When we left off, President Shepherd had just given the order to bomb Libyan Intelligence Headquarters. In the Oval Office, POTUS is meeting with Robin, A.J., Lewis, Leon, and some aides. Robin asks, "Sir, what do you think about a national address?" Shepherd: "The last thing I want to do is put the Libyans center stage." Leon thinks it's an excellent idea, especially since Rumson will be riding Shepherd for his lack of military service. POTUS doesn't like the idea that what he did tonight could be used for political gain. Leon persists: "But it can be, sir. What you did tonight was very presidential." POTUS, obviously distressed, says: "Leon, somewhere in Libya right now a janitor's working the night shift at the Libyan Intelligence Headquarters. He's going about doing his job 'cause he has no idea 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 about an hour ago I gave an order to have him killed. You've just seen me do the least presidential thing I do."
POTUS is in the Briefing Room fielding questions. In response to a question, he explains why there's no way the C-STAD weapons system could have been mistaken by Libyan Intelligence as offensive rather than defensive. Another reporter asks POTUS whether it's true that he was with Sydney Wade when he learned of the attack. A.J. tells Robin, "Get him off." POTUS says, "Yes, we'd just finished dinner." Robin firmly says, "Last question." Another reporter asks POTUS to comment on the status of his relationship with Sydney. POTUS replies, "We don't have a relationship. We just had dinner." Another one asks, "Can you tell us if she spent the night at the White House or..." POTUS says, "Folks, a lot of people were killed last night. Let's try to keep our eye on the ball, okay? Thank you." As Shepherd leaves, ignoring the reporters trying to get his attention, Robin apologizes for not prepping him for that. Shepherd says, "There's nothing that needs prepping. A.J., let's meet with the leadership after we meet with the Security Council." Robin tells Shepherd that Newsweek is begging for ten minutes today. He says, "Nobody gets ten minutes today."
POTUS is in his private office, talking to Lewis on the phone. He asks Lewis to tell the speaker to wait because he wants to talk to him. On a television, Bob Rumson is saying, "Last night, the cost of his liberal programs was raised to include the blood of twenty-two American soldiers. Now, Mr. Shepherd's read a lot of books, but it doesn't take a Harvard degree to see this comin' a mile down the road." POTUS tells the TV, "I went to Stanford, you blowhole." Rumson continues, "The fact that our Commander-in-Chief has not served one day in uniform..." POTUS turns the TV off.
The American President, Part II
Sydney's sister Beth is helping her move into her new place. Sydney's unpacking stuff and ignoring Beth's query about where a certain box goes. She asks Beth, "Why did I have to kiss him?" Beth is surprised; Sydney hadn't told her. Beth asks, "Where?" Sydney: "On the mouth." Beth replies, "Where in the White House?" Sydney tells her it was the Dish Room. Well, the China Room. Beth asks what happened after that. Sydney: "He had to go and attack Libya." Beth: "It's always something." Sydney states, with great aggravation, "I gotta nip this in the bud. This has catastrophe written all over it." Beth responds, "In what language? Sydney, the man is the leader of the free world. He's brilliant, he's funny, he's handsome, he's an above-average dancer. Isn't it possible our standards are just a tad high?" That's one of my favourite lines from this movie. The phone rings; Sydney ignores it, knowing it's the Prez. She and Beth argue about whether she should answer it. Sydney finally answers, telling Beth, "I'm gonna end it on the phone. I'm not gonna go over there."
Naturally, the shot is Shepherd opening his door to find Sydney standing there with a Secret Service agent. She states, "I just came over here to tell you why I can't see you anymore." Shepherd dismisses the agent and closes the door, offers Sydney a drink, and tries to take her coat. Sydney: "Mr. President, this isn't gonna work." Shepherd: "Sure it will. You button the top button, it won't fall off the hanger..." POTUS is quite the wit. She tells him it's been fun and all, but "this has catastrophe written all over it." She asks him not to pursue her outside of the political arena. He responds, "Well, I have no intention of pursuing you inside the political arena, and that leaves everything out, and that's unacceptable to me." She's worried that he's leaving himself open to character attacks in an election year, and indicates that if she were on his staff she would tell him so. He seems pretty unconcerned, plops himself on the couch, and then wonders why she's not on his staff. Sydney says, "You can't afford me." Shepherd: "How much do you make?" Sydney: "More than you do, Mr. President." Right on. Shepherd: "The name is Andy. How much money do you make?" She snaps, "What the hell does it matter how much money I make?" Shepherd pulls rank: "You would raise your voice to the President?" She says she's only worried about his administration. Shepherd asks, "Are you attracted to me?" This flusters Sydney slightly, and she tells him that's not the issue. Not surprisingly, he wants to 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." Um, thanks for loading me up with that image. He goes on to tell her that her problem is "sex and nervousness." She incredulously repeats this. He elaborates, "Yes. Last night when we were looking at the different place settings in the dish room, I realized 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?" She doesn't; he explains, "Because they weren't presidents when they first met them. That's not the case here." Sydney sighs and seems much happier. She asks to use the bathroom to freshen up. Shepherd directs her, "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 us a drink, we'll sit on the couch, and I will explain to you my plan." ["Oddly Ainsleyan syntax, there." -- Wing Chun] Sydney calls from offscreen, "You have a plan? Don't make me wait. You're on a roll."