After it, ∴, ∵ of it.

After it, ∴, ∵ of it.

C.J.

Sir, this may be a good time to talk about your sense of humor.

BARTLET

[looks at his schedule] 

I’ve got an intelligence briefing, a security briefing,  and a 90-minute budget meeting all scheduled for the same 45 minutes. You sure  this is a good time to talk about my sense of humor?

C.J.

No.

BARTLET

Me neither.

LEO

What else?

C.J.

It’s just that it’s not the first time it’s happened.

BARTLET

I know.

TOBY

She’s talking about Texas, sir.

BARTLET

I know.

C.J.

U.S.A. Today asks you why you don’t spend more time campaigning in Texas and you say it’s 
‘cause you don’t look good in funny hats.

SAM

It was “big hats.”

C.J.

What difference does it make?

BARTLET

It makes a difference.

C.J.

The point is we got whomped in Texas.

JOSH

We got whomped in Texas twice.

C.J.

We got whomped in the primary, 
and we got whomped in November.

BARTLET

I think I was there.

C.J.

And it was avoidable, sir.

BARTLET

C.J., on your tombstone, it’s gonna read, 

“Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.”

C.J.

Okay, but none of my visitors are going to be able to understand my tombstone...

BARTLET

Twenty-seven lawyers in the room, anybody know 
“post hoc, ergo propter hoc?” 

Josh?

JOSH

Uh, uh, post, after, after hoc, ergo, therefore, after hoc, therefore, something else hoc.

BARTLET

Thank you. 
Next?

JOSH

Uh, if I’d gotten more credit on the 443...

BARTLET

Leo?

LEO

After it, therefore because of it. 

[Josh, a little weirded out, looks]

 After it, ∴, ∵ of it.

BARTLET

After it, therefore because of it. 

It means one thing follows the other, therefore it was caused by the other, but it’s not always True. 

In fact, it’s hardly ever True. 

We did not lose Texas because of the hat joke. 

Do you know when we lost Texas?

C.J.

When you learned to speak Latin?

BARTLET

Go figure.

People Say I’m a Dreamer

“You Know Dougal — You can Praise God w. Sleep.”

“Can Ye Now Ted!”

The Problem is, that with Magick being in many respects a Science of Language AND SYMBOLS, you have to be very careful of what you SAY and PHOTOGRAPH —

 

Because if, in your 21st Year, having Come of Age, and reached The Age of Knowledge Thricewise over,

Driven by some Unknown Force to Change History for The Better;

On a lonely path, a long, high road lit only by Faith, Hope and Striving to Put Right What Once Went Wrong —

You feel an irrisistable pull towards a faraway land;

To make a spiritual pilgrimage to The Hitchcock Stairs leading down from M-Street in Georgetown to the Potomac River

To make an image of yourself as the dead Sacrificial Exorcist, lying broken and penitent after The Fall —

you suddenly declare yourself to be a Wizard, without any knowledge of exactly what that implies —

 Then one day you are likely to wake up and to discover......  

That That is Exactly What You ARE.

The (Original) District of Columbia is rotated PERFECT SQUARE, 10 miles X 10 miles —

A DIAMOMD.

Georgetown is in both Virginia AND the District of Columbia

As are :

The Pentagon

Alexandria, Va.

(The Former Slave-Trading Port, Not the Alexandria, Va. in The Walking Dead — There are many Alexandrias)

Roslyn (“Rose-Line”), Va. — Where President Bartlett was shot.

Dulles/Ronald Reagan National Airport

I Know Why.

Because, if you are conjuring demons —

You need to create a Safe-Space with which to interact with them.

Who Wants to Live Forever?

BARTLET

I really did wake up energized this morning.

LEO

I know.

BARTLET

I never go to bed that way.

LEO

I know.

BARTLET

Just once, in this job, I’d like to end a day feeling as good as I did when the day started. 

[pause] 

Are you bothered by this?

LEO

The memo?

BARTLET

Yeah.

LEO

Yes.

BARTLET

We’ve heard it all before, Leo. 

You drive me to political safe ground. 

It’s not true.

LEO

I know it’s not true.

BARTLET

Good. [heads for his desk]

LEO

You drive me there.

BARTLET

[turns] 

What the hell did you say?

LEO

And you know it too.

BARTLET

Leo?

LEO

We’re stuck in neutral because that’s where you tell me to stay.

BARTLET

You’re wrong.

LEO

No. I’m not, sir.

BARTLET

You want to do this now?

LEO

Sir?

BARTLET

You came to my house, Leo.

LEO

Mr. President?

BARTLET

You came to my house, and you said, “Jed, let’s run for President.” 

I said, “Why?” 

And you said, “So that you can open your mouth and say what you think!” 

Where’d that  part go, Leo?

LEO

You tell me, Mr. President. I don’t see a shortage of cameras or microphones around  here. 

What the hell were you waiting for?

BARTLET

Look...

LEO

Everything you do...

BARTLET

This morning-

LEO

Everything you do says: 

“For God’s sakes, Leo. I don’t want to be a one-term President.”

BARTLET

Did I not say put our guys on the F.E.C.?

LEO

No sir. You did not do that.

BARTLET

Leo!

LEO

You said -- No! 

You said, "Let’s dangle our feet in the water of whatever the hell it is we dangle our feet in, when we want to make it look like we’re trying without pissing  too many people off!"

BARTLET

You’re writing a fascinating version of history, my friend.

LEO

Oh, take a look at Mandy’s memo, Mr. President, and you’ll read a fascinating version of it.

BARTLET

You brought me in on teachers. 

You brought me in on capital gains. 

You brought me in on China. 

And you brought me in on guns.

LEO

Brought you in from where?  

You’ve never been out there on guns.

You’ve never been out there on teachers. 

You dangle your feet, and I’m the hall monitor around here.

It’s my job to make sure nobody runs too fast or goes off too far.

I tell Josh to go to the Hill  on campaign finance, he knows nothing’s gonna come out of it.

BARTLET

That’s crap.

LEO

Sam can’t get real on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell because you’re not gonna be there, and every guy sitting across the room from him knows that.

BARTLET

Leo, if I ever told you to get aggressive about campaign finance or gays in the military, you would tell me, “Don’t run too fast or go to far.”

LEO

If you ever told me to get aggressive about anything, I’d say I serve at the pleasure of the President. 

[pause]

But we’ll never know, sir, because I don’t think you’re ever gonna say it.

BARTLET

I have said it, and nothing’s every happened!

LEO

You want to see me orchestrate this right now? 

You want to see me mobilize these people? 

These people who would walk into fire if you told them to. 

These people who showed up to lead. 

These people who showed up to fight.

[points at Charlie]

That guy gets death threats because he’s black and he dates your daughter. 

He was warned: “Do not show up to this place. You’re life will be in danger.” 

He said, “To hell with that, I’m going anyway.” 

You said, “No.” 

Prudent, or not prudent, this 21 year old for 600 dollars a week says,

  

“I’m going where I want to because a man stands up.”

[pause]

Everyone’s waiting for you. I don’t know how much longer.

BARTLET

I don’t want to feel like this anymore.

LEO

You don’t have to.

BARTLET

I don’t want to go to sleep like this.

LEO

You don’t have to.

BARTLET

I want to speak.

LEO

Say it out loud. Say it to me.

BARTLET

This is more important than reelection. I want to speak now.

LEO

Say it again.

BARTLET

This is more important than reelection. I want to speak now.

LEO

Now we’re in business!

Leo goes to the table and picks up a pen and writes on a pad.

BARTLET

What’s happening?

LEO

We got our asses kicked in the first quarter, and it’s time we move up the mat. 

BARTLET

Yes!

LEO

Say it.

BARTLET

This is more important than reelection. 

I want to speak now.

LEO

[while writing] I’m gonna talk to the staff. I’m gonna take them off the leash.

BARTLET

You have a strategy for all this?

LEO

I have the beginnings of one.

BARTLET

What is it?

LEO

I’m gonna try that out for a little while.

Leo puts the pad on the desk in front of the President. It reads, “LET BARTLET BE BARTLET.” 

The President looks at it and back to Leo as his chief of staff goes back into--

LEO’S OFFICE. The staff are still inside. Leo takes off his jacket and leans on his desk.

LEO

Listen up. Our ground game isn’t working. If we want to walk into walls, I’d want us running into them full speed.

JOSH

What are you saying?

LEO

Well, you can start by telling the Hill the President has named his nominees for the F.E.C.

Josh looks surprised.

LEO

And we’re gonna lose some of these battles, and we might even lose the White House, but we’re not gonna be threatened by issues. 

We’re gonna put them front and center. 

We’re gonna raise the level of public debate in this country, and let that be our legacy.

[turns to Josh] 

That sound all right to you, Josh?

JOSH

I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States.

LEO

[to C.J.] Yeah?

C.J.

I serve at the pleasure of the President.

Leo turns to Sam.

SAM

I serve at the pleasure of President Bartlet.

LEO

Toby?

TOBY

I serve at the pleasure of the President.

Everyone turns their frowns into big smiles.

LEO

Good.

Leo turns to his desk and gets a clipboard. He turns back to his staff.

LEO

Then let’s get in the game!

Toby, Sam, Josh and C.J. exit. Leo walks to a table to get a pen. He looks at the open  door to the Oval Office. He sees Bartlet, who has been standing there watching. 

Bartlet nods at him. Leo smiles back before Bartlet walks back to his desk.

DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END

The Secondary Fathers : Leo McGarry

"...So, this is what He [Satan] essentially said [during an exorcism] :-

He said, 'We Do Not Have The Right to afflict people, or cause problems in these areas of their lives, by shutting off their finances or destroying their relationships, here -

Christ gives Us permission to do it, but We don't have any Rights -

We Do it, Hoping the Person Will

PLAY THE VICTIM

When it Happens -

What's That Mean...?It means, that when something really  BAD  happens in their lives, they will just go

"Look what's happening to me, there's nothing I can do about this,

it keeps recurring,

everything I do, nothing's working.."

so they just give it over [to The Demons] , so They can just maraude the person's life.

THAT'S THEIR GOAL

or at least,

BE UNIMPEDED

He said,

'What you have to do is, 

since We have no  Rights,

BUT YOU DO

by The Natural Law,

The Natural Law, according to Leo XIII, states,

(That We Know by Reason)
That :

WE HAVE RIGHTS OVER OUR PROPERTY

WE HAVE RIGHTS OVER OUR GOOD REPUTATION

WE HAVE RIGHTS OVER THE PRODUCT OF OUR WORK

And so, what He [Satan] was saying was,

'You Have Rights Over These Things

You Need to Reassert Your Rights

and
Kick Us Out!'

and that's what We started doing."

Fr. Chad Ripperger

Exorcist and Spiritual Warrior.

  

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.

Bartlet heads to the door. He stops as he remembers something.
BARTLETOh, Roger, if anything happened, you know what to do, right?

TRIBBYI honestly hadn't thought about it sir.

BARTLET
First thing always is national security. 

Get your commanders together. 

Appoint joint chiefs. 

Appoint chairman. 

Take them to Defcon 4. 

Have the governor send emergency delegates to Washington. 

The assistant attorney general is gonna be the acting A.G 

If he tells you he wants to bring out the National Guard, do what he tells you.

LEO'S OFFICE.  

As Bartlet tells Tribby the procedure, we see Leo walk into his office to get his coat. 

The door to the Oval Office is open so he can hear the President and Tribby, but couldn't see them.
BARTLET
You have a best friend?

ROGER
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Is he smarter than you?

ROGER
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
Would you trust him with your life?

ROGER
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
That's your chief of staff.
Leo, obvioiusly touched, stops for a minute and walks away.

Back in THE OVAL OFFICE, Charlie walks in. Bartlet continues to speak.
BARTLETOh, in the residence, in the second floor, the bathroom at the end of the hall.
You have to jiggle the handle a little.

CHARLIEMr. President?

BARTLETI got to go. 

[beat] 

You'll do fine. 

People have phenomenal capacity.

ROGERYes, sir.

Bartlet holds his book and puts his fist against his chest close to the heart. 

Tribby stands watch as the President and Charlie leave. 

After they've gone, Tribby is standing in front of the Presidential seal and looks around the Oval Office in awe.

DISSOLVE TO: END TITLES.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
* * *

A Proportional Response

Well, if it’s what we do, if it’s what we’ve always done, don’t they know we’re going to do it?

They know we’re going to do that, 

they know we’re going to do that. 

Those areas have been abandoned for four days. 

We know that from the satellites. 

We have the intelligence.

" My fellow Americans, good evening. 

A short while ago I ordered our Armed Forces to  attack and destroy four military targets in Northern Syria, this in response to the  unwarranted, unprovoked... "

BARTLET
Keep your seats. 
[Everyone sits back down.]

FITZWALLACE
Good morning Mr. President.

BARTLET
What have we got?

FITZWALLACE
Three retaliatory strike scenarios.

LEO
When are they operational?

FITZWALLACE
At the President’s command.

LEO
No prep time?

GENERAL
We’re there.

FITZWALLACE
All three scenarios are comprehensive, meet the obligations of proportional response and pose minimal threat to U.S. personal and assets. 
To turn our attention to scenario one, or Pericles One, to use its code name...

BARTLET
What is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACE
I’m sorry.

BARTLET
What’s the virtue of a proportional response? 
Why’s it good? 

[beat] 

They hit an airplane, so we hit a transmitter, right? That’s a proportional response.

FITZWALLACE
Sir, in the case of Pericles...

BARTLET
They hit a barracks, so we hit two transmitters?

FITZWALLACE
That’s roughly it, sir.

BARTLET
It’s what we do.
I mean, this is what we do.

LEO
Yes sir, it’s what we do, 
it’s what we’ve always done.

BARTLET
Well, if it’s what we do, if it’s what we’ve always done, don’t they know we’re going to do it?

LEO
Sir, if you would turn your attention to Pericles One.

BARTLET
I have turned my attention to Pericles One, it’s two ammo dumps, an abandoned railroad bridge and a Syrian intelligence agency.

FITZWALLACE
Those are four high rated military targets, sir.

BARTLET
But they know we’re going to do that, 
they know we’re going to do that. 

Those areas have been abandoned for four days. 
We know that from the satellites. 
We have the intelligence.

LEO
Sir.

BARTLET
They did that, so we did this, it’s the cost of doing business, it’s been factored in, right?

LEO
Mr. President...

BARTLET
Am I right or am I missing something here?

FITZWALLACE
No sir, you’re right sir.

BARTLET
Then I ask again, what is the virtue of a proportional response?

FITZWALLACE
It isn’t virtuous Mr. President. 
It’s all there is sir.

BARTLET
It is not all there is.

LEO
Sir, Admiral Fitzwallace...

FITZWALLACE
Excuse me Leo, but pardon me Mr. President, just what else is there?

BARTLET
A disproportional response. 

Let the word ring forth from this time and this place, you kill an American, any American, we don’t come back with a proportional response, we come back 
[bangs fist on table] 
with total disaster!

GENERAL
Are you suggesting we carpet-bomb Damascus?

BARTLET
General, I am suggesting that you and Admiral Fitzwallace and Secretary Hutchinson and the rest of the national security team take the next sixty minutes and put together a U.S. response scenario that doesn’t make me think we are just docking somebody’s damn allowance! 

[gets up and leaves the room. Everyone stands.]

******

FADE IN: INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - DAY
Bartlet walks in and sits down.

BARTLET
Keep your seats. There’s a delegation of cardiologists having their pictures taken in the Blue Room. 

You wouldn’t think you could find a group of people more  arrogant than the fifteen of us, but there they are right upstairs in the Blue Room. You called me?

FITZWALLACE
Yes, sir. Mr. President we put together a scenario by which we attack Hassan airport. Its three main terminals and two runway. 

In addition to the civilian causalities, which could register in the thousands, the strike would temporally cripple the region’s ability to receive medical supplies and bottled water. 

I think  Mr. Cashmen and Secretary Hutchinson would each tell you what I’m sure you already know sir. 

That this strike would be seen at home and abroad as a staggering  overreaction by a first time Commander in Chief. 

That without the support of our allies, without a Western Coalition, without Great Britain and Japan and without Congress, you’ll have doled out a five thousand dollar punishment for a fifty buck crime sir. 

Mr. President, the proportional response doesn’t empty the options box for the future, the way an all out assault--

BARTLET
[waves him off] 
Thank you. 
[beat] 
Does anyone have a cigarette?

An officer pulls out a pack and a lighter and slides it towards the President. 
Bartlet pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

BARTLET [cont.]

This other plan...


*****

Bartlet: 

We are doing NOTHING. 

They dest...

Leo: 

We are not doing nothing. 

Four high rated military targets.

Bartlet: 

And this is good?

Leo: 

Of course it's not good, there is no good. 

It's what there is. 
It's how you behave if you're the most powerful nation in the world. 

It's proportional, it's reasonable, it's responsible, it's merciful. 

It's not nothing, four high rated military targets.

Bartlet: 

Which they'll rebuild again in six months.

Leo: 

So we'll blow 'em up again in six months! 

We're getting really good at it. 

(beat) 

It's what our fathers taught us.

BARTLET 

When do we get the BDA? 

[ Battle Damage Assessment ]

TOBY 

Uh. 

SAM 

There’s a problem with that sir.

 BARTLET 

Why!? 

TOBY 

Ordinarily we get help from inside the Syrian Intelligence.

Josh and Charlie enter.

BARTLET 

So what’s the problem? 

TOBY 

We just blew up the Syrian Intelligence. 

BARTLET 

Oh, for crying out loud, will somebody get on the phone to CNN and find out if we 
hit anything! 

 STAFFER 

Mr. President, it’s the BDA sir. 

[hands Bartlet a report]

" We've just fired 59 Missiles - ALL of which hit, by the way."

NONE of them hit ANYTHING (in use) - that was The Point.

That's why those targets were selected (and more than likely pre-approved in dialogue with, and evacuated by The Syrian Government.)

 https://youtu.be/i3tmD5znhh0

Father of Daughters

"They thought the tea was the least they could do."

BARTLET

3.2 billion men in the world. She picks him.

DEBBIE

I hear he had a great pitching arm.

BARTLET

When he was 19, sure. 

She dumped a Rhodes scholar for this guy.

Zoey left Charlie for the Frog. 

Ellie and the guitar player with the purple van. 

My children choose morons. Every one.

DEBBIE

They say daughters look for their fathers.

BARTLET

You know, 15 years ago, we took a trip to Egypt, all five of us, saw the pyramids and Luxor, then headed up into the Sinai. 

We had a guide, a Bedouin man, who called me "Abu el Banat." 

Whenever we'd meet another Bedouin, he'd introduce me as "Abu el Banat." 

The Bedouin would laugh and laugh and then offer me a cup of tea. 

And I'd go and pay them for the tea, and they wouldn't let me. 

"Abu el Banat" means "Father of Daughters." 

They thought the tea was the least they could do.