Week 1

Tommy Flannegan (John Slattery) accepts a job offer for James Carville to prep Gov. Howard Dean for the September 9 Democratic Presidential Debate in Baltimore, a choice that upsets Mary Matalin and Maggie Morris (Mary McCormack)--they worry that it will cause a rift with some of the firm's other clients. Democratic consultant Paul Begala helps Carville and Flannegan prep the candidate at the St. Regis, while Maggie visits with clients (including Senators Don Nickles and Rick Santorum) and tries to ensure them that Carville is not representing the firm in this case. Flannegan and Carville do some spin doctoring at Morgan State University while Mary and Maggie watch the debate with friends at Mary's house. Gov. Dean's joke about Trent Lott (suggested earlier by Carville) gets a big laugh, much to the displeasure of Matalin. Maggie has a cellphone conversation with her boyfriend--he can't meet up with her that evening. The next day, Mary and James interview job applicant Francisco Dupré