All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S06E04 - Liftoff (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously, on The West Wing...

Chairman Farad
and President Bartlett

will hold
a joint press conference

to describe a tentative accord

that's been reached
between the parties.

Barracks Security found Leo
in the woods at Camp David.

ABBEY:
You've got to keep him a
out of that job. r

He'll kill himself
for you if you don't.

There's something
I need you to do for me.

What's that?

Jump off a cliff.

( knocking )

Morning, ma'am.
Staff Sergeant Keltie.

This is Sergeant Wolitzer.

Is everything all right?

Sure is. May we?

It's 5:30.

5:26 on mine.

I'm going to use
this chair here.

We couldn't do this
at my office?

According
to our logs,

you usually exit
the building here...

All right. You may find
it's easier

to head out the
West Gate now.

You're going tofor
have to time that,

buwe'll need you
ofto exit here.

I'm listening.
What kind of situation? Cregg.

Are we expecting one?
Well, any attack,

So, you'll exit hereing
directly to Marine One.

You'll sit at S5,

behind the President,
to the left of the NSA,

and they'll evacuate you
to your secure location.

Okay.
make your way with all due haste
to this field off Denville Road.

A field?
It's abA pasture,
to themore like.

I'll be standout the way soon as
with cows?the copter shows.ot

Won't be more
than three minutes

from code call
to liftoff.

( knocking )

C.J.:
Excuse me.

Morning.

No.
Agents DeCastro and Shay--
Sothey will be...

I do not need
a Secret Service detail.

Could we please
discuss this?
They'll give you
a wide Not really.

Have you got
a spare room

or a basement
or something?

They're going to need
a place to sleep.

You're not waiting,
right?

I just knocked.
You okay?

In the event of emergency,
I stand in a field

with a cow and wait
to be airlifted.

Hey.
Morning, sir.

There she is.
Good morning,
Mr. President.

You excited?
Absolutely.

They're angling
for a piece of theour
Baltic shipping deal.

Look at that.We can't make
Hit the ground running.appe

I won't be
in the security briefing.

I've got paperwork
with the CIA,

but NSC will get me
up to speed.

Sky's falling; damage
estimate to follow.

Yes, sir.
You're going to
be great at this.

C.J.:
Thank you,
Mr. President.

She's going to be great.

Is she nervous?

No, she lookWell, that's good.
I'd be apoplectic.

Let's keep it light today.

Anything you can,
hold till next week.

Already on it.

See if Leo's up
Chto a phone call..

This is Ellroy.

He brings the
briefing books.

You guys are going
to be friends.

These are this week's?

These are today's.

C. J.:
I told Josh to be there
in case you need backup.

He probably forgot.
We should...
I don't need any backup.

Just try to keep tight rein.

I'm not the story,
Leo's not the story...

I know.

Camp David's
the story.

Stop worrying.

Give me that.

Good morning.

PRESS:
Good morning.

This will be my last briefing
as White House Press Secretary.

Toby Ziegler will
be filling in

until the President names
a replacement.

I'll ask you
to please be kind to him,

and if you can't be kind,
at least speak slowly.

working for this
exceptional group
Theof journalists...

I'm sorry, uh... thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, the
President of the United States.

Thank you.

at Bethesda Naval Hospitalass
36 hours ago,rgery

I'm relieved to announce

that Leo McGarry is
in stable condition

and headed
for a full recovery.

a very valuable part
of this administration,

he will not be
returning to his post.

I am therefore pleased
and terribly proud

to announce that,
effective immediately,

the position of White House
Chief of Staff

will be filled
by Claudia Jean Cregg.

Congratulations.

C. J.:
It's a virus?

Six cases so far.

A.P. heard it on the ground
in Ecuador.

You're telling her this
as Press Secretary

or Chief of Staff?
I think both.

by the end of the day--
ask A.P. to wait.

That was Press Secretary.

Yes.

Call CDC, Immigration, DOH,

give themSet up a conference
call for me.

Great. C.J.,

I'm not sure where to sit.
Oh, God, right.

That's fine.Toby's going
to n
Just for the next
couple of days.

Wow!

People shouldn't be
sending me flowers.

They're for Leo.

I'm sorry about the stuff.

I'll...
Don't worry
about it.

You need coffee
or anything?

I'm fine.
Let's do it.

CIA briefer's
on his way.

Security will be by
for a palm print

and an eye scan.

President's got Treasury
in 10 minutes.

YouEPA's waiting for feedback
on the Clean Air mark-up.

Armed Forces is coming
to talk about a budget boost

because they forgot
to factor in foodur

for the troops.

And this gets us to...

8:45.

NATO's expressing reluctance
to contribute troops

to the peacekeeping effort.

The Secretary General of NATO...

The President is speaking
with him--

the Secretary General
of, uh, NATO-- this afternoon.

There's verbal support, and
there's boots on the ground.

I'm not commenting on a... on
a negotiation before it happens.

Can I'm not commenting.
If NATO's out,

would President reconsider
U.N. peacekeepers?

I do not have an answer.

CHRIS:
Can you point us toward
a subject you're commenting on?

Can you find out where
Counsel put the DOD analysis?

MARK:
Will C.J. Cregg's role
be the same as Leo McGarry's?

TOBY:
Title, parking spot,

gym membership.

She's not coming
into this

with national security
experience.

The President has a flock

of-of national security
professionals

prepared to address
his questions

and tBut we're about to stage
a military action...

Yeah, a military incursion

into-into the most entrenched
conflict on the planet.

C.J. Cregg's not the only one
working without a net.

Oh, no, no.
Are you saying
the President's got doubts?

He has every confidence...
nobody has experience with this
kind of military incursion.ai

The Pentagon has experience

as do the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and the NSC,

but in the event
they all lose their way,

the President can always send
C.J. Cregg to Ramallah

to swat at suicide bombers
with her purse.

That's her foreign policy
portfolio?

Oh, good lord.

C.J.:
My purse?!

Page Carol, get him
the hell out of there!

MARK:
Who haCHRIS:
I got "The President can send
C.J. Cregg to Ramallah

to swat at suicide bombers
with her purse."

CAROL:
You don't have to brief.

You're better with
the written material.

We can flood 'em
with press releases.

JOSH:
How'd it go?

Fine.
Missed it.

Well, there'll be others.

I'm thinking about the
substance abuse initiative,

and what do you say
we send C.J. to Compton,

have her swat at drug
lords with her purse?

They love an opportunity
It wlike this.

If they could dance around me

with a pig's head on a pike,
they would.

How's it going?
Well. Well.

Pif either of you is interested
wants tin a conversation.

From the Policy Institute?

I've gotten five
of these already today.ob offe

Job offers?
It's gonna be that kind of day.

JOSH:
She's fine. She's a pro.

Like a ninja
with a Prada clutch.

Men of valor.

I say we move past it.an ambush.

I've never seen you sling

anything but a briefcase
over your arm...

...loaded with 30 pounds
of legislative detritus,

not your lipstick
or your hankie...

Jump right over it.
I'm just putting--

I'm gonna put it back...
Shut up.

Okay.

Hey, how's he doing?

Leo? Awake and cranky.

Sounds about right.

You started Senior Staff?

I guess we did.

Why don't we...

Go ahead and sit.

( quietly ):
The intel estimates,
did you--

Leo likes to glance
at the top sheets sure I didn'

before Senior Staff,
circle anything

he's got questions about.

That way NSC can pull
material

for the afternoon briefing.

We can wait.
Go ahead.

We'll set aside
some extra time.

Thank you.

We also try and cover
the lunch order

before Senior Staff.

Leo likes
a roast turkey sandwich.

That's fine.

Mayo?

Please tell me we can
talk about this later.

Hi.

Press Secretaries.

No, but let's move
Can I apolfinding my replacement

from priority three
to priority one.

Yeah.
Short list by the
end of the day,

And D triple C's coming in
to talk about the election.

Vulnerable seats?

I'll do it.and then sit down
It's gonna be Merridy.n ove

Josh can...
Merridy hates him.

Excuse me?
gonna meet with D triple C
and then sit with Will.sh

There's gonna be fund-raising
trips in this for the VP.

WILL:
Get to me sooner
rather than later.

Our campaign office has him
double booked already.

Toby, Marburg virus.

CDC's setting up a border
Not thascreening plan.r.

Try and make sure
we don't seem panicked.

Yeah.
And let me say
what would have been

best articulated
an hour ago:

The peacekeeping plan
is still vulnerable;

this place needs
to reek of confidence.

Maybe we best avoid

that the President's
any in over his head.

Working without a net.

C.J.:
I think that's it.

We're all working
without a net today, thanks.

C.J.?

( sighing ):
Wow, this is hard.

But I think it's,pier
it's just time for me to go.

Six years is, uh...

This is my letter of resignation
to the President..

JOSH:
I don't want
to pile on...

but working for
one of my closest friends is,

I think,
not gonna bring out my best.

( knocking )
Wow.Josh

You can't...

Mr. President, can I have just
I'ma minute? barge i

I don't know if I'm comfortable.

working this closely
with a woman.

Maybe it's time for
me to call it a day.

Give the VP a chance
to steer the ship.

( chuckling )

Oh...

You're weak.

You have a weak will.

see if she pulled out the
Continuity of Government plan.

He cracked up at the mere
suggestion of the VP.

I had a whole thing on spending
time with my kids, I went up.

You are bad, bad men.

In the service
of a vengeful god.

On behalf of the
Vice President,

and myself, and every man

who's ever had a Wonder Woman
fantasy, it's a bright day.

Get out.

Margaret, we behind yet?

Very.

TOBY:
We need a list
of Press Secretary candidates.

This is the list.
PulThese are the resumes.

C.J. keeps an
"In Case I Get
You alwaysHit By a Bus" file.

WOMAN:
You've gotCa
appointments today

Carol!
Spokesmen fromious
State, Interior...

I-I got to...
This is gonna be
a nightmare.

Here, I'll help.
Let me see.

Haffley's in your office.
Time. Time.

Ooh.

Here.

Donna'll help.

Nice briefing.

Thank you.

That was something--

everybody pretending
to resign.

Bless their cotton socks.

But you know
I'm actually leaving, right?

I mean, Leo's going
to be doing something,

and it's a long time I've worked
for him, and I just

can't imagine...
Margaret.

Sure. Sorry.

Mr. Roman Mindeli
from the Republic of Georgia

C.J.:
in the Ro Good morning.

Thank you.
Good morning

to you.

Oh. You okay there?

Would be better on left hand.

( laughs )

Important documents.

Of course.
I wanted to speak

with Mr. McGarry.

This is gift

I bring for him.

Saperavi, from my own vines.

You're a-a wine maker?

Former Economic

Advisor to Georgia President
Rustaveli.

You want taste?

Oh, no, it's
a little early, I...

Did Josh Lyman put you up
to this?

President Rustaveli send me

with important
offer, but

I wish to speak it
with Mr. McGarry.

so I'm afraid you're going
to have to speak it with me.

Most top secret.

President Rustaveli

wants to offer

United States gift

of...

uranium.

Highly enriched.

To your government.

Uranium?

Like to make bombs?

We do not

We give to you,
you make what you want.

Can you excuse me
just one moment?

Yes.

I-I open this, show you maps.

That's great.

Is this a thing,
like the two-weeks notice gang?

JOSH:
Inspector Clouseau in there--
was that your idea?

What?
with a comb-over
to offer me...guy

Did he
proposition you?
No, you lummox.

He tried to give me
his collection

of highly enriched...

What?

Oh, my God.

This is happening.

What?

get the National Security
Advisor right away.

Is there
a problem?

I've got an emissary
from the Republic of Georgia

offering me a load
of weapons-grade uranium.

I'm gonna go with yes.

300 kilograms
of weapons-grade

uranium in a
research reactor

the Soviets left behind

when they pulled out.
That's... what?

Enough for ten,
maybe 15 bombs.

Margaret, I
need a meeting

with the Secretaries
of State, Energy,

Defense, the JCS, and CIA,
first thing tomorrow.

We tried to take this
stuff off their hands brief
ever

in '92; they didn't want
to part with it.

Because?
Figured if things got rough,

It's just sitting therenot
they behind what he's describing

It's a miracle
nobody's boosted it yet.

The Russians don't
guard this stuff?

They gave 'em
the padlock.

Yeah? Thank you.

Mindeli's been over
at the Iranian Embassy

We are not the only ones
twicewho got this offer.days.

That meeting's got to be today.

DONNA:
Hi, come on in.

I'm Donna Moss.

This is Toby Ziegler.

You're Dan, right?

From State?

Thanks for
coming in.
Well, good to meet you.

You want me up here?

DONNA:
That'd be great.

Toby's gonna ask you
a few questions.

Just pretend he's
150 reporters.

The U.N. seems
to have ruled out
sending troops

What's the Administration with
gonna do?the peacekeepi

the North Atlantic Council
has made and will continue

to make determinations
in regard to burden-sharing,

and a great many factors weigh
upon those determinations.

It would be premature
to prejudge

what the Council--
in its deliberative fashion

and fully appropriate
to its role

as a deliberative body--
may or may not have

predetermined out of any zeal

to ascertain the precise nature
of those deliberations.

( whispering ):
Oh, this is gonna
be a long day.

We need to
do schedule.

You know you have a door
in your office.
I was just coming
to see the PresidentLet me see.

Looks good.

The Chief of Staff clears
every item

in every meeting,
and gets mostStaff knows
of the information schedule.

the President will get
in the meeting

before the President
gets it.

get me briefed on
this one, and this.

( phone ringing )

Push the 1:45
to next week,

and this shouldn't
even exist. Cancel it.

Secretary of Defense
for the President,
unscheduled.
Better.

The Chief of Staff clears
every unscheduled phone call.

Ask him what it's...
may I askYou know what
what it's in reference to?about?

but he should call my office,
let me know what it's about.

Thanks for...
Just today.

Tomorrow you're
on your own.

Mr. Secretary,
he's on a call right now.

Can I direct you
to the Chief of Staff?

Mr. President?

That's what they tell me.

We've been approached

They're looking to unload
some highly-enriched uranium.

We may need to stage
an emergency extraction.

There's some concern
it could wind up in Iran.

WI hope to have options for you
the aby the end of the day.ding.

Okay.Yeah.
They're ready for you
in the Cabinet Room.

Thank you. You putting
together a tiger team?

Uh, I'm not quite sure
what that is.

Four, five agencies
on one project,

particularly something
this complicated.

They'll pass it around
like a hot potato.

14 months from now,
we'll wake up

having accomplished
absolutely nothing.

You're gonna have to spearhead
the project yourself.

Sure, I'll...
Tiger team. Grrr.

What was thaMERRIDY:
H Hell, he could replace
with Chuck Horowitz.Noth

Guys...
The D Triple C's

We could
really use you.
a great place
to work, JI'm not looking.

You already got
something lined up?

I'm staying at
the White House.

Wow. Gosh.
Working for C.J.

Okay, let's talk
about the...

Really, anything
else. Coffee?

Thanks and adulations
for all the help

at the midterms
last year.

You guys
were fantastic.

Latest count was seven
Members of Congress retiring.

And we've 12...
Maybe 13...

...vulnerable
incumbents.

the spotlight.
So we want to make sure we'reial
not neglecting these seats.oling

Republicans
Why is Matthew Santosinly
dropping out?on't be.

We just got him on Ways
and Means, for God's sake.

He says that he's had enough.

I'll talk to him.
Who else?
No, he hasn'

in Connecticut's
retiring. Wexler

Hey, you're
from there.

You could run
for his seat.

I have a job.

You know you have
your own door...
He's talking with the
I'll be quiSecretary of Defense.

Hutchinson's in the Oval?

He walked the President back
from the Cabinet meeting.

Weren't you
in there?
I got pulled out.

Hutchinson doesn'They walked in.
a meeting.I thought about

taking him down, but
it seemed excessive.

Margaret, did the Secretary
of Defense call for me?

( half-whispers ):
It's C.J.

He didn't?

Get him out of there.
Pull the President,Really?
take him to the Mural Room,

tell him he's late
for his 1:15.

He doesn't have a 1:15.

Make one up.

( sighs )

( knocking on door )

Excuse me, Mr.
President...?

Secretary Hutchinson?

Congratulations.
Woman of the hour.

Thank you.
I wanted to catch you
in the Cabinet Room.

You're gonna do
a fantastic job.
Thank you.

I know the President had to
run and you were speaking.

No. This Georgian project
could be tricky,here anything
but we'll cover ithelp you

in the meeting.
See you in a few.

JOSH:
How come Matt Santos

doesn't want to run again?

What makes a man seek
public office, Josh?

What makes a man
abjure the comforts
of a private life?

The decadence, really,
Here wof simple bread-winning

for the Athenian wrestling mat
that is the forum politic?

Hey.

Why doesn't Matt Santos
want to run again?

'Cause he's a tool.

We just got him onto
Ways and Means.

You think?
They love him
iMayTerm or two
to runas governor,r.

he could come back here
and run for the big chair.

Are you high?

People like him--
ex-Marine...

He's not running for... no.

D triple C wants help
on 19 races.to him.

Yours are the ones
with the stars.

The VP's gonna be
fund-raising for himself.

I'm just not sure
we can double dip
in all these places.

I think it falls
under the category of

"people scratching
other people's backs."

Indeed.

It's first priority.
For the day?

For 1:45.
300 pages on
snowmobiles?

Yellowstone's gonna come up.
The President's got lAnd there's
with Interior tomorrono one else

in the building that
can position us?

Toby and the Policy
shop are split.

We've now talked through give me
the snowmobile window. o

You have to leave.
Where am I going?

The Georgian thing.
Where's the
nonproliferation...?

I have it.
And the uranium
repatriation study?

You really have to start
walking now.

It's downstairs?
At DOD's request.

WHO faxed preliminary plans
for the Marburg virus.

It's... this is...
they're asking for

It doesn't say how theyh
came up with that number.

Does HHS know
they're calling it

a global health alert?

I'll call them.

( beeps )

Ten-hut.

DELOIT:
Anybody run this
by the Russians?

McNALLY:
The Georgians don't want

HUTCHINSON:
The Russianse damn uranium there
can't secure it.ce.

Who's going to pay for it?
Their facilities
are aIt's goExcellent question.

McNALLY:
Mr. Secretary,Energy's
we're all tapped out.

It's probably not
just enriched uranium.

I bet there's a
load of spent fuel
along with it.

DELOIT:
And leaking,
likely as not.Nuclear waste.

We may be looking

at a massive biohazard clean-up.

DELOIT:
HUTCHINSON:Extraction may
Which costs...?be $5 million.

Besides which, we
take foreign-owned
Clnuclear material

and dump it
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee,

every environmental group...

DELOIT:
It'll get out;We can't let
you're going to haves go

a P.R. nightmare
on your hands.

Isn't the larger
P.R. crisis

one wherein al Qaeda
steals the stuff

and we have to admit
it wasn't under our control

because we were too cheap
to go get it?

You got a congressional
appropriation

I don't know about?

Who pays?

a gift, didn't he--
your friend?

Are we considering

leaving a stash of uranium
unprotected

because we can't scrape up
25 million bucks?

I'm considering this the tip
of a very large iceberg.

Maybe we can look into
helping the Russians secure it.

The President
isn't interested

in bringing this
to the Russians.

I didn't get a copygure out
of the site analysis.thing el

Have we run an
independent test

on this material?
Um, I'm not...

HUTCHINSON:
Before we deployThis just walked
a fleet of C-5sin the door.

with an extraction team,
be nice to know

We'll test it.
we're not buying
Get the President

your repHang on;omestic
I'm not sure we're ready to...

He asked me for it. We done?

What do we have on
domestic nuclear
Mr. storage facilities?

I'll get you Energy's quarterly.

Sir, we may be able to get
the Russians to help...

Hutchinson wants to keep
the Russians out of it.

He said we don't
Can you get some documentation
they aren't trying to sell us

the Brooklyn Bridge?

We're looking into that.

You know I asked
for the breakdown

on domestic facilities
this morning.

I've got it;
I just wanted to look it over...

I didn't get a copy.

You sure Margaret and Charlie
are keeping your papers flowing?

Yes, sir.

Sir, your conversation
with the Secretary of Defense...

We didn't talk
that much.

Charlie high-tailed me into
a meeting with an empty chair.

I know it's going to be bumpy
until you're settled in,

but I just want
to make sure

things aren't getting
lost in the shuffle.

Of course.

Thank you.

Sources say NATO's
reluctant to contribute troops

to the peacekeeping mission
in the Middle East.

How's the President
going to address that?

The President was aware
when he drafted

the peacekeeping agreement that
the international community

wasn't going to jump in like
a pack of eager lemmings.

You're saying it's
a suicide mission?

Not necessarily.

The Lemmings die at
the end of the story.

Sources say NATO's
reluctant to contribute troops

to the peacekeeping mission
in the Middle East.

How's the President going
to address that?

Joanne, marry me. Make me
the happiest man in the world!

( laughing )

( mumbling ):
NATO has historically shown
reluctance to commit troops

as a body--
individual member nations...

Sorry, um, we can't
hear you back here.

( clears throat )

( mumbling ):
NATO has already agreed to...

Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

NATO doesn't seem to want
to pitch in troops

to the peacekeeping mission.

The President asked
for NATO troops

What we really need from our
allies is financial support,
largely as a cou

logistical support,
tactical aid,

all of which they've
enthusiastically pledged.

The President doesn't wanteed
to present the impression

that we're strong arming the
region with an onslaught

of European forces marching
into Jerusalem

This is a process that will be
executed by the Palestinian

and Israeli governments.

It won't. The President knowsut
exactly what he's getting into,

and he crafted a mission he knew
could succeed. And it will.

The Governor of Tennessee
called.

"Georgian Package--
absolutely not."

How did he...

Who the hell leaked it?

Get the Governor on the phone,
please, quickly. Margaret!

Once I'm done with him,
Nancy McNally needs to call

that he has to keep a lid
on thisernor and reiterate

and so does State, and...
have Charlie put it

on the President's
schedule for tomorrow.

We got a guy.
A Press Secretary.
WhatHe's smart, he's articulate,

which is more of an issue than
one might have thought.ar him,

I thought we were goingresident,
to look at a short list.

Governor of Tennessee on one.

Mr. Governor.

Thank you, sir.

I understand you heard...

The Secretary of Energy?!

We're not done. I'd like a list.
Three to five names. We're

Unfortunately,
sir, his decision

to share that information
was premature.

The President would
appreciate it

if you did not go public
with this.

No, I'm going to have to insist.

Josh Lyman for the Congressman.

SANTOS:
We're not in the dream-making
business.

Why not a cap that says punitive
damages stop at $5 million?

Because in the most egregious
You invest that money,
it's a good life.

For a kid who is paralyzed
when he was two?

It's giving insurers the kind
of immunity that nobody gets--

not auto makers, chemical
companies,

not me if I mow you down
in my car.

A distinct possibility,
I'm told.

We run the system
into the ground,
it's a societal disaster.
It's a societal disince

Josh! Are we running the HMO
system into the ground?

HMOs pulled down 8.8 billion
in profit last year.

We're not running them
into anything.

So that brings us back to the
Republicans are greedy bastards.

Profit's a red herring.

And what if the Republicans
on the committee aren't

What if they know the companies
worwill do that on their own

by boosting premiums and letting
costs soar through the roof

in an industry that was created

to curtail the price
of health care?

Then I have to have lunch
with Joel Haig again.

And watch him put ketchup
on his mashed potatoes.

Bipartisan or bust, my friends.

Come on in, Josh.

Patients' Bill of Rights?

The final shudder and gasp

of a dying piece of legislation.

I'm not gonna getn bring it back
like five minutest t

of small talk first, you're not
gonna ask me about my kids?

One more time...
How are your kids?
"Who's that
guy hugging Mommy?"e

We got committee chairmanships
fopening up.

Congressman, you're a strong
It'spresence on the floor,

your staff's on fire,
how can you walk away from this?

Who champions the Patients' Bill
of Rights if you're out of here?

I'm happy to help,
but you're the one

who's got to put his name
on the bill.

When I was Mayor of Houston,
we opened up

eight neighborhood
health clinics.

Each one sees
200 patients a day.

I'm going to go home
and open 20 more.

That's not a health care agenda,
Josh, that's health care.

As, I'm sure,
is the Governor's mansion.

to run for another office?
I'm getting out of the business.

What about your 20 clinics?

Privately funded.
That's all we got left.

There's never going to be
a Patients' Bill of Rights;

Or they'll spend five years
wrangling over minutiae

and come up
with a toothless plan.

A toothless
national plan

is not an inconsiderable force.

And a little wrangling?

That's why you're here,
and I'm going home to Texas.art.

I hear C.J. Cregg got
Chief of Staff.

That's got to be a blow.

It's fine, really.

Everybody likes the look
of the next rung up the ladder,

You couldn't do the kind
of politicking you do

behind Leo McGarry's desk.

You'd be making sure
the trains run on time.

They need you; you love that
fight, and you're good at it.

I don't love it.

( quietly ):
Yeah.

Go out there and doet out
what you were born to do.

It's not like we got a lot
of bench strength in Texas.

I know...
and I'm sorry about that.

Ronna! Get Mr. Lyman a copy
of the talking points.

RONNA:
On?

Patients' Bill of Rights!

Gail!

I fed her this morning.

We're not in
Kansas anymore, Gail.

an "Is the Administration
in Over Its Head" story.

He's trying to get face time
with General Alexander.missi

Where'd he...?
Rumors. Speculation.

Toby's briefing.

First day's tough.

Is Toby in his office?

I think so, I'll check.

Traditionally we call people
and they come to you.

No. Toby.
That's the wrong file.

That's the "not enough
You want aexperience" file.

Yes, indeed.

We've got a guy who's a
We hasheet of bulletproof glass,

who is willing to throw himself
in front of the Press Corps

like the lone man facing down
the tanks in Tiananmen Square.

Bring in these
four in tomorrow.

You don't think that's
a waste of time?

Yes. It is a colossal
waste of time.

These four.

Talk to Greg Brock,
get him to hold the story.

Then he'll run nothing
next week.He has nothing.

I misspoke, okay?

No one thinks you can't handle
foreign policy.

We all think it.
Had you thought any differently

in foreign policy decisions
for five years,"lve

not "She'll bounce every
question to somebody at NSC."

It never crossed your mind
to reject the premise
of the statement.

So I'm a lousy public speaker.

This thing runs tomorrow,
Talkit's two graphs on page ten.

We make him wait a week,
it's top left, page one.

It wasn't a suggestion.

It was what. An order?

( sighs )

It's almost 8:00, you
should get out of here.

I'll be back.

Where are you going?

Leo.

I don't know think this
is gonna work out.

Oh.

Lord. I never wanted
a double vodka

at 9:00 a.m. until this week.

They say the first step is
admitting you have a problem.

Margaret.

Sit.

I have a problem.

Wow.

I'm not sure
I'm the right person...

Hutchinson's a son of a bitch.

Is that just me or...?

No.

How did Leo deal with him?

Leo always talked
to Tim Crawford first.

He's Chief of Staff at DOD.

How about Secretary of Energy?

Leo's first calls
were always sub-cabinet.

Secretaries have agendas,
policy wonks have information.

Right.

How many policy wonks
work for me?

A bunch.

C.J.:
Secretary of State.

Secretary of Defense.

Secretary of Energy.

All fans
of non-proliferation.

All doing everything
they can

to keThey're the "no" team,
off tyou're the "yes" team.

Where's Toby?

He had a... I don't know.

I need a viable plan for funding
an emergency uranium extraction

Keep in mind we need to secure
it, contain it, transport it,

and bury it in a manner
that will shelter it

for upwards of 30,000 years.

Resist the temptation to rely

on the Emergency
Nonproliferation Fund.

Apparently we've
already spent it.

I'm just saying.

You knew these four
were underqualified

when you called them in.

He mispronounced New York.

( knocking on door )

God help me.

Come on in.

Yup, right place.
You're Annabeth Scott?s this...?

Schott.

What?

Schott. Bang bang.

Oh, there's an "H."
I didn't see it.

Go ahead and stand behind
the podium there. It's fun.e

Up there?
Yeah.

Oh, I'm not going up there.

Why would I do that?
Much of the job is,heaven

you know, briefing the press.

For a deputy?

Thank you so much for coming in,
Depbut we're going to move on

to somebody who has a clearer
understanding of the position.

You're hiring a Press Secretary?

Do something.

To be Press Secretary?

Yes. C.J. Cregg,

former White House
Press Secretary,

has been promoted, big day,
all over the news.

You should go home and watch.

to Ramallah to swat at suicide
bombers with her purse."

That's gotta be some purse.

I never said "fixing."

Why on earth would you try
and hire a new Press Secretary

with C.J. Cregg only ten minutes
out of the job?

Didn't anybody tell you
why you were coming in?

Deputy Press Secretary
for Media Relations.

I sent in my resume
six months ago.

They were looking for somebody
to replace Tim Waters.

He used to prep
for the morning shows.

He saved your tailYes.
on more than one occasion.

Okay...

Because I'd be a fine choice.

I'm going to get a dress Marine
to walk you out.i

You don't want a new
Press Secretary, not yet.

Anyone who tries to stand
in C.J. Cregg's shoes

And who exactly do you think
is going to brief the press?ive.

inside the Administration
to get you throughne f

the transition period.

Don't make a face,
you were good.

I saw it. He really wasn't.

You need a little grooming,
but I can take care of that.

And I'll help you find
a new Press Secretary.

Do a real search,
not some 24-hour

emergency rescue mission.

Who's this administration's most
vocal and effective critic?

When I found him he was
Taa bartender with half a novel.

He had what you have.

What's that?

A watchable quality.

Short list.

Alan Zwick, whoshorter list than
you brought me before...ussed

Because he was good.
He has no soul.

Of course he sounded good.

The man would front
for the Gotti Family

if you asked him to.

And Annabeth Schott?

The little pixie
from the Taylor Reid Show?

I don't think we should
hire either one of them.

I think I should do it.
Do what?

Brief the press.

I have a quality.

for a few weeks,
until we find somebody,

but we do a real search, not
in one day, and hopefully not

with me sitting in there
and listening to them.

This is remarkably
well thought out.

She came up with it--
Marybeth.

She said we were rushing
Annathis and she's right.

We put a fresh face
up there this week,

She's selling herselfground beef
as your follow-up act?

No, she wanted some
Media Relations gig.
She's irrelevant.

She wants Tim Waters' job?
And she wants to conduct

the search for your
replacement,

again, not the point.

On you as spokesman, actually,
for the Ship of Fools?ocus on...

It's a dream come true.

I'll just do can handle
the high profile stuff.

Like this morning.

Yeah. No. Slightly better.

Did you talk to Greg Brock?

He's not holding the story.

This is... I don't know how
this is gonna work, Toby,e fa

I really don't.

You're not his story.

We're unprepared
is the story,

and it's not coming from
here, it's coming from DOD.

What are you talking about?

Graham Bradley told him

they low-balled
the troop estimates,

we can't do it
with 18,000 men.

DOD's trying to bury the
real numbers cause they know

they can't get that kind
of money from Congress.

DOD's in over their heads.

I love you. Desperately.

the Georgia Projectw-balled
IHutcbecause he can't afford it.

That's debatable. Bring
I could her in to do the search.

Put her in Media Relations.

I don't think that
part's a good idea.

She'll be helpful
to you, and you...

if you want to brief,
you should brief.

You know why?
Because I trust you.

And you most certainly
have a quality.

I need the Secretaries
of State, Energy, Defense

Nancy, the JCS, and CIA
in the Sit Room right away.

Not the Sit Room, my office.

This office. Here.

I need to speak with him.

Right.

PRESIDENT:
Come in.

Good afternoon,
Mr. President.

How ya doing?

Fandabtastic.

You got
the Energy quarterly?

I got it right here.
Thank you.

I'd like it back.

How 'bout you get your own copy?

domestic nuclear storage
We'refacilities, sir.se

and I haven't presented youd
with complete information.

You don't think
this is a good start?

I think it's you
doing my job for me.

You're looking at this
based on DOD's call.

Their perspective is valid,
but it's only one perspective,

and until we've gathered
all the others,

if you need something to read,
I recommend

the new Benjamin Franklin bio.

It's a real page-turner.

Thank you, Mr. President.

What was that?

I just got spanked.

Mmm. Sorry I missed it.

She still nervous?

I don't think so, no.

They're in there.

Great.

You're an odd woman and I've
never quite understood you,

but you're extremely capable,

and you run this office like
a Swiss watch,

and you're tall,
which is reassuring.

Leo may need you, and if
he does, that's okay,

but if he's willing to part
with you, I hope you'll stay.

These are tentative
figures for the extraction.

We need to re-jigger the numbers
on flight support,

but it shouldn't change the
bottom line all that much.

I'd like to sit
with the President and...

Recommendations on the project
will flow through this office

and I will keep the President
up to speed.

I'm sure this is all
Let's look awell thought out...

...but the only viable
Thank option right now...

...is to secure
the material where it is...

...because operationally
and financially,

we don't have
the resources...

Miles.

We will find the money.

You will not.

Though DOD will likely
be saddled

with most of the operational
responsibility,

you will not be saddled
with the cost.

You're about to send 18,000
troops into the Middle East,

and we can safely assume
that's just the beginning.

You're overextended,

we'll find
the money elsewhere.

Let's look at the
breakdown on page three.

C.J. wants us upstairs.

I had a great meeting

with Matt Santos.

What do you think about the
Patients' Bill of Rights?

Lead balloon.

Maybe. I don't know.

I'm gonna take a look
at it again.

So he's keeping his seat?

No, he's screwing us.

That's your idea
of a good meeting?

Yeah.

JOSH:
Look what the elves
have done.

Hey.
Hey.

C.J. wanted to be here
but she just got pulled in.

Staff's on their way.

She wanted me to give
this to you.

"J&T. Nothing without you."

Hey. Thanks.

Who did this?

The boss.

Good evening, Mr. President.

Hey. How'd it go
with the tiger team?

We took a vote and elected
not to call it a tiger team.

Beyond that, I think we've
isolated the funding.

There's still some concern
about the political fallout

if we bring foreign
nuclear material

onto American soil.

An environmental
impact study could
take over a year.

We don't have
that kind of time.

to the British, see
We're if they'll help out.

We talked about
non-proliferation

at the G-8 last year.

They said they were willing
to get more involved.

Great. I'll schedule a call

for you and
the Prime Minister tomorrow.

C.J.

You're Chief of Staff.

You can make the call.

Right. Thank you, sir.

Margaret?

Would you please set up a call
first thing tomorrow morning

with the Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom?

Sure. Who's going
to be on the call?

Me.