Work Text:
Scene: CJ's office.
The lengthening gray light of a winter's afternoon pours through the window. CJ is at her desk, her long legs resting on a pile of papers
on it. TOBY is crumpled into a chair. SAM is seated on the couch. JOSH stands against the wall. --
SAM: (continuing)... well... to be honest, it's not that I have nothing to do. Just nothing very glamorous or...
CJ: You're waiting for something glamorous to do? I just spent a briefing informing the White House press corps that the President's mother is completing a Baltimore Album style quilt in traditional shades of red, green and white.
SAM: You did?
JOSH: You couldn't have come up with something more...
CJ: (interrupting) Well, last week I apparently provided a list of my attributes in bed so I'm not exactly concerned that they might find me uninteresting.
TOBY: (with a brief glance at CJ) You listed your attributes?
CJ: (with emphasis) No. I did not. But, being the press corps they got hold of a list anyway.
JOSH: (snickers a little) How awkward.
CJ: I'm considering tearing Tad Whitney's forked tongue out. (Josh is still snickering and she turns to him.) But hey, Josh...
JOSH: (friendly and finally paying attention to her) Hey.
CJ: (casually) You're closer.
JOSH: (startled) I'm sorry. (CJ glares at him) I said I was sorry. Really CJ.
Toby hides a smile.
JOSH: I just wish...
TOBY: (quickly) Josh.
JOSH: (ignoring Toby's warning) I just wish something would happen. Anything.
TOBY: (sharper) Josh.
JOSH: What?
TOBY: Don't.
JOSH: Is this your whole 'tempting fate' deal, again.
TOBY: Yes.
JOSH: 'Cause it seems to me that I kinda want to tempt fate at the moment.
TOBY: This is the White House, Josh. We do *not* want to tempt fate.
Leo knocks on the door roughly as he enters. He surveys his staff
with some displeasure.
LEO: What are you lot doing?
SAM: Uh.
JOSH: Discussing
SAM:... matters of state.
LEO: Great. Well, while you're doing that I assume someone else is,
you know, running the country.
JOSH: It's just...
SAM: There didn't seem to be an awful lot of actual running for us to
do.
LEO: (sarcastic) Yeah. Well, I guess you'll all be overjoyed to hear
that now we have a thing.
JOSH: (mildly excited) A thing?
TOBY: (a little sharply) Joshua.
CJ quietly removes her legs from her desk.
LEO: A situation. In Turkey. Just after four p.m. Eastern Standard
Time at least seven bombs exploded in various public buildings in
Ankara. More than ninety people have died and many hundreds were
injured.
The atmosphere in the room has changed.
TOBY: (leaning forward in his chair) The P.K.K?
LEO: They haven't made a claim yet. But yes, we're assuming it's the
P.K.K, the Kurdish Workers Party, whatever you want to call them.
The Turkish Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency.
TOBY: (slightly bitterly and under his breath) And I'm shocked.
LEO: Toby?
TOBY: In the past twenty years Turkey has barely left a state of
public emergency.
LEO: They're terrorists, Toby. This time they blew up Ataturk's
Mausoleum.
Toby frowns and is silent.
LEO: The President and I will be meeting with advisors in the
situation room in fifteen minutes. Josh - we need a briefing
straight after on the European Convention that went on in November.
You have notes, right?
JOSH: Yeah. I'll get it together.
LEO: The rest of you. Do your jobs. Got it?
CJ nods.
SAM: (standing) Yep.
Sam and Toby get up to follow Josh and Leo out of CJ's office. Toby
is glowering at the floor.
CJ: (to Toby) A hundred people died, Toby. They've got to think
it's a big deal.
TOBY: (abruptly) Don't you try and calm me down. This concerns
international human rights, a topic about which you, I believe, know
little.
CJ is slightly stunned. Sam more so. Toby pauses for a moment,
torn, then walks out. CJ half stands but lets him go. Sam's glance
flickers between the two of them. He leaves. CJ's parting look is
one of compounded anger and disappointment in Toby.
***
Scene: Situation Room.
As always the room is lit by a slide projector and not much else.
President BARTLET and LEO are seated on one side of the table. Some
Army Guy MACKIE is operating the projector system. Other Army Guy
BADOIAN is seated.
MACKIE: South East Turkey has been in a state of unrest since the mid
eighties. But this was a well organized guerilla attack. A
declaration like this hasn't been made in a long time.
BADOIAN: We are working on the assumption that the Turkish Kurds are
getting assistance from an autonomous Kurdish region in northern
Iraq. But we have no firm evidence of this.
LEO: Is there movement in the area?
MACKIE: No, Sir.
BARTLET: I thought the Iraqis kept a pretty tight eye on these
things.
MACKIE: They do, sir. They informed us of this themselves.
BARTLET: Iraq informed us of this?
MACKIE: Yes, sir.
BARTLET: Why?
Mackie and Badoian share a glance.
BADOIAN: Iraq has never been happy about the existence of semi-
autonomous Kurdish regions within their borders. These guerilla
attacks in Turkey may lead them to tighten their control of the
areas.
LEO: So, what, they're garnering our support before they act?
BADOIAN: That's likely, sir. They don't want to go to war with us
again.
BARTLET: And neither do we.
BADOIAN: (quickly) No, Sir.
***
Scene: Outside Josh's Office.
JOSH: (from inside office) Donna!
Nothing happens.
JOSH: (louder) Donna!
Still nothing. Josh sticks his head out the door and looks around.
He walks into the Chief of Staff bullpen. Staffer walks by.
JOSH: (to staffer) Where's Donna?
STAFFER: She was headed to the Counsel's Office earlier.
JOSH: Oh. Yeah, right. I sent her there. Of course.
Staffer moves on. Josh stands in bullpen for a minute looking
bemused. People work around him. Donna walks up behind him.
DONNA: Lose something?
JOSH: What? Huh?
DONNA: You looked like you'd lost something.
JOSH: No. I was. Uh. We need to get a briefing together about the
European Convention last month.
DONNA: Right. It's just. You looked...
JOSH: We need it in thirty minutes.
DONNA: (cheerful) Okay. I have your notes and the papers.
He nods and heads back to his office.
DONNA: (after him) It was me, wasn't it?
JOSH: (turning back) What was you?
DONNA: (approaching) Whatever you'd lost.
JOSH: (feigns bemusement) What, Donna?
DONNA: I'm just going to present the facts here. You're standing
around the bullpen looking aimless and confused when apparently you
should be putting together a briefing. I reappear after my fifty
minute absence, on a mission for you, which was, I might add,
thoroughly frustrating and inconclusive, and suddenly you're all cool
and calm and together again. It seems to me that...
JOSH: (interrupting and aiming for sarcasm) Yeah. I'm a mess without
you.
DONNA: (smug) I know.
She turns jauntily. He heads quickly into his office.
DONNA: (calling after him) There's this planet thing I think you
need to know about.
JOSH: Just get me the papers, Donna.
***
Scene: Press Room.
The middle of a press briefing. CJ is fielding questions. SAM and
TOBY lurk at the back of the room.
PRESS: CJ!... CJ!
CJ: Ray?
RAY: Is this going to be the next Gulf War?
CJ: No.
RAY: Could you please expand on that?
CJ: No, this is not going to be the next Gulf War. Firstly, this is
Turkey, not Iraq. Secondly no nation has invaded another nation.
This is civil strife. Finally we are a very different administration
run by a very different President.
TOBY: (muttering at the back) Vive le Difference.
Toby turns and leaves. CJ watches the door close behind him and
catches Sam's eye.
CJ: That's all I have for now. I'll be back in an hour.
CJ leaves the platform. Danny stops her as she reaches the door.
DANNY: Toby mad with you? (nods to door where Toby left)
CJ: No.
DANNY: He looked pretty mad.
CJ: Toby is not mad with me, Danny.
CJ walks toward Sam who is still at the back of the room. Danny
follows her.
SAM: (testing the waters) So. Is something up with Toby?
CJ glances back to Danny whose look combines smug pride and a hint of
dejection.
CJ: How should I know, Sam?
She exits the room with Sam and shuts the door firmly. They walk as
they talk.
SAM: I thought you two talked.
Pause in the walking and talking as CJ turns to Sam for a moment,
then continues.
CJ: No. Toby and I do not talk.
SAM: Well, it's Toby. I didn't mean *talk* talk.
CJ: Right. It's Toby. No one in their right minds can talk to Toby.
SAM: And you're...
CJ: In my right mind, yes, Sam.
SAM: So you and he don't talk.
CJ: No.
SAM: Okay.
CJ: Okay. Now that's over, can we perhaps discuss the briefing I
have in (looks at watch) oh, twenty three minutes? Do we have a word
from the President yet?
SAM: I think Toby needs to be in on this.
CJ: (exasperated) Fine.
They move on toward Toby's office.
***
Scene: Josh's office.
The light from outside is dimming. A lamp glows on Josh's desk.
JOSH is bent over some papers. DONNA sticks her head in and
helpfully switches the overhead light on.
DONNA: You busy?
JOSH: Yes.
DONNA: But you finished the briefing already.
JOSH: Yes, Donna, this is the White House, I'm sure there is nothing
else for me to be doing.
DONNA: (ignoring him) So do you think anyone's going to notice the
planet?
JOSH: No.
DONNA: Do you even know what I'm talking about?
JOSH: Not as such, no.
DONNA: This guy, Dr. Han Briedis, he's discovered a new planet.
JOSH: Oh. Okay, let me amend my previous answer to a
resounding 'no'.
DONNA: Josh, how can you have so little interest in science?
JOSH: I'm interested in science.
DONNA: (dismissively) Don't lie. (getting excited) This is
fascinating. The planet's orbiting Sirius, the binary star.
JOSH: Oh, that Sirius.
DONNA: Josh.
JOSH: (relenting) Okay. I could see that some might consider this
interesting, but a hundred and fifteen people died in a well executed
bombing in Turkey. I think the star might slip out of the spotlight.
DONNA: Planet.
JOSH: Planet.
DONNA: Well, don't you think that's sad.
Josh sighs. Donna continues.
DONNA: A whole new planet has been discovered and we're so caught up
with the strife and turmoil of this one that no one even notices.
JOSH: Thank you for that stirring commentary on the state of the
world, Donnatella, I'm going to go back to the actual work I was
doing now.
DONNA: Really?
JOSH: Yeah.
DONNA: You don't want to...
JOSH: No.
DONNA: Okay.
She leaves.
***
Scene: Toby's office.
TOBY is scratching notes furiously on a legal pad. He looks up with
irritation as CJ and Sam enter.
CJ: You working on the Turkey statement?
TOBY: And when did I start answering to you?
CJ: No. I... (frowns) I'm waiting on it.
SAM: Have you spoken to the President?
TOBY: Why do we have international treaties at all? Europe's too
scared to admonish Turkey in any way. Since the coup in Turkey
twenty years ago more than two and a half thousand people have been
killed in political or extrajudicial executions.
***
Scene: Situation Room
President BARTLET and LEO are standing in the situation room alone.
Projected images of Iraq and Turkey still light their faces.
BARTLET: Can I just say, first off, that I've decided never to go to
war.
LEO: Yes, Mr. President.
BARTLET: (firmly) Never. "War is a brain-spattering, windpipe-
slitting art."
LEO: Yes, Mr. President.
BARTLET: That's Byron, you know.
LEO: I did not know that, sir.
BARTLET: Do you think that's a bad thing in a President?
LEO: Deciding never to go to war? Yes, sir, I do. I'm not even
comfortable with the fact that you can quote Byron at me.
BARTLET: Right. But we don't want to go to war over this.
LEO: Of course not.
BARTLET: But neither do we want to maintain the status quo in the
region.
LEO: In as much as we have any say in it, you may be right.
BARTLET: Toby wouldn't allow it.
LEO: Well, that's good to know. Toby is running international
affairs now. Isn't he the Communications Director or something?
BARTLET: He has a point in saying that it may have become
administrative practice for Turkey to derogate from human rights
standards by declaring a state of public emergency
LEO: Toby's on a rampage.
BARTLET: But he does have a point.
LEO: Toby always has a point, sir, but he's on a rampage.
***
Toby's office. TOBY sits behind the desk, SAM and CJ are standing.
TOBY: (continuing) Turkey continues to shut down political parties
for challenging the dominant ideology.
CJ: And more than half a million people have been forcibly moved
during police clearances of mainly Kurdish villages. Toby, we are
not saying these aren't human rights violations.
SAM: But they're in a state of emergency. They've derogated from
article 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Toby. It's
within their power as an autonomous state.
TOBY: Maybe it shouldn't be.
CJ: (exasperated) Toby.
SAM: Is there word from the President yet?
TOBY: No.
CJ: Great. What am I gonna... The press are breathing down my
neck
about "the next Gulf War."
TOBY: You could tell them that the whole of Europe is abetting human
rights violators...
CJ: (interrupting) Toby.
TOBY: They are.
CJ: Right. And it's more than possible that we should encourage the
President to put pressure on the European Convention in this regard.
But right now we're responsible for communicating the present
situation to the American people.
TOBY: (pauses and rubs his face) We'll tell them that the President
is deeply saddened by these deaths, that he mourns with the families
and friends of the victims and that he hopes this tragedy will light
the way to a more peaceful Turkey.
CJ: And if they ask about Iraq?
TOBY: They shouldn't. If they do, the President is confident that
the present concord in Iraq and neighboring states will continue and
looks to them to demonstrate the enormous potential we humans have
for peaceable and benevolent interactions.
CJ: Good.
SAM: We're done then.
Sam leaves. CJ follows but pauses and turns back to Toby.
CJ: (angry but speaking quietly) Don't you dare assume that I am
not aware of international human rights issues.
Toby opens his mouth to speak. CJ talks over him.
CJ: No. (more gently but still with an undercurrent of true anger)
Don't you dare, Toby. I don't know what's going on here. I don't
know why I'm suddenly an anathema to you. But we have been friends
for more than ten years and you have always respected me. I thought
I could at least rely on that from you.
TOBY: (looking at his desk) I'm sorry.
CJ: What?
TOBY: (looks up at her) I do respect you and I'm sorry.
CJ blinks and hesitates for a fraction then nods and walks
out.
***
Scene: Josh's office
JOSH is scribbling notes on a notepad. His feet are on the desk.
DONNA enters.
DONNA: (in a rush) They're considering naming it Hanuman. That's the
name of a Hindi god.
JOSH: They're considering naming what the what now?
DONNA: (more slowly) The planet. Hanuman. God of strength and
devotion.
JOSH: I thought we were pretty much settled with Greek gods.
DONNA: Different star system, different rules.
JOSH: And have they spoken to anyone who is actually Hindi?
DONNA: I don't know.
JOSH: It's probable that they should. I mean, people do actually
worship this god. It might be awkward to have a planet named after
him.
DONNA: (briskly) Right. Good idea. You have a meeting with the
President.
JOSH: When?
DONNA: Now.
JOSH: (irritated, swinging his legs off the desk) Why wasn't it on
my calendar?
DONNA: (somewhat offended) Have I ever forgotten to put anything on
your calendar.
JOSH: The...
DONNA: (interrupting) Anything important?
JOSH: No.
DONNA: Right. Mrs. Landingham just called. President Bartlet wants
to see everyone now.
JOSH: Yeah. Okay. (getting up) So you were telling me about
Hamadan specifically in order that I might be late for a meeting with
the President.
DONNA: I talked quickly.
JOSH: (leaving) Thanks for that.
DONNA: This is important. It's a whole planet. And it's Hanuman.
JOSH: Yeah. You can tell me all about it when I'm finished running
the country. (off her irritated look) With your help of course.
(She is still annoyed.) Okay, Donna, you run the country.
DONNA: Really?
JOSH: No.
He leaves.
***
Scene: the Oval Office.
The sky is near dark. President BARTLET and TOBY are seated across
from one another.
BARTLET: (continuing a conversation) It is true that Turkey is in an
entrenched state of emergency. And the conventions are not well
suited to dealing with such exigencies. But we need to look at this
on a case-by-case basis. They are searching for terrorists within
their nation. Much as I hate to say it they may need to suspend some
civil liberties in order to win this.
TOBY: This is not an isolated incident, sir. Worldwide there has
been a systemic failure to recognize that national governments are
making possibly wrongful use of the vast scope of their power in
emergency situations. No one is effectively policing this.
BARTLET: Of all people, Toby, you must be aware of the special
circumstances involved when your own are in danger.
TOBY: (irritated by the personal reference) Of all people I am aware
of the need to have external checks and balances at times like this.
BARTLET: (thoughtfully) Yes. Of course you are. Of course you are.
A knock at the door. Mrs. Landingham enters.
MRS. L: CJ to see the two of you, Mr. President.
BARTLET: Right. Send her in.
CJ: (appearing in the doorway) I need to know what we're saying to
the Press, Mr. President.
TOBY: (coldly) There are more important matters here.
CJ: (stares him down momentarily) You're the Director of
Communications. I don't believe I need to explain the significance
of the Press to you.
Toby turns away.
BARTLET: (peaceably) We were discussing that initially, CJ. (smiles
a little) But we appear to have been sidetracked.
TOBY: (possibly apologetically though it'd be hard to tell) Leo has a
report which incorporates all up to date information we are making
available as to the situation in Turkey. Get a copy of that and the
statement I've drafted and you'll be set.
CJ: (briskly) Fine. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
She leaves.
BARTLET: Toby, I know you're passionate about this issue, but it
isn't acceptable to treat CJ that way.
TOBY: (somewhat abashed) Yes, Sir.
BARTLET: We're done here, I think.
Toby gets up to leave.
BARTLET: I'd like a report on how we can best put pressure on Turkey
over this issue. They need to respect the fundamental goals of human
rights agreements. And the Kurds deserve better treatment.
TOBY: (happier) Yes, sir. (Adds) I have one pulled together already.
BARTLET: (with a slightly grim smile) Of course you do.
Toby leaves.
***
Scene: The White House Garden. Night. CJ stands quietly at the edge
of a pool of light. Her breath fogs in the cold light. TOBY appears
at the doorway and sidles to stand by her. She glances at him
briefly but remains silent.
TOBY: (after a longish hesitation) It's not...
CJ: (interrupting, professionally dismissive) There's no problem.
TOBY: It's not you, CJ.
Another silence during which a Secret Service guy moves past.
CJ: It certainly seems that it's me. Most of the time.
TOBY: (frustrated with himself and the world at large) It's... I
truly
believe that we are overlooking critical human rights issues.
CJ: I know you do.
TOBY: And I don't think we're allowed to overlook them.
CJ: (more animated) So you've set yourself up as *the* human rights
advocate. Which, if you're asking, I think is great. The world
needs it. The President needs it. But, Toby, you've got to know
that not everything is going to go your way. And all this build up
of anger and passion seems to overflow straight out of you and onto
me.
TOBY: Right
CJ: I'm pretty sure that it's not my responsibility to shoulder
this. Well, more to the point. I don't know if I can.
TOBY: I'm doing my best.
CJ: (breathes her frustration) No you're not. Your best is far from
this. I know you and I can say that much with certainty.
Toby nods slowly. He is thinking.
CJ: I don't know what has changed here.
TOBY: The thing is... I said it wasn't but...(pauses, then
quietly, with
resignation) the thing is, CJ, it is you.
CJ is startled into silence.
TOBY: (intensely, without looking at her) When I'm around you...
recently...for a long time... (wretched) Don't make me explain
this.
CJ: (slowly) No. Of course.
TOBY: (closes eyes and runs hand over face) I'm not speaking of
superlatives. But the ordinary has become...(stops speaking) I
need to
go.
Toby turns from CJ. She takes a breath and reaches a hand to him.
At her touch he swivels back and their eyes meet. Her hand falls to
her side.
A long, magnetic, night sky silence. Neither breathes.
TOBY: (finally, with passion, desperation, reluctance, trepidation,
confidence) I... We need to... (roughly) Can I take you home?
CJ: (almost a whisper, nods slightly) Of course.
They remain in immobile silence. The sound of clipping heels on the
patio breaks the moment. Ginger sees them.
GINGER: (urgently) Toby.
Ginger walks across the grass. Toby steps away from CJ slightly.
GINGER: Here.
Ginger hands him a note and leaves. He reads it. His shoulders
slump fractionally.
CJ: Toby?
TOBY: You'd best come with me. (Starts in to the building)
CJ: (insisting) Toby? What is it?
She reaches a hand to him. He flinches away almost imperceptibly.
TOBY: (barely controlled) They've hijacked a plane.
CJ: (after a fractional pause to think) The Kurds?
TOBY: Yes. The Kurds. According to early reports there are
Americans on board. They are demanding that the UN act to restore
Kurdistan.
CJ: Oh God.
TOBY: More innocent people may die and they will achieve nothing.
Nothing.
CJ: (understanding) And now the U.S. can't act.
TOBY: Now the U.S... now we can't act.
She touches his shoulder.
TOBY: (low voice) Don't touch me.
CJ's eyes flash but she removes her hand and follows him into the
West Wing.
***
JOSH and SAM are walking past Donna's office
JOSH: (to Sam) It's in every second movie, for Christ's sake. (To
Donna) What's the maxim again, Donna?
DONNA: (looking up) The U.S. will not negotiate with terrorists.
JOSH: See, even Donna knows it.
DONNA: (rightly indignant) Hey. That's not...
JOSH: (calming) I just needed to make a point.
Sam and Josh move on.
SAM: And the point is?
JOSH: That everyone knows hijacking a plane is not a very good way
of getting things done.
SAM: It's strange that terrorists seem to do it nevertheless.
JOSH: They get desperate.
SAM: Maybe they don't watch American movies.
They step into the Oval Office where Leo and President Bartlet are
standing.
LEO: They're desperate.
BARTLET: Still. They must be aware that we don't negotiate with
terrorists.
JOSH: (to Sam) See?
BARTLET: (continuing) It's not a particularly poetic maxim.
LEO: But it's plain good sense.
BARTLET: Yes. Don't worry Leo. I have no plans to negotiate with
terrorists.
LEO: I didn't think you did, sir.
Toby and CJ enter. They stand separately.
BARTLET: This is bad, Toby.
TOBY: (defeated) Yes, sir.
LEO: They hijacked Euro Air Flight 778 on its way from Baghdad to
Rome.
TOBY: Yes.
BARTLET: I read your report. Your suggestions are excellent.
TOBY: Thank you, sir.
BARTLET: But we can't afford to put pressure on Turkey now. The
world will see it as submission to the hijacker's demands.
Toby nods.
BARTLET: I can't see any way around this.
LEO: No, sir.
BARTLET: Suggestions, anyone?
SAM: None.
JOSH: This is bad for them.
BARTLET: Yes. (Looks to CJ) CJ?
CJ: Yes, sir?
BARTLET: Go and talk to the press. (tiredly) Tell them that the
U.S. does not and will not negotiate with terrorists.
CJ: (nods) Yes, sir.
As she leaves she directs an indecipherable look toward Toby.
***
Scene: Just outside Josh's office.
JOSH and DONNA are talking.
DONNA: So I've been giving this planet thing some thought, Josh, and
I'm considering suggesting they name it after an Egyptian God.
JOSH: Good idea.
DONNA: Because Sirius had special meaning for the Ancient Egyptians
and as far as I can see it almost no one still worships Anubis, for
example... (looking at him strangely) I'm sorry. What did you say.
JOSH: Good idea.
DONNA: (surprised) Oh.
JOSH: It is. You go get 'em girl.
DONNA: Okay. I will.
CJ walks past briskly.
JOSH: (attracting her attention) Hey CJ.
CJ: (nods distractedly) Yeah?
JOSH: How did... uh... How did the press conference go?
CJ: (bemused) Fine, Josh. Thanks for asking.
She walks on. Josh follows her, leaving Donna.
JOSH: Good. Glad to hear it. Um. CJ?
CJ continues at pace.
JOSH: Claudia Jean?
CJ: (still walking) What's up, Josh?
JOSH: Nothing. I just...
They reach her office. She enters and he follows.
JOSH: (continuing) I heard some things.
CJ: (slightly annoyed) Things, Joshua?
JOSH: From Sam. And now I see you, I know something's not right
with you.
CJ: It's nothing to worry about.
JOSH: You and Toby are...
She looks at him with a strange clarity and he stammers to a halt.
She sits at her desk.
JOSH: (continuing hesitantly) He's tired I think. And he takes it
out... I just wanted to check that you're all right. He can
be...
CJ: (sighing) We'll sort it out Josh. It's nothing.
JOSH: Okay. I just wanted to... you know.
CJ: (smiles slightly) Impress me with your phenomenal grasp of
language?
JOSH: Don't mock me. I'm looking out for you.
CJ: (pauses, considering him warmly) Yeah. Okay. You can go now.
Toby looks in the door.
TOBY: Sorry I didn't know you were...
JOSH: It's fine. (looking to CJ) I was leaving.
TOBY: It's just the uh... press thing we're putting together for
the South East Asian initiatives.
JOSH: I'm done. (looks to CJ) You should talk to me.
CJ nods to him as he leaves. Toby closes the door quietly.
TOBY: (directly) This might not be the time or place...
CJ: (interrupting) No. It's neither.
TOBY: We need to...
CJ: This is my office. I am Press Secretary to the President.
We're in the White House. And nothing can start here.
TOBY: You mean...
CJ: (wearily) I don't know what I mean. Whatever I mean we can't
discuss it here or now.
TOBY: (with a slight wry smile) I was planning to apologize again.
CJ: (relenting fractionally) Yeah. And rightly so.
TOBY: I know.
There is a pause.
CJ: (breathes deeply) Presuming nothing happens with the hijacking
I'll be home by ten.
TOBY: (seriously) I'll be there.
CJ: (preemptively) And we'll discuss. I'm not...
TOBY: I know.
He leaves the office. Her eyes follow him uneasily and she turns to
her work with a frown.
***
Scene: the Oval Office
President BARTLET is seated in a chair, reading. MRS. LANDINGHAM
enters with TOBY.
MRS. L: Toby to see you, Mr. President.
BARTLET: Thank you.
He takes off his glasses.
BARTLET: Ah. Toby.
TOBY: Mr. President.
BARTLET: (nods to a chair) Take a seat.
Toby complies.
BARTLET: Leo tells me the Turkish government has rounded up several
suspects in the original bombing.
Toby nods.
BARTLET: (softly) What will happen to these people, Toby?
TOBY: (sighs, leaning back in the chair) The Turkish government has
demonstrated an inclination for torture in these circumstances.
Death in custody is not uncommon.
BARTLET: And the people on Flight 778?
TOBY: I don't know, sir.
BARTLET: Yes. (Thinks briefly) Ultimately I want to look into the
human rights conventions. The European Convention, the American
Convention, the International Convention. We can exert some pressure
worldwide.
TOBY: (wearily) That we can. I believe we need to.
BARTLET: Right. Leo will get someone to work on it.
TOBY: Good, sir.
BARTLET: Thank you Toby.
TOBY: Any time, sir.
***
CJ's apartment. CJ is barefoot, dressed casually, and sitting on a
couch, one leg folded beneath her. She is reading papers. The room
is lit by a standing lamp and the night-time yellow light pools
around her. A knock at the door.
CJ: It's open.
As Toby enters she removes her glasses. He shuts the door and stands
for a moment, acquainting himself with the unfamiliar sense of
things. He looks anywhere except where she is.
TOBY: I haven't been here since you moved everything around.
CJ: I suppose you haven't.
TOBY: It's uh... it's nice.
CJ: (mildly) I'm fond of it.
TOBY: (abruptly changing tack and moving closer) I know I pressed
for this, but I'm not prepared. I can't be sure of what I need to
say. There are certain things that bear consideration before I
entangle you in all this.
CJ: Don't imagine that I'm not caught up in this already. I heard
you earlier.
TOBY: (unsure) Okay. I...
CJ: Sit down, Toby.
He complies.
TOBY: (speaking to his hands) I half wish I kept this secret from
myself, in any sense that would be possible. I think I had this
blind spot where you were concerned. And unexpectedly everything
shifted and (simply, quietly) you stood still. It's... almost
painful.
He looks up, meeting her eyes and continues quickly.
TOBY: But this needn't become an issue, of course. We can just,
things can still be the same between us.
CJ: (steadily) I don't think they can.
TOBY: No. I suppose you're right. I'm... this is real, CJ. This
tangible, incomparable thing.
CJ: (warmly) I know. (with a crooked smile) Nothing else could make
you abuse language like you've been doing.
TOBY: (embarrassed) All right. (slowly) I don't know how you...
CJ: (interrupting) You don't know how I feel? (gently) Toby, my
dear friend, you have to know I would never be so unkind as to let
you continue like that unless I....
TOBY: (with a hint of a smile) Of course.
CJ: Although I do believe I am still owed an apology.
TOBY: At least one.
CJ: You know you can't go on treating me like you have been.
Toby leans closer.
TOBY: I don't believe that will be a problem.
His cell phone trills, painfully loud in the enclosed stillness.
Toby blinks and reaches for it. CJ leans back into the couch and
breathes deeply.
TOBY: Yes?... (listening, he shuts his eyes) Yes. I'll call
her....
That's fine.
He closes the phone and opens his eyes, looking across the space to
her.
TOBY: Iraq brought the plane back down in Baghdad. None of the
passengers died. Only the co-pilot was injured.
CJ: It's good news.
TOBY: For some. They shot and killed two of the four hijackers.
The remainder are going into custody in Iraq.
CJ: No one innocent died, Toby. It's better than you expected.
(thinks briefly) I guess the Iraqis will come down hard on the Kurds
nationwide.
TOBY: Yes. They will. Things will get worse before they get better.
CJ: (with warm meaning) Not everything.
Their eyes are fixed as he nods and stands.
TOBY: (regretfully) What's the chance we can escape going back there
tonight?
CJ: Slim to none.
TOBY: I'd best go then.
CJ: (Reprovingly) Toby.
TOBY: I need to leave while I still can.
CJ stands and moves to take his hand. Their fingers entwine. She
steps closer and meets his lips softly. Both take a breath as time
fragments into wordless passion.
CJ: I didn't want you to leave without doing that. I was worried we
might never get to it. That we might forget.
TOBY: I have to tell you there was never any chance that I would
forget. Never. (He smiles)
CJ: (Chuckling) You don't wanna do that when we get in to work.
TOBY: Do what?
CJ: Smile like that and people will know something's going on.
TOBY: (darkly) I can't believe we have to leave. I'll quit my job,
if you say the word.
CJ: (smiling) That's drivel. Get out of here.
TOBY: I doubt the nation really needs a Director of Communications.
CJ: Out. Shoo. Be gone.
TOBY: Okay.
CJ: (gently) I'll see you in there.
Toby leaves. CJ starts putting her shoes on.
***
Scene: the Press Room
CJ enters without seeing Toby. He brushes her arm and leans close to
her.
TOBY: (into her ear) I've been measuring time by when you'd arrive.
CJ's eyes smile.
CJ: You got lunch plans tomorrow?
TOBY: (low) You got plans tonight?
She smiles outwardly.
CJ: (softly, with mischief) Nothing I can't cancel.
Toby's eyes shine. He forces a frown and looks down. CJ walks to
the front of the room and he watches her as she speaks.
CJ: (to the press) Two and a half hours ago EuroAir Flight 778 was
forced down in Baghdad by Iraqi military jets. None of the
passengers was injured. The copilot, Domenic Ungaro of Italy was
injured during the hijacking and died shortly after the landing. The
hijackers were...
-- Fade out