Tate Brady, Will and others in “Unfinished Business”

[in Will's office] I told you, this guy--

Will

[walking in] This guy what?

Wasn't on the team.

He's on the team, okay?

Will

Hang on. The team I'm on is the voters' and smart, qualified people disagreeing about issues.

Your plan was to embarrass the candidates.

Will

I want candidates who can answer those questions. And if they know they're going to be held responsible for the nonsense they're shouting on the stump, they'll be forced to stop shouting nonsense.

This guy has lost his mind.

He hasn't.

Will

Adam, this is exactly what we always talked about. This is what we dreamed of. We said we need real campaign reform and a way of letting Americans hear the two best competing arguments.

Nobody could stand up to that kind of questioning.

Will

You think that was brutal questioning?

It really wasn't.

And you honestly believe the candidates would submit themselves to this?

They should welcome it.

I don't believe what I'm hearing.

Any candidate who can handle a cross is gonna find himself at the top of the polls in the morning. And we should welcome it 'cause it'll clear out the clown car and give us a serious discussion among serious candidates.

The only person who would welcome it is him. This is about him. He wants to look tough by making the candidates look like idiots.

No, he doesn't. I have known this man for 25 years and I vouch--

I don't care what you vouch for. I am not allowing the goddamn press to make fools out of our candidates.

I'll remember that the next time you bitch about how the press never vetted Obama.

[to Will] We're not agreeing to this format. You are going to abide by the rules that we give you and I don't want Mackenzie McHale producing it for you.

Will

What are you talking about?

I want the old Will McAvoy. Not the thing she turned you into. I know all about that lady.

Will

Get out.

Will, come on. You need the debate. Of course he can use Mackenzie.

Will

These guys have been compromising and compromising all week so we could host a debate that made some sense and did some good.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that, because it was all for nothing.

We need ACN.

No, we don't.

They've got the independents.

He's not the only anchor at ACN. [marches out of office] Don Keefer.

Don

Yeah?

How would you and Elliot Hirsch like to have one of the debates?

Don

Eat me.

Mr. Skinner, I'm trying to be as-

Charlie

When Don says, "Eat me," that's usually the end of the conversation.

Sloan Sabbith. You want to be a star?

Sloan

Me?

Yeah.

Sloan

Fuck you.

[To Adam] I hate these guys. I don't know why you don't.