Original subtitles

Previously on the The West Wing:

You understand you're looking at possible injury

to separation of powers?

They're balloon animals.

I have nephews who like balloon animals

so I got someone to teach me.

Are they abstract? I'm a beginner.

He's killed innocent people.

He'll kill more, so we have to end him.

Says who? Says me, Mr. President.

You want to go ask some more people

they'll say so, too.

WOMAN: This is a little humiliating.

It wasn't a discussion to have

in front of the group.

You're right about that, and I apologize for that.

Do you accept?

I think she was apologizing to you, Senator.

I was. I'd accept.

I believe, in this case on this particular point

you're the servant of two masters.

And as sexy as that possibility sounds

it's just not true, Susan.

The relationship with Josh Lyman, with C.J. Cregg

with the First Lady, with the President.

Can we return to the issue at hand?

I'm going out of my mind with you two.

SUSAN: You should call

for federal funding of needle exchange

in the five cities with the highest incidence of AIDS.

Ritchie is giving you a perfect opening.

When? Right now.

At the AMA.

We've got an advance copy of the text.

That's what we were arguing about

when you came in the meeting.

What does he say?

"We ought to begin and end with abstinence.

"We ought to begin and end with personal responsibility.

"I'm appalled by inner city programs

"that hand out clean needles to junkies and dope-doers

"in the name of AIDS prevention

and I will fight for a national law to end them."

Amy?

It's baiting the hook.

That's why they sent an advance copy.

Yeah.

But didn't I get in it to talk about things like this?

Why not take the bait?

The bait's not for you.

It's for the President.

Ritchie wants you to respond so the President has to.

I thought the aim was to talk about issues

that aren't being discussed.

Not run pass blocking for the President.

I feel like Susan has a point.

It's an opportunity

to get into some debate about it.

If it was just me, nobody would be listening.

I don't know why you think the Committee to Reelect

needs us to protect them.

And if Ritchie's strategy is what you say it is

won't Josh Lyman figure that out in five minutes?

It'll take his assistant Donna five minutes.

It'll take Josh half that time.

Maybe a little longer Really?

'cause the Mets lost last night, and he'll need to focus.

JOSH: Just throw strikes!

I don't understand why that can't happen.

You have a three-run lead.

Just throw strikes.

I mean, my God!

Honestly. Yes.

You want to see the wires?

I'll tell you something else.

In a situation with a runner on first

who's a threat to score and a batter at the plate

who's going to be intentionally passed

why not just pitch out four times?

It makes me nutsy.

What are the wires?

The latest on the standoff in Iowa

the final recommendation from the Debate Commission

and Ritchie to the AMA, which just ended a few minutes ago.

Give me the AMA.

And you have senior staff.

You know, there comes a day in every man's life

and it's a hard day, but there comes a day

when he realizes he's never going

to play professional baseball.

You're just having that day today?

Yes, I am.

You understand, you're going to be walking the guy anyway.

You're going to be throwing

four balls.

Why not just...? Pitch out.

Yeah, why not just, you know, to...

catch the runner.

What is it?

I know how Ritchie's going to win this election.

You're right--

10:00 at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

which is also what they called my dorm room in college.

( laughter ) No, but seriously. Katie.

When do you anticipate

the debate issue will be settled?

And then I have a follow-up.

The President believes the debates are good

and the more the better.

The President's asked for five debates.

Governor Ritchie's asked for two.

The President said, "How about four?"

Governor Ritchie said, "How about two?"

We're waiting for the Commission to make its recommendation.

And the follow-up is

what would be considered a debate win for the President?

At this point, participating in one would be a victory.

I want to ask the same question.

Which was?

What would be a victory in the debates?

270 electoral votes.

Seriously. Seriously.

We'll be heading to Rock Creek Park at 2:30. Thank you.

I know how Ritchie's going to win this election.

So do I. What's your way?

Overcoming perversely low expectations.

What's your way?

Getting the President to run

the Stackhouse campaign.

What happened? I'm taking you to the meeting.

PRESIDENT: Treasury scored it?

LEO: Yes.

OMB says it's revenue neutral?

Yes.

NEC, DPC, the advisors?

Yes, sir.

Joint tax on the Hill?

Yes.

All right. All right.

Let's line up validators.

Good.

Sir? Yeah?

Toby, Josh. Merry Christmas.

He says let's line up the validators.

And update our resumes.

Sam, that'll be you.

Yeah. TOBY: I can do it.

Stay on debate prep.

What? You're doing the face.

Needle exchange in a speech to the AMA:

"We ought to begin and end with abstinence.

We ought to begin and end with personal responsibility."

TOBY: I'd like someone to ask him

if he's aware that needle exchange costs $9,000

for every infection stopped.

Treating someone with HIV costs $200,000.

I'd like someone to ask him that.

I'd like someone to ask him

where the responsibility was in the paraphernalia laws

that made it a crime for someone to buy or carry a syringe

which is why addicts share

infected needles in the first place.

I'd like someone to ask him that, too.

All done? For the moment.

It's really only an issue if Stackhouse responds

but if he does...

Will he?

I don't know.

Will he?

I don't know, but if-if he does

we can't come out for it.

Bruno thinks we'll be putting three states back into play.

Ohio, Michigan... And Maine.

They've always been iffy about me in Maine.

I don't know why.

It's a mystery, sir.

You can't come out against, either. You'll alienate...

Heroin addicts? Liberals.

Whatever. Let's worry about if Stackhouse does something.

Okay, but at that point, I'll be very worried.

Anything else?

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Toby...

I'd like someone to ask him about the responsibility

in cutting the drug treatment

that would eliminate needle-related HIV.

Half of all people who get infected by HIV

are getting infected by the needle.

I'd like someone to ask him how he thinks

the personal responsibility plan's going so far.

I'll get on that, but I want to talk to you about the debates.

When you mention that we want five debates, say what they are.

One on the economy, one on foreign policy

with another on global threats and national security

one on the environment

and one on strengthening family life

which would include health care, education and retirement.

I also think there should be one on parts of speech

and sentence structure and one on fractions.

Is there any chance I'm going to get an opportunity

to speak in this conversation

or are you just writing out loud?

I didn't even know you were in the room.

Toby, I'm absolutely terrified

we're going to lose the expectations game.

I can't believe how many times I get asked

what would be a win in the debates.

At this point I feel like if, and only if

Ritchie accidentally lights his podium on fire

does the President have a fighting chance.

I disagree. Disagree all you want, but I'm right.

These two men are going to be side by side

on the stage, answering questions.

That's the ball game.

If the whole thing is, he can't tie his shoelaces

and it turns out he can, then that is the ball game.

And I believe he'll have to do more than tie his shoelaces.

Not much more.

Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?

I'm going bike riding, as a matter of fact

and then I'm meeting some friends for lunch

and then I'm having my nails done.

Guy, that sounds great.

If only you were actually doing all those things.

Yeah, yeah. What? Teddy Tomba.

What about him?

Well, he has millions of followers worldwide

has a $20-billion empire of self-help seminars...

I know who Teddy Tomba is.

...workbooks, board games...

Seminars?

Capital Sheraton, tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M.

Your registration's been prepaid.

Why? We're efficient.

Why am I going?

He's consulted for Ritchie

in the last few weeks, and I would like

for that to be embarrassing for Ritchie.

Really? Yes.

That lacks a certain nobility of purpose

doesn't it?

I don't believe it does.

Write down any key slogans

or philosophies or instructions.

They'll probably be on a T-shirt, won't they?

Probably. You know what I'm looking for.

Should I go in disguise?

As what?

Somebody who'd go to one of these things.

Meet me here at the office when you're done.

And in addition to being a good friend to Israel

Leo McGarry, of course, is the most Jewish man most of us have ever met.

For that, he gets this yarmulke

which has been crumpled up in my coat pocket

since a wedding in 1962.

For everything else, the Medal of David.

Thank you very much, Mr. Foreign Minister.

A thousand dead relatives in Scotland just started crying.

Thanks very much.

We're a little late for lunch.

What the hell is going on, Leo?

I'm reading Shareef is alive in Libya.

That's you people, right?

We're thinking about starting our own tabloid.

What's happening at that house in Idaho?

Iowa.

Which one's the potatoes? Idaho.

We've had the house surrounded for 11 days.

We're trying to negotiate a surrender.

How long can their supplies last?

These people live to be well supplied, Ben.

It's their first love.

You got kids in there.

Yeah. I got to talk to you about something.

Good afternoon, Mr. McGarry.

Good afternoon.

That person's very young to be working here.

That was probably an intern.

( whispering ): Qumar is ready to announce it was Israel.

We've known this was coming.

Well, it's come.

And I need to put it off at least another week.

Israel has to immediately deny the accusation.

I don't want there to be an accusation.

I want it to wait another week.

And what are you asking Israel to give up

in order to get them to delay accusing us

of something we didn't do.

Ben...

I'm just saying, tell me.

You're planning to attack two Qumari training bases...

Yes, sir.

Don't.

That's out of the question.

If you hold off

Fitzwallace can get the Qumari Defense Minister

to have the Sultan hold off a week.

Leo, look at what's happening.

They're getting you to pull us back

by continuing this preposterous lie.

We're not the ones playing skeet shoot with their cabinet.

No, no, Ben.

I think we're in this one together.

Yes, I apologize for the remark.

When are you flying back?

Right after lunch.

You can fly on the Sabbath?

If I have to.

You'll take it to the Prime Minister.

Leo, you know what you're doing?

You're advising the President well?

A number of people are advising the President.

I'm only asking because right now

we're losing.

Will you take it to him?

Yes.

his son just got his pilot's license.

and he lives in Phoenix

and his big fear isn't crashing.

It's getting lost in the desert.

So he bought five gallons of water

a super-powered flashlight

and... I don't know, a thing that makes pancakes.

And now he's on

every survivalist's mailing list.

That's right.

Anyway, yes, they're well supplied

but they're not endlessly supplied.

We can wait them out.

Good.

A guy told me I should take flying lessons

'cause it would relax me.

I don't think it would.

Do you?

No, Josh, I think you of all people shouldn't fly things.

JOSH: Senator...

STACKHOUSE: You brought the big guns.

Not having any guns of my own.

Obviously, you know John Baxley--

Congressman Baxley...

Senators Jackson and White

Secretaries Weaver

and Keaton.

And you all probably know Susan Thomas

and Amelia Gardner.

JACKSON: Howard, it's becoming hard for BFA staff

to plan strategy without knowing exactly

what hour you are going to drop out

and endorse the President.

What hour would be best for you, Michael?

I'm inconveniencing

one of my opponents?

Seriously.

Yes?

I was very happy

you did not respond on needle exchange.

I haven't responded on needle exchange.

I'm saying

I'm happy about that.

No, I mean, it's not that I didn't--

it's that I haven't.

Are you going to?

I don't know.

Well, what's your thinking? Regarding what, Jason?

This doesn't need to be tedious.

WEAVER: It was our understanding

that the senator was going to drop out and campaign

for the President sometime

before the first debate.

SUSAN: Have we had the first debate?

No, we haven't.

And since the Sullivan ruling

things have gotten a bit murkier.

You didn't get into this to hurt the President, Howard.

I got in it to raise issues.

And I'm all for that.

As long as I don't in any way speak.

Excuse me.

Now that I have you all sitting down

I'll be right outside the door.

Do you need me?

Yeah. Can you make a run to the staff secretary's office

Ellen's not there, but someone should be.

Make sure you take what needs to be signed today.

They're going to try to give you a whole stack

and right there is where you become a man, Emily.

Should I use sex as a tactic?

If you need to.

Hell, even if you just want to.

There's some executive orders

I need to make sure are in there.

Can you copy these down?

Yeah.

You want to know what I'm doing?

How long is this going to take?

I don't know.

I'm leaving.

Okay, see ya.

Emily, can you get me Mrs. Toscano

at Social Services.

I'll be back in a few minutes.

It makes you feel like something, huh?

That you've got power over me.

In about two minutes

the Deputy Communications Director

is going to come in here

and tell me that the speech he's writing

for Red Mass isn't going well

and could I read it for him.

And you think you're what makes

me feel like something?

What's Red Mass?

I didn't hear you.

I said what's Red Mass?

The Supreme Court convenes on the first Monday

in October.

On the Sunday before

the first Monday, there's a Mass held

for the members of the Court

that's attended by the Cabinet

Congress and the President.

What about church and state?

I swear to God, I can't hear you when you speak.

Can you help me?

I said it's church and state.

What about it?

You're not supposed to do it.

Who told you that?

I'm talking about the law.

What law?

All right, you like to slap me

'cause that's your power thing

so I'll sit here and not say nothing.

The law-- separation of church and state.

Who told you that?

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

The government and the church

are not supposed to do...

they're not supposed to be the same thing.

And you think there's a law? There is.

What kind of law? What the hell.

City, state, federal?

I don't know about those things

but I know there's a law.

Prove it.

Charlie.

I'm eating it on Red Mass.

I don't want to show it to Toby yet.

Would you mind reading it for me

and then hitting me in the head

with a fairway wood?

Yep.

Janet.

Or Jeanette, as I sometimes like to call you.

Sometimes I like to call you cupcake.

It that okay?

Totally.

Deductibility for tuition.

You've had a leadership briefing?

Yes, and I'm so happy

I could dance in a musical, I swear.

That'd be a tough ticket to get.

It's wonderful, and I can only assume that it was your idea.

As a matter of fact, it was Josh and Toby

but I can see where you'd make the mistake.

It does have the flavor of me, the insouciance.

Yeah.

So guess what I've been asked to do?

Validators? Line up validators.

And you're asking me?

You're the third ranking non-male member

of the minority on Ways and Means.

Well, when you say it like that.

Listen, the economists are going to say it's good policy.

College presidents are going to talk about

shrinking financial aid budgets.

Where do you want me?

Sunday mornings.

I'll make you a book.

Congratulations, Jeanette.

I'll do my best.

Your best is very good.

Oh, by the way, I was just called.

Horton Wilde is in the hospital.

He's had a heart attack.

Horton Wilde isn't the same as Thorton Wilder, is it?

I'm talking about California.

'Cause if Thorton Wilder had a heart attack

that would be remarkable news.

You don't know who Horton Wilde is.

He wrote Skin of Our Teeth.

He's the Democrat running in the 47th.

How is it possible that you don't know who he is?

Has a Democrat won the California 47th

in the last hundred years?

No. That's how.

Well, maybe if when the Democrats

had the White House there was a little more attention paid...

To Orange County? What kind?

Knowing the candidate's name, say.

This was his fourth one, by the way.

Fourth what?

Heart attack.

The Democrats have nominated someone

who's had three heart attacks.

Yes.

And you think I don't care enough about...?

What kind of signal does this send to...?

I have to talk...

No, this isn't going

to be a part of my life.

Wow. you just did a whole thing all by yourself.

Yeah, I do that.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

I'll pass it on to Leo.

Why do we think the boy is sick?

Mike?

Our thermal scanner shows no movement

in the last eight hours of daylight.

With congestive heart failure

you have to take the medication or you'll die.

Yes. And going by the last time the prescription was filled

he's been out for six days.

Mr. President

we feel the only way to save this boy

is to abandon our plan

and take the house now.

We think we'll be successful.

How do you do it?

We put a hole in the wall with a C-4 explosive.

12 men storm the house, wearing specially made goggles and earplugs.

Why?

'Cause they're going to throw flashbangs.

A flashbang's about the size of a grenade

but instead of spraying shrapnel

it makes a deafening sound and releases a flash

seven times brighter than the sun.

You hear that?

I've seen them.

Where's the table?

We're... all agreed, sir.

All right, we should do it.

Let's get the kid.

Good luck, everybody.

Good luck, Mr. Casper.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, sir.

What's going on?

Nothing. I was...

Nothing. I was thinking about something Yosef said yesterday.

Hello.

Hello.

Is Susan Thomas...

Troubled?

A pain in the ass?

What do you think of him?

Stackhouse? Yeah.

I've always liked Stackhouse.

I'd vote for him, too

but he's not on the ballot in Connecticut

or 22 other states.

Perhaps I should vote in New York

or California where he's polling

at four percent.

Of likely voters.

I'm sorry?

Those polls sample likely voters.

Yeah.

When a third candidate gets elected

it's going to be by unlikely voters.

And why is that good?

Why are we eager...?

Why are we encouraging a group of people

who are so howl-at-the-moon, lazy-assed stupid

that they can't bring themselves to raise their hands.

Why is it important

that they be brought into the process?

You should stop being mad at me.

I'm not. You are.

You know, I lost my job

because of a strategy you organized.

You lost your job

in a fashion that insured you 93 better offers.

That's sweet of you to look out for me

but I liked the job I had.

And when I lost it, I didn't pitch anything.

I didn't stage a nutty.

I fought you, I lost, I had a drink, I took a shower.

'Cause that's how it is in the NBA.

You know what I do when I win?

Two drinks.

I didn't start consulting

with Stackhouse to piss you off.

There are things here I believe in.

I didn't come out here

to piss you off either.

I wanted to tell you that

if the senator responds on needle exchange

the President shouldn't take the bait.

No kidding.

All right, I'm going back in.

He's taking the President's votes.

It's as simple...

He's taking the President's votes.

Listen, I'm not indifferent

to the situation

but that right there, that's the crazy part of your argument.

Why?

They're not his votes.

Hey.

Huh? Hello.

How was it?

I'm sorry?

How was it?

It was...

I don't know.

It was...

I don't...

I don't think, maybe I'm not ready to talk about it yet.

What was...? It was a transforming ex...

No, that's the wrong word.

We're not "transformed," we locate the light switch.

I own myself, Josh.

You don't mind if I say that

out loud at frequent intervals with no provocation

for a little while do you? Why?

Because I live my life out loud.

You're reading the book?

The owner's manual.

Are you serious?

No, you idiot, I need a shower.

All right.

I've got, like, radioactive stuff all over me.

Man, and you call me a snob.

Oh, please. It was like a meeting

of the There But for the Grace of God Society.

Anybody ask you out? Shut up.

So, report to me-- What did he say?

Why is this important?

What did he say?

This is cheap. I'll say.

I'm talking about this.

So the guy's consulted for Ritchie.

He's a buffoon, but he's harmless.

Why should it be part of the campaign?

Because it's not harmless in an American president.

Nothing he said was wrong or objectionable.

As opposed to the man sitting next to me

whose name was Fern.

Open this book to any page.

Okay. Well.

This is an order form

to buy Owning Your Self, follow-up

to the worldwide bestseller...

Leasing Your Self.

"It's good to be trapped in a corner.

That's when you act."

That happens to be true.

It is. In my case, it's the only time that I do.

So? It's Immanuel Kant.

"Duty. Sublime and mighty name

"that embraces nothing charming

or insinuating but requires submission."

Every year a million freshman philosophy students

read that sentence.

And change their major?

You've just got a mouthful of wiseass today, don't you?

I located the light switch.

Could you locate it again?

So he cribbed Kant.

Isn't that what you're supposed to do?

It comes from a 193-page book

called a Critique of Practical Reason

It's about metaphysics and epistemology.

Tomba's impressively boiled it down to two-thirds of one page.

Give me another one.

"Look outside the cave."

Right. That's from an old paperback

called The Republic, by Plato.

Lucky Tomba's been able to fit it on a fortune cookie

so it suits the attention span

of the Republican nominee.

Here he quotes Robert Frost.

"Good fences make good neighbors."

Did he talk about that?

Yeah.

What'd he say?

Basically, that if

you stay within your personal space

you'll end up getting along fine

with everyone.

You had to study modern poetry.

Yes.

Is that what Frost meant?

No. He meant

that boundaries are what alienate us from each other.

Why did he say, "Good fences

make good neighbors"?

He was being ironic, but I still don't see...

What does it remind you of?

"I believe in hope, not fear."

"I'm a leader, not a politician."

"It's time for an American leader."

"America's earned a change."

"'I' before 'E' except after 'C.'"

It's the fortune cookie candidacy.

These are important thinkers

and understanding them can be very useful

and it's not ever going to happen at a four-hour seminar.

When the President's got an embassy surrounded in Haiti

or a keyhole photograph of a heavy-water reactor

or any of the 50 life-and-death matters

that walk across his desk everyday

I don't know if he's thinking

about Immanuel Kant or not. I doubt it

but if he does, I am comforted at least

in my certainty that he is doing his best

to reach for all of it and not just the McNuggets.

Is it possible we would be willing

to require any less of the person sitting in that chair?

The low road?

I don't think it is.

All right.

I'll go through the book this weekend

highlight some things, and I'll trace it back.

Yeah, make sure you...

I said I'd do it, Buckminster.

A guy named Fern?

Don't talk to me about Fern.

You sure it wasn't Vern?

No, I thought it was Vern, but it's Fern.

Let me know when the report gets in.

Hey, Sam.

What's wrong with the other door?

I don't know.

You close it, and it's locking by itself.

What's up?

Do you know who Horton Wilde is?

That name sounds familiar.

He's running in Orange County.

Yeah. He's in the hospital.

He's had a heart attack.

I'm sorry to hear that.

We'll send something.

It's his fourth.

In the Idaho Second, we're running a guy

who lost a race for city council.

In the Texas 22nd

our candidate's an electrical engineer

who paid his filing fee

by dumping the cash out of a cigar box.

The Arizona Sixth features a Democrat, who nine weeks ago

registered as... a Democrat.

You just named

three districts that are impossible for Democrats.

Finding qualified sacrificial lambs ain't easy.

And the D-Triple-C

tries to raise money by saying

"We're taking back the House"?

It doesn't appear as if we're giving it all we got.

Line one.

This is it.

We're putting our resources where they'll do the most good.

This is Leo McGarry.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, can someone fax that over?

Thank you.

We didn't get the five.

No.

Three?

Two.

Two?

Yeah.

Margaret!

Would you let Josh

Toby and CJ know that the report came out?

It's two debates

and I'm here.

Yeah.

They give you a reason?

They're faxing it over.

Don't we want one debate alone on new global threats?

I mean, doesn't everybody want one debate...?

I don't know.

Do you read much international news?

Herald Tribune.

Whatever CJ puts in front of me.

Agence-France.

Then you've read

that Qumar's reopened the investigation

into Abdul Shareef's plane going down.

Yeah. Watch.

They're going to say Israel had something to do with it.

Do you think they did?

What do I know?

Shareef was a bad guy.

Feels like he had money in the Bahji cell.

He did.

He was also

behind the plot to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bridges and tunnels.

That's my nightmare.

What's yours?

Well, now it's bridges and tunnels, Sam.

Then my work here is done.

It's that I don't know what winning looks like.

What does it look like?

Is it... I mean, is it honestly

the U.S. flag flying over Mecca?

Is that what's going to straighten this out?

And if that's the case, why are we postponing that?

What are we hoping is going to happen in the meantime?

That somebody will think of something

before we have to do the unthinkable.

You're one of the big minds of your generation.

Have you thought of anything yet?

No.

Neither have I.

Neither has the President of the United States--

also a pretty good mind.

The Golden Gate Bridge?

Yeah.

Leo, we didn't have anything to do

with Shareef's plane going down, did we?

Sorry.

Two debates?

Yeah. The President and Bruno aren't going to take it well.

There's actually

one person who's going to take it worse.

Who? ( knock at door )

TOBY: Somebody open the damn door, please?

I'll get it. It's locked, or something.

Don't try to force it.

Two debates. Oh, good.

Yeah. Did they say why?

They're faxing over their statement

and having their press conference

Monday. Here's the fax.

And the President's asking for you next door.

"Given the inability of the two major..."

Do you mind that I'm reading this?

Would it matter?

"...the two major parties to agree

"upon earlier Commission proposals

"the uncertainty caused

"by recent court rulings

"and the shortened... time period

"in which to schedule debates for maximum viewing

the Commission hereby amends..."

He got exactly what he wanted

for dragging his feet.

Well, that's why he did it.

You can't fault him for having a winning strategy.

I'm not faulting him; I'm faulting them.

I'll be back in a minute.

CASPER: That should be marked

Central Daylight Time, 2:05 P.M.

PRESIDENT: Leo, they did it.

What?

Casper's boys.

( chuckling ): Hey, really?

One suspect... you tell him.

One suspect was shot and killed

another wounded in the leg.

Wounded in the leg.

That's it. Our guys...

Our guys are fine.

They are fine.

We seized high explosive gunpowder

galvanized steel pipes

time fuses, blasting caps...

And? Come on, and...?

Blueprints to the pool at KSU.

And the kid?

He's...

Go ahead, sir.

University Hospital.

Stable condition.

Mike, pick yourself out a daughter.

My oldest is married, but I can have it annulled.

The Pope said he'd do it, I swear to God.

That's very friendly of you, sir.

Jerry, was that note anything I need?

I don't know.

Israeli search and rescue

is looking for a transport

that fell off the radar about 12 hours

uh, 12 hours and 22 minutes

into the flight-- about 15, um...

I'm sorry, about 25 minutes

before it was scheduled to land at Ben Gurion Airport.

Where did it originate?

It originated, um... oh, God.

Mr. President, I think Ben Yosef is on that plane.

He is.

MORRIS: Did they give coordinates?

JERRY: 33-51 North, 34-47 East.

34-47... It's Lebanon, right?

MORRIS: Yeah, southern Lebanon.

At any rate, Mr. President

the, uh, the S and R's just gotten underway.

Okay. Somebody will keep me posted.

Yes, sir.

CASPER: Thank you, Mr. President.

Mike? No kidding, thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Ben Yosef's plane is missing.

Now, how did I not see that coming?

Yeah, call that play on first down again, Coach

'cause I'm sure they're not ready for it this time.

You know, if you ask

a professional athlete what the hardest thing

is to do in sports, they'll all say

hit a baseball.

But a coach once told me

that the hardest thing to do in sports

is to walk into your Super Bowl locker room at halftime

and change the strategy that got you there

'cause it's no longer working.

It's really okay that, after almost every play

somebody requires medical attention?

It's not even the number of debates as much as the format.

Two minute response followed by a one minute reply.

That's not a debate. That's not a debate.

That's a joint press conference.

Good evening, Mr. President.

Nice job on the Red Mass. First rate.

You don't mind if I change everything, do you?

No, sir.

Here... here... and I added a section here.

Ah! Cute.

Let's take a look.

It's a joint press conference.

It's not necessary

that the candidates be in the same room.

That part's just theater.

We're talking about ways to possibly lower expectations.

I like what you did. I like the 80-20.

Be nice to be able to respond

to what the other person has said

and ask them a question.

And the moderator should be empowered

to press for an answer

just as a judge can of a witness

or a member of Congress in a confirmation hearing.

Mmm.

Sam, what do you think about me writing you

an urgent memo:

"I think Ritchie is a more skilled debater

"than we're anticipating.

"He has, after all, debated three gubernatorial candidates

and won each time."

And leak the memo?

Yeah.

I think you'll look silly.

I'm used to that.

I don't think it'll do much.

Me, neither.

Cicero wanted to restore

the overthrown king of Egypt

and the Roman Senate debated all day and into the night

every military and diplomatic consequence

until they collapsed on the Senate floor.

Lentulus is trying to overthrow the republic.

Caesar goes up against Cato--

by the way, in the very first

public debate on the death penalty.

They were against each other, it was a debate

and they explored the meaning

of spirituality and suffering.

And then they put Lentulus to death.

That's right. But my point...

Why not? Why not what?

Ask for a different format.

We didn't get the number of debates we wanted

so why not ask for a different format?

We'd never get it. We might.

The Ritchie people would put up too much of a fight.

They might consider it.

They might consider it if we give them

something else they wanted.

Other than this house

we don't have anything else they want.

Sure we do.

Sure we do.

We wanted five debates, they wanted none.

We have exactly one thing left that they want.

Wow.

Isn't this exactly why casinos don't play with a one-deck shoe?

Yes.

Mr. President...

Hmm...

Mr. President

the car's ready.

He's still running that screen pass.

Get Toby to sign off and I'm in.

This is going to be interesting.

Do I need my speech?

I've got it.

You mind if I ask you something about Red Mass

I'm curious about?

And so, how isn't it a Constitutional issue?

It is, but sometimes you say, "Big deal."

It was the intention not to have a national religion

not to have anyone's religious views imposed on anyone else

and not to have the government encourage

a national display of piety as a substitute for real action

but sometimes you say, "Big deal."

I'll be in the office a minute.

Thank you.

Hey... this was dropped

at the northwest gate for you just now.

Who is it from?

I don't know.

It's from Anthony.

He's the one who was here yesterday.

Nice note?

No. At several points

he suggests that I might have

an improper relationship with my mother.

Why are you smiling?

He wrote on the back of the First Amendment.

Hey, Josh, why can't the Mets throw strikes

when they've got a three-one lead?

Yeah, let me ask you another.

With a runner on first who's a threat to steal, why not just...

See you.

Okay.

Hey.

Oh, hey. I didn't... Hi.

My mind was wandering.

What are you doing here?

I'm sorry?

What are you doing here?

Danya Zucker had an extra ticket

for the Mass, and she asked me.

Are you going?

No... No.

Can you give me any indication what the senator's thinking?

I really can't.

He spoke to me for a while yesterday and...

( heavy sigh )

again today, and I don't know what he's thinking, but...

I can tell you what I told him at the end.

What?

I told him I thought

he'd been an extraordinary public servant--

thoughtful and energetic

and compassionate and courageous

and I told him I'd be voting for the President.

Why?

First of all, I'm crazy about the President, Josh.

I've been crazy about him for longer

than you've known who he was.

And I'll keep poking him with a stick.

That's how I show my love.

But... as a women's issue, it's a no-brainer.

The next Justice can overturn Roe and...

you don't screw around with that.

Hey, you want to see what I learned to do since you got me fired?

Look... Watch.

( sighs heavily )

( blowing )

Right away, that's impressive, right?

But that's just the preparation.

This is the thing.

( snickering )

What is it?

What do you want it to be?

DANYA: Amy?

Out here.

I'll see you.

( Vivaldi's "Gloria" playing)

* Gloria, gloria!

* Gloria, gloria!

* In excelsis deo

* In excelsis...

I was thinking about what you asked me before

about have I been able to think of anything, and I said, "No."

And you said, "Neither have I

and neither has the President."

What about it?

I wouldn't speak for anybody else

but you know I'm not done yet, right?

( music continues )

* In excelsis...

* Gloria, in excelsis deo

( music ends )

Toby...

Nope. Stay there.

I'm first looking

for something to beat you with.

Look... I'm going to do it with my hands.

Let me tell you something.

One debate!

What's really the difference

between one debate and two debates?

What's the difference betw...?

It's a whole other debate.

It's a second debate!

It's a hundred percent more debate!

"Somebody should ask him if he's aware taxpayers pay $9,000 this

"instead of $200,000 that.

"And somebody should ask him what he means by

and somebody should ask him how he plans on..."

You said that, and you were right.

What if he has a bad night?

It's happened.

What if he gets himself into trouble?

What if Ritchie comes after Abbey or the kids

and the President goes postal?

That's what I'd try to do.

Stress, hot lights...

What if he has an episode?

We lose.

When you can't lower expectations

you only have one thing you can do!

You have to meet them!

( sighing deeply )

Clear 24 hours from the President's schedule.

We're going away.

( pipe organ music playing )

( sotto voce ): There she is.

C.J.

( clears throat )

Susan.

The senator would like a quick word with the President.

Is that possible?

Well, I don't know, Susan.

He should.

Okay.

( organ music continues )

That was a wonderful talk, Mr. President.

Thank you. I didn't write much of it.

The 80-20 section.

That part I wrote.

I added it.

When you first started...

when you talked about

how much politicians hunger after the 80-20 issue

I thought, "My God, I'm about to watch a train wreck.

"He's going to make a political speech

"to the Supreme Court

while standing in the middle of a church."

But of course you didn't.

I should've known better.

"Who among the 80 will stand up for the 20?"

You did, Howard.

You did all the time.

I was telling Josh Lyman

about a friend who just got his pilot's license.

He told me the most remarkable thing.

He said a new pilot

will fly into cloud cover.

There'll be no visibility.

And they'll check their gauges

they'll look at the artificial horizon

it'll show them level, but they won't trust it.

So they'll make an adjustment and then another and another...

He said the number of new pilots

who fly out of clouds completely upside-down

would knock you out.

My office will make arrangements

for me to endorse you in the morning.

You keep your eyes on the horizon, Mr. President.

( organ music continues )

REPORTERS ( shouting ): Mr. President! Mr. President!

( camera shutters clicking )

( organ music continues )

( shutters clicking )

Are you ready to go, sir?

No.

C.J.?

Yes, sir?

Would it be possible to move the press off the church grounds?

I'm going to take questions for a little while.

On what?

Needle exchange. Yes, sir.

The President will take questions

if you'll move off the church grounds. Just move back.