"Turkish Goldfish"
Rating: PG-13 (Probably more like PG, but play it safe)
Summary: And earthquake turns the President's and CJ's lives upside down.
Pairing: Josh/Donna
Disclaimers: These characters aren't mine they belong to Aaron Sorkin etc.
Notes: This is my first fan-fiction, and it is in the form of a screenplay.
Any helpful insights would be greatly appreciated.
Also: This is version 2.0, thanks to Donna'sLittleBuddy for some really cool Editing and additions. Enjoy!
"Turkish Goldfish"
Written by
Bartlegg
Edited by
Donna'sLittleBuddy
"Turkish Goldfish"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. CJ'S BEDROOM – LATE NIGHT
CJ's snoring loudly. After a moment the room begins to rock slightly, then more violently. CJ is jumbled to the side of the bed, and subsequently falls off. She springs up; half awake, bumping her head hard on the nightstand. Still half asleep, obviously disillusioned.
CLAUDIA JEAN
I'm really fine. Somebody pushed me down,
I hit my head.
CJ begins to regain herself and a close-up as she opens her eyes and we
CUT TO: INT. JOSH'S OFFICE – SAME TIME
JOSH is sleeping, sitting on the floor, slumped against his desk; he's obviously been working hard as papers are in piles around him. He is snoring as well, when the room begins to shake. A glass paperweight on the edge of his desk is edged off the table, falling on his head. With a jolt he is awake, his eyes bolted open.
JOSH
Donna! The sky is falling!
DONNA suddenly peeks her head around the corner of the desk, right in JOSH's face.
DONNA
Hey.
JOSH
Jeez, Donna, what the hell happened?
DONNA
I guess we fell asleep...working on the...thing,
Sorry Josh, its just we never had...earthquakes in Wisconsin
JOSH
That wasn't an earthquake, we don' have seismic activity
On the beltway...we just don't
DONNA
Josh!
The room begins to shake again, less vigorously, but still noticeable
JOSH
OK I concede. That was an earthquake
DONNA
That was an aftershock
JOSH
How do you know?
DONNA
Because it came after the earthquake, and it shocked me.
JOSH
Yeah, but your from Wisconsin....
DONNA
Go on. I dare you.
JOSH
Donna...
DONNA
I minored in earth science, well for a semester.
JOSH
Oh.
Do you think there will be more?
DONNA only gives JOSH a look as we
SMASH CUT TO:
MAIN TITLES
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. RESIDENCE BEDROOM – NIGHT
BARTLET and ABBY are shaking as the room shakes, they are still asleep. BARTLET is jolted to the other side of the bed, just about on top of ABBY. They wake up, talking groggily.
ABBY
What are you doing, Jed?
BARTLET
Well, if they've finally given us a vibrating bed, I want
To make good use of it.
ABBY
Was that an explosion?
BARTLET
I'm pretty sure that was an earthquake
ABBY
Yea, like you know anything
BARTLET
If it was an explosion, We'd be dead by now.
ABBY
Well, I hope it was an earthquake. I don't want to know
What it was if it wasn't. How big do you think it was?
BARTLET
You'd have to ask Mr. Richter, I slept through the thing.
Lets stay awake, though, we can make good use of the
Aftershocks.
ABBY
Your really a pig, you know that Jed?
BARTLET
Yea, well I'm a presidential pig, so get used to it.
By the way, I'd expect that phone to be ringing of the
hook by now, why hasn't anyone
Called me? You know 'glad your alive, Mr. President'
Or 'We encourage you stay put sir, as there are giant
worm-like creatures from the center of the earth coming
to...'
The phone then rings, BARTLET reaches over and picks it up.
BARTLET
Yeah, I'm OK Charlie, you sound a little, I don't know,
Freaked. Are you a little freaked, Charlie? Oh. Well, I'm
Going back to sleep. Darn right your not sleeping- your
gonna check the Oval for cracks! All right, bye Charlie.
CUT TO:
INT. CJ's OFFICE – DAY
CJ is picking up all the tipped over items on her desk. Her pencil stand, picture frames Suddenly she picks up a picture from the floor, it is a picture of CJ and her father, and it is shattered.
CLAUDIA JEAN
Oh shmutz.
CJ's eyes wander across her desk, and she comes upon Gail's fishbowl. Gail is seen floating bottoms up at the top of the water just as CAROL appears in the doorway.
CAROL
CJ
CJ
Oh, what?
CAROL
the press briefing is in (checks watch)
Two minutes. And guess what.
CJ
What.
CAROL
I said guess.
CJ
Usually, when someone says that,
They really don't want the other person to
Guess anything.
CAROL
Well, I do
CJ
That's because your strange.
CAROL
Danny's back from Europe.
CJ
Oh.
CAROL
Here's the notes on the quake, you should
Probably head over there
CJ
To the lions
CAROL
Yeah
CJ
And the tigers
CAROL
Right.
CJ
And the bears.
CAROL
Oh my. CJ, did you hit your head on something?
CJ
Actually, yes. Lets go.
Continuous: INT. HALLWAY – DAY
CAROL
Did you feel it?
CJ
It killed Gail
CAROL
Oh...Really?
CJ
Yea
THEY pass Toby's office, he is sleeping on his couch. CJ knocks on the window really hard until he wakes up. He comes out of his office.
CJ
Why so snoozy?
TOBY
Why did you wake me up?
CJ
Because I'm cruel and unusual
TOBY
Molly and Huckleberry
CJ
Please don't get into the habit of calling him
Huckelberry, for his sake.
TOBY
I... I watched them last night, the quake woke them up,
And they cried, and they cried, and they pooped,
And they cried, then it was morning then Andi came
To get them then I came here then they ran out of coffee
Then I went to sleep then you woke me up and now I'm really
Mad that you woke me up and I think I'm---
CJ
To late, we're here
INT. PRESS BRIEFING ROOM – DAY
CJ has just entered the room and goes to the podium.
CJ
Good Morning everyone,
At 2:37 this morning an earthquake
Centered near Front Royal Virginia measuring
5.1 on the Richter scale shook me out of my bed.
I can not tell you why the Shenandoah Valley suddenly
decided to shake its thing, however I can tell you that
The tremors could be felt as far south as Ahoskie, North
Carolina; as far north as Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania; and as
far west as
Westerville, Ohio.
JOHN
What about East?
CJ
What?
JOHN
How far East was it felt?
CJ
Well, I'm assuming it woke up the little mermaid as well.
Anything more pertinent?
KATIE
Were there any casualties?
CJ
Yea, I guess that's pretty pertinent.
KATIE
Were there?
CJ
As of right now I know of one injury.
KATIE
Who?
CJ
I hit my head. After I was shaken out of my bed.
Thank goodness nobody is dead.
KATIE
CJ, you've rhymed everything you've said...
DANNY
CJ, can you tell me what day it is?
CJ
The first day of the rest of your loony life,
Danny.
KATIE
CJ, I don't think Danny's the one who's gone loony...
OTHER REPORTER
What was the president doing during the quake?
CJ
It was two in the morning. I think you know quite well
who the president was doing.
DANNY
What?
CJ
What, Oh My God, What the president was doing was sleeping
The president was
Sleeping during the earthquake.
SANDY
And what was the First Lady doing during the quake?
CJ
Well, probably the same thing the president was doing.
KARL
And that would be...
CJ
For goodness sake, sleeping like a baby.
I'll have more this afternoon...where is everyone?
DANNY
You just noticed that half of us were missing.
CJ
Where are they?
DANNY
Daylight savings
CJ
What about it?
DANNY
They forgot to save their daylight.
CJ
Well, someone let them know before this
Afternoon. Good ridden.
ALL
Thanks/ Bye CJ/ Thank you CJ
DANNY
CJ, I have to talk to you about something.
CJ
What.
DANNY
I think we'd better go into your office
CJ
OK.
They walk into CJ's office, CJ remembers GAIL is dead, and proceeds to stand in front Of the fishbowl.
CJ
Danny...
DANNY
Well, first of all I brought you this.
DANNY hands CJ a bag of goldfish, the ones you eat.
CJ
Oh, thank you, I was running low. Are these
European Goldfish?
DANNY
Huh?
CJ
I heard you were in...oh never mind.
DANNY
Actually, I was in Turkey
CJ
Is that in Europe?
DANNY
Its in both, I was in Asian Turkey
CJ
Ooooh, so you brought me Turkish
Goldfish?
DANNY
CJ, I was in Samsun.
CJ
Hmm, that rings a bell...Samsun, Samsun
DANNY
five months ago there was a massive earthquake there.
And I can tell you that its effects were far
worse than the Turkish Press Secretary
bumping her head.
CJ
Did she sprain her ankle?
DANNY
I doubt it's a she.
CJ
What were you doing in Turkey?
DANNY
I was doing a special for the paper, about forgotten
Disaster areas, calamities no one seems to care about,
That still suffer.
CJ
How righteous of you.
DANNY
CJ its no joke
CJ
I was being serious!
DANNY
Okay.
CJ
You know, Danny, we've had a few catastrophes
Of our own.
DANNY
A thousand dead. Just as many injured. And
I'm here to let you know the story doesn't bode well
For the President
CJ
Why?
DANNY
He never called to express his condolences.
CJ
His daughter had just been kidnapped, so I'd imagine we
felt like he couldn't take it at the time. Besides, we
probably had someone else do it.
DANNY
There's a big difference between the President of the
United States on "someone else"
CJ has moved forward, no longer shielding GAIL
DANNY
I'm just saying...Oh God no. CJ, Gail, is he OK?
CJ
Oh darn. No, Danny, Gail passed away last night.
DANNY
So you were wrong.
CJ
What?
DANNY
That earthquake did have casualties.
CUT TO:
INT. LEO'S OFFICE – DAY
LEO is sitting at his desk
LEO
Margaret!
MARGARET
Yes.
LEO
Margaret, did you see the Press briefing?
MARGARET
Yes! See when one tetonic plate slides
under another one its called a seismic under shift.
I minored in earth science.
LEO
Really. What else did you minor in.
MARGARET
Nordic Literature, Chinese Calligraphy, Knitting, and Ti Kwan Do.
LEO
Who ever let you into the White House...
MARGARET
Yep.
LEO
Okay. Anyway, I mean did you see the part about CJ Implying
that, well, just let her know I need to see her
LEO picks up the cross word.
LEO
Forty-Four down. Site of catastrophic October earthquake.
Starts with an "s".
MARGARET
Samsun. Samsun, Turkey. Tons of people died.
In that case the plates just crashed into eachother.
It was really bad.
LEO
How come I never heard about it? October, that's
Right after our Navy officers were killed by a
Theater bomb in Istanbul, while Zoe was still
Missing. President Sezer gave the President
a heartfelt phone call, expressing
His condolences for Zoe and the Naval officers.
MARGARET
Leo.
LEO seems surprised MARGARET is still there.
LEO
What
MARGARET
Did the president ever call President Sezer?
LEO
No, I don't think he did.
MARGARET
I'll go get CJ now.
LEO keeps at his crossword when the phone rings
LEO
Leo McGarry
LEO's face changes from passive to interested to excited to worried to the angsty LEO face he does so well and then....
CUT TO:
INT. OVAL OFFICE—DAY
JED Is attempting to write at his desk ABBY walks in
JED
Hey Abby
ABBY
Jed, I'm leaving.
JED
Where to?
ABBY
Orlando
JED
Why?
ABBY
You know why
JED
Oh yea, is it today then?
ABBY
Zoey is very upset we never took her to
Disney world and so we are going today
JED
Why today
ABBY
Why not
JED
I don't know, maybe a time when I could come?
ABBY
Yea, right.
JED
what about next month
ABBY
You'll be in Rome.
JED
I know. Abby?
ABBY
What Jed.
JED
I'm saying this because...
ABBY
What?
JED
When are my attacks not going to be isolated
Anymore?
ABBY
Oh God. Your numb aren't you
JED
No, I'm just asking
ABBY
Jed, I can't leave if your like this.
JED
Abby, at this point, its okay for someone else
To treat me. Its not a secret anymore.
ABBY
That's not the point.
JED
Whats the point?
ABBY
Jed, do you feel numb.
JED
Abby...
ABBY
Dammit! Jethro, if your feeling numb than
Last week wasn't an anomaly and it could mean
Your condition has worsened.
JED
I'm not numb, Abby. I'm just worried.
ABBY just stares at him for a second.
LEO enters the office
LEO
Sir, we have a situation...
END ACT 1
FADE IN:
INT. JOSH'S OFFICE – DAY
JOSH is about to walk into his office
JOSH
Donna!
DONNA
What?
JOSH
Go sit in my chair
DONNA
Why? This isn't going to get on LemonLyman.com again,
Is it? Cause if it is, you know what CJ said, and I quote, "so
Far up your-"
JOSH
No, Donna, but now that you mention it.
DONNA
Josh, I'm leaving. I actually have work to do.
JOSH
Wait! First jump up and down.
DONNA
Whatever.
DONNA begins to jump
JOSH
OK now sit in my chair
DONNA
I like jumping better
TOBY enters with a knock on the open door. He watches DONNA jump up and down in front of JOSH.
TOBY
Is this some new White House Assistant perk I didn't
know about? Ginger! Come here!
JOSH
Actually, I'm just making sure my office is safe, you know
This is an old building, and its almost killed me before and with
The quake and all... This time its Donna's turn.
GINGER
What!?
TOBY
Come with me.
GINGER
Where are we going?
TOBY
My office.
GINGER
Why?
TOBY
To jump up and down like Donna
GINGER
OK.
GINGER and TOBY exit
JOSH
Um, you can stop now.
DONNA
Guess where I'm going tonight
JOSH
On a date with a fascist elephant
To swim in the geysers of Yellowstone National Park
DONNA
No, a rendezvous with a communist turtle to
Wade in the waters of French musical theater
JOSH
What?
DONNA
Josh, I have to tickets to Les Miserables
Tonight in Baltimore
JOSH
Okay...
DONNA
In its original French. Well, actually not. That one
Was sold out.
JOSH
A lot of Really weird people beat out the
Semi-weird ones to the tickets?
DONNA
Josh...
JOSH
Okay...
DONNA
Bet you didn't know I was in it in our high school production
Of Les Miz
JOSH
Okay....what were you
DONNA
Part of the barricade
JOSH
Okay...
DONNA
Our director wanted all the sets to be actors, to symbolize
Suffering and sacrifice or something. meet you at six.
JOSH
Okay...wait....meet you at six? Where? Donna!
DONNA
Six o' clock. Don't be late.
Calling from Bullpen
And stop whining!
CUT TO:
INT. SITUATION ROOM–DAY
Pictures of the Caribbean cover the screens. Nancy is sipping coffee, scalding her tongue
NANCY
OOOO!
PRESIDENT BARTLET comes through doors with LEO to the sight of all the CHIEFS sipping coffee and then standing for him and looking at shots of the Caribbean
JED
What is this, are all the joint chiefs finding the best
Vacation destinations with those nifty wall map things?
NANCY
Thir...we have a thituation. Therth a math gathering in
Havana, their demanding democrathy. Cathro ith very
Thick , but thill alive, and hath ordered the army to put down the
Crowd,
JED looks at LEO. JED seems on the verge of hysterics, but notices that no one Else is laughing.
JED
Nancy, do me a favor.
NANCY
What.
JED
Sing "Gary, Indiana" with me
NANCY
Thir, letth concentrate. Then we can frolic in River Thity.
LEO
Nancy, we can't do anything. We've been waiting for Fidel
To die for decades, once he does the people will have their
Freedom, but until then we have no say.
NANCY
Leo, he's dying and his people want change
JED
They deserve change.
NANCY
Thir, we need to get in there
LEO
And have the Jed Bartlet remake of the Bay of Pigs
On our hands.
NANCY
this would be swift and total. We would wipe out Castro's
Remaining forces and spark the revolution and then get out of
There
JED
so we can come back in a few years to stuff Havana with
American casinos, which pushed them to Communism in the first
Place.
CHIEF ONE
Sir, I'm worried about another Taimimnian square. Those
Demonstrators could be murdered. There's thousands of them
LEO
They might fight back on their own
NANCY
They would be crushed and you know it
LEO
we can't afford something like this, not now
NANCY
Leo, they want what we stand for.
LEO
They wanted this in the first place!
NANCY
WHAT?
LEO
COMMUNISM!
There is a long, awkward silence.
JED
What would of Fitzwallace done?
LEO
Sir?
JED
What would Fitz do? Do I have to shout the acronym?
NANCY
Sir, when have Fitz and I ever agreed?
LEO
Not often.
JED
So he'd say no?
NANCY
Am I saying yes?
JED
In Saudi Arabia they failed. We failed. That's not gonna
Happen here. Those people have courage, and we are going
To give them might. We are going to give them the full might
Of the United States armies of the land, air, and sea, and we can't
Wait a minute longer. And if Admiral Sissymary wants to tis tis
That idea from on high, let him do so.
LEO
Sir...
JED
Leo, I've made up my mind. I want a plan to defeat the Cuban
Army in half an hour.
NANCY
Sir it'll take longer than half an hour
JED
To make a plan?
NANCY
To defeat the Cuban army.
CUT TO:
INT. DEBBIE'S OFFICE – DAY
Charlie is typing at his desk. He glances up at Debbie's empty desk, obviously enticed By the cadies in a jar. He thinks a minute, then gets up and swoops his hand into the bowl
Debbie suddenly walks in
DEBBIE
Hold it right there, cowboy
She grabs her spray bottle
CHARLIE
I was just getting a candy
DEBBIE
You were going to steal it.
CHARLIE
Borrow it. I Swear.
DEBBIE
Sing it to the spray bottle!
DEBBIE sprays at CHARLIE, who ducks as BARTLET walks into the room, and is subsequently sprayed
DEBBIE
Oh shizzy sticks, sir I'm so sorry
JED
Oh yes you are. Charlie take as many candies as you'd like.
CHARLIE
Thank you sir.
JED
You know, Debbie, I've been thinking about giving the gardeners
A day off. They've been working real hard, and they deserve
A break. But who in the world would water the rose garden?
DEBBIE
Well, sir, Charlie was stealing my candies.
JED
I have a better idea
JED swipes DEBBIE'S stuffed alpaca animal off her desk and proceeds into the Oval
DEBBIE
Not Albert Francis!
JED
Charlie, get Toby for me.
CHARLIE
Yes sir
JED
And you.
Think twice next time you want to play super soakers with
The leader of the free world.
JED exits to Oval.
CHARLIE
Shizzy sticks?
DEBBIE
Shut up.
CUT TO:
INT. JOSH'S OFFICE—DAY
Josh is on his laptop when TOBY walks by
JOSH
Toby!
TOBY
What?
JOSH
Um, I have a question...
TOBY
Okay...
JOSH
What constitutes a "Date"
TOBY
Well, It's a fruit that grows on Palm trees
JOSH
No, the other kind
TOBY
it can be a number between one and thirty-one
JOSH
Is a "Rendezvous" considered a date
TOBY
Give me the context
JOSH
A rendezvous to wade in the waters with a communist turtle...
Or something
TOBY
Your going on a date with a communist!?
JOSH
Well...
TOBY
And she's a turtle!
JOSH
Toby, Donna asked me to go see Les Miz tonight. In French.
Wait, no...In English. I don't remember.
TOBY
GINGER!
Ginger runs down the hall to Josh's office
TOBY
You owe me twenty bucks
CHARLIE appears next to TOBY
TOBY
And you owe me twenty-five
CHARLIE
No way
TOBY
Way.
CHARLIE
The president needs to see you
They begin to walk
CHARLIE
So its happening?
TOBY
I think so
CJ passes by
TOBY
CJ, you owe me thirty bucks
CJ
Oh my God no!
TOBY
Not that, the other thing
CJ
Oh my God! Really!
TOBY
Yep.
CHARLIE
What was the other thing?
TOBY
I'll tell you when you're older
Enter outer office
CHARLIE
Debbie, you owe me fifty dollars
DEBBIE
Really! Wonderful!
TOBY
Wait, you made double bets!?
CHARLIE
I couldn't decide
BARTLET peeks head in
JED
Toby, will you come in here for a second
TOBY
Yes sir
DEBBIE
Toby...he has Albert Francis captive on his desk try to...
You know...
TOBY
I'll do my best.
TOBY and Jed enter OVAL
END ACT 2
INT. OVAL—DAY
BARTLET and TOBY sit across from each other. We enter the middle of they're
Conversation.
TOBY
Its not gonna be easy.
JED
I know.
TOBY
In fact, its gonna be pretty tough
JED
I know
TOBY
But we can definitely do it.
JED
Toby, tell me something I don't know.
TOBY
So is it a sure thing?
JED
The generals should have cooked something up
In about...oh....twenty minutes or so.
TOBY
So when do you want it by?
JED
Well, if all goes well, I should make the announcement
This evening.
TOBY
Okay...Did you say this evening?
JED
(With genuine concern)
Is that a problem?
TOBY
No Mr. President.
JED
Toby, this isn't a normal speech
TOBY
I know
LEO enters from his office
LEO
Sir....
JED
Alright, just a second
TOBY
Am I keeping you, sir?
JED
Oh, Leo wants me to call the president of Turkey
To express my condolences for an earthquake.
That happened over a year ago.
TOBY
That's highly illogical, sir.
JED
Thanks spock. You can leave the bridge now.
TOBY grabs ALBERT FRANCIS, heads for the door
JED
FRANK!
Secret Service guard FRANK comes in
JED
Frank, make sure that when Mr. Zeiglar leaves my office
He leaves my hostage with me.
FRANK
Yes sir. Mr. Zeiglar, I recommend you leave him with me. TOBY hands him over
TOBY
Thank you, Captain Kirk.
JED
You mean Mr. President
TOBY
I thought we were...
JED
Not anymore, you riled my temper.
TOBY
Thank you Mr. President
JED
Thanks Toby.
DEBBIE!
No response
JED
DEBBIE!
TOBY
Uh, I think she wants you to use the intercom sir.
JED
Don't we have any other gals that can type?...
Alright, alright.
TOBY turns on the intercom
JED
Debbie, would you get President Sezer on the line
Please.
DEBBIE
(ON COM)
Yes sir.
TOBY leaves the office.
CUT TO:
INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE—DAY--CONTINUOUS
TOBY is walking through, we hear DEBBIE directly
DEBBIE
Sir, he's no longer the president
JED
(on intercom)
Oh...Really?
DEBBIE
I'm told he was assassinated last month, sir
JED
The things we fail to care about.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLS OF THE WEST WING—DAY—CONTINUOUS
As TOBY walks through, you can tell he is cut off from the world, Formulating the speech in his head. Suddenly he bumps into JOSH who is dressed up, ready to go the the musical
JOSH
Oh, sorry.
TOBY
Don't say sorry. You've made me a rich man today...
Good luck.
JOSH
Yea.
TOBY makes his way to his office, opens the door and...
CUT TO:
INT. TOBY'S OFFICE—CONTINIOUS
Two babyswings are swinging in the corners. ANDI is sitting at his desk
ANDI
Toby, I'm so sorry, I have to leave the twins for a while
TOBY
Um, why?
ANDI
Its my mother. She had a stroke.
TOBY
Is she okay?
ANDI
they wouldn't tell me.
TOBY
Oh. Are you okay?
ANDI
Yea I'm fine. I have to go, my cell number is on
TOBY
I know your number.
ANDI
Okay, uh, see you later
TOBY kisses her on the cheek
TOBY
Take care.
ANDI just looks at him affectionately as she leaves.
TOBY
Molly, what do you think I should do,
Write a speech to convince the American people
We aren't about to make the worst foreign
Policy decision in the Western hemisphere since the
Bay of Pigs; or grab a cheeseburger?
MOLLY
(Giggle....googoo)
TOBY
Yea, I though so.
CUT TO:
INT. CJ'S OFFICE—DAY
CAROL is giving CJ some last minute notes on the way to the afternoon briefing
CAROL
It says here that they changed the center of the
Quake.
CJ
Where was it before
CAROL
Front Royal, Virginia
CJ
Where is it now? Back Royal?
CAROL
Yep.
CJ
No way! There's a Front and Back Royal?
CAROL
Yep, and they have earthquakes.
CJ
Wow, that one guy's gonna have a bird.
Carol?
CAROL
What
CJ
You think the little mermaid really did feel the quake?
CAROL
CJ, you really should get checked
CJ
Alright. Here we are. Thank God it's a light day.
CAROL
I know, We get earthquakes all the time
CJ
That's not what I meant.
Just as CJ is about to go up, CAROL is handed a note. She reads it and her face Twitches, but is then controlled.
CJ
What is it?
CAROL
I'll tell you after.
CJ
Well that wouldn't do much good. What is it Carol.
CAROL
CJ, you father died.
An oblivious AIDE blunders in
AIDE
CJ, your late
CJ without a word walks up to the podium.
CUT TO:
INT. THEATER—JOSH AND DONNA'S LES MIZ DATE
JOSH and DONNA simply watch the performance. "On My Own" is just starting.
It carries over through the end of the act.
CUT TO:
INT. PRESS BRIEFING ROOM—EVENING
Pictures are flashing, Hands are raised.
CJ
Yes, Sally.
On my own, pretending he's beside me
CUT TO:
INT. OVAL OFFICE—EVENING
BARTLET is hanging up the phone. He checks his watch.
JED
DEBBIE!
Into Intercom now
All alone, I walk with him till morning
JED
Debbie?
DEBBIE
(On intercom)
Yes, Mr. President?
Without him, I feel his arms around me
And when I loose my way I close my eyes
And he has found me
JED
Tell CJ to delay the Press Conference
I need to talk to her first.
DEBBIE
Sir, Its already started. Daylight savings.
JED
Dammit! CHARLIE!
CUT TO:
INT. PRESS BRIEFING ROOM
In the rain, the pavement shines
Like silver
CJ
As of this moment, I am unaware of any
US military support for the demonstrators.
SALLY
Will we still remain on the sidelines
If the Castro regime resorts to violence?
All the lights, are misty in the river
CJ
I won't comment on that right now.
DANNY
CJ, if the US was to give support, wouldn't
The president want to let it out to encourage
The demonstrators?
CJ
The minute I hear word, I will let you know.
DANNY
So, to the best of your knowledge, there will
Be no action to support their calls for freedom
CJ
I believe I already answered that.
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever
CHARLIE, on the side, hands CAROL a note, who hands it to CJ
CJ
it says here that the United States pledges
Its full support to the citizens of Cuba demanding
Freedom.
KATIE
Does that mean...
CJ
The president will be addressing the nation shortly.
Goodbye everyone.
CUT TO:
INT. TOBY'S OFFICE—LATE EVENING-CONTINIOUS
TOBY types feriously as he watches the conference
PRESS
(on moniter)
Good evening, CJ
And I know that its only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to him
CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND DONNA THEATER
JOSH and DONNA continue to watch, the heads perhaps a little closer than When we last left them
DONNA
I hate this character.
JOSH
Oh, think she's cute.
DONNA
Its just she's so aloof and selfish and always butting in...
A lot like—
JOSH
Who?
DONNA
No one.
JOSH
Amy?
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say, there's a way for us
CUT TO:
INT. SITUATION ROOM
BARTLET storms in. The chiefs stand.
JED
Do we have a plan?
I love him, but when the night is over
NANCY
Yes. Plan Locke I calls for bombing raids on Castro's
Palace and military defense stations. We will then land,
And with the aide of the rebels, establish a preliminary
Democracy on the island.
JED
What would be the civilian casualties?
He is gone, a river's just a river
NANCY
It was difficult to estimate, but it could be in the hundreds
JED
And they still don't have any idea we're coming
CHIEF 2
Only that we've pledged our support, and that
You'll be making an address shortly.
JED
Good. I suppose.
LEO
How do you know the rebels will help us?
CHIEF 3
We don't. But it would be in their best interest
To do so.
JED
What about retaliation?
NANCY
You mean terrorist actions?
CHIEF 5
It is a distinct possibility. There are a few Cuban cells
In south-central Florida.
Without him the world around me
Changes, the trees are bare and
Everywhere the streets are full of strangers
JED
There are Cuban Terrorist cells?
NANCY
Yes sir, currently inactive, but present.
LEO
Sir, if this is to work, it needs to happen soon.
JED
South-central Florida is like Orlando, right?
LEO
Yes sir.
JED
Damn.
LEO
Sir...what is it?
JED
Its nothing...Go.
The chiefs get into action.
JED
Leo, I need to talk to Abby.
LEO
Sir, is there a problem?
JED
She took Zoey to Disney world.
LEO
They'll be fine. Its not gonna happen again.
INT. CJ'S OFFICE—LATE EVENING
CJ is at her desk, half stunned, half hating herself with tears in her eyes. CAROL is at her door, seemingly unsure weather she should come in or not.
I love him, but everyday I'm learning
For all my life I've only been pretending
CAROL
CJ?
CJ
What.
CAROL
I'm sorry.
CJ
Its just, I should have been there. I knew it was close,
I should have been there.
Carol, the last time I called him, he had forgotten so much.
It was so hard to talk to him, but, he still called me Claudia.
He remembered me, so far gone, he still remembered me. And he died alone.CAROL just looks on with sympathy
Without me, this world would go on turning
A world that's full of happiness that I have
Never known
CAROL
There's gonna be a staff meeting in the Oval in
Ten minutes.
CJ
Thank you.
CAROL exits, CJ breaks down.
I love him...I love him...
I love him, but only on my own.
END ACT 3
INT. THEATER
Battle at the barricade taking place. JOSH and DONNA watch close together
DONNA
Josh...
JOSH
Shhhhh
DONNA
Josh...
JOSH
Shhhh
DONNA
Josh!
JOSH
What?
DONNA
I think there's something vibrating in your pants...
A few curious audience members look in their direction
JOSH
Oh, that's my cell. Let me get it.
JOSH makes about thirty people stand up as he leaves
JOSH
Hello?
CUT TO:
INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE—NIGHT
TOBY, CHARLIE, DEBBIE, LEO, CJ are all there. TOBY is on a cell phone with JOSH The others talk quietly with CJ The twins are in swings by DEBBIE's desk
TOBY
Josh, the presidents called a staff meeting. He's going to
make an address in a few minutes. I'll let
You listen on the phone.
JOSH
(VO)
Why?
TOBY
We're invading Cuba.
JOSH
No, really.
TOBY
Really.
JOSH
Really Really?
TOBY
Its happening
JOSH
We should really make it a state, you know,
Keep 'em disciplined so they don't experiment with
Illegal drug-like political systems.
TOBY
Yea.. Josh, CJ's father passed away.
JOSH
Oh...How's she doing?
TOBY
Well, not good...she's really mad at herself.
JOSH
I should talk to her.
TOBY
You want to now?
JOSH
Not on the phone
TOBY
Yea.
DEBBIE
You can go in now. And I don't want
Anyone coming out unless you've rescued
Albert Francis. This is Special Ops we're talking
About.
CONTINUOUS:
INT. OVAL OFFICE—NIGHT
Crews are setting up for BARTLET's speech. JED speaks
JED
Some of you may be upset I did not consort with
All. Some may be rightly upset I did not inform them
On time. And still others may be surprised to learn
the thousands of freedom demonstrators turned
Protesters turned rioters turned rebels are now allies of
The United States army.
TOBY
Sir, you stole that from my speech
JED
I think its my speech now, Toby. But yes, I'll give credit
Where its due.
LEO
Sir, we have two minutes.
JED
I just want to say that a successful outcome isn't guaranteed,
And well, you guys a great. Especially you. Come here
Claudia Jean Cregg.
CJ comes forward and JED leans in and gives her a kiss on the cheek whispering in her ear
JED
(Whisper)
I'm so sorry. You'll always be my daughter
Too, CJ, and don't forget that.
CJ
Thank you sir.
LEO
Mr. President...
TOBY
Josh, he's about to speak.
CUT TO:
INT. THEATER
JOSH approaches DONNA from behind. The finale is just finishing up, leading into "do you hear the people sing" (Carries over till end of show)
Lord in heaven look down on him in mercy
Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your
Glory
JOSH
Donna, the president is about to speak, if
You want to listen.
CUT TO: INT. OVAL OFFICE—NIGHT JED makes his way to his seat. As he sits, he makes an extended calming eye contact with CJ.
Take my hand and lead me to salvation
Take my love, for love is everlasting
ASST
Your on in five, four, three, (two, one)
MR. PRESIDENT
My fellow Americans. This morning many of the good citizens
Of our once and future close friend to the south, Cuba, began a
Demonstration for freedom. They demanded what we already
Enjoy, and what they haven't felt for forty-five years.
And remember the truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of God
Throughout the day those demonstrations turned to protests
Which turned to riots, which then turned to outright rebellion.
Thousands and thousands of repressed peoples rebelling
Against their dying dictator. I am here to tell you that they
Will finally be rewarded with liberty.
Do you hear the people sing?
Lost in the valley of the night
I have ordered the United States army, navy, and air force
To assist with the revolution. This is to ensure the relatively
Smooth transition to the democracy which they demand and
Deserve.
It is the music of a people who are climbing
To the light
For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that
Never dies. Even the darkest night will end and
The sun will rise
Unfortunately, this comes too late for others. Some of whom
Lived under Castro's harsh rule for most of their lives, and still
Others looked in from the outside and desperately fought
for change.
However I am confident that they rejoice from where they now
Reside.
They will live again in freedom in the garden
Of the lord. They will walk behind the plowshare
They will put away the sword
And so I say to you that liberty and happiness does prevail, in the
Western hemisphere and beyond her adjacent seas.
The chain will be broken and all men will
Have their reward!
And It is and
Ever shall be the mission of this great nation to guarantee
Liberty's success wherever it shall seek to grow, for the
smallest flower is just as beautiful as the most majestic
Oak, and thus
Should it be in respect to nations. God bless Liberty, God
bless our soldiers, And God bless America
Camera pans to the faces of all the proud staff members in the room. This is why they Work for this guy...
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be
Strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the
Barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing, say do you hear
the
Distant drums? It is the future that they bring
When tomarrow comes
CUT TO INT. THEATER
JOSH and DONNA are sharing the phone, looking right at eachother. This is a great Moment for the president, and for them as well.
DONNA
Wow, he nailed that one.
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong
And stand with me? Somewhere beyond the Barricade is there a world you long to see?
JOSH
I'd say so.
DONNA
Josh...
JOSH
What...
DONNA
The speech is over now.
JOSH
I know...
JOSH and DONNA look, and look, and look and then...The Kiss.
CUT TO:
INT. OVAL—NIGHT
TOBY is on the phone
TOBY
Hey Josh...
TOBY
Josh...?
He listens closely...
TOBY
Oh, my God.
CJ, you owe me another twenty bucks
Charlie, I need thirty from you...Debb...
JED
Wait a second Tobias. If this has anything
To do with the bets that were collected earlier and/or
My deputy chief of staff osculating with my deputy deputy
Chief of staff, then I believe it is you who owes me one
Hundred buckaroos.
JED watches LEO try to slip out of the room
And I want my hundred-fifty from you, now.
Shouting to DEBBIE
Debbie! Get Nancy on the phone. Tell her its finally time for her
To pay up. Boy, I can't wait until Abby gets home,
Not that it really matters...we both end up
LEO clears his throat
JED looks around and realizes that pretty much the entire staff of the White House, Including the TV filming crew, are all listening and a little clueless.
Oh...um, well, What's next?
Do you hear the people sing? Say do you
Hear the distant drums. It is the future that
They bring when tomorrow comes.
CUT TO:
INT. THEATER—NIGHT
JOSH and DONNA are still at it. Whoever was holding the phone drops it, And it breaks.
AHHHH AHHHHH AHHHHHHH
Tomorrow comes!
FADE TO BLACK
END OF SHOW