picspam: ww 1.04 "five votes down"
Nearly two years ago, I posted this picspam as part of a top-five-fandomgasms meme. The other day I was feeling creative, and I still hadn't purged the last of my much-compressed delight at absorbing seven series of the West Wing in something like four months (thanks lost_spook!), so I made what I guess is an enormously belated part two.
This is the opening scene from my favourite episode. Nothing much happens in it, or nothing important anyway, but it's the best example of what the West Wing is famous for - eight everyday conversations packed end-to-end and on-the-move into one beautiful continuous tracking shot.
BARTLET:
(off)
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
JOSH:
LEO:
JOSH:
LEO:
JOSH:
- Then one night, he went in and he set his briefcase down and he said 'Bess, why do you suppose it is only sons-of-bitches know how to lick a stamp?' The point is friends, you've gotta write a letter - you've gotta send a fax - you've gotta pick up a phone and call Western Union - you've gotta contact your Congressional representatives -
[Leo's phone rings]
- you've gotta say 'Mister! I've got a friend whose friend is dead -
McGarry here.
- Madam, I've got a neighbour whose friend is dead, whose husband is dead, whose mother is dead, kids are dead, kids are
dead and I -
What are you talking about?
- I wanna know Mister, I wanna know Madam -
How did it happen?
- how you intend to vote on Wednesday, so that I'll know how I'm gonna vote next November!' -
Well how did the wheels come off this thing?
- You've gotta ask them! You gotta ask them! [applause]
We lost five votes.
What?
We lost - five - votes.
Gimme names.
I don't got them yet, get on the phone.
Ohhhh, man.
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
JOSH:
BARTLET:
You know, I had a civil procedure professor who said once -
Take a peek... There you go.
He said, 'When the law is on your side argue the law, and when the facts are on your side argue the facts -
- but it's not in cement -
- and if you don't have the law on your side and you don't have the facts on your side bang your fist on the defence table as loud as you can.' Well we've got the law on our side now, and we've got the facts on our side now -
Yes, this is Josh Lyman, please, call me, I need to know what happened.
- and the gun lobby is banging its fist on the table, and we're not listening any more, we're not having it any more, we're gonna win on Wednesday, we're gonna win on Wednesday, thank you all! God bless you! And God bless America!
SAM:
BARTLET:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
C.J:
SAM:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
JOSH:
Fantastic.
Thank you.
Good job!
Yeah.
You didn't like it.
I thought it was fine.
I thought it was a hell of a lot better than fine.
It was good.
It was outstanding!
He blew the D-section.
Toby, they're still on their feet cheering.
Yeah, I said it was fine!
Sam! Nice going.
Thank you. Tell him.
Why?
'Cause Sam wrote two-and-a-half paragraphs and I wrote thirty-seven pages.
Still - !
He blew the D-section.
I thought it was inspired.
Why do you keep saying stuff like that to me?
Just to watch your face turn that colour.
C.J!
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
LEO:
Hey, your little fan club was out in full force tonight.
Yeah, they like me in my tux.
Do you think I have an unusually large neck?
What the hell?
I'm just asking, 'cause one of the -
Stop talking.
What's up?
I want you to look calm while I'm telling you this.
Telling me what?
We lost five.
What do you mean?
802. Five votes jumped the fence.
Are you kidding me?
Nice job looking calm!
Are you kidding me?
Leo just got off the phone with the whip; last nose count we're five votes down.
What the hell happened?
We don't know.
Gimme names!
We're finding out.
Josh!
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
BARTLET:
Hi there.
Hi.
'Happy Days Are Here Again'?
He likes it.
Who?
The President.
We try and avoid having the President make aesthetic decisions.
I made the decision.
Right. And I don't mean to step on your toes, but you might wanna rethink marrying the line 'kids are dead kids are dead' - 'happy days are here again'.
It's optimistic!
I'll say.
Toby!
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
BARTLET:
Sir.
What did you think?
I thought my work was outstanding Mr President.
I thought you would.
Thanks for asking. I couldn't help but notice you got a little extemporaneous there in the D-section.
Oh you noticed that did you?
Yes sir I did.
Yes, I did a little polish right up there on my feet.
Yes indeed.
Right in front of everybody. I looked to the side at one point, you know, I half expected to see you coming at me with a
salad fork.
Well but for the Secret Service agents restraining me sir.
Yeah. Thank god for the Secret Service. Hey there fella! She deserves a nice room and some supper.
You like doing that don't you sir.
Yeah.
Hey Charlie!
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
Yes sir.
What did you think of the speech?
Me?
Yes you!
Ah, I thought it was -
He means the text of the speech Charlie, discounting the little improv in the D-section.
I mean the entire speech Charlie, and in particular, the delivery.
I thought it was excellent.
See?
See?
Yeah, I think what Charlie's trying to say is that in this case, the singer outdistanced the song.
Really. Well what I heard Charlie say was that the text was user-proof, although you did your level best to disprove that in
the D-section.
You know what Toby?
Sir?
You're what my mother calls a pain in the ass.
Well that's what my mother calls it too sir.
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
FANGIRLS:
JOSH:
C.J:
AGENT:
Oh, Mr President?
Yes Charlie? By the way, did the First Lady call?
The First Lady called at eight-forty sir; she wished you luck and told me to tell you to take your back medicine.
My back is fine.
I have it here sir -
Those damn things make me goofy.
Mrs Bartlet seemed quite adament; I would describe her tone as being -
You don't have to describe her tone to me Charlie I've been married to it for thirty-two years.
Sir I don't want to get in trouble with the First Lady -
Give me the medicine Charlie. Thank you. Have a good night, I'll see you in the morning.
Yes sir.
Thank you all!
We love you Josh!
Thanks!
It helps not to know him!
Here we go, moving out.
Also in this episode: Josh kicks Congressional ass (but asks Leo's permission first), C.J discloses finances, Leo gets divorced, the President gets stoned, and there is literally no one in the world Toby doesn't hate right now.
- - -
Okay, that should do it. We will shortly return to the regular broadcast of fic and Britishness. :)
This is the opening scene from my favourite episode. Nothing much happens in it, or nothing important anyway, but it's the best example of what the West Wing is famous for - eight everyday conversations packed end-to-end and on-the-move into one beautiful continuous tracking shot.
BARTLET:
(off)
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
LEO:
JOSH:
LEO:
JOSH:
LEO:
JOSH:
- Then one night, he went in and he set his briefcase down and he said 'Bess, why do you suppose it is only sons-of-bitches know how to lick a stamp?' The point is friends, you've gotta write a letter - you've gotta send a fax - you've gotta pick up a phone and call Western Union - you've gotta contact your Congressional representatives -
[Leo's phone rings]
- you've gotta say 'Mister! I've got a friend whose friend is dead -
McGarry here.
- Madam, I've got a neighbour whose friend is dead, whose husband is dead, whose mother is dead, kids are dead, kids are
dead and I -
What are you talking about?
- I wanna know Mister, I wanna know Madam -
How did it happen?
- how you intend to vote on Wednesday, so that I'll know how I'm gonna vote next November!' -
Well how did the wheels come off this thing?
- You've gotta ask them! You gotta ask them! [applause]
We lost five votes.
What?
We lost - five - votes.
Gimme names.
I don't got them yet, get on the phone.
Ohhhh, man.
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
LEO:
BARTLET:
JOSH:
BARTLET:
You know, I had a civil procedure professor who said once -
Take a peek... There you go.
He said, 'When the law is on your side argue the law, and when the facts are on your side argue the facts -
- but it's not in cement -
- and if you don't have the law on your side and you don't have the facts on your side bang your fist on the defence table as loud as you can.' Well we've got the law on our side now, and we've got the facts on our side now -
Yes, this is Josh Lyman, please, call me, I need to know what happened.
- and the gun lobby is banging its fist on the table, and we're not listening any more, we're not having it any more, we're gonna win on Wednesday, we're gonna win on Wednesday, thank you all! God bless you! And God bless America!
SAM:
BARTLET:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
SAM:
TOBY:
C.J:
SAM:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
TOBY:
C.J:
JOSH:
Fantastic.
Thank you.
Good job!
Yeah.
You didn't like it.
I thought it was fine.
I thought it was a hell of a lot better than fine.
It was good.
It was outstanding!
He blew the D-section.
Toby, they're still on their feet cheering.
Yeah, I said it was fine!
Sam! Nice going.
Thank you. Tell him.
Why?
'Cause Sam wrote two-and-a-half paragraphs and I wrote thirty-seven pages.
Still - !
He blew the D-section.
I thought it was inspired.
Why do you keep saying stuff like that to me?
Just to watch your face turn that colour.
C.J!
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
C.J:
JOSH:
LEO:
Hey, your little fan club was out in full force tonight.
Yeah, they like me in my tux.
Do you think I have an unusually large neck?
What the hell?
I'm just asking, 'cause one of the -
Stop talking.
What's up?
I want you to look calm while I'm telling you this.
Telling me what?
We lost five.
What do you mean?
802. Five votes jumped the fence.
Are you kidding me?
Nice job looking calm!
Are you kidding me?
Leo just got off the phone with the whip; last nose count we're five votes down.
What the hell happened?
We don't know.
Gimme names!
We're finding out.
Josh!
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
MANDY:
SAM:
BARTLET:
Hi there.
Hi.
'Happy Days Are Here Again'?
He likes it.
Who?
The President.
We try and avoid having the President make aesthetic decisions.
I made the decision.
Right. And I don't mean to step on your toes, but you might wanna rethink marrying the line 'kids are dead kids are dead' - 'happy days are here again'.
It's optimistic!
I'll say.
Toby!
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
BARTLET:
Sir.
What did you think?
I thought my work was outstanding Mr President.
I thought you would.
Thanks for asking. I couldn't help but notice you got a little extemporaneous there in the D-section.
Oh you noticed that did you?
Yes sir I did.
Yes, I did a little polish right up there on my feet.
Yes indeed.
Right in front of everybody. I looked to the side at one point, you know, I half expected to see you coming at me with a
salad fork.
Well but for the Secret Service agents restraining me sir.
Yeah. Thank god for the Secret Service. Hey there fella! She deserves a nice room and some supper.
You like doing that don't you sir.
Yeah.
Hey Charlie!
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
BARTLET:
TOBY:
Yes sir.
What did you think of the speech?
Me?
Yes you!
Ah, I thought it was -
He means the text of the speech Charlie, discounting the little improv in the D-section.
I mean the entire speech Charlie, and in particular, the delivery.
I thought it was excellent.
See?
See?
Yeah, I think what Charlie's trying to say is that in this case, the singer outdistanced the song.
Really. Well what I heard Charlie say was that the text was user-proof, although you did your level best to disprove that in
the D-section.
You know what Toby?
Sir?
You're what my mother calls a pain in the ass.
Well that's what my mother calls it too sir.
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
CHARLIE:
BARTLET:
FANGIRLS:
JOSH:
C.J:
AGENT:
Oh, Mr President?
Yes Charlie? By the way, did the First Lady call?
The First Lady called at eight-forty sir; she wished you luck and told me to tell you to take your back medicine.
My back is fine.
I have it here sir -
Those damn things make me goofy.
Mrs Bartlet seemed quite adament; I would describe her tone as being -
You don't have to describe her tone to me Charlie I've been married to it for thirty-two years.
Sir I don't want to get in trouble with the First Lady -
Give me the medicine Charlie. Thank you. Have a good night, I'll see you in the morning.
Yes sir.
Thank you all!
We love you Josh!
Thanks!
It helps not to know him!
Here we go, moving out.
Also in this episode: Josh kicks Congressional ass (but asks Leo's permission first), C.J discloses finances, Leo gets divorced, the President gets stoned, and there is literally no one in the world Toby doesn't hate right now.
- - -
Okay, that should do it. We will shortly return to the regular broadcast of fic and Britishness. :)