When liberal judicial icon Roy Ashland collapses in his chambers at the Supreme Court, Toby is put in charge of the delicate matter of asking the Chief Justice to step down. Toby wrangles Ashland's former law clerk, Joe Quincy, into helping despite Joe's ethical misgivings. Josh is still in the penalty box, dealing with the president's travel schedule while Leo relies on newcomer Angela Blake to lead tough budget negotiations with Speaker Haffley. CJ flies up to New Hampshire to help a recovered Zoey prepare for her first post-kidnapping interview. When Ashland is released from the hospital, he heads straight for the White House for a discussion of what's best for his health -- and the country.

Starring:

STOCKARD CHANNING as First Lady Abigail Bartlet
DULÉ HILL as Charlie Young
ALLISON JANNEY as C.J. Cregg
JOSHUA MALINA as Will Bailey
JANEL MOLONEY as Donna Moss
RICHARD SCHIFF as Toby Ziegler
JOHN SPENCER as Leo McGarry
BRADLEY WHITFORD as Josh Lyman
and MARTIN SHEEN as President Josiah Bartlet

Toby:  Why, 'cause--?  Oh, c'mon!

CJ:  You'd be surprised.  I get letters.

Toby:  Fine, "human being," then, or do the other mammals complain?

Toby:  If the Chief Justice won't take the President's calls, maybe we need to send someone over there.

Leo:  What, just show up with a bunch of balloons and some peanut brittle?

Toby:  It's time to get Ashland off the bench, Leo.

Will:  There's this thing called the Constitution.  It's a nagging little document, I'll grant you, but...

Joe:  You guys.  You think it's all a game.  You're treating the Court like it's Tammany Hall gone national.

Toby:  And your side does it better, pushing neo-conservatives in swaddling clothes, hoping they don't grow a conscience, let alone a meager understanding of jurisprudence.

Joe:  Maybe we could all do it better.  But there is such a thing called judicial independence.  A lifetime appointment.  He's still alive, so he gets to decide when it's time.

Josh:  Haffley's not Prime Minister.  You take this to the president, you know what he'll say?

Leo:  He'll say yes.

Josh:  How can you say that?

Leo:  To keep the lights on.  To make sure a couple of million government employees keep getting paid.  It's two more months.

Josh:  This isn't governing, it's duck and cover.

Leo:  He'll say that, too.

Abbey:  She did well.  You did an excellent job.

CJ:  You, too.

Abbey:  That's what she needed -- time up here.

CJ:  I meant you've raised a remarkable young woman.

Haffley:  There's no altering this offer, Mr. President.

Bartlet:  And I said no.

Haffley:  Let's be clear, sir.  We cannot -- we will not vote to keep on footing the bill.  You will be held responsible for shutting down the federal government.

Bartlet:  Then shut it down.