ACT FOUR
INTERIOR - EAST ROOM - MAIN ENTRANCE

Sam and Lauren entered the East Room barely touching and wearing decidedly unparty-like faces. The distance between them was clear in more than the disparity of their costumes. They were barely speaking. They seemed unaffected by the jovial atmosphere around them. Almost immediately after entering they ran into Bram.

"You're late," Bram said cheerily, oblivious to their discomfort, as he waved over a waiter to get Sam and Lauren some champagne.

"We were delayed," Sam said curtly. "Something came up."

"Ahhh so you took my advice." Bram chuckled and gave Sam another exaggerated wink.

Lauren started to speak but Sam interrupted by clearing his throat. "Excuse us, please. We have to go say hello to the President."

"Sure thing," Bram said. "I'll talk to you later."

"What was he talking about?" Lauren asked sharply as they headed across the room towards the President.

"Never mind," Sam mumbled.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - LADIES ROOM OFF THE EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

Lauren was touching up her makeup in the mirror when Annabeth entered, dressed as Little Bo Peep and carrying a shepherd's hook and a large stuffed sheep.

"Hi there, Lauren," she chirped happily. "It's nice to see you again."

"Hi, Annabeth," Lauren smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Nice to see you too. Great costume."

"Thanks. You too. You make a great Red Riding Hood. What's Sam dressed as?"

"Galileo," Lauren said as she slipped her compact back into the pocket hidden in the lining of her cape.

"Oh....that's....nice."

"Yeah, I know, it doesn't really match."

"Well couples don't necessarily have to match," Annabeth said lightly. "Speaking of Sam, I didn't see him out there. Where'd he get to?"

"As soon as we said our hellos to the President he was swallowed up by a bunch of people he works with and sees every day. Apparently they still have things to talk about after all those hours together." Lauren couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice.

"He left you alone?" Annabeth tsk-ed.

"Not exactly. I excused myself. They're all so close that sometimes it's hard to feel like you're being included. They talk in this kind of shorthand and they act as though everybody should know exactly who and what they're talking about."

Annabeth noticed the dampness in Lauren's eyes for the first time. "I know it seems that way at first," she said sympathetically. "But they're really great people and they're not the types to freeze out outsiders."

Lauren looked doubtful.

"It wasn't all that long ago I was the new girl and look at me now. You just need to give them some time."

"Yeah, maybe," Lauren said uncertainly. "I guess I'll go back out there and find Sam."

"That sounds like a great idea." Annabeth watched with concern as Lauren plastered on a fake smile and headed back to the party.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

"This is some party," Sam said with forced cheerfulness as he approached Josh who had just wrapped up a conversation with head of legislative affairs.

"If you say so," Josh smirked.

"You're not having a good time?" Sam feigned incredulity.

"It's fine. I've just...."

"Been trying to figure out a way to instigate a low-level disaster to get yourself out of here?"

"How'd you guess?" Josh chuckled at how well Sam knew him.

"I'm intuitive that way. There's just one thing I have to say about that plan."

"What's that?"

"If you get yourself out of here and don't take me with you I'll never forgive you."

Josh laughed. "Deal."

"Where's Donna?" Sam looked around and didn't see either her blond hair or her striking blue dress.

"She and Annabeth are playing hide and seek with Peter and his friends."

"She still determined to go to the exhibit?"

"As far as I know," Josh scowled.

"It'll be ok, Josh. One way or the other the two of you will get through it. I've never known two stronger people than you and Donna."

"I hope you're right."

They stood in contemplative silence for a few minutes.

"Where's Lauren," Josh asked.

"I have no idea. Avoiding me probably."

"Everything ok?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"But you know I'm here if you change your mind, right?"

"Always."

They shuffled their feet for a few more seconds.

"Where's a freak snowstorm when you need one?"

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - COAT ROOM OFF THE EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

"Ok, I'm worn out. I can neither hide nor seek any longer," Annabeth laughed. "Why don't you kids head over to the buffet table? I saw the chef getting ready to make hot fudge sundaes."

"YAY!" the kids all shouted in unison and headed out across the East Room on a dead run.

"Smart move," Donna said as she straightened her costume and smoothed down her hair.

"There are only so many places I can hide in this hoop skirt," Annabeth smiled as she adjusted her ruffles. "Besides my sheep is getting tired."

Donna laughed. "Still, hide and seek is a nice diversion. Helps you get your mind off things and just be a kid again for a while."

"Still thinking about the exhibit," Annabeth asked.

"Actually I'm trying not to," Donna replied.

"So you haven't made a final decision?"

Donna jutted out her chin. "I'm strong enough to do this. I don't know why everyone thinks I'm weak and I'll break down."

"I didn't say anything of the sort, Donna. I mean I know I would, but that's me. I just want a little heads up if you're going because I'm sure there will be a lot of inquiries."

""Not if I don't give them anything to inquire about," Donna shot back.

"It's up to you. Just let me know. Hey, I almost forgot, I saw Lauren in the bathroom earlier."

"Sam's Lauren?"

"Yeah. She seemed a little upset. She was talking about how clique-y the staff is and how hard it is to break in."

"I don't like the sound of that." Donna crinkled her brow. "I know she was having some problems early on but I really thought she was coming around after our trip to Chesapeake Bay this summer. I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her since we got back but when I have seen her she hasn't mentioned anything about being unhappy."

Annabeth shrugged. "Maybe she's just having an off night."

"Maybe. I'll talk to Josh. We'll make more of an effort to spend with time with her and Sam over the holidays. Maybe even throw a party at the apartment."

"That sounds like a great idea. But right now I think I'm going to try and snag one of those hot fudge sundaes," Annabeth winked cheekily as she left Donna standing alone in the coat room.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

"Hey, Josh."

"Hey, Lauren. You look great."

"You too."

"Thanks. I didn't want to wear the...you know what...never mind." Josh decided to give up trying to explain his objections to the costume that was chosen for him.

"Have you seen Sam?" Lauren asked testily.

"Not for a while."

"Oh. I figured you probably had him working or something. I was on my way to check his office."

"He's not working," Josh said defensively.

"Well, that's something new," Lauren huffed.

"Is everything ok, Lauren?" Josh wasn't sure what he had done to set off Sam's fiancée but clearly she wasn't happy with him.

"Fine. I just need to find Sam."

"If I see him I'll tell him."

"Thanks," Lauren said over her shoulder as she turned and headed back towards the party.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

"This turned out to be not so bad after all," Matt said jovially as he approached Josh who was making his way back into the room.

"If you say so," Josh smiled. He looked across the room and noted, "The kids sure seem to be having fun."

"Yeah. I think it's possible Helen may have even let Peter out of her sight for a few minutes."

"She'll get back on solid ground. Now that all the interviews are over and she's had some time to digest things. She just needs time."

"I know. She's worried and it's making her overreact. It happens. Sometimes no matter how much we try to protect the people we love they have to walk the path their own way," Matt said. "They have to work things out on their own. And we have to find a way to let them."

"How do you do that when you know there's danger on the path," Josh asked earnestly.

"I wish I knew Josh. If you figure it out, make sure I'm the first one you tell."

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - EAST ROOM
CONTINUOUS

"The President and First Lady have headed back to the Residence," Otto reported as he made his way back to a group consisting of Lou, Lester, Bram and a few junior staffers. "Does that mean we can get out of here before Josh sees us and gives us something to do that'll keep us here all night?"

"I say we split up," Lester said, the effect of one too many scotches showing in his slurred speech. "He can't get us all."

"Don't count on that," Lou snorted.

Bram glanced at his watch. "I have to face him in seven hours at staff. And who knows what tomorrow holds. So I'm gonna get out of here while the getting's good."

"Me too," Otto finished his drink. "I talked to Sam for about five minutes tonight and it looks like maybe whatever's been bothering Josh is spreading so I need to be well-rested for tomorrow."

"What's well-rested?" Lester asked.

"Touché," Otto laughed.

"Well we can at least try for the West Wing version of well-rested," Lou groaned as the group headed for the door.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR - JOSH'S TOWN CAR
CONTINUOUS

"I'm exhausted," Donna said as she laid her head on Josh's shoulder. "It's been a long week already and it's not over yet." She was tired of talking about the whole exhibit thing, tired of people looking at her like she was weak and that she wouldn't be able to handle seeing the pictures. She was a strong woman and this was a decision she had to make for herself.

Josh leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry about that. I know I haven't been helping. It's just that...."

"Shhh," Donna said. "I understand. I really do. But I don't want to talk about it right now."

"The exhibit is only two days away," Josh argued.