Security (4)

Security:
Act III

Kasey

EXT. White House - Day CUT TO: INT. Sam's Office - Day A woman, ALEXIA MORGAN, knocks on the door. She is fairly pretty and looks about the same age as Sam. SAM, sitting at his desk, looks up. SAM: (Coldly) Come in. ALEXIA: This is a nice building you work in… SAM: It's the White House. ALEXIA: And yet your office is smaller than at your law firm. SAM: What, you're channeling Lisa now? ALEXIA: You wanted to talk about the quote? SAM: No, that was just my secret ruse to get you down here. ALEXIA: Sam- SAM: Yes I wanna talk about the quote - what the hell are you doing saying things like that to a reporter of all people? ALEXIA: Well, for starters, it was out of context which is hardly unheard of in the world of reporting, and second of all- SAM: When did they talk to you? ALEXIA: I was down here over Christmas. SAM: Why? ALEXIA: I was visiting her grave. Like any good friend would do. SAM: How did they find you? ALEXIA: I don't know, what with the camouflage I was wearing- SAM: Hey- ALEXIA: Someone apparently knew where she was buried and was waiting for you to show up. (With contempt) Which you never did. SAM: So now this is a scolding. ALEXIA: Yeah. SAM: Y'know what? You stay outta my life, I'll stay outta yours. ALEXIA: Is that the philosophy you wanted to use with her, too? You'd be married but she'd live her own life and you'd live yours? SAM: That's not fair. ALEXIA: And what you did to her was? Where's the call girl fit in? SAM: Knock it off. ALEXIA: No, I don't think I will. You may be some hotshot in the world of politics but to me you'll always be my best friend's jackass of a husband and a sorry excuse for a man. SAM: Where the hell do you get off- ALEXIA: How could you not see it? How could you not see what you were doing to her? Oh yeah, that's right, you were never THERE, Sam, what did you think would- SAM: (Losing his temper) Stop it! Just…Know what? You don't have the first damn CLUE what it was like for me. You go on mourning her and being pissed at me for something that wasn't my fault except I thought for years that it was, and you give a quote to a reporter who is about to print that I'm a MURDERER. So go back to New York and live your little life and light a candle for your dead friend. Meanwhile, I'll just go back to my silent apartment and wish to hell I'd never taken this job which is the only thing in my life right now, how 'bout that? ALEXIA sits, speechless, for a moment, then speaks, quietly at first, then gaining volume and emotion. ALEXIA: For cryin' out loud, Sam, stop being so damn pious. Stop acting like you were right and I'm still wrong and it was her own damn fault for not seeing it that way. You say I don't have a clue what it was like for you? How about what it was like for ME? She'd been my best friend since high school and all of a sudden you come along at college, this handsome man with a movie-star smile and a brilliant mind and you sweep her off her FEET. Then you two move to New York and you get engaged and you're both happy and then what? Your old buddy comes back into the picture and takes YOU away to go live a dream or some other such nonsense. So you're having the time of your life - what about her? She sat in that apartment alone for 16 hours a day, every day, for almost a YEAR. Then you come back and schlep her down to DC where she is MISERABLE. At least in New York she had her job and her friends even when you were gone - she got down here and had NOTHING. Not even YOU because you were too busy working. So you sit there and you say it wasn't your fault and it was her own fault for doing what she did - you think I don't blame her some too? I think if only she would've left you, she could've come and stayed with me and I would've made sure she was okay, that she wasn't sinking…You go ahead and think it was her fault and not yours. But don't you DARE act like it's my fault for feeling the way I do. Because it WAS your fault. It was YOUR fault so she was so DESPERATELY unhappy and it was YOUR fault she felt she had no other CHOICE. SAM: (Long pause) (Low, seething) Get out. ALEXIA: You're mad someone's finally speaking the truth? SAM: Get the hell out of my office! ALEXIA stands, shaking her head with a wry grin, and leaves. There is a knock at the door. SAM: (Pissed off) What?! LEO: Excuse me? SAM: (Coming to his senses) I'm sorry, Leo, I just…What do you need? LEO: Bad day? SAM: Yeah. LEO: I was gonna tell ya that the President would like to see you in the Oval Office as soon as possible but I wouldn't say that at the moment- SAM: (Pulling together) No, Leo, I…I'm okay. SAM stands and LEO leads him out of his office. CUT TO: INT. The Oval Office - Day JED stands at the center of the room looking restless. SAM and LEO enter. SAM: You wanted to see me, sir? JED: Yeah - have a seat, Sam. SAM sits, as do LEO and JED. JED: Sam, about a half hour ago, a hostage situation developed in an elementary school outside of Boston. A 17-year-old boy whose mother and sister recently passed away is holding 26 kids and their teacher hostage in their classroom. SAM: (Unsure of what to say) Yes…sir… JED: In a couple minutes I'll be bringing in Toby and Josh, a couple minutes after that CJ'll be coming in - basically as soon as she's done with her briefing, we're gonna tell her about this… SAM: Yes, sir. What's being done right now, sir? JED: You mean in the school? SAM: Yes, sir. LEO: An FBI team's surrounding the school while they get the rest of the students and faculty out of the building. SAM: What's the next plan? JED: That's what we're gonna discuss once everyone's in here. SAM: Yes, sir. JED: Why don't you go wait while we tell everyone else, I'll send Charlie to come get you when we're ready. SAM: Okay, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. SAM leaves. LEO: That was a good thing you did, telling Sam first. JED: The kid had a point. LEO: Yes, sir. JED: So is the reason you're seeming a little freaked out the reason I think you're freaked out or is it something else? LEO: What are you saying, sir? JED: I'm just wondering if it's- LEO: No, sir, I…I mean I wasn't able to follow any of that last part. JED: Is it 'cause it's a school? LEO: A little bit that, sir. JED: What's the other bit? LEO: It's where Mallory went. JED: She's there? LEO: No…No, sir…when she was in elementary school. That was her school. JED: …How had I forgotten that? LEO: Because at the time we weren't exactly best friends or anything and 'cause it was a long time ago? JED: Yeah. (Long pause) It's not like this is the first time it's been a- They are interrupted by JOSH and TOBY. JOSH: I'm sorry, sir, we were told you wanted to see us? JED: Yeah, c'min and sit down. (To Leo) We'll talk about the other part later. LEO: Yes, sir. CUT TO: INT. Briefing Room - Day CJ is doing her briefing. CJ: Obviously they've been discussing the sorts of things that discussed with a speech of this nature. KATIE: Why the Education Department feels the Communications Department is wrong and vice versa? CJ: Exactly. Reporters chuckle. CJ: That's all for now, expect another briefing around dinner time. MIKE: What time do you eat dinner? CJ: Right after I finish the briefing. Thank you. She steps down from the podium and is greeted by JIMMY who is standing beside the doorway. JIMMY: Hey there. CJ: Hello. JIMMY: Got a response for me yet? CJ: Sam Seaborn didn't kill anyone, obviously there is the question as to the verity of the source and if it's taken out of context. What's more, this is just the sort of thing that should be kept private, it's not about anything of concern, it's an excuse to get people's attention with a soap opera. JIMMY: That makes an excellent quote, thank you. HE smiles and walks off. CJ continues to her office and is stopped just outside her office by CAROL. CAROL: They want you in the Oval Office. CJ: Did they say about what? CAROL: No. CJ: When do they want me? CAROL: Now. CJ: Okay. She starts toward the Oval Office. CUT TO: INT. Roosevelt Room - Day PATTY, CARL, and TOM are still sitting there, looking a little impatient. TOBY enters. TOBY: I'm sorry but I think I'm going to have to cut our conversation short. TOM: What's going on? TOBY: I can't tell you that. CARL: Why not? TOBY: Because you don't work on the Senior Staff. PATTY: We're not done discussing our concerns. TOBY: We are for now. CARL: (Indignant) Toby… TOBY: Look, guys, I'm sorry you had to sit here a little longer than necessary but I didn't exactly anticipate this thing coming up, so we'll…meet again on this. PATTY: Okay then. GINGER appears in the doorway. TOBY: Ginger, please show them out? GINGER: Okay. PATTY, TOM, and CARL stand and gather their coats as TOBY leaves and walks to the Oval Office. We see him open the door to go in as we FADE TO COMMERCIAL. END ACT III. Part 5 HOME | TITLE | AUTHOR | CATEGORY