The sequel to "Help Wanted" and "Off to Camp."
As always, immeasurable thanks to one of New England's favorite, banished journalists, S.J. Richard.
Also, thanks to North Carolina's most creative Democrat in-training MLM.
In The Loop
An original script by "Enigmatic Ellie"
http://wing_nuts.tripod.com
(Based on characters created by Aaron Sorkin)
TEASER:
FADE IN
EXT. WHITE HOUSE
Title card: Thursday afternoon
CUT TO-
INT. OPERATIONS BULLPEN.
DONNA is looking through a filing cabinet.
TOBY enters and peers into JOSH's office.
DONNA: He's not here.
TOBY: Where is he?
DONNA: I suppose I could say, 'Beyond our reach.' That would make him happy, but it would also be incorrect and boost his ego, and I don't think either are necessary.
TOBY: Okay. (beat) Vital question, take two: Where is he?
DONNA: On his way here, I guess. He had a thing at Georgetown.
TOBY: Yeah, well, he didn't go. CJ was asked about it.
DONNA: What?
TOBY: Some reporter has been trying to track Josh down about 697 and went to the panel to talk with him, but apparently Josh begged off hours ago, and now Bruce Dunfey of the Cincinnati Times tells me Josh had an appointment to speak with... someone he had no business speaking with....
DONNA: He did? Where is he?
TOBY: That was my question. When he gets here, I need to see him--immediately. The switchboard says there's a problem with some of the phone lines so...
DONNA: What problem?
TOBY: I don't know. The hi- tech term they used was 'glitch.' They're working on it. In any case, try my cell first.
CONT-
FOLLOW TOBY DOWN THE HALL TO HIS OFFICE
CJ is waiting
CJ: Toby, I need to...
TOBY: Not now.
CJ: Okay.
TOBY: [turns as he leaves] And if Bruce Dunfey asks, you know nothing about Josh or Congressional hearings.
CJ: That's probably not far from the truth.
CONT-
FOLLOW CJ DOWN THE HALL.
SAM enters
CJ: Sam.
SAM: CJ. I'm leaving in six hours.
CJ: There were tornados in Texas last night.
SAM: It's a big state.
CJ: They were big storms.
SAM: I'm going to San Antonio.
CJ: I know.
SAM: And you're not.
CJ: I don't care.
SAM: Can I ask you something?
CJ: Can I stop you?
SAM: No. Why have you been so edgy lately?
CJ: That's my life. I live on the edge.
SAM: You've been spending a lot of time with Josh; that would put me on the edge.
CJ: Well, I was going to spend time with you, but you're going to San Antonio.
CJ exits
CONT- HALLWAY
FOLLOW SAM TO
INT. JOSH'S BULLPEN.
DONNA still looking through files
SAM enters. He looks in JOSH's office.
SAM: He's not back yet?
DONNA: Not unless he's become the invisible man.
SAM: He has lately. Any particular reason?
DONNA: Every reason with Josh is particular.
SAM: (sitting on the edge of her desk) How's he been?
DONNA: Josh is so difficult to describe; he has such a topsy-turvy potpourri of moods. Arrogant, grumpy and flip.
SAM: Right (turns to leave)
DONNA: Sam? (closes file cabinet to look at SAM who has stopped). Has he talked to you?
SAM: I spoke to him this morning.
DONNA: No, I don't mean about work related issues.
SAM: You mean about Josh related issues?
DONNA: Yeah.
SAM: No, but I'm pretty sure he would object to the term "issues" in this context. CJ is his chosen confidante lately. They've got quite the connection going; better than he and I... almost.
DONNA: You and Josh connect?
SAM: I'm his friend. We connect.
DONNA: No, you chat. That's not a connection. I can read people, Sam. I'm insightful that way. Now, Josh and I, we connect.
CAROL enters
CAROL: Donna, Josh needs you.
DONNA: (to Sam) See what I mean.
CAROL: He just called CJ, but he can't get through to you because your line's on the blink. He's been trying to page you.
CAROL exits. DONNA pats herself down looking for her pager. SAM looks down and retrieves it from her coat on the back of a chair. SAM reads the screen and grimaces.
SAM: Oh my. That's a strong connection you have.
DONNA: (Grabs the pager and looks worried). How mad do you think he is?
SAM: Donna, dogs get mad. People get angry.
DONNA: You think he's angry?
SAM: Josh? Angry? At you? No. (beat). I think the appropriate term would be 'pissed.'
SAM smiles at her as he hands her the phone.
SAM (cont): Might want to polish that connection a little.
SMASH CUT TO:
MAIN TITLES
FADE OUT
ACT I
FADE IN
EXT. White House
CUT TO-
INT. OVAL OFFICE
BARTLET and CHARLIE standing near the desk
BARTLET: What if I don't want to accept it?
CHARLIE: I don't think that's an option.
BARTLET: Why not?
CHARLIE: You mean other than it being impolite?
LEO enters
BARTLET: You may have a point. Check for me on what the proper procedure is for returning a dog.
LEO: A dog, sir?
BARTLET: Yes, the Irish Ambassador has apparently given me a
dog. Is there some etiquette rule that says how to give it
back?
LEO: I wouldn't know.
BARTLET: Then why do I keep you around?
LEO: I ask myself that question daily, sir.
BARTLET: Yeah.
CHARLIE: I'll check with the Gift Officer on your options.
BARTLET: I don't want a dog, Charlie.
CHARLIE: No, sir. [exits]
LEO: You don't like dogs?
BARTLET: I don't particularly like Ireland right now. Can I offend them?
LEO: Probably without trying.
BARTLET: Leo, I get thousands of gifts every year. No one, and I mean, no one has ever given me a living creature.
LEO: That's not true.
BARTLET: I'm sorry?
LEO: The governor of Maine gave you a tank of lobsters last July. I don't recall hearing a complaint.
BARTLET: So you're saying if I eat the dog it won't be a problem?
CUT TO-
INT. Hallway
ED and LARRY handing each other papers
ED: I got this. You got mine?
LARRY: Yeah.
ED: Is there a new intern here or something?
LARRY: I don't think so. Why?
ED: I keep getting your memos and faxes and mail.
LARRY: So?
ED: Well, I don't know. I was just wondering. I mean, someone here can't tell us apart.
LARRY: You're just noticing this now?
ED: I'm just saying we've worked here for like three years and... [beat] Do we look that much alike?
LARRY: My grandmother thinks I look like a young John Wayne.
ED: Cataracts?
LARRY: Yeah.
SAM enters
SAM :Hey guys.
ED: Do we look alike?
SAM: You and I?
LARRY: No, us. [points to ED and himself]
SAM: Why?
ED: We keep getting each other's mail and things. I was wondering if we looked alike or something.
SAM: Some people think I look like a movie star.
LARRY: Yeah. [nods]
ED: You mean that one.... [beat] What was his name?
SAM: I don't know. I was making that up.
LARRY: I was humoring you.
SAM stares at them
ED: Larry's grandmother thinks he looks like a young John Wayne.
SAM exits
ED and LARRY shuffle papers then part ways exiting the hallway
FADE OUT
ACT II
INT. Hallway
DONNA approaching
CJ intercepts her
CJ: Hey, Donna. Where's Josh?
DONNA: With Leo.
CJ: So you've actually seen him?
DONNA: Leo?
CJ: No, Josh. How was he? I mean...
DONNA: Why?
CJ: Never mind.
CJ exits
CONT-
INT. JOSH's Bullpen
DONNA enters from hall
JOSH at photocopier
DONNA: Hey, CJ was just asking for you.
JOSH: I have nothing to... Nothing.
DONNA: Where were you this morning?
JOSH: What?
DONNA: You disappeared.
JOSH: When?
DONNA: This morning. Where did you go?
JOSH: I'm fine.
DONNA: I didn't ask how you [beat]... Josh, what's wrong?
JOSH: What?
DONNA: You aren't listening.
JOSH: To what?
DONNA: Okay, this is getting old. First you, then CJ and now you again. What's going on?
JOSH: Nothing. Did I get any calls?
DONNA: When?
JOSH: When? When I was 17. Donna! I was with Leo for the last half hour. Did the phone ring?
DONNA: Yes.
JOSH: And you answered it?
DONNA: Josh
JOSH: Calls, Donna. Did I get any calls?
DONNA: Dozens. What were you expecting?
JOSH: (holds out his hand impatiently) My messages.
DONNA hands him several pieces of paper. JOSH skims through the quickly, sighs.
JOSH (cont.): Nothing.
DONNA: Nothing? Then why did I take them? I'm pretty sure some of those are important. Like that third one. That's from the Vice President's office. That might be something.
JOSH: Uh huh.
JOSH exits shaking his head
DONNA: Josh!
JOSH: [says over his shoulder] I'm gonna be in the Roosevelt Room about the thing.
Follow JOSH down the hall
Passes the Communication Bullpen as TOBY exits his office
TOBY: SAM!
CUT TO-
INT. Communications Bullpen
TOBY standing in the middle of the room scowling
TOBY: SAM!
SAM enters
SAM: You bellowed?
TOBY: I've been looking for you for half an hour. How are we supposed work if no one knows where anyone is?
SAM: I'm standing here. In a second, I'll walk into my office. At that time, I will be in there. Feel better?
TOBY: Now is not the time to pick a new cause, Sam. This bill is not going anywhere and if we back it, we will be: right out the door. Do you understand?
SAM: No, but I agree so that should count for something.
TOBY: Sam, it's never going to make it.
SAM: You're talking about the research money.
TOBY: I'm talking about the research money.
SAM: For genetics, specifically stemcell research?
TOBY: Yeah. [sighs] In here. Now.
SAM enters his office
TOBY follows
FADE OUT
ACT III
FADE IN
EXT. WHITE HOUSE
CUT TO-
INT. SAM'S OFFICE
SAM: Toby, you don't have to say it.
TOBY: Apparently I do. Sam, this thing is dead in the water. The more ripples you make, the harder it is to keep water out of the boat.
SAM: Toby, I think you're wrong, and frankly the whole nautical metaphor is too hackneyed for you.
TOBY: I know stemcell research is important. The President knows it's important. The thousands of people banking on a miracle cure know it's important. Yet we are still in the minority.
SAM: And minorities don't get to voice opinions? We don't govern for the minority as well?
TOBY: Not this time. We decided we were not going to push this thing. The funding will be there, just not in a lump sum and...
SAM: And just not when it is needed. Toby, these labs need the capital today. By the end of the day, every science textbook in this country is going to be outdated. And if you wrote one tonight on everything that was discovered and proven and disproved today, by tomorrow evening, that book would be obsolete, too. This stuff is happening now. The research needs to happen now. The money needs to be there now.
TOBY: But it's not going to be.
SAM: Toby....
TOBY: No, Sam. We've been over this. We can't win this fight, and there is nothing to be gained by losing it so we're not even going to pick the fight.
SAM: Fine.
TOBY: Fine? You're telling me fine?
SAM: Yeah, both me and my echo.
TOBY: Then please tell me what you hoped to accomplish by having lunch across from the Capitol with one of the leading researchers, a man who was just testifying before the Senate subcommittee today?
SAM: I was hoping to get answers to questions that Congress is too afraid to ask.
TOBY: Don't start.
SAM: I had questions, Toby. I'm allowed to ask.
TOBY: And you're allowed to do it whenever you like, but making sure a reporter from the Post sees you doing it is not going to help your crusade to change our position anymore than Josh having a secret meeting with the man's wife.
SAM: [beat] What?
TOBY: You're both going to make this more painful than it needs to be so stop.
SAM: Asking questions won't hurt.
TOBY: Yes. Yes, it will. Sam, know your audience is the first rule of both politics and speech writing. You want us to show the White House's support for this bill?
SAM: Yes.
TOBY: You were in a meeting when we decided....
SAM: When you and Leo decided...
TOBY:... when it was decided that the White House was going to sit out this fight. You were present for that discussion, yes?
SAM: Yes.
TOBY: Did you understand what we meant when we said we will not support this bill at this time? Were the words I just used too complicated for you to process?
SAM: Toby, look...
TOBY: Then I am left to wonder: How many times were you dropped on your head as a child? It was decided the White House was not going to support this bill. That's it. End of story.
TOBY turns to exits SAM's office
SAM: [beat] Who changed the rule?
TOBY turns to face SAM again
TOBY: Sam, you were right there in the meeting with us on Tuesday. You sat there and you...
SAM: No. The rule about speech writing.
TOBY: I'm sorry?
SAM: The first rule of speech writing. You said it's know your audience. I always thought it was inform your audience. Know who you are speaking to, but know what you are talking about first. So, I'm just asking, when did that change? When did we decide it was better to look good than to...
TOBY: You said it yourself, things change quickly. Politics are a science, too. [beat] I've gotta meet with Appropriations on the school thing.
SAM: Yeah. [beat] You're with Josh.
TOBY: Yeah, he's next on the block.
SAM: I'm out of here by four.
TOBY: Why?
SAM: San Antonio for the ALAA Conference.
TOBY: When did that happen?
SAM: Last night.
TOBY: No one told me.
SAM: It's hard to stay in the loop all everywhere lately.
CUT TO-
INT. JOSH's Bullpen
DONNA at her desk
JOSH enters
DONNA: You have the education thing with Toby [looks at her watch] right now.
JOSH: I know. I need you to go pull the Tagman initiative and the last three... no, make that five years of National Report Cards. You know what I mean, the school report things.
DONNA: Now?
JOSH: I'll need it after, but you can pull it now.
DONNA: Josh.
JOSH: I did ask.
DONNA: Actually, you ordered.
JOSH: Donna.
DONNA: [rises from her desk] Josh, who is Dr. Faraday?
JOSH stares at her stone faced.
DONNA: Toby said you had a meeting today that you were not supposed to have with the wife of Gene Faraday, someone Sam wasn't supposed to have lunch with but did. So I'm wondering who...
JOSH: No one.
DONNA: Well, you got a call from a Dr. Sheila Faraday. Actually, her office called and said it was about your appointment and to call....
JOSH: Okay. I guess... [beat] I should call back.
JOSH exits to his office
DONNA: Do you need me to...
JOSH: No. Tell Toby I'll be late. [shuts door]
CONT. DONNA walks down hall to Communications Bullpen
CJ passes her in the hall
DONNA backtracks and follows CJ
DONNA: CJ, what do you know?
CJ: I know all the words to "Louie Louie," but no one gives me enough credit for that.
CAROL approaches
CJ: Carol, I still need the health care stats for the six o'clock briefing today.
DONNA and CJ continue down hall toward Communications Bullpen
DONNA: Dr. Sheila Faraday.
CJ: Who?
DONNA: Toby said her husband does genetic research. He was mad at Sam for having lunch with him today since he is going to testify before the Senate committee next week.
CJ: Uh huh. Sam was a bad boy. But I heard his chicken salad was warm so that should be enough punishment.
DONNA: Josh met with her.
CJ: The wife? While Sam was with the husband, gee Donna sounds like a Peyton Place setup to me. I guess Josh was...
DONNA: See, what I find more troubling is that Dr. Sheila Faraday is an oncologist.
CJ: Shameful what they let women do these days. [beat] Wait. What did you say?
CJ stops
DONNA: Her office called Josh.
CJ: Dr. Faraday?
DONNA: Uh huh.
CJ: From John's Hopkins, Dr. Faraday, the...
DONNA: Oncologist.
CJ: Okay. (beat) And Josh was called?
DONNA: About 20 minutes ago. I gave him the message to call back and he...
CJ: Yeah.
DONNA: CJ? What's going...
CJ: It's nothing. [turns to look down the hall at JOSH's closed door]
FADE OUT
ACT IV
FADE IN
INT. Hallway
CJ walking purposefully down the hall to JOSH's Office
SAM approaches
SAM: CJ, San Antonio here I come. Last chance to say good-bye...
CJ: Uh huh [continues walking]
SAM: That's not the happy and peppy send off I was looking for, CJ. CJ?
TOBY enters the hall and starts to walk by while reading a note in his hands
SAM: [shakes head at CJ's abruptness] Well, fine then; I'll do it myself. Hey, Sam, you're going to Texas now? Well, have a great trip. [beat] [nods and grins] Why, thank you; I will.
TOBY halts to look at SAM
TOBY: Are you talking to me?
SAM: No. Where are you going?
TOBY: [looks skeptical] I gotta go see the President about a...
SAM: A what?
TOBY: [looks at note again] I think he's giving me a dog.
SAM: A dog?
TOBY: That's what it says.
SAM: Did you piss him off again?
TOBY: It would appear so.
CUT TO-
INT. JOSH's Office
JOSH is standing behind his desk speaking on the phone.
CJ enters without knocking and closes the door.
JOSH: ... Yeah... Okay... Yeah, first thing tomorrow morning... Okay... Sure... (hangs up and sighs)
CJ: Josh?
JOSH: Irritation of scar tissue by some type of bronchitis thing.
CJ: So...
JOSH: (sighs again) One more week of the antibiotics, and this thing is history.
CJ: That's it?
JOSH: [sighs] Yeah.
CJ: (hugs him tightly) Oh, thank God! I haven't slept in a week thinking... Don't ever do this to me again. I'm seriously thinking of hating you.
JOSH: Thanks.
CJ: So it's not... anything else?
JOSH: No, but I still feel awful.
CJ: Stop whining. [beat] The doctor is are certain?
JOSH: Yeah. I'm... I'm okay.
CJ: You're shaking.
JOSH: Actually, that's you (steps back from her embrace).
CJ: Is it? (rubbing a tear out of her eye with the back
of her hand) Well... Okay. Yeah. So, I guess since you're
gonna
be... I should probably just...
JOSH: Yeah
CJ starts to leave
JOSH (cont.): Claudia Jean?
CJ:Yeah.
JOSH: Thank you.
CUT TO-
INT. LEO's OFFICE
LEO sitting behind his desk reading
MARGARET enters
MARGARET: Leo, is the President.... That is.... Should we all expect to get.... You know...
LEO: No, I don't know, Margaret. I don't even know where the GAO got these specs, and you want me to read your mind and predict what the President is going to do next. They really don't pay me enough to do that.
MARGARET: Well, I yawned during his story about pine trees in Alberta. I was wondering if I should expect to receive a cat or some other small, furry kind of...
LEO: Retribution?
MARGARET: Yeah
LEO: It was a gift. Why does Toby... The President was given a dog as a gift. He can't have a dog.
MARGARET: Why?
LEO: How the hell do I know? Look, we did some checking. Turns out the Ambassador would love to see the dog go to someone with children. So...
MARGARET: Toby has children?
LEO: Thank god, no. He's got a niece; she'll love the dog. End of story.
MARGARET: Okay, because I think it's important to note that the pine trees were not the reason I yawned.
LEO: Yeah, [goes back to his reading] I'm sure it was the whole story surrounding the trees.
MARGARET: Yeah. [exits]
FADE OUT
ACT V
FADE IN
Evening
INT Oval Office
BARTLET sitting behind his desk
LEO enters
LEO: Good evening, Mr. President.
BARTLET: Leo, many people think the pine trees in Alberta, Canada are mystical in their beauty.
LEO: Same can be said about the Russian ballet, but that doesn't mean it doesn't put me to sleep.
BARTLET: What's going on with our two wayward policy makers?
LEO: Toby was in here?
BARTLET: I could hear him gently chiding Sam all the way down the hall.
LEO: I spoke with Josh. It's not what Toby and I thought.
BARTLET: He and Sam didn't circumvent an order from you?
LEO: That's a judgment call.
BARTLET: And?
LEO: Sam had lunch and Josh... had an appointment.
BARTLET: Sam I can understand. It's a principal with him. Josh...
LEO: Has no principals?
BARTLET: On the contrary, but he's the pragmatist of the bunch. Something like this was out of character for him, wasn't it?
LEO: As I said, sir, he had an appointment.
BARTLET: [looks at LEO quizzically] What aren't you telling me?
LEO: Nothing that you don't need to know. Did Charlie get the dog taken care of?
BARTLET: I'm going to regret it.
LEO: Yeah?
BARTLET: It could have been my best friend, but I wouldn't wish that job on the poor creature.
LEO: I guess I'll just suffer at it alone.
BARTLET: At least you're already house-trained.
CUT TO-
INT. JOSH's office
JOSH enters
DONNA seated at JOSH's desk in the dark
JOSH: Okay, you have your own desk out there.
DONNA: [stands to confront him] Why didn't you tell me?
JOSH: You know where your desk is.
DONNA: Josh. [beat] An oncology specialist from John Hopkins? (beat) When we were in Seattle, I told you something was wrong. I knew.
JOSH: Forget about it.
DONNA: No, Josh. What's going on?
JOSH: I told you.
DONNA: You didn't tell me anything. You specifically hid it from me.
JOSH: Okay, I didn't want to get the worry police called out to....
DONNA: Joshua.
JOSH: [sighs] Fine. Look, I saw someone, a doctor. They did a thing and took some X-rays.
DONNA: And?
JOSH: And... They sort of found something...
DONNA: Something? [sits instantly]
JOSH: Donna, I didn't tell anyone because...
DONNA: You told CJ.
JOSH: Well, she sort of...
DONNA: I understand.
JOSH: No, you don't.
DONNA: You didn't want me to know.
JOSH: That's right.
DONNA: So, you're saying to mind my own business?
JOSH: Yes. No. I mean, yes but...
DONNA: Fine. [stands and starts to leave] I get it. I won't bother to....
JOSH: Donna [stops her and closes the door]. Donna, I told CJ because [beat] because I could handle that. I could deal with the look on her face if...
DONNA: If...
JOSH: With you, I just.... I couldn't....
DONNA: Couldn't?
JOSH: If... Hearing that and then seeing the look on your face...
DONNA: Oh... (choked up) So, was it...
JOSH: No. It wasn't (brushes tear from her cheek). Hey, don't...
DONNA: Some people worry about you.
JOSH: Yeah, but Leo has his reasons. (beat) We should work.
DONNA: Yeah (starts to leave then turns to hug him; she kisses him quickly on the cheek) I'm glad it wasn't... if [beat]. You should call your mother.
JOSH: She doesn't know about any of this.
DONNA: You should still call her.
JOSH: Yeah.
Fade to black
Up next:
Grounds For Divorce