The West Wing s05e22 Episode Script

Previously on The West Wing: You're going on a CODEL to the Middle East.
No presidential handholding.
You're gonna see what's going on.
- Explosion in Gaza.
- What about Donna? She was in the car that Andy saw people put in ambulances.
That's all she knows.
Three dead so far, sir.
Congressmen DeSantos and Korb.
And we just got word, Admiral Fitzwallace.
I asked Fitz to go.
The people responsible will be found and brought to justice.
- Don't promise that.
I know the world.
Fitzwallace told me, when he was a kid his dad took him sailing on the Long Island Sound.
Scared the hell out of him, so he joined the Navy.
- Kate Harper.
- The president.
It's Leo.
- Hello.
- How's Gail? Not great.
Sir, there's been an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City.
I'm on my way.
But before we go to the president's address Chairman Farad, I need you to do all you can to prevent retribution.
No, Mr.
Chairman, we had nothing to do with it.
No, sir.
Israel did not discuss the missile strike with us.
You don't wanna make this difficult.
We need access to the site in Gaza.
And I will urge the Israelis to hold off on further attacks.
Most strongly, sir.
And to you, Mr.
Chairman.
- Get me the Israeli prime minister.
- The ambassador's on her way.
We're their closest ally on the planet.
You'd think they'd pick up the phone.
Is that the statement? - Anything from the FBI? - I was just about - Go.
- Thirty seconds, please.
Carol's circulating the draft already.
"Tyranny of terror to deathmongers"? What is this, Tolkien? - The stronger your language now - I'm not saying it.
- Ten seconds.
- I'll put a hold on the draft.
- Mr.
President.
- I'm fine.
In five, four, three, two My fellow Americans, good evening.
This morning, we lost three distinguished Americans in a despicable act of terror in the Mideast.
I come before you shocked and saddened by our loss.
And angered, as we all are, by the tragedy thrust upon us.
The search is under way for those responsible.
I ask for your patience while we hunt for answers.
And as we pray with those who grieve let us resolve to search not only for justice but also for a just end to this senseless cycle of violence.
Thank you.
Good night, and God bless America.
From the Oval Office, Josiah Bartlet, president of He should be right out.
Ambassador Galit.
I'm glad someone from your government could spare a moment.
I'm asking for restraint.
What the hell do you think you're doing? This has nothing to do with you.
We've been tracking this man for months.
You couldn't take three minutes to think through the ramifications? Ramifications? A terrorist responsible for dozens of Israeli deaths is dead.
As are 11 innocent civilians.
This is inflammatory.
It endangers our investigation.
- Israeli intelligence is doing all they can.
- Damn it, Shira.
If I'm gonna find the people behind this, I need access to the bomb site.
Access to evidence and the cooperation of the Palestinian Authority.
Three things I cannot get if you keep firing missiles into Gaza! Mr.
President, we received information on the whereabouts of a man responsible for the repeated killing of our citizens.
We had a specific location and little time.
Would you have done differently? If you'll excuse me.
The FBI's received an anonymous tip through Israeli intelligence.
They found bomb-making equipment in an apartment in Gaza.
They think it's linked to the bombing of our CODEL? They believe they've located one of the men responsible for the murders.
The president offered condolences to the families of those murdered in Gaza.
It was a strong speech, but I'm surprised the president didn 't raise the possibility of greater military I'm all for white roses and black veils, but: "An end to this cycle of violence"? What's the president suggesting? - Palestinian population.
But whatever he says, he's got three or four possible targets he's considering.
- including the body of Admiral Percy Fitzwallace .
who will be buried Wednesday at Arlington.
Were President Bartlet's departures from the draft text planned? Part of the standard process for a speech of this importance.
The cuts aren't reflective of his attitude on military response in Gaza? They reflect that Toby Ziegler's never written a five-minute speech in his life.
They're talking about a congressional resolution in support of military action.
The president is meeting with the leadership.
They'll have a discussion.
I've got a report the FBI's working with Palestinian Authority security forces at the site of the bombing.
The investigation's in Gaza.
The Palestinians speak the language.
I have an announcement.
James Holtman, a legal aide to Congressman DeSantos died today of head and neck injuries sustained in yesterday's bombing.
He was 26 years old.
His name is Khalil Nasan.
He's a founder of a splinter group of the Khanjari Martyrs.
He recently fled Gaza City and the equipment in his apartment bore traces of RD X.
Same stuff used on our Suburban.
- Where is he now? - The FBI's tracked Nasan to his headquarters in southern Gaza.
Sir, there are several military options.
Any not mentioned on television this morning? We're focusing on two.
A commando raid on Khan Younis gives us a chance to bring Nasan in alive, but his organization is armed.
There's a substantial risk to our soldiers and the mission could fail.
A missile strike from the U.
S.
S.
Carney carries a higher likelihood of success and zero risk to U.
S.
military personnel.
And the risk to civilians? We launch the Tomahawks in the next four hours we can minimize collateral damage.
- In the next four hours.
In the middle of the day, children are still in school Where exactly is this headquarters? It's located in an apartment complex, sir.
- How many people? - We're still evaluating.
- Ballpark it.
- In a daytime strike we'll see 15 to 50 casualties depending on the building collapse and whether fire spreads to adjacent buildings.
- Fifteen to 50.
- lf we strike in the next four hours What are my other options? - Sir, I'm sorry - I'm not risking 50 Palestinian lives and the stability of our relationships over there.
So I'm asking you again, what are my other options? Sir? What are my other options? Leo? You don't have any options, governor.
The president's decided to follow Fitzwallace's recommendation.
This is just a courtesy briefing.
So with less than three months left in office the president and Fitzwallace are gonna saddle me with a war in the Philippines.
I've been president-elect for 72 hours.
The brass is already laughing at me.
It's a limited peacekeeping mission, sir.
Military training, assisting the Filipinos with logistics, intelligence.
No more than 1000 troops.
Sounds like a lot, but since I haven't the vaguest idea what I'm talking about Wilson didn't know a battalion from a battery when he took office.
And he did a heck of a job with the Treaty of Versailles.
Admiral Fitzwallace thought you might find it reassuring.
He did, did he? Alan, thanks for coming up.
We'll start the full security briefings next week.
Sir, congratulations again and good luck with the conference.
- Thank you.
Admiral Fitzwallace.
Remind me to fire that guy.
We could ask the Israelis to go after the suspect.
- We don't want them fighting for us.
- We don't want them fighting at all.
- There's the Palestinian Authority.
- Chairman Farad? - He's offered assistance.
- You're kidding.
He's asked for the opportunity to arrest suspects identified by the FBI.
Sir, we share our intel with him, he's as likely as not to tip off the suspect.
The chairman has no love for Nasan's organization, and we can give incentives.
- Guns and bombs to fight Israelis? - International legitimacy.
Agreement to recognize him as the representative of the Palestinians.
You wanna get back on the merry-go-round with this guy? Let's see what he has to say.
- Leo.
- Yeah.
- You know, the Israelis have tried this.
- Yeah? Two years ago.
They identified the men behind the discotheque bombing gave the intel to the Palestinians.
The chairman made them write: "I will not kill innocent children," and sent them home.
He won't treat us like Israelis.
We have power to bring him to the table.
Sir.
The country wants action.
Bringing Farad back to the table I'm not saying it's Camembert and wine, Leo.
I'm saying it's what we got.
Find a way to get Nasan without taking out a city block I'll launch the damn missile myself.
Hi there.
- You just wake up? - My mouth is dry.
Let me get you some water.
Hey.
What happened to you? To me? You need to shave.
- I haven't really had time.
- Where am I? You're in Germany.
It doesn't look like Germany.
- You're actually in a military - Here you go, honey.
- She's not German.
- This is true.
Just squeeze that clicker if it hurts.
It's a morphine drip.
It's gonna take some time to orient yourself.
He needs to shave.
Wouldn't hurt.
I'm just gonna draw a little blood.
If you need to step outside I'm fine.
I'll be right back.
Did you find his notes on the speaker's? I'll check Donna's files.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- How's she doing? - About the same.
But she's awake, at least.
Kind of.
What's going on there? Well, other than the legion of congressmen demanding retribution it's been pretty quiet.
- The end of his address - It was an improv.
- The Europeans loved it.
So did The Times.
Of course, in about 15 minutes every other editorial page will be calling for Hamlet to get off the dime.
So, what are we doing? - I'll put the Joint Chiefs on the line.
- Toby.
You really want state secrets on a collect call? - We could use code names.
- Yeah.
We gotta make a call on Camden Yards.
It's Memorial Day.
He's scheduled to toss out the first pitch at Camden Yards.
Cancel it.
No.
We can't cancel.
It sends the wrong message.
Ask for a moment of silence.
And, Toby he's gotta You need to take him out with gloves and a ball.
It's a 6-foot toss from the stands.
It's Little League.
FDR threw from the stands, beaned one of his photographers in '37.
Extended the Depression another four years.
I can't stress enough the importance of an immediate and forceful response.
- And, Mr.
Speaker, we fully intend to - Really? The president's speech was We're making every effort to identify those responsible.
We can't get caught up in politics.
Whether it's the religious right or the folks funded by the AIPAC lobby.
Israel is a black-and-white issue.
There was little sympathy for the Palestinians before this incident.
But a resolution on swift military action sounds like a winner.
These lunatics are willing to sacrifice themselves, their children.
The only way to ensure the safety of this country is to respond in kind.
- "In kind.
" - I think the speaker's trying to say - I got it, Bob.
- Do you? We lost two U.
S.
congressmen.
I got 200 members of my conference screaming for Farad's head.
There's an obvious course of action here.
And on that, we stand firmly behind the president.
And Bob's right.
Politics aside, Leo he's gotta do this.
I will do all in my power to help you bring this man to justice.
- Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
- We will do our very best, Mr.
President.
We need more than your best, sir.
We're disconnected, sir.
If you wanna apprehend Nasan without escalating the conflict Of course, the chairman has consistently chosen violence over peace.
He's walked from offers that would've given his people a Palestinian state.
The Israelis aren't likely to ever sit down to the negotiation table with him again.
He's not the answer to the greater problem.
- He may be the answer to this one.
- I wouldn't bet on it.
Things went well with the leadership? - What? - A bus in Jerusalem.
Suicide bombing.
Ten to 20 dead.
Over 100 wounded.
- Getting creamed there.
- Yeah.
CNN's running a piece on the edits to the president's address.
They're not praising his sensible moderation? Not so much.
What's happening on the Hill? They're putting the military action resolution to a vote.
- It's gonna pass? - I'm hoping it's not unanimous.
What do you think? The country is waiting for the president to bomb Gaza.
I think that's a good sign he hasn't done it yet.
- Hey, Toby.
- Hey.
- What's that? - It's for the game.
Secret Service says he's gotta wear a vest.
- Have you seen him throw a baseball? - Yeah.
I'm not sure he could throw it - We have to - We pull out a couple of gloves and throw him in the vest between his call with the chairman and the Egyptian ambassador meeting.
- Yeah.
Perfect.
Number two bus is a bus that runs from the western wall to an ultraorthodox neighborhood in West Jerusalem.
- Both its passenger sections were full.
- What are you watching? Nothing.
How do you feel? They left a lunch tray earlier.
- I'm not hungry.
- German chocolate cake.
- Really, I'm kind of nauseous.
- Okay.
Your mom's on the way to New York.
She's gonna take the redeye.
- How long are you staying? - I don't know.
I figure, I hang around long enough, a nurse is bound to give me a sponge bath.
- Leo doesn't need you to - I'm here as long as I need to be here.
Jell-O? - I don't wanna talk to anybody.
- Okay.
- Hey, C.
J.
- How is she? She's fine.
I mean she was singing tunes from My Fair Lady, but it was just the morphine.
- Can I talk to her? - We're actually at intermission right now.
But she really is all right? She's doing this whole Julie Andrews thing.
Have you seen the news? Donna Moss? You think we need to? Come out fighting.
Leak a force depletion report and blueprints for the invasion.
Invasion? Okay, that may be a little bit Josh? Josh? Mr.
Chairman, when we agreed to work with you on our investigation - Yes, I appreciate your trust.
- What's going on there? We assumed your people We trusted you wouldn't do anything to make that investigation more difficult.
Our security team has been cooperating.
The Jerusalem bombing, Mr.
Chairman.
Five children slaughtered in the last Israeli missile strike.
How am I to stop my people from reacting? Mr.
Chairman, I agreed to work with you despite the way my people are reacting.
You must control your people.
- What's going on? Is he still on the line? - The connection's been lost.
- Can we get him back on the phone? - Sir.
Does he not understand I'm trying to help him here? - Can you get him back on the phone? - You may have some difficulty with that.
The Israeli army has deployed and two armed squadrons to the eastern sections of Ramallah.
They've surrounded the chairman's compound.
I can't get these guys to keep their hands off each other.
The Israeli special forces have created a perimeter around the compound.
- They cut off electricity, phones.
- We noticed.
The Israelis probably figure now's a good time to neutralize the chairman.
- Neutralize? - Cut him off.
Prevent him from possibly orchestrating further bombings.
Or they've decided to forcibly remove Farad from the territories.
That would make it difficult to work with him.
Actually, the Palestinian security forces in Gaza are refusing to proceed into Khan Younis.
- They're not gonna arrest Nasan.
- They can't reach the chairman.
And without his approval, they won't go in.
Mr.
Secretary, where are we? We've been working on a third military option, sir.
Two F/ A-18s dropping air-to-surface guided missiles.
These are a third the size of the Tomahawks.
The damage would be substantially less.
How many? Thirty casualties, maximum.
That's substantially less than 50? Night has fallen in Gaza.
You're looking at an evening raid.
- lf we wait till tomorrow morning? - Fifteen to 20.
Governor.
A thousand American kids.
Excuse me? The soldiers heading off to the Philippines.
He's sending them into a war zone.
- It's a peacekeeping mission.
- Yeah.
Training and logistics.
And handing out chewing gum.
You're entitled to comment if you feel that strongly about it.
Some of them aren't coming back.
You get the best information.
You consider all your options.
You look at the potential good.
And you do what you think is right.
Yeah.
U.
S.
action at this time could be seen as an implicit sanction of the Israeli assault.
Sir, Nasan's not likely to stay put.
If we don't act now, we will lose him.
And if the U.
S.
engages in the same type of missile strikes the Israelis resort to we may need to evacuate our embassies.
We could destabilize moderate regimes in Jordan and Egypt Nasan's contributed to the murder of three senior government officials.
We've reduced the collateral damage numbers substantially.
It's like taking out a Super Bowl spot for every anti-American terrorist network.
Failure to act, especially in the Middle East.
- It's appeasement.
- Leo, this is not 1938.
We aren't fighting Fascists with armies and tanks.
It's terror cells.
An individual can take out a small city with a briefcase of plutonium.
- The F/ A-18s, they're in position? - Yes, sir.
I want a full collateral damage assessment report for a daylight assault on my desk within the hour.
Thank you, sir.
- What do you think you're doing? - Excuse me? We don't push agendas here.
I don't believe I am.
He has a process.
He likes to reflect, consider his options.
But at the end of the day, when it's time to make a call, he's gotta stay focused.
- I'm trying to give relevant info.
- This isn't the U.
N.
He's not the secretary-general.
He's president of the United States and our job is to make sure his priorities are clear.
Today's priority is not world peace.
Haffley wants to schedule another meeting.
Doesn't think we got it the first time? I've got the damage assessment report for the F/ A-18 strike.
Yeah.
There's a summary on the last page.
I've been on the phone for the past three hours.
I've barely moved the needle.
I got the Israelis to agree to hold off the raid.
But they say the chairman is harboring terrorists and refuse to pull back.
The Egyptians did me a nice Cassandra routine over tea and papyrus.
The Syrians were a ball of laughs, and the Saudis had this neat idea about forking over terror suspects to the International Criminal Court.
But I don't know how I'm supposed to sell that one.
Sir.
The F/ A-18 strike is a reasonable response.
Maybe in Yemen, Leo, but this is Gaza.
The peace process.
The stability of the region.
We need to think long-term.
The peace process? The Israelis handed the chairman the deal of the century in Taba five years ago.
He started smuggling Katyusha rockets into Gaza on fishing boats.
There is no long term.
The Israelis are right.
There's only one way to bring stability to this region.
We should be there with them, digging ditches and putting up barbed wire.
- The fence? - It's a realistic solution.
- It's a landgrab.
- There's no alternative! - There's no partner for peace.
- You're gonna find a Palestinian leader after the Israelis have swiped half the Jordan valley? After the United States has taken out We're not a neutral arbitrator.
We've got skin in the game.
When the sun comes up in Gaza, you're gonna have to launch those planes.
- that we condemn this aggression and call upon the world to stop Israel from putting our beloved Chairman Farad in jeopardy.
Bullets will bring bullets.
- Violence will bring violence.
- Yeah.
They do get it, you know.
Despite the rhetoric Palestinians realize that if they've got any chance of peace it's with you guys as brokers.
It'd be a shame to see that blown.
So you two spend a lot of time together over there? Some.
Pretty long flight from Gaza to Germany.
Not really.
It's nothing compared to the flight from D.
C.
Look, she didn't mention anything.
- lf this is gonna be an issue, then - No.
No issue.
You all right? - Where's the? - The what? - Here it is.
- Morphine.
I think it only works the first time.
You're leaving.
Yeah, just Just for a little bit.
But I shall return before first light.
Don't go anywhere.
- Josh.
- Yeah.
Nice to meet you.
And you.
Isn't he charming? Sure, in a bodice-ripping, Heathcliff-on-the-moor I'm-too-sexy-for-my-camera sort of way.
Josh.
- More admirers.
- Really? How many photographers did you meet over there? Who are they from? - Okay, this is sort of weird.
- What? "Wishes for a speedy recovery.
Father of the baker.
Father of the light.
" "Son of the sword.
" The flowers sound like pomegranate, the national flower of Palestine and the names on the card are translations of Abu Ferran, Abu Siraj and lbn Husam.
And we've heard of Manny, Moe and Jack? - The Palestinian prime minister's sons.
- Mukarat? What's the Arabic? A date, time and restaurant not far from the hospital in Landstuhl.
What the hell are we supposed to do there? Somebody has a message they couldn't phone in to State.
Somebody who knew that a senior aide was in Germany.
A domestic policy aide who refers to Italy as the one that looks like a boot.
- And doesn't draw much attention on the international scene.
- Yeah.
So, what is this? It could be information about the bombing.
A message from Prime Minister Mukarat related to the current situation.
I gotta call in the CIA director? We'll put agents on it.
But they've already picked the guy they wanna talk to.
You want me to have a secret meeting with the Son of the Sword? I must be high from the morphine.
You know, stealth isn't exactly my strong suit.
He's very clumsy.
Josh, just sit down with the guy and see what he has to say.
- Yeah, but technically, I'm gonna be a - It's a diplomatic meeting.
- Do I need to carry a piece? - Josh.
Why aren't you sending, I don't know, someone more like you? Because they didn't send me the flowers.
They sent Donna the flowers.
Donna can 't walk.
And they were angling for you.
If I sent a professional, it would just spook the guy.
- So to speak.
- Is this dangerous? No, it's a diplomatic meeting.
It's not dangerous.
Donna wants to know if it's dangerous.
You flew Lufthansa.
You've been wandering alone.
If someone wanted to kill you it would have happened already.
- That's not reassuring.
I'm sending someone from the embassy.
We'll have someone there if you run into trouble.
Maybe try to keep a low profile.
Should I switch cabs? - You wouldn't rather wait in your office.
- I enjoy your company.
I enjoy a good slug of gin at lunch, but I've learned to do without.
- What do you want? - Nothing.
He's only been hovering here like a jaybird for the last 40 minutes.
- What's that? - The vest for the game.
Why is it here now? When you wear the vest, your throwing motion I've worn the damn thing before.
You'll be on national TV.
The people will be watching.
Given their state of mind I'd rather not have you walk into a stadium of 48,000 and hang a curve ball over the backstop.
- He's right, sir.
Everyone agrees.
- Everyone? Leo.
Josh.
C.
J.
Your wife.
The Notre Dame Athletic Department.
You got 15 minutes.
Give me the vest.
I speak English.
Okay.
Good.
I'm I'm meeting someone.
Mr.
Lyman? Yes.
I can walk you to your table.
Kate Harper.
Quickly.
- Harrison.
McKinley.
- Nope.
McKinley did throw the first pitch at a Senators game, but only as governor.
Taft.
First one to throw out the first pitch.
William Howard Taft, 1910.
Well, I hope they made fatty practice.
Here? We figured you'd rather not share this moment with history.
You don't think the China Room would be better? This has gotta be one of the highlights.
Remember to follow through, sir.
Not a word, Ziegler.
A guy was sitting at the table.
I sat down, he left.
He's probably just checking to make sure you weren 't followed.
- This is a diplomatic meeting.
- Yes.
Because it's feeling a little Nick Danger.
- Try to relax.
- You got a guy here, right? Yes, Josh.
Is it the guy with the toupee? Because he looks pretty obvious.
- Josh - I gotta go.
Hi.
- Okay.
That was better.
- I hit the wall.
Distance was good.
Now just aim for the guy with the mitt.
- Why didn't we cancel? - I was just wondering the same thing.
I could write 100 speeches, and we'd never come close to the sight of you up on that mound.
- Yeah, that's me.
All-powerful.
Bending the will of the world by my mere presence.
Hamas grows stronger every day.
Because of frustration with Israel.
Yes, but even more because of what Hamas can offer the Palestinian people.
Education, food, health care.
Doesn't the Palestinian Authority? The Palestinian Authority lines their own pockets.
Chairman Farad cannot, will not change.
And he's willing to pull the temple down on his own head.
But there are others, reasonable men, who, with help, could effect change challenge Hamas.
Moderates.
I tell you this in the strictest of confidence.
I bring word from Prime Minister Mukarat of Palestine.
He's concerned about the ongoing situation and feels the time has come for opening a new line of dialogue with Israel and with your country.
A line of dialogue that does not include Chairman Farad.
Leo.
- You all right? - Abbey.
What can I do for you? I came to offer up my services.
Your services? I look pretty good in a bulletproof vest.
- Okay.
- Not to mention, I was quite the intramural softball player, and let's face it, Jed's no Cy Young.
Toby and Josh think it's important he goes out there tonight.
What does Ron Butterfield think? We've had a dozen Secret Service at Camden Yards for the past two weeks disassembling the air conditioners.
They'll have men in every janitor's closet, every bathroom up on the roof.
That and the other 240 security guys the ballpark You look tired.
It's been a long day.
It's been a long year.
You want him to do something.
Yeah.
- Seems to me he's trying to.
- He's tilting at windmills.
Tilting at windmills in the Middle East.
Is there a better place for that? You think historians will judge me because I can't stand the national pastime? We'll make sure it's a well-kept secret, sir.
In 50, 60 years, some guy with a camcorder will track down some old codger who worked here on the kitchen staff and tell the story of how I thought Stan Musial was a pediatrician from Abbey's medical school class.
- It's a pretty common mistake.
I'd really like to bomb the whole damn place.
- Gaza? - Gaza, the West Bank.
Take out the whole Arabian Peninsula while we're at it.
It's what the country wants.
Sure.
Hell, it's practically the American way.
And who cares if it's exactly what those lunatics want? They push, we push back and they've got the holy war they've been praying for, with the big kid on the other side of the Atlantic.
Like bad Shakespeare.
They're waiting for me to play my role and chuck a big fat one right down the middle.
Mr.
President.
Let me get this straight.
Josh met with some guy over bratwurst? Information checks out.
This has all the hallmarks of a back-channel overture.
- I thought Mukarat was in Farad's pocket.
So did we.
Seems he realized unilateral Israeli action will leave his people with less than negotiating will.
We're talking about kingmaking.
About a leader with whom there can be no peace.
- The Israelis won't sit down with Farad - How would this work? We broker secret talks with the Israelis.
Show them Mukarat's credible.
They pull back bolster Mukarat by releasing prisoners We're grasping at straws.
This kind of intervention into Palestinian politics American intervention is responsible for propping up nearly every dictator in the Middle East.
- And look where that's gotten us.
Sir it's time to focus on the terrorist elements who've declared war on us.
We're at war with jealousy and hatred.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the index patient.
Shouldn't that be our focus? Do we have any files on Mukarat? Writings? Personal history? We could pull that together.
Governor, only you would decide to hold a press conference outside in zero-degree weather.
We'll all freeze to death.
- One way to avoid too many questions.
- I'd prefer to avoid hypothermia.
I'm gonna get clobbered.
- You're not gonna get clobbered.
- We should ask for a re-count.
You got 303 electoral votes.
I think you're stuck with them.
- Who are all those people? - Press conference wasn't a secret.
Apparently you have fans.
What do they want me to do, run the country? It's a little surprising, isn't it? You heard me today.
Hell, the general could barely keep his lunch down.
You don't think he and Fitzwallace are gonna have a great laugh over that? - We have some things to learn.
- I can't do this without you.
You think I'd let you? There's a reason I've stayed sober.
Any way to gauge the reaction of the Arab world or the Israelis? We have a number of contacts we could reach out to quietly.
Let's do so.
And keep the F/ A-18s on ready alert.
Sir.
This is a waste of time.
- We've tried elevating - Thank you, Leo.
- You need to - Thank you.
Where's Donna Moss? - Excuse me? - Donna Moss.
- She's not in her room.
- Are you related? I work for the president of the United States.
I have the diplomatic rank of a three-star general.
Tell me.
You spoke with Ambassador Galit? The Israelis are willing to sit down with Mukarat, privately as long as Chairman Farad won't be involved.
- Okay.
Where are you on this? - Both options have risks.
Give us a moment, would you? Oh, you can't go in there.
- What's? - A complication.
- She's developed a pulmonary embolism.
- It's a blood clot.
We're trying to remove it now.
You know, on May 13th, the day before Israeli Independence Day the TV stations in Israel screen the name of every soldier who's fallen for the country.
A name flashes for a second or two, then the next name appears.
You go to bed, you get up, the names are still flashing.
It takes 24 hours.
That's how they observe Memorial Day.
Yeah, and they keep lobbing missiles into Gaza.
We start encouraging it, how long until that broadcast lasts 48 hours? Or 72? How often have we tried negotiation? - We're not negotiating with the chairman.
- Your priority should be the security of this country.
I think you're gun-shy, sir.
The most important moment of your presidency and you're gonna blow it because you're human.
- You're a father who almost lost - You think this is about Zoey? You're damn right it's about Zoey.
And Ellie and Elizabeth and Mallory.
It's about bombs in Macy's and Penn Station and Starbucks.
Bombing Gaza could be the most dangerous move this country has made in two centuries.
- Or not.
In 75 years, we'll know if we're right or wrong but nobody today can tell me with certainty.
I'm the guy in the office, Leo.
I'll be the one who's judged.
Do you hear me? It should be you, Leo.
You.
Not me.
You got the ball? - Yeah.
- The chairman's on TV.
He's accepted our invitation to the negotiations.
- What? - Chairman Farad.
He's on TV.
He's thanking us for inviting him and Prime Minister Mukarat to a summit with the Israelis.
We didn't invite him! We haven't even formally invited Mukarat.
He's publicly accepted our invitation to Camp David.
Now time for our ceremonial first pitch.
Tonight, we are pleased to welcome the president of the United States.
Jed!