As the OPENING TTTLES ROLL against a series of shots of
statues and paintings of former presidents, we HEAR shards of
dialogue from various presidential speeches.

MAIN TITLES END ON

EXT. BEAUTIFUL ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

It's an early November morning, and the sun has just come
over this extraordinary building. WE HOLD on this for a moment
before we

CUT TO:

INT. A CORRIDOR IN THE RESIDENCE - DAY

A SECRET SERVICE AGENT presses the button by the private
elevator as he talks into his shirt cuff.

AGENT COOPER
Liberty's moving.

Another AGENT rounds the corner into the corridor and is
followed a step or two later by

PRESIDENT ANDREW BENJAMIN SHEPHERD.

SHEPHERD's walking with his personal assistant, JANIE, a shy,
professional and incredibly efficient 25-year-old.

JANIE
The 10:15 event's been moved inside
to the Indian Treaty Room.

SHEPHERD
(to Janie)
The 10:15 is American Fisheries?

JANIE
Yes, sir. They're giving you a
200-pound halibut.

SHEPHERD
Janie, make a note. We need to
schedule more events where somebody
gives me a really big fish.

JANIE starts to make a note.

JANIE
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD
Janie, I was kidding.

JANIE
Of course, sir.

SHEPHERD
(to the AGENT at the
elevator)
Hey, Cooper.

AGENT COOPER
'Morning, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD and JANIE enter the elevator. As the doors close...

JANIE
Mr. Rothschild asked to have a moment
with you this morning.

SHEPHERD
Is he upset about the speech last night?

JANIE
He seemed concerned.

SHEPHERD
Well, it wouldn't be a Monday morning
unless Lewis was concerned about
something I did Sunday night.

The elevator doors open, revealing LEWIS ROTHSCHILD. At 32,
LEWIS is the President's chief domestic policy advisor. It
would appear that he averages about two hours sleep a night,
though that doesn't seem to slow him down.

LEWIS
You skipped the whole paragraph.

SHEPHERD
(to Janie)
And Monday morning it is.

LEWIS falls into the pace as the three of them head for the
double doors leading to the South Lawn.

LEWIS
"Americans can no longer afford to
pretend that they live in a great
society"...and then nothing. You
dumped the whole handguns paragraph.

SHEPHERD
This is a time for prudence, Lewis.

LEWIS
That was the kick-ass section.

The three of them are now OUTSIDE and making their way down
the COVERED WALKWAY that runs from the East Wing to the West
Wing.

SHEPHERD
I thought what with being the President and all...

LEWIS
Sir, of course I didn't mean to imply--

SHEPHERD
I thought you'd be turning cartwheels this morning, Lewis -- 63 percent job approval.

LEWIS
That's great news, sir, but...

They walk past a GROUNDKEEPER who's at work at a patch of grass.

GROUNDKEEPER
'Morning, Mr. President.

Before he's even completed the last syllable of the greeting,
JANIE quickly and quietly said--

JANIE
Charlie.

SHEPHERD
'Morning, Charlie.

LEWIS
Sir, the press is gonna need an explanation.

SHEPHERD
For what?

SHEPHERD, LEWIS and JANIE walk through the door being held
open by an AGENT. The conversation continues as they make
their way through the corridors of

INT. THE WEST WING - DAY

They walk quickly down a hallway teeming with STAFFERS, AIDES
AND OFFICE WORKERS.

LEWIS
Because you dropped the whole kick-ass
section, now we've got this thing hanging
out there.

SHEPHERD
There's a thing hanging out there?

LEWIS
"Americans can no longer afford to
pretend that they live in a great
society." Then ...nothing. No
explanation. No context. So now it's just this thing.

SHEPHERD
And it's hanging out there?

LEWIS
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD stops at an open doorway, calls to a STAFFER--

SHEPHERD
Maria--

STAFFER (MARIA)
Good morning, sir.

SHEPHERD
Did they tell you I'm gonna need--

STAFFER (MARIA)
--overall consumer spending and not
just first homes. Yes, sir. We'll have
it for you in 15 minutes.

SHEPHERD
Thanks.

SHEPHERD moves on. LEWIS and JANIE stay with him.

LEWIS
Mr. President, I really feel we need to focus on...

SHEPHERD
Lewis, however much coffee you drink
in the morning, I want you to reduce it
by half.

LEWIS
I don't drink coffee.

SHEPHERD
Then hit yourself over the head with
a baseball bat, would you please?

Another STAFFER crosses their path--

JANIE
Happy birthday, Laura.

SHEPHERD
Hey, Laura, happy birthday.

STAFFER (LAURA)
Thank you, sir.

Once out of earshot--

SHEPHERD
(to JANIE)
I should send her some flowers.

JANIE
You already did, sir.

And, with that, they walk through a doorway and into

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

In the OUTER OFFICE, MRS. CHAPIL, the President's secretary,
is hard at work on a word processor. She stands as SHEPHERD
walks in--

MRS. CHAPIL
Good morning, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
How're you, Mrs. Chapil?

MRS. CHAPIL
Fine, thank you, sir. Mr. Kodak left
the detailed breakdown of the approval
poll for you. He seemed to indicate that
it was very good news.

SHEPHERD
Sixty-three percent of it, at any rate.

And by now they're in the OVAL OFFICE itself. SHEPHERD has
gone to his desk and is looking over the various overnight
briefing memos that have been left for him. As someone used
to doing six things at once, he has no trouble reading,
listening, and talking at the same time.

MRS. CHAPIL
Lucy called just a moment ago. You
forgot to sign her permission slip
for her class--

JANIE
--the museum trip. I'll go get it.

SHEPHERD
(to JANIE)
What time does she get home today?

JANIE
Three-twenty.

SHEPHERD
How's my afternoon look?

JANIE
Very crowded.

SHEPHERD
Schedule some time for me at 3:30.

WOMAN (O.S.)
Buenos dias, Senor Presidente.

This from ROBIN McCALL, a strikingly tall black woman and the
President's press secretary, as she strides into the room.

SHEPHERD
Too-tall McCall, how was Mexico?

ROBIN
I didn't truly appreciate it until I
came back and discovered that America
isn't a great society.

LEWIS
(to ROBIN)
He dumped a whole section.

SHEPHERD
Now there's a thing hanging out there.

ROBIN
Not a great society, sir?

SHEPHERD
Well, with you out of the country, it
wasn't, Robin. Now that you're back,
we're great again.

ROBIN
There's a press room full of people
saying "What did he mean by that?"

LEWIS
See?

SHEPHERD
(re: a memo he's been
looking at)
A.J., did you get one of these?

This is said to A. J. MACINERNEY as he walks through a
separate entrance on the left side of the room. In addition
to being the President's Chief of Staff and closest advisor,
he's the President's closest and oldest friend.

A.J.
Is that the letter from Solomon at
the GDC?

SHEPHERD
It would appear to be a letter from
the entire environmental community.
These people are outta control.

A.J.
I think they're just frustrated,
Mr. President.

ROBIN
Are they blaming the President for
global warming?

A.J.
Well, they don't think he caused it,
if that's what you mean.
(continuing;
to SHEPHERD)
Sir, I'm on the phone with these
people twice a week. I honestly
don't know what they want at this
point.

LEWIS
What they want is a 20 percent reduction in
fossil fuel emissions.

A.J.
It won't pass at 20 percent.

LEWIS
We haven't really tried.

A.J.
Lewis, McSorley, McCluskey and Shane
hold too many markers. If we try to
push this through and lose, there will
be a very loud thud when we hit the
ground, and that's not what you want in
an election year.

SHEPHERD
Talk to the GDC again, A.J. Tell them
the President resents the implication
that he's turned his back on the
environment. Tell them I'll send 455 to
the floor. But we're gonna ask for a
10 percent reduction. If they want to pull
their support, fine. At 63 percent job
approval rating. I don't need their help
getting a bill passed. We gotta get going--
where's Leon?

A.J.
(to an AIDE)
Would you call Mr. Kodak and tell him
the President's--

A.J.'s sentence is cut short by the sound of a head-on
pedestrian collision in the outer office--

MRS. CHAPIL (O.S.)
Aaagh!

KODAK (O.S.)
Sorry! Sorry, my fault.

A.J.
(to the AIDE)
Never mind.

LEON KODAK comes into the oval office. The White House
pollster is a likable, if clumsy, numbers whiz. He, along
with A.J., LEWIS, and ROBIN, are regarded as the President's
Starting Team. The people in this room have grown very close
over the past few years.

KODAK
Excuse me. Good morning, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
You all right?

KODAK
They keep moving that big ficus plant.

A.J.
We're all here, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
Okay. First, I wanted to say
congratulations. Three years ago, we
were elected to the White House by
one of the narrowest margins in history,
and today Kodak tells us 63 percent of
registered voters think we're doing a
good job.

KODAK
Wait a second. You wanted me to poll
registered voters?

Everyone LAUGHS... even SHEPHERD smiles...

SHEPHERD
But the poll also tells us what we
already knew: We don't get this
crime bill of ours through Congress
and these numbers are gonna be a
memory. So, starting today, we're
shifting it into gear.

ROBIN
Can I tell my morning press gaggle
that gun control--

A.J.
Crime control, Robin. Gun control
means we're wimps and we're soft on
crime.

LEWIS
Hang on, are we not--

A.J.
Lewis--

LEWIS
Are we not putting back the handgun
restrictions?!

A.J.
We're leaving 'em out.

LEWIS
Sir, we campaigned on this issue.
Now, I understand we took it out when
we were in the low forties, but we
can push it through now.

SHEPHERD
After the elections.

LEWIS
Sir, we may never have an opportunity
like this again. Let's take this 63
percent out for a spin and see what
it can do.

SHEPHERD
We can't take it out for a spin, Lewis.
We need it to get re-elected. For
reasons passing understanding, people
do not relate guns to gun-related crime.

A.J.
Robin, you can brief the press this
afternoon. As of today, the crime
bill's priority one on the President's
domestic agenda.

ROBIN
Got it.

A.J.
Leon, you're gonna run the war room.
We're gonna need detailed projections
for all the target districts by the
end of the week. And, Leon, don't be
a nice, sweet guy from Brooklyn. Do
what the N.R.A. does.

KODAK
Scare the shit out of 'em?

A.J.
Yeah.

KODAK
I can do that.

A.J.
Lewis, we want you to be legislative
liaison on this. You're gonna run
the show on the hill.

LEWIS
Can I just say, to return to the
subject for one moment, that it might
be easier to fight a war on drugs if
we weren't arming drug dealers.

SHEPHERD responds a little too quickly -- we see a spark of a
temper.

SHEPHERD
Lewis, we've gotta fight the fights
we can win.

LEWIS
Yes, sir.

A.J.
We want to announce the crime bill at
the State of the Union, which is 72
days from today. The last nose count
put us 18 votes short.

SHEPHERD
Eighteen votes in 72 days. Thank you,
everyone. Janie, what's next?

A.J.
Thank you, Mr. President.

The meeting's over. LEWIS, ROBIN, and KODAK say their "Thank
you, Mr. President"'s as they exit.

JANIE
Security briefing, sir.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE WASHINGTON BUSINESS DISTRICT - DAY

It's around 10 o'clock the same morning as the capital district,
in its own way, is showing signs of the approaching Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays.

EXT. A CHROME AND GLASS BUILDING - DAY

On the seventh floor of the building. A RECEPTIONIST tells us
where we are by answering the phone--

RECEPTIONIST (V.O.)
Global Defense Council...

SUSAN (V.O.)
You wanted to see me?

LEO (V.O.)
I just got off the phone with A.J.
MacInerney.

CUT TO:

INT. LEO SOLOMON'S OFFICE - DAY

LEO, a white-haired man in his early 60's is meeting with
SUSAN SLOAN, a 40'ish lawyer who seems to go out of her way
to create an issue where none exists.

SUSAN
Did the President read the letter?

LEO
The President's pissed as hell,
Susan. That letter was a stupid move.

SUSAN
It was aggressive, and we should
stand by every--

LEO
This isn't the guy who needed us four
years ago, Susan. He's incredibly
popular. He's gonna win re-election
in a walk, and he could give a shit
what we stand by! If the President
passes the most important piece of
environmental legislation in history,
and does it despite our negative
endorsement, our political weight in
the future will rank somewhere below
the Save the Spotted Owl Society.
(beat)
I'm bringing in some help.

SUSAN
We don't need another environmental
expert to confirm what every other
environmental expert--

LEO
Not an environmental expert, a
professional political strategist.
We're playing hardball with Andrew
Shepherd, and we need a heavy bat.

SUSAN
Who?

LEO
Sydney Ellen Wade.

SUSAN
Oh Christ. That woman doesn't know
the first thing about the
environmental lobby.

LEO
She's a closer, Susan. She gets the
job done.

CUT TO:

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

SHEPHERD and LEWIS -- working on a speech.

SHEPHERD
Try it like this and lose that.

ROBIN
(entering)
David Sasser from the Times called
and wanted to know what the White
House felt was a great society.

LEWIS
What did you tell him?

ROBIN
I told him I couldn't speak for the
President, but for my money: Bermuda.

SHEPHERD
Perfect.

JANIE steps in--

JANIE
Mr. President, your cousin Judith's
come down with the flu and won't be
able to join you Thursday night.

SHEPHERD
That's too bad. Remind me to give
her a call later.

JANIE
Yes, sir.

ROBIN
You gonna go stag?

SHEPHERD
That's not a problem.

ROBIN
No. We've never gone wrong parading
you around as the lonely widower.

The words came out casually, but they instantly freeze everyone.

ROBIN
(continuing)
My God.
(beat)
I can't believe I said that.
(beat)
Mr. President, that was an incredibly
thoughtless remark. I would never
dream of insulting you or the memory
of your wife.

SHEPHERD
That's okay, forget it.
(to JANIE)
What time is it?

JANIE
It's 3:45, sir.

SHEPHERD
I'm gonna go over and say hi to Lucy.

JANIE
You have the Attorney General at 4:00
and the trade representative at 4:30.
Somewhere in there you promised NPR
five minutes.

ROBIN
Mr. President--

SHEPHERD
Robin, don't worry about it.

CUT TO:

INT. THE RESIDENCE - DAY

We HEAR the sound of a TROMBONE being played--not well--from
one of the rooms. SHEPHERD comes around and down the corridor.

He walks into--

INT. LUCY'S ROOM - DAY

LUCY, Shepherd's 12-year-old daughter, stops playing.

SHEPHERD
No, keep going. I liked what you
were playing? What's it called?

LUCY
Scales.

SHEPHERD
Well... you play it with gusto!

LUCY
Are my lips swollen?

SHEPHERD
Are they supposed to be?

LUCY
Yeah.

SHEPHERD
Then you're doing fine.

LUCY
Whatcha got behind your back?

SHEPHERD
A little gift.

LUCY
Is it a dirt bike?

SHEPHERD
Nope.

He hands her an old textbook ...

LUCY
Is it a really old seventh-grade
textbook of yours that you're gonna
make me read cover to cover and
discuss at dinner and drive me crazy
with?

SHEPHERD
I'm not comfortable with the "really
old" part, but everything else you
said was true.

LUCY
(reading the cover)
"Understanding the Constitution."

SHEPHERD
Your social studies teacher said your
class would be starting on the
Constitution this week.

LUCY
You talked to Mr. Linder?

SHEPHERD
Yes. It's called a Parent-Teacher
Conference. Mr. Linder and I were
the key player in that discussion.
Why don't you like social studies,
Luce?

LUCY
I like it fine, Dad.

SHEPHERD
All your other teachers say you're
happy, you're enthusiastic, you've
always got your hand up...Mr. Linder
says you don't participate unless he
calls on you, and even then it's a
one-word answer.

LUCY
I don't know what to say, Dad. I
guess I'm just not...I don't know.

SHEPHERD
Luce, take a look at this book. This
is exciting stuff. It's about who we
are and what we want. Read what it
says on the first page.

LUCY
(reading)
"Property of Gilmore Junior High
School."

SHEPHERD
The next page.

LUCY
(reading)
"We, the People, of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union..."

SHEPHERD
See? Grabs you right off the bat.
It's a page-turner.

LUCY
I can't wait.

SHEPHERD
Good, 'cause it's possible the subject
might come up at dinner tonight.

LUCY
Do you see it as part of your job to
torture me?

SHEPHERD
No, it's just one of the perks. See
you tonight.

He gives her a kiss on the head and heads out the door.
Behind him, he hears Lucy's rendition of "Hail to the Chief."
SHEPHERD shoots her a look as we

CUT TO:

INT. CABINET ROOM - NIGHT

Where SHEPHERD is finishing a meeting with the DEFENSE
SECRETARY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS and a NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR, each of whom is accompanied by at least one
DEPUTY or AIDE. A.J. is also present.

DEFENSE SECRETARY
The C-STAD hardware's been in place
for a month. We've got 22 instructors
from the Army Air Defense School waiting
to go down and train the Israelis.

A.J.
How soon can you deploy them?

CHAIRMAN
We can airlift 'em in the morning.
They'll have C-STAD operational in 20
days.

A.J.
Any security concerns?

SECURITY ADVISOR
If anybody wanted to hit it, they'd
have hit it by now.

SHEPHERD
Okay. Let's move on it. Thank you,
gentlemen.

SHEPHERD and A.J. leave the Cabinet Room amidst a volley of
"good-bye" 's and "Thank you, Mr. President"'s.

They pass MRS. CHAPIL and JANIE.

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
Have a good evening, Mrs. Chapil.

MRS. CHAPIL
You too, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD starts his walk from the West Wing back to the
residence.

It is the exact reverse of the path he took to the OVAL OFFICE
in the morning.

SHEPHERD
I'll see you in the morning, Janie.

JANIE
You will, Mr. President.

A SECRET SERVICE AGENT follows at a distance.

AGENT #2
(sotto)
Liberty is moving.

A.J.
Leo Solomon brought in a hired gun
at the GDC.

SHEPHERD
It's about time.

A.J.
She's a lawyer from Virginia named
Sydney Ellen Wade. I know this woman
well. She's had a lot of success
getting congressmen elected.

SHEPHERD
Maybe we should try to steal her.
Ten percent, A.J. Don't let them
leave the room till they're clear
about that.

A.J.
You know, if you've got a free second,
maybe you could stop in and say hello.
It might smooth the way.

SHEPHERD
Mention it to Janie.

A.J.
Good.

SHEPHERD
Then let's clear this off the table
and get everybody focused on the
crime bill. I don't want to win
this. I want to win it by a couple of
touchdowns.

A.J.
We will, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
Good.

A.J. starts to leave. SHEPHERD stops him.

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
A.J.?

A.J.
Yes?

SHEPHERD
Listen, Robin said something to me
today that I'm sure she wouldn't have
said it if...I mean, she wasn't saying
it to me, I realize...
(beat)
Ah, never mind. Have a good night.

A.J.
Good night, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
A.J., when we're out of the office
and we're alone, you can call me Andy.

A.J.
I beg your pardon?

SHEPHERD
I mean you were the best man at my
wedding, for crying out loud. Call
me Andy.

A.J.
(laughing off the
suggestion)
Whatever you say, Mr. President.

They have reached the south entrance to the White House.

A.J.
(continuing)
Have a good night, sir.

SHEPHERD
Good night, A.J.

SHEPHERD enters the White House.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

It's early morning of the following day, and the grounds
outside are in full swing.

EXT. THE NORTHWEST EXECUTIVE ENTRANCE - DAY

In front of the guardhouse, Susan and her new colleague,
SYDNEY ELLEN WADE, are being cleared.

SYDNEY
(to the GUARD)
Hi, my name's Sydney Ellen Wade.

SUSAN
He just needs your driver's license.

SUSAN hands the guard her license.

SYDNEY
(handing him her
license)
I'm from Virginia.

SUSAN
He doesn't care.

SYDNEY
(to the GUARD)
I'm here for a meeting with Mr.
MacInerney.

SUSAN
He doesn't need to know that.

The GUARD BUZZES her through the gate.

SYDNEY
(to the GUARD)
Forgive me, this is my first time at
the White House. I'm trying to savor
the Capra-esque quality.

SUSAN
He doesn't know what Capra-esque
means.

GUARD
(to SUSAN)
Yeah, I do. Frank Capra, great
American director -- It's a Wonderful
Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
(handing SYDNEY and SUSAN
their laminated passes)
Sydney Ellen Wade of Virginia. Knock
'em dead.

SYDNEY
Thanks.

SYDNEY and SUSAN begin to walk up the path toward the entrance
to the West Wing.

CUT TO:

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

A meeting with the EDUCATION SECRETARY, the HUD SECRETARY,
several AIDES and LEWIS is breaking up. SHEPHERD is ushering
people out.

SHEPHERD
The day the government starts
subsidizing private schools is the
day we give up on public education.

EDUCATION SECRETARY
I know the proposal only scratches
the surface, but it's the least we
can do.

SHEPHERD
We're already doing the least we can
do, but I can't think of anything
better, so we'll go with this for now.
(to HUD SECRETARY)
Jerry, say hello to Linda for me.
And if I don't see you again, have a
good Thanksgiving.

HUD SECRETARY
Thank you, Mr. President.

The room has cleared...JANIE is arranging new papers on the
President's desk.

SHEPHERD
How're we doing?

JANIE
You're running four minutes ahead of
schedule.

SHEPHERD
Ahead?

JANIE
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD
(exited)
Janie, this is unprecedented. I don't
know what to do with myself.

JANIE
Mr. MacInerney asked me to remind you
to pop your head in on--

SHEPHERD
The GDC meeting. Right.

CUT TO:

INT. A.J.'s OFFICE - DAY

A.J.
Your concerns are not falling on deaf
ears. The environmental lobby has
known no greater alley in the White
House than President Shepherd.

SYDNEY
Hardly an impressive distinction, A.J.

SUSAN is trying to avert the inevitable--

SUSAN
Sydney, we should leave Mr. MacInerney
alone now. He's already given us more
time than--

SYDNEY
Susan, Mr. MacInerney doesn't want
us to leave, because Mr. MacInerney's
not yet done what he needs to do today.

SUSAN
Sir, Ms. Wade's been thrown into the
deep end of the pool on her first day.
She hasn't even had a chance to read
the report of the Quebec Conference.

SYDNEY -- whose brain is telling her to slam on the brakes,
check her swing, smile and leave the building -- decides,
instead, to hit the gas and swing away. The OTHERS are watching
this as if they were watching the evolution of a train wreck.

SYDNEY
You're right. I haven't read it. If
someone had asked me yesterday, I'd
have told them the Quebec Conference
was made up of six professional hockey
teams. But what I do know is that it's
time for the President to run for
president again. Leon Kodak is as good
as it gets when it comes to electoral
strategy, and I'm certain he's told the
President exactly what I'd tell him:
Nail down Michigan and California,
where they make cars and airplanes --
and burn plenty of fossil fuel. But if
I had read these eight hundred pages,
I would have discovered that it's the
burning of fossil fuels that's been
mostly responsible for global warming and
that the 20 percent reduction recommended
by the GDC is a necessary first step
toward arresting the catastrophic greenhouse
effect that has gone unchecked by this
administration...

SUSAN
(to SYDNEY)
It's really time to--

SYDNEY
Susan, I promise you, the White House
Chief of Staff will not let us leave
here until he's broken the bad news.

No one in the room really understands what's going on...
except A.J., who would like to take the time to admire
SYDNEY but, of course, can't.

A.J.
(pause)
I'm afraid Sydney's right. Although
not about Michigan and California.
The President has asked me to convey
to you that he's sending his energy
bill to the floor with a call for a
reduction of 10 percent.

There's an uncomfortable silence in the room...

A.J.
(continuing)
The President is willing to go it
alone on this, but he's asking for,
and frankly he's expecting, the full
support of the GDC.

SYDNEY
The President's expecting our full
support?

A.J.
Yes, he is.

SYDNEY
The President's dreamin', A.J.

SUSAN
Sydney!
SYDNEY
--the President has critically
misjudged reality. If he honestly
thinks that the environmental
community is going to whistle a
happy tune while rallying support
around this pitifully lame mockery of
environmental leadership just because
he's a nice guy and he's done better
than his predecessors, then your boss
is the Chief Executive of Fantasyland.

VOICE (O.S.)
Let's take him out back and beat the
shit out of him.

SYDNEY's blown out her speakers because she's turned in the
direction of the private office entrance to see, live and in
person, The President of the United States.

She is frozen. Mortified. If she were capable of thought
process, she would be preying for something heavy to fall on
her head right now.

A.J.
Good morning, Mr. President. How are
you today?

SHEPHERD
Couldn't be better.
(to the GROUP)
I apologize for the interruption, but
A.J. asked me to stop and say hello.
You wouldn't be Sydney Ellen Wade, by
any chance, would you?

SYDNEY
Mr. President, I'm...don't know what
to say. I'm speechless.

SHEPHERD
All evidence to the contrary.

SUSAN
Mr. President, we haven't met. My
name is Susan Sloan. I used to work
with Congressman Myers. I hope this
episode in no way--

SHEPHERD
Sydney?

SYDNEY
Yes, sir?

SHEPHERD
You got a second?

SYDNEY
(quietly)
Of course.

SYDNEY gets up to leave. SHEPHERD escorts her out of A.J.'s
office and into the hallway.

SHEPHERD
I thought maybe we might have a word
in private. Someplace a little less
intimidating.
(calling)
Janie?

JANIE
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD
(to SYDNEY)
This is my personal assistant, Janie
Basdin. Janie, would you show Ms.
Wade into the rec room. I'll be there
in a second.

SHEPHERD enters a doorway off of the hall. SYDNEY continues
down the hallway.

JANIE
(to SYDNEY)
This way...

JANIE leads SYDNEY into...

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

...where SYDNEY just stands uncomfortably, not knowing
whether to sit or stand. Waiting. Trying -- the way a jumper
on a window ledge tries not to look down -- trying not to
notice things like the JFK Desk, the Seal of the President of
the United States, the bust of Lincoln...

SHEPHERD strides in--

SHEPHERD
Sorry to keep you waiting.

SYDNEY
Mr. President--

SHEPHERD
Is it okay if I call you Sydney?

SYDNEY
Of course. Mr. President--

SHEPHERD
Have you ever been in the Oval Office?

SYDNEY
I've just been on the regular tour.
It didn't include...

SHEPHERD
I hear it's pretty good.

SYDNEY
Mr. President, what you saw in there
was nothing more than vanity run amok.
I was showing off for a colleague who
doesn't think very much of me. It'd
be a real injustice for you to hold the
GDC accountable for my behavior today.
On top of which, I'm monumentally sorry
for having insulted you like that.

SHEPHERD
Are you under the impression that I'm
mad at you?

SYDNEY
(pause)
Well...

SHEPHERD
Sydney, seldom does a day go by that
I'm not burned in effigy.

SYDNEY
Not by a professional political
operative standing 30 feet from the
Oval Office.

SHEPHERD
No, I'll give you that.

SYDNEY
Mr. President--

SHEPHERD
Did you know that when the City
Planners sat down to design
Washington, D.C., their intention was
to build a city that would intimidate
and humble foreign heads of state?
It's true.

SYDNEY
I didn't know that.

SHEPHERD
The White House has the single
greatest home court advantage in the
modern world.

SYDNEY
Learned that one the hard way.

SHEPHERD
Sydney, this bill is important to me.

SYDNEY
Yes, sir, I'll convey your message.

SHEPHERD
But you don't believe me?

SYDNEY
The GDC is asking for 20 percent, sir.

SHEPHERD
It's not gonna pass at 20 percent.
It's a long shot at 10.

SYDNEY
How do you know that until you put
the full weight of the White House
behind--

SHEPHERD
Sydney, at 20 percent, we are 34 votes
shy in the House. It can't be done.
But I tell you what. I'll make you a
deal with you. If you can get 24
votes, I'll get you the last 10.

SYDNEY
Twenty-four votes?

SHEPHERD
If you can swing 24 votes by the
State of the Union, I'll promise you
full White House support.

SYDNEY
Do I have your word on that, sir?

SHEPHERD
Absolutely. Listen, are you hungry?
I skipped breakfast. You wanna have
some coffee? A donut or something?

SYDNEY
Sir, I'm a little intimidated by my
surroundings, and yes, I've gotten
off to a rocky and somewhat stilted
beginning, but don't let that
diminish the weight of my message:
The GDC has been at every president
for the last decade and a half that
global warming is a calamity, the
effects of which will be second only
to nuclear war. The best scientists
in the world have given you every
reason to take the GDC seriously.
But I'm gonna give you one more. If
you don't live up to the deal you
just made, come New Hampshire, we're
gonna go shopping for a new candidate.

SYDNEY heads for the door--

SHEPHERD
You can't do that, Sydney.

SYDNEY
With all due respect, Mr. President,
who's gonna stop me?

SHEPHERD
Well, if you go through that door,
the United States Secret Service.
That's my private office.
(pointing)
You need to go out that way.

SYDNEY
(beat)
Ah.

SYDNEY, with as much dignity as she can muster, leaves the
Oval Office. SHEPHERD muses about what has just transpired.

CUT TO:

INT. THE BILLIARD ROOM - NIGHT

SHEPHERD has converted one of the rooms on the second floor
residence. His expert shot demonstrates that playing pool is
something he does almost as well as being President. A.J.
stands to the side with his pool cue.

A.J.
McSorley, McCluskey and Shane know
we're making our move on the crime
bill. They're circling the wagons on
the assault weapons.

SHEPHERD
Should I meet with them?

A.J.
Let Lewis take a pass at them first.

SHEPHERD
Fine. 2 in the side.

SHEPHERD sends the two-ball flying into the corner pocket.

A.J.
Nice shot, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't
call me by my name when we're playing
pool.

A.J. assesses the table.

A.J.
I will not do it playing pool, I will
not do it in a school, I do not like
green eggs and ham, I do not like
them Sam I am.

SHEPHERD
At ease, A.J., and get away from the
pocket. 9 in the corner.

SHEPHERD makes the shot.

A.J.
Leo Solomon phoned. He said he was
thrilled with the deal you made this
morning.

SHEPHERD lifts his cue for a moment...trying to think it
there was something he was supposed to tell A.J.

SHEPHERD
I forgot to tell you.

A.J.
It's a waste of time.

SHEPHERD
Not our time. GDC makes a big
push for the votes, and when they
come up short, we move in with the
softer bill, to get passed, we're
everybody's hero. 3 in the side.

A.J.
Also, Sydney Wade called.

SHEPHERD, a hair too excited by this news, misses by a mile.

SHEPHERD
Sydney Wade?

A.J.
(beat)
She wanted to apologize one more time
for her behavior. 3 in the side.

SHEPHERD
Did she say anything about me?

A.J.
(beat)
Sydney Wade?

SHEPHERD
When she called.

A.J.
Did she say anything about you?
13 in the corner.

SHEPHERD
No, it's just that we had a nice
couple of minutes together. She
threatened me and I patronized her
and we didn't have anything to eat,
but I thought there was a connection.

A.J. is staring at him in disbelief.

SHEPHERD
She didn't say anything about me?

A.J.
(quietly)
Well, no, but I could pass her a note
before study hall and--

SHEPHERD
Tell me this: Hypothetically, what
would happen--

A.J.
I feel a nightmare coming on. 1 in
the corner.

He misses the shot.

SHEPHERD
--if I called Sydney and asked her
to be my date at the State Dinner
Thursday night?

A.J.
You're not serious.

SHEPHERD
Don't I sound serious?

A.J.
The President can't just go out on
a date.

SHEPHERD
Why not? Jefferson did. Wilson did.

A.J.
You're not--

SHEPHERD
Wilson was widowed during his first
term. He meets a woman named Edith
Gault. He dated her, courted her,
married her, and somewhere in there
managed to form the League of Nations.

A.J.
Mr. President, this is an election
year. If you're looking for female
companionship, we can make
arrangements that'll insure total
privacy and--

SHEPHERD
I don't want you to get me a girl,
A.J. What is this, Vegas?

A.J.
No, sir, this is the White House.

SHEPHERD
And I'm talking about something
that in no way is at conflict with
my oath of office. I'm a single
adult, and I met a woman that I'd
like to see again socially. How's
that different from what Wilson did?

A.J.
The difference is he didn't have to
be the president on television.
You've said it a million times:
If there were a television set in every
living room 60 years ago, this country
does not elect a man in a wheelchair.

SHEPHERD
What are you saying?

A.J.
We'll take a hit.

SHEPHERD
How big?

A.J.
I don't know. Five points. Maybe
more.

SHEPHERD
Five points we're standing here
talking about?!

A.J.
It could be more.

SHEPHERD
I drop five points when Wisconsin
doesn't make it to the Rose Bowl.
5 in the corner.

A.J.
Do you want me to have Kodak put
together some numbers so we know
what we're talking about?

SHEPHERD
Yeah.
(beat)
No. No. I don't want to check a
polling sample to see if this is
okay, like I'm asking permission
to stay out an hour past curfew.
This isn't the business of the
American people.

A.J.
Mr. President, the American people
have a funny way of deciding on
their own what is and what is not
their business.

SHEPHERD
I like her, A.J.
(pause)
Stop being my chief of staff for one
minute.

A.J.
(beat)
Give her a call.

SHEPHERD
(calling out)
Janie!
(to A.J.)
She didn't say anything about me?

A.J.
She said you're taller than she
thought you'd be.

SHEPHERD
That's something.

JANIE enters--

JANIE
Yes, sir?

SHEPHERD
I need you to track down a phone
number.

CUT TO:

EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN GEORGETOWN - NIGHT

Lined with red-brick, three-story walk-ups.

CUT TO:

INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

A few suitcases and two or three moving cartons serve as
evidence that SYDNEY's staying with her sister BETH
temporarily.

BETH, still in hospital scrubs from a 12-hour shift, opens a
bottle of wine while SYDNEY, in a bathrobe and wet hair,
tries to get off the phone.

SYDNEY
(into phone)
Richard...Richard, it wasn't funny.
I acted like a college freshman at a
protest rally.

BETH
Tell him the part about walking out
the wrong door.

SYDNEY
Oh God, I forgot about that.
(back into phone)
No, Richard...Richard, I don't want
to hear your Andrew Shepherd imitation...

BETH
I wanna hear it.

SYDNEY
I'm hanging up now, Richard...
Tonight? I was gonna go to bed early
and wake up when there's a new
president.

She hangs up.

SYDNEY
(continuing)
The President must think I'm a third-
rate jerk.

BETH
If he thinks you're a jerk, I'm sure
he thinks you're a first-rate jerk.

SYDNEY
I'll tell you one thing, boy. I
regrouped, you gotta gimme that.
I pulled it together at the end. I
stood in the middle of the Oval
Office and I made it very clear that
from now on, he who doesn't take the
GDC seriously does so at his peril!

BETH
And then you walked out the wrong
door.

SYDNEY
Are you gonna be throwing that back
at me the rest of my life?

BETH
That's my current plan, yes.

The TELEPHONE RINGS...

SYDNEY
That's gonna be Leo Solomon. He said
he'd call at nine.

SYDNEY picks up the phone--

SYDNEY
(continuing;
into phone)
Hello?

SHEPHERD
Uh, hi, is this Sydney?

SYDNEY doesn't recognize the voice--

SYDNEY
(into phone)
Leo?

PHONE VOICE
No, this is Andrew Shepherd.

SYDNEY looks at BETH and rolls her eyes, then explains to
her--

SYDNEY
Andrew Shepherd.
(back in the phone)
You're hilarious, Richard. You're a
regular riot.

And we CROSS-CUT between SYDNEY and SHEPHERD.

SHEPHERD
Uhh...this isn't Richard, it's Andrew
Shepherd.

SYDNEY
Oh, really. Well, I'm so glad you
called, because I forgot to tell
you today what a nice ass you have.
I'm also impressed that you were able
to get my phone number, considering
I don't have a phone. Good night,
Richard.

SYDNEY hangs up the phone.

INT. SHEPHERD'S PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

as SHEPHERD, undaunted, dials the number again.

SHEPHERD
(under his breath)
This used to be easier.

CUT TO:

INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

as the PHONE RINGS.

SYDNEY
I don't believe this.

BETH
You want me to deal with him?

SYDNEY
No way. I may choke in front of
Shepherd, but Richard Reynolds I
can handle.

She picks up the phone.

SYDNEY
(continuing)
Hello?

And we begin CROSS-CUTTING again between the two.

SHEPHERD
Sydney?

SYDNEY
Are you learning-impaired?!

SHEPHERD
Listen, do me a favor. Hang up the
phone.

SYDNEY
(beat)
What?

SHEPHERD
Hang up the phone. Then dial 456-1414.
When you get the White House operator,
give her your name and tell her you
want to speak to the President.

SHEPHERD hangs up.

CUT TO:

INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

SYDNEY's still holding the phone and seems a little
confused...an emotion which is about to be replaced by horror
as the unbelievable into the reality.

SYDNEY
(to herself)
This isn't happening to me.

She dials.

BETH
What's going on?

SYDNEY
(to herself)
It's not possible I did this twice in
one day.

The OPERATOR answers.

OPERATOR
(filtered)
Good evening, the White House.

SYDNEY swallows.

OPERATOR
(continuing; filtered)
Hello?

SYDNEY
(quietly)
My name's Sydney Ellen Wade. I'd
like to--

OPERATOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
The President's expecting your call,
ma'am. I'll put you right through.

CUT TO:

INT. SHEPHERD'S PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

He's just opened a bottle of beer when the phone rings.
He picks up the phone--

SHEPHERD
Hello.

SYDNEY
Mr. President, I'm sure there's an
appropriate thing to say at this
moment. Probably some formal apology
for the nice-ass remark would be in
order. I just don't quite know how
to word it.

SHEPHERD
It's my fault. I shouldn't have
called you at home. Should I call
you at the office tomorrow?

SYDNEY
No, sir, of course not. I mean --
yes, you can call me anytime you want
-- this is fine. Right now is fine.
When I said "of course not," I meat
that...You know what? The hell with it
-- I'm moving to another country.

SHEPHERD
(smiling)
What did you mean when you said you
don't have a phone.

SYDNEY
I just moved to Washington over the
weekend, and my apartment isn't ready
yet. This is my sister's apartment.
Come to think of it, how did you get
this number?

SHEPHERD
(beat)
How did I get the number. That's a
reasonable question. I don't know.
Probably the FBI.

SYDNEY
(trying to pretend
it's just another
guy on the phone)
The FBI. Sure. 'Cause i-if you want
to find someone and you're the
president, that's who you would call.

SHEPHERD
You know who else is good at that?

SYDNEY
The C.I.A.?

SHEPHERD
Well, yeah, but I was thinking of the
Internal Revenue Service. They have
computer files that...Well...I should
stop stalling. As I'm sure you know,
the French have elected themselves a
new president, and we're having a formal
state dinner at the White House, and I
was wondering -- and you're under no
obligation at all -- but I thought it
might be fun... I was wondering if you
maybe wanted to go...with me, and uh...
there it is. That's why I was calling.

There's a long silence on the phone.

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
Sydney? Sydney, Congress doesn't
take this long to--

SYDNEY
The President has asked me to join
him in representing our country.
I'm honored. I'm equal to the task.
And I won't let you down, sir.

SHEPHERD
(beat)
Sydney, this is just a dinner. We're
not gonna be doing espionage or
anything.

SYDNEY
No. Of course. I'm a little...uh...what
do I do? I, I mean, where do I go?
Should I meet you? Will you...

SHEPHERD
I'm gonna have a very nice woman
named Marsha Bridgeport call you.
She's the White House Social Director,
and she'll help you with anything you
want. Now when she calls you and tells
you her name is Marsha Bridgeport,
it'll help if you give her the
benefit of the doubt.

SYDNEY
Of course.

SHEPHERD
I'll see you Thursday night.

SYDNEY
Mr. President, thank you for asking
me. Really. This is a first for me.

SHEPHERD
Me too.

They hang up.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

INT. THE CRIME BILL WAR ROOM - DAY

A large conference room at OEOB has been converted for the
use of a half-dozen STAFFERS as well as ten or twelve
interns, some of them high school age. A sign on a
corkboard reads, "17 Votes in 69 Days."

The two numbers are written on two separate pads of paper so
that the top sheets can be torn off to reveal the following
numbers in descending order.

There is also a bulletin board that lists every member of the
House of Representatives and is divided up into five columns:
FOR, LEANING TOWARDS, UNDECIDED, LEANING AGAINST, and AGAINST.

KODAK
Who's on Indiana?
(raising his voice)
Excuse me. New people, I can't
remember your names. Raise your
hand if you're on Indiana.

Two INTERNS raise their hands--

KODAK
(continuing)
Put your hands down -- you're on
Illinois.

LEWIS comes in.

LEWIS
We've got Jarrett.

KODAK
What?

LEWIS
George Jarrett. He's ours. Solid
"yes."

KODAK
I don't believe it.
(to an INTERN)
You. New guy. "Jarrett, Democrat,
Minnesota." Slide his name on over
to "for."
(to Lewis)
We just had his name laminated under
"Undecided." How'd you get the fence
pole out of his butt?

LEWIS
I wish I could take credit. He just
said, "Lewis, I support the President
a hundred percent ." Not the bill,
the President.

LEWIS
We're gonna win this in a walk. It's
like a kissing booth at a carnival.
Give us a vote, get a photo-op with
number 63.

LEWIS reaches to the tote board and pulls the "17" off,
revealing "16."

LEWIS
We should have gone after the
handguns.

KODAK
We gotta do one thing at a time.

LEWIS
We don't have time to do one thing at
a time.

CUT TO:

INT. FOSSIL FUEL WAR ROOM - DAY

A GDC conference room that SYDNEY, her assistant, DAVID, and
two INTERNS have made into their 72-day headquarters. A
similar tote board reads "23 Votes in 69 Days."

The two interns are marking spreadsheets. DAVID is on one
phone, SYDNEY is on another.

DAVID
(into phone)
Carol, it's David in Sydney Wade's
office. I want to confirm her lunch
with the Congressman.

SYDNEY
(into phone)
We could do with a little party
leadership, Mike. Is the Majority
Whip takin' a break? Congress is in
session, right, I'm not wrong about
that?

LISA, another intern, is hanging up a phone in the background
and crossing to the corkboard.

LISA
I just got off with Luther Simons.
Brock's on board.

SYDNEY
Terrific!

She rips the "23" off, making it "22." SYDNEY reaches for
her coffee and knocks over a cup of pencils. In righting the
pencils, she knocks over her coffee.

DAVID
You're awfully jumpy today. What do
you have -- a big date tonight?

With that, a big pile of papers is sent flying off the desk.

CUT TO:

INT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

It's a beautiful night. The White House, lit up and shimmering
in its golden glow, would appear now to be exactly what the
poet was looking at when he described The Shining City on a
Hill.

Limousines, several of which fly the flag of foreign
diplomats, pull up one by one, their doors opened by white-
gloved MARINES.

White lights from television cameras mix with the fireworks
of flashbulbs from the print media.

INT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

The GUESTS -- of whom there are a couple hundred -- in black tie
and evening gowns, are entering the receiving area.

All this happening, of course, under the eye of the SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS, both American and French, who are
strategically placed throughout.

The light from a TV camera comes on as a reporter begins a
quick stand-up interview with ROBERT RUMSON, a handsome man
in his late forties.

REPORTER (LLOYD)
(to the camera)
I'm standing here with Senate
Minority Leader Robert Rumson, just
one of the many guests arriving at
what, for a few hours at least, is a
non-partisan White House. Senator,
the latest public opinion survey
shows the President with approval
ratings that would make him all but
unbeatable, come next November. Is
there a Republican who can mount a
serious challenge, and are you that
candidate?

RUMSON
Lloyd, it's a long time till next
November. Right now, I'm just
looking forward to a pleasant evening.

CUT TO:

INT. SHEPHERD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Lucy is standing behind her father, tying his bow tie.

SHEPHERD
That's a little tight, Luce.

LUCY
It's supposed to be tight. It's
supposed to make you look regal.

SHEPHERD
Is it supposed to cut off the blood
flow to my face?

LUCY
All done.

He looks in the mirror.

SHEPHERD
Not bad. Where did you learn how to
do this?

LUCY
Social studies.

SHEPHERD
Very funny.
(smiles)
Really, where did you learn?

LUCY
I don't know...I just guess...

SHEPHERD
Sweetie, did Mom teach you how to do
this?

LUCY
Yeah.

SHEPHERD
(pause)
Lucy, is this okay with you? My
having dinner with a woman?

LUCY
It's totally okay.

SHEPHERD
Are you sure? Because if you want to
talk about it...

LUCY
Dad, it's cool. Go for it.

SHEPHERD
You know, I'm a little nervous.

LUCY
You'll be fine. Just be yourself.

SHEPHERD
Be myself.

LUCY
And compliment her shoes.

SHEPHERD
Her shoes?

LUCY
Girls like that.

CUT TO:

INT. EAST WING ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Dressed in formal, but not festive, clothes and holding, as
always, her notepad, JANIE waits by the door.

A SECRET SERVICE AGENT sits alone behind a small desk.

The door opens and SYDNEY walks in. She's, needless to say,
stunning.

JANIE
Miss Wade? The President wants you
to join him upstairs in the
residence. May I show you the way?

CUT TO:

INT. SITTING HALL/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

This formal reception area is filled with special GUESTS. As
SYDNEY walks in, A.J. goes to her immediately.

A.J.
Sydney, come on in. You look
beautiful.

SYDNEY
Thank you. I have no idea what I'm
doing here.

A.J.
I promise you there's no hidden
agenda.

SHEPHERD approaches SYDNEY.

SHEPHERD
Sydney. Andrew Shepherd. We spoke on
the phone.

SYDNEY
Yes, sir. I remember.

ESTHER, MACINERNERY, A.J.'S wife, joins them.

A.J.
You know my wife, Esther.

SYDNEY
Sure. It's nice to see you again.

ESTHER
(affectionately)
Sydney, the President told me about
how you two met. I think it's
priceless.

SYDNEY
I don't know what happened. One
minute I was calling him a mockery of
an environmental leader. The next
minute I had a date.

ESTHER
Men like being insulted by women.
It makes them feel loved. Don't ask
me why.

A.J.
Sydney, when you meet the French
President, don't make him feel too
loved, all right? We just signed a
new trade agreement.

SYDNEY
Got it.

The French President, D'ASTIER, and his WIFE approach.

SHEPHERD
(to D'Astier)
Mr. President, would allow me to
introduce Sydney Ellen Wade of the
Commonwealth of Virginia. Sydney,
this is President Rene-Jean D'Astier
and his wife Monique Danielle
D'Astier of France.

SYDNEY
An honor to meet you both.

JANIE
Mr. President, I'm sorry to
interrupt. The receiving line is in
place.

SHEPHERD
Sydney, it sounds like our table's
ready.

SHEPHERD's guests make their way out of the residence,
leaving SHEPHERD with SYDNEY and the FRENCH PRESIDENT and
MDME. D'ASTIER.

CUT TO:

INT. STAIRCASE - NIGHT

SHEPHERD and SYDNEY are walking down the staircase that leads
to the red-carpeted hall through which the President enters
the East Room.

The GROUP escorting the President gives them wide berth so
that the two of them can have some privacy.

SHEPHERD
Once we hit the bottom of the
stairs, I gotta do a thing.
You'll be escorted...

SYDNEY
They took me through it.

After a slight pause--
SYDNEY
(continuing)
Do you do this often, sir?

SHEPHERD
(beat)
This is, actually, only our second
State Dinner. The first was for the
Emperor of Japan, who died shortly
after that, so we stopped having them
for a while, just in case.

SYDNEY
I meant do you go out on...do you--
often--do you--

SHEPHERD
Do I date a lot?

SYDNEY
Well, yeah.

SHEPHERD
No. How 'bout you?

SYDNEY
Me? Lately, I seem to be going out
on a lot of first dates.

SHEPHERD
Then you're experienced at this.

SYDNEY
Oh yeah, you can ask me anything.

SHEPHERD
How are we doing so far?

SYDNEY
It's hard to say at this point. So
far it's just your typical first date
stuff.

And all of a sudden an INCREDIBLE SOUND from inside the East
Room--

--The Marine Corps Brass and Percussion Ensemble plays four
ruffles and flourishes.

SHEPHERD
Damn. And I wanted to find a way to
be different from the other guys.

A BOOMING VOICE over the P.A. announces--

VOICE (O.S.)
Ladies and gentlemen, the President
of the United States.

And now -- the whole walk timing out with incredible precision --

SHEPHERD
By the way, nice shoes.

--SHEPHERD walks into the hall as the Brass and Percussion
Ensemble plays HAIL TO THE CHIEF.

The 180 GUESTS come to their feet and applaud long and loud.

The GROUP following the President catches up to the spot
where SYDNEY has stopped walking. They all join in the
applause. We can see in SYDNEY's face that she's been quite
swept up.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. EAST ROOM - NIGHT

The room is beautifully appointed, with the Marine Corps
Dance Band playing dinner music -- and the SECRET SERVICE
strategically positioned.

CUT TO:

AT SHEPHERD'S TABLE

STEWARDS are clearing away the main course and refilling wine
glasses.

In addition to the two main couples, and ESTHER MacINERNEY
and TWO OTHER COUPLES are seated at the President's table.

SYDNEY
Mr. President, the President and Mrs.
D'Astier look bored. They're not
talking to anybody.

SHEPHERD
They're hammered. Esther, do you speak
French?

ESTHER
Latin.

SHEPHERD
I thought you spoke French.

ESTHER
No, Latin.

SHEPHERD
Great, next time Julius Caesar comes
to town, you're our gal. Sydney, I
don't suppose that you speak any--

SYDNEY
(taking over--
to D'Astier)
Monsieur le President, nous sommes
tous habilles, nous avons ce
merveilleux orchestre, une piece
magnifique...comment se fait-il que
les invites ne dansent pas?

SHEPHERD
(proudly to A.J. and
Esther)
That's my date.

D'ASTIER
Je ne connais pas la tradition en
Amerique, mais dans mon pays, si les
invites de Louis XVI et Marie
Antoinette avaient ose danser devant
le roi et la reine, ils auraient
perdu la tete.

SYDNEY
Really?

MADAME D'ASTIER
Absolument.

SHEPHERD
Sydney, you didn't dissolve the NATO
treaty, did you?

SYDNEY
I just said that we're sitting in this
beautiful room, listening to the music
of this wonderful orchestra, and I
wondered why nobody was dancing.

D'ASTIER
And I informed Ms. Wade that in my
country, a guest at the palace of
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette would
soon find their head in a guillotine
if they made the impertinent gesture
of dancing without so much as a
by-your-leave from the King and the Queen.

A.J.
I'll bet no one accused Louis of
being soft on crime.

SYDNEY
There's a lesson there, Mr. President.

SHEPHERD
More beheadings at the White House?

A.J.
Bob Rumson would embrace it.

SHEPHERD
I'm sure he would, but I have a
better idea.

SHEPHERD stands, holds out his hand to SYDNEY.

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
Would you like to dance?

SYDNEY
Uh, yeah, I guess. I mean, yes, sir,
I'd love to.

SHEPHERD and SYDNEY move to the dance floor, accompanied by
the appreciative "oooh's" and "ahh's" of the GUESTS.

The dance band begins, and SYDNEY and SHEPHERD dance...

...beautifully.

CUT TO:

THE GUESTS

each and every one of them, have stopped all conversation and
are fixating on this captivating sight. As we go around the
room, we can observe the subtle reactions of, at first,
various anonymous GUESTS, then

CUT TO:

A.J. AND ESTHER MACINERNEY,

holding hands smiling as they watch their old friend, and we

CUT TO:

RUMSON'S TABLE

where the Minority Leader's game face can barely conceal the
gears that have slowly begun to turn in his head, as we

CUT TO:

SHEPHERD AND SYDNEY DANCING

SYDNEY
I don't know how you do it.

SHEPHERD
Arthur Murray. Six lessons.

SYDNEY
That's not what I mean. Two hundred
pairs of eyes are focused on you
right now, with two questions:
"Who's this girl, and why's our
president dancing with her?"

SHEPHERD
First of all, the 200 pairs of eyes
aren't focused on me. They're
focused on you. And the answers are
"Sydney Ellen Wade" and "Because she
said 'yes.'"

LEWIS AND ROBIN

looking on from the back of the room.

LEWIS
They make a nice couple.

ROBIN
Lovely.

LEWIS
We've got troubles.

ROBIN
Huge.

As PEOPLE start onto dance floor, we

CUT TO:

INT. A BLACK LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

as it pulls away from the White House and into the night. In
the back, SYDNEY slips a shoe off and rubs her foot.

She smiles, then turns around to look out the back window as
the White House slips out of view.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY IN THE LIFE

CUT TO:

INT. OUTER OFFICE OF THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

MRS. CHAPIL and JANIE are at their respective desks as
SHEPHERD walks in.

SHEPHERD
Good morning, Mrs. Chapil.

MRS. CHAPIL
Good morning, Mr. President. Mr.
Rothschild and Miss McCall are in the
office, sir. They said they needed to
speak with you before scheduling.

SHEPHERD
Fine. Janie, can you get me the
number of a local florist?

JANIE
I'll take care of it, sir. Where do
you want them sent?

SHEPHERD
I want to do it myself. I just need
the phone number.

JANIE
I don't understand.

SHEPHERD
I want the phone number of a florist.

JANIE
You just want the phone number?

SHEPHERD
Yeah.

JANIE
(beat)
I don't understand, sir, is there--

SHEPHERD
I want to send some flowers, Janie.
I want to do it myself. I don't want
to staff it out, and I don't want to
issue an Executive Order. I just
want a phone number.

JANIE
I'll get it for you right away, sir.

SHEPHERD
Thank you.

He heads into the office.

CUT TO:

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

where LEWIS and ROBIN are waiting anxiously.

ROBIN
Mr. President, we need five minutes
before scheduling if you can spare it.

SHEPHERD
(to Robin)
I just need two minutes to make a
call and I'll be right with you.

JANIE enters and hands SHEPHERD a piece of paper.

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
Thank you, Janie.

She exits.

LEWIS
Who are we calling, sir?

SHEPHERD
I'm calling the Organization of the
United Brotherhood of It's-None-of-
Your-Damn-Business, Lewis. I'll be
with you in a minute.

LEWIS
Yes, sir.

LEWIS and ROBIN exit the Oval Office. SHEPHERD picks up the
phone.

SHEPHERD
(to the OPERATOR)
Yeah, good morning. How do I get an
outside line? Really? That's simple.
Thank you.

SHEPHERD dials the phone number JANIE's given him.

CUT TO:

LEWIS and ROBIN

hovering near the outer office.

LEWIS
Janie?

JANIE
Yes?

LEWIS
What's the President doing?

JANIE
I'm sorry, I'm really not at liberty
to say.

CUT TO:

SHEPHERD ON THE PHONE

SHEPHERD
(into phone)
Tell me something. What is the state
flower of Virginia?

CUT TO:

THE OUTER OFFICE

ROBIN
Does this have something to do with
Sydney Wade?

JANIE
I'm really not at liberty to say.

CUT TO:

SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

SHEPHERD
(into phone)
Is there someone else there who might
know?
(beat)
No, I'm not trying to five you a hard
time, I was--hold on please.

THE OUTER OFFICE

SHEPHERD'S VOICE comes through on INTERCOM.

SHEPHERD (O.S.)
(through intercom)
Janie, what's the state flower of
Virginia?

JANIE
(turning to MRS.
CHAPIL)
Mrs. Chapil. State flower of
Virginia.

MRS. CHAPIL
The dogwood.

CUT TO:

SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

JANIE (O.S.)
(through intercom)
The dogwood, sir.

SHEPHERD
(to JANIE)
Thank you.
(into phone)
It's the dogwood.
(pause)
What? Hold on please.
(to JANIE, through
intercom)
Janie, the dogwood is a tree, not a
flower.

CUT TO:

THE OUTER OFFICE

LEON KODAK walks by.

KODAK
It's a tree and a flower.

JANIE
Are you sure?

KODAK
Yes. What's going on?

CUT TO:

OVAL OFFICE

JANIE (O.S.)
(through intercom)
Sir, it's a tree and a flower.

SHEPHERD
(into phone)
The dogwood is both a tree and a
flower. I'd like a dozen, please.
Really? No dogwoods? How 'bout
roses? Simple. Classic. Two dozen
roses.

CUT TO:

THE OUTER OFFICE

LEWIS
Janie, I'm the President senior
domestic policy advisor. It's
important that I have a full
understanding of--

SHEPHERD (O.S.)
Janie! Do you have any idea where
my credit cards might be?

CUT TO:

SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

JANIE
They're in storage in Wisconsin with
the rest of your personal items.

SHEPHERD
Ah.
(into phone)
Listen, what might be better is if
you just bill me for the flowers.
I'm sure it'll be okay with your
boss. Well, I don't know if you
recognize my voice, but this is the
President.
(beat)
The United States.
(they've hung up)
Hello, hello...

CUT TO:

INT. LEO SOLOMON'S OFFICE - DAY

SYDNEY enters.

SYDNEY
Leo, you wanted to see me?

LEO
So there I was, thinking maybe I
should give Sydney a call. She's
new in town, doesn't know many
people...

LEO produces a copy of the morning paper, which has a photo
of SHEPHERD and SYDNEY dancing.

SYDNEY
Leo--

LEO
Then I picked up the Times--

SYDNEY
It was crazy. He called me at home.

LEO
What's going on?

SYDNEY
Nothing. It was innocent. His
cousin got the flu at the last
minute.

LEO
Did you sleep with him?

SYDNEY
What?

LEO
Did you sleep--

SYDNEY
That's none of your business, Leo.

LEO
Yeah, it is, Sydney.

SYDNEY
You wanna tell me how my personal
life in any way--

LEO
Because when it's the President, it's
not personal. Sydney, I hired your
reputation. I hired a pit bull, not
a prom queen.

SYDNEY
That's unfair.

LEO
It's incredibly unfair. But you've
spent a lot of time over the year
telling me the trouble with the
environmental lobby is that we don't
understand the fundamental truth that
politics is perception. This is a
bad time to develop ignorance.

SYDNEY
You're making way too much of this.

LEO
Am I? This is your time, Sydney.
You're sitting at the grown-ups'
table. You have a chance to get
everything you want -- run a national
campaign, be a major player inside
the party. But this relationship had
better go all the way, because with
the leader of the free world there is
no halfway. Politics is perception,
and if thing don't work out, the
amount of time it'll take you to go
from being a hired gun to a cocktail
party joke can be clocked with an egg
timer.

There's a quick knock at the door -- Leo's SECRETARY steps in
with a strange-looking package.

SYDNEY
Leo, there is no relationship. It
was one night. It's done.

LEO'S SECRETARY
Mr. Solomon, this was just delivered
by White House messenger. It's
marked "Perishable."

LEO
The White House has sent me something
perishable?

LEO'S SECRETARY
It's for Ms. Wade.

LEO
Here we go...

SYDNEY begins unwrapping the package.

SYDNEY
Relax, Leo. I'm sure it's just a
formality.

LEO'S SECRETARY
(exited)
It's from him.

LEO
Of course it's from him.

SYDNEY
So he had some staff flunky send
me a fruit basket.

LEO'S SECRETARY
He wrote the note himself.

SYDNEY
I'm sure he didn't take the time to--

LEO'S SECRETARY
The messenger said he was waiting in
the Oval Office for ten minutes while
the President wrote the card.

SYDNEY
Okay, listen, so he--
(to LEO'S SECRETARY)
--it took him ten minutes to write a
card?!

LEO'S SECRETARY
Apparently he went through several
drafts.

SYDNEY can't stifle her laugh -- she sees what the gift is.

LEO
What is it...what is it?

SYDNEY
A ham.

LEO
(beat)
A ham?

SYDNEY
He sent me a Virginia ham.

LEO'S SECRETARY
Dig it, Ms. Wade. You're the
President's girlfriend.

SYDNEY's smile fades away...she looks at LEO.

LEO
There's never an egg timer around
when you need one.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE NORTHWEST EXECUTIVE ENTRANCE - DAY

as the white-gloved MARINE snaps the door open for SYDNEY,
and we

CUT TO:

INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

SHEPHERD is conferring with LEWIS and ROBIN.

ROBIN
Sir, they're gonna be pressing today
about whether the White House is
prepared to soften the assault
weapons section of the crime bill.

LEWIS
There is no need to entertain that
at this point.

ROBIN
How do you want me to handle the
Sydney issue?

SHEPHERD
The Sydney issue?

LEWIS
We should have a consensus on how the
White House is going to handle it.

SHEPHERD
I sure hope the Sydney issue refers
in some way to a problem we're having
with Australia, because if it's
anything else...

JANIE pokes her head in.

JANIE
Mr. President, Ms. Wade is here to
see you.

SHEPHERD
Tell her she can come right in. I'm
finished here.

JANIE
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD
(to LEWIS and ROBIN)
There is no Sydney issue.

SYDNEY enters, crossing paths with LEWIS and ROBIN. They
exchange pleasantries.

SYDNEY
(to SHEPHERD)
Thanks for seeing me on such short
notice.

SHEPHERD
No problem. Did you get the ham?

SYDNEY
I got the ham, yes. Thank you very
much.

SHEPHERD
I wanted to send you flowers, but
there seem to be some kinks in the
system. I'm really glad you stopped
by. I had such a good time last
night.

SYDNEY
So did I. It's just that...

JANIE enters.

JANIE
They're 45 seconds away, sir.

During the following, JANIE will go to the desk, pick up two
briefing books and stick them in a briefcase and gather up
his things -- all without interrupting the conversation a beat.

SHEPHERD
I'm delivering a luncheon speech at
the Governor's Conference this
morning. I'm sorry to--

SYDNEY
No, no, that's fine. I just stopped
by to...

SHEPHERD
Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?

SYDNEY
Dinner?

SHEPHERD
Casual. In the Residence. Without
the United Nations. My daughter'll
be with us, so it may seem like the
United--

SYDNEY
I'd love to meet Lucy, but...

An AIDE has slipped in and hands SHEPHERD a note.

SHEPHERD
(reading to himself
as he talks SYDNEY)
She's gonna like you.
(calling to the AIDE)
Excuse me -- Jeff!

SYDNEY
Actually, I have some concerns that--

The AIDE (JEFF) steps back in--

JEFF
Yes, sir.

SHEPHERD
(reading the note)
I can't do this.

JEFF
Which? Robbins or Stackhouse?

SHEPHERD
Either one. I have to be in and out.

JEFF
Sir, Governor Stackhouse said he just
needed 10 minutes. I think he wants
to talk about the assault weapons.

SHEPHERD
Stackhouse wants to talk about
grazing rights. Trust me.

JEFF
Got it.

And he's gone.

SHEPHERD
(to Sydney)
Sorry. You have concerns.

SYDNEY
Yes. Not many. A few. One. I have
one concern.

SHEPHERD
Does it having anything to do with
one of us being the President?

SYDNEY
You like to make jokes about this,
but--

SHEPHERD
I am not mocking you, honest. I'm
just a guy asking a girl over for a
meal.

And, as if from out of nowhere, a LOUD CLAAAMMERING, like the
sound of a jackhammer against cement, comes from somewhere
outside -- growing louder and closer --

SYDNEY
What's that?

SHEPHERD
My ride's here.

And, sure enough, coming into view outside the windows of the
Oval Office, is MARINE-1, the President's helicopter. JANIE
comes back in and helps him on with his coat and scarf.

SYDNEY
Leo Solomon has serious concerns
about my exploring a social, you
know, scenario, with the President
of the United States.

SHEPHERD
Yeah, well, when you put it that
way, it doesn't sound that great
to me either.

SYDNEY
It's just not--

SHEPHERD
Have dinner with Lucy and me. It's
meat loaf night -- how presidential
can it be?

As SHEPHERD rushes out...

SHEPHERD
(continuing)
Seven-thirty.

SYDNEY now stands alone in the OVAL OFFICE, trying to figure
out what just happened.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - SOUTH LAWN - DAY

Marine 1 lifting off the south lawn. TILT DOWN off night sky
to reveal

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

CUT TO:

INT. SITTING HALL/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

A room designed more for comfort than for show, with its
overstuffed couches.

Lucy enters.

LUCY
Are you Ms. Wade?

SYDNEY
(standing up, smiling)
Sydney.

LUCY
Lucy Shepherd.

SYDNEY
Nice to meet you.

LUCY
My dad told me to tell you he's on
the phone with his dentist and that
I should behave myself and entertain
you till he gets here.

SYDNEY
Your father's on the phone with his
dentist?

LUCY
No. He told me to tell you he's on
the phone with his dentist. He wants
you to think he's a regular guy.

SYDNEY
Who is he on the phone with?

LUCY
The Prime Minister of Israel.

SYDNEY
They're probably not discussing his
teeth.

LUCY
No. They're talking about that
abbreviation I can never remember.

SYDNEY
C-STAD?

LUCY
Yeah.

SYDNEY
Capricorn Surface To Air Defense.

LUCY
Right.

SHEPHERD enters.

SHEPHERD
Let meat loaf night begin.

SYDNEY
Everything all right with your teeth?

SHEPHERD
My teeth?

SYDNEY
The dentist.

SHEPHERD
Oh, right. I've got a cavity in my
upper bicuspid region.

SYDNEY
You've got a short-range weapons
system outside Tel Aviv.

SHEPHERD
(to LUCY)
You turned on me.

LUCY
Can we eat?

CUT TO:

INT. A POSE HOUSE IN CHEVY CHASE - NIGHT

Two dozen limos and town cars line this suburban Maryland
street, their drivers waiting patiently.

CUT TO:

INT. THE HOUSE IN CHEVY CHASE - NIGHT

A cocktail party is underway. This is a fat cat fundraiser
for the Republicans.

RUMSON (V.O.)
You're over-thinking this.

CUT TO:

INT. THE LIBRARY - NIGHT

The look and feel of old money. Rumson is holding court with
a half-dozen political insiders. Some smoke cigars; others
sip their drinks.

RUMSON
(continuing)
Voters aren't interested in how to
achieve economic growth, and they
don't want to hear our plans to
strengthen foreign policy.

STAFFER #1
So it comes down to character.

STAFFER #2
The press like him, Senator. The
networks, the newspapers, they're--

RUMSON
Reporters like him. Networks and
newspapers like ratings and circulation.
For all the bitching we do about liberal
bias in the press when it comes down to
a character debate...

STAFFER #3
The press is an unwitting accomplice.

CARL
Bob, the character debate didn't work
out for us.

RUMSON
Because it couldn't. Our polling
told us that attacking his character
less than a year after he'd lost his
wife was gonna be a turn-off and was
gonna make people feel sorry for him.
We couldn't run the campaign we wanted
because the opponent was a widower.

CARL
He's still a widower. Time's passed,
but--

RUMSON
(to the rest)
You'll have to forgive my friend.
He's been on a hunting trip and cut
off from the world.

CARL
What's going on?

And four STAFFERS grab whatever newspaper is closest to their
hand and toss them to CARL.

RUMSON
The President's got a girlfriend.

CUT TO:

INT. PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

LUCY, SHEPHERD and SYDNEY are finishing up a game of Scrabble.

SYDNEY
(to LUCY)
Your dad says you're studying the
Constitutional Convention.

SHEPHERD
She's not having any fun, though.

LUCY
Dad--

SYDNEY
You'r