THE WEST WING"A PROPORTIONAL RESPONSE"WRITTEN BY: AARON SORKINDIRECTED BY: MARC BUCKLAND

TEASER

FADE IN: INT. THE WHITE HOUSE/LOBBY - DAY Josh slides his I.D. card in the card scanner. Donna comes up behind as they walk to JOSH�S BULLPEN AREA.

DONNAC.J.�s looking for you.

JOSHHuh?

DONNAC.J.�s looking for you.

JOSHDonna?

DONNAYes?

JOSH"Good morning, Josh" is a pretty good way to start the day.

DONNAGood morning.

JOSHWhat�s up?

DONNAC.J.�s looking for you.

JOSHTell her I�m in the office.

DONNAJosh, I�m saying C.J. is looking for you.

They stop walking.

JOSHWhat did I do?

DONNAHow would I know?

JOSH�Cause you know everything.

DONNAI do know everything.

JOSHDonna...

DONNAI�m saying you say that now, but every time I want to make a substantive contribution...

JOSHYou make plenty of substantive contributions.

DONNALike what?

JOSHThis! This could be a substantive contribution.

DONNAI need a raise.

JOSHSo do I! [They start walking again]

DONNAYou�re my boss.

JOSHDo-- but I�m not the one who pays you.

DONNAYeah, but you could recommend that I get a raise.

JOSHDonna, she�s looking for me. Do you really think this is the best time to talk about a raise?

DONNAHmmm... I think this is the best time to talk about a raise. [smiles]

JOSHDonna, you�re not a very nice person.

DONNAYou got to get to know me.

JOSHDonna?

DONNA[sighs] The best I can cobble together from the small shards of information I�ve been able to overhear in the restroom and the Danish cart...

JOSHDonna...

DONNAIs it possible that there�s a situation involving Sam, a woman, and C.J. being denied information about something?

He now realizes why C.J. was looking for him.

JOSHOk. Here�s what I�m gonna do.

DONNAHide in your office?

JOSHNo. I�m not gonna hide in my office. I�m gonna go into my office and devise a strategy. That is what I do. I�m a professional. I�m not a little boy.

DONNAHmm. That�s the spirit.

JOSHBut if she calls, I�m at the dentist. I�ll be back in an hour.

DONNAGot it.

Josh then walks into HIS OFFICE.

He immediately sees C.J. sitting on his desk reading a newspaper. He SCREAMS. C.J. looks pissed.

C.J.Wow, are you stupid!

SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.END TEASER* * *

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. JOSH�S OFFICE - DAYC.J. takes her legs off Josh's desk and folds the newspaper she was reading.

JOSHYou can�t be mad at me about this, C.J.

C.J.Really? Let�s see if I can, let�s see if I can find it in me.

Donna enters.

DONNAWait, she was here?

C.J.Could you excuse us Donna?

DONNAHow did I miss that?

JOSHI don�t know, but you can kiss that raise goodbye.

DONNASenior staff in five minutes.

JOSH

Thanks.

Donna leaves. Josh slams the door behind her.

C.J.A call girl?

JOSHHere�s the thing...

C.J.A call girl, Josh?

JOSHYou�re not asking me if I�d like a call girl right now are you?

C.J.Do you have any idea how serious this is?

JOSHSee, the thing is, I really don�t think it is that serious.

C.J.Really?

JOSHA couple of things for you to bear in mind: he didn�t know she was a call girl when he went home with her. He didn�t pay her money. He didn�t have knowledge of; witness or participate in anything illegal. Or for that matter, unethical, immoral or suspect.

C.J.A couple of things for you to bear in mind: none of that matters on Hard Copy!

JOSHYou�re overreacting.

C.J.Am I?

C.J. starts moving towards Josh.

JOSHYes.

C.J.As women are prone to do?

JOSHThat�s not what I mean.

C.J.That�s always what you mean. [They are now face to face.]

JOSHI really think I�m the best judge of what I mean, you paranoid Berkeley shiksta feminista! [beat] Whoa. That was way too far.

C.J.No, no. Well, I�ve got a staff meeting to go to and so do you, you elitist, Harvard fascist missed-the-Dean�s-list-two-semesters-in-a-row Yankee jackass!

JOSHFeel better getting that off your chest there, C.J.?

C.J.I�m a whole new woman.

C.J. opens the door and they exit to the HALLWAY.

JOSHYou look like a million bucks by the way.

C.J.Don�t try to make up with me.

JOSHI�ll talk to Sam.

C.J.I�ll talk to Sam.

They walk through the doors into the NORTHWEST LOBBY. Toby enters the building. Josh stops to talk to him. They all walk.

JOSHToby.

TOBYHey.

JOSHHow was last night?

TOBYThe longest dinner of my life. The President was up from the table every five minutes teeing off on Cashman and Berryhill. He�s barking at the Secretary of State, he�s scaring the hell out of Fitzwallace, which I didn�t think was possible. He�s snapping at the First Lady. He�s talking about blowing up half of North Africa.

C.J. He�s snapping at Mrs. Bartlet?

JOSHC.J. this might be a good time to tell the President about Sam and the call girl.

TOBYShe knows?

C.J.Yes, I�m afraid I have that information now, and I�ll be in to see you very shortly my friend.

TOBYHow the hell did I get into trouble?

JOSHToday, all you had to do was get out of bed.

CUT TO: EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE PORTICO - DAYBartlet and Leo are walking outside towards the Oval Office.

BARTLETThis is crap. It�s been three days. This is amateur hour.

LEOCashman and Berryhill have to revise the response scenario so that they speak to State...

BARTLETCashman and Berryhill are dragging their feet. Cashman and Berryhill are trying to make me look like a clown. And State should concern itself with what I damn well tell �em to be concerned with!

LEOIt doesn�t work like that. [opens the door to the OUTER OVAL OFFICE]

BARTLETSo I�ve discovered.

NANCYGood morning Mr. President.

BARTLETGood morning.

LEOMoreover you know that�s not the way it works. The Chiefs are working as swiftly as they can... [They enter the OVAL OFFICE. Mrs. Landingham is already there.] ...even though, frankly, time isn�t a factor.

MRS. LANDINGHAMGood morning Mr. President. [hands Bartlet a paper]

BARTLETGood morning.

LEOAnd not to pile on, but Cashmen and Berryhill have a point with respect to the Security Council.

BARTLET [standing behind his desk] Uh, Mrs. Landingham, I can�t seem to find my glasses anywhere. Can you please do whatever it is you do when I can�t find my glasses?

MRS. LANDINGHAMCertainly sir. [leaves]

BARTLETIt�s been 72 hours Leo. That�s more than three days since they blew him out of the sky. And I�m tired of waiting dammit! This is candy ass! We are going to draw up a response scenario today, I�m going to give the order today, we�re going to strike back today.

LEOI wish you wouldn�t say �him�, Mr. President.

BARTLETWhat?

LEO�Three days since they blew him out of the sky.� Of course that�s fine while it�s just you and me sir, but in there with Fitzwallace and the Chiefs, I hope you say �it� or �the airplane� not �him�.

BARTLETYou think I�m taking this personally.

LEOI think--

BARTLETWhy the hell shouldn�t I take this personally?

LEOI think the fact that Morris was on the plane--

BARTLETAmericans were on that plane.

LEOMr. President...

BARTLETI met Morris four or five times, let�s not do this like he was my son.

LEOYes, sir.

BARTLET [yelling] Mrs. Landingham!

LEOMr. President, I still think we need to talk about... [Mrs. Landingham enters.]

BARTLETI can�t fine my glasses anywhere.

MRS. LANDINGHAMYes sir, we�re on it.

BARTLETThank you.

MRS. LANDINGHAMThe director is waiting.

BARTLET[tries to read his watch] Uh, yeah, let�s have him. [Mrs. Landingham leaves.]What did you want to say?

LEO

Nothing.

BARTLETYou sure?

LEOYeah. I got staff.

BARTLETAll right, I�ll see you in an hour.

LEOThank you sir.

Bartlet holds up a file and tries to read it. Leo heads towards his office.CUT TO: INT. LEO�S OFFICE - DAYLeo enters from the Oval Office. Toby, Josh, C.J., Ginger and a few staffers are in the room.

LEOGood morning.

JOSHHey.

C.J.Hey Leo.

JOSH [through a mouth full of food] How�s his mood?

LEOHow�s his mood?

JOSHYeah.

LEODon�t worry about it.

C.J.Toby said he�s snapping--

LEOAnd I said don�t worry about it. [hangs up coat and moves toward his desk]

Sam enters. C.J. sits on the couch.

LEOHey Sam, what do you know?

SAMIt�s true.

LEOYou�re kidding me.

SAMI�ve got the transcript from the broadcast.

TOBYWhat broadcast?

LEOListen to this.

SAMCongressman Bertram Coles appearing on a radio program in his home district.

JOSHRight.

LEOThe fifth.

JOSHYes.

SAMEast Chester County part of Lofton.

LEOWho we just recommended cuts in funding for the M6 Beacon.

TOBYWhat�d he say?

SAMHe was on the broadcast along with several officers from Cromwell Air Force Base when he said regarding the President being weak on defense: "Folks down here are patriotic, fiercely patriotic. The President better not be planning on making any visits to this base. If he does, he may not get out alive."

TOBYHe said that?

LEOYou believe it?

TOBYSitting with military officers.

JOSHDon�t take the bait.

TOBYJosh.

JOSHDon�t take the bait.

TOBYYou better believe I�m going to take the bait.

JOSHToby.

LEOThere oughta be a law against it.

TOBYThere is a law against it.

JOSHWhy�d you get him started?

Leo shrugs.

TOBYHow about threatening the life of the President? He was talking to other people, how about conspiracy? Those were military officers, how about treason?!

JOSHToby.

TOBYThat was a member of our own party Leo. That was a [pounds fist on Leo�s desk] Democrat who said that!

LEOIt�s bad, I know.

TOBYThat�s it?

LEOWell, what are you gonna do?

TOBYHave the Justice Department bring him in for questioning pending felony charges.

JOSHToby�s right. What�s the good of being in power if you�re not gonna haul your enemies in for questioning?

Sam laughs, C.J. kicks Josh in the butt.

TOBYWe�re really not gonna do anything about this?

LEOYeah Toby, because what we really need to do is arrest people for being mean to the President.

TOBYThere is no law. There is no decency.

JOSHHe�s just getting that now.

LEO [moving on] In the event an attack order is given today we�ll need a half hour on the networks. Uh, when do they need to be told?

C.J.90 minutes.

LEOWait till the last minute. Toby, start working on a draft for the President.

TOBYI need to know what we�re hitting.

LEOYeah, you and me both.

TOBYLeo.

LEOIt�s military Toby. You�ll know when you know.

TOBYSam, work with the coordinating State department guy.

SAMBeech.

TOBYAnd whoever the spokesperson is.

SAMHutchinson.

LEOLet�s do this right.

JOSHNot much chance of that.

CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUSJosh, C.J., Sam and Toby walk through a set of doors and towards the Lobby.

C.J.We need to be fully stocked. State Department officials. Pentagon. We�ll need the Embassy Office-

JOSHWe should get McMartin on board.

C.J.He�s standing by.

JOSHAnd Adamley at the Pentagon.

C.J.We got him.

JOSHSo we�re all set, good. So how do we tell them what we know without telling them what we know?

C.J.Well we don�t know anything so that shouldn�t be hard. Oh, Samuel, could you stop by my office around lunchtime please?

SAMSure.

NORTHWEST LOBBY. C.J. and Josh start walking towards their offices.Sam and Toby stay behind.

SAMThink she knows?

TOBY [distracted] Yeah.

SAMWhy?

TOBYCause she told me she knows.

SAMCould we talk for a moment?

TOBYYeah, my office. I�ll be right back.

Sam takes off for the Communications Office. Ginger walks by. Toby grabs the report she�s holding.

TOBYHold on. Stay there. [starts walking towards a group of reporters, Ginger follows.]

MIKEToby?

TOBYYeah?

MIKEDid you guys hear what Bertram Coles said on the radio?

TOBYYeah.

BOBBIAnd?

TOBYThe Secret Service investigates all threats made against the President. It�s White House policy not to comment on those investigations.

MIKEAre you telling me there�s going to be a criminal investigation?

TOBY[beat] I really can�t comment on that right now. [looks at his watch] Damn, I gotta get back to my office.

Toby walks away, Mike, Bobbi and the other reporters walk off upset. Toby hands Ginger back the report. He smiles and mouths the words �thank you�. Toby exits.FADE OUT.

END ACT ONE* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. C.J.�S OFFICE - DAYC.J. is sitting behind her desk. Two staffers are taking notes from her.

C.J.I think the thing to say is that we don�t think anyone here would be disappointed if no one paid attention to the process.

STAFFERAnd this is on agriculture?

C.J.Science and technology. [Sam knocks on the door.] Hey. [beat] We�re done here.

The staffers get up and leave.

SAMHi.

C.J.Hi.

SAMYou wanted to see me. And I think I know what it�s about.

C.J.Really? You sussed it out, huh? [Sam closes the door.] Let me tell you something Sam, you�re a smart guy. But if you can figure it out, and I can figure it out, what makes you think that no one in my Press Room can figure it out?

SAMThere�s nothing to figure out.

C.J.You can�t spend time with a call girl, you�re gonna get caught.

SAMCaught doing what?

C.J.Don�t get cute with me.

SAMYou are aware that I didn�t know she was a call girl when I went home with her, right?

C.J.But you called her again and went back to see her.

SAM

I went back to see her, I didn�t go back to solicit her.

C.J.It doesn�t make a difference.

SAMIt does make a difference.

C.J.You work in the White House, you work fifty feet from the Oval Office. And you�re consorting with a...

SAMConsorting? I�m friendly with a woman, I like this woman. This woman poses no threat to the President. And it�s very likely that owing to my friendship, this woman may start living her life in bound, insuring for herself a greater future and isn�t that exactly what we�re supposed to be doing here?

C.J.Oh.

SAMC.J.

C.J.You�re there to make her see the error of her ways.

SAMThis is ridiculous. I�m there because I like her. I�m there because it�s there that I�d be if this were alcohol or drugs. I�m not sleeping with her, this isn�t tawdry.

C.J.I don�t care what it is, I care what it looks like.

SAMAnd I care what it is! And I think it�s high time we all spend a little less time looking good, and a little more time...

C.J.Being good?

SAMYes.

C.J.Yeah, I�ve heard that one before. And one other thing.

SAMAre we done?

C.J.No, Sam, when I say there�s �one other thing� that means we�re not done, that there�s one other thing.

SAMI�m resenting the hell out of this conversation.

C.J.It was tough to tell from your tone of voice.

SAMWhat do you want?

C.J.I beg your pardon?

SAMWhat�s the one other thing?

C.J.I�m your first phone call.

SAMWhen?

C.J.Before, now, in the future, anytime you�re into something and you don�t know what. And you can�t tell me that you thought there was nothing to it, because you sat down with Josh and you sat down with Toby. Anytime you�re into something and you don�t know what, you don�t keep it from me. I�m your first phone call. I�m your first line of defense. You have to let me protect you and you have to let me protect the President.

SAMIs that what this is about?

C.J.[stands] What this is about Sam is you�re a high profile, very visible, much noticed member...

SAMYou just said three things that all mean the same thing.

C.J.You�re not going to let this out of your teeth.

SAMCan I go now C.J.? Because what I think this is about is you. Once again letting the character cops win in a forfeit because you don�t have the guts or the strength or the courage to say �we know what�s right from wrong and this none of your damn business!�

C.J.[taken aback] Really?

SAMYes!

C.J.Strength, guts or courage?

SAMYes.

C.J.You just said three things that all mean the same thing. [sits]

SAMC.J.

C.J.We�re done talking now. You can go. [beat]

SAM

SAM[opens the door and starts to leave. C.J. starts typing on her laptop] About the retaliatory strike, do you think we�re going to target--?

C.J.I really don�t know what we�re going to target Sam. The commandant of the 2nd division doesn�t tend to include me in his thinking.

SAMI�ll see you later.

C.J.Count on it.

Sam exits into JOSH�S BULLPEN AREA. Sam walks down the hall and smashes his fist against a wall.

CUT TO: INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - DAYThe National Security team and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral PERCY FITZWALLACE, sit around a table.

FITZWALLACEYou know what I was thinking?

OFFICERWhat�s that, Admiral?

FITZWALLACEThis is different coffee than we usually have.

The doors open, Bartlet and Leo enter. Everyone stands.

BARTLETKeep your seats. [Everyone sits back down.]

FITZWALLACEGood morning Mr. President.

BARTLETWhat have we got?

FITZWALLACEThree retaliatory strike scenarios.

LEOWhen are they operational?

FITZWALLACEAt the President�s command.

LEONo prep time?

GENERALWe�re there.

FITZWALLACEAll three scenarios are comprehensive, meet the obligations of proportional response and pose minimal threat to U.S. personal and assets. To turn our attention to scenario one, or Pericles One, to use its code name...

BARTLETWhat is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACEI�m sorry.

BARTLETWhat�s the virtue of a proportional response? Why�s it good? [beat] They hit an airplane, so we hit a transmitter, right? That�s a proportional response.

FITZWALLACESir, in the case of Pericles...

BARTLETThey hit a barracks, so we hit two transmitters?

FITZWALLACEThat�s roughly it, sir.

BARTLETIt�s what we do. I mean this is what we do.

LEOYes sir, it�s what we do, it�s what we�ve always done.

BARTLETWell, if it�s what we do, if it�s what we�ve always done, don�t they know we�re going to do it?

LEOSir, if you would turn your attention to Pericles One.

BARTLETI have turned my attention to Pericles One, it�s two ammo dumps, an abandoned railroad bridge and a Syrian intelligence agency.

FITZWALLACEThose are four high rated military targets, sir.

BARTLETBut they know we�re going to do that, they know we�re going to do that. Those areas have been abandoned for four days. We know that from the satellites. We have the intelligence.

LEOSir.

BARTLETThey did that, so we did this, it�s the cost of doing business, it�s been factored in, right?

LEOMr. President...

BARTLETAm I right or am I missing something here?

FITZWALLACENo sir, you�re right sir.

BARTLETThen I ask again, what is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACEIt isn�t virtuous Mr. President. It�s all there is sir.

BARTLETIt is not all there is.

LEOSir, Admiral Fitzwallace...

FITZWALLACEExcuse me Leo, but pardon me Mr. President, just what else is there?

BARTLETA disproportional response. Let the word ring forth from this time and this place, you kill an American, any American, we don�t come back with a proportional response, we come back [bangs fist on table] with total disaster!

GENERALAre you suggesting we carpet-bomb Damascus?

BARTLETGeneral, I am suggesting that you and Admiral Fitzwallace and Secretary Hutchinson and the rest of the national security team take the next sixty minutes and put together a U.S. response scenario that doesn�t make me think we are just docking somebody�s damn allowance! [gets up and leaves the room. Everyone stands.]

CUT TO: INT. ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAYA nervous looking CHARLIE YOUNG stands and looks around the room. Donna and Josh are outside walking towards the room, you can hear faint echoes of banter.

JOSH [OS]I haven�t eaten lunch yet, if anyone�s going to the thing.

DONNA [OS]What do you want? [They appear in the doorway and walk in.]

JOSH

I would like a salad. I would like a soup of some kind and if you were to run acrossa sandwich, then hang the expense.

DONNARight.

JOSHAnd I would like a bottle of water.

DONNAThis is Charles Young. [hands him Charlie's file and leaves.]

JOSHI�m supposed to vet you.

CHARLIEI beg your pardon?

JOSHI�m supposed to vet you, vet you; investigate to discover... if there are problems. I�m Josh Lyman, deputy chief of staff.

CHARLIEHow are you?

JOSHIs it Charles?

CHARLIECharlie.

JOSHCharlie, you can have a seat if you like.

CHARLIEI don�t mind standing.

Donna walks down the hall.

JOSHUh, Donna!

DONNA[appears in the doorway] What?

JOSHNever mind the salad, I�m not going to eat it anyway.

DONNAFine.

JOSHBut I would like a bottle of water as soon as humanly possible.

DONNAFine. [leaves]

JOSH

So... have a seat. [Charlie does.] I�m sure you understand why we have to go through this. It�s a very sensitive job. It�s also a very hard job. Twenty-hour days aren�t uncommon, long trips at the last minute, a lot of wait and hurry up. Moreover there will be times when you�ll have to make yourself invisible in plain sight, as well as an undeniable force in front of those who want more time than we�re willing to give. Sometimes the people I�m talking about will be kings and prime ministers, you understand so far?

CHARLIEUh, sir, I�m sorry but I think there�s been some sort of mistake.

JOSHReally?

CHARLIESee, I came here, I filled out an application form...

JOSHYeah, I have your paperwork.

CHARLIERight, see, I came here, I was looking for a job as a messenger and I had an interview with Miss DiLaguardia and she told me to wait.

JOSHYes.

CHARLIEAnd then she told me to come here.

JOSHYes, that�s because we asked Miss DiLaguardia to keep an eye out. She�s recommending you for a different job.

CHARLIESir, if you don�t mind me asking--

JOSHPersonal aide to the President, and you don�t have to call me �Sir�.

CHARLIEI don�t understand.

JOSHPersonal aide to the President, traditionally a young guy, 20 to 25 years old, excels academically, strong in personal responsibility and discretion, presentable appearance.

CHARLIESir--

JOSHWe obviously get a lot of candidates that meet those qualifications, the rest is

just gut instinct. [beat] Or you could bribe me.

CHARLIEUh, um, sir...

JOSHSeriously Charlie, we call the President �Sir� everyone else is �hey, when am I gonna get that thing I asked for?�

DONNA[enters and hands Josh a bottle of water] Water.

CHARLIESee, that�s not... see, there�s been some kind of mistake.

JOSH[reading a report] I�ll say. Donna! [She stops at the door.]

CHARLIEI should go. [stands]

JOSH�Insuccessful�?

DONNAWhat�s the problem?

JOSHI don�t think we�re allowed to make up our own words.

DONNAOh, and like there�s no chance it�s a typo.

JOSHChange it, would you? Serious people are going to read that. [Donna takes the report and exits.]

JOSHCharlie, you�re standing again.

CHARLIEWell, see, I came here for a messenger job.

JOSHWhy aren�t you in college?

CHARLIEWell, uh...

JOSHThese transcripts. Your grades are better than mine.

CHARLIEMr. Lyman.

JOSHWell, no, not really, but they�re close.

CHARLIE

It was an easy school.

JOSHNo, come one, I�m looking at recommendations from guidance counselors, I�m looking at ACT scores. You didn�t want to go to college?

CHARLIEWell, I have a little sister at home.

JOSHYou take care of her?

CHARLIEYes sir.

JOSHYour parents are gone?

CHARLIEMy mom, she�s a police officer. She was shot and killed on duty a few months ago. Five months ago.

FADE OUT.END ACT TWO* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - DAYBartlet walks in and sits down.

BARTLETKeep your seats. There�s a delegation of cardiologists having their pictures taken in the Blue Room. You wouldn�t think you could find a group of people more arrogant than the fifteen of us, but there they are right upstairs in the Blue Room. You called me?

FITZWALLACEYes, sir. Mr. President we put together a scenario by which we attack Hassan airport. Its three main terminals and two runway. In addition to the civilian causalities, which could register in the thousands, the strike would temporally cripple the region�s ability to receive medical supplies and bottled water. I think Mr. Cashmen and Secretary Hutchinson would each tell you what I�m sure you already know sir. That this strike would be seen at home and abroad as a staggering overreaction by a first time Commander in Chief. That without the support of our allies, without a Western Coalition, without Great Britain and Japan and without Congress, you�ll have doled out a five thousand dollar punishment for a fifty buck crime sir. Mr. President, the proportional response doesn�t empty the options box for the future, the way an all out assault--

BARTLET[waves him off] Thank you. [beat] Does anyone have a cigarette?

An officer pulls out a pack and a lighter and slides it towards the President. Bartlet pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

BARTLET [cont.]This other plan...

FITZWALLACEPericles One.

BARTLETPericles One. No civilian causalities?

FITZWALLACEWe can�t promise that.

BARTLETBut you�re as certain as you can be?

FITZWALLACEYes sir.

BARTLETAnd what are the military implications?

OFFICER 2We�ll cripple both their intelligence network and their surface to air strike capabilities.

BARTLETVery well. [pause, to Leo] How does this work?

FITZWALLACEYou give me the go order sir.

An officer moves over to the phone. Bartlet sighs. Pause.

FITZWALLACEMr. President? [Bartlet nods.] This is Fitzwallace, I have a go order from the President. Start the clock on Pericles One. Stand by for confirmation code.

OFFICERWe�re underway.

Bartlet throws his cigarette in a glass of water. He gets up and is standing in the doorway.

FITZWALLACEWell done.

BARTLETFifty buck crime. [to Leo] I honestly don�t know what the hell we�re doing here.[leaves]

CUT TO: INT. ROOSEVELT ROOM - DAYCharlie and Josh are sitting at the table. Josh has a bunch of paperwork in front of him.

JOSHCharlie, I�ve got some questions here for you from the Council�s office, as well as

the Department of the Treasury and the Office of Internal Security. These questions are all routine, there�s no cause for concern. Ready?

CHARLIEMr. Lyman--

JOSH�Have you ever tried to overthrow the government?�

CHARLIEIs it because the messenger job is not available anymore? Because maybe if I came back at a different time.

JOSHCharlie, this job�s actually better than the messenger job. It pays more, you don�t have to ride around town on a bicycle and instead of being a messenger, you get to be personal aide to the President.

CHARLIEI see. So, maybe if I come--

Sam knocks on the door and walks in.

JOSHHey, Sam. This is Sam Seaborn, he�s deputy communications director. This is Charlie Young. He�s here for Ted�s job.

SAMIt�s nice to meet you, don�t get up.

CHARLIEUm, I was here for the messenger job.

SAMDebbie�s got an eye for personnel.

CHARLIEI�ve got a driver�s license and my own bike so...

JOSHI gotta ask you some more questions...

SAMHave you ever tried to overthrow the government?

CHARLIENo sir.

SAMWhat the hell�s been stopping you? [Josh and Sam laugh.]

JOSHSeriously Charlie, I have to ask you about your personal life.

SAMNo, you don�t.

JOSHYes, I do.

SAMWhy?

JOSHBecause I do.

SAMCharlie, are you gonna come to work early, stay late, do your job efficiently and discretely?

CHARLIEAs I was saying to Mr. Lyman--

SAMThank you. What more do you need to know?

JOSHCharlie, I wonder if you could tell me about your social life, your friends, what you like to do?

SAMJosh, I cannot believe you.

CHARLIEWell, uh, there�s my sister Deena and uh, I�m not sure what you�re asking.

SAMHe�s asking if you�re gay, Charlie, and I wouldn�t answer the damn question.

JOSHAll right, that�s it Sam, let�s take a walk. [gets up]

SAMYou know what, feel free to sue our asses off. I�ll represent you.

JOSHLet�s go.

Josh leads Sam out of the room and into the HALLWAY.

JOSHWhat the hell was that about?

SAMThis is ridiculous.

JOSHIt�s not all that ridiculous.

SAMI know the difference between right and wrong.

JOSHIt�s not like you didn�t know you�d be held to a high standard when you took this job.

SAMI don�t mind being held to a higher standard, I mind being held to a lower one.

JOSHI gotta say Sam, digging your heels in...

SAMI was just talking.

JOSHI understand...

SAM�Digging my heels in�? Another word for that would be principle?

JOSHI�m just saying!

Toby walks in between them on his way to Leo's office.

TOBYLeo�s office.

JOSH & SAMWhat?

TOBYIt�s happening.

CUT TO: INT. LEO�s OFFICE - DAYMargaret walks in, C.J. is already inside.

MARGARETHe�s right here.

Sam, Josh and Toby walk in.

SAMIt�s happening?

C.J.Yeah, that�s what I hear.

LEO[walks in] The order was given at 16:27, codename Pericles One. Four targets, all military. Two munitions dumps in Northern Rishan, Southian bridge and an IHQ.

C.J.What�s the estimated time?

LEOAbout 6:30 Eastern, you can come to the Sit Room in twenty minutes for a weapons briefing. In the meantime, Toby, Sam, the President will go on network at nine, so start zeroing in. [Toby, Sam, and C.J. start to leave.] Hey guys, no phone calls in or out. C.J., nothing to the press until you get the high sign from me. No head

starts.

Sam and Toby leave.

C.J.They�re gonna wonder what all the fuss is about.

LEOThen let�s not have any fuss.

C.J.I could use a few minutes with the President at some point.

LEOYou and me both.

C.J.I�m not kidding Leo, this is the...

LEOYou�ll be there.

C.J.This is the first...

LEOYou�ll be there.

C.J.He�ll talk to me?

LEOYes.

C.J. leaves. Josh is standing at the back of the room.

JOSHHow you doing?

LEOFine.

JOSHLeo, Toby says he�s snapping at the First...

LEONot now Josh. I mean, you�re right, but not now. [beat] Margaret!

JOSHHey Leo, can I ask you a question?

LEOWhat?

JOSHI�m interviewing this kid for Ted Miller�s job, and he�s a real special kid. He�sapplied himself in school, I�m sure he�d be articulate if he wasn�t terrified. He�s postponing college until his sister gets out of high school.

LEO

Where are the parents?

JOSHFather�s long gone. His mother was a uniformed cop here in D.C.

LEOWas?

JOSHShe was shot and killed in the line five months ago. [beat] I really like him Leo. I want to hire him.

LEOWhat�s the problem?

JOSHHe�s black.

LEOSo�s the Attorney General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs?

JOSHThey don�t hold the door open for the President.

LEOWhat are you worried...?

JOSHI�m not wild about the visual. A young black man holding his overnight bag?

LEOJosh, I hold the door open for the President, it�s an honor. This is serious business Josh. This isn�t casting. We get the guy for the job and we take it from there.

JOSHGood.

LEOAnd I�m fairly sure I�m right about this.

JOSHYeah. Good. [beat] Two hours?

LEOUh, a little less.

MARGARET[enters] Chairman Fitzwallace.

LEOSend him in.

JOSHWe�ll be fine.

LEOYeah.

FITZWALLACE[enters] Oh, things have moved since I was in this office last.

JOSHHow are you Admiral? [reaches to shake hands] Josh Lyman.

FITZWALLACEJosh, you don�t have to introduce yourself, and I�m fine thanks.

JOSHTough day.

FITZWALLACEIt�ll be a lot tougher on them than on us.

JOSHGood. [exits]

FITZWALLACEYou�re gonna have to set him down Leo.

LEOI know.

FITZWALLACEHe�s gonna have to talk to the country a little bit. This is not the last one of these we�re gonna have to do, but you�re gonna have to set him down.

LEOAny advice?

FITZWALLACEIt�s not my place.

LEOYeah, it is.

FITZWALLACETell him it�s always like this the first time. Tell him he�s doing fine.

LEOHe�s not doing fine.

FITZWALLACEYeah, he is. Presidents don�t make new friends, that�s why they gotta keep their old ones. You�ll know what to say. [starts to leave]

LEOYeah. [beat] Uh, hey Fitz?

FITZWALLACEYeah?

LEOThe President�s personal aide, they�re looking at a kid. Do you have any problem with a young black man waiting on the President?

FITZWALLACEI�m an old black man and I wait on the President.

LEOThe kid�s gotta carry his bags...

FITZWALLACEYou gonna pay him a decent wage?

LEOYeah.

FITZWALLACEYou gonna treat him with respect in the workplace?

LEOYeah.

FITZWALLACEThen why the hell should I care?

LEOThat�s what I thought.

FITZWALLACEI�ve got some real honest to God battles to fight Leo. I don�t have time for the cosmetic ones.

LEOThanks Admiral. Good luck.

FITZWALLACESee you later.

The admiral exits into the HALLWAY with an officer. Toby is walking by, his arms are full of papers and files.

FITZWALLACEEvening Toby.

TOBYEvening sir. Sorry I can�t stop...

FITZWALLACEGo. [walks off]

Toby walks into the ROOSEVELT ROOM. Staffers walk frantically in and out. Ginger walks in. Josh stands in front of the table.

GINGEREstimated BDA?

TOBYIt�s my first bombing, I don�t know yet. [Ginger exits.]

JOSHToby, you need help with anything because...

TOBYNo! [exits]

JOSHSheila, if you need me for anything... Standing here with absolutely nothing to do.

CUT TO: INT. COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN - DAYStaffers continue to wander around frantically. Toby walks in and into his office. Cathy is standing at her desk. The phone rings.

CATHYWhite House Communications, I�m sorry Toby�s not available to speak on the phone at the moment. No, Sam�s not available either. [C.J. enters.] Why isn�t anyone available to speak on the phone?

C.J.I don�t know, they�re planning my surprise party.

C.J. stands in the doorway of TOBY�s OFFICE. Toby and Sam are writing.

SAMUnprovoked and cold-blooded.

TOBYIt�s needs a third.

C.J.Toby?

TOBYQuickly.

C.J.The AGM 84 Islam.

TOBYCathy! Sam cut the paragraph ten minutes ago.

CATHY[while walking across the bullpen] It�s coming out on the redline.

C.J.The 84 Islam?

TOBYStandoff land attack missile. Distinguish it from the AGM 84D or Harpoon, which is an anti-shive missile.

C.J.Thank you. [leaves]

TOBYThe third thing?

SAMUnwarranted, unprovoked...

TOBYAnd cold-blooded. Unwarranted.

SAMUnprovoked.

TOBYAnd cold-blooded. Great.

SAM[gets up and walks away] I just need a...

TOBYWhere you going?

SAMTwo seconds. Just two seconds. [Sam walks through the office into the HALLWAY where C.J. is standing.] C.J., listen.

C.J.What?

SAMI�m sorry about before.

C.J.Yeah.

SAMI�m just really very fond of her is all.

C.J.Go back to work.

SAMRight.

CUT TO: INT. NORTHWEST LOBBY - NIGHTC.J. is walking through the lobby into JOSH'S BULLPEN AREA. A gaggle of reporters is standing at the door to the PRESS ROOM.

CHRISC.J., what�s all the activity?

C.J.What activity?

REPORTERFitzwallace was in Leo�s office.

C.J.[starts walking slowly towards her office] Admiral Fitzwallace is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Leo McGarry is White House chief of staff, I�m your host C.J., let�s play our game.

CHRISIs it happening?

C.J.No.

CHRISWould you know if it was?

C.J.Guys.

REPORTERWhy all the activity?

C.J. Menudo�s in the building. I gotta go.

The reporters once again walk away upset. C.J. heads towards her office. A reporter,DANNY CONCANNON, stands by her door.

C.J.Oh man. I�d honestly think that you of all people.

DANNYWe need to talk.

C.J.Danny, I haven�t called a full lid, they�ll obviously be a briefing if the President has engaged the use of military force.

DANNYThanks. Since I�ve only been a White House reporter for seven years, I appreciate you clearing that up. C.J.[beat] What?

DANNYNot for nothing, but I know Sam Seaborn�s been going around with a three thousand dollar a night call girl. And I thought you should know that I know. [beat] Ask me inside, C.J.

C.J.Inside.

They walk into her office and close the door.FADE OUT.END ACT THREE* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. JOSH�S BULLPEN AREA - NIGHTJosh walks down the hallway, leans on a wall near Donna's desk.

JOSHWhere�s Charlie?

DONNAHe�s filling out his employment stuff at Personnel.

JOSH

How�s he doing?

DONNAHe looked pretty freaked.

JOSHHe�s a gamer. I can pick �em.

DONNAIf you say so.

Pause. Josh looks around, whistles a little bit, and generally looks bored.

JOSHI�ve got nothing to do.

DONNAI can see that.

A staffers runs up, grabs something from near where Josh is standing and runs off.

JOSHWoo! Excuse me. Everyone�s running around like the future of the world depends on it, which I suppose it does, everyone running around, working. Me, I�ve got nothing to do.

DONNAYes.

JOSHI�m like a writer on a movie set.

DONNAHave you ever been on a movie set?

JOSHNo, but I hear stories.

DONNAYou wanna do mail?

JOSH[sitting down] I suppose there�s some comfort in knowing that whatever�s going to happen today has already happened.

MANDY [walks out of Josh's office]Josh, your office sucks.

JOSHI don�t understand it. Why can�t you tell me when there�s someone in my office?

DONNAThe first time I didn�t know, the second time I didn�t care that much. [gets up and leaves]

MANDYI mean it, it�s a hole.

JOSH[gets up and walks toward her and his office] Why are you here?

MANDYI start work next week, I came to get psyched.

JOSH�S OFFICE. They both enter.

JOSHYou picked a really bad time to get psyched.

MANDYBecause the President gave the attack order and you�re getting ready to go on the air?

JOSHNo, it�s because--

MANDYPlease Josh, everyone�s running around looking casual, Toby and Sam are locked in with the speechwriters and you�ve got nothing to do. What is it? An IHQ and a couple of armories?

JOSHYou wanna say it a bit louder Mandy, I don�t Syrian Air Defense Command heard you.

MANDYI brought you a present.

JOSHWhy are you being nice to me? [sits behind his desk]

MANDYCause I�m really psyched to get started work.

JOSHIt�s been pretty bad around here since it happened.

MANDYI had a hunch.

JOSHThe combination of American lives and Morris, the idea of using any force at all.

MANDYWe always said he�d be in his head.

JOSHHe wasn�t ready for it.

MANDYHow do you get ready for it?

JOSHWhat did you bring me?

MANDYWhat?

JOSHI want my present.

MANDYYeah. [grabs something out of her bag and gives it to Josh] It�s a picture I found.

JOSHIt�s a picture of you and me and someone�s drawn all over my face with magic marker.

MANDYThat was me.

JOSHAh.

MANDYDuring my period of hating you.

JOSHWell, that could have been pretty much any time, couldn�t it?

MANDYSure. [starts walking around Josh�s desk, towards him] This was taken the night we met. At that seafood place by the Democratic Leadership Conference.

JOSHLook at that.

MANDYYou couldn�t stop staring at me.

JOSHWell, you were wearing quite the ensemble that night Madeline.

MANDY[sits on the edge of his desk] I don�t think it was the wardrobe you were staring at there, Lucky. [Josh laughs.] You guys are doing okay, Josh.

The phone rings. Josh picks it up.

JOSHYeah... yeah. [hangs up] They found a job for me.

MANDYI�ll see you next week.

JOSHListen, you�re not gonna be this nice to me when we�re working together, right?

MANDYNot a chance. [leaves]

JOSHThat�s what I thought. [puts the picture on his desk. Donna walks in.] Hey. What�s up?

Donna and Josh exit.

CUT TO: INT. C.J.�S OFFICE - NIGHTDanny and C.J. are sitting across from each other at her desk.

DANNYI obviously don�t have enough for a story, but as a courtesy to you C.J. I just wanted to let you know I�m gonna be asking around.

C.J.Danny, it�s gonna be much ado about nothing.

DANNYIt doesn�t look that way.

C.J.But it is that way and I just got through telling you it�s that way.

DANNYC.J.

C.J.Sam knows the difference between right and wrong and so do you. Would it make my life easier if he wasn�t friends with this woman? Absolutely. But Sam is a grown up and I don�t get to choose his friends and your readers don�t get to judge them. And I�ll tell you what else, there�s something commendable about Sam�s behavior here, don�t ask me what but there is, and I�m stickin� by him until the President orders me otherwise and I�m going to look very unfavorably on those who seek only to make us look like fools.

DANNYWhoa. Down girl. I�ll drop it.

C.J.Good.

DANNYI�ll drop it.

C.J.Thank you.

DANNYBut C.J. you better get D�ed up here. Because not everyone�s a good guy and you�re gonna start to get traction on something that not everyone�s a fan of and they�re gonna put a tail on Seaborn, if they haven�t already. Remember, I found out about this somehow and I wasn�t there.

C.J.I don�t supposed you�d tell me...

DANNYNo way. My point is, they�ll keep it in their pocket until the eve of something big. Bill signing, State of the Union, maybe the convention.

The phone rings. C.J. answers.

C.J.Yeah. I�ll wait for him. [to Danny] Hang on, I�m gonna give you a ten minute head start on something.

DANNYWhat for?

C.J.For being a good guy.

DANNYWhat�s the tip?

C.J.[into phone] Yeah, thank you. [hangs up] We�re out of Syrian air space.

CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - NIGHTJosh is giving Charlie the tour. They�re walking towards the Oval Office.

JOSHThis used to be the White House Council�s office �til Toby and the Communications staff conquered and pillaged. The Map Room. Roosevelt Room. Oval Office. Chief of Staff. I guess the only thing left to do is to say hello to the President.

Charlie stops walking.

JOSHWe�re going on the air in a few minutes with a national address so I don�t know how much... where the hell�d he go? [beat] Charlie.

Josh motions for Charlie to come into the Oval Office.

CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - NIGHTBartlet, Toby and Sam all walk in the room towards the desk. Staffers are still walking around frantically, they are joined by a crew of cameramen, gaffers and stage managers. There are television monitors in the room and extra lights.

BARTLETWhat happened to paragraph nine?

SAMIn the red line sir.

BARTLETI�m sorry, paragraph eight.

SAMWe cut that half an hour ago.

TOBYYou have to read between the lines.

BARTLETWell, I want to see it again.

TOBYYou should look at the new paragraph.

BARTLET

I can�t look at anything fellas. Mrs. Landingham! I need my glasses!

NANCYSir, she�s talking to the porters right now.

TOBYMr. President.

BARTLETWhen do we get the BDA?

TOBYUh.

SAMThere�s a problem with that sir.

BARTLETWhy!?

TOBYOrdinarily we get help from inside the Syrian Intelligence.

Josh and Charlie enter.

BARTLETSo what�s the problem?

TOBYWe just blew up the Syrian Intelligence.

BARTLETOh, for crying out loud, will somebody get on the phone to CNN and find out if we hit anything!

STAFFERMr. President, it�s the BDA sir. [hands Bartlet a report]

BARTLETThank you! Now if I had my glasses.

MRS. LANDINGHAM[enters with Nancy] The porters have searched your bedroom from top to bottom.

BARTLETThis has been since this morning, we could have brought in an optometrist by now.

MRS. LANDINGHAMAn optometrist can�t fold his equipment into a briefcase.

NANCYThey have those machines with the lenses.

BARTLETI don�t need an optometrist now, thank you Nancy. I just need to glasses he prescribed.

C.J.

[enters] Mr. President, if you�ll take a minute or two to familiarize yourself with the phoenix.

BARTLETI got the briefing on the phoenix.

C.J.You understand that I�m not talking about the sidewinder.

BARTLETThe phoenix. I got the briefing on the phoenix last night, I studied the report, Hutchinson was there, in my private study.

Charlie whispers something to Josh, who are farther away from all the action.

BARTLET [cont.]The phoenix, the A61, the sparrow, and the sidewinder. Are we covered?

C.J.Yes, sir.

BARTLETVery well.

DIRECTORTen minutes to air Mr. President.

JOSHTell him.

BARTLETFor want of a pair of glasses.

C.J.Try mine sir.

MRS. LANDINGHAM[outside] We�re looking.

NANCY[also outside] She�s looking.

BARTLETThank you. [tries on C.J.�s glasses]

TOBYWhile they�re looking sir, in the meantime can you take a look at the new paragraph?

BARTLETAw, crap. I can�t see anything with those.

JOSHCharlie, tell him.

CHARLIEMr. President... [Everyone stops to look.] You said you read the phoenix report...

BARTLETWhat!?

CHARLIEYou said you read the phoenix report in your private study last night, sir.

BARTLETWhat of it? Who is this?

MRS. LANDINGHAM[to Nancy] Have a steward go the President�s study. Have him look under the papers on the coffee table. [Nancy nods and exits.]

JOSHMr. President, this is Charles Young...

BARTLETI don�t have anytime for new people now!

LEOAlright, that�s it. [beat] Excuse me, Mr. President, a minute please.

Charlie walks out of the room. Bartlet and Leo head towards Leo�s office. Toby flashes Leo a ten-minute sign with his hands. Leo nods.

CUT TO: INT. LEO�s OFFICE - CONTINUOUSLeo walks around and closes all the doors while he�s talking.

BARTLETWhat do you need, Leo?

LEOWell, you�ve gone through everyone who works for you and everyone who�s married to you. I didn�t know who else you could get mad at, so I was afraid the American people might be next. Oh, by the way, when we�re done here you�re sending Abby some flowers.

BARTLET[pause] Did you know that two thousand years ago a Roman citizen could walk across the face of the known world free of the fear of molestation? He could walk across the earth unharmed, cloaked only in the words �Civis Romanis� I am a Roman citizen. So great was the retribution of Rome, universally understood as certain, should any harm befall even one of its citizens. Where was Morris� protection, or anyone else on that plane? Where is the retribution for the families and where is the warning to the rest of the world that Americans shall walk this earth unharmed, lest the clenched fist of the most mighty military force in the history of mankind comes crashing down on your house!? In other words, Leo, what the hell are we doing here?

LEOWe are behaving the way a superpower ought to behave.

BARTLET

Well our behavior has produced some pretty crappy results. In fact, I�m not a hundred percent sure it hasn�t induced them.

LEOWhat are you talking about?

BARTLETI�m talking about two hundred and eight-six American marines in Beirut, I�m talking about Somalia, I�m talking about Nairobi.

LEOAnd you think ratching up the body count�s gonna act as a deterrent?

BARTLETYou�re damn right.

LEOThen you are just as dumb as these guys who think that capital punishment is going to be a deterrent for drug kingpins. As if drug kingpins didn�t live their day to day lives under the possibility of execution. And their executions are a lot less dainty than ours and tend to take place without the bother and expense of due process. So my friend, if you want to start using American military strength as the arm of the Lord, you can do that, we�re the only superpower left. You can conquer the world, like Charlemenge, but you better be prepared to kill everyone and you better start with me cause I will raise up an army against you and I will beat you!

BARTLETHe had a ten-day-old baby at home.

LEOI know.

BARTLETWe are doing nothing. They dest...

LEOWe are not doing nothing. Four high rated military targets.

BARTLETAnd this is good?

LEOOf course it�s not good, there is no good. It�s what there is. It�s how you behave if you�re the most powerful nation in the world. It�s proportional, it�s reasonable, it�s responsible, it�s merciful. It�s not nothing, four high rated military targets.

BARTLETWhich they�ll rebuild again in six months.

LEOSo we�ll blow �em up again in six months! We�re getting really good at it. [beat]It�s what our fathers taught us.

BARTLETWhy didn�t you say so? [beat] Oh man Leo. When I think of all the work you put in

to get me to run. [both sit] When I think of all the work you did to get me elected. I could pommel your ass with a baseball bat.

They laugh.

LEOOh, here�s one you�ll like. Bertram Coles--

BARTLETOh, I like anything that starts with �Bertram Coles�. Let�s have it.

LEOColes goes on the radio yesterday and he says people in his district love America and you better not come down there cause you might not get out alive. [laughs]

BARTLETBert�s calling me out?

LEOApparently, the people in Bert�s district are so patriotic that if the President of the United States himself were to show up, they�d kill him.

They both laugh.

BARTLETZiegler must be ballistic.

LEOToby is on it.

BARTLETOh, by the way, who was that kid before? The one who figured out where my glasses are?

LEOWell, if you want him, that�s your new body man.

BARTLETWhat�s his story?

CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - NIGHTOutside the Oval Office, Charlie stands in the hall. Josh walks out to meet him.

JOSHThis was just, I think, a bad day. I have to tell you, he�s ordinarily an extremely kind man placing a very high premium on civility. Today, it�s just been a difficult few days for him.

CHARLIEI think I should probably go.

BARTLET[appears in the doorway] Excuse me Charlie. Can I see you inside please? Come on, it�s okay.

Charlie, Bartlet and Josh all enter THE OVAL OFFICE.

BARTLET [CONT]I�m Jed Bartlet.

CHARLIEI�m Charles Young.

BARTLETBut you prefer Charlie, right? Listen, Leo McGarry filled me in on the situation with your mother, I�m so very sorry. I hope you don�t mind but I took the liberty of calling Tom Connolly, the FBI Director. We had the computer spit out some quick information, you�re mother was killed by a Western .38 Revolver firing K.T.W.s, or what are known as �Cop Killer bullets�, now we have not had a whole lot of success banning that weapon and those bullets off the streets, but we�re planning on taking a big whack at it when Congress gets back from recess. So, what do you say, you wanna come help us out?

CHARLIEYes sir, I do.

BARTLETThanks.

Bartlet and Charlie shake hands.

DIRECTORThirty seconds please!

LEOAll set?

Bartlet is standing in front of his desk, Leo in front of it. Everyone else is behind the camera and monitors.

BARTLETYou tell me.

LEOThat�s a pretty ugly tie.

BARTLETMy granddaughter gave me this tie.

LEOSo, my nephew gave me an ashtray he made at summer camp.

BARTLETGet away from me. Somebody throw this guy out of the building!

DIRECTORStand by.

Bartlet sits. Leo moves back with the rest. Charlie and the senior staff are standing around one monitor.

CHARLIEI�ve never felt like this before.

JOSHIt doesn�t go away.

NEWSCASTER[on monitor] Here now, the President.

BARTLETMy fellow Americans, good evening. A short while ago I ordered our Armed Forces to attack and destroy four military targets in Northern Syria, this in response to the unwarranted, unprovoked...

DISSOLVE TO:END TITLES.

BARTLET [cont.]...and cold-blooded downing three days ago of an unarmed Air Force jet carrying 58passengers and the flag of the United States.

FADE TO BLACK.THE END* * *

The West Wing and all its characters are properties of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells ProductionS, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.

Episode 1.3 -- �A Proportional Response�Original Airdate: October 6, 1999, 9:00 PM EST

Transcript by alanaoOctober 4, 2000