EPISODE 8.15 - Written by Jen
RAIN
INT. WHITE HOUSE CORRIDOR
6:30PM FRIDAY NIGHT
“I have a feeling we’ve got an agreement, Josh,” the president said as he and Josh walked out of the Oval Office and down the hallway.
“In three days, after a year of arguing,” Josh said sarcastically. “I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
The president raised an eyebrow and looked over at him. “Pessimistic today, aren’t we?”
“Realistic.”
They walked down the stairs and towards the Sit Room. “Lighten up Josh,” the president said jovially. “It’s Friday.”
“Yes it is. Of course, I’ll be here Saturday and Sunday, so...”
The president laughed. “Have you ever had a job where you didn’t work most weekends?”
Josh looked up and seemed to ponder that. “No.”
The president chuckled again and walked into the Sit Room. All activity and conversation stopped immediately and he nodded to his secretary of defense and national security advisor before sitting down at the head of the long table. Josh walked in behind him and sat at his usual spot to the left. The others waited until they were seated, and then everyone except Secretary Brenton sat down in seats around the table.
“What do you have for me, Mr. Secretary?” the president started.
“
The president shot Josh an all-knowing smirk and then focused again on the secretary of defense.
“We heard from General McClain about a half an hour ago.
“What’s
“Both presidential candidates are in
“Of course,” Josh mumbled.
“Is this agreement going to stick, gentlemen?” President Santos asked.
“General McClain has been in Astana at these meetings for the last three days, sir,” replied Secretary Brenton. “He’s confident that all three countries are serious and committed to the agreement.”
The president looked at Josh. “Josh?”
“Something should be put into place to assure the fairness of the election this time. Otherwise this could start all over in January,” Josh said while jotting down something on the legal pad he’d brought in.
Secretary Brenton nodded. “They’re addressing specifics in their morning meeting before signing. I’ll speak with General McClain about election monitoring.”
“Thank you. Anything else?”
“Yes, sir. We’re ready to recommend the withdrawal of thirty thousand troops.”
The president’s eyes widened. “You don’t think it’s too soon for that?”
“We need to show that we support their efforts while still keeping a strong presence there in case either side reneges. Thirty thousand is only twenty percent; both the Russians and Chinese have agreed to withdraw fifty percent.”
A new base in Amiir and the withdrawal of troops from
“Do you have a timeline in place?” Josh asked.
“We’re still putting options together,” Secretary Brenton replied, “But we expect to have troops home in the next six weeks.”
The president beamed. Their best case scenario for withdrawing troops was eighteen months and it had only been thirteen. “30,000 troops home by Christmas? You’re about five months early, gentlemen. Congratulations.”
Secretary Brenton nodded slightly at the compliment. “It’s only twenty percent sir, but we’re hoping to have another thirty home by spring.”
The president stood, followed by the others in the room. “Give me a little good
“I wish I could, sir,” Secretary Brenton answered with a forced chuckle. “But I don’t know that things will ever be stable when it comes to
“That’s an understatement,” Josh mumbled while gathering his notebook and cell phone off the table.
Josh followed the president out of the Sit Room and upstairs. “Did you hear that, Josh? Troops home for Christmas; Lou’s going to kiss me.”
“She’s not really allowed to do that,” Josh replied distractedly while checking his phone for messages.
The president chuckled and turned to his chief of staff. “Troops home, Josh. That means money for other things! Show a little excitement!”
Josh flipped his phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. “It’s thirty thousand out of a hundred and fifty and that money’s going directly into building the base in Amiir.”
They walked into Ronna’s office and headed towards the Oval. “You’re grumpy.” The president stopped outside the door to his office and looked at Ronna. “Ronna, Josh is in a bad mood.”
“I noticed,” she replied without looking up. “I’ve been having flashbacks to the campaign all week.”
The president laughed out loud as Josh shot her a look. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t think he’s that bad yet,” the president said to her while ignoring Josh’s claim to be fine. “But watch him.”
“I’m right here,” Josh screeched.
The president looked at him with raised eyebrows. “I’ll give you a dollar to smile.”
“You haven’t had cash in your pocket in almost a year.”
“You’re no fun.” He walked inside his office. “Go home; it’s Friday.”
“I have a few things…”
“Go home. You too Ronna. And no one here before ten in the morning.”
Josh gave Ronna an evil eye and turned, walking out of her office and down the hallway towards his. The president called him grumpy. Nice.
“Hey,” Sam said, passing him in the hallway and then turning around and walking with him. “I was just looking for you.”
“Yeah? How was the meeting with the DCCC?” Josh asked as they continued towards his office.
“Shouldn’t it be too early to be discussing midterms?”
They walked into Josh’s office and Josh walked around and plopped into his chair. “They’re only a year away. Did you discuss the
“As well as five other house seats they predict will be up for grabs,” Sam said, sitting across from him.
“Six?” Josh asked with a raised eyebrow. “We could win back the house with that.”
Sam nodded. “
“Will Bailey’s running in the
“Yes,” Sam said, holding out a few sheets of paper. “They gave me this list of possibilities for the other races. We need to have a short list next week.”
Josh groaned and took the papers. “I’ll look at this tomorrow; the president kicked me out for the night.”
“Already? You and Donna going to do something?”
“I guess,” Josh said unconvincingly. Doing something with Donna would probably mean arguing with Donna. “You want to go grab a beer?” he asked Sam instead.
“Can’t,” Sam said standing. “I’m meeting Lauren for dinner.”
“Right,” Josh said with an exaggerated nod. “Everything… ok there?”
Sam looked at Josh defeated. “Same as it was last night at the Halloween party.”
“She didn’t seem to be enjoying herself last night.”
“I know,” Sam said with a sigh. “We’ve just got some things to work out. It’s nothing to worry about.”
Josh studied him for a moment, but the last thing he had the energy to do was work on someone else’s relationship. “Ok. If you need to talk…”
“I know,” Sam said nodding. “What about Donna? Has she made a decision about tomorrow night?”
Josh stared at Sam for a second before looking at something on his desk. “Not yet.”
Sam paused. “You know, she…”
“Have a nice dinner,” Josh said, halting the conversation.
Sam looked at him for a second before standing. They were quite the pair this week. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yeah,” Josh said without looking up. He waited until he was alone in his office, and then stared at the phone on his desk. He’d been avoiding her for most of the day, or maybe they’d been avoiding each other. He wasn’t sure anymore. He just knew that he wanted to talk about it; convince her not to go, and that every time he brought it up she wanted to ‘talk about it later.’ He sighed heavily and picked up the phone.
“Donna Moss’ office.”
“Is she busy?”
“I’m sorry Mr. Lyman; she’s gone for the night.”
Josh looked at his watch; it wasn’t quite seven. “Did she have a meeting?”
“I didn’t set anything up for her, but she left a half an hour ago and said she’d see me on Monday. Would you like me to try her cell?”
He sighed. “No, I’ll…” She probably went home; things had been stressed lately and he figured she wanted a little down time before he got home to go another round on why she should or shouldn’t attend the Colin Ayres exhibit the next night. “I’ll call her. Thanks.”
“Goodnight Mr. Lyman.”
He hung up and dialed her cell.
CUT TO EXT.
Donna’s cell phone started ringing just as she opened her umbrella and stepped out of the cab and onto the sidewalk. She reached inside and paid the driver, then pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the caller id. She stared at Josh’s name as it rang a third, fourth, and fifth time. She always answered when he called. Always. But she closed her eyes and waited as it rang a sixth time before switching over to voicemail, then she powered down her cell and walked up the block.
Bosco’s was out of the way, small, and one of the few places she knew in
She took a deep breath as she approached the table, still not sure what she was doing there. It wasn’t too late to turn around, she told herself, and she actually almost did, even if it was just to get a grip. But there wasn’t time, because he stood up and saw her.
“Donna,” he said with a cocky grin.
She smiled slightly. “Colin.”
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