.

(chuckles)
I have served this nation
without regard

for personal income
for over ten years.

You are selfish because
you want to take on a job

that positions you to assume

a mantle of gigantic
responsibility,

and you do it,
you do it full well
with the knowledge...

Of what?

What?

Greatness is the orphan
of urgency, Laine.

Greatness... only emerges
when we need it most,

in times of... of war
or calamity.

I can't ask somebody
to be a Kennedy or a Lincoln.

They were men created
by their times.

What I... what I can ask for
is the promise of greatness.

And that, Madam Senator...

you don't have.

Well, then...

I just wouldn't be using sex
as leverage...

if I were you, Sheldon.

No.

Because, you know, there's
one thing you don't want.

It's a woman
with her finger on the button
who isn't getting laid.

Will that be the argument
the senator offers up
before the committee?

(chuckles)

MAN: Sir?

Can I get you
something to drink?

Uh, no, I'm fine. Thank you.
You sure?

No, great.
Thanks a lot.

Ah, Mr. Webster.
Mr. President.

Good to see you.
It's an honor, sir.

I've been meaning to have you
up here for some time now.

Really?
Excuse me.

Willie?

Thank you, Willie.

Yeah, you betcha.
You, uh, unseated
that old bastard Bettis.

He must've voted against me
70 percent of the time.

You know what this is?

That's a shark steak sandwich.

Fucking shark steak.
Hmm.

You want half?

Uh, no, thank you.

Are you a vegan?

No. Uh...
Had lunch?

So, uh, you choose
not to break bread

with the president
of the United States?

Thank you.

When I was
in the Senate, Bettis,

he could always be counted
to leave half a grand
at the poker table.

Always stayed in, never folded.
Always wanted that miracle card.

That's good, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.

Now, Truman,
he was a poker player.

Damn fine one,
as I understand it.

Son, I understand you may be
making a mess of our plans

to put Laine Hanson
into the vice president mansion.

Right now, sir, I cannot see
supporting Laine Hanson.

How old are you?
Me, I'm 28.

And, uh, at that age
and experience,

you think you're the one
to sit and judge Mrs. Hanson?

Well, that's the whole point,
isn't it?

I am, sir.

Mr. Webster,
I'm asking you to lay off...

as a personal favor.

It's one thing to break ranks
and vote against my candidate

but to actively attack her
from the bench, that's another.

Mr. President, I just
don't believe in Laine Hanson...

especially when we have
at our disposal
Governor Hathaway.

He's a party loyalist
and a genuine hero.

And I cannot and shall not vote
for a candidate simply because
she's a woman.

I am nothing if I do not
follow my heart, sir.

I envy you.

I do. You know why?

Because someday,
years from now,

you're gonna come in here
with your family...

and you're gonna look up
at my painting...

and you'll be able
to say to them,
your kids and grandkids,

that, "Way back then,
I defied my president.

It cost me my reelection,
kept me out of politics forever.

I was on the track
to maybe one day end up here...

destined to make the kind
of changes in this country

that only great men,
given the right time
and place, can make,

and I have none of that now,
but that's okay...

because I did
what was in my heart."

The heart, it can never
be wrong, can it, Mr. Webster?

Mmm. Delicious.

You got a little, uh...
Uh...

Hi.

I'm Jack Hathaway.
How are you?

Hi, sir.

Um...

Ow.

I'm Special Agent Willomina.

Sure is good of you to meet me.

Well, it's a pleasure.
How can I help you?

Well, I know you're busy,
so this will be as routine
as it gets.

Did, uh, my girl offer you
some coffee or something
to drink?

Oh, yes, yes, she did.

She was very nice,
your girl.

Yes, she is.
She's very nice.

So anyway, um...

like I said, I just want
to cross a couple of T's,
little stuff.

You know, it's all just part
of the process, and...

By the way, sir,
I was real impressed
with your graciousness

on the whole
Senator Hanson thing.
Oh?

You know, in supporting her.
Real gracious.

Oh, well, as you know,
I, uh, I withdrew my name
from consideration.

Right. Right.

And I think she's
a-a-a real fine choice.

I mean, anybody that knows her
knows that.

Oh, how long
have you known her?

Oh, well, actually, I don't.
I don't really...

Oh, I'm sorry.
because when you said,
"Anybody that knows her"...

I know, uh...
I know people who know her.
Uh-huh.

Uh, I'm happy to give you
their names, if you'd like.

Great.

I don't really know her,

uh, but I've seen her
several times at functions

and, uh, I think
she'll do a real good job.

Sir, can I just say that...

I was really hoping
you'd go for the position,

especially after what happened
on the Apachaway.

I think people would think,
in the back of their minds,

"This here's a guy
who takes risks when
the right thing's at stake."

Lifesaver?
No, thanks.

Well, anyway, uh,
some real bad luck
your being right there.

Well, not if I'd been able
to save her.

No, no, in the crabbing area.

Oh, it's just that
you were fishing for bass, so...

Yeah, well, that,
that probably explains

why we didn't catch anything.
(laughs)

You fish in the Apachaway
a lot, though,

so I thought that
you would know that, but...

I don't fish a lot.
I just thought your equipment

was pretty sophisticated, but...

If you're gonna fish, it's...
No, no. There's a difference

between wanting to fish
and having the time to fish.

Tell me about it.

TIMOTHY: And he freed the slaves
and won the Civil War.

LAINE: That's right!
That's right.

He was probably
our greatest president.

TIMOTHY: Even greater
than George Washington?

Well, it's a running debate.

Laine Hanson.
Oh, Mr. President.

And you must be
one Timothy Hanson.

Timothy Muskie Hanson.
Oh!

(chuckles)

Well, Timothy Muskie Hanson,

how would you like
a great big cookie?
Any kind you want.

No, thank you.
Any kind at all.

Oatmeal, white chocolate...
No, thank you.

Well, actually,
we just had dinner,
but thanks, though.

Uh, in that case, shall we
have our picture taken,
young man? Hmm?

How do I look?
Your tie's a little crooked.

Well, can't take
a picture like that.

Will you straighten it
for me?

(grunts)

Your, uh, mommy tells me that

you know more about
the presidents
than most grown-ups.

I like to study them.
Mmm! Me too.

Well, I think we're ready
for business, Dennis.

Sir.

You must be very proud
of your mom.

Yeah, being the vice president

is better than being
the president.

Oh, I'm sure you're right.

'Cause nobody wants to shoot
the vice president.

So, you must be feeling
pretty excited right about now.

Please sit.

Hmm?
Well, I think
I'm a little nervous.

Well, good! Good.

Night before
a confirmation hearing.

Anything else,
I would've withdrawn your name.

What about this Webster, sir?
Ah, one second.

Uh, anybody here hungry?

No, thanks.
No, sir, I'm not. Thanks.

Otto?
OTTO (over intercom):
Yes, Mr. President.

could you whip up
some Kung Pao chicken

but with walnuts?

No problem, sir.

Ah, the kid. Met him.

You know this
young congressman, Webster?

No, sir, I don't.

No matter. Uh...

He reminds me of me
when I was his age. That's bad.

K, you need to put out word
that no matter
what this kid does

nobody's to give him
a hard time.

He's misguided,
but he's got something.
And one day, who knows?

All right, sir.
I'm sure the senator
can handle Mr. Webster.

There is one concern
we need to...

EVANS: Oh, right, concern.
Uh, Laine?
Mm?

K told me about your little
sexual romp in college.

Shit. Tomorrow is the 17th.

Glenda?
Yes, sir?

Tomorrow is Jacobson's birthday.
Have you got something
for the son of a bitch?

Yes, sir. You got him
a leather-bound Don Quixote.

Oh, good, good. Good gift.
Metaphorical gift.

He'll be trying to figure out
why I got him that forever.

(door closes)

Ah, were you married
at the time?

Um, I was a freshman in...

You know, sir, I'm just
not going to comment
on the whole thing.

It's beneath me,
and it's beneath the press.

That's the way to go.
Fuck the press.

Senator Hanson does not kiss
and tell.

It's perfect.
Maybe I was a little too rough
on Shelly in Hartford.

Then this would all be moot,
'cause you wouldn't be
president, sir.

You know what?

Married, unmarried,
one guy, two guys,
the whole football team.

Who the fuck cares?

You... you just look
those bastards in the eye

and tell them exactly that.

These guys,
they're gonna confirm you.

But they want to embarrass you
in the process.

They want to send you into
this administration as a virus.

So you have only one choice.

Yes, sir?

Don't... be embarrassed.

RUNYON:
Two hours, gentlemen.

It is now up to us
to light the spark...

which will result
in a moral uprising,
so that we may have...

a new birth
of national honesty...

and decency.

And sometimes in this process...

you will question
even yourselves.

And that's, uh, that's good,
that's healthy.

For what are we
if we are not what we believe?

Laine Hanson...
is a cancer.

A cancer of liberalism.

A cancer of disloyalty.

Her nomination itself
is the... is the cancer
of affirmative action.

What we will sing
with voices stentorian...

is that she is the cancer
of virtuous decay.

Clausewitz said that war

is the natural extension
of politics.

But politics is also
the extension of war.

(coughs)
They are one and the same.

Now, in this war,
there...

there will be casualties.

So help me God...

not among us.

REPORTER: Senator,
could we have a word?

(talking over each other)

Kermit, the president canceled
his golf game with me.

He always cancels golf games.
You know that.

Don't worry about it.
Yeah, not with me.

That's all right.

MAN: Kermit, can I talk
to you a second?

KERMIT: We'll talk later.

HOLLIS:
They're home, they're happy,
they're watching, they're proud.

Lewis, this is it. Thank you.

RUNYON: Order. Order.

Ladies and gentlemen,
my name is Sheldon B. Runyon

from the great state
of Illinois.

It is my privilege
and my honor...

to serve as the chairman
of these special hearings.

We are here today for only
the third time in our history

to ensure
the proper implementation
of the 25th amendment

and for the first time,

the House has taken on
that responsibility.

Myself and my esteemed
colleagues are determined...

to ensure that this...

very important matter
be handled with, um...

expedition and dignity.

We are proud to welcome
our friend and colleague,

Laine Hanson.
Madam Senator,
I welcome you.

Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Will the gentlelady from Ohio
please rise and raise
your right hand?

Madam Senator, do you swear
to tell the truth,

the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?

I do.
RUNYON: Please be seated.

WEBSTER:
Mr. Chairman, point of order.

RUNYON: The Chair recognizes
Mr. Webster of Delaware.

(clears throat)
Mr. Chairman, I direct
your attention to page 16,

tab C-25 of the ledger,

This is a transcript
of the Q-and-A session

between the nominee
and several students
from Harvard University.

RUNYON: Page 16?

WEBSTER: Uh, page 16
at the bottom of the page.

Uh, you'll see
the following remarks
in reference to a question

regarding the separation
of church and state.

The nominee said, and I quote,
"The separation exists

because we cannot have
a fairy tale govern a nation."

What, sir, is the point?

Well, the senator just swore
an oath to an entity

she does not believe in.

RUNYON: Madam Senator,
you understand...

that you have promised to be
truthful to this committee?
Yes.

And you understand that
lying to this body is perjury,

punishable by law?
Yes, I do understand that.

Well, I think we're...
I think we're all agreed

that even though the senator
has shown a disdain

for religion
and those practicing it--

which is her
constitutional right--

that does not necessarily,
Mr. Webster, make her a liar.

I'm confident we can proceed.

Uh, Madam?
Yes?

For the record, would you
state your name and address?

Yes. My name is Laine Hanson,

and my address is...

WOMAN: You can just do that,
pull phone records?

WILLOMINA: Well, I work
for a pretty powerful guy.

WOMAN: Well, yeah, we're close.
We were close for a while.

That's till recently,
of course.

Our career paths sort of went
in different directions.

Well, at least
you have your life.

You know, there's nothing
sinister going on here.

At this point,
we just need

to look at every aspect
of her life

and find everyone
that knew her.

You never know
what you're gonna find.

Oh. Did you find anything?
No, no, not really.

Not really?
You mean...

Well, a little bit, actually.

Um, I did speak to some
of your other classmates,

and they told me
she was pretty wild.

Wild? Yeah, she was wild.

Wild enough you can be sure
the tabloids

are gonna have
a field day with this.

Have you spoken to them?
Mm...

Tabloids?
Me? No.

But somebody somewhere's
gonna talk.

But not you.
Uh-uh, no.

It's okay if you have.
We're not gonna lock you up
or anything.

(laughing):
No, I haven't.

So no one like, the, um...
maybe, the National Enquirer...

or one of those
silly television programs,

that show, um... Access...
Confidential?

Yeah...
No, no, no.

No, but I don't really
know anything.

The last time I talked
to her, it was just,
"The kid this, the kid that."

According to our records,
you spoke to her, uh,
on the 15th.

Three weeks ago?
Yeah.

Yeah, that...
that makes sense.

I... She was going to Vegas.

Oh, is that right? Vegas?
Yeah.

She asked me to go along
with her. It was gonna be
her treat even.

I couldn't go
because I had to work.

We were gonna stay at one
of those ritzy new places.

The, um, Bellage...

The Bellagio?

Yeah.
Right.

With the contortionist.
I've never been.

You've been going
through my desk.

It never crossed my mind
when I was a younger woman

that I'd be this age
and not have kids.

Somehow in my mind, kids.

Raising them,
making them good people.

That's what I wanted.

And then I met you,
and I realized that I'd be

trading my dreams
so that we could live yours.

We sacrificed all of that
so we could do good.

We have done good.

I was never prouder when
you fought to make hate crimes

a capital and federal offense.

You stood so tall,
defying the world, and you won.

An-and it was then
that I realized that

all of our sacrifices
were not in vain,

that you were a good man.

And now, everything you have
ever achieved will be eliminated

because, with this
horrible filth...

you'll go down
as a second-rate Joe McCarthy.

Your problem, Shelly, is that
you have no sense of history.

She's no good.

(indistinct announcement on TV)

State department
has begun to upgrade...

MAN: Whoa!
...the UH-1H helicopters

to super-acuity status.

Come on!
And based on the terms
of the contract...

Come on.
...we're expecting 10
fully upgraded helicopters.

See, Daphne? This is
how you get to the top.

(announcement continues
in background)

Lew?

Lew?

RUNYON: Now, I have
an issue to speak of,

and I'm most gravely concerned.

If this body will indulge me,
I have before me...

a perfect example of the need
for this institution...

to pass the Internet Libel
Protection Act.

In the Nichols Report piece

posted to 40 million
Internet subscribers,

it is claimed that you,
uh, Senator...

were involved
in a sexual imbroglio
while in college.

That is...

trading favors...

with... several partners
in exchange for entry
into a sorority.

Though I will not waste
the committee's time
with such...

nefarious
and sleazy innuendoes...

I will not deny the senator
her right to, uh, to respond.

Uh, Mr. Chairman,
I have nothing to...

I will just not respond
to this article.

And I say "Bravo"
to you, Senator.

Bravo to you.

First let me state...

that I encourage
every American...

and every citizen
on this planet to boycott...

the Nichols Report.

This is the type of filth and,
um, degenerate pornography

that should not see
the light of day.

I can only assume, Senator,
that you will, uh...

not only bring suit
against the perpetrators of...

www.nicholsreport.com

but also against
the remarkable look-alike

who appears
in these disgusting photos.

And when you do file suit,
know that it, uh...

it comes with my full support.

Your refusal to deny
this, uh, report
of sexual deviance...

will not have an effect
on this, uh, committee

on whether or not it votes
to advise and consent
to your nomination.

REPORTER: Mr. President,
do you have a comment

on the allegations made
on the Internet today?

I'm not gonna discuss
any allegations,

especially those
on the Internet.

REPORTER 2:
But, sir, the sexual allegations
were made very public today

by Congressman Runyon.
Mm.

And I'm sure
he quite regrets that.

(laughter)

REPORTER 3: Sir, if you agree
with the, uh, allegations,

or agree the allegations
are accurate,

uh, do you think
that Senator Hanson
is morally fit to take office?

I'll tell you what.

I'm sure that, uh,
President Mateo and I

would both welcome the votes
of only those people

with sexual indiscretions
in their past.

We'd be landslide victors
every time.

REPORTER 4: Mr. President,
are you willing to say
right now that...

Hey, Sheila.
They've been waiting for you
for about ten minutes.

Okay. Hey.

Henry, I gotta talk to you
in five minutes, okay?
Okay.

(indistinct chatter)

How about "Her involvement
in prostitution"?

No, no, no, no. It's uh...
You gotta couch it
like it's something...

for the FB...

the AG to investigate.
Okay.

Hi, Reggie.
Hi.

Well, how about,
"How embarrassing it is...

that the..." No, no, no.
Who...

What?
Where's Gil... Gilmore?

Gilmore.
Gilmore. Um, Idaho? Iowa?

Can I interrupt for one second?
Uh... we're all set
with America Live.

Uh, what are you guys
talking about?

We're just going over, uh...

We're just going over
our statement

in response to
The Washington Post story.

What story?
Well...

The one that says the secret
investigation is ongoing...

to determine whether
she accepted money...

for her, uh, activities
in college.

(scoffs)
I didn't hear about this.

Well, it's, uh...
It's, um...

It'll be in to...

It'll be in
tomorrow afternoon's edition.

Just in time for the congressman
to make his statement

and just in time
for it to, uh, stick

in the minds of Americans
over the weekend.

Ah, well, what's the source?
Where'd they get the story?

Unnamed sources
close to the investigation.

I see.

Al.

Al!
Yes?

Um... We can, um...

Let's, uh...

Let's dot the I's, cross the...
cross the T's on this one later.

All right, thank you.

I, uh...

I think I have some

self-righteous indignation
coming my way.

Well, is there any truth
whatsoever to the story?

Well, there will be
an investigation.

Yeah, but she's gonna have
the truth on her side.

I mean, she's just
gonna deny it

and make us all look
like we're fools.
Let her.

Let her deny just that part
of the story.

MAN: Hold here.
What? Oh.

That's all right.
I can do that myself. Yeah.

Thank you.

America Live is not
in the circus business.

No...
No, he's right.
Pete's always fair.

LAINE:
Should I hear anything in this?

HOLLIS: He's gotta stop
with all the "senator."

You're gonna be vice president.

You'll talk about
legitimate issues of concern.

Right.
Where is the senator's monitor?

There is no monitor for her.
She'll hear Pete
in the earpiece.

That is a piece of shit.
We talked about this, Ray.

If Peter's gonna be able
to see her, she has to be able
to see him.

He's got a sensory advantage
over her.

You wanna pull her?
I'm not talking
about pulling her.

I'm just saying it's bullshit.

Will Hanson.
Yeah, I know.

She was just great
in the hearings today.
You know, cool and collected.

Hi. Steve Poullet.
Hey.

(indistinct chatter)

Should I hear anything?
Oh... Yeah, I got it.
I got it. Okay, great.

Oh, it's that one.
Yeah, I know.

Can't hear...
Yeah, right, got it.

LAINE: Oh, yeah...
Okay, I've got
the intro now.

I got it.

Thank you for having me, Peter.

Sure, that'd be fine.

Well, it has been
a taxing experience,

um, but if we're forced
to take the voters out
of the equation,

I think that the vetting system
by simple necessity
must be arduous.

Mmm.

Well, I have to plead motherhood
on that one, Pete,

but I not only served on the
Foreign Relations Committee,

but I sponsored
the Hanson-Fineman Bill

which readjusted
the War Powers Act

to allow the executive
to respond

to state-sponsored terrorism,

like that of Iraq, Libya,
North Korea, for instance.

But rather than boring you
with my resume

I'd rather answer your questions
on specific issues
of foreign policy.

Um, I suppose
I could ask you, Mr. Crenshaw,

how you'd feel
in the same situation.

No. Why would I
answer that for you?

Sorry. It's simply
a privacy issue.

Look, I won't address issues
of sexuality in a hearing room

or on national television
or anywhere else
for that matter.

Where's the control room
for America Live?

The control room
for America Live?
Down the hall.

Excuse me. The control room
for America Live?

Where is the fucking thing?
Where's the control room.

Where's the...
It's right down there.

Fuck!

Straight ahead. No, no, no...
Well, then...

It's down here, down here,
down here, down here!

Don't tell me
we're gettin' sandbagged!

We're getting sandbagged
by this fucking guy!

I knew you couldn't trust
this fucking guy!

PETE (on TV): Senator Hanson,
do you recognize Mr. Poullet?

LAINE (on TV): Uh, no.
(chuckles)

You know,
I don't have a monitor here,
so I can't see him.

STEVEN: The truth is that
Lainey and I had
that one incident,

and I don't believe
we ever saw each other
again after that.

To her credit,
she was very drunk
when she had sex...

with my friends,
uh, my brothers and I.

A sandbag is what it is.
He's fucking your friend.

LAINE: No, not at this
gentleman, but you.
I mean, this...

He has obviously infiltrated
your show.

PETE: Mrs. Hanson, you still
have not taken a stand on
the accuracy of this report.

STEVEN:
It's very accurate, Pete.

And those photos
are accurate too.

We had them up
on the frat house
bulletin board for months.

We called that
Life in the Sex Laine.

What are we gonna
do now, Hollis?

We're gonna sue him.

...but it certainly
applies here.

I will not dignify those
remarks or your questions
with a response.

Good evening.

KERMIT: The guy's a jerk.
We're never gonna put
our people on that show again.

Some asshole called in
and made this idiot claim.

Now they've got to investigate.

The whole situation's
a son of a bitch.

RUNYON: I would, uh...
I would like to start by saying

that much has been made
of the reports in the press
of an investigation...

into the possible--
possible, I say again--

criminal behavior
on the part of the nominee.

This committee will wait
for a report from the, uh,
the FBI...

before taking
this matter up.

However, I'll once again afford
the nominee an opportunity
to, uh, to respond.

I, too, will wait
for the FBI report
before responding.

Madam Senator.

Tell us a little bit
about your family.
You have a son.

Mm-hmm. Yes, I have
one six-year-old boy, Timothy.

That's a very nice age.

Uh, now, I see, uh...

I see here
that when you, um...

when you had Timothy,
you were absent
from your duty...

for a few months'
maternity leave.

Yes, I believe it's the right
and responsibility
of every mother

to be able to take maternity--
Paid maternity leave.

Yes. I don't believe we should
penalize our citizens
for having children.

I think I'm
on safe ground saying

that valuing motherhood
is quite nonpartisan.

Um, were you to, uh...
Were you to get
pregnant again, do you...

do you plan
to take maternity leave?

Um, I've not given that
any consideration.

No? Are you, uh...
Are you still able
to bear children?

Yes, I am...
Yeah, I believe, yes, I am.

Yet you have not given
this matter any consideration.

Perhaps that means...
No, strike that.

Madam Senator...

let us assume you ascended
to the presidency...

and you were to have a child
during your term,

would you cede your duties
to your vice president
and for how long?

Mr. Chairman, would the chair
expect to have the designate
assure this committee

that she would have
her tubes tied
before she assume office?

Mr. Chairman, I humbly
request a point of order.
And you will be afforded one.

With all due respect...
You will be afforded one
when I am finished.

Excuse me. The truth is that
while we have not put

a seal on the concept
of having another child,

my husband and I practice
birth control.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, I would, uh...
now like to, uh...

enter the arena of loyalty.

Loyalty is a revered quality
among vice presidents.

Would you agree?
Yes, very much so. Yes.

Yet you chose
to officially move

from the Republican
to the Democratic party

when you left the House
to run for the Senate.

I view switching parties
as a testament to my loyalty
to my country.

I felt that
the Republican party

had shifted from the ideals
that I cherished
through my youth.

As a Republican,
did you ever...

vote along party lines
but against your own beliefs?

No, never.

You still believe
in every vote you made?
Yes.

Including your vote
to impeach President Clinton?
Yes, I do.

That was an issue of fairness.

The president,
as commander in chief, stood by

while several
military officers,
(indistinct chatter)

including candidates for the
chairman of the Joint Chiefs

were prosecuted for adultery
or were not permitted

to advance their careers.

Now, I am opposed
to making adultery,
or even lying about it,

a crime in our armed forces.

But while it is a law,
it should be enforced

without consideration of rank,

even if that rank
is commander in chief.

Perhaps the senator is unaware
that commander in chief

is not actually
a military rank.

No, I am aware of that.

What I think we can say
of President Clinton is that

he was not guilty
but responsible.

(laughter)

Uh...

"Not guilty but responsible."

I am...
I like that.

I, uh, I-I may, uh...
I may use that.

If you wish, you can go ahead.
Thank you.

When...
(clears throat)

When considering you
for the vice presidency,

we must also consider
your worthiness

as, uh...
as commander in chief.

Would you agree?
Yes, I do.

Oh, in that case,
given your feelings
on the matter...

have you ever
committed adultery?

No, I have not. No.
No?

You're quite sure?
Madam Senator,
you understand that, uh,

you are under oath.

Yes, I understand that
between the two of us,

I'm the one that's under oath.

LAINE: When you guys go before
the Antitrust Committee,

don't you want Hank
on your side?

MAN: Sure,
but not at any price.

You remember the last time
we spoke, you were sitting
right where you are right now.

Hank was sitting
right where Len is.

You started telling him
what a shame it would be

if the refrigeration systems
on the trucks went out.
Kinda...

Well, Hank's a hothead,
and he took that as a threat.

If we were threatening him,
he'd know it.

Well, that's what I thought,
but now we have
some massaging to do.

Hank's gotta be treated
with kid gloves.
(telephone rings)

MAN (on phone): Senator Hanson?
Oh, sorry.

Yep?
Congressman Webster's here
to see you.

Guess we got our ten minutes.
Okay, send him in.

No, I want to resolve this.
I do. I do. Just give me
a few minutes.

If you want something to drink,
Jerry will take care of you.
Okay? Thank you.

We're gonna get
right back into this?
We will. We will.

So, Senator,
you want me to sit in?

Make sure the congressman's
clear on everything?

I think we'll be fine.
Won't we, Mr. Webster?

WEBSTER: Yeah.
We'll be all right. Thanks.

Proud of yourself?

So, what can I do for you,
Mr. Webster?

Ah... Well, I'm sure
you're wondering why I'm here.

I think you're here
because you want to know
why I'm not fighting back.

Because despite it all,
you've got some odd sense
of fair play.

And you're kicking my ass.

It's gone from feeling
like easy pickings
to out-and-out bullying.

I feel like there should be
some back and forth between us,
you and the committee.

I'll give you back and forth
on social security,
relations with Israel,

on the Dow Jones, the census,
almost everything, but not this.

No, not my personal life.
It's just nobody's business.

That's not what the people
will tell you. The people will
tell you it is their business,

that you're setting
the standards of morality
for their children.

Especially their girls.

Have you ever heard
of Isaac Lamm?

Hmm? Isaac Lamm? No.

He was the first one
to come before HUAC--

the House Un-American
Activities Committee.

And, uh, he was also
the first one to name names,

first to cooperate
with the government.

The dominoes fell from there.

Careers crushed,
families destroyed.

Just imagine, Mr. Webster,

if Mr. Lamm had just said,
"Fuck you," to the committee.

Imagine how much harder
he would've made it for them.

Are you accusing the committee
of sexual McCarthyism?

Well, it's not necessary
to make the accusation.

Oh, I just can't respond
to the committee's lightly
veiled accusations

because it's not okay
for them to be made.

Or maybe you can't respond
because the answers you have
to give are too embarrassing.

You know what?

You're young.

That's okay. That's okay.
You're young.

And, uh, I'm just gonna choose
to be amused by your naivete,

give you the benefit
of the doubt.

I'm gonna spell it out
for you even more clearly.

If I were a man,
nobody would care

how many sexual partners
I had when I was in college.

And if it's not relevant
for a man, it's not relevant
for a woman.

Jerry, send the folks back in,
would you, please?
JERRY: Okay, Senator.

I gotta finish this up.

MAGGIE:
He's not a bad man.

He believes in what he's doing.

There's... an odd sort
of integrity there.

But in this business,
with so much at stake,

it's not enough
to believe in yourself,
you have to be right.

This is an ideological rape
of all women.

Timmy, that's a little
too high.

Okay, Mommy.

Thank you, sweetie.

Well, then I'll survive it
for all of us.

Tomorrow morning,
Congressman Marshall
is gonna ask you some questions.

He's going to hit you
with abortion.

And I promise you that
Shelly will find some way
to call you a baby killer.

We're ready for him,
Mrs. Runyon. Our position
papers are first-rate.

Every one of them.
You let him finish.

Then you look him in the eye
and you ask him...

"Mr. Runyon, 20 years ago,
your wife Maggie had
an abortion.

Do you think her a murderer?"

He's a hypocrite.

No, he's not.

Shelly has no idea.

MARSHALL: Are you saying
you would appoint
a Supreme Court justice

based on his being pro-choice?

Mr. Marshall,
the vice president does not
appoint Supreme Court justices.

Should you succeed
the president or even
advise the president?

I would be inclined,
though not without flexibility

to disregard any man or woman
who is pro-life from serving
on the High Court.

So you would allow
a personal political belief
to enter into such a decision?

No. Abortion isn't
a constitutional issue.

The fine ladies and gentlemen
who serve on the Supreme Court,

which is now stacked
with right-wing appointees

have no business deciding
whether the women
of this nation

will have to resort
to back-alley abortions...

You mean they have
no business deciding

whether women have
a license to commit murder.

RUNYON: Mr. Marshall,
your time has expired.

Sir, if the distinguished
gentlelady from Ohio

would simply answer
the question...

RUNYON:
I think the lady has made clear

her propensity for abortion.

Oh, come on, Mr. Runyon!

RUNYON: Mr. Lewis, you do not
have speaking privileges.

Mr. Chairman, I find your term,
"propensity for abortion"

misrepresentative
of my position.

I have a propensity
for a woman's right to choose.

To abort a child!
A fetus.

No, to kill... to kill a baby
as it grows in the womb.

Personally, Senator...

I do not believe that it is
the right of our citizens...

to... to butcher a defenseless
human being simply...

simply as a matter of choice.

At the risk of my own future,
I tell you this:

If you support the right

of a woman to choose,
you are supporting...

nothing less than
a-a-a holocaust of the unborn.

Mr. Chairman,
are you calling me...

I believe my position
on this issue is clear.

Yes, madam,
it most certainly is.

God, I love this game.
(laughs)

(coughs)

When she tries to tell me
how to do it,

I just go right on
and do it my way.

Then she comes back
and changes it afterwards,

and that way...

Jeez. Come on.

(coughing)

Good one, sir.

You're an all-weather golfer,
I see.

What kind of stick
you using there?

It's a putting stick.
Right, putting stick.

When I asked for you last week,
they said you were in Vegas.

Business, sir.
Vegas is business?

Well, I did blow
a roll of quarters, but, uh...

Will you excuse us?

How's that cough doing?
Aah.

That's her casino account
balance.

She offered to take
her sorority sister
to Vegas, her treat.

RUNYON: Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth
so help you God?

I do.

Please state your name
for the record.

Cynthia C-H-A-R-L-T-O-N Lee.

Thank you. Please, uh...
please be seated.

We will start the questioning
with Mr. Skakle.

Mr. Skakle,
the five-minute rule
is in effect.

SKAKLE: Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Miss Lee.

Miss Lee, hello.
I'm over here.

Thank you
for joining us today.

Now, you are under subpoena,
is that correct?

Yes.

Miss Lee, could you speak
directly into the mic?

Yes.
I understand you're nervous,

but believe me when I tell you
you're among friends.

Now, Miss Lee,
you are not married.

No... No.

No, I'm not.
But you once were.

I was married
to William Hanson.

Who is now married
to the nominee.
Yes, uh...

He married Laine
after our divorce.

It was about
seven years ago.

Divorce. Right.
I've read your divorce papers.

Um, ladies and gentlemen,
that by the way is tab 76.

Uh... and they cite
irreconcilable differences.

Could you tell us
what were those
irreconcilable differences?

I can't really pinpoint them.

Was your husband
physically violent to you?

No.

Did you have
financial disagreements

or disagreements
over how to raise your kids?

We didn't have children.

Well, were there infidelities?

Yes. There was one.

And is it safe
to say that this infidelity
precipitated the divorce?

Miss Lee, please answer
the question verbally.

Was that a yes?
Yes, it was.

I-I-It was a yes.

SKAKLE: Did you, ma'am,
have the affair?
No.

It was your husband then?
Yes.

Uh, Will hand...

Will was in charge
of Laine Billings'

first senatorial campaign.

He was with her all the time.

Are you suggesting
the senator, the nominee,

had an affair
with your husband?

Once again, Miss Lee...
I'm sorry. Yes. Yes.

Yes.
Thank you.

Did the nominee know
Mr. Hanson was married?

Laine was my friend.
My good, good friend.

Miss Lee, would you explain
to this committee as you did
in your deposition

how you discovered that
the nominee was involved

in an affair
with your husband?

Yes. Um...

On the night of the elections,
uh, I was at home.

I had the flu, and...

I was watching TV,

watching Laine about to make
her acceptance speech.

Uh, I was very sad
that I couldn't be there.

It was a triumph
for Laine and my husband.

She was up at the podium.
Will was by her side.

He was holding her hand
in victory.

And on the other side
of Laine...

she was just sort of clasping
that person's hand.

But with Will...

their hands were interlaced.

It was odd
that I noticed it, but...

Um, my doorbell rang.

I answered the door,
and there was
a gentleman there...

dressed very nicely,
he had a yellow tie on, and...

He had papers for me.

SKAKLE: Papers? I'm sorry.
Separation papers.

Since the committee chose
to humiliate a private woman

in the most public
possible setting,

I would like to apologize
to her alike,

and I will also do so privately
when she allows me to do so.

Um, what I did to Miss Lee
was wrong.

It was not done out of malice.
Indeed the opposite.

Um...

(sighs)
Love is an involuntary reflex,
and I fell victim to it.

Um, I deeply regret
causing Cynthia pain,

and it is especially saddening
for me because...

of how close we once were.
And, uh...

whether or not the affair
that Will and I had

should have any bearing
on my assuming office is
for the committee to decide.

I dare not assume that I have
the objective wisdom to make
that determination. Thank you.

Senator, are you suggesting
the public...
Okay, she's had a long day.

You all know what
she's going through.
Come on, come on.

And she was your best friend?
LAINE: This was, uh,

Runyon deposed Will's
ex-wife today, and, uh...

she stated that Will and I
had had an affair...

She saw her fucking
holding hands, interlocked
fingers with this gal,

and she knew that
she'd been fucking him.

LAINE: That's wha...
That's what she said.

LAINE: I'm sorry.
KERMIT: It's a bad beat.

(exhales forcefully)

I'm not sure that I get
the point of all this.

You said under oath that
you never committed adultery.

Mm-hmm. That's right.

KERMIT: You perjured yourself.

I didn't commit adultery.
You were fucking Will

when he was married.
All right, all right, K...

Even the most loose definition
of committing adultery
would not include that.

K, you know,
goddamn it, she's right.
You're right, Laine.

In order for it to be
committing adultery, she'd have
to be married at the time.

You're nitpicking
in reverse now.

Your husband may have been
an adulterer. You're not. Fine.

What you are is a sex-crazed,
home-wrecking machine.

The female Warren Beatty.

Runyon knows that you're clean
of the perjury,

but he's got the world thinking
you're something out of
a bad soap opera.

You've goddamned crystallized

the difference between being
guilty and being responsible.

Are you asking me
to step down, sir?

No. No, it's not gonna be
that easy for you,

and it's not gonna be
that easy for them.

They caught you being
a human being. That's all.

I'll die before Shelly Runyon
checkmates me.

KERMIT: I think what
the president's trying to say

is that the Sitting Bull routine
isn't working.

The Sitting Bull routine?
No!

(clearing throat)

Fight back.

Show them Laine Hanson
isn't gonna take their shit.

Take the fight out of 'em.

And what's the process?
Confess.

Confess?
Yeah, confess.

Confess.
Confess to the gang-bang.

Confess to all of it.
EVANS: Well, look at...

Look what it did
for Clinton with Flowers.

KERMIT:
Play it any way you want.
It didn't hurt his numbers.

It improved his numbers.
Show indignation about how a man

would never have to go through
hell for having done this.

Confess and demonstrate
to the young women of America

how such sexual impropriety
can ruin their lives.

Confess and preach about
the dangers that alcohol
can bring to you.

For God's sakes, just confess!

I understand, Kermit, truly.

I understand,
and you know what?

It's really just
nobody's business.

Well, it is
our fucking business!

Listen, Laine...

I don't care who you fucked...

and how many times
in how many positions...

as long as it doesn't threaten
the administration.

You can be cavalier
on your own dime.

Mr. President.

(exhales forcefully)

I am fully prepared
to step down...

but my personal life...

and my past...

are just that.
But I will do
whatever you say.

Show them why
Laine Hanson is my nominee
with your closing statement.

Mr. Chairman,

ladies and gentlemen
of the committee:

Uh, remarkably enough,
it seems that I have
some explaining to do.

So... let me be
absolutely clear.

I stand for a woman's right
to choose.

I stand for the elimination
of the death penalty.

I stand for a strong
and growing armed forces

because we must stomp out
genocide on this planet,

and I believe that that
is a cause worth dying for.

I stand for seeing every gun
taken out of every home.
Period.

I stand for making
the selling of cigarettes
to our youth a federal offense.

I stand for term limits
and campaign reform.

And, Mr. Chairman,
I stand for the separation
of church and state,

and the reason that
I stand for that is

the same reason that
I believe our forefathers did.

It is not there
to protect religion from
the grasp of government,

but to protect
our government from the grasp
of religious fanaticism.

Well, I may be an atheist...

but that does not mean
I do not go to church.
I do go to church.

The church I go to is the one
that emancipated the slaves,

that gave women
the right to vote,

that gave us every freedom
that we hold dear.

My church is this very chapel
of democracy that we sit
in together,

and I do not need God
to tell me what are
my moral absolutes.

I need my heart,
my brain and this church.

Get in there, get in there,
get in there, get in there.

Oh, shit!
Come on, come on, come on!

Senator? Oh...

Hello, Freshman.

Madam Senator, I just wanted
to steal a couple of seconds.

What? See what whores do
on their time off?

(chuckles)
Ah!

Listen, I, uh...
I know the things I've done.

They may not have been nice or
considered politically savvy...

but they have served
the greater good,
and they have been honest.

(scoffs)
Okay.

Look, I know
you're not a whore.

I'm not gonna talk about it.
I know. You're not talking
about it.

Somebody else
has come forward.

Somebody else from the night
of the incident
sent me this letter.

They didn't send it to me.
They sent it to the committee.

I just happen to be in charge
of all the correspondence.

I really don't think
you can keep quiet
about what's in there.

Mr. Runyon has a copy,
and now so do you.

WEBSTER: I beg you, Senator,
to deal with this.

How long is this flight?
About an hour and 40 minutes.

POTUS is scheduled to address
the American Legion
on the third.

So they'll have
a draft for you...
American Legion?

Who approved that?
I don't know.

I thought he had
the DAR Dinner that night.

Yeah, but we have
a five-hour window.

Hey, Chuck.
Hey, Kermit.

Sir, did you get
the AP reports?

What's that?
Okay, uh...

POTUS's poll numbers
are down 23%.
Oh, no shit.

And Hanson's in the low 30s.
Captain, get in there.
I'll talk to you in a minute.

Are you Willomina?
Yes, sir.

MAN: Let's get this Huey moved
to the south side.

You asked to see me?

Is this your handiwork?
Yes, sir.

How many people
have seen this?

I gave it only
to the director.

And who have you
talked to about this?

Nobody.

Not a husband? Boyfriend?

Grandma in Kalamazoo?
No, sir. Nobody.

Keep it that way.

Yes, sir.

You did a good job,
Special Agent.

Sir! Uh, sir, I just...

I just wanted to ask,
ask you. Um, well...

Are you gonna dump her?

Because, now, Sir, this may be
really, really inappropriate,

but if that's what you guys
are thinking...

Please, she's...
You can't do it.
She's hope.

Hope that the standards...
That there is
no double standard.

Hope that the goals
can be the same.

You know what?
You're goddamn right.

That was absolutely
inappropriate.
(helicopter engine whining)

Robertson.

(helicopter blades whirring)

RUNYON: Oh, well,
I wouldn't take it too hard.

It's not exactly fair
when six foxes and one chicken

are voting on
what to have for dinner.

EVANS:
Well, that's not playing fair.
I'll give you that.

You want an oatmeal cookie?

Trevor?
I'm getting them, sir.

I find these raisins,
these giant raisins...
Well, you'll see.

Taste like grapes.

Shelly, you really made
a mess of things for me.

You sure did clobber me.

Isn't it possible, sir,
that I was...
that I was acting

in the best interests
of the United States?
No.

No, it's not possible,

and that's what pisses me off.
It's all about retribution
for Hartford.

Thank you, Trevor.
That'll be all.

Go ahead. Try this.
It's wonderful.
No.

I may have taken the presidency
from you, Shell,

but you...
you one-upped me.

You took away my legacy.

Well, I look at her, and I see
someone who has proven
the capacity for disloyalty.

Or the capacity
for seeing the light.

We're both sticking
to our guns.

The difference is...
mine are loaded.

Look, it doesn't matter,
does it?

She's not being confirmed.

We can talk for days
about greatness and leadership,

but it all comes back to the
same fact that Laine Hanson
will not be confirmed.

I have seven from your side
who are... who are giving her
the ax.

Oh, indeed, the ax?

We can go through
the process of a vote.

You can...
you can waste time

and suffer
the humiliation, or...

or we can just move on.

There's a lot of good folk
to choose from.
Who?

Who can I be certain
you'll confirm?

The man you wanted
in the first place:
Jack Hathaway.

Shelly.

Good man.

Okay, Shelly...

I'll give you
Governor Jack Hathaway,

but I wanna make damn sure
you're gonna give him
a smooth ride.

Well, you have my word.
There's a reason they call me
Honest Shell.

Irony, Shelly.
I want an insurance policy.

I want a piece of the rock.
I wanna make sure

you're not gonna pull
some kind of baloney
out of your hat

and make a mockery
of my administration again.

Listen. This is
what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna ask Mrs. Hanson
and Mr. Hathaway

up to the Oval Office
before the DAR Banquet
tomorrow night.

I want you there as well,
but, Shelly,

before then, I need you
to marry yourself to this guy.

I need you to make
a public statement that makes
his sinking your sinking.

Otherwise...
But I'm not sure I can...

Let's make this confirmation
fast and furious.

Help me save face on this one.
Okay.

DRIVER: Oh, man. Mr. Runyon,
prefer I take you around back?

No, I'll be fine.
Yes, sir.

REPORTER: Mr. Runyon...

(clamoring)

How do you respond to
the rumors that Mrs. Hanson
has withdrawn her name?

That is a rumor
I've not yet heard.

Have you heard about
the possibility of
Governor Hathaway

returning to the list
of vice presidential...

Governor Hathaway is a...
is a fine man.

You think he'd have
a smoother ride
than Mrs. Hanson?

Well, let me go
on record as saying

that there is, uh,
in my opinion,
there is no man alive--

no Democrat alive...
(reporters laughing)

...uh, who could bring

more, uh, more integrity
to the, uh,

to the office
of the vice presidency.

Uhm, I would stake my career

on Governor Hathaway's, uh,

smooth and efficient
confirmation.

As for Laine Hanson...

Got everybody, Glenda?
Yes, sir.

He says you can go in
whenever you're ready.

Great. Hello, Jack.
Kermit.

Fiona, you're looking
particularly...

fetching this evening.
Thank you, sir.

I believe this is the first one
of these affairs for you, right?
Yes. Yes, it is.

My 37th.
Oh...

You look great.
Hello, Shelly.

Newman.

Everybody would understand
if you...

if you wanted to delay
for two weeks.

I'm not sure I could stomach
another two weeks.

(door opens)

Oh, Jack.

Jerry. Good.
Nice to see you.
How are you?

Mr. Hanson.

EVANS: Gentlemen. Jack.
Mr. President.

There he is! Shelly!

Hello, Mr. President.

Uh, you know what?

Before we get started,

I can't stomach the idea...

of touching that chichi food
we always get served
at these state dinners.

Glenda?
GLENDA (over intercom):
Yes, sir?

Could we put together
a grilled cheese sandwich?

Muenster on rye.

GLENDA: Right away.

Oh, sorry. Where are my manners?
You guys want anything?

No, thank you, sir.
Shelly?

Jesus, uh, Shell,
those were some...

very nice things
you said about Jack.

Jack, there. I understand
that you two have never met.

LAINE: No, we haven't.
EVANS:
Laine Hanson...

Jack Hathaway.
It's a pleasure.

I'm quite in awe of you.
Thank you. Thank you.

I'm, uh...
(intercom beeps)

GLENDA: Mr. President?

Yes, Glenda?

Sir, the kitchen's
all out of Muenster.

Really? Wow.
Well, um, let's get on that.

We don't want the wheels
coming off the wagon.

This is, uh...

(smacks lips)
This is quite an event.
Here we are, uh...

Quite a sad event.

Mr. President, if I may?
Yes, please.

A short while ago,
you told me that you thought

I might be the future
of the party.

I know that these
are tough times

and, uh, the future
is uncertain...

but I'm very pleased to think
that I might be able to help
make things a little smoother.

The future, yes. Well, um,
there is one thing

quite certain
about the future.

What's that?
(coughs)
Sir?

You have the right
to remain silent...
Fred.

I have to read him his rights.

Fred, the governor,
he knows his rights.

You know your rights,
right, Jack?

You don't have
to humiliate him.

You fucked up, buddy.

The girl, do you know
what she was?

What girl?

The girl in the river, Jack.
She was a paralegal.

Before that.
She was military. Fourteen Golf.

We, uh, we found the money
that you put in her account
at the Bellagio.

FRED:
Two hundred thousand dollars.
EVANS: And that ad in...

FRED: Soldier of Fortune.
EVANS:
Yeah, Soldier of Fortune.

I don't mind confessing,
I am at a total fucking loss.

Shelly, he paid her
to go off the fucking bridge.

He paid her to save her.

(chuckles)
Jesus Christ.

Shelly, listen, maybe I...
You shouldn't say anything.

Jack, look, we respect...

FRED: You're going to have
to come with me now.
Fred. Fred.

Listen, we respect you.
We're trying to make this go
as smoothly as it possibly can.

I know you meant no harm.

Hell, I don't even know what...
What would the, uh, charge be?

Negligent homicide.

Oh, negligent homicide.

Sir.

Good luck, Mrs. Hanson.
You too.

Who doesn't want
a shortcut to greatness?

(clears throat)

Oh, it's a goddamn shame
about the Muenster.

Mr. President.

Yes, Shelly?

You set me up.

Well, just this once.

For the record, sir...

I, uh...

I find what you did
to be manipulative...

Mr. Chairman, let's just say

"I'm guilty
but not responsible," hmm?

And, Shelly, you needn't worry
about us exposing the fact

that you leaked all that
horrible material about Laine
on the Internet.

We, uh, we know that you were
just following your heart.

Yeah, Hartford,
it was a tough one.

But... well, it doesn't
make a difference.

She, uh, she still is
who she is.

Yes, she is.

And you are who you are.

You're still coming
to the banquet, aren't you?

Because I'd love to see you.
Is your wife in town?

(indistinct chatter)

KERMIT:
Nice to see you, Colonel.
Nice to see you too.

May I introduce
tonight's honoree, Miss Barr?

Congressman Webster.
Honor, madam.

And, Congressman,
you know the senator, of course.

Yeah, we go about
two feet back.
Oh...

I asked them to have you seated
at my table tonight.

If you want to break bread
with me.
Absolutely. Absolutely.

Don't eat all
the hors d'oeuvres.

Little shark steak
sandwiches?

Yeah. Save me some.

EVANS: Admiral.

Oh...

EVANS: Last time I shared
one of these,

it was with
the president of Russia.

Or maybe it was the kid
who won Wimbledon
for the second time.

LAINE:
Well, I'm honored, sir.

(coughing)

You're not supposed
to inhale.

(both laugh)

Maybe that's the first thing
you should've told me.

(sighs)

(paper rustling)

Recognize this affidavit?

Where'd you get that, sir?

Where you got yours.

Where Shelly Runyon
got his.

From Mr. Webster.

He may not know
his right from his left,

but apparently he does know
right from wrong.

I understand you
even less now, Senator.

You are an enigma
wrapped in a riddle.
Wrapped in a riddle.

Whoa! Watch your...
Watch your step, Senator.

What if I told you that
I'm just busting at the seams

to know what exactly
happened that night...

to hear the truth
from your own lips?

Totally off the record.
(guests clapping)

Not between the president
and the senator, but between
the president and Laine.

Better than that.
Between Jackson and Laine.

Well, I had just turned 18
when I got to college,

and I had never been away
from home, not really.

And, um, I was immediately...

I was immediately lonely.

And that's when
the sorority kicked in.

I wanted them,
they wanted me, you know?

I was the daughter
of the governor, for chrissake.

True blue catch.
I guess so.

And like any other sorority,
they have an initiation, a rush.

And they have this girl,

this woman that Runyon deposed,
Patty LaVamere.

She runs the sorority,
and she gives it to me straight:

If I wanna be in, I have to go
to their brother fraternity
and have sex...

with two boys.

What a coup for them, huh?

Daughter of a big-time
Republican doing a frat house?

But I say,
"There's no chance."

The whole thing was
pretty hairy.
I bet.

But, uh, six beers later,
I'm talking a different tune

so off we go
to the frat house.

Half the girls were there,
about a zillion boys.

They're cheering my name.
"Laine! Laine! Laine!"

And I'm just
stumbling around, and...

Eventually I just say,
"I'm gonna go for it."

I mean, if getting laid
is a common initiation
for boys in the frat,

then why not
for us, right?

You're asking me?
No, I'm not.

Oh, sorry.
Sorry. Go ahead.

That's... that's okay.

Um...

so they send me
into this room.

And it's dark and dim.
And there are these
two guys there,

and they both have towels
wrapped around their waists.

And the first guy,
he, uh, slips his towel off.

Yeah...
And I see his thing, and...

I take it in my hand...

and I say...
(laughs)

It was the first thing...

What did you say?
...that came
into my head.

I said, "I'm sorry,
I don't smoke."

(both laugh)

And then I just got
the hell out of there.

You okay, sir?
Oh, no,

I'm just thinking what I'd pay
to be back in college again.

The next day, the campus
was rampant with word...

that I had been
the center of a gang-bang.

I mean,
the governor's daughter.

Let me tell you.
That's one hell
of a bell to un-ring.

What about the photographs?
Not me.

I never took my clothes off.

And, uh, even if I had,
I've got this big ol' birthmark
on my right thigh

that the lady
with the lovely physique
in the photo lacks.

No witnesses?

Pure urban legend

and a little bit
of wishful thinking
thrown in, I think.

You know, Laine...

you could've looked
those pricks in the eye

and told them the truth.

Under oath. Told them
they were full of shit.

And barring that,
you could've at least told me.

But see, it really wasn't
any of your business either,

and it still isn't.

You know, there's something
about almost puking on a Havana

that just turns a girl...
to blush.

This letter
from Jack Bennet...
Jack.

...and Larry Bellows,
affidavit, I guess,
that you got from Webster.

It pretty much says that
nothing happened that night.

And, you know, they're ready
to come forward to be deposed.

Well, that's
very good of them.

So, that's it.
The end.

Good guys win.

I'm gonna call
a press conference tomorrow,
read that letter,

and damn it if you don't have
the fastest confirmation
on record.

No, sir.

"No, sir"?
What, "No, sir"?

I mean...

I would prefer that we not
have the press conference, sir.

Laine, maybe you've been
out of law school too long.

This is what they call
exculpatory evidence.

Yes, I realize that.
This is your ticket

to wherever history
is gonna take you.

Yes. But principles
only mean something

if you stick by them
when they're inconvenient.

If I ever did
answer the questions,

you know, even to
exonerate myself...

that would mean
that it was okay

for them to have been
asked in the first place,

and it isn't.

You would sacrifice
your reputation?
Yes, I would.

A lot of people have sacrificed
a lot more for a lot less.

(indistinct chatter)

We've got him!
We have Goliath.

Sir, are you
all right, sir?

It's okay,
guys.

POTUS is secure.
Busted.

MAN (on radio): Of course,
the president addressing
a joint session of Congress...

is always unusual,
always an event.

And this speech is scheduled
to begin momentarily.

In fact, we understand that
the president has arrived
at the US Capitol now.

LAINE: I don't care if I never
see any of these guys again.

Sources in the White House have
told us that the president...

It's gonna be okay.

...does intend
to withdraw the name of
Senator Laine B. Hanson...

I still have another year
and a half on my term.

That's a long time
to recover.

Then there's always...

Given the stunning charges
made against

Laine.
...Governor Jack Hathaway,

those on the inside
are suggesting that today...

Honey, it's gonna
be fine.

It's gonna be okay.
...the president will,
in fact, designate...

Ambassador Francis J. Malloy
as his number two.
Yeah, thanks.

Pace me
at five to ten, okay?

(indistinct chatter)

...early after the greeting
of the president
of the United States.

Here we go.

Mr. Speaker, the president
of the United States of America.

(applause)

(cheering)

(cheering continues)

Thank you.

Thank you.

Napoleon once said,
when asked to explain the lack
of great statesmen in the world,

that, "To get power,

you need to display
absolute pettiness.

To exercise power, you need
to show true greatness."

Such pettiness
and such greatness
are rarely found in one person.

I look upon the events
of the past weeks,

and I've never come so to grips
with that quotation.

So, ladies and gentlemen
of this Congress,

it pains my soul to tell you
that you have brought blood
and shame under this great dome.

Your leadership has raised
the stakes of hate to a level

where we can
no longer separate

the demagogue
from the truly inspired.

And believe this,
there are traitors among us.

And I'm not talking
about those of you

who sided against
your party leadership.

I'm talking about those of you
who were patriots to your party

but traitors
to the necessary end result,

that of righteousness,
the truth,

the concept of making
the American dream
blind to gender.

And, you know,
I am not free of blame.

Right from the start,
I should've come down here,

pointed a finger your way...

pointed a finger your way...

and asked you,
"Have you no decency, sir?"

(cameras clicking)

Yesterday...

I met...

Mr. Runyon...

you may walk out on me,
you may walk out on this body,

but you cannot walk out on
the will of the American people.

Americans are a good people,

they're a just people,
Mr. Runyon,

and they will forgive you,
but they will not forget.

Hate and ego
have no place residing

in what my good friend,
Laine Hanson, calls
the chapel of democracy.

So, let me
make one thing clear.

You come at us with
whatever weapons
that you have in your arsenal

but there is
no weapon as powerful

as that of an idea
whose time has come.

A woman will serve
in the highest level
of the Executive.

Simple as that.

Yesterday...

I spoke with Laine Hanson.

I told her that she could
decide her own destiny.

If she wanted to continue
her fight for confirmation,

that I would stand beside her.

She has asked me
to allow her to step aside.

She told me that
she wanted my administration

to end on a note of triumph
and not controversy.

Understand, those of you
who worked to bring
Laine Hanson down,

that she asked to have her name
withdrawn from consideration

not because she isn't great
but because she isn't petty.

Because those two
conflicting leadership traits

could not live as one
within her body or her soul.

Greatness.
It comes in many forms.

Sometimes it comes
in the form of sacrifice.

That's the loneliest form.

Now, it turns out
that Laine Hanson is a woman,

an American
of devout principle,

and she has inspired me
to act alike,

and I cannot accept
Senator Hanson's withdrawal.

And I'm now calling for
an immediate vote of
confirmation of Laine Hanson.

And, Mr-Mr. Speaker,

I would like to make this
a live roll call.

I want to see the faces
of those of you

who would eliminate
the possibility

of greatness
in American leadership

because of half-truths,
lies and innuendoes.

I will not be deterred
by partisanship.

I will not be deterred
by misogyny.

I will not be deterred
by hate.

You have now come face-to-face
with my will.

Confirm my nominee,
heal this nation,

and let the American people
explode into this new millennium

with the exhilaration
of being true to the glory
of this democracy.

Thank you.

(applause)

How's that for a swan song?

You're back, Laine.

Yeah, I know.

**

**

**

Captioned by Point.360