EPISODE 8.10 - Written by Jo March

THE HISPANIC JFK

TEASER

INT. MSNBC STUDIOS
WEDNESDAY, 9:50 P.M.

"There's an old saying, Rita, that I think explains why I switched parties." Chris Carrick leaned back in
his seat, obviously enjoying the interview. "'I'm not a member of any organized political party; I'm a Democrat.'"

The reporter laughed politely before asking the next question. "And do you think that saying still applies, Senator? After all, President Santos has a high approval rating. His education bill, the centerpiece of his campaign platform, just passed. Some observers would say that it's the Republicans who are in disarray."

Carrick grinned. "Those observers need to look more closely. Santos is still in the honeymoon phase. It won't be long before his inexperience shows. Yes, the education bill passed, but that had little to do with Matt Santos' leadership abilities. It was all about Josh Lyman and his cronies strongarming the many Democrats who spoke out against the bill. And that includes their own legislative liaison, who was fired for her independent thinking."

As Carrick expected, his interviewer took the bait. "So you believe there's a rift within the Santos
administration?"

"Well, Rita, it's not like I'm invited to their parties." Carrick chuckled while mentally acknowledging the nod of approval his chief of staff was giving him off-camera. The interview was headed exactly where they want it to go. "The spirit of bipartisanship doesn't apply to moderate Republicans who used to be Democrats. But when you look at what's gone on since Santos took office—you've got an inexperienced president who seems more interested in image than in governing. The image is appealing—the young, athletic president with his beautiful wife and his photogenic children. It may seem like the second coming of Camelot, but behind the scenes there's a debacle that rivals the Bay of Pigs. Maybe if the President would pay as much attention to the war in Kazakhstan as he does to his touch football game, our troops would be home by now."

Out of the corner of his eye, Carrick noticed the whispered conversation going on behind the camera.
Terry, his chief of staff, was whispering to an office gofer. Terry looked especially concerned. Carrick
forced himself to concentrate on the interview, where he was just about to get the question he'd been waiting for.

"Senator, our time is almost up, but I can't let you go without asking this last question. There's been
talk that you're considering running for your party's nomination in 2010. Would you care to comment?"

Adopting his best "aw, shucks" expression, Carrick answered, "It's much too early to be discussing the next presidential election. I'm just focusing on doing the best job possible for the people of my state."

"We've been talking to Senator Chris Carrick, author of the new book 'A Party of the Elite.' We'll be back after these messages."

As he undid his microphone, Carrick said a quick thank-you to the interviewer, then hurried to Terry's
side.

"Senator," the chief of staff said, "I have some disturbing news. "It's about Claire."

CUT TO:
INT. RONNA'S APARTMENT
WEDNESDAY, 9:59 P.M.

"Did your father just diss my boss?"

"So it would appear." Claire sat her wine glass on the coffee table. "Is this going to be an issue for us?"

Ronna picked up Claire's glass and walked toward the kitchen. "Not unless he really does run for president. I'd just as soon not have my private life made public. Not to mention that having the Secret Service following us around would be disconcerting," she laughed.

A moment later, Ronna felt Claire's breath against her neck. "Well, then," Claire said as Ronna turned to face her. "In case we have to break up in a couple of years, I say we enjoy ourselves now." As she reached to take the glass out of Ronna's hand, Claire's arm brushed against her lover's breast. Ronna reached for Claire, pulling her in for a kiss. Neither woman noticed as the glass slipped out of Claire's hand, shattering against the floor.

CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND DONNA'S BEDROOM
WEDNESDAY, 10 P.M.

"Son of a bitch!" Josh exclaimed.

Donna turned off her blowdryer and leaned around the corner of the bathroom door. "I told you not to watch it," she called out.

Josh plumped up the pillows he was leaning on. "Oh, like I had a choice," he muttered.

"Seriously." Donna came out of the bathroom, wearing a dark green silk nightshirt. "All he's going to say is 'Democrats bad, Republicans good.' Where's the news value in that?"

"They asked about 2010."

"Get used to it," Donna said as she climbed into bed. "They're going to ask every Republican that between now and the next New Hampshire primary."

Josh rolled onto his side and played with the buttons on Donna's nightshirt. "He said that I strongarmed people into signing the education bill."

Running her finger down Josh's bare chest, Donna smiled. "Technically, it was Sam who did the strongarming. Or is that the part that bothers you?"

Josh took his attention off the outline of Donna's nipples against the silk and asked, "Is *what* bothering me?"

"The fact that you have to be the diplomat now, not the guy who threatens the people's duly-elected representatives."

"Well," he admitted with a smile, "I was pretty good at it."

"You have a rare talent," Donna agreed, more than a hint of mockery in her voice.

He was just about to pull her closer when the phone rang. He rolled over and reached for it.

"Joshua," a familiar voice asked, "have you been threatening senators again?"

"No, Mom," he replied. He smothered a laugh at the speed with which Donna began buttoning her top when she realized Josh was talking to Judith Lyman. "I have people who do that for me now."

"Pity," his mother replied. "That Carrick man looks like he should be bullied more often."

"I'll make a note of it," Josh said. "What time does your plane get in tomorrow?"

"11:30. I'll take a cab to the White House."

"No, Donna's going to meet you at the airport," Josh insisted. "I'd do it myself, but it's kind of a hassle with the agents and all." He ran one hand lightly against Donna's bare leg. She swatted him away, raising her eyebrows and mouthing the words "not in front of your mother."

"It's not a problem, sweetheart," Judith Lyman assured him. "Donna's busy too. I'll take a cab."

"Really, Mom, she wants to do it."

"I'm looking forward to it," Donna called out, loud enough for his mother to hear.

"I think she's got some sort of girly lunch thing planned," Josh explained.

"As long as it's no bother. I'll see you both tomorrow. Tell Donna I love her."

Josh said goodbye to his mother and turned his attention back to Donna. "My mother says she loves
you. She never said that about any of my other girlfriends."

"Well, I love her too," Donna replied. "In fact, the only reason I'm hanging around with you is so I can
spend time with her."

"Okay," Josh said as he went back to unbuttoning Donna's nightshirt, "can that please be the last time we mention my mother when we're in bed?"

Five minutes later, Josh's lips were pressed to her collarbone and Donna's hand was moving underneath the waistband of his pajamas when the phone rang again.

"This had better be important," he muttered into the receiver.

Lou didn't bother to apologize. "Turn on Fox News right now," she said. "They're running a story about some woman named Anita Morales and whether the President is the father of her child."

SMASH CUT TO TITLES