Battleground (2012) s01e11 Episode Script

1
Tak.
Tak.
TAK:
Hmm.
What are you doing here, Ben?
I work here.
With you.
- Right.
- There's a guy who's here to see you.
He looks important.
Great, let him in.
I was thinking you might want
to lookbetter.
Yeah, that's a good idea.
[SIGHS]
I ironed it.
- You ironed a tie?
- Is that not what people do?
I didn't even know we had an iron.
Jordan does. For his karate decals.
- Can I have that water bottle?
- Oh, sure.
Thanks, buddy.
[COUGHS]
Aah! Hah! Ah-ha.
Old college trick, Ben.
Kick-starts the brain.
Decal, great. Coffee, great.
- Yeah. Here.
- How do I look?
- Actually, you look fantastic.
- Great.
- Who's here?
- Carlton Haysworth. He's from the DNC.
I know Carl. We used to work
on a few campaigns together.
- Is KJ in?
- Not yet.
All right. Have her come in and save me
as soon as she gets here.
Why? Is something wrong?
When the DNC shows up,
it's never to say you're doing a great job.
It's always to say,
"Start doing a great job."
- He seemed nice.
- Yeah, they always seem nice,
until you tell them no.
- Where's Cole?
- Writing out back.
Haven't seen him at his desk
since he came back.
That's not good.
Okay, Ben, gather up all of Jordan's stuff
and have him switch desks with Cole.
Jordan doesn't like me
touching his things.
Right. The trophies.
They're not real.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- Carlton Haysworth.
- Tak, how the heck are you?
- Good, man, good. Look at you, DNC.
- Yeah.
Yeah, after we won in California,
they offered me a job in the home office.
Nice. No more continental breakfasts.
- Get to wear a suit every day.
- It's nice.
Got a house near D.C.
Just had a little girl.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Still some traveling, though.
Flew in this morning.
Hope I'm not interrupting.
No, no. I was passed out in my office.
[CHUCKLES]
- So why are you here?
- Well,
with the president
coming in for the election
and the polls getting tighter,
we just want to help.
Oh.
Help what?
With, you know, logistics,
troubleshooting.
- Anything, really.
- Right.
So now that we have a chance at winning,
you guys wanna babysit.
- No. With the president coming,
- Mm-hm.
we obviously want the outcome
to be positive for you and the party.
So do as you say or the president
gets a scheduling conflict.
Everyone thinks
you're doing a great job.
But let's be honest.
You've had some problems
in the homestretch before.
Wow. That's great. I love that. I love that.
The DNC spends the primary
trying to kick our ass
and now that we actually might win,
you guys wanna micromanage.
- I'm here as a resource.
- Right.
Sorry. Didn't know
we were having a meeting.
We're not. KJ, this is Resource.
Resource, meet KJ.
- I'm Carlton.
- KJ.
Great.
- Where's my DeLorean?
BEN: Oh, we haven't moved it yet.
Okay, good. Good.
Do you have any idea how much
a mint-condition DeLorean is worth?
I don't know, I don't have a lot of toys.
[CHUCKLES]
Okay, Lindsey, it's not a toy.
It is an original Back to the Future
model from 1985
The year the first,
superior film was made.
Yeah, I like the third one.
[SCOFFS]
Are you insane?
The third one is like bad fan fiction.
Is that the one in the Old West?
That's my favorite.
You're kidding me, right?
Lindsey, that's like saying
you liked the Star Wars prequels better.
Oh, with Jar Jar?
LINDSEY: He was funny.
- Ha-ha.
I have to go to the message boards.
Do you actually like Jar Jar?
Really? Ben, no one likes Jar Jar.
Just-- Just making sure.
LINDSEY:
No one.
Why is Jordan's stuff on Cole's desk?
Uh-- I don't know.
Tak said that he wanted me
to move his stuff over here.
What is this, high school?
Did they say what it was about?
BEIDER:
Nope, just that the Creighton campaign
is having a press conference at 5.
Your dad is pushing hard
for the affiliates to cover it live.
Said it's something big.
I think you're in trouble.
- Think they're faking it?
- Honestly, no.
They got something, Tak.
All right.
Thanks for the heads up, Bied.
- Anything you want to confess?
- Yeah, right.
Hey, it's my job.
- Why you moving Cole's desk?
- Don't have time.
He request that?
He doesn't want to sit next to me?
I don't know. Ask Dawson or Pacey.
- Taco!
TAK: I'm in a hurry, Jordan.
Oh, real quick, then.
- Do we still have that megaphone?
- Yeah, it's in my office.
- Coolio.
- Why?
Guerrilla marketing idea.
Whatever Jordan's doing, go with him.
Make sure it doesn't involve
actual gorillas.
- Of course.
- Got it.
I like to think OTB.
Outside the box, you know?
I don't even like that phrase.
"Outside the box"?
Should be something different.
Yeah, something different.
Easily 50 people in the room, right?
Cameras are rolling.
Biden picks up the shoe and says,
"Operator?"
[LAUGHING]
He's the best. When you guys come
to D.C. I'll introduce you.
SAMUELS: Tak, you've met Carlton?
- I have.
- We go way back.
- We sure do.
- Please, let's sit.
- So you flew in this morning from D.C.?
Yeah. Ahem.
It feels good to finally get some
support from the national committee.
- Sure does.
CARLTON: Guilty, guilty.
Should have backed you sooner.
We've all been really impressed
with what you guys have done.
Tak's done an amazing job.
Well, he has a great candidate.
And I need to talk to
that great candidate for a second.
About the Creighton press conference?
Yeah. How did you--?
We were just talking
possible scenarios.
George filled me in
on the laptop situation.
Wow.
Took you four weeks to tell me.
Well, I can't help if we're not
completely honest with each other.
Hmm. Where have I heard that before?
Carlton thinks they're gonna
release the financials from the laptop.
Okay. Why?
Well, that's your Achilles.
You've been pushing
"truth for a change" for five months
- which, PS, I never loved.
- Me neither.
If they can prove you were hiding
something, that's a big deal.
So let's go to Milwaukee this afternoon
and do a big media event
announcing George's donation
to the basketball court.
Oversized check, some shovels.
What if that's not
Creighton's announcement?
Then it still looks like we gave back
to the community. Still a win.
Okay.
But you know what? That seems like--
Hey, S.
Yeah, I'm with them right now.
Hang on one sec.
Also, we should know what they have.
Send me a copy
of the financials they took.
- Send it to Tak too.
- Of course.
Hey. Yes, sir.
We are working on that. Yes. Absolutely.
Hey, Jordan.
You are lucky I'm even talking
to you right now.
But our little BTTF convo from earlier
happened to trigger an epiphany.
Which was?
I'm gonna head down to Capitol Square,
do a little old-school politicking.
Re-elect Mayor Goldie Wilson!
- This is loud.
- Yeah.
- Works.
- Well, you want some company from me?
- Yeah.
- Great.
- I could use a copilot.
- I'll get Ben.
Wait, what?
Libyans.
I miss you and the kids.
I really want to talk to you.
Please, please, call me back, okay?
COLE: Hey.
- Okay, bye.
- Sorry.
- It's okay.
Ali said all the blogs are talking
about the Creighton press conference.
Come here. Look at this.
Okay, this is the file that was stolen
from George's laptop.
- How bad?
- Ten grand.
Payment to the Church,
not the reverend, so that was good.
Yeah. So we tell the press
that our accountant forgot to claim it.
- We pay a fine, but I don't think it kills us.
- You're right.
Why the Creighton
press conference, then?
Doesn't seem big enough.
That's when I saw this.
Right under the line for the Church
is another 10 grand.
"Cloud"?
Ten thousand to Cloud
just before the primary.
Can you buy a cloud?
JORDAN: Vote for Deirdre Samuels
on November 2nd!
For senator of the great state
of Wisconsin.
Truth for a change!
It's time for this dame to go national.
What's worse than Jordan?
- Jordan with a megaphone?
- Yup.
Whoa! Looking good, ladies!
LINDSEY: Jordan.
- Whoa! Samuels!
LINDSEY: I think you're distracting Ed
while he's driving.
He's fine.
BEN:
Um Maybe we should stop for lunch.
JORDAN: Great idea, McFly.
Where do you wanna eat?
Nothing to the FEC, no corporate
donations with "Cloud" in the name.
Nothing to the country of Chile.
Chile?
Yeah, you see how the C and the L
in Cloud are capitalized?
So I thought maybe
it was an abbreviation.
What is Cloud?
Maybe it's not what. Maybe it's who.
Someone named Cloud?
TAK:
Check out the babe magnet.
Ali, check the donors list for a C. Loud.
COLE: Nice.
- I'll also check George's e-mail.
You can do that?
If you're all on the same network
you can hack into someone's e-mail,
check their Internet history.
Simple stuff.
But you would never do that
to us, right?
Depends.
But people can erase
their Internet history.
It's all saved somewhere.
Cool.
Welcome to Michael's.
How may I help you?
Welcome to McDonald's.
Can I take your order?
[LAUGHING]
Hello?
Hello?
LINDSEY: What do you want?
- Mm Double cheeseburger.
But I don't want any cheese on it.
You want a double cheeseburger
and no cheese?
- Right.
- Why not just get a double hamburger?
Because double cheeseburger's
on sale. Cheaper.
- Got it. Mm-hm.
- Thank you.
I do enjoy watching her leave.
You gonna hit that?
What?
Admit it, bro.
I know you wanna get a little
wiki-wiki-wah-wah with old Linds.
I don't even--
We're friends, Jordan.
Oh, come on.
Nobody hangs out with that just for convo.
I think maybe it's time you step aside.
Let someone else
take a pass at that ass.
Jordan, I don't ever want to hear you
talk that way about Lindsey again, okay?
If you do, I swear to God,
I will take every single one
of your Back to the Future figurines
and break them in half.
Understand?
Jordan. Jordan, do you want a drink?
- What? Yeah.
- Do you want a drink?
- Yes. What--? Are you getting something?
- Yeah.
- I'll just-- Okay.
- Yeah, whatever you're-- Thank you.
Sorry.
I live by a code.
I learned it from watching Lock Up.
I forgot.
- Yeah. Came in handy.
- Ah
- Hey, Cole.
COLE: Hey.
- Did you hear?
- What?
They arrested Reverend Giles
this afternoon.
[SCOFFS]
The hits just keep coming.
Chris, turn on the TV for me.
MAN [OVER TV]:
Alex Shapiro announced the indictment
moments ago at the state capitol.
Reverend Cary Giles has been charged
with five counts of extortion
and two counts of fraud
in connection with his leadership
at St. Francis Church in Milwaukee.
Authorities say Reverend Cary Giles
was arrested today for money laundering.
He was seen earlier this afternoon
at an event
recognizing U.S. Senate Candidate
Deirdre Samuels and her donation
- for St. Mark's new basketball court.
- Turn it off.
- Your dad?
- Yep, for sure.
He saw Samuels with that giant check
and he just cut our throat with it.
[SIGHS]
But they scheduled the presser before
Samuels even went to Milwaukee.
- Yeah.
- So it's not about this.
It's worse.
And we gotta figure out what it is, soon.
[SIGHS]
- Did that guy look like Papa Smurf to you?
- Yes.
Remember to vote for Deirdre Samuels
on November 2nd!
Truth for a change!
Jordan, hey. Look, I can't help but feel
like we're just annoying these people.
Not true.
JORDAN: On election day,
remember the name Deirdre Samuels!
Hey, buddy, listen, me and my friends
are trying to tailgate over here
and it's a little hard with you yelling
through the megaphone. Appreciate it.
I'm sorry, we'll move.
- Thank you.
- Actually, this is a public location
and we are merely expressing
our First Amendment rights
to assemble peacefully--
I'm sorry.
Are you hiding?
Two months ago, George e-mailed
someone named "C. Louden."
There are two messages.
The first is, "Did you get it?"
The second, "Confirmed."
Those are the only e-mails
between them.
Who's C. Louden?
- It's bad.
- Hit me.
Claire.
- Villareal?
ALI: Villareal
when she worked at Oscar Mayer.
But she got married 12 years ago
and her new name is Claire Louden.
She moved to San Diego,
became a teacher.
Recently got divorced,
filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
So then she needs some money,
she calls George.
TAK:
And Creighton found her.
That's why they wanted us
to beat Rudy,
because they had knew they had
Claire in their pocket.
- You think this is your dad again?
TAK: Yup.
He kept saying how much
he loved our slogan.
Because he knew it would
blow up in our face.
We're .
Maybe not.
Maybe we can get to her. We got an hour
before the press conference.
- What hotel is it being held at?
ALI: The Concourse.
Hi, is this the Concourse?
Can I have Claire Louden, please?
WOMAN [OVER PHONE]:
Just a minute, please.
I'm sorry, we don't have
anyone by that name.
Okay, thank you.
Hi, Claire Louden's room.
Is this the Sheraton?
Claire Louden's room, please.
Anyone named Claire? No.
[TAPPING ON TABLE]
[PHONE RINGS]
- Hello?
BIEDER: Hey, Tak.
- Hey, Bied.
- Just a heads-up,
Creighton campaign just e-mailed us
divorce papers for Claire Louden.
Is that your Claire?
[SIGHS]
Uh
Come on, you gotta give me something.
- I'm going through a canyon.
- You gotta be kidding.
I have the number for the elementary
school she works at in San Diego.
- How much time do we have?
- Twenty minutes.
[LINE RINGING]
WOMAN:
Santa Real Elementary.
Hi, this is David Humphrin
from the San Diego Tribune.
Doing a "Teacher of the Year" column.
We need a cell number
for a Claire Louden.
Just a moment.
I'm sorry, we don't give out
that information.
She is in the office, though.
Do you want to talk to her?
Yes, I would like that.
CLAIRE:
Hello?
- Claire Louden?
- Yes, it is.
Congratulations.
- They don't have her.
- Oh, thank God.
Okay, so they have the divorce papers
and they have the payoff.
Don't have proof of the payoff.
Maybe they have Cloud
from the laptop. It's pretty vague.
- Okay, so it's bad, but it's not fatal.
- It's not fatal.
Okay, I'm gonna go write
something up for the press.
I'm gonna get an apple.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
That was the largest check
I have ever seen in my life.
TAK: You guys don't know.
- What's up?
The reverend was just indicted.
- Crap.
- Yeah. An hour ago.
They showed footage of you two
at the event,
which is really great visuals
for a bribery case.
We knew it would come out
- sooner or later.
- No, we didn't.
This could have been after the election.
Creighton probably saw
the ribbon-cutting ceremony today,
had the state attorney arrest him early.
- Press conference?
- Still on.
They didn't cancel it,
because it's not about the reverend.
Because it isn't news anymore.
- I need to talk to you.
- I think I should be in on that.
Don't you have a photo op
with Madoff to organize?
- Carlton, let me talk to Tak for a second.
CARLTON: Fine.
[TAK SIGHS]
So
They are releasing
Claire's divorce papers.
You wanna tell me what's in them?
- Tak, I don't know what's in those papers.
- Enough.
Enough.
Just tell me the truth. Okay?
Did you have an affair with her?
I didn't.
Really?
Really, still?
You're not gonna tell me now?
- Tak, you have to believe me.
- Then why did you transfer her?
- Because she was good.
- The truth.
Oh, my God, the truth.
We had a falling out.
Finally.
- Over what?
- Tak, this shouldn't matter.
But it does.
Deirdre, it does.
You needed to tell me.
Did you have an affair?
- Yes.
KJ: You guys.
It's starting.
We now go to the press conference
live from the Concourse Hotel.
[NEWS THEME PLAYING OVER TV]
My name is Craig Louden.
I had an affair with
State Senator Deirdre Samuels
ten years ago.
At that time, both of us were married.
I apologize to my family
and Senator Samuels' husband
for our misdeeds.
REPORTER:
How long was the affair?
Have you had any affairs since then?
Cloud.
MAN: Truth for a change?
More like changing the truth.
How can we trust a politician
who lies about her own personal life?
How about some honesty for a change?
Let's bring values back to Washington.
Vote for me on November 2nd.