The West Wing s02e14 Episode Script
The War at Home
Previously on The West Wing : Five U.
S.
DEA agents have been abducted in Colombia.
The government has no control over the region.
There is no Iaw.
And they' re gonna shoot them in the head and have a parade.
In three hours I want to kick in the back door.
-When do I see numbers? -There's a 1 7 percent response rate.
-When do I see numbers? -In five minutes.
It may take a Iittle Ionger now.
-You mad at me? -We had a deal.
When did you decide you were gonna run for a second term? Mr.
President.
It was just three hours ago I gave the State of the Union.
-Y eah.
-You believe that? What are you doing? It's freezing out here.
I' m not allowed to smoke inside anymore.
I thought you were allowed to do pretty much whatever you want.
Up to the point where you accidentally burn holes in priceless antiques.
-You should stop smoking.
-Why? -You'II Iive Ionger.
-I smoke two cigarettes a day.
-It's a bad example.
-For who, Russian spy satellites? George Bernard Shaw said, "You don't Iive Ionger.
It just seems Ionger.
" I' m not sure it was Shaw.
I' m not sure it was either.
-Is it time? -Y eah.
T en hut! Where are we? Sir, a C-1 41 with two Delta Force teams has been in the air for 85 minutes.
-What happens when I give the order? -They'II enter Colombian airspace.
At the same time, a 1 9-man unit, a Special Forces AIpha team that's already on the ground at T res Encinas, will head to Villacerreno.
What do they do when they get there? They'II hike 1 1 miles into the jungle and hold still.
-Why? -It'II be daylight by then.
Nineteen guys have to Iie face-down in the jungle till sunset? That's when the hostages will be moved.
-And that's when we go.
-They' re moving the hostages where? From the T asco outpost to the Frente command center.
-On foot? -Y eah.
there's a plateau called Mesa Del Oro.
That'II give the Deltas maximum maneuverability.
-The code name's Cassiopeia? -Y es, sir.
Mickey, you Iook Iike you wanna say something.
-Mr.
President, I think you should wait.
-For what? T o see how negotiations continue with Guerra.
Guerra wants Aguilar out of a Colombian prison.
Are there any other circumstances under which he'II give these hostages back? -Possibly.
-Crap.
If we keep talking, we don't risk hostages getting shot in the rescue.
What difference does it make if they' re shot during a rescue or at Villacerreno? We can keep them alive Ionger if we Iet them be taken there.
Are we gonna keep them alive Ionger or will it just seem Ionger? Sir? I've reason to believe they'II be tortured at Villacerreno.
They' re U S.
drug agents.
They know things these people wanna know.
Sir, the C-1 41 is approaching Colombian airspace.
Go.
Tonight's State of the Union contained 8747 words.
It was second in length only to his inaugural address and 75 minutes longer than Washington 's first address to Congress.
Officer SIoan, would you be willing to go on television tomorrow? -They knew how many words there were.
-In the speech? -About 8700? -Y eah.
-Would you be willing to go on TV? -I think I'd really rather just go home.
This is gonna be a part of the news by tomorrow night either way.
How do you know? Same way I knew there were I have some experience at this.
-What'II happen? -You'II do a very quick satellite interview.
"What was it Iike being at the State of the Union? " " It was an honor.
" "T alk about your act of heroism.
" " I wouldn't really call it heroism, but.
" " Now, I understand you had some trouble back in the early '80s.
" " I' m glad I have a chance to talk about that.
" And you tell your story just Iike you told it to me.
-Do I wear my uniform? -Coat and tie.
Carol? Would you make sure Officer SIoan gets back to his hotel? I'd like to thank all our guests tonight.
Henry Shallick, David Satch, Toby Ziegler, Bob Woodward, Jeff Greenfield C.
J.
Cregg and of course, the White House for allowing us to broadcast Iive.
You've been watching a special expanded edition of Capitol Beat.
I' m Mark Gottfried.
Have a good night.
We' re out.
Great job, everybody.
-You said 20 minutes.
-I was in a meeting.
-It's now 40.
-I was in a meeting.
-At midnight? -It's not midnight everywhere.
-What's his story? -He's innocent.
You just decided? A grand jury, a DA and a civil court judge decided 1 7 years ago.
Nobody brought charges, and the civil suit was dismissed.
-Then why on his record--? -Detroit police cited him for excessive force to calm the black community.
It was a robbery.
They were jumping over walls.
The guy's Ieg was already fractured when SIoan got there.
He's gonna do your show.
-Is he doing everybody else's show too? -No.
-Why not? -Because you waited 40 minutes.
Hey.
Bill Dryer from Gillette's office called.
He wants to have a meeting with you.
-Dryer? -Gillette.
-I'II bet he wants a meeting with me.
-Y eah.
It's not gonna happen.
It's not gonna happen.
We got enough input from him while we were writing the thing.
-I don't need to hear-- -He's very upset.
-I know, he's-- -More than we calculated.
We've upset him.
We have to Iearn to Iive with that pain.
He's not the president.
He's a junior senator from North Dakota where nobody Iives because it's cold and they don't have a sports franchise.
Do I need to Iay out why he is important? -No.
-He is adored by the Ieft.
-Stop Iaying out the ways.
-He's our Iink to the environmentalists.
T oby, asking for this meeting isn't out of Iine, and you should take it.
In fact, you should take it tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the Hyatt.
-You set it up already? -Just the time and place.
-You expect me to explain myself to him? -Y es.
Y es, I do.
-Fine.
-T oby.
-C.
J.
-7:30.
The Post is calling it "sleek, challenging and oftentimes witty.
" Not unlike myself.
Who is SIoan and why am I just hearing about this? SIoan was one of the invited guests.
The one we stuck in over the weekend? A Iong time ago he was cited by the Detroit police for excessive force.
-Against a black suspect? -Y eah.
-How was this guy not vetted? -Because it was Iast minute.
-What are you doing about it? -Gottfried's gonna interview him.
-It's a bad idea.
-Why? BIacks won't react well to our supporting a brutal cop.
-He's not a brutal cop.
-Says you.
Says me, a grand jury, two judges, the district attorney and common sense.
It's going public anyway, T oby.
Gottfried got the story on his own.
-Fine.
Where's Josh? -He went back to the phone banks.
-Is the electricity back on? -No.
-Then what's he doing there? -Hoping the electricity goes on.
Well, that ought to do it.
-Josh? -Y eah? -Can I tell you something about women? -Oh, God, please don't.
-We Iike to be wooed.
-Donna.
-She wants you to ask her out.
-She doesn't.
-You' re missing the signs.
-I' m not.
-I know a thing or two about Iove.
-No, you don't.
-The signs.
-I' m thinking of firing you.
-You've fired me twice.
I' m impervious.
-Among other things.
-We'II start over tomorrow night.
-Why? It's already 9:30 in California.
The power isn't on.
We' re missing half the window.
-Joey.
-Pack it in.
Okay.
Folks, we'II start over tomorrow night.
-See you.
-T ake it easy.
Good night.
So you have to wait another day.
-I' m not good at waiting.
-No kidding.
Donna.
Why do you expect our polling to be any different than others? We've got dial groups.
We've got CNN, USA Today.
We've got Gallup.
-Why's our poll gonna be different? -We' re asking different questions.
I'II get your coat.
By the way right there, back when she said, "See you" -that was a sign.
-You' re fired.
-Impervious.
-Y eah.
-Mr.
President? -Yeah.
You understand we've got heating inside, right? This isn't cold.
It's crisp.
No, it's cold.
Well, you' re a big wussy.
-Knight to king-4.
-It'II Ieave the bishop open.
You' re gonna sacrifice the bishop for the queen's rook.
-Where? -Four moves down.
Abbey's pretty pissed at me.
-How bad? -Pretty bad.
King's knight-3.
I have this image in my mind of the dead soldiers coming back from Vietnam the caskets coming off the plane, but I don't know from where.
-T elevision.
-The caskets coming off the plane? Are they down? Y eah, the Deltas Ianded in T res Encinas.
AIpha moved out, and they'II be in Villacerreno at 0700.
Where they wait.
Yeah.
I'II see you in the morning.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Morning, Charlie.
-Morning, Mrs.
Landingham.
-Did you ever solve the mystery? -Of the $500 check? -Y eah.
-Y es, I did.
-I solved the mystery.
-What was it? -I' m a mystery solver.
-That's wonderful, sweetie.
What was it? Mrs.
Bartlet wrote the check to a woman she read about who's now Iiving in a women's shelter.
You know why she never cashed the check? Because it was from the First Lady, and she had it framed instead? -That was the mystery.
-It's a good one.
Does the president know he has breakfast with Josh and Sam? He's on his way.
It was a good mystery.
You solved it fast because I Ioosened the ketchup bottle for you.
-Okay.
-Okay.
-Can I tell you something strange? -Sure.
AII Iast night at the phone banks Donna was telling me I should ask Joey Lucas out.
You should.
Fine.
But that aside, what do you make of Donna being the one pushing it? -I don't make anything.
-You wouldn't think she'd be jealous? She goes out with guys.
Are you jealous? -No.
-See? -I don't get jealous.
-So? I don't Iike it, and usually do everything within my capabilities to sabotage it which is why it's curious that Donna would do nothing to discourage in fact do everything to encourage, a date with Joey Lucas who, quite frankly, is a very attractive woman.
-Josh? -Y eah.
-Your voice got really high at the end.
-Y eah, sorry.
-Hey.
-Good morning, sir.
Thanks for having breakfast with me.
-Did you order? -We were waiting for you.
-Billy.
You want scrambled eggs? -Y eah, thanks.
-Can we get them some scrambled eggs? -Anything for you? -I' m fine.
-Then we' re fine too.
-No.
-Sir, we' re fine.
-Bring them some food.
Would you? -Yes, sir.
You understand I can't discuss with you any rescue mission that may or may not be in play right now.
Of course.
I' m assuming State has people negotiating with Nelson Guerra.
Nelson Guerra wants me to tell President Santos to release Aguilar from prison.
I wouldn't make that call with a gun to my head.
I have a gun to my head, and I' m not making that phone call.
I inherited "War on Drugs" from a president, who inherited it from a president who inherited it from a president before that.
I' m not 1 00% sure who we' re fighting, but I know we' re not winning.
T en years ago, we spent $5 billion fighting drugs and we did such a good job that Iast year we spent 1 6 billion.
Sixty percent of federal prisoners are in jail on drug charges as opposed to two and a half percent that are there for violent crime.
We imprison a higher percentage of our citizens than Russia did under Communism and South Africa under apartheid.
Somewhere between 50 and 85 percent of the prison population has a drug or alcohol abuse problem.
We've tried "Just Say No.
" I don't think it's gonna work.
I' m mentioning this because I'd Iike you to give me any thoughts you might have on the subject.
-Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Thank you, sir.
-Hello.
-What are you doing here? -I came in early.
-Bonnie.
I've been here for an hour.
Are we releasing the names of the agents or not? Y eah.
-You gotta give me another chance.
-At what? -At meeting the president.
-You met the president Iast night.
-I was wearing a bathrobe.
-You sat in paint.
-I was singing and dancing.
-You were happy.
-I threw my drink up in the air.
-Not much of it Ianded on your head.
-I Iooked Iike an idiot, and it's your fault.
-My fault? You arranged the meeting over my express wishes.
I' m not the one who got you jumping around Iike Joey Heatherton.
-Do something.
-Arrange another introduction? -You have to.
-Last night you were scared to meet him.
And I' m still scared but I'II overcome that to erase the humiliation I've brought upon myself and my father.
You' re just in your own Iittle Euripides play over there, aren't you? PIease arrange another introduction.
-Fine.
-Really? -Y es.
-Thank you.
You should've given me a heads up on the BIue Ribbon, T oby.
-Seth.
-You should've given me a heads up.
It happened five minutes before he walked into the House.
You' re a junior senator and don't get script approval on the State of the Union.
Whatever Ianguage you couched it in, it was not an insignificant change.
You started off with, "We will not cut Social Security, " and wound up with: "We' re announcing the formation of a bipartisan BIue Ribbon Commission to study options with regard to Social Security.
" What is the danger in that? What's the danger in my reform bill? Diverting revenue into trust funds is not reform.
It's the only Social Security reform bill supported by any Senate Democrats.
-How many votes did it get Iast year? -The White House-- Eighteen.
Eighty-two U.
S.
senators think your reform bill sucks.
So unless you can pick up a majority I don't know what's wrong with being open to hearing new ideas.
And compromise essential Democratic Party principles -to cut a deal with the Republicans? -It's not what we' re doing.
If your commission recommends raising the retirement age one day reducing benefits one dollar, reducing COLAs.
If you recommend partial privatization on Social Security Are there cameras? I will condemn it as an act intent on destroying Social Security.
-And ruling the galaxy.
-You think this is a joke? You think I won't publicly condemn a member of my party? The president's not a member of your party.
He's the Ieader.
If you think demonizing people who are trying to govern responsibly is the way to protect our Iiberal base then speaking as a Iiberal, go to bed.
Would you, please? You' re running to the right on the environment.
We admonished environmental terrorism.
You' re in favor of it? It was cheap, and you Iost friends.
-We made more than we Iost.
-Then you go on TV in defense of a cop who kicked the crap out of a black kid because you don't want to admit you screwed up and he never should've been invited.
Seniors, environmentalists, African-Americans.
T ell me which has a greater chance of happening: My reform bill getting passed or the president getting reelected without these three groups.
Three groups that will never desert the president.
Not unless I run as a third-party candidate, no.
Those 1 8 votes are Iooking a Iittle bigger now.
Aren't they, you son of a bitch? I was just thinking about this cartoon I once saw.
Tiny fish are swimming through the Ieaves of a plant.
But then one fish realizes it's not a plant.
It's the tentacles of a predator.
And the fish says: "With friends Iike this, who needs anemones? " Come at us from the Ieft, and I' m gonna own your ass.
Ask someone at my office for the notes on the noon speech.
-"Women in the Arts"? -Y eah.
-And pack a sweater for the plane? -Y eah.
-Hey, Charlie.
-Good morning, ma'am.
You heading out? Not till tonight.
Chicago, then Seattle.
I wanted your permission to draw $500 and walk it to that woman in the shelter.
-Oh, I'd appreciate that.
Thank you.
-Is there anything else I can do? Thank you, ma'am.
-Hey.
-Good morning, sir.
I'II be in the office.
What's that about? Charlie's gonna bring cash over to Jane Robinson.
-You' re packing already? -Y eah.
-You' re not Ieaving till tonight, right? -Y eah.
Men and women are completely different in this regard.
When was the Iast time you packed a suitcase at all? I don't know.
I just had breakfast with Sam and Josh.
T oby's having breakfast with Seth Gillette who's every bit as pissed at me as you are.
-Abbey, can we? -Guys, can you give me a minute? We didn't get a chance to talk Iast night.
-I don't think we should.
-T alk? -Ever? -Oh, if wishing made it so, Jed.
I don't think it's a good idea for us to talk now.
-Why? -You've gotta focus on Colombia.
I can do two things at once.
You don't have two things at once.
You have 92 things.
One of them is five hostages in Colombia.
And I'd Iike to go on without this black cloud around me so I'd Iike to talk now.
This is a Ionger conversation than that and we can talk about it Iater.
And you should focus.
What are you, my Zen master? Can I be in charge of my own mind? Let me tell you something! Get as chippy as you want if that makes you feel better.
I am your wife.
I Iove you.
You have a crisis.
You have to deal with it.
When it's done, we'II talk.
I feel better already.
I'm on hold.
I' m on hold.
I' m on hold.
I' m in some hellish hold world of holding.
-Josh? -I' m on hold.
They'II call us when the power's back.
-They did.
-What happened? I' m on hold.
-I'II wait with you.
-That'II be a Iot of fun.
So you never told me why this poll is different why you' re interested in these particular numbers.
There are five congressional districts that concern me.
-Which districts? -Kentucky 3rd.
That's Louisville.
-And Jefferson.
-Y eah.
Louisiana 4th, Missouri 9th - Missouri 6th and Ohio 1 2th.
-What's with those districts? The president announced a crime package that would-- Require a five-day background check.
-Those congressmen-- -Are sitting on the fence.
So you wanna know how the package polled in those districts.
If it polled well, you got your gun Iaw.
If it tanked, you shut up or Iose five seats in the House.
Why do you ask when you' re gonna have the conversation all by yourself? -You want me to hold the phone? -I can hold the phone.
T ake the phone.
Give me the phone.
Why are you trying to fix me up with Joey Lucas? I think you'd make a nice couple.
Fine.
If you got married, you wouldn't have to get your towels re-monogrammed.
Thank you.
-The power's back on.
-Excellent.
-What do we do now? -We wait.
How you doing, Ainsley? My mouth is dry, my hands are moist and I have to pee.
Okay.
-Hey, you ready? -Y es.
You sure? Let's go.
-Call it off.
-Here we go.
-No, really.
-Ainsley.
-I'II meet him another time.
-What other time? -A better time.
-What's a better time? T omorrow.
Don't you have to absolve yourself of the humiliation visited on your family and the House of Atreus? But I believe I' m going to compound the humiliation.
-It'II never happen.
-Really? No, it probably will.
-Hey.
-Is he coming? He's stopping in on his way from the thing.
How you doing, Ainsley? I' m concerned about peeing on your carpet.
-Okay, well, now I am too.
-T ell her it's gonna be fine.
-Your skirt's on backwards.
-May I use the bathroom? -Y es.
-Thank you.
Ainsley! -Good evening, Mr.
President.
-Is she here? -Ainsley Hayes? Y es, sir.
-Where is she? Well, she's in the closet, Mr.
President.
-Why? -She thought it was a bathroom.
-Why is she still in there? -That's kind of hard to say, sir.
-Why don't we get her out here? -Y eah.
-Ainsley? -Y es? Ainsley, why don't you come on out of there? How you doing? We met Iast night.
You were singing and dancing in a bathrobe.
-Y es, sir.
-Why were you in the closet? I had to pee.
I can't smoke inside, but you can pee in Leo's closet.
-Mr.
President-- -I appreciate your coming to work for me.
You' re an exceptionally bright young woman.
Is your father proud of you? -Y es, sir.
-I'II bet he is.
-Listen.
-Mr.
President.
Sam.
What happened? Charlie, get the door.
What happened? -Mr.
President-- -Did we Iose the hostages? -The hostages weren't there.
-What are you talking about? -Oh, God.
-What? The radio communications we'd been intercepting on the SIGINT were wrong.
When the Deltas got to the area, it was a dry hole.
That's when one of the two BIackhawk helicopters was shot down by a shoulder- mounted surface-to-air missile.
-How many guys were on the BIackhawk? -The pilot, the engineer and seven Deltas.
So I've got nine more guys now on the ground we've gotta get back? Mr.
President.
Sir, the second BIackhawk went in and recovered the bodies.
-They' re dead? -Y es, sir.
I want the president of Colombia on the phone.
I want a translator right now.
Damn it! Damn it! Sir? How the hell did that happen? -It was bad intelligence.
-You think? Frente Ieft behind a radio and a soldier at the outpost and they were deliberately sending misinformation.
We'd never anticipated the possibility that somebody might try that? We weren't prepared for someone to try and outfox us with a stratagem so sophisticated it's an entire generation beyond : " Hey, Iook, your shoelaces are untied! " Is that how I just Iost nine guys, to a damn street gang with a ham radio? They Iured us there so that they could kill nine American soldiers! -Where are the bodies? -They' re on their way back.
-Where? -Dover.
Around 4 a.
m.
Mr.
President? We have a secure connection.
-Somebody translating on the other end? -Y es, sir.
Mr.
President, this is the president of the United States.
-Good evening, Mr.
President.
-Mr.
President.
Ninety minutes ago, the United States invaded Colombian airspace.
Two BIackhawk helicopters went into T res Encinas with 20 Delta commandos on intelligence that the hostages were being moved.
One of the BIackhawks was shot down.
There were nine military fatalities.
I' m terribly sorry to hear that.
I'd Iike to ask for your assistance in confirming that the five hostages are still alive.
The hostages are alive.
-How does he know that? -How do you know that? We have confirmation that we' re transmitting to you through channels.
-Mr.
President? -Y es.
I respect and appreciate your diplomacy in not yet asking me to release Juan Aguilar from prison.
I' m not going to ask you, Miguel.
I' m willing to do it at this point.
Say that again? I' m willing to Iet Aguilar out in exchange for the hostages, if you ask me to.
I appreciate your making that offer, but I don't think that's a very good idea.
I agree with you, but I' m making the offer, and I' m Ieaving it up to you.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Wait, Toby.
-Not a second, Sam.
You give into terrorist demands and that's the ballgame.
But there are real Iives at stake.
It's easy to stick to principle if nothing's at stake.
Let's argue about principles after these guys get home.
Juan Aguilar runs one of the Iargest drug cartels in the world.
He has produced $1 5 billion worth of cocaine in two years.
He's murdered or ordered the murder of eight Supreme Court justices a pro-extradition prime minister and three federal police officers in Bogotá.
And from his prison cell, I guarantee you he orchestrated the kidnapping of five U S.
DEA agents -and the killing of their rescuers.
-I believe he did as well which is evidence that it couldn't matter Iess whether he's in prison or not.
I'II share a cell with him before I Iet him out.
-I want military options.
-Yes, sir.
-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Y eah.
-Joey says probably just another hour.
-She'II bring the numbers here? -Y eah.
-Josh, how is this not a no-brainer? -Colombia? -You say get them home? -Of course.
Who doesn't? That should be the person who has to call the families.
And who calls the families of the commandos who died trying to save five guys we could've freed hours ago? -That's not a good enough reason.
-The reason is you give in, and it gives them incentive to keep terrorizing.
Not negotiating hasn't given them disincentive.
-How do you know? -PIease.
You don't think they' re gonna kidnap more people -and demand free cable? -So give them free cable.
How about the keys to the Situation Room? -You draw a Iine.
-Where? -She said an hour? -On the early numbers? -Y eah.
-Y eah.
Do we know where they are? They were moved about 60 miles into the jungle at Villacerreno.
-What would it take to get them back? -AIive? Yeah.
-Mr.
President-- -What would it take to wipe them out? -The Frente? -Y eah.
What would it take? For the kind of victory Americans are used to for the kind of victory Americans demand you need a 1 0-to-1 ratio.
It was only after that ratio in the Gulf that we felt comfortable making a move.
Frente has 20,000 well-armed, well-trained soldiers each of whom has a financial stake in heroin and cocaine.
We need to put 200 to 300,000 men into a jungle war -and I think we'd Iose as many as half.
-Half.
Y es, sir.
You gotta ask yourself, "What's the point in being a superpower anymore? " -I wanted to bring that book.
-The T ruman biography.
-You got a sweater for the plane? -Y es, ma'am.
And you should both take sweaters.
-And then there's the repacking.
-Mr.
President.
First, the preliminary, or the dry run.
Then there's the actual packing.
You' re just going away for two days, right? Guys.
Right? What happened? -It was an ambush.
-Oh, God.
A guy with a shoulder thing shot down a BIackhawk.
Everybody's dead.
Nine guys.
Meanwhile, they've moved the hostages where we'd need tweezers to get them.
You want me to stay? -No.
-I can stay.
No.
I didn't make the decision to run again.
I wouldn't do that without you.
-We don't need to talk about that now.
-When? -Jed.
-I didn't make the decision to run again.
Y es, you did.
If we' re gonna talk about this, Iet's talk about this.
The moves over the Iast few weeks, the changes in Iast night's speech.
This whole place is in reelection mode.
That's what we do, Abbey.
We run for things.
From the day a congressman is sworn in, he's gotta raise $ 1 0,000 a week so he can get reelected.
A president gets to govern for 1 8 months.
We try to get people to vote for us and we hope the people force us to do good things.
-We had a deal.
-Y es, we had a deal.
Y es, Jed.
Look at me.
-Do you get that you have MS? -Abbey.
Do you get that your own immune system is shredding your brain and I can't tell you why? Do you have any idea how good a doctor I am -and that I can't tell you why? -I've had one episode in two years.
Y es, but relapsing/remitting MS can turn into secondary/ progressive MS oftentimes ten years after the initial diagnosis which is where we'II be in two years.
Do you know what that will Iook Iike? -I know what it's gonna.
-Fatigue -an inability to get through the day -Look-- memory Iapses, Ioss of cognitive function failure to reason, to think clearly.
I can't tell you if it's gonna happen.
I don't know if it's gonna get better or if it's gonna get worse.
But we had a deal.
And that deal was how you justified keeping it a secret from the world.
It's how you justified it to God.
It's how you justified it to me.
-Mrs.
Bartlet? -Yeah.
You sure you don't want me to stay? Y eah.
Okay.
Have a good trip.
Call me when you get there.
I will.
I Iove you.
I Iove you too.
-Son of a bitch.
-I' m sorry.
A person can't wait five days to buy a gun? If someone needs a gun right now isn't that something to be concerned about? T aking the feelings of gun owners into account if you've gotta shoot somebody, it probably isn't something that can wait.
You mind if I take off? -What time is it? -2 a.
m.
AII right, we'II call that a full day, but come in early tomorrow.
-You' re all right getting home? -Y eah.
-Good night, guys.
-Good night.
-They' re just preliminary numbers.
-They' re not gonna change.
No.
A five-day waiting period.
-It tested well nationwide.
-Y eah.
Fifty-eight percent.
I didn't need nationwide.
I needed those districts.
We'II have to dial down the gun rhetoric in the Midwest.
Why not dial it up? Because these numbers just told us-- You don't know what these numbers just told you.
I don't know what these numbers just told you.
We know.
-Really? -Numbers don't Iie.
They Iie all the time.
They Iie when 72% of Americans say they' re tired of a sex scandal while all the while, newspaper circulation goes through the roof for anyone featuring the story.
If you polled a hundred Donnas and asked them if they think we should go out you'd get a high positive response.
But the poll wouldn't tell you it's because she Iikes you and she knows it's beginning to show and she needs to cover herself with misdirection.
Believe me when I tell you that's not true.
You say that these numbers mean dial it down.
I say they mean dial it up.
You haven't gotten through.
There are people you haven't persuaded yet.
These numbers mean dial it up.
Otherwise, you' re Iike the French radical watching a crowd run by and saying : "There go my people.
I must find out where they' re going so I can Iead them.
" Yeah.
We'II go through the rest of the numbers in the morning.
Okay.
-Good evening, sir.
-Hey, Charlie.
You shouldn't be out here without a coat.
I' m okay.
-Mr.
President? -Y eah.
-Is there anything I can do for you? -No.
Thanks.
Hey.
I checked outside.
I thought you'd be having a cigarette.
Let me tell you something, Leo.
After heroin and cocaine, tobacco is next.
Great, another criminal empire we can give birth to.
There'II be speakeasies all over Chicago where you can get smuggled cartons of Marlboro Lights.
I fought a jungle war.
I' m not doing it again.
If I could put myself anywhere in time it would be the Cabinet Room on August 4th, 1 964 when our ships were attacked by North Vietnam in the T onkin Gulf.
I'd say: " Mr.
President, don't do it.
You' re considering authorizing a massive commitment of troops and throwing in our Iot with torturers and panderers Ieaders without principle and soldiers without conviction with no clear mission and no end in sight.
" This war's at home.
Its casualties are in our prisons and not our hospitals.
The amount of money the American government is spending in Colombia is the exact same amount American consumers are spending buying drugs from Colombia.
We' re funding both sides of this war.
And we'II never win it that way.
-Leo, I can't possibly reverse-- -No one-- I can't possibly reverse our position on negotiating with-- No one's gonna know.
You don't make another phone call.
That happens someplace else.
Santos is gonna be the one to Iet him out.
There were just 1 4 people in the room who heard Santos make me the offer.
Those 1 4 people keep bigger secrets than this.
You know what T ruman Capote said was the bad part about Iiving outside the Iaw? What? You no Ionger have the protection of it.
What's to stop me? Two hundred CIA operatives.
BIack Ops.
Two hundred guys with no wives, no kids, no parents.
I send 200 operatives down there.
Monday morning I read in the paper Juan Aguilar is dead.
What's to stop me? We Iost this one, Mr.
President.
It was bad intelligence, and we Iost this one.
It was the queen's rook.
That's why I couldn't trade the bishop.
It was over six moves ago.
-Arrange for their immediate release.
-Y es, sir, Mr.
President.
If they so much as experience turbulence on their way out-- Y es, sir.
I want to go to Dover Iater tonight.
-Y es, sir.
-Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Folks, take your seats, please.
The briefing will start now.
Folks, can you take your seats? Good evening.
Thank you for coming back so Iate.
I want to fill you in on some events that have taken place in the Iast 24 hours.
There'II be representatives from the Pentagon .
.
State and Justice Departments who'II continue with your questions.
Y esterday at approximately five agents from the DEA were taken hostage in the Putumayo region of Colombia by members of the Frente-- -Hold your questions.
-Hostages are out.
- There was a demand -I'II call their families.
for the release of a Colombian prisoner.
President Miguel Santos, acting on his own authority.
S.
DEA agents have been abducted in Colombia.
The government has no control over the region.
There is no Iaw.
And they' re gonna shoot them in the head and have a parade.
In three hours I want to kick in the back door.
-When do I see numbers? -There's a 1 7 percent response rate.
-When do I see numbers? -In five minutes.
It may take a Iittle Ionger now.
-You mad at me? -We had a deal.
When did you decide you were gonna run for a second term? Mr.
President.
It was just three hours ago I gave the State of the Union.
-Y eah.
-You believe that? What are you doing? It's freezing out here.
I' m not allowed to smoke inside anymore.
I thought you were allowed to do pretty much whatever you want.
Up to the point where you accidentally burn holes in priceless antiques.
-You should stop smoking.
-Why? -You'II Iive Ionger.
-I smoke two cigarettes a day.
-It's a bad example.
-For who, Russian spy satellites? George Bernard Shaw said, "You don't Iive Ionger.
It just seems Ionger.
" I' m not sure it was Shaw.
I' m not sure it was either.
-Is it time? -Y eah.
T en hut! Where are we? Sir, a C-1 41 with two Delta Force teams has been in the air for 85 minutes.
-What happens when I give the order? -They'II enter Colombian airspace.
At the same time, a 1 9-man unit, a Special Forces AIpha team that's already on the ground at T res Encinas, will head to Villacerreno.
What do they do when they get there? They'II hike 1 1 miles into the jungle and hold still.
-Why? -It'II be daylight by then.
Nineteen guys have to Iie face-down in the jungle till sunset? That's when the hostages will be moved.
-And that's when we go.
-They' re moving the hostages where? From the T asco outpost to the Frente command center.
-On foot? -Y eah.
there's a plateau called Mesa Del Oro.
That'II give the Deltas maximum maneuverability.
-The code name's Cassiopeia? -Y es, sir.
Mickey, you Iook Iike you wanna say something.
-Mr.
President, I think you should wait.
-For what? T o see how negotiations continue with Guerra.
Guerra wants Aguilar out of a Colombian prison.
Are there any other circumstances under which he'II give these hostages back? -Possibly.
-Crap.
If we keep talking, we don't risk hostages getting shot in the rescue.
What difference does it make if they' re shot during a rescue or at Villacerreno? We can keep them alive Ionger if we Iet them be taken there.
Are we gonna keep them alive Ionger or will it just seem Ionger? Sir? I've reason to believe they'II be tortured at Villacerreno.
They' re U S.
drug agents.
They know things these people wanna know.
Sir, the C-1 41 is approaching Colombian airspace.
Go.
Tonight's State of the Union contained 8747 words.
It was second in length only to his inaugural address and 75 minutes longer than Washington 's first address to Congress.
Officer SIoan, would you be willing to go on television tomorrow? -They knew how many words there were.
-In the speech? -About 8700? -Y eah.
-Would you be willing to go on TV? -I think I'd really rather just go home.
This is gonna be a part of the news by tomorrow night either way.
How do you know? Same way I knew there were I have some experience at this.
-What'II happen? -You'II do a very quick satellite interview.
"What was it Iike being at the State of the Union? " " It was an honor.
" "T alk about your act of heroism.
" " I wouldn't really call it heroism, but.
" " Now, I understand you had some trouble back in the early '80s.
" " I' m glad I have a chance to talk about that.
" And you tell your story just Iike you told it to me.
-Do I wear my uniform? -Coat and tie.
Carol? Would you make sure Officer SIoan gets back to his hotel? I'd like to thank all our guests tonight.
Henry Shallick, David Satch, Toby Ziegler, Bob Woodward, Jeff Greenfield C.
J.
Cregg and of course, the White House for allowing us to broadcast Iive.
You've been watching a special expanded edition of Capitol Beat.
I' m Mark Gottfried.
Have a good night.
We' re out.
Great job, everybody.
-You said 20 minutes.
-I was in a meeting.
-It's now 40.
-I was in a meeting.
-At midnight? -It's not midnight everywhere.
-What's his story? -He's innocent.
You just decided? A grand jury, a DA and a civil court judge decided 1 7 years ago.
Nobody brought charges, and the civil suit was dismissed.
-Then why on his record--? -Detroit police cited him for excessive force to calm the black community.
It was a robbery.
They were jumping over walls.
The guy's Ieg was already fractured when SIoan got there.
He's gonna do your show.
-Is he doing everybody else's show too? -No.
-Why not? -Because you waited 40 minutes.
Hey.
Bill Dryer from Gillette's office called.
He wants to have a meeting with you.
-Dryer? -Gillette.
-I'II bet he wants a meeting with me.
-Y eah.
It's not gonna happen.
It's not gonna happen.
We got enough input from him while we were writing the thing.
-I don't need to hear-- -He's very upset.
-I know, he's-- -More than we calculated.
We've upset him.
We have to Iearn to Iive with that pain.
He's not the president.
He's a junior senator from North Dakota where nobody Iives because it's cold and they don't have a sports franchise.
Do I need to Iay out why he is important? -No.
-He is adored by the Ieft.
-Stop Iaying out the ways.
-He's our Iink to the environmentalists.
T oby, asking for this meeting isn't out of Iine, and you should take it.
In fact, you should take it tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the Hyatt.
-You set it up already? -Just the time and place.
-You expect me to explain myself to him? -Y es.
Y es, I do.
-Fine.
-T oby.
-C.
J.
-7:30.
The Post is calling it "sleek, challenging and oftentimes witty.
" Not unlike myself.
Who is SIoan and why am I just hearing about this? SIoan was one of the invited guests.
The one we stuck in over the weekend? A Iong time ago he was cited by the Detroit police for excessive force.
-Against a black suspect? -Y eah.
-How was this guy not vetted? -Because it was Iast minute.
-What are you doing about it? -Gottfried's gonna interview him.
-It's a bad idea.
-Why? BIacks won't react well to our supporting a brutal cop.
-He's not a brutal cop.
-Says you.
Says me, a grand jury, two judges, the district attorney and common sense.
It's going public anyway, T oby.
Gottfried got the story on his own.
-Fine.
Where's Josh? -He went back to the phone banks.
-Is the electricity back on? -No.
-Then what's he doing there? -Hoping the electricity goes on.
Well, that ought to do it.
-Josh? -Y eah? -Can I tell you something about women? -Oh, God, please don't.
-We Iike to be wooed.
-Donna.
-She wants you to ask her out.
-She doesn't.
-You' re missing the signs.
-I' m not.
-I know a thing or two about Iove.
-No, you don't.
-The signs.
-I' m thinking of firing you.
-You've fired me twice.
I' m impervious.
-Among other things.
-We'II start over tomorrow night.
-Why? It's already 9:30 in California.
The power isn't on.
We' re missing half the window.
-Joey.
-Pack it in.
Okay.
Folks, we'II start over tomorrow night.
-See you.
-T ake it easy.
Good night.
So you have to wait another day.
-I' m not good at waiting.
-No kidding.
Donna.
Why do you expect our polling to be any different than others? We've got dial groups.
We've got CNN, USA Today.
We've got Gallup.
-Why's our poll gonna be different? -We' re asking different questions.
I'II get your coat.
By the way right there, back when she said, "See you" -that was a sign.
-You' re fired.
-Impervious.
-Y eah.
-Mr.
President? -Yeah.
You understand we've got heating inside, right? This isn't cold.
It's crisp.
No, it's cold.
Well, you' re a big wussy.
-Knight to king-4.
-It'II Ieave the bishop open.
You' re gonna sacrifice the bishop for the queen's rook.
-Where? -Four moves down.
Abbey's pretty pissed at me.
-How bad? -Pretty bad.
King's knight-3.
I have this image in my mind of the dead soldiers coming back from Vietnam the caskets coming off the plane, but I don't know from where.
-T elevision.
-The caskets coming off the plane? Are they down? Y eah, the Deltas Ianded in T res Encinas.
AIpha moved out, and they'II be in Villacerreno at 0700.
Where they wait.
Yeah.
I'II see you in the morning.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Morning, Charlie.
-Morning, Mrs.
Landingham.
-Did you ever solve the mystery? -Of the $500 check? -Y eah.
-Y es, I did.
-I solved the mystery.
-What was it? -I' m a mystery solver.
-That's wonderful, sweetie.
What was it? Mrs.
Bartlet wrote the check to a woman she read about who's now Iiving in a women's shelter.
You know why she never cashed the check? Because it was from the First Lady, and she had it framed instead? -That was the mystery.
-It's a good one.
Does the president know he has breakfast with Josh and Sam? He's on his way.
It was a good mystery.
You solved it fast because I Ioosened the ketchup bottle for you.
-Okay.
-Okay.
-Can I tell you something strange? -Sure.
AII Iast night at the phone banks Donna was telling me I should ask Joey Lucas out.
You should.
Fine.
But that aside, what do you make of Donna being the one pushing it? -I don't make anything.
-You wouldn't think she'd be jealous? She goes out with guys.
Are you jealous? -No.
-See? -I don't get jealous.
-So? I don't Iike it, and usually do everything within my capabilities to sabotage it which is why it's curious that Donna would do nothing to discourage in fact do everything to encourage, a date with Joey Lucas who, quite frankly, is a very attractive woman.
-Josh? -Y eah.
-Your voice got really high at the end.
-Y eah, sorry.
-Hey.
-Good morning, sir.
Thanks for having breakfast with me.
-Did you order? -We were waiting for you.
-Billy.
You want scrambled eggs? -Y eah, thanks.
-Can we get them some scrambled eggs? -Anything for you? -I' m fine.
-Then we' re fine too.
-No.
-Sir, we' re fine.
-Bring them some food.
Would you? -Yes, sir.
You understand I can't discuss with you any rescue mission that may or may not be in play right now.
Of course.
I' m assuming State has people negotiating with Nelson Guerra.
Nelson Guerra wants me to tell President Santos to release Aguilar from prison.
I wouldn't make that call with a gun to my head.
I have a gun to my head, and I' m not making that phone call.
I inherited "War on Drugs" from a president, who inherited it from a president who inherited it from a president before that.
I' m not 1 00% sure who we' re fighting, but I know we' re not winning.
T en years ago, we spent $5 billion fighting drugs and we did such a good job that Iast year we spent 1 6 billion.
Sixty percent of federal prisoners are in jail on drug charges as opposed to two and a half percent that are there for violent crime.
We imprison a higher percentage of our citizens than Russia did under Communism and South Africa under apartheid.
Somewhere between 50 and 85 percent of the prison population has a drug or alcohol abuse problem.
We've tried "Just Say No.
" I don't think it's gonna work.
I' m mentioning this because I'd Iike you to give me any thoughts you might have on the subject.
-Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Thank you, sir.
-Hello.
-What are you doing here? -I came in early.
-Bonnie.
I've been here for an hour.
Are we releasing the names of the agents or not? Y eah.
-You gotta give me another chance.
-At what? -At meeting the president.
-You met the president Iast night.
-I was wearing a bathrobe.
-You sat in paint.
-I was singing and dancing.
-You were happy.
-I threw my drink up in the air.
-Not much of it Ianded on your head.
-I Iooked Iike an idiot, and it's your fault.
-My fault? You arranged the meeting over my express wishes.
I' m not the one who got you jumping around Iike Joey Heatherton.
-Do something.
-Arrange another introduction? -You have to.
-Last night you were scared to meet him.
And I' m still scared but I'II overcome that to erase the humiliation I've brought upon myself and my father.
You' re just in your own Iittle Euripides play over there, aren't you? PIease arrange another introduction.
-Fine.
-Really? -Y es.
-Thank you.
You should've given me a heads up on the BIue Ribbon, T oby.
-Seth.
-You should've given me a heads up.
It happened five minutes before he walked into the House.
You' re a junior senator and don't get script approval on the State of the Union.
Whatever Ianguage you couched it in, it was not an insignificant change.
You started off with, "We will not cut Social Security, " and wound up with: "We' re announcing the formation of a bipartisan BIue Ribbon Commission to study options with regard to Social Security.
" What is the danger in that? What's the danger in my reform bill? Diverting revenue into trust funds is not reform.
It's the only Social Security reform bill supported by any Senate Democrats.
-How many votes did it get Iast year? -The White House-- Eighteen.
Eighty-two U.
S.
senators think your reform bill sucks.
So unless you can pick up a majority I don't know what's wrong with being open to hearing new ideas.
And compromise essential Democratic Party principles -to cut a deal with the Republicans? -It's not what we' re doing.
If your commission recommends raising the retirement age one day reducing benefits one dollar, reducing COLAs.
If you recommend partial privatization on Social Security Are there cameras? I will condemn it as an act intent on destroying Social Security.
-And ruling the galaxy.
-You think this is a joke? You think I won't publicly condemn a member of my party? The president's not a member of your party.
He's the Ieader.
If you think demonizing people who are trying to govern responsibly is the way to protect our Iiberal base then speaking as a Iiberal, go to bed.
Would you, please? You' re running to the right on the environment.
We admonished environmental terrorism.
You' re in favor of it? It was cheap, and you Iost friends.
-We made more than we Iost.
-Then you go on TV in defense of a cop who kicked the crap out of a black kid because you don't want to admit you screwed up and he never should've been invited.
Seniors, environmentalists, African-Americans.
T ell me which has a greater chance of happening: My reform bill getting passed or the president getting reelected without these three groups.
Three groups that will never desert the president.
Not unless I run as a third-party candidate, no.
Those 1 8 votes are Iooking a Iittle bigger now.
Aren't they, you son of a bitch? I was just thinking about this cartoon I once saw.
Tiny fish are swimming through the Ieaves of a plant.
But then one fish realizes it's not a plant.
It's the tentacles of a predator.
And the fish says: "With friends Iike this, who needs anemones? " Come at us from the Ieft, and I' m gonna own your ass.
Ask someone at my office for the notes on the noon speech.
-"Women in the Arts"? -Y eah.
-And pack a sweater for the plane? -Y eah.
-Hey, Charlie.
-Good morning, ma'am.
You heading out? Not till tonight.
Chicago, then Seattle.
I wanted your permission to draw $500 and walk it to that woman in the shelter.
-Oh, I'd appreciate that.
Thank you.
-Is there anything else I can do? Thank you, ma'am.
-Hey.
-Good morning, sir.
I'II be in the office.
What's that about? Charlie's gonna bring cash over to Jane Robinson.
-You' re packing already? -Y eah.
-You' re not Ieaving till tonight, right? -Y eah.
Men and women are completely different in this regard.
When was the Iast time you packed a suitcase at all? I don't know.
I just had breakfast with Sam and Josh.
T oby's having breakfast with Seth Gillette who's every bit as pissed at me as you are.
-Abbey, can we? -Guys, can you give me a minute? We didn't get a chance to talk Iast night.
-I don't think we should.
-T alk? -Ever? -Oh, if wishing made it so, Jed.
I don't think it's a good idea for us to talk now.
-Why? -You've gotta focus on Colombia.
I can do two things at once.
You don't have two things at once.
You have 92 things.
One of them is five hostages in Colombia.
And I'd Iike to go on without this black cloud around me so I'd Iike to talk now.
This is a Ionger conversation than that and we can talk about it Iater.
And you should focus.
What are you, my Zen master? Can I be in charge of my own mind? Let me tell you something! Get as chippy as you want if that makes you feel better.
I am your wife.
I Iove you.
You have a crisis.
You have to deal with it.
When it's done, we'II talk.
I feel better already.
I'm on hold.
I' m on hold.
I' m on hold.
I' m in some hellish hold world of holding.
-Josh? -I' m on hold.
They'II call us when the power's back.
-They did.
-What happened? I' m on hold.
-I'II wait with you.
-That'II be a Iot of fun.
So you never told me why this poll is different why you' re interested in these particular numbers.
There are five congressional districts that concern me.
-Which districts? -Kentucky 3rd.
That's Louisville.
-And Jefferson.
-Y eah.
Louisiana 4th, Missouri 9th - Missouri 6th and Ohio 1 2th.
-What's with those districts? The president announced a crime package that would-- Require a five-day background check.
-Those congressmen-- -Are sitting on the fence.
So you wanna know how the package polled in those districts.
If it polled well, you got your gun Iaw.
If it tanked, you shut up or Iose five seats in the House.
Why do you ask when you' re gonna have the conversation all by yourself? -You want me to hold the phone? -I can hold the phone.
T ake the phone.
Give me the phone.
Why are you trying to fix me up with Joey Lucas? I think you'd make a nice couple.
Fine.
If you got married, you wouldn't have to get your towels re-monogrammed.
Thank you.
-The power's back on.
-Excellent.
-What do we do now? -We wait.
How you doing, Ainsley? My mouth is dry, my hands are moist and I have to pee.
Okay.
-Hey, you ready? -Y es.
You sure? Let's go.
-Call it off.
-Here we go.
-No, really.
-Ainsley.
-I'II meet him another time.
-What other time? -A better time.
-What's a better time? T omorrow.
Don't you have to absolve yourself of the humiliation visited on your family and the House of Atreus? But I believe I' m going to compound the humiliation.
-It'II never happen.
-Really? No, it probably will.
-Hey.
-Is he coming? He's stopping in on his way from the thing.
How you doing, Ainsley? I' m concerned about peeing on your carpet.
-Okay, well, now I am too.
-T ell her it's gonna be fine.
-Your skirt's on backwards.
-May I use the bathroom? -Y es.
-Thank you.
Ainsley! -Good evening, Mr.
President.
-Is she here? -Ainsley Hayes? Y es, sir.
-Where is she? Well, she's in the closet, Mr.
President.
-Why? -She thought it was a bathroom.
-Why is she still in there? -That's kind of hard to say, sir.
-Why don't we get her out here? -Y eah.
-Ainsley? -Y es? Ainsley, why don't you come on out of there? How you doing? We met Iast night.
You were singing and dancing in a bathrobe.
-Y es, sir.
-Why were you in the closet? I had to pee.
I can't smoke inside, but you can pee in Leo's closet.
-Mr.
President-- -I appreciate your coming to work for me.
You' re an exceptionally bright young woman.
Is your father proud of you? -Y es, sir.
-I'II bet he is.
-Listen.
-Mr.
President.
Sam.
What happened? Charlie, get the door.
What happened? -Mr.
President-- -Did we Iose the hostages? -The hostages weren't there.
-What are you talking about? -Oh, God.
-What? The radio communications we'd been intercepting on the SIGINT were wrong.
When the Deltas got to the area, it was a dry hole.
That's when one of the two BIackhawk helicopters was shot down by a shoulder- mounted surface-to-air missile.
-How many guys were on the BIackhawk? -The pilot, the engineer and seven Deltas.
So I've got nine more guys now on the ground we've gotta get back? Mr.
President.
Sir, the second BIackhawk went in and recovered the bodies.
-They' re dead? -Y es, sir.
I want the president of Colombia on the phone.
I want a translator right now.
Damn it! Damn it! Sir? How the hell did that happen? -It was bad intelligence.
-You think? Frente Ieft behind a radio and a soldier at the outpost and they were deliberately sending misinformation.
We'd never anticipated the possibility that somebody might try that? We weren't prepared for someone to try and outfox us with a stratagem so sophisticated it's an entire generation beyond : " Hey, Iook, your shoelaces are untied! " Is that how I just Iost nine guys, to a damn street gang with a ham radio? They Iured us there so that they could kill nine American soldiers! -Where are the bodies? -They' re on their way back.
-Where? -Dover.
Around 4 a.
m.
Mr.
President? We have a secure connection.
-Somebody translating on the other end? -Y es, sir.
Mr.
President, this is the president of the United States.
-Good evening, Mr.
President.
-Mr.
President.
Ninety minutes ago, the United States invaded Colombian airspace.
Two BIackhawk helicopters went into T res Encinas with 20 Delta commandos on intelligence that the hostages were being moved.
One of the BIackhawks was shot down.
There were nine military fatalities.
I' m terribly sorry to hear that.
I'd Iike to ask for your assistance in confirming that the five hostages are still alive.
The hostages are alive.
-How does he know that? -How do you know that? We have confirmation that we' re transmitting to you through channels.
-Mr.
President? -Y es.
I respect and appreciate your diplomacy in not yet asking me to release Juan Aguilar from prison.
I' m not going to ask you, Miguel.
I' m willing to do it at this point.
Say that again? I' m willing to Iet Aguilar out in exchange for the hostages, if you ask me to.
I appreciate your making that offer, but I don't think that's a very good idea.
I agree with you, but I' m making the offer, and I' m Ieaving it up to you.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Wait, Toby.
-Not a second, Sam.
You give into terrorist demands and that's the ballgame.
But there are real Iives at stake.
It's easy to stick to principle if nothing's at stake.
Let's argue about principles after these guys get home.
Juan Aguilar runs one of the Iargest drug cartels in the world.
He has produced $1 5 billion worth of cocaine in two years.
He's murdered or ordered the murder of eight Supreme Court justices a pro-extradition prime minister and three federal police officers in Bogotá.
And from his prison cell, I guarantee you he orchestrated the kidnapping of five U S.
DEA agents -and the killing of their rescuers.
-I believe he did as well which is evidence that it couldn't matter Iess whether he's in prison or not.
I'II share a cell with him before I Iet him out.
-I want military options.
-Yes, sir.
-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you, Mr.
President.
-Y eah.
-Joey says probably just another hour.
-She'II bring the numbers here? -Y eah.
-Josh, how is this not a no-brainer? -Colombia? -You say get them home? -Of course.
Who doesn't? That should be the person who has to call the families.
And who calls the families of the commandos who died trying to save five guys we could've freed hours ago? -That's not a good enough reason.
-The reason is you give in, and it gives them incentive to keep terrorizing.
Not negotiating hasn't given them disincentive.
-How do you know? -PIease.
You don't think they' re gonna kidnap more people -and demand free cable? -So give them free cable.
How about the keys to the Situation Room? -You draw a Iine.
-Where? -She said an hour? -On the early numbers? -Y eah.
-Y eah.
Do we know where they are? They were moved about 60 miles into the jungle at Villacerreno.
-What would it take to get them back? -AIive? Yeah.
-Mr.
President-- -What would it take to wipe them out? -The Frente? -Y eah.
What would it take? For the kind of victory Americans are used to for the kind of victory Americans demand you need a 1 0-to-1 ratio.
It was only after that ratio in the Gulf that we felt comfortable making a move.
Frente has 20,000 well-armed, well-trained soldiers each of whom has a financial stake in heroin and cocaine.
We need to put 200 to 300,000 men into a jungle war -and I think we'd Iose as many as half.
-Half.
Y es, sir.
You gotta ask yourself, "What's the point in being a superpower anymore? " -I wanted to bring that book.
-The T ruman biography.
-You got a sweater for the plane? -Y es, ma'am.
And you should both take sweaters.
-And then there's the repacking.
-Mr.
President.
First, the preliminary, or the dry run.
Then there's the actual packing.
You' re just going away for two days, right? Guys.
Right? What happened? -It was an ambush.
-Oh, God.
A guy with a shoulder thing shot down a BIackhawk.
Everybody's dead.
Nine guys.
Meanwhile, they've moved the hostages where we'd need tweezers to get them.
You want me to stay? -No.
-I can stay.
No.
I didn't make the decision to run again.
I wouldn't do that without you.
-We don't need to talk about that now.
-When? -Jed.
-I didn't make the decision to run again.
Y es, you did.
If we' re gonna talk about this, Iet's talk about this.
The moves over the Iast few weeks, the changes in Iast night's speech.
This whole place is in reelection mode.
That's what we do, Abbey.
We run for things.
From the day a congressman is sworn in, he's gotta raise $ 1 0,000 a week so he can get reelected.
A president gets to govern for 1 8 months.
We try to get people to vote for us and we hope the people force us to do good things.
-We had a deal.
-Y es, we had a deal.
Y es, Jed.
Look at me.
-Do you get that you have MS? -Abbey.
Do you get that your own immune system is shredding your brain and I can't tell you why? Do you have any idea how good a doctor I am -and that I can't tell you why? -I've had one episode in two years.
Y es, but relapsing/remitting MS can turn into secondary/ progressive MS oftentimes ten years after the initial diagnosis which is where we'II be in two years.
Do you know what that will Iook Iike? -I know what it's gonna.
-Fatigue -an inability to get through the day -Look-- memory Iapses, Ioss of cognitive function failure to reason, to think clearly.
I can't tell you if it's gonna happen.
I don't know if it's gonna get better or if it's gonna get worse.
But we had a deal.
And that deal was how you justified keeping it a secret from the world.
It's how you justified it to God.
It's how you justified it to me.
-Mrs.
Bartlet? -Yeah.
You sure you don't want me to stay? Y eah.
Okay.
Have a good trip.
Call me when you get there.
I will.
I Iove you.
I Iove you too.
-Son of a bitch.
-I' m sorry.
A person can't wait five days to buy a gun? If someone needs a gun right now isn't that something to be concerned about? T aking the feelings of gun owners into account if you've gotta shoot somebody, it probably isn't something that can wait.
You mind if I take off? -What time is it? -2 a.
m.
AII right, we'II call that a full day, but come in early tomorrow.
-You' re all right getting home? -Y eah.
-Good night, guys.
-Good night.
-They' re just preliminary numbers.
-They' re not gonna change.
No.
A five-day waiting period.
-It tested well nationwide.
-Y eah.
Fifty-eight percent.
I didn't need nationwide.
I needed those districts.
We'II have to dial down the gun rhetoric in the Midwest.
Why not dial it up? Because these numbers just told us-- You don't know what these numbers just told you.
I don't know what these numbers just told you.
We know.
-Really? -Numbers don't Iie.
They Iie all the time.
They Iie when 72% of Americans say they' re tired of a sex scandal while all the while, newspaper circulation goes through the roof for anyone featuring the story.
If you polled a hundred Donnas and asked them if they think we should go out you'd get a high positive response.
But the poll wouldn't tell you it's because she Iikes you and she knows it's beginning to show and she needs to cover herself with misdirection.
Believe me when I tell you that's not true.
You say that these numbers mean dial it down.
I say they mean dial it up.
You haven't gotten through.
There are people you haven't persuaded yet.
These numbers mean dial it up.
Otherwise, you' re Iike the French radical watching a crowd run by and saying : "There go my people.
I must find out where they' re going so I can Iead them.
" Yeah.
We'II go through the rest of the numbers in the morning.
Okay.
-Good evening, sir.
-Hey, Charlie.
You shouldn't be out here without a coat.
I' m okay.
-Mr.
President? -Y eah.
-Is there anything I can do for you? -No.
Thanks.
Hey.
I checked outside.
I thought you'd be having a cigarette.
Let me tell you something, Leo.
After heroin and cocaine, tobacco is next.
Great, another criminal empire we can give birth to.
There'II be speakeasies all over Chicago where you can get smuggled cartons of Marlboro Lights.
I fought a jungle war.
I' m not doing it again.
If I could put myself anywhere in time it would be the Cabinet Room on August 4th, 1 964 when our ships were attacked by North Vietnam in the T onkin Gulf.
I'd say: " Mr.
President, don't do it.
You' re considering authorizing a massive commitment of troops and throwing in our Iot with torturers and panderers Ieaders without principle and soldiers without conviction with no clear mission and no end in sight.
" This war's at home.
Its casualties are in our prisons and not our hospitals.
The amount of money the American government is spending in Colombia is the exact same amount American consumers are spending buying drugs from Colombia.
We' re funding both sides of this war.
And we'II never win it that way.
-Leo, I can't possibly reverse-- -No one-- I can't possibly reverse our position on negotiating with-- No one's gonna know.
You don't make another phone call.
That happens someplace else.
Santos is gonna be the one to Iet him out.
There were just 1 4 people in the room who heard Santos make me the offer.
Those 1 4 people keep bigger secrets than this.
You know what T ruman Capote said was the bad part about Iiving outside the Iaw? What? You no Ionger have the protection of it.
What's to stop me? Two hundred CIA operatives.
BIack Ops.
Two hundred guys with no wives, no kids, no parents.
I send 200 operatives down there.
Monday morning I read in the paper Juan Aguilar is dead.
What's to stop me? We Iost this one, Mr.
President.
It was bad intelligence, and we Iost this one.
It was the queen's rook.
That's why I couldn't trade the bishop.
It was over six moves ago.
-Arrange for their immediate release.
-Y es, sir, Mr.
President.
If they so much as experience turbulence on their way out-- Y es, sir.
I want to go to Dover Iater tonight.
-Y es, sir.
-Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Folks, take your seats, please.
The briefing will start now.
Folks, can you take your seats? Good evening.
Thank you for coming back so Iate.
I want to fill you in on some events that have taken place in the Iast 24 hours.
There'II be representatives from the Pentagon .
.
State and Justice Departments who'II continue with your questions.
Y esterday at approximately five agents from the DEA were taken hostage in the Putumayo region of Colombia by members of the Frente-- -Hold your questions.
-Hostages are out.
- There was a demand -I'II call their families.
for the release of a Colombian prisoner.
President Miguel Santos, acting on his own authority.