Original subtitles

SAM: I did something last week.

I went to see a guy named Will Bailey.

He ran Horton Wilde's campaign in Orange County.

His widow wanted to know

what Democrat was going to stand in

for her husband, should he win

and I said... You're kidding.

Something weird's going on. We're winning.

C.J.: We've got some news.

What? You're going to win New Hampshire.

REPORTER: CBS is ready to declare Delaware...

( staff cheering and whistling )

JOSH: Horton Wilde, who's dead

is losing by 88 votes.

TOBY: Plus, there was an actual storm.

Anyway, we're going to be up all night with these.

It's going to be fun!

God bless you all!

God bless the United

States of America!

( supporters cheering wildly)

( lively indistinct conversation, music playing )

WOMAN ( on TV ): ...and we still have-- I want to remind our viewers--

we still have three House races undecided

as we've been reporting.

Those would be Tennessee second, the New York 22nd

and the race that's been dubbed Lazarus 47 in some circles

the race for California's 47th Congressional District

between the six-term incumbent

Republican Chuck Webb and Democrat Horton Wilde

who passed away some three weeks ago

but whose name remains on the ballot.

George, which is stranger?

That a Democrat is competitive in Orange County

or that the Democrat in question is...?

I don't mean to make light of this, of course

but the candidate passed away.

They're both pretty strange, Julie

but for a Democrat to win in the 47th

he's going to have to have something going for him

and this was it.

JULIE: Martin, how important

were the candidates' performances in the debate?

I'll tell you how important.

On the day before the debate

the President held a three-point lead in most polls

and that's within the margin of error--

a statistical tie.

Among those who said they were undecided

73% said they made up their mind based on the debates

and 69% of that population went for the President.

And that's how...

That's how the President won.

Absolutely. ( chuckling )

JULIE: What is Governor Ritchie thinking...?

SAM: He said... what he said was this--

he said, "A probable impossibility

is preferable to an improbable possibility."

The impossible is preferable to the improbable.

What did he mean?

He meant it's okay to have a broomstick sing and dance

but you shouldn't turn on the radio

and hear the news report you need to hear.

You want some cake?

No.

You sure?

What kind?

Cake.

They have flavors.

I don't know.

It was a confluence of events that I'm saying

if you pitched it to a Hollywood movie producer

they'd tell you that Aristotle says

a probable impossibility

is preferable to an improbable possibility.

It doesn't quite sound like them

but I understand your point.

The Midwest, the RNC exits, a dead candidate

a rainstorm...?

It's Aristotle all over the place.

I'm going to turn these off.

Why don't you head out into the party?

Everyone's asking for you.

You really don't know what kind...?

It's cake.

It's cake.

I talked to the woman.

She had tears in her voice.

Her husband loved the President

admired his integrity.

Yes, we're big on integrity.

By the way, when I said I'd run in his place

it's not like I meant it.

Let's go to the party.

There are televisions everywhere.

You'll know as soon as they're ready

to report something from the 47th.

You're right.

You're right!

JULIE: And we're ready to report some news

from the House race in the California 47th

where the impossible seems to be happening

and we send it to Gail Mackee

who's standing by in Newport Beach.

Gail?

GAIL ( speaking loudly): Julie, I'm at the Hyatt in Newport Beach

with the Horton Wilde campaign

and the place is going absolutely berserk.

Kay Wilde, the widow... Bonnie, Ginger

get me Will Bailey.

Get me Kay Wilde very quickly, please.

...of the Democratic challenger just received a phone call

from Congressman Chuck Webb.

He's conceding the election, thanking Mrs. Wilde

for a well-fought campaign... Get me Will Bailey, please.

Got to get him!

...and looking forward, he says he looks forward

to running in a special election.

Gail, is there any word on who the Democrats might run

in the special election?

Get him. Got to get him.

GAIL: No, there isn't. Not yet.

But I can report a rumor

that's been making its way around...

Of course you can. Why not?

...that former Orange County resident

and current White House Senior Advisor Sam Seaborn

will seek the seat.

BERNIE: And the plot thickens.

JULIE: Sam Seaborn, of course

an architect of the President's first victory

as well as his--

I think we have to start calling it a landslide-- tonight.

They're talking about someone else.

I'm told that we've got a picture

we're going to throw up on the screen.

BERNIE: Julie, I have to interrupt.

I just have to say that if this rumor is true... Yeah, okay.

They're over in the thing.

...view the California 47th the same way

the Democrats view the New York 16th.

They see it as unlosable.

Hi.

I mean, the Democrats have not only

never won the 47th, they've never even been a factor.

JULIE: So, who is this Sam Seaborn?

He has been an integral part of the President's

inner circle since joining the Bartlet campaign

after several years at a New York law firm

Gage Whitney Pace.

He is a graduate...

Josh, Sam Donaldson

from the ABC Nightly Newsprogram's

on the phone.

He'd like to know if the President is endorsing Sam.

Toby, is the President endorsing Sam? Hmm?

Is the President endorsing Sam?

I don't know.

He's asleep, but let's go ask him.

All right.

All right, look, this is extremely easy to explain.

First of all... okay...

How familiar are the three of you with Aristotle?

You agreed to run?! Sam, what the hell...?

I said it for the widow.

She wanted a name for election night

and I said, "Use my name"

not thinking for a second it was ever going to be

a practical option.

Can I ask, is your office now the House of the Rising Sun?

Yes.

You did it for the widow.

Yes. And for a guy I met named Will Bailey

who was running the campaign

and worked his ass off

and never backed off

and by the way, navigated a dead liberal

Democrat to a win against Chuck Webb.

500 races tonight.

That was pretty impressive

though it was an Aristotelian confluence of events

that could only happen to me.

( Sam sighing )

I have to talk to the widow.

I would actually talk to the President first.

Really?

He's going to get it first thing in the morning

There's a seat in play.

He's going to be asked about it

and he can't say, you know

"My God, I have no earthly idea

what you're talking about."

Okay. Yeah, all right.

* Love me, my love

* And say you're mine *

* Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh *

* Kiss me and hold me tight...

PRESIDENT: I don't want to intimidate you

but it turns out I'm the first Democrat

in 20 years to make a clean sweep of the Plains states

and I'm not just talking about Iowa and Nebraska.

ABBEY: Are you trying to turn me on now?

Yeah.

All right.

I won the Dakotas.

The Badlands.

The Black Hills.

But let's go down, way down, to the deep South

and the humid bayou of Louisiana

and its nine electoral votes.

What manner of man it must take to win the state

which, by the way, is the only one operating

under the Napoleonic Code of France

and I still don't know what that's all about.

But back to me...

Hon, this is, like, nerd hot talk?

Who's your Commander in Chief?

You are.

Yes.

And do the ladies like him?

Oh, yes.

To the tune of 58%.

( knocking )

Yeah?

I'm sorry, sir.

I thought we had

an understanding with regard

to tonight and interruptions, Charlie.

I thought we were men.

Yes. I'm sorry, but Sam said...

Sam needs to see me? Yes, sir.

It's, like, what

1:00 in the morning?

Yes, sir.

Well, let's send him in.

Good evening, Mr. President.

Good to see you.

I hope I'm not here at a bad time.

No. What would make you say that?

Actually, it looks as if I couldn't have picked

a worse time.

No, no, you could have, and I'm not going to take any chances

so let's do it now.

Horton Wilde won in the 47th.

I know.

There's going to be a special election.

Yeah. And, uh, to make

a long story short

you might be asked first thing tomorrow

if you're endorsing me.

Am I?

Well, I'm not really running.

Then I'm behind you 100%.

Look...

Man, is everything all right?

Yeah. I made a promise to a widow in a moment of...

Hello, Mr. President.

Hey, Mrs. Bartlet.

Oh, my God.

PRESIDENT: Yeah, look, honey

Sam stopped by.

Hi, Sam.

Hi.

Eyes front, mister.

You know, sir, I'll have this taken care of

in the next few hours anyway.

You don't even need to worry about it.

You sure you're okay? Yes, sir.

Okay.

This Dean Martin?

Yeah. Good.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Could you keep trying Will Bailey, please?

Yeah.

* It's a shame... *

TOM: Congratulations!

TOBY: Hey, you, too, Tom.

And congratulations on the other thing there, Papa.

Yeah. Any idea where Mama is?

Uh, right over there.

ANDY: The Great State of Maryland!

ALL ( shouting ): Maryland!

( crowd cheering )

Andy! Andy, don't drink that...

Mmm! It's ginger ale, crazy boy.

Yeah, okay. Ginger ale can be bad

according to the latest studies.

It can be very...

My man got the President reelected tonight!

( all cheering )

That was very pleasant.

( Andy chuckles )

Can I talk to you a second?

Yeah.

You won by 85% of the vote.

I don't really understand the 15%, but what the hell.

Yeah, well, as long as you scraped by with a win.

( chuckles )

Look, a-a statement.

We've already been through this.

Roll Call has it.

That's what we have to deal with.

I don't.

Congresswoman Wyatt, are you pregnant?

None of your business.

You can't withhold that from your constituents.

there was a congressional investigation, and it

almost detonated his presidency?

You're worried about me?

I just won by 85%.

I'm not worried about you.

I know.

You're worried about a senior counselor

fathering kids out of wedlock.

Yeah. You know what?

Single moms are a lot more sympathetic

than deadbeat dads, so I wouldn't gallivant.

You're not a deadbeat dad.

I know that, and you know that

but if I can't protect my kids

their mom and the President all at the same time

then I've got to quit my job, so can you help me out?

Yes.

You'll make a statement?

No, but when they ask me

who the father is

I won't tell them that either.

I'm the father!

And of course you're at leisure to tell them that.

85% of what kind of backward population votes for this woman?

The good people of Maryland.

Maryland!

ALL: Maryland!

( chuckling )

* There's a somebody I'm longing to see... *

LEO: Women? Yes, indeed, ma'am. 58%.

But let's take a trip down Louisiana way, huh?

Where we find it's nine electoral votes go to...

Leo?

Yeah?

If you walk me through every demographic

I think the night's not going to have

the kind of happy ending you're hoping for.

Got it.

( chuckles )

Good tip.

Keep 'em coming.

( giggling )

Colonel.

Yes, ma'am.

( chuckling ): No.

WHITCOMB: Hey.

How you doing?

Pretty good. You got a second?

Yeah.

* Someone to watch...

There's gunfire in Caracas and Merida and Valencia.

There's movement in the Acuellar

Coroico, Ciudad Alto and Parador Negro bases.

What about GV?

They stopped broadcasting.

Are you ready to brief?

15 minutes?

Yeah.

Can you hang around for a minute?

There's about to be a coup in Venezuela.

Yeah.

Thanks.

* Won't you tell her please to put on some speed... *

* And, God, I know I'm one *

* There is... Shh!

Hey, hey, hey, with the singing of the song!

JULIE ( on TV ): Walk us through, if you can, the tea leaves.

What were the indicators for you?

High gas prices, and instability in the Gulf region

and so, we recommended to the President

that he make energy a hot topic for the campaign.

JULIE: And obviously, a winning strategy.

A lot of people say this is a President

who, more than anyone since Truman maybe, ran his own campaign.

Is that true?

Yeah. We all give advice

but, uh, this President calls his own shots.

Does anyone know who this is?

I don't... I think he won the election.

( laughter ) It sounds like he did very well.

I think that's Chris Whitaker.

It is. He's a pollster.

He's a pollster that Bruno contracted out of Illinois.

JULIE: ...enjoy that Jed Bartlet packs a strong...

Excuse me.

Don't break things.

Do you realize, you won all the Plains states but the Dakotas?

BRUNO: Hmm. We won the Dakotas.

I didn't even realize that.

Yep, we won the Dakotas tonight, the Badlands.

Bruno? Sitting Bull is buried up there.

Hello. ( clears throat ): Excuse me.

Th... uh, this is, uh, Ashley

assistant to, uh, Jane Zalaznick

at the Women's Leadership Coalition.

C.J. Nice to meet you.

You got a second?

Yeah.

( mid-tempo jazz plays )

Carloads of partygoers

from the Women's Leadership Coalition

and the Women's Action Network

are unloading at the Northwest Executive Entrance.

It is time for watermelon.

You know a guy named Chris Whitaker?

Widdle?

Whitaker.

Whitkenstein?

Are you drunk?

A little bit.

Chris Whitaker.

Is a pollster

I contracted for Cook County.

He was just on TV claiming credit

for your energy strategy.

Huh?

He's claiming credit for the energy strategy

and who knows what else.

Witkenstein? Bruno...

What do I care?

I think you should talk to some reporters.

Nah. You are entitled to the status you've earned.

The only thing I need status for...

I'm doing right now.

I'm going to be watching this guy.

No, you don't have to watch him... We owe you, Bruno.

No, I got paid. But thanks.

( whispering ): I'm going to talk to Ashley now.

I'm going to be watching this guy.

I'm going to be talking to Ashley.

Okay.

Donna. Yeah.

You might want to tell Josh that a few carloads of women...

Yeah, he knows. Okay.

WOMAN: Josh...

Hang on. A couple people from the Women's Leadership

Coalition just...

Yes. Hello.

Hello.

It's a target-rich environment

and I don't want to cramp your style.

I just wanted to stash my coat in your office.

Sure.

Come here.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

You owe me ten dollars on the Delaware 1st

ten dollars on Iowa 5th.

We pushed across the Mountain states

and I lost Arkansas and the Georgia Legislature

but you went 20 on the Michigan gubernatorial.

How you doing on the night?

Right now, I'm only up 90

but there's a waste disposal

bond issue in Jasper, Alabama

that's going to put me in a new pair of Manolo's

if it breaks my way.

So the guys at Lexington and Concord

they didn't die in vain.

Yeah, no way.

Want to hear the funniest thing?

A week ago, Sam told Horton Wilde's widow

that he'd run in his place. I know.

You heard? Yeah.

All these events conspired to...

like the DNC gave up on the race

so the RNC left town, leaving no one

to read the exits...

You want me to open your door?

I can do it.

The President won the Midwest

and there was depressed Republican turnout in the district

'cause it was never a race...

Will Bailey also.

I keep hearing that name.

I've helped him raise money.

For a dead candidate, of course you did.

Anyway, Sam's desperately trying to get ahold of the widow

so he can have the worst conversation of his life.

He's... just going to have to say...

He should do it; that's actually what I came here to tell you.

What do you mean? He should run.

He'll get killed.

Yeah, but tomorrow morning, you're going to face

a very angry minority who don't feel the President

did enough to make them the majority.

Angry House Democrats. I'm shivering, hold my hand.

I'm saying... You know what, the President's coattails

were long enough to elect a Democrat out of Orange County

with literally no pulse.

Any congressman complaining...

Will be smoothed over... Who has to...

Will be smoothed over if the President sends a top lieutenant

still shining from victory on a suicide mission

to Disney's California Adventure.

You're ahead 90 bucks?

And it's still very early.

All right, give me your coat.

What?

I didn't say anything.

Okay, your coat will be here.

I'm going to go collect money.

Enjoy.

( muttering )

( muttering )

Donna!

How'd you know I was out there?

I felt you lurking.

I want to try to find a guy named Will Bailey

with the Wilde campaign in Newport Beach.

Yeah.

Congratulations. Way to go, Will.

Thanks. Thanks for your hard work.

Don't know who you are.

Will!

I'm going to sleep.

Come back to the party!

I'm going to sleep.

Now? Any second?

It's the greatest night of your life

and you're going to sleep?

Special reward.

It's the shank of the evening

and there are all kinds of volunteers

that want to dance with you

and you know what that means.

Dance? I think I do.

Are you ever going to enjoy yourself?

I just beat Chuck Webb, that was a pretty good time.

Yes, you did.

I'm so proud that you're my brother.

Me, too. I mean, me too.

You know what I mean.

You sure you don't want to come back for a little bit?

I can't stand up anymore.

Okay.

Sleep well.

Thanks.

Don't be wearing that dress all in front of...

Ah, never mind.

( phone ringing )

( ringing )

( ringing )

Congratulations.

You too, Mr. Lyman.

Yeah.

It's a great night for you.

I want to talk to you for a minute about Sam.

Uh, sure.

I wonder, though, is there any chance

we could talk first thing in the morning?

It's been a pretty long few months.

I-I understand completely, Will.

Thanks.

Let me just ask you this:

What are the President's unfavorables in the 47th?

I'm sorry?

I'm trying to get a sense of what happens

when Sam gets tagged with Bartlet fatigue.

No, I understand.

I just don't have the facts and figures.

Sure.

I can call you in the morning from the office...

I just assumed 'cause most operatives can recite

that kind of thing, you know, at the upper levels.

The President has a 48/42 favorable/unfavorable

"Handling of Economy," 41/51.

"Strong Leader"?

37/44.

Thank you.

Can you find Leo for me?

Yeah.

It's Donna. I have Josh looking for him.

Thanks.

You lost?

Hey, I know you.

Yeah.

You work here?

Yeah.

You didn't tell me that.

Let me see your slip.

I'm sure you're over in Dr. McNally's wing.

Navigation was never my strong area in school.

You had to study it?

Yeah, a lot.

Where'd you go to school?

Annapolis, Maryland.

Of course, I'm sorry.

It's this way. I'll take you.

Thanks.

Why don't you give me a carton?

No, no.

So you guys having a party or something?

Uh-huh, yeah. We won an election.

I heard. Congratulations.

Isn't this a strange time

to be moving into your office?

I'm the 2 a.m. Watch Commander in the Situation Room tonight.

Why didn't you tell me you worked for the White House?

I didn't want you to feel awkward about voting for Ritchie.

I didn't vote for Ritchie.

'Cause you traded with me

but your intent was to vote for Ritchie.

Yes.

And I didn't want you to feel awkward about it.

I appreciate that.

So why the hell were you going to vote for Ritchie?

My role here isn't political.

Is that what they told you to say if somebody asked?

Well, people usually don't ask.

That's true.

So why were you going to vote for Ritchie?

I think this is my door, right here.

It is.

( sighs )

( sighs )

Uh, would you mind?

Oh.

Okay.

It's freezing in here.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks a lot.

You bet.

So, why were you vo...

Pentagon procurement.

What about it?

The President campaigned saying he'd roll it back.

He wasn't talking about your job, or weapons.

He was talking about...

$500 screwdrivers. ( phone ringing )

Excuse me.

Lieutenant Commander Reese.

I'm just asking out of curiosity.

I mean, you're not in favor of...

Thank you.

They're calling me to work early.

What's going on?

I don't know. Sounds like there's

about to be a coup d'etat in Venezuela.

Well, you should go do that then.

Yeah.

Yeah, be careful.

Uh, thanks, but I'm just going downstairs.

Still.

Okay.

There's a cable intercept

out of Punto Fijo to Miraflores.

A request to speak to Ignacio?

Yeah, and there's a cellular intercept

has General Martinez at the palace

calling General Reyes at the refinery. And?

The request was denied.

Yeah, that wasn't really

a high percentage phone call, was it?

No.

Leo, this is Lieutenant Commander Jack Reese.

He's Nancy McNally's new man in uniform.

Welcome, Commander.

When did you start?

He started about ten seconds ago, Leo.

This is his first night.

All right, let me say first

this is not a drill.

Yes, sir.

Major Carson from SOUTHCOM

Adam Hallridge, CIA Venezuela Desk

Troop, Assistant Secretary for Latin American Affairs

and some other people.

Ignacio's two top generals-- Martinez and Rojas--

threw their support behind Luna and Martinez placed Ignacio

and his vice president under arrest.

Does their control extend beyond Caracas?

No.

Ignacio's got the PDVSA refinery at Punto Fijo.

LEO: There's 63 Americans in the refinery.

WHITCOMB: Mr. McGarry needs you to cull

the pertinent intelligence data

and put together a two-page briefing

he can give the President.

So, how much time do you need?

Um...

three hours?

( laughing )

20 minutes, son.

( sighs )

TOBY: "My ex-husband, Toby Ziegler, and I

"are expecting twins in May.

"We thank you for your good wishes

and ask for privacy while we consider... reconciliation."

Two sentences.

Actually, that's good.

Yeah. It is.

Harmless.

Yes.

I'll tell you what.

I'll issue that statement and that'll be that.

Thank you.

Okay.

Toby, wake up.

Wake up, time to go to school.

Oh, what is the problem?

You raise your voice to a pregnant woman?

I didn't raise my voice.

It was in your inflection.

Was it?

It is not a matter

of national security that the public know.

I do not waive my Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Fourteenth Amendment

protects you from State action, not the media

who, by the way, have their own amendment.

There are two dozen members of Congress over the age of 80.

They work on Tuesdays, and no one tonight

is questioning their job performance.

First of all, three of those guys

are outstanding Congressmen.

Second of all, their constituents knew they were 80

when they voted for them.

You think I wouldn't have been elected

if the Maryland Fifth knew I was pregnant?

The people who elected you aren't the ones

who are going to throw the picnic.

I know. Then what's the problem?

I can't stand the ones who are.

You know I'm going to get sued.

I mean, you know it.

The... Citizens League for a Rooty-Tooty Freedom Liberty.

They'll work out of a strip mall in Sarasota

but they'll be curiously well-funded.

( chuckles lightly )

You're not trying to avoid a fight. Nope.

You're for Yeah. one.looking

You're sniffing around

for a fight.

Yes. Not sniffing around for one

as much as... trying to create one.

Trying to create trouble

where none existed.

Yes.

Well... I can admire that.

Honey, have you told the Bartlets?

No.

Why not?

( inhales )

( sighs ): I came up with a plan to tell them apart

in the initial months.

I think I'll probably dress them differently.

Oh, okay.

I was going to hang little signs around their necks.

( chuckling )

Why haven't you told them?

I don't know.

WOMAN: There's a thing, "The biggest lies

are told after sex, before..." something.

Well, I think it's helpful if lies come before sex.

But... "The biggest lies

"come after the hunt, before marriage

and during elections."

Mark Twain?

Nice to meet you

Bruno Gianelli.

( laughing ): You're funny.

Yeah.

Does winning make you funny?

Losing makes you funny.

Winning makes you handsome.

Well, you must win an awful lot.

Bruno?

Excuse me.

I am, uh...

I'm just going to kill you.

She seems nice.

That's "The Brunette Named Annette."

Wouldn't you just

give anything if she was from Tibet?

I'm actually fine with her being

from Philadelphia, so please state your business.

Witkenstein.

I don't believe this. It's going to be

the start of a press tour.

Don't you want to enjoy

the party? I'm going to leak

some internal campaign memos.

Listen, I think it's good this guy is talking.

He doesn't know anything. The process story

won't last as long. I don't care. We can...

C.J. I know how to do this.

I can end a process story

and correct the record at the same time.

Look at me. What?

We won. It's over.

In a poll taken three days after the MS announcement

the President lost to Ritchie by nine points.

He won by 11.

You did it.

It helps when you cook with the right food.

But at midnight

my contract with "Bartlet for America" expired.

I'm a taxpayer now, and I'm telling you

I've got bigger problems than who gets credit for a win.

And I'd rather the White House not spend time on it.

( sighs )

Okay.

Hey... if you want to come back to my office

there's an actual still. I heard.

I'll be there.

Okay.

Hey, speaking of credit:

Yeah.

Nice win.

C.J., can I talk to you for a minute?

Yeah.

When the dust settles

what's the story going to be?

That we didn't take back the House.

Yeah, like that was our fault.

These people make me crazy.

"He-he didn't do enough down-ticket campaigning."

You have any idea how much gumbo

that man ate?

This is what you do, you bounce

off the subject.

Oh, shrimp.

I don't think running for Congress is the thing you do

to change the story.

I know, but there are real reasons.

We give Democrats in the 47th something to get excited about.

You think he should run?

I do.

This shrimp is incredibly good.

What are you doing here?

I'm your wingman.

Okay.

Hello. Hey.

AMY: Toby, I'm afraid you didn't have

a very good night.

I bet against a Puerto Rican for Bronx Borough President.

I deserve to lose.

And you took a hit, ironically

on a Wisconsin referendum to legalize gambling.

But you did win

four Omaha steaks on the over-under

in the Texas Farm Commissioner race.

Does the U.S. Attorney's office know about you?

Yeah, they have me on file.

Can we talk to you for a minute?

Actually, I'm going to, uh

talk to the President and First Lady. Can it wait?

You going to tell them?

Yeah.

Can we come? No.

They're still up, right?

Yeah.

Jimmy Fitzsimmons won the Boston Mayor's race

by 51 points

and believe it or not, did not beat the spread.

I think he should do it.

( grunting )

( metal clattering )

Hey.

Hi.

Uh, do you work on the maintenance staff?

No, I'm senior assistant

to Josh Lyman, he's the Deputy Chief of Staff.

I noticed that the room was cold before

so I loosened up the radiator, but...

then, well, I guess you could say I broke it.

But it's fine now.

It should be fine.

Well, I doubt it.

The building has maintenance, though, doesn't it?

They're having fun at the party.

Oh.

So...

everyone's safe in Venezuela?

( sighs )

Yeah.

$500 screwdrivers is why you didn't vote

for the President?

I work for the President. That's a lot.

It's wasteful spending.

No, it's not.

A $400 ashtray?

( sighs )

What was that?

A $400 ashtray.

It's off the USS Greenville

a nuclear attack submarine and a likely target for a torpedo.

When you get hit with one, you've got enough problems

without glass flying into the eyes of the navigator

and the Officer of the Deck.

This one's built to break into three dull pieces.

We lead a slightly different life out there

and it costs a little more money.

I can't believe you broke a $400 ashtray.

Yeah, I wish I hadn't done that.

It's... 'cause you're blonde.

How'd it go in the Sit Room?

Not my finest hour.

You want to go to the party?

I still got the watch.

Okay.

Can you glue that thing back together?

No.

They'll page me up at the party, right?

Yeah.

( tosses item on shelf )

Okay.

( soft music plays )

As you can see, we've moved on to the caviar course.

I love caviar.

I know how you do.

Stoli Cristall, the most elegant of vodkas.

( clinking )

The caviar itself

is a product of my advice

at the convention

on International Trade in Endangered Species.

We passed a much more stringent bill against the poaching

of Caspian Sea sturgeons.

This is Oklahoma caviar?

California white sturgeon

from the Stillman Sea Farm in Elverta.

Only the best.

Stop, it's getting hot in here.

Oh, I think you're going to find...

( knocking )

Excuse me.

Good evening, Mr. President.

How you doing?

I'm fine, thank you, sir.

I'm sorry, but Leo needs to see you.

Okay. Anyone else?

Yes, sir. Then Toby.

Yeah.

You're young, Charlie.

Don't you want to be having fun right now?

Yes, sir, but I work for you.

I get that a lot. Leo.

Good evening, sir.

Yes?

You look sharp. Thank you.

Hey, Abbey.

Hi, Leo.

What happened?

It sounds like Commando Especial units under Luna

broke into the refinery and took control.

The Americans?

They're safe.

It's over.

Yeah.

Well, we kind of knew it was going to be like this.

Yes, sir.

Jordan still here? Yeah.

All right, have a good night.

You know Toby's lurking out here, right?

Yeah. Toby.

Thank you, Mr. President.

TOBY: Good evening, sir.

Hi.

Good evening, Mrs. Bartlet.

That's a lovely housecoat you're wearing.

Thank you.

Listen, I'm kind of in the middle of something.

Is this anything that could possibly wait until tomorrow?

Of course it is, Mr. President. I'm sorry.

Really, I stopped by 'cause I hadn't told you

that Andy's pregnant.

It's twins and, of course, I'm the father.

Well, that's great.

Well done. See you tomorrow.

Yeah.

Jed.

( grunts )

Toby!

Get in here.

I was this close.

Andy's pregnant?

Yeah. It's, uh, twins.

A boy and a, um

uh, a girl.

That is the most wonderful news.

I'm going to cry.

You should marry that girl, Toby.

I'm doing my best, sir.

How far along is she?

End of May.

I have a picture. Wait a second.

End of May? Oh, boy.

This is going to... oh...

Hang on, I'm doing math in my head.

Yeah, end of May?

Why didn't you tell us until now?

Jed, he doesn't need a reason.

Yeah, but he's got one.

The truth is, I don't, sir.

At least not a good one.

I was intimidated by your Catholicism.

Really?

Yeah.

It's my Catholicism, Toby.

It works for me.

And me. And her.

Did you break any laws?

No, sir.

Then a blessing on your house, young man.

Mazel Tov.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay.

Is that caviar there?

Not really, no.

Let's go.

WHITAKER: I told Leo McGarry that.

I said education is the silver bullet.

That's what this election's about.

We went in the field, we came up with

the middle class tax cut that made sense

plus the 100% tax deductible tuition...

Excuse me.

Chris Whitaker, right?

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Well, thank you.

No, please.

We're all impressed with how influential you were

particularly when you consider

that most of us have never met you.

( laughing )

But what I'm most grateful for

is the process story

which takes attention from the debate

and focuses it where it belongs

which is the contest.

This is the story everyone will be clamoring for

and I like that you're filling that need.

And to show my gratitude

I'm calling all the major news outlets

and letting them know that I'll be forwarding

all your confidential memos to the President

logs of all your calls with him

Secret Service logs of your meetings inside the White House.

I really pissed you off, huh?

Don't disrespect Leo McGarry and Bruno Gianelli.

Sam.

I was just on my way.

What do you guys need?

We need to talk to you.

Talk to me about what?

We think you should run.

Why? Why would you think something like that?

Well, it was Josh's idea.

Actually

it was Amy's.

Why?

Well, I picked a trifecta with the California 47th

the sheriff's race

in Arizona and the Tulsa Family Court.

Well, can I

just give you the money and not...

I also think you'd be a home run choice.

You're going to raise a lot of money.

I'm going to help you and I have a hunch the President

who just won a landslide

will be making some visits as well.

You'll be the best funded Democrat ever to run in 47.

You're not going to win, so you can't lose.

I think you'd energize the state party.

We're not going to let you look like a fool.

We won't allow it.

What do you think?

I don't think you should do it.

Energizing the state party's good.

A well-funded airing of the issues is good.

So is mollifying House Democrats

but you have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

You're going to lose.

A Democrat's always going to lose in the 47th.

Can't just pick up and try someplace else.

They have a name for that.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I worked in a State Assembly race in Manhattan

in a district where Democrats

outnumbered Republicans 16 to one.

But everywhere we went

there'd be one lone poster of a right-wing nutbar

who wanted to eliminate the income tax.

And he was holding up signs

and canvassing everywhere

and bugging the local reporters

until we had to comment on it.

So I introduced myself to his campaign manager

and I said, "What are you doing?

"Your candidate doesn't have a chance

and neither do your issues."

He said, "This is what I believe.

"And no candidate

"gets to run in my district

without speaking to my issues."

I came this close to voting for him.

So...

I don't know about what you just said.

Then I think you should win.

( knocking )

I'm sorry.

I finally got Mrs. Wilde on the phone.

All right.

"All right," what?

All right.

And get me Will Bailey on the phone, too.

You think he's still up?

Oh, yeah. No problem.

I'm going to take this call.

We'll go with you.

Boy, you're in the Air Force

the private sector, the Labor Department

two presidential campaigns

and rehab and you think you've seen it all

but it turns out you haven't

'cause Sam Seaborn is going to be

the Democratic Candidate for Congress

in Orange County.

I know. I think it's terrific.

But I would've thought you'd be unhappy.

Why?

He's going to get crushed

and I wouldn't think

it would reflect well on your boss.

Well, let me tell you something about process, Dr. Kendall

and I'll do so while tuning this radio to WNKW

"The Music of Your Life..."

( soft music plays )

...and begging the sun for one more

moment of moonlight.

Speaking of the moon.

Luna took power tonight.

About three dozen people are dead

and Ignacio's under arrest.

He'll be dead soon.

Well...

Luna's who you wanted.

The process matters more than the outcome

and that's what we wanted.

And therein endeth the lesson.

Will you dance with me?

Yes.