The Contender Page #5

- Great audience for that, huh?

- Yeah, it was great.

What's goin' on?

Uh...

well, it looks like Runyon

or somebody close to him...

has been running

a little private investigation...

looking for stuff that the Feds

wouldn't even touch.

- It's, um...

- Yeah?

What is it?

What...

- He doesn't know anything about it.

- You're asking me to step down?

I'm asking you to do what's in

the best interest of the party...

and this president.

Well, I'm sorry.

I can't do it, not over this.

He's not going to allow me

or himself...

to get shot down over what would've

been a private sexual encounter.

- Some swan song for the old man, huh?

- It's f***in' awful.

The senator got a little wild

when she was 19. What is the big deal?

Let me explain

the big deal to you.

The people of this nation

can stomach quite a bit.

But one thing they can't stomach is the image

of a vice president with a mouthful of cock.

You don't have to use... Look.

Let's use the word "alleged. "

They got photos! They got witnesses!

They got the "alleged" slut...

Hey! Let me tell you something.

I'm her husband first.

I don't tolerate talk like that.

- Will, calm down.

- You better get used to it, Will.

Especially when not even your wife

will defend herself.

Give me something, Laine.

Anything.

Hell, just deny it.

Why don't you just deny it?

It is simply

beneath my dignity.

Dignity! Right.

We'll just have to make this all

not worthwhile for Mr. Runyon.

What have you got on the

distinguished gentleman from Illinois?

Some pretty good stuff.

- S.E.C. Investigation, 1985.

- You got stocks?

I want something embarrassing!

Something sexual!

Little boys, midgets,

that sort of thing.

- Cows! I don't give a goddamn!

- Come on, Kermit.

If we do that,

we're no better than he is.

We are no better than he is.

There's nothing there.

He got married when he was 21.

There's no evidence

he ever cheated on his wife.

Too bad we're not running in France.

We could really nail him on that one.

When do you have

your lunch with him?

With Shelly Runyon?

I'm not having lunch with him.

Friday, 1:
00.

It's scheduled tomorrow.

It's automatic.

He's committee chairman.

It was set up. S.O.P.

- Laine.

- Shelly.

I'm sorry I started.

You were late.

- I'm not too late, I hope.

- A minute or two.

- Were you tied up with anything?

- No, sorry. I'm just late.

- Hi, Clem. You too.

- Senator, nice to see you.

- I ordered you the porterhouse.

- No, I don't eat meat.

- I'll have the penne.

- You should really... Mmm.

- Try the steak. Ask Hugo to burn it on the outside.

- No, thank you.

I really don't eat meat.

I'll just go ahead with the penne.

- Spicy?

- Yes, please. Thanks.

So, how are...

Will and the boy?

Let's forego

the small talk today, Shelly.

- It'll make me feel cheap.

- Let the big talk begin.

Have you seen this?

That's my... That's my file

on you, Senator.

- Mm-hmm.

- How did you get it?

Have you read it yet?

How did you get it?

Have you read it?

- What do you have to say for yourself?

- With all due respect...

um, Senator...

- it doesn't matter what I have to say for myself.

- Oh, it doesn't?

It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, all you can

claim about me... claim, is that I had sex...

- Deviant sex.

- Who says it was deviant?

I do.

And what I say, the people will believe.

And you know why?

Because I'll have a very big microphone

in front of me.

Wow, you must

really hate me, Shelly.

I don't hate you.

It's not possible to hate you. You're...

What the hell was it that Reynolds

called you the other day?

Groovy.

You're a groovy chick.

No, what I, um, do detest

is your selfishness.

I have served this nation without regard

for personal income for over ten years.

You are selfish because you want to take

on a job that positions you to assume...

a mantle of gigantic

responsibility...

and you do it full well

with the knowledge...

Of what?

What?

Greatness is

the orphan of urgency, Laine.

Greatness only emerges

when we need it most...

in times of war

or calamity.

I can't ask somebody

to be a Kennedy or a Lincoln.

They were men

created by their times.

What I can ask for

is the promise of greatness.

And that, Madam Senator...

you don't have.

Well, then...

I just wouldn't be using sex

as leverage...

if I were you, Sheldon.

Because there's one thing

you don't want.

It's a woman with her finger

on the button who isn't getting laid.

Will that be the argument the senator

offers up before the committee?

Sir? Can I get you

something to drink?

- Uh, no, I'm fine. Thank you.

- You sure?

No, great.

Thanks a lot.

- Ah, Mr. Webster.

- Mr. President.

- Good to see you.

- It's an honor, sir.

- I've been meaning to have you up here for some time.

- Really?

Excuse me. Willie?

Thank you, Willie.

Yeah, you betcha. You unseated

that old bastard Bettis.

He must've voted against me

You know what this is?

That's a shark steak sandwich.

F***ing shark steak.

- You want half?

- Uh, no, thank you.

- Are you a vegan? Had lunch?

- No. Uh...

So you choose not to break bread with

the president of the United States?

Thank you.

When I was in the Senate, Bettis could always be

counted to leave half a grand at the poker table.

Always stayed in, never folded.

Always wanted that miracle card.

- That's good, isn't it?

- Mm-hmm.

Now, Truman,

he was a poker player.

Damn fine one,

as I understand it.

Son, I understand you may be

making a mess of our plans...

to put Laine Hanson

into the vice president mansion.

Right now, sir, I cannot see

supporting Laine Hanson.

- How old are you?

- Me, I'm 28.

And at that age and experience, you think

you're the one to sit and judge Mrs. Hanson?

Well, that's the whole point,

isn't it?

I am, sir.

Mr. Webster,

I'm asking you to lay off...

as a personal favor.

It's one thing to break ranks

and vote against my candidate...

but to actively attack her

from the bench, that's another.

Mr. President, I just don't believe

in Laine Hanson...

especially when we have

at our disposal Governor Hathaway.

He's a party loyalist

and genuine hero.

And I cannot and shall not vote for a

candidate simply because she's a woman.

I am nothing if I do not

follow my heart, sir.

I envy you.

I do. You know why?

Because someday, years from now, you're

gonna come in here with your family...

and you're gonna look up

at my painting...

and you'll be able to say to them,

your kids and grandkids...

"Way back then

I defied my president.

It cost me my reelection,

kept me out of politics forever.

I was on the track

to maybe one day end up here...

destined to make the kind of changes

in this country...

that only great men, given the right

time and place, can make...

and I have none of that now,

but that's okay...

because I did

what was in my heart. "

The heart, it can never be wrong,

can it, Mr. Webster?

Mmm. Delicious.

You got a little...

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