THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: Opposition Research (S6E11)

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

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

TEASER

OPPOSITION RESEARCH

FADE IN: EXT. - SNOWY ROADSIDE – DAY

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

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

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

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

JOSH (VO)
I think you missed a turn.

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

JOSH
It was a left at Horseshoe Lake.

MATT
I thought it was a bend at Horseshoe Lake.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MATT
I hope they’re serving decaf.

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

MATT
Guess we’re using my name after all.

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

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

RONNA
Hi, Matt!

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

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

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

JOSH
Got a ceiling and everything.

MATT
Yeah, if you like that sort of thing.

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

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

MATT
Ah …

JOSH
243?

NED
Days in the school year.

JOSH
And we’re counting because … ?

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

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

MATT
I’m here to hone.

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

RONNA
Um, a kind of specialty sporting goods. 

JOSH sees a sign and a pile of life rafts.

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

RONNA
The first month’s free.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The four toast with the styrofoam cups of coffee.

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

CUT TO: EXT. - LITCHFIELD TOWN DUMP – DAY

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

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

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

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

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

MATT sniffs, and starts to cross the road. 

MATT
Anything particular I should say?

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

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

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

JOSH watches with a satisfied smile.

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

ACT ONE

FADE IN: EXT. - LITCHFIELD TOWN DUMP – DAY

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH
We’re not gonna do that.

RONNA
We’re not?

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

RONNA
You want the memos?

JOSH
I want to rein in the policy process. 

RONNA (with a chuckle)
You can’t.

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

RONNA
Where’s Matt on this chart?

JOSH
Let’s call him the Congressman.

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

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

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

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

JOSH starts for the minivan.

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

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

MATT
Morning.

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

They shake hands.

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

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

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

MAN
Oh. Well … he’s a good guy.

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

CUT TO: EXT. - TOWN STREET – DAY

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

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

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

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

We see TOBY at his desk, on the phone.

TOBY (into phone)
How’s your staff?

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

Back to JOSH in the minivan.

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

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

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

Back to TOBY’s office.

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

Back to JOSH.

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

TOBY (on phone)
Stop kicking.

JOSH (into phone)
Yeah.

Back to TOBY’s office.

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

JOSH (on phone)
Not yet.

TOBY (into phone)
Have the conversation.

Back to the minivan.

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

Back to TOBY.

TOBY (into phone)
Yeah.

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

TOBY (hanging up)
Yeah.

CUT TO: EXT. - TOWN STREET – DAY

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

JOSH
This is a dry cleaner’s.

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

The VOLUNTEER heads inside as JOSH stares after him.

CUT TO: INT. - OFFICE – DAY

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

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

JOSH
It’s no split, Senator.

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

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

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

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

BUTLER
Might be some tie clips, who knows?

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

BUTLER
Well, you do give him credibility.

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

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

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

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

JOSH stares at BUTLER, raising his eyebrows.

CUT TO: EXT. - RESIDENTIAL STREET – DAY

NED walks up to the minivan as JOSH steps out.

JOSH
How’s it going?

NED
He’s been inside for a while.

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

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

JOSH
Yeah. I’ve heard of him. Thanks.

NED
Wants to meet you this afternoon.

JOSH
He’s in New Hampshire?

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

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

NED
Free country, isn’t it?

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

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

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

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

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

NED
You gonna talk to the New York Times guy?

JOSH (excitedly)
New York Times guy?

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

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

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

BROCK
All the news that fits.

JOSH
You covering Russell?

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

JOSH
Really?

BROCK
Really.

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

BROCK (scoffs)
How’s it going?

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

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

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

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

JOSH
Ah, a couple of days.

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

JOSH
What things?

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - JARDIN HOUSE – DAY

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

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

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

JOSH
Mr. Jardin, Mrs. Jardin.

MATT
We’re talking about education.

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

MATT chuckles.

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

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

JOSH
We’re talking about a longer - ?

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

JANICE
So the kids can tend crops in the summer?

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

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

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

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

JANICE
Our cousin Phyllis is a schoolteacher.

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

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

JAMEY
Absolutely.

JANICE
Of course.

MATT rises to go with JOSH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

MATT
They asked for my views on education.

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

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

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

MATT
Which is why we need to nationalize the system.

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

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

JOSH
These are all great ideas -

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

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

MATT
We can move on to the swimsuit competition.

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

MATT
How long would that take?

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

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH reacts in frustration.

JOSH
You, you’re reviewing daily spending reports?

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

JOSH
Congressman -

MATT
Call me Matt!

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

MATT
No.

JOSH
We need to get proactive.

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

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

The screen door behind MATT opens and JANICE leans out.

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

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

JOSH is left standing on the porch.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

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

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

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

JOSH
Almost.

STAFFER
They talk a little less.

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

STAFFER
May I help you?

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

STAFFER
He’s expecting you. Follow me.

CUT TO: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – DAY

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

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

There is a knock at the door.

WILL (on phone)
Yeah.

WILL hangs up as JOSH enters.

WILL
How’s the Santos juggernaut?

JOSH
Juggering great. Just opened our New Hampshire offices.

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

JOSH
Our money’s going into the field.

WILL
Mind if one of my deputies sits in?

JOSH
It’s your meeting.

WILL picks up a phone.

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

WILL hangs up.

JOSH
So why’d you want to see me?

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

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

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

DONNA
- Vermont.

JOSH
Hi.

DONNA (smiling)
Hi.

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

DONNA
Yeah.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WILL
Good.

JOSH
Great.

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

DONNA
Can we not make this a thing?

JOSH
It’s not a thing.

JOSH walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

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

MATT
Okay, so, who’s next?

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

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

JOSH
As much time as it takes to get some.

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

NED
Thousand sounds better than one.

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

RONNA appears behind MATT.

RONNA (offering a cell phone)
Matt … 

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

A staffer hands NED a note.

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

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

MATT (taking the phone from RONNA)
Hello.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LIZ
Not at all.

JOSH
I’m glad.

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

JOSH
Right.

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

JOSH
We don’t want Doug’s endorsement.

LIZ
You don’t?

JOSH
No.

LIZ
No?

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

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

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

LIZ
My dad’s gonna stay neutral.

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

LIZ regards JOSH with a hint of a smile.

LIZ
I wouldn’t be doing this for you.

LIZ stands up and starts to leave, then stops.

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

LIZ exits as JOSH takes a moment.

CUT TO: EXT. - STREET SCENE – DAY

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

JOSH
Hey.

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

JOSH
The press corps seems to be growing.

NED
They’re covering Doug Westin.

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

RONNA
On what?

JOSH
Dwarf tossing.

NED
Dwarf tossing?

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

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

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

JOSH walks up to GREG BROCK.

JOSH
Hey, Greg.

BROCK
Hey, Josh.

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

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

JOSH (looking at the paper)
0 for 2?

BROCK
Uh, this UNH professor, Stoller, Strober …

JOSH
What about him?

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

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

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

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

JOSH
Why did we put out an education plan?

MATT
We didn’t.

JOSH
This UNH guy, Strobe - light?

MATT
Strobner.

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

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

JOSH
It shouldn’t be on paper.

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

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

MATT
You mean killed by a bunch of consultants.

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

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

MATT (chuckling)
That’s a funny line.

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

MATT
I don’t remember saying it.

JOSH
Can I deny it?

MATT
Yeah, it sounds like me, though.

JOSH
How fast can you take it back?

MATT
It’s true, isn’t it?

JOSH
People here feel this primary is their birthright. 

A car honks as it pulls up.

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

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

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

MATT
Hi.

DOUG
Congressman Santis, how are you?

MATT shakes hands with DOUG and LIZ.

LIZ
A pleasure to meet you.

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

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

MATT
Excuse me?

DOUG
Your quote.

MATT
You think the state’s diverse?

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

MATT
It’s funny that no one writes it.

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

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

JOSH (following them)
Yeah.

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

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

MATT greets other diners.

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

DOUG
I care very deeply about our parks.

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

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

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

MATT
We’re here to meet the voters.

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

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

MATT
Oh, I value everyone’s vote.

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

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

JOSH watches glumly.

CUT TO: EXT. - MOTEL – NIGHT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH leads MATT into the motel room.

JOSH
Eh, this won’t take long.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MATT
Do you think this state represents the country?

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

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

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

MATT
Meaning not in New Hampshire.

JOSH
Meaning once people get to know who you are.

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

JOSH
Congressman, we’re having this conversation -

MATT
Call me Matt -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MATT
Whose campaign is this, Josh?

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

MATT turns to leave.

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

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

MATT walks out of the motel room.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - SMALL TOWN CAFE – DAY

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

JOSH
Thanks for flying up on short notice.

JOEY (through KENNY)
Of course.

JOSH
We can’t afford any polling just yet.

JOEY (through KENNY)
I know.

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

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

JOSH
Of who?

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

JOSH
Oh.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH (taking the envelope; quietly)
Yeah.

JOSH stands to leave.

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

JOSH mouths ‘thank you’ to JOEY.

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

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

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

MATT
I can’t believe this.

JOSH sighs.

MATT
We don’t get any points for substance?

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

MATT
What about the teachers’ unions?

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

MATT
Del Tollerson.

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

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

REPORTER
Oh, there he is.

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

JOSH
Hi.

MAN
Morning.

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

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

JOSH
I suppose Del Tollerson’s there, too.

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

JOSH (quietly)
I see.

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

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

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

MATT
Matt Santos.

BROCK comes up behind JOSH.

BROCK
Good staff work.

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

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

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

BROCK
You’re serious.

JOSH
What?

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

JOSH
We’re running to win.

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

JOSH
We’re talking about the big issues.

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

JOSH blinks, thinking.

CUT TO: INT. - RUSSELL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

WILL is going over a list with a STAFFER.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JOSH
So you dig up damaging quotes?

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

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

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

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

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

CUT TO: EXT. - SIDEWALK – DAY

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

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

WOMAN
So you’re saying, no tax increase?

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

DONNA (walking up to JOSH and RONNA)
Hi.

JOSH
Hi.

DONNA (to RONNA)
Hi.

RONNA
Hi. Ronna.

DONNA
Actually, it’s Donna.

RONNA
Uh, no, it’s Ronna.

DONNA
No, really, it’s Donna.

RONNA
Uh, I’m quite certain it’s -

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

DONNA and RONNA smile at one another.

JOSH (to RONNA)
Give us a minute?

RONNA
Sure.

RONNA walks away.

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

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

DONNA 
Go ahead. Hop On Bob.

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

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

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

DONNA
Media targeting for the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.

There is a pause.

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

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

JOSH
I didn’t know chipboard could talk.

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

JOSH
You mean, pandering.

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

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

JOSH
You came here to deliver my old truisms?

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

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

DONNA
You ought to deliver some of those truisms yourself.

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY

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

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

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

VOLUNTEER
Mr. Lyman?

JOSH
Yeah?

JOSH peers over the balcony.

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

JOSH runs down the stairs and grabs the phone.

JOSH (into phone)
This is Josh Lyman.

OPERATOR (on phone)
Please hold for the President.

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

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

We see BARTLET on the phone in the Oval Office.

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

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

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

The scene cuts back and forth between JOSH and BARTLET.

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

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

JOSH (on phone)
I know that, sir.

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

JOSH (on phone)
I know.

BARTLET (into phone)
Take down these numbers.

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

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

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

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

JOSH (into phone)
Yes, sir. Sometime. 

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

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – NIGHT

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

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

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

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

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

A volunteer hands a note to JOSH.

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

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

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

JOSH
You wanna talk about the schedule?

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

JOSH
Congressman -

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

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

MATT is taken aback.

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

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

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

MATT scoffs.

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

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

JOSH
Same way everyone else is gonna get it.

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

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

MATT turns away, rubbing his head.

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

Now JOSH is taken aback.

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

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

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

CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS CAMPAIGN OFFICE – NIGHT

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

RONNA
What’s that?

JOSH
It’s called a clean campaign.

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

JOSH
These are … ?

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

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

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

JOSH puts the trashcan with the standup on the floor.

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

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

JOSH
Really?

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

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

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

JOSH 
Does this mean you and I are -

LIZ
No. I still think you’re a jerk.

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

JOSH
What’s this?

LIZ
A personal check.

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

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

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

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

LIZ starts to walk away.

JOSH
Don’t give the environmental speech. 

LIZ
What do you mean?

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

LIZ
That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.

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

RONNA
Wh – what do we do with this?

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

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

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

MATT (VO)
Speech insert on teachers?

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

MATT (VO)
Good. Thanks.

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

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

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

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

JOSH
Phil’s one of the premier activists in …

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

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

MATT
You were just doing your job.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MATT sighs and turns away.

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

JOSH
Well, you’re not making it easy.

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

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

MATT
Well, then no one can.

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

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

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

MATT
Good evening. Hi, how are you?

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

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

VOTER
Nice to meet you.

MATT
Good evening.

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

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

JOSH (quietly)
Because?

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

MATT (to crowd)
Good evening, folks.

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

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

The screen fades to black as we hear MATT continue.

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

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

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The West Wing Transcript
Episode 6X11 – Opposition Research
Original Airdate: January 12, 2005