OFFICE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER.

Open on a nameplate on a polished desk. It says Senator C. Rollins. Pull back, revealing Senator Rollins, making some notes. His phone buzzes. He hits a button.

SECRETARY: Toby Ziegler here to see you.

ROLLINS: Send him in.

He puts his notes away, leans back in his chair as Toby enters.

TOBY: Senator...

ROLLINS: Have a seat, Toby.

Toby takes a seat. They stare each other out for a few seconds.

ROLLINS (CONT'D): I'm not the one who called this meeting, Toby. You're going to have to speak at some point.

TOBY: There's been a development on Resolution 872.

Toby waits, trying to gauge the senator's reaction, but Rollin's just stares at him impassively.

TOBY (CONT'D): The president wants an amendment to Article 43, calling for a 30% reduction instead of a 25% reduction.

ROLLINS: Yeah, I know.

TOBY: You know?

ROLLINS: Sure I do.

TOBY: How?

ROLLINS: Does it matter?

TOBY: Well, considering it's in-house so far, it matters a little.

ROLLINS: Toby, when Bartlet's Senior Staff get pulled into an emergency meeting on the eve of a major floor vote, it's not exactly a Rubick's Cube, you know what I'm saying?

TOBY: Are you going to oppose it?

ROLLINS: What do you think?

TOBY: I think you're going to oppose it.

ROLLINS: Then why do you ask?

TOBY: All I need is 18 votes.

ROLLINS: That you're going to find where? Hidden under a rock behind the statue of Lincoln?

TOBY: Lincoln was a Republican. But if he's hiding votes that can help me, I'll go take a look.

ROLLINS: You won't get the votes.

TOBY: You don't know that.

ROLLINS: Oh, but I do.

TOBY: We don't need a floor fight. You're handing an absurd amount of power to one state. One block of influence. If Detroit started mounting UZI's on the sides of Mustangs, they'd link with the NRA and get RoboCop elected!

ROLLINS: Now you listen to me. If Bartlet-

TOBY: President Bartlet.

ROLLINS: If Bartlet tries to shove this down our throats, I'm gonna do a lot worse than I've already done! Stony silence.

TOBY: What do you mean by that?

ROLLINS: You let him know.

Toby meets the senator's furious gaze, his mind racing.

CUT TO: