The Ides of March

0:00:02 > 0:00:09This film contains very strong language

0:00:15 > 0:00:19I'm not a Christian. I'm not an Atheist.

0:00:19 > 0:00:20I'm not Jewish,

0:00:20 > 0:00:21I'm not Muslim.

0:00:22 > 0:00:24My religion, what I believe in,

0:00:24 > 0:00:28is called, The Constitution Of The United States Of America.

0:00:35 > 0:00:37MIMICS CRICKETS CHIRPING

0:00:40 > 0:00:42DESCENDING WHISTLE

0:00:45 > 0:00:48MIMICS EXPLOSION

0:00:48 > 0:00:50- Hang on.- Did you get that?

0:00:50 > 0:00:51Let me open these up.

0:01:27 > 0:01:28OK, go ahead.

0:01:30 > 0:01:34If I'm not religious enough for you, don't vote for me.

0:01:34 > 0:01:36If I'm not, uh...

0:01:36 > 0:01:39experienced enough for you, don't vote for me.

0:01:44 > 0:01:47You know what, Don't vote for me.

0:01:47 > 0:01:49Don't do it.

0:01:49 > 0:01:51Whatever you do, don't vote for me. How's that?

0:01:51 > 0:01:53- OK.- OK.- OK, thanks.

0:01:53 > 0:01:54Can we get the monitors up a little,

0:01:54 > 0:01:57- I'd like the governor to be able to hear himself?- You got it.

0:01:57 > 0:02:00Also, are we going to put risers under these podiums,

0:02:00 > 0:02:02like we discussed in the preconditions?

0:02:02 > 0:02:05No, I know. We didn't get the specs till last night.

0:02:05 > 0:02:07- They're making something slide under there.- OK, thank you.

0:02:07 > 0:02:09It's just they're few inches short.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11It makes it hard for him to read his notes. OK.

0:02:11 > 0:02:13Gentlemen, thank you and I'll see you in few hours.

0:02:13 > 0:02:16I didn't know the governor has trouble reading his notes. Why doesn't he wear glasses?

0:02:16 > 0:02:21No, he doesn't. Just, Pullman's just 5'8". He's going to look like a Hobbit.

0:02:41 > 0:02:42Well, it all comes down to this.

0:02:42 > 0:02:44We are one week away, from the Ohio Primary

0:02:44 > 0:02:46Two Democrats are left standing -

0:02:46 > 0:02:47Senator Pullman of Arkansas

0:02:47 > 0:02:50trailing Governor Morris of Pennsylvania.

0:02:50 > 0:02:52Governor Morris has mounted a sizeable lead,

0:02:52 > 0:02:54with 2,047 delegates,

0:02:54 > 0:02:57winning New Hampshire, California, New York and Michigan.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00But Senator Pullman with 1,302 delegates

0:03:00 > 0:03:02is still in the hunt,

0:03:02 > 0:03:05having won Florida and Tennessee, and Virginia and Missouri.

0:03:05 > 0:03:10A win in Ohio could turn it all around for the Arkansas Senator.

0:03:10 > 0:03:14One week from Tuesday, the all-important 161 Ohio delegates

0:03:14 > 0:03:16could be the deciding factor.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20Once again, it is true "As goes Ohio, so goes the nation."

0:03:23 > 0:03:24But you call yourself a Christian.

0:03:24 > 0:03:26- How would that matter? - Let me quote.

0:03:26 > 0:03:27" I have no Idea what happens when we die.

0:03:27 > 0:03:31"Maybe, nothing. Maybe, it's like before we were born."

0:03:31 > 0:03:33- You did write this, Governor. - Let me be specific.

0:03:33 > 0:03:34Please do.

0:03:34 > 0:03:37I was raised a Catholic, I am not practising Catholic.

0:03:37 > 0:03:39And I have no idea what happens after we die.

0:03:39 > 0:03:41If the senator does, then maybe he should be president.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44- I'll vote for him! - Is that your idea of being specific?

0:03:44 > 0:03:46Let me be more specific.

0:03:46 > 0:03:48Thank you.

0:03:48 > 0:03:52I'm not a Christian or an atheist. I'm not Jewish or Muslim.

0:03:52 > 0:03:53What I believe, my religion is

0:03:53 > 0:03:55written on a piece of paper called The Constitution.

0:03:55 > 0:03:58Meaning, that I'd defend until my dying breath your right to worship

0:03:58 > 0:04:01in whatever god you believe in.

0:04:01 > 0:04:03As long as it doesn't hurt others.

0:04:03 > 0:04:05I believe, we should be judged as a

0:04:05 > 0:04:08country by how we take care of the people who cannot take care of themselves.

0:04:08 > 0:04:09That's my religion!

0:04:09 > 0:04:11If you think I'm not religious enough, don't vote for me.

0:04:11 > 0:04:14If you think I'm not experience enough or tall enough,

0:04:14 > 0:04:18then don't vote for me, cos I can't change that to get elected.

0:04:18 > 0:04:19'I just want you to say out loud

0:04:19 > 0:04:22'if you believe in the teachings of the Bible?'

0:04:22 > 0:04:24'Is this a democratic primary or a general election?'

0:04:24 > 0:04:27'Well, Governor whoever wins this contest will be running for President.

0:04:27 > 0:04:29'And if you think that these questions

0:04:29 > 0:04:31'won't be central in a general election,

0:04:31 > 0:04:33'then, you're living in fantasy land!

0:04:33 > 0:04:35'I'm simply pointing to the obvious.

0:04:35 > 0:04:37'We are running for President Of The United States.

0:04:37 > 0:04:40'Not, student council president.'

0:04:40 > 0:04:41LAUGHTER

0:04:41 > 0:04:44APPLAUSE

0:05:05 > 0:05:06Double?

0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Yeah, double.- Fucking national security.

0:05:10 > 0:05:12- Out of the park.- Home run.

0:05:12 > 0:05:15ANNOUNCER: The alumni of Miami University of Ohio

0:05:15 > 0:05:17thank you for attending tonight's debate

0:05:17 > 0:05:21and ask you to remain in your seats until candidates have left the stage.

0:05:22 > 0:05:24You know, I'm trying to remember if

0:05:24 > 0:05:26the Democrats have ever nominated an atheist before.

0:05:26 > 0:05:30Well, we know they've nominated a jackass before.

0:05:30 > 0:05:33That must've been you, that did the prep work, Stephen.

0:05:33 > 0:05:35Paul's not that clever.

0:05:35 > 0:05:38You've always had the brains, Duffy, but me...I've had the balls.

0:05:38 > 0:05:41Well, it looks like you've got some brains now too.

0:05:43 > 0:05:45Be careful, I just might have to steal him from you.

0:05:48 > 0:05:49What a prick!

0:05:54 > 0:05:59# We'll meet again

0:05:59 > 0:06:01# Don't know where

0:06:01 > 0:06:04# Don't know when

0:06:04 > 0:06:06# But I know

0:06:06 > 0:06:08# We'll meet again

0:06:08 > 0:06:11# Some sunny day... #

0:06:14 > 0:06:16Paul, tell me something I don't know.

0:06:16 > 0:06:19Tell me what's going to happen on the 15th?

0:06:19 > 0:06:20HE CHUCKLES

0:06:20 > 0:06:22What?

0:06:22 > 0:06:24HE LAUGHS

0:06:24 > 0:06:26What do you think, Stevie?

0:06:26 > 0:06:28I think it's ours for the taking. What do you think?

0:06:28 > 0:06:31- Yeah...- Ben? - We'll win

0:06:31 > 0:06:33What do you think, Ida?

0:06:33 > 0:06:34I'm asking you.

0:06:34 > 0:06:36Well, you tell me, I'll tell you.

0:06:36 > 0:06:41If I have to say, I'd say it will be close, but you'll eke it out.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44Eke? You see, she's trying to get under my skin.

0:06:44 > 0:06:48- So, what's going to happen? - Us by nine.

0:06:48 > 0:06:50So, you're certain you're going to win here?

0:06:50 > 0:06:52Certain? No. Confident? Yeah.

0:06:52 > 0:06:54- You just said, you'll win by nine. - And I think that we will!

0:06:54 > 0:06:56But I'm not going to tell you it's a sure thing!

0:06:56 > 0:06:58Fucking Saint Gabriel could blow his horn on election day

0:06:58 > 0:07:00and get his four horsemen to rig the ballot boxes for Pullman

0:07:00 > 0:07:02and it wouldn't surprise me.

0:07:02 > 0:07:05Six presidentials that I've done and I've never felt this good.

0:07:05 > 0:07:08But, I'm not going to sit here and say, yeah, hey, we'll win Ohio.

0:07:08 > 0:07:10Not a chance.

0:07:10 > 0:07:12In the last 30 years, 73 Democrats

0:07:12 > 0:07:14have run for president - how many have won? Three.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17That means, 70 guys ran who thought that they had a chance,

0:07:17 > 0:07:18and they all lost.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21So, you're saying here's a good chance that you won't win?

0:07:21 > 0:07:22Don't twist my words, Ida. What I'm saying is

0:07:22 > 0:07:25I'm not going to promise you we'll win.

0:07:25 > 0:07:27But he's decorated by Bush Senior from the first Gulf War,

0:07:27 > 0:07:30he protested the second and he left the state with a balanced

0:07:30 > 0:07:32budget and the fourth-highest education rate.

0:07:32 > 0:07:33The Republicans

0:07:33 > 0:07:36have no-one out there, that can touch this guy.

0:07:36 > 0:07:37So, for this moment,

0:07:37 > 0:07:40this election, this primary is the presidential.

0:07:42 > 0:07:44And that, Ida, is the state of the union.

0:07:46 > 0:07:49And on that note I'm going to take a shit.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55- So, Stephen? - So, Ida.- Stephen, Stephen, Stephen.

0:07:55 > 0:07:57Ida, Ida, Ida.

0:07:57 > 0:08:00- Paul's going to the airport.- Yeah. - And getting on a plane.

0:08:00 > 0:08:02That's what you do, at the airport. Yeah.

0:08:02 > 0:08:04Where's that plane going?

0:08:04 > 0:08:08OK, I'll give you three guesses.

0:08:08 > 0:08:10- He's not going back to headquarters. - Correct.

0:08:10 > 0:08:12He's not going to Texas?

0:08:12 > 0:08:13No need. We're going to split Texas, so it's a wash.

0:08:13 > 0:08:16What if I've said, North Carolina?

0:08:16 > 0:08:17Is that your guess?

0:08:17 > 0:08:19- He's going to North Carolina. - I can neither confirm or deny that.

0:08:19 > 0:08:22I knew it. Now, tell me why?

0:08:22 > 0:08:23I cannot do that.

0:08:23 > 0:08:26- I hate you.- You love me.

0:08:26 > 0:08:28I love Paul. You, I hate.

0:08:28 > 0:08:30You love him, because he gives you the scoops.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32- Sexual favours.- You're engaged.

0:08:32 > 0:08:37If it meant a good scoop, my fiance would understand.

0:08:37 > 0:08:39You really buy into all this crap.

0:08:39 > 0:08:42All this take-back-the-country nonsense.

0:08:42 > 0:08:44Ida? I'm not naive, OK?

0:08:44 > 0:08:46I've worked on more campaigns

0:08:46 > 0:08:48than most people will have by the time they're 40.

0:08:48 > 0:08:50I'm telling you - this is the one!

0:08:50 > 0:08:52You really have drunk the Kool-Aid?

0:08:52 > 0:08:55I have drunk. It's delicious!

0:08:55 > 0:08:57Look...I don't care if he happens to be leading in the polls,

0:08:57 > 0:09:00I don't care if he happens to have all the right tools,

0:09:00 > 0:09:02the truth is, he's the only one

0:09:02 > 0:09:05that's going to actually make a difference in people's lives -

0:09:05 > 0:09:07even the people that hate him.

0:09:07 > 0:09:10If Mike Morris is President, it says more about us

0:09:10 > 0:09:12then it does about him.

0:09:12 > 0:09:15I don't give a fuck if he can win.

0:09:15 > 0:09:16- He has to win.- Or what?

0:09:16 > 0:09:19The world's going to fall apart?

0:09:21 > 0:09:23It won't matter...

0:09:23 > 0:09:25not one bit...

0:09:25 > 0:09:27to the everyday lives of the everyday fuckers, who get up

0:09:27 > 0:09:30and work and eat and sleep, go back to work again.

0:09:30 > 0:09:33If your boy wins, you get a job in the White House.

0:09:33 > 0:09:37He loses, you're back at a consulting firm on K Street.

0:09:37 > 0:09:40That's it!

0:09:40 > 0:09:44You used to know that, before you got goosebumpy about this guy.

0:09:44 > 0:09:46Mike Morris is a politician.

0:09:46 > 0:09:50He's a nice guy. They're all nice guys!

0:09:50 > 0:09:52He will let you down. Sooner or later.

0:09:54 > 0:09:56# 'Scuse me

0:09:57 > 0:10:01# While I

0:10:01 > 0:10:08# Disappear. #

0:10:11 > 0:10:14- This is off-off-off the record. - What?

0:10:14 > 0:10:16- Franklin Thompson. - Seriously?

0:10:16 > 0:10:18Off the record. Only people who know are the Governor, Stephen and me.

0:10:18 > 0:10:19My lips are sealed.

0:10:19 > 0:10:22Tomorrow, I have a meeting at Thompson's house.

0:10:22 > 0:10:24He's going to endorse?

0:10:24 > 0:10:26After I'm done talking to him, what do you think?

0:10:26 > 0:10:28That's huge!

0:10:28 > 0:10:29It's more than huge.

0:10:29 > 0:10:32There's 356 pledged delegates, they all travel with him -

0:10:32 > 0:10:34puts us over the top.

0:10:34 > 0:10:37He said publicly he's not going to endorse anybody.

0:10:37 > 0:10:39Yeah, well, that's what they all say,

0:10:39 > 0:10:40until you get 'em alone at the room.

0:10:40 > 0:10:42- So, this is for real?- Yup.

0:10:42 > 0:10:45- Just about in the bag. - When are you going to announce?

0:10:46 > 0:10:48Nope, that's all you get for now.

0:10:50 > 0:10:53OK, listen up! These are your new cellphones.

0:10:53 > 0:10:55Shelley's pre-programmed the numbers,

0:10:55 > 0:10:57thank you, Shelley. No personal calls.

0:10:57 > 0:11:00Kevin? If you lose them, the DMC will come to your house.

0:11:00 > 0:11:02New cellphones...

0:11:02 > 0:11:04I'll get it later.

0:11:04 > 0:11:05'I gotta believe we can do it.

0:11:05 > 0:11:06'We have enemies.

0:11:06 > 0:11:08'We have to understand, why our enemies are our enemies

0:11:08 > 0:11:10'and see if there's something we can do about it.

0:11:10 > 0:11:12'Besides, just using force.

0:11:12 > 0:11:16'As we know from history, the answer to extremism can't be extremism.'

0:11:16 > 0:11:18Fucking kill me.

0:11:19 > 0:11:21Where did we get this?

0:11:21 > 0:11:23Some meeting in Pennsylvania before he announced.

0:11:23 > 0:11:24Thank God, it wasn't overseas. Just get rid of it.

0:11:25 > 0:11:28- Yeah, but I mean if... - Are you fucking stoned?

0:11:28 > 0:11:31This is exact same piece the Republicans, are going to run against him in the general.

0:11:31 > 0:11:33We don't need to brag about it.

0:11:33 > 0:11:35"Hi, I'm Neville Chamberlain. I'd like to be your commander-in-chief."

0:11:35 > 0:11:37This is going to come out anyways.

0:11:37 > 0:11:39It's going to come out, but it's not

0:11:39 > 0:11:40going to come out paid for it by us, pal.

0:11:40 > 0:11:43You think there's any truth in this Pullman having investments

0:11:43 > 0:11:45in diamond mines in Liberia?

0:11:45 > 0:11:48Still checking on it but, we got it from a blog, who the fuck knows?

0:11:48 > 0:11:51I don't care, if it's true I just want to hear him denying it.

0:11:51 > 0:11:54If it's true, great! Find out. If not, let them spend the day

0:11:54 > 0:11:59telling the Post that he doesn't own a diamond mine in Liberia.

0:11:59 > 0:12:00Win-win.

0:12:00 > 0:12:02OK.

0:12:02 > 0:12:04We gotta counter that Christian shit, we're taking from last night.

0:12:04 > 0:12:06I need the new 30 in 60 seconds spot.

0:12:06 > 0:12:09We can show him in staff meeting this afternoon.

0:12:18 > 0:12:19- Hey.- Hey.

0:12:19 > 0:12:22Ben wanted me to get you sign off on this before the staff meeting.

0:12:22 > 0:12:25Thank you, I've been waiting for this.

0:12:30 > 0:12:31Anything interesting?

0:12:31 > 0:12:34Just these some white paper I've to hand out tonight.

0:12:34 > 0:12:36What's white paper?

0:12:36 > 0:12:38Negative shit.

0:12:38 > 0:12:42Our guys do research, we feed it to the press and we see what sticks.

0:12:42 > 0:12:43What kind of negative shit?

0:12:45 > 0:12:47You'll read it in the paper tomorrow.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50- Which paper?- Any...any paper.

0:12:50 > 0:12:54- So, it's something big? - I wish it was something bigger.

0:12:54 > 0:12:56It's just these transportation numbers -

0:12:56 > 0:12:59I'm going to have to spin pretty hard to make it stick.

0:12:59 > 0:13:02- That's what you're good at though, right?- I guess.

0:13:02 > 0:13:03Tell him it's fine.

0:13:05 > 0:13:07- Did you get your new phone? - Mm-hm.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's really exciting, isn't it?

0:13:11 > 0:13:13What are you, a Bearcat?

0:13:13 > 0:13:16- Am I a what? - Cincinnati Bearcat?

0:13:17 > 0:13:20Ohh! No, I'm not from here.

0:13:20 > 0:13:23I worked with you in Iowa, actually.

0:13:25 > 0:13:27That's right.

0:13:27 > 0:13:29You changed something.

0:13:29 > 0:13:31- My hair? - You changed your hair.

0:13:32 > 0:13:33No.

0:13:35 > 0:13:37I see.

0:13:37 > 0:13:41- I bet I like a real dumbass right now, huh?- No! Not at all.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44You're the big man on campus. I'm just a lowly intern.

0:13:44 > 0:13:45Oh, it's not like that.

0:13:45 > 0:13:47You get to stay at The Millennium.

0:13:47 > 0:13:50OK? They put us in a motel on the other side of the river.

0:13:50 > 0:13:52You're right. I am the big man on campus.

0:13:52 > 0:13:53Now you're starting to see.

0:13:53 > 0:13:55- Mm-hmm.- We do have a better bar though.

0:13:55 > 0:13:57I've heard that.

0:13:57 > 0:14:01You should come by one night. Have a drink with the worker bees.

0:14:01 > 0:14:02I might do that.

0:14:03 > 0:14:04I might do that. What's a good night?

0:14:04 > 0:14:05- Tonight's good.- Tonight?

0:14:05 > 0:14:08- Tuesday night?- Yeah. It's quite.

0:14:08 > 0:14:10Quite's good.

0:14:12 > 0:14:14Well, you have my number.

0:14:15 > 0:14:17I do?

0:14:17 > 0:14:19It's programmed right there on your phone.

0:14:19 > 0:14:20Ah-hah.

0:14:20 > 0:14:22Under 'Mary'.

0:14:22 > 0:14:23I know your name is Mary.

0:14:26 > 0:14:27My name is Molly.

0:14:40 > 0:14:42That's what I'm hearing since

0:14:42 > 0:14:44Super Tuesday - all of a sudden, I am a popular guy.

0:14:46 > 0:14:48What are the polls telling you?

0:14:48 > 0:14:52That Pullman's negatives are high. Mid-40s.

0:14:52 > 0:14:56Senator, we have an open seat in the White House.

0:14:56 > 0:14:58Republicans have dick.

0:14:58 > 0:15:00They're disorganised, they can't find a nominee

0:15:00 > 0:15:03that's not a world-class fuck up.

0:15:03 > 0:15:05They look like Democrats.

0:15:05 > 0:15:10No Republican's going to show up to vote for their guy.

0:15:10 > 0:15:12If Pullman gets the Democratic nod,

0:15:12 > 0:15:14they will show up to vote against him.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17You think they won't for your guy. Morris gets the independents.

0:15:17 > 0:15:19I sure do. Senator, I'm a bit confused.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24We need your delegates.

0:15:24 > 0:15:26We need you.

0:15:26 > 0:15:28Your fundraising.

0:15:28 > 0:15:31And I guess...

0:15:31 > 0:15:34it was my understanding that your endorsement

0:15:34 > 0:15:38a week before Ohio would win this for us.

0:15:43 > 0:15:47- Thank you. - Stella...

0:15:47 > 0:15:49hand me that ice bucket.

0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Is this Paul, or is this you? - Paul knows and Paul agrees.

0:15:55 > 0:15:58Ben, where's my op-ed piece on national service?

0:15:58 > 0:16:01- It's easier for me to work off of that.- Got it right here.

0:16:01 > 0:16:03- Give me a hard copy. - Can we print it out?

0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Molly, can you grab it? - One second.

0:16:06 > 0:16:07HE SIGHS

0:16:07 > 0:16:11- So if you want to change or refresh...- Just give me a second, will you?

0:16:11 > 0:16:14PRINTER WHIRS

0:16:15 > 0:16:19Your national service isn't polling the same as the rest of your policy.

0:16:19 > 0:16:21I don't give a shit about the polling.

0:16:21 > 0:16:22I'm not going to play this game.

0:16:22 > 0:16:25Your good-cop, bad-cop act with Paul.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28- Good-cop, good-cop. - I'm not changing it.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31WHIRRING CONTINUES

0:16:40 > 0:16:42Here we go.

0:16:42 > 0:16:44All right, let's see.

0:16:44 > 0:16:47It says we're going to help people get an education,

0:16:47 > 0:16:50going to create national unity, teach young people a trade,

0:16:50 > 0:16:53and get them out of debt for their loans.

0:16:53 > 0:16:55- Where does that fail? - All of that's exactly right.

0:16:55 > 0:16:58Just, if you're going to do it, do it.

0:16:58 > 0:17:00Make it mandatory, not voluntary.

0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Now, that'll poll well. - Mandatory.

0:17:03 > 0:17:06Everybody who turns 18 or graduates high school

0:17:06 > 0:17:08gives two years of service to his or her country.

0:17:08 > 0:17:10It can be in the military, Peace Corps,

0:17:10 > 0:17:12planting fucking trees, I don't care.

0:17:12 > 0:17:15For that, your college education is paid for, period.

0:17:15 > 0:17:16We do all of that here.

0:17:16 > 0:17:20No, sir, you don't, not all the way. Do it all the way. Mandatory.

0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Paul likes this?- Mm-hm.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24You're my brain trust.

0:17:24 > 0:17:25The beauty of it is that everybody

0:17:25 > 0:17:28who's over the age of 18 will be for it.

0:17:28 > 0:17:32- Why not?- And all of the others... - Can't vote.

0:17:34 > 0:17:35Too young.

0:17:37 > 0:17:40PEOPLE CHUCKLE

0:17:40 > 0:17:42Too bad.

0:17:46 > 0:17:47You can't lose.

0:17:49 > 0:17:51- Uh, Stephen?- Mm?

0:17:51 > 0:17:55You have a call on line three. It's your dad.

0:17:55 > 0:17:57OK.

0:17:57 > 0:17:59You and Ben work it into the speech.

0:17:59 > 0:18:01Get me a hard copy and I'll write it in my own words.

0:18:01 > 0:18:05- You have Charlie Rose at six. - Right. Yeah. Why am I doing him?

0:18:05 > 0:18:07It's long-form. He's flying in.

0:18:07 > 0:18:12- Paul going?- Paul won't be in, but Ben and I will take you.

0:18:13 > 0:18:15Just don't tell me someone's died.

0:18:15 > 0:18:16- DUFFY:- Hey, Steve.

0:18:16 > 0:18:18- Who is this? - 'Tom Duffy.

0:18:18 > 0:18:20'Sorry about the Dad bit.

0:18:20 > 0:18:22'I just figured you wouldn't want my name called out

0:18:22 > 0:18:25'at a Morris campaign office.'

0:18:25 > 0:18:27- What do you want? - You got a couple minutes?

0:18:27 > 0:18:29- I'd like to sit down with you. - What for?

0:18:29 > 0:18:31'Well, I think it's important.'

0:18:31 > 0:18:33If it's important, don't you think you should be calling Paul?

0:18:33 > 0:18:35I'm calling you.

0:18:40 > 0:18:42'This is on the up-and-up. Give me five minutes.'

0:18:42 > 0:18:44- I can't be talking to you. - 'I hear you.'

0:18:44 > 0:18:49But I'm going to be at the Head First for the next couple hours.

0:18:49 > 0:18:51I can't, Tom.

0:18:51 > 0:18:54There won't be anybody there. OK?

0:18:54 > 0:18:57You get a chance, there's something I want to show you.

0:19:15 > 0:19:17Paul, call me back. It's important.

0:19:26 > 0:19:29- You're working for the wrong man. - You are.

0:19:29 > 0:19:32Oh, on the contrary, you are working for the wrong man.

0:19:32 > 0:19:35You got something the other guys don't have.

0:19:35 > 0:19:37- Oh, yeah?- What is it exactly?

0:19:37 > 0:19:39"Charm" is not the right word.

0:19:39 > 0:19:41- It is the right word. - No, it's more than that.

0:19:41 > 0:19:44You exude something. You draw people in.

0:19:44 > 0:19:47All the reporters love you. Even the ones that hate you, love you.

0:19:47 > 0:19:49You play them like pieces on a

0:19:49 > 0:19:52chessboard and make it look effortless.

0:19:52 > 0:19:54And we both know how hard it is,

0:19:54 > 0:19:59constantly being on guard, weighing every word, every move.

0:19:59 > 0:20:03But from the outside, you make it look easy.

0:20:04 > 0:20:05People are scared of you.

0:20:05 > 0:20:07They don't understand how you do it, and they love you for it.

0:20:07 > 0:20:10That's the most valuable thing in this business.

0:20:10 > 0:20:12The ability to win people's respect

0:20:12 > 0:20:15by making them mistake their fear for love.

0:20:15 > 0:20:17You can guess what I'm going to say next.

0:20:17 > 0:20:21- I don't think that I can. - I want you to work for us.

0:20:21 > 0:20:23- What, are you kidding? - No, not in the least.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29- You're going to lose Ohio. - I am not.

0:20:29 > 0:20:32Oh, you're sitting on about a six per cent lead in both polls.

0:20:32 > 0:20:34Six per cent of all Democrats polled.

0:20:34 > 0:20:36- Eight. - No, six. Doesn't matter.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38Ohio's an open primary, right?

0:20:38 > 0:20:41Independents and Republicans vote on the Democratic candidate.

0:20:41 > 0:20:43Do you think they like your guy?

0:20:43 > 0:20:48- A pro-choice, tax-and-spend liberal? - No. Fuck, no. No, they hate him.

0:20:48 > 0:20:51They think they can beat my guy.

0:20:51 > 0:20:53But they're very worried about yours.

0:20:54 > 0:20:59So starting tomorrow morning, you're going to see a fucking blitz.

0:20:59 > 0:21:02Limbaugh, Hannity, all those right-wing blogs

0:21:02 > 0:21:04are starting a get-out-the-vote campaign.

0:21:04 > 0:21:06It's started already.

0:21:06 > 0:21:09Every conservative in Ohio is going to line up around the block

0:21:09 > 0:21:12to punch my guy's ticket, and that's just one step.

0:21:12 > 0:21:15Ohio's gone. Polls don't mean shit.

0:21:15 > 0:21:17Tomorrow, everybody's going to know.

0:21:17 > 0:21:19That's why I want you to handle the

0:21:19 > 0:21:22fallout that we'll have in the press.

0:21:23 > 0:21:26Oh, and we got Thompson in the bag too.

0:21:26 > 0:21:28I know you don't have Thompson.

0:21:28 > 0:21:30We promised him secretary of state.

0:21:30 > 0:21:33Ohio's over. It has been over for weeks.

0:21:35 > 0:21:39And now with Thompson's delegates? Huh.

0:21:39 > 0:21:42I'm thinking down the road here, man. That is why I want you.

0:21:42 > 0:21:44- I can't do it. - Bring you in at the top.

0:21:44 > 0:21:47- I can't do it.- All right. I don't need an answer right this moment.

0:21:47 > 0:21:50- Look, I've played dirty. - I'm sorry to hear it.

0:21:50 > 0:21:54But I don't have to play dirty any more. You know why? I got Morris.

0:21:54 > 0:21:57None of this is about the democratic process, Steve.

0:21:57 > 0:22:00- This is the shit Republicans pull. - You know what?

0:22:00 > 0:22:03This is the shit the Republicans pull,

0:22:03 > 0:22:05and it's time we learned from them.

0:22:05 > 0:22:06They're meaner, they're tougher,

0:22:06 > 0:22:09they're more disciplined than we are.

0:22:09 > 0:22:11I've been in this business 25 years.

0:22:11 > 0:22:13I've seen too many Democrats bite the dust

0:22:13 > 0:22:17because they wouldn't get down in the mud with the fucking elephants.

0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Paul's my friend. - Want to work for the friend

0:22:25 > 0:22:28or do you want to work for the president?

0:22:28 > 0:22:31Think about it. You got my number.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37- Paul.- 'Hey, they don't make Quaaludes any more, do they?'

0:22:37 > 0:22:40Not that I'm aware of. What's going on with Thompson?

0:22:40 > 0:22:44Uh, he wants something, but...

0:22:44 > 0:22:48We'll be fine. What was so important?

0:22:48 > 0:22:50Nothing. Figured it out.

0:22:56 > 0:23:00All right. I'll be on my cell if you need me.

0:23:00 > 0:23:02I fly to DC tomorrow, back tomorrow night.

0:23:02 > 0:23:05OK. I'll work on the Quaaludes.

0:23:05 > 0:23:06Good man.

0:23:09 > 0:23:12INDISTINCT

0:23:16 > 0:23:19Check the blogs, see if there's any chatter, would you?

0:23:19 > 0:23:21- What kind of chatter? - I don't know.

0:23:21 > 0:23:23- Just see what they're talking about. - Stevie, you still single?

0:23:23 > 0:23:26I'm married to the campaign, Governor.

0:23:26 > 0:23:28He's married to the campaign. Good answer.

0:23:28 > 0:23:31Wall Street Journal has our numbers holding.

0:23:31 > 0:23:33- Pullman dropped a point. - When did they do that?

0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Checking now. - Governor, Pullman's down a point.

0:23:36 > 0:23:39We're moving in the right direction.

0:23:39 > 0:23:41Ben, are you still single?

0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Married to the campaign, Governor. - Crack team.

0:23:44 > 0:23:47Make sure Charlie Rose has those numbers before he goes on.

0:23:47 > 0:23:49I'm on it.

0:23:49 > 0:23:53Get a copy of the show before we leave too.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55Is it a difficult decision? I have to believe it is.

0:23:55 > 0:23:57Would I do it? No.

0:23:57 > 0:24:00But I can't see myself or anyone

0:24:00 > 0:24:02telling a woman what she should do with her body.

0:24:02 > 0:24:04You would appoint a judge...?

0:24:04 > 0:24:05I would consider it arrogant to

0:24:05 > 0:24:08judge anyone until I've walked in their shoes.

0:24:08 > 0:24:10But you're against the death penalty?

0:24:10 > 0:24:12Because of what it says about us as a society.

0:24:12 > 0:24:14Suppose, Governor, it was your wife.

0:24:14 > 0:24:17And she was murdered, what would I do?

0:24:17 > 0:24:19It gets complicated when it's personal.

0:24:19 > 0:24:22Sure. Well, if I could get to him,

0:24:22 > 0:24:25uh, I would find a way to kill him.

0:24:25 > 0:24:28So you, you, Governor, would impose a death penalty.

0:24:28 > 0:24:29No, I would commit a crime

0:24:29 > 0:24:32for which I would happily go to jail.

0:24:32 > 0:24:34Then why not let society do that?

0:24:34 > 0:24:37Because society has to be better than the individual.

0:24:37 > 0:24:39If I were to do that, I would be wrong.

0:24:39 > 0:24:41What about guns?

0:24:41 > 0:24:42Isn't it time for a commercial?

0:24:42 > 0:24:45This is public television. We don't have commercials.

0:24:45 > 0:24:46That's unfortunate.

0:24:46 > 0:24:48STEVE: Where did you go after Iowa?

0:24:48 > 0:24:51California. For Super Tuesday.

0:24:51 > 0:24:52Oh.

0:24:52 > 0:24:55- I had to go to New York. - I know.

0:24:55 > 0:24:58You guys needed a lot more help over there.

0:24:58 > 0:25:00Yeah.

0:25:00 > 0:25:03HE SIGHS

0:25:03 > 0:25:04So why politics?

0:25:04 > 0:25:07Because the pay is so good, obviously.

0:25:07 > 0:25:08HE CHUCKLES

0:25:08 > 0:25:12It seems like a very odd fit.

0:25:12 > 0:25:14My dad is Jack Stearns.

0:25:17 > 0:25:20- Oh, he's a good guy. - He's an asshole.

0:25:20 > 0:25:22But he's your boss.

0:25:22 > 0:25:25He's not my boss.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28He's the head of the DNC.

0:25:28 > 0:25:31You don't work for the Democratic National Committee?

0:25:31 > 0:25:33I work for Paul. Paul works for Morris.

0:25:33 > 0:25:37And if Morris wins, he's going to be your dad's boss.

0:25:37 > 0:25:38Don't tell my dad that.

0:25:38 > 0:25:42Don't tell your dad a lot of things.

0:25:42 > 0:25:44Never.

0:25:47 > 0:25:49What time you gotta work tomorrow?

0:25:49 > 0:25:539am. I'm showing the new interns how to robocall.

0:25:55 > 0:25:58It's because I'm the experienced intern, you see?

0:26:00 > 0:26:01I see.

0:26:03 > 0:26:05How old are you?

0:26:07 > 0:26:08How old do you think I am?

0:26:10 > 0:26:1230.

0:26:12 > 0:26:16- You think I'm 30? - Sorry. How old are you?

0:26:16 > 0:26:1730.

0:26:22 > 0:26:23How old are you?

0:26:23 > 0:26:25How old do you think I am?

0:26:28 > 0:26:2921?

0:26:29 > 0:26:31- 20.- Yep.

0:26:33 > 0:26:34That's young.

0:26:37 > 0:26:41Is that too young to fuck a 30-year-old?

0:26:41 > 0:26:43Well...

0:26:45 > 0:26:48..the laws are different in different states.

0:26:48 > 0:26:52Here, at your hotel here in Kentucky, it's frowned upon.

0:26:52 > 0:26:56- Oh.- But if we go across the bridge into Ohio...

0:26:56 > 0:26:58- Where your hotel is. - Yeah, surprisingly,

0:26:58 > 0:27:02they're very lax about their child-endangerment laws.

0:27:02 > 0:27:05- Do you have a car? I don't drive. - I took a cab.

0:27:11 > 0:27:13I have the keys to the campaign bus.

0:27:16 > 0:27:17ON TV: 'This has been tried before.

0:27:17 > 0:27:20'Operation Chaos, as Limbaugh called it,

0:27:20 > 0:27:22'where Republicans voted for a

0:27:22 > 0:27:25'Democrat they could beat in the general election.

0:27:25 > 0:27:27'We asked Senator Pullman's campaign manager

0:27:27 > 0:27:30'if he's happy getting the votes of right-wingers.'

0:27:30 > 0:27:33'Is it decisive? No, of course not.

0:27:33 > 0:27:35'But we believe the polls are within the margin of error

0:27:35 > 0:27:38'and that the senator will win Ohio.'

0:27:38 > 0:27:41Yeah, what time's Paul get in?

0:27:41 > 0:27:44Shit. Who do we talk to about polling?

0:27:44 > 0:27:48I gotta get some internal polling on the independents and wing nuts.

0:27:48 > 0:27:50Do you want me to go?

0:27:50 > 0:27:53What's that guy's name from the Wall Street Journal?

0:27:53 > 0:27:57- You sound busy. I should go. - Hold on, I'd like to talk to you.

0:27:57 > 0:27:59Adler, yeah. Get him on the line.

0:27:59 > 0:28:02Nobody. The cleaning lady.

0:28:02 > 0:28:05Tell him we're going to take the same position we've always said -

0:28:05 > 0:28:09the race is a lot closer than the polling.

0:28:09 > 0:28:11No, don't say that. Don't.

0:28:11 > 0:28:14Just get him on the line and call me. I'll take care of it.

0:28:14 > 0:28:15I'm sorry.

0:28:15 > 0:28:17- Cleaning lady? - Yeah.

0:28:17 > 0:28:21You called me the cleaning lady.

0:28:21 > 0:28:24You're not mad about that, are you?

0:28:24 > 0:28:27- No, why would I be mad?- Right.

0:28:27 > 0:28:29Oh, hey. Look.

0:28:29 > 0:28:31- STEARNS:- 'I know you're looking for a reaction, but listen.

0:28:31 > 0:28:33'We have two great candidates in a very tight race.

0:28:33 > 0:28:36'And at the end of the day, the voters will decide

0:28:36 > 0:28:39'who best can represent this party.'

0:28:39 > 0:28:40'But doesn't this kind disruption

0:28:40 > 0:28:44'take away from what you want to be pushing this year?'

0:28:44 > 0:28:47You're right. Your dad is an asshole.

0:28:47 > 0:28:51- I'm going to tell him you said that. - Heh. Yeah, do that.

0:28:51 > 0:28:53You wanted to talk?

0:28:53 > 0:28:56I just want to be clear. I don't want there to be any confusion.

0:28:56 > 0:28:59I'm not going to tell anybody about last night.

0:28:59 > 0:29:01- That'd be great. You know how people are.- Yeah.

0:29:01 > 0:29:06Really wouldn't look good if you screwed an intern.

0:29:06 > 0:29:08It's not like that.

0:29:08 > 0:29:11It's not like I got drunk. I like you.

0:29:11 > 0:29:13I just don't want there to be any expectations.

0:29:13 > 0:29:17- You don't have to say anything. - All right.

0:29:17 > 0:29:19I just don't want you to think I'm a player.

0:29:19 > 0:29:22You are kind of a player, but...

0:29:23 > 0:29:26- I was being polite.- Bullshit.

0:29:26 > 0:29:29- You were trying to pick me up. - No, I wasn't.

0:29:29 > 0:29:32- You were pretty obvious about it. - I was?- Yeah.

0:29:32 > 0:29:36- I thought I was being subtle. - No, you were pretty forward.

0:29:37 > 0:29:40You were pretty forward asking me to the bar.

0:29:40 > 0:29:43Well, been trying to fuck you for a while.

0:29:44 > 0:29:47Wow.

0:29:47 > 0:29:49- It's kind of slutty of me, huh? - Not at all.

0:29:49 > 0:29:52- I respect it in some strange way. - Good.

0:29:54 > 0:29:57- You have no idea how to tie a tie. - No, no, not a clue.

0:30:01 > 0:30:02You're very mature.

0:30:02 > 0:30:04For a teenager.

0:30:09 > 0:30:10When are you coming back?

0:30:10 > 0:30:12'I'll be at the event a little late.'

0:30:12 > 0:30:15These cocksuckers, fucking dirty shit.

0:30:15 > 0:30:19- 'What happened with Thompson?' - Nothing. Prick.

0:30:19 > 0:30:22'We had him all sewed up, motherfucker.

0:30:22 > 0:30:23'How bad is it?'

0:30:26 > 0:30:29I don't know. I just... I'm running the numbers, Paul.

0:30:29 > 0:30:32'All right. I'll... I'll be there in three hours.

0:30:32 > 0:30:35'I want hard numbers and a strategy.'

0:30:35 > 0:30:36Yeah, I'm on it. I gotta go.

0:30:50 > 0:30:53- You OK?- Yeah. Trying to figure out our stops.

0:30:53 > 0:30:56Think the weather might determine that.

0:30:56 > 0:30:58If we get there.

0:30:58 > 0:31:00We're going to be fine.

0:31:00 > 0:31:02We have to do it. It's the right thing to do.

0:31:02 > 0:31:05Nothing bad happens when you're doing the right thing.

0:31:05 > 0:31:09Is this your personal theory? Because I can shoot holes in it.

0:31:09 > 0:31:12Roberto Clemente on a humanitarian flight.

0:31:12 > 0:31:15Well, there's... There's exceptions to every rule.

0:31:18 > 0:31:19So how we doing?

0:31:21 > 0:31:25- I think we're fine now. - No, the campaign. How we doing?

0:31:26 > 0:31:28Oh, great.

0:31:28 > 0:31:30Stephen, you're not Paul.

0:31:30 > 0:31:34I pay Paul to use the word "great." I pay you to tell me the truth.

0:31:34 > 0:31:36I think that we are solid.

0:31:38 > 0:31:40OK, Paul.

0:31:42 > 0:31:45Governor, there's a big difference between Paul and me.

0:31:45 > 0:31:49Paul only believes in winning, so he'll do or say anything to win.

0:31:49 > 0:31:50But you wouldn't.

0:31:50 > 0:31:52I'll do or say anything if I believe in it.

0:31:52 > 0:31:56But I have to believe in the cause.

0:31:56 > 0:31:58You'll make a lousy consultant

0:31:58 > 0:32:00when you're out of this line of work.

0:32:00 > 0:32:04Well, I won't be out of this line of work as long as you're in it, sir.

0:32:04 > 0:32:06So at best, you got eight years.

0:32:06 > 0:32:09Then you end up at a nice consultant firm off Farragut North,

0:32:09 > 0:32:12making 750 grand a year, eating at The Palm,

0:32:12 > 0:32:16pimping out ex-senators to Saudi princes.

0:32:16 > 0:32:18Pimping out ex-presidents.

0:32:18 > 0:32:20Then I better win.

0:32:22 > 0:32:23Yeah.

0:32:25 > 0:32:28Now, I've been married for 11 years.

0:32:28 > 0:32:30We have a normal marriage.

0:32:30 > 0:32:34Which means when we disagree, she wins.

0:32:34 > 0:32:36AUDIENCE LAUGHS

0:32:36 > 0:32:38What we don't disagree on

0:32:38 > 0:32:40is how we're going to leave this planet for our daughter.

0:32:40 > 0:32:43Are we going to leave it better off or worse?

0:32:44 > 0:32:48The richest people in this country don't pay their fair share.

0:32:48 > 0:32:51And when they're asked to, they cry socialism.

0:32:51 > 0:32:54They use phrases like "redistribution of wealth."

0:32:55 > 0:32:59That scares everybody, and they all run and they hide.

0:32:59 > 0:33:01For the record,

0:33:01 > 0:33:05my campaign is vehemently against the distribution of wealth

0:33:05 > 0:33:08to the richest Americans by our government.

0:33:08 > 0:33:10AUDIENCE CHEERS

0:33:11 > 0:33:13And I will run on that.

0:33:15 > 0:33:19I didn't think it was true, but I should've told you.

0:33:19 > 0:33:21- Slow down.- I'm sorry.

0:33:22 > 0:33:26I met with Tom Duffy yesterday.

0:33:26 > 0:33:28What?

0:33:28 > 0:33:31You were on a plane. He called me and asked if we could meet.

0:33:31 > 0:33:35I said, "Why?" He said it was very important, so I did.

0:33:35 > 0:33:38- And I should have told you. - Stop. Let me get this straight.

0:33:38 > 0:33:41- You met with Tom Duffy. - Yeah.

0:33:41 > 0:33:43What'd he want, Stephen?

0:33:43 > 0:33:47The gist? He wants to hire me. He wants me to jump ship.

0:33:47 > 0:33:48This is really fucking bad.

0:33:48 > 0:33:51He told me they had poll numbers that had Pullman ahead.

0:33:51 > 0:33:54We're in big trouble. He laid out their strategy.

0:33:54 > 0:33:58Doing robocalls, traffic jams, fake lit, and Thompson.

0:33:58 > 0:34:01They offered Thompson secretary of state.

0:34:01 > 0:34:03Know how you fight the war on terror?

0:34:03 > 0:34:04You don't need their product.

0:34:04 > 0:34:08Their product is oil. Just don't need it and they go away.

0:34:10 > 0:34:14We don't have to bomb anyone. We don't have to invade anyone.

0:34:16 > 0:34:19If this is some kind of fucking practical... I mean...

0:34:19 > 0:34:22My fucking blood pressure's going through the goddamn roof.

0:34:22 > 0:34:25Paul, I'm sorry.

0:34:26 > 0:34:30Believe me. I didn't think it was true.

0:34:30 > 0:34:32It doesn't matter what you fucking thought.

0:34:32 > 0:34:34It matters what you did, what you didn't do.

0:34:34 > 0:34:36- You're right.- If this is true,

0:34:36 > 0:34:41I made a fucking ass of myself and I gave away our game plan.

0:34:41 > 0:34:43I honestly believed you were going to come back

0:34:43 > 0:34:45and tell me we have Thompson in the bag.

0:34:45 > 0:34:46I didn't see the point.

0:34:46 > 0:34:49- It doesn't make it right, and I'm sorry.- Let me think.

0:34:52 > 0:34:54Let me think.

0:34:54 > 0:34:57If I'm your president, the first thing I'd put into motion

0:34:57 > 0:35:00is ten years from the day I take office,

0:35:00 > 0:35:04no new car in America is run on an internal combustion engine.

0:35:07 > 0:35:09We will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs,

0:35:09 > 0:35:12we will start the next technological revolution,

0:35:12 > 0:35:15and we will lead the world again, like we used to.

0:35:15 > 0:35:18AUDIENCE CHEERS

0:35:18 > 0:35:21Get the governor after he finishes singing Kumbaya

0:35:21 > 0:35:23and we give him everything we know.

0:35:23 > 0:35:27- Who do you want? - You, me and the governor. That's it.

0:35:27 > 0:35:30- What's he have after? - He has a fundraiser.

0:35:30 > 0:35:33He'll be late. We tell him if he doesn't offer Thompson the position,

0:35:33 > 0:35:35he's not going to get the nomination.

0:35:35 > 0:35:39- Is he going to go for it? - I don't fucking know, Stephen.

0:35:39 > 0:35:40Find us a room.

0:35:57 > 0:35:59INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

0:36:28 > 0:36:31How real are the numbers?

0:36:31 > 0:36:34Might pick up a few points but we lose by three or four per cent.

0:36:34 > 0:36:37Who fucking knows, Governor? But we can't take the chance.

0:36:37 > 0:36:38What do you think?

0:36:38 > 0:36:41We fold up the campaign in Ohio, take a loss,

0:36:41 > 0:36:44blame it on Republicans playing games, head to North Carolina.

0:36:44 > 0:36:47- I can't run from Ohio. They'll kill us.- Not if you get Thompson.

0:36:47 > 0:36:51I'm not going to do it. What's he want? Head of the FDA or something?

0:36:51 > 0:36:53Cabinet post.

0:36:53 > 0:36:56- Yeah, what, labour? - State.

0:36:56 > 0:36:59Are you kidding? I'm going to give secretary of state

0:36:59 > 0:37:03to a guy who wants to cut the top ten floors off the UN?

0:37:03 > 0:37:06When we started, I said I wasn't going to make those deals.

0:37:06 > 0:37:09If you lose Ohio and they get Thompson's delegates,

0:37:09 > 0:37:14then they get North Carolina, then they get the lead.

0:37:14 > 0:37:17A lead you can't beat. If we walk from Ohio,

0:37:17 > 0:37:19take Thompson, give him the Cabinet post,

0:37:19 > 0:37:21then we take North Carolina, his state,

0:37:21 > 0:37:25then Pennsylvania, your state, and then it's simple math, Mike.

0:37:25 > 0:37:28Take his endorsement and the race is over.

0:37:32 > 0:37:34Paul, I respect you.

0:37:36 > 0:37:37I respect your opinion.

0:37:39 > 0:37:40I'm never going to do it.

0:37:41 > 0:37:44So I suggest we find a way for me to win Ohio.

0:37:49 > 0:37:50Anything else?

0:37:50 > 0:37:53- BEN:- It's not going to cut it. - MOLLY:- Every car company.

0:37:53 > 0:37:55They've booked every van for Tuesday.

0:37:55 > 0:37:57Fuck. I gotta call you back.

0:37:57 > 0:37:59- All of them?- All of them. - You're killing me.

0:37:59 > 0:38:01Here's what I got so far.

0:38:01 > 0:38:03Independents aren't biting, but the Republicans are.

0:38:03 > 0:38:06They're not going to tell a pollster they're voting Democratic.

0:38:06 > 0:38:10- I can't find the goddamn polls. - We can get 100 vans out of Kentucky.

0:38:10 > 0:38:13- We don't need the vans. PAUL:- That's not what I'm saying.

0:38:13 > 0:38:16- We don't want Pullman to have vans. - We were the underdog before.

0:38:16 > 0:38:18We continue to be the underdog.

0:38:18 > 0:38:19Well, then... Yeah, we always knew

0:38:19 > 0:38:23the numbers were going to get closer.

0:38:23 > 0:38:25We're not lowering expectations.

0:38:25 > 0:38:28I mean, have I ever said to you that we had Ohio locked?

0:38:29 > 0:38:32Give me the courtesy of printing that in your column.

0:38:36 > 0:38:38What are you writing?

0:38:38 > 0:38:41The greatest speech ever given on hydrogen power.

0:38:41 > 0:38:43The bar is set awfully high on that one.

0:38:43 > 0:38:46Don't I know it?

0:38:46 > 0:38:50I was hit up by Mitchell's wife for you to show up

0:38:50 > 0:38:53at her Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon.

0:38:53 > 0:38:56Who's Mitchell?

0:38:56 > 0:38:58Congressman from the First District?

0:38:58 > 0:39:00You might want to remember that.

0:39:00 > 0:39:02Fucking congressman.

0:39:02 > 0:39:06- Could you imagine doing this every two years?- No, I can't.

0:39:08 > 0:39:10- Let's just do it one more time. - Mm-hm.

0:39:10 > 0:39:13- In four more years. - That's it.

0:39:13 > 0:39:15It's a deal.

0:39:18 > 0:39:20Do you think we'll lose Ohio?

0:39:22 > 0:39:24I don't know.

0:39:24 > 0:39:28If you took Thompson's delegates, the race would be over.

0:39:28 > 0:39:31Ohio wouldn't matter.

0:39:32 > 0:39:34Is Paul working on you?

0:39:36 > 0:39:37Stephen.

0:39:37 > 0:39:40- BOTH CHUCKLE - They are good.- Mm.

0:39:44 > 0:39:47- Is Thompson so bad?- He's a shit.

0:39:47 > 0:39:50- Is he worse than Pullman? - Yes, Stephen.

0:39:59 > 0:40:04Every time, I draw a line in the sand, and then I move it.

0:40:05 > 0:40:08Fundraisers, union deals, I wasn't going to do any of it.

0:40:08 > 0:40:11Negative ads.

0:40:11 > 0:40:13I can't on this one.

0:40:13 > 0:40:14Not Thompson.

0:40:20 > 0:40:24Tell Mrs Mitchell I'll make her goddamn luncheon.

0:40:24 > 0:40:28Let the old ladies pat me on the head.

0:40:28 > 0:40:32- You've got great hair. - You too, baby.

0:40:34 > 0:40:36- Gay marriage. - It's a silly argument.

0:40:36 > 0:40:39- Not to 50% of Americans. - Over the age of 50.

0:40:39 > 0:40:41That's who votes, that's who shows up at polls.

0:40:41 > 0:40:44That's changing. Hopefully, the way we frame the argument is as well.

0:40:44 > 0:40:48- From a religious...?- From a religious to a civil-rights issue.

0:40:48 > 0:40:51But one could argue a great difference between gender and race.

0:40:51 > 0:40:55We used to ban interracial marriages. Women couldn't vote.

0:40:55 > 0:40:57Paul, I have the guy from Proctor & Gamble.

0:40:57 > 0:40:59Keep an eye on the governor.

0:40:59 > 0:41:01- I gotta know what's going on. - Yeah, yeah, OK.

0:41:01 > 0:41:03AUDIENCE GROANS

0:41:03 > 0:41:06All right, wait, wait. She's got a point to make. Go ahead.

0:41:06 > 0:41:09The argument is that men and women can be considered separate but equal.

0:41:09 > 0:41:12- Races cannot.- How so?

0:41:12 > 0:41:14You have separate bathrooms for men and women,

0:41:14 > 0:41:17but it would be illegal to have separate bathrooms for races.

0:41:17 > 0:41:20- Now.- Yes, now.

0:41:20 > 0:41:22See, we're framing the argument...

0:41:22 > 0:41:24- What time is this thing airing? - Nine o'clock.

0:41:24 > 0:41:26- How'd we do?- We did good.

0:41:31 > 0:41:35- WOMAN:- I know, but I tried to reach him, and I couldn't get through.

0:41:35 > 0:41:38PEOPLE CHATTER

0:41:47 > 0:41:51- WOMAN:- Oh, good. So attach that and send it as an e-mail to me.

0:41:56 > 0:41:58- WOMAN:- Yeah, I missed my opportunity there.

0:42:01 > 0:42:05- MORRIS ON TV:- 'Now. - 'Yes, now.'

0:42:05 > 0:42:06'We're framing the argument on the idea

0:42:06 > 0:42:08'that you choose to be gay,

0:42:08 > 0:42:12'not that you were born that way, like being born African-American.

0:42:12 > 0:42:14'If you start the discussion with the idea

0:42:14 > 0:42:19'that gay is not a life choice but is actually part of your DNA,

0:42:19 > 0:42:23'then gay marriage can and must only be a civil-rights issue.

0:42:23 > 0:42:26'That's what I believe. That's where I stand.'

0:42:28 > 0:42:31'Do you think your candour is your appeal?'

0:42:31 > 0:42:32Sorry.

0:42:34 > 0:42:37Fuck. It's not you.

0:42:37 > 0:42:39BOTH LAUGH

0:42:46 > 0:42:48MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

0:42:57 > 0:42:59Hello?

0:43:13 > 0:43:15Hey, your phone rang.

0:43:15 > 0:43:18- Hm?- Your phone rang.

0:43:18 > 0:43:19It did?

0:43:19 > 0:43:22Who's calling you at 2:30 in the morning?

0:43:22 > 0:43:23I don't know.

0:43:23 > 0:43:26Really? Because he asked for you by name.

0:43:26 > 0:43:30- You answered it? - I thought it was my phone.

0:43:30 > 0:43:31Who is it?

0:43:31 > 0:43:34I don't know.

0:43:34 > 0:43:36Is it one of those interns drunk-dialling you?

0:43:36 > 0:43:39Now, that never happens.

0:43:39 > 0:43:40Let me see the number.

0:43:40 > 0:43:42- Oh, boy.- Give me my...

0:43:42 > 0:43:44- No. I'm calling him.- Stop it.

0:43:44 > 0:43:46- It's not funny. - I'm saying I'm your dad.

0:43:46 > 0:43:47- It's not funny. Give me my phone.- Hang up.

0:43:47 > 0:43:50- I have a shotgun. - Stephen, hang up the phone.

0:44:08 > 0:44:11Why is the governor calling you at 2:30 in the morning?

0:44:15 > 0:44:16Molly.

0:44:19 > 0:44:22Why is the governor calling you at all?

0:44:24 > 0:44:26I'm in trouble.

0:44:29 > 0:44:30With the governor?

0:44:32 > 0:44:33What's going on?

0:44:38 > 0:44:40I was working on the campaign in Iowa.

0:44:43 > 0:44:45There was a party in Ben's room after the rally.

0:44:45 > 0:44:49There was a party with you and Ben and the governor?

0:44:49 > 0:44:53- No, he wasn't there. - Where was he?

0:44:55 > 0:44:59I took him up a hard copy of the polling numbers.

0:44:59 > 0:45:03After the party?

0:45:03 > 0:45:04It was around midnight.

0:45:07 > 0:45:10I just stood in the doorway with him,

0:45:10 > 0:45:12just talking for a really long time.

0:45:17 > 0:45:21He just reached behind me and closed the door.

0:45:26 > 0:45:28Jesus fucking Christ.

0:45:30 > 0:45:32HE SIGHS

0:45:39 > 0:45:40Were you drunk?

0:45:41 > 0:45:42Not that drunk.

0:45:44 > 0:45:46- How many times? - It was just that once.

0:45:46 > 0:45:49- Just the once?- Just once.- Does anybody know?- No-one knows.

0:45:49 > 0:45:52- Anybody see you?- No.- How could you know?- I know.

0:45:52 > 0:45:54Then why is he calling you right now?

0:45:54 > 0:45:56I called him first.

0:45:56 > 0:45:59- Why? - I didn't know who else to go to.

0:46:00 > 0:46:02And I needed 900 bucks.

0:46:06 > 0:46:07For what?

0:46:08 > 0:46:10I can't go to my dad.

0:46:13 > 0:46:15We're Catholic.

0:46:25 > 0:46:26So, what should I do?

0:46:28 > 0:46:29Stephen?

0:46:50 > 0:46:53INDISTINCT CHATTER

0:47:50 > 0:47:53What's up?

0:47:56 > 0:47:59What's our limit on petty cash?

0:47:59 > 0:48:03- It's probably 500. Why? - I need everything we can get.

0:48:03 > 0:48:05Everything OK?

0:48:05 > 0:48:08- Need help with anything? - Yeah. Don't put it on the books.

0:48:09 > 0:48:10That's all.

0:48:13 > 0:48:16- What should I put it down as? - Don't put it down as anything.

0:48:16 > 0:48:19- Anything over 100, I gotta put down...- Just do it.

0:48:22 > 0:48:24Molly.

0:48:49 > 0:48:51- OK.- I'll take it back.

0:48:54 > 0:48:56PAPER TEARS

0:48:58 > 0:49:00That's all.

0:49:20 > 0:49:22- Yes, Ida?- 'Stevie, off the record...'

0:49:22 > 0:49:26No, I cannot tell you what happened in North Carolina.

0:49:26 > 0:49:29'That's not what I wanted to ask you about.'

0:49:29 > 0:49:32- OK. What? - 'You met with Duffy.'

0:49:35 > 0:49:38- Who told you that? - 'A little bird.'

0:49:39 > 0:49:42- Who? - 'Did you meet with him?'

0:49:44 > 0:49:46Where are you?

0:49:46 > 0:49:48I know you met him with at a bar in Cincy

0:49:48 > 0:49:50just before the press conference.

0:49:50 > 0:49:53- Duffy ordered buffalo wings. - Who said that? Duffy?

0:49:53 > 0:49:55Anonymous. What happened with Duffy?

0:49:55 > 0:49:57You're supposed to be my friend.

0:49:57 > 0:49:59Why you want to stick the knife in me?

0:49:59 > 0:50:02- You thought we're friends? - I've given you everything you wanted.

0:50:02 > 0:50:05Every story, every scoop, your profile on Paul.

0:50:05 > 0:50:07You've given me a lot, but get real.

0:50:07 > 0:50:11The only reason you treated me well was that I work for the Times.

0:50:11 > 0:50:14You give me what I want, I write you better stories.

0:50:14 > 0:50:16Why'd you meet with Duffy?

0:50:16 > 0:50:19- Go fuck yourself. - OK, I'll make it easier on you.

0:50:19 > 0:50:21What happened at Paul and Thompson's meeting?

0:50:21 > 0:50:25Keep your voice down. Do you have any idea what this could do to me?

0:50:25 > 0:50:27That's why I'm giving you a choice.

0:50:27 > 0:50:29I could get fired.

0:50:29 > 0:50:32So it's not a difficult one, is it?

0:50:32 > 0:50:33I've got to file by 3pm tomorrow.

0:50:33 > 0:50:36You've got till then to make up your mind.

0:50:39 > 0:50:42- You motherfucker. DUFFY:- 'Excuse me?'

0:50:42 > 0:50:43- You leaked it.- Leaked what?

0:50:43 > 0:50:46'Don't bullshit me, Tom.'

0:50:46 > 0:50:48Bullshit you? I have no idea what you're talking about.

0:50:48 > 0:50:51- I just spoke to Ida Horowicz. - 'Yeah?'

0:50:51 > 0:50:53She's threatening to release the story.

0:50:53 > 0:50:56- 'What fucking story?' - That we met. That we fucking met.

0:50:56 > 0:50:59- How did she find out? - 'Don't play dumb, Tom.'

0:51:00 > 0:51:02- You think I leaked it to her? - 'Yeah. Who else?'

0:51:02 > 0:51:04I didn't leak it to her.

0:51:04 > 0:51:06'I know I didn't, so that leaves you.'

0:51:06 > 0:51:08OK. Well, what does she know?

0:51:08 > 0:51:10'She knows whatever you told her.'

0:51:10 > 0:51:13I swear to Jesus I did not leak it to her.

0:51:13 > 0:51:15I don't want this out any more than you.

0:51:15 > 0:51:18- Well, too late. - 'What did she tell you?'

0:51:18 > 0:51:21She knows where we met, she knows when we met,

0:51:21 > 0:51:23she knows you had fucking buffalo wings.

0:51:23 > 0:51:26- 'She has a source?' - Yeah, she has a source.

0:51:26 > 0:51:28'And you have no idea who it could be?'

0:51:28 > 0:51:29Yeah, you.

0:51:29 > 0:51:32- HE SIGHS - Well, for the record, it wasn't me,

0:51:32 > 0:51:34and I didn't have fucking buffalo wings.

0:51:34 > 0:51:35So it's gotta be someone else.

0:51:35 > 0:51:38- Did you tell anyone? - 'No. Did you?'

0:51:38 > 0:51:41- No. - 'Did you admit to meeting with me?'

0:51:41 > 0:51:43- No. - 'All right.

0:51:43 > 0:51:45'Then we stonewall her and she's got nothing.'

0:51:45 > 0:51:47She's going to take the story to

0:51:47 > 0:51:50Drudge or Roll Call or some shit like that.

0:51:50 > 0:51:51You can't stop her?

0:51:51 > 0:51:55'She's trying to blackmail me. She wants info about Thompson.'

0:51:55 > 0:51:57Well, then tell her what she wants to know.

0:51:57 > 0:51:59'I can't do that.'

0:51:59 > 0:52:03- You can't let this get out. - 'I'm not going to be blackmailed.'

0:52:03 > 0:52:05You don't have much choice here, Steve.

0:52:05 > 0:52:06If I tell her about Thompson,

0:52:06 > 0:52:08I have to tell her he's endorsing you.

0:52:08 > 0:52:11'Then tell her. I can handle it from my side

0:52:11 > 0:52:12'if I start getting calls.'

0:52:12 > 0:52:14No fucking way.

0:52:14 > 0:52:15Paul told her we had Thompson.

0:52:15 > 0:52:16It's going to make him look like a fucking fool.

0:52:16 > 0:52:21'He's going to look like a fucking fool anyway when Thompson endorses us.'

0:52:26 > 0:52:27I can't do it.

0:52:27 > 0:52:30- DUFFY CHUCKLES - 'You know, you're on a sinking ship.

0:52:30 > 0:52:33'Tell her what she wants to know and jump.

0:52:33 > 0:52:36'Come over to our side. We can control this thing.

0:52:36 > 0:52:39- 'Steve?' - I gotta go.

0:52:56 > 0:52:59I'm up here.

0:53:00 > 0:53:03You scared the shit out of me.

0:53:07 > 0:53:09Here.

0:53:10 > 0:53:12It's almost 1,800 bucks.

0:53:12 > 0:53:17You gotta make the appointment now, like today, from a pay phone.

0:53:17 > 0:53:20I'll take you to the clinic and pick you up, but no-one else.

0:53:20 > 0:53:22You understand?

0:53:22 > 0:53:23Yeah.

0:53:26 > 0:53:28Take the rest of the money and buy yourself a ticket home.

0:53:28 > 0:53:31Can't be here. We can't afford it.

0:53:31 > 0:53:35Not with everything that's going to happen in the next week.

0:53:35 > 0:53:37And this situation just can't be here.

0:53:40 > 0:53:42- You mean I can't be here.- Right.

0:53:44 > 0:53:46Stephen, I wouldn't tell anyone.

0:53:47 > 0:53:49I hope not.

0:53:50 > 0:53:52Then why?

0:53:52 > 0:53:55Because you fucked up.

0:53:55 > 0:53:57- He and I both fucked up. - That's true.

0:53:57 > 0:53:58But I have a responsibility to him

0:53:58 > 0:54:02and, more importantly, to this campaign.

0:54:02 > 0:54:04I could go to North Carolina and work.

0:54:04 > 0:54:08Molly, you gotta wake the fuck up. This is the big leagues. It's mean.

0:54:08 > 0:54:12When you make a mistake, you lose the right to play.

0:54:12 > 0:54:16Make the appointment. Tell me when and where we have to go.

0:54:20 > 0:54:23Listen to this. I got the placement in the Times.

0:54:23 > 0:54:25Bumped like 600 fucking articles. Tom Duffy, 2008 -

0:54:25 > 0:54:28"This is a matchup between hope versus fear.

0:54:28 > 0:54:30"Nine times out of ten,

0:54:30 > 0:54:32"the fear candidate tends to be most experienced.

0:54:32 > 0:54:35"But in our presidential races, the least-experienced candidate wins.

0:54:35 > 0:54:39- MOBILE PHONE CHIMES - "JFK vs Nixon. Carter vs Ford. Bush vs Gore.

0:54:39 > 0:54:42"I like our chances with the new kid on the block."

0:54:42 > 0:54:45End quote. Thomas fucking Duffy.

0:54:45 > 0:54:47He's gotta be having a stroke right now.

0:54:53 > 0:54:55MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

0:55:03 > 0:55:05HE SIGHS

0:55:52 > 0:55:54INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

0:56:08 > 0:56:10So just call me when you can leave, OK?

0:56:17 > 0:56:19I hate this shit.

0:56:21 > 0:56:25I'm going to come back, and this is all going to be over.

0:56:25 > 0:56:26Yeah.

0:56:40 > 0:56:44Absolutely. There's no question about it.

0:56:44 > 0:56:45KNOCKING ON DOOR

0:56:45 > 0:56:49Yeah, but we gotta think broader strokes here.

0:56:49 > 0:56:51Just rethink everything.

0:56:51 > 0:56:54Uh... Well, yeah, I know how to handle it.

0:56:56 > 0:56:58Um, look, Stevie just got here.

0:56:58 > 0:57:01Can I call you back in a few minutes?

0:57:01 > 0:57:03OK, bye. Ahem. The governor.

0:57:03 > 0:57:06We had a good long talk on the way back.

0:57:06 > 0:57:08He's up to speed with everything.

0:57:08 > 0:57:09How'd he take it?

0:57:11 > 0:57:13Better than I thought he would.

0:57:13 > 0:57:15Still won't take Thompson's endorsement.

0:57:17 > 0:57:20I gotta tell you something I don't know how to tell you.

0:57:20 > 0:57:22What's up?

0:57:23 > 0:57:25Ida knows that I met with Duffy.

0:57:30 > 0:57:34I don't know how she knows, but she knows.

0:57:34 > 0:57:36And she tried to blackmail me.

0:57:40 > 0:57:42She's going to release the story unless I tell her

0:57:42 > 0:57:45about your meeting with Thompson.

0:57:49 > 0:57:52So it's going to hit the papers.

0:57:52 > 0:57:53Probably.

0:57:55 > 0:57:58And whoever she takes it to is going to call me for a statement.

0:57:58 > 0:58:01If I deny the whole thing but Duffy admits to it,

0:58:01 > 0:58:02it's going to look worse.

0:58:02 > 0:58:05And if I just say, "No comment," they're not going to let up.

0:58:08 > 0:58:10I leaked it to Ida.

0:58:15 > 0:58:17CLEARS HIS THROAT

0:58:18 > 0:58:19At the event.

0:58:22 > 0:58:26- I don't understand.- We made a deal.

0:58:30 > 0:58:32Paul, they're going to...

0:58:32 > 0:58:35They're going to print that story in the paper tomorrow.

0:58:35 > 0:58:37I know.

0:58:37 > 0:58:40So why'd you do it? Why would you do that?

0:58:40 > 0:58:42Why would you do that to the campaign?

0:58:42 > 0:58:44The campaign will survive.

0:58:47 > 0:58:50- Why would you do that to me? - Makes it easier to let you go.

0:58:52 > 0:58:54What?

0:58:54 > 0:58:56Why'd you meet with Duffy?

0:58:59 > 0:59:04I made a mistake. I made a stupid mistake.

0:59:04 > 0:59:07No, you didn't make a mistake, you made a choice.

0:59:07 > 0:59:10You left a message to call you back, it was important.

0:59:10 > 0:59:12When I did, you told me to forget it.

0:59:12 > 0:59:16You chose not to tell me. Why'd you make that choice?

0:59:16 > 0:59:18Because, Paul, I didn't think it was important.

0:59:18 > 0:59:21Oh, fuck, yes, you did.

0:59:21 > 0:59:22You went because you were curious.

0:59:22 > 0:59:26You felt flattered, you felt special.

0:59:27 > 0:59:32To think that Duffy wanted to speak to you instead of me.

0:59:32 > 0:59:34You thought, "Maybe I can get something out of this."

0:59:34 > 0:59:36Because it made you feel big.

0:59:41 > 0:59:43You know, the first campaign I ran,

0:59:43 > 0:59:45it was a tiny little race in Kentucky.

0:59:45 > 0:59:46State Senate seat,

0:59:46 > 0:59:51working for some redneck nobody named Sam McGuthrie.

0:59:51 > 0:59:54No staff, no money, no fucking office.

0:59:54 > 0:59:55Everyone thought we didn't stand a chance.

0:59:55 > 0:59:58No way we can compete, right? About this time,

0:59:58 > 1:00:01this guy running this campaign a few districts over

1:00:01 > 1:00:02gives me a call, and he says,

1:00:02 > 1:00:04"I really like what you're able to

1:00:04 > 1:00:08"do for poor old Sam, but he's a goner.

1:00:08 > 1:00:11"Why don't you come work for me?" What did I do?

1:00:11 > 1:00:14Well, Stephen, this is where you and I are different.

1:00:14 > 1:00:17I told Sam about the call. And Sam says to me,

1:00:17 > 1:00:20"Paul, if you think this other guy's got a chance at winning

1:00:20 > 1:00:21"and he can pay you more

1:00:21 > 1:00:25"and if it's what you need to do, then I won't get in your way."

1:00:25 > 1:00:28And I say, "Sam, you took a chance on me

1:00:28 > 1:00:32"and hired me when I was even more of a nobody than you are.

1:00:32 > 1:00:34"I'll be damned if I'm going to jump ship

1:00:34 > 1:00:37"just because the shit hits the fan."

1:00:38 > 1:00:42We lost that race, but when Sam decided to run for governor,

1:00:42 > 1:00:43who do you think he called?

1:00:43 > 1:00:47We won that race, and 20 years later, I am where I am fucking now.

1:00:48 > 1:00:52There's only one thing I value in this world, and that's loyalty.

1:00:52 > 1:00:55Without it, you're nothing and you have no-one.

1:00:57 > 1:01:01And in politics, in fucking politics,

1:01:01 > 1:01:04it's the only currency you can count on.

1:01:04 > 1:01:06That's why I'm letting you go.

1:01:06 > 1:01:09Not because you're not good enough or I don't like you.

1:01:09 > 1:01:12But I value trust over skill and I don't fucking trust you any more.

1:01:12 > 1:01:14It doesn't matter whether you trust me.

1:01:14 > 1:01:16It matters whether the governor does.

1:01:16 > 1:01:19The governor already knows,

1:01:19 > 1:01:21and he thinks it's the right thing to do.

1:01:23 > 1:01:26- He does?- Yeah, and you know what?

1:01:26 > 1:01:28If I were you, I'd get a good night's sleep,

1:01:28 > 1:01:31because you're going to get pounded by calls from the press in the morning.

1:01:37 > 1:01:40INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

1:03:01 > 1:03:03KNOCKING ON DOOR

1:03:03 > 1:03:04DOOR OPENS

1:03:04 > 1:03:08- MOLLY:- Hey. - BEN: Hey.- Where were you today?

1:03:08 > 1:03:11Um, I'm not feeling great today, Ben.

1:03:11 > 1:03:15You picked a hell of a day to call in sick.

1:03:15 > 1:03:19- Jesus, it was a fucking wild-ass day.- Why? What happened?

1:03:19 > 1:03:21Stephen's off the campaign.

1:03:21 > 1:03:24Paul fired him. Some setup about loyalty.

1:03:24 > 1:03:27Stephen may have been doubling down with Duffy.

1:03:27 > 1:03:30I was sitting in the room when Paul told Stephen he was fired.

1:03:30 > 1:03:33Stephen said, "Who's going to take over?" And Paul said me.

1:03:33 > 1:03:36I know, and I'm like, "Easy there, soldier."

1:03:36 > 1:03:38Stephen goes ape-shit, Paul gives him this speech

1:03:38 > 1:03:41and then shits on Stephen like I've never seen before.

1:03:41 > 1:03:45- Humiliating shit.- When was this?

1:03:45 > 1:03:46Molly, listen to me.

1:03:46 > 1:03:48I'm going to run the campaign under Paul.

1:03:48 > 1:03:52Stephen's going to Duffy. I just jumped three years ahead.

1:03:52 > 1:03:56So starting tomorrow morning, we go into full damage control.

1:03:56 > 1:03:59And I'm telling you, Stephen's going ape-shit.

1:03:59 > 1:04:03- He said he's taking everybody down on his way out.- Morris, everybody.

1:04:03 > 1:04:05MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

1:04:05 > 1:04:08Shit. I gotta take this. Do you need anything?

1:04:08 > 1:04:09No.

1:04:09 > 1:04:12Paul. What's up? I'm mailing you all those files.

1:04:12 > 1:04:14DOOR CLOSES

1:04:31 > 1:04:33- Where's Duffy? - You got an appointment?

1:04:46 > 1:04:48Can we have the room for a minute?

1:04:48 > 1:04:50Thank you.

1:04:50 > 1:04:53It's not too bright walking in here like that, Steve.

1:04:57 > 1:05:00I'm in.

1:05:00 > 1:05:04- I'm coming to work for you. - A reporter phoned me this afternoon.

1:05:04 > 1:05:07- Yeah. I know who leaked it. - Who?- Paul.

1:05:07 > 1:05:09You told Paul?

1:05:09 > 1:05:12- I told Paul, and he leaked it. - Oh, Steve.

1:05:12 > 1:05:14- You shouldn't have told him that. - I felt like I should.

1:05:14 > 1:05:17Yeah. I've worked with Paul. He gets paranoid.

1:05:17 > 1:05:19- Obviously.- So he fired you.

1:05:19 > 1:05:22- I quit.- No, you're lying to me. Come on.

1:05:22 > 1:05:24I quit. I'm going to give you everything.

1:05:24 > 1:05:26I'm going to give you Morris, his whole strategy...

1:05:26 > 1:05:31I already have it. Paul gave it all to Thompson.

1:05:31 > 1:05:33What if I had something else?

1:05:33 > 1:05:35You would do that to Morris? To Paul?

1:05:35 > 1:05:38- Yeah.- Oh, no.

1:05:38 > 1:05:39Revenge makes people unpredictable.

1:05:39 > 1:05:42I can't have someone who's unpredictable, unstable.

1:05:42 > 1:05:44- I'm not. - If this had been a clean break,

1:05:44 > 1:05:47if you had left Morris before the story broke,

1:05:47 > 1:05:48that, we could control.

1:05:48 > 1:05:51But like this?

1:05:51 > 1:05:53Paul fires you, and then you want to come work for me?

1:05:53 > 1:05:56It makes me look like I'm picking up scraps.

1:05:56 > 1:05:58It puts Morris in the driver's seat. I can't have that.

1:05:58 > 1:06:01- What if I had something big? - Like what?

1:06:06 > 1:06:07Something big.

1:06:09 > 1:06:11Something that'll put Morris down.

1:06:11 > 1:06:13What is it?

1:06:15 > 1:06:16Give me the job.

1:06:18 > 1:06:21HE CHUCKLES

1:06:21 > 1:06:24No, that's not going to happen. I'm sorry.

1:06:24 > 1:06:27Go take a nice long vacation. You're a smart guy.

1:06:27 > 1:06:31Everything that I said the other day is absolutely true.

1:06:31 > 1:06:35But, you know, maybe politics isn't for you.

1:06:35 > 1:06:37Politics is my life.

1:06:37 > 1:06:41You know what? Do yourself a favour. Get out now, while you still can.

1:06:41 > 1:06:43Go into entertainment or business.

1:06:43 > 1:06:47Go open a fucking restaurant in Costa Rica. Anything.

1:06:47 > 1:06:49Do something that's going to make you happy, OK?

1:06:49 > 1:06:52You stay in this business, you're going to get jaded.

1:06:52 > 1:06:55- Like you. - Yeah, just like me.

1:06:57 > 1:07:00You knew I was going to fucking tell Paul, didn't you?

1:07:00 > 1:07:04No, I didn't know. I thought you might, but I didn't know.

1:07:04 > 1:07:07You knew I was going to tell him, and you knew he was going to fire me.

1:07:07 > 1:07:10That's the thing about Paul. He's big on loyalty.

1:07:10 > 1:07:14Yeah, I know. I just got a big speech on it.

1:07:15 > 1:07:17You were never going to hire me.

1:07:17 > 1:07:19Put yourself in my shoes, Steve.

1:07:20 > 1:07:21Your opponent has the best

1:07:21 > 1:07:24media mind in the country working for his team.

1:07:24 > 1:07:26What are you going to do?

1:07:26 > 1:07:29You're either going to hire him, or you're going to work it

1:07:29 > 1:07:34so if you can't have him, the other team can't either.

1:07:34 > 1:07:37This is a win-win situation for me.

1:07:37 > 1:07:40You come work for me, great. Paul doesn't have you.

1:07:40 > 1:07:44Then again, Paul fires you, I don't want you, fine.

1:07:44 > 1:07:45Paul still doesn't have you.

1:07:45 > 1:07:48Either way, I win.

1:07:48 > 1:07:52And the moment I got you to sit down in that chair...

1:07:52 > 1:07:55- I knew I'd won.- This is...

1:07:55 > 1:07:58It's my life that you're talking about.

1:07:58 > 1:07:59It doesn't make me happy doing this.

1:07:59 > 1:08:02Don't think it gives me any pleasure.

1:08:02 > 1:08:05No, I'm sorry for you. I really am.

1:08:08 > 1:08:09Take care of yourself.

1:08:40 > 1:08:41CHATTER ON RADIO

1:08:57 > 1:09:00No. No, ma'am. She's not breathing.

1:09:00 > 1:09:02I don't know. 15 minutes.

1:09:13 > 1:09:15Do you know her?

1:09:19 > 1:09:21She's gone.

1:09:23 > 1:09:24I'm sorry, what?

1:09:24 > 1:09:27- SIRENS WAIL - Oh, yes, now, I can hear them now.

1:09:31 > 1:09:34We're on the third floor.

1:09:34 > 1:09:35Yes.

1:09:37 > 1:09:38Yes, ma'am.

1:09:41 > 1:09:42Yes, ma'am.

1:09:43 > 1:09:45Yes, ma'am.

1:10:16 > 1:10:19- MOLLY ON RECORDING:- 'Um...

1:10:19 > 1:10:23'Where are you? It's, uh... It's four-something.

1:10:23 > 1:10:25'They're going to close up in a few minutes.'

1:10:25 > 1:10:27VOICEMAIL BEEPS

1:10:27 > 1:10:30- BEN:- 'Stephen, it's Ben. Listen, what the fuck?

1:10:30 > 1:10:32'Jesus. What are you going to do?'

1:10:33 > 1:10:35VOICEMAIL BEEPS

1:10:35 > 1:10:38- MOLLY:- 'Stephen, um, I just heard from Ben.

1:10:38 > 1:10:41'Please, don't do anything fucked up.

1:10:41 > 1:10:44'Goddamn it, you motherfucker, pick up the phone.

1:10:44 > 1:10:48- 'Don't do this.' - VOICEMAIL BEEPS

1:10:49 > 1:10:53- 'I'm not going away.' - VOICEMAIL BEEPS

1:10:58 > 1:11:01ON TV: 'The coroner stated that based on evidence found in that hotel room,

1:11:01 > 1:11:03'this was an accidental overdose,

1:11:03 > 1:11:05'a lethal cocktail of alcohol and drugs.

1:11:05 > 1:11:09'Police Chief Darryl Matthews has called for a full investigation

1:11:09 > 1:11:13'pending a toxicology report, which could take up to two weeks.

1:11:13 > 1:11:15'Just a terrible, terrible situation

1:11:15 > 1:11:18'for the former senator, now-DNC chairman Jack Stearns

1:11:18 > 1:11:20'and his family.'

1:11:42 > 1:11:43I want on the ticket.

1:11:45 > 1:11:50You need me on that ticket, and you could use my delegates.

1:11:50 > 1:11:53And you need them before Tuesday.

1:11:53 > 1:11:55Make a fine story on the Sunday-morning news cycle.

1:11:55 > 1:11:59So I expect to hear from you by noon tomorrow

1:11:59 > 1:12:02or I endorse Pullman and take that Cabinet seat.

1:12:09 > 1:12:11Anything else you want to talk about, Stephen?

1:12:27 > 1:12:30The entire staff is... We're in a state of shock.

1:12:31 > 1:12:36We send our condolences to Jack and Joanna Stearns and their family.

1:12:36 > 1:12:38Of course, our hearts go out to them.

1:12:38 > 1:12:41It's hard to imagine what they must be going through.

1:12:41 > 1:12:46What we know right now is that it appears to have been a drug...

1:12:46 > 1:12:49An accidental prescription overdose.

1:12:49 > 1:12:51- Ida?- Is suicide ruled out?

1:12:51 > 1:12:54We have no reason to believe...

1:12:54 > 1:12:56I don't think we have that information,

1:12:56 > 1:12:58but there will be a full investigation.

1:12:58 > 1:13:00We just wanted to say that our hearts go out,

1:13:00 > 1:13:04our prayers go out, to the entire family.

1:13:04 > 1:13:06She really is... She was part of our family.

1:13:06 > 1:13:09- Yeah. - Did you know her well?

1:13:09 > 1:13:11Not well, but I did know her.

1:13:11 > 1:13:13And what I saw was a hard-working young woman

1:13:13 > 1:13:16with a great spirit.

1:13:16 > 1:13:20It's just a sad day for the campaign.

1:13:20 > 1:13:22And it's a sad day for those of us who know Jack.

1:13:22 > 1:13:25- REPORTER:- Governor, how long has she interned for you?

1:13:25 > 1:13:29- Uh... You want to...? - Yeah.

1:13:29 > 1:13:31MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

1:13:31 > 1:13:34PAUL: She had only been on the road with us for a few weeks.

1:13:34 > 1:13:37Maybe four weeks, I think. I can check.

1:13:37 > 1:13:40- IDA:- Will you be continuing with your schedule today?

1:13:40 > 1:13:44PAUL: Yes, we will most certainly stay on schedule.

1:13:44 > 1:13:45PAUL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY

1:13:45 > 1:13:48VIBRATING CONTINUES

1:13:50 > 1:13:52CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

1:13:56 > 1:13:58VIBRATION CONTINUES

1:15:07 > 1:15:10Seems like you have something you want to talk to me about.

1:15:12 > 1:15:13Does it seem that way?

1:15:17 > 1:15:20If you have something you want to get off your chest,

1:15:20 > 1:15:21then why don't you?

1:15:23 > 1:15:26How about I do the talking and you do the listening?

1:15:28 > 1:15:30OK.

1:15:30 > 1:15:33As of tomorrow, there's going to be a few changes to your campaign.

1:15:33 > 1:15:37Paul's out. I'm your senior campaign manager.

1:15:37 > 1:15:39I'll draft a statement.

1:15:40 > 1:15:43"The campaign got to a point where we needed to make changes."

1:15:43 > 1:15:46- You can put your own words in there. - Why would I do that?

1:15:46 > 1:15:47Because you want to win.

1:15:49 > 1:15:52Because you broke the only rule in politics.

1:15:52 > 1:15:53You want to be president?

1:15:53 > 1:15:56You can start a war, you can lie, you can cheat,

1:15:56 > 1:16:00you can bankrupt the country, but you can't fuck the interns.

1:16:02 > 1:16:03They'll get you for that.

1:16:05 > 1:16:08What do you think you have, Stephen?

1:16:08 > 1:16:10Troubled young girl tells you a story.

1:16:10 > 1:16:12A troubled young pregnant girl.

1:16:12 > 1:16:15- That what she told you? - who needed cash for an abortion.

1:16:15 > 1:16:16You give her money?

1:16:16 > 1:16:19Maybe she needed cash and you were the perfect guy to hit up.

1:16:19 > 1:16:22- Is that your best play? - You need a job that bad?

1:16:22 > 1:16:25You come in here with your dick in your hand? You got nothing.

1:16:25 > 1:16:28Then how did I get in here?

1:16:28 > 1:16:32You're right, Mike, there's nothing. No voice messages, no texts,

1:16:32 > 1:16:34no e-mails, no pictures, no tape.

1:16:34 > 1:16:37And yet I'm standing right here.

1:16:37 > 1:16:38Yeah, well, go home.

1:16:40 > 1:16:41She left a note.

1:16:49 > 1:16:53- How would you know that? - I was cleaning up your mess.

1:16:53 > 1:16:56I took her phone, and I found a note.

1:16:56 > 1:16:59- I thought it was an accident. - I don't know.

1:16:59 > 1:17:02You're going to have to tell me. You're the last person she called.

1:17:04 > 1:17:06Note says she's pregnant, got an abortion,

1:17:06 > 1:17:08and doesn't want to hurt you.

1:17:09 > 1:17:12Then why would she leave a note that could only do that?

1:17:12 > 1:17:14Because she's 20.

1:17:16 > 1:17:19- What do you want? - Paul's gone. Today.

1:17:21 > 1:17:24I set a meeting with Thompson. You promise him the ticket.

1:17:24 > 1:17:28You get 356 pledged delegates, you get North Carolina,

1:17:28 > 1:17:29you take office,

1:17:29 > 1:17:32and make right what so many people have made wrong.

1:17:32 > 1:17:36- All the things we both believe in. - I don't believe in extortion.

1:17:36 > 1:17:38I don't believe in tying myself to you for eight years.

1:17:38 > 1:17:42Four years. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

1:17:42 > 1:17:45- HE SCOFFS - Huh.

1:17:49 > 1:17:51What were you doing in her room?

1:17:51 > 1:17:53Housekeeping before you made page one.

1:17:53 > 1:17:56You were fired, you were out. What were you doing in her room?

1:17:56 > 1:17:58I was fixing a situation.

1:17:58 > 1:18:02Someone from the hotel thought I could help and called.

1:18:02 > 1:18:03So you were off the campaign,

1:18:03 > 1:18:06but you thought it was important to fix things?

1:18:12 > 1:18:14It was your voice the other night on the phone.

1:18:15 > 1:18:17You were fucking her.

1:18:18 > 1:18:20What'd you do, Stephen?

1:18:22 > 1:18:25- I lent her money and gave her a ride.- I bet you did.

1:18:28 > 1:18:29There's no note.

1:18:30 > 1:18:33- OK, there's no note. - Show it to me.

1:18:33 > 1:18:36You think I brought it here? That's how people get hurt.

1:18:44 > 1:18:45OK, let's play this out.

1:18:48 > 1:18:51You're not wearing a wire, because everything you suggested is illegal.

1:18:51 > 1:18:54And you wouldn't fare too well in federal prison.

1:18:54 > 1:18:58You were fucking her, and she told you about her situation.

1:18:58 > 1:19:01There are no records or conversations between us,

1:19:01 > 1:19:04and since she's had an abortion, there's no DNA evidence.

1:19:05 > 1:19:08So if there's no note...

1:19:08 > 1:19:10then it's your word against mine.

1:19:12 > 1:19:13Your word.

1:19:13 > 1:19:16A fired, disgruntled employee.

1:19:18 > 1:19:20Or a sitting governor.

1:19:24 > 1:19:26There's no note.

1:19:29 > 1:19:31It's your call, Governor.

1:20:21 > 1:20:23- Paul, you got a minute?- Yeah.

1:21:19 > 1:21:21- MATTHEWS ON TV:- 'How much could a shake-up like this,

1:21:21 > 1:21:24'days before the Ohio primary, hurt a campaign?

1:21:24 > 1:21:26'I asked Paul Zara how his firing could help the candidate.'

1:21:26 > 1:21:30'The governor and I felt that in light of these changing numbers

1:21:30 > 1:21:33'that it was best to put a new face on the campaign.

1:21:33 > 1:21:36'Stephen is very talented, uh, very smart.'

1:21:36 > 1:21:39ORGAN PLAYS

1:21:49 > 1:21:54You always hear people talk about events out of sequence,

1:21:54 > 1:21:55the order of things.

1:22:01 > 1:22:05There is no greater grief

1:22:05 > 1:22:07than a parent laying their child to rest.

1:22:11 > 1:22:15She was a little girl trying to make it in a very grown-up world.

1:22:16 > 1:22:19A world where every mistake is magnified.

1:22:19 > 1:22:22And she was smart and pretty and so, so young.

1:22:28 > 1:22:30Father, you ask us to accept God's plan,

1:22:30 > 1:22:34to not question his judgment.

1:22:34 > 1:22:38With all due respect, I don't accept this judgment.

1:22:38 > 1:22:40She made the world better.

1:22:43 > 1:22:45Not just for me...

1:22:46 > 1:22:48..but for everyone she touched.

1:23:01 > 1:23:04You should hire Jack for a speechwriter.

1:23:04 > 1:23:05I'll keep it in mind.

1:23:09 > 1:23:12- You come here to see me? - No. Friends of the family.

1:23:12 > 1:23:14Got her the internship.

1:23:16 > 1:23:18I've known her since she was born.

1:23:19 > 1:23:20I'm sorry.

1:23:24 > 1:23:27Governor couldn't make the flight?

1:23:27 > 1:23:29He's meeting with Thompson.

1:23:29 > 1:23:31Look at you.

1:23:31 > 1:23:33All grown up with tits and all.

1:23:36 > 1:23:37I learned from the best.

1:23:41 > 1:23:44Well, one day we'll grab a beer, and you can tell me

1:23:44 > 1:23:47what you had on the governor that put me out.

1:23:47 > 1:23:50How do you know I didn't have something on you?

1:23:56 > 1:23:58Well, you better get going.

1:23:58 > 1:24:01You have a campaign to run, I've got offices to look at.

1:24:01 > 1:24:03Farragut North?

1:24:03 > 1:24:07Nice consultant firm right off of K Street.

1:24:07 > 1:24:10Million a year.

1:24:10 > 1:24:11No-one to fuck you over.

1:24:12 > 1:24:15- Sounds relaxing.- Doesn't it?

1:24:20 > 1:24:21CROWD APPLAUDS

1:24:21 > 1:24:23- THOMPSON:- The right man to lead this great nation of ours

1:24:23 > 1:24:25in these challenging times...

1:24:25 > 1:24:26CROWD CHEERS

1:24:26 > 1:24:31..and the next president of the United States of America,

1:24:31 > 1:24:33- Governor Mike Morris. - AUDIENCE CHEERS

1:24:40 > 1:24:43And let me ask one very important thing -

1:24:43 > 1:24:46that all of us stand shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm,

1:24:46 > 1:24:48in a united Democratic Party.

1:24:48 > 1:24:50CROWD CHEERS

1:24:50 > 1:24:55So I strongly urge the 356 loyal delegates

1:24:55 > 1:24:58that I have carried as a badge of honour

1:24:58 > 1:24:59throw their support to the governor.

1:24:59 > 1:25:01Let's put this primary behind us

1:25:01 > 1:25:05and get on with the business of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

1:25:05 > 1:25:06Thank you, God bless you,

1:25:06 > 1:25:09and God bless the United States of America.

1:25:09 > 1:25:12Governor Mike Morris, ladies and gentlemen.

1:25:12 > 1:25:13CROWD CHEERS

1:25:16 > 1:25:18CHEERING CONTINUES

1:25:20 > 1:25:22- MORRIS:- Senator Thompson, thank you.

1:25:25 > 1:25:28Well, the polls aren't quite closed, but I congratulate Senator Pullman

1:25:28 > 1:25:32and his Republican constituents on their win here in Ohio.

1:25:32 > 1:25:34CROWD LAUGHS AND CHEERS

1:25:39 > 1:25:43Senator Thompson, I am honoured to stand here with you today.

1:25:43 > 1:25:46And I am humbled by your kind words. Thank you.

1:25:48 > 1:25:52Today marks the beginning of a fight between two sets of ideals.

1:25:52 > 1:25:55Either we're going to move forward, or we're going to live in the past.

1:25:55 > 1:25:57CROWD SHOUTS OUT

1:25:57 > 1:25:59Either we're going to lead the world in technology

1:25:59 > 1:26:02or we are going to bury our heads in the sand.

1:26:03 > 1:26:06The sands of Saudi Arabia, the sands of Iraq.

1:26:06 > 1:26:08CROWD CHEERS

1:26:10 > 1:26:12Either we're going to let greed and corruption

1:26:12 > 1:26:15ruin our industries and our shorelines

1:26:15 > 1:26:18or we are going to take back our country.

1:26:20 > 1:26:22We are not a nation used to coming in second

1:26:22 > 1:26:24or third.

1:26:24 > 1:26:26- DUFFY ON TV:- 'No, it's not decisive.

1:26:26 > 1:26:28'We still have several contests to go.

1:26:28 > 1:26:31'Those states are going to want to have their say.

1:26:31 > 1:26:32'It looks like we're going to win Ohio.'

1:26:32 > 1:26:35- MADDOW ON TV:- 'You must concede, sir, that these 356 delegates

1:26:35 > 1:26:37'put the pledged delegates out of reach.

1:26:37 > 1:26:40'The super-delegates are breaking three to one for Morris...'

1:26:40 > 1:26:44'We still have several contests to go, and Ohio was a big win for us.'

1:26:44 > 1:26:45'Then do you have the funds?'

1:26:45 > 1:26:48'Of course we have the funds. We get new donations daily.'

1:26:50 > 1:26:51- Hey, Ben?- Yep?

1:26:51 > 1:26:54I was told to talk to you. I'm supposed to get a phone.

1:26:55 > 1:26:58- And you are...? - Jill Morris.

1:26:58 > 1:27:00No relation.

1:27:00 > 1:27:03- You a Bearcat, Jill Morris? - No, I'm from Columbus.

1:27:03 > 1:27:05I'm a Buckeye.

1:27:20 > 1:27:21You're making me look bad.

1:27:21 > 1:27:24- How so? - I filed the story that said

1:27:24 > 1:27:28you're off the campaign and Thompson's going to Pullman.

1:27:28 > 1:27:30Can't believe everything you read.

1:27:30 > 1:27:34Want to give you an opportunity to comment on my next story.

1:27:34 > 1:27:35It says you delivered Thompson.

1:27:35 > 1:27:38You got the 356 delegates, you delivered the nomination.

1:27:38 > 1:27:41All you asked in return was Paul's job.

1:27:41 > 1:27:43- Any chance of you confirming? - No press behind this point.

1:27:43 > 1:27:46- I'll read about it in the funny papers.- Come on, Stephen.

1:27:47 > 1:27:49Aren't we friends any more?

1:27:51 > 1:27:53You're my best friend, Ida.

1:28:52 > 1:28:54- MAN OVER EARPIECE:- 'Jay, this is Sean in New York.

1:28:54 > 1:28:56'Can you get him to run a mike check?'

1:29:01 > 1:29:02If you could count to 10 for me.

1:29:02 > 1:29:05One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

1:29:05 > 1:29:07Good. OK.

1:29:20 > 1:29:22- MORRIS OVER EARPIECE:- 'Senator Thompson, I am proud

1:29:22 > 1:29:24'that you have brought integrity back to this election.

1:29:24 > 1:29:27'Because that's what this comes down to - integrity.

1:29:27 > 1:29:29'Who we are.

1:29:29 > 1:29:33'Because how we project ourselves to the world matters.

1:29:33 > 1:29:37'Dignity matters. Integrity matters.

1:29:37 > 1:29:40- CROWD CHEERS - 'Our future depends on it.

1:29:40 > 1:29:43CROWD CHANTS: Morris! Morris! Morris!

1:29:51 > 1:29:54- MAN:- 'We have Governor Morris' senior campaign adviser,

1:29:54 > 1:29:56'Stephen Meyers, coming to us from Xavier University

1:29:56 > 1:29:59'where Senator Thompson has endorsed Governor Morris,

1:29:59 > 1:30:02'essentially ending this primary race.

1:30:02 > 1:30:03'Stephen, can you give us some insight

1:30:03 > 1:30:05'into how this whole thing unfolded?'