The Women of Qumar (Episode 308)
First Aired: Wednesday, 28th November, 2001
Teleplay: Aaron Sorkin
Story: Felicia Willson, Laura Glasser and Julia Dahl
Director: Alex Graves










It's Not Banality--It's The Boss's Wife
Josh's office. Donna enters with a very special visitor.

DONNA: Josh?
JOSH: Could I get five minutes without being interrupted by banality?
ABBEY: It's not banality--it's the boss's wife.
JOSH: Good morning, Ma'am.
ABBEY: Good morning, Josh.
JOSH: A little heads up wouldn't be out of line.
DONNA: I said "Josh."
JOSH: Yeah. What can I do for you, Ma'am?








I'm A Friend Of The Working Mom
Corridors of the West Wing / Josh's office / Bullpen. Josh and Donna walk and talk.

JOSH: It's bluster. The appointments aren't going to be held up, at least not by Lady Godiva.
DONNA: Tell me she wasn't bare-breasted, at least outside your imagination.
JOSH: Yeah, no--she was. Yeah, I'm saying, if she wants to front off, it's not like there's a moral imperative for the White House to get behind, what--
DONNA: Equity and insur--
JOSH: Equity and insurance coverage for contraception, or whatever it is the ladies want--more money for sewing notions and what not.
DONNA: Suffrage, for instance, and the right to smoke.
JOSH: If she wants to throw heat, we can hold off a few months backing for the Child Support Enforcement Act.
DONNA: But you don't want to do that.
JOSH: Of course I don't want to do that, Donna. I'm a friend of the working mom.
DONNA: You want her to have sewing notions.
JOSH: I do.
DONNA: Can I ask you something?
JOSH: Yeah.
DONNA: Do you think it's possible there's a broader point?
JOSH: No. (beat) Why? (beat) What?
DONNA: That leaving the word "forced" in the treaty condones consensual prostitution.
JOSH: That's ridiculous.
DONNA: I'm saying it could be spun that way.
JOSH: That we condone prostitution?
DONNA: Yeah.
JOSH: It can't be spun that way.
DONNA: Okay.
JOSH: You think it can?
DONNA: I just did.
JOSH: All right. All right--would you check if CJ's in her office?








I'll Be Back On My Street Corner
Josh's office. Donna enters.

JOSH: Yeah?
DONNA: Leo's office wanted you to know that the OMB's going to do a quick report on expanding unfunded mandates, and it doesn't mean anything but they're doing it anyway.
JOSH: My tax dollars hard at work.
DONNA: I'll be at my desk.
JOSH: Say, Donna--you've worked as a prostitute?
DONNA: Yeah?
JOSH: Let's just say.
DONNA: Okay.
JOSH: Why should what you do be against the law?
DONNA: Well ... in this country, you're not allowed to buy and sell people.
JOSH: You're not selling yourself. You're renting out your body.
DONNA: You're not allowed to do that either.
JOSH: Don't fashion models do it every day?
DONNA: It's different.
JOSH: It's only different because we say it's different. When you get a massage, isn't it just a matter of degrees?
DONNA: Lots of things are just a matter of degrees.
JOSH: Wouldn't legalising prostitution allow women to unionise, and get access to social services and health care benefits, and create some control over the industry?
DONNA: You think if you make prostitution legal, then prostitutes are going to suddenly want everybody to know they're prostitutes?
JOSH: Hmm.
DONNA: What?
JOSH: The rare valid point.
DONNA: I'll be back on my street corner.








This is about as far away from a Josh and Donna scene as it gets, but it's an interesting peek into Josh's mindset nevertheless ...



Are You Dating Your Assistant?
Amy Gardner's Office. Amy and Josh discuss his love life.

AMY: Are you dating your assistant?
JOSH: No.
AMY: I heard you might be.
JOSH: I'm not.
AMY: She's cute.
JOSH: She's my assistant.
AMY: Are you dating Joey Lucas?
JOSH: No.
AMY: She's not your assistant.
JOSH: I know.
AMY: You know the thing, with guys like you--
JOSH: Why are we talking about this?
AMY: Because you stopped by.
JOSH: I'm a visible guy ... people say things about me. People write things. And what I do reflects on the President.
AMY: Nice save.




Many thanks to The West Wing Collection for the wonderful screencaps!