My love for the President's daughter

A Proportional Response

Diana was walking with her father and Leo outside on the portico towards the Oval Office discussing what is being done to retaliate in response to Captain Tolliver's plane being shot down.

"This is crap. It's been three days. This is amateur hour," Bartlet voiced.

"Cashman and Berryhill have to revise the response scenario so that they speak to State..." Leo tried to tell him.

"Cashman and Berryhill are dragging their feet," He interrupted, "Cashman and Berryhill are trying to make me look like a clown. And State should concern itself with what I damn well tell 'em to be concerned with!"

"I don't think it works like that, sir," Diana told him as she opens the door to the outer oval office.

"So I've discovered," Bartlet said.

"Good morning Mr. President," Nancy greeted.

"Good morning."

"Moreover you know that's not the way it works. The Chiefs are working as swiftly as they can..." Leo told him as they enter the Oval Office. Mrs. Landingham is already there, "...even though, frankly, time isn't a factor."

"Good morning Mr. President," She greets Bartlet as she hands him a paper.

"Good morning."

"And not to pile on, but Cashmen and Berryhill have a point with respect to the Security Council," Leo continued.

"Uh, Mrs. Landingham, I can't seem to find my glasses anywhere. Can you please do whatever it is you do when I can't find my glasses?" Bartlet asked as he stood behind his desk.

"Certainly sir," She responded and then leaves the room.

Bartlet then continues his conversation with Leo and Diana, "It's been 72 hours, Leo, Diana. That's more than three days since they blew him out of the sky. And I'm tired of waiting dammit! This is candy ass! We are going to draw up a response scenario today, I'm going to give the order today, we're going to strike back today."

"I wish you wouldn't say 'him', Mr. President," Leo said.

"What?" Bartlet said, looking confused by what Leo meant.

"'Three days since they blew him out of the sky.' Of course, that's fine while it's just you and me sir, but is there with Fitzwallace and the Chiefs, I hope you say 'it' or 'the airplane' not 'him'," He clarified.

"You think I'm taking this personally," Bartlet said.

"I think-" Leo began before Bartlet interrupted him.

"Why the hell shouldn't I take this personally?" He asked.

"I think the fact that Morris was on the plane-"

"Americans were on that plane," Bartlet interrupted again.

"Mr. President..." Diana began to speak but was interrupted by her father.

"I met Morris four or five times, let's not do this like he was my son," He told them.

"Yes, sir," They responded.

"Mrs. Landingham!" Bartlet yelled.

"Mr. President, I still think we need to talk about..." Leo said before he was cut off.

"I can't find my glasses anywhere," Bartlet told Mrs. Landingham as she entered the office.

"Yes sir, we're on it," She responded.

"Thank you."

"The director is waiting," Mrs. Landingham informed him.

Bartlet tries to read his watch, "Uh, yeah, let's have him," Bartlet then asks Leo, "What did you want to say?"