Episode Summary:
CJ (Allison Janney) is in the thick of negotiating a deal so that Russia and China don’t go to war over Kasakhstan when some potentially embarassing information about a Bartlet surfaces. Meanwhile, Josh (Brad Whitford) pressures the White House to let Santos (Jimmy Smits) announce a scientific research lab in Texas, much to the Administration’s chagrin.
Script:
THE WEST WING 7x11 - "INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT" WRITTEN BY BRADLEY WHITFORD DIRECTED BY ANDREW BERNSTEIN Transcribed by Soundman for www.twiztv.com. Send feedback to [email protected]. TEASER FADE IN: INT. - RESTAURANT - NIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT Danny Concannon is waiting at a table. C.J. walks up. C.J. Forgive me. DANNY For what? C.J. We should be drinking. He gives her a kiss on the cheek. DANNY You look incredible. C.J. Stop. DANNY Well, you do. C.J. That's unnecessary. DANNY You okay? C.J. I'm just great. DANNY Have a seat. C.J. Thanks. They sit. DANNY So, how's the President? C.J. Are we off the record? DANNY Please, yes. C.J. He's doing great. DANNY I wouldn't want that to get around. C.J. I'm surprised you called. I vaguely remember shunning you. DANNY Dignity's not my forte. [pause] So... they kept the kitchen open. C.J. We should order. The waitress walks up and hands them some menus. C.J. Hi. Thank you. WAITRESS Mmm-hm. Would you like to hear the specials? DANNY Please. WAITRESS Well, tonight we're featuring New Zealand lamb... C.J. Is this from a list? WAITRESS I'm sorry? C.J. The specials, are they written down somewhere? WAITRESS Um, yeah, they're right here. C.J. Just give us that. We'll read. We're readers. WAITRESS Whatever you want. C.J. It's just easier that way, then you don't have to, you know, perform. WAITRESS Fine with me. She walks away. DANNY Thanks. They open their menus. C.J. A night out; this is like a week in Aruba. DANNY Except it's cold and dark. C.J. What? DANNY I was making a joke. C.J. Oh, you don't have to do that. Relaxing makes me nervous. It makes me feel like I'm missing something. DANNY You want a drink? C.J. No. So, what's up? DANNY What's up? C.J. Why am I here? DANNY You really want me to...? C.J. Cut to the chase; I do. DANNY All right, well... I'm having a bit of performance anxiety here. C.J. Well, get yourself together. I'll look at the menu here. DANNY I wanted to see you. C.J. That's it? DANNY How am I supposed to... I know you've always had a thing about reporters. C.J. A thing? DANNY When you were Press Secretary, you had a thing. C.J. I wouldn't call it a thing. DANNY No? C.J. They ticked me off, is all. You want to know why? DANNY No, it's okay. C.J. They ticked me off because they care more about coming up with a good story than they do about telling the truth. DANNY I see. C.J. So now I have to live in a culture where what's important doesn't matter because we're too preoccupied by people who are more attractive than we are playing musical genitalia in Hollywood. DANNY Wow. C.J. It's disgusting. DANNY I cover politicians. C.J. Most of them are homely, so no one cares. DANNY Well, that's true. Maybe if they made up for it with guts, we'd write better stories. C.J. Maybe if we had the support of a well-informed constituency... DANNY As opposed to what, leading? You want to know why politicians tick me off? C.J. Can't wait. DANNY They're attracted to arenas of false heroics. C.J. I don't know what that means. DANNY Well, there are two places where you can see a pumped-up egomaniac slathered with man tan talking about how great he is and how he's going to kick his opponent's ass: one is a professional wrestling match, the other is a national political convention. C.J. You can't do anything if you don't get elected. DANNY Your boss never has to get elected ever again. But you guys are content to run out the clock with the same game of well-intention defense you've always played. C.J. That's not true. DANNY You could do more in a day that most people could do in a lifetime. C.J. You think I'm not aware that I'm living the first line of my obituary now? DANNY So don't get hypnotized by complexity. Make it count. [pause] What are you working on? C.J. Right now? I'm trying to keep China and Russia from annihilating the Northern Hemisphere over oil in Kazakhstan. What are you working on? DANNY A couple of House races. C.J. Well, no good comes from that. DANNY No. [pause] Have you heard anything about Doug Westin? C.J. Yeah, it looks like the President's son-in-law might be the next Freshman Congressman from New Hampshire. DANNY He's only down three points. C.J. Yeah, and I guess he doesn't care about being his own man anymore. He's asking the President to fly up and stump for him in Manchester. DANNY Really? C.J. Yeah. Why? DANNY He's getting a lot of heat, a bunch of profiles, rising star crap. And I was surprised because the one time I met him he seemed kind of... C.J. Unimpressive? DANNY Yeah. C.J. Are you implying the success in politics isn't a question of inherent value? DANNY No, I would never do that. C.J. Good. Okay, let's kind of move on here. Fish is a stupid thing to get in a restaurant. DANNY I think he may be banging the nanny. C.J. I want a big slab of... what? DANNY I think the President's son-in-law may be banging the nanny. C.J. Is that a euphemism? DANNY No. Well, "banging" is, I guess. It's just a rumor. There's no official corroboration but it's flying around pretty heavy up there and it could break any minute. The President still has a lot of political enemies in New Hampshire. They might want to create a circus or... just hurt him for spite. C.J. Gotcha. Great. Thank you. She gets up to leave. DANNY You're what? C.J. I've got to go. DANNY Oh, shoot, I ruined the dinner. C.J. Tomorrow's a big day. DANNY You're hungry. C.J. It just got bigger. DANNY You've got to eat. C.J. Get the steak. Tell me how it was. She starts walking away. DANNY Can I see you again? C.J. Sure, we're swell. DANNY When? C.J. As soon as we're out of office. SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES. END TEASER. * * * ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. - HALLWAY - WHITE HOUSE - DAY Kate and C.J. are walking and talking. C.J. How do we expect the people of Kazakhstan to come out and vote if we can't guarantee the safety of our own election monitors? KATE It's going to diminish turn-out, no question. C.J. You think? KATE Ethnic Chinese want revenge. They're not looking for a referendum. C.J. Is there some kind of legitimacy threshold? KATE You mean participation? C.J. Yeah. KATE No. C.J. Chinese troops are holding on the border? KATE Yeah, but any further loss of life they'll have no choice. They'll have to go in. C.J. Kazakhs understand that one hung over riot cop goes nuts and everyone gets to live in a sarcophagus? They have come into Margaret's office. KATE Tarimov understands the stakes. He's rattled, but he gets it. C.J. These people love their vodka. KATE Don't drink and play thermonuclear war. C.J. That's what I'm saying. Whatever communication we have with the Russians, we need to emphasize that everyone needs to bury their dead and vote in peace. KATE Right. C.J. What do we know about these attacks in the Sudan? KATE The refugee camp in Darfur? C.J. Yeah. KATE Janjaweed warriors on camel and horseback attacked the camp along with government troops out of Khartoum. C.J. This is new, right? KATE Attacking the camps is new. C.J. And it's directed by the government in Khartoum? KATE African peacekeeper unions say the Janjaweed and Sudanese government are the same thing. Government helicopters were a part of the assault. There's rape trauma in the camps, there's amputations, all the men are dead. We've seen it before. C.J. sees a spot on the TV about Doug. She grabs the remote and turns it up. NEWSCASTER The big question is, will there be another member of the Bartlet family in the Capitol come next January. Mr. Westin, who has insisted from the beginning on running as his own man... KATE They look good. She turns the TV back down. C.J. So, the peacekeepers are overwhelmed? KATE Yeah. The minute it gets too dangerous, the humanitarian agents pull out and we have genocide on smack. C.J. Let's move on this. KATE Really? C.J. I want to see if we can get a resolution through the U.N. There's a Security Council meeting on the books, isn't there? KATE Yeah, next week. C.J. Let's chop the financial balls off these genocidal bastards in Khartoum. KATE How? C.J. We sanction their oil revenues. KATE I thought we agreed... C.J. To sit on our butts? KATE That China would veto; that's why we've never tried it before. C.J. China needs us now. They need an honest broker with the Russians to make sure this election in Kazakhstan is legitimate. KATE Is this coming from the President? C.J. It's coming from me. I'm going to see what I can get and then take it to him. KATE If we can assure them their flow of oil in Kazakhstan is secure, then they may be willing to sacrifice something in the Sudan. C.J. We trade pots of oil. They give up what they're getting in the Sudan, we make sure they're getting it from Kazakhstan. KATE We don't want to jeopardize our neutrality in Kazakhstan. C.J. No, they can't know it's coming from us. KATE We find a proxy. C.J. Yeah. KATE France and Germany want us to let them sell arms to China again. C.J. Margaret! Margaret comes in from her office. C.J. I need the French Ambassador. KATE He's over at State. MARGARET Will's here. KATE Will? C.J. Yeah. Send him in. He comes in. KATE I'm going to take off. C.J. Great. Thanks. Kate leaves. MARGARET Campaign coordination in the Roosevelt. Josh is waiting. C.J. That's a conference call. MARGARET Actually, he's in town so he wanted to do it in person. And Steve Lawson called again from the Refugees' Rights Alliance. He wants five minutes this afternoon. Actually, it's more like he demanded five minutes. I told him no. C.J. Squeeze him in. MARGARET Really? C.J. Why not? Margaret leaves. C.J. You, I need. Come here. WILL What's wrong? C.J. Close the door. WILL I didn't do it. C.J. Close the door. WILL Toby did it. C.J. Shut up! He goes and shuts the door. When he comes back to the desk, neither he nor C.J. say anything for a few moments. WILL You gonna talk now? Seriously, I don't react well to this. It's like staring at a dog. C.J. I think Doug Westin is having an affair with his nanny. WILL Jeez, I didn't want to know that. Why did you tell me that? C.J. Because you deal with the press and I don't want you to get blindsided. WILL Exactly! I work with the press. I do my best work when I'm the least-informed person in the room. You taught me that. C.J. Suck it up. WILL I can't act. I'm a terrible actor. C.J. You were up in New Hampshire... WILL I don't like to pretend. C.J. ...during the primaries. WILL So, what? C.J. So, find out if there's any truth to said rumor. WILL How? C.J. You'll figure it out. WILL Wow. C.J. You think? I've got the President flying up there next week to lend his credibility to the alleged fornicator. WILL Really bad. C.J. And we've already lost a Vice President in a sex scandal. I feel like I'm handing out towels in the Playboy mansion. WILL It's not your fault. C.J. Oh, really now? Open the door. WILL What? C.J. Open the door. He does. They both attempt to leave at the same time and they bump into each other. C.J. Did you take an awkward pill? WILL What? I'm always like this. CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY Josh is seated at the table. C.J. and Will come in. JOSH Briefer boy, I caught you on C-SPAN. You look real cute in makeup. WILL Withering sarcasm, I love it. JOSH Those are some brutal briefings. It's like some sort of medieval wonk baiting. WILL Support me in public, that's all I ask. C.J. On Tuesday's call, we were talking about how many more Cabinet members you want out on the trail. JOSH Yeah. Since I'm in town, I thought I'd nail down the President's availability for the rest of the campaign. I'm back at 4:00 to sit with Cabinet Affairs and work out a calendar. C.J. We're going to need some people left in the building to, you know, run the country. JOSH Yeah, I don't care about that. C.J. But, we're going to do everything we can to support you in your targeted media markets. And I talked to the President. He's fine doing the radio address on deficit reduction. And I'm assuming you're going to keep hitting Vinick on the impact of his tax cut, right? JOSH Yeah. C.J. What else? JOSH We're all looking at the same polling. Santos does better where people think the country is moving in the right direction. C.J. Sure. JOSH Now, I don't want you to do anything you wouldn't be doing anyway. C.J. Of course not. JOSH But whatever you have in terms of research grants, infrastructure initiatives... it's a waste to piddle it out in some Department of Commerce press release. Let's highlight it: have the Secretary show up, create some sizzle. WILL We've got some small-business loans and light rail stuff coming down the pipe. We'll keep you posted. JOSH Thanks. Whatever you've got. WILL That's easy. JOSH I want it all. C.J. You will have it. JOSH I also want something big. C.J. Like? JOSH The molecular transport lab - the biotech chemical genome thing. C.J. What about it? JOSH It'd be nice to make the announcement in Texas next week. C.J. You just said you didn't want us doing something we weren't doing anyway. JOSH I don't. I just want you to move the announcement up. It'd be huge for us in Texas. This could make the difference down there. C.J. The location hasn't been decided yet. It's still making it's way through the agency review process. JOSH That's not what I hear. C.J. No? JOSH No. It's going to Austin, all 2 billion dollars of it. He starts packing up his stuff. JOSH I've got to go. I'll be back at 4:00 to sit with Cabinet Affairs. You should check that out. He gets up and leaves. WILL How does he know we already made a decision? C.J. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe it's just a rumor. They get up and start walking. C.J. Maybe it's wishful thinking and he's trying to jam it home on us. WILL If we announce that a 2 billion-dollar research investment is going to Texas before the election, the senior Senator from Kentucky is going to blow a gasket. They walk into C.J.'s office and Margaret comes with them. C.J. Yeah, it's a good way to make an elder statesmen look like a doddering, ineffectual fool. MARGARET The French Ambassador is in the Mural. C.J. Yeah. MARGARET He's fine. I gave him a beverage. C.J. Thanks. WILL Where did you leave it with the Senator? They start walking toward the Mural Room. C.J. Bowles knows it's going to Texas. He's fighting for his life. His constituents don't like his politics anymore, "shwing" with the federal purse is all he's got. WILL He didn't promise them anything. C.J. All he's asking is that we hold off on the announcement until after the election. WILL What'd you tell him? C.J. I told him we'd hold off until after the election. We're not risking a Senate seat. [pause] You're doing it again. WILL Doing what? C.J. Just standing there in front of me. WILL I thought we were talking. C.J. That's over now. Go see what you can find out about the nanny. WILL I still don't understand how I'm supposed to... C.J. Walk away from me, now. He turns and leaves. WILL I'm so proud to serve in these hallowed halls. CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM - DAY C.J. is meeting with the French Ambassador. C.J. We are very concerned about the reports out of the Sudan. FRENCH AMBASSADOR The attacks on the internally displace peoples camps in Darfur; yes, it's awful. C.J. We would like to turn off the financial spigot that is supporting the government in Khartoum. There's no reason not to expect more mass killings and more displacements. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Well, as you know, the European community has formally condemned this activity. C.J. Yes, and as you know, the perpetrators do not care. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Our students have launched a very effective divestiture campaign. C.J. Which we admire; we believe you have the domestic constituency to support bold action. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Yes, that's true. C.J. We may be willing to support reopening your arms' sales to China. FRENCH AMBASSADOR In exchange for what? C.J. A U.N. resolution sanctioning all oil revenues to Khartoum. FRENCH AMBASSADOR The Chinese will veto it. C.J. They might. FRENCH AMBASSADOR C.J., they will. Look, if it was up to me, NATO troops would have been on the ground in the Sudan years ago. C.J. Are you offering French troops to a NATO peacekeeping effort? FRENCH AMBASSADOR The African union troops are clearly doing their best to protect the camps. There's been improvement there. C.J. People are still dying. FRENCH AMBASSADOR I know it's not a solution. But I believe an African problem will require an Africa solution. C.J. We would all prefer an African solution, but it's not working. FRENCH AMBASSADOR But you have to ask yourself, C.J., how did we get here. We saw it coming. C.J. We did. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Perhaps a murderous government with intelligence on international Islamic terrorist organizations... C.J. ...could provide the United States with crucial information, absolutely. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Perfectly understandable. But when we push things to the side often they come back to haunt us. C.J. We all make calculations, Jacques. FRENCH AMBASSADOR And your investors who continue to trade shares of the multinationals who do business with these killers on the New York Stock Exchange; that's another calculation, yes? C.J. And there's plenty of hypocrisy to go around. FRENCH AMBASSADOR Sure, sure. Unfortunately, C.J., we cannot afford to introduce a resolution so obviously aimed at the Chinese. You are so fond of calling yourselves the "leaders of the free world." So, lead. FADE OUT. END ACT ONE. * * * ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. - WILL'S OFFICE - DAY Will is sitting on his couch. C.J. comes in. C.J. What do you got? WILL Nothing. C.J. He didn't do it? WILL No, I mean I didn't get anything. C.J. I told you to... WILL To what, casually call people in New Hampshire and ask them if they think the President's son-in-law is committing adultery with the nanny? C.J. You'll have to be a little more artful than that. WILL There is no art in trying to find out if somebody slept with someone else. You ask it straight out, or you don't. Art? C.J. I didn't say it would be easy. WILL The segue hasn't been invented that takes us from "how's the weather" to "Is Doug Westin hammering the nanny?". C.J. So you have nothing? WILL No. I found out it's really cold in New Hampshire. C.J. You're useless. WILL And that the Westin's 26-year-old nanny of three years was let go in August and is now traveling in Europe. C.J. OK. WILL And there do seem to be a lot of reporters focusing on Doug, digging around. C.J. That doesn't mean he... WILL Sheila Jacobs, Tom Weller, Danny Concannon. C.J. Danny Concannon, yeah. WILL They're all talking to people off the record about Doug - non politicos. He pulls a piece of paper with a picture on it out of a folder and shows it to C.J. WILL And I pulled this picture of the whole family at a butter festival off the Internet. That's the nanny right there, which makes me think he did it. I mean, just look at her. C.J. What's that supposed to mean? WILL I'm just saying... C.J. Yeah, I can see your mouth moving. You're just saying what? WILL That she's really cute and he probably did it. C.J. They have children. WILL Sure. It'd be stupid to have a nanny if you didn't have kids. Especially one that looks like that. C.J. Okay. WILL I'm just saying, if you're interested in the male perspective... C.J. Always. I find it raises the level of the discussion. WILL Can I give you one piece of advice before you ask me to leave my own office? C.J. What? WILL I don't know where you're going with this... C.J. I'm protecting the President. WILL Right. Whatever. This much I do know: there's only one thing worse than telling the President of the United States his son-in-law is having an affair. C.J. What's that? WILL Telling the President of the United States his son-in-law is having an affair and then finding out you were wrong. She turns and leaves. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - DAY We see a group of people getting onto an elevator. On the wall is large lettering indicating that this building is that of the Washington Leader. Among the group of people we see Danny, whose phone is ringing. DANNY This is Danny. C.J. [VO] I know you're working on the story and we'll get to that later. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. is at her desk. She is on the phone with Danny. C.J. But right now, I'm concerned with the President and I don't want to have to walk your dumb-ass gauntlet of journalistic ethics, so I'll make this easy for you: I'm going to say a sentence and if it's true, you just don't say anything. Clear? CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY I don't say anything? CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. If you don't say anything, it means that what I said was true. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY Uh, okay. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. Got it? DANNY [VO] Isn't that kind of risky? C.J. What do you mean? CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS Danny has gotten onto an elevator. DANNY Well, what if you say something that's not true and my cell phone cuts out? C.J. [VO] That's not going to happen. DANNY I just got on an elevator. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. Well, get off now, mister! CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS Danny rushes to get off before the door closes. DANNY Whoa, whoa. Sorry. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Margaret comes, having heard C.J. scream. MARGARET Are you okay? C.J. I'm fine. I'm fine. As C.J. ushers Margaret out, she pulls the phone toward the edge of the desk. As the phone slides across, it pushes Gail's bowl off the edge of the desk. C.J. rushes back to the desk and grabs the bowl before Gail or any large amount of water gets out. Margaret rushes back in. DANNY [VO] Uh, C.J. MARGARET What the...? C.J. I'm holding the fish now. DANNY [VO] C.J. MARGARET You want your privacy, don't you? C.J. I really do. Margaret turns to leave. MARGARET Steve Lawson from Refugees' Rights Alliance is out here. C.J. Give me a minute. MARGARET I'll do that. Margaret leaves. C.J. puts Gail's bowl back safely on her desk. DANNY [VO] C.J., you okay? She picks up the phone. C.J. You there? CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY Yeah. You okay? CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. I almost killed my fish. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY On purpose? C.J. [VO] Why would I do that? DANNY Well, you've been under a lot of pressure. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. Okay, listen up. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY I'll tell you anything you want to know if you have dinner with me tomorrow night. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. What? DANNY [VO] I just want to see if we can get through an appetizer together. C.J. Okay. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY Same place? C.J. [VO] Sure. DANNY Great. Shoot. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. If I went to the President with the information you brought to my attention, would I be making a mistake? CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS DANNY Nope, see you tomorrow night. He hangs up before she has a chance to respond. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. hangs up. CUT TO: INT. - MARGARET'S OFFICE - DAY Margaret is waiting at C.J.'s door. Steve Lawson is also waiting. C.J. comes to the door and opens it. C.J. Steve. Come in. He comes into her office and she shuts the door. C.J. It's good to see you. STEVE LAWSON Thank you. C.J. I'm glad we could make this happen. LAWSON Me too. C.J. Have a seat. They sit. LAWSON You're aware of the situation in the Sudan? C.J. Yeah. LAWSON The attacks on the displacement camps, Janjaweed warriors backed by government helicopters. C.J. Right. LAWSON Has there been any official response from this administration? C.J. We condemned it. LAWSON Well, what do you want to hear, C.J.? You want to hear the numbers first, or the horror stories? C.J. Neither. LAWSON Well, I'll just run down the talking points real quick then: 3 million displaced, 400,000 dead, children forced to watch their mothers raped and their fathers killed, current death toll per month: 6,000. If the humanitarian organizations are forced to pull out, 100,000 per month. C.J. Steve. LAWSON I have some photographs. C.J. I don't need to see photographs. LAWSON When the babies die, the mothers don't know how to put them down so they carry them around - on this planet, on your watch. C.J. Yeah. LAWSON You remember the picture of the Vietnamese monk who lit himself on fire to protest the war? I used to think that guy was nuts. Now, it seems like the only logical response. C.J. It won't help. LAWSON We need strong preemptive action led by the Bartlet Administration. C.J. Overwhelming American military might? Followed by a decade of nation building in a part of the world where many consider us infidels so that we might bring forth a new and benevolent democracy? LAWSON Of course not. Come on, C.J. When did it become naive to try to put an end to genocide? C.J. We are monitoring the situation carefully. Steve you don't need to... LAWSON I need my government... C.J. The President is fully aware... LAWSON ...to assert what's left of its moral authority. C.J. Okay. She stands and goes to the door. Lawson also stands. LAWSON I want five minutes with the President. C.J. This was your five minutes with the President. I'm sorry, Steve. I have a meeting. He leaves. C.J. walks into Margaret's office. MARGARET You've got the German Ambassador in the Mural when you come back. C.J. Doug Westin's in town. I need to see him tonight. MARGARET I'll track him down. C.J. Alone. MARGARET Alone? C.J. Alone. She walks out. CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY C.J. is walking through the Roosevelt Room. Josh catches up to her and starts talking with her. JOSH I smell bacon. C.J. Hello, Josh. JOSH A heapin' helpin' of sizzling federal pork butt. C.J. I can't talk right now. JOSH Just perfect for a Texas barbeque. C.J. I have a meeting. JOSH I just finished up with Cabinet Affairs. I thought you might have some news. C.J. I don't. JOSH Cause it would be really helpful to make the announcement in Texas next week. C.J. We can't announce something we haven't decided yet. JOSH See, this is weird, because when the EPA did the environmental impact study in Kentucky, they concluded it had to go to Texas. C.J. Oh, really now? JOSH Yeah. I have the data, plus the University of Texas has everything they need in terms of research coordination. You know all this. You're playing with me, right? C.J. I'm not. We haven't made a decision. JOSH You have bad information. C.J. I feel pretty confident about my information since I actually work here and you actually don't. And now, I have a meeting. JOSH The President needs to fly down to Texas, stand next to the Congressman, and make the announcement next week. C.J. It's not going to happen. JOSH It's going to come out before the election anyway, C.J. You can't keep this kind of information quiet.The only question is: do you want the President to be a part of the story or not. Think about it. I'm around. She shuts the door in his face. CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM - DAY C.J. is meeting with the German Ambassador. C.J. Please, have a seat. GERMAN AMBASSADOR What can I do for you, C.J.? C.J. We've been monitoring these developments in the Sudan. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Disturbing. Tragic. C.J. As long as oil revenues continue to flow into Khartoum, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Germany has completed a large deal and one of our companies is building a... C.J. A diesel-electric plant, yes, we are aware. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Good. I want to be honest with you. Good. C.J. We are looking for a U.N. resolution. GERMAN AMBASSADOR From whom? C.J. From you. GERMAN AMBASSADOR The Chinese will veto. C.J. They might. GERMAN AMBASSADOR 100% they will. 100%. C.J. This is something that the President needs. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Yes. You already made the same request of the French. We talk often. We have a union now. If you want this resolution so bad, why don't you make it yourselves? C.J. Because we're doing everything we can to avoid World War III in Kazakhstan. And at the same time we would like to do everything that we can to prevent an unnecessary and massive loss of human life. GERMAN AMBASSADOR The focus on humanitarian needs. If we start mixing human rights with oil exports, we'll all be riding bicycles. C.J. The Parliament of the European Union declared what was happening in Darfur to be tantamount to genocide. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Tantamount, yes. Overwhelmingly. C.J. In exchange for your introduction of the resolution, we will drop our opposition to your resumption of arms sales to China. And, of course, we can assure you a sympathetic hearing at the next round of trade negotiations. GERMAN AMBASSADOR There may be another construction project in conjunction with the diesel-electric plant in Khartoum. C.J. It will be grandfathered into the sanctions. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Well, then how can I refuse you? You're very persuasive. They stand. C.J. Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. The President will be thrilled. GERMAN AMBASSADOR How will you avoid a veto from China? C.J. You just said it yourself, Hans. GERMAN AMBASSADOR Yeah? C.J. I can be very persuasive. FADE OUT. END ACT TWO. * * * ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - DAY Margaret is standing at C.J.'s desk with some papers in her hands. Santos is on TV. SANTOS [on TV] You see, we are now at the point where the research disciplines can no longer afford to function separately. Our understanding of our natural world is beginning to inform our technological future and our understanding of technology stands on the verge of revolutionizing our ability to detect and treat countless number of illnesses. Margaret walks into her office. Santos is on the TV in her office as well. SANTOS [on TV] That's why federal investments like the proposed molecular transport lab are so important. C.J. walks in. SANTOS [on TV] There's about to be another biotech explosion my friends, and let me tell you this: I've looked closely at this project and I believe that in the next couple of days, we're going to be hearing some good news for the great city of Austin! C.J. Son of a bitch! Dial Josh, now. Son of a bitch. She walks into her office. C.J. You got him? MARGARET [OS] On two. She picks up the phone and talks to Josh. C.J. Hello. JOSH [VO] Hey, what's up? C.J. I hate it when I make myself clear... CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS Josh is walking and talking to C.J. JOSH Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. C.J. [VO] [cont.] ...and I'm not received. JOSH It's a done deal, C.J. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. This is not your call. JOSH [VO] He didn't announce it. CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS JOSH [cont.] He said that Austin was the most viable site. He didn't make any... CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. Don't make distinctions with me, Josh. I've known you too long. JOSH [VO] You're right. C.J. Way too long. CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS JOSH I understand that Calvin Bowles' Senate seat is a priority. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. Calvin Bowles... CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS JOSH Yeah, you know: the pious old pork hog who votes like a schizophrenic. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Margaret walks in and shuts the door. C.J. You done? JOSH [VO] Yeah, go ahead. C.J. Calvin Bowles is a breathing Democrat. JOSH [VO] That's debatable. C.J. And we cannot afford to lose any more of those. CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS JOSH Since when does holding on to the White House fit into your plans? CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS MARGARET I'm sorry. Doug Westin's here. C.J. Tell him I'll be right there. Margaret leaves and shuts the door behind her. C.J. talks again to Josh. C.J. Listen up, Josh. I work for Jed Bartlet. CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS C.J. [cont.][VO] I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't trying to preserve his legacy under all eventualities. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS C.J. [cont.] The transporter announcement's off the table until after the election. Is that clear? Now if you'll excuse me... JOSH [VO] C.J., C.J., listen to me. CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HQ - CONTINUOUS JOSH [cont.] You want to cover all eventualities? Have the President join us in Texas for the announcement, then he and Santos will fly to Kentucky to stump for Senator Bowles together. All your problems are solved. C.J. [VO] I have to go now. She hangs up. Josh hangs up, looking frustrated. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - DAY C.J., looking not a little peeved, goes to the door and shows Doug in. C.J. Come in, Doug. DOUG C.J., how you doing? C.J. I'm just great. DOUG Great. You know what the first thing I'm going to do when they declare me the winner? She shuts the door. C.J. What are you going to do, Doug? DOUG Ask for a recount. He laughs. DOUG That's not my line, but I love it. It's great, isn't it? C.J. Yeah. Great. DOUG I am so jazzed about this event with the President next week. We are gonna win this thing. I've never felt so strongly about anything in my life. But until that last vote is counted, I'm going to operate under the assumption that I'm going to lose; nothing for granted. But, I mean, look who I'm talking to. You know exactly what I'm going through. They sit. There is an awkward pause, in which I assume C.J. is trying to figure out how to phrase the question she is about to make. DOUG Do not say it. Do not tell me the President needs to go to Zurich or something next week to work on this Kazakhstan thing. Just don't tell me that. C.J. No, he doesn't. DOUG Good. C.J. I don't care what you do privately. DOUG OK. C.J. I really don't. DOUG I'm a little... C.J. But when you do something that affects my boss's ability to do his job, that could embarrass him on a political trip to New Hampshire, and will take attention away from urgent national and, at the moment, international, issues, I begin to care very deeply. Right now, I'm trying to get the Chinese Ambassador here to put an end to some unimaginable human suffering. So if you have a problem with your zipper, get it out of my face, right now. Do you understand me? DOUG I think I do. C.J. I think you do too. DOUG Yeah. Margaret knocks and comes in. MARGARET Chinese Ambassador in the Mural Room. C.J. Thanks. Margaret leaves. C.J. Here's what's going to happen now: you're going to walk up the hall to the Office of Political Affairs. You will tell the people in that room that, on second thought, you don't want to be overshadowed by your father-in-law. You want to win this thing yourself, on your own merits. She stands. C.J. And thanks but no thanks, you are withdrawing your request to have the President appear with you in Manchester next week. Do that for me, will ya? He says nothing. C.J. That'd be great. C.J. leaves. CUT TO: INT. - MURAL ROOM - DAY C.J. is meeting with the Chinese Ambassador. CHINESE AMBASSADOR It is an irresponsible moment for the Germans to propose sanctions on the Sudan. Two nuclear powers are mobilized. We have troops massed on both borders of Kazakhstan. We're standing on the edge of the abyss. C.J. I agree. The timing is odd. CHINESE AMBASSADOR It is not appreciated. C.J. Yeah. CHINESE AMBASSADOR And stupid. These Europeans: they're always pretending to have a significance they no longer possess. C.J. I have spoken to them and I would like to make a proposal. CHINESE AMBASSADOR What is it? C.J. You are interested in purchasing arms from the French and the Germans. CHINESE AMBASSADOR We are interested in all markets. C.J. There have been no sales since Tiananmen, correct? CHINESE AMBASSADOR Israel, other countries have done business with us. C.J. Six months ago, the French and the Germans told us they would like to sell to you again. CHINESE AMBASSADOR They should. It's a meaningless restriction. They're simply losing money. C.J. We objected strongly. CHINESE AMBASSADOR I was there. C.J. There may be some latitude now. CHINESE AMBASSADOR With the arms sales? C.J. Yes. CHINESE AMBASSADOR Well, it would be difficult to justify closing off such a significant source of oil. We're thirsty. We are trying to grow an economy. C.J. We're going to make sure your oil supply is preserved in Kazakhstan. You can show yourself to be responsible members of the world community with a simple abstention on the German resolution. It will allow us to put American election monitors on the ground to ensure a fair vote there. CHINESE AMBASSADOR That's it? C.J. That's a lot. CHINESE AMBASSADOR I will disappear into my massive bureaucracy and see what I can do. C.J. Funny. They stand. C.J. Thank you, Ambassador. CHINESE AMBASSADOR You know what I think about a lot, when I'm having these kinds of discussions? C.J. What, sir? CHINESE AMBASSADOR Capitalism vanquished communism, obliterated it. And here we are having a discussion where you are trying to restrict our markets. C.J. We're trying to address a humanitarian situation in the Sudan. CHINESE AMBASSADOR Exactly. But you have always taught us that liberty is the same thing as capitalism, as if life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness cannot be crushed by greed. Your American dream is financial, not ethical. C.J. [pause] This is a good deal for the Chinese. I hope you'll consider it carefully. CHINESE AMBASSADOR Of course. C.J. Thank you. CHINESE AMBASSADOR No, thank you. You have taught us well. They both say bid farewell in Chinese. He leaves, leaving C.J. to contemplate. She walks out and meets Margaret, who has come down the hall to talk to her. MARGARET The President needs you in the Oval and I have a yogurt. C.J. What for? MARGARET To eat. C.J. He's in there? MARGARET Yeah. She turns to go. MARGARET And... he's grumpy. CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE - DAY Bartlet is seated at his desk. C.J. knocks. BARTLET Come in. C.J. comes in and shuts the door. BARTLET How you doing, kid? C.J. Very good, sir. BARTLET I'm glad to hear it. Teddy Barrow just called from State. What the hell's going on with this Sudan thing? C.J. I'm working on a Security Council resolution. BARTLET Sanctioning oil revenues? C.J. Yes, sir; to be introduced by the Germans. BARTLET And then vetoed by the Chinese. C.J. Not necessarily. BARTLET Probably. C.J. Could be. BARTLET I am trying to diffuse a nuclear stand-off. Why on Earth would we want to antagonize the Chinese right now? C.J. We're not; this is coming from the Germans. BARTLET You don't think the Chinese are going to figure it out? We owe these people $150,000 for God's sake. They're not stupid. C.J. We're out of time. We've all been hypnotized by the complexity of this thing in the Sudan; the EU, the UN, State. This isn't a solution but it's a start. BARTLET I can't have anything compromising our neutrality in Kazakhstan. C.J. This won't. As far as China knows, this is Europe holding their feet to the fire, not us. We're the ones brokering the face-saving deal. China would owe us. This could even help us in Kazakhstan. BARTLET Is this about the Sudan or the fact that we're all about to get kicked out of this building? C.J. [pause] When the babies die, the mothers carry them around for days. They can't put them down. BARTLET Yeah. Keep working the resolution. C.J. Thank you, Mr. President. She turns to leave. BARTLET Why is Matt Santos stomping on what's left of my goodwill up on the Hill. C.J. The transport lab... Bartlet gets up and begins to get his things together to leave. BARTLET I got an irate phone call from the senior Senator from Kentucky. C.J. Right. BARTLET At least I think he was irate. He didn't have his teeth in so I'm not sure what the hell he was talking about. C.J. The Santos campaign got some polling telling them a huge, federal investment in Austin could help them win Texas. BARTLET Yeah. C.J. Which is why I think we should send you to Austin to announce the transport lab with Santos, then we send you both to Kentucky to help stump for Bowles. BARTLET When's that going to happen? C.J. Thursday. Doug Westin withdrew his request to have you campaign with him in New Hampshire. BARTLET Why'd he do that? C.J. I think he wants to prove he's his own man. BARTLET By losing? C.J. If that's what it takes. BARTLET Liz is going to kill him. Doug just changed his mind? She nods. BARTLET Was there anything else? She thinks for a minute. C.J. No, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. He leaves. FADE OUT. END ACT THREE. * * * ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. - BASEMENT HALLWAY - WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT C.J. and Kate are walking and talking. KATE When do you get an answer from the Chinese? C.J. I should know something over the weekend. KATE It's worth a shot. C.J. Yeah. They have turned to go their separate ways. C.J. Hey. They walk over to the side of the hallway. KATE What's up? C.J. I need to tell you something. KATE Are you all right? C.J. Doug Westin... KATE Yes? C.J. Doug Westin had an affair with his nanny. KATE Get out. C.J. It might break, it might not. KATE Is she cute? C.J. Who cares if she's... KATE I've spent my life surrounded by men in uniform. C.J. I don't... KATE Biology kicks Virtue's ass, in my experience. C.J. She's 26. KATE Yeesh. So she doesn't have to be cute. C.J. I'm... KATE It's disgusting. C.J. Yeah. KATE He should die. The bastard should just be dead. [pause] Did Liz leave him? C.J. I don't think she knows. KATE We should sic Special Ops on him. Make him a tragedy she can cry over. C.J. I made him withdraw his request to have the President appear with him in Manchester next week. KATE And you're telling me this because...? C.J. I don't know if I should... KATE Tell her? No. No, no, no. Now's the time everybody just looks at her funny until she figures it out. C.J. I know. I just don't know if I owe the President... Margaret walks up. MARGARET Sorry. Liz Westin's in your office. She needs to talk to you. KATE Good luck. C.J. Okay. CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAY C.J. walks through the room on her way to her office. She seems to dread what she knows is coming. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - NIGHT Liz is already seated at C.J.'s desk. C.J. walks in and shuts the doors. C.J. Hi, Liz. LIZ C.J., hi. I'm sorry to barge in on you. Are you busy? C.J. Well, you know, thermonuclear war, genocide... LIZ I don't mean to bother you. C.J. It's fine. It's good to see you. LIZ Have you seen Doug? C.J. He was here yesterday, right? LIZ Yeah. He marched into Political Affairs and told them he didn't want my father to come up and do the event with us next week. C.J. I heard that. LIZ I can't believe it. Do you have any idea how long it took me to convince him to let my father help? C.J. I know from the start that it was important to him to be his own man - to win or lose this thing on his own. LIZ His father-in-law is the President. It's a fact. He can't run away from that. C.J. It's got to be hard to try and live up to the President. LIZ You can't. C.J. No. LIZ But he is the father of my children and I want them to be able to look up to him... C.J. Sure. LIZ No matter what he's done. Liz looks as though she knows what's going on with Doug. LIZ Do you understand what I'm saying, C.J.? C.J. I think I do. LIZ I think you do too. Talk to him. Tell him it's political suicide to run away from Dad. C.J. I know you're trying to do what's best for Doug. LIZ Marriage is complicated, C.J. This isn't ideal, but it's the best thing for my children. C.J. I understand. LIZ Good. C.J. But my job is to protect your father. LIZ My father would want to protect my children too. C.J. I'm sorry, Liz. We've given the date away. LIZ Already? You can't have. C.J. It's gone. LIZ So, on his own merits, we let the voters decide? C.J. I think it's best. LIZ Yeah. She leaves. CUT TO: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM - NIGHT Josh and Will are seated at the table and they are going over some campaign stuff. JOSH I need some schedule C's who might be willing to take some paid leave and hit the road with the candidate. WILL I'll put together a list. JOSH The least humiliating public speakers possible. C.J. walks in. WILL Right. JOSH Hey. C.J. I've cleared the President to fly to Austin on Thursday to announce that it will be the home of the nation's first molecular transport lab. Josh looks very smug as he is getting everything he wanted in the first place. C.J. [cont.] He will then fly to Kentucky to campaign for Senator Bowles. Would Congressman Santos like to join him? JOSH I'll have to get back to you on that one. C.J. Go to hell. She leaves. CUT TO: INT. - C.J.'S OFFICE - NIGHT C.J. is at her desk watching Steve Lawson on TV. LAWSON [on TV] I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that my country is content to stand by and let other countries take the lead when it comes to the key moral question of our time - half a million dead. At what number do we say "Enough"? We've called it what it is. It is genocide. Kate walks in. LAWSON [on TV] But this is an unprecedented moment in American history where we've acknowledged that systematic... C.J. shuts the TV off. KATE U.N. delegation just notified State: there's a Security Council negotiation on language for a Sudan resolution. C.J. Where are the Chinese? KATE They're in the room. C.J. Threatening to veto? KATE Not out of hand, no. C.J. They're talking? KATE They are. C.J. Huh. KATE It's a start. C.J. Yeah. KATE You want to get some food? C.J. I can't. I have a date. KATE You do not. C.J. What? I have a date. KATE With whom? C.J. With a guy I used to go out with. KATE Well, I'll walk out with you. C.J. You go ahead. I need to talk with the President. The Doug story is going to break and it's going to be terrible for him and I want him to hear it from me. Margaret walks in. MARGARET He's ready. C.J. Okay. KATE See you tomorrow. C.J. Yeah. Kate leaves. C.J. gets up and walks to the door to the Oval. She stands for a few minutes and then quietly knocks. CUT TO: INT. - RESTAURANT - NIGHT C.J. and Danny are having dinner again in the same restaurant. C.J. Men are like salmon - swimming upstream, hosing down the riverbed with their indiscriminate seed... DANNY Indiscriminate seed? C.J. [cont.] ...until they die... DANNY Did you just say indiscriminate seed? C.J. [cont.] ...bloated and spent, belly up in the sun. DANNY Quit sweet talking me, baby. C.J. Unless they get taken out by a bear paw in a waterfall as they deserve. DANNY So you're struggling with trust issues. C.J. I'm struggling with reality. The waitress from the beginning of the episode comes up to the table. WAITRESS What's your dessert policy? C.J. What? WAITRESS You want me to spare you the monologue? C.J. Oh, I really do. WAITRESS I figured. I'll get you some more water. Oh, gee, I'm sorry. I'll shut up and leave now. She walks away. C.J. She hates my guts. DANNY Yeah, she does - a little bit. C.J. I'm sorry about the other night. DANNY Why? C.J. Because, I was behaving like the type-A, career woman, freak automaton that I so very much do not what to become. DANNY Please. C.J. I wanted to see you... and I haven't felt that in a long time and I just got all awkward and antagonistic. DANNY That's okay, as long as you didn't kill our fish. C.J. But don't get me wrong: I don't want to see you again until after the inauguration. DANNY You won't have to. C.J. I want to do my job. I want to suck every morsel of meat off this experience before it's over. DANNY Just get something done, will ya? C.J. Well, that will come down to what it always comes down to. DANNY What's that? C.J. How dirty do my feet have to get without disappearing into the mud in order to get an inch of what I really want done? DANNY It doesn't sound very heroic. C.J. It's not. DANNY So what's the deal? You still creeped out by reporters or what? C.J. Why? You got another unholy bomb to drop on me? Is that what these dates are about? DANNY No. That was an attempt at a real date the other night. C.J. And this? DANNY Another attempt. Hey, if I'd have wanted to publish that story, I wouldn't have given you the heads-up. I can't write that kind of crap anymore. I don't... I don't even know if I want to be a reporter anymore. C.J. Really? DANNY Doug Westin's libido broke the camel's back. C.J. What do you want to do? DANNY I don't know. Can I ask you something? C.J. Yeah. DANNY Why'd you come here tonight? C.J. Because you made me promise to. DANNY Why'd you come? C.J. I wanted to see you. He moves their plates to the side and somebody picks them up. DANNY Thank you. C.J. You going to do a magic trick? DANNY Uh, I'm flying a little blind here. I'm halfway through my life and I'm never quite sure if I'm doing anything right until I'm completely done doing it wrong. C.J. Work with it. DANNY So this may come out wrong. C.J. I forgive you. DANNY Incrementalism is not an option. I'm forced into a heroic posture. C.J. Heroic can be good. DANNY It feels funny. C.J. You can do it. DANNY Uh, we're both about to fall of a cliff and I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest of my life except I know what I don't want to do. And on Inauguration Day you're going to be released from that glorious prison on Pennsylvania Avenue with... C.J. No human skills? DANNY Seems to me... C.J. I should punch you in the face, but yes. DANNY That's what I'm talking about. C.J. Keep going. DANNY So, if I'm going to jump off the cliff and you're going to get pushed off the cliff, why don't we hold hands on the way down? Right in the middle of this very sentimental atmosphere, C.J.'s pager goes off. She scrambles to get it. C.J. Oh, shoot. DANNY Turn it off. C.J. I can't. DANNY Just for a couple of seconds. She gets it out and looks at it. She is very worried at what she sees. C.J. Oh, my God. DANNY You okay? C.J. Oh, my God. I have to go. DANNY Okay. C.J. I have to go. DANNY Go, go. She runs out. DANNY I'll se you later. [quietly] I'll see you later. CUT TO: INT. - LOBBY - WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT C.J. walks into the White House. She walks around the corner, up the hallway, and into the outer Oval Office where Kate and several other people are waiting. C.J. What's happening? Did China invade? KATE Kazakhstan is stable. C.J. What is it? KATE Some kind of nuclear accident. C.J. Oh, Lord. A weapon? KATE A power plant. C.J. Is it Russia? KATE San Andreo, California. They think it might blow up. DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES. FADE TO BLACK. THE END. * * * The West Wing episode 7.11 "Internal Displacement", original air date 15 January 2006.
Name of actor playing Steve Lawson?