"CJ"
"Yeah," CJ replied, barely looking up from her desk.
"The First Lady's on line one from the Residence for you"
"The First Lady"
"Yeah"
"Ok. Thank you." CJ moved her papers aside and picked up the phone.
"Mrs. Bartlet, hi"
"Hi. You busy'
"Well, I have a briefing in half an hour," CJ answered.
"Could you do me a favor please"
"I'll certainly do my best. What can I do for you"
"Get your ass up here please," Abbey demanded.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am"
"The photographers just arrived from Time magazine"
"Yes, ma'am"
"I can't do this alone," Abbey said, sounding very panicked.
"Amy's with you, isn't she"
"This is gonna take more than just Amy"
"Mrs. Bartlet, are you all right? You don't sound so good"
"I've never done a magazine layout before, CJ! I'm not a movie star"
CJ chuckled.
"You might as well be"
"I'm serious"
"You have people taking your picture every day. This is exactly like that"
"Oh, no it's not. Please come up here. I'm begging you"
"I only have a half an hour, ma'am"
"CJ"
"Yes, ma'am. I'll be right up"
"Thank you. Oh, and CJ"
"Yes, ma'am"
"See if you can bring Donna with you, would you please"
"Yes, ma'am"
When CJ and Donna arrived in the Residence, they were shocked by the amount of people and cameras crowded in the main room. CJ tapped one of the cameramen on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, where can I find the First Lady"
"She's in her bedroom, I think"
"Thank you."
"Hey, you CJ Cregg"
"Yes"
"Love your show"
"I'm sorry"
"On TV," he said.
"I don't…have a show," CJ replied, with confusion.
"Yeah, you know, where you stand at the podium, with that presidential seal thing behind you"
"My press briefings"
"Yeah, those are great"
"Well…thank you. If you just…excuse me…thanks."
She grabbed Donna's arm and pulled her into the bedroom, shutting the door tightly behind her.
"Mrs. Bartlet!" CJ called out.
Abbey came out of the bathroom, with her face covered with green face cream, her hair in curlers, wearing a bathrobe.
"Thank God you're here! Oh, and you brought Donna"
"Where's Amy"
"Negotiating with the photo editor, or something. Come on into the bathroom with me."
CJ and Donna followed Abbey into the large bathroom, where she sat in front of the mirror, listlessly.
"I don't know what to do. I can't do this," Abbey admitted.
"Well, first of all…" Donna began.
"What"
"Actually, can I ask…are you the First Lady or Abbey right now"
"I'm Abbey"
"Ok, you need to take those curlers out of your hair," Donna said.
"You think so"
"Absolutely. CJ"
"Right"
Donna and CJ began frantically taking the curlers out of Abbey's hair, then they brushed out the curls that had already begun to form.
"Your hair looks better straight," Donna said.
"But not too straight," CJ added.
"Right"
"Ok…hold on, let me wash this damn cream off my face."
Abbey walked over to the sink, and Amy popped her head in the door.
"Abbey, how much longer are you going to need?" Amy asked.
"I don't know," Abbey replied, splashing her face with water. "Ask them"
Amy looked at Donna and CJ.
"We're gonna get her makeup done, then she'll get dressed and…"
"No! Wait a second, I don't have an outfit picked out," Abbey said.
"They've got outfits for you," Amy pointed out.
"They do? Will I like them"
"I think so"
"How many times am I going to have to change my clothes for this shoot"
"I believe they had…six outfits laid out"
"Six! Oh, God."
"This is going to be one helluva layout," CJ said.
"Yeah, and won't it be a hoot if I don't win after all"
"They'll still publish the layout," Amy said.
"Gee, that's great. Get back out there"
"Yes, ma'am!" She agreed, exiting the room and closing the door.
Abbey sat back down in her chair in front of the mirror.
"Ok, girls, make me beautiful."
"That shouldn't be hard, Mrs. Bartlet," Donna said.
"Abbey"
"Abbey. Sorry, it's just…it's difficult"
"I know, but get used to it. Today, you're just one of the girls, honey," Abbey said.
"I'm gonna call Carol and have her reschedule my briefing," CJ said.
"Good call, CJ. Donna, let's get started"
Fifteen minutes later, Donna had completed Abbey's makeup. She looked perfect. CJ just had stood idly by and watched, herself not being the greatest beautician as it was.
"Abbey, you look stunning," CJ commented.
"I must say, Donna, you're very talented. I don't know why the hell you work for Josh. You'd probably make more money working at a beauty parlor," Abbey said.
Donna laughed, but she had to agree.
"That's probably true. But then, I could make more money working at a gas station."
Abbey laughed.
"AMY!" She shouted.
The door opened and Amy popped her head in again.
"Yes, ma'am"
"Get the first of those dresses in here so I can change and tell the crew I'll be ready in a just a few minutes"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"CJ, does the presss know about this"
"Yeah. Why"
"So I guess it's too late to back out now, huh?" Abbey said.
"I'd say so, yes."
"Damn. Ok"
"Abbey, all you have to do is pose and smile. And you're no stranger to photographers"
"Well, I've never had to do anything…staged like this. Everything else…that's just candids"
Amy re-entered the room carrying one of the dresses, then handed it to Abbey.
"Ok, we're gonna get out of here to you can change," CJ said.
"Thanks, girls"
"No problem. We'll be just outside."
CJ, Donna, and Amy stood in Abbey's bedroom, waiting as she changed in the bathroom. Then, CJ's cell phone rang and startled them all.
"Yeah? Ok…why? Yeah, all right. I'll tell her. Jesus Christ, this is gonna be bad. Yeah. There's no way you can keep him down there? Fine. Ok. Thanks"
She flipped her phone shut and looked at the girls nervously. Then, Abbey emerged from the bathroom, looking stunning in a shimmery, strapless light blue gown.
"Wow," Donna whispered.
"You look amazing," Amy said, in awe.
Abbey grinned.
"Thank you very much, ladies. CJ"
"Oh, I agree. But um…I'm afraid I have some not-so-good news"
"The shoot's canceled? Oh, thank God"
"No, not quite. Uh, well, I just got off the phone with Charlie. There's been a cancellation in the President's schedule. And he's coming up here"
"What"
"Well, it seems the President…would like to watch."