All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S06E16 - Drought Conditions (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

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.