All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S06E18 - La Palabra (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing:

I don't know
if I've served you very well

the past few days.

I won't be a
punching bag

for Hoynes
and Santos,

and every second-
tier welterweight

who wants a quick
tabloid hit.

Public opinion
is turning.

You're gonna
start seeing it

at your events.

SANTOS:
You get into this

thinking to yourself that

you're gonna play
by your own rules, and then...

bit by bit, you chip away
at them until, uh...

you can't even name the game.

Russell Hoynes just made a huge
media buyout of Boston.

Close to 1800
gross ratings points.

We need to change

the whole dynamic,
or we finished.

( chattering )

Hey, Josh...
Hey, Josh...

Josh, Russ...
JOSH:
On the record,

the only poll that matters
is on Super Tuesday.

Off the record, no way
is Hoynes up nine in California.

It's an internal poll.
JOSH:
Of what,

John Hoynes's living room?

His own polling says that...

That you can rig these things
any way you want.

It's four days
till the California primary.

This thing is wide open.

Russell's internals show him up
in New York by five.

He's only
campaigned
there, what,

157 times?

I think the guy
has a hack license by now.

Are you banking
on the Latino vote,

like you did in Arizona
and New Mexico?

WOMAN:
What do your
internals show?

We're not releasing those.

I'm through talking about polls.

'Cause you're third
in every one?

'Cause we're here
to talk about issues.

This is a
presidential
campaign.

It's not a
statistics
convention.

But we got Hoynes up
by a lot less than nine.

You didn't get that from me.

( Josh sighs )

since the press asked me
a policy question.wo day

I think that was
about the no-smoking policy

Do you know about this bill
oin the California legislature

to bar illegal immigrants
from getting driver's licenses?

Yeah. We're staying far away
from it.

It's on its way to
The legislatthe governor's desk.

You know the Congressman
will want to denounce it.

Of course. Third in the polls.

Why not champion the one group
of Californians that can't vote?

You'll talk to him?

( sighs )

Yeah.

I really liked
those little bacon things

they had at that, uh,
fund-raiser in Ohio.

Except for the fact
that it was Oregon.

Oregon, Ohio--
it's a plane

to a minivan
to a windowless hotel ballroom.

You're lucky
I knew it was an O-state.

Yeah. There really ought
to be partial credit.

At this point...

...all I do is read
the, uh, talking points

they put in front of me,
you know.

Miss, uh... uh, Santos!

Pleasure to see you
again, it says here.

( laughs )

during our last
conjugal visit
I had suthat, uh...tim

Page two.
Oh.

My staff suggested
I follow up,

MAN ( over P.A. )
( whispe We'll be starting
Oh, yeah. WelJOSH:ll themek some
thatExcuse me, Congressman.al

The California legislature
just passed that bill

to stop illegal immigrants
from getting driver's licenses.

Four days before the primary.

JOSH:
'Cause the

Republicans
in the legislature know

it'll divide us in half.

on one hand--
You got the Latone third

of primary
voters here--

and the ever-popular notion
of rewarding illegal behavior

on the other.
No matter what
Okthe governor does,

he's gonna be accused

I know you're gonna want
oto speak out on this...y.

I don't want to speak out.

You don't.

No.

If you'll fasten your seat belts

and prepare for landing,
Okay.

we'll start our approach.

Just remind me when
we get to the hotel,

I want to talk about
our new internal poll.

( elevator bell dings )

Hey. Congressman,
you know Bram.

He's heading up
California advance.

He was with us on the
Missouri-New Mexico swing.

Montana-Arizona.
JOSH:
Right.

You'll wantThe one with
to do a quick change.e big hats

then a quick clutch,
followed by a receiving line.

BRAM:
You met Backus
What's the diffein San Francisco

at the Giants game.

Daughter's an honors student
at Loyola.

Congratulate him
on his wife's thyroid operation.

So it was successful.

Don't mention
the thyroid operation.

Ed Garcia's waiting
in your room.

Then we'll do
the home health care hit.

Eddie's here?

Couple of last
minute details

about La Palabra's
endorsement.

They're huge
in the Latino community.

Are we gonna bump
Gonna be a greasomebody off?

Hey!

Eddy, how
are you?

How's my campaign widow?

Oh, just, you know,
knitting absentee ballots

for Super Tuesday.

( laughter )

It's good to see
a friendly face.

You know, everywhere I go now,

it's, uh, TV cameras
and coded produce.

That's the way
the press pass messages

They roll oranges.

The news doesn't get
any better,

but you really get
your Vitamin C.

How long are you in California?

HELEN:
Two days.

Red-eyeing to Rhode Island

right after La Palabra's
endorsement.

We're excited about that.

SANTOS:
Hey, we really

appreciate that. Honey?

Uh, this one. Good.

Thanks.

Matt, we're concerned

about this driver's license
bill.

It could be the beginning
of a whole new wave

of anti-immigrant legislation.

We need you to denounce it

in your speech
to La Palabra tomorrow.

I don't think
I could do that, Eddie.

It would define
my whole campaign.

I don't want voters to see me
as just the Brown candidate.

some of them have
Then Iblack-and-white TVs.

( laughs )
The governor wants

to veto this,
but he's scared of it.

Doesn't want to be accused
of torpedoing

the Democrats' chances.

The governor's already
endorsed Hoynes.

This is a moral issue.

Telling the poor immigrants

they can't drive
and make a living?

Nothing I say tomorrow's
gonna make a difference.

We need to focus
on electing

Then we can take on
aall the tough causes.e.

Now all we need's
a progressive candidate.

Maybe you don't see
more friendly faces

'cause your friends
have trouble recognizing you.

I can't do it.

So you've said.

How are we doing?

BRAM:
You sat

with Backus
at the Giants game.

Daughter's getting honors

at Loyola.

I thought I was doing
a home health care hit.

They're upset that
our health care
plan doesn't cover--
Herbal medic

I don't know--
acoustic
guitar playing,

so we said
that we'd do
a meeting

WOMAN:before
Congressman Santos...peech.
( chatter )

Congressman, the latest
field polls say

that if the election
were held today...

because it's normallyprise
held on election day.

( chattering )

Congressman, are
you urging the
Governor to side

I'm not going to tell himriver's
how to run his own state.issue?

Doesn't it worry you
that Vinick's sweeping

the Republican primaries
while the Democrats

are still
Oh, they can have
their coronation.

the competition makes us tougher
for the fall.

And if you
believe that...

( laughter )

Hey, Ronna, would you make sure

that Helen's got
her speech folder?

We've gI want to talk to youets.
positioabout this internal poll.
Thanks.

Sue Bowen.
Hi.

Chris and I sat with you
at the NRDC Gala.

Uh, how come I never hear youod
talk about global warming?again.

Oh, I gave two speeches
on it last week.

Well, I never hear you
talk about it.

( laughs ):
There you go. Hi.

People tell me
I look exactly like you.

( laughs ):
Like looking
in the mirror.

I think this internal's
really promising. Hi.

We're third in a three-way race.

How is that promising?

The issues, Josh.

We're beating
Russell and Hoynes

on-on health care,
on education.

No one's covering
the issues.

All the press
cares about

at this point is polls,
process, horse race.

Well, then we got
to get more disciplined

about staying on our message,
don't we?

BRAM:
Congressman,
you remember
the Ratners?

SANTOS:
Yes, hi.
Excuse me.

SANTOS:
Okay.

You want to meet
the Congressman?

I want to meet you.

I'm your new
finance director.

You're Hickman,
the human cash register.

( laughs ):
Call me Paul.

I should call you a cab.

What are you doing
in Sacramento?

You should be
at a phone bank somewhere

phoneYou know, I wanted to
deliver the news in person.

Your job is to give me money,
not news.

And since we
have no money,

I thought I'd
opt for news.

By "no money," you mean...

So you're going
with the literal meaning then.

The Super
Tuesday polls

have really spooked
our big donors.

We're still raising
on the Internet,

but once
we've paid all the vendors,

our cash on hand will look more
like an empty palm.

Give me a couple hours
to figure out a plan.

We'll brief the Congressman

tonight.

MAN:
The Real Estate Board
of New York is delighted

to have with us
two Vice Presidents,

two highly distinguished
public servants, and the two

front-runners
for the Democratic nomination...

Mr. Vice President.

John.

Oh, no. I have no intention
to of dropping them.

The most exquisitely-tailored
Welstraitjacket known to man.

WOMAN:
we're pleased to welcomend
Vice President Bob Russell

and former Vice
President John Hoynes.

( clears throat )

Guy just got endorsed
by the governor of California.
( applau

He looks like he's been drinking
out of the reservoir.

I need that education statement
with CBO numbers.

Not OMB, CBO.
Believe it or not,

these things aren't
interchangeable.

Will...

to stop putting soe
many acknowledgments

at the top of these
stump speeches.

The VPhe's taking
to souattendance.

We're not going
Have you got a mto California.

Tomorrow?We're gonna focus
that he's son New York and Ohio,
the whole wplaces we can win.

Maybe this isn't the best time
to talk about my job.

Don't go south on me now.

Or at least, make it southeast.

No, I love what I'm doing,
master of all tasks...

Fine, I-I just
wonder if I might
Mistressbe more useful

doing something
more specific,

I-I've learned these issues
clockwise and sideways.

If you think
Read this outit's too soon...

( sighs ):
"John Hoynes's education plan

"has the wrong priorities
for America,

"tripling funds
for character education,

Can I have the pooltion
"wover here please?t as..."

Donna Moss has a statement.

Hi.

Congressman,
why are you trailing John Hoynes

among suburban women?

sermonizing about I
values, but I, uh...

Just pivot to home base.

I got to answer
the question first.
I was aboutDon't answer.

Just pivot. "When they learn
about my health care plan,

"which moves us step-by-step
toward universal coverage,

starting with all children,
that gap will close."

I just talked to Garcia

about the rollout of the
La Palabra endorsement.

You realize it's redundant
to say "the" and "la."

Oh. La endorsement is off.

Garcia says la congressman
knows why.

Garcia says
La Palabra's off.

He wants me

to denounce
the driver's license bill.

It's one of the biggest
I tLatino groups in the country.

This guy is your ticket to...

You got to... call him,
straighten this out.

Now you want me to come out
against the bill?

You want to come in fifth
in a three-way race?

He's upset, but he's
not gonna stiff

the first serious Latino
to run for President.

I'll go see him
in the morning.

Don't promise anything
on the bill.

I'm saying we trailed
almost every country

in every area tested last year:
geometry, computation...

can blunt Hoynes's
surge in California?

This isn't about
blunting or surging.

It's about curing polio.

We cured polio.

And let's not
be complacent about it.

No one wants to ask
about science education?

I do.

You're Bill Brewer.

I don't take questions
from Hoynes's advisors.

'cause I was gonna
Weask how Bob Russell

can turn up his nose
at character education

when parents are
out of their gourds

trying to pass on the right
values to their kids.

We're focusing on things they
can't pass on, like AP Physics.

See, this is why Russell
can't beat Vinick in the fall.

He has no appreciation
of middle-class values.

Next time you rupture
an appendix,

a model citizen
whior a trained surgeon?

I never said I had
a single-issue appendix.

Honestly, your education
plan is closer to my taste.

Really?
Hoynes is on a bit
of a values kick lately.

legislating my
Whkids' values anyway?

Whatever happened to my right

to raise spoiled,
selfish little jerks?

So I take it you're single?

I don't answer
hypothetical questions.

Well, have a drink
with me tonight.

We'll get into specifics.

No...

I mean, you work for Hoynes.

It'd be like sleeping
with the enemy.

Not that we'd actually
sleep together, I just...

you know what I mean.

So you're the
new spokesperson.

I think this was
kind of a tryout.

Nice try.

HELEN:
Governor Tillman was elected
with 71% of the Latino vote.

Yeah, but 67% of Californians
think it's wrong to grant

driver's licenses to people
who are here illegally.

Yeah, well, nobody told
him there'd be math.

Thank you.
( knocking )

Can I take five minutes?

Yeah, sure.

I don't think you've met
our new finance director.

Phil, great to meet you
in person.

It's Paul.
We call him Hickman.

Shouldn't Hickman be dialing for
dollars back at headquarters?

I'll let him explain
why he's here.

Um... Congressman.

Mrs. Santos.

As much as the press
care about polls

and the horse race,
donors care about it more.

Now, winning New Mexico
and Arizona helped,

but in the last few weeks,

as Hoynes and Russell
established leads

in the Super Tuesday states,
our fundraising's dried up.

Now, i-if you look
at the second page,

we've made our media buy,

but we still haven't made
outlays for direct mail,

or payroll or field

and at 800K, that pretty much
zeroes out our cash-on-hand.

I thought we had
an aggressive Internet program.

That's mostly $10
and $20 checks.
College campuses,

local Democratic clubs,
typical low-dollar activity.

What's the punch line?

If we don't do something
to beat expectations on Tuesday,

I don't see how we can
continue the campaign.

Russell's just announced
he's not campaigning here.

I want to cancel

the Rhode Island-New York swing,

focus all our resources

here in California.

but maybe we can squeak
by Russell, come in second.es,

Let's do it.

Great.

you can definitely raise
enough to keep going.her

HELEN:
And what happens if we don't?

Let's The Texas primary's
when we two weeks away.

Hickman, what are
my backup options?

Well...

none.

Even a barebones campaign
in Texas

would cost 300,000, 400 grand.

Can we borrow?

Federal election law
prohibits any borrowing.

Except from the candidate
himself.

Technically, that's right.

So technically, we can
mortgage our house

and loan the money
to the campaign.

Josh is right.
Let's burn the... what he said.

And plan our Texas campaign
on the back of a napkin?

Congressman, if you took

on that level
of personal debt,

you'd be raising money
to pay it off for years.

The only way
to do that is by...

By what?

By going back to Congress.

'Cause no one writes checks
to retired politicians.

Have the lawyers draw up
the mortgage papers.

What, we don't even want
the papers as backup?

If we come in second here,
it's moot anyway, right?

Probably.

Thank you, Congressman.
( claps hands )
Thank you, sir.me in second.

Mrs. Santos.

( door closes )

( loud thud )

( knocking )
!
Will?

Will?

Will.

Will.
Hoynes wants to colonize Mars
with non-violent drug offenders.

Recidivism.
( mumbles )

It's 3:00 a.m.
What are you pouring
on my head?

I couldn't sleep.

I met Hoynes's issues director.

So you decidednvited me
to pour it on my head?ink.

I said it was

which of course I
sdidn't mean literally.

If you're asking,

should you have slept with
Hoynes's issues director, no,

butHoynes was supposed to fly
youto California last night.

He's giving two big policy
speeches in San Diego.

Why would his issues director
be in New York

inviting me for a drink?

Something to do with this whole
sleeping-with-the-enemy thing?

What if Hoynes isn't spending
three days in California?

What if it's a head-fake
so we won't campaign there?

He could have left
some staff here.

For Super Tuesday, you campaign
Hfrom a gurney if you have to.

( line ringing )

Hi, Susan, sorry to wake you.

No, I'm calling
from a fishing trawler.

Yes, I know
it's 3:00 in the morning.

I need to know if there's been

any middle-of-the-night change
to Hoynes's schedule,

as silly as that sounds.

No. Of course. Thanks.

Hoynes canceled
his San Diego fund-raiser.

He's spending a few more hours
in New York.

Apparently,
it's a sore throat.

Aren't you going
to say something?

About what?

Tomorrow's weather forecast?

Seasonably warm.

They don't even have seasons
in California.

It's just a backup, Helen.

This is all about Texas,
isn't it?

What, we don't even
want a backup?

( scoffs )

Don't do this to me.

Here I am trapped in a
Tammy Wynette medley,

like I'm supposed to quash

to rake leaves all your life,
your ambitI won't. force you

Good.
Fine.

Going back to Congress, Matt?

It's a worst-case scenario.

For who? For me?
For your kids?

For what's-his-name? Rickman?

and we would retire
Onall the debt.r

It's only if we don't
come in second.

Like we're betting everything on
Papa's Moustache in the fourth,

which we are.

Hey, it's your house, too.

Tell me not to and I won't.

One two-year term and then what?

You have no intention
of running for President again?

Tell me not to and I won't.

MAN:
Congressman, would you sign
my hernia truss?

Uh, oh, boy, I...

No, I manufacture them.

Fourth biggest
wholesaler in the state.

Okay.

"Thanks for the support."

Let's go, Congressman.
Reporters are waiting.

( radio announcer talking
in background )

( knocking )
Come in.

( door opens )

Ms. Santos.

You make me sound like
a grandmother or a shop teacher.

The congressman'sr
doing TV interviews,

No, I'm looking for you. him

I, um... want to talk about...

Don't sign
those loan papers.

There's some bad tradeoffs
in this business, but I don't...

For the staff? A lot of bad
tradeoffs for the staff?

Oh, those long hours
must be dreadful,

I feel terrible
about that meeting..

What chance do we have
of coming in second, Josh?

( sighs )

We have a chance.

What chance?

Pretty small one.

Well, thanks for talking shop.

SANTOS:
Where are the reporters?

These are satellite interviews.
You'll hear the questions

through your earpiece.
Fake window?

( chuckles )
Do they do, uh,
Addhome installations?htness.

We're starting with
KSEE out of Fresno.

Thank you.

Hi, Lisa, good to be with you.

more important things
to focus on, like health care.

I have a plan which moves us
towards universal coverage,

step-by-step, starting
with all children.

AIDE:
KGET Bakersfield.

Well, I think when they see
my health care plan,

which moves us step-by-step...

Uh, that's a decision
the governor has to make.
AIDE:
KNTV San J

I'm focused on national issues
like health care.

Well then maybe I better do
Ka better job

about educating people
about my health care plan.

Uh, I'm sorry, Terry.
I can't hear the question,

but I will say that one issue
at stake in this election

is health care.

Health care.

Health care.

Eddie, good to see you.

Josh, come in.

Well, I have
to hand it to you.

You've taught Matt
a lot about politics

in just a few short months.

Well, it took us a while
to get our sea legs.

More like concrete shoes.

The Matt Santos I knew
wouldn't stay silent

for three seconds on an
anti-immigrant assault like
this.

Bob Russell just came out
in favor of the bill.

He's not even campaigning
in California.

He could beat us on this alone.

How do you think voting rights
polled in the 1960s?

Jim Crow in the 1870s?

People use driver's licenses
You knto buy guns,

Let's come up
with a better form of ID.

These people are here illegally.

If why don't we take licenses
the isaway from murderers?

Manson probably still has his.

Charlie's not exactly tailgating
on the 405.

If we don't give
these people licenses,

you think they're going
to go back to Mexico?

They'll drive without insurance.

We won't bThis isn't about the
to trasubstance of the bill.

Because you know
the bill is wrong.
'Cause your old pal

Matt Santos is trying to win
in California.

You want him on the losing side

My new pal John Hoynes has
the guts to take the right side.

John Hoynes?

Promisewhen he campaigns
hewith the governor tomorrow.

Santos is
the first viable Latino

to even enter a presidential.

We both know you're

endorsing him.
Not unless he takes
a stand

in his speech to La Palabra.

The governor needs cover
to veto this.

If Hoynes provides it,
we'll endorse him.

Having a Latino president

doesn't advance
the Latino cause?

If he doesn't stand up
for Latinos?

You may have taught him
how to live by the polls,

but when you're off

on the next campaign,

he's the one
who's got to live with himself.

( phone rings )

LEO:
Yeah.

It's Josh.

I'm reading that new biography
of James Madison.

Know what his dying words were?

"I always talk better
lying down."

How's it going out there?
to figure
We're stuck in third place,

so we're moving all our money
to California.

Our base thinks
we've sold 'em out,

and Helen Santos thinks

I'm playing
presidential primary parcheesi

with her kids' college tuition.

So about the same
as ten minutes ago.

Oh, the middle thing's new.

So, uh... Santos was reading
our internals

on the plane last night.

Politician reads polls.
Film at 11:00.

He barely looked at 'em before.

You've been complaining
about that for months.

I-I know, but the guy's
playing this to win,

even when the numbers
make you want to... lie down.

It's your job to doubt.

It's his job to believe.

Just don't let him do anything
too loopy.

I'll call you later.

BRAM:
The site diagram

I'm assuming
from all these arrowstion even

We've got fixed camera
I'm goinpositions here and here,

so if you stay
within this area,

the kids are always
in the cutaway shot.

Doesn't matter how
Which is goothe press report it.

They can trash
the whole event.

from every camera position,
it'll scream education.

We're screaming
Sorry I'mat, uh, camera
Did you positions here.

Thanks, Bram.

Yep.

La Palabra wants
to endorse John Hoynes.

Hoynes?

He promised to denounce
the driver's license bill

side-by-side with the governor
tomorrow.

Let's beat him to it.

If I denounce it, it's
a seven-second soundbite:

"Latino comes out for Latinos."

Yeah, it's better

than "Latino ignores Latinos."

right into
the Republicans' hands.

You said it yourself.

Plus, no one would hear anything
else I would have to say.

It's a bad bill.

You shouldI was wrong
wto push the politics on this.

I'm not taking a position.

Garcia's serious
about going with Hoynes.

Maybe he should be.

And not for nothing, Josh--

Garcia can tell me if he thinks
I'm not Latino enough.

You can't, okay?

( knocking )
BREWER:
Who is it?

It's Donna Moss
from the Russell campaign.

You know, the "character
doesn't count" people?

Can I interest you
in a late-morning drink?

They say Manhattan has
the champagne of tap waters.

BREWI could've told you that
I'm not deyesterday.

I'm busy cooking up ways
to legislate

your spoiled, selfish
little kids into submission...

I have to have
the kids first.

If that's supposed
to be a pickup line,

needs a lot of work.

You're not packed
for California.

Go on, find somebodylly
who's more in the loop,

but when we win the
nomination, don't
come crawling...

He's just canceled his
first policy speech,

and Brewer's not packed,
and this isn't a guy

and why would he
wbe working on as
ipress statement

if they were
physically go...
Whoa, slow down.

I'll lend you
some punctuation.

I don't think he's going
to California at all,

and I think we should.

I don't see how
we take this to the VP,

not unless we're
1,000% sure.

They're just sitting
Thearound buying thishe
presore throat nonsense.

If we can't interest them
in our education plan,

maybe we can interest
them in this.

I've created a monster.

Bad idea?

No. Good idea.

That's what worries me.

Alessandra?

Got a teensy little tip
for the paper of record.

that Hoynes lays
out this great bigk
California strategy

and then fails to
show up for it?

Bye!

REPORTER:
Congressman!
Congressman Santos!

REPORTER 2:
Mr. Santos!

should just signu think
the driver's license bill?

Won't that deny Vinick
the issue for the fall?

I think not enough kids
read at grade level.

greater accountability
We in our schools.ndards,

You worried you're third place
He's pin every state poll?

If our kids don't read
at grade level,

how are they going
to understand
all these polls?

( phones ringing )
Shot was perfect.

Home run.

( indistinguishable
conversations )

Hoynes campaign says
it's his throat.

You guys are supposed
to be journalists,

so unless one of you
has a throat swab...

Go over this one more time.

Okay, look,
Vice President Russell

was going to campaign
in California.

and Hoynes practically announced
he was moving there.

But now that we canceled
our trip,

Hoynes is holed up in New York,

canceling his California events
left and right

like a Foghat reunion tour.

What do you think
Hoynes is up to?

Do I look like
an investigative reporter?

you're just standing around
when you should go do your jobs.

Go.

Been looking
at the Los Angeles schedule.

Are we doing
enough free media?
There's a story

Hoynes might not be coming
cominto California.

Not at all?
That's the rumor.

His whole itinerary
was a fake-out

so that Russell
wouldn't campaign here.

Hoynes puts his California lead
in the bank,

dukes it out with Russell
back east.

If he doesn't come here
at all...

Then he doesn't
have to take a stand

Doesn't have to keep
on this promise to Garcia.

We got about... five
of our reporters

They think he may be trying
to draw us out.

Latino comes out for Latinos,
and Hoynes attacks us

for being weak
on immigration and terrorism.

Maybe.
So, Matt's the only candidate
from either party

who is here in California,
and yet, he's in third place.

Now, how many reporters
did you say we have

on the story, five?

About.

Let's try and make it ten.

Vice President Hoynes
has a mild cold.

He'll be flying
to California

and maintaining
an aggressive schedule.

If it's mild, why can't
he rest on the plane?

His three-day gambit's looking
more like a shell game.

Look, John Hoynes is
not a gambling man.

And you shake hands
with every pretzel vendor

on Manhattan Island,
see if you don't come home

Come on, Bill,ig germ cocktail
be straight.
Look, I'd love to stay and chat.

I'veand wait for your nextoo
hectoring phone call.

Will you please find out
what in Jane's name

we're still doing
in New York City?

( phone rings )

A full 13 and a half minutes.
Where you been?

JOSH:
So, who cares
that Russell's making hay

by saying illegals
shouldn't get licenses?

Who cares if Hoynes thrashes us
on the issue?

Don't we score courage points

for flying in the face
of public op
He's not wrong.
He'll marginalize himself.

Latino backs Latinos.
Dog bites man.

Madison takes a nap.

Fine, but now the guy's talking
about mortgaging his house,

stirring up the press
about Hoynes,

muzzling himself on issues
I know he cares about,

and for what--
a vain hope of a silver medal?

I've seen this
in tons of candidates.

Ride's almost over.
They want to hang on.

The crowds, the adrenaline.
You wait.

He'll even miss
the bad headlines.

You think it's almost over.

I think you've done

a remarkable job.

I think you've taken
a junior House nobody

and made him a national brand,

a contender
for the Vice Presidency, even.

He still believes he can win.

It's his job to believe,

and if he keeps believing,
it's probably 'cause he's...

He believes it
'cause I hammered it into him.

I'll call you later.

Have you seen CNN?
There must be
50 reporters

in the lobby of Hoynes's hotel
in New York.

JOSH:
I sent half of 'em there.

Shouldn't the
Congressman be doing
meet-and-greets?

Uh, they're signing
the loan papers first.

You gave him
the papers?

Her. Helen.
She asked for them.

I don't suppose, in addition
to your many skills,

that you're
a notary public?

Don't sign those.

We're not sending 'em
to the bank unless we have to.

Just want to make
sure we're...

covered for Texas.

It's your financial future.

Which is why we're going
to come in second.

We can't.

There's no chance.

I'm sorry.

We've got Hoynes staying
in New York...

We're not going to
win the nomination.

I made myself believe it--

you, too-- but... you can't risk
everything for this.

make a strong statement against
the driver's license bill.ra,

You should remember
who your friends are--

not some names
on an index card,

but the people
you're going back to.

And then you should
take a bow...

and you should
step off the stage.

Hmm.

You know, when I got
out of the Marines,

I hadn't been
around my old neighborhood

in Houston in a few years.

I had just gotten
this job offer

from the Pentagon,

and it required
a full FBI background check.

After a few weeks,
the investigators--

they came up to me,
and they said,

"We can't give you the job.

"We've interviewed all
your old friends and neighbors.

They can't confirm anything,
not even your name."

So I hop a plane,
go back to the old block.

I see my neighbor's
11- and 13-year-old kids.

They're-they're sitting
on the stoop,

same as always,
and they see me coming.

They start running
toward me,

and they're shouting,
"Tío Matt, Tío Matt--

"Uncle Matt--
"Tío Matt,

"the Feds-- they were here
looking for you.

We told 'em
we never heard of you."

11 and 13.

You're not the only one
who can read bad polls, Josh.

for president
I amin that Texas primary...

and those kids are going
to see me do that.

And that's the only statement
about my skin color

I intend to make
in this campaign.

( knock at door )

If you need a minute to...
I'm fine.

BRAM:
You met Richter
in Portland.

he's on DNC
site control.

His son's a...

Math major at Princeton.

When you asked
our chances before...

you wanted to make sure
the loan was ready

when we lost here.

Something's happened
to Hoynes.

( reporters clamoring )

Excuse me, I need
the congressman for one second.

There are five
more supporters there.

an exclusive interview with
the former Senate stafferng

claiming that
then-Senator Hoynes

made inappropriate
sexual advances toward her,

which has to come as bad news
to the Hoynes campaign

so close
to Super Tuesday.

was still a Georgetown
senior at the time,ion

the daugThe campaignominent
spent the day in New York

urging the tabloids
not to run the story,

excerpts of
which appeared

all over the Internet
this afternoon.

ANCHOR 3:
...that he is temporarily

suspending his campaign.

We just moved
from third to second.

Hoynes is dead; we're
neck-and-neck with Russell.

Is that true?
There's no way to poll it
till the voting starts.

( reporters clamoring )

Anything from the governor?

he's not discussing
a new endorsement.

He can't be sticking
with Hoynes.

It's a sleazoid
tabloid nightmare.

Tell him Matt Santos
is a candidate for president.

If that doesn't even
warrant a phone call...

Thank you!

( clamoring continues )

Where are we
on the congressman's schedule?

BRAM:
We've gotten almost

all about Hoynes's
overcharged libido.

I assume we want
to ride the story.

JOSH:
We're not riding it,

The Accept as many it,
It's health care and education.

It's the only way
he beats Russell.

Every question
will be about Hoynes.

But none of the answers.

( bell dings )

( reporters clamoring )

I had no idea
about the Senate staffers.

REPORTER:
You've been pushing this
for two days.

You must have
known something.

The man locks himself
in a hotel room,

How am I supposed to know
he coulwhat he's doing? legs.

WILL:
We're going to be landing
in California in a few hours.

There's nothing we can do
on driver's licenses.

We've already come out
in favor of the bill.

Hoynes
is an embarrassment,

Santos
is a footnote.

Governor, the Vice President
needs you on this.

You wanted to see me, sir?

I'm sorry your name
is in these stories.

I realize you had no idea
what this was about.

No, sir.

TheyIf I believed everything
columnthey wrote about me,

I'd be voting
for Pat Paulsen again.

That was a joke.

I never voted for Pat Paulsen.

Will's talking
to the Governor of California.

'Cause I wouldn't call him
myself.

Even if these allegations
are true,

it's none of anybody's business.

Yes, sir.
You don't agree?

I think if he wanted it
to be none of our business,

about character
he shouldn't education.d

Set a standard,
you have to meet it.

The governor says he's not
taking endorsement meetings.

He's yanking his support
from Hoynes

and feeling
more than a bit burned

by primary politics.

but Santos has beeng
there for three days,

and we're not
going to be there

for another three hours.

I don't knowYou have to call the
what'll happgovernor yourself.

You have to make sure
he endorses you,

or no one at all.

Get the governor on the line.

SANTOS:
So, how we doing?

We shut down all
our field offices,

squeezed out the money
to air more health care spots.

and unless your tongue's got
Ourepetitive stress injuries...

Keep scheduling interviews.

He's never had so much
press coverage in his life.

or my plan
Itfor premium reductions.al

What about
the governor?

He'Looks likeng
he's not endorsing anyone.

This guy could have
single-handedly

delivered labor,
half the county organizations...

we don't want
Whata political meeting?rnor

What are we supposed
to meet about, citrus futures?

the Australian Parliament--
The parI'll walk his dog

if I canWhat aboutminutes
the driver's license bill?

TILLMAN:
You understand why this meeting
can't be public.

a little legI can't turn on a TV
Governor. d's without seeing you

spout the same three
lines about health care.

You ought to mix
it up a bit.

Six and a half million
Californians

They'd rather hear about
John Hoynes's boxer shorts?

You know, Hoynes
looked me in the eye

and he told me

had been flogged to death
alby the press.ing

Those staffers
It were paid for their story.

They were paid
by a dimestore tabloid.

I guess
if we don't give

the horAnd I've got hordes
Well, I outside my office now.

so we could talk
about the driver's license bill.

is that Hoynes promised
La Palabra that he'd oppose it.

He made that promise to me.

The state Republicans
timed this bill

so they could wreak havoc
in the Democratic primaries.

I want a future
in the party, too.

blow our chanceink I'd
to beat Vinick in the fall?dly

What if I was there with you?

I told Russell I'm not
going to endorse anybody.

And you wouldn't
say one word
against that bill

I'm not going to say a wordeeded
against it now.my suppo

And I'm not looking
for your support.

You veto the bill, I'll be there
standing right behind you.

All the words will be your own,

in front of about 50 cameras,
all going live.

and you wouldn't even get a bite
won the news.

That's right.

Are you so desperate

for the appearance
of my support

while I strike down a bill
ththat you don't oppose?

Oh, I think
the bill is an abomination.

We need to toughen
our immigration laws,

make our borders
50 times more secure.

But if we're not
really willing to do that,

it's wrong to punish the people
that we bring here

to pick our avocados.

Well, why don't you
just come out and say that?

( sighs softly )

'Cause people
don't need to hear it

from someone who looks like me.

They need to hear it
from someone who looks like you.

( reporters clamoring )

TILLMAN:
Moments ago,

I vetoed SB-67,

the so-called
"driver's license" bill.

We have security problems
in this country.

We have immigration
problems.

We need to address them.

But we shouldn't prevent

the poorest working people--
the people who are here anyway--

from making
a living.

It may make us
feel better,

but it doesn't
solve the problem.

Thank you.

Well, I'd show you
all the, uh, veto pen,

but I've already given it
to Congressman Matt Santos.

( reporters clamoring )

You know what
you should be
writing about?

The six and a half
million Californians

who don't have
health coverage.

You ought to ask Matt
Santos about that.

( reporters clamoring
for Santos )

I agree with
Governor Tillman 100%.

Uh, and don't forget to vote,
Thno matter who you vote for.

Oh, what the hell; vote for me.

( both chuckle softly )

What's next?

Besides the mother of
all throat lozenges?

He's done 100
interviews today.

That is the last one.

The California polls
are closing.

Russell's won New York,
Connecticut,

Rhode Island
and Vermont.

Hoynes is crumbling
pretty much everywhere.

We don't know
about California yet.

Mmm. Okay.

What's this?

It is a campaign plan
for Texas.

I'll sell my own house
if I have to.

You'd be going
to federal prison.

Yeah. Well, I'll need
to live someplace, won't I?

I can tell you
that it's been a long day--

a tough, close fight
here in a state

that usually doesn't see
such hotly contested...

They need a margin of error
for the margin of error.it p

we're moments away from calling
Nwhat has truly been a dogfight

between Vice President
Bob Russell

and Congressman Matthew Santos.

So, we urge you
to stay by the TV.

In just a moment...

( sotto voce ):
I need you guys
for one sec.

What is it?

What?

We won California.

( cheering and applause )

Steve Gilbert,
co-chair for L.A. County.

Son's big
in the College Dems.

Congratulations.

( reporters clamoring )

You're the experts
on the horse race.

Maybe folks took a look
at my health care plan.

( clamoring continues )