Vinick starts to crack, saying that he needs to speak to a lawyer. Bruno tells him that, with what they've got, the election is in the bag: "So, you do not have to go to California tomorrow, and do that painful press conference which is gonna play like the nuclear accident was somehow your fault." He goes on, convincing Vinick that he can campaign on his own terms, and not appear to be chasing Santos. Bruno starts to describe the contents -- in particular, a journal -- while Vinick yells at Bruno not to tell him. Way to make the decision for him, there, Bruno. This journal contains dates, and meetings, and notes: "What he really thinks about the Vice-President, what a bad campaigner he thinks Leo McGarry is..." Do you really, as a presidential candidate, carry around notes like that? I know it's your personal stuff, but don't you have a tiny bit of discretion, just in case things happen just like this very situation? And ouch, since Leo did save Santos's ass in his VP debate.

The journal, however, is not the interesting thing. There is a checkbook inside, very plain, with just "M. Santos" and no other information on it, from which a regular check has been written each month to someone named Anita Morales. It seems that there was an Anita Morales working for Governor Santos in Houston nine years earlier. Vinick is silent. Bruno eggs him on: "Come on, you've heard the rumors about Matt Santos." "There are rumors about all of us," Vinick says softly. Clearly uncomfortable, Vinick asserts that they need to give back the briefcase, while Bruno details the scandal that would erupt -- the media, the paternity test, etc. "We can't do this," Vinick tells him. "I can't do this." I applaud him for actually being the bigger man here. ["Not that it takes much doing to be a bigger man than Bruno." -- Wing Chun] Bruno is all goodness and light, telling Vinick, "I work for you. I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to do," so Vinick orders him to give the briefcase back to the Secret Service immediately. But Bruno plants one last seed, saying that this could be the "tip of the iceberg" of Santos's secrets. Bruno suggests that they sleep on it and discuss it again in the morning. Vinick is silent, upset and indecision on his face. "Just tell me what you want me to do, Senator," says Bruno. Vinick's still silent a moment, and then says, "Keep it." Bruno knocks the table and heads out, and Vinick looks mildly ill, though that's kind of his face every day now.