THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: In The Room (S6E8)

THE WEST WING
6x8 - “IN THE ROOM”
WRITTEN BY LAWRENCE O’DONNELL JR.
DIRECTED BY ALEX GRAVES

Transcribed by Walking, Talking, And Yelling At Clouds
(kegofglory.blogspot.com)

TEASER

IN THE ROOM

FADE IN: INT. - EAST ROOM – NIGHT

A crowd in the room is applauding, with balloons and party decorations in sight. TOBY and JOSH are having a discussion in the back of the room.

JOSH
He’s a Republican!

TOBY
Not a real Republican, he’s a California Republican.

JOSH
Are we really saying that there isn’t a single Democrat -

TOBY
President thinks Arnold Vinick’s perfect for UN Ambassador, it’s your job to feel him out, see if he’d be up for it.

As JOSH and TOBY turn their attention to the party, the view changes to show the magicians PENN and TELLER standing on a stage in front of the crowd. A giant poster on the wall reads “HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOEY!” The crowd stops applauding and sits.

PENN
Thank you. Aw, thanks, we can’t, we can’t tell you what an honor it’s been to be here, to actually work here in the White House. I want to thank our new best friend, Zoey Bartlet, the First Daughter -

We see ZOEY and CHARLIE sitting in the front row.

ZOEY
I’m not the First Daughter.

PENN
Well, I thought -

TELLER holds a pack of cards. The three of clubs magically rises out of the pack.

PENN
Oh, yeah, okay, Zoey Bartlet, the third daughter of the First Family.

ZOEY
Come on, guys, one more trick.

PENN
You are just spoiled rotten, aren’t you, Zoey?

The crowd laughs.

ZOEY
Just one?

PENN
Please?

ZOEY
Please.

PENN
Well, you certainly deserve another trick. Teller?

TELLER motions to ZOEY to bring her up to the front of the stage. He rolls up a large piece of paper into a cone and hands it to her to hold. He pulls out a large red handkerchief, rolls it up, and stuffs it into the cone.

PENN
A simple red handkerchief.

TELLER shows his hands are empty, then pulls a magic wand out of his jacket. The crowd chuckles. He taps the wand on the cone, makes a magic-type gestures that brings another laugh. He puts the wand back in his jacket, takes the cone from ZOEY and opens it, revealing a shower of red glitter but no handkerchief. ZOEY and the crowd break into applause. PENN, who had walked off the stage, returns wearing white gloves.

PENN
I love that trick. So simple. There is nothing like a vanish. So pure. But what does it mean? I know what you’re thinking; a, a magic trick, a simple vanish, can have no meaning whatsoever. But what if, instead of using that handkerchief, a meaningless piece of cloth, we were to use a piece of cloth that was nothing but meaning?

PENN picks up the flagstaff on the stage holding an American flag. TELLER, now also wearing white gloves, removes it from the staff.

PENN
What if the piece of cloth we chose was the flag of the United States of America? ‘Cause, you know, with this flag on stage, there’s a lot to think about.

PENN and TELLER respectfully fold the flag. As they do, PENN continues.

PENN
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam; in full glory reflected it shines in the stream; does the star-spangled banner, o long may it wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

PENN and TELLER finish folding the flag. PENN holds it as he speaks.

PENN
And what if, instead of using that meaningless piece of construction paper, we were to use a piece of paper that means more to us than any other piece of paper in the world -

TELLER holds up a rolled-up piece of paper. He lets it unroll, revealing a copy of the Bill of Rights.

PENN
The Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution. Including my favorite amendment, the First Amendment; it’s the one that guarantees - not just everybody in this room, but every single person in the United States – every citizen, every visitor, every magician … freedom of speech. 

As he continues, PENN stuffs the folded flag into the rolled-up copy of the Bill of Rights held by TELLER.

PENN
It’s the one that says if we want to add a little bit of, uh, spontaneous combustion to our simple vanish, we can do that. We can take a, some tinder -

As TELLER pulls a white piece of cloth from his pocket and adds it to the rolled-up paper, PENN pulls a lighter out of his pocket.

PENN
- and a very eccentric magic wand … and we can do this.

PENN lights the lighter and holds it to the end of the rolled-up paper held by TELLER. The crowd reacts as flames shoot out of the opposite end of the roll.

PENN
And it’s okay. ‘Cause even though the flag is gone -

TELLER shows the rolled-up paper to the crowd. It is now completely empty, with nothing left inside it.

PENN
- the Bill of Rights remains.

TELLER opens up the paper to reveal it is still that copy of the Bill of Rights. The crowd applauds as TOBY and JOSH look on in shock.

TOBY
Did they just burn an American flag in the White House?

JOSH
Uh-huh.

SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.
END TEASER.
***

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - BACK OFFICE OF PRESS BRIEFING ROOM – DAY

ANNABETH is walking up the stairs into the back office of the briefing room, Several reporters are there, including KATIE, MARK, and a reporter named WALTER.

ANNABETH
Okay, here’s the latest updated schedule for the China summit … 

MARK
Hey, Annabeth -

ANNABETH
You guys – I’m just gonna run through the highlights real quick. The President leaves Andrews this afternoon at 2:15 pm with a stop in Louisiana before departing tonight from New Orleans for the flight to Beijing.

The reporters start asking questions.

KATIE
Any indication when the President’s going to appoint a new UN Ambassador?

ANNABETH
The First Lady will complete her visit to India tomorrow and arrive in Beijing in time for the state dinner on Thursday night.

KATIE
How long is the President going to leave the UN post vacant?

ANNABETH
Not as long as I’m gonna ignore questions about anything other than the China trip. In the New Orleans stop later today, the President will meet with shrimp fishermen and shrimp packers -

WALTER
Shrimpers.

ANNABETH
What?

WALTER
They’re called shrimpers, Annabeth, not shrimp fishermen.

ANNABETH
In New Orleans, the President will meet with representatives of the shrimp industry about their request to invoke anti-dumping sanctions against imported Chinese shrimp.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

There is a meeting going on about the summit. In the room with BARTLET are TOBY, KATE, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE BARROW, and CJ.

CJ (handing a document to BARTLET)
Here’s the statement on human rights that you and President Lian will put out at the end of the first day of meetings.

BARTLET
Not a word about Tibet?

TOBY
Tibet’s in there. We just couldn’t use the word ‘Tibet.’

BARTLET (walking to TOBY to give him the document)
Okay, show me where you think the Tibet sentence is here.

KATE
Mr. President, what you say in the room is entirely up to you, what we say afterward in the joint statement is not.

BARTLET
I’m gonna hammer them on Tibet in the room.

KATE
And they’re gonna hammer you about your Indian reservations.

BARTLET
Indian reservations weren’t my idea.

KATE
I’m sure they’ll understand.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

JOSH is in a meeting with DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION and others, but his attention is drawn through the door to what is going on inside the Oval Office – at least until a staffer closes the Oval Office door.

DEPUTY SECRETARY
I’m just saying the Department of Transportation has a lot on its plate right now.

JOSH
Mr. Secretary, you’ve got transportation on your plate. That’s all.

DEPUTY SECRETARY
Look, Josh, the truth is I assumed you were going on the China trip and that we would have another week to get our homework done.

JOSH
This is more important than the China trip. This is the budget of the United States of America we’re talking about.

JOSH sees LEO walk by outside the room, and stands up, distracted again.

JOSH
You’re the only department who hasn’t submitted a budget proposal yet. I can’t ask OMB to put together a complete budget estimate until I got - 

JOSH starts to leave and follow LEO as DONNA comes in the room behind him.

JOSH
- I’ll be back.

DONNA
Senator Vinick’s confirmed for 11:15, which means we have to move your OMB meeting to, like, now -

JOSH
Give me a minute.

DONNA
And then you’ve got that other thing after wheels-up.

JOSH
What thing?

DONNA
Me.

JOSH
Oh. Right. Sure.

JOSH exits the room and chases LEO down the hall.

JOSH
Hey … you’re back.

LEO
Naw, I just have to sort out some files I have left in my office.

JOSH
Can’t Margaret send them to the house?

LEO
Be a federal crime if she did.

JOSH
Your-eyes-only kind of thing?

LEO
Yeah.

JOSH
You hear about this Vinick thing?

LEO
President ran it by me yesterday.

JOSH
I can’t believe it, Vinick’s been investigating us for seven years, nonstop, we’re offering him a job?

LEO
Sure, we’ve had some run-ins with him, but -

JOSH
Some run-ins?

LEO
He has always supported the President on foreign policy.

LEO walks off, smiling as he greets MARGARET with a hug. JOSH stands in the hallway, lost in his own thoughts.

LEO
Hey, sweetie!

MARGARET
Hey, boss. Let me tell CJ you’re here.

LEO
No, don’t bother her, just set me up somewhere with those files and I’ll stay out of everyone’s way.

MARGARET
I moved them over to CJ’s old office.

LEO
Shredder?

MARGARET
Engine’s running.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

The pre-summit meeting continues.

BARROW
And this is the statement on regional security that you and President Lian will put out at the end of the last day.

BARTLET
The last day shouldn’t be about regional security, it should just be about North Korea.

KATE
Sir, they’re only willing to discuss North Korea in the context of other regional issues -

BARTLET
Don’t they understand that North Korea is their regional security problem? Fix that and we’ve saved half the world.

KATE
I’ve made it very clear to them how much you want to talk about it.

BARTLET
Tell the Chinese if they talk to me about North Korea, they don’t have to talk to me about anything else.

BARROW
Mr. President, our agenda with China is now as long and complex as it is with any other country in the world.

BARTLET
I know.

BARROW
To narrow a summit to this one issue -

BARTLET
I know, I know, we can talk about the rest of this stuff on the plane.

CJ
Mr. President, I think we should cover as much as we can with the staff here before -

BARTLET
We got 20 hours to kill in the air over the next two days.

CJ and TOBY exchange a look.

CUT TO: INT. - PRESS SECRETARY’S OLD OFFICE – DAY

LEO is looking over files. JOSH is still talking with him.

JOSH
We got an election coming up and we’re actually saying there’s no Democrat who can represent us at the UN?

LEO
The President wants Arnold Vinick.

JOSH
Was Vinick your recommendation?

LEO
I’ve known the guy 30 years, and I don’t know anyone better for the job.

JOSH
Sorry, I’m, I’m having some trouble imagining Arnie Vinick as a diplomat.

LEO
UN could use some tough love these days. The President wanted to ask him himself, but you don’t wanna put them alone in the room until we know Vinick will say yes.

JOSH
Well, if he plays hard-to-get I’m out of there, I’m not begging a Republican.

LEO
If he says yes, he won’t be investigating us anymore.

JOSH
We’re doing this just to get him off our backs?

LEO
No. The President thinks he’s the best we can get. I’m just trying to give you your motivation.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

We are back in the meeting on the summit.

TOBY
I think we’re all anxious about the subjects because you’re insisting on being alone in the room with the Chinese leaders.

BARTLET
Yeah, you want to be in the room, too?

TOBY
I do not. But I think CJ and Kate and the Secretary -

BARTLET
I don’t want to fly all the way to China just to participate in another phony ritual of putting out these joint statements on what we already agreed to before the trip.

KATE
After the controversy about the Taiwanese flag, we’re lucky they didn’t cancel the whole thing -

BARTLET
This is my last China summit. It’s my last chance. I want to walk into that room and show the Chinese that they are not dealing with some staff-dependent puppet. I want them to see that I’m ready to get some real work done right there in the room. Progress isn’t good enough for me now – I want to get something done.

TOBY and CJ exchange another look. CJ gets an idea.

CJ
You like shrimp, don’t you?

BARTLET
I love it.

CJ
You might be interested to know how much of the shrimp sold in the US actually comes from China.

BARTLET
Nice. Okay, go ahead.

CJ gives a nod to a staffer on trade, STANLEY.

STANLEY
Uh, yes, sir, well, one of the most difficult trade issues on the agenda this time is shrimp.

BARTLET sits and gives him a look.

STANLEY
Shrimp.

CUT TO: INT. - BACK OFFICE OF PRESS BRIEFING ROOM – DAY

ANNABETH continues her briefing with the group of reporters.

ANNABETH
And on the last day of the summit, the agenda will be the security of the region.

WALTER
Does that include North Korea?

ANNABETH
Yes, it does.

WALTER
So, can we expect to hear something -

ANNABETH
Walter, just let me get through the return trip itinerary and we’re done.

MARK
Annabeth, is it true that Penn and Teller burned an American flag in the White House last night?

ANNABETH
How many times do I have to tell you I’m not taking any questions?

MARK
They warn anybody that they were going to burn a flag?

KATIE
Who invited Penn and Teller to the White House?

ANNABETH
Penn and Teller were invited to perform at a private party last night in the East Room. Because it was a private party, the White House has no further comment.

WALTER
Do you have a list of who was -

ANNABETH
Walter. As I said, it was -

MARK
Was the President in the room?

ANNABETH
Mark. I’m not taking any questions.

KATIE
You just did.

ANNABETH
Well, I’m not taking any more.

The room is abuzz with questions from reporters.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

The meeting on the summit continues.

STANLEY
Even if we make significant progress in tariffs and quotas and state-sponsored industries, if they don’t budge on the currency issue then we might not actually be able to achieve any real gains the -

CJ reads a note CHARLIE has just brought in to her.

CJ
‘State has confirmed that China has just released Wen Jong as a goodwill gesture on the eve of the President’s arrival -’

CJ stands and exchanges a high-five with KATE.

CJ
‘The dissident had been jailed for six and a half years on charges -’

CJ hands the note to BARTLET.

CJ
Congratulations, Mr. President.

BARTLET
They always give us one before a summit.

KATE
Wen Jong is not just any dissident!

CJ
We need to draft a statement right now.

SURGEON GENERAL MILLICENT GRIFFITH walks into the room.

CJ
Hey, Millie.

MILLIE
Hi, CJ.

BARTLET
Madame Surgeon General; the briefing book on public health in China is maybe just a touch too technical for someone who almost flunked organic chemistry.

CJ
What’d you get, a B?

MILLIE
B plus, as I recall.

BARTLET
Well, I don’t remember any of it. Are your bags packed?

MILLIE
Excuse me?

BARTLET
I need a seminar from you on the plane about SARS and AIDS in China.

MILLIE
No punch line?

BARTLET
Wheels-up at what, CJ?

CJ
2:15, but we’re already 20 minutes behind, so …

CJ gestures to TOBY as she heads out of the room.

BARTLET
So you got plenty of time to pack.

MILLIE
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Leonard, go ahead.

STANLEY
Stanley.

BARTLET
Okay.

STANLEY
As I was saying, uh, since the Chinese currency remains pegged to the dollar …

CUT TO: INT. - OUTER OVAL OFFICE – DAY

CJ and CHARLIE walk into the outer office, followed by TOBY. ANNABETH is waiting for them.

ANNABETH
The Penn and Teller thing leaked.

TOBY
Big surprise.

ANNABETH
I got hit with it when I was giving them the China schedule.

CJ
How’d the ‘private party’ line go over?

ANNABETH
Like a lead balloon.

TOBY (to CJ)
Told ya.

CJ
The President’s not going to let us say anything else.

ANNABETH
They want to know who invited Penn and Teller. They want to know who was in the room.

CJ
And they really want to know if the President was in the room.

ANNABETH
Right.

TOBY
I knew this was going to leak the second it happened.

CHARLIE
The second what happened?

TOBY
Hmm?

CHARLIE
It was a magic trick. How do we know what they did or how they did it?

CJ
Are you saying maybe they didn’t really burn the flag?

TOBY
Doesn’t matter, people saw them do it.

CHARLIE
Maybe they burned a flag, maybe they just pretended to burn a flag.

CJ
Okay, Annabeth, get Penn and Teller to make a statement saying they didn’t really burn the flag and we’re done. I don’t want flag questions chasing us all the way to China.

CJ and TOBY head back into the Oval Office, where only KATE and MARGARET are left with BARTLET. KATE is trying out a statement while MARGARET has some papers for CJ.

KATE
And so we commend the Chinese government for releasing Wen Jong, but we hope that other -

BARTLET
‘Commend’ is too strong a word, isn’t it?

TOBY
How about ‘encouraged’? We were encouraged by the Chinese government.

BARTLET
Yeah, that’s better.

CJ holds out some papers for BARTLET. 

CJ
We need a couple of signatures.

BARTLET reaches out his right hand for the papers, but they fall to the floor. CJ bends down to retrieve them.

CJ
We need to get that statement out before we get on the plane.

TOBY
Do we talk about who the Chinese government should release next?

As the others talk, we watch BARTLET, his right arm mostly stationary, use his left hand to put a pen into his right hand. 

CJ
No, we should focus on what we won today.

KATE
So, just a general line then about what we hope they do in the future?

CJ
Right. And we need to tie it into the summit.

TOBY
Something about how this shows that the Chinese are ready for real negotiations on all of the issues on our agenda.

BARTLET gives up trying to write and puts his right hand into his pocket.

BARTLET
Let me take another look at that.

CJ
We should check this with State. They’ll want to have input on any statement referring to the summit.

The final shot is the papers on BARTLET’s desk, unsigned, with the pen next to them.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE OFFICE – DAY

As the Presidential party prepares for the flight out of Joint Base Andrews, CJ, BARTLET, and the new body man, CURTIS CARUTHERS, are entering the Presidential office on board.

CJ
So, we’re going to get Penn and Teller to put out a statement explaining that they didn’t really burn a flag in the White House.

BARTLET
What, and ruin a perfectly good segment of Crossfire tonight?

CJ
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you want every question in the China summit press conference to be about flag burning in the White House.

In the background there’s a TV screen showing coverage of Governor Baker.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S BULLPEN – DAY

That same TV coverage of Baker is seen on a TV in the bullpen. DONNA, at her desk, is talking to JOSH, in his office doorway.

DONNA
You want to see any of these Christmas party invitations I’m declining for you?

JOSH
Only the ones you’re accepting, which I hope are none.

DONNA
So far.

JOSH
Are wheels up yet?

DONNA
In four minutes.

JOSH
So that’s like, what, 50 minutes behind schedule?

DONNA
Forty-eight.

JOSH
Okay, so you owe me …

DONNA
No, no, no, you bet 45 or under, and I -

JOSH
I never bet 45 or under, not on a foreign trip.

DONNA
You really want to become a pathological liar over three bucks?

JOSH (walking down the hall)
I’m late for Vinick.

DONNA
Not any more you’re not.

JOSH
Did he cancel?

DONNA
No, I just rescheduled it for you.

JOSH (returning to DONNA)
This better be good.

DONNA
Vinick’s scheduler was fine with it.

JOSH
Did it occur to you that I might have a problem with it?

DONNA
She said later would actually be better for the Senator, he won’t be rushed.

JOSH
Uh-huh. So?

DONNA
So, Charlie needs you.

JOSH
Charlie?

DONNA
Well, obviously that means it’s a CJ thing, he’s been passing along stuff for her since she’s been, you know, on the road.

JOSH
You can say China trip. Every time you say ‘on the road,’ it screams trying to avoid saying ‘China trip.’

DONNA
Me avoid saying something to you?

JOSH
Let’s get two things straight: first, I’m fine not going on the China trip. Picking a UN ambassador is no small thing.

DONNA
You didn’t pick him.

JOSH
And second, only I can decide to reschedule Vinick, not you and Charlie.

DONNA
Okay, to keep your fragile ego intact, I’ve been trying to avoid using the phrase, ‘direct order from CJ.’ I’ll take your coat.

JOSH glumly turns around as DONNA takes his overcoat.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE – DAY

TOBY is getting coffee in the galley and then walks through the press seating area. We hear an announcement from a disembodied voice somewhere.

VOICE
We will be landing in New Orleans in 25 minutes. The press -

The reporters start asking questions as TOBY walks by.

TOBY
I have nothing more on the flag thing.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE CORRIDOR – DAY

BARTLET, KATE, and CJ come out of a room and walk down the corridor as TOBY joins them.

BARTLET
CJ, I think we’ve used about enough presidential time talking about a kid’s birthday party, what else you got, Kate?

KATE
Did they really burn the flag -?

BARTLET
I don’t know. I was in bed five minutes after Zoey blew out the candles.

TOBY (as they enter the presidential office)
I have a draft statement for you to look at. We really should get a statement out before we land in New Orleans.

BARTLET takes the statement from TOBY to look at it. He is still keeping his right hand in his pocket.

BARTLET (reading)
‘While I do not condone flag burning, blah blah blah … I was not present when, blah, blah, blah …’ it’s too long.

TOBY
Let me work on that.

BARTLET (keeping the statement away from TOBY)
No, let me. It was a private party.

BARTLET now hands the statement back to TOBY.

TOBY
I’ll stress that.

BARTLET
No, that’s it. That’s my statement, ‘it was a private party,’ period, not another word.

TOBY
It was in the White House.

BARTLET
Underline private.

TOBY
It wasn’t in the residence, it was in the East Room. There were at least 50 people there, we can’t just say -

BARTLET
I’m not letting anyone drag me into a national shouting match about what happened at my daughter’s birthday party.

CJ and TOBY exchange a look. There is a knock at the door, and CURTIS leans into the room.

CURTIS
Landing in New Orleans in 20 minutes.

BARTLET
Thank you.

CURTIS exits, closing the door.

BARTLET
Go ahead, Kate.

CUT TO: INT. - STAFFERS OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is talking with CHARLIE as people buzz around them.

CHARLIE
Just so you know, I’m not comfortable with this. CJ wanted to call you directly, but she got pulled into a thing.

JOSH
On the plane.

CHARLIE
It’s not just you. She’s already had me on the phone this morning with half the Cabinet. She just can’t make every phone call herself.

JOSH
Right.

CHARLIE
Anyway, she wants you to help out on the flag burning thing.

JOSH
Instead of getting us a UN ambassador?

CHARLIE
No, not instead of, just before. Twenty-seven congressmen signed this letter demanding the President explain what happened. The story’s all over cable news, CJ’s afraid it’s going to drown out coverage of the China trip. She needs you to -

JOSH (grinning)
Put out the fire? She actually say, ‘put out the fire’? Tell me she said ‘put out the fire.’

CHARLIE looks askance at JOSH.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

ANNABETH is walking down the hall towards the Communications bullpen with JOSH and CHARLIE.

ANNABETH
We’re already buried in calls from all the usual suspects, plus Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Daily Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Magicians Monthly …

JOSH
Okay, okay – why don’t you track down Penn and Teller and get them on the phone with me.

ANNABETH
Them? Teller doesn’t speak.

JOSH
That’s just an act.

ANNABETH
Penn told me Teller doesn’t speak.

JOSH
You’ve talked to Penn?

ANNABETH
Yeah, right before you came in. They’ll be here in a couple of hours. Sounded pretty cooperative on the phone.

JOSH
Okay – who are we kidding? You don’t need me on this thing.

As JOSH turns to leave ANNABETH’s office, WILL walks up holding a statement.

WILL
Hey … just wanted to give you a heads-up on the Vice President’s statement about the flag burning. He wants to get it out this afternoon.

JOSH takes the statement and reads it.

JOSH (reading)
‘When I was in Congress, I led the fight for a Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. This obscene stunt once again points out the urgent need for a Constitutional -’ Can this guy open his mouth without pandering? Let me know when Penn and Teller show up.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH and WILL walk into JOSH’s office.

WILL
You gotta understand my position, I tried to talk him out of this -

JOSH (shouting)
Donna, where’s the OMB report on the HHS budget?

DONNA (coming into the office)
Where the OMB reports always are, in the stack beside the thing.

JOSH
Right. (as DONNA starts out) Oh, and the, uh … supplements?

DONNA (coming back)
They’re in the supplementary stack, beside the other thing. (exiting) Okay, I’m done helping you ignore Will.

WILL
So how would you suggest the Vice President handle a flag burning in the White House, what would you tell him to do?

JOSH
I would tell him to shut up! I would tell him to show a little loyalty to the President and his family, but then I’d have to explain to him what loyalty is, wouldn’t I?

WILL
Do you have time to do that now?

JOSH looks at WILL.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE – DAY

TOBY is on the telephone in the corridor.

TOBY
He shook a few too many hands in New Orleans, but the pilot says we can make up some of the lost time in the air.

A steward carries a tray of food into the presidential office. CJ and STANLEY are seated in front of BARTLET, as STANLEY continues to brief him on trade issues. KATE and BARROW are also in the room, and TOBY soons joins them.

STANLEY
Yes, China is definitely dumping shrimp in the US at below-cost prices, but so is Vietnam. So, if we threaten to bring a WTO case against China, then we have to threaten Vietnam, too.

KATE
And obviously, the US threatening Vietnam can wake up a lot of sleeping dogs.

BARTLET
How much of our shrimp comes from China and Vietnam?

STANLEY
Twenty-five percent. There’s no way that our domestic industry could replace that much of the supply, and it would only make it easier for Brazil to increase their market share.

BARTLET
But I just told those guys in New Orleans that I would do something.

BARROW
You will do something. You’ll raise the issue with the Chinese.

BARTLET
You know, Teddy, no one outside of the State Department thinks that raising the issue and doing something are the same.

The camera moves to BARTLET’s tray of food, untouched.

CUT TO: EXT. - PORTICO – NIGHT

JOSH and WILL are meeting with RUSSELL as they walk along the Portico.

RUSSELL
I was a co-sponsor of the flag burning amendment every time we brought it to a vote in the House.

JOSH
Big difference between being a Congressman and being Vice President.

RUSSELL
I know, but I’ve got a lot of history with this subject. Exit polls always showed that voters didn’t know much about me, but the one thing that they did know was that Bob Russell was against flag burning.

JOSH
That’s in one congressional district in Colorado, now you have to define yourself nationally. Do you really want to start with flag burning?

RUSSELL
I gotta say something. It’s the story of the day.

JOSH
China summit’s the story of the day, if you don’t have something to say about US relations with the biggest country in the world, why are you running for President? Voters understand loyalty … they’re not expecting you to take a shot at the President on something that happened at his daughter’s birthday party.

RUSSELL
Eric Baker is going to New Hampshire today to announce his candidacy. You know the press is going to ask him about this.

JOSH
If Baker makes a statement -

RUSSELL
If? Baker has to jump on this. He needs to move to the right on something, this is perfect for him.

JOSH
So what? You think that helps either one of you get the Democratic nomination?

RUSSELL (as they walk through a door into a hallway)
It’s never too early to think about where I gotta be in the general.

JOSH
Mr. Vice President, have you seen Baker’s numbers?

RUSSELL
That’s why I can’t miss any opportunity, like this flag thing.

JOSH
Baker’s at 32, you’re at 19, Hoynes and everyone else are in single digits. You’re not going to catch up to Baker with flag burning. Baker’s just a governor. He’s gotta jump at every issue to get coverage outside of Pennsylvania. You’re Vice President of the United States. You can’t go chasing every little controversy that comes along. You can’t let Baker dictate your agenda. You pick your spots carefully, every speech you give would be treated as breaking news on CNN.

RUSSELL
I need you to pick those spots for me. Will here’s been telling me for a while that you’re the guy to run this campaign, and now I can see why.

NANCY comes up to RUSSELL.

NANCY
They’re ready for you now.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – NIGHT

WILL and JOSH are walking away from the Mural Room into JOSH’s office. 

WILL
He’s not stupid.

JOSH
That’s your bumper sticker?

WILL
He was smart enough to take your advice.

JOSH
That was a setup.

WILL
No, it wasn’t, he really did want to put out that statement. I couldn’t talk him out of it. Once I heard your take on it, seemed like the perfect time to put you two together. This is a write-your-own-ticket offer, you’d have complete control.

JOSH
You don’t want to run it?

WILL
I’ve never done a national campaign. It wouldn’t be fair to him.

JOSH
Baker’s gonna chew him up in the debates. Even Hoynes’ll run rings around him on the issues.

WILL
Sure – Baker’s gonna be the front-runner, but the VP is gonna be the only guy with enough money to hang in there against Baker.

JOSH
What about Hoynes?

WILL
Damaged goods.

JOSH
So you think it’s a two-man race by the time we get to Super Tuesday?

WILL
Right. And Baker’s not gonna play well in the South.

JOSH looks thoughtful.

WILL
I heard Hoynes made you an offer. (beat) Has Baker called you?

JOSH
Bruno runs Baker’s campaigns.

WILL
Bob Russell might be the next President of the United States. You get in now, you can make him the candidate you want him to be. After that, we make him the President we need him to be.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - JOSH’S BULLPEN – DAY

JOSH is heading out of his office, wearing his coat as he walks by DONNA’s desk.

JOSH
Where is Vinick’s office?

DONNA
Dirksen 464.

JOSH
Thanks.

DONNA
Got Penn and Teller’s statement.

JOSH
Let me see.

DONNA (handing it to him)
You’re not gonna love it.

JOSH walks off with the statement, DONNA follows him.

DONNA
So how about a few minutes after you get back from the Vinick meeting?

JOSH
For what?

DONNA
For me. For that talk we were gonna have about -

JOSH (reading)
‘The Supreme Court has ruled that we can do whatever we want with the flag, and the Founding Fathers obviously intended ...’ Are they still here?

JOSH brushes by a downcast DONNA and heads off.

CUT TO: INT. - COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN – DAY

PENN and TELLER are regaling a group of staffers, including CHARLIE and ANNABETH. PENN is juggling a few items, including an apple, with TELLER standing directly in front of him. TELLER occasionally takes a bite from the apple as PENN continues to juggle it.

PENN
Juggling identical objects, identical weights, is pretty easy with about, you know, five years practice, but juggling – uh – different weights, different shapes, stuff you’ve just picked off people’s desks, stuff you couldn’t possibly have practiced with, that’s when it gets a little bit, uh, tricky.  

JOSH walks in as PENN finishes juggling, the apple in TELLER’s mouth.

CHARLIE
That’s amazing.

PENN
Thanks a lot.

JOSH
This statement does me absolutely no good. I need you guys to give me a statement saying exactly what you did last night – preferably that you did not burn a flag – and if you did actually burn a flag, I need you to admit it, and emphasize that you did not clear your act with anyone in the White House before you performed, and had you done so, you now realize you would have been explicitly forbidden to burn a flag in the White House, and you now deeply regret the controversy you have provoked and apologize to the President and his family for treating his home with such disrespect.

PENN (holding out a hand)
Hi, I’m Penn Jillette. This is Teller.

JOSH (shaking hands)
Hi. Josh Lyman. (to TELLER) How you doing?

PENN
He doesn’t talk.

JOSH
Doesn’t talk like Harpo Marx or really doesn’t talk?

PENN
What’s the difference?

JOSH
Okay, how did you do the flag trick?

PENN looks at TELLER, then starts to laugh.

PENN
We’re not gonna tell you that.

JOSH
Fine. So if Annabeth goes out there and says that you did not burn a flag last night, no one can refute that.

ANNABETH
Except the hundred people who saw them burn a flag or think that’s what they saw.

PENN
You tell me, Charlie, did we burn a flag, or did we just - vanish a flag in a patriotic flash of fireworks?

CHARLIE
Don’t know.

PENN (to JOSH)
What’s the difference?

JOSH
Well, there’s a big difference politically.

PENN
Why? I mean, what if we burned a flag, not in protest, but in celebration of the very freedoms that allow us to burn a flag; the freedoms that everyone who has ever worked in this magnificent building has pledged to preserve and protect?

(Pause)

JOSH
Did you go to law school?

PENN
No. Clown school.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE OFFICE – DAY

The meeting with BARTLET and his advisers is continuing. We see CJ taking note of BARTLET’s untouched food.

BARTLET
Let’s find a compromise on shrimp that I can ask the Chinese to offer Vietnam without our fingerprints on it, something that nudges both of them closer to fair price levels.

CJ
Okay, everyone, the President has a phone call to make.

CJ ushers everyone out, including TOBY, who exchanges another look with her before exiting.

BARTLET
What was all that about?

CJ
You okay?

BARTLET
I’m fine.

CJ
You’re not eating.

BARTLET
I’m not that hungry.

CJ
You said you were hungry when you were ordering.

BARTLET
Don’t worry, I’ll eat. But thanks for getting rid of them. Sixteen more hours of that would be a bit much. Send Millie in, would you? I don’t need to talk shop with her.

CJ
Yes, sir.

CJ exits as BARTLET watches her go.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S OUTER OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is waiting outside VINICK’s office.

WOMAN
The Senator will see you now.

The WOMAN opens the doors to VINICK’s office and ushers JOSH inside. SENATOR ARNOLD VINICK is sitting in a chair, polishing his shoes.

JOSH
Mr. Chairman?

VINICK
Shine your own shoes, Josh?

JOSH
No, I, I can’t say that I do.

VINICK
My father used to say you can’t trust a man who doesn’t shine his own shoes.

VINICK turns to look at JOSH’s shoes.

VINICK
Does anybody shine those things?

JOSH
Not really, no.

VINICK
How many guys left in this town shine their own shoes?

JOSH
Not a lot.

VINICK
None.

JOSH
Is that how many you trust?

VINICK
That’s exactly how many I trust.

JOSH
Mr. Chairman, the President -

VINICK
I know what you’re thinking – must be lonely being this mean old guy who doesn’t trust anyone. Well, I trust my brother, my four children, my nine grandchildren, and my dog. I suspect that’s more than you trust, now, isn’t it?

JOSH
Yeah.

VINICK
The Founding Fathers didn’t set up a government based on trust. They could’ve designed a government based on trust in our ability to govern fairly, but they knew that power corrupts, so they invented checks and balances. That was genius. The Founding Fathers did not want me to trust you, and they did not want you to trust me.

JOSH
Well, they must be very proud of us.

VINICK
Have a seat.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE OFFICE - EVENING

MILLIE is talking with BARTLET. His tray of food remains untouched in front of him.

MILLIE
Oh, we’re still negotiating Christmas. Tommy wants to go on an archeological dig with some heathen professor of his, and Cleo’s doing Christmas with her dad this year.

BARTLET
Then you’re doing Christmas with your goddaughter and her family.

MILLIE
I can’t afford another Bartlet Christmas on this government salary. Way too many presents!

BARTLET takes a beat.

BARTLET
Millie, I can’t move my hands.

There is a long pause.

MILLIE
Ever happen before?

BARTLET
It’s usually one or the other.

MILLIE
Never both?

BARTLET
No.

MILLIE gets up and comes around the desk to examine BARTLET.

MILLIE (holding a hand)
You feel that?

BARTLET
No.

MILLIE (reaching for the other hand)
Anything?

BARTLET (whispering)
No.

MILLIE
You want me to bring in the flight doctor?

BARTLET
Not unless it gets worse.

Another pause.

MILLIE
Well – I guess I’m going to have to feed you then, aren’t I?

MILLIE gets the silverware and napkin ready as BARTLET stares ahead.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S OFFICE – DAY

VINICK is still shining his shoes as he talks with JOSH.

VINICK
Every White House forgets about checks and balances. You guys are no different.

JOSH
Checks are fine, it’s the witch hunts I got a problem with -

VINICK (sliding a can of shoe polish across the table to JOSH)
You’ll need Cordovan for those. Pick up a brush, you’re not leaving this room with shoes like that.

JOSH pulls off one of his shoes.

VINICK
Here’s another check you won’t like … I’m gonna hold another hearing on your man Margudian, taking a Marine helicopter to play golf in Florida.

JOSH
Come on, that was over a year ago, we fired the guy.

VINICK
No, this was another incident, the year before that one.

JOSH
You really think the American people care about this?

VINICK
Hope not – but I got a dozen members of my committee who do. They think it’s a good way to get on TV. You think I like investigating high school stuff like this?

JOSH
Fooled me.

VINICK
Have I ever campaigned saying I was going to be the best investigator in the Senate? Of course not. This isn’t what I came here to do. I came here to make this a better government, to make this a better country, and I just wish you guys would stop serving up these goofy things for us to investigate.

JOSH
We’ve run a pretty tight ship lately.

VINICK
Yes, you have … which is why they had to reach back a couple of years to find something new to yell about. But just do me a big favor, will ya? No more flag burnings in the White House. I’ve had four nuts demand hearings on that one already.

JOSH
So?

VINICK
So I told them that the United States Senate does not investigate what happens at kid’s birthday parties. Not as long as I have anything to say about it.

JOSH
Have you decided if you’re going to run for another term?

VINICK
Yep. Flying home tonight, making my announcement tomorrow. Why, you want to make me a retirement offer?

JOSH
Yeah, I happen to have one on me.

(beat)

VINICK
What have you got?

JOSH
Help the President make the world a better place. 

VINICK
UN. (pause) That’s tempting. That’s very tempting. But that’s not the job I want.

JOSH
Well, the President didn’t send me with a menu of jobs, just this one.

VINICK
The President can’t give me the job I want.

JOSH
Which one?

VINICK
His.

JOSH’s eyebrows raise as VINICK continues with his shoes.

JOSH
You’re running?

VINICK
Starting tomorrow. (pointing to JOSH’s shoe) You missed a spot on the heel.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE MEETING ROOM – NIGHT

MILLIE, CJ, and TOBY are sitting around the table as cable news footage of military manuevers plays on the TV.

MILLIE
The only thing to do is let him rest, he could feel fine by the time he gets off the plane.

TOBY
Or he could get worse.

MILLIE
Well, if this is as bad as it gets, no one’ll notice a thing.

CJ
Except when he has to shake hands, which he’s going to have to do about 200 times before lunch tomorrow.

MILLIE
It’d be good to keep the handshaking to a minimum.

CJ
We should cancel the first reception.

TOBY
You know how many weeks the protocol officers spent on that one? The public events are the only ones the Chinese really care about.

CJ
If the President of the United States can’t publicly shake hands with another head of state …

TOBY 
It’d sure kill the flag burning story.

MILLIE
Could we get Abbey on the phone?

CJ
Yeah.

TOBY
Who else should we call?

MILLIE
Well, for an MS patient, this is the equivalent of a headache. I mean, who would you want us to call if you had a headache?

CJ (sighs)
Okay. Let’s just keep this on the plane for now.

CUT TO: INT. - PRESS SECRETARY’S OLD OFFICE – NIGHT

JOSH has returned from the Capitol and greets LEO, who is still working on his files.

JOSH
Thought you’d be long gone.

LEO
More junk here than I thought.

JOSH
Shouldn’t you still be, you know, taking it easy?

LEO
I think a two-hour nap qualifies as taking it easy. Did you hook Vinick?

JOSH
Not exactly.

LEO
He’s going to run for another term.

JOSH
I don’t know much a, about heart stuff, but aren’t you supposed to – I, I, I, maybe we shouldn’t -

LEO
Don’t worry, you’re not going to shock me into my grave.

JOSH
He’s running for President.

LEO is taken aback.

JOSH
He announces tomorrow.

LEO
President?!

JOSH
I don’t, I don’t see how he gets the nomination. What’s he gonna run on, tax cuts and more tax cuts? Every Republican candidate’ll be for tax cuts. Then what? Flip-flop on abortion?

LEO
He’s against late-term abortion.

JOSH
That’s not good enough for the Republican base.

LEO
He’s got a lot of California money behind him.

JOSH
Even if he raises twice as -

DONNA bursts into the doorway.

DONNA
Sorry, but Eric Baker’s live on MSNBC right now. Says he’s not running.

JOSH and LEO look at each other before JOSH leaps up to follow DONNA down the hall.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S BULLPEN – NIGHT

All the TVs in the room are playing coverage of BAKER’s speech. JOSH comes down the hall and joins DONNA and WILL, who are watching.

BAKER (on TV)
And so, I have decided for family reasons that this is not that time. This is the time that I can keep my commitment to the people of Pennsylvania to be a full-time governor, and the commitment to my family to be a full-time father.

WILL
Family reasons?

JOSH
Unbelievable.

BAKER (on TV)
Well, I never decided to get into the Presidential race, so I can’t see how you can say I dropped out of it.

WILL
How lucky can we get?

JOSH
You’re never gonna get luckier than this.

BAKER (on TV)
I expect to stay neutral in the Democratic primaries -

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE OFFICE – NIGHT

BARTLET remains sitting in his chair as CJ talks to him. CURTIS is also there. The TV is showing BAKER’s press conference.

CJ
Millie says you should use the flight to rest, no more meetings.

BARTLET
Thanks.

CJ
We’re not gonna interrupt you for anything.

BARTLET
Fine by me.

TOBY bursts through the doorway.

TOBY
Excuse me, Mr. President, Baker just dropped out.

BARTLET
Baker’s not running?

CJ
Toby …

CURTIS exits.

TOBY
It looks like our very own Bob Russell is the new front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

CJ
Toby, please. Mr. President, this is exactly what we’re not going to do. You need to rest, so we’re not going to bring you anything you don’t need to know immediately.

TOBY and CJ start to leave. As CJ pulls the door closed:

CJ
But we mean real rest, not studying briefing books.

BARTLET
Are you going to watch me rest?

CJ
If I have to.

BARTLET
Get out of here.

CUT TO: INT. - PRESS SECRETARY’S OLD OFFICE – NIGHT

JOSH and LEO are discussing the day’s events.

LEO
Family reasons.

JOSH
Go figure.

LEO
He’s close to Vinick, you know.

JOSH
No, I didn’t know.

LEO
Yeah, Baker was on the Judiciary Committee staff back when Vinick was a freshman Senator, they’ve been tight ever since.

JOSH
So what? Since when have you seen friendship trump ambition in politics?

LEO
Maybe Baker figures the Democratic nomination’s not worth winning this time if he has to go against Vinick in the general.

JOSH
But there’s no way Vinick’s getting the nomination, he’s not conservative enough.

LEO
I’m just saying, Baker’s not sitting this out for family reasons. Could be Vinick – could be something else …

JOSH
Who’s our front-runner with Baker out?

LEO
Run a poll without Baker in it and Russell’s gonna go sky-high. Hoynes will pop, too.

JOSH
Russell or Hoynes gets our nomination, who gets the Republican nomination?

LEO
It’s wide open. They’ve been out of power for eight years and they’re desperate. Probably why Vinick figures he has a shot.

JOSH
You’re serious?

LEO
Ever see Arnie Vinick campaign, up close? He’ll go into those high school gymnasiums in Iowa and New Hampshire and blow them all away. Shake every hand in the joint, kiss every baby, hug every widow on Social Security … and sound smarter and more honest than any Republican they’ve ever seen – because he is. He could win in the early states, go into the South with some momentum, then … who knows what happens?

JOSH
Republican who wins California wipes us out in the Electoral College.

LEO
Right.

JOSH
He’s not getting the nomination.

LEO
If he does … we’ve got no one who can beat him.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: EXT. - SANTA PAULA CITY HALL – DAY

VINICK is making his announcement outside Santa Paula City Hall in front of an enthusiastic crowd. We first see him on multiple TV screens, then the camera moves up to show the scene.

VINICK (on TV)
And so, I have returned to the place where my, my career in public service began, right here at City Hall, to announce my candidacy to be the next President of the United States.

VINICK
And I ask you, I ask all of you who have been with me from the beginning -

The scene changes back and forth from JOSH in his office, listening to VINICK while looking at a newspaper, and the scene outside City Hall.

VINICK (on TV)
- to set out with me today from this valley on this new quest, to help me bring the promise and the opportunity of America to all Americans.

Back to the live shot.

REPORTER 1
Senator Vinick, do you think you’re conservative enough to get the Republican nomination?

VINICK
I think I’m Republican enough. I’ve been a life-long Republican -

Back to JOSH in his office.

VINICK (on TV)
- always been loyal to the party, always will.

Back to City Hall.

REPORTER 2
Do you think President Bartlet should investigate whether a flag was burned in the White House?

VINICK
No.

Back to JOSH.

VINICK (on TV)
I accept the President’s statement that it was a private party. I don’t think we need to hear any more about it.

REPORTER 1 (on TV)
But don’t the people have a right to know if a flag was -

DONNA comes into JOSH’s office carrying a folder.

DONNA
Are you watching?

VINICK (on TV)
The people have a right to know the President’s position on the issues. But they don’t have the right to know what happens at his daughter’s birthday party.

REPORTER 1 (on TV)
But if they burned a flag in the White -

VINICK (on TV)
Hey, I think this is a perfect demonstration -

Back live to City Hall.

VINICK
- of what the President is flying halfway around the world right now to try to teach the Chinese government; the meaning of freedom.

Back to JOSH and DONNA watching the TV.

VINICK (on TV)
It’s a good thing the magicians didn’t try this trick in Tiananmen Square, with the Chinese flag wrapped in the Chinese Bill of Rights. Because there is no Chinese Bill of Rights.

REPORTERS (on TV)
Senator! Senator!

VINICK (on TV)
Thank you! Thank you!

DONNA (to JOSH)
You have a year to talk me out of voting for him.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE – NIGHT

The overhead lights are being shut off, and reporters in the press cabin are closing their laptops for the night as the pilot makes an announcement.

PILOT (VO)
We’ve reached our cruising altitude of 41,000 feet and we’re anticipating a smooth ride over the Pacific tonight. We’ll be passing the Hawaiian Ridge to our south in approximately an hour, and as always, I’ll give you a reminder as we pass -

KATE walks down the corridor and finds CJ resting in her seat.

KATE
We’ve got a situation.

CJ
What?

KATE
South Korea.

CJ stands, and she and KATE walk to the Presidential office. They knock at the door and enter, finding BARTLET lying on the sofa.

BARTLET (groggily)
I thought you were gonna let me rest.

CJ
I’m so sorry, sir, State just got a heads-up from the IAEA that they’re gonna report tomorrow, that the South Korean government has admitted to conducting an experiment to enrich uranium. South Korea is not releasing any details. We need you to get on the phone and get the President to come clean. We can’t ask China to help stop North Korean nuclear experiments if the South is doing it, too. 

CJ picks up a phone handset.

CJ (into phone)
Get us a secure line with the South Korean President.

BARTLET (quietly)
CJ. Hold it.

CJ
Sir?

BARTLET
I can’t move.

CJ looks to KATE.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE CORRIDOR – NIGHT

As the reporters and others sleep in their seats, we see Secret Service agents taking their places. Two men, including CURTIS, carry BARTLET on a stretcher down the corridor past sleeping passengers, as they take him to his quarters.

MILLIE
Progressive paralysis. He had trouble with his hands, now it’s both legs and his right arm -

BARTLET
So much for being staff-dependent in China.

SECRET SERVICE AGENT (to CJ)
Fairbanks is closer, but Anchorage is better for a 747.

BARTLET
I’ve got better doctors up here than I’d get down there.

CJ
Mr. President, we can’t take the chance that the -

BARTLET
Let’s not pretend we didn’t know this was going to happen.

CJ
No, Mr. President, I didn’t know.

BARTLET is now on a sofa bed in his quarters, with MILLIE examining him.

BARTLET
I mean, we always knew it was gonna happen someday. I’m ready for it, you better be, too.

CJ
Mr. President, we can’t land in China with you -

BARTLET
This plane is going to China! That’s a direct order from your Commander-in-Chief.

MILLIE
Okay, we’re gonna need to clear the room for some tests.

CUT TO: EXT. - PORTICO – NIGHT

It is raining, with a roll of thunder. JOSH is sitting on a bench, thinking. WILL walks up to him, carrying some papers.

WILL
Got some new numbers.

WILL hands the papers to JOSH and sits next to him.

WILL
Tracking poll has us up 16 points with Baker out of the race.

JOSH (looking over the polling)
Hoynes is up, too.

WILL
Yeah, but we picked up a lot more. Russell’s the man to beat now.

JOSH
Yeah.

WILL
Listen, we have a breakfast tomorrow with senior campaign staff, why don’t you drop by? Doesn’t commit you to anything, you can just be a fly on the wall, if you want. See how it feels.

JOSH
No thanks.

JOSH sighs deeply, handing the polls back to WILL.

WILL
This isn’t a Broadway show, Josh. We don’t just close it down after a successful eight-year run. You have to care who’s going to sit in that chair after Jed Bartlet is gone.

JOSH
I do. That’s why I don’t want Bob Russell to be President.

WILL takes a moment as that sinks in, then stands and walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE MEETING ROOM – NIGHT

CJ, TOBY, and KATE are strategizing.

CJ
We just have to hope the doctors will talk some sense into him and get this plane turned around.

TOBY
We turn this plane around and that’s the end of his presidency. We’d be saying he can’t do the job anymore.

CJ
No, we’d just be saying he’s sick, we’ll go back to China as soon as he’s up to it.

TOBY
You might as well just say, ‘He’s a part-time President. He can only do the job when he feels up to it’! You really think there’s any chance he’s going to let you turn this plane around?

KATE
If we cancel, the Chinese might not believe us. They’ll think we’re canceling because the South Koreans got caught working on nuclear weapons.

TOBY
We gotta do full disclosure on this.

CJ tries to digest it all.

TOBY
Millie should do a full briefing, with the press, all the medical facts right here on this plane. Just as soon as we know what …

CJ
He knew.

TOBY
Huh?

CJ
That’s why the Surgeon General’s on the flight. He wanted her here to do the briefing. He knew he was having problems, he knew this might happen.

KATE
We’re three hours from Beijing. If we turn around, we’re gonna have to refuel. Maybe we should let the cockpit start checking their options.

CJ
Yeah, okay.

The SECRET SERVICE AGENT comes into the room.

SECRET SERVICE AGENT
He wants to see you. All of you.

CJ, TOBY and KATE are walking down the corridor towards the President’s quarters when the SECRET SERVICE AGENT stops them.

SECRET SERVICE AGENT
Not there. In the infirmary.

They go into the infirmary (which appears to be the Presidential office). BARTLET is now sitting up at his desk, with an IV. MILLIE is helping button his vest.

BARTLET
I just got off the phone with President Wang of South Korea. He insists he didn’t know about the nuclear experiment. Says it was just a couple of curious young scientists and, they only enriched about two-tenths of a gram of uranium. That’s not nearly enough for weapons-grade enrichment, is it?

KATE
Uh, no, it’s not, sir. Weapons grade would have to be at least 90 percent higher than that.

BARTLET
Okay. Wang says they’re cooperating fully with the IAEA inspectors, and he’s ordered these young scientists to participate in a joint press conference with the inspectors tomorrow, and then he’s gonna fire their asses.

KATE
That’s not going to make North Korea feel much better.

BARTLET
I know, but it’s a start. CJ, we gotta set up a quick press briefing for the gang in the back of the plane right away.

CJ
Mr. President, are you, um …

BARTLET (holding out his left arm)
My left hand is back. I still have no feeling in my legs, and my right arm is in no shape to be shaking hands in China. Gotta remember to tell the protocol officer that.

TOBY
Are you in pain?

BARTLET
I’m fine, as long as I don’t attempt any superhuman feat like, say, writing my name. (to a man in the back of the room) Okay, let’s get started. (to CJ, TOBY, and KATE) Think anybody’s gonna ask about that flag burning thing now? All right, look, when we get out there, I’ll lead off with the MS thing, then go to the South Korea story. I’ll leave it to you, Millie, to get into any medical details if anyone has any questions about that.

CJ
Oh, I think they might have a few … hundred.

BARTLET
I’m just going to tell them that the President of the United States will be working from a wheelchair again.

CJ
Again?

TOBY
FDR.

BARTLET
Do I really have to remind those kids that Roosevelt fought World War II from a wheelchair?

TOBY
Yeah, but …

BARTLET
But he died in office. Okay, I’ll skip the Roosevelt bit. (to someone in the back of the room) Bring that thing over here, would you?

CJ, TOBY, and KATE turn to see a wheelchair being set up.

BARTLET
How much you wanna bet I can get them to ask me a question about South Korea?

There is a pause.

CJ
How much you got?

Back in the cabin of the plane, the lights flicker on. The reporters begin to wake up. CJ draws back a curtain in the doorway.

CJ
Sorry to wake you up, but the President has an announcement to make.

CUT TO: INT. - AIR FORCE ONE CORRIDOR – NIGHT

BARTLET sits in the wheelchair as the lights come on around him. CURTIS comes up to take the handles of the wheelchair.

BARTLET
No. I’ll take it from here.

CURTIS goes back to stand in the corridor. BARTLET, with a great amount of effort, using his left arm and trying to get his right arm to help, slowly starts moving the wheelchair down the corridor. He finally gets some momentum going, moving down the corridor and turning a corner to the press cabin.

CJ (VO)
Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States.

DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.
* * *

The West Wing and all its characters are properties of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Productions, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.

The West Wing Transcript
Episode 6x8 – In The Room
Original Airdate: December 8, 2004

THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: A Change Is Gonna Come (S6E7)

THE WEST WING
6x7 - “A CHANGE IS GONNA COME”
TELEPLAY BY JOHN SACRET YOUNG & JOSH SINGER
STORY BY JOHN SACRET YOUNG
DIRECTED BY VINCENT MISIANO

Transcribed by Walking, Talking, And Yelling At Clouds
(kegofglory.blogspot.com)

TEASER

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

FADE IN: We open on a tight shot of a TV screen where former VICE PRESIDENT HOYNES is being interviewed by DIANE MATHERS.

HOYNES (on TV)
Sure, the book is an apology – to my family and to the American people for past mistakes – but it’s also a statement of principles; a summary of where I think we are as a nation and where we could be.

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE – NIGHT

FRIDAY NIGHT

BARTLET is attempting to tie a bowtie as the sound of the interview continues in the background.

MATHERS (VO)
And where is that, Mr. Vice President?

HOYNES (VO)
Well, you know, Diane, this country still faces very serious tests both at home and abroad. Public education, health care, uh, the outsourcing of jobs, these are major problems -

BARTLET sighs heavily, then yanks his bowtie apart.

HOYNES (VO)
- that require serious thinking, and then on the international front, we, we -

MATHERS (VO)
Mr. Vice President, I hate to interrupt, but -

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

JOSH is sitting in front of his TV watching the interview.

MATHERS (VO)
- are you saying we’re on the wrong track?

HOYNES (VO)
No, absolutely not, Diane, no, I think that, uh, President Bartlet has done tremendous work.

MATHERS (VO)
And you bear no ill will towards the present administration?

CUT TO: Back to the TV screen showing HOYNES.

HOYNES (on TV)
No, no ill will towards the President or Leo McGarry, no …

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – NIGHT

The interview continues in the background as CJ comes to TOBY’s door. TOBY is reading a book.

CJ
I was just down in the East Room watching the runthrough.

TOBY
Ah.

CJ
What are you reading?

TOBY shows the book cover to CJ. It is HOYNES’ book, Full Disclosure.

CJ
Where’d you get that?

TOBY
Will had a copy.

CJ
Will gave it to you?

TOBY
I borrowed it.

CJ
I’m sure it’s illuminating.

CJ turns her head to see the interview on TV.

HOYNES (on TV)
… I’m sure the country has been run well the past seven years …

TOBY
Want to know how many times you’re mentioned?

CJ
No.

TOBY
Want to know many times I’m mentioned?

CJ
Not really.

TOBY
Want to know how many times Josh is mentioned?

CJ
Where is Josh?

TOBY (scoffs)
Josh is … he’ll be fine.

HOYNES (on TV)
… and I have written about them. The vital vision for our future that we need to focus on -

CUT TO: INT. - RESIDENCE KITCHEN – NIGHT

BARTLET is making a cup of tea as CHARLIE walks in. The interview continues in the background.

BARTLET
Charles Young, look at that. Made the effort to come back and visit the old man.

CHARLIE
Mr. President, where’s Curtis?

BARTLET
Who?

CHARLIE
Curtis – your new bodyman?

BARTLET
Ah, nice fellow, Curtis, but he’s no Charlie, Charlie. Gotta tell you, he’s no good at tying a tie.

CHARLIE
Sir, you know I can’t tie a tie, either.

BARTLET
Well, that makes three of us.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

The interview continues as we see HOYNES’ book placed on a legal pad. JOSH flips the book open to the first blank page, where we see the inscription:

JOSH
TIME TO LEAD
JOHN

HOYNES (VO)
Really?

MATHERS (VO)
Are you being coy, Mr. Vice President?

HOYNES (VO)
Absolutely.

MATHERS (VO, as they both laugh)
You are going to ruin my reputation for hard-nosed journalism.

JOSH stands staring at the inscription in the book.

HOYNES (VO)
Well – Diane, I’m just here to promote a book.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

We hear the interview continue as CJ places some folders on her desk. MARGARET enters behind her.

MARGARET
You’ve got a call.

CJ
Okay. Would you make sure we get Josh’s notes from yesterday’s summit briefing with the foreign relations guys?

MARGARET
Donna already brought them.

CJ
Good. Who’s on the phone?

MARGARET
The Vice President.

CJ (reaching for the phone)
Okay.

MARGARET
The former Vice President.

CUT TO: INT. - RESIDENCE KITCHEN – NIGHT

ABBEY, dressed for a party, walks into the kitchen to find BARTLET and CHARLIE working on the bowtie. The interview is still going on in the background.

ABBEY
What’s going on in here? What’s taking so long?

BARTLET
Thank you, Charlie.

CHARLIE exits as ABBEY helps BARTLET put on his jacket.

BARTLET
I couldn’t tie my tie.

ABBEY
Yeah. I know that. Could we go now?

CUT TO: Back to the closeup of HOYNES on the TV screen.

HOYNES (on TV)
I would also like to find a way to be involved in the ongoing pursuit of peace in that region, and yes, Diane, I would like to return to public life. I think I can make a contribution.

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – NIGHT

JOSH is walking along the sidewalk. He approaches a parked car, which we can see has HOYNES in the driver’s seat. JOSH opens the door and gets in the passenger side.

HOYNES
Thanks for coming, Josh. You see the interview?

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Did you look at the book?

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Well, if you’re gonna bust my chops, Josh, get it over with -

JOSH
I have no idea why I’m here, Mr. Vice President.

HOYNES
Yes, you do.

SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.
END TEASER.
***

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - WEST WING FOYER – DAY

JOSH walks in to start the day, carrying a coffee and heading for his office. He greets DONNA who is at her desk, on the phone.

JOSH (speaking Chinese)
Zao chen hao, Donnatella.

DONNA (hanging up the phone)
Whatever. You’re early.

JOSH
It’s dinnertime in Beijing and I’m just getting to the office. Time is relative – at least that’s what we in the international arena say.

DONNA
Uh-huh. You hear John Hoynes is doing Diane Mathers tomorrow night?

An onscreen caption reads:

THURSDAY MORNING
ONE DAY EARLIER

JOSH
Uh, yeah, uh, the WTO file for the briefing on the China summit …

DONNA
He’s promoting his book.

JOSH
Iowa’s around the corner; ‘tis about to be the season.

DONNA
He called twice this morning.

JOSH
I’m gonna need a converter for China and I can’t find my garment bag.

DONNA
I think baggage claim is in the next terminal over.

JOSH
You used to love it when I couldn’t dress myself without you.

DONNA
I used to love peppermint ice cream, too, but now those little pieces of candy, they get stuck in your teeth in a way that I find irritating.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

TOBY and KATE are meeting with Chinese representatives going over details for the summit.

YAHLIN
The red carpet will be lined with glowing paper lanterns, to represent the industrial core of the city. And the mayor of Xian has requested permission to present President Bartlet with a golden key to the city.

KATE
We have no problem with that.

YAHLIN
I understand the President has expressed an interest in the terra cotta warriors that guard the tomb of the emperor Qin Shi Huang. There are over 7000 pottery soldiers and horses …

TOBY
Pottery.

YAHLIN
We understand the President is a student of the Qin Dynasty.

TOBY
Mm-hmm.

YAHLIN
We thought that -

TOBY
Yeah, I, I, I’m sure he’d be delighted.

YAHLIN
And now the menu for the morning’s welcome breakfast in Beijing …

CJ appears at the door. TOBY sees her and makes plans to step out.

TOBY
Of course – and, uh … why don’t you (referring to KATE) go ahead and, um … do that.

TOBY gets up to leave, with a quizzical KATE left behind.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

CHARLIE catches up to CJ as she walks down the hall. He hands her a thick binder.

CJ
What’s this?

CHARLIE
The nonproliferation briefing packet.

CJ
You’re done?

CHARLIE
I get extra credit for finishing early?

CJ
You want a gold star?

CHARLIE
How about another assignment?

CJ
Let’s see how you did on this one.

CHARLIE splits off as CJ continues toward her office, encountering TOBY on the way.

TOBY
They’re deliberating on breakfast in Beijing. They’re picking fortune cookies -

CJ
I always thought fortune cookies were an American invention, like pizza and the Frisbee.

TOBY
You have to get me out of there.

CJ
Can’t do it, Rocco.

TOBY
I have things to do.

CJ
Talk to Josh.

TOBY
I’m talking to you.

CJ
And I’m referring you to the man in charge of this little venture to the Orient, Joshua Lyman, perhaps you’ve met?

TOBY
I don’t report to Josh.

CJ
No, you report to me, and I, magnanimous leader that I am, shrewd executive and benevolent spreader of the wealth, I have chosen to delegate - and you should get used to that word - delegate the preparation and readiness of the China summit to Josh. So while technically you are correct with regard to the organizational chain of command, insofar as this matter is concerned -

TOBY
I can’t believe you’re making me go back in there.

CJ
Uh-uh, uh-uh, not I – Josh. You see how beautifully this works?

CJ walks off to her office leaving TOBY huffing in the hall.

CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM – DAY

JOSH is speaking with a group of Representatives and Senators about the China summit. That group includes SENATOR HARRIS, CONGRESSWOMAN HAAS, and SENATOR MATT HUNT.

HARRIS
… ‘cause if we don’t come home with progress on the semiconductor tariffs -

JOSH
We’re gonna push China on semiconductor tariffs, intellectual property rights, textiles, shrimp, financial services …

HARRIS
Well, Josh, I think I speak for all of us when I say this summit seems to be in great shape.

JOSH
Well, we’re looking forward to it.

JOSH and the others stand to shake hands. SENATOR HUNT, though, remains seated.

HARRIS
Thanks for your hard work.

JOSH
My pleasure, sir, thank you. Thank you, Congresswoman.

HUNT
What about Taiwan?

JOSH
What about it?

HUNT
They’re gonna want to discuss the sale of the 3-PC Orion sub-hunting planes.

JOSH
That’s not on the agenda, Senator.

HUNT
Oh, well, then, I’m sure it won’t be discussed.

JOSH
We sell arms to Taiwan, we will continue to sell arms to Taiwan, it’s not up for discussion.

HUNT
At least not until we start pushing China on weapons exports to Pakistan.

JOSH
China’s pledged to stop exporting weapons -

HUNT
A pledge that they’ve ignored. Along with their WTO commitments, and their agreements on prison labor -

HAAS
Senator, I’m not sure I see the point.

HUNT (rising)
The point, ma’am, is … the Chinese tend to welsh on their markers. And I don’t want to see Josh, here, offer up the farm in exchange for more lies and empty promises.

JOSH
I’ll keep that in mind.

HUNT
Good.

JOSH
You know, the Democratic Party hasn’t been overrun by a bunch of panda-huggers.

HUNT stares levelly at JOSH. JOSH chuckles nervously.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

The negotiations with the Chinese continue. TOBY is back in the room.

YAHLIN
Mr. Ziegler, we just have a few more items to discuss and decide. Now, let me see … 22, the guest list for the -

A cell phone ring is heard. YAHLIN takes his phone out of his pocket.

TOBY (to KATE)
I thought cell phones weren’t supposed to work in here.

KATE (to TOBY)
They don’t.

YAHLIN speaks on the phone in Chinese. After a short conversation, he hangs up. He says something to his companion and they stand. Both Chinese representatives walk out of the room without a word. TOBY and KATE stand there, dumbfounded.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH comes in to tell CJ about the congressional meeting.

CJ
How’d it go?

JOSH
Fine; we’re gonna want to go over the intellectual property stuff.

CJ
Hunt gave you a hard time.

JOSH
Yeah, but this was Harris and Haas.

CJ
What did Hunt want?

JOSH
Hunt wanted to give me a hard time. Guy brings new meaning to the word, ‘curmudgeon.’ Hey, I appreciate your letting me carry the ball on this one.

CJ
One less ball I have to keep my eye on.

CAROL enters.

CAROL
Hey … we got a question from the gaggle about a flag that the President received during the National Prayer Breakfast this morning?

JOSH
A flag?

CAROL (checking her notes)
A green flag, from the Taiwanese delegation.

JOSH
You’re kidding, right?

CAROL
Was that funny?

JOSH
A green flag?

CAROL
Green with a red flower.

JOSH
No, no, no-no, no!

CJ
Josh?

JOSH
The Chinese are gonna freak out!

CAROL
Isn’t the Taiwanese flag red and blue?

JOSH
Yes – no – there is no Taiwanese flag. There’s the flag of the Republic of China commonly used in Taiwan, which is red and blue. The, the green one is the original flag of the Taiwan Independence Movement.

CJ
The guys who want to hold a tea party in Taipei harbor and declare their independence from China.

JOSH
Pretty much! So you can see how I might be mildly concerned about the symbolism of the President accepting their flag on the eve of a major summit with China – (quietly) I sound a little hysterical.

CJ
Just a touch.

JOSH
So, we’ll – we’ll just give the flag back before anyone knows we had it.

TOBY knocks at the door and steps inside.

JOSH
Hey, I thought you were in with the …

TOBY
They walked out.

JOSH
The Chinese protocol guys?

TOBY
They got a call from their embassy, something about the National Prayer Breakfast and a flag.

(beat)

CJ
Margaret!

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

BARTLET is sitting on the couch as DEBBIE hands him some papers.

DEBBIE
Counsel needs you to sign this so we can retrieve the 25th Amendment letter from your personal archives.

BARTLET
They want me to step down again?

DEBBIE
You’re loaning it out for an exhibit at the National Constitution Center.

BARTLET
I solve Middle East peace, fix Social Security, and they want the piece of paper I used to remove myself from office.

DEBBIE
It is the National Constitution Center.

BARTLET
Yeah, it’s not like the Smithsonian’s beating down my door.

DEBBIE
I’m sure they’ll take a greater interest in you once you’re dead.

BARTLET
There’s something to look forward to.

DEBBIE (handing him a folder of papers)
And these are the bios of the Medal of Arts winners for tomorrow night’s gala. I heard there’s gonna be a tribute, a musical guest.

BARTLET
A surprise musical guest, actually.

DEBBIE
I always loved Jerry Garcia.

BARTLET
If I’m not mistaken, he’s unavailable.

DEBBIE
Hence the surprise.

CJ knocks on the door and enters.

CJ
Mr. President.

BARTLET
Thank God.

Entering with CJ are KATE and CHARLIE.

KATE
Sir, you were given a flag by a member of the Taiwanese delegation this morning?

BARTLET
I seem to remember a stuffed ewe, and a bar of soap etched with a quote from the 42nd Psalm.

KATE
This was a green flag with red chrysanthemum in the center.

BARTLET
Sounds charming.

CJ
Sir.

BARTLET
I handed everything over to my new bodyman, what’s his name? The new Charlie.

CHARLIE
Curtis Carruthers.

BARTLET
Not that the old Charlie could ever be replaced, of course.

CJ
Of course. Charlie?

CHARLIE
If he’s worth anything, he’s sent it over to the Gifts Unit.

CJ
Okay.

CHARLIE
If it’s in the Gifts Unit, it’s gotta be tagged, catalogued, photographed and appraised. Could be decades until you see that thing again.

CJ
We’re gonna need it a little sooner.

CHARLIE
I’m on it.

CHARLIE exits.

BARTLET
How big a problem are we looking at?

KATE
Chinese’ll make some noise, ask for us to return the flag publicly.

BARTLET
Mm, what else?

KATE
A demand for a formal statement that we do not support Taiwanese independence, and maybe tattoo ‘There’s only one China’ on all our foreheads.

BARTLET
Well, the tattoo’s not an option. Thanks.

KATE exits.

CJ
Sir, do you want me to bring in the Secretary of State?

BARTLET
Excuse me?

CJ
I just thought if you’re reconsidering our policy on Taiwan …

BARTLET
Did I say that?

CJ
Sir, this type of thing is right up your alley to -

BARTLET
CJ, I must have gotten enough trinkets to buy back Manhattan this morning. I honestly didn’t see the damn thing! Are we through?

CJ
Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President.

BARTLET exits out to the Portico.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - GIFTS OFFICE – DAY

CHARLIE is coming down a stairway to the Gifts Office. He stops at the empty desk and looks around.

CHARLIE
Hello?

He rings the bell on the desk – a replica of the Liberty Bell. BERNARD THATCH appears.

THATCH
May I help you?

CHARLIE
Bernard?

THATCH
Yes. Welcome to my festoonery.

CHARLIE
Where’s Rose?

THATCH
Rose, in what I assume was a clerical error of some kind, was promoted.

CHARLIE
And they transferred you to the Gifts Unit?

THATCH
Apparently I am the new Rose.

CHARLIE
There was a Taiwanese flag -

THATCH
The independentists’ flag. Nicknamed the eight-chrysanthemum-petal flag – rather unimaginatively, I’d say.

CHARLIE
Yeah, have you seen it?

THATCH
Oh, yes. The flag itself is a magnificent specimen, an original hand-sewn relic, that was entered in the island-wide flag competition and was chosen over 186 other designs. That was in 1994. Of course, the color scheme seems more reminiscent of the Taipei Holiday Inn, circa 1970.

CHARLIE
I wouldn’t repeat that to the Taiwanese.

THATCH
I hadn’t planned on it. Is there anything else?

CHARLIE
The President needs the flag back.

THATCH
Oh, I’m afraid not.

CHARLIE
Excuse me?

THATCH
The flag is an historical artifact. And its value is much higher than the reporting threshold established by the GSA.

CHARLIE
So?

THATCH
When the President accepts a gift of such value, it is deemed to have been accepted on behalf of the United States.

CHARLIE
But he shouldn’t have accepted it in the first place.

THATCH
Be that as it may, according to Chapter Five of the US Code, section 7342c, it is now the property of the American people.

CHARLIE
I need that flag.

THATCH
You’re not suggesting I break the law?

CHARLIE
No.

THATCH
Well, then …. I suppose we’re in a bit of a pickle.

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is rushing into TOBY’s office.

JOSH
The ambassador’s here.

TOBY
Yeah.

JOSH
We’re going to be conciliatory.

TOBY
Uh-huh.

JOSH
Mea culpa, our bad.

TOBY
Got it.

JOSH
We’re gonna hop right over this little -

TOBY sees something outside his office and stops JOSH.

TOBY
Josh …

JOSH turns to see a phalanx of Chinese diplomatic representatives walking past the Communications bullpen on their way to the Roosevelt Room.

JOSH
That’s the whole Chinese delegation.

TOBY
I must have missed this part of the protocol meeting.

JOSH
You were there – right?

TOBY
I was, in and out … couldn’t stomach any more haggling over the nine-meat soup.

JOSH
Nine-meat soup?

TOBY
It was on the menu for the dinner at Shanghai.

JOSH (to himself)
Beef, chicken, pork -

TOBY
You don’t want to go there.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

A large group of some 15 Chinese diplomats, led by Ambassador LING-PO, stands waiting as JOSH and TOBY enter.

LING-PO
Gentlemen.

JOSH, TOBY, LING-PO, and the two protocol officers from the earlier meeting take their seats.

TOBY
I think we should start by stating again that the President wishes to convey his utmost apologies.

LING-PO
Let’s not be troubled by simple misunderstandings. Here’s our statement; it has been released to the press.

One of the Chinese representatives takes a paper from YAHLIN, walks around the table, and delivers it to TOBY and JOSH. They read the release.

JOSH
“Meddling in your internal affairs”?

LING-PO
You will return the flag?

JOSH
Uh, yeah, uh, I mean, as soon as we locate it. (nervous chuckle) Yes.

LING-PO
Good. President Lian hoped this would not interfere with our plans.

TOBY
We’re looking forward to a … productive summit.

LING-PO
As are we. As such, we know you will understand our need for a few minor adjustments.

JOSH
Adjustments.

YAHLIN
So as to reiterate the open friendship between our countries, the President wishes to hold the Beijing welcome ceremonies outdoors, rather than indoors.

JOSH
Okay.

YAHLIN
He proposed that we move the summit from the Great Hall of the People to the Gate of Heavenly Peace. 

TOBY
The Gate of Heavenly Peace.

There is a pause.

TOBY
In Tiananmen Square.

JOSH
You want to welcome the President of the United States in Tiananmen Square?

LING-PO
Is there a problem?

JOSH looks at the Chinese in dismay.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ and KATE are eating Chinese food. KATE has brought a selection of small flags on bases; the Taiwanese independence flag, the Republic of China flag, the flag of the People’s Republic of China, and a couple of others. CJ is holding the independence flag.

CJ
So that’s the flag we got.

KATE
Mm-hmm.

CJ picks up the People’s Republic of China flag.

CJ
That’s China.

KATE
Yeah.

CJ picks up the Republic of China flag.

CJ
What’s this one?

KATE
Republic of China.

CJ
This is China, that’s China -

KATE (pointing at flags with chopsticks)
Republic of China, People’s Republic of China – banned in China, used in Taiwan, used in China, banned in Taiwan.

CJ picks up another flag, a blue flag with a white sun in the center.

CJ
What’s this one?

KATE
Taiwan’s majority party.

CJ
So which party flies the Taiwanese flag?

KATE
The Taiwanese flag, not so popular among the Taiwanese.

CJ
And they don’t change the flag because -?

KATE
The Chinese would declare war.

CJ
Good reason. (referring to the flags) These things come with a G.I. Joe set?

KATE 
I play a lot of Risk.

JOSH enters the office.

JOSH
They, uh, want to put Taiwan on the table.

CJ
Okay.

JOSH
The Chinese want to scrap half the trade agenda so we can discuss the US role in blocking Taiwan’s independence movement, oh, and they, uh, thought it’d be fun to jump-start the summit with a welcome bash in Tiananmen Square. 

CJ looks at JOSH.

JOSH
You’re eating Chinese.

KATE (offering her carton to JOSH)
Lo mein?

JOSH
Hunt already thinks we’re weak on China, if the Taiwanese lobby gets hold of this -

TOBY walks into the office.

TOBY
It’s too late for that. Senator Hunt’s asked for floor time tomorrow, he’s floating a resolution urging the President to display the green flag in the lobby of the State Department.

KATE
Now that could be a problem.

TOBY
Why? He’s a cranky old man, the Chinese are going to be that offended?

KATE
No; I mean … yes, but the Chinese aren’t my primary concern. He starts saluting that flag on the Senate floor -

JOSH
Could send a signal.

KATE
Taiwanese start thinking it’s time for a new flag, a new name, a new anthem …

CJ
We gotta shut him down. (to JOSH) What do you want to do?

JOSH
Hang him by his thumbs and beat him with a pogo stick.

CJ
Josh -

JOSH
Send Toby to the Chinese Embassy first thing in the morning, with Kate – tell them this had nothing to do with us, that Hunt’s a nut job -

TOBY
I’m going to phrase that a little differently -

JOSH
Tell them they’ll have their flag back by the end of the day, and … once it’s returned, their little adjustments are off the table. We spent two months hammering out this agenda, it’s not going to get hijacked by some flag-waving jackass of a Senator.

CJ
Josh, you’re gonna go see Hunt.

JOSH
Yeah!

CJ
And Josh -

JOSH (quietly)
Yeah, yeah, tone it down.

JOSH exits. KATE stands, grabbing her carton of food and follows JOSH out the door.

KATE
I guess I’ll take this to go.

CJ
The visual of the President in Tiananmen Square -

TOBY
Certainly not my first choice for a photo op between the two presidents.

CJ
Let’s figure out a way to make it work, just in case.

TOBY
So I’m working for you now again?

CJ
Toby …

TOBY holds his hands out questioningly, then turns to exit.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

WILL comes up to JOSH’s door.

WILL
How are things going with China?

JOSH
Great, really, just fantastic.

WILL
So the President has a photo op in the Oval tomorrow, something about the 25th Amendment?

JOSH and WILL walk out of the office as JOSH is preparing to leave.

JOSH
The letter he signed to remove himself from power, he’s handing it over to the National Constitution Center trustees.

WILL
Yeah, the Vice President would like to be part of that ceremony.

JOSH
Okay. Only, wasn’t that, you know, before the Vice President’s time?

WILL
Well, technically.

JOSH
Isn’t this more of a Toby thing?

TOBY crosses by in the hallway behind them.

TOBY
Isn’t what more of a Toby thing?

WILL
The National Constitution Center ceremony tomorrow night -

TOBY
No.

WILL and JOSH follow TOBY into the Communications bullpen.

WILL
The Vice President would like to show his support.

TOBY
He wants to horn in on, on Baker’s photo op with the President. 

JOSH
He’s coming in for that?

TOBY
Baker’s the Governor of Pennsylvania, home of the National Constitution Center, also a former chairman of the board of trustees.

WILL
And a future candidate for the Presidency, doing whatever he can to get the implicit backing of the President.

TOBY
Really. Hadn’t thought of that.

JOSH and WILL follow TOBY into his office.

JOSH
Fins to the left, fins to the right, Baker, Hoynes.

WILL
Yeah, Hoynes on Diane Mathers should be interesting.

JOSH
That’s it?

WILL
Yeah. Toby, the President assured us we’d have his support.

TOBY
We’ll get Russell another photo op. The hog lots bill is in conference -

WILL
The Vice President is not going to be …

WILL stops and considers something.

WILL
You know what? Fine.

WILL exits.

JOSH
He didn’t even flinch at that Hoynes stuff.

TOBY
Oh, I don’t know why, the guy’s all over the news, I’ve been getting calls -

JOSH
Yeah, he called me a couple of times.

TOBY
He? I was talking about reporters. Hoynes called you?

JOSH
Yeah, I haven’t called him back. I’m not interested.

TOBY
Interested in what?

JOSH
In anything having to do with John Hoynes.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

BARTLET is sitting in a chair reviewing some papers. CJ knocks at the door. BARTLET looks up.

CJ
You’re still here, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Yeah.

CJ
Sir, I think we should put in a call to the American Institute in Taiwan.

BARTLET
Make sure Taipei doesn’t get the wrong idea?

CJ
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Go ahead and make the call. (CJ turns to leave, BARTLET stands) I’ve always wondered why they let me pick these guys every year.

CJ
Sir?

BARTLET
The honorees for the National Medals. I mean, I enjoy a good cantata, and Turner’s landscapes send me over the moon, but what the hell do I know about art?

CJ
You’re the popularly elected representative of the people of the United States.

BARTLET
Sure, but nobody told them I was going to be art-critic-in-chief.

CJ
Thank goodness.

CJ and BARTLET exchange a smile.

CJ
Sir?

BARTLET
You think they really knew what they were getting when they pulled the lever?

CJ
I do, sir.

BARTLET
Yeah, okay. Good night.

CJ
Good night, Mr. President.

BARTLET sits behind his desk, looking at his papers again. CJ exits, giving a last look to BARTLET as she goes out the door.

CUT TO: INT. - SENATOR HUNT’S OFFICE – NIGHT

HUNT is working at a table as JOSH enters.

JOSH
You know, it’s ironic, Senator -

HUNT
I’ve been expecting you, Josh.

JOSH
I mean, here you are, trying to raise this flag, but six months ago, when the President of Taiwan considered doing the same, Taiwan’s democratically elected parliament passed a law to stop him.

HUNT
I thought it was kind of sad, actually.

JOSH
What’s to be sad? They’re happy, they’re free, they have the third-highest standard of living in Asia.

HUNT
Who needs independence, huh?

JOSH
They have it, in everything but name.

HUNT
Is there another democracy in the world whose leader is not allowed to set foot in Washington?

JOSH
That’s a small price to pay.

HUNT
And so was the stamp tax. We support the suppression of a vibrant democracy by a cruel dictatorship.

JOSH
Come on, Senator, they’re selling Quarter Pounders in Shanghai, they’ve got thousands of satellite dishes on the rooftops in Beijing, in a couple of years -

HUNT
I understand the theory. Commerce and culture, the gradual conversion to the religion of capitalism and democracy. China’s a happy place, Taiwan goes free -

JOSH
So why stand in the way of something that’s inevitable -

HUNT
When Patrick Henry said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death,’ you think he meant except for Wednesdays and Sundays?

HUNT starts to leave.

JOSH
Sir, you are jeopardizing a very tolerable, evolving status quo.

HUNT
The Chinese have 496 ballistic missiles pointed at Taiwan, and I’m jeopardizing the status quo?

JOSH
Yes.

HUNT
Well, it’s not what this country should stand for. Why do you think the President accepted the flag in the first place?

JOSH
It was a mistake.

HUNT
Jed Bartlet doesn’t make mistakes. Somebody has to stand up, so I’m going to the Senate at 1:00 tomorrow. Now, you’re a smart guy. If you’re that worried, you’ll figure out a way to keep me off the floor until you’ve given the flag back to the Taiwanese. But refusing to support Taiwanese independence – it’s wrong. And I think you know that I’m right.

HUNT turns and exits.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FRIDAY MORNING

FADE IN: INT. - THATCH’S OFFICE – DAY

THATCH is sitting at his desk as a Gilbert & Sullivan tune plays on his record player (‘A Wandering Minstrel, I’). He stands, carrying a clipboard, stops the record and steps out to the reception desk, where he meets CHARLIE. CHARLIE is paging through a thick book.

THATCH
Charles! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see you again.

CHARLIE (referring to the book)
Yeah … so it says here -

THATCH
Did you pick out that tie, or is it government issue?

CHARLIE
My sister bought me this tie.

THATCH
The things we put up with for family.

CHARLIE
Yeah. So, in accordance with the Foreign Decorations and Gifts Act, the President has the option of buying back any gift accepted on behalf … (gesturing to the book) of the United States.

THATCH
Must we suffer through another round of capture the flag?

CHARLIE
The President wants to buy it back.

THATCH
Really?

CHARLIE
Yeah.

THATCH
Very well. As I’m sure you know, the GSA requires a commercial appraisal.

CHARLIE
How about you ballpark it for me?

THATCH
Well … a flag of this nature, it’s very hard to put a sum on it. But given its historical significance and the current set of circumstances – which no doubt would increase its worth – I’d wager … twenty, to thirty thousand.

(pause)

CHARLIE
Dollars?

CHARLIE rolls his eyes in exasperation.

CUT TO: EXT. - WHITE HOUSE ENTRANCE – DAY

CJ is walking to the doors. JOSH comes up to greet her.

JOSH
Hey.

CJ
Morning. How’d it go with Hunt?

JOSH
He’s still planning to speak at 1:00 -

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY – DAY

JOSH 
- I spoke with Harris …

CJ
Okay.

JOSH
They’re doing a quorum call at noon. Harris stands up at a quarter to one and suggests the absence of a quorum.

CJ
Procedural roadblock.

JOSH
Yeah.

CJ
How long can we keep Hunt off the floor?

JOSH
Long enough to get the flag returned to the Taiwanese and make his resolution moot.

CJ
Great.

JOSH
Yeah, only it’s the wrong call.

CJ
You think we should let Hunt speak.

JOSH
His resolution’s not gonna pass, he’s not gonna get the votes. The President doesn’t even have to acknowledge it. I’m not arguing a retooling of the Monroe Doctrine, but we let Hunt on the floor. Let someone make the principled argument.

CJ
Run it by Kate and Toby, if they’re onboard we take it to the boss.

JOSH turns to leave as CJ heads into her office. MARGARET walks by, singing a James Taylor song to herself.

MARGARET (to herself)
Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a come come … yeaahhhh, yeah, yay. Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a come come … you come running to meee-eeee …

CJ comes out of her office behind MARGARET.

CJ
Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET (slightly embarrassed)
Good morning.

CJ
Excited about the Medal of the Arts ceremony?

MARGARET
Very.

CJ
Supposed to be a surprise musical guest.

MARGARET
You’re worried I might give it away.

CJ
Maybe with the singing and the dancing …

MARGARET
Right.

CJ
The President’s in with Governor Baker?

MARGARET
The Governor just arrived.

CJ
Good, let me know when Kate gets back from the Chinese embassy and find out where Charlie is on getting the flag back.

They begin walking down the hallway.

MARGARET
Do you have a favorite? Song?

CJ
Can’t say that I do.

MARGARET
I’ve always liked ‘Jelly Man Kelly.’ ‘He’s the one that likes jelly the most, he likes it on toast, then there’s Jenny Mulhenny -’

CJ
Margaret?

MARGARET
‘She -’ Right. Mum’s the word.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

GOVERNOR ERIC BAKER walks into the Oval Office, with several staffers and photographers standing in the room. BARTLET greets him.

BARTLET
Governor Baker. Welcome.

BAKER
Busy day?

BARTLET
Always. We’ve got the National Medal of the Arts gala tonight.

BAKER (gesturing towards the desk)
Is that the letter?

BARTLET
That is the letter than removed me from office. I have to keep the one that put me back, in case anyone starts asking questions.

BAKER
Well, the museum will take precious care of it.

BARTLET (gesturing around the room)
How do you like the old place?

BAKER
It’s, um … humbling.

BARTLET
Believe me, it’s worse from behind that desk. There’s a dagger, that hangs from a thread somewhere up there.

BAKER
I would think the Secret Service would do something about that.

BARTLET
Yeah. So how are your numbers in Iowa?

BAKER
Well, I haven’t declared.

BARTLET
You’re gonna tell me you don’t have people in the field already?

(beat)

BAKER
Iowa and New Hampshire look very good.

VICE PRESIDENT RUSSELL and WILL walk into the Oval Office.

RUSSELL
Gentlemen.

BAKER
Mr. Vice President.

BARTLET
Bob, I didn’t know you were joining us.

RUSSELL
Oh, it’s an historic moment, I wouldn’t want to miss out.

BARTLET
Actually, the historic moment happened a couple of years ago, but it’s always good to see you.

BAKER
Uh, Mr. President, could I … ?

BARTLET
(to RUSSELL) Excuse me. 

BARTLET crosses to BAKER standing by the desk.

BAKER (quietly)
Um, Mr. President, the, uh, museum wants this exhibit to focus on the nobility and patriotism that you demonstrated in invoking the 25th Amendment. It’s really kind of a tribute to your leadership and the principled spirit of your Presidency. Vice President Russell, while a sterling leader in his own right -

BARTLET (quietly)
You going to be a part of this photo op? 

BAKER (quietly)
Well, as trustee of the museum, I …

BARTLET (quietly)
Yeah, well, I’m sure no one will mind if Bob sits in. I mean, after all, he’s sort of a trustee of this office. (to the room) Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re ready …

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

JOSH is walking by the Communications bullpen. He sees WILL killing time outside the Oval Office.

JOSH
You taking to wandering the hallways?

WILL
Hoping to absorb some wisdom. Osmosis.

JOSH
You here alone? (beat) You sent Russell in to crash the photo op. Nice move.

JOSH turns to leave, then stops.

JOSH
I get why you’re so worried about Baker, but – why not about Hoynes?

WILL
Hoynes has name recognition and the most recent New Hampshire polls still have him a good ten points behind us.

JOSH
Same in Iowa?

WILL
Mm-hmm. He resigned in a sex scandal, there’s no way he comes back from that.

JOSH
Sex isn’t what it used to be.

WILL
Even if that’s true, by the time he’s back in the race we’ll be so far ahead of him in money and endorsements -

JOSH
Unless Baker’s already knocked you out.

WILL
Why I’m not sleeping nights.

CUT TO: INT. - MARGARET’S DESK – DAY

DONNA walks up to MARGARET’s desk carrying an armful of binders.

DONNA
Josh said CJ wanted a copy of the trade agenda.

MARGARET (taking the binders)
Okay.

DONNA
So you know who’s coming tonight?

MARGARET
It’s a surprise.

DONNA
Give me a hint.

MARGARET
I really shouldn’t. (smiling, through clenched teeth) ‘Jelly Man Kelly.’

DONNA
Who?

CJ walks up, giving a paper to MARGARET.

CJ
Can you get this out to the China team? (to DONNA) Hey.

DONNA
Hi.

CJ
That the trade stuff?

DONNA (nodding)
Yep.

CJ
Great. I’d love anything he’s got on Taiwan.

DONNA
Sure. (as CJ heads for her office) Is there an issue? I mean, I know it’s Josh, so there’s always an issue -

CJ
No issue.

DONNA
- ‘cause he’s been working really hard on this.

CJ
I just want to stay in the loop.

DONNA
Okay, but, you know, he’s got everything under control.

CJ
Yeah.

CJ and DONNA have their attention drawn to a news report on the TV by MARGARET’s desk.

ANCHOR (on TV)
… the rally began late this afternoon …

On the TV we see images of protests going on in Taiwan, with some of them waving the green chrysanthemum flag.

DONNA
Except, maybe that.

ANCHOR (on TV)
… when the leaders of Taiwan’s independence movement, waving the same type of green and red flag that President Bartlet accepted yesterday, gathered in …

CJ
Margaret, page Kate, get the CIA director on the phone.

CJ heads into her office. DONNA looks after her, then walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

Cameras are clicking as the handoff of the 25th Amendment letter goes on. BARTLET and BAKER are holding the letter, with RUSSELL standing by BARTLET’s side.

BARTLET
Okay, thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Thank you, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Thank you for coming in, Eric. Good to see you again.

BAKER
My pleasure, Mr. President. 

BARTLET calls out to stop RUSSELL before he leaves the Oval Office.

BARTLET
Bob, could I see you for a second?

The staffers, photographers, and BAKER all walk out of the office, leaving BARTLET and RUSSELL.

RUSSELL
Mr. President, I really appreciate -

BARTLET
Yeah, don’t do that again.

RUSSELL
Well, Mr. President, I -

BARTLET
I want it to be very clear, I’m not choosing sides. Not him, not you.

CJ knocks at the door.

CJ
Excuse me, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Yeah, we’re through.

RUSSELL exits.

CJ
I wanted to give you an update - there are some demonstrations in Taipei, sir.

BARTLET
Okay.

CJ
They’re peaceful and relatively small, given the events of the past few days.

BARTLET
Are they being organized by the Independence Party?

CJ
Yes, but some prominent members of the DPP are in attendance.

BARTLET
The majority party? Anyone close to President Chen?

CJ
His Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

KATE walks into the Oval.

CJ
How are the Chinese?

KATE
Things didn’t start off all that well. It sort of went downhill from there. Of course if I had known the PLA was planning to dispatch Ming-class subs into the Taiwan Strait in reaction to the demonstrations in -

BARTLET
China’s deploying submarines?

KATE
They’re showing their teeth. I don’t think they’ll …

BARTLET
I get distracted for five minutes at breakfast and China’s deploying teeth?

CJ
Sir …

BARTLET
Yeah, I’ve had enough. (to KATE) I want you on a plane to Taipei immediately. 

KATE
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Tell President Chen I’m not going to war over a flag! At least not today. (as KATE exits) Can we get Beijing on the phone?

CJ
I think so, I’ll get Josh -

BARTLET
No, no – you and I are going to end this right here, right now.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is watching TV news coverage of the Taiwan demonstrations.

ANCHOR (on TV)
The President’s acceptance of the independentist flag has led a few experts to wonder whether the United States is considering a change in stance on the question of Taiwanese independence -

CJ walks in JOSH’s door.

CJ
Josh -

JOSH
It’s pretty minor. I mean, apparently there’s some members of the majority party that - 

CJ
I need you to call Senator Harris.

JOSH
Okay.

CJ
We gotta shut Hunt down.

JOSH
I thought we were going to -

CJ
Josh …

JOSH
I’d … like to discuss it with the President.

CJ
It’s already been discussed. Submarines trump symbolism, I had to make a call.

JOSH
Okay. Sure. Anything else?

CJ
We agreed to the welcome in Tiananmen Square, and we’re working on Beijing to draw up their demands on the agenda.

JOSH
No discussion of Taiwan?

CJ
No public discussion.

JOSH
We’re gonna need to deal with the fallout from the welcome at Tiananmen.

CJ
Yeah.

CJ walks up closer to JOSH. He watches in trepidation.

JOSH
You put Toby on it.

CJ
And the President wants me with him at the summit. There’s some things up in the air right now, we’d feel more comfortable if -

JOSH
Sure. I’ll, I’ll … start pulling together the briefing packets for you. Come on, you’re going, you need Toby to deal with the press, somebody’s got to man the fort here. I’m fine staying. You’re his guy. You’re in the room – in the chair. He needs you – that’s how it was with Leo, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

CJ
Yeah. I’m … (pause) Thanks.

CJ walks away, leaving JOSH alone at his desk.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ walks into her office, stops at her desk, and exhales with a sigh. A voice comes from behind her.

LEO
Awfully dark in here.

CJ turns to see LEO, and they embrace.

CJ
Leo!

LEO
Was this place always so gloomy?

CJ
Not when you were here.

LEO
Well, no need to relive The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

CJ (chuckles)
They keep coming in with furniture and fixtures and wallpaper samples, I just haven’t had the time.

LEO
Have Margaret spruce the place up.

CJ
Margaret suggested Shirley Chisholm’s Barcalounger.

LEO
Oh, God, I’ll bet she did. (they chuckle) Can we sit?

CJ
Of course.

LEO leads CJ to a small table set with lunch. He lights a match and holds it to a candle.

CJ
Lunch looks great.

LEO
You look good in here. Comfortable.

CJ
Yeah, today, not so much.

LEO
You sent Kate to Taipei.

CJ
Mm-hmm.

LEO
You’re gonna be fine. He’ll return the flag, send a message to Taiwan, and the Chinese will be so pleased, it’ll probably give the President an extra bargaining chip when he gets to Beijing.

CJ
And in the meantime we let them push us around on Taiwan, on North Korea, on trade, on human rights -

LEO
How’s the human rights situation in China compared to ten years ago? You’d rather we were snarling at each other, and keeping one eye fixed on the nuclear launch codes?

LEO begins fidgeting with something under the table, out of view.

LEO
I lived through the first Cold War. One was enough, thank you.

LEO takes one of KATE’s flags, the Taiwan independence flag, from the table.

LEO
I’ll take blue jeans, even low riders, and Starbucks -

LEO has contrived a contraption of two forks, the crossed tines holding the toothpick staff of the Taiwan independence flag, and balances it by the toothpick on the edge of a water glass.

LEO
- over fighters and submarines any day. Not all evolution mandates revolution.

CJ
I had to take the summit away from Josh.

LEO (nodding)
Yeah.

LEO points to the forks in turn.

LEO
China. The US.

LEO lights a match.

LEO
A situation.

LEO touches the flame to the end of the toothpick flag staff.

LEO
Really, any situation having to do with Taiwan.

LEO and CJ watch the flame burn on the toothpick.

CJ
Hmm.

The flame reaches the edge of the glass and burns out. The forks and the flag remain balanced.

LEO
That … that’s you. That’s your job.

CJ
You really got a lot of time on your hands now, huh?

LEO
You have no idea. But once in a while, on certain days when they take down the flag out that window at sunset – you know you did something … and that ain’t all bad.

CJ and LEO smile at each other.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

FADE IN: INT. - COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN – DAY

TOBY and CJ are walking through the bullpen into TOBY’s office. TOBY is looking over a document.

TOBY (reading)
‘Respect for the dignity and freedom of every citizen is a vital source of America’s strength and success.’

CJ
For the President’s opening statement?

TOBY
He says in Shanghai, it plays the day he arrives in Tiananmen.

CJ
Great. Are the Chinese - ?

TOBY
I ran it by Yahlin, he’s taking it to the ambassador.

CJ
Thanks. Let me know.

CJ starts off for her office. She spots CHARLIE in the hallway.

CJ
Charlie! Where’s my flag?

CHARLIE
I’m working on it.

CJ
Charlie …

CHARLIE
Yeah, see, the GSA requires an appraisal in accordance with the Gifts Act, it’s -

CJ
Charlie, I need that flag.

CHARLIE
Yeah.

CJ
I mean, I need it now. I know it seemed like a little thing yesterday, but that was yesterday, now it’s a big deal and I need you to take care of it, and if you can’t take care of it I need to put someone else on it who can.

CHARLIE
I got it.

CHARLIE and CJ head off in opposite directions.

CUT TO: INT. - GIFTS OFFICE – DAY

CHARLIE and another man, RICHARD SQUIRE, are at the desk. SQUIRE is holding a stack of law books. CHARLIE rings the bell, and THATCH appears from somewhere inside the stacks.

CHARLIE
Bernard.

THATCH
Charles. Didn’t they teach you that surrender is the better part of valor?

CHARLIE
Bernard, this is Richard Squire.

SQUIRE
Hello.

THATCH
And aren’t you a frumpy little fellow?

CHARLIE
Mr. Squire is from the Counsel’s office. He’s a Rhodes Scholar, he’s got a law degree from Yale, and I believe he’s memorized the US Code.

SQUIRE
I get a little tripped up by Title 14.

THATCH
Do you?

CHARLIE
Anyway, according to Mr. Squire here, the President cannot accept a gift from a foreign government if doing so would violate US law, establish a quid pro quo, or adversely affect the foreign relations of the United States.

SQUIRE
State Department Protocol regulation 478.7355, section B, as in bunion.

THATCH
I wasn’t aware of a Section B.

SQUIRE
Oh, yes … it’s a very useful little provision.

THATCH
Indeed.

CHARLIE
Yeah. So if you would be so kind …

THATCH nods and heads off to fetch the flag as CHARLIE and SQUIRE smile in satisfaction.

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE FOYER – DAY

Three Marines in dress uniform march through the foyer, with the lead Marine carrying the folded independentist flag. CHARLIE walks behind them. JOSH is standing outside his office watching as they pass.

JOSH (to himself)
A piece of cloth. A cheesy piece of fabric.

As DONNA, carrying some binders and with a bag over her shoulder, walks up behind JOSH, he turns the opposite way and calls out for her.

JOSH
Donna!

DONNA (following JOSH, handing him binders)
Background for the briefing packet on China – phone list, and more calls from the law firm of Hoynes, Hoynes, and Hoynes … (dropping bag on a chair) garment bag for the China trip …

JOSH
Where’d you find it?

DONNA
You left it at a luggage repair shop after the G8 six weeks ago.

JOSH
See, you don’t take care of me? (noticing a book under DONNA’s arm) What’s that?

DONNA
A gift. I unwrapped it.

DONNA hands the book to JOSH. It is HOYNES’ book, ‘Full Disclosure.’

JOSH
You unwrapped my gift?

DONNA
Who knows, it could have been a bomb. Want to know how many times you’re mentioned?

JOSH
Three?

DONNA
Thirty-nine.

DONNA leaves as JOSH looks at the book.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

BARTLET is seated in a chair studying some paperwork. LEO enters unseen.

LEO
Working hard?

BARTLET
Leo …

DEBBIE (coming to the doorway behind LEO)
(to LEO) Careful, he’s ornery today. (to BARTLET) And tonight, the concert? Liberace.

BARTLET
Debbie, get out of here.

DEBBIE leaves, closing the door behind her.

BARTLET
I didn’t know you were coming? 

LEO
I thought I’d check on your new boss. (referring to the chess set on the table) I hear you’ve been playing.

BARTLET
It’s a put-up job.

LEO
Seems to be working.

BARTLET
Yeah? I damn near started World War III today. Is this the way I’m gonna be remembered, Roosevelt liberated Europe from fascism, Bartlet couldn’t liberate a flag from his own basement.

LEO
Well, that was a put-up job, you knew when you took the flag the flap it would cause.

BARTLET looks at LEO uneasily.

LEO (smiling)
Come on … 

BARTLET
I gotta go and put on the penguin suit – (chuckling) – Leo!

LEO
Sir.

They hug. LEO has a thoughtful look on his face as they embrace.

BARTLET (stepping back)
When you coming back?

LEO
I’ve been here an hour and already I need another 30 days at Sierra Tucson.

BARTLET (chuckling)
Yeah, okay.

LEO turns to go.

BARTLET
Leo.

BARTLET and LEO stand at look at each other for a moment.

BARTLET (smiling)
Ah … nothing.

LEO walks out, getting a quick nod from BARTLET at the door.

CUT TO: We are back at the beginning of the episode. We see the MATHERS interview with HOYNES on a TV screen.

FRIDAY NIGHT

HOYNES (on TV)
Sure, the book is an apology - to my family and to the American people for past mistakes – but it’s also a statement of principles; a summary of where I think we are as a nation and where we could be.

We once again see BARTLET working on tying his tie as the interview continues in the background.

MATHERS (VO)
And where is that, Mr. Vice President?

HOYNES (VO)
Well, you know, Diane, this country still faces very serious tests, both at home and abroad. Public education, health care -

We are back to JOSH sitting in his office watching the interview on TV.

HOYNES (VO)
- and, yes, Diane, I would like to return to public life. I think I can make a contribution.

CUT TO: INT. - TV STUDIO – NIGHT

We are inside the studio as MATHERS wraps up the interview with HOYNES.

MATHERS
Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President.

HOYNES
Diane, you were great, thanks very much.

MATHERS
Thank you.

DIRECTOR
And we’re out.

A woman, HOYNES’ wife, SUZANNE, walks towards the set as HOYNES moves to meet her.

HOYNES
Hey. What did you think?

SUZANNE
I think she served up softballs.

HOYNES
Yeah. Yeah, it’s gonna get tougher. Just as long as you’re okay.

SUZANNE
I’m here.

HOYNES
Thanks. Now I’ve got a call to make and a meeting, but it – it won’t take too long.

HOYNES exits.

CUT TO: INT. - EAST ROOM – NIGHT

BARTLET is giving remarks at the Medal of the Arts gala. ABBEY is standing next to him.

BARTLET
John F. Kennedy once said, ‘A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors.’ It isn’t often that we award this medal posthumously, but, for the legendary Sam Cooke we made an exception. And to assist us, it’s my honor to introduce our surprise guest – a national treasure in his own right – who insisted on joining us. I trust none of you will mind; I asked him to bring his guitar. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Mr. James Taylor.

The crowd applauds as JAMES TAYLOR, with his guitar, comes up to shake hands with BARTLET and ABBEY.

BARTLET
Thanks for coming.

BARTLET and ABBEY head to their seats as TAYLOR prepares to perform, sitting on a stool.

TAYLOR
Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I’ve been a Sam Cooke fan for about as long as I can remember. This is a classic, uh, Sam Cooke song that has, uh, has echoed down the generations. 

TAYLOR begins playing his guitar, then starts singing ‘A Change Is Gonna Come.’

TAYLOR (singing)
I was born by the river
In a little tent
Just like a river, I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, long time coming -

ABBEY reaches a hand over to BARTLET, who takes it in both his hands.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

We once again see the scene with MARGARET and CJ from the opening of the episode.

MARGARET
You have a call.

CJ
Okay. Would you make sure we get Josh’s notes from yesterday’s summit briefing with the foreign relations guys?

MARGARET
Donna already brought them.

CJ
Good. Who’s on the phone?

MARGARET
The Vice President.

CJ
Okay.

MARGARET
The former Vice President.

CJ takes a moment, then picks up the phone and punches a button.

CJ
Hello?

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

As TAYLOR’s song continues in the background, we see JOSH opening up HOYNES’ book. We see the inscription: 

JOSH 
TIME TO LEAD 
JOHN 

JOSH pages through the book to the index. He finds the page with ‘L,’ and his finger moves down to the entry ‘Lyman, Josh, 43, 44, 61, 67, 73, 216, 237, 244, 285.’ JOSH then continues down the subentries under his name, with many, many more page references: ‘And Bartlet Presidency, Campaign, And Congress, And debates, Election, Family vacation with, And father’s death, First interview with, Golfing with.’ JOSH’s eyebrows raise.

CUT TO: INT. - EAST WING – NIGHT

As TAYLOR continues to sing, we see TOBY standing at the back of the room. CJ comes up to him.

CJ
The Vice President called tonight.

TOBY
Russell?

CJ
Hoynes.

TOBY
And?

CJ
He told me to look in the index.

TOBY
Hmm. You’re not in it.

CJ (smiling)
Yeah.

TOBY hands his glass of champagne to CJ, who takes it and drinks.

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – NIGHT

TAYLOR’s song continues in the background as we return to the scene of JOSH walking down the sidewalk and getting into HOYNES’ car.

HOYNES
Thanks for coming, Josh. Did you see the interview?

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Look at the book?

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Well, if you’re gonna bust my chops, Josh, get it over with -

JOSH
I have no idea why I’m here, Mr. Vice President.

HOYNES
Yes, you do. Now, I’ve done things I can never undo. I lost one marriage, I’m trying to save another. I let down my children. I’ve fallen off the pedestal, hard, and had to live with the consequences. But when I look around and see Bingo Bob Russell, and Eric Baker … I see plenty of reasons to stay sober.

JOSH
You think the American public’s gonna welcome you back with open arms?

HOYNES
I’m a better person and will be a better candidate now than I was eight years ago.

JOSH
You lost that race.

HOYNES
I lost that race when I lost you.

JOSH looks at HOYNES.

CUT TO: INT. - EAST ROOM – NIGHT

TAYLOR continues to sing as we see ABBEY and BARTLET holding hands.

ABBEY (whispering)
You’re very friendly tonight.

BARTLET (whispering)
Just ‘cause I can’t keep my hands off you?

(beat)

ABBEY (whispering)
What is it?

BARTLET shakes his head, then thinks a bit.

BARTLET (whispering)
I didn’t see the flag.

ABBEY (whispering)
What?

BARTLET (whispering)
The green flag – I didn’t see it. I couldn’t tie my tie. I haven’t been able to focus, or see out of my right eye since early yesterday morning.

ABBEY stares ahead in realization of what this means.

BARTLET (whispering)
I didn’t see the flag.

ABBEY looks at BARTLET. He looks away, the weight showing in his eyes.

TAYLOR (singing)
I said, ‘Brother, could you help me, please?’
Thought I ought to talk to my own mother
I said, ‘Mama, I’m down on my knees’
There are times that I thought -

CUT TO: INT. - HOYNES’ CAR – NIGHT

TAYLOR’s song continues as JOSH and HOYNES continue their discussion.

HOYNES
There’s much to be done. And seven years of following is enough. It’s time to start leading. You’re never gonna be Leo McGarry to Jed Bartlet. But you can be Leo to me. I’m running for President. I want you with me. I want you to run my campaign.

TAYLOR (singing, VO)
A change is gonna come
Yes, a change is gonna come

CUT TO: END TITLES.
CUT TO BLACK.
THE END.
* * *

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The West Wing Transcript
Episode 6x7 – A Change Is Gonna Come
Original Airdate: December 1, 2004