All language subtitles for The.West.Wing.S03E09.WEBRip.x264-FGT

Previously, on The West Wing:

This is my last week working
for Ways and Means.

Really?

I've been traded.

To where?

House Government Oversight.

We need to be
investigated
by someone

who wants to kill us
just to watch us die.

We need someone perceived
by the American people to be

irresponsible,
untrustworthy,
partisan

ambitious and thirsty
for the limelight.

Am I crazy or
is this not a job

for the U.S. House
of Representatives?

( clock ticking )

( knock on door )

Mike, come on in.

I was on the
other side...

Yeah. Margaret, could you...?

Yeah.

Lot of people
out there.

Yeah.

So, listen,
there were more threats?

Seven churches
in five Tennessee counties.

How many guys
do you have
on the ground?

We've got 25 and ATF
is sending in a team.

Has the Governor been briefed?

Right now.
All right, listen.

I got to be here;
I'm stuck with this thing.

Will you stay
with Josh today?

Yeah.
Josh.

And can you do me a favor

and get me a secure phone hookup
so I can monitor this thing?

All I've got
is the cell.
Good luck today.

Go. Josh.

New threats were made

in Tennessee this morning.

Mike Casper was just here.

He's going to be with you today.
Good.

You'll be all right?

Yeah.
'Cause I got to be here all day.

It's going to take all day.

Yeah, keep your head there,
would you?

Don't call during every break
and check in.

Keep your head there.

I'll keep my head where I want.

Leo?
Yeah.

There are ways.

Don't start again.

There are ways to get the guy
out of the room.

Hey, I'll keep my head here.

You keep your head there, hmm?

I used to do this
for a living, Leo.

The guy gets the floor
for five minutes.

I can get him out of the room.
Don't help me.

I'm going to help you,
'cause you know why?

'Cause you walk around

with so much guilt
about everybody

you love dying
that you're a compulsive fixer?

No, Leo, no.

It's 'cause a guy is walking
down the street

and he falls into a hole, see.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's my day, Josh.

I got to take the hit.

Leo...
I'll see you.

They're
waiting for us.

You want to go and get
breakfast or something?

No.

Breakfast is my
favorite meal to eat out.

I love tomato juice.

They're waiting
for us, Leo.

They can wait.
No, they
really can't.

Yeah, they really can.

Seven new threats
on black churches

the Governor's
coming up

we might have
to federalize

the Tennessee
National Guard

and that's just the
stuff I know about

that's going to happen,
and here I am today.

You shouldn't be nervous.

I swear to God, Jordon

the last thing I am
right now is nervous.

Let's go.

Did I win a Grammy
for something?

Were you nominated?

No.
That's ridiculous.

Well, those things
are so political.

Leo, is there something
you haven't told me?

There's lots of things
I haven't told you, Jordon.

About today.

Leo?

He can't take any
calls right now.

It's the
President.

LEO:
Good morning, sir.

Listen, I don't care that much
about your ass

but if you need to perjure
yourself to protect me

you're going to damn well do it.

Sir, this isn't a secure call,
so I'm going to say

to the 17 global
intelligence agencies

that are listening in
that he was kidding just then.

Whatever it is Josh does,
you're going to let him do it.

I don't need Josh...

Yeah, yeah.

How does she look to you?

Who?

Her.

She looks good.

What's she wearing?

What are you wearing?

What does it matter?

Why don't you ask
the President that?

A gray Armani suit.

Spandex.

I like you and her.

It's like
a '50s screwball comedy.

You're like a '50s screwball...

What was that?

Nothing. We should do gifts

and charitable donations
tomorrow night.

I'm not doing anything
tomorrow night.

What's tomorrow night?

It's Christmas Eve.

I forgot, and you don't work
then, right?

Yeah. Actually, nobody does.

All right, the Governor is
going to be there at noon

but I'll be talking
to you before then.

You got about a thousand people
in this building

standing with you right now.

I'll be back when I'm done.

Okay.

( crowd murmuring )

JORDON:
Leo.

What's going on?

Will the first witness rise

raise your right hand to God

and swear the oath
that's written in front of you?

Leo.

( whispering ):
It ain't nothing
but a family thing.

I solemnly swear
that the testimony today

will be the truth,
the whole truth

and nothing but the truth,
so help me God.

Leo Thomas McGarry.

CHAIRMAN:
And would you identify
counsel, please?

We've never met.

JORDON:
Jordon Kendall, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN:
Mr. McGarry,
the Committee thanks you

for your appearance today.

Why are we here?

What are we after?

Many, if not most of us,
were surprised

by the President's announcement

that he's been diagnosed

with relapsing/remitting
multiple sclerosis

for seven years
and never mentioned it

while asking us
to vote for him for President

but more surprising still,
if not stunning

is that his medical condition
could have been kept a secret

from those campaign aides
closest to him.

In this age when the most minute
details of a candidate's life

are brought into the light

in a business where secrets
aren't kept secret very long

this Committee would like
to know, quite candidly

how it was pulled off.

Did people lie?

Were people told to lie?

Are people lying now?

You'll be questioned
by Majority Counsel

then Minority Counsel

then each member will have
five minutes to question

alternating back and forth

between the majority
and the minority.

Mr. Calley.

CALLEY:
Mr. McGarry

I'm Clifford Calley.

I'm the
Majority Counsel.

Good morning.

Good morning.

What is your
current job title?

White House
Chief of Staff.

And what's
your previous job title?

General Chairman,
Bartlet for America.

How long have you known
the President?

We met for the first
time about 32 years ago

but I would say

our friendship
began 11 years ago.

You're the person
in the White House

who's known him the longest?

No. The First Lady's
known him the longest.

Fair enough.

Mr. McGarry, it was you

who first approached
Jed Bartlet about

running for President,
is that right?

Yes.

Where and when did that happen?

Four years ago, last month,
at the statehouse in Concord.

ALLEN:
"New Hampshire."

"It's what's new!"

Huh?

"New Hampshire.
It's what's new."

Thomas Hilton started a fishing
village here in 1623, Allen.

Th-That's the point, Governor.

People think of us as
a crusty New England relic

and tourism's our
second largest industry.

Yeah.

ALAN:
The point is
if we don't find

a way to be
fresh and new...

ALLEN:
While obviously

still retaining
our charm...

ALAN:
Yeah, we'll
never be able

to stem the falloff
in revenue.

And a slogan's
going to do that?

ALAN:
Well, that's just
the beginning.

We've got an
aggressive strategy.

Yeah?
The Office
of Travel and Tourism

is going to run print ads
throughout New England

encouraging people to
drive here and view
the fall foliage.

BARTLET:
Oh, oh, slow down,
you're going too fast.

ALLEN:
Oh, there's also our
new toll-free number

with up-to-the-minute

reservation
information.

This is separate
from the campaign

we'll be doing
for snowmobiling

which brings $367 million
into the state.

$367 million in snowmobiling?

That includes
the $1.1 million

in registration fees
and $717,000 in gas taxes.

And the goggles...

That includes the goggles?

I don't know.

I'm not sure.

ALLEN:
It must, if you...

Okay. Thanks, guys.

Mrs. Landingham!

Thanks.

Yes, sir.

Speaking of crusty
New England relics.

Governor,
does it frustrate you

to constantly aim for humor
and yet miss so dramatically?

Nah. Abbey wants to eat
at Patsy's tonight.

Would you let them
know we're coming?

Yes, sir.
What's next?

That's all
for the schedule

but Leo McGarry is here
and would like a minute.

Leo's here?
Mm-hmm.

Leo!

I'm happy to get him myself
as they do in a civilized world.

Yeah, yeah.

Hey.

Hey, Governor.

( chuckling )

"New Hampshire.
It's what's new"?

Jenny and Mallory
are okay?

Yeah.
What are you
doing here?

I don't know.
What do you got?

You got leaves.
I came to look
at the leaves.

What are you doing...?

I came to talk to you.

Everything's okay?
Yeah.

Why didn't you call?

'Cause you would've
asked me what

I wanted to talk
to you about.

Where are you staying?

At the Marriott.

What do you want
to talk to me about?

I've been thinking
about getting back
into politics.

I think that's great, man.

I think it's about time.

You probably mean
the House, but I think

you should consider
the Senate seat in Illinois

in two years;
I can help raise money.

No, I wasn't thinking
about the Senate.

I was thinking about
the White House.

Hey, Leo, I swear to God

there's no one I'd rather see
in the Oval Office than you

but if you run

there's going to be
a lot of discussion

about Valium and alcohol.

I mean, it's
going to come out;
this is the world.

Yeah. See, I wasn't
thinking about me.

Who?

I've been walking
around in a kind of
daze for two weeks

and everywhere I go--

planes, trains
restaurants, meetings--

I find myself
scribbling
something down.

What?

RATHBURN:
He never mentioned his health?

LEO:
No.

Not during the
first meeting
in his office?
No.

Not during the
second meeting
at the Marriott?
No.

Well, then, I'd like
to ask you this:

If he had told you
about his condition

would you still have thought
it was a good idea that he run?

I don't know.

Well, think about it
and try answering.

Listen, I'm going
to talk a little

and you nod and talk
a little bit back to me.

What are you doing?

That's good.

I'm really asking you.

I think Rathburn's
being a little snotty

I think he's going
to have to wait

and I think he's going
to have to wait

with the camera on me.

Mr. McGarry.

One second, please.

Listen, what are you
doing for lunch?

I don't know.

Because I thought
maybe we could

have lunch
or something.

Leo, you've got to
answer the question.

Congressman, could you repeat
the question, please?

If Jed Bartlet had told you
about his health

either at the first meeting
or the second meeting

would you still have thought it
was a good idea for him to run?

Yeah, I don't know.

Yeah?
Mike?

Come on back.

Thanks.

Listen, churches
are burning down.

Otherwise, I'd be
hitting on you.

I appreciate that.

Sure.

Maybe when
it's a better time.

Let's go.
Where are we going?

17-month investigation,
34 black churches.

How can there be
no evidence of
a conspiracy?

I don't know.

It's probably
because we're stupid.

Mike...

The FBI could
invent a pattern

but then that would be
against the law.

Yeah.

Okay?

You met with Leo
this morning?

Yeah. Listen,
that was big for me.

I don't brief the
White House Chief of Staff.

All right, well,
let's listen in

on this meeting
for a minute.

Hang on.

This wall is curved.

Yeah. Let's go.

I don't have to go in there.

I can wait out here.

Charlie.
Yeah.

Let's go.

PRESIDENT:
Well, the phone calls have been

coming all morning, Governor.

You should know
that Algiss Skyler called.

GOVERNOR:
Skyler wants you
to call up the Guard?

Skyler wants to know
why the hell you haven't.

Because local law enforcement
is doing plenty.

Was Eisenhower
wrong in '57?

Kennedy in '61?

This is a
different situation.

We don't know what
the situation is, do we, Josh?

No, sir. Mr. President, this is
Special Agent Mike Casper

who's acting as the FBI's
White House liaison

during this situation.

Do we know what's going on,
Agent Casper?

No, sir.

Edward, so far the churches

have been empty.

There have been
no fatalities.

But tomorrow night's
Christmas Eve.

They're going to be packed.

So why shouldn't I
send troops in?

Because, due respect,
Mr. President

but you do it without my consent

and it's a clear violation
of State's rights

and you would have said
the same thing

when you were the Governor
of New Hampshire.

This doesn't happen
in New Hampshire.

You got
a pretty big black population

in New Hampshire, do you?

We'll meet again this afternoon.
Thank you, Governor.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

Josh, stick around.

Yes, sir.

I'll be in the bullpen.

So, what have
you got cooking?

I'm sorry?

I said, what have
you got cooking?

I don't understand.

Yes, you do.
I know what happened

at the third debate.
He told me.

I know what's going
to happen this afternoon.

What are you
going to do?

Are you going to try
and get Gibson

out of the room
when it's his
turn to question?

I don't think you and I
should discuss it, sir.

CONGRESSWOMAN:
The red light is on,
so I will yield the floor...

Where are we?

CHARLIE:
Dearborn
will be next.

CHAIRMAN:
Congressman Dearborn,
you have five minutes.

Mr. McGarry, I would like
to use my time

to talk about Edith Wilson.

Abbey's about
to get spanked.

Guys, the things
we do to women.

My wife's
a world-class scientist.

DEARBORN:
Do you know
who Edith Wilson was?

LEO:
Edith Wilson was Edith Galt

before she became the
second wife of Woodrow Wilson.

DEARBORN:
And with the help
of her doctors

she ran this country for months

while her husband was
incapacitated by a stroke.

Yes.

Do you believe
that the President
having a stroke

falls within the scope
of the 25th Amendment?

JORDON:
Excuse me, but with the Wilsons
being dead for 80 years

I don't believe it falls

within the scope
of this hearing.

Abbey Bartlet knew of
her husband's condition.

Yes.

And she kept it to herself.

Well, I don't know
who she kept it to,
Congressman.

She didn't tell you.

No.

Or anyone else

in the high command
of the Bartlet campaign.

You're smiling.

Yes, sir.

Why?

Because at this point

there wasn't much
of a high command.

All we'd done is show
a strong third in Iowa.

We were working
out of storefront.

TOBY:
You got to
pop the ball.

You got to pop it.

C.J.:
I'm popping it.

No, you're not.

So my feeling...
Yeah?

...is that we're fine

playing this song
in South Carolina.

I agree.
Pop it.

SAM:
As long as all he's doing
is running against Wiley

it's fine that he doesn't seem
like a real candidate.

It's when Wiley drops out
and he's running against Hoynes.

Right.

They'll cover us
all the way to
South Dakota.

Suddenly, we don't want
to be quaint anymore.

People want to know
"Is this guy for real?"

We got to show them we're
an honest-to-God alternative.

We got to show them
we're big time.

( grunts )

( laughs )

Can we get
an intern over here?

SAM:
What about this:

a series of major,
national policy addresses.

We work with Josh;
we pick three issues.

Yeah, and we should start
projecting the image

that he thinks he's for real.

We'll release
his tax returns

put all his stocks
in a blind trust.

You know what else?
TOBY:
Yeah.

He should take
a physical.

Absolutely. He's got
ten years on Hoynes.

We should release
a medical report.

I'll take it to Leo.

Okay, guys, let's go.

Let's be working.

Somebody want to get the ball?

ABBEY:
I like some
of these new people.

I'm going to miss them.

PRESIDENT:
Yeah.

Josh Lyman's special.
Sam Seaborn's very funny.

Which one's he?

The young one.

They're all young.

Listen, they want me
to do some things

before South Dakota.

South Carolina's next.

Yeah, we're looking
past that.

What do they want
you to do?

Full financial disclosure.

No problem with that.

They want me
to take a physical.

What's a physical right now
going to show?

It'll, uh... Nothing.

I'll... You're in remission.

I'm not lying
to anybody, Abbey.

I'm taking a physical

a physical which I'm under
no legal obligation to take.

I'm doing it voluntarily.

Yeah.

Now is when people
are listening.

I'll make my speeches,
get whupped on Super Tuesday

and we'll all go home.

DEARBORN ( on TV ):
We're headed
for South Carolina

we're planning for South Dakota

and Mrs. Bartlet-- excuse me--
Dr. Bartlet has yet to mention

to anyone that her husband has
multiple sclerosis.

The things we do to women.

JOSH:
Listen...

They're coming
back from the break.

Yeah.

You know what
I was thinking about?

I was thinking
about when we threw
that basketball

through the window
of the first campaign
headquarters in Manchester.

I wasn't there.

I heard about it.

You weren't
throwing the ball
around with us?

It was you,
Toby and C.J.

What that must have
looked like

from the point of view
of somebody coming
down the sidewalk.

I need somebody
in the steel lobby

to speak to
Darren Gibson
right away--

sometime toward
the end of this hour.

Jim Jericho.

Jim Jericho is who I had.

He had to leave town;
his wife is sick.

Who else do we have?

One of our people?

Nick Grindell.

Well, I'll get
to somebody.

What's this about?

Nothing.

It's not
about nothing.

You want Gibson

out of the room.

I'd like them all
out of the room.

Josh...

What's Gibson got?

You'll get a guy for me?

Yeah.

( gavel pounding )

I would like
our ten-minute breaks

to be closer to 15 minutes
than they are to a half hour.

And with that,
the chair recognizes

the gentleman
from Pennsylvania.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And I'd like to compliment you
on your leadership

of this committee.

Now, Mr. McGarry,
you're familiar, are you not

with Article II, Section 1,
Clause 6

of the U.S. Constitution?

We're going to have
to do this again.

He's being snotty?

Yeah.

So, I was thinking
maybe, you know, dinner...

Listen to me.

I don't like this.

You pay me $650 an hour.

You tell me everything.

Well, what do I
have to pay to only
tell you some things?

I don't know

but you have to pay it
to another lawyer.

So what are you
saying about dinner?

I'm not kidding around.

Yes, I am.

It says if something
happens to the President

then the Vice President
will assume his duties.

No, it says
the Vice President

assumes his duties if
the President dies.

Short of that,
impeachment

or the 25th Amendment
being invoked

the Vice President
stays the Vice President.

Who picked John Hoynes to be
the running mate on the ticket?

The President did.

Did he have
any help?
Yes.

Do you think the people
who weighed in on the decision

might have benefited
from knowing

about the President's
health condition?

I don't see how. No.

Well, with
the possibility

that the President
might die in office...

Hold it...
A greater possibility

with this President...

No, sir. That
isn't true.

MS isn't fatal.

And while on national
television, it is criminal

to imply otherwise in an offer
to score some cheap points.

You owe an apology to fathers

of children
who are suffering
from this disease.

Mr. McGarry...

LEO:
Finally, the President
chose his running mate

using the only yardstick
that means anything--

ability to assume the duties
of the presidency

and with John Hoynes,
we got our man

and the Vice President
was immediately told

of the President's condition.

NEWSCASTER:
I can tell you that when
Jed Bartlet takes this stage

72 hours from now

these delegates are going
to go absolutely crazy.

They've scheduled 20 minutes
for a demonstration

but I don't think
that's going to be enough.

BARTLET:
Toby?

Yeah.

Josh?

Yeah.

Sam?

Yeah, I think so.

C.J.?

Yeah.

All right, let's do it.

All right.

John.

Hi, Leo.

Hello, Abbey.

Hello, John.

Senator.

Good evening.

I'd like you to be
the Vice President.

Why don't you sit
with Abbey and me

for a few minutes.

Can I have
the room, please?

You want anything?

Coffee
or anything?

Uh, no.

You ran
a good campaign.

You're a young man.

You'll be back.

Thank you.

( door closing )

There's something
you need to know.

It's why I asked
everyone to
leave the room.

A few years ago

I was diagnosed

with a relapsing/remitting
course of MS.

I'm sorry?

Multiple sclerosis.

Did you just tell me
that you have MS?

Yeah.

Which you never
mentioned during
the campaign.

I told you because
it's something you're
going to need to know

but also because I wanted
to show that I trust you.

Oh, you do?

Yeah.

That's supposed to be me

accepting the nomination
Thursday night.

But I suppose
your trusting me

is consolation prize enough.

Well, what do you say?

( sighs )

I'd like to think about it.

I'd like your answer
now, John.

You'll have it
when I give it, Jed.

I'm going
to stretch my legs.

as soon as he
gets in

or, you know, when
he returns the page.

Cindy, if I could tell you
what it was regarding,

I'd have told you.

Sorry.

Thank you.

They want you.

Where have you been?

You sent me
to the Hill.

Has Sam called?

No.

He didn't maybe
drop off a piece of paper

with a name on it?

No. They want you
in the Mural Room.

Okay.

Josh?

Where have you been?

We got it.

President's going to make
a decision right now.

We got to... What?

We got it.

What do you mean?

Gilbert Murdock,
a 17-year-old
high school dropout

was pulled over
outside Chattanooga

When the officers
approached his car

he sped off and led
them in high pursuit.

Why?
'Cause he thought
he was being

pulled over for
planning to make
a Molotov cocktail.

Why?
'Cause he was
planning to make

a Molotov cocktail.

Did he name friends?

He was a tough
nut to crack.

Took almost 20 minutes.

We got ourselves
a conspiracy.
Yeah.

Let's go.
Where?

To brief
the President.

No.

The Director
will brief
the President.

Mike, that's
your task force out there.

The only reason you're not
out there with them is 'cause--

I don't know-- 'cause you're
a woman or something.

I am temporarily desk-assigned
for health reasons

a decision
I appealed vigorously.

Let's go.

We don't take curtain calls.

You'll take a handshake.
Let's go.

SKYLER:
Of course

there's a legal basis.

Religious freedom
is a civil right.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

raises these threats
to a federal level.

Credible threats, and
no one in this room's

trying to take away
your civil rights.

A sin of omission

by any other name.

JOSH:
Mr. President?
Yeah?

Your decision just got
a lot easier.

Tell me.
Sir, the
FBI's ready

to call this a
credible threat.

We have one of
the conspirators
in custody.

Conspirators?

Yes, sir.
All right.

Here come
the Tennessee Volunteers.

Reverend,
have the pastors

encourage the women to bake
those guys something nice.

They're all spending

Christmas Eve where
they don't want to be.

Ed, you get to be a hero
to the blacks in your state.

Anybody in your state
doesn't like it

the FBI is calling the shots.

What could you do?
Anything else?

SKYLER:
Thank you,
Mr. President.

Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT:
I'm sorry.

I've forgotten
your name.

Michael Casper.

How'd you get him?

He was pulled over
for a bad brake light

and he thought it
was something else.

A two-year
investigation gets

its first crack
from a broken taillight.

CASPER:
In 13 years
with the Bureau

I've discovered that
there's no amount

of money, manpower
or knowledge

than can equal
the person

you're looking
for being stupid.

God, well, some of
the stupidest criminals

in the world are working
right here in America.

I've always been
very proud of that.
Yes, sir.

Thank you,
Agent Casper.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

So, what's going on?

I got to call him and
tell him, you know...

It's not going to happen?

I don't think so.

It was a long shot, anyway.

Look, I wanted
to see him spared this

but Leo's made
out of leather.

His face has a map
of the world on it.

Leo comes back.

Okay.

All right.

Damn it.

MAN ( over TV ):
At no point did he lie?

LEO ( over TV ):
No.

And at no point did you lie?

LEO:
No.

At no point did he encourage
others to lie?

No.

And at no point

has he been unable
to discharge his duties?

No.

Thank you.

Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.

The Chair recognizes
the gentleman from Michigan

Mr. Gibson, for five minutes.

Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.

Two years ago, January

the President collapsed
in the Oval Office.

Is that correct?

I'm not sure
what the medical
term would be.

He involuntarily fell
to the ground.

Yes.

Will Minority
Counsel stipulate

that we can call
that collapsing?

Let the record reflect
that Minority Counsel

has nodded his
head up and down

so as to indicate an
affirmative response.

So ordered.

Is this the only time
since the President took

the Oath of Office
that he's collapsed?

So far as I know.

Is this the only time

since the beginning

of the campaign
that he's collapsed?

No, it's not.

I'd like to take you
back to 30 October

in St. Louis, Missouri.

Jed Bartlet is the
Democratic nominee
for President

and is about to participate in
the third and final debate...

Mr. Chairman, I would like
to request a short recess.

We just got back
from a recess.

Sir, we have taken breaks
at the request

of nearly every member
of this Committee

while the witness has asked
for a total of none.

One time, Mr. Chairman.

( sighs )

We'll take a five-minute break.

Please, let's keep
it to ten minutes.

( pounds gavel )

Come with me.

Yeah, it will
all come out.

Excuse me.
What's going on?

I was just asking
the same thing.

I don't know anything
about testimony from October 30.

It's okay, I got it.

No, you don't got it.

We better go
someplace
and talk.

LEO:
Yeah.

Leo, I couldn't make it happen.

Don't worry about it.

You have to tell me
what's going on now

or I'm walking
out the door.

Look...
Tell me now.

On the day of the final debate

I was meeting with
two potential donors.

It was nine days
till the election.

We were too close to call

and I didn't want to be the guy
who ran out of money first.

You look nervous, Leo.

Don't worry about it.
I brought my wallet.

Anybody want to eat?

I got steak sandwiches
on the way.

Yeah, and let's have
some drinks.

Sure.

The President was at the debate
site walking the stage.

A podium is a holy place
for him.

He makes it his own like
it's an extension of his body.

You ever see a pitcher work
the mound

so the dirt does exactly
what his feet want it to do?

That's the President.

He sees it as a genuine
opportunity to change minds

also as his best way of
contributing to the team.

He likes teams.

I love him so much.

What was going on
in your room?

I like the little things.

I didn't hear you.

I said,
I like the little things.

The way a glass feels
in your hand--

a good glass; thick,
with a heavy base.

I love the sound
an ice cube makes

when you drop it
from just the right height.

( clinking )

Too high and it'll chip
when you drop it.

Chip the ice and it'll melt
too fast in the scotch.

MAN:
You ever try this, Leo?

It's Johnny Walker Blue.

Bartenders are selling it
for 30 bucks a shot.

LEO:
Good scotch sits in
a charcoal barrel for 12 years.

Very good scotch gets smoked
for 29 years.

Johnny Walker Blue
is 60-year-old scotch.

I don't care.

What happened in the room, Leo?

I'm trying to tell you
what happened.

( laughing )

Should we get to it?

You don't want to find out

what a $30 sip of scotch
tastes like?

No. I got to stay sharp
for tonight.

JORDON:
Why didn't you just say,
"I'm an alcoholic"?

They're two CEOs.

I'm trying to get them
to give me

a half a million dollars
apiece right now.

It's not really
the best time to mention it.

The President's still
at the debate site.

How do you feel about
the temperature, sir?

It's good.

It's not too cold?

It won't be later.

This is a 550-seat theater

and they'll be seated
a half hour before we start

so the temperature will be up
four to six degrees.

The hotel room, Leo.

We already gave
to the RNC

but we're worried

we may have backed
the wrong horse.

You want to
hedge your bet.

That's why we're here.

Good. Now, give me
a sip of that.

That's what I remember.

( chuckling )

JORDON:
You had a drink.

I'm an alcoholic.

I don't have one drink.

I don't understand people
who have one drink.

I don't understand people

who leave half a glass of wine
on the table.

I don't understand people
who say they've had enough.

How can you have enough
of feeling like this?

How can you not want
to feel like this longer?

My brain works differently.

Who was the third
person in the room?

Well, now we've arrived
at our problem.

Count on it.

Whoa, you want to be
careful there.

You're not the big money party.
We are.

Did I mention that
he's thinking about
running for Congress?

I'm thinking about it.

JORDON:
You were drunk
in front of Gibson?

I don't get drunk
in front of people.

I get drunk alone.

They were going over something
at the debate site...

JORDON:
I don't want to hear
about the debate site.

LEO:
The debate site
is what happened.

The debate site is how he gets
to bring this up here.

Where's Leo?

Still like to go over
the Social Security answer.

We got to get it down
to 90 seconds.

C.J.:
It's down to 90 seconds.

JOSH:
It's not, and they're
going to cut him off.

SAM:
I put a stopwatch on him,
when he just speeds up...

When he speeds up,
he speeds up.

When he doesn't,
it's 90 seconds.

We need to cut
some more.

Which words?

Governor,
what do you think?

Governor...

Sir, we were just
saying that the Social
Security answer...

No.

It's a tight
90 seconds, and...

No, no, not now.

We got to do it now, sir.

Something's wrong.

Governor?
Yeah.

Governor?

JOSH:
Sir?
Gabby.

You want to sit down?
Let me get some water.

Gabby.

He's saying,
"Get Abbey."

Get Abbey!

Whoa!

C.J.

JORDON:
He had an attack?

LEO:
I mean, the doctor said

it was an inner ear infection,
but all Josh knew

when he called me
was that he'd collapsed.

( phone ringing )
I was supposed
to be down there already.

I was supposed
to be down there an hour ago.

( grunts softly )

( phone continues ringing )

Yeah.

JOSH:
Leo, the Governor's sick.

( buzzer )

Okay.

He collapsed. You got
to get down here.

( buzzer )

Leo?
Okay.

It's Gibson.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Hey.

I forgot my briefcase.

You having a party?

I, uh... I-I got
to get to the, uh, debate site.

The Governor collapsed.

( sighs )

JORDON:
I don't understand
how you could have a drink.

I don't understand

how after everything
you worked for

how on that day of all days
you could be so stupid.

That's because
you think it has
something to do

with smart
and stupid.

Do you have
any idea

how many
alcoholics
are in Mensa?

You think it's a
lack of willpower?

That's like thinking

somebody with
anorexia nervosa has

an overdeveloped
sense of vanity.

My father was an alcoholic.

His father was an alcoholic.

So in my case...

Ain't nothing
but a family thing?

That's right.

Who knows?

Josh Lyman and the President.

Why nobody else?

Because.

That's a little boy's answer.

I went to rehab.

My friends embraced me
when I got out.

You relapse,
it's not like that.

Get away from me--
that's what it's like.

( knocking )

We're back in a minute.

Thank you.

Just out of curiosity

why have you been asking me
to have a meal with you

every five minutes?

I like you.

I've been trying to get it in
under the wire.

You'll answer the questions
simply and directly.

I don't want to hear
about Mensa.

That'll be my job.

Okay.

Yes, by the way.

Yes? What?

Yes, I'd like to have dinner
with you tonight.

Okay.

CALLEY:
That's where you're
going with this?

GIBSON:
Yeah.
Just to embarrass the guy?

Just?

Leo McGarry's sobriety
isn't the subject

of these hearings.

These hearings are
to investigate

if any rules,
ethical or otherwise

were broken by Jed Bartlet while
he was running for President.

That's nice, but I live
in the actual world

where the object
of these hearings is to win.

No... it's not.

GIBSON:
It's the object
of the majority.

Not while I'm the Majority
Counsel it's not.

This is bush league.

This is why good
people hate us.

This, right here.

This thing.

This isn't what these
hearings are about.

He cannot possibly have
been properly prepared

by counsel for
these questions

nor should he ever have
to answer them publicly.

And if you proceed
with this line
of questioning

I will resign this committee

and wait in the tall grass
for you, Congressman

because you are killing
the Party.

Who the hell
is this?

You don't have to make
up your mind right
now, Mr. Chairman.

Phil...

You don't have
to make up your
mind right now.

Declare a recess
till after the holidays.

Buy yourself two weeks.

And give him two
weeks to circle
the wagons?

How do you think
the Speaker's going
to feel about this?

To say nothing
of the RNC?

( sighs ):
I need a minute.

I tried everybody.

It's all right.

I tried everybody.

It was just a tough fit.

And since I couldn't tell
them what it was about...

They're back.

( sighs )

Let's come to order.

Mr. Gibson

you can proceed
with your questioning.

Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.

Mr. McGarry, 30 October

in St. Louis, Missouri

the day Jed Bartlet was...

No, I'm sorry.

Mr. McGarry,
it's been a long day

and unless counsel has
an objection

I'm going to resume this
after the holidays.

What?

Mr. Chairman...
Mr. Calley?

Mr. McGarry,
that concludes

our questioning for today.

We'll pick it up here

when the Chairman gavels
these hearings back to order.

I'm sorry...
CHAIRMAN:
You're done
for the day, sir.

and Government Oversight
Committee stands in recess

until January the 5th,
and the Chair

wishes everyone
a Merry Christmas.

What the hell...?

I don't know.

We have two weeks.

I really had to tell
you the damn story.

Shut up. I'm going
to dinner with you.

Yeah.

Well, listen.

What?

You want to do it tomorrow night
instead?

What's tomorrow
night?

It's Christmas Eve.

Okay.

Okay.

Well, well, well.

Dodged a bullet.

For the moment.

Which is more than I can say
for me at Rosslyn.

Yeah.

Did you get a date with her?

It's none of your business.

I just came back
to catch up on some work.

See how badly you screwed up
this church thing in Tennessee.

I did the church thing
in Tennessee okay.

I did it without you.

You mind if I make some calls

make sure Tennessee's still one
of the states and stuff?

So anyway, I have a present
for you.

Merry Christmas, Leo.

That was awfully nice of you.

( crying )