By LTG
The near-meltdown at the California nuclear plant has caused a similar meltdown in the Vinick campaign. Santos quickly moves up in the polls, and the ecstatic staffers try to figure out how to capitalize on the moment. Vinick, meanwhile, is under serious pressure from the Republican establishment to make a hard swing to the right in an effort to motivate the Republican base. All of this takes place against the backdrop of continuing trouble in Kazakhstan, with Jed feeling no alternative but to send in U.S. troops. He calls both candidates to the White House to brief them on the situation, but not before seeking guidance from Leo. Santos and Vinick are both unhappy at the idea of sending in troops, in part because it will screw up the campaign, but more importantly because a major military commitment will hamstring the new president (whoever he is), making it difficult to get anything accomplished. In the end, the Santos campaign adopts a new slogan but otherwise keeps the campaign the same, while Sheila decides to take the heat for the Vinick campaign, practically ordering Vinick to replace her with a right-wing player. Oh, and did I mention that Josh and Donna made out? They totally did, in the excitement of hearing the new poll numbers. And they would have done a lot more (I think) if they hadn't been interrupted by Santos. They each spend the rest of the episode agonizing over whether it was "appropriate" for them to have a relationship. Donna receives some excellent advice on the subject from Will, who just happens to be having a secret relationship with Kate. In the end, Donna decides to go for it, and she slips her hotel room key to Josh. Unfortunately, Ronna notices the key and brings it back to Donna before Josh has the chance to use it. Ronna, are your ears burning? That's because people are talking about you, and they're not saying very nice things.
Previously: there was a crisis in Kazakhstan, Will and Kate went on a date, and there was a near-meltdown at a nuclear plant in California. Plus, there were years of unresolved sexual tension between Josh and Donna. (There isn't enough HTML in the world for me to link to every example of that).
It's 5:00 AM, and a bunch of Santos staffers are madly scurrying around a darkened room. Ronna is reading off a bunch of poll results: "Arizona, up by four. Nevada, up by three. Virginia, up by four." I'm not sure if that's how far the Santos campaign has moved since the last polls, or whether they mean to imply that Santos is ahead by that many points in the latest polls. Annabeth asks for the California results, and Ronna tells her that they're up by six. I think Annabeth just asked to be a smart-ass, because she tells Ronna that her poll results show Santos up by seven in California. Donna asks where that number came from, and Annabeth tells her that it's a Gallup poll. This gets everyone very excited.
Otto is sitting at a computer, and Ronna asks him if "it" is up. I don't think that's the kind of thing a lady asks in mixed company. The "it" in question is a web page, because Ronna, Annabeth, and Donna immediately start telling him to hit refresh, or to leave the page and then return to it to force it to reload. It's twenty-one days until the election, according to the subtitle. Soon, all three women are hovering over Otto's shoulder, peering at the monitor. If Peter Paul Rubens were alive today, he would paint this picture: Otto and the Three Graces. Bram asks Otto how things are going, and Otto responds, "I've got three women trying to tell me how to use the New York Times website." Because everyone knows only boys use the internet. Bram offers to help Otto if he's having trouble figuring out the web. Poor Otto. By the way, Bram is in his undershirt. Have men been taking his shirts away from him again?
Otto shoos everyone away, and they go back to reviewing polling results. Everyone is pretty stunned to hear that they are tied with Vinick in Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. And then Otto tells them all that an article about the Times tracking poll is finally up on the website. Otto's reading the article aloud, and just as he gets to the part with actual results, his computer crashes. Ronna, Otto, Bram, and Donna pretty much freak out, and then Annabeth sweetly tells them that she has the results on her computer. They all gather around her and silently read as some great jazz starts to play. (In fact, thanks to the observant forum posters, I can tell you that it is "Bang, Bang," most likely a recording by Dizzy Gillespie on the album Talkin' Verve. You can go listen to a sample if you want.) As they read, they each pretty simultaneously develop looks of utter happiness. That was a lovely moment of acting from all five of them.
Donna and Bram are now running down the hotel corridor, knocking on every door to wake people up so they can share the news. Bram, in his enthusiasm, starts knocking on the elevator door, causing Donna to break out into giggles. The music from the scene continues. Donna knocks on a door, and we hear Josh's groggy voice from the other side. As soon as he opens the door, she bursts into the room. He's wearing boxer shorts and a shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. She just starts throwing state-by-state poll results at him, and he slowly walks toward her. And then she tells him that in the Times poll, the two campaigns are tied, 44 to 44. Josh takes a second to soak it all in, and screams, "Holy mother of God, we caught him! We caught him!" And then he grabs Donna's face in his hands and plants a big one right on her lips. They break away from the kiss, look at each other, and then dive right back in. The camera spins around them and I get a little light-headed and it's all very sexy, and then I realize that Josh just woke up. Morning breath. Ugh.
We cut to a shot from the outside of Josh's hotel room, where the door is slowly swinging shut as Josh and Donna suck face. Santos, trailed by a bunch of staffers, comes barreling down the hall calling out Josh's name. The door hasn't finished closing yet, so Santos bursts right in. Fortunately, Josh and Donna weren't deafened by lust -- they had time to break their clinch before the entire campaign walked in on them. Santos asks Josh if the poll results are true, and when Josh confirms that they are, they grab each other in a tremendous hug. And then they start making out. Or maybe not. Instead, everybody starts hugging. I notice that Bram (still in his undershirt) goes right for Josh. And there's the tiniest shot of Leo in the scrum. Credits.
It's later that morning at the Vinick campaign. Bruno is reading out the same poll results to Sheila and Vinick. The reaction is a little less joyful. I notice that Sheila lies to Vinick and tells him that they are tied in California. Bruno tries to spin the news, pointing out that the voters Vinick lost aren't switching to Santos -- they've just moved to being temporarily undecided. Vinick walks out of his bedroom into a very crowded office setup. I assume it's a large hotel suite, with the offices set up in the living room. Bruno and Sheila are giving Vinick the message for the day and telling him not to speak about the nuclear accident when Vinick lets loose with a tremendous sneeze. Sheila seems concerned, but Vinick tells her he's fine. She trails after him as he walks down the hall, suggesting ways that he could bring up the situation in Kazakhstan if he needs to get reporters off the nuclear accident. A bit abruptly, he tells her that he needs thirty seconds to himself. She falls behind as he storms off.
Office of O. C.J. and much of the national security team are gathered. They're gossiping about the poll results when the President enters. As they stand, they get right to business, telling Jed that the Russians claim the election wasn't rigged, and that the pro-Russian candidate won fair and square. Both sides are claiming to have sent their troops in to "stabilize" the country. Furthermore, NATO member nations are fully behind the idea of a peacekeeping force without actually being willing to commit troops. And the U.N. is out, because both China and Russia would veto any action in the Security Council. Secretary of Defense Hutchinson tells Jed that the only plan they see is to plant a large American force squarely between the Russians and the Chinese "to create a human buffer zone between the two advancing armies." The two armies are currently about six hundred miles from each other, but they are closing the distance pretty quickly. Jed tells Hutchinson, "I want to see invasion plans as soon as possible." Hutchinson tells him that they prefer the term "intervention." Jed tells him, "Show me a plan that doesn't look like an invasion, I'll call it whatever you want."
On the way out of the Oval, C.J. blah-blahs a bit with Kate about NATO. And then Kate peels off of that conversation and starts pedeconferencing with Will. He tells her, "I've got a thing of yours." She's relieved to learn that he has her Pyongyang report, but he tells her that's absolutely not what he has. She keeps describing the report, and he interrupts her to say, "It's a bra." That brings her up short. Will adds, "I put it in a padded envelope, which seemed appropriate." I'm not a connoisseur of the female form, but I seriously doubt Mary McCormack needs any padding. ["I am very intimate with the female form, which is how I can tell you that even some bras for the well-endowed are padded, to give the wearer's rack some shape." -- Wing Chun] Will asks Kate if she wants it now, and she tells him "no" before tentatively changing her answer to "yes." She tells him to keep it, and he asks, "Permanently?" Superspy Kate suggests that he mail it to her from his home address so that nobody at the White House will have a chance to intercept it. They both agree that's a needlessly complicated idea. Will offers to hold on to it until "the time...." He trails off at the end. They part, and Will tells her, "We'll get better at this." They certainly couldn't get worse.
Josh, Santos, Leo, and various hangers-on charge down a hotel corridor to an elevator. Josh is shouting strategy and instructions all the way. They continue talking strategy as they walk through some back area of the hotel. Except this time, instead of walking through a kitchen, it appears to be some kind of hotel decorating storeroom. There are about fifty thousand hideous lamps on the shelves. Leo points out that the nuclear accident created a lot of undecided voters who haven't yet switched to Santos. To get them to make the switch, he thinks Santos needs to sound a bit more like a Republican: "They're gonna want to hear about deficit reduction, they're gonna want to hear you're gonna put more cops on the streets." The brainstorming continues as they walk down an echo-filled utility hallway. Josh comes up with a tag line about Santos's "vision" as they enter a freight elevator.
The freight elevator opens and the Santos campaign members walk out into the sun. Leo, with a phone to his ear, tells them, "The 'Santos education plan' is now the 'twenty-first century education plan.'" And so on. Josh is going to have Joey Lucas poll some of the new language, and Bram asks what state he should have Advance prepare for first. Josh: "That's easy." Santos: "California." They all hop in their various SUVs and limos. And, whoops, Josh and Donna have ended up sitting in the back of an SUV together. They each breathlessly say "hi" as the SUV pulls away.
Vinick and company are walking down the aisle of his campaign jet. Sheila is trying to make him drink some medicinal concoction. He refuses, on the basis that it looks like Hawaiian Punch and smells disgusting. Bob, master of the obvious, tells Vinick that they've lost voters due to the nuclear accident. He thinks that, in time, those voters will return to the Vinick fold. The problem, as Bruno notes, is that "a cycle like that takes a month." Which is nine days more than they have. And then Sullivan is there, arguing that they have to go after the Republican base. Sheila doesn't want to hear it, but he continues: "We have had a good time always running for the center. But the party's over. You're a Republican, you need to start talking to the Republican, conservative base." Bruno is even more hostile than I would be, telling Sullivan, "Nail him to the cross. He can stump for votes on the Via Dolorosa." I'm surprised Sullivan didn't punch him right there. Sullivan calmly tells Bruno, "I am the only person talking to values voters." Bruno, dripping sarcasm, responds, "You are doing a fantastic job." Sullivan thinks that if those voters don't hear from Vinick, the campaign will lose the southern states. Bruno points out that the undecided voters they need to win back are moderates, not conservatives. Sullivan thinks the only way Vinick could win the moderate undecideds back is if he "suddenly pull[ed] the Arnold Vinick Health Care Plan out of his tailpipe." Vinick asks, "Would that qualify as a miracle? They like the miracles, your people." I'm sorry, "your people"? I can't believe they're actually making me feel some sympathy for Sullivan.
Bob suggests a negative ad blitz. Bruno hates the idea; Sullivan loves it. The fight goes on for a while, and in the end, Vinick agrees with Bruno. Except that he seems to think that he's disagreeing with Bruno, and has to be reminded that Bruno also hates the idea of negative ads. And then Vinick gets confused about what Sullivan's role in the campaign will be. And I didn't realize that sneezing was an early sign of quick-onset dementia. Sheila tells them that they'll stick with their existing strategy, with minor modifications. Sullivan asks, "So you're sticking with the fifty-state strategy?" Sheila doesn't answer, and Sullivan points out that they can't win fifty states anymore. She doesn't disagree, but still thinks it's the best strategy they have. Someone hands Sheila a note, and she tells Vinick that he has a meeting with Pensy and Carolton. Somehow, this meeting has something to do with Vinick going after the Republican base, which he thinks will make him look like an idiot. Sheila points out that Sullivan will go after the base, and that all Vinick has to do is "make nice with Pensy and Carolton." Vinick leaves. Sullivan proposes setting up a lunch with Sheila to discuss his message, and Bruno thinks they have time to discuss it right away. Sullivan doesn't even look at him, and just waits on Sheila for an answer. Bruno, quick on the uptake, gets that Sullivan doesn't really want to discuss it with him. Sullivan leaves. Right now, I'm kind of missing Governor Ritchie. The Republicans would be a lot easier to recap if all they did was kind of grunt and scratch themselves like they did back then.
Situation Room. A meeting commences, and a general tells Jed that they are proposing moving an additional 90,000 ground troops into Kazakhstan, on top of the 9,000 already present. Jed asks how many support troops they would need, and Kate tells him it would be 40,000. The general uses some fancy graphics to explain the plan. C.J. wonders how long this will take, and when she hears it will be eight weeks, points out that they don't have that kind of time. The plan is to bring 12,000 troops in immediately, and to bring in more as they are able to. Jed starts asking very specific questions about where the troops will come from and how they'll arrive. And then he asks, "What will they wear?" Everyone is dumsquizzled. Slowly, Hutchinson tells him that they pretty much still wear the brown and green uniforms they've been wearing for a while. Jed clarifies that he's asking about outerwear, and Hutchinson still seems confused. Jed gives a very lengthy and fact-filled speech to the effect that they are about to send tens of thousands of American troops to a very cold part of the world right before the winter. He continues, "As opposed to the Russians, who do this a lot, Americans haven't fought a war in the cold for quite some time. I would like to know what kind of coats you plan to put on our troops." Personally, I think Daniel Vosovic's little white coat from theProject Runwayfinale was quite fetching. Jed sends the generals off to get more specific information, ending the meeting. When they're alone, C.J. tells Jed that the Central Command has suggested enforcing a no-fly zone between the two armies in order to keep them from bombing each other. Jed still seems to be grappling with the size of the military commitment they'll be making. C.J. points out that it could turn out to be a long-term commitment as well. Jed tells her to bring Santos and Vinick to the White House so that he can brief them. And this is all such a contrast to one of the first timeswe saw Jed in the Sit Room, when he was both entirely uncertain about what was going on and completely willing to throw American soldiers into a conflict. Commercials.
Josh, Donna, and Ronna pedeconference at some outdoor rally. We can hear Santos speaking in the background. The high points of the conversation are that they are not addressing the nuclear accident or energy in their speeches, and that Democratic officials who had been avoiding Santos are now clamoring to be with him. And now let's talk about Donna's coat. Okay, in the center, from the lapels on down, it's grey. And then, on either side of the grey, there are two broad purple bands running straight down from her shoulders. And then there are two pink bands that run from the tips of her shoulders down the side of the coat. But the arms are purple again. And there's a bright orange belt across the back. When I look at it, all I can think of is spumoni. And then Bram joins them and tells them that Bono called. Ronna and Donna both squee like...well, like Patrick Dempsey fans. It turns out that Bono would like to have dinner with Santos in New York. Donna: "Do it!" Bram points out that they're not going to New York. Ronna: "Change the schedule!" Ronna's getting a little overheated, and her voice is approaching helium country as she asks if Bram spoke to Bono. It turns out he spoke to someone named "Phil." Probably not Phil Collins. Josh tells Bram to invite Bono to join them in San Diego.
And then Josh, Donna, and Donna's coat of ugly colors walk off. Donna starts discussing press-related issues, and tells Josh that she's getting a lot of questions about Kazakhstan. Josh gives her a line to use about Santos supporting the President, and then tells her, "And then call the White House and find out what the hell's going on." Donna asks, "If Bono comes...?" Josh: "You'll meet him." She smiles and starts to walk away. He calls her back. I think that after getting a good look at that coat, he's really regretting kissing her. He takes off his sunglasses and, with much hesitation and many "um"s, apologizes for kissing her, explaining that he knows it was inappropriate. He tells her that he feels terrible. She smiles and tells him, "Don't. Seriously. It was bound to happen sometime." Janel Maloney is brilliant right here, because you can just see her freezing up and pulling back. It's that whole, "Oh, I was just joking when I said I loved you. No big deal" thing that we've all gone through at one time or another. She leaves to call the White House. And now it's Brad Whitford's turn to shine, as he looks slightly stunned at the way she seemed to get over the kiss so quickly. In his heart, he was hoping that she would be upset by his apology, so that he could know she really wanted him to kiss her some more.
In the Oval Office, Jed is giving assignments to Debbie. As he finishes, she asks him if he's looked at the sketches. He tells her, "A nuclear disaster and a war abroad, I thought they could wait." She points out that they've been sitting on his desk for days: "It makes it look like I don't pick up after you." With a grim look on his face, he walks over to his desk, where they both look at some pencil sketches of the President. I can only assume that these are studies for his official portrait. Jed doesn't know what to say, and Debbie tells him that she just needs a "simple thumbs up or thumbs down." Jed asks, "You think they look like me?" When she responds, "More or less," he wants to know what the hell she means. She tells him that they're a "decent likeness" and make him look "commanding [and] thoughtful." She observes that there's no cane in the sketches, "which is a choice." He asks, "You think it's a bad choice?" And there's a lovely note of concern in her voice as she responds, "I don't know. Did you make it, or did he make it?" Jed tells her that it was the artist's choice, and asks if she thinks the lack of a cane is a problem. She turns the question back to him, and he points out that he doesn't use the cane all the time. For example, he hardly ever uses it when they're in his office filming that television series that's all about him. Debbie tells him, "You exist in the zeitgeist with a cane." Zeitgeist is one of my three favorite German words. (The other two are "zeitgeber" and "Miele." Okay, I don't really love the word Miele, but I do crave one of their dishwashers.) Jed ends the conversation by telling Debbie to get the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the phone.
Which brings us to C.J., who is just getting on a phone call with Josh (who is still at the rally). She congratulates him on the poll numbers, and he tells her, "This must be what your first smack high feels like." There's a glimmer of the old C.J. we know and love when she tells him to hope that his high doesn't lead to "a huge crash and years of rehabilitation." Josh tells her, "Nothing could kill my mood right now, but that was a good try." C.J.: "Thanks." Josh tells her that they need someone to brief them on the Kazakhstan situation. C.J. suggests the President, and then tells Josh that Jed is summoning both candidates to the White House that evening. Josh is not pleased at the idea of interrupting their campaigning just as they've got some momentum, and he basically refuses to bring Santos to meet with Jed. C.J. snaps into her Chief of Staff persona, telling Josh that Vinick is coming, and that it will look pretty bad for Santos if Vinick is seen having a private meeting with Jed in the Oval Office. Josh: "I like you less and less."
On the Vinick campaign jet, Sheila is telling Bob and Bruno about Jed's invitation to the candidates to come to the White House for a security briefing. Bruno thinks that a White House meeting will give them some time to sort out the schedule. If they don't know their schedule, where are they going on this plane? Bruno points out the jam he's in, with the campaign suddenly having to visit states that were not up for grabs in the past and Vinick wanting to do nothing but campaign in California. Bob suggests an ad buy in California. Bruno shoots down the idea as being wasteful, but Sheila tells Bob to consult someone about the cost. Bruno is frustrated at the idea of a Republican's having to spend time campaigning in Georgia. He blames the schedule on Sullivan, and Sheila tells him that the southern swing is her idea. He seems doubtful, and tells her, "I am happy to change tack in light of current events, but I would be more comfortable if strategy meetings took place with you, me, and the Senator, and not you and Ray Sullivan." Sheila tells him that Sullivan just needed to blow off steam: "Nobody blames you for what's happening. Not me, not the Senator." I blame him, but only for the slight sense of nausea I experience at the sight of his greasy hair and beard. Bruno, ever the professional, tells her that he doesn't care about blame: "I care if I'm being shoved out." She reassures him that's not happening. Which is good, because they're in a plane.
Will walks into C.J.'s office and is surprised to find Kate there. He offers to come back, but C.J. tells him that she wants to meet with them both. She tells them to prepare materials to share with the candidates so that they can all be on the same page on Kazakhstan. Kate and Will spend this scene not looking at each other and not speaking to each other, trying so hard to pretend there's nothing between them that it is incredibly suspect (and funny). C.J. asks them, "Is something weird happening?" They deny it. She continues, "I feel like I'm the heroine in the movie who doesn't know there's a guy behind the refrigerator with an ax." Kate, with a concerned look on her face, tells her, "Maybe it's the weather. People feel that way when it's...damp." And I want to thank Deborah Cahn for one of the first truly laugh-out-loud moments on this show that I've experienced in quite a while. C.J., with a sly little smile, thanks them both and dismisses them. They walk out together, and just outside her door, Will mutters, "We're really bad at this." Kate: "Really bad."
Back at the Santos rally, he's preparing to introduce Dave Matthews. The camera pans to the side of the stage, where Ronna namechecks Lou, telling Josh that she's working with Joey Lucas on language to test. Josh reminds Ronna about the detour to the White House, and Ronna tells her that Lou suggested sending Leo to San Diego in advance while Santos goes to D.C. Josh thinks it would be a good idea to get Helen there as well.
Josh runs into Donna, and tells her that she needs to fly to D.C. to discuss Kazakhstan-related press issues with the White House. She tells him that she's on her way, but first wants to share a rumor she heard from someone at the Sacramento Bee. Josh mocks the name of the Sacramento paper, and Donna gently pulls him back on topic. And then she tells him, "They think he has a cold." Josh: "Vinick?" Affirmative, good buddy. Josh is speechless for a minute, and then starts smiling broadly. He takes a step toward Donna, but then Bram walks up to them. Josh, who was totally going to grab hold of Donna again, veers to the right and throws his arms around Bram. Then he turns around and picks up Annabeth, holding her (and her ample bosom) up above his head. She calmly asks Donna, "Why is there hugging?" Donna explains about the cold, and Annabeth responds, "Oh, that's precious." And then Josh drops her, and she disappears completely from the frame. Josh tells them all, "I want to send him some Vicks VapoRub and a big German nurse." Annabeth interrupts this unpleasant train of thought to tell Josh that the White House wants Leo at the White House along with Santos. Josh takes the phone from her and tells the White House scheduler on the other end that it must be a mistake, because Leo can't possibly leave the campaign trail. He hangs up, and Annabeth walks away. Josh gets back to the cold, asking Donna if reporters are going to write about the cold and also about how Vinick is a frail old man who can't stand up to the rigors of the campaign. And then Josh's phone rings. It's the White House. More to the point, it's Jed. He asks Josh, "Hey, kid, how you doing?" Josh seems pretty surprised by the call. Jed continues, asking Josh, "Do me a favor. Bring Leo with you to the White House tonight, would you?" Josh tries to make an excuse, but Jed tells Josh to come along as well: "It would be great to see you." And then he thanks Josh and hangs up. Donna asks Josh what's going on, and he tells her that it turns out that everyone is going to the White House. Commercials.
Vinick HQ. Sullivan walks up to Sheila and Bruno and asks whether Hodder has arrived. Sheila tells him he hasn't, and then suggests that Sullivan really doesn't need to be there. Sullivan drops the bombshell that Hodder asked him to attend the meeting. And then he points out that Hodder and his retinue are walking through the door. Sheila looks at them and asks, "What's she doing here?" The "she" in question is someone who looks a bit like a young Arianna Huffington. Tall, strong jaw, reddish blonde hair in a very D.C. cut. (I know some forum posters have equated this character with Ann Coulter, but I didn't see her eat a single baby in this episode, so I don't quite see the comparison.) Sheila shakes hands with everyone and introduces Bruno to the woman, whose name is Jane Braun. Jane reaches to shake Bruno's hand, and he turns away and mutters, "Good to meet you." But he does shake hands with Hodder. Sheila explains that Vinick is on a call and will be available soon. Jane starts to ask after the Senator's health, and Sheila quickly shuts her down.
There's a bit more small talk about the campaign's schedule, and then Hodder asks what their message will be on their upcoming trip to the south. Sheila tells him, "We're holding center." Jane asks if that's really the best move, and Bruno tells her that they need to win back the undecideds, who happen to be moderates. Jane acknowledges that there's a basis for reaching that conclusion, but disagrees, telling Bruno, "I'm not sure it's about changing minds anymore. It's kind of late for that." Bruno thinks they have enough time, and she seems doubtful. She thinks that what they can count on is getting out the vote, and to do that, they'll need to motivate the Republican base: "It's time to start talking about values, and family." Bruno is already rolling his eyes, and he asks her, "By which you mean what? Gay marriage?" She tells him that there's more to the values agenda than that (because there's also gay adoption, and abortion. And let's not forget gay marriage). Hodder thinks they should "play the gay-marriage card." The only thing that makes me sicker than assholes who actually believe I should have fewer rights than others are the people who don't believe it but who are willing to use the issue to score political points. Hodder just wants to force Santos to respond, since it will drive conservatives to Vinick. Sheila tells them, "The Senator doesn't think that marriage is a federal issue." Jane suggests that he rethink it. Jane tells them that they're in desperation mode, and that while they had "some maverick ideas" early in the race, it's "time to run a safe, sober campaign." And what can be more safe and sober than whipping up the mob over a nonexistent "threat" to the family? Jane thinks that a safe and sober campaign is one that appeals to the Republican base. Bruno points out that the policies they've taken in the campaign weren't adopted for political purposes: "They're Senator Vinick's positions." Jane thinks Vinick should pretend that he doesn't actually believe most of what he said during the campaign, and blame his earlier positions on bad advice from strategists. And exactly how does this help counter the idea that he's a doddering old man? Hodder tells Sheila to consider it, and she dismisses the idea. Hodder points out that there are other races to consider, and that if Vinick can't motivate Republicans to turn out, the party could lose the House and the Senate. And then Annie arrives to escort Hodder, Jane, and Sullivan into meet with Vinick. After they leave, Bruno asks, "You still think they're not trying to replace me?" Sheila: "No, they're definitely trying to replace you. With her, apparently."
Donna is sitting on a little settee just inside the entrance to the West Wing when C.J. walks by and greets her. C.J. sits to her and tells her how good it is to see her. She notes that Donna must be having a great day, and then asks, "How's Josh?" Donna: "What do you mean?" C.J.: "Which part tripped you up?" Donna realizes that when C.J. asked "how's Josh," she wanted to know how Josh was doing. It's true, love does make you stupid. Donna tells C.J. that Josh is thrilled about the poll numbers. C.J. asks her, "What's going on?" Donna denies that there's anything unusual happening, but C.J. doesn't believe her, asking if there's "a Josh thing going on." Donna: "No, no, no, no, no." How did she get to be the press spokesperson for Santos again? She can't fool C.J., who is now convinced that something happened. Donna continues to deny it, and C.J. tells her, "Oh come on, you've got a useless poker face. I spend my whole day talking about election monitors in Central Asia. Throw me a bone." Donna sighs, and then tells her that she and Josh had "an odd moment," which she describes as being "just another in a long series of odd moments, meant to be ignored." And then C.J. sees Vinick and entourage (including Sheila, Bruno, and Bob) arriving at the entrance. Debbie greets them, and they follow her into the building. Bruno glares daggers at C.J. as he walks past.
Debbie lets Vinick and company into the Mural Room. She tells them to make themselves comfortable, and then as she's walking out the door, she mutters, "Not too comfortable." Vinick, who is the only one near her as she says this, asks, "Excuse me?" Debbie, all innocence and light, responds, "Hmm?" They do this a couple more times before Vinick decides that he must be imagining things. Debbie rolls her eyes as she closes the door.
And then we see Carol ushering Josh, Donna, Bram, Ronna, Santos, and Leo into the Roosevelt Room. Donna is telling Josh about Vinick's arrival. As the crew starts to settle in, Debbie enters through a different door and offers them beverages. Santos declines on behalf of all of them, and then Debbie asks Leo to come with her. Santos gives Josh a look, and Josh tells him, "I have no idea."
Back in the Mural Room, Vinick and Sheila sit down on a sofa. Vinick is wiping his nose with one of those little tissues that someone stuck in all his pockets. And then he puts the dirty tissue back in his pocket. That's kind of gross, but I can also see how there's probably not a lot of trashcans sitting around the Mural Room for trash like that. I think it's better to stick a dirty tissue in your pocket than to drop it on the floor of the White House. As the Vinick crew is sitting around, they realize that they can see Debbie walk into her office through an open door at the end of the room. And then they see Leo follow her in and get admitted to the Oval Office. Vinick asks Sheila, "Why are we sitting here while the Democratic V.P. candidate's being ushered into the Oval Office?" Someone's a little cranky. I bet he didn't get the Vicks VapoRub that Josh sent him. Debbie walks up to the open door through which they saw all of this, and closes it. Commercials.
The gang in the Roosevelt Room is laughing up a storm as Bram tells them a story about six young women with "Santos for President" underwear that they wanted to show him: "I thought it was my job to keep them away from the Congressman." Santos thanks Bram for making the sacrifice, and Bram offers to do it again as needed. I wonder if he would mind taking a look at my "Santos for President" underwear. Bram is giving them all information about the hotel where they are staying (a Marriott, for the curious). There's some more banter, and then Annabeth starts running slogan ideas past Josh. The first two, quickly rejected, are "dawn of a new America" and "a new plan for a new America." Josh thinks "new America" sounds "a little colonial," and Annabeth suggests that Santos stump in a pilgrim hat. Santos is not pleased with any of the ideas. Josh tells him that it's all language Joey and Lou poll-tested, and that they're trying to work it into the stump speech. Annabeth: "Just trying to capitalize on our country's new vision of you, sir." Santos thinks that the poll results aren't really meaningful, because it's still just three days after the nuclear accident and people are too anxious to think straight. Josh asks whether Santos wants to "stay the course." Santos suggests that if they stick with the message they've been using, people might "get the sense we've been on the right track all along." And then Annabeth throws out, "Santos: Right from the Start." Everybody loves it, and Josh tells them to start using it right away. Ronna calls it "some impressive teamwork," and Annabeth jokes about getting a little choked up.
And speaking of getting choked up, Vinick is loudly blowing his nose in the Mural Room. Sheila tells him he's going to have to see a doctor to make sure it's nothing serious. Vinick blames his illness on allergies, and Bruno tells him that until the allergies clear up, "a cough suppressant might make the day go a little faster." Sheila asks Vinick if he wants to talk about his meeting with Hodder. He doesn't. Instead, he wants to talk about why Leo is meeting with Jed while Vinick cools his heels. People have suggested that Vinick should have realized that Jed and Leo are old friends who might want some time together, and others have suggested that it's the cold that's making him act like such a pill. But I've always found him a bit petulant, and very sensitive to slights against his dignity. So this doesn't strike me as too out of character.
Oval Office. Jed is reviewing the plans with Leo to set up a no-fly zone and start bringing in U.S. troops. He describes it as probably being a five-year commitment. They bounce some ideas back and forth. It's nice to see these two again as partners, trying to solve the world's problems. Leo thinks Jed's plan is reasonable, and that the only way to bring Russia and China to the bargaining table is to demonstrate that the U.S. is ready to fight. After Leo essentially gives his blessing, Jed tells him, "This is what they'll remember fifty years from now." Leo's confused, and Jed explains, "Got us in a big mess, left it for someone else to clean up." Leo disagrees, thinking that people will remember the full eight-year record. Jed is fixated on his legacy, though. He's worried that he'll get the blame if it's a disaster, and that his successor will get the credit if the mission succeeds. Leo doesn't disagree with that one.
Carol enters the Roosevelt Room to fetch Santos. And then we see Debbie do the same with Vinick. The two men practically run into each other in Debbie's office. Neither of them looks very happy to see the other. I suspect this is the first time they've been together in one room since the debate. They walk into the Oval Office.
The national security team is assembled in the Oval, and General Schultz is presenting an overview of the plan. The scene is shot from overhead, and the camera is slowly spinning around. Santos and Vinick each ask intelligent questions about the plan and the prospects for success. And then Jed dismisses everyone, leaving just the President and the two candidates in the room. The camera cuts to a normal shot, and Jed (using his cane) walks over to his desk: "One of you will inherit this piñata. I thought you should know what's on the table." Vinick and Santos both start raising questions about the wisdom of the plan, arguing that sending in U.S. troops will just make things worse. Jed listens for a minute, and then tells them, "Gentlemen, let's talk about what we're talking about." And I'll write about what I'm writing about while they talk about what they're talking about. And you can read...oh, never mind.
Jed tells Vinick and Santos that he knows they're both worried that his announcement that he's sending troops into Kazakhstan will transform the presidential campaign. They both look a little chagrined that their concerns have come across as selfish ones. Santos and Vinick exchange a look, and Jed tells them, "You can speak candidly." Oh, thanks, Your Highness. I didn't realize we needed permission. Santos tells Jed that a serious military involvement will change the election, "but more importantly, a new President would have an easier time brokering a diplomatic solution." Jed doesn't disagree, but also doesn't think there's time to wait. Vinick asks about the cost of the mission, but Santos thinks the money's not an issue. Jed will be committing the new President to this plan: "You're blowing any political capital we might have by forcing us to fight a war." Vinick still wants to hear the cost, and Jed tells him that the estimate is that it will cost $70 billion for the first year. Vinick: "I can say goodbye to my tax cut." He tells Santos, "Your education plan's certainly off the table." Vinick asks Jed what a victory in the mission would look like, and Jed tells him that it would require both China and Russia to return to their own borders. He also wants "a stable, neutral, and democratic government in Kazakhstan." Vinick is fine with the first part, but he thinks the second part is a pipe dream: "It could take two, three generations." Santos asks Jed if there is an exit strategy. Jed tells them that the generals think there is a way to get out in eighteen months, but he's not so confident. And then Santos asks, "What's your exit strategy?" I'd say nine more episodes and then shoot a few movies. Jed tells him, "I don't have one." Jed stands, and tells them that while he appreciates their concerns, he really can't delay sending in the troops. He thanks them, shakes their hands, wishes them luck, and then leaves the office.
Vinick and Sheila are in the back of his limo. After a few seconds of silence, Sheila asks what the President wanted. Vinick just shakes his head -- either because he's still too upset to discuss it, or because it's too classified to discuss with her. She gives him a throat lozenge, and then tells him that they need to discuss his meeting with Hodder. Sheila: "He's a weasel, and I don't like that woman, but they're right. A little campaign shake-up might create enough of a diversion to get us past San Andreo." Vinick defends Bruno, and tells her that firing him won't really do any good, adding, "But if you want to do it, do it." Sheila: "I'm not talking about Bruno. Bruno doesn't have the viability to be a viable scapegoat. I'm the public face of your campaign staff. You want this to work, it's gotta be me." Damn, I was just starting to like her. Vinick thinks firing her is a stupid idea, but she is more stubborn than he is. She starts to tell him what he needs to do, in terms of mending his bridges with the Republican base. He tries to interrupt her, but she essentially tells him to shut up. He can still talk to her on the phone all he wants, but she tells him, "Hire Jane Braun. And once we get a 51% strategy in place, Bob and Bruno can execute it." Vinick thinks Sheila's plan is too drastic, but Sheila points out that the evangelical right loves Jane, and that she'll be able to "whip them up into a door-knocking, pavement-pounding presence." He gets that she's serious, and asks her if he should expect a letter of resignation in the morning. Sheila: "It's already in your briefcase." Along with some tissues, cough drops, and a ham sandwich with the crusts cut off (just in case he gets a little peckish). The limo has stopped. Sheila clears her throat and, with tears just under the surface, gives him instructions for the event she's dropping him off at. And she reminds him to call Jane as soon as he gets home. He gets out of the car, and stands there forelornly as it drives off. There's some cheering in the background. And aide offers him a coat. Vinick has to ask him to repeat himself, and then turns down the offer. Some music starts up. It's Billie Holiday, singing "Body And Soul." (You can hear a sample here.) It plays throughout the rest of the episode.
The Santos campaign crew is sitting in a bar or restaurant at their hotel. I think it's supposed to be outdoors, but I really doubt it, since it was pretty cold in the last scene and everybody is still in or around D.C. Bram is regaling them with more stories about the "Santos for President" panty girls (whom Ronna refers to as "the butt brigade"). Ronna groks that Bram got a phone number from one of the butt girls, and he will neither confirm nor deny it. Donna, while still listening to the chatter, reaches into her bag and pulls out a small envelope. Josh walks up and joins them, sitting opposite Donna. They fill him on Bram's escapades, and Josh tells him, "That's impressive, really. Brings honor to the family." Edie (whom we haven't seen in quite a while) talks about locking Bono up in the Secret Service van if he shows up. Josh and Donna exchange looks, without either one actually catching the other's eye. And then Donna places her little envelope on top of the table, which is conveniently lit from below. The light reveals the outline of a key in the envelope (which has the name of a hotel on it -- the Capitol Grand, not the Marriott. Bram's fired). She subtly slides the envelope across the table to Josh, looks him in the eye, and tells everyone that she's turning in. Josh watches her walk away -- she's stopped by a wellwisher along the way, so we see her in profile shaking hands. Josh prepares to get up -- I'm pretty sure he was reaching for the key. But just then, Ronna sees the key and says, "Oh, she forgot her key." She calls out for Donna, but she's already gone. Josh, with a catch in his voice, tries to intervene to get the key, but Edie's already grabbed it from Ronna, noting that her room is right to Donna's so it will be easier for her to return the key. Edie runs off, and catches up with Donna as Donna walks through a door, still in sight of Josh. He looks pretty heartbroken. Donna looks back through the glass door, and then turns and walks away.
In the Situation Room, while Billie continues singing, we see Jed give the order to start moving troops into Kazakhstan. Credits.
Hey, according to the previews, Rob Lowe will be returning sometime before the end of the season. I guess that sequel to 'Salem's Lot wasn't keeping him too busy after all.