The people aren't paying us to duck the hard choices. You want to run through the details, Angela?" She proposes a continuing resolution extending no later than January 3, to include a reduction by 1\%. Before she can say any more, Haffley interrupts her to say that he knows they talked about a 1\% cut: "It's going to have to be three [percent]." I don't understand the choice to have a handheld camera for a scene in which everybody's hardly moving. Angela says that nothing like that was even mentioned; Jed tells her, "Hold on." Haffley "apologizes" for not giving more notice, but says that they just came from their conference, and that there was significant opposition to only a 1\% cut. Jed says, "'Only' 1\%? We had a deal at 1\%." Haffley: "But now my members have to go back to their districts for the holidays [and] explain why we kept the gravy train running with a rising deficit and an economy crying out for tax relief. It's an economic situation that calls out for action -- not status-quo spending. Now, 3\% may sound painful, but it's only for two months. It'll show we're serious." The lights dim again, or maybe the camera fades right down and then comes back up. Maybe it's just supposed to be a really arty cut, but it doesn't work. Jed calmly asks, "What's next?" Haffley: "Sir?" Jed: "In two months...5\%? Fifty [percent]? How many rounds do we go, Jeff? I'm just asking." Haffley replies, "There is no 'next,' sir. I mean, not to get too technical, but this government runs out of money at midnight, and my guys have gone home. This is it." ShakyCam closeup shots of Jed and Haffley. Jed thinks for a while and then says, "No." Haffley says, "There is no altering this offer, Mr. President." Jed stands up, which means that everyone else has to (although Haffley's the last to his feet), and says, "And I said, 'no.'" Haffley -- looking a wee bit intimidated -- says, "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." Jed nods: "Then shut it down." Then I'm not sure what happens, because I got a concussion from the heavy-handed Law & Order sound effects that go "Clang! Clang! Boom!" I've pieced it together, though: Lighting by The X_Files. Camera work by NYPD Blue. Sound effects by Peddinghaus.