Adeste Fideles:
Act II


Kasey

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ACT II

EXT. Winter Scenes, DC - Day

CUT TO:

INT. Sam's Office - Day

SAM is sitting in his office, staring out his window, deep in thought.

FLASHBACK TO:

EXT. Street in Manhattan - Day

TITLE CARD: Manhattan - October 1997

CUT TO:

An apartment, perhaps a little lavish. LISA (Previously known as WOMAN)is sitting in the apartment, watching television. We HEAR a door unlock and SAM enters.

LISA:
Hey, Honey, how was work?

SAM:
You look beautiful today.

LISA:
Thank you, Sam. Was work really that bad?

SAM:
Can I make you dinner?

LISA:
Uh-oh.

SAM:
What?

LISA:
When Sam Seaborn volunteers to make dinner, something's up.

She turns off the television and turns to face him.

LISA:
(Cont.)
What happened?

SAM:
You remember Josh Lyman, right?

LISA:
Your friend from when you were in DC?

SAM:
When I was a Congressional Aide, yeah.

LISA:
What about him?

SAM:
He came to see me a few days ago.

LISA:
How's he doing?

SAM:
He's good, he…He was on his way to New Hampshire to see a man who's running for president…He came back to see me today.

LISA:
And? Don't tell me - he's finally dumping that schmuck Hoynes?

SAM:
(Hesitant)
Yeah…

LISA:
So he's going up to New Hampshire to join up with this new guy?

SAM:
Yeah…

LISA:
Tell him if he ever needs a place to stay while he's in the area he's free to stay here.

SAM:
Yeah, ah, listen…

LISA:
He's a good guy, an old friend, we've got a free room, he can-

SAM:
Lisa, I need you to stop talking for a minute.

LISA:
Okay.

SAM:
I quit Gage Whitney.

LISA:
I'm sorry?

She stands and starts walking toward him.

SAM:
I-

LISA:
I must have misheard you because I could've sworn you just said you were quitting the law firm that was going to make you a partner next month, and since I know you would never do that I think maybe I need to have my hearing examined-

SAM:
Lisa.

LISA:
Or do you maybe need to have your HEAD examined?

She is standing very near him. There is silence as SAM just looks at her.

LISA:
I see.

SAM:
Lisa…Lisa this guy Bartlet's the real thing, he's…He's everything I've wanted to work for since I graduated. At Gage Whitney they laughed me out of the room today for trying to be honest!
(Double beat)
Look. If it's the money you're worried about, there's more than enough in the bank account, and I'm gonna get paid for my work on the campaign. It's not gonna be nearly as much as I've been making, but it'll be something…We'll be okay.

He tentatively reaches to touch her face.

SAM:
I'm gonna be writing speeches again…You remember how happy I was that summer I worked in DC? That's what I'm gonna be doing, Lisa…for a guy who might be the President. And if we win I might end up in the White House…

LISA is silent, then finally speaks.

LISA:
If…If it's what'll make you happy…then I'll support you all the way.

SAM:
(Grinning)
Have I told you today how much I love you?

LISA:
Sam…

SAM:
Thank you…

FLASH TO PRESENT

Sam continues to stare out the window as we HEAR a ball bouncing against the window which is between Sam's office and Toby's office. After a little bit the bouncing stops.

TOBY:
(OS)
Sam!

SAM turns to face the doorway and we see that TOBY is standing there.

TOBY:
I've been summoning you for the past five minutes, weren't you listening?

SAM:
Y'know, Toby, from time to time it isn't my job to be called like a dog to its master every time you want to tell me I haven't used enough verbs!
(Beat)
I'm sorry, that was out of line, I…I'm sorry.

TOBY:
(Curiously)
Sam?

SAM:
(Quietly)
What do you need?

TOBY:
I wanted to know what you have done on the Denver draft?

SAM picks up a folder from his desk and TOBY enters the room to take it.

TOBY:
Sam.

SAM:
Yeah?

TOBY:
(A long pause)
Nothing.

SAM:
Okay.

TOBY leaves, and SAM goes back to staring out the window.

FLASHBACK TO:

EXT. Bartlet For America HQ - Day

CUT TO:

INT. Bartlet For America HQ - Day

We see SAM through the front doors. He hesitates for a moment before entering. He holds in his hand a briefcase. He looks around for a few moments before JOSH comes to greet him.

JOSH:
Hey! You made it!

SAM:
Yes.
(Smiles)
So where's the guy I'm interviewing with?

JOSH:
I'll take ya to see Leo in a few minutes. He's in right now with the guy you'll be working for.

SAM:
The other speech writer?

JOSH:
Yeah. Listen…don't be frightened of him.

SAM:
Frightened?

JOSH:
Yeah - he's sort of…gruff.

SAM:
Great.

JOSH:
Listen…

Josh leads Sam to his office.

JOSH:
(Cont., Low)
How'd she take it?

SAM:
Lisa?

JOSH:
Yeah.

SAM:
(Beat)
She took it great.

JOSH:
Really?

SAM:
She said whatever made me happy would be…

JOSH:
She really took it great?

SAM:
Yeah.

JOSH:
'Cause I woulda thought…wait a minute, she…She understands you're not gonna be going home for probably at least a month or so, right?

SAM:
She took it great, Josh, don't worry about it.
(Forces a smile)

JOSH:
Okay then.

An assistant pokes her head into Josh's office.

ASSISTANT:
Josh.

JOSH:
Leo's ready?

ASSISTANT:
Yes.

JOSH:
(To Sam)
Let's go get you a job.

They exit Josh's office as we…

FADE TO PRESENT

INT. Josh's Office - Day

Josh is looking over something as DONNA knocks on his door frame.

DONNA:
Josh.

JOSH:
Got a card for me yet?

DONNA:
I'm working on it. CJ's here.

JOSH:
Okay.

CJ enters.

CJ:
Do you know anything about a speech the President's giving at the National Teachers Conference next month?

JOSH:
No.

CJ:
He's speaking at the National Teachers Conference next month.

JOSH:
So I've heard.

CJ:
Toby says vouchers is gonna be in the speech.

JOSH:
Wouldn't surprise me, though I don't work in communications, so…

CJ:
Yeah.
(Beat)
Anyway.
(Beat)
We've got staff in five.

JOSH:
Yeah.

CJ:
Okay.

She leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. The Oval Office - Day

JED is sitting in a chair looking over a report. There is a KNOCK at the door.

JED:
Yeah.

Charlie opens the door.

CHARLIE:
Sir?

JED:
Staff?

CHARLIE:
Yes, sir.

JED:
Send 'em in.

He puts down the report and JOSH, CJ, TOBY, and SAM enter from the door Charlie opened. LEO enters from his office.

JED:
CJ, I see here that there's some sort of problem with a women's group?

CJ:
Okay, how come every question about the women gets directed at me?

JOSH:
Um…'cause you're the one who's…You're the one who's worked for them before.

JED:
Just so long as these things don't get directed to Abby.

JOSH:
I agree wholeheartedly, sir.

JED:
Yes, but hopefully for different reasons than I do, seeing as how if she gives you the same kind of punishment she gives me, I really don't want to know about it.

JOSH:
…No…sir.

JED:
Good.
(Smiles)
What's next?

FADE TO COMMERCIAL. END ACT II.

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Act III

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