THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT

	FADE IN:

	As the OPENING TTTLES ROLL against a series of shots of 
	statues and paintings of former presidents, we HEAR shards of
	dialogue from various presidential speeches.

	MAIN TITLES END ON

	EXT. BEAUTIFUL ESTABLISHING SHOT OF THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

	It's an early November morning, and the sun has just come
	over this extraordinary building. WE HOLD on this for a moment
	before we

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. A CORRIDOR IN THE RESIDENCE - DAY

	A SECRET SERVICE AGENT presses the button by the private 
	elevator as he talks into his shirt cuff.

				AGENT COOPER
		Liberty's moving.

	Another AGENT rounds the corner into the corridor and is 
	followed a step or two later by
	
	PRESIDENT ANDREW BENJAMIN SHEPHERD.

	SHEPHERD's walking with his personal assistant, JANIE, a shy, 
	professional and incredibly efficient 25-year-old.

				JANIE
		The 10:15 event's been moved inside 
		to the Indian Treaty Room.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to Janie)
		The 10:15 is American Fisheries?

				JANIE
		Yes, sir. They're giving you a 
		200-pound halibut.

				SHEPHERD
		Janie, make a note. We need to 
		schedule more events where somebody 
		gives me a really big fish.

	JANIE starts to make a note.

				JANIE
		Yes, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		Janie, I was kidding.

				JANIE
		Of course, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		       (to the AGENT at the 
		        elevator)
		Hey, Cooper.

				AGENT COOPER
		'Morning, Mr. President.

	SHEPHERD and JANIE enter the elevator. As the doors close...

				JANIE
		Mr. Rothschild asked to have a moment 
		with you this morning.

				SHEPHERD
		Is he upset about the speech last night?

				JANIE
		He seemed concerned.

				SHEPHERD
		Well, it wouldn't be a Monday morning 
		unless Lewis was concerned about 
		something I did Sunday night.

	The elevator doors open, revealing LEWIS ROTHSCHILD. At 32, 
	LEWIS is the President's chief domestic policy advisor. It 
	would appear that he averages about two hours sleep a night, 
	though that doesn't seem to slow him down.

				LEWIS
		You skipped the whole paragraph.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to Janie)
		And Monday morning it is.

	LEWIS falls into the pace as the three of them head for the 
	double doors leading to the South Lawn.

				LEWIS
		"American can no longer afford to 
		pretend that they live in a great 
		society"...and then nothing. You 
		dumped the whole handguns paragraph.

				SHEPHERD
		This is a time for prudence, Lewis.

				LEWIS
		That was the kick-ass section.

	The three of them are now OUTSIDE and making their way down 
	the COVERED WALKWAY that runs from the East Wing to the West 
	Wing.

				SHEPHERD
		I thought what with being the 
		President and all...

				LEWIS
		Sir, of course I didn't mean to 
		imply--

				SHEPHERD
		I thought you'd be turning cartwheels 
		this morning, Lewis -- 63 percent job 
		approval.

				LEWIS
		That's great news, sir, but...

	They walk past a GROUNDKEEPER who's at work at a patch of grass.

				GROUNDKEEPER
		'Morning, Mr. President.

	Before he's even completed the last syllable of the greeting, 
	JANIE quickly and quietly said--

				JANIE
		Charlie.

				SHEPHERD
		'Morning, Charlie.

				LEWIS
		Sir, the press is gonna need an 
		explanation.

				SHEPHERD
		For what?

	SHEPHERD, LEWIS and JANIE walk through the door being held 
	open by an AGENT. The conversation continues as they make 
	their way through the corridors of

	INT. THE WEST WING - DAY

	They walk quickly down a hallway teeming with STAFFERS, AIDES 
	AND OFFICE WORKERS.

				LEWIS
		Because you dropped the whole kick-ass 
		section, now we've got this thing hanging 
		out there.

				SHEPHERD
		There's a thing hanging out there?

				LEWIS
		"Americans can no longer afford to 
		pretend that they live in a great 
		society." Then ...nothing. No 
		explanation. No context. So now i
		t's just this thing.

				SHEPHERD
		And it's hanging out there?

				LEWIS
		Yes, sir.

	SHEPHERD stops at an open doorway, calls to a STAFFER--

				SHEPHERD
		Maria--

				STAFFER (MARIA)
		Good morning, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		Did they tell you I'm gonna need--

				STAFFER (MARIA)
		--overall consumer spending and not 
		just first homes. Yes, sir. We'll have 
		it for you in 15 minutes.

				SHEPHERD
		Thanks.

	SHEPHERD moves on. LEWIS and JANIE stay with him.

				LEWIS
		Mr. President, I really feel we need 
		to focus on...

				SHEPHERD
		Lewis, however much coffee you drink 
		in the morning, I want you to reduce it 
		by half.

				LEWIS
		I don't drink coffee.

				SHEPHERD
		Then hit yourself over the head with 
		a baseball bat, would you please?

	Another STAFFER crosses their path--

				JANIE
		Happy birthday, Laura.

				SHEPHERD
		Hey, Laura, happy birthday.

				STAFFER (LAURA)
		Thank you, sir.

	Once out of earshot--

				SHEPHERD
			(to JANIE)
		I should send her some flowers.

				JANIE
		You already did, sir.

	And, with that, they walk through a doorway and into

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	In the OUTER OFFICE, MRS. CHAPIL, the President's secretary, 
	is hard at work on a word processor. She stands as SHEPHERD 
	walks in--

				MRS. CHAPIL
		Good morning, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		How're you, Mrs. Chapil?

				MRS. CHAPIL
		Fine, thank you, sir. Mr. Kodak left 
		the detailed breakdown of the approval 
		poll for you. He seemed to indicate that 
		it was very good news.

				SHEPHERD
		Sixty-three percent of it, at any rate.

	And by now they're in the OVAL OFFICE itself. SHEPHERD has 
	gone to his desk and is looking over the various overnight 
	briefing memos that have been left for him. As someone used 
	to doing six things at once, he has no trouble reading, 
	listening, and talking at the same time.

				MRS. CHAPIL
		Lucy called just a moment ago. You 
		forgot to sign her permission slip 
		for her class--

				JANIE
		--the museum trip. I'll go get it.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to JANIE)
		What time does she get home today?

				JANIE
		Three-twenty.

				SHEPHERD
		How's my afternoon look?

				JANIE
		Very crowded.

				SHEPHERD
		Schedule some time for me at 3:30.

				WOMAN (O.S.)
		Buenos dias, Senor Presidente.

	This from ROBIN McCALL, a strikingly tall black woman and the 
	President's press secretary, as she strides into the room.

				SHEPHERD
		Too-tall McCall, how was Mexico?

				ROBIN
		I didn't truly appreciate it until I 
		came back and discovered that America 
		isn't a great society.

				LEWIS
			   (to ROBIN)
		He dumped a whole section.

				SHEPHERD
		Now there's a thing hanging out there.

				ROBIN
		Not a great society, sir?

				SHEPHERD
		Well, with you out of the country, it 
		wasn't, Robin. Now that you're back, 
		we're great again.

				ROBIN
		There's a press room full of people 
		saying "What did he mean by that?"

				LEWIS
		See?

				SHEPHERD
			   (re: a memo he's been 
			    looking at)
		A.J., did you get one of these?

	This is said to A. J. MACINERNEY as he walks through a 
	separate entrance on the left side of the room. In addition 
	to being the President's Chief of Staff and closest advisor,
	he's the President's closest and oldest friend.

				A.J.
		Is that the letter from Solomon at 
		the GDC?

				SHEPHERD
		It would appear to be a letter from 
		the entire environmental community. 
		These people are outta control.

				A.J.
		I think they're just frustrated, 
		Mr. President.

				ROBIN
		Are they blaming the President for 
		global warming?

				A.J.
		Well, they don't think he caused it, 
		if that's what you mean.
			   (continuing; 
			    to SHEPHERD)
		Sir, I'm on the phone with these 
		people twice a week. I honestly 
		don't know what they want at this 
		point.

				LEWIS
		What they want is a 20 percent reduction in 
		fossil fuel emissions.

				A.J.
		It won't pass at 20 percent.

				LEWIS
		We haven't really tried.

				A.J.
		Lewis, McSorley, McCluskey and Shane 
		hold too many markers. If we try to 
		push this through and lose, there will 
		be a very loud thud when we hit the 
		ground, and that's not what you want in 
		an election year.

				SHEPHERD
		Talk to the GDC again, A.J. Tell them 
		the President resents the implication 
		that he's turned his back on the 
		environment. Tell them I'll send 455 to 
		the floor. But we're gonna ask for a 
		10 percent reduction. If they want to pull 
		their support, fine. At 63 percent job 
		approval rating. I don't need their help 
		getting a bill passed. We gotta get going--
		where's Leon?

				A.J.
			   (to an AIDE)
		Would you call Mr. Kodak and tell him 
		the President's--

	A.J.'s sentence is cut short by the sound of a head-on 
	pedestrian collision in the outer office--

				MRS. CHAPIL (O.S.)
		Aaagh!

				KODAK (O.S.)
		Sorry! Sorry, my fault.

				A.J.
			   (to the AIDE)
		Never mind.

	LEON KODAK comes into the oval office. The White House 
	pollster is a likable, if clumsy, numbers whiz. He, along 
	with A.J., LEWIS, and ROBIN, are regarded as the President's 
	Starting Team. The people in this room have grown very close 
	over the past few years.

				KODAK
		Excuse me. Good morning, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		You all right?

				KODAK
		They keep moving that big ficus plant.

				A.J.
		We're all here, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		Okay. First, I wanted to say 
		congratulations. Three years ago, we 
		were elected to the White House by 
		one of the narrowest margins in history, 
		and today Kodak tells us 63 percent of 
		registered voters think we're doing a 
		good job.

				KODAK
		Wait a second. You wanted me to poll 
		registered voters?

	Everyone LAUGHS... even SHEPHERD smiles...

				SHEPHERD
		But the poll also tells us what we 
		already knew: We don't get this 
		crime bill of ours through Congress 
		and these numbers are gonna be a 
		memory. So, starting today, we're 
		shifting it into gear.

				ROBIN
		Can I tell my morning press gaggle 
		that gun control--

				A.J.
		Crime control, Robin. Gun control 
		means we're wimps and we're soft on 
		crime.

				LEWIS
		Hang on, are we not--

				A.J.
		Lewis--

				LEWIS
		Are we not putting back the handgun 
		restrictions?!

				A.J.
		We're leaving 'em out.

				LEWIS
		Sir, we campaigned on this issue. 
		Now, I understand we took it out when 
		we were in the low forties, but we 
		can push it through now.

				SHEPHERD
		After the elections.

				LEWIS
		Sir, we may never have an opportunity 
		like this again. Let's take this 63 
		percent out for a spin and see what
		it can do.

				SHEPHERD
		We can't take it out for a spin, Lewis. 
		We need it to get re-elected. For 
		reasons passing understanding, people 
		do not relate guns to gun-related crime.

				A.J.
		Robin, you can brief the press this 
		afternoon. As of today, the crime 
		bill's priority one on the President's 
		domestic agenda.

				ROBIN
		Got it.

				A.J.
		Leon, you're gonna run the war room. 
		We're gonna need detailed projections 
		for all the target districts by the 
		end of the week. And, Leon, don't be 
		a nice, sweet guy from Brooklyn. Do 
		what the N.R.A. does.

				KODAK
		Scare the shit out of 'em?

				A.J.
		Yeah.

				KODAK
		I can do that.

				A.J.
		Lewis, we want you to be legislative 
		liaison on this. You're gonna run 
		the show on the hill.

				LEWIS
		Can I just say, to return to the 
		subject for one moment, that it might 
		be easier to fight a war on drugs if 
		we weren't arming drug dealers.

	SHEPHERD responds a little too quickly -- we see a spark of a 
	temper.

				SHEPHERD
		Lewis, we've gotta fight the fights 
		we can win.

				LEWIS
		Yes, sir.

				A.J.
		We want to announce the crime bill at 
		the State of the Union, which is 72 
		days from today. The last nose count 
		put us 18 votes short.

				SHEPHERD
		Eighteen votes in 72 days. Thank you, 
		everyone. Janie, what's next?

				A.J.
		Thank you, Mr. President.

	The meeting's over. LEWIS, ROBIN, and KODAK say their "Thank 
	you, Mr. President"'s as they exit.

				JANIE
		Security briefing, sir.

                                                            CUT TO:

	EXT. THE WASHINGTON BUSINESS DISTRICT - DAY

	It's around 10 o'clock the same morning as the capital district, 
	in its own way, is showing signs of the approaching Thanksgiving 
	and Christmas holidays.

	EXT. A CHROME AND GLASS BUILDING - DAY

	On the seventh floor of the building. A RECEPTIONIST tells us 
	where we are by answering the phone--

				RECEPTIONIST (V.O.)
		Global Defense Council...

				SUSAN (V.O.)
		You wanted to see me?

				LEO (V.O.)
		I just got off the phone with A.J. 
		MacInerney.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. LEO SOLOMON'S OFFICE - DAY

	LEO, a white-haired man in his early 60's is meeting with 
	SUSAN SLOAN, a 40'ish lawyer who seems to go out of her way 
	to create an issue where none exists.

				SUSAN
		Did the President read the letter?

				LEO
		The President's pissed as hell, 
		Susan. That letter was a stupid move.

				SUSAN
		It was aggressive, and we should 
		stand by every--

				LEO
		This isn't the guy who needed us four 
		years ago, Susan. He's incredibly 
		popular. He's gonna win re-election 
		in a walk, and he could give a shit 
		what we stand by! If the President 
		passes the most important piece of 
		environmental legislation in history, 
		and does it despite our negative 
		endorsement, our political weight in 
		the future will rank somewhere below 
		the Save the Spotted Owl Society.
			   (beat)
		I'm bringing in some help.

				SUSAN
		We don't need another environmental 
		expert to confirm what every other 
		environmental expert--

				LEO
		Not an environmental expert, a 
		professional political strategist. 
		We're playing hardball with Andrew 
		Shepherd, and we need a heavy bat.

				SUSAN
		Who?

				LEO
		Sydney Ellen Wade.

				SUSAN
		Oh Christ. That woman doesn't know 
		the first thing about the 
		environmental lobby.

				LEO
		She's a closer, Susan. She gets the 
		job done.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	SHEPHERD and LEWIS -- working on a speech.

				SHEPHERD
		Try it like this and lose that.

				ROBIN
			   (entering)
		David Sasser from the Times called 
		and wanted to know what the White 
		House felt was a great society.

				LEWIS
		What did you tell him?

				ROBIN
		I told him I couldn't speak for the 
		President, but for my money: Bermuda.

				SHEPHERD
		Perfect.

	JANIE steps in--

				JANIE
		Mr. President, your cousin Judith's 
		come down with the flu and won't be 
		able to join you Thursday night.

				SHEPHERD
		That's too bad. Remind me to give 
		her a call later.

				JANIE
		Yes, sir.

				ROBIN
		You gonna go stag?

				SHEPHERD
		That's not a problem.

				ROBIN
		No. We've never gone wrong parading 
		you around as the lonely widower.

	The words came out casually, but they instantly freeze everyone.

				ROBIN
			   (continuing)
		My God.
		          (beat)
		I can't believe I said that.
			   (beat)
		Mr. President, that was an incredibly 
		thoughtless remark. I would never 
		dream of insulting you or the memory 
		of your wife.

				SHEPHERD
		That's okay, forget it.
			    (to JANIE)
		What time is it?

				JANIE
		It's 3:45, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		I'm gonna go over and say hi to Lucy.

				JANIE
		You have the Attorney General at 4:00 
		and the trade representative at 4:30. 
		Somewhere in there you promised NPR 
		five minutes.

				ROBIN
		Mr. President--

				SHEPHERD
		Robin, don't worry about it.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. THE RESIDENCE - DAY

	We HEAR the sound of a TROMBONE being played--not well--from 
	one of the rooms. SHEPHERD comes around and down the corridor.

	He walks into--

	INT. LUCY'S ROOM - DAY

	LUCY, Shepherd's 12-year-old daughter, stops playing.

				SHEPHERD
		No, keep going. I liked what you 
		were playing? What's it called?

				LUCY
		Scales.

				SHEPHERD
		Well... you play it with gusto!

				LUCY
		Are my lips swollen?

				SHEPHERD
		Are they supposed to be?

				LUCY
		Yeah.

				SHEPHERD
		Then you're doing fine.

				LUCY
		Whatcha got behind your back?

				SHEPHERD
		A little gift.

				LUCY
		Is it a dirt bike?

				SHEPHERD
		Nope.

	He hands her an old textbook ...

				LUCY
		Is it a really old seventh-grade 
		textbook of yours that you're gonna 
		make me read cover to cover and 
		discuss at dinner and drive me crazy 
		with?

				SHEPHERD
		I'm not comfortable with the "really 
		old" part, but everything else you 
		said was true.

				LUCY
			   (reading the cover)
		"Understanding the Constitution."

				SHEPHERD
		Your social studies teacher said your 
		class would be starting on the 
		Constitution this week.

				LUCY
		You talked to Mr. Linder?

				SHEPHERD
		Yes. It's called a Parent-Teacher 
		Conference. Mr. Linder and I were 
		the key player in that discussion. 
		Why don't you like social studies, 
		Luce?

				LUCY
		I like it fine, Dad.

				SHEPHERD
		All your other teachers say you're 
		happy, you're enthusiastic, you've 
		always got your hand up...Mr. Linder 
		says you don't participate unless he 
		calls on you, and even then it's a 
		one-word answer.

				LUCY
		I don't know what to say, Dad. I 
		guess I'm just not...I don't know.

				SHEPHERD
		Luce, take a look at this book. This 
		is exciting stuff. It's about who we 
		are and what we want. Read what it 
		says on the first page.

				LUCY
			   (reading)
		"Property of Gilmore Junior High 
		School."

				SHEPHERD
		The next page.

				LUCY
			   (reading)
		"We, the People, of the United States, 
		in order to form a more perfect union..."

				SHEPHERD
		See? Grabs you right off the bat. 
		It's a page-turner.

				LUCY
		I can't wait.

				SHEPHERD
		Good, 'cause it's possible the subject 
		might come up at dinner tonight.

				LUCY
		Do you see it as part of your job to 
		torture me?

				SHEPHERD
		No, it's just one of the perks. See 
		you tonight.

	He gives her a kiss on the head and heads out the door. 
	Behind him, he hears Lucy's rendition of "Hail to the Chief." 
	SHEPHERD shoots her a look as we

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. CABINET ROOM - NIGHT

	Where SHEPHERD is finishing a meeting with the DEFENSE 
	SECRETARY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS and a NATIONAL 
	SECURITY ADVISOR, each of whom is accompanied by at least one 
	DEPUTY or AIDE. A.J. is also present.

				DEFENSE SECRETARY
		The C-STAD hardware's been in place 
		for a month. We've got 22 instructors 
		from the Army Air Defense School waiting 
		to go down and train the Israelis.

				A.J.
		How soon can you deploy them?

				CHAIRMAN
		We can airlift 'em in the morning. 
		They'll have C-STAD operational in 20 
		days.

				A.J.
		Any security concerns?

				SECURITY ADVISOR
		If anybody wanted to hit it, they'd 
		have hit it by now.

				SHEPHERD
		Okay. Let's move on it. Thank you, 
		gentlemen.

	SHEPHERD and A.J. leave the Cabinet Room amidst a volley of 
	"good-bye" 's and "Thank you, Mr. President"'s.

	They pass MRS. CHAPIL and JANIE.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Have a good evening, Mrs. Chapil.

				MRS. CHAPIL
		You too, Mr. President.

	SHEPHERD starts his walk from the West Wing back to the 
	residence.

	It is the exact reverse of the path he took to the OVAL OFFICE 
	in the morning.

				SHEPHERD
		I'll see you in the morning, Janie.

				JANIE
		You will, Mr. President.

	A SECRET SERVICE AGENT follows at a distance.

				AGENT #2
			   (sotto)
		Liberty is moving.

				A.J.
		Leo Solomon brought in a hired gun 
		at the GDC.

				SHEPHERD
		It's about time.

				A.J.
		She's a lawyer from Virginia named 
		Sydney Ellen Wade. I know this woman 
		well. She's had a lot of success 
		getting congressmen elected.

				SHEPHERD
		Maybe we should try to steal her. 
		Ten percent, A.J. Don't let them 
		leave the room till they're clear 
		about that.

				A.J.
		You know, if you've got a free second, 
		maybe you could stop in and say hello. 
		It might smooth the way.

				SHEPHERD
		Mention it to Janie.
		
				A.J.
		Good.

				SHEPHERD
		Then let's clear this off the table 
		and get everybody focused on the 
		crime bill. I don't want to win 
		this. I want to win it by a couple of 
		touchdowns.

				A.J.
		We will, Mr. President.
		
		              SHEPHERD
		Good.

	A.J. starts to leave. SHEPHERD stops him.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		A.J.?

				A.J.
		Yes?

				SHEPHERD
		Listen, Robin said something to me 
		today that I'm sure she wouldn't have 
		said it if...I mean, she wasn't saying 
		it to me, I realize...
			   (beat)
		Ah, never mind. Have a good night.

				A.J.
		Good night, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		A.J., when we're out of the office 
		and we're alone, you can call me Andy.

				A.J.
		I beg your pardon?

				SHEPHERD
		I mean you were the best man at my 
		wedding, for crying out loud. Call 
		me Andy.

				A.J.
			   (laughing off the 
			    suggestion)
		Whatever you say, Mr. President.
		
	They have reached the south entrance to the White House.

				A.J.
			   (continuing)
		Have a good night, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		Good night, A.J.

	SHEPHERD enters the White House.

                                                            CUT TO:

	EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

	EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - DAY

	It's early morning of the following day, and the grounds 
	outside are in full swing.

	EXT. THE NORTHWEST EXECUTIVE ENTRANCE - DAY

	In front of the guardhouse, Susan and her new colleague, 
	SYDNEY ELLEN WADE, are being cleared.

				SYDNEY
			   (to the GUARD)
		Hi, my name's Sydney Ellen Wade.

				SUSAN
		He just needs your driver's license.

	SUSAN hands the guard her license.

				SYDNEY
			   (handing him her 
			    license)
		I'm from Virginia.

				SUSAN
		He doesn't care.

				SYDNEY
			   (to the GUARD)
		I'm here for a meeting with Mr. 
		MacInerney.

				SUSAN
		He doesn't need to know that.

	The GUARD BUZZES her through the gate.

				SYDNEY
			   (to the GUARD)
		Forgive me, this is my first time at 
		the White House. I'm trying to savor 
		the Capra-esque quality.

				SUSAN
		He doesn't know what Capra-esque 
		means.

				GUARD
			   (to SUSAN)
		Yeah, I do. Frank Capra, great 
		American director -- It's a Wonderful 
		Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
			   (handing SYDNEY and SUSAN 
			    their laminated passes)
		Sydney Ellen Wade of Virginia. Knock 
		'em dead.

				SYDNEY
		Thanks.

	SYDNEY and SUSAN begin to walk up the path toward the entrance 
	to the West Wing.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	A meeting with the EDUCATION SECRETARY, the HUD SECRETARY, 
	several AIDES and LEWIS is breaking up. SHEPHERD is ushering 
	people out.

				SHEPHERD
		The day the government starts 
		subsidizing private schools is the 
		day we give up on public education.

			EDUCATION SECRETARY
		I know the proposal only scratches 
		the surface, but it's the least we 
		can do.

				SHEPHERD
		We're already doing the least we can 
		do, but I can't think of anything 
		better, so we'll go with this for now.
			   (to HUD SECRETARY)
		Jerry, say hello to Linda for me. 
		And if I don't see you again, have a 
		good Thanksgiving.

				HUD SECRETARY
		Thank you, Mr. President.

	The room has cleared...JANIE is arranging new papers on the 
	President's desk.

				SHEPHERD
		How're we doing?

				JANIE
		You're running four minutes ahead of 
		schedule.

				SHEPHERD
		Ahead?

				JANIE
		Yes, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			   (exited)
		Janie, this is unprecedented. I don't 
		know what to do with myself.

				JANIE
		Mr. MacInerney asked me to remind you 
		to pop your head in on--

				SHEPHERD
		The GDC meeting. Right.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. A.J.'s OFFICE - DAY

				A.J.
		Your concerns are not falling on deaf 
		ears. The environmental lobby has 
		known no greater alley in the White 
		House than President Shepherd.

				SYDNEY
		Hardly an impressive distinction, A.J.

	SUSAN is trying to avert the inevitable--

				SUSAN
		Sydney, we should leave Mr. MacInerney 
		alone now. He's already given us more 
		time than--

				SYDNEY
		Susan, Mr. MacInerney doesn't want 
		us to leave, because Mr. MacInerney's 
		not yet done what he needs to do today.

				SUSAN
		Sir, Ms. Wade's been thrown into the 
		deep end of the pool on her first day. 
		She hasn't even had a chance to read 
		the report of the Quebec Conference.

	SYDNEY -- whose brain is telling her to slam on the brakes, 
	check her swing, smile and leave the building -- decides, 
	instead, to hit the gas and swing away. The OTHERS are watching 
	this as if they were watching the evolution of a train wreck.

				SYDNEY
		You're right. I haven't read it. If 
		someone had asked me yesterday, I'd 
		have told them the Quebec Conference 
		was made up of six professional hockey 
		teams. But what I do know is that it's 
		time for the President to run for 
		president again. Leon Kodak is as good 
		as it gets when it comes to electoral 
		strategy, and I'm certain he's told the 
		President exactly what I'd tell him: 
		Nail down Michigan and California, 
		where they make cars and airplanes -- 
		and burn plenty of fossil fuel. But if 
		I had read these eight hundred pages, 
		I would have discovered that it's the 
		burning of fossil fuels that's been 
		mostly responsible for global warming and 
		that the 20 percent reduction recommended 
		by the GDC is a necessary first step 
		toward arresting the catastrophic greenhouse 
		effect that has gone unchecked by this 
		administration...

				SUSAN
			   (to SYDNEY)
		It's really time to--

				SYDNEY
		Susan, I promise you, the White House 
		Chief of Staff will not let us leave 
		here until he's broken the bad news.

	No one in the room really understands what's going on...
	except A.J., who would like to take the time to admire 
	SYDNEY but, of course, can't.

				A.J.
			   (pause)
		I'm afraid Sydney's right. Although 
		not about Michigan and California. 
		The President has asked me to convey 
		to you that he's sending his energy 
		bill to the floor with a call for a 
		reduction of 10 percent.

	There's an uncomfortable silence in the room...

				A.J.
			   (continuing)
		The President is willing to go it 
		alone on this, but he's asking for, 
		and frankly he's expecting, the full 
		support of the GDC.

				SYDNEY
		The President's expecting our full 
		support?

				A.J.
		Yes, he is.

				SYDNEY
		The President's dreamin', A.J.

				SUSAN
		Sydney!
				SYDNEY
		--the President has critically 
		misjudged reality. If he honestly 
		thinks that the environmental 
		community is going to whistle a 
		happy tune while rallying support 
		around this pitifully lame mockery of 
		environmental leadership just because 
		he's a nice guy and he's done better 
		than his predecessors, then your boss 
		is the Chief Executive of Fantasyland.

				VOICE (O.S.)
		Let's take him out back and beat the 
		shit out of him.

	SYDNEY's blown out her speakers because she's turned in the 
	direction of the private office entrance to see, live and in 
	person, The President of the United States.

	She is frozen. Mortified. If she were capable of thought 
	process, she would be preying for something heavy to fall on 
	her head right now.

				A.J.
		Good morning, Mr. President. How are 
		you today?

				SHEPHERD
		Couldn't be better.
			   (to the GROUP)
		I apologize for the interruption, but 
		A.J. asked me to stop and say hello. 
		You wouldn't be Sydney Ellen Wade, by 
		any chance, would you?

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, I'm...don't know what 
		to say. I'm speechless.

				SHEPHERD
		All evidence to the contrary.

				SUSAN
		Mr. President, we haven't met. My 
		name is Susan Sloan. I used to work 
		with Congressman Myers. I hope this 
		episode in no way--

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney?

				SYDNEY
		Yes, sir?

				SHEPHERD
		You got a second?

				SYDNEY
			   (quietly)
		Of course.

	SYDNEY gets up to leave. SHEPHERD escorts her out of A.J.'s 
	office and into the hallway.

				SHEPHERD
		I thought maybe we might have a word 
		in private. Someplace a little less 
		intimidating.
			   (calling)
		Janie?

				JANIE
		Yes, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to SYDNEY)
		This is my personal assistant, Janie 
		Basdin. Janie, would you show Ms. 
		Wade into the rec room. I'll be there 
		in a second.

	SHEPHERD enters a doorway off of the hall. SYDNEY continues 
	down the hallway.

				JANIE
			   (to SYDNEY)
		This way...

	JANIE leads SYDNEY into...

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	...where SYDNEY just stands uncomfortably, not knowing 
	whether to sit or stand. Waiting. Trying -- the way a jumper 
	on a window ledge tries not to look down -- trying not to 
	notice things like the JFK Desk, the Seal of the President of 
	the United States, the bust of Lincoln...

	SHEPHERD strides in--

				SHEPHERD
		Sorry to keep you waiting.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President--

				SHEPHERD
		Is it okay if I call you Sydney?

				SYDNEY
		Of course. Mr. President--

				SHEPHERD
		Have you ever been in the Oval Office?

				SYDNEY
		I've just been on the regular tour. 
		It didn't include...

				SHEPHERD
		I hear it's pretty good.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, what you saw in there 
		was nothing more than vanity run amok. 
		I was showing off for a colleague who 
		doesn't think very much of me. It'd 
		be a real injustice for you to hold the 
		GDC accountable for my behavior today. 
		On top of which, I'm monumentally sorry 
		for having insulted you like that.

				SHEPHERD
		Are you under the impression that I'm 
		mad at you?

				SYDNEY
			   (pause)
		Well...

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney, seldom does a day go by that 
		I'm not burned in effigy.

				SYDNEY
		Not by a professional political 
		operative standing 30 feet from the 
		Oval Office.

				SHEPHERD
		No, I'll give you that.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President--

				SHEPHERD
		Did you know that when the City 
		Planners sat down to design 
		Washington, D.C., their intention was 
		to build a city that would intimidate 
		and humble foreign heads of state? 
		It's true.

				SYDNEY
		I didn't know that.

				SHEPHERD
		The White House has the single 
		greatest home court advantage in the 
		modern world.

				SYDNEY
		Learned that one the hard way.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney, this bill is important to me.

				SYDNEY
		Yes, sir, I'll convey your message.

				SHEPHERD
		But you don't believe me?

				SYDNEY
		The GDC is asking for 20 percent, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		It's not gonna pass at 20 percent. 
		It's a long shot at 10.

				SYDNEY
		How do you know that until you put 
		the full weight of the White House 
		behind--

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney, at 20 percent, we are 34 votes 
		shy in the House. It can't be done. 
		But I tell you what. I'll make you a 
		deal with you. If you can get 24 
		votes, I'll get you the last 10.

				SYDNEY
		Twenty-four votes?

				SHEPHERD
		If you can swing 24 votes by the 
		State of the Union, I'll promise you 
		full White House support.

				SYDNEY
		Do I have your word on that, sir?

				SHEPHERD
		Absolutely. Listen, are you hungry? 
		I skipped breakfast. You wanna have 
		some coffee? A donut or something?

				SYDNEY
		Sir, I'm a little intimidated by my 
		surroundings, and yes, I've gotten 
		off to a rocky and somewhat stilted 
		beginning, but don't let that 
		diminish the weight of my message: 
		The GDC has been at every president 
		for the last decade and a half that 
		global warming is a calamity, the 
		effects of which will be second only 
		to nuclear war. The best scientists 
		in the world have given you every 
		reason to take the GDC seriously. 
		But I'm gonna give you one more. If 
		you don't live up to the deal you 
		just made, come New Hampshire, we're 
		gonna go shopping for a new candidate.

	SYDNEY heads for the door--

				SHEPHERD
		You can't do that, Sydney.

				SYDNEY
		With all due respect, Mr. President, 
		who's gonna stop me?

				SHEPHERD
		Well, if you go through that door, 
		the United States Secret Service. 
		That's my private office.
			      (pointing)
               You need to go out that way.

				SYDNEY
			   (beat)
		Ah.

	SYDNEY, with as much dignity as she can muster, leaves the 
	Oval Office. SHEPHERD muses about what has just transpired.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. THE BILLIARD ROOM - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD has converted one of the rooms on the second floor 
	residence. His expert shot demonstrates that playing pool is 
	something he does almost as well as being President. A.J. 
	stands to the side with his pool cue.

				A.J.
		McSorley, McCluskey and Shane know 
		we're making our move on the crime 
		bill. They're circling the wagons on 
		the assault weapons.

				SHEPHERD
		Should I meet with them?

				A.J.
		Let Lewis take a pass at them first.

				SHEPHERD
		Fine. 2 in the side.

	SHEPHERD sends the two-ball flying into the corner pocket.

				A.J.
		Nice shot, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't 
		call me by my name when we're playing 
		pool.

               A.J. assesses the table.

				A.J.
		I will not do it playing pool, I will 
		not do it in a school, I do not like 
		green eggs and ham, I do not like 
		them Sam I am.


				SHEPHERD
		At ease, A.J., and get away from the 
		pocket. 9 in the corner.

	SHEPHERD makes the shot.

				A.J.
		Leo Solomon phoned. He said he was 
		thrilled with the deal you made this 
		morning.
		
	SHEPHERD lifts his cue for a moment...trying to think it 
	there was something he was supposed to tell A.J.

				SHEPHERD
		I forgot to tell you.

				A.J.
		It's a waste of time.

				SHEPHERD
		Not our time. GDC makes a big 
		push for the votes, and when they 
		come up short, we move in with the 
		softer bill, to get passed, we're 
		everybody's hero. 3 in the side.

				A.J.
		Also, Sydney Wade called.

	SHEPHERD, a hair too excited by this news, misses by a mile.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney Wade?

				A.J.
			   (beat)
		She wanted to apologize one more time 
		for her behavior. 3 in the side.

				SHEPHERD
		Did she say anything about me?

				A.J.
			   (beat)
		Sydney Wade?

				SHEPHERD
		When she called.

				A.J.
		Did she say anything about you? 
		13 in the corner.

				SHEPHERD
		No, it's just that we had a nice 
		couple of minutes together. She 
		threatened me and I patronized her 
		and we didn't have anything to eat, 
		but I thought there was a connection.

	A.J. is staring at him in disbelief.

				SHEPHERD
		She didn't say anything about me?

				A.J.
			(quietly)
		Well, no, but I could pass her a note 
		before study hall and--

				SHEPHERD
		Tell me this: Hypothetically, what 
		would happen--

				A.J.
		I feel a nightmare coming on. 1 in 
		the corner.
		
	He misses the shot.

				SHEPHERD
		--if I called Sydney and asked her 
		to be my date at the State Dinner 
		Thursday night?

				A.J.
		You're not serious.

				SHEPHERD
		Don't I sound serious?

				A.J.
		The President can't just go out on 
		a date.

				SHEPHERD
		Why not? Jefferson did. Wilson did.

				A.J.
		You're not--

				SHEPHERD
		Wilson was widowed during his first 
		term. He meets a woman named Edith 
		Gault. He dated her, courted her, 
		married her, and somewhere in there 
		managed to form the League of Nations.

				A.J.
		Mr. President, this is an election 
		year. If you're looking for female 
		companionship, we can make 
		arrangements that'll insure total 
		privacy and--

				SHEPHERD
		I don't want you to get me a girl, 
		A.J. What is this, Vegas?

				A.J.
		No, sir, this is the White House.

				SHEPHERD
		And I'm talking about something 
		that in no way is at conflict with 
		my oath of office. I'm a single 
		adult, and I met a woman that I'd 
		like to see again socially. How's 
		that different from what Wilson did?

				A.J.
		The difference is he didn't have to 
		be the president on television. 
		You've said it a million times: 
		If there were a television set in every 
		living room 60 years ago, this country 
		does not elect a man in a wheelchair.

				SHEPHERD
		What are you saying?

				A.J.
		We'll take a hit.

				SHEPHERD
		How big?

				A.J.
		I don't know. Five points. Maybe 
		more.

				SHEPHERD
		Five points we're standing here 
		talking about?!

				A.J.
		It could be more.

				SHEPHERD
		I drop five points when Wisconsin 
		doesn't make it to the Rose Bowl. 
		5 in the corner.

				A.J.
		Do you want me to have Kodak put 
		together some numbers so we know 
		what we're talking about?

				SHEPHERD
		Yeah.
			   (beat)
		No. No. I don't want to check a 
		polling sample to see if this is 
		okay, like I'm asking permission 
		to stay out an hour past curfew. 
		This isn't the business of the 
		American people.

				A.J.
		Mr. President, the American people 
		have a funny way of deciding on 
		their own what is and what is not 
		their business.

				SHEPHERD
		I like her, A.J.
			   (pause)
		Stop being my chief of staff for one 
		minute.

				A.J.
			   (beat)
		Give her a call.

				SHEPHERD
			   (calling out)
		Janie!
			   (to A.J.)
		She didn't say anything about me?

				A.J.
		She said you're taller than she 
		thought you'd be.

				SHEPHERD
		That's something.

	JANIE enters--

				JANIE
		Yes, sir?

				SHEPHERD
		I need you to track down a phone 
		number.

                                                            CUT TO:

	EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN GEORGETOWN - NIGHT

	Lined with red-brick, three-story walk-ups.
	
                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

	A few suitcases and two or three moving cartons serve as 
	evidence that SYDNEY's staying with her sister BETH 
	temporarily.

	BETH, still in hospital scrubs from a 12-hour shift, opens a 
	bottle of wine while SYDNEY, in a bathrobe and wet hair, 
	tries to get off the phone.

				SYDNEY
			   (into phone)
		Richard...Richard, it wasn't funny. 
		I acted like a college freshman at a 
		protest rally.

				BETH
		Tell him the part about walking out 
		the wrong door.

				SYDNEY
		Oh God, I forgot about that.
			   (back into phone)
		No, Richard...Richard, I don't want 
		to hear your Andrew Shepherd imitation...

				BETH
		I wanna hear it.

				SYDNEY
		I'm hanging up now, Richard...
		Tonight? I was gonna go to bed early 
		and wake up when there's a new 
		president.

	She hangs up.

				SYDNEY
			   (continuing)
		The President must think I'm a third-
		rate jerk.

				BETH
		If he thinks you're a jerk, I'm sure 
		he thinks you're a first-rate jerk.

				SYDNEY
		I'll tell you one thing, boy. I 
		regrouped, you gotta gimme that. 
		I pulled it together at the end. I 
		stood in the middle of the Oval 
		Office and I made it very clear that 
		from now on, he who doesn't take the 
		GDC seriously does so at his peril!

				BETH
		And then you walked out the wrong 
		door.

				SYDNEY
		Are you gonna be throwing that back 
		at me the rest of my life?

				BETH
		That's my current plan, yes.

	The TELEPHONE RINGS...

				SYDNEY
		That's gonna be Leo Solomon. He said 
		he'd call at nine.

	SYDNEY picks up the phone--

				SYDNEY
			   (continuing; 
			    into phone)
		Hello?

				SHEPHERD
		Uh, hi, is this Sydney?

	SYDNEY doesn't recognize the voice--

				SYDNEY
			   (into phone)
		Leo?

				PHONE VOICE
		No, this is Andrew Shepherd.

	SYDNEY looks at BETH and rolls her eyes, then explains to 
	her--

				SYDNEY
		Andrew Shepherd.
			   (back in the phone)
		You're hilarious, Richard. You're a 
		regular riot.

	And we CROSS-CUT between SYDNEY and SHEPHERD.

				SHEPHERD
		Uhh...this isn't Richard, it's Andrew 
		Shepherd.

				SYDNEY
		Oh, really. Well, I'm so glad you 
		called, because I forgot to tell 
		you today what a nice ass you have. 
		I'm also impressed that you were able 
		to get my phone number, considering 
		I don't have a phone. Good night, 
		Richard.

	SYDNEY hangs up the phone.

	INT. SHEPHERD'S PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

	as SHEPHERD, undaunted, dials the number again.

				SHEPHERD
			   (under his breath)
		This used to be easier.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

	as the PHONE RINGS.

				SYDNEY
		I don't believe this.

				BETH
		You want me to deal with him?

				SYDNEY
		No way. I may choke in front of 
		Shepherd, but Richard Reynolds I 
		can handle.

	She picks up the phone.

				SYDNEY
			   (continuing)
		Hello?

	And we begin CROSS-CUTTING again between the two.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney?

				SYDNEY
		Are you learning-impaired?!

				SHEPHERD
		Listen, do me a favor. Hang up the 
		phone.

				SYDNEY
			   (beat)
		What?

				SHEPHERD
		Hang up the phone. Then dial 456-1414. 
		When you get the White House operator, 
		give her your name and tell her you 
		want to speak to the President.

	SHEPHERD hangs up.

	                                                  CUT TO:

	INT. BETH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

	SYDNEY's still holding the phone and seems a little 
	confused...an emotion which is about to be replaced by horror 
	as the unbelievable into the reality.

				SYDNEY
			   (to herself)
		This isn't happening to me.

	She dials.

				BETH
		What's going on?

				SYDNEY
			   (to herself)
		It's not possible I did this twice in 
		one day.

	The OPERATOR answers.

				OPERATOR
			   (filtered)
		Good evening, the White House.

	SYDNEY swallows.

				OPERATOR
			   (continuing; filtered)
		Hello?

				SYDNEY
			      (quietly)
		My name's Sydney Ellen Wade. I'd 
		like to--

				OPERATOR (O.S.)
			   (filtered)
		The President's expecting your call, 
		ma'am. I'll put you right through.

                                                            CUT TO:

	INT. SHEPHERD'S PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

	He's just opened a bottle of beer when the phone rings. 
	He picks up the phone--

				SHEPHERD
		Hello.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, I'm sure there's an 
		appropriate thing to say at this 
		moment. Probably some formal apology 
		for the nice-ass remark would be in 
		order. I just don't quite know how 
		to word it.

				SHEPHERD
		It's my fault. I shouldn't have 
		called you at home. Should I call 
		you at the office tomorrow?

				SYDNEY
		No, sir, of course not. I mean -- 
		yes, you can call me anytime you want 
		-- this is fine. Right now is fine. 
		When I said "of course not," I meat 
		that...You know what? The hell with it 
		-- I'm moving to another country.

				SHEPHERD
			   (smiling)
		What did you mean when you said you 
		don't have a phone.

				SYDNEY
		I just moved to Washington over the 
		weekend, and my apartment isn't ready 
		yet. This is my sister's apartment. 
		Come to think of it, how did you get 
		this number?

				SHEPHERD
			   (beat)
		How did I get the number. That's a 
		reasonable question. I don't know. 
		Probably the FBI.

				SYDNEY
			   (trying to pretend 
			    it's just another 
			guy on the phone)
		The FBI. Sure. 'Cause i-if you want 
		to find someone and you're the 
		president, that's who you would call.

				SHEPHERD
		You know who else is good at that?

				SYDNEY
		The C.I.A.?

				SHEPHERD
		Well, yeah, but I was thinking of the 
		Internal Revenue Service. They have 
		computer files that...Well...I should 
		stop stalling. As I'm sure you know, 
		the French have elected themselves a 
		new president, and we're having a formal 
		state dinner at the White House, and I 
		was wondering -- and you're under no 
		obligation at all -- but I thought it 
		might be fun... I was wondering if you 
		maybe wanted to go...with me, and uh...
		there it is. That's why I was calling.

	There's a long silence on the phone.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Sydney? Sydney, Congress doesn't 
		take this long to--

				SYDNEY
		The President has asked me to join 
		him in representing our country. 
		I'm honored. I'm equal to the task. 
		And I won't let you down, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			   (beat)
		Sydney, this is just a dinner. We're 
		not gonna be doing espionage or 
		anything.

				SYDNEY
		No. Of course. I'm a little...uh...what 
		do I do? I, I mean, where do I go? 
		Should I meet you? Will you...

				SHEPHERD
		I'm gonna have a very nice woman 
		named Marsha Bridgeport call you. 
		She's the White House Social Director, 
		and she'll help you with anything you 
		want. Now when she calls you and tells 
		you her name is Marsha Bridgeport, 
		it'll help if you give her the 
		benefit of the doubt.

				SYDNEY
		Of course.

				SHEPHERD
		I'll see you Thursday night.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, thank you for asking 
		me. Really. This is a first for me.

				SHEPHERD
		Me too.

	They hang up.

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

	EXT. OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

	INT. THE CRIME BILL WAR ROOM - DAY

	A large conference room at OEOB has been converted for the 
	use of a half-dozen STAFFERS as well as ten or twelve 
	interns, some of them high school age. A sign on a 
	corkboard reads, "17 Votes in 69 Days."

	The two numbers are written on two separate pads of paper so 
	that the top sheets can be torn off to reveal the following 
	numbers in descending order.

	There is also a bulletin board that lists every member of the 
	House of Representatives and is divided up into five columns: 
	FOR, LEANING TOWARDS, UNDECIDED, LEANING AGAINST, and AGAINST.

				KODAK
		Who's on Indiana?
			   (raising his voice)
		Excuse me. New people, I can't 
		remember your names. Raise your 
		hand if you're on Indiana.

	Two INTERNS raise their hands--

				KODAK
			   (continuing)
		Put your hands down -- you're on 
		Illinois.

	LEWIS comes in.

				LEWIS
		We've got Jarrett.

				KODAK
		What?

				LEWIS
		George Jarrett. He's ours. Solid 
		"yes."

				KODAK
		I don't believe it.
			   (to an INTERN)
		You. New guy. "Jarrett, Democrat, 
		Minnesota." Slide his name on over 
		to "for."
			   (to Lewis)
		We just had his name laminated under 
		"Undecided." How'd you get the fence 
		pole out of his butt?

				LEWIS
		I wish I could take credit. He just 
		said, "Lewis, I support the President 
		a hundred percent ." Not the bill, 
		the President.

				LEWIS
		We're gonna win this in a walk. It's 
		like a kissing booth at a carnival. 
		Give us a vote, get a photo-op with 
		number 63.

	LEWIS reaches to the tote board and pulls the "17" off, 
	revealing "16."

				LEWIS
		We should have gone after the 
		handguns.

				KODAK
		We gotta do one thing at a time.

				LEWIS
		We don't have time to do one thing at 
		a time.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. FOSSIL FUEL WAR ROOM - DAY

	A GDC conference room that SYDNEY, her assistant, DAVID, and 
	two INTERNS have made into their 72-day headquarters. A 
	similar tote board reads "23 Votes in 69 Days."

	The two interns are marking spreadsheets. DAVID is on one 
	phone, SYDNEY is on another.

				DAVID
			   (into phone)
		Carol, it's David in Sydney Wade's 
		office. I want to confirm her lunch 
		with the Congressman.

				SYDNEY
			   (into phone)
		We could do with a little party 
		leadership, Mike. Is the Majority 
		Whip takin' a break? Congress is in 
		session, right, I'm not wrong about 
		that?

	LISA, another intern, is hanging up a phone in the background 
	and crossing to the corkboard.

				LISA
		I just got off with Luther Simons. 
		Brock's on board.

				SYDNEY
		Terrific!

	She rips the "23" off, making it "22." SYDNEY reaches for 
	her coffee and knocks over a cup of pencils. In righting the 
	pencils, she knocks over her coffee.

				DAVID
		You're awfully jumpy today. What do 
		you have -- a big date tonight?
		
	With that, a big pile of papers is sent flying off the desk.

	                                                  CUT TO:

	INT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

	It's a beautiful night. The White House, lit up and shimmering 
	in its golden glow, would appear now to be exactly what the 
	poet was looking at when he described The Shining City on a 
	Hill.

	Limousines, several of which fly the flag of foreign 
	diplomats, pull up one by one, their doors opened by white-
	gloved MARINES.

	White lights from television cameras mix with the fireworks 
	of flashbulbs from the print media.

	INT. THE WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

	The GUESTS -- of whom there are a couple hundred -- in black tie 
	and evening gowns, are entering the receiving area.

	All this happening, of course, under the eye of the SECRET 
	SERVICE AGENTS, both American and French, who are 
	strategically placed throughout.

	The light from a TV camera comes on as a reporter begins a 
	quick stand-up interview with ROBERT RUMSON, a handsome man 
	in his late forties.

				REPORTER (LLOYD)
			   (to the camera)
		I'm standing here with Senate 
		Minority Leader Robert Rumson, just 
		one of the many guests arriving at 
		what, for a few hours at least, is a 
		non-partisan White House. Senator, 
		the latest public opinion survey 
		shows the President with approval 
		ratings that would make him all but 
		unbeatable, come next November. Is 
		there a Republican who can mount a 
		serious challenge, and are you that 
		candidate?

				RUMSON
		Lloyd, it's a long time till next 
		November. Right now, I'm just 
		looking forward to a pleasant evening.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. SHEPHERD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

	Lucy is standing behind her father, tying his bow tie.

				SHEPHERD
		That's a little tight, Luce.

				LUCY
		It's supposed to be tight. It's 
		supposed to make you look regal.

				SHEPHERD
		Is it supposed to cut off the blood 
		flow to my face?

				LUCY
		All done.

	He looks in the mirror.

				SHEPHERD
		Not bad. Where did you learn how to 
		do this?

				LUCY
		Social studies.

				SHEPHERD
		Very funny.
			       (smiles)
		Really, where did you learn?

				LUCY
		I don't know...I just guess...

				SHEPHERD
		Sweetie, did Mom teach you how to do 
		this?

				LUCY
		Yeah.

				SHEPHERD
			       (pause)
		Lucy, is this okay with you? My 
		having dinner with a woman?

				LUCY
		It's totally okay.

				SHEPHERD
		Are you sure? Because if you want to 
		talk about it...

				LUCY
		Dad, it's cool. Go for it.

				SHEPHERD
		You know, I'm a little nervous.

				LUCY
		You'll be fine. Just be yourself.

				SHEPHERD
		Be myself.

				LUCY
		And compliment her shoes.

				SHEPHERD
		Her shoes?

				LUCY
		Girls like that.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. EAST WING ENTRANCE - NIGHT

	Dressed in formal, but not festive, clothes and holding, as 
	always, her notepad, JANIE waits by the door.
	
	A SECRET SERVICE AGENT sits alone behind a small desk.

	The door opens and SYDNEY walks in. She's, needless to say, 
	stunning.

				JANIE
		Miss Wade? The President wants you 
		to join him upstairs in the 
		residence. May I show you the way?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. SITTING HALL/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

	This formal reception area is filled with special GUESTS. As 
	SYDNEY walks in, A.J. goes to her immediately.

				A.J.
		Sydney, come on in. You look 
		beautiful.

				SYDNEY
		Thank you. I have no idea what I'm 
		doing here.

				A.J.
		I promise you there's no hidden 
		agenda.
		
	SHEPHERD approaches SYDNEY.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney. Andrew Shepherd. We spoke on 
		the phone.

				SYDNEY
		Yes, sir. I remember.

	ESTHER, MACINERNERY, A.J.'S wife, joins them.
               
				A.J.
		You know my wife, Esther.

				SYDNEY
		Sure. It's nice to see you again.

				ESTHER
			   (affectionately)
		Sydney, the President told me about 
		how you two met. I think it's 
		priceless.

				SYDNEY
		I don't know what happened. One 
		minute I was calling him a mockery of 
		an environmental leader. The next 
		minute I had a date.

				ESTHER
		Men like being insulted by women. 
		It makes them feel loved. Don't ask 
		me why.

				A.J.
		Sydney, when you meet the French 
		President, don't make him feel too 
		loved, all right? We just signed a 
		new trade agreement.
                              
				SYDNEY
		Got it.

	The French President, D'ASTIER, and his WIFE approach.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to D'Astier)
		Mr. President, would allow me to 
		introduce Sydney Ellen Wade of the 
		Commonwealth of Virginia. Sydney, 
		this is President Rene-Jean D'Astier 
		and his wife Monique Danielle 
		D'Astier of France.

				SYDNEY
		An honor to meet you both.

				JANIE
		Mr. President, I'm sorry to 
		interrupt. The receiving line is in 
		place.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney, it sounds like our table's 
		ready.

	SHEPHERD's guests make their way out of the residence, 
	leaving SHEPHERD with SYDNEY and the FRENCH PRESIDENT and 
	MDME. D'ASTIER.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. STAIRCASE - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD and SYDNEY are walking down the staircase that leads 
	to the red-carpeted hall through which the President enters 
	the East Room.

	The GROUP escorting the President gives them wide berth so 
	that the two of them can have some privacy.

				SHEPHERD
		Once we hit the bottom of the 
		stairs, I gotta do a thing. 
		You'll be escorted...

				SYDNEY
		They took me through it.

	After a slight pause--
				SYDNEY
			   (continuing)
		Do you do this often, sir?

				SHEPHERD
			   (beat)
		This is, actually, only our second 
		State Dinner. The first was for the 
		Emperor of Japan, who died shortly 
		after that, so we stopped having them 
		for a while, just in case.

				SYDNEY
		I meant do you go out on...do you--
		often--do you--

				SHEPHERD
		Do I date a lot?

				SYDNEY
		Well, yeah.

				SHEPHERD
		No. How 'bout you?

				SYDNEY
		Me? Lately, I seem to be going out 
		on a lot of first dates.

				SHEPHERD
		Then you're experienced at this.

				SYDNEY
		Oh yeah, you can ask me anything.

				SHEPHERD
		How are we doing so far?

				SYDNEY
		It's hard to say at this point. So 
		far it's just your typical first date 
		stuff.

	And all of a sudden an INCREDIBLE SOUND from inside the East 
	Room--

	--The Marine Corps Brass and Percussion Ensemble plays four 
	ruffles and flourishes.

				SHEPHERD
		Damn. And I wanted to find a way to 
		be different from the other guys.

	A BOOMING VOICE over the P.A. announces--

				VOICE (O.S.)
		Ladies and gentlemen, the President 
		of the United States.

	And now -- the whole walk timing out with incredible precision --

				SHEPHERD
		By the way, nice shoes.

	--SHEPHERD walks into the hall as the Brass and Percussion 
	Ensemble plays HAIL TO THE CHIEF.

	The 180 GUESTS come to their feet and applaud long and loud.

	The GROUP following the President catches up to the spot 
	where SYDNEY has stopped walking. They all join in the 
	applause. We can see in SYDNEY's face that she's been quite 
	swept up.

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

	INT. EAST ROOM - NIGHT

	The room is beautifully appointed, with the Marine Corps 
	Dance Band playing dinner music -- and the SECRET SERVICE 
	strategically positioned.

                                                            CUT TO:

	AT SHEPHERD'S TABLE

	STEWARDS are clearing away the main course and refilling wine 
	glasses.

	In addition to the two main couples, and ESTHER MacINERNEY 
	and TWO OTHER COUPLES are seated at the President's table.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, the President and Mrs. 
		D'Astier look bored. They're not 
		talking to anybody.

				SHEPHERD
		They're hammered. Esther, do you speak 
		French?

				ESTHER
		Latin.

				SHEPHERD
		I thought you spoke French.

				ESTHER
		No, Latin.

				SHEPHERD
		Great, next time Julius Caesar comes 
		to town, you're our gal. Sydney, I 
		don't suppose that you speak any--

				SYDNEY
		         (taking over-- 
		          to D'Astier)
		Monsieur le President, nous sommes 
		tous habilles, nous avons ce 
		merveilleux orchestre, une piece 
		magnifique...comment se fait-il que 
		les invites ne dansent pas?

				SHEPHERD
			   (proudly to A.J. and 
			    Esther)
		That's my date.

				D'ASTIER
		Je ne connais pas la tradition en 
		Amerique, mais dans mon pays, si les 
		invites de Louis XVI et Marie 
		Antoinette avaient ose danser devant 
		le roi et la reine, ils auraient 
		perdu la tete.

				SYDNEY
		Really?

				MADAME D'ASTIER
		Absolument.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney, you didn't dissolve the NATO 
		treaty, did you?

				SYDNEY
		I just said that we're sitting in this 
		beautiful room, listening to the music 
		of this wonderful orchestra, and I 
		wondered why nobody was dancing.

				D'ASTIER
		And I informed Ms. Wade that in my 
		country, a guest at the palace of 
		Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette would 
		soon find their head in a guillotine 
		if they made the impertinent gesture 
		of dancing without so much as a 
		by-your-leave from the King and the Queen.

				A.J.
		I'll bet no one accused Louis of 
		being soft on crime.

				SYDNEY
		There's a lesson there, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		More beheadings at the White House?

				A.J.
		Bob Rumson would embrace it.

				SHEPHERD
		I'm sure he would, but I have a 
		better idea.

	SHEPHERD stands, holds out his hand to SYDNEY.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Would you like to dance?

				SYDNEY
		Uh, yeah, I guess. I mean, yes, sir, 
		I'd love to.

	SHEPHERD and SYDNEY move to the dance floor, accompanied by 
	the appreciative "oooh's" and "ahh's" of the GUESTS.

	The dance band begins, and SYDNEY and SHEPHERD dance...

	...beautifully.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	THE GUESTS

	each and every one of them, have stopped all conversation and 
	are fixating on this captivating sight. As we go around the 
	room, we can observe the subtle reactions of, at first, 
	various anonymous GUESTS, then

	                                                     CUT TO:

	A.J. AND ESTHER MACINERNEY,

	holding hands smiling as they watch their old friend, and we

	                                                     CUT TO:

	RUMSON'S TABLE

	where the Minority Leader's game face can barely conceal the 
	gears that have slowly begun to turn in his head, as we

	                                                     CUT TO:

	SHEPHERD AND SYDNEY DANCING

				SYDNEY
		I don't know how you do it.

				SHEPHERD
		Arthur Murray. Six lessons.

				SYDNEY
		That's not what I mean. Two hundred 
		pairs of eyes are focused on you 
		right now, with two questions: 
		"Who's this girl, and why's our 
		president dancing with her?"

				SHEPHERD
		First of all, the 200 pairs of eyes 
		aren't focused on me. They're 
		focused on you. And the answers are 
		"Sydney Ellen Wade" and "Because she 
		said 'yes.'"

	LEWIS AND ROBIN

	looking on from the back of the room.

				LEWIS
		They make a nice couple.

				ROBIN
		Lovely.

				LEWIS
		We've got troubles.

				ROBIN
		Huge.

	As PEOPLE start onto dance floor, we

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. A BLACK LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

	as it pulls away from the White House and into the night. In 
	the back, SYDNEY slips a shoe off and rubs her foot.

	She smiles, then turns around to look out the back window as 
	the White House slips out of view.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

	SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY IN THE LIFE

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. OUTER OFFICE OF THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	MRS. CHAPIL and JANIE are at their respective desks as 
	SHEPHERD walks in.

				SHEPHERD
		Good morning, Mrs. Chapil.

				MRS. CHAPIL
		Good morning, Mr. President. Mr. 
		Rothschild and Miss McCall are in the 
		office, sir. They said they needed to 
		speak with you before scheduling.

				SHEPHERD
		Fine. Janie, can you get me the 
		number of a local florist?

				JANIE
		I'll take care of it, sir. Where do 
		you want them sent?

				SHEPHERD
		I want to do it myself. I just need 
		the phone number.

				JANIE
		I don't understand.

				SHEPHERD
		I want the phone number of a florist.

				JANIE
		You just want the phone number?

				SHEPHERD
		Yeah.

				JANIE
			   (beat)
		I don't understand, sir, is there--

				SHEPHERD
		I want to send some flowers, Janie. 
		I want to do it myself. I don't want 
		to staff it out, and I don't want to 
		issue an Executive Order. I just 
		want a phone number.

				JANIE
		I'll get it for you right away, sir.
		
				SHEPHERD
		Thank you.

	He heads into the office.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	where LEWIS and ROBIN are waiting anxiously.

				ROBIN
		Mr. President, we need five minutes 
		before scheduling if you can spare it.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to Robin)
		I just need two minutes to make a 
		call and I'll be right with you.

	JANIE enters and hands SHEPHERD a piece of paper.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Thank you, Janie.

	She exits.

				LEWIS
		Who are we calling, sir?

				SHEPHERD
		I'm calling the Organization of the 
		United Brotherhood of It's-None-of-
		Your-Damn-Business, Lewis. I'll be 
		with you in a minute.

				LEWIS
		Yes, sir.

	LEWIS and ROBIN exit the Oval Office. SHEPHERD picks up the 
	phone.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to the OPERATOR)
		Yeah, good morning. How do I get an 
		outside line? Really? That's simple. 
		Thank you.

	SHEPHERD dials the phone number JANIE's given him.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	LEWIS and ROBIN
	
	hovering near the outer office.

				LEWIS
		Janie?

				JANIE
		Yes?

				LEWIS
		What's the President doing?

				JANIE
		I'm sorry, I'm really not at liberty 
		to say.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	SHEPHERD ON THE PHONE

				SHEPHERD
			   (into phone)
		Tell me something. What is the state 
		flower of Virginia?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	THE OUTER OFFICE

				ROBIN
		Does this have something to do with 
		Sydney Wade?

				JANIE
		I'm really not at liberty to say.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

				SHEPHERD
			   (into phone)
		Is there someone else there who might 
		know?
			   (beat)
		No, I'm not trying to five you a hard 
		time, I was--hold on please.

	THE OUTER OFFICE

	SHEPHERD'S VOICE comes through on INTERCOM.

				SHEPHERD (O.S.)
			   (through intercom)
		Janie, what's the state flower of 
		Virginia?

				JANIE
			   (turning to MRS. 
			    CHAPIL)
		Mrs. Chapil. State flower of 
		Virginia.

				MRS. CHAPIL
		The dogwood.

                                                            CUT TO:

              SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

				JANIE (O.S.)
			   (through intercom)
		The dogwood, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to JANIE)
		Thank you.
			   (into phone)
		It's the dogwood.
			   (pause)
		What? Hold on please.
			   (to JANIE, through 
			    intercom)
		Janie, the dogwood is a tree, not a 
		flower.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	THE OUTER OFFICE

	LEON KODAK walks by.

				KODAK
		It's a tree and a flower.

				JANIE
		Are you sure?

				KODAK
		Yes. What's going on?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	OVAL OFFICE

				JANIE (O.S.)
			   (through intercom)
		Sir, it's a tree and a flower.

				SHEPHERD
			   (into phone)
		The dogwood is both a tree and a 
		flower. I'd like a dozen, please. 
		Really? No dogwoods? How 'bout 
		roses? Simple. Classic. Two dozen 
		roses.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	THE OUTER OFFICE

				LEWIS
		Janie, I'm the President senior 
		domestic policy advisor. It's 
		important that I have a full 
		understanding of--

				SHEPHERD (O.S.)
		Janie! Do you have any idea where 
		my credit cards might be?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	SHEPHERD AT HIS DESK

				JANIE
		They're in storage in Wisconsin with 
		the rest of your personal items.

				SHEPHERD
		Ah.
			   (into phone)
		Listen, what might be better is if 
		you just bill me for the flowers. 
		I'm sure it'll be okay with your 
		boss. Well, I don't know if you 
		recognize my voice, but this is the 
		President.
			   (beat)
		The United States.
			   (they've hung up)
		Hello, hello...

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. LEO SOLOMON'S OFFICE - DAY

	SYDNEY enters.

				SYDNEY
		Leo, you wanted to see me?

				LEO
		So there I was, thinking maybe I 
		should give Sydney a call. She's 
		new in town, doesn't know many 
		people...

	LEO produces a copy of the morning paper, which has a photo 
	of SHEPHERD and SYDNEY dancing.

				SYDNEY
		Leo--

				LEO
		Then I picked up the Times--

				SYDNEY
		It was crazy. He called me at home.

				LEO
		What's going on?

				SYDNEY
		Nothing. It was innocent. His 
		cousin got the flu at the last 
		minute.

				LEO
		Did you sleep with him?

				SYDNEY
		What?

				LEO
		Did you sleep--

				SYDNEY
		That's none of your business, Leo.

				LEO
		Yeah, it is, Sydney.

				SYDNEY
		You wanna tell me how my personal 
		life in any way--

				LEO
		Because when it's the President, it's 
		not personal. Sydney, I hired your 
		reputation. I hired a pit bull, not 
		a prom queen.

				SYDNEY
		That's unfair.

				LEO
		It's incredibly unfair. But you've 
		spent a lot of time over the year 
		telling me the trouble with the 
		environmental lobby is that we don't 
		understand the fundamental truth that 
		politics is perception. This is a 
		bad time to develop ignorance.

				SYDNEY
		You're making way too much of this.

				LEO
		Am I? This is your time, Sydney. 
		You're sitting at the grown-ups' 
		table. You have a chance to get 
		everything you want -- run a national 
		campaign, be a major player inside 
		the party. But this relationship had 
		better go all the way, because with 
		the leader of the free world there is 
		no halfway. Politics is perception, 
		and if thing don't work out, the 
		amount of time it'll take you to go 
		from being a hired gun to a cocktail 
		party joke can be clocked with an egg 
		timer.

	There's a quick knock at the door -- Leo's SECRETARY steps in 
	with a strange-looking package.

				SYDNEY
		Leo, there is no relationship. It 
		was one night. It's done.

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		Mr. Solomon, this was just delivered 
		by White House messenger. It's 
		marked "Perishable."

				LEO
		The White House has sent me something 
		perishable?

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		It's for Ms. Wade.

				LEO
		Here we go...

	SYDNEY begins unwrapping the package.

				SYDNEY
		Relax, Leo. I'm sure it's just a 
		formality.

				LEO'S SECRETARY
			   (exited)
		It's from him.

				LEO
		Of course it's from him. 

				SYDNEY
		So he had some staff flunky send 
		me a fruit basket.

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		He wrote the note himself.

				SYDNEY
		I'm sure he didn't take the time to--

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		The messenger said he was waiting in 
		the Oval Office for ten minutes while 
		the President wrote the card.

				SYDNEY
		Okay, listen, so he--
			   (to LEO'S SECRETARY)
		--it took him ten minutes to write a 
		card?!

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		Apparently he went through several 
		drafts.

	SYDNEY can't stifle her laugh -- she sees what the gift is.

				LEO
		What is it...what is it?

				SYDNEY
		A ham.

				LEO
			   (beat)
		A ham?

				SYDNEY
		He sent me a Virginia ham.

				LEO'S SECRETARY
		Dig it, Ms. Wade. You're the 
		President's girlfriend.

	SYDNEY's smile fades away...she looks at LEO.

				LEO
		There's never an egg timer around 
		when you need one.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	EXT. THE NORTHWEST EXECUTIVE ENTRANCE - DAY

	as the white-gloved MARINE snaps the door open for SYDNEY, 
	and we

	                                                  CUT TO:

	INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY

	SHEPHERD is conferring with LEWIS and ROBIN.

				ROBIN
		Sir, they're gonna be pressing today 
		about whether the White House is 
		prepared to soften the assault 
		weapons section of the crime bill.

				LEWIS
		There is no need to entertain that 
		at this point.

				ROBIN
		How do you want me to handle the 
		Sydney issue?

				SHEPHERD
		The Sydney issue?

				LEWIS
		We should have a consensus on how the 
		White House is going to handle it.

				SHEPHERD
		I sure hope the Sydney issue refers 
		in some way to a problem we're having 
		with Australia, because if it's 
		anything else...

	JANIE pokes her head in.

				JANIE
		Mr. President, Ms. Wade is here to 
		see you.

				SHEPHERD
		Tell her she can come right in. I'm 
		finished here.

				JANIE
		Yes, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			 (to LEWIS and ROBIN)
		There is no Sydney issue.

	SYDNEY enters, crossing paths with LEWIS and ROBIN. They 
	exchange pleasantries.

				SYDNEY
			   (to SHEPHERD)
		Thanks for seeing me on such short 
		notice.

				SHEPHERD
		No problem. Did you get the ham?

				SYDNEY
		I got the ham, yes. Thank you very 
		much.

				SHEPHERD
		I wanted to send you flowers, but 
		there seem to be some kinks in the 
		system. I'm really glad you stopped 
		by. I had such a good time last 
		night.

				SYDNEY
		So did I. It's just that...

	JANIE enters.

				JANIE
		They're 45 seconds away, sir.

	During the following, JANIE will go to the desk, pick up two 
	briefing books and stick them in a briefcase and gather up 
	his things -- all without interrupting the conversation a beat.

				SHEPHERD
		I'm delivering a luncheon speech at 
		the Governor's Conference this 
		morning. I'm sorry to--

				SYDNEY
		No, no, that's fine. I just stopped 
		by to...

				SHEPHERD
		Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?

				SYDNEY
		Dinner?

				SHEPHERD
		Casual. In the Residence. Without 
		the United Nations. My daughter'll 
		be with us, so it may seem like the 
		United--

				SYDNEY
		I'd love to meet Lucy, but...

	An AIDE has slipped in and hands SHEPHERD a note.

				SHEPHERD
			   (reading to himself 
			   as he talks SYDNEY)
		She's gonna like you.
			   (calling to the AIDE)
		Excuse me -- Jeff!

				SYDNEY
		Actually, I have some concerns that--

	The AIDE (JEFF) steps back in--

				JEFF
		Yes, sir.

				SHEPHERD
			   (reading the note)
		I can't do this.

				JEFF
		Which? Robbins or Stackhouse?

				SHEPHERD
		Either one. I have to be in and out.

				JEFF
		Sir, Governor Stackhouse said he just 
		needed 10 minutes. I think he wants 
		to talk about the assault weapons.

				SHEPHERD
		Stackhouse wants to talk about 
		grazing rights. Trust me.

				JEFF
		Got it.

	And he's gone.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to Sydney)
		Sorry. You have concerns.

				SYDNEY
		Yes. Not many. A few. One. I have 
		one concern.

				SHEPHERD
		Does it having anything to do with 
		one of us being the President?

				SYDNEY
		You like to make jokes about this, 
		but--

				SHEPHERD
		I am not mocking you, honest. I'm 
		just a guy asking a girl over for a 
		meal.

	And, as if from out of nowhere, a LOUD CLAAAMMERING, like the 
	sound of a jackhammer against cement, comes from somewhere 
	outside -- growing louder and closer --

				SYDNEY
		What's that?

				SHEPHERD
		My ride's here.

	And, sure enough, coming into view outside the windows of the 
	Oval Office, is MARINE-1, the President's helicopter. JANIE 
	comes back in and helps him on with his coat and scarf.

				SYDNEY
		Leo Solomon has serious concerns 
		about my exploring a social, you 
		know, scenario, with the President 
		of the United States.

				SHEPHERD
		Yeah, well, when you put it that 
		way, it doesn't sound that great 
		to me either.

				SYDNEY
		It's just not--

				SHEPHERD
		Have dinner with Lucy and me. It's 
		meat loaf night -- how presidential 
		can it be?

	As SHEPHERD rushes out...

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Seven-thirty.

	SYDNEY now stands alone in the OVAL OFFICE, trying to figure 
	out what just happened.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. WHITE HOUSE - SOUTH LAWN - DAY

	Marine 1 lifting off the south lawn. TILT DOWN off night sky 
	to reveal

	EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. SITTING HALL/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

	A room designed more for comfort than for show, with its 
	overstuffed couches.

	Lucy enters.

				LUCY
		Are you Ms. Wade?

				SYDNEY
			(standing up, smiling)
		Sydney.

				LUCY
		Lucy Shepherd.

				SYDNEY
		Nice to meet you.

				LUCY
		My dad told me to tell you he's on 
		the phone with his dentist and that 
		I should behave myself and entertain 
		you till he gets here.

				SYDNEY
		Your father's on the phone with his 
		dentist?

				LUCY
		No. He told me to tell you he's on 
		the phone with his dentist. He wants 
		you to think he's a regular guy.

				SYDNEY
		Who is he on the phone with?

				LUCY
		The Prime Minister of Israel.

				SYDNEY
		They're probably not discussing his 
		teeth.

				LUCY
		No. They're talking about that 
		abbreviation I can never remember.

				SYDNEY
		C-STAD?

				LUCY
		Yeah.

				SYDNEY
		Capricorn Surface To Air Defense.

				LUCY
		Right.

	SHEPHERD enters.

				SHEPHERD
		Let meat loaf night begin.

				SYDNEY
		Everything all right with your teeth?

				SHEPHERD
		My teeth?

				SYDNEY
		The dentist.

				SHEPHERD
		Oh, right. I've got a cavity in my 
		upper bicuspid region.

				SYDNEY
		You've got a short-range weapons 
		system outside Tel Aviv.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to LUCY)
		You turned on me.

				LUCY
		Can we eat?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. A POSE HOUSE IN CHEVY CHASE - NIGHT

	Two dozen limos and town cars line this suburban Maryland 
	street, their drivers waiting patiently.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE HOUSE IN CHEVY CHASE - NIGHT

	A cocktail party is underway. This is a fat cat fundraiser 
	for the Republicans.

				RUMSON (V.O.)
		You're over-thinking this.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE LIBRARY - NIGHT

	The look and feel of old money. Rumson is holding court with 
	a half-dozen political insiders. Some smoke cigars; others 
	sip their drinks.

				RUMSON
			   (continuing)
		Voters aren't interested in how to 
		achieve economic growth, and they 
		don't want to hear our plans to 
		strengthen foreign policy.

				STAFFER #1
		So it comes down to character.

				STAFFER #2
		The press like him, Senator. The 
		networks, the newspapers, they're--

				RUMSON
		Reporters like him. Networks and 
		newspapers like ratings and circulation. 
		For all the bitching we do about liberal 
		bias in the press when it comes down to 
		a character debate...

				STAFFER #3
		The press is an unwitting accomplice.

				CARL
		Bob, the character debate didn't work 
		out for us.

				RUMSON
		Because it couldn't. Our polling 
		told us that attacking his character 
		less than a year after he'd lost his 
		wife was gonna be a turn-off and was 
		gonna make people feel sorry for him. 
		We couldn't run the campaign we wanted 
		because the opponent was a widower.

				CARL
		He's still a widower. Time's passed, 
		but--

				RUMSON
			   (to the rest)
		You'll have to forgive my friend. 
		He's been on a hunting trip and cut 
		off from the world.

				CARL
		What's going on?

	And four STAFFERS grab whatever newspaper is closest to their 
	hand and toss them to CARL.

				RUMSON
		The President's got a girlfriend.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. PRIVATE OFFICE/THE RESIDENCE - NIGHT

	LUCY, SHEPHERD and SYDNEY are finishing up a game of Scrabble.

				SYDNEY
			   (to LUCY)
		Your dad says you're studying the 
		Constitutional Convention.

				SHEPHERD
		She's not having any fun, though.

				LUCY
		Dad--

				SYDNEY
		You're not having fun?

				LUCY
			   (to herself)
		This is a nightmare. This is a 
		social studies nightmare.

				SHEPHERD
		They're doing a mock Congress. Each 
		kid is playing one of the original 
		delegates, and they debate the 
		Amendments. Now what's not fun about 
		that?

	LUCY gets up from the table and kisses her father.

				LUCY
		G'night, Dad.

				SHEPHERD
		G'night, sweetheart.

				LUCY
		It was nice meeting you, Mrs.--

				SYDNEY
		Sydney.

				LUCY
		It was nice meeting you, Sydney.

				SYDNEY
		Thank you. It was nice meeting 
		you.

				SHEPHERD
		Sleep well, honey. I love you.

				LUCY
		I love you, too.

	LUCY leaves. SHEPHERD and SYDNEY are alone now.

				SYDNEY
		She's wonderful.

				SHEPHERD
		She's her mother.

				SYDNEY
		She's you.

	After a pause...

				SHEPHERD
		Would you like the 25-cent tour?

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE EAST WING - NIGHT

	This is the "museum" area of the White House, the part you 
	see when you take the official tour. Only a few lights are 
	lit, and while the SECRET SERVICE AGENTS give SHEPHERD plenty 
	of breathing room when he's in the residence, we'll still 
	catch a glimpse of one of them rounding a corner in the 
	distance or checking a doorway ahead.

				SYDNEY
		I thought C-STAD wasn't gonna be 
		operational until January.

				SHEPHERD
		It was ready ahead of schedule. 
		We've just been waiting for the 
		personnel.

				SYDNEY
		The Israelis?

				SHEPHERD
		No, our guys. We've sent a team of 
		Army instructors to train the 
		Israelis.

	SYDNEY and SHEPHERD enter the:

	INT. THE CHINA ROOM - NIGHT

	Named for its beautiful glass display cases featuring full 
	place settings of the official White House china and 
	silverware from every administration since Jackson.

				SHEPHERD:
			   (remembering)
		I think this is the dish room.

				SYDNEY
		It's not the dish--

				SHEPHERD
		Yeah, it is. It's the room with all 
		the dishes.

				SYDNEY
		It's the China Room.

				SHEPHERD
		I'm more of a West Wing President. 
		If you're curious about the mansion, 
		there's probably a book you can get--

				SYDNEY
		There're about seven-thousand books. 
		I'll get one for you.

	SYDNEY's been walking slowly around the room, looking at the 
	display cases, and as she gets near one of the large windows, 
	she takes another step which drapes her in a shaft of 
	incredibly flattering moonlight.

	The vision isn't lost on SHEPHERD. They stare at each other 
	for a moment.

				SHEPHERD
		Sydney.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President -- have you ever noticed 
		how similar the Van Buren flatware is 
		to the Buchanan flatware?

				SHEPHERD
		Do you think there will ever come a 
		time when you can stand in a room 
		with me and not think of me as the 
		President?

				SYDNEY
		This isn't a state of mind. You are 
		the President. And when I'm in a 
		room with you, oval or any other 
		shape, I'm always gonna be a 
		lobbyist, and you'll always be the 
		President.

				SHEPHERD
		I got news for you, Sydney. As a 
		lobbyist, you would never be alone in 
		a room with the President.

	This last statement is not lost on SYDNEY.

	He moves toward her until they are both bathed in the 
	moonlight. He puts his arms around her.

				SYDNEY
		You think this is a good idea?

				SHEPHERD
		Probably not.

	They lean in to kiss each other. They barely make contact 
	when...

				AGENT #3 (O.S.)
		Mr. President...

	An AGENT is standing in the doorway -- SHEPHERD and SYDNEY 
	break apart.

				AGENT #3
		We have a secure call from the sit-
		room.

	SHEPHERD knows what that means.

				SHEPHERD
		Excuse me.

	He moves out the door and into the corridor.

	SYDNEY, knowing something's wrong, instinctively moves to 
	follow him and be with him, but the AGENT hasn't moved from 
	the doorway, so--

				AGENT #3
		Sorry, ma'am.

				SYDNEY
			   (beat)
		No...of course.

	SHEPHERD comes back in.

				SHEPHERD
		Listen--

				SYDNEY
		Is anything wrong?

				SHEPHERD
		I'm sorry, we're going to have to cut 
		our evening short. The Libyans have 
		just bombed C-STAD. I'll try to call 
		you tomorrow.
			   (to the AGENT)
		Can you show Ms. Wade out.

	SHEPHERD exits.

	SYDNEY, alone for a second in the dish room, is finally 
	approached by a SECRET SERVICE AGENT, who starts to escort 
	her out.

				CHAIRMAN (V.O.)
		The response scenario's in place...

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD, A.J., the SECRETARY OF STATE, the SECRETARY OF 
	DEFENSE, and about a dozen or so Pentagon, Security Council, 
	and Joint Chiefs OFFICIALS are doing exactly what they're 
	trained for.

				CHAIRMAN
			   (continuing)
		...The F-18's are fired up on the 
		Kimitz and the Kitty Hawk. They're 
		just waiting for your attack order, 
		Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		And we're gonna hit Libyan 
		Intelligence Headquarters?

				MAN
		The N.S.A. confirmed they're the ones 
		who planned the bombing.

				A.J.
		What's the estimate?

				GENERAL
		We'll level the building.

				SHEPHERD
		Libyan I.H.Q's in the middle of 
		downtown Tripoli -- are we gonna hit 
		anything else?

				GENERAL
		Only if we miss.

				SHEPHERD
		Are we gonna miss?

				GENERAL
		No, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		How many people work in that building?

				CHAIRMAN
		We've been all through--

				SHEPHERD
		How many people work in the damn 
		building?

				DEPUTY
		I've got those number here. There 
		are three shifts, so it--

				SHEPHERD
		The fewest. What shift puts the 
		fewest people in the building? The 
		night shift, right?

				DEPUTY
		By far. Mostly custodial staff and 
		a few--

				SHEPHERD
		What time does the night crew go on?

				DEPUTY
		They're on now, sir.

				SHEPHERD
		A.J.?

				A.J.
		It's immediate, it's decisive, it's 
		low risk, and it's a proportional 
		response.

				SHEPHERD
		Someday somebody's going to have to 
		explain to me the virtue of a 
		proportional response.

	There's a SILENCE. SHEPHERD gets up and starts to head out 
	the door.

				CHAIRMAN
		Mr. President?

				SHEPHERD
		Attack.

	                                                     CUT TO:


	INT. OVAL OFFICE - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD is with A.J., LEWIS, ROBIN, KODAK and a couple of 
	AIDES, all of whom look as though they've been called out of 
	their homes in the middle of the night.

				A.J.
		Robin, as soon as our planes have 
		cleared Libyan airspace, you can call 
		the press. I don't know when we'll 
		have the full B.D.A.--

				LEWIS
		General Rork says around O-Eight 
		Hundred.

				ROBIN
		Sir, what do you think about a 
		national address?

				SHEPHERD
		The last thing I want to do is put 
		the Lybians center stage.

				KODAK
		I think it's a great idea, sir. You 
		know Rumson's gonna be talking about 
		your lack of military service.

				SHEPHERD
		This isn't about Rumson. What I did 
		tonight was not about political gain.

				KODAK
		But it can be, sir. What you did 
		tonight was very presidential.

				SHEPHERD
		Leon, somewhere in Libyan right now 
		there's a janitor working the night 
		shift at the Libyan Intelligence 
		Headquarters. He's going about his 
		job 'cause he has no idea that in 
		about an hour he's gonna die in a 
		massive explosion. He's just going 
		about his job 'cause he has no idea 
		that an hour ago I gave an order to 
		have him killed. You just saw me do 
		the least presidential thing I do.
		
				KODAK
		yes, sir.

				PRESS (V.O.)
		Mr. President...Mr. President!

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM - DAY

	SHEPHERD is at the podium taking questions. He's flanked by 
	his PENTAGON STAFF. A.J. and LEWIS stand to the side. ROBIN 
	stands out of the way.

				SALLY
		Is there anything at all about the 
		C-STAD weapons system that could have 
		been mistaken by Libyan Intelligence 
		as offensive rather than defensive?

				SHEPHERD
		No. We did everything but show them 
		the blueprints. The hardware was 
		sitting in a airplane hangar for a 
		month. They didn't hit it until the 
		American personnel got there. Leslie.

				LESLIE
		Sir, there's an unconfirmed report 
		that you were with Sydney Wade when 
		you learned of the attack. Can you 
		comment?

				A.J.
			   (sotto to ROBIN)
		Get him off.

				SHEPHERD
		Yes, we'd just finished dinner.

				ROBIN
		Last question.

				MARK
		Sir, would you care to comment on 
		the status of your relationship?

				SHEPHERD
		We don't have a relationship. We 
		just had dinner.

				CAROL
		Can you tell us if she spent the 
		night at the White House or did--

				SHEPHERD
		Folks, a lot of people got killed 
		last night. Let's try to keep our 
		eyes on the ball, okay?

	SHEPHERD is herded out of the briefing room amidst a chorus 
	of "Mr. President" 's.

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. THE WHITE HOUSE CORRIDOR - DAY

	SHEPHERD walks away from the briefing room with ROBIN. JANIE 
	joins him.

				ROBIN
		That was my fault, sir. We should 
		have prepped you for that.

				SHEPHERD
		There's nothing that needs prepping. 
		A.J., let's meet with the leadership 
		after we meet with the Security 
		Council.

				ROBIN
		"Newsweek" is begging for ten minutes 
		today. Any ten minutes you got.

				SHEPHERD
		Nobody gets ten minutes today.

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

	INT. SHEPHERD'S PRIVATE OFFICE - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD sits at his desk, is on the phone. A TELEVISION 
	NEWSCAST is doing a report on Congressional reaction to the 
	events of the day. ROB RUMSON is talking.

				SHEPHERD
		Lewis, tell the speaker to wait. 
		I want to talk to him. No, I'll be 
		right down.

				RUMSON
		...Last night, the price of his 
		liberal programs was raised to 
		include the blood of 22 American 
		soldiers.

	He hangs up. On the TV, we see a quick sound bite from RUMSON.

				RUMSON
		...Mr. Shepherd's read a lot of 
		books, but you didn't need a Harvard 
		degree to see this comin' a mile down 
		the road.

				SHEPHERD
		I went to Stanford, you blowhole.

				RUMSON
		The fat that our Commander-in-Chief 
		has not served one day in uniform--

	SHEPHERD clicks off the TV and then stares at

	A SLIP OF PAPER THAT SAYS "SYDNEY"

	                                                     CUT TO:

	EXT. SYDNEY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

				BETH (V.O.)
		This box just says "Miscellaneous." 
		Is this bedroom miscellaneous or 
		kitchen miscellaneous?

	INT. SYDNEY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

	SYDNEY and BETH have been getting SYDNEY moved in. BETH is 
	holding a carton.

				BETH
		Sydney?

				SYDNEY
		Why did I have to kiss him?

				BETH
		You kissed him?

				SYDNEY
		Yeah.

				BETH
		You didn't' tell me that.

				SYDNEY
		I kissed him.

				BETH
		Where?

				SYDNEY
		On the mouth.

				BETH
			   (exasperated)
		Where in the White House?!

				SYDNEY
		In the dish room.

				BETH
		The dish room?

				SYDNEY
		The China Room.

				BETH
		Then what happened?

				SYDNEY
		He had to go and attack Libya.

				BETH
		It's always something.

				SYDNEY
		I've gotta nip this in the bud. This 
		has catastrophe written all over it.

				BETH
		In what language?! Sydney, this man 
		is the leader of the free world. 
		He's brilliant, he's funny, he's 
		handsome, and he's an above-average 
		dancer. Isn't it possible our 
		standards are just a tad high?

	The PHONE RINGS--

	SYDNEY freezes.

	The PHONE RINGS again.

				BETH
			   (continuing)
		Answer the phone.

				SYDNEY
		It's him.

				BETH
		Answer the phone.

				SYDNEY
		He's gonna ask me to come over 
		there.

				BETH
		Answer the phone.

				SYDNEY
		I don't want to go over there.

				BETH
		Answer the phone.

				SYDNEY
		All right. But I'm gonna end it 
		on the phone. I'm not gonna go 
		over there.
                                                        CUT TO:

	INT. SHEPHERD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

	SHEPHERD opens his door, revealing SYDNEY. Agent COOPER is 
	letting her in.

				SYDNEY
		I just came over here to tell you 
		why I can't see you anymore.

				SHEPHERD
			   (to COOPER)
		Thanks, Coop.

	SHEPHERD closes the door.

				SYDNEY
		Look, I know you've had a tough 
		day.

				SHEPHERD
		Not as tough as some. You want a 
		drink? Lemme take your coat.

	But SYDNEY doesn't take her coat off.

				SYDNEY
		Mr. President, this isn't gonna work.

				SHEPHERD
		Sure it will. You button the top 
		button, and it doesn't fall off 
		the hanger.

				SYDNEY
		That's not what I...

				SHEPHERD
		I didn't think so. Listen...

				SYDNEY
		I've really enjoyed the time we've 
		spent together, but this has 
		catastrophe written all over it. 
		Please, Mr. President, don't pursue 
		me outside the political arena.

				SHEPHERD
		Well, I have no intention of pursuing 
		you inside the political arena, so 
		that leaves everything out, and 
		that's unacceptable to me.

				SYDNEY
		If I were on your staff, I would tell 
		you that the absolute worst thing you 
		can do coming into an election year 
		is to open yourself up to character 
		attacks, and the fastest way to do 
		that is to prance around like the 
		playboy of the Western world.

				SHEPHERD
		Let's clear up a couple of things. 
		Number 1: I seldom prance. 
		Number 2: I have no intention of 
		engaging in a character debate, and 
		Number 3: You're not on my staff.

				SYDNEY
		Yes, of course, but if you'll follow 
		the immutable--

				SHEPHERD
		Why is that, by the way?

				SYDNEY
		Why's that?

				SHEPHERD
		Why aren't you on my staff?

				SYDNEY
		You can't afford me.

				SHEPHERD
		How much do you make?

				SYDNEY
		More than you do, Mr. President.

				SHEPHERD
		The name's Andy. How much money do 
		you make?

				SYDNEY
		What the hell does it matter how 
		much money I--

				SHEPHERD
		You would raise your voice to the 
		President?

				SYDNEY
		I'm only thinking about the health 
		of your Presidency. You think this 
		morning's press conference was the 
		end of it? Bob Rumson's gotta be 
		drooling over this.

				SHEPHERD
		Are you attracted to me?

				SYDNEY
		I beg your pardon?

				SHEPHERD
		I asked if--

				SYDNEY
			    (of course she is)
		That's not the issue--

				SHEPHERD
		Well, I tell you what. Let's make 
		it the issue. Let's try something 
		new, 'cause I know that most couples, 
		when they're first getting together, 
		are inclined to slam on the brakes 
		because they're concerned about Bob 
		Rumson's drool.

				SYDNEY
		You're not most people.

				SHEPHERD
		You know what your problem is?

				SYDNEY
		What's my problem?

				SHEPHERD
		Sex and nervousness.

				SYDNEY
		Sex and nervousness is my problem.

				SHEPHERD
		Yes. Last night when we were 
		looking at the different place 
		settings in the dish room, I 
		realized that those place settings 
		were provided by the First Ladies. 
		And I'll bet none of those First 
		Ladies were nervous about having 
		sex with their President husbands. 
		And you know why?

				SYDNEY
		No, but I'm sure you'll explain it 
		to me.

				SHEPHERD
		I will. Because they weren't 
		presidents when they met them. Not 
		the case here.

				SYDNEY
		Ahhhhhh.

				SHEPHERD
		You see what I'm getting at?

				SYDNEY
		Yes. May I use your bathroom for a 
		moment?

				SHEPHERD
		Sure. It's right through there.

				SYDNEY
		I want to freshen up.

				SHEPHERD
		As you pass through, you'll see a 
		large closet on your left. And if 
		you feel comfortable, hang up your 
		coat, and when you come back I'll 
		have fixed up a drink, we'll sit on 
		the couch, and I will explain to 
		you my plan.

				SYDNEY
		You have a plan? Don't make me 
		wait. You're on a roll.

	SYDNEY disappears into the BATHROOM/DRESSING ROOM area. 
	SHEPHERD keeps talking as he goes to the bar and makes a 
	couple of drinks.

				SHEPHERD
			   (speaking up)
		Okay. You're attracted to me, but 
		the idea of physical intimacy is 
		uncomfortable because you only know 
		me as the President. It's not always 
		gonna be that way, and the reason I 
		know that is because there was a 
		moment last night when you were with 
		me and not the President, and I know 
		what a big step that was for you. 
		So, Sydney, I'm in no rush. Here's 
		my plan: We're gonna slow down. 
		When you're comfortable, that's 
		when it'll happen.

	SYDNEY comes back into the room...she's wearing one of 
	SHEPHERD's dress shirts and nothing else. She walks toward 
	him.

				SHEPHERD
			   (continuing)
		Perhaps I didn't properly explain 
		the fundamentals of the "Slow Down" 
		plan.

				SYDNEY
		You explained it great.

	She moves closer to him.

				SHEPHERD
			   (pause)
		Are you nervous?

				SYDNEY
		No.

				SHEPHERD
		Good. My nervousness exists on 
		several levels. Number 1 -- and 
		this is in no particular order -- 
		I haven't done this in a pretty 
		long time. Number 2: Any expectations 
		you might have, due to the fact that 
		I'm, you know...

				SYDNEY
		The most powerful man in the world?

				SHEPHERD
		Exactly, thank you. Just so you 
		remember that's a political 
		distinction that comes with the 
		office. I mean, if Eisenhower were 
		here instead of me he'd be dead by 
		now. And number three...

				SYDNEY
			   (gently)
		Andy...

	They're both standing, facing each other...

	They gently kiss. They just stay with it until it becomes 
	easier and better and exactly what they want.

				RUMSON (V.O.)
		Does New Hampshire want traditional 
		American values back in the White 
		House?

				CROWD
		Yes!!

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. AN ELKS LODGE - NIGHT

	A crowd of 300 or so is being whipped into a frenzy. 
	Rumson's bringing it home under a campaign banner 
	proclaiming: THE PRIDE IS BACK -- BOB RUMSON.

				RUMSON
		Does New Hampshire want the pride back?

	The CROWD goes nuts upon hearing Rumson's signature phrase--

				CROWD
		Yeah!!!!!!!

				RUMSON
		My name is Bob Rumson. And I'm 
		running for President.

	And as the CROWD loses its mind, we

	                                                     CUT TO:

	EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAWN

	                                                     CUT TO:

	INT. SHEPHERD'S BEDROOM - MORNING

	It is very early, and SHEPHERD is still asleep. As we PULL 
	BACK, WE REVEAL that he is alone in his bed. The PHONE RINGS.

	SHEPHERD picks it up--

				SHEPHERD
			   (into phone)
		Yeah...put him through.
			   (listens)
		Lewis, it is 5:00 a.m. You gotta 
		get yourself a life, man.
			   (listens)
		Yeah...all right.

	He hangs up the phone and looks around the room, only to 
	notice SYDNEY is tiptoeing around in the dim light, trying 
	to quietly dress herself and ga