The West Wing s04e17 Episode Script
Red Haven's on Fire
Previously on The West Wing: Tell Toby to take over the campaign.
The White House will answer the Republican tax plan Monday.
Every speech the president gives has to be about the Democratic tax plan.
- The speechwriting staff, they quit, right? - Yeah.
We're speechwriting staff interns.
- Kundu is in the midst of a civil war.
- No, it's not.
It's in the midst of a slaughtering of an entire people.
Two Marine lance corporals and a PFC have been taken.
- What are we doing? - Special ops wants to brief you on some rescue scenarios.
- We're coming home.
with General Vahorean disclosing for the first time the names of the Marines taken hostage.
They are Lance Corporals John Halley and Raymond Rowe and Private First Class Herman Hernandez.
On what was described as a routine patrol of the perimeter of Bitanga Airport, the three reported by radio an attack by an estimated 50 members of the Kundu National Army.
Well, Sam's on his way over and I'll tell you something.
If I felt comfortable hugging other people I'd do one to Sam, because he impaled himself.
So I think the least I can do is bring the Ziegler brand of wisdom to the campaign for the last week, be a role model.
You know what they don't tell you? - You can post bond with a credit card.
- Man, that's totally whacked.
Yeah, Charlie's trying to throw it down with the street.
It's a sad sight.
I've got American Express, I've got Visa.
I could've posted bond and gotten miles.
- Hang on.
- Press Secretary C.
J.
Cregg telling us President Bartlet who was to spend the weekend in California campaigning for Democratic congressional candidate Sam Seaborn has boarded Air Force One and is on his way back to Washington to more closely monitor the crisis, you have to call it with the three hostages.
- Sir? - Yeah.
When do you land? Sign here, here, here.
Initial it here, here, here.
And sign again here.
Excuse me.
I think they're making me buy somebody's house.
Call me when you land.
I'm sorry, who'd I borrow this from? It was me.
Thanks.
- Toby.
- I'm sorry I missed your rally.
That was something you did with the tax plan.
- Thank you.
- I meant it was stupid.
- Speaking of which, what happened? - With us? At the bar? Yes.
Couple of country club guys were a little lubed.
They got into it with Andy.
I wanted him to step back, and he slipped.
His wingman thought I hit him, so I took care of business.
- You did what? - Charlie took care of business.
- You all right? - Yeah.
When you sit in a cage you have time to do a lot of thinking.
- Hurricane, we were in for two hours.
You probably haven't talked to anybody? I just got off with Josh.
I'm running the campaign for the last week.
Yeah.
The president can't fire Scott Holcomb.
He was taking it in the wrong direction, Sam.
And you guys are gonna take it in the right direction? We made a rough entrance here, but things are looking up now.
You trapped people at Disneyland told the French to stick bread up their ass, had a meeting with a communist and things are looking up because my new campaign director just made bail.
A glass is half-full or half, you know, the other - How'd you call Josh? - What do you mean? - Didn't they take your cell phone? - I borrowed theirs.
On a call girl's bill, there'll be a call to Air Force One? You're really gonna be teaching a seminar on call-girl caution? Really? Excuse me, but at this point we're in jail voluntarily.
Can we go? - What are we doing about this story? - Nothing.
It's a box on page 27.
- It'll be more than that.
- They got the hostages the president heading to Washington a flood in Colorado, and a chemical fire in Providence.
We got saved.
All right, I called that putt too early.
Lance Corporal Halley is from Sarasota, Florida.
He joined the Marine Corps two years ago and he did his basic training at Camp Pendleton.
He is married, with a 3-year-old daughter.
The three were deployed How come it's never people with six months to live who are taken hostage? I mean, there's so much of it, you'd think once in a while we'd catch a break.
- Hey, Trotsky.
- Yeah.
The first lady's gonna do the president's public events tomorrow.
Let C.
J.
know that she should stay.
She was gonna take a red-eye back.
Also, Charlie should stay and staff the first lady.
Okay, speaking of the first lady, you have a meeting with Max.
Yeah, Max is taken care of.
The HHS chapter of the submission is ready for you to proofread.
- Want me to do it? - I'm supposed to do it myself.
Yes, but you don't.
Want me to do it? - You took a meeting with a communist.
- You sent me there.
Yeah.
Fair enough.
My bad.
- You want me to proofread this? - Yes, please.
- Mr.
President? Mr.
McGarry.
- Would you all excuse me? Yes, sir.
- Yeah? - Electronic eavesdropping and a couple of paid informants lead us to believe they're being held about 37 miles east of Bitanga.
What happens if, screw the deadline, we just go to full deployment right now? Well, I don't know, but the three Marines would certainly be executed.
All right, we gotta go get them.
Fitz? The Delta Force, First Special Forces.
That's 26 special ops.
They've been practicing for the last three hours or so in Ghana.
They're gonna use the RH-66, the Comanche Attack-Recon.
When they've got it right in Ghana, we'll recommend that you give the order, sir.
If that happens, we believe there's a 70-percent chance of success.
All right, then.
On my order.
-Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, Mr.
President.
or if any ransom demands have been made.
Pentagon officials would not comment on whether the fate of the hostages affects America 's decision to take action.
You can't say their plan is the wrong way to stimulate the economy.
- It is the wrong way.
- No.
It's not.
It won't stimulate the economy at all.
It'll stimulate yacht manufacturers.
Don't say,"We believe.
" Make it declarative.
Twenty-one and 60.
They've been working since very early this morning.
- Right.
Yeah.
- Twenty-one, you wrote: "Even if capital gains does reward risk-taking the plan is bad for the deficit.
" Why are you conceding their point? And Lauren Shelby writes, "Everyone should get equal benefits.
" Our plan isn't equal.
It raises taxes on the rich.
- I meant, metaphorically, I suppose.
- Why don't I take this one.
Will, those are remarks for the deputy small-business administrator.
So anyone subcabinet or lower, it's okay to be a mass of indecision? I'm saying you have limited time and finite resources.
- Maybe it'd be best to triage.
- Do not fall asleep again.
- I thought I saw food on the floor.
- They haven't eaten.
- There's food in the mess.
- It closes at 6.
- Is it after 6? - Yes.
- What time is it? - Eleven thirty.
All right, you guys should go home.
- You need anything? - No.
- You didn't give encouragement.
- What? - You didn't give encouragement.
- I'm not a counselor.
I need these things done by Monday.
The staff quit.
I've gotta figure out a way to do it myself.
- By Monday? - Yes.
Okay, but you've had an attitude since yesterday.
I question their commitment.
They're here on a Saturday night and they don't get paid.
"White House intern" looks good on a résumé.
In three months, two of them will be working at Condé Nast and HBO.
- And the other two? - Will marry senior vice presidents at Condé Nast and HBO.
- Hello? - Hey.
- You guys all right? - Charlie and I got arrested.
- Yeah, I saw it on the news.
- It made the news out there? A Jewish guy won a bar fight.
It's news.
- The tax plan's coming out tomorrow.
- What are you talking about? Sam found out we were holding back because of him and made the president flip the cards.
So the toothpaste's out of the tube and we need to be ready with public remarks by the end of tomorrow.
- Get them back.
- Who? The Ronettes.
Get them back.
- Are you there? - Yeah.
End of tomorrow.
I'll call you in an hour.
Toby, I'm gonna catch the red-eye back.
No, you're not.
The first lady's flying in to take over the president's events she needs a staff.
- How do I get her schedule? - Advance is bringing it over.
- Did Zoey stay? Yeah, she's still here.
All right.
Amy, how much money does he have left? Twenty-eight thousand five hundred cash on hand.
That's including a loan for 15,000 for targeted radio spots.
- Yet with regard to money you remain? - Cautiously optimistic.
- Because? - The campaign's strapped because Scott Holcomb never tapped Democratic interest groups.
- Will they write checks this late? - If they can be convinced Sam's still sucking in some oxygen.
- I'm enjoying this.
You're eight points down, with 10 up for grabs we need them to break for you.
- All of them? - Yes.
Look, it's been one of those days.
Who would've thought Charlie could bust us out of jail using nothing but his shoes.
Go ahead, tell them, Charlie.
These guys got beat.
Could that have happened in the struggle when they were ambushed? - No.
- No.
These guys got beat.
- I think 80 million - We're talking about PSSF grants? Yeah, I think 80 million's pretty unrealistic from the House.
Last year didn't the conferees split the difference like 68-something? Sixty-eight point two.
We'll tell them the budget submission's at 80 and everyone's happy at 70.
- Do we have anything else? - Can I just ask? Mrs.
Bartlet was promised 12 million for immunization education funds at CDC.
You've got the full - Shouldn't they be separate? - Max, there's no more 12 million.
- Why? - I traded it.
- You're kidding.
- I am not.
Josh, the first lady wanted it.
No one notified me this was on the table.
- You get a daily memo on consultations.
- I get 35 of them and you know it.
Yes.
Thank you.
I have to go tell this to the first lady now? Well, I'd have someone else do it, but it's up to you.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
You get some sleep? God.
Yeah, that was a nice four hours.
- I'm a whole new woman.
- Are you the leader of the group? - I'm sorry? - The group leader.
- I've been here the longest.
- You guys gotta hunker down.
- I promise you, we're doing our best.
- I don't think you are.
- Man, your sister was right.
- Was she? - Yeah.
- About what? - Good morning.
- Morning, everyone.
Good morning, Elsie.
Minimum wage is $5.
15 an hour.
Times 40, times 52 that's $ 10,712 dollars a year.
Which is what you make unloading boxes in a right-to-work state.
Say, Kentucky.
He can't live on that, so he puts in another 30 hours at night bringing his total to $ 18,746 a year.
He pays 15 percent in federal income tax, or $2811.
90.
Public schoolteacher, $41,724 dollars is the national average.
He's paying 28 percent, or $ 11,682 dollars.
And, finally, a doctor making 150,000 is paying 36 percent or $54,000 in taxes.
Fifteen percent, 28 percent, 36 percent.
It's a progressive tax, been around since Lincoln.
Under the plan the Republicans announced on Friday the box unloader stays the same.
The schoolteacher stays the same.
The doctor gets $4500 back.
Under our plan, which has sort of been announced already the box unloader gets $321 back.
The schoolteacher gets $ 1251.
The doctor stays the same and to finance the tax deductibility of college tuition for the children of the box unloader and teacher we go to a fourth group, the über-wealthy and ask a CEO making $ 16,400,000 a year to give us another one percent, taking him up to 41.
Whatever you have done in an hour is what I'm gonna work with.
- Thanks.
- The doctor got into medical school.
I said, the doctor got into medical school.
He had to work hard to do that and presumably the CEO has skills the value of which the market has placed at $ 16,400,000.
Was there a spread on this in Republican Vogue? Bring me whatever you've got in an hour.
You're very stealthy, ma'am.
I've always liked that.
- Yeah? - How are you this morning? You outwitted my chancellor.
You bested my swordsman.
I haven't said this lately, ma'am, but you and the president are a perfect couple.
- I wanted that 12 million.
- Me too.
But at the end of a prizefight, you look at the guy dancing around.
- That's who won.
- Why doesn't my agenda get anywhere in these negotiations? Well, can I ask you, ma'am? - Why do you think? - Because you're a political snob who doesn't think the first lady belongs on this side of the building.
- Wrong.
- Wrong what? - Wrong, ma'am.
- Damn right.
- The president and Leo make decisions by listening to and participating in vigorous debate.
This isn't school.
I work with people who can play.
You're comfortable being this condescending with me? - Yes, ma'am.
- Why? Because I won.
I always do.
- And you came here for my advice.
- Max - He's an idiot.
- He's my nephew.
No kidding.
He doesn't understand budget process or committee structure.
He thinks decisions are made in meetings - This is an extremely - He can't play.
Mrs.
Bartlet, you're the first lady.
You need a chief of staff.
A real one.
If you want your agenda taken seriously, put a professional face on it.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, ma'am.
When they ask you why you're here today, you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" - Who are you? Charlie McCarthy? - Charlie was the dummy.
Edgar Bergen was the ventriloquist.
When they ask about the rise in the consumer price index, you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" They're gonna ask me about the Democratic tax plan.
- They might.
- They might.
- They will.
- Yeah.
When they do, here's what you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" Assuming I did say that, which I won't, you don't think I'd sound like an idiot? I doubt you'll sound like anything.
They'll just use it as B-roll, but if there's audio you might as well be on message.
- Sam will take some questions now.
- Mr.
Seaborn? What are we doing here today? Orange County's beachfronts are a national treasure, Samantha.
That's why I've supported creating the Federal Beach Project.
Orange County is experiencing land development - He looks youthful.
- Yes.
- And energetic.
- Yes.
He looks youthful and energetic.
Do we have anything he can jump over? - What is it? - What's going on at the White House? I'm standing right here.
I don't have special powers.
When you brief the press that's when I'll know.
You've never been on a beach in your life, have you? No.
- They're here? - Yes, sir.
- Who are they? - Diane Halley and their 3-year-old Esteban and Louisa Hernandez, and Martha Rowe.
- There's a 3-year-old in there? - Yeah.
I'll take care of it.
This is my first time doing this particular one.
Good morning, I'm Jed Bartlet.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Hernandez? - Yes, sir.
- Mrs.
Rowe? Yes, sir.
Mrs.
Halley? Is it all right if I call you Diane? Diane's fine.
- Are you Betty? - Yeah.
- Are you 3 years old? - Yeah.
Are you scared now? Don't be.
Diane, would you mind if Betty sat in the next room with my secretary, Mrs.
Fiderer.
We'll be just behind that door.
Yeah.
Honey, wait for me in the next room with Debbie.
Come on, Betty.
I know a lot about you.
Thank you.
Please.
No one can tell us anything.
- The picture is real? - Yeah.
It was taken off Kundunese TV.
They have TV? Yeah, sure.
They They've been beaten? I'm afraid so, sir.
Yes.
We are currently negotiating for Red Cross access so they can get medical attention.
Where are they being held? What kind of place is it? I'm sorry.
I can't tell you that.
Do you know? - I mean, do you know where they're? - I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, either.
But something is being done to get the boys back? - Mr.
Hernandez, I can only imagine - You can't tell us that, either.
No, ma'am, I can't.
- Excuse me.
- Excuse me, please.
- Delta just got it right in Ghana.
- Let's go.
They fly in on two Comanches and a Black Hawk.
Twenty men forcibly secure the perimeter of the barracks.
A snatch force of six men penetrate and take the captives.
What about resistance? Well, they're gonna subdue sentries and visible guards.
They've got heavy sniper rifles and the CIA wet team.
What's the timetable? Forty-seven minutes to get there from the president's go order.
That's radio silence.
Two hours to get it done.
Why a wet team? - Excuse me, sir? - Why the CIA wet team? We're not near water.
No, sir.
It's called They call it a wet team because it's bloody.
I had to ask.
What's it called? Task Force Dawn Sky.
- Go.
- Go.
It's a go.
Task Force is go.
- Dawn Sky's in operation.
- Stand by.
- Work at the end of hour seven.
- Where's everyone else? - Asked me to bring it.
- They're scared of me? - Yes.
- Give me that.
What did Cassie mean by: -"Your sister was right about you"? - What? -"Your sister was right.
" - I probably was.
- About what? - What do you mean? - Will you tell me what you said? - Clock's ticking.
"In our redistributive tax plan" I don't want it called that.
Sounds like redistributing wealth, which, historically, is preceded by heads on peasants' pitchforks.
"In the Bartlet plan, Americans making less than $80,000 will see their marginal tax rate cut from 15 percent and 28 percent to 12 percent and 23 percent.
" I'm sleeping already.
- Hard-ass.
- What? Cassie said, "What's with your stepbrother?" I said,"He's a sweet hard-ass.
" You did? And she said, "Your sister was right about you.
" - She meant you're sweet.
- I don't think so.
- How do you know? - Because.
- Willie.
- Don't call me that! Sputnik crashed down on your head overnight.
You're working on one speech, suddenly you're deputy director the director's away, and your staff quit.
- Because of me.
- Because they're idiots! And the tax plan's out two days early, so you're cramming it.
You're taking it all out on four defenseless interns who think Sputnik's crashed on their heads too.
Leave these.
I'll make notes.
Okay.
"The DNC honors the Bartlet women.
" Well, I assume you're talking about my daughters because if the DNC is honoring my husband's skanky ex-girlfriends, I No.
No, you're honoring the great work done by so many women during Jed's first term.
Sherry Klein and Jean Hammond of the NWLA who got 28 billion into the budget for health care coverage for the uninsured and children of low-income parents.
Ellen Meshejian and her team at the National Education Initiative.
Rachel Warren and the child-care tax incentive program.
Elizabeth Lowell and the Women's Health Coalition.
I beg your pardon, ma'am.
And Amy Gardner, who's had seven jobs in three years.
On behalf of the DNC on behalf of the White House and the president, I thank you very much.
And let's send Sam Seaborn to Congress.
Thank you.
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
I was reaching for the glass misjudged the angle on the candle and, as you saw, one thing led to another.
How did you live with Josh Lyman? - I'm sorry? - How did you live with him? He beat Max out of the 12 million earmarked for vaccine education.
And when I said I wanted the At the end of the fight, look at the guy dancing around and that's who won"? So I wanna know how you lived with him? We never technically lived together, which was the subject of Don't you wanna kill him when he's like that? My problem is I wanna jump him when he says things like that.
- Where did you get your mouth? - Brown, then Yale Law School.
Oh, God.
Alana Waterman's about to zatz me on fair pay.
- Save me, would you? - You want me to? - Please.
- Abbey you were charming.
- Good to see you, Alana.
I'm not sure if you saw my op-ed - I did - Me too.
- Well, what I wanted to say is - I thought it was terrific, if that counts.
- Thank you.
Obviously - And courageous.
- I'm sorry? - I say, I thought it was courageous.
Because the leadership wanted fair pay done quietly so it didn't become necessary for the moderate Republicans to make it a symbol of left wing overreaching.
As if the president doesn't have enough problems.
But you said,"Screw the leadership.
" I think that's courageous.
Ironically, I have a hunch the first lady could've been brought on board fair pay if she had been lobbied more What's the word? More, you know, professionally.
Rather than being embarrassed in this morning's newspaper, Alana.
Lovely remarks today, ma'am.
That's what I came over to say.
- You said,"Save me.
" - I meant walk me to the other side of the room or something.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
So this is what it looks like from where you are, Mr.
McGarry.
I'm sorry? I say, this is what it looks like from where you are.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Rowe, I don't follow.
The comfortable chairs and the bodyguards.
I'm sorry.
I'm still not I can tell you if it's just a matter of When the U.
S.
is involved in a military conflict anywhere in the world the chief of staff is given increased security.
It's just Is that what you meant? I meant that the Bartlets aren't ones for joining the service.
- Did you serve? - I did.
I flew F-105s for the - During a war? - Yeah, the war in Vietnam.
I apologize, sir.
- My mistake.
- That's all right.
Mr.
McGarry? - You should call me Leo.
- Esteban.
Steve.
Does my son? Would these boys know anything? - Have any information? - Steve, you wanna ask me if your son's being tortured? Would they know any information that? I can't tell you that.
Excuse me.
Coming up on 47 minutes plus two hours.
Well, let's get everybody in.
You got a fax from Amy.
- What does she say? - Looks like just some campaign updates.
- Read it to me.
- Low-dollar program capped at 37K.
Three new national endorsements including Sierra Club and NARAL.
Latter on promise of opposition to partial-birth ban.
- Mrs.
B.
Says - Hey, Josh? Did you sign off on $40 million from the immunization fund to be earmarked for immunization education? - Yeah.
- Really? I thought you settled that with the first lady's office.
Yeah.
Wait.
What? Hi.
Maddy Tatum.
We've worked together for years.
- Did you say immunization education? - Vaccines and the HHS budget.
You moved 40 million from nutrition services in the - I didn't move anything.
- It's in the HHS final.
Let me see that.
- This isn't what we had this morning.
- The change was made in the galleys.
Didn't you proofread it? I don't know.
Did I proofread it? Yeah.
But you proofread it to make sure capital was spelled with an A.
- You didn't proofread it to - To make sure it was what we agreed to? - I didn't do that? - Not as such.
No.
- Who moved the money? - I don't know.
Whoever moved the money knew I don't proofread these.
- Must've been Max.
- Max doesn't know.
- Then I give up.
- Really leaving no stone unturned, huh? Don't yell at her.
- Read me the rest of the fax.
- What? How did she? Read Read me the fax.
"Latter on promise of opposition of partial-birth ban.
Mrs.
B.
Says you're encouraging her to hire new chief of staff.
Need treasury breakdown of cap gains cut.
First lady took your advice.
She just hired me.
Weather here is 74 degrees and partly cloudy.
" Well.
A whole new chapter begins.
Yeah.
You know, I think I've got Yes, yes.
I do.
I've still got sand in my shoes from, like, six hours ago.
You know, I'm looking at this wire report.
Why is the first lady commenting on falling soybean prices? - That's what they asked.
- Why let her take the questions? That's what a lot of us are wondering.
Mrs.
Bartlet wants to change her remarks at the DCCC tonight and talk about the vote on nutrition assistance programs.
- That's not a good idea.
- Why not? Because it's a black-tie event.
When she talks about poor women while wearing a $4000 Krizia dress she looks like Marie Antoinette.
- She's right.
- I am.
So you should tell her that.
- I'm sorry? - Tell her not to talk about the vote.
- I should say she'll look like a dilettante? - I once had to tell the president he was wearing different shoes.
- That's roughly the same.
You polished up my remarks.
- Those are recommendations.
- For the office park? Say what you want.
Do you mean for the office park now or the banquet tonight? I meant for both.
"Charles Darwinomics for the chamber of commerce.
" "Trickle-down travesties.
" - That was mine.
- She's ready to go.
Good luck.
I'll catch up with you later.
They're well-paid technology workers.
- What happened to courting undecideds? - We're doing that.
Darwinomics at the chamber of commerce? - It's flamethrower language.
- Don't want that? - I didn't say that.
- Good.
- You feel all right? - Yeah.
Then let's go.
At what point do we start to worry? - I'm sorry? - Hack was two hours and 47 minutes.
That was an approximation.
Yeah, but it's four hours and 10 minutes now.
I got three parents, a wife, and a 3-year-old there.
At what point do I tell them what's going on? - Let's give them some time.
- How much time before we send guys to get the guys we sent in to get? Dakota one-one, O.
D.
S.
Is this channel secured? Confirm, Dakota one-one.
Call in, over.
-Zeus four-one.
-Black Widow one-one, O.
D.
S.
That's all three choppers.
EUCOM, can you confirm the cargo? -Dakota one-one, say if cargo 's onboard.
-EUCOM Dakota one-one, that's affirm.
Yes! Ask him to confirm it again.
- Affirm again EUCOM.
-Dakota one-one, affirm your cargo.
Lance Corporals Halley and Rowe and PFC Hernandez onboard Zeus four-one.
-That's affirmative, White House.
- That was the longest silence since Mexico.
- Chihuahua's governor.
- That's the way to go.
- We heard Spanish over the com.
- What did that turn out to be? - Her bodyguards were on walkie-talkies.
Leo.
- What's that? - Red Haven's on fire.
- What does that mean? - A bomb went off.
EUCOM, are you reading the condition on Red Haven? Roger that.
Red Haven 's on fire.
Can you give a situation assessment? - What's Red Haven? - The base in Ghana where the Deltas practiced.
- Fitz, what's going on? It's coming.
White House, EUCOM.
Best we can tell, three SUVs breached the gate at Haven.
First one was stopped.
The second two continued before driving into a barracks and exploding their C-4s.
Casualties? It was a suicide bombing.
They're reporting 17 dead and some 20 injured.
I want Threatcon Charlie for Africa and Europe.
All right.
- Why don't you go talk to the families.
- Yes, sir.
I'll be right back.
They've been gone a long time now.
As soon as they know anything, they'll send someone.
Well, that's not true, though.
I mean, they know a lot but they can't tell us? That's for everyone's safety.
Can you tell us this? Why were these boys sent to a place I have never heard of and to kill people I've never heard of? That's a complicated question.
I'm a smart lady.
- Leo.
- They're safe.
They're in airspace over Morocco.
- What happened? - Our special ops unit staged a successful rescue.
They'll be brought to a hospital at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and they'll be home tomorrow.
We'll have communications set up in a few minutes.
You can speak with them.
The president wishes he could be here himself to tell you but I'm afraid he's engaged at the moment.
Leo, what aren't you telling us? - The boys are fine, Mrs.
Rowe.
- But something has happened.
It appears there's been a terrorist retaliation at the makeshift camp we set up in Ghana to practice for the rescue.
Seventeen staff and administrators were killed.
Someone will be in to take care of you.
Thank you.
Listen to this.
"Our taxes aren't a penalty, hard as that is to believe.
They're the price we pay for our roads and bridges.
And the way we look after the least among us.
The sign and signal of our obligations to each other and to our own best selves.
" That's nice.
Did you write that? - No.
You did.
- I didn't write that.
Yeah, you did.
I painted it, but it's yours.
You wrote: "We must rise above parochial interests and speak to the national interest.
Instead of a trickle-down economy, imagine one where the work of ordinary Americans is the center of our national life.
" - I wrote that? - You did.
- I'm very good.
- Don't get carried away.
Which is Shelby, and which is Romano? I'm Romano.
A spread in Republican Vogue? - What was that supposed to be? Clever? - You're entitled.
A guy's entitled to shout stupid things at a ballpark.
Doesn't make me wanna follow his lead.
The answer as to why the MD should accept a greater tax burden in spite of his well-earned success, is called a veil of ignorance.
Imagine before you're born, you don't know who you'll be your abilities or your position.
Now design a tax system.
- Veil of ignorance.
- John Rawls.
We rescued the hostages, but suicide bombers killed 17 U.
S.
soldiers in Ghana.
It's what we're talking about tomorrow, so I'll put the tax plan aside and work on this.
You all did well.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Lauren, why don't we get the profiles? - He's gonna need the minute-by-minute.
- Can I get a Bible? - Corinthians? - I think so.
- We should pull material from when we lost the Deltas in Bogotá.
- Why does he need? I'm almost sure there's a King James Bible on the shelf.
- Someone tell the DNC - Elsie.
not to bother with the tax plan.
- Hi, this is Lauren.
They misunderstood.
They can go.
- I was wondering if Will Bailey - They understood.
That's right, Sam wrote it for the president.
Is there a copy I can run over and get? And the hospital workers' conference.
We are preaching to the choir.
That's all we are doing.
Yet you packed the damn office park with bodies from the Where'd he go? I'm sorry, are you talking to me? No.
- Are you open? - We have a private party in a little while.
Yeah, I'm supposed to be next door.
Sorry I didn't catch that last part.
You were walking all fast.
You packed the office park with bodies from labor.
AFL, Teamsters.
It was like the cast of a James Cagney movie.
The event was to talk to wired workers.
Didn't want a half-empty rally, and the wired workers are wired to Webb.
I've spent a third of the day in one-on-ones with Planned Parenthood Families America, AARP.
You think those people are gonna vote for Webb? My concern is that those people are gonna stay home on Election Day.
Now I'm supposed to go to the chamber of commerce and sing about titans of corporate greed? - Problem? - The titans are the ones in the room.
- Can we get a couple shots and a beer? - Yeah.
- I'm preaching to the choir.
- I'm sorry? You have me preaching to the choir.
- Yeah.
- Why? That's how you get them to sing.
I can't just cut any chance I have for victory.
- The story will be,"It's over.
" - No.
The story is you had the guts to stick up for what you believe, and you didn't run.
And people are gonna remember that.
I'm gonna make sure of it.
I'm gonna lose.
- Yeah.
- There's no chance of a miracle? No.
Then why are you here? You're gonna lose and you're gonna lose huge.
They're gonna throw rocks at you.
And I wanted to be standing next to you when they did.
- Oh, really? - Yeah.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Really? - Really.
I'm just getting creamed.
I'm just getting worked.
- I know.
You're not imagining it.
- Thanks.
Don't know if you heard.
It was just on the news.
There was a terrorist bombing in Africa, an Army base.
Yeah, we heard.
We should get back to work.
God save the president of the United States and Sam Seaborn.
Let's go.
The White House will answer the Republican tax plan Monday.
Every speech the president gives has to be about the Democratic tax plan.
- The speechwriting staff, they quit, right? - Yeah.
We're speechwriting staff interns.
- Kundu is in the midst of a civil war.
- No, it's not.
It's in the midst of a slaughtering of an entire people.
Two Marine lance corporals and a PFC have been taken.
- What are we doing? - Special ops wants to brief you on some rescue scenarios.
- We're coming home.
with General Vahorean disclosing for the first time the names of the Marines taken hostage.
They are Lance Corporals John Halley and Raymond Rowe and Private First Class Herman Hernandez.
On what was described as a routine patrol of the perimeter of Bitanga Airport, the three reported by radio an attack by an estimated 50 members of the Kundu National Army.
Well, Sam's on his way over and I'll tell you something.
If I felt comfortable hugging other people I'd do one to Sam, because he impaled himself.
So I think the least I can do is bring the Ziegler brand of wisdom to the campaign for the last week, be a role model.
You know what they don't tell you? - You can post bond with a credit card.
- Man, that's totally whacked.
Yeah, Charlie's trying to throw it down with the street.
It's a sad sight.
I've got American Express, I've got Visa.
I could've posted bond and gotten miles.
- Hang on.
- Press Secretary C.
J.
Cregg telling us President Bartlet who was to spend the weekend in California campaigning for Democratic congressional candidate Sam Seaborn has boarded Air Force One and is on his way back to Washington to more closely monitor the crisis, you have to call it with the three hostages.
- Sir? - Yeah.
When do you land? Sign here, here, here.
Initial it here, here, here.
And sign again here.
Excuse me.
I think they're making me buy somebody's house.
Call me when you land.
I'm sorry, who'd I borrow this from? It was me.
Thanks.
- Toby.
- I'm sorry I missed your rally.
That was something you did with the tax plan.
- Thank you.
- I meant it was stupid.
- Speaking of which, what happened? - With us? At the bar? Yes.
Couple of country club guys were a little lubed.
They got into it with Andy.
I wanted him to step back, and he slipped.
His wingman thought I hit him, so I took care of business.
- You did what? - Charlie took care of business.
- You all right? - Yeah.
When you sit in a cage you have time to do a lot of thinking.
- Hurricane, we were in for two hours.
You probably haven't talked to anybody? I just got off with Josh.
I'm running the campaign for the last week.
Yeah.
The president can't fire Scott Holcomb.
He was taking it in the wrong direction, Sam.
And you guys are gonna take it in the right direction? We made a rough entrance here, but things are looking up now.
You trapped people at Disneyland told the French to stick bread up their ass, had a meeting with a communist and things are looking up because my new campaign director just made bail.
A glass is half-full or half, you know, the other - How'd you call Josh? - What do you mean? - Didn't they take your cell phone? - I borrowed theirs.
On a call girl's bill, there'll be a call to Air Force One? You're really gonna be teaching a seminar on call-girl caution? Really? Excuse me, but at this point we're in jail voluntarily.
Can we go? - What are we doing about this story? - Nothing.
It's a box on page 27.
- It'll be more than that.
- They got the hostages the president heading to Washington a flood in Colorado, and a chemical fire in Providence.
We got saved.
All right, I called that putt too early.
Lance Corporal Halley is from Sarasota, Florida.
He joined the Marine Corps two years ago and he did his basic training at Camp Pendleton.
He is married, with a 3-year-old daughter.
The three were deployed How come it's never people with six months to live who are taken hostage? I mean, there's so much of it, you'd think once in a while we'd catch a break.
- Hey, Trotsky.
- Yeah.
The first lady's gonna do the president's public events tomorrow.
Let C.
J.
know that she should stay.
She was gonna take a red-eye back.
Also, Charlie should stay and staff the first lady.
Okay, speaking of the first lady, you have a meeting with Max.
Yeah, Max is taken care of.
The HHS chapter of the submission is ready for you to proofread.
- Want me to do it? - I'm supposed to do it myself.
Yes, but you don't.
Want me to do it? - You took a meeting with a communist.
- You sent me there.
Yeah.
Fair enough.
My bad.
- You want me to proofread this? - Yes, please.
- Mr.
President? Mr.
McGarry.
- Would you all excuse me? Yes, sir.
- Yeah? - Electronic eavesdropping and a couple of paid informants lead us to believe they're being held about 37 miles east of Bitanga.
What happens if, screw the deadline, we just go to full deployment right now? Well, I don't know, but the three Marines would certainly be executed.
All right, we gotta go get them.
Fitz? The Delta Force, First Special Forces.
That's 26 special ops.
They've been practicing for the last three hours or so in Ghana.
They're gonna use the RH-66, the Comanche Attack-Recon.
When they've got it right in Ghana, we'll recommend that you give the order, sir.
If that happens, we believe there's a 70-percent chance of success.
All right, then.
On my order.
-Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, Mr.
President.
or if any ransom demands have been made.
Pentagon officials would not comment on whether the fate of the hostages affects America 's decision to take action.
You can't say their plan is the wrong way to stimulate the economy.
- It is the wrong way.
- No.
It's not.
It won't stimulate the economy at all.
It'll stimulate yacht manufacturers.
Don't say,"We believe.
" Make it declarative.
Twenty-one and 60.
They've been working since very early this morning.
- Right.
Yeah.
- Twenty-one, you wrote: "Even if capital gains does reward risk-taking the plan is bad for the deficit.
" Why are you conceding their point? And Lauren Shelby writes, "Everyone should get equal benefits.
" Our plan isn't equal.
It raises taxes on the rich.
- I meant, metaphorically, I suppose.
- Why don't I take this one.
Will, those are remarks for the deputy small-business administrator.
So anyone subcabinet or lower, it's okay to be a mass of indecision? I'm saying you have limited time and finite resources.
- Maybe it'd be best to triage.
- Do not fall asleep again.
- I thought I saw food on the floor.
- They haven't eaten.
- There's food in the mess.
- It closes at 6.
- Is it after 6? - Yes.
- What time is it? - Eleven thirty.
All right, you guys should go home.
- You need anything? - No.
- You didn't give encouragement.
- What? - You didn't give encouragement.
- I'm not a counselor.
I need these things done by Monday.
The staff quit.
I've gotta figure out a way to do it myself.
- By Monday? - Yes.
Okay, but you've had an attitude since yesterday.
I question their commitment.
They're here on a Saturday night and they don't get paid.
"White House intern" looks good on a résumé.
In three months, two of them will be working at Condé Nast and HBO.
- And the other two? - Will marry senior vice presidents at Condé Nast and HBO.
- Hello? - Hey.
- You guys all right? - Charlie and I got arrested.
- Yeah, I saw it on the news.
- It made the news out there? A Jewish guy won a bar fight.
It's news.
- The tax plan's coming out tomorrow.
- What are you talking about? Sam found out we were holding back because of him and made the president flip the cards.
So the toothpaste's out of the tube and we need to be ready with public remarks by the end of tomorrow.
- Get them back.
- Who? The Ronettes.
Get them back.
- Are you there? - Yeah.
End of tomorrow.
I'll call you in an hour.
Toby, I'm gonna catch the red-eye back.
No, you're not.
The first lady's flying in to take over the president's events she needs a staff.
- How do I get her schedule? - Advance is bringing it over.
- Did Zoey stay? Yeah, she's still here.
All right.
Amy, how much money does he have left? Twenty-eight thousand five hundred cash on hand.
That's including a loan for 15,000 for targeted radio spots.
- Yet with regard to money you remain? - Cautiously optimistic.
- Because? - The campaign's strapped because Scott Holcomb never tapped Democratic interest groups.
- Will they write checks this late? - If they can be convinced Sam's still sucking in some oxygen.
- I'm enjoying this.
You're eight points down, with 10 up for grabs we need them to break for you.
- All of them? - Yes.
Look, it's been one of those days.
Who would've thought Charlie could bust us out of jail using nothing but his shoes.
Go ahead, tell them, Charlie.
These guys got beat.
Could that have happened in the struggle when they were ambushed? - No.
- No.
These guys got beat.
- I think 80 million - We're talking about PSSF grants? Yeah, I think 80 million's pretty unrealistic from the House.
Last year didn't the conferees split the difference like 68-something? Sixty-eight point two.
We'll tell them the budget submission's at 80 and everyone's happy at 70.
- Do we have anything else? - Can I just ask? Mrs.
Bartlet was promised 12 million for immunization education funds at CDC.
You've got the full - Shouldn't they be separate? - Max, there's no more 12 million.
- Why? - I traded it.
- You're kidding.
- I am not.
Josh, the first lady wanted it.
No one notified me this was on the table.
- You get a daily memo on consultations.
- I get 35 of them and you know it.
Yes.
Thank you.
I have to go tell this to the first lady now? Well, I'd have someone else do it, but it's up to you.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
You get some sleep? God.
Yeah, that was a nice four hours.
- I'm a whole new woman.
- Are you the leader of the group? - I'm sorry? - The group leader.
- I've been here the longest.
- You guys gotta hunker down.
- I promise you, we're doing our best.
- I don't think you are.
- Man, your sister was right.
- Was she? - Yeah.
- About what? - Good morning.
- Morning, everyone.
Good morning, Elsie.
Minimum wage is $5.
15 an hour.
Times 40, times 52 that's $ 10,712 dollars a year.
Which is what you make unloading boxes in a right-to-work state.
Say, Kentucky.
He can't live on that, so he puts in another 30 hours at night bringing his total to $ 18,746 a year.
He pays 15 percent in federal income tax, or $2811.
90.
Public schoolteacher, $41,724 dollars is the national average.
He's paying 28 percent, or $ 11,682 dollars.
And, finally, a doctor making 150,000 is paying 36 percent or $54,000 in taxes.
Fifteen percent, 28 percent, 36 percent.
It's a progressive tax, been around since Lincoln.
Under the plan the Republicans announced on Friday the box unloader stays the same.
The schoolteacher stays the same.
The doctor gets $4500 back.
Under our plan, which has sort of been announced already the box unloader gets $321 back.
The schoolteacher gets $ 1251.
The doctor stays the same and to finance the tax deductibility of college tuition for the children of the box unloader and teacher we go to a fourth group, the über-wealthy and ask a CEO making $ 16,400,000 a year to give us another one percent, taking him up to 41.
Whatever you have done in an hour is what I'm gonna work with.
- Thanks.
- The doctor got into medical school.
I said, the doctor got into medical school.
He had to work hard to do that and presumably the CEO has skills the value of which the market has placed at $ 16,400,000.
Was there a spread on this in Republican Vogue? Bring me whatever you've got in an hour.
You're very stealthy, ma'am.
I've always liked that.
- Yeah? - How are you this morning? You outwitted my chancellor.
You bested my swordsman.
I haven't said this lately, ma'am, but you and the president are a perfect couple.
- I wanted that 12 million.
- Me too.
But at the end of a prizefight, you look at the guy dancing around.
- That's who won.
- Why doesn't my agenda get anywhere in these negotiations? Well, can I ask you, ma'am? - Why do you think? - Because you're a political snob who doesn't think the first lady belongs on this side of the building.
- Wrong.
- Wrong what? - Wrong, ma'am.
- Damn right.
- The president and Leo make decisions by listening to and participating in vigorous debate.
This isn't school.
I work with people who can play.
You're comfortable being this condescending with me? - Yes, ma'am.
- Why? Because I won.
I always do.
- And you came here for my advice.
- Max - He's an idiot.
- He's my nephew.
No kidding.
He doesn't understand budget process or committee structure.
He thinks decisions are made in meetings - This is an extremely - He can't play.
Mrs.
Bartlet, you're the first lady.
You need a chief of staff.
A real one.
If you want your agenda taken seriously, put a professional face on it.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, ma'am.
When they ask you why you're here today, you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" - Who are you? Charlie McCarthy? - Charlie was the dummy.
Edgar Bergen was the ventriloquist.
When they ask about the rise in the consumer price index, you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" They're gonna ask me about the Democratic tax plan.
- They might.
- They might.
- They will.
- Yeah.
When they do, here's what you say: "Orange County's beachfront is a national treasure.
" Assuming I did say that, which I won't, you don't think I'd sound like an idiot? I doubt you'll sound like anything.
They'll just use it as B-roll, but if there's audio you might as well be on message.
- Sam will take some questions now.
- Mr.
Seaborn? What are we doing here today? Orange County's beachfronts are a national treasure, Samantha.
That's why I've supported creating the Federal Beach Project.
Orange County is experiencing land development - He looks youthful.
- Yes.
- And energetic.
- Yes.
He looks youthful and energetic.
Do we have anything he can jump over? - What is it? - What's going on at the White House? I'm standing right here.
I don't have special powers.
When you brief the press that's when I'll know.
You've never been on a beach in your life, have you? No.
- They're here? - Yes, sir.
- Who are they? - Diane Halley and their 3-year-old Esteban and Louisa Hernandez, and Martha Rowe.
- There's a 3-year-old in there? - Yeah.
I'll take care of it.
This is my first time doing this particular one.
Good morning, I'm Jed Bartlet.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Hernandez? - Yes, sir.
- Mrs.
Rowe? Yes, sir.
Mrs.
Halley? Is it all right if I call you Diane? Diane's fine.
- Are you Betty? - Yeah.
- Are you 3 years old? - Yeah.
Are you scared now? Don't be.
Diane, would you mind if Betty sat in the next room with my secretary, Mrs.
Fiderer.
We'll be just behind that door.
Yeah.
Honey, wait for me in the next room with Debbie.
Come on, Betty.
I know a lot about you.
Thank you.
Please.
No one can tell us anything.
- The picture is real? - Yeah.
It was taken off Kundunese TV.
They have TV? Yeah, sure.
They They've been beaten? I'm afraid so, sir.
Yes.
We are currently negotiating for Red Cross access so they can get medical attention.
Where are they being held? What kind of place is it? I'm sorry.
I can't tell you that.
Do you know? - I mean, do you know where they're? - I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, either.
But something is being done to get the boys back? - Mr.
Hernandez, I can only imagine - You can't tell us that, either.
No, ma'am, I can't.
- Excuse me.
- Excuse me, please.
- Delta just got it right in Ghana.
- Let's go.
They fly in on two Comanches and a Black Hawk.
Twenty men forcibly secure the perimeter of the barracks.
A snatch force of six men penetrate and take the captives.
What about resistance? Well, they're gonna subdue sentries and visible guards.
They've got heavy sniper rifles and the CIA wet team.
What's the timetable? Forty-seven minutes to get there from the president's go order.
That's radio silence.
Two hours to get it done.
Why a wet team? - Excuse me, sir? - Why the CIA wet team? We're not near water.
No, sir.
It's called They call it a wet team because it's bloody.
I had to ask.
What's it called? Task Force Dawn Sky.
- Go.
- Go.
It's a go.
Task Force is go.
- Dawn Sky's in operation.
- Stand by.
- Work at the end of hour seven.
- Where's everyone else? - Asked me to bring it.
- They're scared of me? - Yes.
- Give me that.
What did Cassie mean by: -"Your sister was right about you"? - What? -"Your sister was right.
" - I probably was.
- About what? - What do you mean? - Will you tell me what you said? - Clock's ticking.
"In our redistributive tax plan" I don't want it called that.
Sounds like redistributing wealth, which, historically, is preceded by heads on peasants' pitchforks.
"In the Bartlet plan, Americans making less than $80,000 will see their marginal tax rate cut from 15 percent and 28 percent to 12 percent and 23 percent.
" I'm sleeping already.
- Hard-ass.
- What? Cassie said, "What's with your stepbrother?" I said,"He's a sweet hard-ass.
" You did? And she said, "Your sister was right about you.
" - She meant you're sweet.
- I don't think so.
- How do you know? - Because.
- Willie.
- Don't call me that! Sputnik crashed down on your head overnight.
You're working on one speech, suddenly you're deputy director the director's away, and your staff quit.
- Because of me.
- Because they're idiots! And the tax plan's out two days early, so you're cramming it.
You're taking it all out on four defenseless interns who think Sputnik's crashed on their heads too.
Leave these.
I'll make notes.
Okay.
"The DNC honors the Bartlet women.
" Well, I assume you're talking about my daughters because if the DNC is honoring my husband's skanky ex-girlfriends, I No.
No, you're honoring the great work done by so many women during Jed's first term.
Sherry Klein and Jean Hammond of the NWLA who got 28 billion into the budget for health care coverage for the uninsured and children of low-income parents.
Ellen Meshejian and her team at the National Education Initiative.
Rachel Warren and the child-care tax incentive program.
Elizabeth Lowell and the Women's Health Coalition.
I beg your pardon, ma'am.
And Amy Gardner, who's had seven jobs in three years.
On behalf of the DNC on behalf of the White House and the president, I thank you very much.
And let's send Sam Seaborn to Congress.
Thank you.
I'm so sorry, ma'am.
I was reaching for the glass misjudged the angle on the candle and, as you saw, one thing led to another.
How did you live with Josh Lyman? - I'm sorry? - How did you live with him? He beat Max out of the 12 million earmarked for vaccine education.
And when I said I wanted the At the end of the fight, look at the guy dancing around and that's who won"? So I wanna know how you lived with him? We never technically lived together, which was the subject of Don't you wanna kill him when he's like that? My problem is I wanna jump him when he says things like that.
- Where did you get your mouth? - Brown, then Yale Law School.
Oh, God.
Alana Waterman's about to zatz me on fair pay.
- Save me, would you? - You want me to? - Please.
- Abbey you were charming.
- Good to see you, Alana.
I'm not sure if you saw my op-ed - I did - Me too.
- Well, what I wanted to say is - I thought it was terrific, if that counts.
- Thank you.
Obviously - And courageous.
- I'm sorry? - I say, I thought it was courageous.
Because the leadership wanted fair pay done quietly so it didn't become necessary for the moderate Republicans to make it a symbol of left wing overreaching.
As if the president doesn't have enough problems.
But you said,"Screw the leadership.
" I think that's courageous.
Ironically, I have a hunch the first lady could've been brought on board fair pay if she had been lobbied more What's the word? More, you know, professionally.
Rather than being embarrassed in this morning's newspaper, Alana.
Lovely remarks today, ma'am.
That's what I came over to say.
- You said,"Save me.
" - I meant walk me to the other side of the room or something.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
So this is what it looks like from where you are, Mr.
McGarry.
I'm sorry? I say, this is what it looks like from where you are.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Rowe, I don't follow.
The comfortable chairs and the bodyguards.
I'm sorry.
I'm still not I can tell you if it's just a matter of When the U.
S.
is involved in a military conflict anywhere in the world the chief of staff is given increased security.
It's just Is that what you meant? I meant that the Bartlets aren't ones for joining the service.
- Did you serve? - I did.
I flew F-105s for the - During a war? - Yeah, the war in Vietnam.
I apologize, sir.
- My mistake.
- That's all right.
Mr.
McGarry? - You should call me Leo.
- Esteban.
Steve.
Does my son? Would these boys know anything? - Have any information? - Steve, you wanna ask me if your son's being tortured? Would they know any information that? I can't tell you that.
Excuse me.
Coming up on 47 minutes plus two hours.
Well, let's get everybody in.
You got a fax from Amy.
- What does she say? - Looks like just some campaign updates.
- Read it to me.
- Low-dollar program capped at 37K.
Three new national endorsements including Sierra Club and NARAL.
Latter on promise of opposition to partial-birth ban.
- Mrs.
B.
Says - Hey, Josh? Did you sign off on $40 million from the immunization fund to be earmarked for immunization education? - Yeah.
- Really? I thought you settled that with the first lady's office.
Yeah.
Wait.
What? Hi.
Maddy Tatum.
We've worked together for years.
- Did you say immunization education? - Vaccines and the HHS budget.
You moved 40 million from nutrition services in the - I didn't move anything.
- It's in the HHS final.
Let me see that.
- This isn't what we had this morning.
- The change was made in the galleys.
Didn't you proofread it? I don't know.
Did I proofread it? Yeah.
But you proofread it to make sure capital was spelled with an A.
- You didn't proofread it to - To make sure it was what we agreed to? - I didn't do that? - Not as such.
No.
- Who moved the money? - I don't know.
Whoever moved the money knew I don't proofread these.
- Must've been Max.
- Max doesn't know.
- Then I give up.
- Really leaving no stone unturned, huh? Don't yell at her.
- Read me the rest of the fax.
- What? How did she? Read Read me the fax.
"Latter on promise of opposition of partial-birth ban.
Mrs.
B.
Says you're encouraging her to hire new chief of staff.
Need treasury breakdown of cap gains cut.
First lady took your advice.
She just hired me.
Weather here is 74 degrees and partly cloudy.
" Well.
A whole new chapter begins.
Yeah.
You know, I think I've got Yes, yes.
I do.
I've still got sand in my shoes from, like, six hours ago.
You know, I'm looking at this wire report.
Why is the first lady commenting on falling soybean prices? - That's what they asked.
- Why let her take the questions? That's what a lot of us are wondering.
Mrs.
Bartlet wants to change her remarks at the DCCC tonight and talk about the vote on nutrition assistance programs.
- That's not a good idea.
- Why not? Because it's a black-tie event.
When she talks about poor women while wearing a $4000 Krizia dress she looks like Marie Antoinette.
- She's right.
- I am.
So you should tell her that.
- I'm sorry? - Tell her not to talk about the vote.
- I should say she'll look like a dilettante? - I once had to tell the president he was wearing different shoes.
- That's roughly the same.
You polished up my remarks.
- Those are recommendations.
- For the office park? Say what you want.
Do you mean for the office park now or the banquet tonight? I meant for both.
"Charles Darwinomics for the chamber of commerce.
" "Trickle-down travesties.
" - That was mine.
- She's ready to go.
Good luck.
I'll catch up with you later.
They're well-paid technology workers.
- What happened to courting undecideds? - We're doing that.
Darwinomics at the chamber of commerce? - It's flamethrower language.
- Don't want that? - I didn't say that.
- Good.
- You feel all right? - Yeah.
Then let's go.
At what point do we start to worry? - I'm sorry? - Hack was two hours and 47 minutes.
That was an approximation.
Yeah, but it's four hours and 10 minutes now.
I got three parents, a wife, and a 3-year-old there.
At what point do I tell them what's going on? - Let's give them some time.
- How much time before we send guys to get the guys we sent in to get? Dakota one-one, O.
D.
S.
Is this channel secured? Confirm, Dakota one-one.
Call in, over.
-Zeus four-one.
-Black Widow one-one, O.
D.
S.
That's all three choppers.
EUCOM, can you confirm the cargo? -Dakota one-one, say if cargo 's onboard.
-EUCOM Dakota one-one, that's affirm.
Yes! Ask him to confirm it again.
- Affirm again EUCOM.
-Dakota one-one, affirm your cargo.
Lance Corporals Halley and Rowe and PFC Hernandez onboard Zeus four-one.
-That's affirmative, White House.
- That was the longest silence since Mexico.
- Chihuahua's governor.
- That's the way to go.
- We heard Spanish over the com.
- What did that turn out to be? - Her bodyguards were on walkie-talkies.
Leo.
- What's that? - Red Haven's on fire.
- What does that mean? - A bomb went off.
EUCOM, are you reading the condition on Red Haven? Roger that.
Red Haven 's on fire.
Can you give a situation assessment? - What's Red Haven? - The base in Ghana where the Deltas practiced.
- Fitz, what's going on? It's coming.
White House, EUCOM.
Best we can tell, three SUVs breached the gate at Haven.
First one was stopped.
The second two continued before driving into a barracks and exploding their C-4s.
Casualties? It was a suicide bombing.
They're reporting 17 dead and some 20 injured.
I want Threatcon Charlie for Africa and Europe.
All right.
- Why don't you go talk to the families.
- Yes, sir.
I'll be right back.
They've been gone a long time now.
As soon as they know anything, they'll send someone.
Well, that's not true, though.
I mean, they know a lot but they can't tell us? That's for everyone's safety.
Can you tell us this? Why were these boys sent to a place I have never heard of and to kill people I've never heard of? That's a complicated question.
I'm a smart lady.
- Leo.
- They're safe.
They're in airspace over Morocco.
- What happened? - Our special ops unit staged a successful rescue.
They'll be brought to a hospital at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and they'll be home tomorrow.
We'll have communications set up in a few minutes.
You can speak with them.
The president wishes he could be here himself to tell you but I'm afraid he's engaged at the moment.
Leo, what aren't you telling us? - The boys are fine, Mrs.
Rowe.
- But something has happened.
It appears there's been a terrorist retaliation at the makeshift camp we set up in Ghana to practice for the rescue.
Seventeen staff and administrators were killed.
Someone will be in to take care of you.
Thank you.
Listen to this.
"Our taxes aren't a penalty, hard as that is to believe.
They're the price we pay for our roads and bridges.
And the way we look after the least among us.
The sign and signal of our obligations to each other and to our own best selves.
" That's nice.
Did you write that? - No.
You did.
- I didn't write that.
Yeah, you did.
I painted it, but it's yours.
You wrote: "We must rise above parochial interests and speak to the national interest.
Instead of a trickle-down economy, imagine one where the work of ordinary Americans is the center of our national life.
" - I wrote that? - You did.
- I'm very good.
- Don't get carried away.
Which is Shelby, and which is Romano? I'm Romano.
A spread in Republican Vogue? - What was that supposed to be? Clever? - You're entitled.
A guy's entitled to shout stupid things at a ballpark.
Doesn't make me wanna follow his lead.
The answer as to why the MD should accept a greater tax burden in spite of his well-earned success, is called a veil of ignorance.
Imagine before you're born, you don't know who you'll be your abilities or your position.
Now design a tax system.
- Veil of ignorance.
- John Rawls.
We rescued the hostages, but suicide bombers killed 17 U.
S.
soldiers in Ghana.
It's what we're talking about tomorrow, so I'll put the tax plan aside and work on this.
You all did well.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Lauren, why don't we get the profiles? - He's gonna need the minute-by-minute.
- Can I get a Bible? - Corinthians? - I think so.
- We should pull material from when we lost the Deltas in Bogotá.
- Why does he need? I'm almost sure there's a King James Bible on the shelf.
- Someone tell the DNC - Elsie.
not to bother with the tax plan.
- Hi, this is Lauren.
They misunderstood.
They can go.
- I was wondering if Will Bailey - They understood.
That's right, Sam wrote it for the president.
Is there a copy I can run over and get? And the hospital workers' conference.
We are preaching to the choir.
That's all we are doing.
Yet you packed the damn office park with bodies from the Where'd he go? I'm sorry, are you talking to me? No.
- Are you open? - We have a private party in a little while.
Yeah, I'm supposed to be next door.
Sorry I didn't catch that last part.
You were walking all fast.
You packed the office park with bodies from labor.
AFL, Teamsters.
It was like the cast of a James Cagney movie.
The event was to talk to wired workers.
Didn't want a half-empty rally, and the wired workers are wired to Webb.
I've spent a third of the day in one-on-ones with Planned Parenthood Families America, AARP.
You think those people are gonna vote for Webb? My concern is that those people are gonna stay home on Election Day.
Now I'm supposed to go to the chamber of commerce and sing about titans of corporate greed? - Problem? - The titans are the ones in the room.
- Can we get a couple shots and a beer? - Yeah.
- I'm preaching to the choir.
- I'm sorry? You have me preaching to the choir.
- Yeah.
- Why? That's how you get them to sing.
I can't just cut any chance I have for victory.
- The story will be,"It's over.
" - No.
The story is you had the guts to stick up for what you believe, and you didn't run.
And people are gonna remember that.
I'm gonna make sure of it.
I'm gonna lose.
- Yeah.
- There's no chance of a miracle? No.
Then why are you here? You're gonna lose and you're gonna lose huge.
They're gonna throw rocks at you.
And I wanted to be standing next to you when they did.
- Oh, really? - Yeah.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Really? - Really.
I'm just getting creamed.
I'm just getting worked.
- I know.
You're not imagining it.
- Thanks.
Don't know if you heard.
It was just on the news.
There was a terrorist bombing in Africa, an Army base.
Yeah, we heard.
We should get back to work.
God save the president of the United States and Sam Seaborn.
Let's go.