THE WEST WING
7x16 - “ELECTION DAY, PART 1”
WRITTEN BY LAUREN SCHMIDT
DIRECTED BY MIMI LEDER
Transcribed by Walking, Talking, And Yelling At Clouds
(kegofglory.blogspot.com)
TEASER
ELECTION DAY
FADE IN: INT. - HOTEL BAR – NIGHT
LOUISE is at the bar. Soft piano music is playing, there’s a murmur of conversations in the background.
LOUISE
Scotch, please, your best.
BARTENDER (as he places a glass in front of her)
Mm-hmm.
LOUISE
I need seven glasses. And I’ll keep the bottle.
The BARTENDER pours Scotch into LOUISE’s glass and places six more on the bar.
11:00 PM CST
7 HOURS UNTIL POLLS OPEN
Our view changes to a seating area near the bar. JOSH, RONNA, OTTO, LESTER, DONNA, and EDIE are all seated on sofas or on chairs, talking.
RONNA
I’d believe we were in Houston if I saw more cowboy hats.
DONNA
Maybe it’s rude indoors.
OTTO
Maybe it’s a stereotype.
RONNA (chuckling, as LOUISE brings the glasses and Scotch over)
Why, it could be Denver, it could be St. Louis -
EDIE
Chicago -
RONNA (cont.)
- uh, Phoenix, Salt Lake City -
LESTER
All that time we spent in Salt Lake City.
JOSH (as LOUISE pours Scotch for everyone)
We have to accept the fact that this is all coming to an end tomorrow.
EDIE
And a single tear slips slowly down your cheek.
LOUISE
Or you can get really hammered. (Everyone whoops in agreement) Everybody needs to relax, except you. (to JOSH) Bartender needs your credit card.
JOSH stands and goes to the bar.
LOUISE (handing out glasses)
So – who’s planned out the future for the rest of their lives?
EDIE
Oh, I want a meal that doesn’t consist of Cheetos and a Diet Sprite.
RONNA
I want a pedicure.
OTTO
I want a job as a White House speechwriter.
Everyone reacts in horror.
RONNA
Don’t say that out loud!
LESTER
Bad karma, man.
OTTO
Oh, then the Cheetos thing sounds good.
DONNA
I’d settle for more than two hours sleep.
LESTER
Where were we with the bat loose in the hallway in the middle of the night?
RONNA (laughing, along with the others)
The one you tried to catch with a pillowcase?
LESTER
That one.
RONNA
Portland.
Everyone starts talking over one another as JOSH comes back to the group, a receipt in his hand.
JOSH (to LOUISE)
A hundred and seventy-five dollars a bottle? Next time, get a pitcher of whatever’s on tap.
LOUISE
Next time?
JOSH
Okay, the Congressman is gonna be wrapping up in L.A., who wants to stay sober long enough to get the report from Bram?
JOSH looks around at the group. Everyone averts their eyes as they sip their Scotch.
JOSH
Thank you for volunteering, Edie.
EDIE throws up her arms in exasperation as everyone laughs.
LESTER
I think I’m gonna call it a night.
DONNA (as the others react in disappointment)
Oh, so early?
LESTER
God created few nights in life without midnight rallies, airplane seats, and tracking polls. I’m gonna enjoy one.
LESTER drains his glass and stands.
JOSH
Staff meeting 6:00 AM, tomorrow – we’ll go over new marching orders then.
LESTER (heading for the elevator)
Good night.
EVERYONE
Good night.
EDIE watches LESTER walk away, then starts to stand.
EDIE
Yeah, you know, I think that’s it for me, too, so I’ll send out an email about L.A., later.
EDIE hurries off to join LESTER at the elevator.
JOSH
Really?
DONNA
Apparently.
LOUISE snort-chuckles.
OTTO (to LOUISE)
Should you really be drinking like that?
LOUISE
Like what? You’re 23 years old, with a shocking lack of facial hair. Do you really wanna tell a grown woman how to drink?
OTTO looks a little sheepish, and also excited.
LOUISE
I didn’t think so. (holding her gaze on OTTO for a bit) Bedtime.
LOUISE stands and starts to leave, grabbing the bottle of Scotch as she goes.
JOSH
Go ahead, you can take the bottle if you want.
OTTO (draining his glass)
Yeah. Me, too. (standing) See you guys in the morning.
OTTO heads down the hallway, following LOUISE. We see a woman walk up to the bar next to JOSH, DONNA, and RONNA.
JOSH
How did I miss that?
DONNA gives JOSH a look, holding her drink.
RONNA (standing, getting her purse)
You might have had an easier year of it, if you had – come on board. 6:00 tomorrow morning, right?
JOSH
Yeah.
RONNA walks up to the woman at the bar, giving her a kiss, and they leave. JOSH and DONNA are the only ones left.
JOSH
Wow, Cindy?
DONNA sips her Scotch.
JOSH
Did you know that?
DONNA
About Ronna and Cindy?
JOSH
Any of them.
DONNA
Yes.
JOSH
Which one?
DONNA (smiling)
All of them.
JOSH
Wow.
DONNA brushes off her skirt, a bit nervously. She and JOSH look at each other across the coffee table.
JOSH
Did you ever … come onboard?
DONNA (a smile across her face)
No.
JOSH
Never had a campaign fling?
DONNA (with a small shake of her head, more seriously)
No.
DONNA stands, walks around the table, and sits next to JOSH, crossing her legs.
JOSH
Do you want another drink?
DONNA (looking directly at JOSH)
No.
DONNA stands and heads for the elevator. JOSH watches her go, grabs his Scotch and empties it, and gets ready to follow her.
SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.
END TEASER.
***
ACT ONE
FADE IN: INT. - HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
We see JOSH, sleeping in bed. His eyes open, and he looks around without moving. He rolls over to see DONNA in bed next to him, also asleep. JOSH rolls back on his side. The clock reads 3:03. JOSH rolls back over, reaches out as if to touch DONNA’s shoulder, then stops and rolls back. DONNA’s eyes open. She looks over at JOSH, checks the clock, then stands up and goes into the bathroom. JOSH sits bolt upright and frantically throws on shorts and shirt, then goes to the bathroom door. He pushes it open to see DONNA getting dressed.
JOSH
3:00 AM.
DONNA
Yeah.
JOSH
Did you get any sleep?
DONNA
A little. You?
JOSH
Yeah. You don’t have to leave.
DONNA
I know.
JOSH
I mean, you don’t have to sneak out.
DONNA
I wasn’t.
JOSH
I didn’t want to make this awkward. (chuckles) I just did, right?
DONNA (referring to her laptop)
I was just, checking the news sites.
JOSH
With a sweater?
DONNA
For warmth.
DONNA leans over her laptop and starts typing on the keyboard. JOSH walks up behind her. He grabs a tube of toothpaste, squeezes some into his mouth, then looks to see what DONNA is finding online. Their heads are very close together.
DONNA (standing, turning to JOSH)
Why don’t I go get us some coffee?
JOSH
How are you feeling?
DONNA
I really want to win this thing.
JOSH (as DONNA walks away)
Coffee would be great. Cream and …
DONNA (putting on shoes)
Three sugars. I already checked AP, nothing new. You should take a look at Reuters.
DONNA leaves.
CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL WORKOUT ROOM – NIGHT
LOUISE is alone in the workout room, walking briskly on a treadmill. EDIE comes up behind her, holding a water bottle and some papers.
EDIE
Scotch, Otto, exercise … you should rehydrate.
LOUISE
I was hoping to escape you people for a little while.
EDIE
Yeah, well, the front desk clerk gave you up.
LOUISE
What’d he say, ‘Lou Thornton is down on the treadmill, go seek her out’?
EDIE
No, he said he opened the gym for a lady with liquor breath and crazy eyes.
LOUISE
What do you got there?
EDIE (referring to the papers)
Ah, Vinick made a crack last night about the Congressman’s lack of foreign policy experience in Cleveland.
LOUISE
Well, it’s hard to effectively fire back at him on Election Day.
EDIE
Yeah. (starting to leave) Only two and a half hours before the polls open in the East.
LOUISE (softly)
Yeah.
LOUISE turns up the speed on the treadmill and starts running.
CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL HALLWAY – NIGHT
The elevator opens and DONNA steps out, carrying two cups of coffee. We hear OTTO, who is pacing in the hallway, talking out loud through the speech he’s written.
OTTO (reading)
‘Thank you all for coming. Joining me here in Houston on this historic evening, tonight I am both honored and humbled by the certitude ...’ (chasing DONNA as she walks down the hall) Hey. No one actually uses the word ‘certitude.’
DONNA
Not really.
OTTO
No.
DONNA
You couldn’t sleep either?
OTTO
No. Final pass at the victory and concession speeches. It was either this or a solitaire tournament with the advance guys.
OTTO realizes he’s holding DONNA up from something.
OTTO (turning away, writing on his notepad)
Yeah …
DONNA is at JOSH’s hotel room door. She tries the handle, sees it’s locked. Looking around to be sure no one sees, she lightly taps on the door. The door opens – and it’s RONNA. We see the room is abuzz with staffers and ringing phones.
RONNA
Hey!
DONNA
Hey.
RONNA
Welcome to the club.
JOSH
No one can sleep.
DONNA (entering)
Evidently.
RONNA
You see Reuters? Vinick suggested the Congressman couldn’t handle the crisis in Kazakhstan at some event last night.
DONNA
Well, a response from the Congressman won’t do much good now, but we’ve got Bartlet Cabinet members across the country doing satellite spin this morning, they can mention our guy’s military experience.
RONNA (as OTTO enters behind them)
All right, great.
OTTO (in the background, showing his notepad to another staffer)
Can you check on this for me? Thanks.
RONNA walks away, and DONNA moves to stand next to JOSH.
DONNA (quietly)
Tell me you found my pantyhose.
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – NIGHT
LOS ANGELES, 4:12 AM PST
A door opens, and BRUNO escorts in a woman (we will later find is named CARRIE). She is obviously his date for the evening.
CARRIE
Thank you.
BRUNO
This is it.
CARRIE
Wow – it’s less glamorous than I imagined.
BRUNO
We sold the leather couches for our last media buy.
CARRIE (laughing)
Funny man. Pretty witty. (she turns to BRUNO and puts her arms around his shoulders) Makes me want to …
They kiss as we hear a phone ring and a fax machine printing in the background.
BRUNO
I should check the fax.
JANE BRAUN (entering from an inner office)
I already did.
BRUNO and CARRIE are surprised to see they are not alone.
BRUNO
You had nothing better to do at 4:00 in the morning?
JANE
Apparently not.
JANE looks at CARRIE, then back at BRUNO.
BRUNO
Oh, uh, Jane Braun, Carrie …
CARRIE (chuckling)
Marino.
JANE (shaking hands)
Hi.
CARRIE
Nice to meet you.
JANE (to BRUNO)
Senator hit Santos on Kazakhstan last night.
BRUNO
Yeah, I saw.
JANE
Maybe, too little too late, but -
BRUNO
Well – it was worth a shot.
JANE
Yeah.
BRUNO
When’s he landing?
JANE
Hour and a half at LAX, then up to Santa Paula to vote.
BRUNO
Yeah.
All three stand there uncomfortably.
CARRIE
Uh, bathroom?
JANE (pointing)
Oh – it’s, uh -
BRUNO (pointing)
Oh, um, uh, second door -
JANE
- to your left.
CARRIE
Thank you.
CARRIE walks off.
JANE
She’s cute.
BRUNO
Yeah.
JANE
Little young.
BRUNO
Yale grad.
JANE looks at him skeptically.
BRUNO
Almost grad.
JANE
Ah.
BRUNO
Couldn’t sleep.
JANE
Oh, sure. (beat) God, I hate the waiting.
CUT TO: EXT. - HOUSTON AIRPORT – DAY
HOUSTON, 6:36 AM CST
MATT and HELEN walk down the airstairs from a plane, with staffers and Secret Service agents walking with them.
MATT
Say something.
HELEN (taking his arm)
Nothing to say.
MATT
Aw, someone should be telling me to change my shirt, or not to change the health care portion of the stump speech, or at least where we’re going next.
HELEN
We’re going to the polling place to vote and then home.
MATT
Stump speech?
HELEN
Delivered for the last time.
MATT
And, uh, we’re not running late?
HELEN (chuckling)
Right on time.
MATT (as they get into an SUV)
Unbelievable.
CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL HALLWAY – DAY
6:50 AM CST
JOSH exits the elevator carrying a newspaper and heads down the hall. As he passes DONNA’s hotel room she steps out, wearing a different outfit from the night before.
JOSH
Hey, you look great.
DONNA
I changed.
JOSH
Yeah, I noticed.
DONNA
Thanks. (they walk down the hall together) Teddy’s got the war room up and running?
JOSH
Yeah.
DONNA (quietly)
I didn’t want to be wearing the same clothes as last night.
JOSH
Right.
DONNA
How’s our, uh, Get Out The Vote effort looking?
JOSH
Great, I hope. (beat) You don’t have to worry, a lot of people are gonna be doing the walk of shame today. (realizing) Not that what we did was shameful, or is shameful, that’s not - what I meant.
They enter the SANTOS WAR ROOM, taking up a suite inside the hotel. TV monitors are everywhere, whiteboards, tables, phones …
JOSH
So … ?
TEDDY
Here’s about everything we talked about, 250,000 volunteers nationwide, knocking on doors, ready to escort voters to the polls.
JOSH
Great, where are the surrogates?
TEDDY
Got top-tier surrogates doing morning news shows in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California.
JOSH
Russell?
TEDDY
Vice President’s in Colorado today, but he’s available for satellites. Griffith, Ayt, Atkins, and Baker all available to pick up and fly where we need - depending on what the exit polls tell us.
JOSH
Hispanic vote?
TEDDY
Radio spots, targeting largely Hispanic counties in California and Florida, and the Congressman will hit Texas this afternoon with some drive-time radio.
JOSH (sighing)
Right.
TEDDY
We got it completely handled, Josh.
STAFFER (handing TEDDY a note)
Here you go.
TEDDY
Thank you.
JOSH (as TEDDY starts to walk away)
Really?
TEDDY
Really.
JOSH (as LOUISE walks up to him)
Well, this is it. Wait begins.
LOUISE
Well, it’s about that time for you to do your thing.
JOSH
My thing?
LOUISE
Thank the troops?
JOSH
Mm-hmm.
LOUISE
You did realize you were gonna have to do that, right?
JOSH
Right … right. (loudly, to the room) Uh, hey … everyone … gather round.
The staffers stand and listen to JOSH.
JOSH (standing up on an office chair)
Uh, I didn’t know most of you, uh, before last January, and, uh - (the chair starts to spin and JOSH grabs the ceiling to stop) – wow, it’s been a long 11 months. I hope you’ve all learned a lot. I know that I learned a few things from you, for instance, I didn’t know that I would need to explain that we don’t do shout-outs during radio interviews and we don’t encourage our college buddies to hurl expletives at our opponent. Who was responsible for that thing in Dubuque, anyway, who was it?
The staffers all look around uncomfortably.
LOUISE (finally)
Dave.
JOSH (irritated)
Dave. Dave, Dave, take a bow.
RONNA
You fired him.
JOSH takes a breath. LOUISE has a look on her face as if she regrets suggesting this to JOSH at all.
JOSH
Well ... wherever you are, thanks for the lesson. Ummm … (pause) Uh, it’s … a special day. The high point in your young, impressionable lives. So go – take, take a few minutes to enjoy it. And then, call your family and friends, make sure they voted. Actually, ask them about the lines at their polling precincts so we know if our Get Out The Vote is working. They can report any harassment, anything weird – or if it’s snowing, whatever. They can tell you that.
JOSH falls silent. Everyone in the room is standing and looking at him.
JOSH
I’m serious. Call them.
The staffers go back to work. LOUISE raises her eyebrows in a sarcastic ‘good job.’
JOSH
Good group.
LOUISE
Yeah. You might want to work the phrase ‘thank you’ in there some, where.
JOSH (directed generally around the room)
Thank you. Appreciate it.
LOUISE
Ooookey-dokey. (checking her watch) Polls open in five, four, three, two, one.
FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *
ACT TWO
FADE IN: INT. - LOUISE’S HOTEL ROOM – DAY
LOUISE is sitting at a table, laptop open in front of her, watching MSNBC news coverage of VINICK voting. The chyron reads SEN. VINICK CASTS VOTE IN CALIFORNIA.
NEWS REPORTER (VO, on TV)
Senator Arnold Vinick’s campaign made its final stop of the election season this morning here in Santa Paula, California. Senator Vinick returns to his hometown with a different goal -
We hear a knock at the door.
LOUISE
Come in.
NEWS REPORTER (cont., VO, on TV)
- to be elected President of the United States. Citizens of Santa Paula have gathered this morning to watch their favorite son cast his ballot -
OTTO enters, carrying a can of Red Bull and a muffin.
OTTO
Breakfast.
LOUISE
Are we going steady?
OTTO
You called me.
LOUISE (taking the can of Red Bull)
The speeches.
OTTO
You approved them already. One if we win, one if we lose …
LOUISE
I think we might need another one.
OTTO
Isn’t it pretty black and white?
LOUISE
We placed a lot of emphasis on the Congressman being the first Hispanic candidate, we might need one in case he doesn’t sweep the Hispanic vote.
OTTO
Okay.
LOUISE
You know, be prepared.
OTTO
Great.
LOUISE (beat)
Are you waiting for a hug or something?
NEWS REPORTER (VO, on TV)
- however, if today’s turnout in Santa Paula is any indication, Arnold Vinick – who was elected to the Senate by the largest margin in California history -
OTTO leaves.
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY
At the Vinick war room, we see they are watching the same news report, and it picks up right where it left off.
NEWS REPORTER (cont., VO, on TV)
- isn’t going to go down without a fight. Voter turnout all over the United States -
JANE (into phone)
Thank you. (hangs up)
7:10 AM PST
JANE comes out of the office into the central area.
JANE
California, Nevada, Washington, and Idaho, polls are now open everywhere, people.
BOB
Alaska and Hawaii aren’t open yet.
JANE
Two states on which the outcome of the Presidential race so often depends.
BOB
Right, like Idaho was ever the linchpin. The Senator’s voting, then he’s meeting his daughter for breakfast.
JANE
Is anybody else ready to order lunch?
BOB
The sun came up an hour ago.
BRUNO (entering)
I’m starving – the Hispanic turnout in Florida?
JANE
Governor Swenson’s been out all morning, we’ve got 10,000 volunteers in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami.
BRUNO (at a computer)
And Get Out The Vote, is -?
BOB (referring to the TV)
What’s this? He’s just votin’ now?
TV REPORTER (VO, on TV)
- we go live to Houston, Texas, where Congressman Matthew Santos -
We see MATT and HELEN on the TV screen, going into their polling place.
JANE
It’s 9:00 AM in Texas already. He missed the early morning coverage in the East.
BRUNO
Yeah, but he cut into our California coverage perfectly.
CUT TO: INT. - JOSH’S HOTEL ROOM – DAY
JOSH is watching the same news coverage. He is on the phone with BRAM, who is with MATT and HELEN at the polls. We see JOSH is watching HELEN sign in to vote.
NEWS REPORTER (VO, on TV)
- after hosting a rally in Los Angeles that lasted -
JOSH (into phone)
They all switched from Vinick to Santos.
We cut to the polling place where MATT and HELEN are voting. TV cameras and lights are everywhere.
BRAM (into phone)
Ah, Lou’s a genius.
JOSH (VO, on phone)
How was last night?
BRAM (into phone)
Uh, he changed the, uh, health care portion of the stump again, but, uh, otherwise 45,000 screaming devotees – kinda cult-like.
Back to JOSH, who is switching channels and seeing coverage of MATT and HELEN on all of them.
JOSH (into phone)
How is he today?
BRAM (VO, on phone)
Uh, he’s relaxed.
JOSH (into phone)
You’re kidding?
BRAM (VO, on phone)
No, it’s kinda weird, calm.
Back to the polls.
BRAM (into phone)
Uh, we’re, uh, we’re heading back to the house after this, how long to the first exit polls?
Back to JOSH.
JOSH (into phone)
Couple of hours.
BRAM (VO, on phone)
Oh. I can’t tell you how badly I need a shower, dude.
JOSH changes channels and sees a weather report with a map of the United States.
BRAM (cont., VO, on phone)
Four rallies in four states, four buses, three flights – you can probably smell me -
Something in the weather report catches JOSH’s attention.
JOSH (into phone)
Hold on.
JOSH runs out of his room, down the hall, and bursts into the war room.
JOSH (as he throws open the door, heading for TEDDY)
Boston, we, we need turnout in Boston, huge turnout, Vinick’s gonna win western Massachusetts, he’s probably gonna take Cape Cod. We need to run up the score in Boston.
TEDDY
Yeah.
JOSH
It’s raining.
TEDDY
Yeah, well, she beat you to the punch.
TEDDY points at LOUISE, who waves at JOSH.
LOUISE
Hey.
TEDDY
Though we were already monitoring road conditions and traffic patterns. Massachusetts field ops called, said they are distributing umbrellas so volunteers can escort voters from their cars to the polling places.
JOSH
Well, should we do some additional -
TEDDY
Drive-time, absolutely. Scheduled for – (takes page from RONNA) 3:00. National Weather Service said there’s another high pressure system coming through that should stop the rain by 2:00. Good news is, showers should linger over the Berkshires - slowing down any Vinick supporters still getting out there to the polls. Now, we’re getting new weather models every half hour. You wanna see ‘em?
LOUISE
No, we’re fine. We don’t need it, thanks.
TEDDY (dialing a phone)
Josh, we are completely and totally under control, we’ve been planning this for five months. (into phone) This is Teddy.
LOUISE (to JOSH)
You know what?
JOSH
What?
LOUISE (leading JOSH away)
I was in the elevator today -
JOSH
Uh-huh …
LOUISE (cont.)
- and I was talking to a man who didn’t even know it was Election Day.
As LOUISE leads JOSH into the hall, he dials on his cell phone.
JOSH (into phone)
Jeremy – ride the elevator for a few hours. Anyone from Houston, remind ‘em to vote. (hangs up, as OTTO rushes up in the hallway behind them) You know, I was thinking this morning we should do an additional speech -
LOUISE
Mm-hmm.
JOSH
One in the event that the popular vote -
OTTO (handing a speech to LOUISE)
Hispanic vote draft, if you want to take a look.
JOSH (cont.)
- is, uh, is different from the Electoral College vote, another if -
LOUISE
No, I got you. What you want is two speeches – one if we win the electoral and lose the popular, and the other if vice versa happens, yeah?
JOSH
Yeah.
LOUISE
Two more.
JOSH
Two more. (to OTTO) Do two.
OTTO (heading off behind LOUISE)
Do two. Two more …
JOSH
You’re right.
JOSH paces in the hallway, holding his phone. A young staffer, DREW, gets off the elevator, sees JOSH, and tries to pass quietly around him, giving him a wide berth. JOSH sees him.
JOSH
Hey.
DREW
Hey.
JOSH
I’m sorry, what’s your name?
DREW
Drew.
JOSH
What are, what are you doing right now?
DREW
Um, Bram asked me to make sure everything’s going smoothly for the party tonight.
JOSH
Oh.
DREW
They’re about to start doing some sound checks in the ballroom.
JOSH
Cool.
JOSH pats DREW on the back as DREW nervously walks away. JOSH heads in the opposite direction, then turns and runs back to DREW.
JOSH
You mind if I come along - with you?
DREW
Sure.
CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY – DAY
12:55 PM EST
CHARLIE comes through a doorway in the hall, carrying a giant stack of folders and binders. CJ comes around the corner and walks with him.
CJ
If you’re heading toward my office with those, you should rethink your course.
CHARLIE
Illustrious job offers.
CJ
Talk to me about the election.
CHARLIE
No word yet on the exit polls, I just checked with Will.
CJ
Fine.
CHARLIE
Margaret’s been setting up meetings with potential future employers. I took it upon myself to do some research.
CJ
She’s supposed to schedule them in January.
CHARLIE (as they enter CJ’s office)
CEOs are busy people. They schedule their January meetings in November. Board of directors at Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, SBC – president of corporate human resources at GE. Kennedy School is looking for a new dean. Everyone wants you.
CJ
Do you really think today’s the day for this?
CHARLIE
One has offices in Prague, though you have to be fluent in Czech. Another one, a company jet. Not Air Force One, but not bad. A lot of them have great stock options, something you should look into. Suckers could be worth something someday.
CJ slams some papers on her desk and looks sternly at CHARLIE. CHARLIE looks back, then turns and walks away. CJ stands behind her desk, looking at the open door to the Oval Office. She walks through the door. She stands in the Oval Office for a moment, taking everything in – then she goes back into her office, closing the door.
CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL BALLROOM – DAY
11:55 AM CST
JOSH and DREW come into the ballroom, being prepared for a party that night. Workers are bustling about, a balloon drop is readied, TVs are carrying the news. We hear a band warming up in the background.
DREW
Three thousand people have been invited.
JOSH
Thirty thousand are gonna try and make it through the door.
DREW
Well, uh, security is setting up overflow areas outside.
JOSH (seeing the band onstage)
Is that the Foo Fighters?
DREW
Um, Foo Fighters.
JOSH
Yeah.
Foo Fighters begin playing the song Resolve.
DREW
Well, it’s not ‘the’ Foo Fighters.
JOSH gives DREW a look.
DREW
Yeah – that is them. We’ve actually got, uh, nine performers doing sets from 7:00 to midnight, so …
JOSH (as his phone rings)
I love … Foo Fighters. (shouting over the music) These guys voted, right? (answers phone) Josh Lyman.
DONNA (VO, on phone)
Where are you?
JOSH (into phone)
In the Grand Ballroom. Supervising.
Cut to DONNA walking down a hallway.
DONNA (into phone)
I’ve been looking for you.
Back to the ballroom.
JOSH (into phone)
Yeah, I, I-, I didn’t know if you needed some space, or -
Back to the hallway.
DONNA (into phone)
Come upstairs, we just got the first round of exit polls.
JOSH (VO, on phone)
What?
DONNA (into phone)
The exit polls – they’re here.
Back to the ballroom, as JOSH turns and runs off, leaving DREW looking for where he went.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HOME – DAY
SANTOS HOUSE – HOUSTON
12:17 PM CST
A Secret Service agent opens the front door, and HELEN, MATT, BRAM, and a few others enter the house. MATT looks around quizzically.
MATT
Where are the kids?
HELEN
School. It’s a Tuesday.
MATT
Kind of a big day.
HELEN
They’ll be home by 3:00.
MATT (looking around, finally shrugging)
What do I do here all day? (he laughs)
HELEN
You could sleep -
MATT
Oh, I don’t think so.
HELEN
Come on.
MATT
I don’t think I can close my eyes.
HELEN walks up to MATT, embraces him, and gives him a deep kiss.
HELEN
Then we’ll find something else to do.
HELEN starts up the stairs.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – DAY
JOSH rushes into the war room, still a beehive of activity.
JOSH
Whatta we got?
LOUISE (handing him a small box)
I got you something.
JOSH
A gift?
LOUISE
Whatever.
JOSH (opening the box)
Markers?
LOUISE
Mm-hmm.
JOSH
Blue markers!
LOUISE (holding out the exit polls)
Check it out, see for yourself.
JOSH
Really?
LOUISE
Mm-hmm.
DONNA (looking at her own copy)
North Carolina, we’re up by one -
TEDDY (also looking at the exit polls)
Uh-huh, up by two in Georgia -
JOSH (trying to find the info in his packet as DONNA points it out)
Georgia, Georgia … Georgia! Georgia …
LOUISE
Look at Louisiana and Virginia, all over the South, we are in it.
JOSH
Military voters are going for Santos.
TEDDY
Or the Republican value voters are staying home.
DONNA
We’re, uh, only up by six in Massachusetts, isn’t that a little low?
JOSH and TEDDY
It’s raining.
RONNA
Ahead by 12 points in New York, seven in New Jersey.
LOUISE
Dead even in Texas.
JOSH
Eh, it’s still early.
RONNA
Are we really playing in the South?
OTTO
And Maryland, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, I think we can put most of the Northeast in our pocket.
LOUISE
Hey – cautious optimism.
OTTO sighs as most of the staffers move away. DONNA and JOSH are left standing together looking over the poll results.
DONNA
Your face is frozen in an odd way.
JOSH
Unattractively?
DONNA
Not entirely.
JOSH (beat)
I think my head’s gonna explode.
DONNA (another beat)
Maybe we should - take a walk or something. Try to - de-stress a little before the next numbers come out. You wanna take a walk? Or, something?
JOSH’s eyebrows raise as DONNA walks away.
CUT TO BLACK.
END ACT TWO.
* * *
ACT THREE
FADE IN: INT. - JOSH’S HOTEL ROOM – DAY
1:00 PM CST
The camera pans up from the foot of the bed, where some clothes are scattered about. JOSH and DONNA are back in the bed, post-coital.
JOSH
You want some water?
DONNA
You have a bottle over there?
JOSH
Tap water.
DONNA
No, thanks. But thank you.
A short pause.
JOSH
Do you mind if I turn on the TV, see if there’s any news?
DONNA
Please.
JOSH (sitting up)
At least I didn’t bring my Blackberry to bed. (reaching for the remote) Could be worse. Less romantic, I mean.
DONNA
Got it.
JOSH turns on the TV. We see footage of BARTLET casting his vote, with a chyron PRESIDENT BARTLET CASTS VOTE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
NEWS REPORTER (VO, on TV)
President Bartlet and his wife flew to their home in Manchester, New Hampshire, last night, and visited their local polling place first thing this morning. According to the White House -
DONNA
This may sound silly -
JOSH
No, what?
DONNA
I’m worried about that new law in Minnesota prohibiting media and pollsters within a hundred feet of polling places.
JOSH
That’s certainly less romantic.
DONNA
I was looking at some of the county data earlier. In Dakota County, Republicans have a 16 percent edge in registered voters, but the exit polls show us leading by eight percent. I wonder if the law is affecting the accuracy of the numbers we’re getting. Am I just being paranoid? I’m just – being paranoid, forget it.
JOSH turns, reaches for his phone, and dials.
VOICE (VO, on phone)
Hello?
JOSH (into phone)
Hey – can you pull all the numbers coming out of Minnesota? Thanks. (hangs up)
There is a knock at the door. JOSH and DONNA are startled.
DONNA
Speedy.
JOSH (calling out)
Hello?
We see it is RONNA outside the door.
RONNA
Hello?
JOSH
Uh … (he and DONNA exchange a smile) Hang on.
RONNA
Do you have Donna?
JOSH and DONNA are both trying to get some clothes close enough to put on.
JOSH
Uhhh … what?
RONNA
Do you have Donna?
JOSH (with a grin, grabbing underpants)
Have her?
RONNA
Do you know where she is?
EDIE is coming down the hall behind RONNA.
JOSH (putting on a shirt)
Ummm, yeah …
JOSH and DONNA laugh.
EDIE (to RONNA)
Is Josh in there?
RONNA
Yeah. (to the door) Can you tell Donna Lou needs her to do some spin on MSNBC?
EDIE (calling out)
And I have Minnesota numbers for you.
Noises are heard from inside the room. EDIE and RONNA exchange knowing looks, as EDIE mouths ‘Donna?’ and RONNA whispers back ‘Yes.’ EDIE drops an envelope at the door, and they both walk away. As they disappear around the corner, JOSH opens the door and looks around.
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY
BOB is coloring in states on the whiteboard as the staff looks at their own exit polls.
BOB
Up one in South Carolina, two in Tennessee -
JANE
Solidly ahead in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, but only up by one in California. We gotta keep him moving today – San Diego, Dana Point, Newport Beach, Los Angeles – and we need to schedule some drive-time.
BOB
Well, between stops, while he’s traveling. Annie?
BRUNO
These Minnesota numbers are off, we should have more of an edge than’s showing up in the exit polls. Dakota County has Santos leading by eight points.
JANE
It’s the youth vote, it’s up 14 percent across the state, mostly going Democratic, it’s throwing off our numbers.
BOB
Yeah, but that should taper off as working people vote on the way home.
BRUNO
I shouldn’t worry, right?
BOB
You shouldn’t.
BRUNO takes his watch off his left wrist and puts it on his right. JANE sees him do it.
BRUNO
Superstitious. One of my Election Day good luck routines.
JANE
One of?
BRUNO
You met Carrie already.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – DAY
RONNA and JOSH are watching a huge bank of TV monitors showing various channels of news coverage. We hear audio from one.
NEWS ANCHOR (on TV)
Senator Arnold Vinick continued campaigning through his home state this afternoon, holding events in towns along the coast -
JOSH
Where else has he been today?
RONNA
Uh, rally in San Diego, meet and greet in Dana Point.
JOSH
And what did his public schedule say for the day?
RONNA
Voting and breakfast in Santa Paula.
JOSH
We should have the Congressman in California.
TEDDY
It’s a little late in the game for that.
EDIE
150,000 square miles in the state of California, 13 million voters.
RONNA
We can’t exactly plant him in a mall with a megaphone and hope he reaches some undecideds.
JOSH
That’s what Vinick’s doing.
TEDDY
Donna’s already doing spin at the networks, and the Congressman is scheduled to hit L.A. and the Bay Area with some drive-time radio.
JOSH
Leo have an impact in Akron?
EDIE
I heard 17,000 voters didn’t budge when the skies opened up and started dumping buckets of water down on them.
RONNA
Everything’s fine, Josh, we’ll reach those undecideds.
TEDDY (with new exit polls)
Oh, well, I think we already have. (handing one to JOSH) New exit polls are in.
JOSH takes one and starts paging through it.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS HOME – DAY
3:30 PM CST
BRAM is walking through the house, on his phone.
BRAM (into phone)
Mm-hmm, Illinois. (beat) South Carolina? Are you kidding? (beat, as he smiles) All right, thanks, Edie. Yeah, I’ll let him know.
HELEN (coming down the stairs)
So?
BRAM
We’re up four in Colorado, five in Connecticut, three in Illinois, seven in Maryland.
HELEN
Pennsylvania, Michigan?
BRAM
Both by two. And we moved ahead in California.
HELEN reacts, then heads for the hallway.
BRAM
Uh … you want to tell him, or should I?
HELEN
He’s asleep.
BRAM
R- really?
HELEN
Really.
BRAM
Well, should we wake him up?
HELEN
No. The kids’ll be here any minute. Let him sleep.
BRAM looks around uneasily, eventually coming around to HELEN’s point of view, as we hear a TV reporter in the background.
NEWS REPORTER (VO, on TV)
- for the Santos/McGarry campaign has got a pretty big smile on her face. Based on the exit polls we have -
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – DAY
BOB and ANNIE are going over the latest exit polls, as BOB marks the national map on the whiteboard. A bank of TV monitors is behind them, showing news channels.
BOB
Down by three in South Carolina -
ANNIE
That can’t be right.
BOB (cont.)
- down by two in California.
ANNIE (noticing one of the TV monitors)
Are you watching this?
What has caught ANNIE’s attention is DONNA, making an appearance on MSNBC.
DONNA (on TV)
- Adam, we’re ahead in North Carolina and South Carolina, when’s the last time a Democrat played in that region? I’m not even sure I was born yet -
ANNIE turns away from the TV and we see BRUNO by the whiteboard.
BRUNO
Has everyone seen these numbers out of Syracuse?
ANNIE
Yeah, the Senator’s winningggg, uh, with - 53 percent of the vote.
BOB
Uh, that should be somewhere around 65 percent. Excuse me – (writing on the whiteboard) 154 electoral votes if the states were being called right now.
BRUNO
Including Florida?
BOB
No. So – well, 181, if we’re being optimistic.
ANNIE
And … are we being optimistic?
BRUNO
Vermont turnout’s down 15 percent. New Hampshire, Minnesota – something’s not right here.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – DAY
TEDDY is writing on the whiteboard as RONNA and EDIE watch.
TEDDY
Okay, based on exit polls, I’ve got – 201.
RONNA
With or without Texas?
TEDDY
Without.
RONNA
We could be at 235?
EDIE
Nuclear accident came in handy.
EDIE walks to the wall of TV monitors, and listens to JANE on TV spinning for Vinick.
JANE (on TV)
Absolutely. We’re encouraged by the strong showing in the Midwest and West, John. Turnout’s up six percent in California alone. I think voters want a change, and they know Arnold Vinick can deliver -
The camera pans and we see LOUISE and ANNABETH watching the TV coverage.
LOUISE
Someone didn’t see the exit polling -
ANNABETH
They call it ‘spin’ for a reason. Hey, how’s that adolescent part of you feeling now?
LOUISE
Happier, thanks.
EDIE
Did you hear some of the junior staffers talking about what kind of posters they want to hang up on their White House walls?
LOUISE (angrily)
Who is doing that?
EDIE
Couple of guys with accents in Advance.
LOUISE starts walking quickly out of the war room, but as she passes JOSH -
JOSH (looking over polling)
These Minnesota numbers still don’t make any sense.
LOUISE (stopping, abruptly turning to JOSH)
Don’t sweat Dakota County. As long as we’re pounding Vinick in the 4th and 5th districts, we’re golden.
LOUISE leaves. JOSH looks skeptically at the numbers.
CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY – EVENING
5:01 PM EST
WILL enters from outside, meeting KATE as she comes down another hallway.
KATE
Hey, stranger.
WILL
What’s it been, about eight hours?
KATE
I saw your briefing this morning. Apple cider and lame duck jokes, that all you got?
WILL
As opposed to you, whose day seems to include watching briefings on C-SPAN and roaming the halls to gossip about them.
KATE
I try to prevent war in East Asia, too, but -
WILL
I apparently get to look for a job.
KATE
In the … Santos administration?
WILL
Exit polls are reading to me that way so far.
KATE
Would you want to stay in Communications?
WILL
I’m not sure I want to stay in the federal government.
KATE
Consulting work is big, I hear.
WILL
I’m actually feeling a little sentimental about California.
KATE (stopping)
California?
WILL
The local political work. There’s something romantic about it, really.
KATE
Romantic -
WILL
Overseeing a mayoral race in a city that needs a breath of fresh air.
KATE
Sounds nice. I’m gonna – (turning to walk away)
WILL
You okay?
KATE
Yeah. Fine. Keep me updated on the – exit polls.
WILL, a bit puzzled, watches her leave.
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – NIGHT
RONNA is looking at her laptop, ANNABETH looking over her shoulder.
ANNABETH
That’s what I said.
RONNA
Hey, listen to this – (reading) ‘With victory assured in Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania, Matthew Santos should be preparing to lend his image to the history books.’
JOSH (as EDIE, TEDDY, and LOUISE come up to see RONNA’s laptop screen)
Who’s that?
RONNA
A blog. It goes on to call him, our first Latino President.
JOSH
They don’t say ‘candidate’?
RONNA
President.
ANNABETH
Good photo.
LOUISE
So they’re calling it in three states even though the polls don’t close in the West for four more hours?
JOSH
They should burn in hell.
LOUISE
They’re just checking out the same data we are.
JOSH
Posting raw exit poll data without any explanation or analysis, it’s irresponsible and dangerous.
ANNABETH
It’s worse for Vinick, they’re already calling him a loser.
JOSH
Last thing we want, Democrats in Oregon and California thinkin’ they don’t need to go to the polls because Santos already has it in the bag.
TEDDY
Yeah, or Vinick supporters turning out in droves for some last-ditch resurgence.
LOUISE
Will you please, anybody who’s checkin’ out exit polling on a blog voted first thing this morning at 6:45 AM.
JOSH
Not if the nets pick ‘em up, and report it as news.
LOUISE
Which they’re not gonna do! Do you really think somebody’s gonna look at Bernard’s Blogland and mistake what they see for network news?
JOSH
I think it could affect turnout, yeah.
LOUISE
How big do you think the readership of Bernard’s Blogland is?
JOSH (exploding)
Four years ago, Bartlet won New Mexico with only 6000 votes! Call the networks and make sure that -
LOUISE (to the room)
Don’t, don’t, don’t!
JOSH (still yelling)
Is anybody else seein’ these numbers comin’ out of New England? Turnout is down 15 percent - in Vermont?!
LOUISE
Josh - !
Everyone is watching JOSH like he’s a crazy man.
JOSH (ranting)
How can we be up in South Carolina and not get people to the polls in Vermont?! We, we got long lines in Ohio, we’re sending portapotties to Democratic districts down there, so the people don’t leave, but the numbers are still low – we’re losing in Maine? A state that Bartlet won with 67 percent of the vote? The Latino vote in Florida isn’t turning out, but in Rhode Island, they’re coming out of the woodwork! Minnesota - !
LOUISE (shouting)
Josh!
JOSH stops, gathers himself, and walks out of the room. The rest of the staff looks around, not knowing how to take this outburst.
CUT TO: EXT. - HOTEL ROOFTOP – NIGHT
An access door bursts open and JOSH walks out onto the rooftop patio, breathing heavily. He sighs deeply, trying to clear his head. We hear the door open again, and DONNA steps out. She walks up to JOSH. For a moment there is quiet, only the sound of DONNA’s shoes on the concrete.
JOSH (finally)
It’s Texas, shouldn’t it be warm?
DONNA
Not in November.
JOSH is still breathing hard. He turns to look at DONNA, who gives him s little smile.
JOSH
What are you doing out here?
DONNA
I’ve been appointed.
JOSH
To what?
DONNA
Make sure you’re okay.
JOSH
I’m fine -
DONNA
Make sure your head’s not actually gonna explode.
JOSH (sighing)
These numbers aren’t addin’ up.
DONNA
They never do.
Beat.
DONNA
You’ve been working 18- ... 20- hour days for the last year -
JOSH
Yeah.
DONNA
It’s here. There’s nothing to do but let it run its course.
JOSH stares ahead, still breathing heavily.
DONNA
There’s nothing left to do, Josh.
DONNA and JOSH sit quietly, looking out into the night.
FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *
ACT FOUR
FADE IN: INT. - HOTEL HALLWAY – NIGHT
5:55 PM CST
LOUISE is pacing, giving directions to staffers, some standing nearby, some sitting on the floor, all taking notes. OTTO is on the floor with his legal pad.
LOUISE
In the event that he loses Texas but wins the election, we don’t wanna get caught with our pants down.
OTTO
Uh, so, let me make sure we have this. We need one if he wins, one if he loses, one if he loses the Latino vote, one if he wins the electoral vote but loses the popular vote, one if he loses the electoral vote but wins the popular vote, and one if he loses his home state.
LOUISE
Right.
OTTO
What if two of those things happen simultaneously? And what if he loses his home state and the Latino vote and still wins?
LOUISE
That too, then.
JOSH (walking up to join them)
What are we talkin’ about?
OTTO
Uh, the - speeches.
JOSH
Yeah, we should have one in case the race is too close to call. Polls are about to close on the East Coast, we should get in there.
OTTO, defeated, leans back and hits his head against the wall.
CUT TO: INT. - WILL’S OFFICE – NIGHT
WILL is leaning on his desk, watching TV coverage. KATE enters, clearing her throat. WILL jumps up.
WILL
Hey.
KATE (closing the door)
Hey. I, um … sort of walked away from you before.
WILL
It got weird all of a sudden.
KATE
Yeah …
WILL
Was it something about California?
KATE (uncertainly)
No. California’s a lovely state.
WILL
Doesn’t mean I have to move there.
KATE
What?
WILL
If it means you and I would have to end -
KATE
No, God, no, I would never wanna -
WILL (cont.)
- if you’re planning on staying in DC -
KATE (cont.)
- I would never ask you to -
WILL (cont.)
- I could stay, too.
KATE (simultaneously)
- stay with me?
WILL
You spend the night at my house more often than not.
KATE (chuckling)
Which makes me … ?
WILL
A really good date?
KATE laughs, and walks a few steps away.
KATE
I’m not like you. I don’t live and die with the Democratic Party. I wanna see the next President through this crisis in Kazakhstan, whoever he is.
WILL
You keep saying that, ‘the next President, whoever he is -’
KATE
Yeah, well, the NSC’s a non-partisan -
WILL
Did you vote for Vinick?
KATE holds her gaze on WILL silently.
WILL
You voted for Arnold Vinick?
KATE still doesn’t speak, her eyes locked on WILL. As WILL reacts in dismay, she smiles.
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – NIGHT
BOB and JANE are talking, as BRUNO is engrossed in the polling data sitting at his desk.
BOB
He hasn’t stopped lookin’ at those numbers for three hours.
JANE
Hope springs eternal. Maybe you, uh -
BOB
Yeah. (walking over to BRUNO) East Coast polls are closing in a few minutes.
BRUNO
In South Carolina, Santos up by four – the African-American population has been oversampled. They represent 34 percent of the interviews, and only 29 percent of the voters.
BOB
Bruno -
BRUNO
In Pennsylvania, women are oversampled. The numbers are wrong.
BOB
Look, we’re also losing in North Dakota, a state that’s gone Republican for the last 40 years.
BRUNO
And that doesn’t give you a moment’s pause?
BOB
What are you gonna do after this?
BRUNO
Minnesota, 5th district, the most Democratic district in the state – Bartlet won it with 71 percent four years ago -
BOB
Right -
BRUNO (cont.)
- Santos is only pulling in 54 percent. This isn’t over, we could be winning this.
BOB
You’ve done a hell of a job here. The nuclear thing, there’s no way you could have anticipated that.
BRUNO
Mm-hmm.
Their attention is pulled to the TV news.
NEWS ANCHOR (on TV)
- but for now, in a few seconds, six states will close their polls. Once all the precincts in those states are closed, we’ll be able to start bringing you the results of this election. It has been a long and formidable campaign, and it’s all coming to a close. We will get you all the information you need to know, as quickly as possible. Right now we can project -
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – NIGHT
The Santos staffers are watching the same news report.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont., on TV)
- that Senator Arnold Vinick will carry Indiana and its 11 electoral votes, and Kentucky, and its eight electoral votes.
RONNA
What about Georgia or Vermont, or South Carolina or Virginia? We get none?
DONNA
Be patient.
LOUISE
Edie, set up a line to the DNC headquarters, we’re gonna want a live tally of the Congressional races.
RONNA
I want to hear about Velasquez.
OTTO
That’d be something.
ANNABETH (checking her watch)
Leo’s gonna sleep through the whole damn thing, I gotta go get him up. (RONNA smiles) What can I say? Nerves of steel. Just gotta get him cleaned up for the party. He’s been threatening to wear his robe.
RONNA
Oh – nothing says victory like threadbare flannel.
As ANNABETH heads out, EDIE reports what she’s hearing on the phone.
EDIE
Hispanic candidates are favored in six Congressional races in Texas, and Rhode Island is well on its way to electing its first Hispanic Congressman!
The room bursts into cheering and applause.
RONNA (at the wall of TVs)
Something’s happening.
NEWS ANCHOR (on TV)
We are just getting word now of a new development here. West Virginia is a state the Democrats had hoped to carry -
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS BEDROOM – NIGHT
MATT is watching the same TV coverage.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont., on TV)
- we are projecting, though, that this state and its five electoral votes will go to Senator Arnold Vinick. Historically, West Virginia’s been about as reliably Democratic -
HELEN appears in the doorway.
HELEN
Hey!
MATT
Hey, you. (as HELEN sits on the bed with MATT) I slept.
HELEN
You did.
MATT
Mm-hmm. And lost West Virginia, apparently.
HELEN
And Kentucky and Indiana.
MATT (lightheartedly)
I’m a loser -
HELEN
Oh, 24 to nothing, baby, (laughing) but you can still rebound. I have faith.
We hear the news report in the background.
NEWS ANCHOR (VO, on TV)
- considered more right-wing than Matt Santos. I would like to alert our viewers now, we do not have enough information to make projections in the other two states that are closing right now, those are North Carolina and Ohio -
HELEN
Where are you?
MATT
What?
HELEN
In your head – where’d you go?
MATT (thinks, a beat)
Mm, just thinking about what I’m gonna do tomorrow.
HELEN
We’ll take the kids to school – then go out for breakfast, bacon and pancakes. Backyard needs rakin’.
HELEN gives MATT a kiss. The news report continues.
NEWS ANCHOR (VO, on TV)
- sixteen more states begin to close. If we look a little closer at a few of these key states, New Jersey, for instance, could end up being a disappointment for the Vinick campaign -
CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT
CJ is eating a salad at her desk, watching the same news report as everyone else. We see CHARLIE walking up to her door.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont., on TV)
- if it does indeed swing toward the Democrats. Santos has been polling here very well in the last couple of weeks, although the Vinick camp clung to the idea that the security factor could play well to voters in New Jersey. I’m sure a lot of people are asking right now why we still have not been able -
CHARLIE (leaning on the doorway)
You wanna take some of those job offers home with you?
CJ (emphatically)
No thanks.
CHARLIE
Maybe we’ll look at them tomorrow.
CJ
Maybe after Christmas.
CHARLIE
Maybe next week.
CJ
Why are we still talking about this?
CHARLIE
Honestly?
CJ
Yeah!
CHARLIE
You’re a smart and savvy woman who could easily consider world domination as her next career move.
CJ gives CHARLIE a look as she continues working on her salad.
CHARLIE
And I’d like to continue working with you – if that’s a possibility.
CJ (beat)
Right. (stabbing her fork into the salad, picking up a few binders) You can pack up some of these for me to take home tonight.
CHARLIE (taking the binders, turning to go)
Thank you.
CJ picks up another binder and starts to look at it as the news report continues.
NEWS ANCHOR (VO, on TV)
- the city of Pittsburgh, precincts considered extended their poll closing time by an hour to accommodate all the voters. On that note -
CUT TO: INT. - SANTOS WAR ROOM – NIGHT
JOSH is still paging through the polling data. Everyone else is glued to the wall of TV monitors as the same news report continues.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont., on TV)
- it is exactly 8:07 PM on the East Coast. We are ready to project now that Congressman Matthew Santos will carry the state of Pennsylvania -
The room erupts with cheers and excitement. LOUISE and EDIE rush to the whiteboard to color Pennsylvania blue.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont., on TV)
- that puts Matt Santos on the electoral board tonight. His first win, but it’s a big one. Pennsylvania offers 21 electoral votes to Congressman Matt Santos, against 24 for Senator Arnold Vinick. 270 electoral votes total needed to be elected President.
We hear various exclamations from the staffers - ‘All right!’ ‘Unbelievable!’ ‘Hey, man, we did it!’ ‘I can’t believe that was called so early!’ ‘I know, 21 electoral votes!’ JOSH is watching without much excitement, his face stony. DONNA sees and walks over to him.
DONNA
Hey -
JOSH
Talked to my mother today. She watches CNN, talks to all her friends, and reports to me each of their predictions with equal weight. (beat) All the time, money, and energy we spent tryin’ to shake things up, what if the electoral map looks exactly like we thought it would three months ago? Florida and Ohio go to Vinick – we take New York, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
DONNA
And it all comes down to California.
JOSH (taking a breath)
Flyover states and the East Coast.
DONNA
It happens during every campaign, Josh. You had to make the tough choices.
JOSH (looking at the polling)
It’s – wrong with these numbers all day – Vermont: voters swear that they would vote for a Latino President but the state is splitting 49-49, Santos and Vinick.
DONNA
We ran a Latino Democrat against a tax-cutting, moderate Republican, there’s gonna be -
JOSH
And Maine has been trending toward Santos all day, but voters are listing security and taxes as the major issues, so, wh-, it, it, what are they lyin’ about, what they care about - or who they’re votin’ for? We’re even playin’ in Louisiana. Teddy and Lou are through the roof. But, look at the exit polls, th-, the data is skewed towards women and African-Americans. The white men cast their votes after work. What happens then? We don’t have this wrapped up.
CUT TO: INT. - VINICK CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS – NIGHT
The mood is somewhat glum as BOB adds Santos’ 21 electoral votes to the whiteboard. The news report continues as the camera pans to BRUNO and lingers on a close up.
NEWS ANCHOR (VO, on TV)
What is the overall sensation here tonight, that it’s going to be very close, the election will be a very close one. The campaigns have been planning for it, we have been planning for it. It could be a very long night for Matt Santos and Arnold Vinick.
CUT TO: EXT. - CITY STREET – NIGHT
Sirens blare and lights flash as a motorcade rolls down the street. We move inside an SUV, where MATT and HELEN are riding. BRAM is there, too, on his cell phone.
BRAM (into phone)
Absolutely. (hangs up) Congratulations, sir. South Carolina’s just been called for you.
HELEN and MATT exchange a look.
CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL HALLWAY – NIGHT
ANNABETH is asking a Secret Service agent to let her in to LEO’s suite.
ANNABETH
I’m betting he’s gonna want to be up for this. Mind letting me in?
ANNABETH (walking into LEO’s room. There are files and papers on tables, some clothes on the bed, a suit hanging in the corner)
Leo … hello?
ANNABETH stops, looking around. There is no sign of anyone in the room.
ANNABETH
Leo?
ANNABETH sighs, notices the bathroom door open, and walks to it.
ANNABETH (VO)
Leo? … Leo! Somebody help me! Call 911!
The Secret Service agents in the hall hear ANNABETH, and rush into the room as the camera backs out into the hallway and pulls away.
AGENT 1 (VO)
He’s down! He’s down!
AGENT 2 (VO)
Requesting ambulance at service entrance, northeast side -
DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.
* * *
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The West Wing Transcript
Episode 7x16 – Election Day, Part 1
Original Airdate: April 2, 2006