07x18 - Requiem

Episode transcripts for the TV show "The West Wing". Aired September 1999- May 2006.*
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An American political drama revolving around the White House Staff.
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07x18 - Requiem

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on The West Wing:

America has lost a giant tonight...

...and I've lost a friend.

He d*ed. Leo's dead.

Undecideds all over California
are driving to the polls right now.

For those of you who
have not yet voted...

...it is the only thing that should matter
when you go to the polls tonight.

I am not naming
a new running mate now.

Leo was on the ballot.
If I win, he wins.

- We just won Oregon.
- Get the president-elect on the phone.

I wanna congratulate him.

I am the resurrection and the life,
saith the Lord.


He that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live.


And whosoever liveth
and believeth in me shall never die.


I know that my Redeemer liveth...

... and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the Earth.


And though this body be destroyed,
yet shall I see God...


... whom I shall see for myself.

And mine eyes shall behold...

... and not as a stranger,
for none of us liveth to himself...


... and no man dieth to himself.
For if we live, we live unto the Lord.


And if we die, we die to the Lord.

Whether we live, therefore,
or die, we are the Lord's.


Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord, so saith the Spirit...


... for they rest from their labors.
The Lord be with you.


Let us pray. Almighty God,
we thank thee that in thy great love...


... thou hast fed us
with the spiritual food and drink...


... of the Body and Blood
of thy Son, Jesus Christ.


...and has given unto us
a taste of thy heavenly banquet.

Grant that this Sacrament
may be unto us a comfort in affliction...

...and a pledge of our
inheritance in that kingdom...

...where there is no death,
neither sorrow nor crying.

But the fullness of joy
with all thy saints...

...through Jesus Christ
our Savior. Amen.

Give rest, O Christ,
to thy servant with thy saints...

...where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Thou only art immortal,
the creator and maker of mankind...

...and we are mortal, formed of the earth,
and unto earth shall we return.

For so thou didst ordain
when thou createdst me, saying:

"Dust thou art,
and unto dust shalt thou return."

All go down to the dust,
yet even at the grave we make our song.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give rest, O Christ,
to thy servant with thy saints...

...where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior...

...we commend thy servant Leo.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech
thee, a sheep of thine own fold...

...a lamb of thine own flock,
a sinner of thine own redeeming.

Receive him into the arms
of thy mercy...

...into the blessed rest
of everlasting peace...

...and into the glorious company
of the saints in life.

Amen.

Let us go forth
in the name of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

Hey.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

The president invited some people over
later, after Arlington.

- C.J. Told us.
- You got a pretty busy schedule.

- We'll move things around.
- Speaker's race is heating up.

- How many are in it now?
- Three, if you count Marino.

- Two and a half.
- What's wrong with Marino?

- Nothing a hairweave can't cure.
- World needs welterweights.

- My condolences.
- Thank you.

And Congressman Fields
wants five minutes this afternoon.

We're from neighboring districts.
When I was mayor...

...I practically camped outside his office.

Last whip count,
Fields had a slight edge over Sellner.

If we can solidify that...

Sellner's got a few whips to cr*ck too,
if you're sitting with Fields.

- I need five minutes with Sellner.
- Marino?

If this were a game show, this is when
we'd hand him his lovely parting gift.

- I'll see you at Arlington.
- All right, Barry. I'll talk to you later on.

We should be careful
about meddling in a speakership race.

I served in the House.

It would just tick off the loser
and anyone who supported him.

Fields moved back to Texas to help us
with the campaign for three months.

Sellner voted with the Republicans
on vouchers, on tort reform.

You wanna keep your oar
out of the water.

One of them's gonna be the speaker.
You're gonna have to work with him.

We're inundated with calls about
who you'll name Vice President...

...resumes for Cabinet
and sub-Cabinet positions.

- That's what I spoke to Barry about.
- Barry Goodwin?

I asked if he was willing to do it,
and he said yes.

- To head the transition team?
- Sir, we're ready for you.

He's got some great ideas, Josh.

Find a few minutes
and have him fill you in.

That was a beautiful service.

I'm just waiting for the press
outside to pack up and leave.

- You coming to Arlington?
- Is that you asking or somebody else?

Relax, Charlie.
Tell C.J. I'm not coming.

I'd like to, but I have
other commitments.

Sure.

I'll walk with you.

I don't think a picture of us makes
the front page of the New York Times.


Do you?

I told Mallory that we'd go by
her mother's house for a few minutes.

She seemed okay, given everything.

Did you see Toby in the back?

Yeah.

He would have hated this,
don't you think?

He would have been mortified
that we'd gone to all that trouble.

Jed?

We got in here yesterday, so we haven't
had a chance to get organized yet. Hello?

- Hey, thanks.
- Hi.

Thanks, everybody. Thanks. Please.

All right, stop that now.

- Go on. Everybody back to work.
- We don't get into the West Wing...

...until after the inaugural,
but we can see it out the window.

Dave's gonna keep an eye out.

Make sure nobody makes off with
FBI files before we get in there.

This is you.

This'll do.

The director of the
National Gallery called.

If you wanna pick out
stuff for the walls.

- You got my messages?
- I'd vet those first.

- Figure out who you need to respond to.
- Oh, no, that's okay. I'll do it.

How many do we have
so far this morning?

About .

Let me know when you
get through the A's. Thanks.

What do you think about Swain
for Defense Secretary?

Senator Swain of Rhode Island?

Yeah. Service academies love him. Shook
things up as Secretary of the Navy.

- He's a Republican.
- Bipartisanship would k*ll us?

It's gonna be seen as a political grab.

We offer a Cabinet position to a
Republican who can't possibly take it?

Barry thought it was a good idea.

Well, Barry is wrong.

Are you unhappy with Barry
as head of the transition team?

I'm unhappy with him as
de facto Congressional liaison.

There's an advantage to letting
him handle the transition:

It keeps you from having
to say no to those people...

...that you're gonna need
when you're Chief of Staff.

- Congressman Fields is here.
- Thanks, I'll be right with him.

I served in the House for years.
I think I can handle minutes alone...

...with one of my closest friends
in Congress.

Thank you, sir.

- Weren't the flowers gorgeous?
- Yeah.


Leo loved gardenias.

We should try to catch up
on calls before this thing starts.

Daley, Hutchinson. See if Ambassador
Klein is still awake in Berlin.

- How you doing?
- Oh, okay.

Sorry, I'm losing stuff today.
I'm fine. You?

Fine. I'm a little early.
What time's it start?

- Four.
- So two and a half hours.

- More like three.
- I wanted to make sure I wasn't late.

- That was a nice service.
- Beautiful.

- Majority Leader had his fly down.
- Did he?

I was gonna tell him, except I never
really liked him, so I decided it was okay.

I'm sorry I didn't catch you
at the cathedral.

Don't worry. You were swamped.

Everyone thinks I have something to say.
I'm not coming up with anything.

You don't have to.

Actually, I came early because I was
hoping we could get a minute to talk...

...before the masses descend.
- Yeah? Me too.

Really?

- sh**t.
- Me first? Why do I have to go first?

I don't know. I just... You...

Okay. Well, you know when I came over
Wednesday night...

...and it was late
and we didn't really talk, we just...?

I have a vague recollection.

- Did that make you feel bad?
- Bad in a... In a what?

- You know, used.
- For my body?

- Something like that.
- I'll work through it.

- You sure?
- It happens. Women want me.

It's just, I know we have a lot
to talk about...

...and I don't wanna leapfrog any of it,
but it was kind of wonderful to just...

- Not talk.
- Not even a little.

You wanna do it again tonight,
don't you?

I really do.

I'll leave the door open.

Congressman Fields.

Wonderful service this morning.

- Not so much a funeral as a celebration.
- It's true.

- Makes me sad I'll be missing my own.
- And by just a few days.

- Thanks, Otto.
- Sir.

- Mr. President.
- Mr. Speaker.

Hey, I can skip pages
on the calendar if you can.

- I'm a few pages short.
- How's that?

I'm votes down.
Sellner's pulled ahead.

Well, last whip count had you at .
Sellner can't have more than .

Peeled away Hughes and Fraser.

That brought him six more Blue Dogs
and Schreibman's wavering.

So six of our conservative members
get to swing the whole election?

Sellner's telling everybody you're too
liberal, and I'd be a White House lackey.

Well, more like the other way around.

Half of my agenda's
gonna come from you:

Lobbying reform,
the Medicare expansion...

Well, now, I need
something from you.

Segal flips if you ask him.
Blinken, Carney.

Plus you got at least five votes
on the Hispanic caucus.

I know how it'll look: President-elect
wading into a leadership battle...

...bail out an old friend.
- That's how it'll look.

You give Sellner that gavel,
and he'll drop it smack-dab...

...right in the middle
of your legislative skull.

Hey, look at you.

- An office with your name on it.
- Yeah, got a door and everything.

How's that feel?
I never got above a cubicle here.

Feels great. Not that it's gonna last long.
New sheriff's coming to town.

You talk to Josh?
I'm sure he'd be happy to...

What about you? Josh gonna carve out
a little corner for you?

Well, lots on his plate right now.

Anything short of
Secretary of Commerce...

...you gotta challenge him to a duel.
- Pistols or sabers?

I'm serious.
He really hasn't talked to you yet?

Election day was only three days ago.

It's complicated.

You want me to slap him around a bit?

I can round up a few guys
from the old neighborhood.

People are starting to gather
in the lobby for the thing.

- Josh really hasn't asked you to...
- Come on, Charlie. Buy a girl a drink.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be great
to have Fields.

It's risky to monkey around
with elections.

Risky is not the word.
Blackjack is risky. Stock picking is risky.

Yeah, well, I'm more
of a credit union kind of guy.

Any scenario loses us allies. If you
can conceivably work with Sellner...

If we're annexing a small
Latin American dictatorship, sure.

Yeah?

- Thanks.
- Congressman Sellner.

Mr. President-elect.
I like the sound of that.

Couple too many syllables,
but I'll take it.

- Josh.
- Good to see you, Congressman.

Wonderful service this morning.
More of a celebration, really.

Never thought of it that way.

I'm gaining. You control enough votes
to put him in the speakership...

...but you're not gonna.

We're not doing any kind of whip count.
We're steering clear of that.

Let's talk about issues.

I won't take orders
from the White House.

I won't have the caucus to the left,
but you'll know what I'm doing and...

...bill of yours dies, blame me.

My bigger concern is that a bill
might not make it to the House floor.

- Try me.
- Okay. Lobbying reform.

H.R. One.
First bill I want you to take up.

We both know my best chance to
pass something is right out of the gate.

You wanna waste that chance on
a process issue banning martini lunches?

I wanna ban all political donations
by registered lobbyists.

They'll turn around,
demand clients write checks...

And a ban on lobbyists
directing contributions from their clients.

Lobbyists would have to argue
on the merits of their bills.

I could argue it's unconstitutional.
Money equals speech.

No, we don't allow bribery.
That's speech through money too.

Which must be why you voted
for lobbying reform...

...when Fields introduced it
three years ago.

When we were in the minority, I did.

- Now we're in the majority.
- By four seats.

We finally have a fundraising advantage.
Now's not the time to switch the rules.

And how does a process issue
help any of us to...

We shut out insurance-industry lobbyists,
it helps us pass health-care reform.

If we shut out drug-company lobbyists,
it helps us pass...

...a real prescription-drug benefit.
This bill lets us pass every other bill.

Well, you can push for it. I'll do my best
to block it. May the best man win.

If you end up as speaker, sure.

We're not implying that...

I'll have a majority to protect.
If I end up as speaker, that is.

You want me to blow our chance...

...to hold onto a Democratic House.
First one in years...

...first bill out of the gate.

I won't do it.

Mr. President-elect.

I hope we'll have the chance
to work together.

Set up a meeting
with Congressman Marino.

You realize that Marino's got,
like, three votes.

I don't think I could get Mrs. Marino
to vote for him.

He's still a candidate
for speaker. I support him.

I can't be accused
of backing an old pal.

Sellner's not a bad barometer
of what the caucus is thinking.

Maybe. But he's a bad barometer
of what I'm thinking.

Ten minutes with Marino.

- Will.
- Mr. Vice President.

- Beautiful service, wasn't it?
- Yes, it was.

Just beautiful. Santos here?

- I haven't seen him yet.
- But he's coming?

So I'm told.

Fifty-eight. Leo.
Makes you think, doesn't it?

I'm not that many years behind him.

Already called my cardiologist,
scheduled a treadmill test, EKG.

Probably time to suck it up
and get that colonoscopy too.

Better safe than sorry, right?

- You look nice.
- I like to tart it up for a funeral.

Hey, congratulations.
I don't think I said that.

Don't worry about it.
I mean, thanks, but, yeah.

Things are getting
a little lost, understandably.

You should be proud.
You ran a hell of a campaign.

- Hey, can I ask you a favor?
- Sure, sh**t.

I sublet my apartment to this
nervous woman from Treasury...

...but according to the campaign,
I'm done, so they...

Oh, God, you're homeless.

- Can I crash at your place?
- Tonight?

I'll sleep on the couch.
I'm quiet and clean, like, obsessively.

Of course. No, sure.

No couch. I've got a guestroom.
I'm sure there's a bed there somewhere.

- You're sure?
- No, of course. Anytime.

I... I really appreciate it.

Jed?

Jed? You ready?

People are arriving downstairs.

We don't have to stay long.

You can just give me a signal
and we'll make a quiet exit.

- Quiet exit?
- Well, as quiet an exit...

...as the leader
of the free world can make.

- Ronna?
- Congressman Marino is here.

- Yeah, bring him in.
- Mr. President-elect.

- Jim.
- That was a remarkable service...

...this morning. Really more of a...
- Celebration.

- Absolutely, I thought so too.
- Let's talk about your candidacy.

For speaker?

Well, you do realize
you're a candidate for the job?

But I'm a good votes
behind Fields or Sellner.

The deficit hawks talked me into this.
I'm just running to make a point.

What's your point?

Well, I guess it's the deficit hawks
trying to make a point.

About the deficit.

I suppose that would be it, yeah.

What if Fields were to drop
out of the race and...

...you suddenly had all of his votes
plus about a dozen more?

Well, I'd be the speaker, wouldn't I?

- You're not honestly...?
- How would you react...

...to a big January push
for lobbying reforms?

A ban on all lobbyist donations?

Has Fields got some sort
of health problem?

If you were the speaker, Jim?

Lobbying reforms. You got it.

Even with a thin majority?
Could be an issue with the DCCC.

I'd do cartwheels on the rostrum.

- I'm not saying Fields is dropping out...
- You name it, I'll do it.

- But there clearly is a perception
he's a White House lackey.

God, you're a handsome devil.

You ready?

Yup.

Thank you. Hello.

- Danny, how are you?
- Good, thank you.

Why all the long faces?
Leo would be furious to think...

...we were all standing around
feeling sorry for ourselves.

We need some music.
Do we have any music?

- I have a CD player in my office.
- That's the spirit.

- Hey, Debbie.
- Sir.

C.J. How you holding up?

Hey, kid.

Leo loved you. You knew that, right?

I don't know how
he could have done it without you.

You remember that trip to Seattle
during the first campaign?

When he couldn't find his umbrella,
so you grabbed a garbage can...

...to hold over him?
- And it still had garbage in it.

Leo ended up
with a three-course meal on his head.

Dry as a bone, though.

That Christmas, Abbey and I
bought him a new umbrella...

...and she bought him
a new garbage can.

- Hey.
- Can I get you a drink?

Yes, but before you spend your time
getting me liquored up, I should tell you...

- You're a virgin?
- No.

- Terminally ill?
- No, but what I asked you before...

- When you propositioned me for sex?
- Yeah, it's not gonna happen.

Donna Moss needs a place.
I told her she could stay.

Well, she can.
She can have the place to herself.

- I can't do that.
- Why not?

- Where will I tell her I'm sleeping?
- Who cares?

I'll have to come up with some reason.
My ears get red when I lie.

- I stammer. She'll figure it out.
- You're passing on a night...

...because you don't know
what you're gonna tell Donna?

It's not about Donna.
I'll spend the rest of the afternoon...

...strategizing about how to explain it
or not explain it.

Or don't have an explanation,
even for myself.

I don't have an understanding
of what it is or where it's going.

I'll chew the question over
in my brain...

...while people are talking to me
about death or affairs of state.

We've put this off for seven years.
This will keep another night.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Good to see you.

All hail the conquering heroes.

Congratulations.

- I am so sorry for your loss.
- It's a loss for the entire country.

- Indeed.
- Where's your lovely wife?

- She had to get to Houston for the kids.
- Lots of changes coming in your lives.

Yeah, I'm starting to gather.

Hello, stranger.

I thought I saw you.

There was a crowd.
I didn't wanna hover.

- You could have rescued me.
- I decided years back...

...that was not an efficient use
of my time.

- How are you holding up?
- Great.

Can I steal you for a minute?

- Hi.
- Hi.

How's the Hoover Institute?

It's only been two weeks but,
you know, it's only been two weeks.

You gotta admire conservatives,
that you'd name something after Hoover.

Liberals are coy about our mistakes.

You won't catch us naming something
after pretty much anybody.

- Can I talk to you about a job?
- How long did you say...

...you'd been at the Hoover?
- Two weeks. Almost one and a half...

- Nine days.
- I've been in meetings...

...that have lasted longer than that.
With charts.

So who's on the list?

For which of the jobs
we're filling in the next ten weeks?

Leo's.

- I have thoughts.
- Carol Gellsey's on the list.

- She is? That's good.
- Yeah.

- Where on the list?
- At the top.

- Like number one?
- Like number two.

- Baker's number one?
- Yes.

That's wrong. That's a bad choice.

I don't think your first decision
should be so myopic.

- I feel good when we talk.
- You don't need Baker.

Four years from now,
a Congresswoman from Florida...


...will seem like manna from heaven.
- Baker's got experience...

Gellsey was in the House
six years longer than Matt Santos was.

She was on Ways and Means
when he was still in Houston.

- She ran for governor, lost.
- Ten years ago.

Her statewide favorability's at .

Santos wants someone
with serious executive experience.

Governor of Pennsylvania
is as serious as it gets.

- Come on.
- It's not nothing.

We're looking for a senior statesman
here. It's about gravitas.

You're looking for Leo McGarry.
He isn't available.

This is an opportunity.

It's a moment when the electorate
doesn't have to be convinced...

...a woman can hold
high-constitutional office.

They'll accept it as fait accompli.

Do you think she's as good as Baker?

I think she's better.

Donald Sherman's looking for you.
Flee, he's after Deputy Leg Affairs.

He had me cornered,
talking about the leadership.

- Okay.
- He spits little bubbles when he talks.

Is the president still here?

He left a while ago
but he invited people to the residence.

- What about the president-elect?
- I think he's on the phone...

...in the Roosevelt Room.
- Great.

Do you still have the key
to my apartment?

I've had a key for years.
You change the lock?

- No, you should come over.
- That's sweet. I can't.

Why not? I thought the twitchy chick
from Treasury was in your place.

- I asked C.J. If I could stay with her.
- So unask her.

I can't. She'll ask why.

- So lie.
- She's my friend.

- Didn't wanna ask me?
- I didn't know we were at that point.

Okay to have sex in a hotel,
but not my apartment?

It's a step. People get uncomfortable.
I assumed you'd be one.

Uncomfortable with sex
in my apartment?

Are you really gonna try to convince me
I'm the one who finds this all awkward?

- No.
- Thanks for asking, though. It's sweet.

Nice wake.

Oh, yeah. Right.

No, I'll be back over there
in a little while.

Okay.

- The president left already.
- Yeah, I saw him go.

Bob Russell selflessly offered
to stay on as V.P. If we want him.

Really? What did you tell him?

I thanked him very much for his
many years of dedicated public service...

...then tried to get the hell away.

- Amy Gardner's pushing Gellsey hard.
- For V.P.?

She's a presence in Florida.
Bipartisan support.

- You buy it?
- Maybe.

- Amy's in the lobby if you wanna hear...
- Yeah, okay.

Barry Goodwin says
you spoke to him...

...about Swain for Defense.
- Yeah.

- He thinks it's a good idea. You disagree?
- Yes, sir, I do.

He also thinks I should round up
those extra votes for Tim Fields.

You can't kick the speakership
to one of your best friends in Congress.

Don't you wanna see
lobbying reforms?

Not if it means ramming it down
the throat of the Democratic Caucus.

Not if everything else we wanna do
goes down in flames.

You shut out lobbyists' access
and it'll never come back.

If you don't have confidence
in my counsel...

Is this about Barry
heading up transition?

- Goodwin, the speakership, Swain...
- I'm sorry you were offended...

...by my hiring Goodwin
before clearing it with you.

Backing Fields is a mistake.

The White House
is a political operation.

My job as chief of staff is to keep you
from making political mistakes.

And this is a whopper.

If you're looking for a yes man,
I'm not it.

I'll be out in the lobby
with Amy Gardner.

The president-elect wants to talk
with you about Carol Gellsey.

- Really?
- Yes.

You're a good man.
You have a good soul...

...and nice hair.

- How's the lumberjack?
- He's a wood sculptor.

And he's happy all the time,
which I used to find irritating...

...and no longer do.
- Really?

- He doesn't race me anywhere.
- That's great.

- It's civilized.
- That's what it sounds like.

- Don't mock. You should try it.
- Sure.

- I have a name for you.
- We already did V.P.

- If you try and staff my whole Cabinet...
- No, for you.

For sex and civilized conversation.

Sales pitch is a little flimsy.

Sarah Potrero. She's a friend
and you don't deserve her...

...but the world's a cold place.

- We shouldn't do this.
- It's time.

You're approaching the age
where people shake their heads.

- Now you're channeling my mother.
- We should get up to the residence.

The Post heard a rumor
Max Manitoba's up for a Cabinet post.


- Did that come from us?
- No.

Okay, I'll squash it.

- Do you know Sarah Potrero?
- From Justice?

Yeah. Don't you think
Josh should give her a call?

For a date.

- With you?
- Don't you think it's enough already?

I'm withering on the vine.

Sarah's a great idea.
She's a real sweetheart.

Inside the beltway
but outside the building.

You'd have a lot to talk about,
but wouldn't step on each other.

She's ready for long-term,
pretend you are.

- Sure.
- It's what the grownups do.

What exactly do the grownups do?

- Mr. President-elect.
- Amy, so good to see you.

We'll let you guys catch up.
We will go far, far away.

Josh, I called Congressman Fields,
asked him to come back over tonight.

- Would you like me to be there?
- I'll be fine. Thanks.

Fields would shake things up
as speaker.

Yes, he would.

Josh says that you have some thoughts
on who should be V.P.

- I understand Carol Gellsey's on the list.
- Of course she is.

I'm just not sure
that she can be on top of it.

She's qualified, she's respected
on both sides of the aisle.

- She helps in Florida in the reelect...
- She'll look symbolic.

It's a paradigm-breaking administration.

I can't walk in and start staffing
the place like it's Noah's Ark.

The gender gap's the only reason
the party wins.

If only men voted, Democrats
would never hold another elected office.

The party's losing women.
You almost lost this race because of it.

A little patronage won't make
the world stop.

We're talking about the most
unrewarded constituency in the nation.

I'm not getting anywhere, am I?

I think Baker's the right choice.

I think you're scared.
That's what's motivating your choice.

I think you find Baker reassuring.

I just got elected president.
You sure you wanna call me a coward?

Josh says that you won't work
at the White House.

I have an agenda.
I pursue it relentlessly.

- I've been known to...
- Here's what I think.

It's easier to throw rocks at a house
than to build one...

...and you're ready for more.

You calling me a coward, sir?

Director of Legislative Affairs.

Fix the place from the inside.

It's what the grownups do.

C.J. Wanted you to stop by
on our way up...

...to the residence.
- Yeah, sure.

- Sarah's a doll.
- Stop.

- Smart, cute, nice body.
- Okay, this is getting weird.

- Is she in there?
- Go on in. She's expecting you.

Every day the same damn sandwich.

Turkey sliced so thin you'd think
he was gonna wallpaper a room with it.

Lettuce, but not too much lettuce,
and mayo, but not too much mayo...

You were looking for me?

Ainsley Hayes approached me
about the White House Counsel's job.

Really?

Isn't she at the Warren G. Harding
Institute or something?

- Hoover, but yeah. She's terrific.
- She's still a Republican, right?

And she's still dedicated
and incredibly bright.

I think you should get over
the Republican thing.

The president-elect's on a bipartisan
bender of late, so I'll get her a meeting.

I was heading up to the residence.
Coming?

I was just thinking about Leo
sitting over there in that chair.

Weird, isn't it?

How people are here one minute,
and then they're not.

It's degrees below zero with a
wind-chill factor that'd cr*ck your spine.

No way I'm leaving the van without
my jacket, but Leo won't give it to me.

Says it'll make me look
like I just sledded in from the tundra.

Mind you, I've spent my entire life
in New Hampshire.

He's telling me my fellow citizens won't
vote for me if I'm wearing a parka.

Grab a seat, I'm telling the parka story.
These two have fallen asleep.

- Charlie's heard it.
- More than once.

- New Hampshire primaries?
- Yeah.

So Leo won't give me the parka
and we're pulling it...

...like two guys trying
to raise the mast.

Just as we both give it
a really strong yank...

...Josh opens the door...
- Wasn't me.

- It was you.
- I wasn't there.

You were there.
Who's telling the story, me or you?

- You, sir.
- Then sit down and shut up.

Josh Lyman opens the door
from outside...

...as Leo loses his grip and I go flying
out the door ass-backwards...

...on the street in front
of TV cameras.

- Maybe five.
- I wasn't there, I swear...

What was the headline
in the Union Leader the next day?


"Favorite Son Falls Flat
in Granite State."

With a huge picture of me
lying prone in the street...

...as if I'd been felled
by John Hoynes' welfare plan.

First time I met Leo he was
wearing an Italian suit.

- Cost as much as the space program.
- English, not Italian. Saville Row.

- Has he worn a suit more than twice?
- He barely wore them once.

- And those peach shirts.
- Apricot.

He corrected me more than once.
I did like those pink ones, though.

- Not a lot of men get away with that.
- And Leo wasn't one of them.

He ever pull that Davis Cup thing?

- Oh, yeah.
- Me too.

- What thing?
- Leo used to tell tall tales.

To test how gullible you were.

Like how he played Davis Cup tennis
before he blew out his knee.

He hustled chess
in Washington Square Park.

- How he was a train conductor.
- Baseball player.

If you were buying,
the stories kept getting bigger.

My favorite was how he almost
made the Olympic luge team in .

- He didn't make the luge team in ?
- There weren't any Olympics in ' .

Don't worry, I made it
to minor-league baseball player.

You didn't think it weird
after he blew out his knee...

...he played minor league baseball?

- I made it to dance instructor.
- No, no. That one was true.

- He taught me to foxtrot.
- Really?

Congressman Fields.

Sellner's out there working
the vote twice as hard.

Maybe he thinks you're gonna
shove some members my way.

He doesn't. Because I'm not.

You convinced Sellner
to back lobbying reform?

- He's worried about keeping the majority.
- Sure, never mind the democracy.

I think he's right.

Right to protect lobbyists' ability
to funnel cash into...?

The bill I'm pushing for,
but right to protect our House members.

Yeah, from left wing rabble-rousers
like you and me.

Tim, the caucus
has to pick its own speaker...

...or else he won't have credibility,
and I don't see how that helps anyone.

You realize if he wins,
Sellner will strip me of everything.

I'll be stuck on some C-level committee
on committees...

...midnight hearings on overstock
at the...

Only if you keep fighting him
for the speakership.

You want me to drop out?

I want you do whatever you think
is best for the party.

Is there something for me
on the Cabinet, SBA, Interior?

We can't afford to lose your seat,
not with just a four-vote majority.

Fill a starving dog's belly,
he'll never bite you.

The difference between a dog
and a man.

If you need any help with federal aid
for Houston...

Yeah.

About years ago, I took him on
a fishing trip to help him quit smoking.

- Leo, fishing?
- Camping and fishing.

Never wanted to go where
he couldn't see his car.

Well, he smuggled a pack of cigarettes
inside his tackle box.

Kept slipping into the woods
to have a smoke.

Finally, I got him out on a boat
in the middle of this lake...

...and he had a nicotine fit, screaming
at me that he has to get back to shore.

I said, "We haven't caught any fish.

We're not going back
until we fill up this bucket."

We'd brought a shotgun
in case we ran into any bears.

Leo picks up the g*n, fires it into
the water. He reloads and fires again.

Pretty soon, fish are rising
to the surface all around.

He calmly turns to me and says:

"Now give me
the damn bucket, please."

Well, everybody,
I think you better call it a night.

- What? No, it's early yet.
- Jed, : is not early.

- All right, thank you all for coming up.
- Thank you, sir.

- Good night, sir. Thanks for inviting me.
- Donna.

Charlie.

Sleep in, Mr. President.
I'll cancel breakfast with Tillman.

No, we've cancelled it
three or four times already. I'll be in.

- Okay. Good night.
- Good night, dear.

Claudia Jean.

I really miss him, sir.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Tim Fields for speaker?
- Yeah.

Santos can't be messing around
with House elections.

That's what I told him.

- Did he listen?
- I don't know.

You know, I was
supposed to be doing this with Leo.

He loved you like a son.
You know that, don't you?

Leo and I are the past.

You're the future.

It's up to you now.

We're counting on you.

You still got my number, don't you?
Call the switchboard anytime.

- They'll put you right through.
- Mr. President.

- Mrs. Bartlet.
- Good night, Joshua.
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