The Contender Page #3

- No, I mean scarce.

During the confirmation period,

I want you out of sight.

- Pardon me?

- A wife there behind her husband...

is perceived as supportive.

A husband following around behind

his wife is perceived as a puppeteer.

- But I think...

- No, honey. I think Mr. Newman's right on.

Let Hollis handle

the day-to-day...

- and I'll be the man behind the curtain.

- Where do we go from here?

The FBI's gonna have to do

an extensive background check.

- Director Friend will handle the investigation.

- Yes, we made sure of that.

Just about every aspect of your life

will be uncovered.

Your bank accounts,

your medical reports.

- What am I forgetting?

- Correspondence to government agencies, speeches...

When Nelson Rockefeller was confirmed,

they had over 300 agents working on him.

They had a lot more life

and cash to investigate, huh?

We'll do our own background check in case

anything falls through the cracks, to be safe.

At the same time,

the House will... Come in.

The House will put together

its bipartisan subcommittee...

of the Judiciary to interview you and

advise and consent to your nomination.

Shelly Runyon's

running the show there.

Cheyenne, Wyoming, you're on with

Vice President Designate Laine Hanson.

- Larry, how are you?

- I'm fine. Thanks for calling.

I just wanted to say

to the senator that...

all of Cheyenne is with her.

We think she's absolutely great for

the country and this administration.

- Congratulations.

- What's the question, sir?

I wanted to ask the senator, if she

could pick one person from history...

to serve as her model for how to behave

in office, who would that be?

Good question, Senator.

Hey, guys.

Nice to see you.

- Sorry to barge in on you.

- No, no, no, no. I'm just watching your girl.

- First female prime ministers?

- They were great leaders.

Would you put Thatcher

in that category?

No, I don't think so.

- You know what? I would have to say Thomas Jefferson.

- A man?

- She's something, isn't she?

- I don't really know her.

We served together

a few years ago, and, I guess...

we just ended up

in different company.

- Take a seat.

- Congressman, the president asked us to come down here.

He'd like to let you know he'd appreciate

your support in the senator's confirmation.

- Really?

- He asked me directly, Shell.

But the president didn't consider it

important enough to ask me personally?

You know it's important.

It's the old man's swan song.

Putting a woman in office

means something to him.

Laine Hanson's

the absolute best choice.

You don't believe that.

Come on. You're too smart.

Look, I don't mind

she's a woman...

but I'm not confirming a woman

just because she's a woman.

Laine Hanson

has an extra burden.

She's has to come on the world stage

with perfect credentials.

Margaret Thatcher didn't have perfect

credentials. The world respected her.

The world accepted Margaret Thatcher because

they knew she had to answer to Ronald Reagan.

A woman better be pretty damn qualified

to have nobody to answer to...

and Laine Hanson

is not that.

Look me in the eyes

and tell me...

that Laine Hanson is your first choice

for the vice presidency.

Laine Hanson

is my absolute first choice.

I'd so want you

in my poker game.

Country needs

a smooth confirmation.

The president needs

a smooth confirmation.

The country needs

a competent vice president.

Excuse me a minute.

There's only one person in the world

that has that phone number.

So who's the second choice?

We haven't really settled

on anybody yet.

Tell me, if Laine Hanson were

to be hit by a flying car...

who would the president

then select?

I think the president

still likes Jack Hathaway, Congressman.

You know...

Jack Hathaway, there's a good man...

for a Democrat.

There's a man

I would say would have...

a smooth confirmation.

- Jack Hathaway?

- Smooth as a baby's ass.

- He's already taken himself out of it, so...

- Right.

Right!

Well, who the hell knows?

Perhaps Lainey

will shock the world...

by pulling out

her brilliance...

and erudition at the hearings

that none of us know she has.

So, Shelly, can we ask

for basic fairness?

- Fifty-fifty, Democrat and Republican

at the hearings? - Of course you can.

Congressman! Congressman!

Mr. Runyon.

Just wanted to steal you

for a second. I'm Reg Webster.

- Oh, you're one of Stoney's boys?

- Uh, no.

You staff or intern?

Actually I'm a representative.

Reginald Webster of Delaware.

Oh, f*** me. I'm sorry, Webster.

What can I do for you?

- I'm running late.

- I was hoping I could grab your attention for a second.

- What's the skinny?

- Well, uh...

- I'm late, Mr. Webster.

- I understand a chair's opened up in the committee...

and I'd like

to put my name forward.

I believe you'll find me

industrious and hardworking.

The Judiciarys

for senior members.

Wheeling was in for five terms

before we let him in.

My hands are tied.

There's nothing I can do.

Shelly, I've been trying

to reach you for five days.

- I left you 32 messages.

- Well, leave me a 33rd.

- Where you from?

- Delaware.

Oh, yeah, you were...

You knocked Emory Bettis out.

Emory used to be

in the Thursday night game.

He was always good

for a few hundred bucks.

I guess he ran his campaign

like he played poker.

I take it you have

a predisposition.

- About the confirmation, I mean.

- No. Actually, I'm 100% objective.

- Mmm. Do you have a dictionary, Mr. Webster?

- Yeah.

Take a Magic Marker,

cross out the word "objectivity. "

Your constituents want you

for your opinions, your philosophy...

for your subjectivity.

Laver has to duck

out of the way of that one.

One that Laver can't get.

He's still trying to recover.

And he zings another

powerful forehand past Laver.

See that, Tim-Tim?

Know what we call that?

- We call that topspin. You know

how we get topspin? - Uh-huh.

- Yeah? Tell me.

- 'Cause Baby Jesus made topspin.

What?

- Baby Jesus gave it topspin.

- Jesus?

Ah! Why do you say that?

- Because Baby Jesus made everything.

- Yeah? Who told you that?

Miss Moyer in kindergarten,

and Mommy says...

- I have to listen Miss Moyer.

- Wow, this is news to me.

I gave up my career trying to strike that

nonsense out of the public school system.

Maybe I ought to put him

in public school, then.

Remember what I told you

about moving your grip down...

- and to the left?

- Uh-huh.

- Go see if Dad's found his bathing suit yet.

- Gimme a hug.

Yeah. Thanks, champ.

- They are paid to teach, not...

- To preach.

I know, but he's six years old, and he

also believes in the tooth fairy...

- and that George Washington never told a lie.

- Well, it drives me crazy.

- Mary, wanna turn the ball machine off?

- Yes, Mr. Governor.

Thanks for seeing me, Dad.

- Why wouldn't I see you?

- Partisanship.

I gotta love

at least one Democrat.

You know, Dad, I'm getting some reports

that you might not be ready to back me.

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