There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive.

 INT. PRESS CONFERENCE - DAY

WILL 

Someone who will fight for world-class schools. 

Someone who will take medical decisions away from HMO's and give them to Doctors. 

Someone who will make polluters pay for the pollution they cause right here in Orange County.

REPORTER 

And what are your plans for the final week?

WILL 

Volunteers are going door-to-door in every neighborhood. 

We've got six busloads of AFT and AFL volunteers coming down. 

We've got six get-out-the-vote rallies in the next six days. 

We're in this to win it. Yeah.

TED WILLARD [REPORTER] 

Mr. Bailey, Ted Willard Orange County Post-Gazette. 

What happens if that happens?
What happens if your candidate wins?

WILL 

A special election will be held after no more then 90 days.

TED WILLARD 

Does the party have someone in mind?

WILL 

We're vetting Wendell Wilkie. 

What do you think?

The reporters laugh.

TED WILLARD 

Seriously?

WILL 

Seriously, one election at a time. Beth?

BETH [REPORTER] 

60% of Orange County residents disagree with the Horton Wilde gun position which doesn't distinguish it from many other issues important to voters here. 

Is the Wilde campaign out of touch?

WILL 

60% is six of ten in a focus group. 

You change one mind, it's a dead heat. 

We change two, it's a landslide. 

This campaign's a mechanism of persuasion. 

We're not asking for a show of hands.

JUNE WHEELER [REPORTER] 

June Wheeler, San Jose Mercury News.

WILL 

You're a long way from home.

JUNE 

This is a fun story.

WILL 

Glad I could help out.

JUNE 

Mr. Bailey, we're all sitting here pretending this is a regular press conference, and you're very engaging up there, but your candidate died, so why isn't this all a little preposterous?

WILL 

Chuck Webb is a seven-term Congressman who, as Chairman of not one but two Commerce sub- committees, has taken money from companies he regulates. 

He's on the board of the NRA and once challenged another Congressman to a fistfight on the floor, over an amendment to make stalkers submit to background checks before buying AR-15s, AK-57s, Street Sweepers, Mac-10s, Mac-11s. 

He's joined protests designed to frighten pregnant women.

JUNE 

What's your point?

WILL 

There are worse things in the world than no longer being alive. 

Yes?

REPORTER 

You said earlier this morning that the 47th pays more in taxes...

FADE OUT. END ACT ONE