"So," she says, looking down at her hands and then up at the camera, smile tight, "as you know, Mark and I have a history." She sighs. "It's hard, you know?" She looks down, does a forlorn whistle. "Yeah."
"You know," Mark says in a talking head segment two days later, "It's not really - I mean, five years. That's just-- once. It happened once." He shrugs. "I don't really think it's a thing."
The producer: Well, you know, Leslie...
He laughs awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. I know."
And then she starts eating lunch with him. First couple of days, she doesn't say anything. Just sits at the round table outside with him and stares at him while he eats. It's a little weird. Or a lot - it's a lot weird, but he's worked with her for a long time and he figures after the public forum mess, she needs some kind of solidarity. Dan hasn't been speaking to her since The Sod King stopped talking to him and he'd really been planning on getting his yard done.
In the middle of the fourth day, halfway through the second bite of his bologna sandwich, she stirs her yogurt disinterestedly, and hisses, "Does our history make this awkward for you? 'Cause I could totally move. I'm cool like that." She tries to flip her hair and ends up cracking her neck, grunting with pain. "Um, that was...on purpose. I did that on purpose."
He just looks up at the sky. The sun could fall on him right now, that'd be great. "It's not really a thing, Leslie. You can sit here if you want." He turns the page of his newspaper loudly.
"You're so nice," she says. "You're a nice dude. Who does nice...things. Like Nixon with the China thing."
He doesn't say anything.
During their next subcommittee meeting, she hands out information sheets for the next public forum. There's a note at the top in hot pink bright bold font that reads: Don't call on the mean lady. Ann casts him a look.
"Yeah, so," Leslie starts, "I think we have a real chance to make this park happen."
"Um, everyone in the town seems pretty opposed to it," Ann says.
"Well, that's just how revolutions happen. And America...loves revolution. Plus who doesn't love a park? Communists. Who stick together."
"I don't actually think we have communists in Pawnee."
Leslie snorts. "No one thinks they have communists. But I believe in this park. And it will happen. Yeah." She pauses, nods at the general direction of the cameras. "If we build it, they will come."
The cameramen ask her, Do you really think you can get the park built?
"Yes," she says, nodding her head slowly. "It's just a matter of willpower. I have a will and I have power." She forces a laugh. "I believe in this park. And this park is like The Matrix: once you stop believing in it, everything falls apart. And I am not going to let that happen." She clears her throat. "Plus...we have Mark Brendanawicz." She snaps her fingers excitedly. "Yeah!"
Mark looks at her interview through the blinds of his office.
She says your name will bring a lot of support.
"You know, sometimes, I just think she likes to say my name." He blinks. "Don't put that in."