Delta4Embassy
Gold Member
Great scene from the show relevant today. Bit long but worth it.
BARTLET
No, I'm not just gonna get this--What the hell is going on?
C.J.
[approaches] They sent me two turkeys. The most photo-friendly of the two
gets a
Presidential pardon and a full life at a children's zoo. The runner-up gets
eaten.
BARTLET
If the Oscars were like that, I'd watch.
C.J.
Mr. President...
BARTLET
Just buy the second turkey.
C.J.
They already sold it.
BARTLET
There's not much I can do.
C.J.
You can pardon the turkey.
BARTLET
The turkey hasn't committed a crime.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
C.J., I have really no judicial jurisdiction over birds.
C.J.
Yes, I know that, and you know that, but Morton Horn doesn't know that.
BARTLET
Who's Morton...?
C.J.
He's a high school kid from the turkey place.
BARTLET
He's in high school and he doesn't know I can't pardon his turkey?
C.J.
That's what I'm betting.
BARTLET
C.J., if we don't and I mean completely overhaul public education in this
country...
C.J.
Yes sir, but maybe this is not the best time to...
BARTLET
Where the hell is he?
C.J.
Right out there.
Bartlet immediately heads for the door, with C.J. following behind him.
CUT TO: INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
As Bartlet and C.J. come out of the Oval Office, we see Donna and Morton by
the door of
the room near Charlie's desk. Troy, the turkey, is in front of them.
C.J.
Morton, this is President Bartlet.
BARTLET
Hey, Morton.
MORTON
Wow.
BARTLET
Well said. Is that the turkey?
DONNA
Yes.
BARTLET
[to the turkey] You're pardoned.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
What do you want?
C.J.
[with hand gestures] Well, you know...
BARTLET
[to the turkey again] By the power vested in me by the Constitution of the
United States,
I hereby pardon you.
MORTON
[pleased] Okay.
BARTLET
No, it's not okay.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
Morton, I can't pardon a turkey. If you think I can pardon a turkey, then
you have got
to go back to your school and insist that you be better prepared to go out
in the world.
DONNA
You can't pardon a turkey?
BARTLET
[beat] No. I tell you what I can do. I'm drafting this turkey into military
service.
In the meantime, somebody will be drafting a check, which will have my
signature on it,
so the folks can buy themselves a Butterball.
BARTLET
No, I'm not just gonna get this--What the hell is going on?
C.J.
[approaches] They sent me two turkeys. The most photo-friendly of the two
gets a
Presidential pardon and a full life at a children's zoo. The runner-up gets
eaten.
BARTLET
If the Oscars were like that, I'd watch.
C.J.
Mr. President...
BARTLET
Just buy the second turkey.
C.J.
They already sold it.
BARTLET
There's not much I can do.
C.J.
You can pardon the turkey.
BARTLET
The turkey hasn't committed a crime.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
C.J., I have really no judicial jurisdiction over birds.
C.J.
Yes, I know that, and you know that, but Morton Horn doesn't know that.
BARTLET
Who's Morton...?
C.J.
He's a high school kid from the turkey place.
BARTLET
He's in high school and he doesn't know I can't pardon his turkey?
C.J.
That's what I'm betting.
BARTLET
C.J., if we don't and I mean completely overhaul public education in this
country...
C.J.
Yes sir, but maybe this is not the best time to...
BARTLET
Where the hell is he?
C.J.
Right out there.
Bartlet immediately heads for the door, with C.J. following behind him.
CUT TO: INT. OUTER OVAL OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
As Bartlet and C.J. come out of the Oval Office, we see Donna and Morton by
the door of
the room near Charlie's desk. Troy, the turkey, is in front of them.
C.J.
Morton, this is President Bartlet.
BARTLET
Hey, Morton.
MORTON
Wow.
BARTLET
Well said. Is that the turkey?
DONNA
Yes.
BARTLET
[to the turkey] You're pardoned.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
What do you want?
C.J.
[with hand gestures] Well, you know...
BARTLET
[to the turkey again] By the power vested in me by the Constitution of the
United States,
I hereby pardon you.
MORTON
[pleased] Okay.
BARTLET
No, it's not okay.
C.J.
Sir...
BARTLET
Morton, I can't pardon a turkey. If you think I can pardon a turkey, then
you have got
to go back to your school and insist that you be better prepared to go out
in the world.
DONNA
You can't pardon a turkey?
BARTLET
[beat] No. I tell you what I can do. I'm drafting this turkey into military
service.
In the meantime, somebody will be drafting a check, which will have my
signature on it,
so the folks can buy themselves a Butterball.
