Episode 7: A Matter of Semantics

FADE IN: Toby's Office- Afternoon

JOSH enters looking perplexed, like a pug who just had his Milkbone taken away. He paces in front of both Toby and Sam's offices before entering.

JOSH: He knows the difference between a personal statement and a general one, right?

TOBY looks confused and sits back, staring blankly into space.

JOSH picks up on this pause and continues, moving into the office and sitting on Toby's couch. 

JOSH: As in, does he understand that when someone criticizes the administration, they aren't attacking his manhood, masculinity, reputation as a reality show host or social media maven.

The corners of Toby's mouth curl up.

TOBY: It's a matter of semantics he doesn't understand. Most megalomaniacs don't. That's one of the things that makes them that way. If they could separate their ego from their reputation, they would be able to separate criticism from free press, reporting from lying, up from down, and so on.

Toby is gearing up. Josh smiles and sits back. SAM enters from his office, looking in wonder as he usually does.

TOBY: When is the rest of this building-hell-the rest of this COUNTRY going to realize we are not dealing with a rational man? A man who names as many big buildings after himself isn't building a brand or a legacy. No, this man, is building an empire. If the Germans hadn't been so demure after World War I, and if Hitler had had any real estate to develop, you still might be staying at the Hitler Hilton.
SAM: Wouldn't they have to call it the Hitlon? I mean, just because it's low hanging fruit.

Pause. Release of pressure.

TOBY: Most of the press has just started going to CJ's briefing right? Why can't we point out the hypocrisy in the fact that a man who seems to take every criticism so personally won't own up to a less-than-wise military operation? To a string of shoddy executive orders that did nothing but bog down the judicial system and support a base of supporters who, I must assume, got out the fresh tin foil last week because the last hats were looking a little haggard? Why can't we point out that we are living in a time where the press is the enemy and isn't even listened to?

SAM: We can. We are. In our little ways. Until the big ways show up.

TOBY: I'm tired of the little ways.

JOSH: Well, join the club. We'll get hats. Until then, we wait and we stalk and we take the hell out of some notes waiting for the thing that's so bad-

TOBY: Like saying "pussy" on global television, advocating assault, making of those with special

SAM: WE GET IT! And we can spend the rest of our time here trying to dissect it or we can plan to fight it. It's up to you.

Fade out.