The West Wing (TV Series)

Pilot (1999)

Annie Corley: Mary Marsh

Quotes 

• President Josiah Bartlet : May I have some coffee, Mr. Louis? Al, how many times have I asked you to denounce the practices of a fringe group that calls itself the Lambs of God?

  Rev. Al Caldwell : Sir, that's not up to me.

  President Josiah Bartlet : Crap! It is up to you, Al. You know, my wife Abby, she never wants me to do anything when I'm upset.

  [takes coffee] 

  President Josiah Bartlet : Thank you, Mr. Louis. Twenty-eight years ago, I came home from a very bad day at the statehouse, I tell Abby I'm going out for a drive. I get in the station wagon, put it in reverse, and pulled out of the garage full speed. Except, I forgot to open the garage door! Abby told me not to drive while I was upset, and she was right. She was right yesterday when she told me not to get on that damned bicycle while I was upset, but I did it anyway. And I guess I was just about as angry as I've ever been in my life. Seems my granddaughter Annie had given an interview to one of those teen magazines, and somewhere between movie stars and make-up tips, she talked about her feelings on a woman's right to choose. Now Annie, all of twelve, has always been precocious but she's got a good head on her shoulders, and I like it when she uses it. So I couldn't understand it when her mother called me in tears yesterday. I said "Elizabeth, what's wrong?" She said "It's Annie." Now, I love my family, and I've read my Bible from cover to cover, so I want you to tell me, from what part of Holy Scripture do you suppose the Lambs of God drew their divine inspiration when they sent my twelve-year-old granddaughter a Raggedy Anne Doll with a knife stuck through its throat?

  [Faces Al Caldwell] 

  President Josiah Bartlet : You'll denounce these people, Al, you'll do it publicly, and until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my White House. C.J., show these people out.

  Mary Marsh : I believe we can find the door.

  President Josiah Bartlet : Find it now.

• John Van Dyke : The First Commandment says "Honor thy father."

  Toby Ziegler : No it doesn't.

  Josh Lyman : Toby...

  Toby Ziegler : It doesn't!

  Josh Lyman : Listen...

  Toby Ziegler : No! If I'm going to make you sit through this preposterous exercise, we're going to get the names of the damn commandments right.

  Mary Marsh : Okay. Here we go.

  Toby Ziegler : "Honor thy father" is the Third Commandment.

  John Van Dyke : Then what's the First Commandment?

  President Josiah Bartlet : "I am the Lord your God. Thou shalt worship no other god before me." Boy, those were the days, huh?

• Mary Marsh : School prayer, pornography, condoms - what's it gonna be?

  Toby Ziegler : We're not prepared to make any sort of a deal right now.

  Josh Lyman : Sure we are. M-Mary, I...

  Mary Marsh : My read of the landscape is that you're cleaning out your desk before the end of business today, so I'd just as soon negotiate with Toby if it's all the same to you.

  Rev. Al Caldwell : Mary...

  Mary Marsh : Please allow me to work.

  [turning to Josh] 

  Mary Marsh : It was only a matter of time with you, Josh. That New York sense of humor was just a little...

  Rev. Al Caldwell : Mary, there's no need to...

  Mary Marsh : Reverend, please! They think they're so much smarter! They think it's smart talk, but nobody else does.

  Josh Lyman : I'm actually from Connecticut. But that's neither here nor there; the point is, Mary, I...

  Toby Ziegler : She meant "Jewish."

  [heavy silence] 

  Toby Ziegler : When she said "New York sense of humor." She was talking about you and me.

  Josh Lyman : You know what, Toby, let's not even go there.

  Rev. Al Caldwell : There's been an apology. Let's move on.

  John Van Dyke : I'd like to discuss why we hear so much talk about the First Amendment coming out of this building but no talk at all about the First Commandment.

  Mary Marsh : I don't like what I've just been accused of.

  Toby Ziegler : I'm afraid that's just tough, Mrs. Marsh!