Excerpt: In Congress

"We're talking here, to Ashley Kinsey... the representative who was so strongly affected on television by the poor health of Stewart Pen." Candice was behind her desk, in front of the cameras. She split her attention between the teleprompter and Ashley, who sat straight up in her chair. "Ashley... can you describe for us your first thoughts when you found out that the Senator was ill?"
This was the first question that her staff had prepped her on, and she was ready for it. "My first thoughts were for his family. And then of course, for our state, and all of the people the senator represents. Its at times like this that we realize our commonality. When we understand how much we are all the same."
Candice looked down at her notebook and went straight to the point. "If we lose the senator... what do we lose?"
Back at her office, both Lewis and Marnie looked into each other's eyes. This was a question that they hadn't prepped Ashley for. It was too vague... too esoteric. It was exactly the type of question designed to elicit an honest response... which made it the most dangerous type of question.
"Oh..." Ashley started. There was a moment of fear in her eyes, but then she struck upon a thought. "We lose inspiration."
The moment she said it, Ashley wanted to stop the interview. She knew that no matter what question she was asked, she would never answer the next question better. To be fair, she had read the phrase earlier that day on Christian literature that someone had tried to hand her in a grocery store. There was a cross on it. She read the headline "We lose inspiration", and then tossed it. Little did she understand the irony at the time. She had been inspired.

At Dan Abrams office, he was watching the exchange. He too wondered what she would answer to such a random question. When she answered, Dan drew in his breath. "God damn it!" he yelled.
Jake Mercer handed him $20. She had aced the interview on only the second question. It was nearly impossible for her to screw up the moment.

Lewis Strider and Marnie Olson were not as confident.
When they saw her answer "We lose inspiration", they suddenly turned to each other. Lewis reached around Marnie and grabbed her. Marnie kissed him. Full on. The lips.
They pushed each other away. "That was good. That was really good," he said.
"You mean?"
"The answer. I meant the answer."
She looked away. "Yes. It was tight. The answer."
"Not the kiss?"
"Kisses aren't tight." Marnie said. "They're soft and warm."
"It was a good answer."
"What I just said?" Marnie turned around and looked at Lewis.
"No. What Ashley said. But what you said is good too."
There was a long pause as they stared. Each one of them was trying to figure out what the other meant. "I'll be in my office," Marnie said. She turned to leave.
"You're already in your office," Lewis replied.
Marnie stopped and turned around. "One of us should call"
"Call the other?"
"Call the program"
"Oh. Yes." Lewis picked up the phone and started dialing.