TV QuotesDatabase
S2

The West Wing · Season 2

Leo and Ainsley in “In this White House”

So, I have to tell you, I've never seen Sam Seaborn get beat the way you beat him on Monday.

Yes, well, Mr. McGarry...

Leo.

Yes, sir. I've been thinking about that ever since your office called me on Tuesday, and I have something to say on my own behalf, if you'll permit me a moment to say it, and I understand if you won't, but I would really appreciate it if you did.

I... didn't really follow that, but whatever.

I think that it is wrong for a man in your position to summon someone to the White House to reprimand them for voicing opposition. I think that that is wrong, and it is inappropriate. It's inappropriate, and I'll tell you what else.

It's wrong?

Yes.

That's fine, except you weren't summoned here to be reprimanded.

Well, then, if you'll permit me, why was I summoned?

You have an interesting conversational style, do you know that?

It's a nervous condition.

I used to have a nervous condition.

How did yours manifest itself?

I drank a lot of scotch.

I get sick when I drink too much.

I get drunk when I drink too much.

Well, Mr. McGarry...

Leo.

I'll ask again: for what purpose was I brought here today?

So I could offer you a job.

I'm asking because I do not think that it is fair that I be expected to play the role of the mouse to the White House's cat in the game of... you know the game?

Cat and mouse?

Yes. And it's not like I'm not, you know. The fact that I may not look like some of the other Republicans who have crossed your path does not mean that I'm any less inclined toward...

Here it comes.

Did you say offer me a job?

Yes. Associate White House counsel. You'd report to the deputy White House counsel who reports to the White House counsel who reports to me.

I'm sorry... a job in this White House?

You want a glass of scotch?

Yes, please.

More from this episode

All quotes from this episode →

More The West Wing quotes · These quotes come from Wikiquote's The West Wing pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.