A knock on the door startled her. "Come in."

"Your door was closed."

"I know," Lou responded. "I closed it. I can't seem to get any work done with all the commotion going on out there."

Otto stood next to the sofa without saying a word.

Lou looked up. "Can I help you with something?"

"Right." He stepped in front of his boss' desk. "Here's the speech for the NAACP Convention."

"Isn't that a week from now?" She grabbed the folder.

"Yeah," he responded. "I'm also working on the thing for the National Boy Scout Jamboree."

"What about the Social Security for Future Generations remarks? Or the health care speech he's giving on Wednesday?" Lou asked.

"I'll get to that on Monday."

Lou leaned forward. "You're spending too much time working on things that, in the grand scheme of things, don't really matter."

"I have a system," Otto began. "During the week, I work on the heavy stuff. On Fridays, I concentrate on the fun things."

"I give that system two more weeks before you start wishing you'd have focused on the big stuff all the time," Lou remarked. "Give the Webelos speech to someone else. You have bigger fish to fry."

"Actually, Webelos aren't Boy Scouts –"

Lou held her hand up, effectively silencing her young deputy. "You can educate me about the stages of scouting some other time. Or never would also be fine."

"Ok." He stepped toward the door, wondering if it would seem out of place for him to vocalize his next question. "Do you have plans for the weekend?"

"I've got a date with Jim Beam and Jack Daniels tonight," Lou replied. "It'll be me, some whiskey, and my laptop."

Otto wished that Lou was the type of person who would ask what his plans were, but she was already clicking away on her computer and seemingly paying no mind to him.

"Bram is taking me out tonight," he said anyway.

Lou looked up. "That has disaster written all over it."

"Not really," Otto replied. "Lester's coming along."

She raised one hand. "I'm not posting bail."

"We won't get arrested." Otto laughed nervously. "You don't really think we'll get arrested, do you?"

"You better not. I don't have time to hire a new Press Secretary and speech writer." She turned back to her computer. "Now can I please get some work done?"

"Have a good weekend." Otto walked out, shutting the door behind him.

CUT TO:
INT. COMMUNICATIONS BULLPEN

"There you are!" Bram greeted Otto as soon as he stepped out of Lou's office. "We've been looking for you."

"You have?" Otto raised his eyebrows.

"Not really," Lester said with his head buried in another polling report.

Bram threw an arm around Otto's shoulders. "Are you ready for your big night on the town?"

Otto looked nervous. "Where exactly are you taking me?"

"To a rooftop pool party." Bram continued walking down the corridor with Otto pressed to his side. "There'll be girls in bikinis and a tequila bar!"

"Tequila sounds good." Otto swallowed hard.

Lester looked up from the report. "And the girls don't?"

"No. I mean yes," he stuttered. "The girls sound good, too."

When they reached the Operations bullpen, Bram released his hold on Otto. "I'm leaving in ten minutes. Let's meet at my place in about an hour."

Lester kept walking. "Later."

"I'm just going to wrap up some things here," Otto hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "And then I'll be on my way."

"Sounds good." Bram patted him on his back. "Don't forget your trunks!"

Otto began walking down the hallway. "I don't know if I own trunks," he said under his breath.

CUT TO:
INT. OVAL OFFICE

The President flipped through the New York Times, scanning the graphs and charts on page three. It was the first time all day he'd had the opportunity to look at these particular polling numbers.

"The Times has us at 55%?" Santos asked.

"They're the lowest so far, sir." Josh stood in front of his desk, scribbling notes on a legal pad.

"Who had the highest?"

"Gallup," Josh responded. "Fifty-eight percent."

Santos regarded his Chief of Staff. "That's damn good."

"Yes, sir. It is." Josh lowered the notepad. "Joey Lucas just met with Sam, Lester, and Bram. She should have the internal polling data for us early next week."

"Sounds good," the President said, folding the newspaper. "These numbers are cause for celebration this weekend."

"They really are," Josh replied with a slight nod. "But I'll be working."

"I thought you were going to Senator McBain's clambake?"

"I am, but I'll be drumming up support for the energy bill and talking to the Party's elite about what we can do to better serve them." Josh grinned. "Should be fun."

"I figured you'd make a weekend out of it," Santos replied. "You know: you, Donna, and a cabin on the Bay..."

"We are, sir." He smirked. "Donna's got her own agenda for the clambake."

"I'm sure she does."

Josh looked at his watch. "Speaking of Donna, I promised her we'd leave no later than six."

"Well, then. I wouldn't want to keep her waiting." Santos smiled. "It's only the country we're trying to run."

He grinned. "Are you ready for brunch with Senator Rudolph tomorrow?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Santos replied. "I don't know how my wife interpreted brunch for barbeque."

He shrugged. "Sometimes women have their minds made up before you can even get a word in."

"Tell me about it." The President stacked a pile of papers on his desk. "But I do have a game plan. The Republican Senator and I will eat like civilized men, then rough each other up a bit with the pigskin while discussing the energy bill."

"Good luck with that." Josh smirked.

"He played Division III ball at Rhodes College," the President said. "That doesn't come close to my football experience at Annapolis."

"Yes, sir."

Ronna peeked her head in. "Excuse me, sir. Lou's here."

"Send her in." Santos looked at the clock on his desk. "One quick meeting with Lou, then I'm out of here."

"Thank you, Mr. President." Josh walked to the door connecting to his office. "Enjoy brunch."

"Oh, I will." Santos chuckled.

CUT TO:
INT. FIRST LADY'S CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

Annabeth and Donna were wrapping up their discussion of the Hewlett-Packard computer donation program when Mrs. Santos entered the office.

Both women stood. "Good afternoon, ma'am."

"Sorry I'm late." The First Lady let out a long sigh. "We're having our first sleepover in the Residence tonight, and I'm trying to put the final touches on brunch tomorrow."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Donna asked.

"Thanks for offering, but I don't think it'll be necessary." Helen took a seat. "I finally see the payoff in having 50 people working for me."

Annabeth and Donna smiled.

"We were just reviewing the HP computer donation program," Annabeth said.

"Right." Helen took a sip of water. "Hewlett-Packard will donate a computer for every one a business purchases for an inner city school."

Donna nodded. "They've only committed to Southern states for now; but if the program catches on, we think HP will broaden their scope after a year."

"Let's hope so." The First Lady smiled. "What else?"

"Donna's off to the McBain clambake on Chesapeake Bay this weekend," Annabeth said.

"Oh, that's right." Helen crossed her legs.

"I'm hoping to drum up support for 'A Lasting America,'" Donna replied.

"Yes, the preservation program," Helen noted. "I think that's an excellent idea."

"I've researched the guest list, and it appears that there will be a number of people at the clambake who should be able to lend financial support," Donna stated.

"She'll also touch upon children volunteerism with several of the guests, including the Secretary of Education," Annabeth added.

"It doesn't sound like you'll have much time to enjoy yourself," the First Lady commented.

"Josh booked a room at an inn for the weekend, so I don't think it'll be all work, all the time."

Helen raised her eyebrows. "You let Josh handle the hotel reservations?"

Donna grimaced.

"What's wrong? Do you think he'll screw it up?" Annabeth asked.

"No," Donna replied. She picked at a piece of lint on her skirt. "It's just that...well...I invited Sam and Lauren to join us, and I haven't informed Josh yet."

Mrs. Santos and Annabeth looked at her like she was nuts.

"You get to spend a weekend on Chesapeake Bay with the man you love, and you invited another couple?" the First Lady asked.

"Lauren called earlier today and sounded lonely," Donna replied. "She told me how she and Sam used go sailing on weekends, and they haven't gotten away since the move. Before I knew it, I'd invited them to join us."

"I can't wait for the stories." Helen laughed. "Is there anything else we need to discuss before I turn into Den Mother?"

"That's all I have," Annabeth said with a smile. "I'll see you at brunch tomorrow morning."

"Nothing else from me, ma'am." Donna stood. "Have a great weekend, and good luck with the sleepover and brunch."

Annabeth and the First Lady exited. Donna quickly shoved a few files into her briefcase, then hoisted it over her shoulder.

It might not be such a romantic weekend after all.

CUT TO:
INT. CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

As soon as Josh returned to his office, he made a quick call to the Mirror Point Inn to confirm their reservations for the weekend. He was happy to learn that the cottage he'd requested was available.

Sam knocked on the door, then walked in as Josh hung up the phone and pumped his fist in the air.

"You look mighty chipper," Sam commented.

"I just found out that the cottage I wanted is available."

"Great," Sam said with mock enthusiasm.

Josh ignored Sam's lackluster response. "How'd the meeting with Joey go?"

"Fine," Sam replied. "I asked for the report on the lowest numbers first. I hope you don't mind."

"Why would you want that?"

"Aren't you concerned about where we're missing the mark?"

Josh let out an incredulous chuckle. "We're polling at 57%, Sam. I'm not going to dwell on negative factors today."

Sam creased his brow. "You're not at all disappointed in the numbers?"

"I wish we had a 100% approval rating, but I'm satisfied with anything over 54%, which is what we had after President Bartlet's first 100." Josh powered down his computer. "Besides, I'm looking forward to rubbing elbows with the Party's elite and watching Donna whip some congressmen into shape this weekend. It'll be like a political orgasm."

Sam blanched. "Whatever you say."

Both men turned around when they heard a light tap on the door.

"Can I come in?"

Josh smiled.

"I was just leaving," Sam announced as he scooted past her. "You two have fun this weekend."

"Thanks."

"I've already turned off my computer," Josh said as Donna shut the door, leaving only a tiny crack.

"I can see that." She sauntered toward him.

"You ready for the weekend?" He tossed his notepad into his backpack.

"I am." Donna ran her hand up Josh's arm.

He smirked. "Apparently so."

She kissed a trail up his neck and across his jaw.

"What the hell is going on here?" Josh dropped his backpack on the desk so he could focus his hands and attention on Donna.

"I just got off the phone with Lauren. She sounded as depressed as Sam looked." She kissed him on the lips.

"All I know is that in two hours, we're going to be alone at an inn on the Bay." He ran a hand down the back of her head.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I was just thinking." Donna swirled her tongue in his mouth, then worked her way to his ear. "What would you think of inviting Sam and Lauren to join us for the weekend?"

He pulled back. "Donna!"

"They're dying to get out of DC, but neither of them is making a move to do it," she said. "Let's make it easy for them."

He shook his head vigorously. "No way."

She ran her hands through Josh's hair and kissed him again. "I'll do that thing I did in Hawaii."

"Mmm. That was nice."

"Pretty please?" She pulled his earlobe between her lips.

He moaned. "The place *does* have two bedrooms."

"I'll even add a little twist," Donna said as her hands moved lower and lower down Josh's back. She whispered exactly what she had in mind.

Josh gulped and his knees nearly gave out. "SAM!"

SMASH CUT TO MAIN TITLES