What was Josh Lyman?
A warning shot?
That was My Son.
What did I ever do to yours but praise His glory and praise His name?
There's a Tropical Storm that's gaining speed and power.
T.V. REPORTER
With 17% of the precincts reporting, we are now ready to call the Illinois primary for former New Hampshire Governor Jed Bartlet.
Everyone cheers, cheers, cheers all around, and hugs as "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang plays.
JOSH
[pointing at Sam] Yes!
Leo enters and gives Josh a big hug.
LEO
Hey, hey, hey! Way to go! Now, let's get to California.
Leo runs away to party.
JOSH
Leo, we've got to replace this music, we've got to replace it with some Doobie Brothers!
Donna walks up to Josh apprehensively as the others party round.
DONNA
Josh?
JOSH
And Donna, you've got to get happy, Donna, you just won the Illinois Primary, come dance with me!
DONNA
No, Josh. No, Josh... your father died.
Josh stares at her, stunned.
FADE TO: INT. CHICAGO AIRPORT - NIGHT
In a T.V. screen at the airplane gate, we see a reporter.
REPORTER
...very happy Bartlet Supporters. We are told the candidate is in the suite, refining his remarks, he's due to be down here at any moment. Just over an hour ago...
The camera pulls down to the coolest blocking on television. Two men walk under the TV, one right past an oblivious Josh. The first man says something into his sleeve, and stops to stand about three feet away from Josh, near the counter. The second man, earpiece visible, walks past Josh on the other side of his seat, and stops to stand near the windows. Josh doesn't quite realize what's going on until a third man slides into view in the front left of the screen. All of a sudden, Bartlet appears, walking out of the right side of screen, directly behind Josh.
[Do yourself a favor -- if you've got it on tape, watch it a couple of more times. It's the coolest thing ever.]
BARTLET
Josh?
JOSH
[jumping up] Governor!
BARTLET
Your father died, Josh. I can't believe it.
JOSH
Yeah, uh, Governor, you -- you shouldn't be here.
BARTLET
What happened?
Bartlet sits down. Josh also awkwardly sits.
JOSH
He, uh, went for his chemotherapy and he unexpectedly developed a pulmonary embolism,
it's a --
BARTLET
It's a blood clot.
JOSH
Yeah. It went to his heart and there was cardiac arrest.
BARTLET
Yeah... Yeah.
JOSH
Governor, you should really get back to the ballroom, so that you can get on a plane and
get to California.
BARTLET
He was a lawyer?
JOSH
Yeah, a litigator.
BARTLET
Did he like that you were in politics?
JOSH
I think he would have liked grandchildren more.
BARTLET
[chuckling] He would've.
JOSH
He liked that I was working for you. He liked that we were starting to do well.
He would've liked tonight. At least his friends and neighbors will be spared all the... you know...
BARTLET
He'd have been doing some bragging?
JOSH
Yeah, and your name wouldn't have come up, by the way. "My son won the Illinois primary
tonight". Three more hours, and he would have been able to say that. He'd have been proud.
BARTLET
He was already. Trust me, Josh, I'm a father. He was already.
JOSH
I appreciate that, Governor. You should really get back to the hotel.
BARTLET
Nah, I'm okay.
JOSH
Sir, not that I don't appreciate you coming down here, but there's a ballroom full of
people waiting for a victory speech.
BARTLET
They'll wait.
JOSH
Yeah, they will, but the people watching television won't.
BARTLET
I've been a real jackass to you, Josh.
JOSH
Well.
BARTLET
To everybody. Toby Ziegler, C.J. Cregg, Sam Seaborn.
JOSH
Yeah.
BARTLET
Don't think I don't know what you gave up to work on this campaign, and don't think that
I don't know your value. And I'll never make you think I don't again. You got to be a
little impressed that I got all those names right just now.
Josh chuckles.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT [VO]
Delta Airlines Flight 175 to Kennedy International now boarding...
JOSH
They're calling my flight.
He gets up, and so does Bartlet.
BARTLET
You want me to go with you?
JOSH
[stops] Go with me?
BARTLET
Maybe you want some company on the plane.
He starts to feel all his pockets for his wallet.
BARTLET
I could get a ticket and come with you.
JOSH
Governor! California. You have to go the ballroom and give a Victory speech in primetime
and go to California.
BARTLET
I guess you're right.
JOSH
[laughing] You guess I'm right? Listen to me, Governor, if you don't lose this election,
it isn't going to be because you didn't try hard enough. But it was nice of you to ask.
Thank you, I appreciate.
BARTLET
They're calling your flight.
Josh turns to board the plane, taking one last look at Bartlet, who nods encouragingly to
him. Josh boards the plane. Leo walks up behind Bartlet.
LEO
Is he going to be all right?
BARTLET
He's going to be fine.
LEO
Good.
Bartlet turns around to face Leo.
BARTLET
Leo?
LEO
Yeah?
BARTLET
I'm ready.
Leo grins in understanding, and then joins Bartlet as they walk out of the terminal,
several people recognizing Bartlet and stopping to shake his hand, all the while we hear
Bartlet giving his speech.
BARTLET [VO]
Tonight, what began on the commons in Concord, Massachusetts, as an alliance of farmers
and workers, of cobbles man and tinsmiths, of statesmen and students, of mothers and
wives, of men and boys, lives two centuries later as America! My name is Josiah Bartlet,
and I accept your nomination for the Presidency of the United States!
The speech ends, we hear cheers and applause, but we--
FADE TO WHITE.
DR. HOLBROOK [VO]
Josh? Josh, wake up, it's okay.
FADE TO: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - PRESENT
The camera is closed in on Josh, lying on his hospital bed, with his eyes closed.
DR. HOLBROOK [OS]
I want you to wake up.
Josh opens his eyes slowly and looks around, muttering something as the camera pulls back
from his face. He is surrounded by Leo, the doctors, and Bartlet, who leans in.
BARTLET
I couldn't hear you, Josh.
Bartlet leans in closer, and then pulls back.
LEO
What did he say?
BARTLET
He said, "What's next?"
Bartlet lays his hand on Josh's head as we --
DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
Textbook Joseph Campbell.
The way Campbell explained it,
Young Men need a Secondary Father to finish raising them.
Beyond their Biological Father, they need a surrogate, traditionally aminister or a coach or a military officer.
The floatsam and jetsam of a generation washed up on the beach of last resort.
That's why street gangs are so appealing.
They send you men out, likeKnights on Quests to hone their skills and improve themselves.
And all the TRADITIONAL Mentors -- forget it.
Men are presumptive predators. They're leaving Teaching in droves.
Religious Leaders are pariahs.
Sports Coaches are stigmatized as odds-on pedophiles.
Even The Military is sketchy with sexual goings-on.
A Generation of Apprentices
Without Masters.
No comments:
Post a Comment