Bartlet, C.J. and others in “In the Room”

Bartlet

[woken by his staff, in his cabin on Air Force One] I thought you were gonna let me rest.

C.J.

I'm so sorry, sir. State just got a heads-up from the IAEA that they're gonna report tomorrow that the South Korean government has admitted to conducting an experiment to enrich uranium. [as C.J. is talking, Bartlet is looking down at his legs and his arm, in some realization] South Korea is not releasing any details. We need you to get on the phone and get the President to come clean. We can't ask China to help stop North Korean nuclear experiments if the South is doing it too. [she picks up a phone] Get us a secure line with the South Korean President.

Bartlet

[softly] C.J....hold it.

C.J.

Sir?

Bartlet

...I can't move.

Progressive paralysis, he had trouble with his hands, now it's both legs and his right arm...

Bartlet

[sarcastically] So much for being staff-dependent in China.

Fairbanks is closer, but Anchorage is better--

Bartlet

I've got better doctors up here than I do down there.

C.J.

Mr. President, we can't take the chance--

Bartlet

Let's not pretend we didn't know this was gonna happen.

C.J.

No, Mr. President, I didn't know...

Bartlet

I mean, we always knew it was gonna happen someday. I'm ready for it, you better be too.

C.J.

Mr. President, we can't land in China--

Bartlet

[sternly] This plane is going to China. That's a direct order from your Commander-in-Chief.