The Next Day. The announcement of Leo's resignation has been made.

Josh's Office

His cell rings.

Josh: "Toby."

Toby: "Josh. What the hell is going on?"

Josh: "He's resigning, Toby."

Toby: "Is it because of…the thing we talked about…the John Hoynes thing?"

Josh: "No. I was wrong about that. I think it was just…it was just that night, I think. She's not part of the picture."

Toby: "So what then?"

Josh: "He just can't do it."

Toby: "Leo McGarry is telling you he can't do something he said he'd do."

Josh: "Yeah."

Toby: "Is he sick? Did he have another?"

Josh: "No."

Toby: "Okay. So he's just…"

Josh: "Yeah."

Toby: "Do you guys have a plan? What's the plan?"

Josh: "We've got a short list. The President had a list. We'd thought about this. You know, with Leo's heart attack and everything. The President knew it was a possibility that we'd need a nominee."

Toby: "Yeah."

Josh: "You know what's weird, though? When I brought Leo's name forward, you know, to the President? I expected him to object more. Like, with Leo's health history, how closely he's associated with Bartlet and the administration. I thought he'd want to go in a different direction, and I'd need to do the full court press to get Leo on the ticket. But, he just said yes."

Toby: "He trusts you."

Josh: "Yeah. And now here we are. I feel like I led him wrong."

Toby: "Santos had no understanding of how to run a presidential campaign. He took good advice on a running mate. Leo helped you guys get there."

Josh: "Yeah. Anyway. I gotta go."

Annabeth's Office

Her cell phone rings.

Annabeth: "Jules."

Julia: "Annabeth! I'm just leaving work and I'm listening to the news on the radio. What's happening?"

Annabeth closes the door to her office.

Annabeth: "He's resigning."

Julia: "Did you know?"

Annabeth: "Yes."

Julia: "When?"

Annabeth: "Before it was announced."

Julia: "Because you were told. As part of your job."

Annabeth is silent.

Julia: "You've seen him."

Annabeth: "Yes."

Julia: "And?"

Annabeth: "And it's complicated."

Julia: "Are you still…"

Annabeth: "I don't know, Jules."

Julia: "Why did he run?"

Annabeth: "Baggage from the marriage. He was not a great husband. Her death kicked up a lot of things he couldn't handle."

Julia: "Uh-huh. We've all got a lot of baggage."

Annabeth: "Yeah."

Julia: "Doesn't mean we treat people like they're disposable."

Annabeth: "Yeah. I know."

Julia: "You wouldn't run."

Annabeth: "Don't be so sure, Jules."

Julia: "You mean Mom?"

Annabeth: "Well, it's not like I've been too present."

Julia: "That's different."

Annabeth: "Is it?"

Julia: "Yes."

Annabeth: "Okay."

Julia: "Is that why he's resigning? Baggage from a marriage?"

Annabeth: "No."

Julia: "It's really because of his health?"

Annabeth: "It's because of his own concerns about his health and his ability to do the job."

Julia: "Way to give me the same answers as I just heard on the news. I'm supposed to have an inside track. The neighbors are gonna be bummed I can't tell them about, like, the secret, real reasons. Maybe involving the Illuminati…" She laughs.

Annabeth closes her eyes.

Julia: "By the way, when the news cut to you, and you did your thing, you were amazing. So poised. And your answers were so good. I mean, I know you practice and it's your job, but still…"

Annabeth: (her eyes still closed) "Thanks, Jules. I gotta go. I love you. Tell Bill the same."

Bartlet's home in New Hampshire.

Jed is in the den, watching the news. Abbey walks in, stands behind the couch.

Abbey: "It's happened."

Jed: "Yeah"

Abbey: "Who's the new guy gonna be?"

Jed: "Matt has a list."

Abbey: "Uh-huh."

Jed: "It's not perfect, Abbey, but it's how the sausage gets made."

Abbey: "I talked to Annabeth."

Jed: (takes off his glasses and turns to her) "When? Why?"

Abbey: "About a week ago. In DC. When I was visiting Zoey."

Jed: "And?"

Abbey: "She said something. She said that when she saw Leo at the Inauguration, something was different. I told her Leo was the same."

Jed: "You don't think?"

Abbey: "No, of course not, the announcement hadn't been made."

Jed: "But?"

Abbey: "You saw it when they were here. A lot of smart, funny, capable and beautiful women have failed to get Leo's attention."

Jed: "And so what's different about this smart, funny, capable, beautiful woman?"

Abbey: "I think there's some darkness there. She's got depth, certainly, but it's more than that. I think she and Leo are more alike than anyone would think."

Jed: "She's a ray of sunshine, Abbey."

Abbey: "The sun, Jed, is powered by a core so dense it undergoes constant nuclear fusion."