THE WEST WING “MANDATORY MINIMUMS” WRITTEN BY: AARON SORKIN DIRECTED BY: ROBERT BERLINGER TEASER FADE IN: INT. SHERATON CENTER HOTEL, WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT The camera pans up to Bartlet on a monitor. He is speaking in front of many people. BARTLET I get nervous around laws that fundamentally assume that Americans can't be trusted. We’d better have mandatory sentencing, because judges can't be trusted to disperse even-handed justice. The crowd applauds. CUT TO: INT. SECLUDED AREA - CONTINUOUS Toby and Sam are in a secluded area watching the speech on monitors. The camera pans over Toby's shoulder to look down on a crowd. Bartlet is standing at the podium. BARTLET We better have term limits, ‘cause voters can't be trusted to recognize corruption. There’s another round of applause from the crowd. BARTLET Oh, and by the way... I say, by the way. When the playing field is leveled and the process is fair and open, it turns out we have term limits. They're called elections. More applause. The camera pans through the crowd. CUT TO: INT. HOTEL PRESS AREA - CONTINUOUS C.J. is circulating the room full of reporters. CHRIS The President ate his Wheaties this morning. C.J. As a matter of fact, the President had a bowl of oatmeal this morning. He said it was something he's always wanted to try. [walks around the room and brushes by Danny] Folks, listen up. In a moment or two, the President is going to say something that's sure to get you all shouting my name at once. There'll be a full briefing tonight at the White House. C.J. circulates around the room. Danny approaches C.J. DANNY C.J., look.... C.J. Yeah. You're not going to want to miss this. The crowd applauds again. REPORTER C.J., what is this? What's going on in there? C.J. The President's going to throw his cap over the wall. REPORTER What does that mean? C.J. You're about to find out. CUT TO: THE PODIUM - CONTINUOUS BARTLET My father was very fond of the analogy of the Irish lads whose journey was blocked by a brick wall, seemingly too high to scale. Throwing their caps over the wall, the lads had no choice but to follow. How many times in the great history of our country have we come to a wall seemingly too high to scale only to throw our caps to the other side? FADE TO: INT. A DARK ROOM - NIGHT The Senate Majority Leader is inside with his staff. Steve Onorato is watching Bartlet from a TV screen. SENATOR This was given to me by a constituent who read in Time Magazine that I like Cognac. The problem is, that this is Brandy and not Cognac. Anyone know the difference? ONORATO Senator? SECRETARY The Cognac is supposed to come from the... SENATOR ...The Cognac region of France. That's right. ONORATO Senator? SENATOR Steve, sit down with us over here, would you? The man's not going to say anything we're interested in. ONORATO I think he is. SENATOR What are you talking about? ONORATO Listen. BARTLET [on T.V.] Tomorrow... tomorrow morning, we're going to begin to change the way elections are supervised in this country. ONORATO He's going to name two finance reformers to the F.E.C. SENATOR What the hell are you talking about? ONORATO Listen. SENATOR You said it wasn't going to happen. ONORATO I was wrong. SENATOR You were wrong? ONORATO He's going to name... damn it! Somebody.... SECRETARY John Bacon... ONORATO John Bacon and Patty Calhoun. SENATOR You told him, they take on campaign finance reform, I roll out a legislative agenda that'll make his boss sit down and cry. ONORATO I made it very clear. BARTLET [on T.V.] I am proud to nominate John Branford Bacon and Patricia Calhoun to the Federal Election Commission. SENATOR Get him on the phone. SECRETARY Who? SENATOR Josh Lyman. Get him on the phone. I'm going to reach down his throat and take out his lungs with an ice-cream scoop. CUT TO: INT. SHERATON HOTEL/MONITOR AREA - NIGHT Josh, Toby, and Sam are all decked out in tuxes. SAM You're about to get a call. JOSH Yeah. SAM Big call. JOSH Yeah. SAM Powerful guy. JOSH Yeah. SAM I'm just saying you're probably rocked back from your meeting last week. JOSH A little. SAM They threatened you with a legislative agenda. JOSH Yeah. SAM They made you feel powerless and you're a little off your game. JOSH Yeah. SAM A little gun shy. In the background, a phone rings. Toby had sidled up by Sam. TOBY Leave him alone. SAM I'm bucking him up. TOBY Leave him alone. SAM You asked me to buck him up. TOBY Now, I'm telling you to leave him alone. JOSH Guys, I'm trying to watch this speech. DONNA Josh. JOSH The call? DONNA On the cell. [hands him the cell phone] TOBY Josh, if you need us, we're standing right here. Josh turns away to answer the call. JOSH [into phone] Hi, Senator. Why don't you take your legislative agenda and shove it up your ass. He closes the phone as the crowd applauds again. He turns back to everyone. JOSH Turns out I was fine. He tosses phone to Donna, who catches it as we-- SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES. END TEASER * * * ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT C.J. is fielding questions from a roomful of reporters. They are all clamoring for C.J. REPORTER C.J.? Is the White House concerned that the FEC will become a partisan political football? C.J. I'd like to emphasize again that the President has nominated one Democrat and one Republican, which he was, certainly, under no legal obligation to do. There’s more clamoring. C.J. Jesse. JESSE In the past, the F.E.C. Commissioners were chosen... C.J. In the past, the F.E.C. Commissioners has been chosen by the President, signing off on whomever the Congressional Leadership pointed to. STEVE Was the Congressional Leadership aware in advance that the President would be slipping this announcement in his speech tonight? C.J. I think it's possible we forgot to tell them. REPORTER C.J., is the President declaring war on Congress? CUT TO: INT. JOSH’S OFFICE - NIGHT Josh is watching the press conference on TV. JOSH Say it's a police action. C.J. [on T.V.] The President isn't empowered to declare war. The President is empowered. In fact, he's obligated to nominate Federal Agency Directors. I call it more of a police action. JOSH [chuckles] How 'bout that? DONNA [enters] Toby wants you. JOSH On the phone? They walk out of the office into JOSH'S BULLPEN AREA. DONNA In his office. JOSH Do you know why? DONNA Polling. JOSH He's bringing in Al Kiefer? DONNA Let him tell you. JOSH Why can't you tell me? DONNA 'Cause you're going to his office right now. And I've got 37 different things to... JOSH [huffily] Fine. He leaves and she follows into the HALLWAY. DONNA Josh. JOSH Yeah. DONNA Yes, he's bringing in Al Keifer. JOSH It's a big polling week, Donna. I figured he was bringing in Kiefer. DONNA Okay. JOSH That's what you were afraid to tell me? DONNA I wasn't afraid. JOSH Okay. DONNA The thing is, and it's going to be interesting to see how you react to this, but Kiefer wants to bring in a California expert. JOSH That's a good idea, cause... wait... [pause, looks] DONNA Yeah. JOSH Joey Lucas. DONNA She's coming out with Kiefer tomorrow. JOSH Okay... okay.... DONNA By the way, that's what I was afraid to tell you. JOSH You... you shouldn't have been. You know why? DONNA It's no big deal. JOSH It's no big deal. And I'll tell you what else. DONNA You're a pro. JOSH I... I am a pro. But that's not what I was going to say. DONNA What were you going to say? JOSH That's what I was going to say. DONNA Yeah. JOSH But, both those things are true. I'm a pro and what was the other one? DONNA It's no big deal. JOSH That's right. They walk into the COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE. BONNIE Rambo! There’s a small applause. JOSH You talking to me? BONNIE Nice phone call. JOSH That's how we do things in New England, my friends. [raises is arms in victory] BONNIE In Indiana, we're not allowed to talk like that. GINGER In New Jersey, we encourage it. JOSH Where's Toby? BONNIE They're in Sam’s office. Josh enters SAM’S OFFICE. Sam is typing at his desk. Toby is standing looking over Sam's shoulder. Josh shuts the door and sits on a chair. JOSH Hey. TOBY [to Josh] Hang on. [to Sam] That's good... good... Okay... Sam? SAM Yeah. TOBY You're going to come to a verb soon, right? SAM Okay. You know what this is called? TOBY Bad writing? SAM Imagery. TOBY Well, you say potato... Josh, it's a big polling week. I'm bringing in Al Kiefer. JOSH You've turned 180 degrees on Kiefer. You know that? TOBY I haven't turned on Kiefer at all. I don't want him advising the President. I want him bringing us numbers. JOSH Advising people is what pollsters do. TOBY He'll do what I tell him to do. Also.... JOSH English as the National Language. SAM That's the first thing they're going to fight back with, Josh. TOBY We need Hispanics. You know what state has a large population of Hispanics? JOSH Uh... I want to say Maine, but uh... TOBY California. JOSH California. Damn, and I was only off by a continent. TOBY Josh. JOSH It's fine. Bring her out here. TOBY She'll be here tomorrow. JOSH This isn't a thing. TOBY Okay. JOSH I met her twice, Toby. SAM Yeah, but, one of those times, she broke your heart. You know the way women can do. Where they take your heart and they throw it on the floor and then they stomp on it with their big high heals. She’s a very beautiful and interesting woman. I can see why a lot of guys would go for her. [pause] You know, there's nothing at all I'm saying now of any value. So, I think the thing to do is... I think I should just keep writing. JOSH Okay. [gets up] We had a good night. TOBY Yeah. JOSH [at the door] C.J.'s doing great in there. He leaves. Toby is still looking over Sam's shoulder. TOBY Any time you want to use punctuation, that'd be fine. CUT TO: INT. BRIEFING ROOM - NIGHT The press clamors for C.J. C.J. I'm going to take one more question. Katie. KATIE The Federal Elections Commission's role has never been that much more than symbolic... C.J. I wouldn't say the F.E.C. was merely symbolic, but if you're suggesting they're toothless, I'll agree with you. KATIE Given that, does the White House think that two new commissioners will make any difference? C.J. No. KATIE Then why do it? C.J. Symbolism. There'll be plenty more tomorrow. Everybody have a good night. The reporters clamor for C.J. but she heads off to Carol near the door. C.J. Carol. She whispers. Carol walks to a reporter, JACK, who is sitting in front of Danny. CAROL Jack, C.J.'s inviting you back to follow up on a couple of things. JACK Me? CAROL Yeah. JACK She doesn't want me. [turns to Danny] She wants Danny. CAROL No, she asked for you. JACK Danny -- The Senior White House Correspondent. If there's going to be an exclusive with the Press Secretary... DANNY Go. She wants you. C.J. glances at Danny before she leaves the room. CUT TO: EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. STREET - DAY TUESDAY MORNING Sam and Toby are crossing a street. SAM Mandatory Minimums are racist. TOBY I understand that. SAM They're a red herring. TOBY I understand that, too. SAM It's a way of looking like you're tough on crime, without assuming the burden of being tough on crime. TOBY Everything you've said I understand. SAM I'm saying... TOBY We do things one thing at a time. SAM But I'm saying we don't have time to do things one thing at a time. TOBY We're talking about treatment. SAM I'm talking about treatment and I'm talking about Mandatory Minimums and I'm saying it's a red herring and I'm saying it's racist. TOBY When you talk to the President, I want you talking about treatment. I want you talking about treatment vs. enforcement and I don't want you to stray from that! SAM Toby, is this what you meant when you said, "Sam, you're completely in charge of this"? TOBY Yes, I meant, you're in charge of this, in the sense that you're subordinate to me in every way. [stops walking and looks around] Where is this place? SAM What place? TOBY The breakfast place. SAM It's still on the last street. TOBY Why didn't you say anything? SAM We were having a nice conversation. Toby looks a bit annoyed and heads back in the other direction. CUT TO: INT. AN OUTDOOR PATIO - DAY Leo is seated at a table and Margaret is standing beside him. WAITRESS Mr. McGarry, would you like some tomato juice while waiting for the others? LEO Thanks, Celia. MARGARET is still standing fussing with some #2 pencils She sits down and fusses a bit with her place settings. LEO All set there? MARGARET Yeah. Josh and Donna enter the patio area. JOSH Leo. We couldn't meet closer to the office? LEO I don't want people coming by the table. JOSH We couldn't meet in the office? LEO I was hungry. JOSH We couldn't have food ordered? LEO Oh, sit down, would you? DONNA You should notice that Josh has on a nice suit. MARGARET That is a nice suit. JOSH Donna. DONNA We'll call it his Joy Lucas suit.... JOSH Donna. DONNA ...you know from now on. MARGARET Joey Lucas is coming? JOSH We need a California expert and this is my regular Tuesday suit. MARGARET You assign your clothes days of the week? JOSH I'm saying there's no particular M.O. behind... Toby and Sam enter. SAM Found it. LEO About time. Sit down. SAM Ah, Leo.... LEO Hang on. [to Toby] Talk to me about drugs. TOBY We can make a case for treatment vs. enforcement and we're ready to go to the President. A cell phone rings. SAM We're also ready to go to the President with Mandatory Minimums on crack versus powder cocaine. LEO One step at a time. SAM That's what Toby just said. LEO Toby’s right. SAM Yes, but does anyone remember that I was put in charge. LEO It was an honorary kind of thing, Sam. MARGARET Leo. [hands Leo the cell phone] LEO [into phone] Yeah. WAITRESS [to the others] Are you ready to order? LEO [to Margaret] Write these names down: Dalton, Dawson, Foxworthy, Greer, Morgenthau, Stackhouse, and Sugarbaker. [into phone] Thank you. TOBY What was that? LEO You know what that was. MARGARET Leo, what do you want me to do with this thing? LEO Hold on to them until I say so. TOBY It's exactly the right thing to do. LEO From anybody but me. JOSH I'd like to clear up that I... I don't have suits for the days of the week. This is just a regular suit. SAM It's a nice suit. DONNA Sure, it's a nice suit. It's his Joey Lucas.... JOSH Donna! DONNA I'm beginning to regret not getting the waffles. LEO [exasperated] I am beginning to regret having hired any of you. We have a 42% job approval and you're talking about waffles and something with Josh, I don't understand. DONNA He's wearing a special suit for Joey Lucas. LEO You got dressed up for a guy named Joey? JOSH Joey... Joey Lucas is a woman... and I'm not getting dressed up for her. DONNA It's his regular Tuesday suit. LEO My point is... we have to make it through the week without making any mistakes. JOSH We will. LEO I'm saying that this is... JOSH I'm saying calm down. LEO I'm perfectly calm. SAM You're not calm, Leo. You're acting like a nervous hooleelia. Everyone looks at Sam. TOBY A what? SAM It may not be a word. It may just be something my mother used to say. FADE OUT. END ACT ONE * * * ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY Toby, C.J., Josh, Sam, Leo, Bartlet, and Al Kiefer are sitting in various seats. AL It's a huge mistake. BARTLET Al... AL It is a huge mistake, Mr. President. And possibly a fatal one. It'll doom the midterms in November. It'll haunt you at the convention. And if you manage to get renominated, which is far from a lock, there's no way you'll win reelection. SAM Al's Mr. Good News Happy Guy. Bartlet smirks. Al Sam. For the first time, more voters disapprove than approve of the President's job performance, 42% approval. This is not the time to come out for legalization. SAM We're not coming out for legalization. Mandy enters. Both C.J. and Toby move towards her. C.J. ushers Mandy out of the Oval Office. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS MANDY It's going to be a long day. C.J. Mandy. MANDY Kiefer's just getting warmed up. C.J. Listen... C.J. gives Mandy a knowing look. MANDY You're kidding. C.J. No. MANDY He doesn't want me in there? C.J. Leo’s not comfortable with it. MANDY Leo’s not comfortable with it. C.J. No. MANDY I want to talk to the President. C.J. You can't. MANDY C.J. C.J. You can't. MANDY It was just a memo. C.J. It wasn't just a memo. MANDY The fact that you guys.... C.J. Do you have any idea how pissed people are at you? MANDY C.J. C.J. They're pissed at me, that's how pissed they are at you. They want to know how the hell I didn't know about the memo. MANDY I can be trusted. C.J. We'll see. There's plenty for you to do. Leo would feel more comfortable if you stayed out of this... MANDY Okay. Okay! [walks away in a huff] CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY AL You're coming... SAM Drug control... AL Mr. President. SAM Listen to me... AL Sir. TOBY Listen to Sam. SAM Drug control appropriations... JOSH ...which total 17.6 billion... SAM ...are divided into a ratio of 2/3 enforcement, 1/3 treatment. We want to reverse that ratio. AL Spend less money on drug enforcement? SAM So that we can spend more money on treatment. AL So, you're soft on crime. SAM Al... AL You don't care if kids shoot up on the playground at recess. BARTLET We don't care do we, Sam? SAM No, sir. LEO [enters] What'd I miss? BARTLET Kiefer's been here 45 minutes, he's already got me on the playground at recess. LEO [to Al] Took you 45 minutes? TOBY Mr. President, Sam and I have been working with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, we have some numbers you should hear. Charlie comes in and catches Josh's eye. Josh gets up and leaves. BARTLET [OS] Let's hear 'em. SAM [OS] 5,642 Federal prisoners... Josh and Charlie reach the OUTER OVAL OFFICE. JOSH What's up? CHARLIE Joey Lucas is here. She's waiting in your office. JOSH Okay. CHARLIE Okay. As Josh closes the door, he looks at something on Mrs. Landingham’s desk. He notices Charlie looking at him, smiling. JOSH What are you smiling at? CHARLIE Fine lookin' woman, Josh. They start to walk out. JOSH Yes. CHARLIE I could help you out. JOSH Help me out with what? CHARLIE She's a fine looking woman. JOSH Stop saying that! CHARLIE I owe you a lot, Josh. You got me this job. I'd like to pay you back. JOSH By helping me out? CHARLIE By helping you out. JOSH What makes you think I need any help? CHARLIE She's a fine looking woman.... JOSH Get away from me. Charlie turns and heads back to the Oval Office. CUT TO: INT. JOSH’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Josh enters. JOSH Hey, Joey. Hey, Kenny. Good to see you. I got your desks set up out here. Why don't you come with me? [walks out] JOEY Hey! JOSH Yeah. JOEY [KENNY] My flight was fine, thank you. They reach JOEY’S OFFICE. JOSH Joey, we're in a bit of a mode here and I think it's best if we just do business. Plus, this is the White House. I wouldn't expect candy and flowers on your arrival. Margaret enters carrying some flowers. MARGARET Excuse me. Joey? These are from Leo McGarry. [presents her with flowers] He says welcome and let him know if there's anything you need. JOEY [KENNY] Well, that's so sweet. Thank him for me. MARGARET I will. Did you have a good flight? JOSH [a bit sternly to Margaret] Go back to your office. JOEY They're carnations. JOSH This is your desk. You got a phone. You got a computer. You got access to a staff. I know how women like to personalize their desks with flowers, and plants, and hand lotion, but I prefer the place to be professional. JOEY [KENNY] Your staff likes to decorate their desks with hand lotion? JOSH Some of them might, and I'm saying we don't do that on my side of the building. [pause] I'm going to go back to this meeting and then I'll brief you on what I need. JOEY Okay. Josh leaves. Joey follows him out into the hall. JOEY [KENNY] I'm not sleeping with Al Kiefer anymore. Josh abruptly stops in his tracks and turns to face Joey. The staffers all stop and gawk at Joey and Josh. JOSH Come here. [motions to Joey] JOEY [KENNY] Can I help you? JOSH Yes! JOEY [KENNY] How? JOSH By coming here! He motions for her to approach him. She walks toward him. JOSH This is a place where solemn work is done. This is a place... this is a place... let me say this... this is not a place where one's personal things... where things among people... this is not a place... let's... This is a place where work is done and nothing else. JOEY You bet. JOSH Okay. [turns to leave] JOEY Nice suit. JOSH [pauses to look at her] I'll... I'll be back. C.J. suddenly catches up with Josh. They stop in the lobby. C.J. Josh, listen. I misspoke last night. I said the President nominated a Democrat and a Republican, even though he was under no legal obligation to do so. It turns out he is. JOSH [sighs] C.J.... C.J. I know. JOSH This from the White House counsel? C.J. Yeah. JOSH You sure? C.J. About what? JOSH You said he nominated a Democrat and a Republican. C.J. Even though he was under no legal obligation to do so. Yeah, I just looked at the transcript. JOSH All right. You'll fix it at the briefing? C.J. Yeah. JOSH Don't worry about it. [leaves C.J. standing in the lobby] CUT TO: INT. PORTICO - DAY Two Marine Guards salute each other. We follow one of them as he marches. The camera pans from outside into the Oval Office through the glass double doors. CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS SAM The American Medical Association says that addiction is a disease. AL You're not going to be able to sell that. SAM Al! AL You're not going to be able to sell it. TOBY The A.M.A. says it, why does it he have to sell it? AL Because... TOBY Drug addiction is a disease. It's a... it's... it's a... medical problem. It can be treated. This isn't ideological. It's science. AL It's science to you. TOBY [big sigh] Science is science to everybody, Al. JOSH [enters] What'd I miss? BARTLET Toby was just explaining to Al that science is science to everyone. AL And I believe that science is science to everybody. I just don't think you can sell that. JOSH I'm sorry, Mr. President. While Al tries to come up with something easier to sell than science, would you mind if I spoke to Toby and Leo alone? BARTLET Go. Before Josh leaves with Toby and Leo, he gives Al an odd look. CUT TO: INT. LEO’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Josh, Toby and Leo enter. JOSH So... LEO Yeah. JOSH Hey, Joey Lucas says she's not with Kiefer anymore. LEO Well that's a load off our minds. JOSH Yeah... uh... C.J. misspoke last night during her briefing... uh, she'll fix it when she gets back in there. TOBY What did she say? JOSH She said the President nominated a Democrat and a Republican when he was under no legal obligation to do so. LEO He is under a legal obligation. JOSH She knows that now. LEO This is just the kind of dumb mistake we don't need right now. JOSH She knows that, too. LEO All right, what are you gonna do? JOSH How's it going in there? LEO Sam’s just starting. JOSH You talked to him about the thing, yet? [pointing at Toby] LEO No. TOBY Me? LEO Yeah, listen.... JOSH We want you to go to a meeting. TOBY With who? JOSH A prominent House Democrat who has a voice on Campaign Finance Reform and if it was someone on the Ethics Committee that'd be even better, cause then she could answer some of Leo’s questions. TOBY [pause, smiles a bit] I used to be married to someone who fits that description. LEO I set up lunch for the two of you. TOBY You set me up on a date with my ex-wife? LEO Yeah. Let her know the President's not going to ask the democrats to unilaterally drop soft money. JOSH Make that clear. LEO And also take her temperature on the ethics thing. TOBY Okay. He looks back and forth at Leo and Josh before heading back to the Oval Office. JOSH See ya later. [starts to leave but turns around] Leo, you had to send flowers? LEO It's a nice thing to do. JOSH Yeah, but I had this whole patter thing going... and then... the hell with it. [exits] LEO Margaret! MARGARET [comes in] Yes. LEO The list of names I gave you before? MARGARET Dalton, Dawson, Foxworthy, Greer, Morgenthau, Stackhouse, Sugarbaker. LEO You didn't have to memorize them. MARGARET I couldn't help it. LEO Okay. MARGARET My mind works that way. LEO Yes, call their offices. I want to see one representative apiece at two o'clock. I want them as a group. MARGARET In the office? LEO In the press briefing room. [walks toward the door] MARGARET Leo. LEO Yeah. MARGARET What do those seven people have in common? LEO Don't worry about it. He enters the Oval Office and closes the door. FADE OUT. END ACT TWO * * * ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. JOEY’S OFFICE - DAY Josh enters. Kenny tries to get Joey's attention of Josh's arrival. JOSH Hello. JOEY Hello. JOSH I see you're all settled in. JOEY Ah, yes, yes. JOSH Area looks good. Not too many personal items. Got your little clock, that's fine. JOEY Thank you. JOSH Here's the story. The President announced last night, he's naming two Campaign Finance Reform minded nominees to the F.E.C. This will anger the Republican Leadership to the extent they'll retaliate. Retaliate, how? They'll introduce a series of bills design to put the President on the wrong side of public debates. The first will be a law making English the National language. JOEY [KENNY] I already know this, Josh. I've been working on it since Toby called me. JOSH Joey... Joey's alarm clock rings. JOEY Lunchtime. Kenny and Joey take off. Josh leans back in his seat. CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY SAM Over 30% of the entire Federal prison population are non-violent first time offenders in jail for drug related crimes. AL Sam... SAM At a cost, for those prisoners alone... AL Sam! SAM ...of 2 million dollars a day. TOBY Mr. President, we can sell the public on the idea that 2 million bucks a day can be put to better use. AL Not if it's for treatment. SAM Yes, if it's for treatment. Yes, we can demonstrate that treatment is what prevents substance abuse. AL And yes, if you can get people to sit still long enough to hear that argument. But, it takes a lot less time to hear "Just Say No" And anyone on the other side is soft on crime. SAM The A.M.A.... AL Can't sell it! BARTLET Can't sell science? AL Mr. President. BARTLET I'm hungry and so far nobody has convinced me of anything. LEO Let's go eat lunch and meet back here in an hour. SAM Yes, sir. TOBY and LEO Thank you, sir. Bartlet, Sam, Leo and Toby disperse in all directions, leaving Al alone in the Oval Office. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Sam leaves the Oval Office and meets up with Cathy. CATHY Hey, Sam. How's it going? SAM Uh, we're in the early stages. CATHY Do you know what you want for lunch? SAM That's an interesting question. CATHY Sam. SAM I could have turkey. CATHY Sam. SAM I could have some fish. CATHY Would you like to look at the menu? SAM A nice piece of fish never hurt anyone, Cathy. Sam enters his office to find Steve Onorato waiting for him. ONORATO Hey, Sam. SAM Steve. ONORATO There was an O.M.B. meeting downstairs. I wanted to see you. They said you were with the President that I should wait here. SAM Yes. This is about the F.E.C. nominees? ONORATO Ah, look... SAM You don't want to see me, you want to see Josh. ONORATO I was hoping you and I could talk. SAM On the F.E.C., Josh is the guy. ONORATO Josh isn't quite himself lately. SAM Steve. ONORATO "Take your legislative agenda and shove it up your ass"? SAM That sounds exactly like Josh to me. ONORATO My boss is ready to set the building on fire. SAM Then your boss will be arrested, as I'm quite sure that's against the law. ONORATO Look, don't mess with me Sam, I'm serious. SAM And I'm tired, and this isn't my thing. Go see Josh. ONORATO You gonna eat? SAM What? ONORATO Lunch. Are you gonna eat? SAM Yeah, but at my desk, I was just gonna get... ONORATO What are you having? SAM Turkey. ONORATO Get two. He takes off his jacket and sits down. Sam looks a little off-balanced at being ambushed by Onorato. CUT TO: INT. A PARK NEAR THE TIDAL BASIN - DAY Congresswoman ANDREA WYATT is sitting on a picnic blanket. Toby is standing nearby. ANDREA WYATT It’s a beautiful day. TOBY Yes. ANDY This is nice. It's like a picnic. TOBY There are restaurants, you know, indoors, with waiters and tables. ANDY You should come sit next to me. [pats the blanket] TOBY I'm wearing a suit. ANDY So am I. TOBY I'm a responsible adult. ANDY I'm a member of the United States Congress. TOBY I rest my case. ANDY You know what I got? TOBY What? ANDY I got pie. [pulls out a Tupperware container from her bag] TOBY Andy. ANDY Toby, I’ve got really good pie. It's homemade. [takes a piece of the pie and eats it] TOBY You baked a pie? ANDY No, I didn't mean I made it in my home. TOBY Let's go. ANDY [puts the Tupperware in her bag] This pie was baked for me by one of my constituents. TOBY And you trust it? ANDY Well, that's why I was hoping you'd eat it first. TOBY Andy. She gets up and picks up her blanket. Toby and Andy start to walk by the Tidal Basin. ANDY Want to talk about the F.E.C.? TOBY The President's not gonna ask anyone to give up soft money unilaterally. ANDY You're still going to hear from Stadler and Ross. TOBY Yeah. ANDY Probably from McCovey, Lester, Brock...probably Klesko, Trask... TOBY Ritchie. ANDY Yeah. TOBY But we have your people in line? ANDY Yeah. TOBY What about drugs? ANDY That's a different story. TOBY Andy... ANDY Mandatory Minimums are racist. TOBY One step at a time. ANDY It's part of the same step. TOBY Treatment. ANDY I'm saying Mandatory Minimums... They each try to talk over one another. TOBY I know what you're saying. I don't want to talk about Mandatory Minimums. ANDY The Sentencing Commissioners... TOBY Andy, I don't want to... ANDY ...proposals regarding cocaine recommend that relative federal mandatory minimums sentencing crack users... TOBY This is what happens. This is what you do. I say I don't want to talk about Mandatory Minimums and we talk about Mandatory Minimums anyway. You hijack my ability to make that decision for myself, Andrea. And making decisions for myself is my birthright! ANDY Good to get that off you chest there, Pokey? TOBY Yes. ANDY Okay. TOBY You don't have a problem with what Leo’s gonna do? ANDY No, but I want to be there. TOBY Why? ANDY Just for fun. TOBY It's not fun, Andy. ANDY Okay. TOBY It's not fun... ANDY Okay. TOBY Not everything is fun.... ANDY Okay! TOBY If you want to be there, you can be there, but this is a serious thing. ANDY Can I bring my pie? TOBY Andy. ANDY I'm just saying it's a serious thing. There might not be any food there. TOBY Can you walk faster, please? I really don't like to be outdoors this long. Andy speeds up her pace a bit to keep up with Toby. CUT TO: INT. SAM’S OFFICE - DAY Sam is arguing with Onorato while eating lunch. ONORATO The fact is we'll probably have to confirm your nominees. SAM [mouthful] Yeah. ONORATO They're too qualified. SAM They're too qualified? ONORATO Too qualified not to confirm. SAM That's a problem. ONORATO I'm saying, there's no political cover. SAM I understood what you're saying. ONORATO So my question is.... SAM Steve, the F.E.C. nominees aren't my thing. ONORATO I'm not talking about the F.E.C. now. I'm talking about drugs. You're gearing up to announce a new drug policy. SAM We've been gearing up for 14 months. ONORATO Yeah, but now you're taking daylong strategy sessions in the Oval Office. SAM Yeah. ONORATO Drugs are obviously important to you. SAM Important to everyone. ONORATO I mean, particularly to you. You've been the point man at the White House. SAM Yeah. ONORATO So why do you want to trade it in for a move on campaign finance? It's not going to get you anywhere. SAM It's gonna get me somewhere and I'm not trading it in. ONORATO You are. SAM We're not bartering. ONORATO I'm saying without the F.E.C. nominations, there's room to work with us. SAM And with the nominations? ONORATO You can have all the strategy sessions you want. No one you need's gonna take your phone call. And you, Sam, can go back to writing speeches for when the President meets the Girl Scout who sold the most cupcakes. Cathy knocks on Sam’s door and enters. CATHY Sam. SAM [to Onorato] Cookies. ONORATO Huh? SAM [takes his jacket and heads out] Girl Scouts sells cookies, not cupcakes. And it was a pretty good speech, I wrote. It was about volunteerism. ONORATO Well keep up the good work, Sam. SAM [from outside his office] I will. CUT TO: INT. LEO’S OFFICE - DAY C.J. enters. Leo is signing something in his table. C.J. Leo. LEO Yeah. C.J. I was just coming to see you. LEO I don't have much time. C.J. You're people are here. They're in the press briefing room. LEO Okay. [heads out as C.J. follows] C.J. Carol’s keeping the press in the northeast lobby. She'll wait for your high sign. LEO I'll be over in a minute. C.J. We're telling anyone who asks why the press is out of there that it's a special event. LEO Good. C.J. Leo, I don't know if you've heard... LEO Yeah, I did hear C.J. You want me to tell you how many different ways that screw-up was stupid? C.J. I know. LEO For one thing, don't pass yourself off as a legal authority. For another, what the hell are you doing using a phrase like "under no legal obligation"? C.J. Leo. LEO You're parsing at a time when the whole idea... C.J. I know. LEO So right out of the gate, we've got to go back. C.J. Yes. LEO These amateur mistakes make me crazy, C.J. C.J. Yes. LEO I'll be in there in a minute. He exits through a door leaving C.J. alone in the hallway. DANNY [OS] That was bush league. Danny, who was talking to several reporters down the hall, is now walking towards C.J. They head for her office. DANNY That was bush league what you did last night. C.J. We'll talk in my office. DANNY And why can't anyone go in the Press Room? C.J. There's a meeting in there. DANNY What kind of meeting? C.J. None of your business. DANNY It's the Press Room. They walk by Carol's desk. C.J. Hi, Carol. DANNY Hi, Carol. CAROL Hi. C.J. and Danny enter C.J.'S OFFICE. C.J. shuts the door. C.J. Don't talk to me like that in front of people. DANNY Look... C.J. No! I just got called amateur twice in 10 seconds. The White House Chief of Staff can do it to me wherever he wants. You don't do it in front of people. DANNY If I don't have access anymore, I don't have a job. C.J. I would think a man with your credentials... DANNY You think I'm kidding around? C.J. [yells] You think I am?! DANNY The memo was news. C.J. Says you. DANNY That's right. Says me -- says me, says my editor, says every paper who picked it up the next day. Says Time, says Newsweek... C.J. Congratulations, you're a movie star. You're also on the outside looking in for a while, so get used to it. DANNY Used to it? I'm paid for it, and what you don't understand.... C.J. DON’T tell me what I don't understand! I'm not in my freshman year anymore. I understand more than you think. CAROL [knocks] C.J.? C.J. Yeah. CAROL Leo’s on his way in. C.J. Thanks. [leaves] DANNY What's going on in the Press Room? C.J. Special event. FADE OUT. END ACT THREE * * * ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. PRESS ROOM - DAY Seven people are sitting around. Leo enters. C.J. and Carol are guarding the doors. LEO Good afternoon. I'll make this as quick and direct as I can. There's a chance... STUART Why are we in the Press Room? LEO This will be pretty fast, Stuart. Faster still if I'm not interrupted. There's a chance that a debate is about to begin over the best way to fight the drug problem in this country. The White House, being among those, who believe more money should be put into treatment. The people you work for, being among those who believe we should put more money into prisons. Andy and Toby quietly enter from the back and sit. DICK Leo, why the 7 of us? LEO Dick, in July of '96, your boss's son was arrested for carrying 25 grams of cocaine. That's a crime that usually carries... what Toby? TOBY Eight to 15 years. LEO And what did the Congressman's son get? TOBY Six months house arrest. LEO Lynn, your boss's husband was caught stealing Vicodin and Percocet from the hospital at which he served as Chief of Thoracic Surgery. Now, Vicodin and Percocet are schedule-two drugs in the same legal category as Opium. What was the blue-book value, Toby? TOBY Each stolen pill carries the penalty of one year in prison and a monetary fine. LEO And what did we have for the Congresswoman's husband? TOBY He went to a pre-trial diversion program. There's no longer any criminal record. LEO That's not bad. STUART Leo, I... LEO Stuart, yours is my favorite. Your boss has a daughter who was pulled over with 31 grams of coke and charged with intent to deliver. More over, she's just been indicted by a federal grand jury in Greenville, South Carolina, along with 18 other people for conspiracy to distribute. Toby... TOBY She paid a fine of $2800 and forfeited her car in which the drugs were found. LEO The President wants a lively debate. Leo gives C.J. a signal. C.J. signals to Carol. LEO He wants to hear opposition, but he's not gonna stomach hypocrisy. We start hearing "soft on criminals", "soft on drugs" from any of the people you work for, we've got 7 stories ready for page one. C.J. and Carol let the press into the room. STUART You're saber-rattling. LEO Here comes the White House Press Corps. Let's find out. STUART We're done here. All seven people get up to leave. LEO You play the full nine innings at this level, Stuart. Tell your friends about it. CAROL [to the press] Take your seats, please. C.J. will start the briefing. We follow Andy and Toby as they come out of the Press Room into the HALLWAY. ANDY [sighs] Can I tell you something? TOBY Listen. ANDY Watching you guys do that.... TOBY Andy. ANDY It was a little fun. TOBY That was not fun. ANDY You should've had some pie. TOBY I have to get back to work. And you, being a Congresswoman... I'm sure you need to be back out there... you know, screwing the people. ANDY I should tell you something. TOBY What? ANDY In the interest of full disclosure. TOBY What? ANDY The other night, I was out on a date. We had a couple glasses of wine. He pulled the car up, bumped the guy ahead of us. The cop was there. He was going to give him a blood-alcohol test, but then he recognized me. TOBY That's fine. ANDY I'm just saying.... TOBY You didn't say, "Officer, I'm a member of Congress, isn't there anything we can do about this?" ANDY No. TOBY Who were you out with? ANDY A guy named Victor Stipe. TOBY Executive advisor for the Orioles? ANDY Yeah. They stop walking. TOBY You went out on a date with the executive advisor for the Baltimore Orioles? ANDY Toby, are you upset that I went out on a date? Or are you upset that I went out on a date with someone who plays in the same division as the Yankees? TOBY Honest to God, I'm not sure. They enter TOBY'S OFFICE. ANDY Mandatory Minimums, Toby. TOBY What are you doing getting into cars with guys that have been drinking? They start talking at the same time again. ANDY Cause I'm a grown woman.... TOBY That's what taxicabs are for. ANDY And I will get into whatever car.... TOBY And also, I can still do that. ANDY [stops and stares at Toby] You'd come pick me up with a date? TOBY If it wasn't an Oriole, absolutely. Or a Red Sock. In fact, just date the National League, would you? He pauses as they stare at each other. ANDY Toby, I'm not kidding. Mandatory Minimums. TOBY Go away. ANDY It's good seeing you. She plays a bit with Toby’s lapels and gets ready to leave. TOBY Andy? ANDY Yeah. TOBY Let me have the pie. Andy sighs and hands him the Tupperware with the pie and walks out the door smiling the whole time. Toby stands a bit at the door and watches her go. CUT TO: INT. THE PRESIDENT’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 11:30 P.M. Bartlet is asleep. Some books are scattered on the bed. There’s a knock on the door. Leo enters the dark room. LEO Mr. President. BARTLET [groggily] Yeah. LEO Oh, you're in bed? BARTLET Yeah. LEO When I called, you were awake. BARTLET Well, yeah, that's cause I answered the phone. [turns on the lamp] LEO I was just coming by to talk. It can wait. BARTLET What's on your mind? [waves for Leo to come in] LEO You sure? BARTLET Yeah, I got to be up in four hours, anyway. CUT TO: INT. JOSH’S OFFICE - NIGHT Josh is working at his desk. Charlie knocks and enters. JOSH Hey. CHARLIE Hey. What are you doing? JOSH F.E.C. Where's the President? CHARLIE He went to the residence about an hour ago. So, I couldn't help noticing coming over here that the light in Joey Lucas's office is on. JOSH She's still here? CHARLIE Yeah. JOSH Why are you telling me? CHARLIE She's a fine looking... JOSH Charlie. CHARLIE Okay. JOSH Have a good night. CHARLIE You give her a little something. JOSH Yeah. CHARLIE "Here this is for you, cause it's your first day. You don't know anybody." Bam -- you give it to her. You say something nice. JOSH [waves to Charlie] See you tomorrow. CHARLIE Take it easy. He leaves as Sam and Toby enter. SAM Hey, Charlie. CHARLIE Hey. TOBY [to Sam] Tell him what you told me. SAM See... uh... I still don't understand. TOBY Tell him what you told me. SAM Steve Onorato came to see me this afternoon. We had lunch. JOSH Onorato came to you? SAM Yeah. TOBY Tell him what he said. SAM He said that if we dropped F.E.C., he could warm things up for drugs. Josh and Toby start snickering. SAM I don't understand. JOSH He said that? TOBY He even pointed out to Sam that Sam was working on drugs for the White House. JOSH [grinning] You made the big time, Sam. SAM What's going on? JOSH He knows about Laurie. SAM What do you mean? TOBY He knows you’re friends with a call girl. SAM What does that have to do with anything? JOSH He wants to move you out to the front of the field so he can drop Laurie on you. SAM Are you serious? JOSH Yeah. SAM Are you serious?! JOSH It's okay, Sam. You haven't done anything wrong. SAM Oh, I know I haven't done anything wrong. Are you serious? TOBY [chuckling] We're serious. Don't worry about it. SAM He... are you saying, he... he tried to practice on my... TOBY ...credulous simplicity? SAM Yeah. TOBY Yeah. SAM Alright. I want to know what I can do right now. JOSH Sam. SAM No, right now! At 11:35. I want to know what I can do. JOSH Take it easy. SAM I won’t take it easy! Give me the phone. [reaches for the phone] I'm gonna call the Senator and I'm gonna tell him that he can shove his legislative agenda up his ass! Toby and Josh try to restrain the phone from Sam. JOSH I've already done that. SAM I'll do it again. JOSH You know what this is like? This is like The Godfather. When Pacino tells James Caan that he's gonna kill the cop. It's a lot like that scene, only not really. TOBY Did Leo go home? JOSH He's... he's still here somewhere. SAM He's in the Residence. JOSH It is like that scene. I'm James Caan. [to Sam] You're...you're Al Pacino. TOBY Let's go. JOSH Toby, you're the guy who shows Pacino how to make tomato sauce. TOBY [to Sam] Let's go. They all leave JOSH’S OFFICE. JOSH I'll be right behind, I'm gonna pick up the late wires. He pauses and stares down the hall toward JOEY’S OFFICE. He enters while hiding something behind his back. JOSH Hello. JOEY Hi. JOSH Hey, Kenny. KENNY Hey, Josh. JOSH I saw the light was on. You guys are here late. JOEY [KENNY] I wanted to give you first look analysis in the morning. There's really some decent models in Marin County and the Bay Area. But San Jose is a mess and so is Orange County, Long Beach, Anaheim, and San Diego. JOSH I brought you a coffee mug. JOEY [KENNY] Why? JOSH Just as a thing, cause you don't know anybody. It's got... uh... a picture of the White House. It says, “The White House.” Seal of the President. It's a White House coffee mug. JOEY Thank you. JOSH Kenny, can you give us a second? KENNY Oh, sure. [signing to Joey] I'm going to step outside. [walks away] JOSH I wore this suit, special today. This isn't my regular Tuesday suit. JOEY You have a regular Tuesday suit? JOSH No. JOEY For me? JOSH Yeah... So... Okay, I gotta go. [smiles wide as Josh leaves] CUT TO: INT. THE PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Leo is sitting next to the President's bed. LEO So... I don't want to be Labor the point, though. I... I do think this is understandable. I feel a little self-conscience coming down the mountain on drugs two months after I announce I was a recovering drug addict. What do you think? BARTLET About what? LEO What I just said. BARTLET Well, I wasn't listening to a lot of it. LEO Sir... BARTLET Leo, if there's anyone qualified to talk about the benefits of treatment vs. criminal action, it's you. Is there anyone whose life would be better right now, if you'd had gone to jail instead of rehab? LEO No. BARTLET Thank you. Is there anything else? Someone knocks. BARTLET Apparently there is. C.J. [enters] Mr. President. BARTLET Yeah. C.J. I'm sorry. I heard Leo was here, I assumed you were awake. BARTLET I am. C.J. I haven't seen you all day, I just... wanted to apologize for the gaffe at the briefing last night. BARTLET You fixed it this afternoon, right? C.J. Yeah. BARTLET Then let's move on. C.J. I do apologize, sir. BARTLET No need to apologize, but I accept your apology and now I'm ready, if not eager, to move on. There’s another knock. Sam and Toby enter. SAM Mr. President? BARTLET How you doin’? SAM You were sleeping? BARTLET Not for a little while now. SAM This is... I say, this is great, Mr. President, because usually you have a hard time getting to sleep before one or two. BARTLET Not tonight. SAM That's got to feel good. BARTLET Guys, let me tell you what I would like to have happen, right now. JOSH [enters] Good evening, Mr. President. BARTLET Josh walking in the door wasn't even close. JOSH How you doing, tonight? BARTLET I'm fine, thanks. How you doing? JOSH Good! I gave Joey Lucas a coffee mug. She doesn't know anybody here and she's already working hard. She's very committed. I think I did the right thing. BARTLET See, the part I don't understand is, I got like, 24 armed guards right outside my bedroom door... SAM Mr. President, after a day of meetings, are you any closer to a decision on drugs? BARTLET I'm a day closer. There'll be more meetings tomorrow. In the meantime, everybody calm down. Leo’s got your engines fired like you're running Daytona. That's fine. Keep them there. Guess what? Mistakes are gonna be made. Minimize them, fix them, move on. Kiefer's numbers got you scared? Listen to me. I have never lost an election in my life. We do this right, people are going to respond. You all had a good day. JOSH We should go and leave you now. BARTLET You guys should feel free to do this when my wife is here. All chuckle. SAM Sir, something has come up and frankly, it's got me as hot as a pistol. Apparently.... JOSH Sam. SAM We can talk about this tomorrow. BARTLET Everybody. Mandy was doing her job. It's time to let her out of the doghouse. LEO That's me. BARTLET [to Leo] She was doing her job. C.J.? C.J. Yes, sir. BARTLET So was Danny. C.J. Yes, sir. BARTLET Good night. Everyone says their good nights. Sam, Josh, and C.J. leave. TOBY Mr. President. BARTLET We were almost done. TOBY I... met with Congresswoman Wyatt today. BARTLET When you were married to her, did you call her Congresswoman Wyatt? TOBY No, sir. BARTLET Sometimes I call my wife, Dr. Bartlet. TOBY I call her Andy or uh... Andrea. BARTLET Okay. TOBY Mandatory Minimums. BARTLET You're whupped, my friend. TOBY Sir. BARTLET No, she's been talking to your for a year about Mandatory Minimums. You've been saying no. Looks like we know who wears the pants in the Ziegler family. TOBY You call your wife “Dr. Bartlet”? BARTLET Just for the turn-on. Leo smirks. TOBY Uh... the thing is, she's right. BARTLET Andy. TOBY Mandatory Minimums are considerably higher for crack than for powder cocaine. BARTLET Yes. TOBY The vast majority of crack users are black. The vast majority of drug users are white. The Mandatory Minimums are racist. BARTLET Yes, they are. TOBY It should be part of the discussion. BARTLET And it will be. TOBY Good... uh... good night. BARTLET AND LEO Good night. Toby leaves. BARTLET [to Leo] I'm sleeping better. [beat] When I sleep, I dream about a great discussion with experts and ideas and diction and energy and honesty. And when I wake up, I think, "I can sell that." LEO Good night, Mr. President. BARTLET Good night. Leo shuts off the room lights and closes the doors. Bartlet shuts off his bed lamp and goes back to bed. DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES. FADE TO BLACK. THE END * * * The West Wing and all its characters are properties of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Production, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended. Episode 1.20 -- “Mandatory Minimums” Original Airdate: May 3, 1999, 9:00 PM EST Transcript By: Susan Chang