Next we see Leo apprising the Prez about the land-use rider as they walk toward the President's office. Jed has a fit when he finds out that Eaton and Broderick are the culprits. Toby's waiting in the office with several other staffers and tells Jed that it's retaliation for having won the campaign. Jed can't believe they want to strip-mine Big Sky, and Sam tells him to swallow it. Josh starts bickering with Sam until the President redirects their attention to him. Sam advises not sacrificing the banking bill in order to get into an "intramural spitball game over a couple of rocks that are uninhabitable eight months out of the year anyway." Josh says that what Sam means is that politically, they don't need the environmental lobby. Everyone continues to argue and Sam sarcastically points out that it's particularly important to carry Montana and its three electoral votes in the next election. Toby asks for a few hours to work on the problem, which POTUS grants, and they sit down for their meeting.

Cut to an incredibly pastoral sunset shot of Washington. The President walks into Leo's office, where Leo is lying on his couch reading a document. Jed seems to be at loose ends. He's not ready to go home since Abby (the First Lady) is away. He asks about Leo's breakfast with Mallory. The Prez tries to explains why Mallory being pissed is justified, since despite the demands of Leo's job, Mallory had a right to expect her father to keep her mother happy, not make her cry. In his inimitable way, Leo responds, "You really threw some sunshine down on that one. Thank you sir." Jed says he'll be right next door all night. Looks like Leo will too.

Commercials: boring car ad: Hallmark schmaltz; commercial for the new Maytag Gemini oven that I am coveting; another ridiculous car ad; commercial for Cold Squad (Canada's X-Files).

Back at Josh's office, Donna, who should probably know that Josh doesn't want to see Mandy, delivers him to Mandy on a platter anyway. Mandy strides in her with slightly odd walk (which, I've realized, reminds me ever-so-slightly of Cathy Walsh's Babe Bennett character on This Hour Has 22 Minutes). Naturally she's there to hassle Josh about the possibility of the banking bill being vetoed if they can't get rid of the land-use rider. Mandy thinks this is stupid and asserts that Josh doesn't care about Big Sky. He admits he doesn't give a damn about it but he doesn't care to send the signal that Republicans can slap them around any time they want. Mandy responds that she thinks it's about the fact that when Josh is combative it "juices up" the President and he knows it. Josh doesn't really have a comeback for that and says he'll keep it in mind. Mandy says he won't, because he never does. Just then Donna calls Josh to a meeting and obviously relieved, he's outta there. Mandy calls after him, "I'm not done with you." Yeah, we bet.