East Wing
Episode Title: "The Tunnels Below"
TEASER
INT. WHITE HOUSE – EAST WING – SECURE SITUATION ROOM – NIGHT
Director Ellen Hart (CIA), General Ricci (NATO), and Deputy Director Mason (CIA, clandestine ops) review a newly surfaced 1950 CIA file. Blueprints and translated Russian periodicals cover the table, showing reinforced concrete tunnels beneath major Soviet industrial sites.
RICCI:
Scorpion's uncovered Cold War tunnels under Colorado. Now the press is asking if we built anything similar here—and what those tunnels were really for.
HART:
These blueprints were never meant to see daylight. The universal mold, the labor-saving designs—this was state-of-the-art for covert infrastructure. If the public connects these to any active sites, we'll have a panic.
MASON:
And if any of those tunnels are still in use—or have been repurposed—we could be looking at a security nightmare.
ACT 1: THE PRESIDENT BRIEFS THE TEAM
INT. WHITE HOUSE – OVAL OFFICE – DAY
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) sits with Hart, Ricci, and Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer). The CIA file is on the desk.
PRESIDENT BARTLET:
I want to know: Did we ever use these Soviet designs? Are there tunnels under any of our own critical sites—military, energy, communications?
HART:
We monitored Soviet advances and shared best practices with certain domestic agencies, but nothing on this scale was officially sanctioned here. Any U.S. tunnels would have been for communications redundancy, not covert movement.
LEO:
We need a statement ready. If this leaks, we'll be accused of hiding another Cold War secret.
ACT 2: DAMAGE CONTROL
INT. CIA – DIRECTOR HART'S OFFICE – NIGHT
Hart confers with Mason and Ricci, reviewing requests from Congress and the press.
MASON:
Scorpion, SVU, and Chicago PD are coordinating with local authorities. They're already mapping the tunnels and linking them to missing persons and Cold War operations.
RICCI:
If they find evidence of recent activity, we'll need to explain why these tunnels weren't decommissioned.
HART:
We'll prepare a technical brief: emphasize the age of the infrastructure, the original national security rationale, and that all known tunnels are sealed and monitored.
ACT 3: INTERAGENCY CALLS
INT. CIA HEADQUARTERS – DIRECTOR HART'S OFFICE – DAY
Hart's phone rings with calls from agency leaders.
OLIVIA BENSON (SVU):
Director Hart, we have a missing student last seen near a tunnel entrance. We need access to all relevant records.
HART:
We'll provide what we can, Captain Benson. But much of this predates digital records.
EMILY PRENTISS (CRIMINAL MINDS):
Director Hart, if these tunnels are being used for modern crimes, we need your cooperation.
HART:
Understood. We'll coordinate with your team.
HANK VOIGHT (CHICAGO PD):
Hart, we've got break-ins at Cold War sites with tunnel access. If you know something, now's the time.
HART:
We're reviewing all historical files for relevant details.
WALTER O'BRIEN (SCORPION):
Director Hart, these tunnels are a national security risk if left unchecked. We're not backing off.
HART:
We're aware, Mr. O'Brien. We'll share what's appropriate.
ACT 4: THE MEDIA STRATEGY
INT. EAST WING – MEDIA MONITORING ROOM – NIGHT
Hart, Ricci, and Mason review breaking news:
"COLD WAR TUNNELS FOUND UNDER COLORADO—WHAT DID THE CIA KNOW?"
"SCORPION TEAM, SVU, FBI, CHICAGO PD INVESTIGATE"
RICCI:
We need to get ahead of this. Release a redacted technical summary, highlight that these were defensive measures, and stress that no classified material is at risk.
MASON:
And if the press asks about active tunnels?
HART:
Deny. Say all known tunnels are sealed, and any new findings will be investigated by federal authorities.
ACT 5: THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THE NATION
INT. WHITE HOUSE – OVAL OFFICE – NIGHT
President Bartlet prepares a televised statement.
PRESIDENT BARTLET:
During the Cold War, both sides took extraordinary measures to protect their nations. Some of those measures included underground infrastructure. Today, we are committed to transparency and safety. Any newly discovered tunnels will be investigated thoroughly and secured.
ACT 6: THE SHADOWS MOVE
INT. CIA – SECURE VAULT – NIGHT
Hart and Mason review old blueprints and recent security logs.
MASON:
If there's anything active, we need to know before Scorpion or the press does.
HART:
Double the patrols. Quietly. We can't afford another Cold War secret going public on our watch.
ACT 7: THE WORLD WATCHES
INT. TV STUDIO – NIGHT
A news anchor summarizes:
ANCHOR (TV):
With Scorpion, SVU, Criminal Minds, and Chicago PD uncovering Cold War tunnels, the White House faces tough questions about the legacy of secret infrastructure. The CIA promises full cooperation as the investigation continues.
END OF EPISODE