Author's note: This chapter is based on two episodes of The West Wing: "What kind of a day has it been?" (The greater season finale ever) and "Celestial Navigation" (which I consider the funniest episode in the story of The West Wing).
Warning: this chapter will be VERY long but I tried to make it as funny and interesting as I could. Please… be patient and enjoy it!
Chapter 12:
What kind of a day it's beenAugust 22 of the year 2015. (a week after Warren Keaton resigned)
18:00 Hs.
Dickie was talking to a large group of high school students in a school's theatre. He was giving an informal lecture about working in the White House. At that moment, he had already given a small speech after being introduced and it was time of the questions round. Mr. Vergara, the teacher, was in charged of making the first questions; he and Dickie had taken a sit in the two chairs that were on the stage.
Mr. Vergara- Dickie, Could you please start by telling us how is a typical day of work in the White House like?
Dickie clucked a little and then he explained…
Dickie- well… the first thing you should know about a typical day of work in the White House is that there is NO such thing… I mean… we do plan everyday carefully and we do follow an agenda … but chances are that the planed day will turn into a chaotic hell by 9:00 am…
The audience laughed and then Mr. Vergara asked genuinely interested…
Mr. Vergara- Would you mind explaining us a little more about that "chaotic hell"?
Dickie thought for a second about how to explain it… then he simple said.
Dickie- ok… I'll use the last 10 hours as an example. I guess most of you know that in two hours The President will make an appearance in a political TV show…
Every member of the audience nodded, and Dickie could hear a lot of people saying: "Yes", "Of course" and "yes, I knew". He continued talking…
Dickie- She will be interviewed in the George Francis's Show, and today everything was supposed to be about that… it was all supposed to be about the President announcing her educational reform package in the morning and going to that TV program at night…
By that point, everybody guessed correctly that the day wasn't about that at all…
Mr. Vergara- but it wasn't about it at all…
Dickie- no, it wasn't. Depending on how you look at it, today was about either a Cabinet Secretary losing her temper and making the entire Catholic Church upset, the President answering a question she shouldn't have, a dentist appointment, or me being incredibly stupid while dealing with the press.
Flashback. Earlier that same day…. At 8:00 AM.
Dickie entered in Kelly's office where she was talking with her assistant, Laurie. Dickie apologized for interrupting and asked…
Dickie- I'm sorry Kelly… what time is your next press briefing scheduled for?
Kelly- eleven…
Dickie- oh… and would you mind changing it to one? That way we can play up the education bill and control the news cycle.
Kelly nodded, thinking that was a good idea, and then touched her right cheek in pain.
Laurie- you can't do the press briefing at one… you have the thing at 12:30…
Kelly- Yes, and this is a perfect excuse to postpone the thing.
Dickie was confused and Kelly continued touching her cheek in pain.
Dickie- what's the thing?
Kelly- I have a dentist appointment, because I've experiencing some pain…
Dickie- when did it started?
Kelly- a month ago… but it doesn't matter… it will go away by it self…
Dickie- when?
Kelly- when I die, Dickie… anyway… I'll just cancel the appointment…
Dickie- no, don't cancel it… You can reschedule the briefing for 2 o'clock, do it after visiting the dentist…
Kelly- ok… I'll do that…
Dickie nodded, satisfied, and then, smiling in a seductive way, he said…
Dickie- you have to take good care of your teeth, Kelly, you are too sweet and that's bad for them…
Kelly, still in a lot of pain, gave Dickie a cold look and said…
Kelly- now it's not the time!
Same Day. 8:15 AM. Oval Office.
President Mackenzie Allen was talking to Jim Garner. Mackenzie couldn't believe what Jim ha just told her.
Mac- She called him narrow-minded and ignorant on National TV?
Jim- oh… she didn't use those words…
Mac- then what words did she use?
Jim, a bit ashamed, was forced to tell the truth.
Jim- Well… yes, she used exactly those words….
Vince entered in the Oval Office…
Vince- excuse me ma'am… Kelly is coming to talk to you right now, I already told her to find any stories she cans in the press about the Secretary of Health and Human Services calling Archbishop Danes an ignorant and narrow-minded…
Archbishop Milton Danes was a very important person in the religious community and the entire Catholic Church was surely very angry because a Cabinet Secretary insulted him. Mac shook her head in disbelief… At that moment, Rod (who Mac had named "Senior advisor" after he quit his job in New York), entered in the Oval Office looking worried…
Rod- so… Archbishop Danes was really called ignorant and narrow minded?
Archbishop Danes was really an ignorant and narrow-minded, the guy was really an idiot, but nobody could believe that someone actually dared saying that in his face. Mac was actually a bit impressed because of that and she couldn't help to giggle a little while remembering that. Vince added...
Vince- Actually, She was pretty careful to include all Catholics…
A few seconds letter, Kelly entered.
Kelly- Ma'am President, I found an article that describes the argument between Secretary Geller and Archbishop Danes…
Mac- and what does it say?
Kelly started reading exactly what the article said…
Kelly- "Last night, Secretary of Heath and Human Services, Margaret Geller and Archbishop Danes, were being interviewed together in a political TV Show. Almost at the end of the interview, Secretary Geller said: "The best way to fight AIDS is with a good prevention program… prevention and educating people on the matter is very important, specially educating young people, we must improve the way we teach sexual education in the schools… so far they are only teaching abstinence and it's not working…" This comment made the archbishop very angry, he replied: "are you suggesting that we start giving free condoms in schools and teaching kids how to use them? That would encourage the good kids to have sex and it would encourage the others to have MORE sex … abstinence until marriage is the only thing that can really prevent AIDS and teaching the kids that really works…". By this point, Secretary Margaret Geller, was incredibly annoyed, and she exclaimed angrily that she couldn't argue with a person who'd say something like that because anyone who even thought that was an ignorant and VERY narrow-minded. "Are you calling me ignorant and narrow-minded?" asked Archbishop Danes, stunned. Secretary Geller looked at him with a malicious grin and said: "If the shoe fits…."
At that point, Kelly finished reading the article and Mac at the others in disbelief….
Mac- "If the shoe fits?" Are you kidding me? Couldn't she come up with something better than that?
Kelly and Vince giggled, but Jim didn't think it was funny. He said to Mac, very seriously…
Jim- Ma'am President, of her many transgressions, let's not worry about the fact that she resorted to a cliché. Let's worry about what you'll say about it if they ask your opinion about this…
Kelly interrupted shyly…
Kelly- I'm sorry… Ma'am, the article actually gets a little worst…
Kelly handed Mac the article. Mac started reading where Kelly had left…
Mac- "When reporters confronted Secretary Geller, after the TV Show was over, she defended her self saying..." (Mac stopped reading and then exclaimed very irritated) Oh… come on!
Rod took the article from Mac's hands and explained…
Rod- look, honey… we can't worry about it now… you have to get ready to announce the educational reform package and sign the bill…
Present Time. Back to Dickie's conference.
The audience was listening to the story very carefully. Most of them had seen the story the press but they were very interested in Dickie's point of view. He continued talking…
Dickie- So, by noon, The President went to the Mural Room for the announcement and she spoke briefly.
Dickie paused and then corrected himself…
Dickie- actually, President Allen has never spoken briefly in her life. But, she spoke, that's the important thing. She spoke, signed the bill and gave away a few pens. Then she took a few questions from the press. Now, before I go on, I'll point out that according to every poll in the universe, the issue that concerns Americans more than any other is education. And the President had just signed off on $700,000,000 in new money for education and announced a plan of aggressive education initiative. What do you think the first question from the press was?
Flashback. 12:00 O'clock. At the Mural Room.
After the announcement, The President was taking questions from the Press. A male reporter called Charlie asked the first one…
Charlie- Ma'am president… Do you agree with Secretary Margaret Geller? Do you also think Archbishop Danes is ignorant and narrow-minded? And, if you don't, Will you ask her to resign?
Mac looked at Rod, Jim and Vince, who were next to her, and then she simply said…
Mac- I think Margaret Geller is doing a great job as Secretary of Health and Human Service, she is very appreciated in this administration.
Charlie just looked confused. Another reporter was about to ask something bur Charlie interrupted…
Charlie- I'm sorry ma'am President… but that didn't exactly answered my question…
Mac- yeah… I know… I was hoping you wouldn't notice that.
Charlie- but I did, ma'am.
Mac nodded… trying to think what to say next. She didn't want to answer the question.
Mac- then, I'll have to tell you that I'm aware that Archbishop Danes doesn't agree with this administration in a lot of things. But there are many Catholics who actually support Secretary Geller's proposal to prevent AIDS and I bet she is hoping to be able to work with them.
Reporters started asking questions frenetically, but Charlie took over once again.
Charlie- I'm sure that was an answer to a question, Ma'am, President. But it wasn't the answer to mine.
Back to the present. At Dickie's lecture.
Dickie shook his head and said…
Dickie- If only they had stopped it right there. If only they had said something like " Sorry, The President can't take any more questions right now" or "We'll cover this in a briefing" or even "The building is on fire!" They probably assumed it was the Press Secretary's job to do that… But, when it was too late, they realized that there was no Press Secretary in the room.
Flashback. Bu noon. Still in the Mural room.
Charlie eventually gave up and let another reporter do the next question.
Reporter- Ma'am President… Even when Archbishop Danes thinks differently than this administration… Don't you think the Administration should be more tolerant with him? Shouldn't the White House show more tolerance toward those who think differently?
Mac was now very irritated. Without even thinking it, she said…
Mac- I believe that, as long as Archbishop Danes remains intolerant toward gays, lesbians, single mothers, divorced women and the first amendment of our constitution THIS White House will remain very intolerant towards him.
Rod and Jim looked at each other in panic, realizing what Mac had just said. Rod said to Vince…
Rod- Oh my god, get her out of here.
Vince stepped forward and addressed the room.
Vince- I'm sorry… all this is going to be covered in today's two o'clock briefing. The President's late for lunch with the U.N. ambassador. I'm sorry.
They get Mac out of the room and they all headed back towards the Oval Office. Mac said sarcastically…
Mac- well… That went pretty well.
Mac got inside the Oval Office. Before following her, Jim stopped Vince and told him…
Jim- hey Vince…
Vince- Yes?
Jim- The U.N. ambassador is in Portugal.
PRESENT TIME. Back in Dickie's lecture.
Dickie hit his own head in frustration…
Dickie- Seven words. That's all they needed. Seven words: "The President won't take any more questions". Those seven words could have saved the day. If Vince had stepped in 30 seconds sooner the day would have gone a lot differently. The President had said that the White House would remain intolerant toward Archbishop Danes and the press wanted to know if that meant that she was declaring war to the Catholic Church. That was what the day was about now. And the day was about to get even worse...because I was about to step to the plate.
Mr.Vergara- what do you mean? What did you do wrong, Dickie?
Dickie sighed deeply and started defending himself.
Dickie- I did nothing wrong... I mean, I made a little mistake… but it wasn't my fault. Look… everything should have ended at 2 o'clock. Kelly Ludlow was supposed to do the press briefing. She was supposed to tell the reporters that there was NO war against the Catholic Church and redirect their attention to the 700 million bucks that we had just spent on teachers. But something went wrong…
Dickie did a pause, and then, knowing that the audience probably wanted to know what went wrong, he said…
Dickie- Who here has had emergency root canal?
Flashback. That same afternoon. At 1:50 PM.
Dickie was in his office when Kelly knocked at the door. She had a very swollen cheek and was speaking out of the side of her mouth. She said weakly.
Kelly- Hi Dickie.
Dickie looked at her worried.
Dickie- What the hell happened to you?
Kelly- I had woot canaw.
Dickie- I mean… What happened to your cheeks? And why are you talking like that?
Kelly was having a terrible time pronouncing the words correctly especially because she had cotton in her mouth… she said desperately…
Kelly- I had woot canaw!
Dickie- Yeah, I heard you the first time. I was just amusing myself.
Kelly was now very annoyed. Decided to tell him what he needed to tell him.
Kelly- I have to cancew the bwiefing.
Dickie looked at her in panic.
Dickie- You can't cancel the briefing!
Kelly.- Wook at me!. I wook an soud didiculus…
Dickie rolled his eyes…
Dickie- you don't look and sound ridiculous… You'll be great.
Kelly- I can't do the bwiefing! I can't even say "bwiefing"
Dickie- You can't cancel the briefing, Kelly! We need you to make the press forget about the war against the Catholic Church… you have to make them focus in the educational reforms again…
Kelly was getting more and more desperate… she knew the briefing was particularly important today, but she really couldn't do it.
Kelly- Richard!
Dickie- I'm sorry but…. (Realizing something) did... did you just say my real name?
Kelly sighed and rolled her eyes… then she say…
Kelly- fodget it! I'll cancew the bwiefing.
Dickie- No… don't cancel it… I'll do it…
Kelly looked at him with a horrified face.
Kelly- No way! You get howstiwe!.
Dickie- I don't get hostile! Well… I don't get randomly hostile. I get hostile when hostility is required.
To Dickie, everything was settled. He got up, pulled on his suit jacket and heads out his office.
Dickie- watch out reporters! This is Richard "Dickie" Macdonald coming at you with your two o'clock briefing!
Before he could walk towards the pressroom, Kelly stopped him.
Kelly.- Dickie, pwease be vewy cawefuw. Twy vewy, vewy hawd not to destwoy us.
Dickie- You shouldn't say that Kelly. By the way, you've got a great body... Pressroom Here I go! Woo!
Dickie, who was clearly enjoying the situation, entered in the pressroom. Before he could get to the podium Charlie stopped him.
Charlie- Dickie. You're not gonna do this. Aren't you?
Dickie- You mean the briefing? Yes, I'll do it…
Charlie shook his head with concern… the reporters (Charlie included) would eat Dickie alive.
Charlie- You don't wanna do this.
Dickie- come on! I talk to reporters all the time.
Charlie- You really don't want to do this.
Dickie was now very offended. Why everybody thought he wasn't capable to do the briefing?
Dickie- Let me tell you something, folk. I'm a graduate of Harvard and I believe that my powers of debate can rise to meet the Socratic wonder that is the White House Press Corps.
PRESENT TIME. Back to Dickie's school conference.
Dickie was still talking to his audience about the events that took place a couple of hours ago.
Dickie- before I go on, I would like to say a couple things in my own defense. First of all, everything was fine. I managed to redirect the attention to the Educational Reform Package and then I opened the room up to questions while imposing a discipline I felt had been lacking in Kelly's briefings.
FLASHBACK. The 2'o clock briefing.
Dickie was at the podium he had just finished talking and now it was the moment of the questions.
Dickie- before we start with the questions… let me tell you I'll take one question for reporter.
Everybody raised their hands and started yelling Dickie's name. Finally, he chose one reporter called Luis.
Luis- When was the last time the President visited her gynecologist?
Dickie was stunned. He couldn't believe somebody asked that. With a face that showed his disbelief, he said…
Dickie- You only get to make one question today, Luis. Are you sure you want it to be THAT stupid?
Kelly (who was watching the briefing on the T.V. she had in her office) prettified felling horrified.
Kelly- Oh my god!
In the pressroom, a female reporter, called Jill, started defending her colleague.
Jill- It's not a stupid question, Dickie. If President Allen is going to continue receiving founds for her campaign from the "Breast Cancer foundation"… and since she participates so strongly in this foundation's informative campaigns… is it unreasonable to as ask if she visits her gynecologists periodically as is recommended by the "Breast Cancer Foundation"?
Dickie was now lost… He simple decided to call another reporter called Steve.
Dickie- Well, then, uh... Steve, you go.
Steve was very surprised. While watching everything in her office, Kelly wanted to die.
Steve- So, you're not gonna answer Luis and Jill's questions?
Dickie- I'll look into it. Next question please…. Charlie?
Charlie- Dickie, we already know about Secretary Geller's proposal to improve sexual education in the schools and prevent HIV from spreading among the teenagers… but does the Presidenthave any plan to take care of that issue?
Dickie- I assure that the President is very interested in improving the way we teach sexual education in the schools so we can prevent HIV from spreading among teenagers…
Charlie- I'm sure The President cares about teenagers, Dickie. But does she have any specific plan to prevent HIV in the schools?
Dickie actually didn't know the answer for sure. But he could imagine it.
Dickie- Twenty-four PhD's work in the "Health and Human Services Department", including Secretary Geller. They must have a plan to educate people and prevent HIV from spreading in the population.
Charlie- and you won't tell us about that plan because is a secret?
Dickie rolled his eyes and said very sarcastically.
Dickie- Yeah, Charlie. We have a secret plan to prevent HIV.
In her office, Kelly was watching everything in horror. She was about to have a nervous breakdown.
Kelly- Oh my God!
Still behind the podium, Dickie continued answering questions. He called a female reporter called Samantha.
Samantha- Dickie, when will the President reveal her secret plan?
Dickie- There is no secret plan!
Samantha- But you have just said...
Dickie laughed nervously. He couldn't believe what was happening.
Dickie- I was being sarcastic with Charlie…. I was kidding!
Samantha- HIV is not a joking matter, Dickie! Can you give us a straight answer?
Dickie simply looked lost by that point while Charlie smiled triumphantly.
Dickie- I honestly can't remember the question.
Still watching everything from her office, Kelly simply groaned and took some painkillers.
PRESENT TIME. Dickie's lecture.
Dickie continued telling the story to his audience.
Dickie- I guess that's pretty much when the wheels came off the wagon. A reporter called Charlie had thrown me a knuckle ball in the dirt, which I'd taken a big swing at, and, just like that, the President had a secret plan to Prevent HIV in the schools.
Flashback. That same afternoon. At 3'o clock. Right after Dickie's 2'o clock briefing was over.
Dickie leaves the pressroom feeling incredibly stupid. He walked to his office quickly to hide from everyone. Right before entering in his office, he saw Kelly standing in the office's door. She was furious. He muttered sarcastically to him self.
Dickie- Yeah, that's the face I wanted to see right now.
Kelly saw him entering in his office, and followed him yelling…
Kelly- RICHARD! What the heww happened in thewe? You compwetewy messed up!
Dickie tried, in vain, to defend him self.
Dickie- I wouldn't say completely.
Kelly - You wewe vague, you wewe howstiwe, you did it howiby! You kwow how harw will be fow me to fix this?
Dickie- don't worry. I'm gonna fix this.
Kelly- No, you'we not. You awe not even awwowed to go to my pwesswoom evew again!
Dickie sighed. He felt incredibly guilty and he knew he had screwed up big time.
Dickie- I'll call Rod's office to find out if he was watching.
As soon as he picked up the telephone to make the phone call, they heard Rod yelling from the hall.
Rod- Where the hell is he!
Dickie dropped the phone feeling a little scared.
Dickie- I guess he was watching… please, Kelly, support me on this.
Kelly- No!
Dickie- Thanks!
Rod walked in Dickie's office very mad. Rod had never been so mad at Dickie before.
Rod- Have you fallen on your head? Have you fallen down and hit your head on something hard?
Dickie knew there was nothing he could do but apologize.
Dickie- look… I feel really bad about this.
Rod exclaimed sarcastically…
Rod- Oh, well then. I guess that's all that really matters.
Dickie- Hey! I really think this isn't as bad as you're making it out to be.
Kelly, not believing that Dickie still had the nerve to defend himself, yelled.
Kelly- A secwet pwan to prewet HIV!
Rod clucked after hearing Kelly talking like that…
Rod- Okay, Kelly, for a little while you're gonna have to write it down.
Jim busted in, very upset…
Jim- we have a problem…
Rod- No kidding!
Jim- is not about Dickie.
Dickie sighed in relief.
Dickie- Praise God!
Jim- Although I've gotta say, telling a reporter his question's stupid wasn't very brilliant.
Dickie- Thank you, Jim.
Rod didn't have any patience left. He looked at Jim urging him to explain…
Rod- So, what's the problem?
Jim was a little afraid of telling Rod what he had to tell.
Jim- You're not gonna like it.
Rod- Believe me, Jim, the only thing that could make this day worse is if Nathan Templeton got involved.
Realizing, because of Jim's look, that what he said was exactly what happened, Rod simply sighed in disbelief.
A few minutes later… in the Oval Office.
Rod, Dickie, Kelly and Jim, entered in the Oval Office. Mac was looking at some papers in her desk, but when she saw almost the entire senior staff in her office she started to worried…
Mac- oh… is something wrong?
Mac stood up and went to the middle of her office, and they all formed a semi-circle around her.
Rod- Mac, before you go to that TV show tonight, you should be aware of a few…
Jim- Catastrophes?
Rod- incidents that happened in today's press briefing…
Mac was surprised. She hadn't seen the briefing that day, but as far as she knew it was always perfect.
Mac- What kind of incidents?
Everyone stared at Dickie, who was looking guilty at his feet. He suddenly got that they wanted him to explain.
Dickie- Oh. Ok. It started when I asked Kelly to move the briefing to two o'clock so that we could talk about the educational reforms. But Kelly had an emergency root canal surgery at noon and because of that she was unable to do the press briefing.
Mac looked everyone worriedly…
Mac- Then who did the briefing?
Dickie- I did.
Mac opened her eyes wide open in shock, and said…
Mac- Oh God!
Dickie- Yeah. It's a long story, Ma'am President… the short version is that when you go to the show tonight you' are probably going to be asked about your secret plan to prevent HIV in the schools.
Mac was a bit confused.
Mac- I have a secret plan to prevent HIV?
Dickie- No, ma'am.
Mac- Then why am I going to be asked about that?
Dickie was getting more and more nervous.
Dickie- Well… It was suggested in the Press Room you that had a secret plan to improve sexual education and prevent HIV schools.
Mac couldn't believe it.
Mac- who the hell suggested that?
Dickie- I did... Ma'am…
She was starting to feel very upset. She walked toward Dickie in a very threatening way.
Mac- YOU told the press I have a secret plan to prevent HIV?
Dickie was really scared and he to excuse him self….
Dickie- No! I did not. Let me be absolutely clear, I did not do that…
The rest shot him with their looks so Dickie had to confess…
Dickie-I mean… yes, Ma'am President… I did that.
Now Mac was really lost… nobody was being clear. What the hell really happened?
Mac- Dickie, I'm a little confused.
Dickie- Ma'am… a very stupid reporter was there… and I answered his question sarcastically. I was just joking and being sarcastic! There's no way they didn't know that! The reporters were just mad at me for imposing discipline and calling them stupid!
Mac was very overwhelmed. She simply sighed and said…
Mac- Okay, before we go on…. Kelly, even if blood is gushing from the head wound you just received from a stampeding herd of bison, YOU will do the press briefing.
Kelly- Yes Ma'am.
Then Mac looked at Dickie again and shook her head, still in disbelief.
Mac- A secret plan to prevent HIV!
Dickie- I'm sorry. There was no turning them back, Ma'am President. I denied it for half an hour but they wouldn't take no for an answer.
Mac- Were you clear?
Dickie- yes, I was crystal clear. They said: "Do you think if the President has a plan to prevent HIV, it's right that she keeps it a secret?" and I said: "Of course not!"
Mac now looked like she was trying very hard not to strangle Dickie.
Mac- so… what you are saying is that not only you invented a secret plan to prevent HIV, but also that you don't even support it?
Dickie was just stunned. He was about to say something… but Rod jumped in.
Rod- honey, as much as we would love nothing more than to stand here and watch you beat the living crap outta Dickie, there is actually a bigger fish to fry.
Mac could totally guess what Rod was taking about.
Mac- what did Templeton do now?
Rod- He is publicly defending Archbishop Danes.
Jim- Templeton said that you owe Danes an apology and that he won't take your side in your "War against the Catholic Church"…
Mac rolled her eyes. She was so sick of Nathan Templeton.
Mac- Nathan is just being Nathan. I won't follow his game. I refuse to dignify that man's shit with an answer… what we are gonna do is the following: I'm going to get ready for the show, Dickie is going to go to that lecture he got, Jim and Rod will help me preparing what I'll say in the show and Kelly will fix the misunderstanding with the press. And let's hope that nothing happens today to make this any worse, although I certainly wouldn't bet the house on it. Ok. That is all.
Jim- Thank you, Ma'am. President.
They all left, except for Dickie, who felt terrible and wanted so say something else.
Dickie- Ma'am, I wanna say that I'm really sorry and that this mess will be cleaned up in an adult and professional manner. I swear.
Mac- Good.
He started to leave, but then turned around and added quietly.
Dickie- if anyone asks you, you saw your gynecologist last week.
Mac opened her eyes very wide and, pointing at the door, she yelled…
Mac- Get out!
PRESENT TIME. 20:00 HS. Inside The TV set of "The George Francis's Show".
Kelly, Vince, Jim and Horace are in the set of "The George Francis's show", they sit behind the camera looking happily at the interview Mac was giving at that moment. Like 20 Secret Service's Agents are also in the set watching carefully around. Just at that moment, Dickie entered and quietly took a sit in the audience, next to Horace. He spoke to him whispering…
Dickie- hi Horace… I didn't know you were coming…
Horace- and I didn't know my mom has a Secret Plan to prevent HIV…
Dickie rolled his eyes. Wondering how long people will continue remembering that.
Dickie- Tell me… how is the interview going?
Horace- excellent… why are you so late? It's about to finish…
Dickie- I had to give a group of high school students a lecture about working in the White House…
Horace- and how did it go?
Dickie- very well… they loved me…
Horace whispered sarcastically.
Horace- who doesn't?
Dickie ignored the sarcasm and then asked Jim…
Dickie- Where is The First Gentleman?
Jim- he couldn't come… he had a lot to in the house… why?
Dickie- Rod is really mad at me and I just wanted to apologize to him one more time…
As an answer, Jim whispered in Dickie's ear.
Jim- welcome to the club… we got jackets made.
They stopped talking and continued watching Mac's interview that was going very well.
Outside the TV set. 20:15 HS.
The head of the Secret Service, Daniel Carter, was outside the TV set. He was looking carefully at the huge crowd who was waiting for the President to walk out the building. He looked right past a very creepy looking young guy, who was looking right at him. Then, an agent who was inside the TV Set, talked him through his wrist mike.
Agent's Voice in the wrist mike- the Interview is over. "Liberty" is leaving the building.
"Liberty" was The President's code name. Carter got very worried and replied into his wrist mike.
Agent Carter- but she's NOT greeting the crowd. We'll take her straight to the car.
Mac got out the building and started walking down to the limo. Kelly, Dickie, Jim, Vince and Horace were walking far behind her. Agent Carter approached Mac and started walking right next to her. Horace was being covered by Special Agent Powers. Mac, feeling really happy, kept walking towards the limo while waving at the crowd.
In an office building, next to the TV studio, two young men were loading ammunition.
Suddenly, Agent Carter noticed that the creepy looking boy was staring at the office building. He got really concerned and desperately looked at the office building but didn't see anything.
Out of the blue, the two men in the office building raised their guns and Agent Cater noticed them, but it was too late. Just as the first shot is about to go off, Agent Carter yells:
Agent Carter- GUN! EVERYBODY DOWN!
The two men shot to the crowd and in the street the chaos had already started.
Agent Powers knocked Horace to the ground close to the limo. Another female Secret Service Agent pulled Vince down and shielded him from the gunfire, yelling, "get down, get down!" meanwhile Agent Carter pulled Mackenzie back and down.
Other agents immediately fire up at the shooters while the crowd is running and screaming in horror.
A Secret Service Agent was holding down Jim and yelling: "STAY DOWN! Stay down!"
Dickie pulled Kelly down bringing them both to the ground just as a limo window shattered right in front of them.
Agent Carter dragged Mac and got her inside a limo.
The Secret Service snipers continued firing at the gunmen, who kept firing at the crowd until both drop death.
The screams of the crowd get mixed with some Secret Service Agents who yell desperately to their wrist mikes: "Oh, god, we've got people down. People down, people down! Who's been hit? Who's been hit?"
To be continued…So… Who has been hit? If you want to know the answer continued reading.
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