Friday, October 30, 1998
10pm
Manchester, Bartlet for America HQ
The last weekend before election day.
"Donna?" Josh called, pushing open the heavy door to the rear deck.
"Over here," she replied, barely looking up from her laptop. "Do you need me?"
In the dim light, Josh could see that Donna had set up shop on rickety table and battered folding chair. At least she had the good sense to bring out an electric space heater and bottle of beer. And she looked beautiful in the moonlight, the light blue scarf against a black wool jacket, and a sparkling in her eyes. That wasn't an inappropriate thought, he told himself. Just a fact. She was a beautiful woman.
"You can't let the field volunteers take over your desk," he said. "They're swarming and buzzing and one of them has a nose ring that I truly can't describe."
"I thought that was a good thing."
"The nose ring? Did you see it?"
Donna smiled. "The swarming and the buzzing, Josh. That's a good thing. They're assembling the walk packets for tomorrow. Three thousand volunteers, tens of thousands of doors to knock on across New Hampshire and southern Maine."
"I know. I put the plan together. I just don't know why they need your desk." Josh caught Donna's eye for a minute. There were times he swore she knew everything he was thinking but couldn't say.
"But it's nice out here," Donna replied, joining him at the railing. "There," she pointed, "there's a Halloween party in the apartment above the insurance company. The keg is on the back deck, and I get a glimpse of the costumes when they come out for a refill."
"The Frankenstein is nice," Josh said, grabbing a swig from Donna's beer.
"I thought she was going for sexy alien," Donna remarked. "To our left, in the alley behind Jimmy's Pizza…"
"Where?"
Donna placed a gloved hand against Josh's cheek and gently turned his face.
"Jimmy's delivery guys are racing mopeds in the alley while they wait for the next call. The guy in the red usually wins, but I think he cheats."
"I thought you were working out here," Josh joked.
"I am," Donna replied. "I can multi-task."
"I don't doubt it."
"And, over to our right," Donna pointed again, "there's a small time drug dealer at the corner of Market & 3rd Street. He's got a customer in a '78 Camaro that comes by every Friday at 10:15."
"You're out here every Friday night?"
"It's quality entertainment."
"Is that what you tell the folks back in Madison," Josh laughed. "I'm not sure this is what you signed up for."
Donna took her beer back and broke eye contact, stepping back to her seat and open laptop.
"I'll have the Ohio early vote report ready in twenty minutes. I'm waiting for the Lucas County numbers. They've been late all week."
"Yeah," Josh replied, a little surprised by the abrupt change in tone. "They're always late. It's OK."
Donna's eyes remained focused on her screen.
"Speaking of Madison," Josh began again, "Do you want to tell me about the voice mail I got from Madison earlier today?"
"You get hundreds of voice mails a day, Josh. You'll have to be more specific. And I thought we were up by 8 in Wisconsin."
"Bartlet-Hoynes is fine in Wisconsin. If something happens to turn Wisconsin, God forbid, your Lucas County numbers won't matter. We're up 5 with non-college men, 12 with women."
"Josh," Donna said sharply, halting the polling recitation. "The call."
"Right, the call," he said softly, searching her face for any indication that she knew where this was headed. He couldn't read her. "The call was from the admissions office at the University of Wisconsin. They wanted to know if I, as your supervisor on Bartlet for America, would consider that your work qualified for university credit as an internship towards your undergraduate degree in political science. There are twelve criteria."
"Josh."
"No really," he continued. "There are twelve criteria and she went on to list them into my voicemail. It was impressive. They didn't include police surveillance of the corner of Market & 3rd."
"You don't understand," Donna said firmly.
"I think I do," he said with a sigh. "Donna, are you leaving me again? Were you going to go back to Wisconsin without even telling me?"
Before Donna could answer, the door from the office swung open and Margaret stepped out the deck.
"Josh," Margaret said. "Leo needs you right now in his office. We're getting new reports of voter suppression in the South."
"I'll be right there," Josh replied.
He turned to leave without another word to Donna.
"It's for January, Josh. Or next fall," Donna interjected. "How was I supposed to know that you had plans for me beyond Tuesday."
"I can't talk about this right now. Leo needs me." He opened the door, then turned back. "I didn't think I had to tell you. You always know what I'm thinking."