Scene excerpt from new Netflix Obama series

>>2428266
SCENE: A dimly lit OVAL OFFICE. PRESIDENT OBAMA sits at his desk, brow furrowed in deep contemplation. He appears troubled, slouching in his chair, chin resting on knit hands. There's a knock at the door.

ENTER MICHELLE. She's carrying two cups of steaming coffee.

Michelle: I thought you might be running low on midnight oil, so I brought you some coffee.

THE PRESIDENT smiles at his wife.

Barrack: You should have brought the whole pot. I don't think two cups is going to do it.

MICHELLE smiles sympathetically at her husband. Coming around the desk, she sets one cup down in front of BARRACK, while keeping the other. She leans back against the desk and looks at the mountain of papers stacked atop THE PRESIDENT'S desk.

Michelle: You're still can't decide on what to do about Qaddafi?

Barrack: There's so much to consider. A lot of people might live or die depending on the choice I make.

Carrying his coffee to the window, THE PRESIDENT takes a sip, looking out into the DC night. His troubled expression gazes back at him.

Michelle: A lot of people are dying right now. You can help put a stop to it.

BARRACK sighs and turns to face his wife.

Barrack: You're right. I've been reading all night through reports of Qadaffi's rampage. Civilians being gunned down in the street. Children burned alive in their own schools. Women rounded up in city centers and gang-raped by fanatical supporters of Qadaffi's regime. I know that every moment I delay, the body count grows higher as that madman destroy's his own country. He has to be stopped.

Michelle: ''But''?

THE PRESIDENT sighs.

Barrack: ''But,'' I'm not the president of Libya, Michelle. Can I really plunge this country into another conflict? My predecessor nearly ruined ''this'' country in his quest to be Policeman to the World. "John Wayne" foreign policy is not something this country can afford to indulge in. Many Americans are still being burdened with a dysfunctional economy. I only ''just'' got Our Boys out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Can I really ask my fellow Americans to risk getting them involved in another mid-East adventure?

MICHELLE stands and touches her husband's arm.

Michelle: They're ''Americans.'' They expect you to do the right thing. They know that if their president asks a lot from them, then he has a damn good reason for doing so. What American would say "no" to helping bring Freedom and Democracy to an enslaved people?

THE PRESIDENT looks to be deep in thought again. MICHELLE smiles and kisses her husband's cheek.

Michelle: I know you'll make the right choice. And they do, too. That's why they chose you to be their president, not once, but twice. It's why I let you marry me.

HER HUSBAND gives her a wry smile.

Barrack: "Let me," huh?

Michelle: I'll ''let you'' get back to work, Mister President.

EXIT MICHELLE

THE PRESIDENT is left alone with his thoughts. He contemplates the dark coffee on his desk, settled atop a pile of documents and folders. His eyes fall on a BUST of MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Beneath his stoic expression reads a bronze plaque: THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH, IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. Music begins to swell as THE PRESIDENT makes his decision.

Cut to: a meeting room filled with BICKERING GENERALS. Some are in favor of intervention, and some are not. No one can decide whether intervention is necessary, or if so, how much. All of them are WHITE, and they speak in tones implying RACIST CONTEMPT for their COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

General 1: Damn it, are we really going to sit idly by as this mad man rains destruction down on innocent people?

General 2: It's not a fight American boys ought to get mixed up in, General.

General 1: It's exactly the fight America needs to be in. This is an assault upon the most sacred democratic principles and values of human rights that this country was founded on.

General 3: We're not getting involved in anything. Midterms are coming up, and you know these political types make their decisions based on ''polls'' and ''focus testing.'' Besides, given "The President's" background, I think we can be sure what he'll choose...

Suddenly THE PRESIDENT enters through a pair of double doors opened by two MARINES in dress uniform. The GENERALS are stand up and salute, although begrudgingly. The COMMANDER IN CHIEF returns the salute without delay.

Barrack: At ease, gentlemen. Please, take your seats.

ALL do. GENERAL #3 leans in with a barely contained sneer. His tone suggests he expects the PRESIDENT to make a weak, politically-motivated and safe decision.

General 3: Well, Mister President, have you come to a decision regarding the present situation in Libya?

The PRESIDENT is silent for a moment, appearing thoughtful. Then he stands and approaches a large map, EUROPE, AFRICA, LIBYA, IRAQ, and AFGHANISTAN clearly marked in bold letters.

Barrack: After much thought and reflection, I have, gentlemen. Given the current political and economic situation, both at home and abroad, I don't believe it would be wise for the United States to get involved in yet another Middle Eastern conflict.

Several GENERALS exchange glances indicating "I told you so."

Barrack: ''However'', I believe also that this goes beyond mere ''wisdom''. All of you sitting here are among the best this great country has to offer. Commitment, valor, honor, courage, dedication--no one knows and lives by these values more than our men and women in uniform.

THE PRESIDENT turns to look at an AMERICAN FLAG displayed proudly at the far side of the meeting room.

Barrack: That's what this is about, gentlemen. Our ''ideals'' as a country. This country isn't about doing what's expedient or convenient. It was founded on ideas like Freedom and Democracy--neither of which can flourish, much less survive, without complete commitment to those ideals. No, Libya isn't this country's fight. Let "cowboy diplomacy" be buried in the Wild West where it belongs.

But that isn't what this is. Intervening in Libya isn't ''cowboy diplomacy'', it's ''American'' diplomacy. This country has a special duty to oppose tyranny and oppression wherever it is found. In the words of one of my most esteemed predecessors, "we do this thing not because it is easy, but ''because'' it is hard.''

General 3: Then, Mister President...

The COMMANDER IN CHIEF turns to face the assembly.

Barrack: As of right now, I am ordering the American military to begin operations in Libya. There might come a day when the United States shrinks from its duty, but that won't be today.

All the assembled GENERALS stand up and salute sharply.

All: Yes, sir!

Cut to: A WAR TORN LIBYAN CITY. Heavy fighting has turned the concrete buildings into piles of rubble. Masked government forces are approaching a holdout of desperate FREEDOM FIGHTERS. Inside their makeshift defenses huddle WOMEN AND CHILDREN, some crying, some earnestly praying.

Freedom Fighter 1: (in Arabic) It's no use! We're about to be overrun!

Freedom Fighter 2: (in Arabic) Do not lose heart, brother! Just keep fighting!

Freedom Fighter 1: (in Arabic) Please, O Great God, send us a miracle, if not for us, then for the innocents that would suffer without your divine protection.

As old SOVIET RUSSIAN tanks lumber toward the FREEDOM FIGHTERS, all seems lost. They begin to take aim and are preparing to fire on the command of Qadaffi's ELDEST SON, a violent, sadistic psychopath. One of the FREEDOM FIGHTERS shuts his eyes tight as he awaits his demise. There's an EXPLOSION, but not from a shell, but from exploding tanks. AMERICAN F-22s zoom by overhead. The tide of the battle has suddenly changed.

Freedom Fighter 1: (in Arabic) O, Most Kind Shepard, you once again defend your flock from the wolves! (in English) Hooray! God is good! God bless America! Come on, men, for Freedom!