Previously on The West Wing:
Can you brief me on Kazakhstan?
Has a deal been struck?
- Classified.
- So the details would be...?
Also classified.
- New Hampshire. First District.
- We'll have a good sh*t at the seat.
I think so.
And I think I'm the man to do it.
With a little help from you fine people...
...I'll be elected to the United States
House of Representatives.
If the worst they can say about
me is I'm Jed Bartlet's son-in-law...
Once the public gets to know me as an
individual, it's an entirely different race.
You're the politician.
Why the hell don't you run?
I don't want it.
Then why would you let Doug?
Because he's my husband,
and he asked me to.
I've been thinking about what might
have been if it weren't for the conflict.
I'm almost over it.
I'm right there and you come back.
- Forgive me. You should be drinking.
- For what?
- You look incredible.
- Stop.
- Well, you do.
- That's unnecessary.
- You okay?
- I'm just great.
- Have a seat.
- Thanks.
So how's the president?
- We off the record?
- Please, yes.
- He's doing great.
- I wouldn't want that to get around.
I'm surprised you called.
I remember shunning you.
Dignity's not my forte.
So...
- They kept the kitchen open.
- Then we should order.
Hi. Thank you.
- Like to hear the specials?
- Please.
We're featuring
New Zealand lamb shank...
- Is this from a list?
- I'm sorry?
- The specials, they written down?
- Right here.
We'll read them. We're readers.
- Whatever you want.
- It's easier.
- Then you don't have to perform.
- Fine with me.
Thanks.
A night out.
This is like a week in Aruba.
Except it's cold and dark.
- What?
- I was making a joke.
Oh, you don't have to do that.
Relaxing makes me nervous.
Like I'm missing something.
- You want a drink?
- No.
- So, what's up?
- What's up?
- Why am I here?
- You really want me to...?
- Cut to the chase. I do.
- All right, well...
I'm having a bit
of performance anxiety here.
Well, get yourself together.
I'll look at the menu.
I wanted to see you.
That's it?
How am I supposed to...?
I know you've always had a thing
about reporters.
- A "thing"?
- When you were press secretary.
- I wouldn't call it a "thing."
- No?
They tick me off, is all.
You wanna know why?
- That's okay.
- They care more about a good story...
...than the truth.
- I see.
I have to live in a culture where
what's important doesn't matter.
We're too preoccupied
with attractive people...
...playing musical genitalia
in Hollywood.
- It's disgusting.
- I cover politicians.
- Most are homely, so no one cares.
- True.
If they had guts,
we'd write better stories.
If we had the support
of a well-informed constituency...
As opposed to what, leading?
Wanna know why politicians tick me off?
- They're attracted to false heroics.
- What?
There's two places
you can see an egomaniac...
...talking about how great he is,
how he's gonna kick his opponent's ass.
One is a professional wrestling match,
the other, a national political convention.
Can't do anything
if you don't get elected.
He never has to get elected again.
You're content with the same game
of well-intentioned defense...
...you've always played.
- Not true.
You can do more in a day
than most do in a lifetime.
You think I'm not aware
I'm living my obituary right now?
So don't get hypnotized by complexity.
Make it count.
- What are you working on?
- Right now?
Trying to keep China and Russia...
...from annihilating
the Northern Hemisphere over oil.
- What are you working on?
- Couple of House races.
- Well, no good comes from that.
- No.
- Heard anything about Doug Westin?
- The president's son-in-law...
...might be the next congressman
from New Hampshire.
- He's only down three points.
- Doesn't care about being his own man.
He's asking the president
to stump for him in Manchester.
- Really?
- Yeah. Why?
He's getting a lot of heat,
bunch of profiles, rising-star crap.
And I was surprised...
...because the one time I met him
he seemed kind of...
- Unimpressive?
- Yeah.
Are you implying that success
isn't a question of inherent value?
- No, I would never do that.
- Good.
Okay, let's get a move on, here.
- Fish is a stupid thing to get.
- He may be banging the nanny.
I want a big slab of... What?
I think the president's son-in-law
may be banging the nanny.
- Is that a euphemism?
- No.
Well, "banging" is, I guess.
It's just a rumor.
There's no official corroboration...
...but it's flying around
pretty heavy up there...
...and it could break any minute.
The president has a lot
of political enemies in New Hampshire.
They might wanna create a circus
or just hurt him for spite.
Gotcha. Great. Thank you.
I'm gonna go.
You're what?
sh**t, I ruined the dinner.
- Tomorrow's a big day. It got bigger.
- You gotta eat.
- Get the steak.
- Can I see you?
- Sure, it was swell.
- When?
Soon as we're out of office.
How do we expect the people
of Kazakhstan to vote...
...if we can't guarantee the safety
of our monitors?
- It's gonna diminish turnout.
- You think?
Chinese want revenge.
They're not looking for a referendum.
Is there a legitimacy threshold?
You mean participation? No.
Chinese troops are holding?
Yeah, but any further loss of life,
they'll have to go in.
The Kazakhs understand
that one cop goes nutso...
...and everyone gets to live
in a sarcophagus?
Tarimov understands the stakes.
He gets it.
- I mean, these people love their vodka.
- Don't drink and play thermonuclear w*r.
That's what I'm saying.
Whatever communication we have...
...we emphasize that everybody needs
to bury their dead and vote in peace.
What do we know about
att*cks in the Sudan?
- The refugee camp in Darfur?
- Yeah.
Janjaweed warriors
att*cked the camp...
...along with government troops
out of Khartoum.
- This is new, right?
- Attacking the camps is.
Directed by the government
in Khartoum?
African Union says the Janjaweed and
Sudanese government are the same.
Government helicopters
were part of the as*ault.
There's r*pe trauma,
there's amputations.
All the men are dead.
We've seen it before.
The big question is, will there be
another member of the Bartlet family...
... in the Capitol come next January?
- Mr. Westin, who has insisted...
- Look good.
... on running as his own man...
...nevertheless trails...
- Peacekeepers are overwhelmed.
Yeah. The minute it gets too dangerous,
the humanitarian groups pull out...
...and we have genocide on smack.
Let's move on this.
- Really?
- We can get a resolution through the U.N.
There's a Security Council meeting.
Yeah, next week.
Let's chop the financial balls
off these bastards in Khartoum.
- How?
- We sanction their oil revenues.
- We agreed...
- To sit on our butts?
China would veto.
We've never tried it.
China needs us now.
They need a broker to make sure
this election in Kazakhstan is legitimate.
- Is this coming from the president?
- From me.
I'm gonna see what I can get
and then take it to him.
If we assure them
their flow of oil is secure...
...they may be willing
to sacrifice something.
They give up what they're getting
from the Sudan...
...and get it from Kazakhstan.
Don't wanna jeopardize neutrality.
They can't know it's coming from us.
- We find a proxy.
- Yeah.
France and Germany want us
to let them sell arms to China again.
Margaret?
- I need the French ambassador.
- He's over at State.
- Will's here.
- Will?
- Send him in.
- I'm gonna take off.
- Great, thanks.
- Campaign coordination in the Roosevelt.
- Josh is waiting.
- A conference call.
Actually, he's in town,
so he wanted to do it in person.
And Steve Laussen called again
from Refugees' Rights Alliance.
He wants five minutes. Actually,
it's more like he demanded five minutes.
- I told him no.
- Squeeze him in.
- Really?
- Why not?
You, I need. Come here.
- What's wrong?
- Close the door.
- I didn't do it.
- Close the door.
- Toby did it.
- Shut up.
Gonna talk now?
Seriously, I don't react well to this.
It's like staring at a dog.
Doug Westin is having an affair
with his nanny.
I don't wanna know that.
Why did you tell me that?
You deal with the press.
I don't want you to get blind-sided.
Exactly. I work with the press.
I do my best when I'm the least-informed.
- You taught me that.
- Suck it up.
I can't act. I'm a terrible actor.
You were in New Hampshire
during the primary.
- So what?
- Find out if there's truth to said rumor.
- How?
- You'll figure it out.
- Wow.
- You think?
I've got the president flying there to lend
credibility to the alleged fornicator.
- Really bad.
- We already lost a V.P. In a sex scandal.
I feel like I'm handing out towels
at the Playboy Mansion.
- It's not your fault.
- Oh, really, now?
- Open the door.
- What?
Open the door.
- Did you take an awkward pill?
- What?
I'm always like this.
Thank you.
Briefer Boy, I caught you on C-SPAN.
You look real cute in makeup.
Withering sarcasm. I love it.
Those are some brutal briefings.
Looks like some medieval wonk-baiting.
Support me in public. All I ask.
We were talking about how many
Cabinet members you want on the trail.
Since I'm in town, thought I'd nail down
the president's availability...
...for the campaign.
I'm back at to work out a calendar.
We're gonna need people left...
...to run the country.
- I don't care.
We're gonna do everything we can
to support you.
I talked to the president. He's fine
doing the address on deficit reduction.
I'm assuming you're gonna
keep slamming Vinick on his tax cut?
- Yeah.
- What else?
Looking at the polling:
Santos does better where people think
the country's moving forward.
Don't do anything
you wouldn't be doing anyway.
Whatever you have in terms of research
grants, infrastructure initiatives...
...it's a waste to piddle it out
in some Commerce press release.
Let's highlight it, have the secretary
show up, create sizzle.
We've got business loans, light rail stuff
coming. We'll keep you posted.
- Whatever you got.
- Easy.
- I want it all.
- You'll have it.
- I also want something big.
- Like?
The Molecular Transport Lab.
The biotech-chemical-genome thing.
- What about it?
- Be nice...
...to make the announcement
in Texas.
You didn't want us doing
anything we weren't doing.
I want you to move
the announcement up.
It would be huge.
Could make the difference.
The location hasn't been decided.
It's working through the review process.
- That's not what I hear.
- No?
No, it's going to Austin.
All $ billion worth. I gotta go.
I'll be back at for Cabinet Affairs.
You should check that out.
How does he know
we made the decision?
Maybe he doesn't.
Maybe it's a rumor.
Maybe it's wishful thinking,
he's trying to jam it home.
If we announce that
a $ billion research investment...
...is going to Texas
before the election...
...the senator from Kentucky
is gonna blow a gasket.
Good way to make a statesman
look like an ineffectual fool.
French ambassador's in the Mural.
- I gave him a beverage.
- Thanks.
- Where'd you leave it with the senator?
- He knows it's going to Texas.
He's fighting for his life.
His constituents don't like his politics.
- Schwing with the purse is all he's got.
- He didn't promise anything.
All he's asking is we hold off
until after the election.
- What'd you tell him?
- I told him we'd hold off.
We're not risking a Senate seat.
- You're doing it again.
- What?
- Standing there in front of me.
- We were talking.
That's over. See what you can find out
about the nanny.
- I don't understand how I'm supposed...
- Walk away from me now.
So proud to serve
in these hallowed halls.
We are very concerned
about the reports out of the Sudan.
The att*cks on the Internally
Displaced People's camps in Darfur.
Yes, it's awful.
We would like to turn off the spigot...
...that's supporting
the government in Khartoum.
No reason not to expect
more mass killings and displacements.
As you know, the European community
has formally condemned this activity.
Yes, and as you know,
the perpetrators do not care.
Our students have launched
a very effective divestiture campaign.
Which we admire.
We believe you have the domestic
constituency to support bold action.
Yes, that's true.
We may be willing to support
reopening your arms sales to China.
- In exchange for what?
- A resolution...
...sanctioning oil revenues to Khartoum.
- The Chinese will veto it.
- They might.
- Yeah, they will.
Look, if it was up to me...
...NATO troops would have been
on the ground in the Sudan years ago.
Are you offering troops
to a NATO peacekeeping effort?
The African Union troops are clearly
doing their best to protect the camps.
- There's been improvement there.
- People are still dying.
Now, I know it's not a solution.
But I believe an African problem
will require an African solution.
We would prefer an African solution,
but it's not working.
But you have to ask yourself, C.J.,
how did we get here?
We saw it coming.
We did.
Perhaps a murderous government...
...with intelligence on international
Islamic t*rror1st organizations...
Could provide the United States
with crucial information. Absolutely.
Perfectly understandable.
But when we push things
to the side...
...often they come back to haunt us.
- We all make calculation, Jacques.
- And your investors...
...who continue to trade shares
of the multinationals...
...who do business with these K*llers
on the New York Stock Exchange...
That's another calculation, yes.
- Plenty of hypocrisy to go around.
- Sure, sure.
Unfortunately, C.J., we cannot afford
to introduce a resolution...
...so obviously aimed at the Chinese.
You are so fond of calling yourselves
the leaders of the free world.
So lead.
- What do you got?
- Nothing.
- He didn't do it?
- I didn't get...
- I told you to...
- Casually call people...
...and ask if they think the president's
son-in-law's committing adultery?
You have to be more artful.
There's no art in finding out
if somebody slept with someone else.
- You ask straight out or you don't.
- Didn't say it'd be easy.
The segue hasn't been invented...
...that takes us from weather
to hammering the nanny.
- You have nothing.
- Found out it's cold in New Hampshire.
- You're useless.
- The Westin's -year-old nanny...
...of three years was let go in August
and is now traveling in Europe.
There do seem to be a lot of reporters
focusing on Doug, digging around.
- That doesn't mean...
- Sheila Jacobs, Danny Concanon...
Danny Concanon, yeah.
They're all talking to people
about Doug.
Non-politicos.
I pulled this picture of the whole family
at a butter festival off the Internet.
That's the nanny right there,
which makes me think he did it.
- Just look at her.
- What's that supposed to mean?
- I'm saying...
- I see your mouth. Saying what?
She's cute, he likely did it.
- They have children.
- Be stupid to have a nanny if you didn't.
Especially one like that.
If you're interested in male perspective.
It raises the level of the discussion.
Can I give you advice
before you ask me to leave my office?
I don't know where you're going...
- Protecting the president.
- Right, whatever.
This much I do know.
There's one thing worse...
...than telling the president
his son-in-law's having an affair.
Telling the president
his son-in-law's having an affair...
...then finding out you were wrong.
- Danny.
- I know you're working on this story...
...but right now
I'm concerned with the president.
I don't wanna walk your gauntlet of
journalistic ethics, so I'll make this easy.
I'm gonna say a sentence and if it's true,
you just don't say anything. Clear?
Don't say anything.
If you don't say anything,
what I said was true.
- Okay.
- Got it?
- Isn't that risky?
- What do you mean?
What if you say something not true
and my cell phone cuts out?
- It's not gonna happen.
- I got on an elevator.
- Well, get off now, mister!
- Hang on! Whoa, sorry.
- You okay?
- I'm fine, fine.
- C.J.?
- What the...?
I'm holding the fish now.
- C.J.? Hello?
- You want your privacy, don't you?
- I really do.
- Claudia Jean?
Steve Laussen from
Refugee Rights Alliance is out here.
- Give me a minute.
- I'll do that.
C.J.? You okay?
- You there?
- Yeah. You okay?
- I almost k*lled my fish.
- On purpose?
- Why would I do that?
- You've been under pressure.
- Listen up...
- I'll tell you anything...
...if you have dinner with me.
- What?
See if we can get through an appetizer.
- Okay.
- Same place?
- Sure.
- Great. sh**t.
If I went to the president
with the information...
...would I be making a mistake?
No. See you tomorrow night.
Steve. Come in.
- It's good to see you.
- Thank you.
- Glad we could make this happen.
- Me too.
Have a seat.
You're aware of the situation
in the Sudan?
The att*cks on the camps?
Janjaweed backed
by government helicopters.
- Right.
- Has there been any official response...
...from this administration?
- We condemned it.
What do you wanna hear, C.J.,
the numbers or the horror stories?
- Neither.
- I'll run down the talking points quick.
Three million displaced,
, dead.
Children forced to watch
mothers r*ped and fathers k*lled.
Current death toll per month: .
If humanitarian organizations are forced
to withdraw: , per month.
- Steve?
- I have photographs.
I don't need to see photographs.
When babies die, mothers
don't know how to put them down.
So they carry them around.
On this planet.
On your watch.
Yeah.
Remember the monk who lit himself
on fire to protest the w*r?
I used to think that guy was nuts.
- Now it seems the logical response.
- Won't help.
We need strong preemptive action,
led by the Bartlet administration.
Overwhelming American
m*llitary might...
...followed by a decade
of nation-building...
...where many consider us infidels...
...so that we might bring forth
a democracy?
Of course not. Come on, C.J.
When did it become naive
to try to end genocide?
We're monitoring the situation carefully.
Steve, you don't need...
- I need my government...
- The president is aware...
...to assert its moral authority.
Okay.
- I want five minutes with the president.
- This was your five minutes.
I'm sorry, Steve,
I'm late for a meeting.
You've got the German ambassador
in the Mural.
Great. Doug Westin's in town.
I need to see him tonight.
- I'll track him down.
- Alone.
- Alone?
- Alone.
- I smell bacon.
- Hello, Josh.
A heaping helping
of sizzling Federal pork butt.
- I can't talk now.
- Perfect for a Texas barbecue.
I have a meeting.
I finished up with Cabinet Affairs.
Thought you might have news.
- I don't.
- It would be helpful...
...to make the announcement in Texas.
- We haven't decided yet.
When the EPA did the
environmental-impact study in Kentucky...
...they concluded it had to go to Texas.
- Really, now?
Yeah, I have the data.
The University of Texas has everything
in terms of research coordination.
You know this.
You're playing with me.
- I'm not. We haven't made a decision.
- You have bad information.
I feel pretty confident
about my information...
...since I actually work here
and you don't.
And now I have a meeting.
The president needs
to fly down to Texas...
...stand next to the congressman
and make the announcement.
- That's not gonna happen.
- It's gonna come out.
You can't keep this information quiet.
You want the president
to be a part of the story or not?
Think about it. I'm around.
- Please, have a seat.
- What can I do for you, C.J.?
We've been monitoring
these developments in the Sudan.
Disturbing. Tragic.
As long as oil revenues
flow into Khartoum...
...the humanitarian situation
will deteriorate.
Germany has completed a large deal.
- One of our companies is building...
- Diesel-electric plant. We are aware.
Good. I want to be
honest with you. Good.
We are looking for a U.N. Resolution.
- From who?
- From you.
- The Chinese will veto.
- They might.
One hundred percent they will.
One hundred percent.
- This is something the president needs.
- Yes.
You already made
the same request of the French.
We talk often. We have a union now.
If you want this resolution,
why don't you make it?
We are doing everything we can
to avoid World w*r III in Kazakhstan.
At the same time,
we'd like to do what we can...
...to prevent an unnecessary
and massive loss of human life.
Then focus on humanitarian needs.
If we start mixing human rights with
oil exports, we'll all be riding bicycles.
The European Union declared what was
happening to be tantamount to genocide.
Tantamount, yes.
Overwhelmingly.
In exchange for your introduction
of a new resolution...
...we will drop our opposition
to your arms sales to China.
And, of course, we can assure you
of a sympathetic hearing...
...at the next round
of trade negotiations.
There may be another
construction project...
...in conjunction with
the diesel-electric plant in Khartoum.
It will be grandfathered
into the sanctions.
Well, then how can I refuse you?
You're very persuasive.
Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.
The president will be thrilled.
- How will you avoid a veto from China?
- You said it yourself, Franz.
- Yeah?
- I can be very persuasive.
We are now at the point
where the research disciplines...
... can no longer afford to function
separately.
Our understanding
of our natural world...
... is beginning to inform
our technological future.
And our understanding
of technology...
... stands on the verge
of revolutionizing our ability...
... to detect and treat
a countless number of illnesses.
That's why federal investments...
... like the proposed Molecular
Transport Lab are so important.
There's about to be a biotech expl*si*n.
Let me tell you this:
I've looked closely at this project.
I believe that
in the next couple of days...
... we're gonna be hearing good news
for the great city of Austin...
- ... and the great state of Texas.
- Son of a bitch!
Dial Josh now.
Son of a bitch.
- You got him?
- On two.
- Hello.
- Hey, what's up?
I hate it when I make myself clear.
- Wait.
- And I'm not received.
It's a done deal, C.J.
This is not your call.
He didn't announce it.
He said Austin was the most viable site.
- He didn't make...
- Don't make distinctions.
I've known you too long.
Way too long.
I understand Calvin Bowles' Senate seat
is a priority.
- Calvin Bowles...
- You know.
Pious old pork hog
who votes like a schizophrenic.
You done? Calvin Bowles
is a breathing Democrat.
That's debatable.
We cannot afford to lose
any more of those right now.
Where does holding
onto the White House fit in?
I'm sorry. Doug Westin is here.
Tell him I'll be right there.
Listen up, Josh.
I work for Jed Bartlet.
I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't
trying to preserve his legacy.
The announcement's off the table
until after the election.
Is that clear?
- Now, if you'll excuse me...
- C.J., C.J., listen to me.
You wanna cover all eventualities?
Have the president join us in Texas...
...then he and Santos
will fly to Kentucky...
...to stump for Senator Bowles.
Your problems are solved.
I have to go now.
- Come in, Doug.
- C.J., how you doing?
I'm just great.
Know what I'm gonna do
when they declare me the winner?
- What are you gonna do, Doug?
- I'm gonna ask for a recount.
That's not my line, but I love it.
- It's great, isn't it?
- Yeah.
I am so jazzed about this event
with the president next week.
We are gonna win this thing.
I've never felt so strongly about anything
in my life.
But until that last vote is counted...
...I operate under the assumption
I'm gonna lose. Nothing for granted.
I mean, look who I'm talking to.
You know exactly
what I'm going through.
Don't say it. Do not tell me
the president needs to go to Zurich...
...to work on this Kazakhstan thing.
- No, he doesn't.
- Good.
I don't care what you do privately.
- Okay.
- I really don't.
- I'm a...
- When you do something...
...that hurts my boss's ability
to do his job...
...that could embarrass him
on a political trip...
...and will take attention away from
urgent national and international issues...
...I begin to care very deeply.
I'm trying to get
the Chinese ambassador here...
...to put an end to unimaginable
human suffering.
If you have a problem with your zipper,
get it out of my face right now.
Do you understand me?
- I think I do.
- I think you do too.
Yeah.
- Chinese ambassador in the Mural.
- Thanks.
Here's what's gonna happen:
You're gonna walk
to the Office of Political Affairs.
Tell the people that you don't want to be
overshadowed by your father-in-law.
You want to win this thing yourself,
on your own merits...
...and thanks, but no, thanks,
you're withdrawing your request...
...to have the president with you
in Manchester. Do that for me, will you?
That'd be great.
It is an irresponsible moment
for the Germans...
...to propose sanctions on the Sudan.
Two nuclear powers are mobilized.
We have troops massed
on both borders of Kazakhstan.
We're standing on the edge of the...
I agree, the timing is odd.
- It is not appreciated.
- Yeah.
And stupid.
These Europeans, they're always
pretending to have a significance...
...they no longer possess.
I have spoken to them.
I'd like to make a proposal.
- What?
- You're interested...
...in arms from the French
and Germans.
We're interested in all markets.
There have been no sales
since Tiananmen.
Israel, other countries
have done business with us.
The French and Germans told us
they'd like to sell to you again.
They should.
It's a meaningless restriction.
They are simply losing money.
- We objected strongly.
- I was there.
- There may be some latitude now.
- With the arms sales?
Yes.
It will be difficult to justify closing off
such a significant source of oil.
We're thirsty.
We're trying to grow an economy.
We're gonna make sure your oil supply
is preserved.
You can show yourselves
to be responsible members...
...of the world community...
...with a simple abstention
on the German resolution.
It will allow us to put American
election monitors on the ground...
...to ensure a fair vote there.
- That's it?
- That's a lot.
I will disappear
into my massive bureaucracy...
...and see what I can do.
- You're funny.
Thank you, ambassador.
You know what I think about a lot...
...when I'm having
these kind of discussions?
What, sir?
Capitalism vanquished Communism.
Obliterated it.
And here we are having a discussion...
...where you are trying
to restrict our markets.
We're trying to address
a humanitarian situation in the Sudan.
Exactly.
But you have always taught us...
...that liberty is the same thing
as capitalism.
As if life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness...
...cannot be crushed by greed.
Your American dream is financial,
not ethical.
This is a good deal for the Chinese.
I hope you'll consider it carefully.
- Of course.
- Thank you.
No, thank you.
You have taught us well.
The president needs you in the Oval,
and I have a yogurt here.
- What for?
- To eat.
- He's in there?
- Yeah.
And he's grumpy.
Come in.
How you doing, kid?
- Very good, sir.
- Glad to hear it.
Teddy Barrow just called from State.
What's going on with the Sudan thing?
I'm working on a resolution.
- Sanctioning oil revenues.
- To be introduced by the Germans.
- Vetoed by the Chinese.
- Not necessarily.
- Probably.
- Could be.
I am trying to defuse
a nuclear standoff.
Why would we want to antagonize
the Chinese right now?
We're not.
This is coming from the Germans.
You don't think they'll figure it out?
We owe these people $ billion.
- They're not stupid.
- We're out of time.
We've all been hypnotized
by the complexity of this thing:
The E.U., the U.N., State.
This isn't a solution, but it's a start.
I can't have anything compromising
our neutrality in Kazakhstan.
This won't. As far as China knows...
...this is Europe
holding their feet to the fire.
We're the ones brokering the deal.
China would owe us.
This could even help us in Kazakhstan.
Is this about the Sudan...
...or the fact that we're all about
to get kicked out of this building?
When the babies die,
the mothers carry them around for days.
They can't put them down.
Yeah.
- Keep working the resolution.
- Thank you, Mr. President.
Why is Matt Santos
stomping on what's left...
...of my goodwill up on the Hill?
- The transport lab.
I got an irate phone call
from the senator from Kentucky.
I think he was irate.
He didn't have his teeth in.
I'm not sure what
he was talking about.
The Santos campaign
got polling telling them...
...a federal investment in Austin
could help win Texas.
Which is why I think we should...
...send you to Austin to announce
the transport lab with Santos.
Then we send you both to Kentucky
to stump for Bowles.
- When's that gonna happen?
- Thursday.
Doug Westin withdrew his request
for you to campaign with him.
Why'd he do that?
I think he wants to prove
he's his own man.
- By losing?
- Lf that's what it takes.
Liz is gonna k*ll him.
Doug just changed his mind?
Was there anything else?
No, sir. Thank you, Mr. President.
When do you get an answer
from the Chinese?
I should know over the weekend.
- It's worth a sh*t.
- Yeah.
Hey, come here a sec.
- What's up?
- I need to tell you something.
You all right?
- Doug Westin.
- Yes?
Doug Westin had an affair
with his nanny.
- Get out.
- It might break, it might not.
- Is she cute?
- Who cares if...?
I spent my life surrounded
by men in uniform.
Biology kicks virtue's ass,
in my experience.
She's .
Okay, so she doesn't have to be cute.
That's disgusting.
- Yeah.
- He should die.
The bastard should just be dead.
- Did Liz leave him?
- I don't think she knows.
Sic Special Ops on him.
Make him a tragedy she can cry over.
I made him withdraw his request
to appear with the president next week.
You're telling me because...
- I don't know if I should...
- Tell her?
No. Now's the time
everybody looks at her funny...
...till she figures it out.
- I know.
I just don't know
if I owe the president...
Sorry. Liz Westin's in your office.
She needs to talk to you.
Good luck.
Okay.
- Hi, Liz.
- C.J. Hi.
I'm sorry to barge in on you.
Are you busy?
You know, thermonuclear w*r,
genocide.
- I don't mean to bother you.
- It's fine. It's good to see you.
Have you seen Doug?
- He was here yesterday, right?
- He marched into Political Affairs...
...and told them he didn't want
my father to do the event.
- I heard.
- I can't believe it.
Do you know how long it took me
to convince him to let my father help?
It was important to be his own man.
To win or lose on his own.
His father-in-law is the president.
It's a fact. He can't run away from that.
It's gotta be hard
to try and live up to the president.
- You can't.
- No.
He is the father of my children,
and I want them to look up to him.
- Sure.
- No matter what he's done.
Do you understand
what I'm saying, C.J.?
- I think I do.
- I think you do too.
Talk to him.
Tell him it's political su1c1de...
...to run away from Dad.
- You're trying to do what's best.
Marriage is complicated, C.J.
This isn't ideal,
but it's the best thing for my children.
- I understand.
- Good.
But my job is to protect your father.
My father would want
to protect my children too.
I'm sorry, Liz.
We've given the date away.
- Already? You can't have.
- It's gone.
So on his own merits.
We let the voters decide?
I think it's best.
Yeah.
I need some Schedule C's
willing to take unpaid leave...
...and hit the road with the candidate.
- I'll put together a list.
The least-humiliating
public speakers possible.
I've cleared the president
to fly to Austin...
...to announce that it will be the home
of the Molecular Transport Lab.
He'll then fly to Kentucky
to campaign for Senator Bowles.
Would Congressman Santos
like to join him?
- I'll have to get back to you on that.
- Go to hell.
I'm embarrassed, Tom.
I'm embarrassed my country is content
to let other countries take the lead...
... when it comes to
the key moral question of our time.
Half a million dead.
And at what number
do we say "enough"?
We've called it what it is.
It is genocide.
This is an unprecedented moment
in American history...
... where we have
acknowledged that system...
U.N. Delegation just notified State.
There's a Security Council negotiation
on language for a Sudan resolution.
- Where are the Chinese?
- They're in the room.
- Threatening to veto?
- Not out of hand, no.
- They're talking?
- They are.
- It's a start.
- Yeah.
- You wanna get some food?
- I can't. I have a date.
- You do not.
- What? I have a date.
- With whom?
- A guy I used to go out with.
- I'll walk out with you.
- You go ahead.
I need to talk to the president.
The Doug story's gonna break.
It's gonna be terrible for him.
I want him to hear it from me.
- He's ready.
- Okay.
- See you tomorrow.
- Yeah.
Men are like salmon.
Swimming upstream...
...hosing down the riverbed
with their indiscriminate seed.
- Indiscriminate seed?
- Until they die...
...bloated and spent,
belly-up in the sun.
Quit sweet-talking me, baby.
Unless they get taken out
by a bear paw in the waterfall.
- You're struggling with trust issues?
- I'm struggling with reality.
- What's your dessert policy?
- What?
- Want me to spare you the monologue?
- I do.
I figured.
I'll get you some more water.
Oh, gee, I'm sorry.
I'll shut up and leave now.
- She hates my guts.
- Yeah, she does a little bit.
I'm sorry about the other night.
- Why?
- Because I was behaving like...
...the kind of type-A career woman,
freak automaton...
...that I so very much
do not want to become.
- Please.
- I wanted to see you.
And I haven't felt that in a long time.
I just got awkward and antagonistic.
As long as you didn't k*ll our fish.
I don't want to see you
until after the inauguration.
- You don't have to.
- I want to do my job.
I want to suck every morsel of meat
off this experience.
- Just get something done.
- Comes down to what it always does.
- What's that?
- How dirty do my feet have to get...
...without disappearing in the mud...
...to get an inch
of what I really want done?
- Doesn't sound very heroic.
- It's not.
So, what's the deal? You still
creeped out by reporters, or what?
Why? You got another
unholy b*mb to drop on me?
- That's what these dates are about?
- It was an attempt at a real date.
- And this?
- It's another attempt.
If I'd wanted to publish that story,
I wouldn't have given you the heads-up.
I can't write that kind of crap anymore.
I don't...
I don't know if I want to be a reporter
anymore.
- Really?
- Doug Westin's libido...
...broke the camel's back.
- What do you wanna do?
- I don't know.
- Can I ask you something?
- Yeah.
Why'd you come here tonight?
Because you made me promise to.
Why'd you come?
I wanted to see you.
Yeah.
- Thank you.
- You gonna do a magic trick?
I'm flying a little blind, here.
I'm halfway through my life,
and I'm never sure...
...if I'm doing anything right
until I'm done...
...doing it wrong.
- Work with it.
- So this may not come out right.
- I forgive you.
And incrementalism is not an option.
I'm forced into a heroic posture.
- Heroic can be good.
- Feels funny.
- You can do it.
- Okay.
We're both about to fall off a cliff.
And I don't know what I'm gonna do
with the rest of my life...
...except I know
what I don't wanna do.
On Inauguration Day,
you're gonna be released...
...from that glorious prison
on Pennsylvania Avenue with...
- No human skills?
- Seems to me.
- I should punch you in the face.
- That's what I'm talking about.
- Keep going.
- So if I'm gonna jump off the cliff...
...and you're gonna get
pushed off the cliff...
...why don't we hold hands
on the way down?
- Oh, sh**t.
- Oh, turn it off.
- I can't yet.
- Just for a couple of seconds.
- Oh, my God.
- You okay?
- Oh, my God. I have to go.
- Okay. No, no. Go, go.
I'll see you later.
I'll see you later.
What's happening?
Did the Chinese inv*de?
- Kazakhstan is stable.
- What is it?
- A nuclear accident.
- Oh, Lord. A w*apon?
- A power plant.
- Is it Russia?
San Andreo, California.
They think it might blow up.