Adeste Fideles

Adeste Fideles:
Act IV

Kasey

ACT IV INT. Josh's Office - Night JOSH: You didn't kill her, did you? SAM: (Taken completely aback) Josh! JOSH: I just mean 'cause if so then obviously the FBI doesn't do a very good job of making sure the people in the White House with high security clearance aren't dangerous. SAM: So now you're making jokes? JOSH: Sorry. (Double Beat) What happened to her, Sam? SAM: She died. JOSH: I know that much, I was at the funeral, remember? I'm saying- SAM: I know what you're saying. JOSH: Then why don't you tell me? SAM: Because you're under the impression it's something I want to share. JOSH: No, I'm under the impression it's something you SHOULD share in the interest of it not eating you alive. SAM: I'm fine. JOSH: You are NOT fine, you blew up at Toby twice in a day, you were shouting at me, next thing you know you'll be yelling at the President in the Oval Office. (Silence) How'd she die? SAM: Why is it so damn important that you find out right now- JOSH: I told you about my sister and there's, y'know, a lot of shame involved in that on my part. SAM: What difference does that make? JOSH: I dunno. SAM: Josh- JOSH: I could easily get Leo to force you to go sit with a guy from ATVA 'cause I'm pretty willing to bet he doesn't want any more of his employees going off the deep end. (Silence) Sam? FADE INTO FLASHBACK INT. Sam and Lisa's Apartment - Night SAM slowly opens the door of the bedroom and walks out. He's calmer than when we saw him last in flashbacks, the sort of calm that comes from having spent time thinking after an argument. He walks to the bathroom and raps lightly on the closed door. SAM: Lisa? Lisa, I'm sorry…Honey just…come out here, we'll talk about things…we'll work it out…I really am sorry… When he is greeted with silence, he slowly opens the door and stops when he sees inside the room. We do not see what he sees, we see his reaction to it. He is shocked and trying to catch his breath and trying not to cry all at the same time. SAM: Lisa? Oh, God, this…Honey, wake up…it's me… He kneels down. SAM: …This isn't happening…this is…please…please wake up… He spies an asprin bottle on the edge of the sink and completely breaks down as we FLASH TO PRESENT INT. Josh's Office - Night, continued from pre-flashback. JOSH sits at his desk, still looking proddingly at SAM. SAM considers a moment, then pushes himself out of the chair. SAM: I've gotta get out of here. JOSH: Sam, if you're so much as considering going into the Oval Office- His office door slams shut. JOSH: No problem, just…me giving advice. CUT TO: INT. The Oval Office - Night JED and LEO are sitting in the centre of the room going over a report. SAM enters suddenly without the usual announcement of Charlie. SAM: Sir? JED: (Looks up, a little startled) Sam. What do you need? SAM: I need to know why I never know about things. JED: (Beat) I'm sorry? SAM: (Adding onto his last sentence.) Sir. I need to know why I never know about things until later. LEO: Sam. SAM: I understand that I don't know first, sir, but I don't understand why I'm always told last. JED: What's this about? SAM: It's about the fact that I'm tired of getting pushed aside until everyone else feels it's convenient to tell me. LEO: (Warning) Sam. SAM: I'd like an answer, sir. JED: Sam, it's not always a matter of convenience, it's- SAM: It wasn't more convenient to not tell me about the environmental drop-in because you didn't want resistance from me? It wasn't more convenient to tell me last about your disease, sir, so that I could finish the draft of a speech that never got delivered because it got canceled after the announcement? It's not out of convenience that I don't get told things? That I'm left out of the loop so much that times like today the rest of the staff forgets I'm ever supposed to be IN the loop? JED: Sam, it's not a matter of convenience, it's a matter of practicality. SAM: Y'know, sir, I realize I'm the Deputy Communications Director and that entitles Josh and Toby to know before me but theoretically CJ and I are supposed to be on the same level, Mr. President, so how does it come to be that not only does she know before me, but that outside people like Joey Lucas are told before I am? LEO: Sam, go wait in my office. SAM: This isn't me turning into Josh, Leo, I'm completely conscious and I'd like an answer. (Turns to the President) Sir? JED: The answer, Sam, is that there isn't usually an answer. It's not as though we set out to tell you last, but from time to time that's what happens. It's not fair, it's not right, but it's how it goes sometimes. I'm sorry for that. SAM: Sir? JED: I know you gave up as much as anybody for the campaign and for getting me here - you gave up more than some, Sam, you gave up a helluva lot, and I'm grateful you did, because I honestly don't believe I would have won without you. You're a great writer, Sam, a gifted wordsmith. And a valued counsel. SAM: (Quietly, a little moved) Thank you, sir. JED: I don't tell you that enough - I don't tell any of you that enough. (Beat) You should go home, Sam. SAM: Sir? JED: Go home. Any work you feel you still need to do will be here when you arrive in the morning. Go cool down, get a decent night's sleep. SAM: (Quietly) Okay, sir. SAM stands and hesitates a moment. SAM: I'm sorry I raised my voice. He walks toward the door and as he exits we HEAR… JED: (OS) That kid gave up a lot, Leo…I mean all of you did but I think you and him the most of all 'cause you lost Jenny in the deal… Quietly, we start to HEAR a piano version of "Carol of the Bells". It sets a haunted, sad tone as we see SAM walk back to his office. He gets his coat and, on his way out, passes Josh's office. JOSH is sitting inside, looking at a Christmas card and smiling. CUT TO: EXT. The White House Entrance - Night SAM exits the building into the falling snow and looks silently up at the sky. He continues on. CUT TO: EXT. The small house we saw earlier - Night SAM walks on the sidewalk until he reaches the house, then stops and stares up at it, looking wistful and sad. Slowly, he bows his head against the wind and shoves his hands in his pockets. Crane shot pulling back so we look down on Sam as he turns and walks back in the direction he came from. The music comes to a final chord as we… FADE TO BLACK

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