THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: The Dover Test (S6E6)

THE WEST WING
6X6 - “THE DOVER TEST”
WRITTEN BY CAROL FLINT
DIRECTED BY LAURA INNES

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

TEASER

THE DOVER TEST

FADE IN: INT. - WHITE HOUSE FOYER – NIGHT

A reception is ongoing, with a large display of a model of the future Bartlet Presidential Library in the center of the room. There is a buzz of conversation as we see BARTLET looking over the model, and he directs his comments towards who we believe must be the architect.

BARTLET
Of course, the buildings were vacant and in disrepair by then. I snuck my first cigarette here; you’ll want to add a commemorative plaque.

A reporter, TERRANCE SLIGH, starts asking BARTLET questions as BARTLET moves through the crowd.

SLIGH
Congratulations on the library, sir.

BARTLET
Thank you. (to another person in the crowd) Michael, thanks for coming.

SLIGH
Are you also celebrating today’s polls?

BARTLET
I don’t pay attention to polls.

SLIGH
In the wake of your Middle East peace plan, 57 percent of Americans questioned say they’d vote for you for a third term.

CJ, noticing the reporter asking questions, makes her way towards BARTLET.

BARTLET
Don’t say that in front of an architect, he’ll think it extends his deadline.

CJ (pulling SLIGH away)
‘Photos only’ means photos only.

As SLIGH walks away, TOBY and JOSH enter.

TOBY
Oh, for God’s sake, you’re not still calling this guy?

JOSH
Matt Santos?

TOBY
Is a quitter. Got him reelected twice, and by huge margins.

JOSH
Well, he’s popular in his district.

TOBY
And a quitter, don’t waste our time.

JOSH
Santos called me – he wants to sit down again, tomorrow.

TOBY
Think he woke up and said, ‘Hey, I’m a guy with an uncontested seat in the United States Congress, maybe I’ll stop whining and do my job’?

JOSH
I leaned on him pretty hard.

DONNA and MARGARET are at a cocktail table, talking. DONNA is still on her crutches.

DONNA
But he’s so persistent, it’s embarrassing.

MARGARET
Enjoy the attention, it doesn’t have to turn into anything.

JOSH and TOBY join DONNA and MARGARET.

JOSH
Always talking shop, these two.

DONNA
Aren’t you sweet.

JOSH
I’m sorry … did you – (he holds his wine glass out to DONNA). Here.

DONNA
I don’t drink red.

JOSH
I knew that.

DONNA
You drink red.

JOSH
I’ll get you a white. Margaret?

MARGARET (as JOSH takes a giant sip from his glass)
I drink red.

Someone is striking a glass to get attention in the room as servers hand out glasses of champagne.

MARGARET
Or – champagne’s fine.

BARTLET
I want to thank all of you for being here for the unveiling of these plans for the Bartlet Presidential Library -

We see CHARLIE pulling his pager out and looking at it. He heads for CJ.

BARTLET
- to be housed in a restored section of the historic Amoskeag Mills in Manchester, New Hampshire …

CHARLIE speaks to CJ as BARTLET continues his remarks.

CHARLIE
The Secretary of Agriculture is in the Rose Room.

CJ
You know the protocol?

CHARLIE walks to TOBY as BARTLET continues.

BARTLET
- the Foundation hopes to meet with each and every one of you personally; not to worry, your wallets are safe -

CHARLIE
The Secretary of Agriculture’s in the Rose Room.

TOBY
You’re saying the Secretary of Agriculture’s in the Rose Room?

CHARLIE
Yes.

TOBY
No chance the Secretary’s actually in the Rose Room?

CHARLIE
No.

TOBY
Um, you take it directly to the -

CHARLIE
As the President’s personal aide, I went straight to the President; as Deputy Special Assistant, I alert CJ and clear it with you.

TOBY heads for BARTLET.

TOBY
Excuse me, Mr. President, can I talk to you for a second?

BARTLET
Sure.

TOBY and BARTLET walk out of the room.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – NIGHT

CJ comes through the doors of the foyer and meets BARTLET, TOBY, and CHARLIE in the hallway.

CJ
What are you getting?

TOBY
CNN’s reporting an attack on our peacekeepers’ compound in Darom, south of Gaza City.

CHARLIE
Up to eight injured and one dead, the peace mission’s first casualty.

TOBY
I’m gonna work on a statement.

CJ
The Joint Chiefs have CTAF on the line. 

Everyone heads off in different directions, with BARTLET and CJ on their way to the Situation Room.

BARTLET
They didn’t even let us get the peacekeepers deployed.

CJ
They’re Army advance, construction crews …

CJ stops and turns around.

CJ
Excuse me, sir – Toby?

TOBY
Yeah?

CJ
In our statement, when we say ‘casualty’ - don’t say ‘first.’

CJ walks off as TOBY turns to go to his office.

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

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ and TOBY are watching news coverage of the Gaza attack, including footage from BARTLET’s library reception. The TV reporter is the same one who questioned BARTLET at the reception.

SLIGH (V.O. on TV)
… who approached the joint task force compound with explosives strapped to his chest, leaving no doubt that President Bartlet’s fragile peace process -

CJ
Great. The White House fiddles while Darom burns.

TOBY
Where’s the President’s statement?

They see footage of TOBY on TV briefing the press.

TOBY (on TV)
We have no details. I’m hearing what you’re hearing.

SLIGH (on TV)
So while the White House struggles with a response to this ominous act of terror -

TOBY
He uses that, he doesn’t use our statement.

CJ
I like how you were leaning on the podium, though – more engaged -

TOBY
I referred them to the Pentagon ten times.

CJ
It’ll be 50 times today. A wise man once said, ‘Stonewalls are built one stone at a time.’

TOBY
I was hiding behind my desk when I said that. Stonewalling’s not gonna work with a controversial peace plan at stake and American lives -

CJ
One American life.

TOBY
- on the line.

CJ
Don’t give this momentum.

TOBY
‘We’re faced with the tough work of making peace.’

CJ
Not yet. See if events force us there, take a breath.

ANNABETH appears at TOBY’s door.

ANNABETH
Did the Pentagon release a name for the dead soldier yet?

CJ
They have to notify next of kin.

ANNABETH
It takes 15 hours?

TOBY
Actually, they, they told the soldier’s father, but the parents are divorced, they haven’t located mom yet.

ANNABETH
So we stick with ‘pending notification’?

CJ
Stick with ‘no,’ you give them ‘pending notification’ they’ll drag you into 20 questions about what’s the snafu and why can’t the Army improve services to dependents.

ANNABETH
Right, makes sense.

CJ walks away.

ANNABETH
‘I’m hearing what you’re hearing’ - Toby?

TOBY
Cj and I just did this.

ANNABETH
At least your forehead wasn’t as shiny.

ANNABETH turns and walks away. TOBY is left standing behind his desk.

CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM – DAY

JOSH and MATT SANTOS are meeting.

JOSH
So what’s up, Congressman?

MATT
My bill died in committee.

JOSH
Patients’ bill of rights?

MATT
Common sense, common good kind of thing that failed to get the votes six times in six years.

JOSH
Well, on the positive side you’ve almost passed it so often, people think it’s already law.

MATT
Till somebody gets sick and needs their HMO.

JOSH
Senate eked out a version this week.

MATT
Well, I’m sorry to disappoint the President, but, uh … my House bill’s DOA.

JOSH
Oh, we appreciate all your work.

MATT
So I’m signing on to Strickman’s bill.

JOSH
Strickman’s a Republican.

MATT
He mentioned something about that.

JOSH
Strickman calls his bill ‘patients’ bill of rights’ because it sounds better than … love letter to the insurance industry, patients can’t even sue.

MATT
A million-five cap, Josh.

JOSH
That’s a parking ticket, your kid loses his legs after your health plan denies treatment, your kid dies? You can’t take ‘em to court! 

MATT
It’s a bad bill.

JOSH
So why dignify it by making it bipartisan?

MATT
I wouldn’t do it if I thought I could tip the balance, but … Strickman can’t get enough votes to pass this thing.

JOSH
Strickman’s an old hand, if he courted you – he’s got something up his sleeve.

MATT
When I came to the Hill you couldn’t get agreement on the right to the closest emergency room. You couldn’t negotiate a woman’s right to OB/GYNs, or a kid’s right to pediatricians. Forget about liability, you couldn’t find support for a right to arbitration. That’s all common ground now. I want to keep these parties talking, Josh.

JOSH
So this is basically all warmup to announcing that … you’re gonna run.

MATT
No!

JOSH
This isn’t some convoluted, legislative way I haven’t figure out yet of asking for a favor?

MATT
Well, I wouldn’t mind if you let me keep my huevos when you eviscerate me in public for, uh, breaking ranks.

JOSH
You’re a deserter, you can have ‘em back at the airport.

CUT TO: INT. - STAIRWELL – DAY

MARGARET is scoping out possible locations for CHARLIE’s new office. CHARLIE follows her.

MARGARET (walking down the stairs)
- 57, 58, 59, you don’t need to tag along.

CHARLIE
It’s my office.

MARGARET
Probably it’s not. 70 – the basement?

CHARLIE
I’d be fine down here.

They continue down a hallway as MARGARET continues to count steps.

MARGARET
80 … you’re Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff now.

CHARLIE
So are five other guys. I’ll crowd in with them.

MARGARET
They’re not special Deputy Special Assistants, you’re special.

CHARLIE
Honestly, I’ll -

MARGARET stops and throws her hands up.

MARGARET
Okay, no. It’s outside the zone.

MARGARET turns to walk back the way they came.

CHARLIE
There’s a zone?

MARGARET (not stopping)
Less than a hundred steps from CJ’s office.

CHARLIE
I could run when she calls.

MARGARET
Deputy Special Assistants don’t run.

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL ROOM – DAY

A TV is playing news coverage of the attack in Gaza. As we hear the reporter, we see closeups of LEO tying his shoes, tightening his tie, getting dressed to go outside his room.

REPORTER (on TV)
The first peacekeeper has been killed in the United States’ mission to the Middle East. Pentagon sources confirmed this morning the death of at least one American soldier in Kafar Darom, where JTF forces were -

LEO drops a cufflink on the floor. He slowly and uncomfortably gets down and reaches for the cufflink under a table.

REPORTER (on TV)
- preparing the way for 18,000 American peacekeepers later this month. A suicide bomber approached the Joint Task Force compound late last night …

LEO’s nurse, MS. CHAKRABARTY, appears around a corner behind LEO. She then rushes to help LEO, eventually helping him to his feet.

CHAKRABARTY
What are you doing?

LEO
Uh, I dropped a cufflink and I -

CHAKRABARTY
This is when you call me.

LEO
You want me yelling ‘Nurse’ every five minutes?

CHAKRABARTY
I don’t want you yelling ‘Nurse’ at all, do I call you ‘Patient’?

LEO
I yell ‘Miss Chakrabarty,’ I’ll need another bypass.

CHAKRABARTY
You didn’t eat one bite.

LEO
I’m not hungry.

CHAKRABARTY
Sit.

CHAKRABARTY sits LEO down at a table with breakfast set on it. She takes his pulse as they talk.

CHAKRABARTY
Why do you need a tie and jacket?

LEO
What would you recommend?

CHAKRABARTY
When Gandhi went to London to meet the King of England, he wore only a dhoti. The reporter asked, aren’t you ashamed to visit the King wearing so little? Gandhi said, no -

LEO
The King will be wearing enough for both of us. One difference between the Mahatma and myself, I warn you, there are others.

LEO stands and puts on his suit jacket.

LEO
You may browbeat me into using the breath spirometer; you may mother me about wound care; you may dole out the Vicodin like my AA sponsor. 

LEO turns and strides towards the door.

LEO
You may even entertain me with nutrition lectures -

CHAKRABARTY
You need to eat -

LEO
You may not – may not! - offer fashion advice.

CHAKRABARTY
Shall I come with you?

LEO
You shall not.

CHAKRABARTY
Then I’ll time you.

LEO is now in the hotel corridor.

LEO
Splendid. Set your watch.

CHAKRABARTY
You’ve been doing ten minutes, try for twelve.

LEO (as he walks down the corridor)
Two more minutes on my own, I’ll give it my all.

CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL STAIRWELL – DAY

LEO turns a corner into the stairwell, with stairs going both up and down from his floor. Breathing heavily, he leans on the stair railing, trying to catch his breath. He turns and walks slowly down the hotel corridor.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S BULLPEN – DAY

DONNA is also watching TV coverage of the attack on the peacekeeping force.

REPORTER (on TV)
Among the wounded, two peacekeepers remain listed in critical condition at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Several soldiers are expected to return to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, later this week, where they will be reunited with their families.

On her crutches, DONNA walks away from the TV. She sees JOSH poking around in a bouquet of flowers on her desk, apparently putting the card back after reading it.

DONNA
Need something?

JOSH
I, I’m just … looking for the breakdown on the markup.

DONNA
Uh-huh.

JOSH (referring to the crutches)
Wow, you’re getting pretty good on those.

DONNA
Thanks.

JOSH
Is that a new cast?

DONNA
Two weeks ago.

JOSH
Those are nice flowers. (He turns away, then turns back) But come on - ‘I’m not going anywhere’? From a photojournalist?

DONNA
You read my card?

JOSH
I’m keeping an eye on Blarney Boy.

DONNA
The flowers aren’t from Colin, and why are you reading my card on my flowers on my desk?

JOSH
I thought they were for me?

WILL walks quickly past and addresses JOSH as he does.

WILL
Got a minute?

JOSH
Sure.

JOSH follows WILL into JOSH’S office, exchanging a look with DONNA on the way.

WILL
Okay – you have seen the Vice President’s schedule for the last four months, right? It hasn’t somehow eluded you that he’s top-heavy on toasts at the AMA, keynotes to the American Association of Trial Lawyers, potlucks with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and picnics with the National Alliance for Mental Illness?

JOSH
No, I know.

WILL
So you don’t need me articulating my subtext.

JOSH
I should’ve called.

WILL
Damn straight you should’ve called me.

JOSH
The Vice President’s been positioning himself on patients’ rights.

WILL
He’s been up to his elbows and rolling in it, by Iowa he’s gonna smell like patients’ rights. Unless it suddenly evaporates.

JOSH
It’s not going to.

WILL
The Senate passed a bill last week! Now the House has a bipartisan effort – graced by Matthew Santos – and all that elicits from the White House is a bland we-agree-to-disagree statement. I thought this was Toby. I expect this from Toby, I draw comfort in the predictability of it coming from Toby.

JOSH
It was me, I can toughen it up. But, the Vice President doesn’t have to worry. Strickman’s bill has no support.

WILL
Strickman’s no fool, the Republicans might try to run with it.

JOSH
I spoke to Santos. He’s gonna keep it on a low flame. Patients’ rights will be alive and kicking as a campaign issue for the Vice President, I promise.

WILL (skeptically)
Yeah.

WILL exits.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

BARTLET is on speakerphone with PRIME MINISTER GRATY of the United Kingdom. DEBBIE is taking notes. CJ is also there listening.

BARTLET
Yes, Madam Prime Minister, it is a tragic loss. But I wouldn’t call it a harbinger. Our troops responded swiftly to correct the vulnerability.

GRATY (on phone)
I’m not taking my cues from your cable broadcasts. 

BARTLET
That’s a relief.

GRATY (on phone)
But I am concerned about deploying more peacekeepers without a secured base.

BARTLET
And I am, too. We have installed more anti-RPGs, and we’re enlarging the control area. But I can assure you our confidence in the mission has not altered.

GRATY (on phone)
You still expect full deployment by … ?

CJ
March. General Danzig at UCOM will confirm the timetable and security measures with General Whitehead.

GRATY (on phone)
I see no problems on our end.

BARTLET
That’s good news. My best to Reggie.

GRATY (on phone)
And mine to Abigail.

BARTLET
Thank you.

DEBBIE hangs up the phone.

CJ
That was brisk.

BARTLET
Which is good. When she mulls, it’s trouble. Have we contacted the soldier’s family yet?

DEBBIE (heading out to her office)
It’s still just the father, sir, I’ll get him for you now.

BARTLET
Thank you.

CJ
The Palestinian Authority uncovered a stockpile of explosives today. Apparently, the good news is -

BARTLET
That they actually told us about it?

CJ nods.

BARTLET
One day at a time, that’s how we’re gonna make this work. What else?

CUT TO: INT. - OUTER OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

DEBBIE exits the Oval Office and walks to her desk. CHARLIE is watching a TV showing Capitol Beat, a political talk show.

MAN 1 (on TV)
You think this is a result of the hasty way this operation was pulled together?

MAN 2 (on TV)
Absolutely. Two thousand troops, to be precise, are being deployed -

DEBBIE
I hate these calls.

CHARLIE (gesturing to TV)
You want me to - ?

DEBBIE
You don’t work here anymore.

CHARLIE looks at DEBBIE, then stands and gets ready to leave. DEBBIE dials the phone, we hear it ring on the other end. There is a click as the call connects.

DEBBIE
Hello, Mr. Godfrey? I’m calling from the White House, I’m so sorry to bother your family at this difficult time, but I have President Bartlet calling for you. May I put him on?

We faintly hear an angry voice at the other end of the call.

GODFREY (on phone)
No, you may not! I have no interest -

DEBBIE
I underst- sir … I, I’m sorry – (pause) Yes, sir, I unders … (pause) Of course, it’s your – 

GODFREY (on phone)
- and you can tell Bartlet I said so!

DEBBIE
I will. And if you’d like, I can arrange for you -

There is a click as GODFREY hangs up, then a dial tone. DEBBIE continues to hold the phone receiver as CHARLIE looks on.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

DEBBIE opens the Oval Office door. BARTLET and CJ look up expectantly.

BARTLET
Is he on?

DEBBIE
Not exactly.

CUT TO BLACK.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - SITUATION ROOM – DAY

CJ is going over notes after a meeting. She looks up and speaks to an officer, COMMANDER RUIZ.

CJ
Either I’m getting used to these meetings, or that wasn’t all bad news.

RUIZ
Thirty-six hours, and no secondary attacks on our peacekeepers.

CJ
Did a chaplain contact Lt. Godfrey’s father yet?

RUIZ
Yes, ma’am. The chaplain joined the casualty assistance officer at the family home last night.

CJ
Hmm.

RUIZ
Of course, the father still may speak out.

CJ
That’s his prerogative. I have a, a question about your troop depletion estimate, or rather, lack of estimate.

RUIZ
Force depletion. We call it force depletion.

CJ
But I am correct, this is the DOD estimate of how many troops we may expect to lose in the mission?

RUIZ
Well, we don’t break it out that way.

CJ
Is that why force depletion estimate is left blank here?

RUIZ
No, ma’am. Leo liked us to leave our number unpublished until he got the NSA estimate, that way the two projections were decided independently.

CJ
But you would share your estimate with Leo.

RUIZ
When he asked.

CJ
I’m asking. How much of our force may be depleted in JTF Palestine?

RUIZ
All due respect, that’s a complex question. Based on past Israeli losses, previous peacekeeping missions, we’re … currently prepared to respond to one-quarter to one percent depletion over 12 months.

CJ
That’s 200 soldiers.

RUIZ and CJ are making their way out of the Situation Room.

RUIZ
Well, this isn’t a body count. The one percent includes the entire military force strength; munitions, structures, aircraft -

CJ
And troops?

RUIZ
Ah, if you’re going to be concerned about the Dover test, it’s too early to worry about that.

CJ
The Dover test.

RUIZ (sighs)
Erosion of public support based on arrival of coffins at our airbase in Delaware.

CJ
I – wanted to understand your projections, the Dover test waan’t my concern, but (CJ pulls out her phone) would you excuse me, Commander?

CJ starts running for the stairs as she speaks to MARGARET on her phone.

CJ
Margaret, has the press briefing started yet?

CUT TO: INT. - PRESS BRIEFING ROOM – DAY

TOBY is giving a briefing to reporters. 

TOBY
No, th-, the Pentagon has not released the soldier’s name, that’s all the information I have.

SLIGH
So you can’t comment on whether there’s a problem identifying the remains?

We see ANNABETH watching the briefing from the office behind the reporters.

TOBY
I can’t. Chris?

ANNABETH (to herself)
Good toss.

CHRIS
… but there are only about a thousand troops in the region …

TOBY
Peacekeepers, 1100.

CHRIS
So it’s hard to believe the Pentagon can’t identify the casualty.

TOBY
Why I’m not commenting, that’s Mr. Sligh’s speculation. Get a comment from his network.

CJ walks up behind ANNABETH.

SLIGH
Now, hold on, Toby, I get to defend myself -

ANNABETH
No, you don’t.

SLIGH
- the reason why I’m forced to speculate is that I’m getting no information.

CJ (to ANNABETH)
Was Toby briefed on Dover policy?

ANNABETH
He said he didn’t need to be.

TOBY
The Pentagon is the right place to go for that information.

SLIGH
There’s no stalling here in order to delay putting a face on this loss?

TOBY
Absolutely not. Brad?

SLIGH
Quick followup. 

CJ (quietly)
Move on.

TOBY
I have to move on.

SLIGH
Just to confirm; if President Bartlet is not trying to pull the curtain over the cost of his peace plan, why are the press being kept away from this slain soldier’s homecoming at Dover Air Base tomorrow?

TOBY (after a beat)
The Dover mortuary has restricted press coverage for the last 13 years, the DOD suspended access during the previous adminstration -

MARK
Which this administration has regularly ignored, we’ve had access, why the sudden clampdown?

TOBY
It’s not sudden, we issued a directive six months ago, not that any of you bothered to read it.

CJ
No, no, no, no, no -

MARGARET appears next to CJ as the reporters erupt with questions.

MARGARET
Your 11:00 is here.

CHRIS
Six months ago the decision was made to deny press access to Dover?

MARK
What was the rationale for the change?

TOBY
A request came from the Pentagon based on concerns of family members, historically these events were not public. They, they had evolved into media events, that competed with official memorial services.

SLIGH
But why wasn’t the policy change announced publicly?

CJ (softly)
Toby …

TOBY
It wasn’t a change, it was adhering to a policy already in place.

SLIGH
But the administration altered its stance. Was an announcement even discussed?

TOBY
Of course.

SLIGH
You were in the room?

TOBY
I was in the room.

CHRIS
And, and no one argued that by burying this in a directive it would look like you had something to hide?

TOBY
Nothing was buried. Some people – argued – to announce a change.

CJ (quietly)
That would be me.

CHRIS
Because it was seen as controversial?

ANNABETH (quietly)
Wrap it up. Adios.

TOBY gathers his thoughts for a moment.

TOBY
Look, the … Dover closing was, uh – wasn’t taken lightly. I weighed in, others weighed in, ultimately it was the way we decided to go.

SLIGH
So you believe the press should have continued access to the air base?

TOBY
I, appreciate the Pentagon’s need for a precedent.

SLIGH
Why? Why worry about precedent unless you expect a growing body count?

CJ (to ANNABETH)
Shut it down.

ANNABETH
Yeah.

SLIGH
Is that what’s expected? More coffins?

TOBY
The number of coffins isn’t … each life matters. Whether it’s one or a hundred, access should be consistent.

The reporters all begin shouting questions.

MARGARET (to CJ)
You want him in your office?

CJ
Oh, yeah.

CUT TO: INT. - DONNA’S DESK – DAY

DONNA is on the phone.

DONNA (into phone)
Stop. (pause) I – I am not! (pause) Because you’re pressuring me. (pause) I have work to do. (pause) No, I … I said I would sleep on it. 

JOSH walks up behind DONNA.

DONNA (into phone)
But I did, and it’s just – not how I do things, it’s not -

JOSH grabs the phone headset and talks into it.

JOSH (into phone)
No means no, leave her alone.

JOSH hangs up the phone. DONNA is stunned.

JOSH
Who is this jerk, some slacker from physical therapy? I’ll kick his ass.

JOSH swaggers away from DONNA’s deak.

JOSH
You know, you could thank me for my chivalry.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

TOBY is sitting and waiting. He gets up and begins to pace, sighing. CJ appears in the doorway behind him.

CJ
Toby – how’s that search for a press secretary coming?

TOBY
I got rattled. Said more than I meant.

CJ
We were both in that room six months ago. You didn’t like the idea of closing Dover, and today you couldn’t resist voicing your personal opinion?

TOBY
Exactly what I predicted. Pentagon gets what it wants, we look like we’re hiding casualties.

CJ
I don’t care about your insights or predictions, brilliant as they may be -

TOBY
The decision was wrong.

CJ
We settled on a message. I buried my own opinions out there every day -

TOBY
What were you doing back there? Don’t you have a White House to run?

CJ
The briefing room is not your bully pulpit.

TOBY
I got rattled.

CJ
Yeah, you got rattled, and your ambivalence toward a policy came out. You had ambivalence toward the peace plan, is that gonna -

TOBY
Are you questioning my loyalty?

CJ
I’m questioning your self-control, if you can’t stick to our message I don’t care if that podium stands empty, I don’t want you out there again!

CJ walks away. TOBY is left reflecting.

CUT TO: INT. - CLOSET – DAY

The closet door opens. MARGARET and DEBBIE stick their heads inside.

DEBBIE
Oooh.

MARGARET
It is close to CJ.

DEBBIE
The President won’t like it. On the other hand, he won’t know.

MARGARET
It is a storage area.

DEBBIE
That might be an exaggeration. We can’t do better?

MARGARET
Yeah. It’s a no.

MARGARET pulls the closet door shut.

CUT TO: INT. - OUTSIDE JOSH’S OFFICE – DAY

WILL and JOSH are talking. As they talk, they wind their way through JOSH’s bullpen.

WILL
Two more Democrats have jumped on Strickman’s bill.

JOSH
So, at a rate of two a week, they’ll have enough votes to pass the thing midway through President Russell’s first term.

WILL
It’s Horwitz and Chambers who came on.

JOSH
Chambers is a pain in the ass.

WILL
Yeah, I called him and told him that. He said he was lobbied hard, by your man. Santos is out whipping votes.

JOSH
Naw.

WILL
Chambers thinks Santos is all about the meteoric rise, centerfold in Roll Call.

They have reached JOSH’s office.

JOSH
Santos has one foot out the door.

WILL gives JOSH a meaningful look.

JOSH
He’s whipping votes?

WILL
Oh, and I misspoke before, it’s not Strickman’s bill anymore, it’s the Strickman-Santos Patients’ Rights Bill.

JOSH (shouting)
Donna, get Congressman Santos on the phone.

JOSH changes his mind as he rushes to the door, grabbing his suit jacket on the way.

JOSH
No – tell him I’m on my way. (to WILL) I’ll set him straight.

WILL
I’ll back you up.

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL CORRIDOR – DAY

An elevator opens and a distinguished older man, OTIS, steps out. He speaks to a woman getting on the elevator.

OTIS
Oh – excuse me.

As OTIS turns down the hallway, he stops in surprise.

OTIS
Leo?

LEO is taking his walk down the corridor. He turns to greet OTIS.

LEO
Otis! Haven’t seen you lately, I thought maybe you upgraded to the Ritz.

OTIS
These days, it’s mostly the Oriental …

LEO
That’s right. Bangkok. I knew you wouldn’t stay retired.

OTIS
Sorry to hear about -

LEO (dismissively)
Ahh.

OTIS
Well, you, you look great, though.

LEO
I never figured you for sainthood, but – deputy director of the WTO!

OTIS
Keep it down, we’ll have protesters. My son was mortified by my career at Cultico -

LEO
I remember.

OTIS 
- and now my grandson has this WTO connection to live down.

LEO
Thankless.

OTIS
(chuckling) Oh, God … hey, did you hear from Phil?

LEO
He’s starting in again?

OTIS
It’s what I’d do if I were still CEO. If you don’t go back to the White House, Cultico would love to put you on their board.

LEO
Yeah, yeah …

OTIS
Listen, there’s a lot of great things happening in germplasm, it’s not just petrochemicals anymore. And the pressure’s not so, uh -

OTIS stops, seeing MS. CHAKRABARTY appear behind LEO.

CHAKRABARTY
Oh, not to interrupt. I got worried.

OTIS watches LEO as he reacts to CHAKRABARTY.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTO’S OFFICE – DAY

The office is buzzing with activity as JOSH and WILL sit in the waiting area. A STAFFER walks up to the reception desk to answer the phone.

STAFFER
Congressman Santos’ office.

WILL
Want to see if they have any magazines?

JOSH (rising)
You don’t have to wait.

WILL
I’m fine.

JOSH walks up to the reception desk.

STAFFER (hangs up the phone)
I’m really sorry, Mr. Lyman.

JOSH
Does he know we’re still waiting?

STAFFER
He’ll call in as soon as he’s free.

JOSH
Is he in the building?

STAFFER
He’s tied up. (phone rings) Excuse me. (answering phone) Congressman Santos’ office. Mr. Vaccaro. I’m glad they found you. Let me see if I can get him.

JOSH wanders back to WILL.

JOSH
Is he putting that through?

WILL
Huh?

JOSH 
Is that call going through?

They watch the STAFFER connect the call on the phone and hang up.

WILL
Mm, I’d say yes. Doesn’t a Vaccaro run Metson Health? The same Metson Health that’s looking for a new chairman?

JOSH
What do you want to bet our guy’s up in Strickman’s conference room right now, feathering his own nest?

WILL
One way to find out.

CUT TO: INT. - CAPITOL HALLWAY – DAY

MATT and a group of others come out of a room, laughing. JOSH and WILL walk up to pull MATT away from the group.

JOSH
Congressman?

MATT
I’m sorry, I couldn’t break free, uh -

JOSH
This is Will Bailey, from the Vice President’s office.

WILL and MATT shake hands.

MATT
This isn’t a good time right now, Josh, I’m going to call you tomorrow.

MATT walks away from JOSH and WILL to rejoin his group. JOSH calls after him.

JOSH
Hey, Congressman, hold up.

JOSH and WILL follow after MATT.

JOSH
What’s going on?

MATT
I’m, uh, busy right now.

WILL
Whipping votes for a bill your leadership doesn’t support? 

JOSH
This isn’t what we talked about.

MATT
But it’s what I do.

MATT turns to leave again. JOSH and WILL keep following.

JOSH
What? Sell out your President?

MATT
Look who you’re with. Come on, this isn’t about the President’s agenda -

JOSH
The President doesn’t want a regulatory bill with no regulations. If patients can’t sue their insurers even when there’s outright negligence -

MATT
A million-five cap is a foot in the door on -

JOSH
A million-five cap isn’t a pinkie in the dam, have you seen the costs of catastrophic illness? Metson Health could probably give you a peek into that.

MATT
You need to slow down.

WILL
Yeah, he slows down long enough you’re going to ram this sucker through.

MATT (to WILL)
It’s not this bill you don’t want, it’s any bill. You’d let sick Americans suffer to help elect your candidate.

JOSH
This from a guy who’s bailing on his constituents.

WILL
Some of us are in this for the long haul, we’re going to keep governing around here after you’re gone.

MATT
Gentlemen, this is governing.

MATT walks away again.

JOSH
This is getting your resume to the top of the pile, making pals in the private sector.

MATT stops and turns to JOSH.

MATT
What the hell do you think I’m doing here?

JOSH 
I think you’d settle for less on this bill to set up your next career move.

MATT
Settle for less. This is from the guys that are running Bob Russell for President?

MATT looks levelly at both JOSH and WILL, then turns to catch up with his group.

MATT (to the group)
I’m sorry, gentlemen -

JOSH and WILL stand in the hall, watching MATT walk away.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL ROOM – EVENING

LEO is on the phone as we see a FedEx package of documents that he received. CHAKRABARTY enters behind him and grabs her purse, as if to leave for the day.

LEO (into phone)
Yeah, it came today. (pause) You make quite a tag team. (pause) But if you’re on a deadline – (pause)

LEO gestures to CHAKRABARTY as if telling her to stay a moment.

LEO (into phone)
I won’t make a decision without giving you that chance. (pause) You, too.

LEO hangs up the phone and speaks to CHAKRABARTY.

LEO
I thought you had to leave early, don’t you have a thing tonight?

CHAKRABARTY
A wedding. When my family asks why I missed the puja I’ll say, I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave, my patient refused to eat.

LEO
I’ll eat later.

CHAKRABARTY (referring to the FedEx package)
You’re taking a job?

LEO
Not without consulting you.

CHAKRABARTY
It’s not wise.

LEO
I know you’d like to keep me under your thumb forever.

CHAKRABARTY
Yes, my dream is to stay here, watching you starve to death.

LEO
I have no appetite because I don’t do anything, maybe if I agree to part-time -

CHAKRABARTY storms off to place the spirometer next to LEO’s bed and point out a bottle of pills.

LEO
What, you don’t want me to go back to work at all?

CHAKRABARTY
Ten breaths every hour. This one if you can’t sleep.

CHAKRABARTY, obviously upset, walks back past LEO to put on her jacket.

LEO
Are you from Haryana?

CHAKRABARTY
I don’t have to be, it’s in my country.

LEO
A lot of folks … died there, in ‘86. Cultico is a different company now.

CHAKRABARTY stops at the door.

CHAKRABARTY
It has a different name.

LEO
And different people in charge … people who helped clean up what happened.

CHAKRABARTY turns to leave.

CHAKRABARTY
I’m late. I’ll call you to check in.

She exits. 

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – EVENING

CJ, TOBY and ANNABETH are in the office.

CJ
Hutchinson said no to a Sunday spot?

ANNABETH
We said no to Hutchinson ‘cause he won’t let me prep him.

CJ
You go, girl. Do people still say that?

ANNABETH
Not really. But the lineup I like best for Sunday morning is, I give them you. New Chief of Staff, most powerful woman in DC – that’d get ‘em off the woes of Gaza.

CJ
I’ll think about it. What else?

ANNABETH
Pentagon finally released Lt. Godfrey’s name - the dead peacekeeper’s. Which brings me to the last thing we need to bug you about. The lieutenant’s dad lives here in the District; to get out in front of this we thought the President might want to attend the funeral. Show of respect, Commander-in-Chief handing over the flag -

CJ
This memorial service is a private event.

ANNABETH
But when those reporters find out where he’s from -

CJ
The father is not a fan.

ANNABETH
The President has a 90% approval in the District.

CJ
Well, Godfrey Senior is squarely in the minority and it’s not necessarily a silent one. Looks like he may issue a statement later today.

ANNABETH looks at TOBY, then walks out of the office.

TOBY
When were you gonna loop us in on that?

CJ
I just did – easier to say “no comment” when you have no comment.

TOBY
That used to piss you off.

CJ
And now it’s pissing you off. Anything else?

TOBY exits.

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

JOSH and DONNA are working.

JOSH
We need a stronger response on the patients’ bill, tell her …

DONNA
Juice it up?

JOSH
High octane.

DONNA
I thought we wanted a patients’ bill of rights?

JOSH
Not this demon seed. The Republicans won’t budge on the liability cap. Patients won’t even be able to recoup their out-of-pocket expenses. Some rights.

DONNA
So when Will said Santos picked up eight more votes from our side -

JOSH
And a stampede of Republicans -

DONNA
It’s bad news, you wanna distance the White House.

JOSH
I want the White House in a different galaxy.

CAROL appears at the door of the office.

CAROL
Excuse me – Annabeth wondered if she could get a minute later.

JOSH
Donna’s got something for her now.

CAROL
It’s Donna she needs – about the Dateline interview.

JOSH
When am I doing Dateline?

DONNA
Never. I mean, I said no, on your behalf. I’ll follow up.

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

LEO is watching TV news coverage, drinking a glass of water. On the screen we see Michigan Republican Rep. DARREN GIBSON.

GIBSON (on TV)
Well, I would characterize Congressional support as hesitant, at best. The decision to send 18,000 American troops to a deadly war zone in the Middle East was made by the President and his advisors at the Camp David summit. Congressional leaders were not consulted.

LEO lies down on top of his bed, still wearing his suit, the papers from Cultico spread next to him.

GIBSON (on TV)
However, Congress chose to support President Bartlet’s desire to pursue peace between Israel and Palestine, to end the war that has killed thousands of innocents, but the fact of the matter is, when we voted to approve peacekeepers in the Middle East we were led to believe that the President had a viable strategy in place; first and foremost to secure the safety of our American troops on foreign terrain. Now, less than 15 days into the mission, the President’s promises have been broken. We’ve lost one life, so I am asking the question every American is asking – are there more to come?

LEO switches off the TV. As LEO tries to rest, we hear a door open, then a little girl’s laugh. CHAKRABARTY appears at the bedroom door. She is wearing traditional Indian wedding garb and carrying a plate of food.

LEO (weakly)
What are you doing here?

CHAKRABARTY
I brought you food.

LEO slowly pulls himself up to sit.

LEO
You’re a broken record.

CHAKRABARTY’s little girl, MALTI, appears beside her, carrying a doll.

CHAKRABARTY (to MALTI)
Be very quiet, huh? Mr. McGarry needs his rest.

LEO
This your little one?

CHAKRABARTY
This is Malti. Say hello.

MALTI
Hi.

LEO
Hello. Was a nice wedding?

CHAKRABARTY
Very nice. You took your pill?

LEO
Mmm … that smells good.

CHAKRABARTY
Naan. Still warm. Try it.

LEO turns to look at CHAKRABARTY.

CUT TO: INT. - ANNABETH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

ANNABETH is watching TV coverage of the dead soldier’s father. DONNA appears at the door, on crutches.

GODFREY (on TV)
… Yeah, but did you even stop to think that maybe we ought to stop butting into other people’s fights -

DONNA (knocking)
I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?

ANNABETH (turning off the TV)
Not a bit. Thanks for stopping by.

DONNA
You heard from Dateline? I already told them no, and three others.

ANNABETH (moving a box off a chair)
Only makes them chase you harder. Now I’ve got CAA calling.

DONNA
What does the CIA want?

ANNABETH
No, CAA. Talent agency. They think you need representation.

DONNA
Is this about the CBS thing?

ANNABETH
Yeah.

DONNA (sighs)
I didn’t even want to do an interview, now I’m a movie?

ANNABETH
M. O. W.

DONNA
Is that different?

ANNABETH
More likely to get made.

DONNA
It’s all ridiculous.

ANNABETH
Why? Girl next door travels to a war-torn spot, survives a terrorist act to bring a message of peace back to her President – it’s heroic.

DONNA
Could it be good for us? For the peace plan?

ANNABETH
Maybe, but since you get paid for the rights you couldn’t keep working here.

DONNA
Ah, then, forget it. (pause) Paid how much?

ANNABETH and DONNA chuckle.

DONNA
We are getting a lot of bad press. Maybe I should at least do a news interview?

ANNABETH
No pressure, but my gut is you’d pop. Or you can – talk to Toby.

DONNA
Or CJ. She’d know best.

DONNA turns to go, then stops at the door.

DONNA
The thing is … I wasn’t heroic. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I coul- … with the soldier who was just killed, and the ones that were wounded … those guys chose that. They volunteered for a job they knew would put them in harm’s way. That’s heroic.

There is a pause. DONNA turns again and leaves. ANNABETH seems to have a thought.

CUT TO: INT. - OUTSIDE JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

TOBY walks up to meet JOSH.

TOBY
Talk to Will?

JOSH
Yeah, just now.

TOBY
Is he thinking pills or a razor? I know he’s, uh, got a ledge in his office, but it’s only on the second floor.

JOSH
You’re gloating.

TOBY
Over a certain colleague’s misfortune, yeah, and not ashamed of what it says about me as a person.

JOSH
And the President’s about to be faced with a crummy excuse for legislation.

TOBY
Good title, though, Patients’ Bill of Rights. Hard not to love that.

JOSH
Maybe it’ll fix in conference, or we can proclaim it National Veto Month.

TOBY
The President’s not gonna veto this.

JOSH
He’s not gonna sign it, it’s grand theft governance – they stole the issue and stripped it for parts.

TOBY
Have you read the bill?

JOSH
Yeah, I read it.

TOBY
Lately? The Strickman-Santos bill the House just passed?

JOSH
Why?

TOBY pulls a thick stack of papers from a folder and hands it to JOSH.

TOBY
Read the bill.

TOBY turns the corner into the foyer as he heads for the door. ANNABETH meets him.

ANNABETH
Hey! I was afraid I’d missed you.

TOBY
Almost a clean getaway.

ANNABETH
This won’t take long. I have an idea.

TOBY
Yeah?

ANNABETH
It’s good for the President. It’ll turn the tide on a tough news cycle and give us a fresh start.

TOBY
There’s a catch?

ANNABETH
We have to sell it to CJ.

TOBY
And you think I’m the guy for that?

ANNABETH
You know her best.

TOBY
What’s the pitch?

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

LEO is sitting on his bed, eating naan. CHAKRABARTY walks into the bedroom, carrying MALTI. She sits her daughter in a chair.

LEO
Millet.

CHAKRABARTY
That’s the secret. A special seed that gives a certain oil. Only grown in one small area of the Punjab. You found your appetite.

LEO
They ought to market this.

CHAKRABARTY
It has no shelf life. My aunt had to smuggle it on a plane.

LEO
So, basically, I have to move to the Punjab.

CHAKRABARTY
Even there, it can’t compete now. Most farmers grow GMO corn.

LEO
And make better money doing it.

CHAKRABARTY
Yes, they never had money before … or debt.

CHAKRABARTY picks up the Cultico booklet from LEO’s bed.

CHAKRABARTY
My uncle had to sell off land to pay off seed he can’t replant, engineered for chemicals he cannot afford.

LEO
No one’s forced to use biotech, they want it. These advances will feed the world.

CHAKRABARTY
People starve because they are kept poor.

LEO
So now Cultico’s responsible for Third World corruption?

CHAKRABARTY
I didn’t say Cultico.

LEO
Open markets redistribute wealth …

CHAKRABARTY
You’re right.

LEO (sleepily)
Sure, there are blind spots in the corporate view -

CHAKRABARTY
Mm-hmm.

LEO (laying down to sleep)
That’s why I left, the first time.

CHAKRABARTY
Mm-hmm.

LEO
Enough money … profits … these guys … never say enough. Not made that way.

CHAKRABARTY puts a blanket over LEO,and whispers in his ear.

CHAKRABARTY
So they replace small famers growing many seeds with monocultures. We all lose the means to feed ourselves.

LEO (groggily)
What?

CHAKRABARTY
You found your appetite.

LEO drifts off to sleep.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

WILL walks up to JOSH, who is holding the bill TOBY gave him earlier. They head into the Roosevelt Room as they talk.

WILL
Hope you’re about to reassure me the President won’t sign this.

JOSH
Santos got the cap raised.

WILL
From laughable to slap on the wrist.

JOSH
Five million’s not nothing.

WILL
Gee, you think the Vice President pushing the issue did anything to scare the Republicans up to that figure?

JOSH
Absolutely, still, the bill’s impressive.

WILL
If that’s what impresses you. Some would be impressed with the 20 million dollars Russell’s raised so far for his war chest. It would impress some folks that their Vice President got endorsements from Lasko and Carpenter last week.

JOSH
Yeah, I meant to -

WILL
If you guys – and I’m not talking about President Bartlet, we have his respect – but the rest of you are so busy making fun and throwing up roadblocks, you haven’t noticed it’s three months till the Iowa caucuses and nobody – don’t say Baker – nobody who’s actually declared is polling within ten points of my guy.

JOSH
I have noticed.

WILL
And could you sound more miserable? Forget patients’ rights; with or without it, Russell is on his way to being the nominee and, God willing, our next President, so get on board, or get out of my way.

JOSH looks skeptically at WILL.

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

CJ bursts through a door, carrying a coffee and holding a newspaper. She stops TOBY as he is walking past.

CJ
You see the Times?

TOBY
Yeah -

CJ
‘We’re hiding the price of peace’ in the Times now?

TOBY
Yeah, you have a sec, I wanna run something by you …

CJ and TOBY walk away as we see MARGARET and CHARLIE down another hallway. CHARLIE is carrying a chair and a box.

MARGARET
CJ won’t like it.

CHARLIE
CJ won’t see it.

MARGARET
That’s not the only thing -

CHARLIE
If CJ needs something, I’ll go to her office. Right?

CHARLIE carries his stuff into a small office, crammed with desks, computer monitors, and  several other young staffers working.

CHARLIE
Hey, guys.

STAFFER
Hey, Charlie.

MARGARET
There isn’t even a desk.

CHARLIE (putting down the box and gesturing to a pile of papers)
Rumor is one’s buried under here.

MARGARET
What is all that?

CHARLIE
My fellow Deputy Special Assistants tell me these are back-burner commission reports, and policy initiatives no one’s gotten around to yet. I’m hoping most of it’s recyclable.

STAFFER
Gotten an assignment yet, Charlie?

CHARLIE
Pile on.

The STAFFER hands a stack of paperwork to CHARLIE as MARGARET continues.

MARGARET
Well, maybe, for the time being.

CHARLIE
Call when you need me.

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL ROOM – DAY

CHAKRABARTY is standing at the closed bathroom door.

CHAKRABARTY
Mr. McGarry? Did you fall in?

CHAKRABARTY walks away, and sees the Cultico documents in the trash can. As she looks at them, LEO comes out of the bathroom. He is wearing a cardigan sweater and no tie.

LEO
You going through my trash now?

CHAKRABARTY tosses the documents back into the trash and takes in LEO.

CHAKRABARTY
Nice sweater. Cashmere?

LEO
You coming along or what?

LEO opens the door as CHAKRABARTY follows. They both walk out into the corridor.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

ANNABETH and TOBY are making their pitch to CJ and JOSH.

ANNABETH
We hand-pick the pool, choose their camera positions – could be good for everyone.

JOSH
It’s worth taking it to him.

CJ
How long would advance need in terms of logistics?

ANNABETH
Advance already spoke to Walter Reed. The five wounded soldiers arrived yesterday and they’re all medically stable.

JOSH
Are you worried it’ll look like a photo op; too eager to show he cares?

CJ
He does care, but yeah, we’d be vulnerable to that.

ANNABETH
But after all the focus on casualties, here are the survivors, with their Commander-in-Chief.

JOSH
It’s not a bad way for the President to reiterate his budget increase for veterans’ affairs.

CJ
We don’t want to appear to exploit or worse, actually exploit anyone.

TOBY
I think we can trust this President to be authentic.

ANNABETH
Advance cleared it with the wounded soldiers. They’re all okay with it.

CJ (sighs)
I’ll recommend it to the President with one small adjustment.

CUT TO: INT. - LEO’S HOTEL CORRIDOR – DAY

LEO and CHAKRABARTY are out on a walk.

LEO
I haven’t decided not to work – I’m just not rushing into something new.

CHAKRABARTY
Ah.

LEO
I’m going to give myself some time. What’s for dinner?

CHAKRABARTY
Hungry?

LEO
Yeah.

CHAKRABARTY
We’re gonna have to start watching your cholesterol.

LEO
Okay, okay …

CHAKRABARTY
The body is predictable. One month after a bypass, the appetite returns. Soon your sleep will grow less disturbed, and your heart will quiet down.

LEO
My heart?

CHAKRABARTY
Haven’t you heard it beating? In surgery, they cut the pericardial sac, which insulates the heart. Afterwards, it seems to pound.

LEO
They can’t repair it?

CHAKRABARTY
Heart’s too swollen. You have to wait until it settles down, scars over on its own.

LEO
I might miss the sound, I’ve gotten used to it.

CHAKRABARTY
Part of healing … going on.

CUT TO: INT. - MATT SANTO’S OFFICE – NIGHT

MATT is sitting at his desk, looking over some papers. JOSH appears in his doorway.

JOSH
Congressman, I …  believe I owe you an apology.

MATT stands.

MATT
You want a beer?

JOSH
Sure.

MATT walks to an office refrigerator to get a couple of beers.

JOSH
So either you got the cap to move by promising you’d deliver Chambers, or you got Chambers on board by promising movement on the cap, or – some of both.

MATT
Glass, or you all right with a bottle?

JOSH
Bottle’s fine.

JOSH
Once the momentum got going, you called a couple of the friendlier HMOs to let ‘em know for their own good that a five million cap is still a cap, and they sure didn’t want this thing passing with the sky the limit.

MATT hands a beer to JOSH.

JOSH
But what I’d like to know is if, you let your own bill self-destruct and joined with Strickman, knowing there was an opening if you let them take the lead, or if it just started tipping that way and you went with it.

MATT
It didn’t hurt the other day in the hall, when you, uh, demonstrated my independence?

JOSH
I’m always happy to do my part.The Vice President softening up the battlefield didn’t hurt.

MATT nods.

JOSH
There’s nothing motivates Republicans more than a chance to hijack one of our issues. So, House bill, Senate bill, not very far apart, recess next week, here you are, drinking a beer? Don’t tell me you’re already out of conference.

MATT
Something will be coming the President’s way first thing tomorrow.

JOSH
You’re too good at this, you can’t just walk away.

MATT takes a moment, then reaches behind him to grab his suit jacket.

MATT
Watch me.

CUT TO: INT. - CAR – NIGHT

BARTLET and CJ are riding in the Presidential limo past the Treasury Building.

BARTLET
I’m glad we’re doing this.

CJ
Me, too.

CUT TO: INT. - HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – NIGHT

BARTLET and some Secret Service agents are walking down a corridor at Walter Reed Hospital. TOBY and ANNABETH follow.

TOBY
She took your suggestion.

ANNABETH
Except for the press part.

TOBY
Well, they are in the parking lot …

ANNABETH
A photo op with no photos?

TOBY
I’ll see you inside.

ANNABETH continues to follow BARTLET while TOBY stays behind to meet CJ.

TOBY
No press allowed, but we need a Deputy Press Secretary?

CJ
I wanted her here. You knew cameras didn’t belong in this, but you had her bring it to me anyway.

TOBY
You seemed to want to weigh in.

CJ
Leo used to weigh in, Toby.

TOBY
And when it bothered me, I said so.

CJ
I’m not ignoring you, it’s my job now.

TOBY
You can’t do it if you spend all your time guarding your old turf.

CJ takes a moment, then turns and walks into the room where BARTLET is talking with the injured soldiers. TOBY follows. BARTLET is leaning on the foot of a bed, talking with a soldier.

BARTLET
I’ll check on that for you, Private.

PRIVATE
Thank you, sir.

BARTLET moves to stand next to the soldier. We see both of his legs have been amputated.

PRIVATE
The new ones are state-of-the-art, Doc told me.

BARTLET
That’s what I hear.

PRIVATE
They’ll have me fitted, up and walking in no time.

BARTLET
Yeah, son, you know the Army – they’re not gonna let you lay around on their dime.

PRIVATE
I want to go back, sir.

BARTLET
Well … I’ll put in a word with the Joint Chiefs, but at the moment, your doctor’s your commanding officer, so … make sure you follow her orders, okay?

The PRIVATE nods. BARTLET moves on to another soldier, grasping his hand as they talk. CJ and TOBY watch. ANNABETH introduces BARTLET to yet another soldier.

ANNABETH
This is Lt. Martinez. Mr. President.

BARTLET
Lieutenant.

ANNABETH
Did I say your name right?

MARTINEZ
Yes, ma’am – (to BARTLET) but you don’t have to remember it when you start talking redeployment, sir.

BARTLET and MARTINEZ exchange a smile.

BARTLET
Is there anything I can do for you?

MARTINEZ
How about a prayer?

BARTLET places a hand over MARTINEZ’, and they start reciting the Lord’s Prayer. ANNABETH, CJ, and TOBY look on. CJ turns and walks out of the room.

CUT TO: EXT. - OUTSIDE WALTER REED HOSPITAL – NIGHT

TOBY walks down the sidewalk towards CJ, who is sitting on a bench.

CJ
I needed some air. (pause) It ain’t no photo op. You knew that.

TOBY
Now Annabeth knows that, too.

CJ
You think I’m micromanaging.

TOBY
Yes.

CJ
I don’t want to let the President down.

TOBY
Me neither.

CJ and TOBY have a moment.

TOBY
How old do you think those guys are in there? 20, 22?

CJ
Tops.

Another pause.

TOBY
We’re not gonna let the President down.

CJ looks at TOBY with a small smile.

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

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The West Wing Transcript
Episode 6x6 – The Dover Test
Original Airdate: November 24, 2004