THE WEST WING TRANSCRIPT: Season Six - In God We Trust (S6E20)

THE WEST WING
6x20 - “IN GOD WE TRUST”
WRITTEN BY LAWRENCE O’DONNELL
DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER MISIANO

Transcribed by Walking, Talking, And Yelling At Clouds
(kegofglory.blogspot.com)

Link To My Blog Post For This Episode


TEASER

IN GOD WE TRUST

FADE IN: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

We hear a TV ANCHOR relaying news of the night’s New Jersey primary as CJ works at her desk.

ANCHOR (on TV)
The New Jersey polls closed just three minutes ago, at 9:00 pm Eastern Time, and, although we have no official results yet, we can now report that our exit polls indicate another huge win tonight for California Senator Arnold Vinick in the Republican Presidential primary.

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – NIGHT

TOBY is sitting on his desk, watching the TV news coverage.

ANCHOR (on TV)
New Jersey’s Democratic Presidential primary is still too close to call. Vice President Bob Russell was the favorite coming into this final primary tonight, but our exit polls show another very tight race between Russell and Texas Congressman Matt Santos.

CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL SUITE – NIGHT

VICE PRESIDENT RUSSELL, WILL, DONNA, and members of his campaign are anxiously watching the TV news.

ANCHOR (on TV)
Russell was hoping for a big win in New Jersey tonight to prove one of the central themes of his campaign – that he is the only Democrat who can actually win in November.

CUT TO: INT. - ANOTHER HOTEL SUITE – NIGHT

MATT, JOSH, and members of the Santos campaign are also intently watching the TV news.

ANCHOR (on TV)
A Santos win tonight would be another big come-from-behind upset for the Congressman, and leave him only about a hundred delegates behind Russell and would certainly hurt the Russell electability argument. 

JOSH looks up to the ceiling in frustration, turns and walks out of the room. MATT watches him go.

ANCHOR (on TV)
Neither candidate is going to pick up enough delegates tonight to get the Democratic nomination, but a win in the final primary could give Santos the momentum he needs going into the Democratic National Convention next month.

CUT TO: INT. - A THIRD HOTEL SUITE – NIGHT

The VINICK campaign staff is celebrating, laughing and clapping with balloons festively strewn about. The Stevie Wonder song Sir Duke is playing. We see the TV screen with a graphic of the Democratic results from New Jersey so far:

30% OF PRECINCTS REPORTING
RUSSELL 33,012
SANTOS 32,388
HOYNES 9,313

ANCHOR (on TV)
As expected, Senator Vinick now has the Republican nomination locked up. Reverend Don Butler was the last man standing against Arnold Vinick in the Republican field -

A woman comes up to SHEILA, VINICK’s campaign manager, and whispers something in her ear. SHEILA nods and heads off to VINICK’s bedroom.

ANCHOR (on TV)
- and we’re told that he will concede the race to Vinick in a speech to his supporters at Butler campaign headquarters in Virginia.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S HOTEL BEDROOM – NIGHT

VINICK is standing alone, looking out the window. SHEILA knocks at the door and enters, pointing to the phone.

SHEILA (picking up the phone, speaking into it)
I’ve got Senator Vinick here. Just a second, Reverend Butler.

VINICK walks over and takes the phone from SHEILA. As he begins talking, SHEILA’s cell phone rings, and she answers it as she walks over to the window.

VINICK (into phone)
Hi, Don. (pause) Thanks.

SHEILA (into cell phone, as VINICK continues his call in the background)
Hi, honey.

VINICK (into phone)
Right, Don, I’m going to need your help to, to bring the party together now, and -

SHEILA (into cell phone)
Just go to bed – I’ll wake you up early and I’ll help you finish your homework then. (beat) Okay, love you. (SHEILA hangs up)

VINICK (into phone)
Yeah, sure, any time. Whenever you want. (beat) We’ll clear the schedule for you. (beat) Okay, Don. (hangs up) Butler wants a meeting.

SHEILA
Great. We’ve got to move fast on VP. Show Republicans coming together while the Democrats are still fighting for the nomination.

VINICK
Hey, I love Don. He’s a great guy. An honorable guy, and he’s funnier than anyone else on the list, but he beat me up pretty bad on abortion during the primaries. How’s he gonna walk back from that?

SHEILA
He doesn’t have to, we don’t want him to. You agree on most issues, and respectfully disagree on a couple.

VINICK (doubtfully)
A couple?

SHEILA
Sign of strength, shows you’re not looking for a yes man.

VINICK
It shows I’m looking for someone who can help me with the conservative base of the party.

SHEILA
That, too.

SHEILA turns on the TV, which is now covering REVEREND BUTLER’s concession speech.

VINICK
Don Butler, a heartbeat away from the presidency?

BUTLER (on TV, calming his supporters as he takes the podium)
Thank you … thank you. Well, you win some, you lose some, and we won some primaries. But Senator Vinick won some more. 

The crowd boos as VINICK rolls his eyes and looks at SHEILA.

BUTLER (on TV)
No! No, no … now is the time for this party to come together, and take back the White House!

SHEILA
Sounds very Vice-Presidential to me.

VINICK
He’s a good soldier.

BUTLER (on TV)
But first of all, I want to thank the Butler Brigade -

SHEILA turns off the TV.

SHEILA (standing, starting to walk out)
Secret Service wants you to start moving down to the ballroom.

VINICK
Sheila. (she stops) Thanks.

They both exit the bedroom.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – NIGHT

TOBY walks into CJ’s office, as coverage of the VINICK rally continues on the TV.

TOBY
It’s Vinick.

CJ
Yeah.

REPORTER (on TV)
We go live now as he addresses his supporters.

We see the TV screen with VINICK happily greeting the people onstage, with the crowd cheering and clapping.

CUT TO: INT. - PRESIDENTIAL STUDY – NIGHT

LEO and BARTLET are sitting in chairs, watching the TV news.

VINICK (on TV)
Thank you! Thank you very much!

LEO
We’ve got nobody who can beat him.

VINICK (on TV, the crowd chanting ‘Vinick, Vinick’)
Thank you. (beat) We did it!

The camera pans to a closeup of BARTLET intently watching the TV screen as -

SMASH CUT TO: MAIN TITLES.
END TEASER.
***

ACT ONE

FADE IN: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – DAY

TOBY is asleep on his sofa, covered in a blanket. ANNABETH walks into his office, trying not to wake him, closing some of the blinds against the morning sun. We hear a TV ANCHOR from the television along TOBY’s wall.

ANCHOR (on TV)
Senator Arnold Vinick has the Republican nomination locked up, but they’ve been counting votes all night and we still don’t have a winner in the New Jersey Democratic Presidential primary. The lead has been shifting all night, and now with 97 percent of the precincts reporting Congressman Matt Santos has a lead of less than a thousand votes over Vice President Bob Russell. No candidate -

ANNABETH turns down the volume on the TV. TOBY’s eyes open and he turns his head.

TOBY
What are you doing?

ANNABETH (sighs)
You were sleeping.

TOBY
They’re still counting New Jersey.

ANNABETH
So what?

TOBY
So what?

ANNABETH
It doesn’t matter who wins. No one’s gonna have enough delegates for the nomination. Come on, wake up and smell the chaos.

ANNABETH, smiling, picks up her tote bag and walks out of the office. TOBY grabs his remote and turns the TV volume back up.

ANCHOR (on TV)
No candidate will win enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.

CUT TO: INT. - CAPITOL HALLWAY – DAY

VINICK and his aides and Secret Service agents are walking into the Capitol.

VINICK
I promised Tim I’d do the show.

SHEILA
You will, just not this week.

BOB
The more you’re on TV now, the less they’re covering the mess in the Democratic Party. That’s the story we want this week.

SHEILA
I’m pulling all our press events off the schedule.

VINICK
What about the fund raisers?

SHEILA
No press allowed.

As the group turns a corner they encounter some REPORTERS, who start shouting questions.

SHEILA (to VINICK, quietly)
Don’t take too many questions.

VINICK
Don’t worry.

The group walks up to the REPORTERS and cameramen, who all start walking backwards as VINICK continues down the hall.

REPORTER 1
Senator, when are you going to choose a VP?

VINICK
Haven’t really thought about it.

REPORTER 2
Senator, would you rather face Russell or Santos?

VINICK
I’m in no hurry to face anyone. (as more REPORTERS shout for attention) Tell the Democrats as far as I’m concerned, they can take their time figuring it out.

REPORTER 3
Senator, do you think your lead in California gives you the lock on the electoral college?

VINICK (stopping)
I have a lock on the Republican nomination, nothing else. I’m not gonna take my state for granted, I’m gonna work hard to win California, work hard to win every state.

SHEILA
Thank you.

VINICK and his group start walking, as the REPORTERS continue to shout questions.

REPORTER 1
Senator – how can you cut taxes and cut the deficit at the same time?

VINICK (stopping again)
I have a two-for-one plan. For every dollar we cut taxes, we’re cutting spending by two dollars.

REPORTER 1
But won’t that mean drastic spending cuts in vital areas -

VINICK
Well, you call it ‘drastic,’ I call it necessary. I’m for all the good government we can afford, no more, no less.

BOB
That’s all, thank you.

REPORTER 2 (as VINICK starts to walk away)
Senator, what do you think of the deal the city council is negotiating to keep baseball in the city?

VINICK
It’s ridiculous. The teams should pay their own way. They can, they can pay 80 million for a shortstop, but they can’t pay for their own stadiums? Come on.

BOB
Okay, we’re done. Thank you.

VINICK
Thank you.

The REPORTERS continue to ask questions as VINICK and his group finally walks away.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK, SHEILA and BOB enter the office.

SHEILA
Thanks a lot. Now I’m gonna have to give back my tickets to the game tomorrow night, I had to pull a lot of strings to get them.

VINICK
Did you pay for them?

SHEILA
Of course!

VINICK
Then forget about it, they’re your seats. (beat) Where are we sitting?

SHEILA
No way! I only got two.

VINICK
Kids fighting over who gets to go?

SHEILA
Holly’s got a biology test the next day, and Brendan’s got Little League practice, so …

VINICK
Tell Tina to bring her glove. I want her to catch a foul ball for me.

CUT TO: INT. - CJ’S OFFICE – DAY

CJ is sitting in a chair, paging through some files, while speaking on the phone.

CJ (into phone)
Yes, Madam Secretary, I have your memo. (beat) Uh-huh. (longer beat) I see. (beat) Yeah, I underst- (pause) I’ll give it to the President.

We see CHARLIE and ANNABETH are in the office, waiting for CJ to finish her call.

CJ (into phone)
Right. (she hangs up) I understood the debt ceiling situation perfectly before I talked to her, now I …

ANNABETH
Is there a rule against having a Treasury Secretary who speaks English?

TOBY (knocking at the door, entering)
It’s Santos.

CJ
By how much?

TOBY
Couple of thousand votes.

CHARLIE
Santos won New Jersey?

TOBY
Yeah.

CHARLIE
How many delegates did he - ?

CJ (standing, handing the memo to TOBY)
Not now, guys.

ANNABETH
Are we doing a press release on raising the debt ceiling? ‘Cause I don’t understand a word of it.

CJ
No press release, when’s the vote scheduled?

CHARLIE
Treasury figures the interest on the debt will hit the legal limit at midnight tomorrow. So they want the President to press for the vote right now.

TOBY (sitting, preparing to read the memo)
Which, of course, is a ridiculous idea.

ANNABETH
Of course?

CJ
The leadership wants to schedule it at the last minute.

ANNABETH
How crazy is that?

CJ
They always like to schedule it at the last minute, just when the government’s about to default.

TOBY
That way it’s too dangerous for any Senator to try to stop it.

CHARLIE
Or stick an amendment on it.

CJ
There’s just enough time for a couple of House and Senate speeches about how awful it is that we’ve maxed out the national credit card, quick vote to raise the limit on the credit card.

CHARLIE
It’s a one-sentence bill – just changes the seven to an eight.

ANNABETH
Trillion.

TOBY
Yeah, trill … (he chuckles and stands)

ANNABETH
Why does Treasury want the President to read over a 20-page memo on a one-sentence bill?

TOBY
Well, they like to run the worst-case scenario.

ANNABETH
In case it doesn’t pass?

TOBY
Yeah, you know, the immediate collapse of the US economy, followed by Japan sinking into the sea, followed by a worldwide depression the likes of which no mortal can imagine – followed by week two.

ANNABETH
So this debt ceiling thing is routine, or the end of the world?

TOBY
Both.

CJ
Okay, that’s it. Thanks, everybody.

CHARLIE and ANNABETH leave. TOBY approaches CJ at her desk.

TOBY
We gotta do something.

CJ
It’s really not the end of the world – just the end of a lifestyle.

TOBY
It’s the end of the Democratic Party. We’re facing a Republican who can win California and, uhh, I dunno, maybe 49 other states, and who do we have? We have nobody! (beat) We’re going into a convention without a candidate.

CJ
You see Broder’s column today? He says this is great for the Democratic Party.

TOBY
Ah, he’s on drugs.

CJ (reaching for the Washington Post)
Well, says that’s what conventions used to be about, picking the nominee. Some real convention suspense for a change.

TOBY
The networks’re gonna love it, they’re gonna cover every minute of it.

CJ
Yeah, ‘cause instead of four days of predictable emptiness, all hell’s gonna break loose.

CJ and TOBY exchange a look.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK is having a strategy session with SHEILA, BOB, a staffer named SEAN, and a few others.

BOB
Good news is, the Dems are in disarray, the bad news is we don’t know who we’re running against.

SEAN
Santos, if we’re lucky.

BOB
Don’t be so sure, Santos could be tougher than Russell.

SEAN
Are you serious? Santos couldn’t even carry his own state, and he -

BOB
Santos won the big states! Russell’s weak in northeastern urban women, suburban men, all minorities, not to mention -

SHEILA
Okay! Okay – how much do we need for the ground game?

BOB
We can’t begin to plan till we know who we’re running against. They’re both strong in different states.

A phone starts ringing. SHEILA rises to go answer it.

BOB
Problem is, we can’t be waiting until after the, the Democratic convention, to, to build an organization.

SHEILA (into phone)
Yeah. (beat) O-kay. (hanging up; to VINICK) Royce is here.

VINICK
Where?

SHEILA
Reception, waiting to see you.

SHEILA motions to the other staffers to leave.

VINICK
The Majority Leader is coming to my office?

SHEILA (as BOB and SEAN pack up their papers to leave)
Guess he wants to be first in line for VP.

VINICK
Oh, boy, here we go. (putting on his coat jacket) Okay, bring him in.

SHEILA walks out to the reception area.

SHEILA
Mr. Leader?

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ROBERT ROYCE walks into the office, hand outstretched.

ROYCE
Hey, Arnie … I just want to be the first guy in the building to say congratulations. 

VINICK (shaking hands)
You didn’t have to come all the way over here, Mr. Leader.

ROYCE
Ah, cut it out, Arnie. You’re the real leader of this party now. And I just want you to know I’m at your service – whatever you need me to do, just say the word.

VINICK
Thanks, Bob. Here, have a seat.

ROYCE takes a seat as VINICK sits behind his desk.

ROYCE
First of all – I can be very helpful with fundraising. I have the highest-yielding direct mail list in town. Second -

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

BARLET enters the office, followed by CJ, TOBY and LEO.

BARTLET
How many delegates does Santos have?

TOBY
One thousand, five hundred and ninety-nine.

LEO
So Russell’s only 80 ahead?

TOBY
Seventy-eight. Russell’s got 1677, and Hoynes has, at, 956.

CJ
What’s the magic number?

BARTLET
Two thousand, one hundred and sixty-two gets you the nomination.

CJ
Hoynes doesn’t have a chance.

LEO
Hoynes is betting that on the second or third ballot, the delegates will get shaky about these newcomers Russell and Santos, and move to the guy they’ve known the longest.

TOBY
But before we even get to the convention the party’s gotta go through four weeks of chaos, fighting over who’s gonna be on the platform committee, what’s gonna be in the platform - 

CJ
Who gets to speak on what night.

TOBY
Fighting over the uncommitted delegates … trying to convince the committed delegates to switch on the second ballot.

LEO
While Vinick is looking more presidential every day. (sighs) Mr. President … until we have a nominee, you are still the head of this party.

BARTLET
Okay – let’s get Russell and Santos in here.

TOBY
And Hoynes?

BARTLET
No, CJ’s right, he doesn’t have a chance.

TOBY
You’re gonna try to broker a deal between these guys?

BARTLET
Eh, not ready for that. Just a photo op – and remind people that we still know a little something about running a country.

TOBY
Maybe a little less about running a party.

TOBY turns to leave as BARTLET looks up after him.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK and SHEILA are having a conversation.

VINICK
I don’t feel comfortable about this.

SHEILA
Everybody does that when you get to this stage, you bring in new people.

VINICK
Yeah, yeah, but a Democrat? I mean, I spent the last six months fightin’ this idea that somehow I’m not a real Republican, and then I bring a Democrat into the campaign?

SHEILA
One step at a time. I’m just saying we should meet with him. Governor Baker vouches for him, says that we can trust him not to leak the meeting.

VINICK
I don’t know.

SHEILA
He says he has a plan to win 50 states.

VINICK (beat)
Okay, bring him in.

SHEILA nods and heads to the door.

SHEILA
Bruno? Come on in.

Striding into the office comes BRUNO GIANELLI, the campaign manager we last saw at the White House celebrating his efforts to get BARTLET re-elected four years earlier.

BRUNO (shaking hands)
Congratulations, Senator.

VINICK
Thank you, Bruno. Have a seat.

VINICK, BRUNO, and SHEILA all take a seat.

VINICK
Fifty states, huh?

BRUNO
Sound crazy to you?

VINICK
Well, it, it did get my attention.

BRUNO 
Republicans have won 49 states twice in the last 30 years, and they’ve never had anybody with as much independent and cross-party appeal as you have.

VINICK
Well, I can’t plan a 50-state campaign before I know who I’m running against.

BRUNO
Who told you that? Because if it is somebody on your campaign staff, you gotta fire that person right now. I would run you from today to Election Day without ever mentioning your opponent, this campaign should be all about you – the reasons you should be President. And those reasons are exactly where 60 percent of the voters are: pro-choice, anti-partial birth; pro-death penalty, anti-tax, pro-environment and pro-business, pro-balanced budget, and I, I could go on and on.

VINICK
Oh, please do.

BRUNO
You’re in a unique position, to run a completely positive campaign because most of the country agrees with you on most of the issues.

VINICK shifts in his seat.

BRUNO (holding up a finger)
The … the only thing you could do to ruin that now, is to pick Don Butler as your VP - 

VINICK and SHEILA exchange glances.

BRUNO
- So you tell me you’re not even thinking about that, I’ll shut up. (beat) You’ve seen the papers. Everybody says Butler’s on the short list. Every talking head on TV says that is brilliant, guarantees you a win. Which it does – but, not a big win.

VINICK
I have to reach out to the pro-life Republican base. We have to give them some reason to come to the polls. I’m never gonna be that reason.

BRUNO
There are many pro-life Republicans who are more qualified for VP than Don Butler.

VINICK (takes a breath, thinking)
What do you know about Republican politics?

BRUNO
I don’t care about Republican politics.

VINICK
Well, that I believe.

BRUNO
I don’t care about Democratic politics, either. (beat, then chuckling) Okay, I do care about the Democrats. Look … they don’t know it yet, you are the best thing to ever happen to them. You’re moving the Republicans away from the right wing. You’re not saying Democrats are not patriotic – you’re just saying that your approach is better than theirs, you are making politics a fair fight again. (pause) What … you think I’m a spy? I snuck in here, I’m trying to steer you wrong?

VINICK
The thought has crossed my mind.

BRUNO
I have spent the last 20 years ripping this country apart – finding wedge issues to separate the voters. You don’t have to do that to win. Not this time. You do this right, you can do a lot more than win. You can stop using politics to divide this country. You can show us how much we agree, instead of how much we disagree. You can put this country back together.

VINICK stares levelly back at BRUNO as his words land.

FADE OUT.
END ACT ONE.
* * *

ACT TWO

FADE IN: INT. - ROOSEVELT ROOM – DAY

WILL is complaining to CJ as they both walk through the halls and the Roosevelt Room on the way to her office.

WILL
Please, CJ, it’s a terrible idea -

CJ
It’s the President’s idea.

WILL
I can’t believe this, can’t you see this is an insult to the Vice President, to bring them into his White House?

CJ
Now it’s the Vice President’s White House?

WILL
This is the VP’s turf, he belongs here, they don’t.

CJ
The President is still the head of the party and he isn’t going to let it crash and burn on his watch.

WILL (as they enter CJ’s office)
This is his solution, a photo op?

CJ
Remind voters that we’re good at running the country, which, by the way, the Vice President has a theoretical role in – show everyone that the party isn’t in meltdown mode.

WILL
Okay – then after, Russell has to have a separate photo op alone with the President, a shot of them discussing, you know … affairs of state.

CJ
Nope. We do this the President’s way. It’ll be good for the party, good for everyone.

WILL (as they walk back out of CJ’s office)
Russell is the only one who can beat Vinick. He won twice as many states as Santos, he has the most delegates.

CJ
By a hair, and Santos has the momentum.

WILL
‘Cause he won New Jersey by one percent? Please. Russell is our best hope, he has been from the start, and he’s been a good Vice President. If the President really wants to bring the party together, then he should get behind Russell right now.

CJ
Ten a.m. tomorrow morning in the Oval.

CJ walks away leaving WILL frustrated.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK LIMO – NIGHT

VINICK and SHEILA are in the back of the limo heading to the fundraiser.

SHEILA
Most of the donors tonight are from the pharmaceutical industry.

VINICK
You got the list?

SHEILA hands the list to him.

VINICK
I’ll give them my ‘How American Medicine Saves The World’ speech. Protect the patents, no price controls, no Canadian imports …

SHEILA
We got a lot of energy industry people tonight, too.

SHEILA’s cell phone rings, and she pulls it out to answer.

SHEILA (into phone)
Yeah? (another cell phone rings) When? (beat) Wait – hold on a second.

SHEILA hands the phone to VINICK, then pulls out a second cell phone and answers it.

SHEILA (into phone)
Hi, sweetie. (pause) Ummm, the area of a parallelogram is …

VINICK
Length times width.

SHEILA (into phone)
Length times width. (beat; then looking at VINICK) Same as a rectangle? (VINICK nods) Yes, that’s the same as a rectangle. (beat) No problem. (beat) Love you.

SHEILA hangs up the phone and puts it away as VINICK hands the first phone back to her.

SHEILA (into phone)
Okay, I’m back. (beat) Uh-huh. (pause) That’s great. (beat) Thanks.

She hangs up that phone and puts it away, then to VINICK:

SHEILA
You’re meeting with the Reverend Butler first thing in the morning.

VINICK
You think Bruno’s right? We shouldn’t put Butler on the ticket?

SHEILA
Maybe – but we need Butler one way or the other. If he’s not on the ticket, we still need a strong endorsement from him. Now, these energy types that are gonna be there tonight … obviously, they’re gonna want to hear how you’re voting on the energy deregulation bill.

VINICK
Well, it depends on what’s in it when it comes out of committee.

SHEILA
Sends a very bad message to the big contributors if you vote against it.

VINICK
Hey – if you can’t drink their booze, take their money and then vote against them, you don’t belong in this business.

SHEILA smiles and shakes her head.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

RUSSELL and MATT SANTOS are sitting quietly on sofas opposite each other, the clock ticking in the background. MATT looks around furtively, then levels his gaze on RUSSELL and gives him a small nod. RUSSELL nods back. BARTLET and CJ, joined by ANNABETH, finally enter.

BARTLET
Hey – glad you could both make it.

MATT (standing with RUSSELL)
Mr. President.

RUSSELL
Mr. President.

BARTLET
Annabeth, you can bring in the thundering herd. (whispering to RUSSELL and MATT) Sit down.

ANNABETH goes to another door and ushers in a group of camera operators and photographers. Shutters click and cameras flash.

BARTLET (to MATT, shaking his hand)
It’s good to finally meet you, Congressman.

MATT
It’s an honor, Mr. President.

BARTLET
Congratulations.

MATT
Thank you, sir.

BARTLET (turning to RUSSELL, shaking his hand)
Bob, thanks for doing this.

RUSSELL
A pleasure, Mr. President.

A few more moments of shutters clicking and cameras flashing.

ANNABETH
All right, that’s it. Thank you very much.

The photographers murmur ‘Thank you’ as ANNABETH leads them back out of the Oval Office. CJ closes the door behind them, then exits into her office as BARTLET gives her a nod. BARTLET, MATT, and RUSSELL sit silently for a moment.

BARTLET
All right, listen up. This is a tough situation for you guys, I understand that. The press is geared up for its favorite blood sport – Democrats attacking each other. And I know, that’s what some people are gonna tell you to do, but we cannot allow that to happen. That’d just hand over the election to the Republicans. One of you is going to be our nominee, so I want both of you to start acting like the nominee right now. (wagging a finger) No attacks on each other.

MATT and RUSSELL exchange a look.

BARTLET (standing; MATT and RUSSELL follow)
I’m going to be watching - and if I think you’ve overstepped the line I’m going to grab the nearest microphone and say so, and don’t be surprised if I endorse the other guy while I’m at it. (beat) Are we clear?

MATT and RUSSELL
Yes, sir.

BARTLET, using his cane, walks out onto the portico as MATT and RUSSELL watch him leave.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK and SHEILA are watching TV coverage of the Oval Office meeting. The MSNBC chyron reads ‘PRESIDENT BARTLET HOSTS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.’

SHEILA
Smart move.

VINICK
If one of those guys had Jed Bartlet’s political instincts, I’d be 20 points behind. (looking at a file) You read Ray Sullivan’s file yet? (SHEILA nods) Youngest US Attorney ever confirmed by the Senate. Two-term state attorney general. Highest white-collar-crime conviction rate in the state’s history.

SHEILA
How much white-collar crime is there in West Virginia?

VINICK
He had the guts to go after them, that’s what counts. Highest percentage of independents ever to vote Republican in West Virginia. He won the governorship with 62 percent of the vote.

There is a knock at the door, and VINICK’s assistant ANNIE appears.

ANNIE
Reverend Butler’s here.

SHEILA
Thank you. (door closes) I just want to be an honest broker here. That’s why I brought in Bruno. You needed to hear what he had to say. Maybe you can win 50 states his way. But if you choose Butler, you can lock in an electoral college landslide today.

VINICK
Butler would scare away any Democrats – and a lot of independents.

SHEILA
But you’d unite the Republican Party while the Democrats are falling apart.

VINICK
So you want Butler on the ticket.

SHEILA
I just want you to hear everything you should hear before you make the most important choice of your political career. Ray Sullivan is the best man. Don Butler is the best bet.

There is a pause as VINICK considers what he’s heard. Finally:

VINICK
Bring him in.

As SHEILA goes to the door to greet BUTLER, VINICK puts the Sullivan file into his desk drawer.

SHEILA (VO)
Reverend Butler. Thanks for coming in.

BUTLER enters the office, SHEILA closing the door behind him.

BUTLER
Hey, Arnie. Good to see you.

VINICK (shaking hands)
Thanks for coming by, Don, I really appreciate it. You, you know, the Secret Service has me feeling like I’m in solitary confinement.

BUTLER
You think they got a tight leash on you now, imagine what’s it’s gonna feel like when you move down the street.

VINICK
Yeah.

A slight pause.

BUTLER
I hit you pretty hard during the primaries – and I just want you to know … it was never personal. Abortion is not a political issue with me.

VINICK
I know. I respect that.

BUTLER
I’ve been thinking about how we could work around our differences, and put ‘em behind us, and head toward November together. 

VINICK
That’s funny, so have I.

There is a long pause as VINICK regards BUTLER, thinking. Finally he leans forward on his desk.

VINICK
Don, I think you can help me take the White House back for the party. You won states I never could win. And I think, in the general election, with you on the ticket -

BUTLER (holding up a hand)
Arnie … let me stop you right there. Now, I suppose I could go along with you on the environmental issues -

VINICK
We agree on oil drilling in ANWR.

BUTLER
And we could probably get closer together on trade.

VINICK (smiling)
Maybe split the difference on textile tariffs. And we could just keep talking tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.

BUTLER (laughing)
Yeah – we’re in lockstep on that one. (pause, his face growing serious) But then we come back to abortion. And I am here to tell you, Arnie – I do not respect your position on abortion, and there’s just no way in the world I could run on a ticket with you. No way.

VINICK’s smile has disappeared.

BUTLER
Now, I wanted to be a good soldier, I wanted to help the party, I really did. I prayed on this one; prayed a lot. (shakes his head) That’s where I came out. This isn’t easy for a kid who grew up in a trailer in Appalachia, and finds himself within shouting distance of the Vice Presidency of the United States. Next in line. It’s not easy.

VINICK appears crestfallen. BUTLER sighs deeply.

BUTLER
Well … 

BUTLER nods, stands, and walks out of the office, leaving VINICK sitting behind his desk.

FADE OUT.
END ACT TWO.
* * *

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK and SHEILA are discussing the disastrous meeting with BUTLER.

SHEILA
You’re kidding … did you actually offer it to him?

VINICK
I tried to.

SHEILA
And he turned it down.

VINICK
No, he cut me off, he wasn’t going to let me offer him something he would have to refuse. He’s a classy guy.

SHEILA
What about an endorsement?

VINICK
Didn’t seem like the best time to ask him for it.

ANNIE appears in the doorway behind VINICK and SHEILA.

ANNIE
Butler’s live on MSNBC.

As ANNIE goes back to the reception area, SHEILA grabs the TV remote and switches the television from C-SPAN 2 to MSNBC. We see BUTLER being interviewed by a group of reporters; the chyron reads REVEREND BUTLER WILL NOT SEEK ROLE IN VINICK WHITE HOUSE.

REPORTER 1 (on TV)
Did Senator Vinick offer you a spot on the ticket?

BUTLER (on TV)
No, he did not offer me a spot on the ticket.

As BUTLER turns to leave, the reporters shout more questions.

REPORTER 2 (on TV)
Did you discuss the Vice Presidency?

BUTLER (on TV)
Well, the reason I requested the meeting was simply to let the Senator hear directly from me that I have no interest in running for Vice President, and don’t want to be considered for the ticket.

REPORTER 1 (on TV)
Reverend Butler, would you want to be on the ticket if Senator Vinick changed his position on abortion?

BUTLER (on TV)
First of all, I’d get down on my knees and thank God for performing a miracle.

The scene shifts from VINICK’s office to the hallway where BUTLER is talking to the reporters.

BUTLER
Then I’d have 'Vote Vinick' tattooed on my forehead.

The REPORTERS laugh as BUTLER turns to leave again. Another REPORTER calls out a question.

REPORTER 3
Reverend, will you pray for him to change his mind?

BUTLER (taken aback)
Sorry … you really surprised me with that one. You know, I never heard a good idea from a reporter before. (more chuckles) Yes. Yes, I will pray for Senator Vinick - 

We return to SHEILA and VINICK watching the TV.

BUTLER (on TV)
- and he’s welcome to come down to my church any time he wants and pray with me. Now – I’ll be back in the pulpit this Sunday. And there will always be a place for the Senator in the front row. Thank you.

BUTLER walks out of the building as REPORTERS continue to shout questions.

VINICK
Great.

CUT TO: STILL VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE, A BIT LATER – DAY

VINICK is brainstorming with more of his staff.

VINICK
How do we spin this thing?

BOB
You say that you fully respect Reverend Butler’s position, that he’s not interested in VP. In fact, you just keep repeating those four words: fully respect Reverend Butler’s position.

SEAN
Five words.

BOB (giving SEAN a look)
Butler Brigade needs to keep hearing that – respect, respect, respect. Then, we hit them with, uh, some direct mail pieces about your opposition to partial-birth abortion. See how many Butler supporters we can get to vote for the lesser of two evils.

VINICK (sardonically)
Thanks.

SEAN
Are we at least gonna get Butler’s endorsement?

SHEILA
Don’t know.

SEAN
Why not accept his invitation? Go down to his church on Sunday.

VINICK
And?

SEAN
And pray for his endorsement.

SHEILA (to VINICK)
It’s a great photo op.

VINICK looks away, considering the idea uncomfortably.

CUT TO: INT. - COFFEE SHOP – DAY

BRUNO is getting a coffee as he talks with SHEILA.

BRUNO
Yeah, it’s a great photo op – but he can’t take any questions.

SHEILA (as they head into the hallway)
He always takes questions.

BRUNO (sarcastically)
I don’t know – that’s what all of us out here in the cheap seats love about him.

SHEILA
So …

BRUNO (putting sugar in his coffee)
Senator – we all know what Reverend Butler prayed for; what did you pray for? Senator – do you think Reverend Butler is wrong about abortion? Senator – will you remove opposition to abortion from the party platform? You ain’t getting any questions about how we pay for sports stadiums.

SHEILA
So, he shouldn’t go to Butler’s church?

BRUNO
You can’t play Butler. He’s not a politician.

SHEILA
Fooled me.

BRUNO
Look, all I am saying is, Butler’s gonna make a decision to endorse you and rally his troops or not … there’s nothing you can do about it.


CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S SENATE OFFICE – DAY

VINICK is now meeting with SHEILA and BRUNO.

VINICK
So what do we do?

BRUNO
You play the game you came to play. You don’t play Butler’s game. You don’t play anybody else’s game. You do exactly what you planned to do; make a move on VP quickly, show you’re moving full speed ahead while the other side is stuck without a nominee. Who’s next on your VP list?

SHEILA
Ray Sullivan.

BRUNO
Good choice. Great resume. Crime-fighting prosecutor, budget-balancing governor.

SHEILA
And he wins West Virginia for us.

BRUNO
That, too. Get him in here today. You make the Sullivan meeting the story of the day instead of the Butler meeting.

VINICK
Sheila?

SHEILA
Works for me.

VINICK (beat)
Okay, set up the Sullivan meeting.

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY – DAY

CJ and TOBY are walking and talking.

CJ
Sounds risky.

TOBY
It’s not the craziest idea the Senate Democrats have come up with.

CJ
President’s not gonna like it.

TOBY
It’s the only way we’re gonna get a vote on minimum wage this year.

CJ
Yeah, but trying to stick an amendment on the debt ceiling? Come on.

TOBY
They won’t even try it if the President says no.

CJ
When do they need an answer?

TOBY
You know, like, now.

CUT TO: INT. - OVAL OFFICE – DAY

BARTLET is meeting with LEO, TOBY, and CJ.

BARTLET
It’s way too risky.

LEO
But if the Democrats can force a vote on the amendment, it puts the Republicans in a tough spot. They don’t want to have to vote against a minimum wage increase in an election year.

TOBY
But they will.

LEO
Most of ‘em, yeah, but what does Vinick do? Terrible time for him to have to break with his party, especially now that he’s got this Butler problem to deal with.

CJ
Will he?

TOBY
Vinick’ll go where the voters are.

CJ
DNC polls show 75 percent in favor of raising minimum wage.

BARTLET
And I haven’t been able to get the working poor a raise in seven years.

LEO
Could be your last chance.

BARTLET thinks it over.

CUT TO: INT. - VINICK’S RECEPTION AREA – DAY

SHEILA is talking on the office phone while her daughter, TINA, sits on a sofa writing on a notepad.

SHEILA (into phone)
He’ll vote for the cloture motion, but that doesn’t mean he’s gonna vote against the minimum wage if it comes to a vote. (beat) Okay.

SHEILA hangs up the phone and comes over to TINA, crouching down next to her.

SHEILA
I know I said we’d get there early, but …

TINA
I want to see batting practice.

SHEILA
I know. A couple of things have come up. You just hang on.

SHEILA stands and goes into VINICK’s office, where he is on the phone.

VINICK (into phone)
Okay, George, thank you. (beat) I really appreciate it. (beat) Good. (hangs up)

SHEILA
You have to go vote.

VINICK
On what?

SHEILA
Cloture motion. Democrats are trying to stick a minimum wage amendment on the debt ceiling.

VINICK (throwing down his pen)
Cheap stunt. What, what are they gonna do? Not raise the debt ceiling if we don’t raise the minimum wage?

SHEILA
It’s a game of chicken now.

VINICK (testily)
Couldn’t be more reckless. (standing and grabbing his suit jacket) If they don’t pass the debt ceiling, we’re gonna have a lot more poor people in this country. Don’t they know what a depression looks like? The minimum wage would be the maximum wage.

SHEILA
This is aimed at you. They’re trying to separate you from the party.

VINICK (walking out into the reception area)
Seems to be getting easier every day. (seeing TINA) Hey, look who’s here!

TINA
Hey, Senator.

VINICK
I’m counting on you, big time.

TINA
I can’t vote, you know.

VINICK
I’m counting on your mother to vote for me, I’m counting on you to catch me a foul ball tonight.

TINA
No way. If I catch one, I’m keeping it.

SHEILA
She can’t give it to you, that’s a violation of Senate gift rules. Now we gotta go, right now.

VINICK
See you later, Tina.

TINA
Bye, Senator.

SHEILA (to TINA, as she and VINICK head to the exit)
We’ll be right back, it’s just a quick vote. (to VINICK) We got to get past the press as fast as we can – no Butler questions.

VINICK
Okay.

SHEILA opens the door and they encounter a horde of REPORTERS and photographers in the hallway, who begin shouting for VINICK’s attention.

SHEILA
Sorry, guys, he’s got no time -

REPORTER 1
Senator, were you surprised at Reverend Butler’s invitation -

VINICK
Sorry, guys. I gotta go vote.

REPORTER 1
Are you going to accept his, ah, invitation?

VINICK
I’m sorry, I really have to go.

REPORTER 2
Are you going to accept his invitation to come to his church this Sunday?

VINICK
Uh, I, I, I think I’m gonna – I have some TV commitments that day I think -

REPORTER 3
Meet The Press is more important than going to Reverend Butler’s church?

VINICK
Look, I’m, I - 

SHEILA’s face is frozen as she realizes VINICK has given in to his inability to ignore press questions.

VINICK
- I really don’t, I don’t know what my schedule is on, on Sunday, sorry about that -

SHEILA (to a security man)
Get us out of here.

REPORTER 3
Are you going to another church on Sunday?

VINICK (as the security man strides past him and begins clearing a path)
Look, I, I don’t mean -

REPORTER 2
Do you think that doing Sunday morning TV shows is more important than going to church?

VINICK
Look, listen -

REPORTER 1
Where do you go to church, Senator?

VINICK finally breaks free of the REPORTERS, still shouting questions; his face showing his frustration as SHEILA impassively follows him.

FADE OUT.
END ACT THREE.
* * *

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: INT. - VINICK’S OFFICE RECEPTION AREA – DAY

We see a TV on a table, with cable news coverage of VINICK’s press gaggle. Two talking heads are on the screen, a MIKE RUCKER and a PAUL MEYER. The chryon reads SENATOR VINICK REFUSES RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS. MEYER is talking.

MEYER (on TV)
No, Mike, no one saw this coming. Vinick went from the candidate who easily answered any question to being the guy who won’t even tell us if he goes to church.

The audio from the TV continues under as VINICK and SHEILA walk into the reception area. TINA is still there, sitting on the floor, doing her homework on the coffee table.

VINICK
Let’s round up the troops.

TINA (as they walk past)
Senator, do you go to church?

VINICK and SHEILA stop.

SHEILA
Honey, we’re kind of busy right now.

VINICK
Yeah, we gotta get you to that game, right?

TINA (disappointed)
I didn’t really expect to see batting practice.

VINICK walks over to sit in the chair next to TINA.

VINICK
I haven’t gone to church for a while. 

TINA
I think you should.

VINICK
Yeah.

TINA
Unless you don’t believe in God. My best friend Maggie doesn’t believe in God because her parents don’t believe in God. But she still comes to our church on Christmas Eve to see the Nativity play, because I’m always in it and she’s my best friend.

VINICK pauses, then smiles.

VINICK
I got to get back to work.

VINICK stands and heads into his office as SHEILA smiles at TINA.

SHEILA
Hang in there, honey.

VINICK and SHEILA walk into VINICK’s office, where BOB, SEAN, and BRUNO wait to meet them.

BOB
All right, just so you know, our polling shows that if you were to, uh – revise your position on abortion, you would, uh …

VINICK
Flip-flop on abortion?

BOB
You would take 51 to 53 percent of the vote and have a pretty comfortable cushion in the electoral college.

VINICK
Oh … thanks, Bob, I, I, that’s very helpful -

BOB
Just thought you should know.

SEAN
Look, we just need one shot of you walking into a church on Sunday, and we can put this whole church thing behind us.

BRUNO
Won’t work. If you go to church, the press is gonna ask you why you didn’t go to Butler’s church. Then they’re gonna ask you when was the last time you went to church. I’m guessing – wasn’t last week.

VINICK
Been a while.

VINICK sits at his desk, leaning back and rubbing his face. The staffers look at each other.

SHEILA
How long?

VINICK
Counting weddings and funerals?

SHEILA
Okay, everybody … Governor Sullivan is gonna be here any minute. Let’s clear out.

BOB, SEAN and BRUNO leave, closing the door. SHEILA slowly walks to the chair by VINICK’s desk and sits.

SHEILA
Has it been years?

VINICK
You know where I am Sunday mornings? I’m in here, or at home doing my job. Doing what I promised the people of California I would do … I’m, giving every minute I can.

SHEILA
How many years?

VINICK
I don’t know. (beat) I used to go with my wife every Sunday I was in California. Then when she got too sick to go, I stayed home with her. (pause) And after her funeral, I didn’t want to go into that church again.

SHEILA
So … about five or six years.

VINICK
I’m not the only Senator who doesn’t go to church.

SHEILA
You’re not just a Senator any more.

The phone rings as VINICK reacts in exasperation. SHEILA picks up the phone.

SHEILA (into phone)
Yeah. (beat) Okay, put him through. (to VINICK) It’s Royce.

VINICK waves SHEILA off.

SHEILA (into phone)
Yes, Mr. Leader. (pause) I understand. (pause) Yes, he can handle that. (beat) I’ll get him over there right away.

SHEILA hangs up as VINICK leans forward in curiosity.

SHEILA
He wants you to go see the President.

ANNIE knocks at the door and opens it.

ANNIE
Governor Sullivan is here.

SHEILA
Thank you.

ANNIE exits, closing the door.

SHEILA
Royce is afraid they’re not going to pass the debt ceiling bill in time. He wants you to work out a deal with the President on a minimum wage, so the Democrats will let us pass the debt ceiling before midnight. So, five minutes with the governor - then the Secret Service is gonna run you down to the White House.

VINICK
Okay.

SHEILA heads to the door and opens it as VINICK stands.

SHEILA
Governor Sullivan.

GOVERNOR RAY SULLIVAN
Sheila.

SULLIVAN enters the office.

VINICK
Hey, Ray. Great to see you again.

SULLIVAN (shaking hands)
Good to see you, Arnie.

VINICK
Have a seat, please.

SULLIVAN (sitting)
Thank you.

VINICK (sitting next to SULLIVAN)
Sorry, I gotta make this quick. The Democrats are jamming us up with an important vote, and I’ve gotta run over to the President and straighten it out.

SULLIVAN
Governing before politics, that’s my motto.

VINICK
Really?

SULLIVAN (as they both chuckle)
No, I’m just kidding. Come on, loosen up, Arnie. (sigh) Everyone on TV tonight is saying that this meeting – is about the Vice Presidency.

VINICK
Well, they’re right, for once.

SULLIVAN
Did you offer it to Butler?

VINICK
No.

SULLIVAN
Good. ‘Cause I don’t wanna be anybody’s second choice.

VINICK
I’ve guess you’ve seen this problem develop today about my going to church.

SULLIVAN
You mean not going to church.

VINICK
Yeah.

SULLIVAN
That’s all right. I go enough for both of us.

VINICK (beat)
I’ve been reading about your, your positions on a lot of things,but – there are some environmental issues you haven’t had to deal with in West Virginia -

SULLIVAN
Here’s the deal with the issues, Arnie … I can get in line with you on everything except abortion. Nothing’s gonna make me change my mind on that … but I’m guessing you wouldn’t want me to.

A small smile appears on VINICK’s face.

CUT TO: EXT. - WHITE HOUSE – NIGHT

VINICK gets out of an SUV and heads into the West Wing. We see him walking through the foyer, accompanied by Secret Service agents and security personnel.

CUT TO: INT. - TOBY’S OFFICE – NIGHT

CHARLIE comes into TOBY’s office.

CHARLIE
Toby, do you have a copy of the - ?

CHARLIE trails off as TOBY stands staring out his office window. They watch VINICK walks down the hallway outside the Communications bullpen. TOBY and CHARLIE exchange a look. As VINICK continues toward the Oval Office, we see ANNABETH in the doorway of the Roosevelt Room watching him go past. Finally VINICK encounters CJ, standing outside the Oval.

CJ
The President’s waiting for you, Senator.

There’s a knock on the door, and VINICK goes inside the Oval Office. The Secret Service agents close the door and stand watch outside. CJ walks away, glancing back at the door as she goes.

CUT TO: INT. – OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT

BARTLET and VINICK are moving to take their seats on the sofas facing each other.

VINICK
Mr. President, I’d hate to think that you were consulted by Democrats on the Hill about doing something as irresponsible as playing games with the debt ceiling.

BARTLET (staring levelly at VINICK)
Have a seat.

VINICK (sitting)
But I’d like to think they’d follow your leadership – if we could agree on a way out of this mess.

BARTLET
You came to the right place.

VINICK
Good. What did you have in mind?

BARTLET
Democrats withdraw the minimum wage amendment from the debt ceiling bill. You pass the bill – then you give them a vote on the minimum wage. 

VINICK
You’ll lose a vote on the minimum wage.

BARTLET
We might be able to shame enough Republicans into doing the right thing in an election year.

VINICK
How about you withdraw the minimum wage amendment – we pass the debt ceiling clean – then I round up enough Republican votes to pass the minimum wage increase.

BARTLET
You can get that doen?

VINICK
We have Republican Senators in seven states with higher minimum wages than the federal level. California, it’s a buck-fifty higher. We don’t want jobs moving to lower-wage states. I can get you the votes.

BARTLET
What do you want from me?

VINICK
I announce the deal.

BARTLET (chuckles)
I know a few Democratic candidates for President who wouldn’t be happy watching you take credit for this.

VINICK
Well, then, let them pass the debt ceiling for you and get you the minimum wage increase.

BARTLET
Anything else?

VINICK
Help me keep a secret.

BARTLET
What’s that?

VINICK
That I just gave you more than you asked for. (beat) Let me hang around for a while – as if we’re, you know, really slugging it out in here.

BARTLET
Can I get you anything?

VINICK
Where’s the ice cream?

CUT TO: INT. - WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN – NIGHT

As the camera pans through the empty kitchen, with its ovens and food racks and plates, we hear VINICK and BARTLET talking. Eventually we see them sitting at a metal table next to the freezers, eating ice cream out of a variety of three-gallon containers in front of them.

VINICK
I think I could live on coffee ice cream.

BARTLET
Hardest thing about this job is knowing this stash is down here 24 hours a day.

VINICK
How’s your health?

BARTLET
Good days and bad days. Good days aren’t as good as they used to be. Kind of like, a speeded-up version of aging. You’ve had better days, huh?

VINICK
Yeah. Whatever happened to separation of church of state?

BARTLET
It’s hanging in there … but I’m afraid the Constitution doesn’t say anything about the separation of church and politics.

VINICK
You saying that’s a good thing?

BARTLET
I’m saying it’s the way it is – always has been.

VINICK
You think the voter really needs to know if I go to church?

BARTLET
I don’t need to know, but then I’m not gonna vote for you anyway. (beat) It’s not up to us to decide what the voters get to use in evaluating us.

VINICK
A little odd, coming from someone – who wasn’t exactly completely open about his health.

BARTLET
That was a big mistake.

VINICK
Was it? What did we know about Lincoln’s health, when he was running? Nothing. (beat) Washington, Jefferson … what about FDR’s health? And when he died in office, did people say, ‘Gee, why didn’t he tell us he was sick?’ No. Did they say, ‘I wish I didn’t vote for him’? No.

BARTLET
I don’t know how you plan to handle this religious thing in the campaign.

VINICK
Yeah, well, that makes two of us.

BARTLET
I could find a way to let it slip that I think a candidate’s religion or how often he goes to church is not relevant to choosing a President.

VINICK
You’re going to say that on the way into church? 

BARTLET
Are you accusing me of politicizing churchgoing?

VINICK
You’ve had an awful lot of photo ops on the church steps.

BARTLET
I went to Mass every Sunday long before I went into politics.

VINICK
I did, too.

BARTLET
Why’d you stop?

VINICK (pause, considering)
One Christmas, my wife gave me a very old edition of the King James Bible … 17th century. It was, it was a real find for a book collector. It was, it was a thrill just to hold it. Then I read it.

BARTLET (chuckling)
You can’t take it literally.

VINICK
Yeah, well, that’s what my priest friends kept telling me. But the more I read it, the less I could believe. I could not believe there was a God who said that the penalty for working on the Sabbath was death. (beat) I couldn’t believe there was a God who said the penalty for adultery was death.

BARTLET
I’m more of a New Testament man myself.

VINICK
I couldn’t believe that there was a God who had no penalty for slavery. The Bible has no problem with slavery at all. (beat) Lincoln could’ve used a little help from the Bible.

BARTLET (getting up to go to the freezer)
You think Lincoln was an atheist?

VINICK
I hope not. That would mean all those references to God were just purely political.

BARTLET (returning with another container of ice cream)
He didn’t make any until he started running for office.

VINICK
No – and he certainly was a doubter.

BARTLET
What about you?

VINICK (beat)
You gonna try to save my soul?

BARTLET
Sorry.

VINICK
Let’s just say I struggled for a long time with that book – and then finally, I just gave up the struggle.

BARTLET
The only thing you can pray for in this job is the, strength to get through the day. You can try coffee if you want, but – prayer works better for me. (pushing the new container towards VINICK) Try the pistachio.

VINICK digs his spoon into the ice cream.

CUT TO: EXT. - WHITE HOUSE – NIGHT

VINICK is talking with a group of reporters and camera operators on the White House lawn.

VINICK
Yes, we have reached an agreement on the debt ceiling bill. We will pass it within the hour and send it to the President for his signature before midnight.

REPORTER 1
What about the minimum wage amendment?

VINICK
We’ve agreed to have a separate vote on the minimum wage increase tomorrow.

REPORTER 2
Is it going to pass?

VINICK
Yes, it will. I’ll vote for it and I guarantee you there’ll be more than enough bipartisan support to pass it.

REPORTER 1
Senator, are you going to reconsider Reverend Butler’s invitation to his church this weekend?

VINICK
I fully support Reverend Butler’s position. (beat) I mean, I appreciate his invitation, and, uh …

There is a long pause as VINICK thinks.

VINICK
Look … I respect Reverend Butler. And I respect his church too much to use it for my own political purposes. And that’s exactly what I’d be doing if I went down there this Sunday.

CUT TO: INT. - BUTLER’S HOME – NIGHT

BUTLER is watching TV coverage of VINICK’s White House press conference. The chyron reads SENATOR VINICK STRIKES MINIMUM WAGE DEAL WITH WHITE HOUSE.

VINICK (on TV)
Because the truth is it would just be an act of political phoniness. I may be wrong, but I, I suspect our churches already have enough political phonies in them.

BUTLER watches the TV, his brow furrowed.

REPORTER (on TV)
Senator, do you or do you not -

VINICK (on TV)
I don’t see how we can have a separation of church and state in this government if you have to pass a religious test -

Now we back outside the White House with VINICK and the reporters.

VINICK
- to get in this government. And I want to warn everyone in the press and all the voters out there … if you demand expressions of religious faith from politicians, you are just begging to be lied to.

Back to the TV in BUTLER’s house.

VINICK (on TV)
They won’t all lie to you, but a lot of them will – and it’ll be the easiest lie they ever had to tell to get your votes.

Back to outside the White House.

VINICK
So, every day until the end of this campaign – I’ll answer any question anyone has on government. But if you have, you have a question on religion, please, go to church. Thank you.

VINICK turns to leave, the reporters shouting after him. We see a shot of BARTLET watching the coverage on TV, looking pleased. He picks up the remote and turns off the television.

DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.
* * *

The West Wing and all its characters are properties of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells Productions, Warner Brothers Television, and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.

The West Wing Transcript
Episode 6x20 – In God We Trust
Original Airdate: March 23, 2005