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

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

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

TEASER

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE – NIGHT

FRIDAY NIGHT

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

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

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

BARTLET sighs heavily, then yanks his bowtie apart.

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: Back to the TV screen showing HOYNES.

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

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

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

TOBY
Ah.

CJ
What are you reading?

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

CJ
Where’d you get that?

TOBY
Will had a copy.

CJ
Will gave it to you?

TOBY
I borrowed it.

CJ
I’m sure it’s illuminating.

CJ turns her head to see the interview on TV.

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

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

CJ
No.

TOBY
Want to know many times I’m mentioned?

CJ
Not really.

TOBY
Want to know how many times Josh is mentioned?

CJ
Where is Josh?

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - RESIDENCE KITCHEN – NIGHT

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

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

CHARLIE
Mr. President, where’s Curtis?

BARTLET
Who?

CHARLIE
Curtis – your new bodyman?

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

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

BARTLET
Well, that makes three of us.

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

JOSH
TIME TO LEAD
JOHN

HOYNES (VO)
Really?

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

HOYNES (VO)
Absolutely.

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

JOSH stands staring at the inscription in the book.

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

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

MARGARET
You’ve got a call.

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

MARGARET
Donna already brought them.

CJ
Good. Who’s on the phone?

MARGARET
The Vice President.

CJ (reaching for the phone)
Okay.

MARGARET
The former Vice President.

CUT TO: INT. - RESIDENCE KITCHEN – NIGHT

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

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

BARTLET
Thank you, Charlie.

CHARLIE exits as ABBEY helps BARTLET put on his jacket.

BARTLET
I couldn’t tie my tie.

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

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

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

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – NIGHT

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

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

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Did you look at the book?

JOSH
No.

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

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

HOYNES
Yes, you do.

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

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - WEST WING FOYER – DAY

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

JOSH (speaking Chinese)
Zao chen hao, Donnatella.

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

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

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

An onscreen caption reads:

THURSDAY MORNING
ONE DAY EARLIER

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

DONNA
He’s promoting his book.

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

DONNA
He called twice this morning.

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

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

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

KATE
We have no problem with that.

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

TOBY
Pottery.

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

TOBY
Mm-hmm.

YAHLIN
We thought that -

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

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

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

CJ
What’s this?

CHARLIE
The nonproliferation briefing packet.

CJ
You’re done?

CHARLIE
I get extra credit for finishing early?

CJ
You want a gold star?

CHARLIE
How about another assignment?

CJ
Let’s see how you did on this one.

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

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

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

TOBY
You have to get me out of there.

CJ
Can’t do it, Rocco.

TOBY
I have things to do.

CJ
Talk to Josh.

TOBY
I’m talking to you.

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

TOBY
I don’t report to Josh.

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM – DAY

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

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

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

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

JOSH
Well, we’re looking forward to it.

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

HARRIS
Thanks for your hard work.

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

HUNT
What about Taiwan?

JOSH
What about it?

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

JOSH
That’s not on the agenda, Senator.

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

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

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

JOSH
China’s pledged to stop exporting weapons -

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

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

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

JOSH
I’ll keep that in mind.

HUNT
Good.

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

HUNT stares levelly at JOSH. JOSH chuckles nervously.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

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

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

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

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

KATE (to TOBY)
They don’t.

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

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH comes in to tell CJ about the congressional meeting.

CJ
How’d it go?

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

CJ
Hunt gave you a hard time.

JOSH
Yeah, but this was Harris and Haas.

CJ
What did Hunt want?

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

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

CAROL enters.

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

JOSH
A flag?

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

JOSH
You’re kidding, right?

CAROL
Was that funny?

JOSH
A green flag?

CAROL
Green with a red flower.

JOSH
No, no, no-no, no!

CJ
Josh?

JOSH
The Chinese are gonna freak out!

CAROL
Isn’t the Taiwanese flag red and blue?

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

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

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

CJ
Just a touch.

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

TOBY knocks at the door and steps inside.

JOSH
Hey, I thought you were in with the …

TOBY
They walked out.

JOSH
The Chinese protocol guys?

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

(beat)

CJ
Margaret!

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

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

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

BARTLET
They want me to step down again?

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

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

DEBBIE
It is the National Constitution Center.

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

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

BARTLET
There’s something to look forward to.

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

BARTLET
A surprise musical guest, actually.

DEBBIE
I always loved Jerry Garcia.

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

DEBBIE
Hence the surprise.

CJ knocks on the door and enters.

CJ
Mr. President.

BARTLET
Thank God.

Entering with CJ are KATE and CHARLIE.

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

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

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

BARTLET
Sounds charming.

CJ
Sir.

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

CHARLIE
Curtis Carruthers.

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

CJ
Of course. Charlie?

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

CJ
Okay.

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

CJ
We’re gonna need it a little sooner.

CHARLIE
I’m on it.

CHARLIE exits.

BARTLET
How big a problem are we looking at?

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

BARTLET
Mm, what else?

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

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

KATE exits.

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

BARTLET
Excuse me?

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

BARTLET
Did I say that?

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

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

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

BARTLET exits out to the Portico.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - GIFTS OFFICE – DAY

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

CHARLIE
Hello?

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

THATCH
May I help you?

CHARLIE
Bernard?

THATCH
Yes. Welcome to my festoonery.

CHARLIE
Where’s Rose?

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

CHARLIE
And they transferred you to the Gifts Unit?

THATCH
Apparently I am the new Rose.

CHARLIE
There was a Taiwanese flag -

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

CHARLIE
Yeah, have you seen it?

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

CHARLIE
I wouldn’t repeat that to the Taiwanese.

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

CHARLIE
The President needs the flag back.

THATCH
Oh, I’m afraid not.

CHARLIE
Excuse me?

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

CHARLIE
So?

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

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

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

CHARLIE
I need that flag.

THATCH
You’re not suggesting I break the law?

CHARLIE
No.

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

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is rushing into TOBY’s office.

JOSH
The ambassador’s here.

TOBY
Yeah.

JOSH
We’re going to be conciliatory.

TOBY
Uh-huh.

JOSH
Mea culpa, our bad.

TOBY
Got it.

JOSH
We’re gonna hop right over this little -

TOBY sees something outside his office and stops JOSH.

TOBY
Josh …

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

JOSH
That’s the whole Chinese delegation.

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

JOSH
You were there – right?

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

JOSH
Nine-meat soup?

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

JOSH (to himself)
Beef, chicken, pork -

TOBY
You don’t want to go there.

CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

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

LING-PO
Gentlemen.

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

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

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

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

JOSH
“Meddling in your internal affairs”?

LING-PO
You will return the flag?

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

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

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

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

JOSH
Adjustments.

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

JOSH
Okay.

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

TOBY
The Gate of Heavenly Peace.

There is a pause.

TOBY
In Tiananmen Square.

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

LING-PO
Is there a problem?

JOSH looks at the Chinese in dismay.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

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

CJ
So that’s the flag we got.

KATE
Mm-hmm.

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

CJ
That’s China.

KATE
Yeah.

CJ picks up the Republic of China flag.

CJ
What’s this one?

KATE
Republic of China.

CJ
This is China, that’s China -

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

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

CJ
What’s this one?

KATE
Taiwan’s majority party.

CJ
So which party flies the Taiwanese flag?

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

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

KATE
The Chinese would declare war.

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

KATE 
I play a lot of Risk.

JOSH enters the office.

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

CJ
Okay.

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

CJ looks at JOSH.

JOSH
You’re eating Chinese.

KATE (offering her carton to JOSH)
Lo mein?

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

TOBY walks into the office.

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

KATE
Now that could be a problem.

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

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

JOSH
Could send a signal.

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

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

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

CJ
Josh -

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

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

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

CJ
Josh, you’re gonna go see Hunt.

JOSH
Yeah!

CJ
And Josh -

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

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

KATE
I guess I’ll take this to go.

CJ
The visual of the President in Tiananmen Square -

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

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

TOBY
So I’m working for you now again?

CJ
Toby …

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

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

WILL comes up to JOSH’s door.

WILL
How are things going with China?

JOSH
Great, really, just fantastic.

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

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

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

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

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

WILL
Well, technically.

JOSH
Isn’t this more of a Toby thing?

TOBY crosses by in the hallway behind them.

TOBY
Isn’t what more of a Toby thing?

WILL
The National Constitution Center ceremony tomorrow night -

TOBY
No.

WILL and JOSH follow TOBY into the Communications bullpen.

WILL
The Vice President would like to show his support.

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

JOSH
He’s coming in for that?

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

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

TOBY
Really. Hadn’t thought of that.

JOSH and WILL follow TOBY into his office.

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

WILL
Yeah, Hoynes on Diane Mathers should be interesting.

JOSH
That’s it?

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

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

WILL
The Vice President is not going to be …

WILL stops and considers something.

WILL
You know what? Fine.

WILL exits.

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

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

JOSH
Yeah, he called me a couple of times.

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

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

TOBY
Interested in what?

JOSH
In anything having to do with John Hoynes.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

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

CJ
You’re still here, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Yeah.

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

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

CJ
Yes, sir.

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

CJ
Sir?

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

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

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

CJ
Thank goodness.

CJ and BARTLET exchange a smile.

CJ
Sir?

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

CJ
I do, sir.

BARTLET
Yeah, okay. Good night.

CJ
Good night, Mr. President.

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

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

HUNT is working at a table as JOSH enters.

JOSH
You know, it’s ironic, Senator -

HUNT
I’ve been expecting you, Josh.

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

HUNT
I thought it was kind of sad, actually.

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

HUNT
Who needs independence, huh?

JOSH
They have it, in everything but name.

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

JOSH
That’s a small price to pay.

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

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

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

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

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

HUNT starts to leave.

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

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

JOSH
Yes.

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

JOSH
It was a mistake.

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

HUNT turns and exits.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FRIDAY MORNING

FADE IN: INT. - THATCH’S OFFICE – DAY

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

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

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

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

CHARLIE
My sister bought me this tie.

THATCH
The things we put up with for family.

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

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

CHARLIE
The President wants to buy it back.

THATCH
Really?

CHARLIE
Yeah.

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

CHARLIE
How about you ballpark it for me?

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

(pause)

CHARLIE
Dollars?

CHARLIE rolls his eyes in exasperation.

CUT TO: EXT. - WHITE HOUSE ENTRANCE – DAY

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

JOSH
Hey.

CJ
Morning. How’d it go with Hunt?

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

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY – DAY

JOSH 
- I spoke with Harris …

CJ
Okay.

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

CJ
Procedural roadblock.

JOSH
Yeah.

CJ
How long can we keep Hunt off the floor?

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

CJ
Great.

JOSH
Yeah, only it’s the wrong call.

CJ
You think we should let Hunt speak.

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

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

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

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

CJ comes out of her office behind MARGARET.

CJ
Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET (slightly embarrassed)
Good morning.

CJ
Excited about the Medal of the Arts ceremony?

MARGARET
Very.

CJ
Supposed to be a surprise musical guest.

MARGARET
You’re worried I might give it away.

CJ
Maybe with the singing and the dancing …

MARGARET
Right.

CJ
The President’s in with Governor Baker?

MARGARET
The Governor just arrived.

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

They begin walking down the hallway.

MARGARET
Do you have a favorite? Song?

CJ
Can’t say that I do.

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

CJ
Margaret?

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

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

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

BARTLET
Governor Baker. Welcome.

BAKER
Busy day?

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

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

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

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

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

BAKER
It’s, um … humbling.

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

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

BARTLET
Yeah. So how are your numbers in Iowa?

BAKER
Well, I haven’t declared.

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

(beat)

BAKER
Iowa and New Hampshire look very good.

VICE PRESIDENT RUSSELL and WILL walk into the Oval Office.

RUSSELL
Gentlemen.

BAKER
Mr. Vice President.

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

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

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

BAKER
Uh, Mr. President, could I … ?

BARTLET
(to RUSSELL) Excuse me. 

BARTLET crosses to BAKER standing by the desk.

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - HALLWAY – DAY

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

JOSH
You taking to wandering the hallways?

WILL
Hoping to absorb some wisdom. Osmosis.

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

JOSH turns to leave, then stops.

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

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

JOSH
Same in Iowa?

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

JOSH
Sex isn’t what it used to be.

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

JOSH
Unless Baker’s already knocked you out.

WILL
Why I’m not sleeping nights.

CUT TO: INT. - MARGARET’S DESK – DAY

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

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

MARGARET (taking the binders)
Okay.

DONNA
So you know who’s coming tonight?

MARGARET
It’s a surprise.

DONNA
Give me a hint.

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

DONNA
Who?

CJ walks up, giving a paper to MARGARET.

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

DONNA
Hi.

CJ
That the trade stuff?

DONNA (nodding)
Yep.

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

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

CJ
No issue.

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

CJ
I just want to stay in the loop.

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

CJ
Yeah.

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

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

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

DONNA
Except, maybe that.

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

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

BARTLET
Okay, thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Thank you, Mr. President.

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

BAKER
My pleasure, Mr. President. 

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

BARTLET
Bob, could I see you for a second?

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

RUSSELL
Mr. President, I really appreciate -

BARTLET
Yeah, don’t do that again.

RUSSELL
Well, Mr. President, I -

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

CJ knocks at the door.

CJ
Excuse me, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Yeah, we’re through.

RUSSELL exits.

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

BARTLET
Okay.

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

BARTLET
Are they being organized by the Independence Party?

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

BARTLET
The majority party? Anyone close to President Chen?

CJ
His Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

KATE walks into the Oval.

CJ
How are the Chinese?

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

BARTLET
China’s deploying submarines?

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

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

CJ
Sir …

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

KATE
Yes, sir.

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

CJ
I think so, I’ll get Josh -

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

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – DAY

JOSH is watching TV news coverage of the Taiwan demonstrations.

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

CJ walks in JOSH’s door.

CJ
Josh -

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

CJ
I need you to call Senator Harris.

JOSH
Okay.

CJ
We gotta shut Hunt down.

JOSH
I thought we were going to -

CJ
Josh …

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

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

JOSH
Okay. Sure. Anything else?

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

JOSH
No discussion of Taiwan?

CJ
No public discussion.

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

CJ
Yeah.

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

JOSH
You put Toby on it.

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

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

CJ
Yeah. I’m … (pause) Thanks.

CJ walks away, leaving JOSH alone at his desk.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

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

LEO
Awfully dark in here.

CJ turns to see LEO, and they embrace.

CJ
Leo!

LEO
Was this place always so gloomy?

CJ
Not when you were here.

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

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

LEO
Have Margaret spruce the place up.

CJ
Margaret suggested Shirley Chisholm’s Barcalounger.

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

CJ
Of course.

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

CJ
Lunch looks great.

LEO
You look good in here. Comfortable.

CJ
Yeah, today, not so much.

LEO
You sent Kate to Taipei.

CJ
Mm-hmm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CJ
I had to take the summit away from Josh.

LEO (nodding)
Yeah.

LEO points to the forks in turn.

LEO
China. The US.

LEO lights a match.

LEO
A situation.

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

LEO
Really, any situation having to do with Taiwan.

LEO and CJ watch the flame burn on the toothpick.

CJ
Hmm.

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

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

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

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

CJ and LEO smile at each other.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

FADE IN: INT. - COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN – DAY

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

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

CJ
For the President’s opening statement?

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

CJ
Great. Are the Chinese - ?

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

CJ
Thanks. Let me know.

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

CJ
Charlie! Where’s my flag?

CHARLIE
I’m working on it.

CJ
Charlie …

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

CJ
Charlie, I need that flag.

CHARLIE
Yeah.

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

CHARLIE
I got it.

CHARLIE and CJ head off in opposite directions.

CUT TO: INT. - GIFTS OFFICE – DAY

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

CHARLIE
Bernard.

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

CHARLIE
Bernard, this is Richard Squire.

SQUIRE
Hello.

THATCH
And aren’t you a frumpy little fellow?

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

SQUIRE
I get a little tripped up by Title 14.

THATCH
Do you?

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

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

THATCH
I wasn’t aware of a Section B.

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

THATCH
Indeed.

CHARLIE
Yeah. So if you would be so kind …

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

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE FOYER – DAY

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

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

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

JOSH
Donna!

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

JOSH
Where’d you find it?

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

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

DONNA
A gift. I unwrapped it.

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

JOSH
You unwrapped my gift?

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

JOSH
Three?

DONNA
Thirty-nine.

DONNA leaves as JOSH looks at the book.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

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

LEO
Working hard?

BARTLET
Leo …

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

BARTLET
Debbie, get out of here.

DEBBIE leaves, closing the door behind her.

BARTLET
I didn’t know you were coming? 

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

BARTLET
It’s a put-up job.

LEO
Seems to be working.

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

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

BARTLET looks at LEO uneasily.

LEO (smiling)
Come on … 

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

LEO
Sir.

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

BARTLET (stepping back)
When you coming back?

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

BARTLET (chuckling)
Yeah, okay.

LEO turns to go.

BARTLET
Leo.

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

BARTLET (smiling)
Ah … nothing.

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

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

FRIDAY NIGHT

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

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

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - TV STUDIO – NIGHT

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

MATHERS
Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President.

HOYNES
Diane, you were great, thanks very much.

MATHERS
Thank you.

DIRECTOR
And we’re out.

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

HOYNES
Hey. What did you think?

SUZANNE
I think she served up softballs.

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

SUZANNE
I’m here.

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

HOYNES exits.

CUT TO: INT. - EAST ROOM – NIGHT

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

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

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

BARTLET
Thanks for coming.

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

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

MARGARET
You have a call.

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

MARGARET
Donna already brought them.

CJ
Good. Who’s on the phone?

MARGARET
The Vice President.

CJ
Okay.

MARGARET
The former Vice President.

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

CJ
Hello?

CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S OFFICE – NIGHT

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

JOSH 
TIME TO LEAD 
JOHN 

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

CUT TO: INT. - EAST WING – NIGHT

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

CJ
The Vice President called tonight.

TOBY
Russell?

CJ
Hoynes.

TOBY
And?

CJ
He told me to look in the index.

TOBY
Hmm. You’re not in it.

CJ (smiling)
Yeah.

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

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – NIGHT

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

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

JOSH
No.

HOYNES
Look at the book?

JOSH
No.

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH
You lost that race.

HOYNES
I lost that race when I lost you.

JOSH looks at HOYNES.

CUT TO: INT. - EAST ROOM – NIGHT

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

ABBEY (whispering)
You’re very friendly tonight.

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

(beat)

ABBEY (whispering)
What is it?

BARTLET shakes his head, then thinks a bit.

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

ABBEY (whispering)
What?

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

ABBEY stares ahead in realization of what this means.

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - HOYNES’ CAR – NIGHT

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

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

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

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

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