The West Wing - Holy Land Map

H. Con-172 - Season 3 - Episode 10

Charlie presents the President with a map of the Holy Land that he found at a flea market. The map does not depict Israel as it was drawn in 1709. The President wants to frame the map and hang it outside the Oval Office. Toby, C.J. and Leo convince him otherwise.

Copyright: Aaron Sorkin & NBC

Note: I had to disable the comments on this video due to some very violant anti-Israel comments. This video is a funny commentary on perceptions and is not about the rights or wrongs of an Israeli state. Credit has to the following comment, which is now not visible: "HOLY LAND MAP BATMAN". Please continue to enjoy the video...

TRANSCRIPT

SCENE 1.

BARTLET
Charlie.

CHARLIE
Good morning.

BARTLET
How was your weekend?

CHARLIE
It was good, sir.

BARTLET
What'd you do?

CHARLIE
I was here most of the time with you, sir.

BARTLET
Time well spent.

CHARLIE
Yeah

BARTLET
Weren't you going to a flea market?

CHARLIE
Yeah, I picked something up for you.

BARTLET
You didn't have to do that.

CHARLIE
Yeah? It's a map of the Holy Land that was drawn in 1709. It's titled "Canaan, Palestine, or the Holy Land."

BARTLET
Nice sucking up.

CHARLIE
Thank you, sir.

BARTLET
Look at these topographical details. Seriously, I'm going to have this framed, this is great.

CHARLIE
If you leave it here, I'll send it out.

BARTLET
No, I'm going to play with it some more.

LEO
Good morning.

BARTLET
Look at this map. 1709. The Dead Sea, Jordan River, Mount Sinai.

LEO
That's beautiful.

BARTLET
You want to come inside?

LEO
Yeah.

BARTLET
Thanks again, Charlie.

SCENE 2.

BARTLET
All right. Hey, you want to see something? Charlie gave this to me. It's a map of the Holy Land, drawn in 1709. He got at a flea market. It's hand-colored, copper engraved. I was going to put it in the outer office.

TOBY
This outer office?

BARTLET
Yeah.

TOBY
No.

BARTLET
Why?

TOBY
Why?

BARTLET
Yeah.

TOBY
'Cause some people are going to find it offensive.

BARTLET
Why?

TOBY
It doesn't recognize Israel.

BARTLET
It was drawn in 1709.

TOBY
Yeah.

BARTLET
There was no Israel.

TOBY
Right.

BARTLET
Israel wouldn't happen for another 250 years.

TOBY
Yeah.

BARTLET
So, what's the problem with the map?

TOBY
Some people are going to find it offensive.

BARTLET
Why?

TOBY
It doesn't recognize Israel.

BARTLET
Take lunch, would you?

SCENE 3.

BARTLET
Wait. I want to show you this great map Charlie found.

C.J.
Sir, I know about it. You can't put it up in the West Wing.

BARTLET
C.J.?!

C.J.
It doesn't recognize Israel.

BARTLET
There was no Israel in 1709.

C.J.
That's right.

BARTLET
So, it's not on the map.

C.J.
Which is what some people are going to find offensive.

BARTLET
That's ridiculous.

C.J.
You know what would be great?

BARTLET
If I put it someplace else?

C.J.
Yes.

BARTLET
Leo has--in what used to be his house when he was married--a map of the United States. The first third of it is the 13 original colonies. The second third of it is the French territory of Louisiana. And the third third is Mexico. In this map of the United States, there is not a single state. That's because when this map was made there was no United States.

CHARLIE knocks and enters.

BARTLET
I am the President of the United States and I'm not offended by it.

C.J.
Well, you're bigger than ten men, sir. What do you say we put it out of the way?

BARTLET
I'm having it enlarged and bolting it to the hood of my limo. They don't want us to put up our map, Charlie. They're philistines in the fight for freedom but that doesn't bother us, does it?

CHARLIE
Huh?

BARTLET
Never mind.

C.J.
It's not like I'm agreeing with the people who are going to be offended. It's just that you're asking for a whole lot of pain, in exchange for which you get nothing but an old map.

BARTLET
That's the key. An old map. An old map. Spin that.

C.J.
See, now you got me out there spinning things.

BARTLET
Anything else?

SCENE 4.

BARTLET
No. Let me ask you something. You may be the last sane voice around here.

LEO
Hang on, before I forget. That map that Charlie gave you. Make sure you don't put it where people can see it.

BARTLET
I don't believe this.

LEO
Recognizing Israel's a pretty hot button, wouldn't you say?

BARTLET
In Lebanon. Not here. It's not like I'm thinking "God, I was going to recognize Israel, but now that I've seen this map..." You know what? Let's just sit here quietly.

LEO
Yes, sir.

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