Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEST WING:

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I'LL EVER DO, JENNY.

IT'S NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR MARRIAGE.

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY MARRIAGE RIGHT NOW.

SAY, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TONIGHT?

WHAT AM I WEARING TONIGHT?

YOUR PAPER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT I'M WEARING?

NOT MY PAPER. THAT WAS JUST FOR ME.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT TO A MEETING?

A.A.? WHAT MEETING COULD I POSSIBLY GO TO?

MINE.

SOMETHING I CAN

HELP YOU WITH, MR. McGARRY?

YEAH. I'M HERE FOR THE... CARD GAME.

( banging )

YES... YES.

YES.

SO ARE YOU PREPARED AT THIS POINT TO...

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH, IF YOU'LL SIT BY THE PHONE FOR A FEW MINUTES

YOU CAN EXPECT A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

YES!

IT'S DONE.

WE DID IT!

IT IS DONE!

IT'S DONE!

WE DID IT!

I DID IT.

C.J. WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HER FINGERS CROSSED.

JOSH, IT WAS ONE PHONE CALL.

IT WAS A SERIES OF PHONE CALLS WHICH I MASTERMINDED

AND WHILE I'M NOT ONE TO BE SELFISH ABOUT CREDIT

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IT IS DONE AND I DID IT!

DONNA, CALL TOBY, CALL SAM, CALL LEO, CALL THE PRESIDENT.

TELL THEM I'M ON MY WAY OVER.

CONGRATULATIONS!

NOTHING TO THE PRESS.

YES!

CLAUDIA JEAN, WE DID IT.

YES!

WHOO!

WAIT!

WHAT?

DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW

ABOUT THE BANGING IN YOUR OFFICE?

THE BANGING IN MY OFFICE? THEY'VE BEEN AT IT ALL MORNING.

BANGING? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

JOSH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING OR THUMPING

COMING FROM THE FLOOR ABOVE YOUR OFFICE.

I DIDN'T NOTICE. HOW COULD YOU NOT NOTICE?

BECAUSE I DIDN'T, DONNA.

I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR THE LAST HOUR

TRYING TO SEAL A DEAL TO FILL A SEAT

ON THE SUPREME COURT, SO, YOU KNOW...

IT WAS A PRETTY LOUD BANGING, JOSH.

YOU UNDERSTAND I'M TAKING ABOUT

THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, RIGHT?

YES.

WHO DA MAN?

YOU'RE DA MAN.

WE DA MAN!

THIS IS JUST GROSS.

WAIT HERE FOR ME.

GOOD MORNING, MRS. LANDINGHAM.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, INDEED.

JOSH? YES, MRS. LANDINGHAM?

IS IT DONE?

WELL, THAT DEPENDS ON YOUR ANSWER

TO THIS QUESTION, MRS. LANDINGHAM:

WHO DA MAN?

EXCUSE ME, JOSH?

( chuckling )

MMM...

WHO DA MAN?

YOU DA MAN.

WE DA MAN! WE DA MAN!

WE DA MAN.

HE'S WAITING FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

( sighing )

I HEARD WE MAY HAVE...

YES, SIR!

I CAN CALL HIM?

HE'S WAITING FOR YOU, SIR.

IT'S DONE?

IT'S DONE.

YOU GOT YOURSELF

A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE, MR. PRESIDENT.

THIS IS HUGE. WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE MAN?

ON THIS ONE, WE'D LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES COLLECTIVELY

AS THE MEN, SIR.

MISS LANDINGHAM, LET'S MAKE THAT PHONE CALL.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

WELL DONE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS ROCK.

OH, WE REALLY DO.

LET'S BRING IN THE CHAIRMAN

AND THE RANKING MEMBER FROM JUDICIARY

THE LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH SIDES AND C.J., YOU SHOULD...

WHERE IS C.J.?

RIGHT HERE.

SORRY.

YOU SHOULD WEAR A BELL AROUND YOUR NECK, YOU KNOW THAT?

THANK YOU.

SO, WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?

C.J.'LL LET THE PRESS KNOW

THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL INTRODUCE HIS NOMINEE

AT AN EAST ROOM PRESS CEREMONY THURSDAY, 5:00 P.M.

CAN WE DO IT ON FRIDAY AND GIVE OURSELVES MORE TIME?

THURSDAY. WHY?

'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE WATCH TV.

WE CAN DO THIS IN FOUR DAYS? YEP.

ARE YOU SURE? YEP.

TOBY, YOU'RE RUNNING THE SHOW. I KNOW.

PUT THE BALL IN THE HOLE. IT'S DONE.

NO, IT'S NOT.

SO GET IT DONE.

YES, SIR.

JOSH, GET ME EVERYTHING.

WE VETTED HIM TWO MONTHS.

I'M GOING TO VET HIM FOUR MORE DAYS.

I WANT TO KNOW EVERY PARKING TICKET

I WANT TO KNOW EVERY GIRLFRIEND HE STOOD UP FOR DINNER IN 1953...

AMANDA, YOU'RE GOING TO ROLL THIS GUY OUT IN A SHOW

THAT MAKES THE QUEEN'S CORONATION LOOK LIKE DINNER THEATER.

SAM, YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE

THE PRESIDENT'S INTRODUCTION.

YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO WRITE

HARRISON'S REMARKS.

HARRISON'S NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT.

SHOW HIM THE ROBE HE GETS--

HE'LL LIKE IT FINE.

C.J., NO LEAKS.

IF THE NAME OF THIS NOMINEE LEAKS OUT

BEFORE I WANT IT TO BE LEAKED OUT

I'M GOING TO BLAME YOU

AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT UNPLEASANT.

I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING, TOBY--

YOU'RE HOT WHEN YOU'RE LIKE THIS.

I AM GOING TO PUT HARRISON ON THE COURT!

I SWEAR TO GOD I AM.

WE MEET AGAIN IN THREE HOURS.

C.J., COME TALK TO ME.

DID YOU SEE HIS FACE?

WE'RE HOME.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

IT'S A MAINTENANCE CREW.

THEY'RE BANGING.

THEY'RE WORKING UPSTAIRS.

PEYTON CABOT HARRISON III.

YES.

"PEYTON CABOT HARRISON III"--

HE SOUNDS LIKE HE SHOULD BE A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

IT'S A GOOD NAME.

PHILLIPS EXETER, PRINCETON, RHODES SCHOLAR...

HARVARD LAW REVIEW

FOR WHICH HE WAS, OH, YEAH, THE EDITOR...

DID I MENTION THAT HE WAS DEAN OF HARVARD LAW SCHOOL?

DID I MENTION THAT HIS FATHER

WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO EISENHOWER?

PEYTON CABOT HARRISON III.

THAT'S RIGHT.

JEWISH FELLA?

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUIN THIS MOMENT FOR ME, DONNA.

I'M SHARING THIS MOMENT.

THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR US. YOU'RE THE MEN.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO HAVE?

A WASPY OLD MAN ON THE SUPREME COURT?

A SMOOTH CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

YOU THINK? IT'S GOING TO SAIL.

I HOPE SO. IT'S GOING TO SAIL, DONNA.

THERE'S MANY A SLIP TWIXT THE TONGUE AND THE WRIST, JOSH.

YOUR FORTUNE COOKIE WISDOM NOTWITHSTANDING

IT'S GOING TO SAIL.

PLEASE DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP.

WHY SHOULDN'T I GET MY HOPES UP?

BECAUSE WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK OUT

YOU END UP DRUNK IN MY APARTMENT

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

AND YELL AT MY ROOMMATES' CATS.

SMOOTH SAILING, DONNA. CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM, JOSH.

NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK. EXERCISE CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

LOOK, THERE'S NO REASON...

WELL...

OKAY.

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE, JOSEPH.

( chuckling ): YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT LIAR, MR. PRESIDENT.

( chuckling ): YES, SIR.

( clears throat )

YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH HARRISON?

HE'S ON THE SHORT LIST.

YEAH?

YEAH.

WITH HOW MANY OTHER NAMES?

WE'LL MAKE OUR ANNOUNCEMENT ON THURSDAY.

( sighing )

YOU'VE DECIDED ON HARRISON.

I HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION YET, JOSEPH.

YOU'VE MADE THE CALL.

( scoffing )

DID YOU EVEN CONSIDER MENDOZA?

MENDOZA WAS ON THE SHORT LIST.

MENDOZA WAS ON THE SHORT LIST

SO YOU COULD SHOW YOU HAD AN HISPANIC ON THE SHORT LIST.

THAT'S NOT TRUE, JOSEPH.

YOU RAN GREAT GUNS IN THE CAMPAIGN.

IT WAS AN INSURGENCY, BOY, A SIGHT TO SEE.

AND THEN YOU DROVE

TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THE MOMENT

AFTER YOU TOOK THE OATH.

( clears throat ): JOSEPH...

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NOTHING BUT A LONG LINE PAINTED YELLOW.

EXCUSE ME, SIR...

I WANTED TO RETIRE FIVE YEARS AGO.

BUT I WAITED FOR A DEMOCRAT.

I WANTED A DEMOCRAT.

HMM!

BUT INSTEAD, I GOT YOU.

HEY.

HEY.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING FINE, DANNY.

IS IT GOING TO BE HARRISON?

WHY, WHY, OH, WHY DO YOU ASK ME QUESTIONS

THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY KNOW

I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER?

IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION STARTER.

I CAN'T GO OUT ON A DATE WITH YOU, DANNY.

WHO ASKED YOU?

YOU THINK HARRISON'S GOING TO BE A GOOD JUSTICE?

DANNY... SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

I TRIED TO TRICK YOU INTO CONFIRMING IT WAS HARRISON.

IT DIDN'T WORK.

AND YOU WON'T GO OUT ON A DATE WITH ME, RIGHT?

RIGHT. OKAY.

I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD GET OUT THERE.

NOT YET, SIR.

I'M SORRY, JOSEPH, BUT I AM...

I SERVED ON THIS BENCH FOR 38 YEARS.

I TOOK MY SEAT THE YEAR YOU BEGAN COLLEGE.

I BELIEVE I'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO SAY A WORD.

YOU'VE SAID QUITE A FEW WORDS.

NOT ENOUGH.

LET'S GET OUT THERE.

TAKE THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITH YOUR STAFF

AND GIVE MENDOZA THE CONSIDERATION HE DESERVES.

JOSEPH, WHEN THE NEXT SEAT OPENS UP, I PROMISE YOU...

WHEN THE NEXT SEAT OPENS UP

YOU'LL BE WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS.

IN THREE YEARS, I WOULD HOPE TO BE RUNNING FOR REEL...

YOU'RE GOING TO GET BEAT IN THREE YEARS.

THAT'S A LITTLE PESSIMISTIC, JOSEPH.

THE AMERICAN VOTERS LIKE GUTS, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE GOT THEM.

AND IN THREE YEARS, ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BEAT YOU.

YOU KNOW, I IMAGINE THE... VIEW

FROM YOUR LARGELY UNSCRUTINIZED PLACE IN HISTORY

MUST BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MINE.

BUT I'D REMIND YOU, SIR

THAT I HAVE THE FOLLOWING THINGS TO NEGOTIATE:

AN OPPOSITION CONGRESS

A SPECIAL INTEREST WITH POWER BEYOND BELIEF

AND A BITCHY MEDIA.

SO DID HARRY TRUMAN.

WELL, I AM NOT HARRY TRUMAN.

MR. BARTLET, YOU NEEDN'T POINT OUT THAT FACT.

IT'S "DR. BARTLET", YOUR HONOR.

NOW...

LET'S GO START YOUR RETIREMENT.

WANT MY GLOVES?

NO, THANKS.

YOU LOOK PRETTY COLD.

I'M FINE.

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THERE?

THE PRESIDENT AND JUSTICE CROUCH ARE OLD FRIENDS.

THE PRESIDENT AND JUSTICE CROUCH CAN'T STAND EACH OTHER.

THE MAN'S RETIRING TODAY. IT'S A COURTESY CALL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? DINNER AND A MOVIE.

NO. YOU THINK CROUCH IS PISSED

'CAUSE THE PRESIDENT ALREADY SETTLED ON HARRISON?

DANNY... I DID IT AGAIN!

YES. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID?

WHAT? YOU OUTFOXED ME.

YOU'RE KILLING ME, YOU KNOW THAT, DANNY?

HERE WE GO.

THAT WAS INCHES FROM MY HEAD. JOSH...

INCHES. IT WAS NOT INCHES.

IT WAS INCHES-- A LITTLE BIT THIS WAY, A LITTLE BIT THAT WAY...

( snaps finger ): BAM, MASSIVE HEAD WOUND.

YOU'RE FINE.

YEAH, BUT THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD...

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

YES.

I REALLY THINK IF BIG CHUNKS OF THE CEILING

ARE GOING TO FALL DOWN ON ANYONE, I DON'T KNOW...

( inhaling )

WHAT?

IT SHOULD BE YOU.

OH, I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT.

FROM NOW ON, BEFORE I COME IN IN THE MORNING

I WANT YOU TO TEST MY OFFICE.

JOSH...

STAFF IN TEN MINUTES.

YOU SEE THIS? YEAH.

INCHES FROM MY HEAD.

WHY IS PETER LILLIENFIELD HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE?

WHO CARES? I DO.

WHY IS LILLIENFIELD HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE?

I DON'T KNOW. IS HE UNHAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING?

HE'S ALWAYS UNHAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING.

DONNA? WHERE'S MY EAST ASIA MEMO?!

IT STARTS IN TWO MINUTES.

WHAT STARTS IN TWO MINUTES?

LILLIENFIELD'S PRESS CONFERENCE.

( shouts ): THAT'S OKAY, DONNA.

I'LL JUST COME AND GET IT MYSELF.

JOSH? MANDY?

I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE DON'T NEED ANY SURPRISES TODAY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY SURPRISES TODAY.

I'M PUTTING ON A SHOW

AND I DON'T WANT TO GET UPSTAGED.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET UPSTAGED.

HERE.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU SHOULD BE NICE TO ME.

I COULD BE DEAD, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF LUCK.

( television playing )

YEAH?

I'D LIKE YOU

TO PLAY UP THAT, AS A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT

HE CLERKED FOR A REPUBLICAN, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLAY DOWN

THAT HE'S NEVER WRITTEN A JUDICIAL OPINION ON ABORTION

OR REVEALED HIS THINKING ON ROE.

I'M ALREADY THERE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

WHO'S THIS?

LILLIENFIELD'S TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT'S BOTHERING HIM TODAY.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE LESS INTERESTING?

I'LL BE IN MY OFFICE.

OKAY.

Gone are the days of the best and the brightest.

Stained, I believe, are the legacies

of the great White House staffers.

Names like Schlesinger, Sorenson, Rumsfeld

and Persons have been replaced

by a roster of Ivy League liberals

and Hollywood darlings, one in three of who--

one in three--

used drugs on a regular basis.

And in case there should be any confusion about my meaning

I'm not talking about aspirin or decongestants.

Members of my staff will be passing out

the most recent figures.

( dialing ) GET HER.

C.J.?

TELL HIM I'M WATCHING.

...and to ask who exactly is it that's helping lead our country?

Who has the ear of the president...

advising the president?

HE SAID ONE IN THREE

WHITE HOUSE STAFFERS WERE ON DRUGS?

YES. WHERE DOES HE GET THESE STATS?

LEO... I MEAN, WHERE DOES HE PULL THEM FROM?

OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY

BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

IS SOMEBODY BRINGING ME A TAPE ON THIS?

THEY'RE GETTING IT.

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING TO ME.

NOTHING'S HAPPENING. STAY COOL.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR PETER LILLIENFIELD

TO BE A BIGGER JACKASS?

YOU THINK IF HE TRIED HARD THERE'S ROOM FOR HIM

TO BE A SLIGHTLY BIGGER HORSE'S ASS

THAN HE'S BEING NOW?

YOU HIT YOUR HEAD ON THE CEILING.

I THINK THERE'S UNEXPLORED POTENTIAL.

WHAT'S UP?

JOSH?

FIVE WHITE HOUSE STAFFERS IN THE ROOM.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE 1.6 OF YOU

WHO ARE STONED RIGHT NOW THAT IT'S TIME TO SHARE.

Mandy: THIS ISN'T FUNNY, JOSH.

Josh: IF YOU CAN'T LAUGH

AT THIS, YOU'RE JUST NOT HAVING

ENOUGH FUN IN SHOW BUSINESS.

JOSH... HE'S A FEATHERWEIGHT.

HE'S A HAIRDO.

Sam: I THINK IF HE PUT

HIS SHOULDER INTO IT

HE COULD BE A SLIGHTLY BIGGER GASBAG.

YEAH.

IF HE REALLY REACHED FOR THE STARS.

MORNING. THERE WAS NO WAY YOU SAW THIS COMING?

TOBY...

LEO, I KNOW I'M IN YOUR OFFICE-- FORGIVE ME--

( yelling ): BUT NOBODY SAW THIS COMING?

YEAH, I CAN'T BELIEVE MY PSYCHIC DIDN'T TELL ME, TOBY.

REST ASSURED, I'M GOING TO GET MY 20 BUCKS BACK.

SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM?

SHORT-TERM-- NOTHING.

I CAN'T GO WITH NOTHING.

Josh: WHY NOT? PRETEND WE DIDN'T SEE IT?

HE'S A LIAR.

HE'S A FOOL.

CATEGORICALLY DENY IT AND MOVE ON.

SHE CAN'T.

I CAN'T. Josh: WHY NOT?

BECAUSE MORE THAN 1,300 PEOPLE WORK

FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, JOSH.

I GO INTO THE PRESS ROOM

AND CATEGORICALLY DENY ANYONE USES DRUGS

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THREE GUYS IN THE PHOTO LAB

BLEW A JOINT OVER THE WEEKEND

WHICH IS NOT, LIKE, OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS...

YOU CATEGORICALLY DENIED IT.

NOW YOU ADMIT THERE ARE THREE?

WELL, I CATEGORICALLY DENY

THERE ARE ANY MORE THAN THREE.

Mandy: BUT NOW THE ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR

OF WHITE HOUSE BEVERAGES

ALL RIGHT. IS CONFESSING

TO A LIFE AS A CLOSET JUNKIE.

C.J.: AND SHE'S SELLING HER STORY TO RANDOM HOUSE

FOR A MIDDLE-SIX-FIGURE ADVANCE.

ALL RIGHT, ARE WE DONE

WITH MASTERPIECE THEATRE?

C.J....

WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT, OKAY? YEP.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T CARE IF WE SAY THAT

BUT... WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO IT, ARE WE?

YES.

THIS IS A JOKE, RIGHT?

LEO?

YEAH?

TOBY?

YEAH.

C.J., GO DO YOUR BRIEFING.

THE PRESIDENT PAID A COURTESY CALL ON CROUCH THIS MORNING.

WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITING NAMES.

ON THE SHORT LIST IS ED HARRISON.

WE'LL INTRODUCE THE NOMINEE THURSDAY, 5:00.

THIS BUSINESS WITH LILLIENFIELD...

I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.

I'D LIKE THE CHANCE TO SEE IT BEFORE I COMMENT.

IS THE PRESIDENT AWARE?

WE KEEP THESE THINGS OFF THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

UNTIL WE MEASURE WHAT CREDIBILITY...

GOOD GIRL.

TOBY, IF THE ALTERNATIVE IS

GETTING HARRISON BUMPED FROM THE TOP STORY...

WE'RE NOT GOING TO POSTPONE.

LET'S END THIS FAST. HOW?

YOU KNOW HOW? NO, I DON'T.

MANDY... WHAT I AM SAYING IS...

GO BACK TO WORK, MANDY.

NO, HANG ON A SECOND.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT... HEY.

GO BACK TO WORK.

LILLIENFIELD IS WALKING ON OUR STAGE

AND HE'S NOT GOING TO GET OFF UNTIL HE GETS OFF

IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE ARE NOT TAKING DRUG TESTS.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT!

TOBY, LET'S END THIS.

TOBY, IF YOU... SHUT UP.

GO.

SAM, GO BACK TO DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THEY JUST DELIVERED FIVE CARTONS OF HARRISON'S OLD PAPERS.

THEN GO START READING.

TOBY...

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

NOW, WAIT, HANG ON A SECOND.

JOSH... YOU'RE NOT MAKING ME...

I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS COP AROUND HERE.

YES, YOU ARE. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO'S DOING WHAT AROUND HERE

YOU ASK THEM YOURSELF.

THIS ISN'T THE TIME, JOSH.

WE'RE TAKING WATER OVER THE SIDE.

AND I'M NOT INDIFFERENT TO THAT

BUT THERE IS A PRINCIPLE HERE...

NO, THERE'S NOT, NOT THIS WEEK.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS A YEAR.

ALL WE'VE GOTTEN IS A YEAR OLDER.

OUR JOB APPROVAL'S 48% AND I THINK THAT NUMBER'S SOFT

AND I'M TIRED OF BEING THE FIELD CAPTAIN

FOR THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT!

WE'RE GETTING THIS DONE!

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

START WITH ME, IF YOU WANT.

( phone rings )

HELLO?

THIS IS SAM SEABORN.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

I'M NOT A COP.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?

ALL RIGHT, I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY OFFICE

BUT AS SOON AS MY SECRETARY GE...

YOU KNOW WHAT?

HANG ON.

I'M ON MY WAY.

OW.

A QUICK CONFIRMATION'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR US.

RITTER SAYS WE'LL GET UNANIMOUS APPROVAL

OUT OF COMMITTEE AND 90 VOTES IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S A BLOWOUT, LEO... MM-HMM.

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

THANK YOU.

MORNING, MRS. LANDINGHAM.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

Both: GOOD MORNING.

WHEN IS HARRISON GETTING IN?

LATE TONIGHT.

GOOD. MORNING, CHARLIE.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

PEYTON CABOT HARRISON--

FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF CIGARS HE LIKES

WHAT KIND OF PERFUME HIS WIFE LIKES

AND HAVE THEM SENT OVER TO THEIR HOTEL, OKAY?

BACK CHANNELS, SIR?

YEAH.

THEY'LL STAKE THE HOTELS.

GIFTS COMING FROM...

WE'RE USING BACK CHANNELS.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LILLIENFIELD?

YOU'RE STAYING OUT OF IT.

FINE.

ANYTHING ELSE?

WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE, RIGHT?

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

MR. PRESIDENT....

I'M ON MY WAY.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU.

LEO...

YES, SIR?

WE LOOKED AT EVERYBODY, RIGHT?

SIR?

THE SHORT LIST-- WE LOOKED AT MENDOZA?

WE LOOKED AT HIM.

LEO... WE FIXED ON HARRISON.

AW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER. YES, SIR.

( sighs )

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING.

LET'S GO.

MORNING. MORNING.

HANG ON A SECOND.

MORNING.

KEEP YOUR SEATS.

GOOD MORNING.

MORNING.

MORNING, TOBY.

MORNING, SIR. DO THIS FOR ME.

PUT TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION ON ROBERTO MENDOZA.

SIR, TH... IT'S NATURAL TO HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS, BUT...

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW SOMETHING.

THERE'LL BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE LIKE

WE HAD A HISPANIC ON THE SHORT LIST.

WHAT IS IT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, SIR?

THE REASON WE DIDN'T GO WITH HIM.

THE REASON WE DIDN'T, SIR, IS 'CAUSE HARRISON SAID, "YES."

LET'S DO BETTER THAN THAT.

YES, SIR.

OH, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS DRUG THING?

YOU DON'T WANT A PIECE OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL TRUST YOU.

THANKS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

GOOD MORNING, SAM.

TOBY...

HE WANTS ME TO LOOK AT... MENDOZA.

WHAT...?

I GOT A PHONE CALL BEFORE

FROM A GUY WITH SOME INFORMATION.

I JUST PICKED IT UP.

I READ IT ON THE WAY BACK. IT'S NOT GOOD.

IS IT THE DRUGS?

NO.

WHAT IS IT?

IT'S HARRISON.

CLOSE THE DOOR.

EVERY MEMBER OF LAW REVIEW

IS REQUIRED TO PREPARE ONE.

IT'S LIKE AN ARTICLE.

IT'S 40 OR SO PAGES, WELL-RESEARCHED

FOOTNOTED, AND REVISED

WITH FACULTY SUPERVISION, THEN IT'S PUBLISHED.

WITHOUT THE NAMES.

WITHOUT THE NAMES, IT'S A SCHOLARLY WORK.

HOW DO WE KNOW HARRISON...?

WHAT, I'M SUPPOSED TO JUST TRUST "THE GUY ON THE PHONE"?

I SPENT THE LAST THREE MONTHS

READING EVERYTHING HARRISON'S WRITTEN

FROM DECISIONS TO MEMOS TO AMICUS BRIEFS, TOBY.

HE'S THE AUTHOR OF THE UNSIGNED NOTE.

BONNIE.

YEAH?

I'M GOING TO NEED THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES

THE PRESIDENT'S GOT.

YEAH.

HOW DOES LILLIENFIELD GET HIS INFORMATION?

HE'S ON THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY DECIDE

IF WE GET HEAT AND ELECTRICITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO THEY HAVE ACCESS

TO BACKGROUND INFORMATION?

YES.

JOSH? YEAH?

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE

ABOUT INTERVIEWING ME.

I MET YOU, I TALKED TO YOU, I HIRED YOU.

YOU KNOW ANYBODY AROUND HERE WHO USES DRUGS?

YES.

YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHO THEY ARE?

NO. GOOD FOR YOU.

CONSIDER YOURSELF INTERVIEWED.

YOU'RE A GOOD BOY, JOSH.

I'VE SEEN YOUR RECORDS.

YOU NEED TO LEARN THAT "NO PARKING" MEANS "NO PARKING."

THE THING IS, SOMETIMES I CAN'T FIND A SPACE.

GO TO WORK.

WE HAVE EVERYONE TAKE A DRUG TEST

AND BE DONE WITH IT.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK

THAT EVERYONE HERE CAN PASS A DRUG TEST?

THE ONES WHO CAN'T ALREADY KNOW IT

AND WILL QUIETLY RESIGN.

OKAY. PROBLEM SOLVED.

WHAT IS WRONG, IN THIS DAY AND AGE

WITH DEMONSTRATING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS DRUG FREE?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH GIVING PEOPLE THAT COMFORT?

I WOULD THINK THAT, IN THIS DAY AND AGE

PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE

KNOWING THAT THE WILL NOT NOW, NOR WILL THEY EVER BE

FORCED TO TURN OVER EVIDENCE AGAINST THEMSELVES.

AND PLEASE, DO NOT TRY AND PAINT YOUR POSITION

AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN PRESERVATION OF A SPOTLIGHT.

THIS THING GETS BUNGLED

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE MUCH

TO FIND THE SPOTLIGHT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW EITHER.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

WHAT DO I DO?

IT'S TIME TO TALK

TO WHOEVER IT IS YOU TALK TO.

YEAH.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE

THAT WHITE HOUSE STAFFERS REGULARLY USE ILLEGAL DRUGS?

FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ME THE FIRST NINE TIMES

WE ARE LOOKING INTO THIS.

C.J., WOULD YOU FORGIVE A BLUNT QUESTION?

THESE QUESTIONS HAVEN'T BEEN BLUNT YET?

DO YOU USE DRUGS?

NO, AND YOU'RE FORGIVEN.

IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS

SINCE CONGRESSMAN LILLIENFIELD MADE HIS ACCUSATIONS.

WHEN IS THE WHITE HOUSE...?

WE'VE GOT OVER 1,300 PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL, CHRIS.

THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO GATHER

AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE WERE LOADED WITH FREE TIME BEFORE.

AND LET ME JUST ADD THAT

AS NO ONE AND NOTHING HERE HAS BEEN SUBPOENAED

AND AS MR. LILLIENFIELD HAS OFFERED NOTHING

TO SUPPORT HIS VERY BIZARRE CLAIM

WE'RE NOT FEELING A REAL NEED

TO GET THIS DONE IN A HURRY.

THANKS. THAT'S ALL.

SET FIRE TO THE ROOM.

DO IT NOW.

HOW YOU DOING?

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IT WAS A BIT OF A BLUNDER BACK THERE.

IT WAS FINE.

YOU CHALLENGED LILLIENFIELD TO PRESENT EVIDENCE.

HE KNOWS HIS CUE WHEN HE HEARS IT.

I LEFT MY NOTEBOOK SOMEWHERE.

DID YOU REALLY WANT TO BE THE FIRST PERSON

TO USE THE WORD "SUBPOENA"?

IT'S THE ONLY WORD ANYBODY'S GOING TO READ TOMORROW.

I REALLY DON'T NEED YOUR TIPS, DANNY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU DO, C.J.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE.

I'M HERE BECAUSE THE NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS

ARE PLAYING IN TOWN TOMORROW NIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO A BASKETBALL GAME.

NEITHER DO I, SO WE'LL WATCH IT

IN YOUR OFFICE, WHILE I EXPLAIN IT

IN A PATRONIZING MANNER

'CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WOMEN USUALLY LIKE.

THANK YOU ANYWAY.

YOU UNDERSTAND I'LL TALK SLOW

AND EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY A GIRL WOULD APPRECIATE.

DANNY.

YOU GOT A MINUTE?

WALK ME TO MY CAR.

JOSH, THE INFORMATION I GET, I HAVE TO PRINT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION?

NO.

WOULD YOU TELL ME IF YOU DID?

WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION?

YOU KNOW WHAT KIND.

YOU KNOW NO ONE KNOWS WHERE I GOT IT.

WHY ARE YOU ALLOWED TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO HAND OVER ANY INFORMATION I GET?

YOU'RE RIGHT. I KNOW I'M RIGHT.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IT'S NOT MY JOB TO HELP YOU OUT.

I GET FIRED FROM MY JOB FOR HELPING YOU OUT.

I KNOW THAT.

LILLIENFIELD IS A JACKASS

BUT HE'S NOT STUPID.

IF HE'S TALKING, HE'S GOT SOMETHING.

WHAT?

WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S SMALL POTATOES--

JUST ENOUGH TO GET THE ROCK ROLLING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

WHAT'S HE TRYING TO HIT?

I DON'T KNOW.

IS IT THE NOMINATION?

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, TOO

BUT HARRISON'S GOING TO SAIL BY, NO MATTER WHAT.

NO ONE SAID IT'S HARRISON.

YEAH, YEAH. MY POINT IS THIS--

HE'S NOT GOING TO WASTE IT ON A DONE DEAL.

HE'S AFTER SOMETHING BETTER.

OKAY. THANKS.

JOSH, THIS IS ONE

OF THOSE TIMES, MAN.

DON'T SCREW THIS UP.

C.J. LIKES GOLDFISH.

WHAT?

SHE LIKES GOLDFISH.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

THANKS.

YEAH.

President: HERE'S AN INTERESTING STATEMENT.

"I JOIN JUDGE BLACK INSOMUCH AS, WHILE ENJOYING MY PRIVACY

"I AM COMPELLED TO ADMIT

"THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO INVADE IT

"UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED

BY SOME SPECIFIC CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION."

MR. PRESIDENT, THIS PAPER IS, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS

AN ARGUMENT THAT PRIVACY IS NOT A RIGHT

GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

WHY HASN'T THIS EVER BEEN BROUGHT UP?

IT NEVER CAME UP, SIR.

WE SPENT TWO MONTHS VETTING OUR HOME RUN NOMINEE

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN A PRIVACY GUARANTEE

AND IT NEVER CAME UP?

IT WAS SIMPLY NEVER AN ISSUE

IN ANY RULING HE HANDED DOWN.

AND, IF I MAY, SIR, WE DON'T KNOW

FOR SURE THAT HE'S THE AUTHOR OF THE DOCUMENT.

WE DO KNOW.

IF HE IS, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY HOLD

A 55-YEAR-OLD MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING

HE WROTE WHEN HE WAS 26.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE

IF WE PUT HIM ON THE BENCH

WHERE, I PROMISE YOU, THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO COME UP.

WHEN DOES HARRISON GET IN?

LATER TONIGHT.

I WANT HIM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

YES, SIR. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME EITHER OF YOU SLEPT?

I DON'T CARE.

GET READY FOR THIS.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

$17 BILLION ISN'T GOING TO FLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IT'S TOO MUCH AT 13.5.

EXCUSE ME.

GIVE US THE ROOM.

I WANT TO MEET MENDOZA.

YES, SIR.

DOES MENDOZA KNOW WHY HE'S COMING HERE?

HE THINKS HE'S INTERVIEWING FOR A PLACE

ON THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION FOR HISPANIC OPPORTUNITY.

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS THE PRESIDENT'S...?

IT'S THE BEST I COULD DO ON SHORT NOTICE, TOBY.

FINE.

I HAD TO MAKE A LETTERHEAD.

THAT MUST HAVE TAXED

YOUR CONSIDERABLE CREATIVITY.

TOBY.

THAT'S FINE.

FIRST THINGS FIRST.

ARE YOU THE AUTHOR OF THIS UNSIGNED NOTE?

WELL, YES, SIR.

WHEN I WAS 26, I WROTE A PAPER

SUPPORTING THE DEREGULATION OF FAR EAST TRADE BARRIERS.

I NEARLY GOT THROWN OUT

OF THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS.

I WAS YOUNG AND STUPID, AND TRYING TO MAKE SOME NOISE.

YES, SIR.

I'M GOING TO BRING TOBY ZIEGLER AND SAM SEABORN IN HERE

AND TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S FINE, SIR.

OKAY. CHARLIE, PLEASE?

TOBY.

YEAH?

YOU GOT A MINUTE?

THEY'RE ABOUT TO CALL ME IN.

PRIVACY?

WE DON'T KNOW.

HE DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROTECTION?

WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THIS?

NUMBER ONE: I DON'T REPORT TO YOU.

NUMBER TWO: HE WROTE THE PAPER A QUARTER CENTURY AGO.

HE HASN'T CHANGED HIS MIND.

WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S CHANGED HIS MIND.

YOU DON'T CARE WHETHER HE CHANGED HIS MIND OR NOT.

YOU'RE PAINTING A PICTURE FOR THE PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT CAN PAINT HIS OWN PICTURE.

YEAH, BUT HE LISTENS TO YOU.

WHEN DID WE GET THE IDEA THAT HARRISON WAS OUR GUY?

WHEN WE USED TO TALK

IT WAS NEVER HARRISON.

TOBY.

YEAH?

THEY'RE READY FOR YOU.

( knocking on door )

LEO. YEAH?

JOSH WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD A MOMENT.

YEAH.

LEO.

HEY.

I GUESS YOU'RE THE GUY

WITH THE WORST JOB IN THE BUILDING THIS WEEK, HMM?

I WAS INTERROGATING THIS INTERN

FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LIAISON'S OFFICE

AND SHE BROKE DOWN CRYING

WHILE TELLING ME ABOUT A BONG

SHE HAD MADE OUT OF AN EGGPLANT.

YOU CAN DO THAT?

I USED TO USE A POTATO.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN INDUSTRIOUS.

LILLIENFIELD'S NOT AFTER THE KID

IN THAT LIAISON'S OFFICE

AND HE'S NOT EVEN AFTER THE SENIOR STAFF.

YEAH?

LEO, YOU KNOW THAT THE WORST-KEPT SECRET IN WASHINGTON

IS THAT YOU'RE A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC, RIGHT?

I HAD A HUNCH.

LEO, YOU'RE BOSTON IRISH-CATHOLIC.

BACK THERE AND BACK THEN

A DRINKING PROBLEM WASN'T A PROBLEM.

THIS ISN'T WHAT HE'S AFTER.

WERE YOU, MAYBE, INTO SOMETHING

THAT WASN'T SO... ACCEPTABLE?

PILLS.

WERE YOU IN TREATMENT?

SIERRA TUCSON, SIX YEARS AGO.

OH, YEAH.

RECORDS KEPT BY THESE FACILITIES

ARE CONFIDENTIAL, JOSH.

HE'S GOT THEM.

YOU'RE LEO McGARRY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN DOWN BY THIS...

SMALL FRACTION OF A MAN.

I WON'T PERMIT IT.

JUDGES ARE BOUND TO INTERPRET THE CONSTITUTION

WITHIN THE STRICT PARAMETERS OF THE TEXT ITSELF.

THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T PROVIDE FOR A RIGHT OF PRIVACY.

THE RIGHT DOESN'T EXIST.

THE THIRD AMENDMENT SAYS

SOLDIERS CAN'T BE QUARTERED IN PRIVATE HOMES.

THE FIFTH PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION

AND THE FOURTH AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES.

DO YOU DENY THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY LIVES IN THOSE PASSAGES?

NO, I DO NOT DENY IT

BUT THE FACT THAT THE FRAMERS ENUMERATED

THOSE SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS

IS ALL THE MORE REASON TO BELIEVE

THAT THEY HAD NO INTENTION

OF MAKING PRIVACY A DE FACTO RIGHT.

THEY JUST FOUGHT A REVOLUTION.

THEY HAD NO QUESTION OF THEIR FREEDOMS.

THE BILL OF RIGHTS WAS MEANT TO CODIFY

THE MOST CRUCIAL OF THOSE RIGHTS

NOT TO LIMIT THE OTHERS.

I DO THIS FOR A LIVING, MR. SEABORN.

SO DO I, YOUR HONOR.

President: PEYTON, DO I HAVE THE RIGHT

TO PUT ON AN UGLY PLAID JACKET AND A LOUD POLKA-DOT TIE

AND WALK DOWN MAIN STREET?

YES.

AND WHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION IS THAT RIGHT GUARANTEED?

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

WHAT ABOUT THE USE OF CREAM IN MY COFFEE?

SURELY THERE CAN BE NO FREE SPEECH ARGUMENT

TO BE MADE THERE?

NO.

SO YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE STATE

OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSING A LAW

BANNING THE USE OF CREAM IN COFFEE?

I WOULD HAVE STRONG OBJECTION, MR. PRESIDENT

AS I LIKE CREAM AS WELL.

BUT I WOULD HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS

TO STRIKE DOWN THE LAW

WHEN YOU BROUGHT YOUR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

AS I LOSE THE VOTES OF COFFEE DRINKERS EVERYWHERE.

( chuckles )

HEY.

HEY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU WERE RIGHT.

I KNOW.

THE WORD SUBPOENA APPEARS IN THE LEAD

IN EVERY STORY IN THIS MORNING'S PAPERS.

I KNOW. NOT YOURS.

THAT'S 'CAUSE I COULDN'T SPELL IT.

WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING?

IT'S A GOLDFISH. WHY?

IT'S FOR YOU.

REALLY?

JOSH SAID YOU LIKED GOLDFISH.

( laughing )

THE CRACKERS, DANNY.

THE CHEESE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE AT A PARTY?

( laughing ) AH. WELL...

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE

I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT.

THE CRACKERS, DANNY.

WELL, FINE. NOW I GOT A GOLDFISH.

( laughing )

GIVE IT TO ME.

NO, NO, NO. NO, YOU'LL KILL IT.

YOU THINK I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF A GOLDFISH?

I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT.

HER NAME'S GAIL, BY THE WAY.

THE FISH? YEAH.

YOU NAMED IT GAIL?

NO, THE GUY IN THE STORE.

( laughing )

OH... THAT'S...

COME HERE.

THANKS FOR THE FISH.

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME.

( laughing )

IN 1787, THERE WAS A SIZABLE BLOCK OF DELEGATES

WHO WERE INITIALLY OPPOSED TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

THIS IS WHAT A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA DELEGATION

HAD TO SAY BY WAY OF OPPOSITION:

"IF WE LIST A SET OF RIGHTS

"SOME FOOLS IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO CLAIM

"THE PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED ONLY TO THOSE RIGHTS ENUMERATED

AND NO OTHERS."

SO THE FRAMERS KNEW...

WERE YOU JUST CALLING ME A FOOL, MR. SEABORN?

I WASN'T CALLING YOU A FOOL, SIR.

THE BRAND-NEW STATE OF GEORGIA WAS.

GENTLEMEN, LAWS MUST EMANATE FROM THE CONSTITUTION.

THERE ARE NATURAL LAWS, JUDGE.

I DO NOT DENY THERE ARE NATURAL LAWS, MR. ZIEGLER.

I ONLY DENY THAT JUDGES ARE EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE THEM.

THEN WHO WILL?

THAT'S NOT UP TO ME.

AND THIS SIDESHOW IS OVER.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. PRESIDENT

I FIND THIS KIND OF QUESTIONING...

VERY RUDE.

THEN YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO ENJOY MEETING THE U.S. SENATE.

WELL... BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT'S DISGUSTING.

WE ALL KNOW YOU NEED ME AS MUCH I NEED YOU.

I READ THE SAME POLLING INFORMATION YOU DO.

SEVEN TO TEN POINT BUMP

90 VOTES, UNANIMOUS OUT OF COMMITTEE.

I WAS COURTED.

NOW YOU HAVE ME TAKEN TO SCHOOL BY SOME KID.

THAT SAM IS YOUNG DRIVES ME NUTS, TOO

BUT HE TOOK YOU OUT FOR A RIDE, SIR

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I TOLD HIM TO DO.

I AM AN EXTREMELY WELL-CREDENTIALED MAN

MR. PRESIDENT.

AND I AM UNACCUSTOMED TO THIS SORT OF QUESTIONING.

I UNDERSTAND, PEYTON.

COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE TIME, PLEASE?

WE'LL MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING.

CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU.

( door closes )

PUT HIM ON A BUS.

THAT'S A GUARANTEED CONFIRMATION WE'RE SENDING OUT THE DOOR

BASED ON A 30-YEAR-OLD PIECE OF PAPER

WHICH, BY THE WAY, NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW ABOUT BUT US.

YOU DON'T THINK THE GUY THAT CALLED SAM

WOULD KNOW HOW TO CALL A SENATOR'S OFFICE?

MR. PRESIDENT

IF THIS IS ABOUT ABORTION...

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ABORTION.

IT'S ABOUT THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

'20s AND '30s, IT WAS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

'50s AND '60s, IT WAS CIVIL RIGHTS.

THE NEXT TWO DECADES ARE GOING TO BE PRIVACY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE INTERNET.

I'M TALKING ABOUT CELL PHONES.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HEALTH RECORDS

AND WHO'S GAY AND WHO'S NOT.

AND MOREOVER, IN A COUNTRY BORN OF THE WILL TO BE FREE

WHAT COULD BE MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN THIS?

TOBY?

LET'S MEET MENDOZA.

( knocking )

THEY'RE MEETING WITH MENDOZA.

YEAH.

YEAH.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO KILL MYSELF NOW.

YOU THINK MENDOZA WOULD BE A BAD JUSTICE?

I THINK MENDOZA WOULD MAKE A GREAT JUSTICE.

I THINK HE MAKES A LOUSY NOMINEE. WHY?

HE'S RULED IN FAVOR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES...

HE DIDN'T RULE IN FAVOR OF IT, MANDY.

HE'S NOT RECOMMENDING IT.

HE RULED THAT THE STATE HAS NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH IT.

HE'S GOT THE BROADEST POSSIBLE INTERPRETATION FOR FREE SPEECH...

AND LISTENING TO YOU SOMETIMES

I WISH HE'D NARROW IT SOME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON.

I'M THE ONE WHO HAS TO SELL THIS

AND HE IS NOT EXACTLY AMERICA'S IDEA OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

LET'S DO A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON.

HARRISON WENT TO WALNUT PARK COUNTRY DAY

PHILLIPS-EXETER AND PRINCETON UNDERGRAD

AND HARVARD LAW.

MENDOZA ATTENDED P.S. 138 IN BROOKLYN

CITY UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK

AND THE NEW YORK POLICE ACADEMY.

HARRISON CLERKED FOR WARREN BURGER.

MENDOZA...

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, '65 TO '76

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BROOKLYN, '76 TO '80.

ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY, EASTERN DISTRICT

FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE...

BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

MENDOZA WENT TO LAW SCHOOL THE HARD WAY.

HE GOT SHOT IN THE LEG

AND WHEN THEY OFFERED HIM 100 PERCENT DISPENSATION

HE TOOK A DESK JOB INSTEAD AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT NIGHT.

HE IS BRILLIANT, DECISIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND EXPERIENCED

AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT HE'S AMERICA'S IDEA OF A JURIST

THEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN AMERICANS.

IT'S NOT AMERICANS I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN, JOSH.

IT'S THE WHITE HOUSE SENIOR STAFF.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY ONE.

AND IF ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE OVER LILLIENFIELD

IT COULD HONESTLY CRIPPLE US FOR A YEAR, MAYBE MORE.

( sighs )

WELL, I MEAN, JUST THE LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS SAYS

WE GOT TO WIN ONE ONE OF THESE DAYS, RIGHT?

YEAH.

SO LET'S MAKE IT A GOOD ONE.

I STILL HATE YOU.

WHATEVER.

WHO WAS THAT?

ROBERTO MENDOZA.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO STAY HERE.

THE PRESIDENT ASKED ME TO STAY WITH YOU

IN CASE YOU NEEDED ANYTHING.

I'D BE GLAD TO STAY OUTSIDE IF YOU PREFER.

YES, THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE ANYTHING?

COFFEE, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

YOU LOOK VERY FAMILIAR.

IS IT POSSIBLE WE'VE MET?

I CADDIED FOR THREE SUMMERS AT SANDY HOOK, SIR.

OF COURSE.

CHARLIE YOUNG.

CHARLIE, OF COURSE.

I'LL GET YOUR COFFEE.

( door closes )

JUDGE MENDOZA, I HAVE A NOTE THAT YOUR RULINGS

HAVE BEEN UPHELD BY THE COURT OF APPEALS

MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT JUDGE IN THE COUNTRY.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT COMES

FROM BEING RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME, I GUESS.

( President chuckling )

YOU NEED ME, LEO?

FOR JUST A MOMENT, SIR.

WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME, PLEASE?

CERTAINLY.

MR. PRESIDENT...

WHAT IS IT, LEO?

THERE'S GOING TO BE TROUBLE.

LILLIENFIELD?

YES, SIR.

HE KNOWS?

WE THINK SO.

WE?

JOSH HAS IT.

WHAT DOES JOSH SAY?

GET THROUGH IT.

JOSH IS A SMART GUY.

NO, SIR. JOSH IS A YOUNG GUY.

WE USED TO BE, TOO.

MR. PRESIDENT...

DID YOU HAVE A DRINK YESTERDAY?

NO, SIR.

ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE ONE TODAY?

NO, SIR.

THAT'S ALL YOU EVER HAVE TO SAY TO ME.

YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS VERY HARD FOR A WHILE.

YOU FOUGHT IN A WAR.

YOU GOT ME ELECTED, AND YOU RUN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK WE ALL OWE YOU ONE, DON'T YOU?

MR. PRESIDENT.

DID HARRISON GET OFF OKAY?

YES, SIR.

THERE'S A BIT OF A CROWD BUILDING UP OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE.

WHY?

I THINK WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE, SIR.

I'LL BET IT HAS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, SAM?

NO, SIR. I HAVE ONE, SIR.

LET ME SAY THIS IS NOT AN EASY COMMISSION TO GET APPOINTED TO.

JUDGE, WITHOUT KNOWING DETAILS

OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY OF SOMEONE BEING FIRED

FOR REFUSING TO TAKE A DRUG TEST

AT THE ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT?

WITHOUT DETAILS OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

YES, SIR.

WITHOUT SHOWING CAUSE

I WOULD SAY THAT THE ORDER CONSTITUTES AN ILLEGAL SEARCH

AND I WOULD ORDER THAT THE EMPLOYEE BE REINSTATED.

TOBY?

SOLD.

JUDGE MENDOZA, WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU

TO LEARN THAT FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS

YOUR NAME HAS BEEN ON THE SHORT LIST OF CANDIDATES

FOR THE BENCH?

YES, MR. PRESIDENT.

WELL, THEN, THIS IS GOING TO KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF.

TOMORROW EVENING AT 5:00

I AM NAMING YOU AS MY NOMINEE TO BE

THE NEXT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE

OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

YOU WERE NOT THE FIRST CHOICE

BUT YOU ARE THE LAST ONE

AND THE RIGHT ONE.

WILL YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION?

WITH HONOR.

GOOD.

THANK YOU.

SAM AND TOBY WILL BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR CONFIRMATION.

CONGRATULATIONS, JUDGE. THANK YOU.

IT WILL BE AN EXCRUCIATING BATTLE, MR. JUSTICE

BUT ONE I HAVE NO INTENTION OF LOSING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, LEO? YOU UP FOR A GOOD FIGHT?

I BELIEVE I HAVE ONE IN ME. YES, SIR.

GOOD.

LET THE GOOD FIGHT BEGIN.

MR. JUSTICE MENDOZA!

( applause and cheering )