THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: Opposition Research (S6E11)

THE WEST WING
6X11 - “OPPOSITION RESEARCH”
WRITTEN BY ELI ATTIE
DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER MISIANO

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

TEASER

OPPOSITION RESEARCH

FADE IN: EXT. - SNOWY ROADSIDE – DAY

An SUV is approaching the camera on the road. We can hear the sound of a radio announcer as it approaches.

ANNOUNCER (VO)
… in the southern half of the state today’s early morning mix of freezing rain and sleet will ease up by early afternoon when temperatures will rise …

We hear MATT SANTOS, and as the SUV turns onto a side road, we are taken inside the vehicle. MATT is driving and JOSH is in the passenger seat, holding a map.

MATT (VO)
I want this to be a campaign of ideas. 

JOSH (VO)
I think you missed a turn.

MATT
Entitlements are collapsing, our school system’s a joke, you could sneak a fleet of tanks across the Canadian border, and these campaigns always wind up being about a candidate’s high school transcripts.

JOSH
It was a left at Horseshoe Lake.

MATT
I thought it was a bend at Horseshoe Lake.

JOSH
A left, a bend, I, I think you missed it.

MATT
You know, if we just took the money the campaigns spent on personality contests and partisan sideshows, we could solve this country’s problems and shut down talk radio, all at the same time.

JOSH
First Amendment issues aside, that – see, this looks more like a curve, unless this is just bad cartography.

MATT
You know, I almost wish that we could have a campaign slogan without my name in it.

JOSH
Yeah, ‘For President.’ It’s catchy. Probably cut both ways.

MATT
I’m not seeing a curve here anyway, uh – why is our headquarters so far out of the way?

JOSH
Well, it’s New Hampshire. There’s not a whole lot that’s in the way.

MATT (taking the map from JOSH)
Let me see. How about a kick-off speech on education?

JOSH
The problem with education is it’s stuck in the muck. (pointing) Here, isn’t that the …?

MATT
Looks more like a slope than a curve. (giving the map back to JOSH) All right …

JOSH
You got teachers’ unions blocking any change in hiring structure, you got local school districts ready to burn coloring books if Washington dictates what color crayon … New Hampshire’s about retail politics, person-to-person. People here won’t vote for you until you’ve had coffee in their house five times.

MATT
I hope they’re serving decaf.

The SUV has arrived in a town, heading down the road to a main business district. We hear the song ‘Someday, Someway’ by Marshall Crenshaw on the car’s radio. As the car reaches the business district, MATT makes a u-turn and parks in front of a store building, with a giant ‘FOR LEASE’ sign in the window. MATT and JOSH get out of the car, looking at a piece of cardboard taped over the front door with ‘MATT SANTOS FOR PRESIDENT’ written on it in colored marker. 

MATT
Guess we’re using my name after all.

MATT and JOSH walk into the building. We see it was formerly a sporting goods store, with tents, kayaks, and lifesaving rings strewn about. As they come through the door, we can hear MATT’s staffers from his DC office, NED and RONNA, talking back in the makeshift offices.

NED
We got room. (laughing, then as he sees MATT and JOSH) Welcome, Matt!

RONNA
Hi, Matt!

MATT (walking up to them)
Hey. Josh, you know Ronna and Ned from my congressional staff?

JOSH
Yeah, we’ve been talking on the phone. (shaking hands) Hi.

RONNA
I’ve never picked out a campaign headquarters before.

JOSH
Got a ceiling and everything.

MATT
Yeah, if you like that sort of thing.

JOSH
Yeah, when our fundraising kicks in, we’re gonna need more phone lines, more desks, maybe some industrial safety helmets, but, uh, for now just make sure we meet the fire code.

NED (to MATT)
You were right, Germany’s at 240, Japan’s at 243.

MATT
Ah …

JOSH
243?

NED
Days in the school year.

JOSH
And we’re counting because … ?

MATT
I was asking Ned to look into, uh, lengthening the school year from 180 days to 240. There’s a professor over at Boston College, he’s done a lot of work on this. I thought we might have him come over here with a few thinkers and get us some ideas for an education speech.

JOSH
And we will, but … let’s not put the cart before the carcass here. This trip is about introducing yourself, honing a narrative. That’s it.

MATT
I’m here to hone.

JOSH (to RONNA)
You say this had been a sporting goods store?

RONNA
Um, a kind of specialty sporting goods. 

JOSH sees a sign and a pile of life rafts.

JOSH (reading the sign)
‘Laraby’s Life Savers – Lose Your Boat, We’ll Help You Float.’

RONNA
The first month’s free.

JOSH
When the press finds out we’re launching this thing from the hull of the Titanic -

RONNA
Yeah, I bet we get a break on flood insurance.

JOSH
Okay, lose the flotillas, anyone asks, (pointing to the ceiling) we’re working on a skylight. Congressman, we better get going to our first event. We got a full day ahead of us.

MATT (pouring coffee)
Ah, hang on a minute, hang on a minute. You know, they say democracy is, uh, how we choose the guy who gets the blame. Well, I will take the blame, but I will never forget those of you who deserve the credit.

MATT hands cups of coffee to NED and RONNA, then another to JOSH as he takes one himself.

MATT
Thank you for being with me here at the, uh, start of this crazy roller-coaster ride.

The four toast with the styrofoam cups of coffee.

MATT
Okay. Let’s go make us some history.

CUT TO: EXT. - LITCHFIELD TOWN DUMP – DAY

The SUV pulls up to a parking area across from the dump, where people are tossing bags of trash into a dumpster. MATT and JOSH get out of the car, taking in the cold air.

MATT
Oh, this is just a bit too metaphorical for me.

JOSH
All the candidates do it. It’s an exercise in humility.

MATT
I could give a major address on the importance of triple-ply.

JOSH
How about shaking some hands, helping the people with their recycling?

MATT sniffs, and starts to cross the road. 

MATT
Anything particular I should say?

JOSH
Just tell ‘em who you are, what you’re doing.

JOSH takes MATT’s gloves, and MATT heads across the road, greeting a man walking away from the dumpster.

MATT
Morning! Hi, I’m Matt Santos, I’m running for President.

JOSH watches with a satisfied smile.

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

ACT ONE

FADE IN: EXT. - LITCHFIELD TOWN DUMP – DAY

A woman is taking a garbage bag out of the back of her minivan. MATT rushes up to greet her.

MATT
Morning, ma’am. Matt Santos, I’m running for President. May I help you with that?

MATT takes the garbage bag and throws it into the dumpster. He holds out his hand to shake with the woman, then stops and gives a wave after he realizes where the hand has just been. We see JOSH and RONNA across the street, sitting in the open tailgate of the SUV. Another campaign VOLUNTEER is standing and waiting next to his minivan.

JOSH
Tell me about this education stuff he wants to do.

RONNA
Uh, Ned’s working on that. He asked me to work on a, national service program and some ideas for Medicare reform. He’s thinking about a series of speeches, starting tomorrow night at Hawk’s house.

JOSH
We’re not gonna do that.

RONNA
We’re not?

JOSH
I’m just getting to know this guy. Uh … I don’t want to come on too strong with, uh – you gotta help me out here.

RONNA
You want the memos?

JOSH
I want to rein in the policy process. 

RONNA (with a chuckle)
You can’t.

JOSH
What part of campaign manager do you not understand? Do you want me to draw you a flow chart? (chuckling)

RONNA
Where’s Matt on this chart?

JOSH
Let’s call him the Congressman.

RONNA
Well, he likes to be called Matt, and he runs his own policy process.

JOSH
Matt is a guy who hosts home improvement shows. The Congressman is a guy who runs for President, and you don’t give policy speeches in New Hampshire – the world’s capital of grip-and-grin – especially, before people can pick you out of a lineup.

RONNA
In the House, when we were dragging our feet on a policy he liked, he would just announce it without telling us.

JOSH
Great. (beat) I got to meet with some state legislators. Keep him here till CNN arrives, I pulled some strings to get us some b-roll.

JOSH starts for the minivan.

JOSH
Don’t let him change the official language to Flemish while I’m gone. (to the VOLUNTEER) Let’s go.

CUT back to the dump. A man leaves a bag of trash in a dumpster as MATT speaks to him.

MATT
Morning.

MAN
Hey. Hey, aren’t you that new candidate from Texas?

They shake hands.

MATT
Yes, sir, Matt Santos, uh, great to meet you. 

MAN
Do you know Phil Herlihy, lives right there in Sierra Vista?

MATT
Oh, no, that’s Arizona. Uh, Sierra Blanca – that’s in Texas.

MAN
Oh. Well … he’s a good guy.

The MAN walks off as MATT stands there, a bit flummoxed.

CUT TO: EXT. - TOWN STREET – DAY

The minivan driven by the VOLUNTEER heads down the street. We hear JOSH talking to TOBY on the phone.

JOSH (into phone)
No, he’s great, he’s got a million ideas, he’s really engaged.

TOBY (on phone)
Hoynes is up by eight in the South Carolina poll.

JOSH (into phone)
That’s all name ID, mile wide and an inch deep.

We see TOBY at his desk, on the phone.

TOBY (into phone)
How’s your staff?

JOSH (on phone)
I got some political folks lined up, but our fundraising’s just getting going-

Back to JOSH in the minivan.

JOSH (into phone)
- so we’re using volunteers for now.

TOBY (on phone)
Lot of money in the Latino community.

JOSH (into phone)
What would you think about a big education speech?

Back to TOBY’s office.

TOBY (into phone)
In New Hampshire, on his first trip?

Back to JOSH.

JOSH (into phone)
Yeah, it’s just an idea we’re kicking around.

TOBY (on phone)
Stop kicking.

JOSH (into phone)
Yeah.

Back to TOBY’s office.

TOBY (on phone)
Have you and Santos had the conversation yet?

JOSH (on phone)
Not yet.

TOBY (into phone)
Have the conversation.

Back to the minivan.

JOSH (into phone)
You think this whole campaign’s kinda goofy, don’t you?

Back to TOBY.

TOBY (into phone)
Yeah.

JOSH (on phone)
Uh, I’ll call you later.

TOBY (hanging up)
Yeah.

CUT TO: EXT. - TOWN STREET – DAY

The minivan pulls to a stop. JOSH and the VOLUNTEER get out. JOSH looks around, confused.

JOSH
This is a dry cleaner’s.

VOLUNTEER
I’m sorry, I – my mom asked me to pick up the dry cleaning on our way.

The VOLUNTEER heads inside as JOSH stares after him.

CUT TO: INT. - OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is meeting with a New Hampshire representive. The sign on his door reads ‘SENATOR BUTLER.’ BUTLER is opening his mail as he talks to JOSH.

BUTLER
I’ll be honest, Josh – I was surprised to see you split from Jed Bartlet like this.

JOSH
It’s no split, Senator.

BUTLER
Are you telling me Jed Bartlet’s not gonna be for his own Vice President? 

JOSH
He’s the leader of his own party, he’ll remain neutral till there’s a nominee (seeing BUTLER’s letter opener), is that … a Bob Russell letter opener?

BUTLER
VP gave it to me at the lunch caucus. I got the cup holders last month. So, what’s your boy Santez have to offer?

JOSH
It’s Santos, and – Russell may have the letter opener, but what’s in the envelope?

BUTLER
Might be some tie clips, who knows?

JOSH
Senator, you’re looking for the next Jed Bartlet, I’m telling you – it’s Santos. Top in his class at Annapolis, coalition-building mayor … he’s written more legislation than Bob Russell’s read, why do you think I left the White House to run this?

BUTLER
Well, you do give him credibility.

JOSH
Then meet with him. Pull some folks together for a coffee.

BUTLER
Hmm. John Hoynes gave a grand to my campaign; Russell gave 1500. Clarkson, too.

JOSH
Our fundraising’s just getting going, don’t, don’t make this about money.

BUTLER
Money equals viability. And from what I can tell, your boy has neither.

JOSH stares at BUTLER, raising his eyebrows.

CUT TO: EXT. - RESIDENTIAL STREET – DAY

NED walks up to the minivan as JOSH steps out.

JOSH
How’s it going?

NED
He’s been inside for a while.

JOSH
Good. Jardins are top-tier activists in Nashua.

NED
You got a message at headquarters from Will Bailey. He’s Bob Russell’s -

JOSH
Yeah. I’ve heard of him. Thanks.

NED
Wants to meet you this afternoon.

JOSH
He’s in New Hampshire?

NED
Advancing Russell’s next trip. How were your meetings?

JOSH
Met with three state legislators, they all want to know why I’m running Santos against Jed Bartlet’s own Vice President.

NED
Free country, isn’t it?

JOSH
Not if everyone thinks the President’s in Cowboy Bob’s saddlebag.

NED
The President’s son-in-law, Doug Westin, has a pretty tough race in the 1st District.

JOSH
Yeah, the, uh, environmentalists think he’s too pro-snowmobile. It’s like a bad ‘Grizzly Adams’ spinoff.

NED
You must know him pretty well. Maybe if he endorsed Matt …

JOSH (beat)
Put … put a call in to his office. See if Lizzy Bartlet has a minute to sit down with him.

NED
You gonna talk to the New York Times guy?

JOSH (excitedly)
New York Times guy?

NED motions to the side of the house, where GREG BROCK is talking on his cell phone. JOSH walks up to him.

BROCK (into phone)
Yeah. Just tell him to fax me when he gets in. Okay, gotta go.

JOSH
I didn’t expect the paper of record on our first trip.

BROCK
All the news that fits.

JOSH
You covering Russell?

BROCK
I’m covering this. Morgan from the Post, too.

JOSH
Really?

BROCK
Really.

JOSH
Well, for once, you’re writing the real story.

BROCK (scoffs)
How’s it going?

JOSH
Great, he was practically autographing deposit bottles at the Litchfield town dump.

BROCK
Well, those ought to be worth at least a nickel.

JOSH (smiling)
You want a sit-down with the Congressman?

BROCK
Maybe later. How long’s the New Hampshire swing?

JOSH
Ah, a couple of days.

BROCK
Well, I’m hearing some things out of Houston. May want to shorten your trip.

JOSH
What things?

BROCK
Well, he’s your candidate, I’m sure it’s nothing you don’t already know.

There’s a beat before JOSH heads inside the house.

CUT TO: INT. - JARDIN HOUSE – DAY

MATT is discussing education and the number of school days with JAMEY and JANICE JARDIN, using a small chalkboard to illustrate his points.

MATT
- especially given what’s happening around the world today, but … yes, I think it would make a huge difference. (as JOSH enters behind him) Jamey, Janice – this is Josh Lyman, my campaign manager. You know, another three terms in Congress and I don’t think my brow would be as furrowed as his.

JAMEY
We’ve known Josh for years, we ran this precinct for Bartlet both times.

JOSH
Mr. Jardin, Mrs. Jardin.

MATT
We’re talking about education.

JOSH (beat)
Did you know the Congressman was first in his family to go to college, top of his class at Annapolis, and can do more chin-ups than the entire Council on Foreign Relations?

MATT chuckles.

JANICE
I don’t know many people who’d be excited by a longer school year.

MATT
Now, I’ll be honest with you, neither do I. 

JOSH
We’re talking about a longer - ?

MATT
I’m not trying to excite people, I’m just trying to tell them what I think we need. America is 49th in the world in literacy, that’s down 18 spots in the last 50 years. Why? Well, for starters, the 180-day school year, that’s based on the agrarian calendar.

JANICE
So the kids can tend crops in the summer?

MATT
Right. But we’re in a global economy now. Japan’s at 243 days, Germany’s at 240 -

JOSH
Which is why we want a study, one of those big, thick – reports you spend months just, just, studying.

JAMEY
I got a pretty good education in 180 days; what does this have to do with what happens in my son’s classroom?

MATT
You know, not enough – which is why we need to end teacher tenure, and get rid of failing teachers.

JANICE
Our cousin Phyllis is a schoolteacher.

MATT
And I bet she’s a good one. Which is why she would keep her job.

JOSH
I need the Congressman for one moment - uh, scheduling problem.

JAMEY
Absolutely.

JANICE
Of course.

MATT rises to go with JOSH.

MATT
I keep telling him to call me ‘Matt.’ Excuse me.

JAMEY and JANICE chuckle. MATT follows JOSH out onto the porch.

MATT
I’m, uh – road-testing ideas for the speech.

JOSH
These are top-tier activists, you just fired their cousin Phyllis.

MATT
And next week, we’ll be training Phyllis in computer programming.

JOSH
You should be introducing yourself, talking about your personal narrative.

MATT
They asked for my views on education.

JOSH
Well, they didn’t like what they heard.

MATT
You’re right. So let’s not make Jamey Jardin our Secretary of Education, okay? Unfurrow your brow, Josh, I’ve run for office six times.

JOSH
In Texas. New Hampshire has an education funding crisis, they have no income tax, they can’t afford to pay for 60 more days of school.

MATT
Which is why we need to nationalize the system.

JOSH
That’s a half-trillion dollar joke you just made.

MATT
India and China are all investing in education like crazy, you want to leave it up to Nashua and Litchfield?

JOSH
These are all great ideas -

MATT
You were the one who said that this issue is stuck in the muck. This is how we unmuck it.

JOSH
The Jardins – don’t wanna be ‘unmucked.’ They want to know who you are, and once they get to like you -

MATT
We can move on to the swimsuit competition.

JOSH
Can we talk to the professors? Get a study, wait till we can afford, some research on this?

MATT
How long would that take?

JOSH
We’ve exhausted the donors in your district – one idea is a big fundraising drive in the Latino community. 

MATT
I don’t feel comfortable with that right now.

JOSH (beat)
It’s a huge donor base you alone can tap.

MATT
Josh, I don’t want to just be the brown candidate, I want to be the American candidate.

JOSH
How do you want to go broke, as the brown candidate or as the American candidate?

MATT
I looked at the daily spending reports. We don’t need to spend $4000 on yard signs.

JOSH reacts in frustration.

JOSH
You, you’re reviewing daily spending reports?

MATT
Let’s go back in with the Jardins, we can talk about this later.

JOSH
Congressman -

MATT
Call me Matt!

JOSH
These are all parts of a larger conversation, the Times is already digging around. Maybe other campaigns, too.

MATT
No.

JOSH
We need to get proactive.

MATT
No opposition research, no dirt on our opponents - !

JOSH
I know how to make this work, but you have to let me.

The screen door behind MATT opens and JANICE leans out.

JANICE
I don’t want you two to catch cold.

MATT
Our scheduling problem’s solved. (heading to the door) Let’s go back to that blackboard.

JOSH is left standing on the porch.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - RUSSELL FOR PRESIDENT HEADQUARTERS – DAY

JOSH walks up the stairs to the office for Russell for President. There are several stand-up cardboard cutouts of Russell, holding up both thumbs approvingly, next to doorways and in an office. A STAFFER comes up to JOSH as he looks at the cutouts.

STAFFER
Folks love taking pictures with those. Almost like the real thing.

JOSH
Almost.

STAFFER
They talk a little less.

JOSH
Don’t say that too loud, his wife is gonna want one.

STAFFER
May I help you?

JOSH
I’m Josh Lyman, I’m here to see Will Bailey.

STAFFER
He’s expecting you. Follow me.

CUT TO: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – DAY

WILL is on the telephone in his office, crowded by boxes and posters and whiteboards.

WILL (on phone)
The Vice President’s not missing the J-J dinner, either. If he has to break a tie on the ag bill, he’ll do a quick round trip on Air Force Two.

There is a knock at the door.

WILL (on phone)
Yeah.

WILL hangs up as JOSH enters.

WILL
How’s the Santos juggernaut?

JOSH
Juggering great. Just opened our New Hampshire offices.

WILL
I understand if there’s a tidal wave, you can paddle your way to safety.

JOSH
Our money’s going into the field.

WILL
Mind if one of my deputies sits in?

JOSH
It’s your meeting.

WILL picks up a phone.

WILL (into phone)
Would you step in here, please?

WILL hangs up.

JOSH
So why’d you want to see me?

DONNA enters the office, carrying a piece of paper. She doesn’t see JOSH as she talks to WILL.

DONNA
Hey, I’ve got that list of free media events for, uh, New Hampshire, broken down by media market, though some of the targets spill over the border into -

DONNA turns and sees JOSH standing there. They are both taken aback.

DONNA
- Vermont.

JOSH
Hi.

DONNA (smiling)
Hi.

WILL
I don’t know why people cling to this antiquated notion of states. For the purposes of Presidential campaigning, we really live in the United Media Markets of America, don’t we?

DONNA
Yeah.

WILL (to JOSH)
I’m not gonna waste your time, I’m sure you have boats to sink. The truth is we’re all friends, we’re all good Democrats, none of us wants a bloodied nominee, and I know you don’t want to attack the President’s record – also known as your record; also known as the Vice President’s record.

JOSH
He did clap at some of those bill signings, didn’t he?

JOSH and DONNA both seem uncomfortable, reluctant to look at one another.

WILL
Live on national television, yes, he did. I’m proposing a clean campaign. No attacks, a preemptive truce.

JOSH
I love what you’ve done with the place. It’s like the Mao Tse-tung school of interior decorating.

WILL
If you’re saying you’re not willing to rule out negative attacks on the Bartlet/Russell administration, I gotta tell you -

JOSH
I’ll take it to the Congressman. He decides what we rule in or out.

WILL
Good.

JOSH
Great.

JOSH turns and walks out of the office. DONNA follows him out to the hallway.

DONNA
Can we not make this a thing?

JOSH
It’s not a thing.

JOSH walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

MATT is seated at a folding table, having a strategy session with NED and JOSH.

MATT
Okay, so, who’s next?

JOSH
I’m, setting up a dinner with the Jardins, a coffee with Keefe. This time, push your bio.

MATT
I understand this is retail politics, Josh, but how much time do we spend trying to get votes one by one?

JOSH
As much time as it takes to get some.

MATT (scoffing, exasperated)
Well, what about giving some bigger speeches, too, you know, talking to people, a thousand at a time?

NED
Thousand sounds better than one.

JOSH
We’ll get to the speeches, these are top-flight activists. They sign on, they’ll devote every waking hour, get three dozen of their friends to do the same.

RONNA appears behind MATT.

RONNA (offering a cell phone)
Matt … 

MATT (as he goes off to join RONNA with the phone)
I’m just wondering if Jefferson and Madison spent time having coffee in Litchfield.

A staffer hands NED a note.

NED
Ah, Liz Bartlet’s here to see Josh.

JOSH (to MATT)
We still have to have that conversation.

MATT (taking the phone from RONNA)
Hello.

JOSH leads LIZ BARTLET WESTIN to the upper office area of the campaign headquarters, with more inflatable rafts, life jackets and lifesaving rings strewn about.

JOSH
Thanks for coming all the way here, Liz, we could have done this at the house. (gesturing to rafts) This is for an event we’re doing on aquamarine – well, more maritime -

LIZ
‘Lose your boat, they’ll help you float.’

JOSH (pause)
Yeah. Your husband’s got a tough challenge with Bledsoe on his left.

LIZ
Doug’s been supporting the snowmobiling clubs for years, but to say he’s anti-environment … we’re giving an environmental speech next week. We can win back the greens.

JOSH
You still mad at me for having concerns about Doug’s campaign?

LIZ
Not at all.

JOSH
I’m glad.

LIZ
I’m mad at you for sharing those concerns with the D triple C and the White House Office of Political Affairs.

JOSH
Right.

LIZ
And if you think you’re getting Doug’s endorsement for a single-digit spoiler like Matthew Santos -

JOSH
We don’t want Doug’s endorsement.

LIZ
You don’t?

JOSH
No.

LIZ
No?

JOSH
No. (beat) Liz, you’ve been involved in New Hampshire primaries your whole life, you know why they matter. ‘Cause anyone has a shot here. ‘Cause the voters decide. 

LIZ
You only care about this primary ‘cause you want to win it.

JOSH
You’re right, and maybe that’s crazy, ‘cause Russell’s got all the money, all the institutional support, but I don’t think he should have it locked up before it starts. And the only reason he does, is everyone assumes that your dad is for him.

LIZ
My dad’s gonna stay neutral.

JOSH
If Doug did a photo op with Santos, no endorsement, just one lousy Kodak moment, it would be a psychic wink to your dad’s supporters that this primary is wide open. That the establishment hacks have to earn it – isn’t that how it should be? Isn’t that how your dad got the nomination eight years ago?

LIZ regards JOSH with a hint of a smile.

LIZ
I wouldn’t be doing this for you.

LIZ stands up and starts to leave, then stops.

LIZ
The Fickle Pickle diner in an hour and a half.

LIZ exits as JOSH takes a moment.

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – DAY

A TV news truck is seen parked along the street, with a cameraman heading toward the sidewalk. JOSH is walking down the sidewalk and joins RONNA and NED, who are standing and  watching MATT talk with voters outside the Fickle Pickle. Several reporters and camera crews are also on the scene.

JOSH
Hey.

RONNA
Hey. He’s, ah, shaking hands out front while we wait for Doug Westin.

JOSH
The press corps seems to be growing.

NED
They’re covering Doug Westin.

JOSH
Right. Uh, we gotta put out a press statement when we get back to headquarters.

RONNA
On what?

JOSH
Dwarf tossing.

NED
Dwarf tossing?

JOSH
I told a Litchfield town selectman we would, there’s some bar over on Route 3, they put dwarfs in harnesses and toss them into hoops. He’s trying to ban it.

NED
We’d have spent more ink on dwarf tossing than on Medicare reform.

JOSH
Well, ask, ask a dwarf in a harness which matters more.

JOSH walks up to GREG BROCK.

JOSH
Hey, Greg.

BROCK
Hey, Josh.

JOSH
I want to make a deal on this Houston thing.

BROCK
It’s a bit late for that, everyone’s got it. (handing JOSH a piece of paper) Guess you guys are 0 for 2 this afternoon.

JOSH (looking at the paper)
0 for 2?

BROCK
Uh, this UNH professor, Stoller, Strober …

JOSH
What about him?

BROCK
He leaked the details of your education plan to the AP wire.

JOSH lets this sink in as we hear MATT talking to a group of voters.

MATT
If you do reconsider your support for the Vice President, I hope you’ll remember this conversation we had today. Have a great day, folks. Thank you. Thank you.

MATT walks away from the group and joins JOSH as they step off the sidewalk.

JOSH
Why did we put out an education plan?

MATT
We didn’t.

JOSH
This UNH guy, Strobe - light?

MATT
Strobner.

JOSH
He leaked it to the AP. You can’t be spreading this stuff around.

MATT
I faxed a few ideas to a couple of people, I -

JOSH
It shouldn’t be on paper.

MATT
Well, we talked about getting input for my speech.

JOSH
Look, we’re … we can’t do a speech. It hasn’t been scored, hasn’t been tested -

MATT
You mean killed by a bunch of consultants.

There is a pause. JOSH refers to the paper BROCK gave him.

JOSH
Someone is shopping an eight-year-old quote out of Houston. You said the New Hampshire primary shouldn’t come first because, quote, ‘The state’s as diverse as a Mayflower reunion.’

MATT (chuckling)
That’s a funny line.

JOSH
Yeah. A state full of Mayflower descendants laughing their heads off.

MATT
I don’t remember saying it.

JOSH
Can I deny it?

MATT
Yeah, it sounds like me, though.

JOSH
How fast can you take it back?

MATT
It’s true, isn’t it?

JOSH
People here feel this primary is their birthright. 

A car honks as it pulls up.

MATT
I, uh … I think I gotta stand by that.

JOSH
Okay. (referring to the car) Take the photo. Don’t take any questions, we’ll figure it out later. Go.

MATT heads onto the sidewalk as LIZ and DOUG WESTIN get out of the car and head for the diner. 

MATT
Hi.

DOUG
Congressman Santis, how are you?

MATT shakes hands with DOUG and LIZ.

LIZ
A pleasure to meet you.

MATT
I’m a big admirer of your family, I really appreciate you doing this.

DOUG
I can’t say I agree with your assessment of our primary.

MATT
Excuse me?

DOUG
Your quote.

MATT
You think the state’s diverse?

DOUG
Well, no one writes it, but, uh, New Hampshire is 30 percent Franco-American.

MATT
It’s funny that no one writes it.

MATT, LIZ and DOUG head into the diner. As they go, DOUG calls out to JOSH.

DOUG
So, Josh, how’s it feel to be out of Washington? Nice?

JOSH (following them)
Yeah.

We move inside the diner, where a group of reporters and photographers are there as the candidates greet voters in the booths.

DOUG
Hi, Doug Westin. Running for Congressman in the First District.

MATT greets other diners.

REPORTER 1
Bledsoe says you’d shut down the national parks if the snowmobilers wanted it.

DOUG
I care very deeply about our parks.

REPORTER 2
Deeply enough to restrict snowmobiles, as your opponent’s challenged you to do?

DOUG
We’re gonna have a lot to say about our parks.

BROCK
Congressman Santos, you’ve had some tough words about this state’s primary.

MATT
We’re here to meet the voters.

DOUG
But you don’t value our votes, do you?

There is an uncomfortable pause as photographers’ cameras click away.

MATT
Oh, I value everyone’s vote.

DOUG
Well, then, why don’t you apologize for what you said about this state’s primary? Why don’t you acknowledge, here and now, our role as the presidential wine-tasters of America? I could never support a candidate who doesn’t.

MATT (staring down DOUG)
Well, you know, I’m not much of a wine drinker. And I’m sorry if I won’t have your support. (going to another voter) Hi. I’m Matt Santos. I’m running for President.

JOSH watches glumly.

CUT TO: EXT. - MOTEL – NIGHT

The SUV we saw earlier pulls up to a motel room. We can hear MATT speaking inside the car.

MATT (VO)
… every substitute teacher in Peoria deciding our long-term competitiveness, unless we want to completely balkanize the education system – from Maine, to Michigan, to Montana – a high school diploma has to mean something, the same thing, or we’re walking away from our biggest responsibility.

MATT, JOSH, NED, and RONNA get out of the car.

JOSH
The Congressman and I need to talk about the schedule.

MATT
We got to get a little better code language than that.

NED and RONNA head into a motel room while JOSH opens the door to another.

MATT (to NED and RONNA)
See you. (to JOSH) I gotta call my kids before they go to bed.

JOSH leads MATT into the motel room.

JOSH
Eh, this won’t take long.

MATT and JOSH uneasily settle into the room. JOSH throws his bag on one bed, MATT takes off his topcoat. After a moment, they look at each other.

JOSH
I know this isn’t what you thought it would be.

MATT
Yeah … I had a loose understanding that running for President had something to do with public policy.

JOSH
Every first-time candidate makes mistakes, the good ones fix them, don’t make the same ones twice.

MATT
Well, we’re stuck with this one. I got to give that speech at Hawk’s house tomorrow night -

JOSH
You have to shelve the education plan. You have to swallow the Mayflower quote.

MATT
You, uh, want me to introduce myself to the electorate as a flip-flopper?

JOSH
As opposed to a piece of political toast - yes, I do.

MATT
Do you think this state represents the country?

JOSH
I think it’s – 30 percent Franco-American. I think it decides our future. 

MATT
If I wanted coffee klatches and recycled cans, I would run for Congress again.

JOSH
We need to sell you first, then we’ll get to the big issues.

MATT
Meaning not in New Hampshire.

JOSH
Meaning once people get to know who you are.

MATT (standing to leave)
Right. Let me finish doing what I’m doing, I’m gonna call my kids, thanks -

JOSH
Congressman, we’re having this conversation -

MATT
Call me Matt -

JOSH
I don’t wanna call you Matt! You think this is any other campaign? You think you’ve been scrutinized and poked and prodded like a prize-winning pig, well, you haven’t. You just walked into a great big X-ray machine - everything shows up. People with 30 years in public life get blown out of these things after two weeks -

MATT
This is an eight-year-old quote. I have given thousands of interviews -

JOSH
Which is why we have to go over everything – what you’ve said, what you’ve done, who your enemies are, what years you were late on your taxes, whether, God forbid, you’ve had problems in your marriage -

MATT
And if I did, it’s between me and my wife.

JOSH
Nothing is disqualifying if I know it now. If I had known about that quote, we would have skipped New Hampshire till we fixed it.

MATT
Do you agree with it? Tell me if you agree with it.

JOSH
I think whoever fed it to the press has gotta have more, and that’s our priority right now.

MATT
Whose campaign is this, Josh?

JOSH
I don’t know, who flew down to Houston and talked you into it?

MATT turns to leave.

JOSH
Instead of tinkering with pie-in-the-sky education programs, maybe you’d better figure out why you’re running, and if you are sure … that you are really up to this.

MATT
The education plan is why I’m running. I’m gonna go call my kids instead of standing here and being treated like one.

MATT walks out of the motel room.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - SMALL TOWN CAFE – DAY

JOSH is sitting at a table with JOEY LUCAS. KENNY is also there as the sign language interpreter.

JOSH
Thanks for flying up on short notice.

JOEY (through KENNY)
Of course.

JOSH
We can’t afford any polling just yet.

JOEY (through KENNY)
I know.

JOSH
I don’t suppose you’ve seen any with Santos in the mix?

JOEY (through KENNY)
Two private polls. He’s within the margin of error.

JOSH
Of who?

JOEY (through KENNY)
Of having any support at all.

JOSH
Oh.

JOEY (through KENNY)
Quite a press day you’re having.

JOSH (chuckles)
Uh, yeah. (referring to newspapers on the table) The Union Leader says he’d create an income tax to pay for his education plan. The Monitor is saying he should take the Mayflower back to Houston. Worst of all, none of it made the front page.

JOEY (through KENNY)
When he reads the papers, he’ll become more pliable.

JOSH
I don’t want him to be pliable, I, I, I want him to -

JOEY (through KENNY)
Agree with you in the first place?

JOSH
I know how to run these. If, if he’d just – let me.

JOEY (through KENNY)
It’s your job, Josh. But it’s his life.

JOSH
And this guy’s nothing but potential, why else would Brock and Morgan be covering our first trip? But it’s like … he doesn’t get this. He doesn’t get what this is.

JOEY (through KENNY)
Give him time. He’s a long way from Houston. (handing over a manila envelope) The first of the opposition research you wanted. Everyone does it now.

JOSH (taking the envelope; quietly)
Yeah.

JOSH stands to leave.

JOEY (through KENNY)
You can pay me in installments. Small ones.

JOSH mouths ‘thank you’ to JOEY.

JOEY
Josh? (beat) You should have done this weeks ago.

CUT TO: EXT. - WHITE MOUNTAIN MANOR RETIREMENT LIVING – DAY

The SUV pulls up outside the retirement home. MATT is reading the Concord Monitor while JOSH is driving.

MATT
I can’t believe this.

JOSH sighs.

MATT
We don’t get any points for substance?

JOSH
Uh, it’s right there, column three, next to penmanship.

MATT
What about the teachers’ unions?

JOSH
They ignored it, they didn’t want to make it a national story. Look – I added this event yesterday so you could take back the Mayflower crack. It’s a senior center, it’s a large and a captive audience, we’re gonna pay a surprise visit to the state’s oldest voter.

MATT
Del Tollerson.

JOSH
He’s, like, 197. Granddaddy of the primary since it was Old Hampshire. Take back what you said, he forgives you, crisis over.

They walk in the door of the senior center. BROCK and another REPORTER are standing next to the door, as well as a couple of photographers.

REPORTER
Oh, there he is.

MATT and JOSH walk into the reception area. There is a MAN behind the reception desk. We see a small number of seniors through a doorway sitting in what appears to be the dining area. JOSH walks up to the desk.

JOSH
Hi.

MAN
Morning.

JOSH
Shouldn’t there be a crowd here? Don’t tell me they’re out playing jai-alai.

MAN
Oh, one of our residents died. Everyone’s at the funeral.

JOSH
I suppose Del Tollerson’s there, too.

MAN
Oh, I’d say so. He’s in the coffin.

JOSH (quietly)
I see.

JOSH walks back to MATT, as the reporters and photographers squeeze in behind him.

MATT
I don’t think I should defuse this with a joke.

MATT shakes hands with the MAN as he heads into the dining area to chat with the seniors.

MATT
Matt Santos.

BROCK comes up behind JOSH.

BROCK
Good staff work.

JOSH
We’re a scrappy insurgency, okay, we’re taking our licks early.

BROCK
That’s a lot of licks for someone who’s a non-factor in the race.

JOSH
If Santos was a non-factor, I doubt you and the Post would be sipping strained beets at the Nashua Senior Center.

BROCK
You’re serious.

JOSH
What?

BROCK
We’re not writing about Santos. We’re writing about you. Why you’re running this quixotic campaign, why you’re splitting up the field.

JOSH
We’re running to win.

BROCK
By thumbing your nose at the first primary, proposing the largest ever expansion of education in a state that can’t afford to pay for notebooks?

JOSH
We’re talking about the big issues.

BROCK
I think you’re siphoning off votes to help Hoynes. Why else would Russell’s folks be worried about you?

JOSH blinks, thinking.

CUT TO: INT. - RUSSELL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

WILL is going over a list with a STAFFER.

WILL
I want guns off the list, I want choice off the list.

STAFFER
Eastern Pennsylvania’s overwhelmingly anti-gun and pro-choice.

WILL
Yeah, but the people who aren’t vote on those issues alone. Take them off the list.

As the STAFFER leaves WILL’s office, another WORKER follows, saying, ‘I’ll give you a hand.’ As they exit, we see JOSH standing in the doorway.

WILL
You know what I’m realizing is hardest about a Presidential? Delegating to people you barely know.

JOSH
You fed that quote to Brock. You’re trying to force me out of the race.

WILL
Last time I checked, you’re not in the race.

JOSH
You talked to Brock. He told me you were worried about us.

WILL
Well, you turned down a job with Russell, you recruit a nobody to run against us. I’m worried because it doesn’t make any sense.

JOSH
So you dig up damaging quotes?

WILL
I didn’t have to. It was probably Texas Republicans trying to kill him off so he can’t run for state treasurer.

JOSH
If Santos isn’t serious, why’d you trot Donna out to guilt me?

WILL
I’m not guilting anybody, you should be guilting yourself. After Leo, you’re the best political mind in the party, and you’re gonna be working for us, everyone is, it’s inevitable – when that day comes, do you want to be on the record trashing us so we can’t hire you?

JOSH turns and walks out. As he heads down the stairs WILL punches a button on his phone.

WILL (into phone)
Tell Roger and Ellen to come back in here.

CUT TO: EXT. - SIDEWALK – DAY

MATT is speaking to several voters as they stand next to a number of blue mailboxes.

MATT
Look, I’m not saying it’s gonna come without a cost. Education is at the heart of everything that we care about; competitiveness, opportunity, equality. Shouldn’t we, uh, figure out what we need first, and then get into the details?

WOMAN
So you’re saying, no tax increase?

We see JOSH and RONNA a short distance away from the crowd as a minivan pulls up. DONNA gets out of the vehicle. MATT continues to speak in the background.

DONNA (walking up to JOSH and RONNA)
Hi.

JOSH
Hi.

DONNA (to RONNA)
Hi.

RONNA
Hi. Ronna.

DONNA
Actually, it’s Donna.

RONNA
Uh, no, it’s Ronna.

DONNA
No, really, it’s Donna.

RONNA
Uh, I’m quite certain it’s -

JOSH
Ronna, it’s Donna, Donna, it’s Ronna.

DONNA and RONNA smile at one another.

JOSH (to RONNA)
Give us a minute?

RONNA
Sure.

RONNA walks away.

DONNA
She should stick around. Your whole campaign is like some Dr. Suess nightmare. One Fish, Two Fish, Dead Fish, We-fought-the-good-fight Fish.

JOSH
As opposed to The Cat in the Imitation Cowboy Hat Fell Flat?

DONNA 
Go ahead. Hop On Bob.

JOSH
You should be with me. You’re on the wrong campaign.

DONNA
You’re right, I let Russell seduce me with mindless perks like a salary and actual political support.

JOSH
What make-work job do they even have you doing over there?

DONNA
Media targeting for the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.

There is a pause.

JOSH
Fine, we’re still the ones with the gutsy education plan, the ones speaking the truth about the New Hampshire primary.

DONNA
You know what Russell’s been speaking about on his trips here?

JOSH
I didn’t know chipboard could talk.

DONNA
White Mountains preservation, MTBE, textile conversion, local issues.

JOSH
You mean, pandering.

DONNA
I mean what voters want. Campaigns are about them, not us. You taught me that.

Several staffers walk up from the minivan carrying large tubs full of letters.

JOSH
You came here to deliver my old truisms?

DONNA
Close. Letters from Russell supporters to the DNC, urging them to protect the New Hampshire primary.

A photographer snaps pictures as DONNA leads the staffers and their letters to the mailboxes where MATT is speaking.

DONNA
You ought to deliver some of those truisms yourself.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

JOSH is coming up the steps to the upper office. He is surprised to see one of the stand-up cardboard cutouts of Russell there, with a red ribbon around its neck.

JOSH
Least you could do is send me the one with the noose. Eh, maybe Will’s right. (he pulls out a marker from the desk) Maybe you are the man of destiny. I just wish you’d filled out a little sooner, is all.

JOSH draws a handlebar mustache on the face of the Russell cutout. A VOLUNTEER calls out from the ground floor.

VOLUNTEER
Mr. Lyman?

JOSH
Yeah?

JOSH peers over the balcony.

VOLUNTEER
A call for you. A Mr. Potus on the line?

JOSH runs down the stairs and grabs the phone.

JOSH (into phone)
This is Josh Lyman.

OPERATOR (on phone)
Please hold for the President.

BARTLET (on phone)
Liz tells me you look like hell.

JOSH (into phone)
Yeah, well, hell’s just another word for far-from-home-without-your-mittens-on.

We see BARTLET on the phone in the Oval Office.

BARTLET (into phone)
Sorry about what happened with Doug. If you ever have daughters, Josh, don’t let ‘em run off and marry pinheads.

JOSH (on phone)
He’s in a tough race, I deserved it.

BARTLET (into phone)
Naw, you took a bullet for me, I’m the one who didn’t want Doug to run.

The scene cuts back and forth between JOSH and BARTLET.

JOSH (into phone)
I was just doing my job.

BARTLET (into phone)
I know it looks like I’m for Russell, but I want a vigorous primary.

JOSH (on phone)
I know that, sir.

BARTLET (into phone)
If I speak out, it sends all kinds of wrong signals.

JOSH (on phone)
I know.

BARTLET (into phone)
Take down these numbers.

JOSH (into phone, looking for a pen and paper)
Numbers on … ?

BARTLET (on phone)
Just take ‘em down. (beat) Six to 24 over six.

JOSH (on phone, writing the numbers on a matchbook cover)
And this is … ?

BARTLET (into phone)
New Hampshire’s dropout rate. (on phone) It fell from sixth lowest in the nation to 24th in the last six years. They’re highest in the region now. (into phone) I haven’t done enough – Santos should say that. People have to know why he’s talking about education, why he’s in this, what he’s running against. I haven’t done enough. (on phone) It might as well be me. See you when you visit Washington sometime?

JOSH (into phone)
Yes, sir. Sometime. 

We hear a dial tone as the line disconnects. JOSH lights a match and burns the matchbook in an ashtray.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – NIGHT

Three REPORTERS are interviewing JOSH as he sits on a table.

REPORTER 1
The Democratic Leader says your education plan’s poison for New Hampshire.

JOSH
We respect his views, and we look forward to discussing them in person.

REPORTER 2
He says after Mayflowergate he won’t meet with Santos -

JOSH
Come on, that’s a ‘gate’ already? No way does that qualify as a ‘gate.’

A volunteer hands a note to JOSH.

REPORTER 3
So, you’re not consulting the teachers’ unions, you’re not identifying revenue streams -

JOSH
Let me tell you what we are doing, we’re trying to solve maybe the most serious long-term problem in this country, and of course it’s going to be controversial. Of course the status quo is gonna go nutty-bananas, but, uh, where are the other candidates’ education plans? Tell me who’s got an alternative, tell me that.

JOSH walks away and out of the office onto the sidewalk. He finds MATT there taking off his gloves.

JOSH
You wanna talk about the schedule?

MATT
I wanted to talk about today’s spending report. You, uh, hired Joey Lucas to do opposition research after I told you not to?

JOSH
Congressman -

MATT
After I told you that we weren’t gonna smear other Democrats.

JOSH
Research isn’t on them, it’s on you.

MATT is taken aback.

JOSH
I don’t know you. I, I don’t know what you’ve said, what you’ve done, I have to know!

MATT
And if a teacher smacked me with a ruler in the third grade, that’s gonna help you sell my education plan? If I changed positions on the Lindbergh baby, that’s worth having me investigated?

JOSH
Your brother hasn’t worked in five years. You’re supporting him.

MATT scoffs.

JOSH
And I need to know if you’ve ever tried to put him on a government payroll. I need to know if you’ve ever made any phone calls -

MATT
Leave him out of this! How the hell did she get that?

JOSH
Same way everyone else is gonna get it.

MATT
Well, we’d better stop doing this like everyone else, we’d better stop it right now.

JOSH
You don’t get to run this as a test-case on family privacy any more than you get to pick which states are ready for big podium speeches.

MATT turns away, rubbing his head.

MATT
I’m not trying to make this a test case. Come on! We’re lucky if we have two months with this! I’m gonna waste it shaking hands!

Now JOSH is taken aback.

JOSH
Two months? (beat) I gave up everything for this, you’re not even in it to win?

MATT
Maybe we have a different definition of winning, Josh. Maybe that’s what we should’ve talked about in Houston.

JOSH is left speechless as MATT walks away down the sidewalk.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN OFFICE – NIGHT

JOSH is carrying the cardboard standup of Bob Russell down the stairs. He’s carrying it inside a metal trashcan, and the standup has a red ribbon around the neck. RONNA comes up behind JOSH as he reaches the first floor.

RONNA
What’s that?

JOSH
It’s called a clean campaign.

RONNA (handing JOSH some papers)
I’m not hip to all this campaign jargon.

JOSH
These are … ?

RONNA
Statements from the other campaigns, promising education plans by next week. (beat) No one was talking about it, now they all are. Hoynes challenged the whole field to debate education. We’re moving the debate, Josh.

RONNA walks away as JOSH looks at the statements. LIZ comes into the office and walks up to JOSH.

LIZ
Don’t take that to the Litchfield town dump. It’ll still win more votes than your guy.

JOSH puts the trashcan with the standup on the floor.

JOSH
I deserved … what you did to us at the Fickle Pickle.

LIZ
I didn’t do anything. That was Doug. I practically poured a bucket of paint on his head when we got home. We said all along we wouldn’t endorse anyone.

JOSH
Really?

LIZ
Tons of our supporters are leaning toward Russell, tons are leaning toward Hoynes.

JOSH
At least a few have to be leaning toward us.

LIZ
Not really. But your guy has one hell of an education plan. My dad thinks so, too. Only campaign that’s saying much of anything.

JOSH 
Does this mean you and I are -

LIZ
No. I still think you’re a jerk.

LIZ pulls a check out of her pocket and hands it to JOSH.

JOSH
What’s this?

LIZ
A personal check.

JOSH
You’re, donat – you’re – giving Matt Santos $2000?

LIZ
Yeah. Sorry, that’s the federal limit.

JOSH
Liz, this goes on a publicly disclosed donor list. This is a Bartlet family contribution to Santos for President.

LIZ
Funny thing about the FEC – they really like it when you report this stuff.

LIZ starts to walk away.

JOSH
Don’t give the environmental speech. 

LIZ
What do you mean?

JOSH
Don’t give it. Doug’s for snowmobiles. Maybe it’s bad politics, but it’s where he is.

LIZ
That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.

LIZ walks away. JOSH shows the check to RONNA as she comes up to him.

RONNA
Wh – what do we do with this?

JOSH
Cash it, fast as we can. See how many Matt Santos letter openers it’ll buy.

CUT TO: EXT. - OUTSIDE HAWK’S HOUSE – NIGHT

The SUV pulls to a stop. We hear MATT and NED talking inside.

MATT (VO)
Speech insert on teachers?

NED (VO)
More training and higher salaries, greater accountability.

MATT (VO)
Good. Thanks.

JOSH, MATT, and NED get out of the car. JOSH and NED start heading for the house, as MATT stops.

MATT
Whoa, whoa. Where is, uh, Hawk’s house?

JOSH
This is it, this is Phil Hawk’s house.

MATT
I thought it was a venue, a … a speech, not a, another three-person grip and grin.

JOSH
Phil’s one of the premier activists in …

MATT walks past JOSH into the yard, sighing heavily. JOSH turns and slowly goes to him.

JOSH
What I said about … putting your brother on the government payroll, that was out of line.

MATT
You were just doing your job.

JOSH
I don’t know what you want my job to be. For days now I’ve … been trying to get my head around this rationale. I used to tell candidates, ‘Make it about the voters, not about you.’ But the difference is, you are them. Working-poor background, kids in public school, brother with a high school diploma, he can barely read.

MATT
And what does that all amount to besides a lousy stereotype?

JOSH
It’s why you’re in this, it’s why you’re talking about education. What’s, wrong with telling people that? Especially in New Hampshire, where people think their vote is the most personal thing they have to give?

MATT
Have you taken one moment to think about whether you even like my education plan – pop psychology aside, whether it’s actually right for the country?

JOSH
I didn’t have to hear it to know it’d be right.

MATT (beat)
I do want to win, you know. But I can’t do it by being just another cardboard cutout – even if it is smart tactics. 

JOSH
You can’t run a national campaign on your own. No one can.

MATT sighs and turns away.

MATT
New Hampshire’s over with, isn’t it?

JOSH
Well, you’re not making it easy.

MATT
Hmm, well, you know … if we’re gonna do this, I’m not gonna make it easy. I’m gonna give the big speeches and I’m gonna push every limit and that’s the campaign you get to run.

JOSH
And what if I can’t make that work?

MATT
Well, then no one can.

There is a pause. MATT gives a quick nod and then he and JOSH head for the house. MATT stops at the porch steps.

MATT
Uh, when you get the rest of that research, uh … we’ll go over it together.

They head inside. NED and RONNA are standing in the hallway. There are several children in the living room. RONNA gestures toward the kitchen, and MATT heads that way, taking off his coat. He finds a large group of a dozen or so people, waiting to meet with him.

MATT
Good evening. Hi, how are you?

JOSH, NED and RONNA follow MATT into the kitchen as MATT continues greeting the attendees.

MATT
Hello, sir. Thank you for inviting us. Good evening. Hi.

VOTER
Nice to meet you.

MATT
Good evening.

JOSH (to RONNA)
This is more people than we expected.

RONNA (quietly)
Yeah, some of the neighbors came.

JOSH (quietly)
Because?

RONNA (quietly)
Mostly ‘cause they think he’s nuts – but … they’re curious, and that ain’t nothing.

MATT (to crowd)
Good evening, folks.

JOSH (whispering)
No, that ain’t nothing.

MATT (to crowd)
Well, as you all know, I’m Matt Santos, that kamikaze candidate from Texas. (laughter) Well, I didn’t leave my home and my family so that I could stand around town dumps telling you all what you want to hear. I’ve faced some things in my life, my own family, that make me believe that we need to rethink our whole education system,

The screen fades to black as we hear MATT continue.

MATT (VO)
- and if that’s something that’s going to make it harder for me as a candidate, well, then, I’ll just have to take it.

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 6X11 – Opposition Research
Original Airdate: January 12, 2005

THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: Faith Based Initiative (S6E10)

THE WEST WING
6x10 - “FAITH BASED INITIATIVE”
WRITTEN BY BRADLEY WHITFORD
DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER MISIANO

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

TEASER

FAITH BASED INITIATIVE

FADE IN: INT. - SANTOS BEDROOM – NIGHT

MATT SANTOS and his wife HELEN are lying on their bed, their sleeping children between them, after the Christmas family gathering we saw at the end of the previous episode. A fire is burning in the fireplace.

MATT
Josh should’ve called. I could’ve saved him a trip.

HELEN
They don’t have anyone else? It’s a Latino district and they cannot come up with a decent Democrat?

MATT
You’d think.

HELEN
Did you leave it open with him?

MATT
No.

HELEN
I’ll break you in half.

MATT
He knows I’m not going back to the House.

HELEN (referring to the kids)
Give me a hand. These guys are out.

MATT and HELEN each pick up a child and carry them out of the bedroom.

MATT (picking up their son)
Look at how big this kid is.

HELEN (picking up their daughter)
Mm-hmm.

MATT
I mean, he’s down to my knees. (HELEN laughs) When did this happen?

HELEN
He’s shooting up, it’s that time.

MATT
He’s got his own smell.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS KITCHEN – NIGHT

MATT and HELEN come into the kitchen to clean up after putting the kids to bed.

HELEN
So what did he want?

MATT
Well, he’s not worried about the House anymore.

HELEN
You supposed to walk Russell through a Cinco de Mayo parade, establish his Chicano street cred?

MATT (chuckling)
Not quite.

HELEN
I hate politicians who wear cowboy boots.

MATT
Well, that’s the least of his problems. 

HELEN
Women spend their entire lives trying to get out of heels – what possible use is there? The guy is a lawmaker. It’s like going through life wearing a welder’s helmet.

MATT
He’s not a bad guy, he’s -

HELEN
Well, his footwear’s moronic.

MATT
He’s just trying to get elected.

HELEN (scooping something out of a bowl with a spoon)
Exactly. Oh, my God, this is good, you want some?

HELEN offers the bowl and the spoon to MATT.

MATT
What is it?

HELEN
It’s ice cream, melted. It’s good like this.

MATT (sitting)
I’m fine.

HELEN continues to eat out of the bowl as MATT takes a moment.

MATT
Josh wants me to run for President.

A pause as HELEN considers this.

HELEN
Of the United States?

MATT
I’m pretty sure.

HELEN (laughing as she turns to put the bowl in the sink, as MATT laughs, too)
Wow, they are hard up. I mean, you know what I mean, it’s … you thinking about this?

MATT
No.

HELEN
You’re not.

MATT
Told him no.

HELEN
You told him no.

MATT
I told him no.

HELEN
And what did he say?

MATT
He said that I was right, that it was a … stupid idea and that I made the right decision.

HELEN
Man of conviction right there.

MATT
He’s got it all figured out, he’s got this nine-point plan. It’s pretty interesting, actually.

HELEN
Nine points?

MATT
Uh-huh.

HELEN
Why not seven, or three, or … ?

MATT
I don’t know.

HELEN
And this plan is supposed to make you … ?

MATT
Win.

A beat.

HELEN
Oh, my God, you’re thinking about this.

MATT
I told him no.

A pause. MATT and HELEN look at each other, small unreadable smiles on their faces.

HELEN
Well, I’m going to bed. Those kids are going to be up in a couple of hours. Don’t forget the trash.

HELEN slowly walks out of the kitchen. MATT sits in his chair, watching her.

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

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - CJ’S APARTMENT – MORNING

We begin with a close-up of CJ’s face as she applies lipstick. We hear the sound from a news program.

NEWS ANCHOR (VO)
The Bartlet administration remains optimistic about upcoming trilateral talks with China and North Korea; South Korea offers energy assistance to its power-starved neighbors.

CJ’s Blackberry begins buzzing. We see a closeup of that, then CJ picks it up and starts looking at whatever news alert caused the alarm.

NEWS ANCHOR (VO)
It’s a quarter past the hour, and this is Morning Edition. The first chink in the armor of the Washington-Pyongyang stalemate appeared last month in Beijing -

CJ (looking at her Blackberry)
Oh, my God …

NEWS ANCHOR (VO)
- when Chinese President Lian agreed to broker talks between the US and -

CJ
Are you kidding me?!

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE FOYER – DAY

CJ walks into the doors of the White House, where she is greeted by MARGARET.

MARGARET
Well. Good morning.

CJ
Right.

MARGARET (cheerily)
I love it when it’s cold enough to make the mud crusty, it’s a better walk.

CJ
You don’t have to do this. 

MARGARET
Sorry.

CJ
You have the full text of this blog thing from the Rohmer Report?

MARGARET arranges some papers in her hands as they continue to walk.

CJ
Go.

MARGARET (reading)
‘What team does she play on? Washington abuzz with fresh allegations that a certain former Bartlet administration press secretary may have more than a passing interest in pursuing what many have described as a radical homosexual agenda.’ And it goes on …

CJ
To say what?

MARGARET
That you played sports at Berkeley and that you were the first girl in Ohio prep history ever to dunk a basketball.

CJ
Oh, lord God …

MARGARET
And that’s pretty much it.

CJ
Did Tommy call?

MARGARET
Tommy? Burly Tommy Keller with the mop on top? Two dinners at the Oval Room last week, and the reason I’m wearing this necklace today, who’s picking you up at 7:00 tonight, Tommy?

CJ
He called?

MARGARET
No.

They have reached CJ’s office. CJ gestures through the doorway.

CJ
Everybody in there?

MARGARET
All here – five minutes early.

CJ
Well, great.

CJ heads into her office, where WILL, TOBY, KATE, ANNABETH, and JOSH are waiting. 

CJ
Morning.

ALL
Good morning, CJ.

CJ walks around her desk, seeing a basketball wrapped in a red ribbon on it. There are a few quiet chuckles.

CJ
Okay …

CJ throws down the papers she was carrying, picks up the basketball, and smoothly shoots it into a trash can across the room.

TOBY
Whoa!

JOSH
I’ve never been more attracted to you in my life.

CJ
Restrain yourself. Last night’s House vote means we have a budget headed for conference committee. House and Senate versions are close, but we don’t want to get hung up for weeks on a bunch of silly HHS riders like we did two years ago. We’re close, but it’s not a -

CHARLIE (walking into the room)
Slam dunk?

CJ
Hey, now Charlie made a funny. Guys, our whole agenda is riding on this. We can’t afford another shutdown. We’ve got the President’s legacy. This is our last chance to maybe do some good for folks, and it all lives or dies with this budget. We have to track this conference committee closely.

TOBY
Are we gonna get the college loan and Pell grant expansion?

JOSH
Yeah, both versions, we got it -

CHARLIE (handing a paper to CJ)
We just got the list of Republican conferees.

CJ (looking at the list)
Wilkinson?

CHARLIE
I thought it was a seniority thing.

JOSH (as CJ hands the list to TOBY)
No, they can do whatever they want.

TOBY
That’s why they do it behind closed doors.

CJ
Wilkinson? Isn’t this it for him?

WILL
Yeah, I thought he was going back to Kansas to sell flat globes.

TOBY (handing the list to JOSH)
Was he even in on the budget negotiations?

JOSH
I didn’t see him.

CJ
Okay, we keep an eye out, everybody hits the phones. Will, what do you got?

WILL
Uh, the VP’s speaking to the NAACP in Memphis next week. I’m coordinating with the policy shops.

JOSH
You want help?

WILL
You talking to me?

JOSH
Yeah, I may be able to help you out there.

WILL
You’re offering to help the Vice President?

JOSH
Yeah, I can help you cut to the chase with those guys.

CHARLIE
Those guys?

WILL
You’re like the whitest guy on the planet.

CHARLIE
Yeah. Got any particular insights you want to share?

JOSH
Is it weird? Did it just get weird in here?

TOBY
A little.

CJ
What else? Kate, where’s Uzbekistan?

KATE
Something big blew up. Doesn’t appear to be nuclear. We’re going over the pictures now. We really have no idea.

ANNABETH
Let’s never open these meetings to the public.

CJ
Okay, keep me posted. The President’s going to be working from the residence today, if you need him, bring it to me.

CHARLIE
He okay?

CJ
Yeah, he’s fine. Some temporary balance problems. Just precautionary, we don’t want to risk another fall. Skip the flowers and chocolate, if you want to send a message of love, bring this budget home. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to try and craft a personal statement in support of the reproductive arts.

KATE
Hang in there.

CJ
Yeah, yeah.

The senior staff stands and begins to leave.

CHARLIE
There’s a basketball in the trash.

KATE
Nothing but net.

TOBY (stopping at the doorway)
Don’t put out a statement.

CJ
It’ll be perfectly respectful, we don’t need this distraction now.

TOBY
It feels funny.

CJ
You’re going to have to be more articulate than that.

TOBY
This can’t be a coincidence. Rumors about your sexuality on the same day the Republicans are shoving Wilkinson onto the budget conference committee? 

CJ
You’re acting like a dog in Pompeii again.

TOBY
Do me a favor. Hold off on the statement, let me make some calls.

CJ
Fine, but I think you’re drastically overestimating the political potency of my sex life.

TOBY
Not possible.

CJ chuckles.

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE – DAY

BARTLET is lying on a massage table in his bedroom, getting worked on by a physical therapist.

BARTLET
This is great.

THERAPIST
Sir?

BARTLET
I have a devastating neurological disorder and you’ve got me doing calisthenics.

THERAPIST
Can I put this whining in a book I’m gonna write?

BARTLET
If I wanted to exercise, I never would’ve become an economist.

CURTIS walks into the bedroom.

BARTLET
Curtis, my friend, how you doing today?

CURTIS
Just fine, sir.

BARTLET
Well, a mighty blessing upon your mighty frame, son.

CURTIS
Appreciate that, Mr. President, what can I do for you, sir?

BARTLET
Is my wife about?

CURTIS
I believe she is, sir.

BARTLET
Thank you.

CURTIS exits. BARTLET groans as the THERAPIST stretches out a leg.

BARTLET
Oookay – now you got me trying to do stuff I couldn’t do before I got sick.

THERAPIST
When you’re feeling wobbly, that’s a good opportunity for you to take some time with range of motion.

BARTLET (panting)
Terrific, I’ll just pretend I’m a crustacean.

THERAPIST
Use it or lose it, Mr. President.

BARTLET
That could be said for the power of the Presidency as well.

CURTIS ushers ABBEY into the bedroom.

ABBEY
Good lord, Jed, are you all right?

BARTLET (grunting)
No, I’m fine, I just … thank you, Curtis. I may need you, I’ll holler.

CURTIS
Right outside the door, sir. 

CURTIS steps out.

BARTLET
You bet. (panting) Great kid.

ABBEY
I’d like to watch him eat a pie.

BARTLET (laughing)
You on your way?

ABBEY
I got a quick meet with your doctor and CJ later this morning; five interviews and three receptions this afternoon -

BARTLET
Aw, geez …

ABBEY
Hell is a place where you got to keep smiling and you’re not allowed to take off your pantyhose.

BARTLET
You want me in the CJ meeting?

ABBEY
Not unless you want to hear yourself referred to in the third person and keep your mouth shut.

BARTLET
I didn’t think my schedule was going to be so light on the protein.

ABBEY
Well, that’s all right, Jed. You can afford to lose a few pounds.

ABBEY gives BARTLET a peck on the ear.

BARTLET
Shhhh …

ABBEY (whispers)
See you this evening.

BARTLET (as ABBEY exits)
I’ll be here.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S BULLPEN – DAY

TOBY walks towards JOSH’s office. He speaks to MARLA WORISKY, the temp replacing DONNA, as he goes by.

TOBY
He in there?

MARLA
Yeah. Don’t go in.

TOBY (stopping)
He alone?

MARLA
How do you mean?

TOBY
Not with others.

MARLA
That is correct.

TOBY
You know what, he’ll be fine.

TOBY starts back into the office as MARLA stands and speaks loudly.

MARLA
Step away from the door!

TOBY stops and holds his hands up as JOSH comes out of the office.

JOSH (to TOBY)
Hey, one second. You all right? (showing a paper to MARLA) How’s this?

MARLA (taking the paper)
I’ll tell you after I read it.

JOSH (to TOBY)
Come on in.

They go into JOSH’s office, TOBY still staring at MARLA.

JOSH (closing the door)
She likes it closed.

TOBY
Interesting girl.

JOSH
Yeah. I think I lost the temp lottery. She’s making me finish, like, one thing at a time.  It’s insane.

TOBY
Tell her to back off.

JOSH
You tell her.

TOBY
Call Donna.

JOSH (sighing)
I can’t. 

TOBY
You know, eventually, you may have to resort to manhood.

JOSH
I’m the victim here, how am I supposed to be a man?

TOBY (beat)
This Wilkinson thing, seem strange to you?

JOSH
Yeah, I got calls out to the Minority Leader and all the Democratic conferees.

TOBY
I’m gonna call the Republican Whip, then go see Wilkinson.

JOSH
We’ll get this budget locked up.

TOBY
Why’d you go to Houston?

JOSH
Hmmm?

TOBY
Why’d you go to Houston? Santos?

JOSH
Yeah.

TOBY
What’d he say?

JOSH
He’s not running.

TOBY (scoffs)
Yeah. Could’ve used him in the House.

JOSH
Yeah, it’s a shame.

TOBY
You went all the way down there?

JOSH
I like him a lot.

TOBY (beat)
Russell and Hoynes both still after you?

JOSH
Yeah.

TOBY
Make up your mind?

JOSH
I’m here with you to the bitter end, with bells on.

TOBY
If this budget falls apart and Vinick makes his way through the primaries, there’s not going to be a Democratic Party anymore.

JOSH
No. I know, I’m on it.

The door opens and MARLA walks in.

MARLA (to TOBY)
You’re done, leave.

TOBY (on his way out)
I don’t know what you’re talking about, I think this girl’s fantastic.

MARLA (to JOSH)
Minority Leader on one.

MARLA backs out of the office and closes the door.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ is on the telephone. 

CJ (into phone)
Yes, Senator, we understand. (beat) Sure. (beat) And we appreciate the restraint you’ve shown through this entire budget process … 

MARGARET is at the door gesturing at ANNABETH waiting there.

CJ (to MARGARET)
Yeah, yeah.

ANNABETH (entering, to MARGARET)
Thank you.

CJ (into phone)
And you know this White House is going to back you 100 percent. (to ANNABETH) Sit, sit. (into phone) Yep, Baker’s my next call. Thanks for the heads up. (beat) Oh, I’m fine. I only use the internet to shop. (beat) Thanks for asking. (hangs up the phone) Cripes. What’s up?

ANNABETH
So I have some interview requests -

CJ
Go ahead.

ANNABETH
The Advocate, Out, The Village Voice, the San Francisco Chronicle -

CJ
Make my stinking day …

ANNABETH
- Washington Times, Goddess Monthly, Nantucket Republican, and the NCAA Field Hockey Quarterly.

CJ
Field hockey?

ANNABETH
No, I just made that one up, as a joke.

CJ
Well, aren’t you just as perky as all get-out.

ANNABETH
So, for now it seems to be isolated to just the -

CJ
Sports fans.

ANNABETH
Right.

CJ
And the statement? I just want to be sure this doesn’t distract from the business of, say, the government.

ANNABETH
Yeah, I’ve been struggling with this a bit – you want to emphatically deny something you have no problem with and make it publicly clear that this is a private matter?

CJ
That’d be great.

There is a pause.

ANNABETH
Okey-dokey.

ANNABETH turns and exits, and JOSH and TOBY enter with a knock.

JOSH
Hey. 

TOBY
Is the President still in the residence?

CJ
Yeah.

JOSH
We found out what Wilkinson’s doing in the budget conference.

TOBY
Federal ban on gay marriage.

JOSH
Sanctity of Marriage Act.

CJ
They’re attaching it to the budget?

TOBY
So if we want to avoid spending the rest of our days in partisan gridlock, we have to ban gay marriage.

JOSH
If we oppose it, we paint the whole Democratic Party as out of touch with traditional American values for the election.

TOBY
And the budget goes down in flames.

CJ
Margaret!

MARGARET appears in the doorway.

CJ
Call the residence, we need to see the President now.

CUT TO: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – DAY

WILL is talking to someone sitting across from him at his desk. We can’t see who.

WILL
I looked over your resume; I think we both know it’s an undersell. What I take to the Vice President is the knowledge you’ve gleaned over six years on the front lines. I think we can safely say you’ve picked up a lot.

The camera has moved to show us it’s DONNA being interviewed for a job.

DONNA
I try to pay attention.

WILL
I just want to make sure I’m not starting a turf war – I’d hate to find the Deputy Chief of Staff at my door with a switchblade.

DONNA
You’re not poaching me. I need to move on, and Josh is … well, he’ll find someone else to answer his phone.

WILL
Well, we can use you. No question. And not as anybody’s assistant.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE – DAY

BARTLET is sitting on the sofa, squeezing a rubber ball. CJ, JOSH and TOBY are giving him the news.

BARTLET
Sanctity of Marriage? 

JOSH
That’s right, Mr. President.

BARTLET
On the budget?

CJ
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Didn’t they attach a family planning rider to the highway bill last year?

JOSH
They did.

BARTLET
What’s with these people, they can’t stop talking about sex.

TOBY
If they can’t be having it …

BARTLET
Am I having a flashback, or is this my brain going?

JOSH
No, sir, last time they called it Marriage Recognition Act, first term, pocket veto.

BARTLET
Who is this?

JOSH
Wilkinson.

BARTLET
What’s Wilkinson doing on the conference committee?

JOSH
That’s what we said.

TOBY
It’s a guts move by the leadership, we’ve just got to slap it down.

JOSH
We threaten a veto, make it clear this kind of ambush is unacceptable. We should get going on a statement now.

TOBY
Make them think twice before they force another shutdown.

CJ
I disagree. It’s a bad pitch, don’t swing at it. That’s why they’re throwing it. There any doubt it would get overturned by the courts, Josh?

JOSH
Oh, it’s not likely. So far, anything short of full recognition for same-sex partners is a constitutional no-go.

CJ
This amendment is pure symbolism, it’s an empty gesture. Is that worth holding up our entire agenda?

BARTLET thinks a moment.

BARTLET
Get it off the bill, guys.

TOBY
And if we can’t?

BARTLET
Just get it off the bill.

TOBY and JOSH exchange looks.

TOBY
Thank you, Mr. President.

JOSH
Thank you, sir.

JOSH and TOBY exit.

BARTLET
Wilkinson’s more of a federalist than an ideologue, what’s he doing suggesting we override the states?

CJ
The courts will take care of that. We need this budget, sir, at the end of the day you may have to sign it.

CUT TO: INT. - RESIDENCE SITTING ROOM – DAY

TOBY
What was that about?

JOSH
Well, he didn’t say he wouldn’t veto it.

TOBY
He didn’t say he would.

JOSH
We can get this done.

The door opens and CJ walks out of the bedroom.

TOBY
You want to enlighten us?

CJ
He wants it off the bill.

TOBY
Yeah, we get that.

CJ
We’re not going to play a game of chicken in the middle of a two trillion dollar budget round.

TOBY
We’re always in the middle of a two trillion dollar budget round.

CJ
With a President who can’t make it down the stairs?

TOBY
But he’s not running again, why can’t we help him stand up for himself?

JOSH
The President made the call - let’s get it off the bill.

CJ
Josh, try and dole out some budgetary pork to members of the conference committee, see if we can get this amendment killed.

CJ’s beeper goes off, and she pulls it out.

JOSH
Okay. Maybe Sioux City needs a monorail.

CJ (checking her beeper)
I’m late for the First Lady. Toby, why don’t you share your feelings with Wilkinson, see if you can talk him down.

TOBY
With what? A threat that if he doesn’t back off, the President might actually sign it?

CJ
You’ll figure it out.

CJ walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM – DAY

DR. MIKE GORDON is meeting with ABBEY, CHARLIE, and CURTIS. As he speaks, CJ enters in the background and joins them.

GORDON
Statistically, there’s a 50 percent chance of developing secondary progressive MS – progressive because the lesions have obviously accelerated here. That’s pretty common.

CHARLIE
And you don’t know how to stop that?

GORDON
Well, give me ten years and some stem cells -

CJ (taking a seat)
Sorry.

GORDON
What we need to focus on is the best way to manage his symptoms in this unique environment.

ABBEY
That’s what this is.

CJ
What about stress?

GORDON
Can’t be good for you.

CHARLIE
Tell me about it. The before-and-after pictures around this place are intense.

CJ
No more back-to-back marathon meetings.

GORDON
No, an hour, max. His legs are going to start cramping and spasming, you don’t want him kicking out the Resolute Desk.

ABBEY
Or one of the Joint Chiefs.

CURTIS
How many hours a day can we schedule?

GORDON
Depends. Six or seven, tops – and he’s going to need a nap midday.

CHARLIE
A nap? He’s gonna love that.

GORDON
It’s the public time that’s gonna be tough – standing behind podiums, shaking hands, Cabinet meetings …

CJ
So, more on the phone, more memos, things he can read and sign.

GORDON
Too much reading may lead to optical problems, you’re probably going to have to severely limit his reading materials.

ABBEY
Oh, lord -

CJ
Anything else?

GORDON
High temperatures can trigger attacks, got to keep the Oval below 70.

CJ
Okay. So, we’ll do a daily report on the President’s condition in morning staff -

ABBEY
The bottom line is, we have to be prepared for anything, every day.

CUT TO: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – DAY

TOBY walks into WILL’s office.

TOBY
Got a minute?

WILL
You should call first, so I can gather my wits.

TOBY
Sorry.

WILL
You’ve seen TheFederalGovernmentAreABunchOfDinks dot com?

TOBY
And what if I reject the premise?

WILL
They’re all over this CJ thing.

TOBY
Anything new?

WILL
They got her high school basketball stats. Apparently, she was All-Dayton.

TOBY
You heard about this Sanctity of Marriage amendment?

WILL
Just now.

TOBY
The President wants it stripped off the budget.

WILL
Good.

TOBY (beat)
Be nice if the Vice President made some kind of statement against it, maybe called Wilkinson.

WILL
The Vice President is pro-marriage. 

TOBY
As are we all, I’ve been married almost twice … to the same woman.

WILL
That’s … unique.

TOBY
We’re fine with it.

WILL
Okay, then.

TOBY (beat)
So the VP’ll make a statement?

WILL
What’s the President’s position?

TOBY
He wants it off the bill.

WILL
But what’s his position?

TOBY
That he wants it off the bill.

WILL
And if it stays on the bill?

TOBY (beat)
We need your help on this.

WILL
Right. This is a lose-lose for us, Toby. We come out for it, we hurt ourselves in the primaries; we come out against it, we hurt ourselves in the general. I’d have to advise the VP to wait and see where the President’s going to land.

TOBY
No, I want to kill it before it learns how to walk.

WILL
Then I don’t know what you’re doing here, you should be talking to the President about a veto.

TOBY (scoffs, turns to leave)
Good idea.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

CJ is walking along typing into her Blackberry. ANNABETH comes up next to her and walks alongside, startling CJ.

ANNABETH
It’s getting bigger.

CJ (gasps in surprise)
Oh! Hi.

ANNABETH
I’m sorry, you wanted an update on this internet rumor?

CJ 
It’s getting bigger?

ANNABETH
Blogs are saturated with it, and now there’s a query from the Post. They’re doing a piece on strategic bloggery.

CJ (looking down at ANNABETH)
What are you, like, four-ten?

ANNABETH
Me? I’m four-eleven.

CJ
I can’t believe we’re the same species.

ANNABETH
So there’s your update.

CJ
Well, I know we shouldn’t be saying anything, but are you sure we shouldn’t be saying anything?

ANNABETH
Well, I was thinking -

CJ
I mean, it’d be great to get it off the net, but it seemed like a comment on the Sanctity of Marriage Act, plus any statement on the White House letterhead brings this from the blogosphere to just about every news outlet in the country.

ANNABETH
I was going to say -

CJ
So, not a peep? Thanks for your advice on this.

CJ heads towards her office, but is redirected by MARGARET.

MARGARET
The Democratic conferees are waiting.

CJ
Tommy didn’t call, did he?

MARGARET
Crickets. Guy’s starting to tick me off.

CJ (heading into the Roosevelt Room)
Crickets?

CUT TO: INT. - CAPITOL CORRIDOR – DAY

TOBY meets WILKINSON coming out of a meeting room.

TOBY
Senator Wilkinson?

WILKINSON
I’ve been waiting for an emissary. Figured it’d be the Vice President.

TOBY
Senator, you’re one of this country’s great federalists. You believe in state and local control of education. 

WILKINSON
I do.

TOBY
You believe in state and local control of law enforcement.

WILKINSON
Yep.

TOBY
Senator, I’m not sure you think there should be a federal government at all.

WILKINSON
Well, we lost that fight some time ago, didn’t we?

TOBY
So, why would you want an unprecedented, top-down federal mandate to govern every state’s marital laws?

WILKINSON
Well, now that we have a federal government, one thing it can do is protect our national values.

TOBY
Such as individual freedoms?

WILKINSON
Actually, I was thinking of the institution of marriage.

TOBY
When the budget’s done, let’s get a bipartisan group together to talk about it.

WILKINSON
I don’t need another thoughtful study to tell me what I know to be right.

TOBY
Senator, I’m not criticizing the sincerity of your beliefs -

WILKINSON
Well, that’s refreshing. Toby, do you believe the Bible to be literally true?

TOBY
Yes, sir, but I don’t think either of us is smart enough to understand it. The President wants this amendment off his budget -

WILKINSON
Well, if you’re here to threaten a veto, now’s the time to do it. (beat) Yeah, I’m a busy man, I don’t appreciate your coming down here with hollow threats.

TOBY
And I don’t appreciate people spreading politically motivated rumors about CJ Cregg on the internet.

WILKINSON
I don’t know how to use a typewriter, much less a computer. I think the President is going to sign it, Toby. And I think that you’re here because you think he might sign it, too.

WILKINSON gives a tight-lipped smile and walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – EVENING

JOSH opens his door and walks into his office.

JOSH (calling out)
Marla, I need the numbers for the meeting.

JOSH ruffles through folders and papers on his desk as a phone rings on his desk.

JOSH (calling out)
The earmarks, for the conferees?

The phone continues to ring as JOSH puts on his jacket.

JOSH (yelling)
Can you get that? I’m late here.

JOSH reaches for the phone.

JOSH
Geez … (picking up phone) Hello?

MARLA (on phone)
I don’t like to be yelled at.

The call disconnects with a click and a dial tone. JOSH walks out of his office and calmly speaks to MARLA, who is looking at him disdainfully.

JOSH
I would like to have the earmarks so that I can go and do my job.

MARLA
Earmarks? Is that frat-boy for pork?

JOSH
Wow.

MARLA (handing papers to JOSH)
Here you go.

JOSH (taking papers and turning to go)
Thank you.

MARLA
Three hundred thousand dollars for potato storage research.

JOSH
Starches are vital.

MARLA
How vital is 50 million dollars for an indoor rain forest in Iowa?

JOSH
It attracts tourism.

MARLA
And mosquitoes, I’m guessing.

JOSH
I’m trying to get some distinguished members of Congress to remove a hateful, gay-bashing, piece-of-trash amendment from the federal budget.

JOSH starts off again.

MARLA
By bribing them with taxpayers’ hard-earned money? 

JOSH
Yeah, I don’t know if you read the memo, but I set federal budget policy -

MATT SANTOS appears in the hallway behind JOSH.

JOSH
- You alphabetize and sort.

MATT
Josh. You, uh, got a second?

JOSH (caught by surprise)
Yeah. Come in.

JOSH leads MATT into his office.

MARLA
You’re gonna be late.

JOSH shuts his office door as he and MATT meet inside.

MATT
So, what are you working on?

JOSH
Actually, right now, trying to build an indoor rain forest.

MATT
Ah. Well, good luck with that.

JOSH
Listen, I’m, uh, sorry about landing on you in Houston like that.

MATT
My wife wants to kill you.

JOSH
Yeah, I got a lot of women mad at me.

MATT
Yeah. Well, you ought to work on that.

JOSH
I do have to go to this - meeting in a second, we got a budget glitch we’re trying to sort out.

MATT
So, would this be a package deal?

JOSH
The budget?

MATT
No, uh, I’ve been thinking about your nine-point plan.

JOSH
Really?

MATT 
Yeah. But I would like to add a tenth.

JOSH
What’s that?

MATT
You. (beat) The filing deadline’s next Thursday. I’m in … if you’re in with me.

MATT and JOSH stand looking at each other in silence.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

VICE PRESIDENT RUSSELL is meeting with a group of officials seated around the table.

RUSSELL
So, no one here is troubled that the Paper Reduction Act is more than 500 pages long? Okay, let’s just see if we can squeeze it down a little, save a couple of trees?

As RUSSELL stands to go, we hear murmurs from the group.

OFFICIALS
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

RUSSELL steps out into the hall and encounters TOBY walking past.

RUSSELL
You can always tell a bureaucrat, but you can’t tell ‘em much.

TOBY
Unless you tell them in triplicate.

RUSSELL
Whatcha need, Toby?

TOBY
Sanctity of Marriage?

RUSSELL
Yeah. Yeah, Will gave me the heads up. He helpful?

TOBY
Not as obedient as he used to be.

RUSSELL
That’s good to hear. That’s rough about CJ.

TOBY
Yeah, it’s a rough town. Mr. Vice President, I know you don’t want to get ahead of the President on this, but we need you to come out against the Sanctity of Marriage Act.

RUSSELL
Why would I want to do that?

TOBY
‘Cause one clear signal from this White House, and I believe Wilkinson will fold.

RUSSELL
I think Will is right. I’ve, uh, I’m going to have to take a pass on this.

TOBY
Mr. Vice President, this amendment isn’t about protecting marriage. It’s about institutionalizing the last acceptable form of discrimination. 

RUSSELL
Toby, you -

TOBY
You can’t just sit back and allow the religious right to hijack the social agenda in this country.

RUSSELL
I know, look -

TOBY
Presidential campaigning has to be about more than duck and cover. This is an opportunity for you to stand up and lead, make -

RUSSELL
I’ve got a nephew who’s gay. I love this kid. His name’s Todd. I want him to have the same rights and opportunities as everybody else. He wants to go to West Point, and it makes me sick to think that we would send him into battle to defend a union, but he can’t enter into one.

TOBY
Then, come out against this amendment.

RUSSELL
We’re not there yet. Five thousand years of socialization didn’t go out the window with the first Village People album. You do this wrong, and there’ll be a backlash that sets us back 50 years. You do it right, we’ll be there in ten.

TOBY
And in the meantime … what message are we sending?

RUSSELL
We’re making progress. We’ve got, uh, domestic partnerships … non-disc-, discrimination laws … besides, demographics are destiny, the kids don’t give a damn about this.

TOBY (beat)
You would tell the President to sign this thing?

RUSSELL (beat)
I’d tell him to get his budget … and so would my nephew.

RUSSELL turns and walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - MARGARET’S DESK – DAY

CJ comes out of her office, talking to MARGARET.

CJ
Tommy? Any Tommy?

MARGARET
No Tommy to give.

CJ heads off down the hallway, where she is once again startled by ANNABETH walking up next to her.

ANNABETH
Boston Globe wants -

CJ
Oh my God!

ANNABETH
- to know if we’re going to comment on the Wilkinson amendment.

CJ
That voice out of nowhere …

ANNABETH
MSNBC, too. MuckrakersManifesto dot com has a story that you were gonna coach in the WNBA.

CJ
That’s completely ridiculous. I went to, like, three Mystics games.

ANNABETH
Fox News – both mean Irish guys – whole bunch of websites, 11 more newspapers, and be quick about it, blah, blah, blah …

CJ
So they’re all writing about me now?

ANNABETH
Not you, exactly, but the amendment gives them license to at least mention these internet rumors.

CJ
Well, the President wants a clean budget bill with no extraneous amendment, that’s the line – and start working up a statement.

ANNABETH
I thought we decided not to.

CJ
Just in case. You know, respectful, non-defensive, live and let – not that there’s anything wrong with it …

ANNABETH
Uh, I tried that. 

CJ
And?

ANNABETH
And, I gave up, because it’s stupid?

CJ
Is that an option around here?

ANNABETH
Toby suggested it might be.

CJ
And what else did Toby suggest?

ANNABETH
That the White House Chief of Staff doesn’t get to issue personal statements that read like letters to the editor of Soap Opera Digest.

CJ reacts.

ANNABETH
Not that I’m a subscriber or anything.

CJ
I’d like a draft statement on my desk in an hour.

CJ walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is sitting at TOBY’s desk studying a document. TOBY comes to the door.

TOBY
What are you doing?

JOSH
I got a bad temp.

TOBY
This is where you become just sad. Call Donna.

JOSH
What happened with Wilkinson?

TOBY
He won’t budge. When God starts talking to people, it kinda limits the debate. How’s the pork?

JOSH
Not having much luck with the other conferees. Carson wants 600 grand for alternative salmon products. I think we should just ditch the whole budget and open a grocery store.

TOBY
So this amendment’s gonna pass?

JOSH
People don’t want to vote against marriage. We’re gonna run out of salmon products before they’re ready to vote against church and family.

TOBY
Oh, I hate this issue, it’s like walking around town holding a sick chicken.

JOSH
If the President isn’t willing to veto this, I don’t know how we’re going to nickel and dime our way out of it.

TOBY
So we don’t even try? CJ’s caving; the Vice President thinks the country’s not ready to fight discrimination; and for all I know the President’s in the middle of nap time.

JOSH
No one wants to get near this issue. Even Hoynes is hedging – three-paragraph statement. I, can’t even tell if he thinks there should be a Congress.

TOBY
Hoynes just put out a statement?

JOSH
Yeah, said it deserves ‘thoughtful study.’

TOBY
‘Thoughtful study’? He said that?

JOSH
Straddling the political divide like an Adonis.

TOBY
He was on Judiciary with Wilkinson, right?

JOSH
Yeah, long time. (beat) So, uh, Santos stopped by. Filing deadline’s in two days. Wants me to go with him.

TOBY
To Texas, what for?

JOSH
New Hampshire.

TOBY
Why does he want to go to New Hampshire?

JOSH
To run for President.

TOBY looks at JOSH with amazement.

JOSH
I kind of talked him into it, I think I gotta go with him. I laid out a nine-point plan -

TOBY
Is one of the points a military junta?

JOSH (beat)
Okay. (standing) I’m gonna go back to my office now.

TOBY (as JOSH reaches the door)
You can’t leave, we’re not done here, you can’t skip out with the President lying flat on  his back! Seven years, you’re gonna leave us with a Candygram and a get-well card?

JOSH
Someone’s gotta think about the ninth year.

TOBY
You’re gonna walk into the Oval Office and tell the President you just found a better horse?

MARLA walks up behind JOSH.

MARLA
There you are.

There is an uncomfortable pause. JOSH turns to face MARLA.

JOSH (quietly)
Hi.

MARLA
Secretary of Agriculture is calling? Something about a fruit laboratory.

JOSH (quietly)
Thank you.

MARLA walks away. Another uncomfortable pause.

JOSH
So maybe we’ll get Carson after all. If I make any progress I’ll get you a new whip count.

JOSH walks away. TOBY stares after him.

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

LEO is looking at some slides, then turns back to the file boxes on the desk. CJ appears at the door.

CJ

You getting through all the files?

LEO
Yeah, I’m almost up to the Hoover administration.

CJ
Did Margaret give you the call sheets for the Democratic conferees?

LEO
Yep, I spoke to McKenna – he’s fine on the education offsets.

CJ
I figured you just had a heart attack, they’d have to take your call.

LEO
Hey, whatever it takes.

CJ
Drives me crazy when these guys use the federal budget as a right-wing social soapbox.

LEO
It’s a popular issue. No one wants to be the first one to line up against it; if you live your life underneath a magnifying glass, you tend to stay away from the heat. How you holding up?

CJ
I’m feeling a little over-interpreted.

LEO
The internet thing.

CJ
Am I wrong to want to set the record straight – no pun intended?

LEO
When I was Labor Secretary, the National Enquirer ran a story that I’d married Elizabeth Taylor while skydiving over New Mexico.

CJ
I’m a heterosexual … and I, I don’t know why I just said that, except that as of this morning I’m the most famous … not famous, but apparently the most powerful lesbian on the planet – when the fact of the matter is I’m crazy, absolutely crazy about this particular man I just met and had two fabulous dinners with in the space of one week, a man who hasn’t had the courtesy to call me today, probably because he is simply of the undependable gender, or … come to think of it, maybe he has even less of an idea about how to deal with my alleged and fictitious lesbianism than I do. So, he’ll just – remain silent, like a submarine under the ice cap and drift away, just drift away like the legion of other cowards whom I spend my young life staring at the phone, panting like an exquisite collie hoping for table scraps – until I became successful, and suddenly started to scare them, scare them with the very independence they required me to have, so that now, I’m looking at some bad numbers, really rough stuff, if you know what I’m talking about. But what was I supposed to do, turn down an opportunity to serve the President of the United States, who I believe in and adore? You just want to share it all with someone, you know?

LEO (after a pause, uncomfortably)
So if you want to, uh, send down any more call sheets - ?

CJ (quickly standing to leave)
Sure. No, that’d be a great idea. (stopping in the doorway and turning back) I need you to stay, Leo. So does the President.

MARGARET comes up behind CJ.

MARGARET
CJ – Toby needs you.

LEO nods slightly.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ and TOBY are walking into her office.

TOBY
Wilkinson won’t move; the Vice President has chosen this moment to find his noble core; and I think Hoynes may be behind this whole thing.

CJ
Hoynes?

TOBY
We have to put the President in a room with Wilkinson.

CJ
That’s not gonna happen. How’s Hoynes involved?

TOBY
That doesn’t matter. The President has to threaten a veto to Wilkinson’s face. It’s the only way to get the amendment off this bill.

CJ
The President’s not ready to threaten a veto.

TOBY
Because you told him not to.

CJ
I’m not willing to sink the budget over this.

TOBY
Over your internet dating life.

CJ
No, over a symbol, an empty gesture that’s gonna be struck down by the courts.

TOBY
So that’s what we’re gonna do? We’re gonna pass the buck and pray for judicial restraint?

CJ
The President is resting today. We can’t haul him down here every time we can’t do what he’s asked us to do.

TOBY
You’re afraid to address it because it’ll call more attention to this garbage they’re running in cyberspace!

CJ
No, Toby, I’m too busy composing my letter to the editor of Soap Opera Digest.

There is a pause.

TOBY
Josh is thinking of leaving.

CJ
What?

TOBY
To help Matt Santos run for President.

CJ
The Congressman from Texas?

TOBY
Leo’s gone, Josh has one foot out the door. It’s you and I, we’re gonna have to run this thing. Are we gonna stand for something, or just hang around, change the sheets for the President’s hospital bed?

CJ
So we should do what, fight an amendment with no practical impact and massive popular support?

TOBY
Yes, we should fight it! Fight the symbol, yes. Symbols matter. And if they didn’t, why would you care what they say about you on the internet?

CJ considers TOBY’s words.

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE – DAY

BARTLET is sitting on the side of his bed, getting dressed. ABBEY enters.

BARTLET
I have to go downstairs for a quick meeting.

ABBEY
CJ called me.

BARTLET
Yeah, God forbid anyone should see me bumming around the West Wing, might think I’m actually running the country.

ABBEY
This gonna be your idea of resting?

BARTLET
It’s only gonna take a couple of minutes.

ABBEY
We have a situation here, Jed.

BARTLET
I’m starting to feel like a guest at the most secure bed and breakfast on the planet.

ABBEY
What’s so important that you’d risk your health?

BARTLET
The Sanctity of Marriage Act.

ABBEY
Oh, that old chestnut? I was hoping for at least an international crisis. (sigh) Hold the fish loosely, Jed, or it’s going to flop right out of your hands.

BARTLET
I want to put my pants on.

ABBEY
What?

BARTLET
My pants. I can’t put them on.

ABBEY 
Oh – okay.

ABBEY goes to help BARTLET with his pants, getting his legs into them.

BARTLET
‘How body from spirit does slowly unwind until we are pure spirit at the end.’

ABBEY
You gonna quote poetry now?

ABBEY grunts as BARTLET wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls himself up with her assistance.

BARTLET
So, this is why they make you take vows.

ABBEY
Yep. This is why.

ABBEY and BARTLET both sink to sit on the side of the bed, breathing hard with effort.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is waiting in WILL’s outer office as WILL hands an envelope to a staffer.

WILL
Would you overnight this up to David in Concord, please?

STAFFER (exiting)
Mm-hmm.

JOSH (entering WILL’s office)
The New Hampshire office is up and running?

WILL
Eleven of them, actually, cheaper to buy in bulk.

JOSH
Little different operation than Orange County three years ago, huh?

WILL
Well, this guy’s got a pulse, for starters.

JOSH
Hmm, technically speaking, sure. You don’t miss the romance of the upstart campaign?

WILL
Sorry to make you waste a walk across the parking lot, Toby already tried to go over my head on the Sanctity of Marriage. You want to remind him, the Vice President and I actually do talk every once in a while. You know, he really appreciates your offer to help on this NAACP stuff.

JOSH (distractedly)
Sure, great.

WILL
You good?

JOSH
How’s Donna working out?

WILL
Great.

JOSH
She have an office yet, I didn’t see her out in the bullpen.

WILL
She just headed up for New Hampshire, she’s gonna be there a couple of weeks.

JOSH
Excellent. (beat) Well, next time you see her, you tell her I say hi.

WILL
Of course.

JOSH turns and walks out.

CUT TO: EXT. - SIDEWALK – NIGHT

HOYNES is walking out of an office building, met by TOBY.

HOYNES (to staffers)
Okay, see you guys on the plane tomorrow …

TOBY
Where you off to?

HOYNES
South Carolina in the morning, Georgia in the afternoon.

TOBY
Working on your Southern strategy.

HOYNES
Eh, that or my winter tan. You could use a couple of rays yourself.

TOBY
I’m not so much in for tanning – but I’ll give it some ‘thoughtful study.’

HOYNES (chuckling)
The luxury of being out of public office, Toby – I don’t have to take a position on every issue that comes before the Congress.

TOBY
You served with Wilkinson on Judiciary Committee, right?

HOYNES
I did. He’s a good man, I mean, he is out there, but he’s for real; won’t take a cent of PAC money, it’s unbelievable.

TOBY
So you encouraged him to visit his righteous indignation down on the budget process, make Russell swing to the right on gay marriage, slay him with the Democratic faithful in the primary – it makes sense, I, I’m just confused about who the viable candidate’s supposed to be when Russell’s gone? 

HOYNES (chuckles)
You underestimate the American public.

TOBY
Generally a good policy, in my experience, I don’t trust their judgment.

HOYNES
Oh, I almost forgot, you’re working for the President of Cuba.

TOBY
I trust their aspirations. Just like all those guys in the white wigs -

HOYNES
Some of them were slave owners, I hear.

TOBY
Exactly. CJ, too, that your handiwork?

HOYNES
No. No, I feel terrible about that.

TOBY
Hmm.

HOYNES
I’m gonna win this thing, Toby.

HOYNES turns to get into his car.

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

LEO is still going through files. JOSH appears in the doorway.

JOSH
Hey.

LEO
So, are the queers going to destroy marriage as we know it or what?

JOSH
I have no idea. I’m … handing out pork like popsicles. Wilkinson’s coming over to meet with the President.

LEO
Thought he was staying in the residence today.

JOSH
Yeah, so did the First Lady. I’d … steer clear.

LEO
Oh, I’m not getting anywhere near that one.

JOSH
So I think I found my guy.

LEO
Yeah? That’s good.

JOSH
Matt Santos – said yes. He’s gonna do it.

LEO
Santos? Really?

JOSH
I know. I got this nine-point plan -

LEO
No, I don’t need to hear it. You smell a moment, you gotta go.

JOSH
I, I don’t want to leave you guys with just a … Candygram and a get-well card.

LEO
We’ll be fine.

JOSH
Come with me, I think this guy may be the real deal.

LEO (beat)
I already found my guy.

JOSH
I don’t know how to tell him, Leo.

A silent pause.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – NIGHT

JOSH is walking past the Communications bullpen as TOBY comes back in fron talking to HOYNES.

JOSH
Hey.

TOBY
Hey.

JOSH
Agriculture’s still dragging their feet on this Appalachian fruit thing.

TOBY
It was Hoynes. He wanted to force Russell to support the Sanctity of Marriage Act.

JOSH
Heartwarming.

TOBY
So, Santos, huh?

JOSH
What are you gonna do when this is done?

TOBY
Whatever I can to stave off the chaos, mayhem, and self-interest that lies just beneath our civil disguise.

JOSH
So not the private sector.

TOBY (chuckles)
The money would have to be unbelievable.

TOBY walks off to leave the building.

JOSH
See you.

TOBY
Yeah.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

There is a knock at the door and NANCY steps into the office.

NANCY
You all set, sir?

BARTLET, sitting tiredly in a chair, looks up.

BARTLET
I’m fine, Nancy. Bring him on in.

NANCY
Mr. President, Senator Wilkinson.

WILKINSON strides into the Oval Office.

BARTLET
Sam.

WILKINSON (shaking hands)
Well, you look terrific, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Thank you. Sorry I can’t get up, but I can’t get up.

WILKINSON
You’re in our prayers, Mr. President.

BARTLET
I appreciate that, Sam, I really do. Now, tell me what I can do to get your amendment off my budget?

WILKINSON (sitting)
‘Against nature; men leaving the natural use of the woman; burned in their lust toward one another, men with men, working that which is unseemly.’ Romans.

BARTLET
Would it offend you, Sam, if I said this amendment represents a selective interpretation of the Scriptures – a complete inversion of the values of Jesus Christ?

WILKINSON
No, sir, it wouldn’t offend me, I’m secure in my faith.

BARTLET
Isn’t there something in that book about forgiveness? Aren’t we all God’s children?

WILKINSON
Of course we are, which is why the government shouldn’t institutionalize behavior in opposition to our faith.

BARTLET
What gives us the right to visit our faith upon the country?

WILKINSON
One nation under God. What gives us the right not to?

BARTLET
You talked to John Hoynes about this? 

WILKINSON
John’s a friend of mine – but I introduced this amendment because I believe you want to sign it, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Hmm?

WILKINSON
You told me as much six weeks ago at the prayer breakfast – that civil unions are one thing, but that marriage is between a man and a woman.

BARTLET clears his throat and scratches his forehead.

BARTLET
I can’t stand up any more. 

WILKINSON
Sir?

BARTLET
I’ve lost my balance. Should come back, but it’s gone right now.

WILKINSON
Are you dizzy, sir?

BARTLET
No, I just can’t find my balance, it went away. I try thinking it back, but it’s difficult, because it’s not a static thing. Once it’s gone, it’s hard to imagine having it back again, and it’s disheartening to realize that thinking just isn’t gonna get it done. You’ve just got to trust that you’ll happen on to it again.

WILKINSON
You only have one more year, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Yeah, I’ve got a great future behind me.

WILKINSON
Attaching this to the budget gives you all the cover you need.

BARTLET
How is this our job, Sam? I raised my right hand and swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. 

WILKINSON
Where was your left hand, Mr. President?

The two men sit quietly as this sinks in.

CUT TO: INT. - MARGARET’S DESK – NIGHT

CJ comes down the hallway and around the corner by MARGARET’s desk. MARGARET greets her silently, holding up a finger, then leads her over to the desk and holds up a gift – an athletic sneaker with a rose and a note standing in it.

MARGARET
This was sent over from the Northwest Gate.

CJ sniffs the rose, then reaches for the note.

MARGARET
It says, ‘Oval Room at 9:00.’

CJ
Yeah. (gesturing toward the press room) Are the press still in there?

MARGARET
Yeah. (picking up a paper from her desk) This is your statement.

CJ takes the paper and heads for the briefing room.

CUT TO: INT. - PRESS CUBICLE ROOM – NIGHT

CJ comes through the door and gets everyone’s attention.

CJ
Hey … I just wanted to tell you guys that the Sanctity of Marriage Act’s been removed from the budget at the President’s urging. The conferees are moving towards a clean budget bill. With any luck, it should be on the President’s desk by tomorrow.

CHRIS
Are we on the record here?

CJ
Sure, what the hell.

CHRIS
Are you a homosexual?

CJ pulls up her statement, and is about to read from it when she stops.

CJ
You know what? … Uh, I spent the last … fourteen hours being snickered at by United States Senators, being ostracized on the World Wide Web, having my own colleagues question my ability to do my job … and I let it get to me. So I, I don’t think it really matters whether I’m gay or straight, or just the best damn women’s basketball player in Ohio Valley history, no one should be treated this way.

REPORTER
You didn’t answer the question.

CJ
That’s right, because it’s none of your business.

CJ walks away, tearing her statement in two as she exits.

CUT TO: INT. - OUTER OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

JOSH is pacing in the outer office, waiting to see the President. Finally the door opens and NANCY steps out.

NANCY
Josh? He can see you now.

JOSH slowly walks into the Oval Office, where BARTLET is sitting in a chair, looking over a document.

JOSH (whispering)
Mr. President.

BARTLET
Josh.

JOSH
How you feeling?

BARTLET
Not too bad.

JOSH
Sir, I never imagined that I would be having this conversation with you …

As JOSH’s voice fades away, we CROSS-FADE to a door with a Bob Russell campaign sticker on it. The door opens and DONNA enters. She looks around, sighs, then carries the box she is holding to a desk, where she begins to unpack it. A telephone rings, and DONNA picks it up.

DONNA (into phone)
Russell for President.

CROSS-FADE to EXT. - SCHOOL BUILDING – DAY

MATT SANTOS is making his announcement of his presidential campaign. Watching him are HELEN and JOSH, and a small crowd of Houstonians.

MATT
I wanted to start this journey in the place where it all started for me. Soon we will be inundated by the polls and the punditry and the prognostications, all the nonsense that goes with our national political campaigns. But none of that matters. This is the place that matters. Because every day children walk into this schoolhouse to glimpse their futures, to ask for hope – they may not know they need it yet, but they do.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

BARTLET is struggling to walk, using leg braces attached to his arms. Sweating and unsteady, he moves across the carpet with the presidential seal, trying to reach his desk. As he does, we hear MATT continue with his speech.

MATT (VO)
And I am here to tell you that hope is real; in a life of trials and a world of challenges, hope is real; in a country where families go without health care, where some go without food, some don’t even have a home to speak of, hope is real.

We cut back and forth between MATT’s speech in Houston and the Oval Office.

MATT
In a time of global chaos and instability where our faiths collide as often as our weapons, hope is real.

Cut back to BARTLET trying to stand on his own, pushing his fingers off the desk, breathing heavily.

MATT (VO)
Hope is what gives us the courage to take on our greatest challenges, to move forward together.

Back to Houston.

MATT
We live in cynical times; I know that. But hope is not up for debate. There is such a thing as false science -

Back to BARTLET struggling to stand, his fingers slowly leaving the support of the desk.

MATT (VO)
- there’s such a thing as false promises, I am sure that I’ll have my share of false starts in this campaign. But there is no such thing as false hope.

Back to Houston.

MATT
There is only hope. And with your help and your hard work -

Back to BARTLET, breathing hard, as he wills his legs to hold him upright.

MATT (VO)
- and the hopes of good people all across this land -

Back to Houston.

MATT
- I hereby announce my candidacy for President of these United States.

The crowd cheers and applauds. JOSH gives a little fist pump. The final shot is BARTLET, through an Oval Office window, fighting to keep his balance and stand in front of his desk.

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 6x10 – Faith Based Initiative
Original Airdate: January 5, 2005