The State Dinner (Episode 107)
First Aired: Wednesday, 10th November, 1999
Writers: Aaron Sorkin & Paul Redford
Director: Thomas Schlamme










Rahmadi Sumahejo Bambang
Bullpen / Corridors of the West Wing. Josh and Donna walk and talk.

JOSH: Donnatella Moss!
DONNA: Hey.
JOSH: A senior Indonesian deputy is coming tonight. Toby and I want to talk to him alone for a few minutes. I need you to find out if he can speak English and if he can't, we need to get an interpreter from State.
DONNA: What's his name?
JOSH: Rahmadi Sumahejo Bambang.
DONNA: Can you spell that?
JOSH: Not correctly, no.
DONNA: Josh?
JOSH: Yes?
DONNA: I've got to tell you something.
JOSH: What?
DONNA: I'm not wild about this whole Indonesian thing.
JOSH: What's the problem?
DONNA: I've been doing some reading on my own.
JOSH: I wish you wouldn't do that.
DONNA: Why?
JOSH: Because you tend to recall some bizarre factoid from a less than reputable source and then you blow it all out of proportion.
DONNA: I do not. (beat) I just thought you might like to know that in certain parts of Indonesia, they summarily execute people they suspect of being sorcerers.
JOSH: What?
DONNA: I read it.
JOSH: They summarily execute people they suspect of being sorcerers?
DONNA: They behead them.
JOSH: Sorcerers.
DONNA: Gangs of roving people. Beheading those they suspect of being sorcerers. You know with ... what's that thing that Death carries?
JOSH: A scythe.
DONNA: They're doing it with a scythe.
JOSH: Well, thanks for the heads up.
DONNA: I thought you might like to know who's coming over for dinner.
JOSH: You bet.








You're All Crazy
Bullpen. Donna and Toby walk, with Josh tagging behind.

DONNA: Toby, did you know that in certain parts of Indonesia they summarily execute people who they suspect of being sorcerers?
TOBY: Yes.
DONNA: (to Josh) You see?
JOSH: You're all crazy.








Once The Scythe Comes Out, I'm Probably Going To Haul Ass
Josh's office. Donna ties the bowtie on Josh's tuxedo.

DONNA: If you can't explain what you're doing now, the assumption is that you're a sorcerer. If you try to run, the assumption is that you're a sorcerer. Okay? So, if anything happens, the prudent thing is to stay still and calmly explain your business.
JOSH: Well, prudent or not, once the scythe comes out, I'm probably going to haul ass.








The Kitchen Guy Doesn't Speak English
Corridors of the West Wing. Josh, Donna and Toby walk and talk.

JOSH: Donna!
DONNA: I know, I know--I've got it under control.
JOSH: It's 7:30. Is there anyone left at State?
DONNA: No.
JOSH: Then what are we doing?
DONNA: Well, Mr. Minaldi speaks Portuguese.
TOBY: Where does that get us?
DONNA: Well, there's a guy who works in the kitchen who can translate Mr. Bambang's Batak into Portuguese. Then Mr. Minaldi will translate it into English.
TOBY: Wait a minute--why can't the kitchen guy translate Batak into English?
DONNA: The kitchen guy doesn't speak English.
TOBY: You're kidding me.
DONNA: Well, no. He speaks Batak and Portuguese, so I wouldn't look down your nose.
TOBY: Is the bar open yet?








Why Don't We Just Speak In English?
Kitchen. Josh, Donna and Toby are trying to decipher various cross-translations from Bambang, Gomez (the kitchen guy) and Minaldi.

TOBY: He's answering a question from like a half hour ago! Mr. Bambang?
BAMBANG: Why don't we just speak in English?
JOSH: Donna ...
DONNA: I was told that he--
TOBY: Yes.
DONNA: You should keep in mind all the things I do right.
JOSH: Yes.
DONNA: Should I go now?
TOBY: Yes.




Many thanks to the now-defunct Foggy Bottom for the wonderful screencaps!