Episode Report Card M. Giant: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Not-So-Grandfather
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 9 | Aired on 02.11.2007
2:20:24. Wayne and Assad are still holed up in a conference room, and Wayne is marking up the statement Assad has drafted. Assad gets a little defensive, because although he's fought a terrorist campaign for two decades, he can't take a little editing. Submit a script to America's Storyteller some time, buddy. I'll be waiting right here with the Kleenex. Wayne's concerned over the focus on religion in Assad's speech. Assad explains that he's trying to reach people who think they're fighting a holy cause. "I am not innocent in this manipulation," he admits, and says that's the language his target audience will understand. Before this discussion of international import can continue, Wayne's secretary comes in tell him he's got a phone call from the Veep. Wayne says that he'll take the call there in the conference room with Assad, but he picks up the handset instead of going on speaker. I guess a dash of national security never hurt.
The Veep's still on board Air Force Two as he tells Wayne that he still supports Tom's plan for "mass internment of Arab nationals in our country." Tom's plan has different details every time someone mentions it. Wayne points out that the proposal was crap. The Veep asks, in light of Fayed's now being able to arm the three remaining nukes, that Wayne reconsider. Wayne says that his mind is still made up. The Veep gets all sinister and Powers-Boothey as he disses Assad, as well as Wayne's plan to put him on the air. "The man has murdered countless innocents over the past twenty years and you are putting your hopes for this country's safety on him." Wayne says that's true only to the extent that Assad can help them. Not that Wayne's been working on anything else for the past hour. The Veep goes for Wayne's jugular, reminding Wayne that he was chosen as Wayne's running mate to assure voters that Wayne wasn't soft on national defense: "I assured them otherwise, but now you're proving them right. There's a thin line between conviction and stubbornness. You can stand firm., but just know that you're standing alone." "Are we done?" asks Wayne. "Clearly," the Veep replies, and they hang up. I can't wait until these two meet in person so that they can fight. Assad remarks to Wayne that he's paying a high political price, and warns, "As someone who has alienated followers by choosing the unpopular course, I suggest you tread carefully among your people." Wayne starts in on cultural differences, but Assad says that it's human nature. "They will come after you," he says starkly.