Original subtitles

Previously on The West Wing:

It's my anniversary.

And of what?

The anniversary of my divorce.

I didn't know you'd been married.

A couple times.

Leo's gone. Josh has one foot out the door.

It's you and I. We're going to have to run this thing.

We're not getting a dime's worth of coverage of politics and eggs

of our get tough on Pakistan...

Press loves an underdog.

It's sketch comedy.

It's fun. It's feisty.

It'll get us on the news.

It's cheap.

You can't skip out

with the President lying flat on his back.

Seven years, you're gonna leave us

with a Candygram and a get-well card?

Someone's got to think about the ninth year.

( people chatting )

( whispers to himself )

MAN: What can I get you?

WOMAN: Uh, glass of red, whatever's open.

( liquid pouring )

Thanks.

We have to stop meeting like this.

People will talk.

I'd offer to make an honest woman of you,

but you'd tire of me,

and then I'd be left with nothing but my knitting.

You knit?

I don't.

So I'd be left with nothing at all.

( chuckles )

What happened to your face?

SANTOS: * Alison

NED: Boston Globe.

* I know this world is killing you. *

Fourth paragraph.

Oh, sorry, third paragraph.

"Congressman Matthew Santos emerged from the pack

"with a healthy 19% of the New Hampshire primary votes.

"Even more impressive than his unexpected vault

"into third place, was his considered candor

that he brought to the stage in last week's debate."

The Post called it "shrewd certitude."

They love you.

Today. Ignore him.

Josh, we got 11 major newspapers here tooting our horn.

You gotta open your arms, feel the love.

I feel it, sir, I feel very warm.

He's pissed 'cause Dave Pemberton at Slate wrote about Rafferty.

As did Chris Latham.

Latham and Pemberton are opinion-makers.

Alison Wexler at Newsweek, she's an opinion-maker.

She's pretty enthusiastic about the Santos for President idea.

She's good, but she's...

* Alison...

Latham and Pemberton both wrote about Senator Rafferty's speech.

They write about it now.

Everyone who can spell is writing about it next week.

Rafferty got into the race five minutes ago.

* Alison...

New Hampshire was a coup for us, you're the Cinderella story.

Everybody should be writing about you.

* My aim is true...

There's only room for one scrappy insurgent. We're it.

* My aim is true...

You're not gonna kiss me, are you?

NED: See you at the airport.

Ronna, find me a copy of the damn Rafferty speech.

* My aim is true.

Hey, there. I didn't know you were back today.

Yeah, I'm back.

How are you doing?

Did Brower send us something on Head Start?

Uh, no.

I mean Doug Wallace. Not Brower.

I spoke to him about it.

You want me to call somebody?

Huh? Uh, no. I'll do it.

You know, I'm joining you today in the Oval.

C.J.: Margaret, I need a copy of the Western Water Program.

And I had a blue binder marked "EPA."

Whoo! Oh, God.

Oh, God. Oh...

How about this one?

Penne with red sauce.

This?

Vodka with cranberry.

You're supposed to tell me when you're out

so I can go to the dry cleaners.

You're my assistant, not my wife.

It'll be much less noticeable when it's dry.

( blows )

Hug the binder.

Interior's released the draft

of the Western Water Program with your revisions.

We're going wide early.

Hopefully we get an alliance

behind it before it hits Congress.

They up the numbers at all?

40 million's the best we can do.

I may need a hand on this.

If anybody has any comments on

the Energy Trust Fund summary, today's the day.

TOBY: I thought it already went to the floor.

Almost. Josh was handling it.

We lost some momentum when he stepped out.

Chronic problem, that.

Did Josh drop it or did he give it to somebody or...?

Oh! God.

Hmm?

Nothing. Hi... Hi.

Is this a good time?

Yes. Annabeth's here to discuss the DNC Gala tonight.

And we're delighted to have you. Thank you.

Every Democratic contender will be in town for this event--

including all their staffers.

They're all gonna want a piece of you.

So if I see one coming I, what, duck under a table?

Over the top, but we're in the right area.

I'm not avoiding my former Deputy Chief of Staff.

He's going to ask you for a favor, you're going to say no

and then you're going to feel bad.

No favor, just small talk.

Could you give me that, C.J.?

Every sitting president goes through this.

It's a time-honored annoyance, sir.

Let's just navigate through it as gracefully as possible.

Thank you all.

Toby?

Yes, sir.

I believe this is yours.

PRESIDENT: You doing okay?

Yes, sir, thank you.

My sister-in-law was very moved by the letter.

She wanted me to tell you how much she appreciated it.

You should take as much time as you need.

I prefer to be back at work. Thank you, sir.

You're not gonna tell me what happened?

I cut myself shaving.

Hmm. With a machete?

Very few people guess that, but it is, in fact, the case.

You should get a Band-Aid...

some ointment.

I'll look into that.

Never call a woman and say "we have to talk." It's not nice.

Duly noted.

You don't smoke, do you?

Me? No. The occasional cigar. Not cigarettes.

Yeah. Me neither.

You sell cigarettes here?

This lack of Josh is becoming a problem.

You thinking about a replacement?

I've been working under the assumption we'd get him back.

Never thought Santos was going to hang on this long.

19% percent in New Hampshire; maybe he's a contender?

The Water Program. Yes.

We're trying to sort out a three-way war

between cities, farmers, and environmentalists

all trying to get their hands on

every last drop of the Colorado River.

LEO: There's less to go around than everybody thought.

I've got lobbyists from each of the three groups

coming in today. What time?

10:00's the first-- Urban Development Lobby.

Who's their guy? Cliff Calley.

No wonder you want flank support.

Annabeth, try not to worry too much about the DNC thing tonight.

Russell's going to win the nomination.

The President's going to endorse him.

A photo at the gala's not going to tip the balance.

The President's not quietly plugging for someone else?

He really isn't.

Greg Brock thinks he is.

He came in this morning

and he didn't sound like a man with a hunch.

Give him a call, tell him the Principal wants to see him.

Uh, Diplomatic mission to Mali.

Bali? Mali, with an M.

Not Bali with a high? No.

I thought maybe you had a cold.

Margaret, cancel my lunch.

What happened to your boob?

Really?

Chairman of Foreign Ops is holding a planning session

for the diplomatic mission to Mali.

I'll be there, but it'd be great to have somebody from your end.

Oh, sorry.

No, come in. Help her organize Mali.

Up on the Hill this afternoon.

Did Toby give you his changes on the remarks to the F.O.P.?

No, he didn't.

You don't have them yet? No.

Ask him again.

Make sure he knows it's this week.

State and Foreign Ops has been working with USAID

on what they're calling "high impact health services" for Mali.

This trip's a sort of a kick-off.

They're focusing on HIV?

That and child immunization.

Look through that stuff,

let me know if you have any questions.

You have any interest in being fixed up?

Not the kind of question I was referring to.

There's a guy at the gym, he asked me

if you were seeing anyone. Guess you're famous.

( phone ringing )

What guy?

I don't know his name.

Seriously?

We have mutual friends.

I played a pick-up game with him about two years ago,

we were introduced at the time,

but now I see him around the machines at the gym

and it's all "Hey, man, how you doing?"

And it's two years later, I can't ask him his name, it's rude.

And he asked you to fix me up with him?

Asked if you were seeing anyone.

We were a couple guys talking at the gym.

We keep the sentences short.

This is... No. You should talk

about something else at the gym.

I got most of it... club soda and salt.

That's great.

It's wet though. Yes.

You want to go with the binder again.

It didn't work so well the first time.

Here.

Are you sure?

Of course.

Can I lose the pin?

It was my aunt's, she's no longer with us.

Well, you should wear it.

It's covering a hole.

You ready?

Are you sure we shouldn't have pulled Toby in for this?

For Noah Buckley you want a whole phalanx?

He de-pantsed us on the Clean Air Bill single-handedly.

He's a lobbyist now; he's out to build bridges.

He's slippery.

MARGARET: Greg Brock's here. I'll meet you in the Mural.

She send you to her tailor?

BROCK: Morning.

Hi, pookie.

I hear you think the President picked a horse.

I think he's done more than that.

I think he's channeling support. But what do I know?

Well, I know a tremendous amount for a woman of my years

and I can tell you

the President supports all the Democratic candidates

and plans to remain neutral until after the primary process.

What if he did-- hypothetically?

Back a candidate now?

Hypothetically.

Congress would go through the roof.

Anything the President tried to do in the next five months,

they'd decimate because support of it

would appear to be support of a candidate

that half the Democrats and all the Republicans despise.

And it would bring his entire agenda for the last year

to a screeching halt.

So if that, hypothetically, was what was happening,

he probably wouldn't tell anybody.

He probably wouldn't even tell you.

Wish I'd have been there.

Would have been awkward.

Would have stood in the back, kept my head down.

There must have been a large NASA contingent.

His wife didn't want that.

Mmm.

If you didn't do what you do, what would you do?

Um, medicine, probably.

No, that's a lie.

I'd grow apples.

I'd run an apple orchard and cider mill,

and I'd be fat as all get out.

Sometimes I think what if I was at UNICEF or United Way,

pilling together the AIDS fight,

or back in New York turning the public school system around,

would that be a more effective use of my 24 hours?

But not this.

Not pushing on the ocean.

Hmm.

Cliff, good to see you.

C.J. Cregg, with the snazzy promotion.

I don't know if I bow or kiss the ring.

What's the protocol?

Stand when I sit, sit when I stand,

"yes" my every question.

You see this kid's suit?

You like?

I do. Where'd you get...?

I'll tell you where. I have a guy...

Gentlemen? Sorry.

Your suit's nice, too.

You've had a chance to look over the proposal?

Is it going to get a new name?

The Water Program? A little on the nose, no?

You've got a better idea?

Water, Water, Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink?

Mm, we'll think about it.

I'm guessing you have other issues, so why don't we...

Hang on...

Oh, man. I just had a deja vu.

Wow.

Sorry. Go ahead.

We're trying to circumnavigate as much as we can, early on,

so let's talk about what else you're worried...

That's not necessary.

The name's your only problem?

No, no, I don't like any of it;

I don't think it's gonna work out;

but I really don't like the name.

Admittedly, it's not so much

a solution as a beginning,

but it's a good first step.

Yeah. It isn't.

It's a Band-Aid

that'll give the federal government

permission to ignore drought conditions

in 11 states for another five years.

We're not getting anywhere near it.

Where'd you get the pin?

From a dead woman. Can we...?

The Drought Program.

That's a good name.

Conservation measures are...

The Drought Plan. Yeah.

Because you've created a plan that will extend the drought.

Put a star next to that one.

It's not a drought.

far less than average annual rainfall, but we're not.

We're dealing with 58 million people wrestling over

one river's water, based on calculations

taken in what we now know were 20 flood years.

The party's over; I'm asking you to work with us.

Hey, I hear you. I hear your frustration. Cliff.

Congress won't touch it.

Even if I thought more of it than I do,

which is little,

the New Mexico delegation can't vote for it

'cause it makes them look too pro-EPA.

Sylbie in Colorado can't vote for it

'cause it makes him look too anti-EPA.

The California Central Valley folks can't support it

because any funding they get from it'll be deducted

from the 42 million they're already getting from the EPA

for pollution management.

Collins might vote for it just to piss off Sylbie,

but I wouldn't stake my morning on

anything Hugh Collins might do.

He's a bit of a tippler.

Why'd you come in here if you weren't prepared to play ball?

My niece loves those little M&M's

with the Seal of the President on 'em.

She takes 'em to school,

gets a lot of attention.

You got any of those lying around?

Sorry, Mr. Lyman. This'll just take a minute.

No problem, Larry. No problem at all.

Take your time. Nothing going on today.

Just trying to win primaries. No biggie.

Nope.

You're not serious.

Toby!

Hey, Toby!

Sign me in!

Margaret, it's Josh. They won't let me in.

MARGARET: C.J. had to cancel your lunch, so I killed the pass.

Didn't get the message?

Yeah, I'm fine about the lunch.

Just coming in to say hello, hang out for a bit.

I've got meetings on the Hill all afternoon.

MARGARET: They really frown on the hanging out.

You know what? Let me in!

Hi.

Hey. How's it going?

DONNA: Good. Good flight?

Yeah. It was great.

Margaret, let me in the door.

KATE: This is the contact list

for everyone involved with the trip.

You'll want to touch base. Now?

Not right now. Let's talk about the guy.

I thought I was done with that.

What's he look like? Like a white guy.

Like a pasty white guy? He's Brad Pitt.

He's Henry Kissinger. Stop it.

Hi. Hey.

I need Charlie. We're working.

I heard "Brad Pitt." You're not working.

Talk to me about the announcement for the Family Leave Expansion.

The VP wants to come.

Hello... Am I interrupting?

You were in New Hampshire, right?

I was. That was nice.

You'll call me about the announcement? Yeah.

U.S. Ambassador to Mali and the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

are gonna want copies of whatever we come up with this afternoon.

No problem. Just tell me: tall or short.

He's a good-looking guy, he's smart,

he's got a job, he's not a jerk.

I don't know his favorite color or his sign,

but he's got all his teeth and almost all his hair, so...

Almost?! How much is almost?

He's got a high forehead.

This is a bad idea. This is a bad idea.

Look at this woman.

Hello, pumpkin.

She's a vision.

I heard Security didn't want to let you in.

New guy.

I heard it was Larry.

How you doing?

Good. A little back pain.

Sorry to hear that.

I'm thinking of shiatsu.

That's great stuff.

Yeah, that's what they say.

You're not letting me in there, are you.

Not a chance.

M&M's bearing the Seal of the President.

This from a grown man.

You got any?

What?

The M&M's. I'm a little peckish.

Thank you.

We've got the agriculture lobby in an hour.

This better not happen with them.

It won't. We'll get agriculture on board;

we'll do some hand-holding on the Hill;

we'll put it together without him.

Who behaves like that?

It's unprofessional.

Yet terribly effective.

You ought to have a conversation with him.

I'm happy picking up the loose ends,

but Josh Lyman left a big hole in this place.

Maybe he's coming back, maybe he isn't.

You want me to hire Cliff Calley?!

He knows the Hill; he knows what he's talking about.

You're talking about a guy

who used to work for Congressional Republicans.

I'm talking about a guy who shut down an investigation

of my substance abuse history

because he thought maybe we should be governing the country.

It's a Republican Congress.

Not the worst thing in the world

to have someone with relationships on both sides of the aisle.

No. He's the wrong choice

and he's irritating and he's obnoxious.

That's worked for us in the past.

JOSH: Here's the part where,

in deference to my years of service,

you suspend, for a moment,

the Teutonic allegiance to protocol

and shift thyself out of my way!

Josh Lyman to see you.

Was this place such a killjoy when I worked here

or have the Brownshirts taken over?

You're vibrating.

I feel that. Thanks.

JOSH: Yes.

No!

I am in town for one day!

Tell him he reschedules this thing again,

I'm gonna tear off his head

and fashion his skull into a decorative

fruit bowl!

Debbie! Will!

How goes it?

Little bit of back pain,

were I to tell the truth.

I'm sorry to hear that. Thinking about yoga.

Hear it does wonders.

You can't see him.

Five minutes. Two?

Write a letter.

You should be stuck in double lotus... with an itch.

DEBORAH: Good to see you.

CHARLIE: Is it time for the meeting already?

Uh, not quite.

I just wanted to make sure you were clear

on how the committee was funding the trip.

It's complicated, so, if you want to talk through it...

It's really not. Bring him on. The guy.

You sure? Yeah.

I'm ready to get off the bench.

In the game. Like that.

I'll put him on the list for the gala tonight.

He'll know a bunch of people there;

you won't have to entertain him.

Who's he gonna know?

Jimmy Hatch, Howard Kagan.

He works for the government?

It's DC. He's not the only one.

I just thought maybe he was a regular person. Sorry.

You really don't want to roll out of bed

with drool on your face and a little bit of a hangover,

and change your drawers in the car

and show up at the office only to find

last night's strategic error in your 9:00 a.m. strategic planning session.

Tell me I'm not having this conversation.

( heavy sigh )

Invite him to the party.

JOSH: You see the Republican side?

LEO: Arnie Vinick. Clean sweep.

Don't panic.

He could get malaria; race is wide open again.

Am I seeing things or is she...?

Very.

Wow. I didn't know she was pregnant.

LEO: She's pregnant.

I didn't even know she was married.

How is the President doing?

Not terrible.

He gets tired and pretends he isn't.

His legs hurt and he pretends they don't.

We're still figuring it all out.

Yeah. What's up with Toby?

I saw him in the hall...

acting like a guy who owed me money.

C.J.: He's been out of it since the funeral.

What funeral?

David.

His brother?!

He died?!

Tuesday.

He was sick; he went downhill pretty fast.

Yeah, I knew he was sick, I, uh...

I talked to Toby last week.

Why wouldn't he say anything?

Oh... I feel awful.

I would've gone.

None of us did.

They didn't want a whole to-do.

I'm, I'm gonna go... Yeah. Yeah.

Hey,

you think we can put together

a water deal without the urban development lobby on board?

Out West?

I don't know.

You're gonna get resistance in New Mexico

and from Sylbie out of Colorado.

You may get the California Central Valley guys on board,

but you'd have to make it

a pretty sweet deal.

They're getting a nice boost from the EPA now.

They're not gonna walk away from that without a big carrot.

Stop it.

DONNA: It's good to see you.

It is. How are you doing?

Ah, a little back pain.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Thinking about heroin. Really.

Will's not getting in. Don't make me repeat it.

How go the wars?

I just heard about David.

Man, I am so sorry.

Thanks.

Why didn't you call me?

What happened with the Energy Trust Fund?

It just got dropped.

Screw the Energy Trust Fund.

I wish I could've been at the...

The Mental Health Commission.

You dropped a bunch of stuff and walked away.

It all got handed off.

( mutters quietly )

I gotta...

Yeah.

( cell phone ringing )

Hang on one second.

I got a 12:00 conference call

and a 2:00 on the Hill.

You want to get some food in between?

Can't today.

TOBY: A lot of people I know are working on these campaigns.

You're all in the same boat,

you're soldiers in the same war,

and then, all of a sudden, the borders shift

and every word you say

and every soda you drink has loyalty connotations.

Could be campaigns,

could be you're not ready to talk to anybody yet.

I don't have a problem talking to anybody.

You don't.

I don't have a problem talking to you.

I'm special.

Yes, you are.

You think we rushed into this?

Maybe.

Mm.

You sorry that we did?

I'm not, actually.

Doesn't mean we didn't rush into it.

No, no, no, call 'em back,

talk to Elise Baine, tell her they're not

bumping us for Ricky Rafferty.

Hang up. Tell her the congressman is available tomorrow only.

Rafferty can wait. Hang up now.

Keep your pants on.

Call me back.

I'm gonna put a hit out on Ricky Rafferty.

I need to talk to you-- not with a million people around.

JOSH: Is our relationship about to change?

Rafferty put out the full text of the health plan.

Annabeth had a copy. Look at page three.

"...obliterate the money-laundering

middleman between you and your doctor."

Why didn't every article lead with this?

It wasn't in the first speech.

They released the whole plan today--

guarantees them another three days of coverage.

Look how it's structured.

It's structured like Jed Bartlet structured it

before we forced him to cut it out of his plan.

Rafferty's got to have someone who worked

on the President's first health care initiative.

That was you, Toby, Sam, Melanie, Ken.

You missed one.

No. Who'd I miss?

The President.

You got a second?

Has the President sat down

with Senator Rafferty? Josh.

Lunch? Casual?

Absolutely not.

Maybe he's not sure Russell's representing

core Democratic values, thinks a spoiler

might nudge the debate in an interesting direction. The President

plans to endorse whoever gets his party's nomination.

We assume that will be the Vice President.

I'm sorry he's not prepared to back your candidate,

but he's most certainly not backing

Ricky Rafferty. I can just see

where this Rafferty thing is heading.

Four weeks of articles about single-payer health care,

and it all reads like vintage Bartlet.

You know, the President's not the first guy on the planet

to try and phase out insurance companies.

Though he was a little obsessed with it.

I thought you were gonna burst a blood vessel

trying to talk him and Toby off that one.

I got to go make nice with a bunch of lobbyists

from the over-subsidized agribusiness conglomerates.

Focus on South Carolina--Rafferty'll flame out.

Hey, do you have any thoughts about Russell's package...

packaging? If this is

a "solicit my opinion so I feel important

before you ask for a favor," Donna's already been here

and the VP cannot join the President

at the Fraternal Order of Police on Thursday.

It's not about the FOP-- I'm grooming a man

for the highest office in the land,

I'm looking to perfect the image,

and they say you're good at that.

They do? Yes.

These people?

Are you okay?

I'm fine. I have something in my contact lens.

You're wearing glasses.

Sorry.

Did I say something?

No, no, it's not you.

It's just... ( sniffles )

you know, you work somewhere, and your perspective

and your realm of experience

is different from that of everyone around you,

and... it's busy.

people don't have time to pat each other on the back,

and I don't want that,

but, gosh, it's just nice to hear that...

they think I'm good.

Sorry.

I can come back later.

No. The boots are over, the haircut was hasty,

and in the debates, he seems too interested

in what the other candidates are saying.

His S's are slushy, his A's are flat,

he exhales too loud and inhales too often.

But it's nothing...

nothing that can't be fixed.

And I'm honored, really honored that you asked.

Cliff Calley. Thank you.

I was summoned?

You were. Sit.

Heel. Excuse me?

Just seeing if it worked both ways-- it doesn't.

Do you have any interest in leaving the private sector?

Are you offering me a job?

I'm gauging your interest.

In a White House job.

Don't make me think about it too hard.

Okay. Wow!

No, thanks.

What?

It's a temp job-- any job in this White House--

and a low-paying one at that, but wow.

A temp job? I can't believe

I didn't bring my little tape recorder.

I could've played this for my mom.

This is all for the best, because it was

a terrible idea in the first place.

Leo McGarry thought you were a bridge builder,

but you're a hack who works for a bunch

of cookie-cutter condo builders and hotel magnates.

I don't know how you sleep at night.

Ativan. I met with a herd of lobbyists on this

water deal today-- you're the only one who wouldn't budge an inch.

Let's talk about your agribusiness monsters

who are siphoning 90% of the Colorado River

into the irrigation of California rice and alfalfa.

This country is most secure when it is its own food source.

Grow food, fine-- it's a desert, they're growing monsoon crops.

I don't need you on this project. You're right,

because I could jump in, and you still wouldn't get a deal,

because the Senate'll love it and the House won't touch it.

I'm the only one who'll tell you to your face.

Let me thank you for your honesty and for

your service to the American people.

Okay, you want to know how I sleep at night?

There's a drought in Kenya.

There's a drought in Zambia.

There's a drought in India and Pakistan

and Ecuador and Paraguay, and there's a drought

in Malawi and Uganda and Australia.

We're the only nation on the planet that can afford

the $10 billion investment it'll take to perfect

desalination technology, and the federal government's

never gonna make that investment unless they're forced to,

because there's a major national water crisis,

and they're taking heat from cookie-cutter condo builders

and hotel magnates!

Get out of my office.

Nice.

Immigration bill's

getting gutted in Committee.

You see Rafferty's health care plan?

Yeah. Who was your point person on immigration?

"Obliterate the money-laundering middleman

between you and your doctor"-- does it bother you,

someone stealing your stuff, does that...

trouble you at all?

It doesn't. It would.

You're not a good sharer.

Only way it doesn't bother you

is if you handed it to him yourself.

Shut the door. Ricky Rafferty?

Are you out of your mind?

I've just eked out a lead,

my guy's the friggin' little engine that could--

what do you think you're doing?

I don't know, I thought maybe

there should be somebody in the field

who talks like a Democrat.

You wasted the opportunity, you and your garage sale find.

My what? Ethanol pledge?

I'm trying to win a race here.

Matthew Santos isn't gonna win anything.

All you've got is a chance to shape

the debate, strengthen the party, and you blew it.

You ran to the center

for a stinkin' 19%

in New Hampshire?!

You're not supposed to be trying to win anything.

You don't have the man.

You think I left the White House to shape the debate?

Somebody's got to. This is your contribution

to the soul of the party?

The world needed another

going-nowhere health care plan?

The world needed to be presented

with at least one useful idea.

Now every viable candidate has to waste airtime

on why they do or don't support socialized medicine.

There's a profit-generating industry

leeching the life out of this country's health care!

You got something better you want to talk about?

You're dragging the entire field to the left!

Good! You could have fed me ideas,

you don't like the way I'm running this thing.

Yeah? How. How? Telephone.

How? What are we talking ab...

You didn't ask me. Why the hell

didn't you come to me before you picked Santos?!

You have any idea how strong a force we would've been

had we taken on a candidate together?

I'm asking you now.

Yeah, well, no.

That's it? That's your answer?

Yeah, that's my answer.

You are a selfish, petty... Get out.

waste of the oxygen in the air

that useful people could be... Get out!

You get out, you selfish son of a bitch!

TOBY: My brother and I used to collect pennies.

Pick them up off the street

and put them in a... in an old whiskey bottle

we swiped from my old man.

Every few months or so, we'd go to the bank...

to get these paper things,

the tubes to make rolls of change.

My brother said never walk down the street

without a roll of pennies in your pocket.

'Cause you belt a guy with a...

roll of pennies in your fist, you do some damage.

Get out!

Get out!

( panting )

( stifled crying )

Oh, good. Can you ask Charlie to get me some background

on desalination technology when he gets back from the Hill?

What?

( knocking )

( loud crunching )

Maybe you should take a week,

go back to New York. I don't want a week.

You don't have to want it.

I'm just not sure you're doing yourself any good here right now.

I'll be fine.

I'm not sure you're doing us

any good here right now.

There are some things falling through the cracks.

What? Little stupid stuff.

Remarks to the Fraternal Order of Police,

which I care about not at all.

I'm happy to take it off your plate.

You just need to tell me.

No, I'll do it.

You will?

How are David's kids doing?

Just... just great.

If that's where you should be, there's nothing,

nothing more important.

I'm aware of what's important in this landscape, thanks.

When you... lose somebody like that,

that young and healthy

and gone to some senseless cancer...

Can we not do this, please? Give yourself

some time to sit with his kids and look at his picture.

I don't want to look at his picture.

He did this.

He did this.

You understand?

He sat in the...

garage with the engine running.

( crying )

He was sick. No.

He was diagnosed.

He could've had years.

But instead this. His wife finds him.

What if one of his kids had...

He just dropped everything and walked away.

It's Jewish tradition that you don't leave

the body alone before the funeral.

Someone... stays and guards it.

And I sat in that room for hours, watching him.

Trying to figure out what was...

what could have...

gone through his brain.

( crying )

I'm not interested in looking at his picture.

( sighs )

( sniffles )

You want some water?

No.

Scotch?

( laughs, sniffles )

No.

You want me to go?

( whispers ): No.

You stopped.

Huh?

You were about to answer my question--

How'd he die?

Cancer.

They're not so good with details.

Yeah.

Could call your friends at DOD,

find out the guy's name?

I'll figure it out before you meet him. Don't worry.

I just want to get some info.

Know what I'm getting myself into.

You do an NSC background check before every date?

No wonder it's been slow.

I'm not gonna do a background check.

I'm just wanna poke around a little at DOD.

He doesn't work at DOD.

You said he worked with Kagan and Hatch.

He plays ball with them. He works at State.

What desk?

Somewhere in South America. Maybe Paraguay.

Uruguay? Yes.

Red hair? Yeah.

Dick Van Dyke nose? You know him?

Used to be married to him.

"Is Kate Harper seeing anyone?"

I misunderstood the initial inquiry, didn't I?

( knocking )

LEO: Since when do you wear specs?

I don't.

Somebody leave 'em?

Yeah.

They're not mine, are they?

I don't think so. I lost a pair.

They're not yours, Leo.

Well, they look like mine.

They're my brother's.

Can you see through 'em?

I don't know.

You going to this DNC thing? Yeah.

I understand you have a favorite.

You here to fight Josh Lyman's battles?

You can't be doing this from the White House.

Leo...

You can't do this to the President.

You think the President doesn't want

genuine Democratic values

in a national Presidential contest?

He'd do this himself, if he could.

I'm doing this for the President.

He could help Russell

right now, if he wanted.

Joint appearances, a bill signing

with the VP standing right by is side.

Ricky Rafferty's the alternative.

We do what we can do.

That's not your job anymore.

You are no longer the guy

who picks losing candidates and ushers them

to their principled end.

You're the guy who takes good men and makes them great.

You and Josh, you still think you're terriers,

barking at the heels of the party.

You are the party.

Rafferty's a spoiler.

Shouldn't be in the race.

I'm not sitting this one out, Leo.

Don't.

But don't pretend you're still an outsider

with a ponytail and a dream.

You work in the White House.

Your brother didn't have any more fight in him.

You still do.

JOSH: You're gonna be right here between Clarkson and Rafferty.

The President's gonna come up, everybody holds hands,

picture, picture, picture, and we're gone.

The President's between Russell and Hoynes.

Everybody's in the shot.

I'm second to the left.

You don't have a problem with the symbolism?

That's the best we could do.

Second only to Rafferty,

who's all the way to the left.

Sir, you're a Democrat, left is not a crime,

liberal is not a dirty word.

We scored New Hampshire

because people responded to your policies.

The temptation to grab at center's only going to grow.

Let's just take a minute

and remember where you came from.

I can't remember.

I'm sorry.

I was born a poor black child.

Close, but no, that's not right.

If you shake hands with the President,

hang on as long as possible,

give the cameras a chance to catch it.

I was born on the bayou?

That's not it either.

Matt Santos, good to meet you.

Half an hour of grip and grin and you're done.

Grin, really, I'm not supposed to grip.

We told them you're leaving before the speeches.

In deference to my health?

There's an excuse

we could've started using years ago.

I found a few people on the guest list

who aren't connected to any of the campaigns.

You should focus your attention on them.

You made a list?

I'll point them out. There are six.

I hope you're on that list.

Can this be one of those nights

where we get sloshed

and forget we work together?

Ah, that would be lovely.

Josh is here.

If you're gonna go at it again,

will you let me know in time

to put some money on it?

I'm gonna go downstairs to the bar for a little while.

Yell if you need me.

C.J.

Cliff.

I was summoned again. That's gotta stop.

One gets drunk with the power.

I'm hiring you to work in the White House.

I looked into what you said about desalination.

I think you've got a point.

I'm still concerned you may be soulless,

but we can work on that.

Yeah. I turned you down.

Nobody turns us down.

We're like the mob, but less violent.

Ultimately, responsible for more death

and destruction, but still...

You don't think I'm an odd choice for this White House?

I think we've got a few months left

and a lot of governing to do.

And I think you're a guy who misses serving his country.

C.J.--

Take a second and breathe.

In a moment, you're going to wish you had.

Pardon me, sir, this is Cliff Calley.

We had a great chat this morning

about your Water Program. He's a big fan.

Good to meet you, Mr. Calley.

It's an honor, sir, but I'm afraid

Ms. Cregg may have slightly misrepresented my position.

C.J., he's not a fan?

I thought the deal was you were

to you surround me with sycophants.

This is one of the six people

you're allowed to speak to.

Take your time.

Looky, looky.

I thought you weren't coming.

Yeah, me, too.

It's time to get back in the pool.

Good for you.

Sorry I couldn't help.

Once upon a time, I did this all by myself.

Hi.

BARTENDER: Evening.

What can I get you?

A glass of red, please.

Whatever's open.

( clears throat )

Pathetic.

Avoid the Swiss.

As a general rule?

I didn't know they made you come to these things.

I take an interest. Really?

I needed a change of scenery. Okay.

I have no reason for being here.

Let's keep it between ourselves.

No problem.

I'm on my 82nd of what's bound

to be 350 identical conversations.

I think I'm losing my voice.

That's awful.

You mind if we stand here and pretend we're talking

but we actually don't?

Sure.

( jazz playing )

You sound like a guy formulating an exit strategy.

TOBY: I don't know. Could be.

Can't say I'm entirely surprised.

WOMAN: Senator Rafferty?

They're ready for you upstairs.

I'll be right there. Thank you.

I think you've said some things this country needs to hear.

You've established yourself as a national presence.

You step out before Super Tuesday,

before anybody's shot at a nomination is foiled

by what would be considered a spoiler.

Maybe there's

a Vice Presidency in this for you.

I'm not pulling out before South Carolina.

I did this to make a point.

Absolutely.

And I want to make sure that everybody's heard it.

I certainly never...

I've got to step out now.

Yeah.

I should go.

I'm gonna finish my drink.

You've still got my number, if you need it.

Yeah, I do.

Put them on. Let me see.

Looks good.

Makes you look smart.

I thought I looked smart before.

So did I.