The Contender Page #6

Hi.

I'm Jack Hathaway.

How are you?

Hi, sir. Um...

Ow. I'm Special Agent Willomina.

Sure is good of you to meet me.

It's a pleasure.

How can I help you?

I know you're busy, so this

will be as routine as it gets.

- Did my girl offer you coffee or something to drink?

- Oh, yes, she did.

She was very nice, your girl.

Yes, she is.

She's very nice.

So like I said, I just want to cross

a couple of T's, little stuff.

It's all just part

of the process.

By the way, sir, I was real impressed

with your graciousness...

- on the whole Senator Hanson thing.

- Oh?

You know, in supporting her.

Real gracious.

Well, as you know, I withdrew my name

from consideration.

Right. Right.

And I think she's a real fine choice.

Anybody that knows her knows that.

How long have you known her?

- Oh, well, actually, I don't really...

- I'm sorry.

When you said,

"Anybody that knows her"...

- I know people who know her.

- Uh-huh.

- I'm happy to give you their names, if you'd like.

- Great.

I don't really know her, but I've

seen her several times at functions...

and, uh, I think

she'll do a real good job.

Sir, can I just say that...

I was really hoping

you'd go for the position...

especially after what happened

on the Apachaway.

I think people would think,

in the back of their minds...

"This here's a guy who takes risks

when the right thing's at stake. "

- Lifesaver?

- No, thanks.

Anyway, some real bad luck,

your being right there.

Not if I'd been able

to save her.

No, no, in the crabbing area.

It's just that

you were fishing for bass, so...

That probably explains why

we didn't catch anything.

You fish in the Apachaway a lot, so I

thought that you would know that, but...

I don't fish a lot.

- I thought your equipment was pretty sophisticated, but...

- There's a difference...

between wanting to fish

and having time to fish.

Tell me about it.

- And he freed the slaves and won the Civil War.

- That's right!

He was probably

our greatest president.

- Even greater than George Washington?

- It's a running debate.

- Laine Hanson.

- Oh, Mr. President.

And you must be

one Timothy Hanson.

Timothy Muskie Hanson.

Well, Timothy Muskie Hanson, how would

you like a great big cookie? Any kind.

- No, thank you.

- Any kind at all.

Oatmeal, white chocolate...

Actually, we just had dinner,

but thanks.

In that case, shall we have

our picture taken, young man? Hmm?

- How do I look?

- Your tie's a little crooked.

Well, can't take a picture like that.

Will you straighten it for me?

Your mommy tells me you know more about

the presidents than most grown-ups.

- I like to study them.

- Mmm! Me too.

I think we're ready

for business, Dennis.

- Sir.

- You must be very proud of your mom.

Yeah, being the vice president

is better than being the president.

Oh, I'm sure you're right.

'Cause nobody wants to shoot

the vice president.

So, you must be feeling

pretty excited about now. Please sit.

- Hmm?

- Well, I think I'm a little nervous.

Well, good! Good.

Night before a confirmation hearing.

Anything else,

I would've withdrawn your name.

- What about this Webster, sir?

- Ah, one second. Anybody here hungry?

- No, thanks.

- No, sir, I'm not. Thanks.

Otto, could you whip up some

Kung Pao chicken, but with walnuts?

No problem, sir.

Ah, the kid. Met him. You know

this young congressman, Webster?

No, sir, I don't.

No matter. He reminds me of me

when I was his age. That's bad.

K, you need to put out word

that no matter what this kid does...

nobody's to give him

a hard time.

He's misguided, but he's got something.

And one day, who knows?

All right, sir. I'm sure the senator

can handle Mr. Webster.

There is one concern

we need to...

Oh, right, concern. Laine?

K told me about your little

sexual romp in college.

Sh*t. Tomorrow is the 17th.

- Glenda?

- Yes, sir?

Tomorrow is Jacobson's birthday. Have

you got something for the son of a b*tch?

Yes, sir. You got him

a leather-bound Don Quixote.

Oh, good. Good gift.

Metaphorical gift.

He'll be trying to figure out

why I got him that forever.

Ah, were you married

at the time?

Uh, I was a freshman in...

You know, sir, I'm just not going

to comment on the whole thing.

It's beneath me

and it's beneath the press.

That's the way to go. F*** the press.

Senator Hanson does not kiss and tell.

- It's perfect.

- Maybe I was too rough on Shelly in Hartford.

Then this would all be moot,

'cause you wouldn't be president, sir.

You know what?

Married, unmarried, One guy, two guys,

the whole football team.

Who the f*** cares?

You just look those bastards

in the eye and tell them exactly that.

These guys,

they're gonna confirm you.

But they want to embarrass you

in the process.

They want to send you into

this administration as a virus.

So you have only one choice.

- Yes, sir?

- Don't... be embarrassed.

Two hours, gentlemen.

It is now up to us

to light the spark...

which will result in a moral uprising,

so that we may have...

a new birth

of national honesty...

and decency.

And sometimes in this process...

you will question

even yourselves.

And that's good,

that's healthy.

For what are we

if we are not what we believe?

Laine Hanson...

is a cancer.

A cancer of liberalism.

A cancer of disloyalty.

Her nomination itself is the cancer

of affirmative action.

What we will sing

with voices stentorian...

is that she is the cancer

of virtuous decay.

Clausewitz said that war

is the natural extension of politics.

But politics is also

the extension of war.

They are one and the same.

In this war,

there will be casualties.

But so help me God...

not among us.

Senator, could we have a word?

The president canceled

his golf game with me.

- He always cancels his golf game. Don't worry about it.

- Not with me.

- Kermit, can I talk to you a second?

- We'll talk later.

They're home,

they're watching, they're proud.

Lewis, this is it. Thank you.

Order. Order.

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Sheldon

B. Runyon from the great state of Illinois.

It is my privilege

and my honor...

to serve as the chairman

of these special hearings.

We are here today for only

the third time in our history...

to ensure the proper implementation

of the 25th amendment...

and for the first time...

the House has taken on

that responsibility.

Myself and my esteemed

colleagues are determined...

to ensure that this very

important matter be handled with...

expedition and dignity.

We are proud to welcome

our friend and colleague, Laine Hanson.

Madam Senator,

I welcome you.

Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Will the "gentlelady" from Ohio

please rise and raise your right hand?

Madam Senator,

do you swear to tell the truth...

the whole truth and nothing

but the truth, so help you God?

- I do.

- Please be seated.

Mr. Chairman, point of order.

The Chair recognizes

Mr. Webster of Delaware.

Mr. Chairman, I direct

your attention to page 16...

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