Sam opens his door and announces that his draft is done, and it's on schedule, and "on schedule" is going to be his middle name from now on. Cathy asks what his middle name was before; Sam says that it was Norman. Samuel Norman Seaborn? I have to say, that's not a real great name. He then confers with Cathy about his schedule for that morning. She says that he's on the Hill with Brennan and Landis at noon, and rhymes off a few other meetings that afternoon. He asks her to see if she can cancel the noon meeting, because he doesn't want to go. Cathy says that's not a good enough reason. Sam says he really doesn't want to go, but Cathy says he's going. Sam accepts this and goes back into his office as Cathy informs him that he's got Mallory at eleven o'clock, which is right now. He's puzzled. Sam, do you ever look at your schedule for the next day? I mean, maybe I'm just a control freak, but if I had to let someone else make my appointments, I'd be checking that thing every couple of hours, myself. Anyway, it turns out Mallory has made an appointment to harangue Sam during working hours regarding the school voucher issue. She says she didn't want to take advantage of the fact that they're dating. Sam: "We're not dating." Mallory: "That's kind of sad for you, isn't it?" He invites her into his office and glares at Cathy's back for a moment before going in after her.

Over at Josh's office, Breckenridge (hey! It's Petrie from Cagney and Lacey) shows up to talk with him. Let me just say here that I think Aaron Sorkin takes some pleasure in thinking up names like Katzenmoyer and Breckenridge and Lillienfield that are a hassle to type. Even so, that will not induce me to say mean things about his show, but that's mainly because I can't find too many mean things to say. They exchange pleasantries and Josh mentions that Breckenridge, hereafter known as Jeff, was a summer associate at Debevoise and Plimpton (what did I say about the names?) when his father was a partner there. Jeff is pleased and surprised to find out that Josh's father was Noah Lyman, whom he describes as a "wonderful man." Jeff asks how Josh's father is doing; Josh sadly informs him that his dad died, the night of the Illinois primary. Jeff expresses his sympathy. Josh moves on quickly but before he can get into things at all, Jeff states that a couple of the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have a problem with him. Josh mentions Stadler; Jeff thinks that Wachtel and Tillison will also have a problem with him. Jeff's not sure exactly what the problem is, though; Josh mentions the quote on the cover of The Unpaid Debt and confirms that Jeff actually did give the alleged quote, which is: "Otis Hastings is a unique and extraordinary historian. This book should be read by everyone and burned into the minds of white Americans." Josh says that he assumes that if asked by the Judiciary Committee, Jeff will tell them that he is in favour of reparations. Jeff says, "If asked, I'll tell them that my father's fathers were kidnapped outside a village called Wimbabwa, brought to New Guinea, sold to a slave trader from Boston, and bought by a plantation owner in Wadsworth, South Carolina where they worked for no wages." Josh says, "And you're looking for back pay?" Indeed he is. Josh asks whether he had a figure in mind. Jeff replies, "Dr. Harold Washington, who's Chief Economist at the Manchester Institute, calculated the number of slaves held, multiplied it by the number of hours worked, multiplied that by the market value of manual labour, and came up with a very conservative figure." Josh asks what that is, as he takes a sip of his coffee. Jeff: "One point seven trillion dollars." ["Interest? No?" -- Wing Chun] Josh swallows hard and suggests that this might be a better discussion for them to have "in the abstract." Jeff disagrees; Josh wants to know what he means. Jeff says very seriously, "I mean, someone owes me and my friends one point seven trillion dollars." Josh is left to contemplate that as we go to commercial.