Saturday Night Live Transcripts
Season 35: Bonus Episode 1
Joint Address To Congress
Mitch McConnell…..Jason Sudeikis
Eric Cantor…..Fred Armisen
Pat Roberts…..Bill Hader
Michele Bachmann…..Kristen Wiig
Joe Wilson…..Will Forte
[ open on exterior, Congress, night ]
[ SUPER: “Joint Address To Congress, September 9, 2009” ]
[ SUPER: “Senate Meeting Room, Republican Caucus” ]
[ dissolve to interior ]
Mitch McConnell: Okay, alright. Now, are we all here? Okay? Because Obama’s address starts in five minutes.
[ everyone nods in agreement ]
Eric Cantor: Are we really doing this?
Mitch McConnell: Yes! Yes, we are. Now, you see, the President has been glossing over the facts of his health care plan ALL summer. This live address is our chance to make our descent heard. Now, we have the text of the address right here, okay? [ he holds up a folder ] Now, if you look here, you’ll see… somewhere in the middle… oh, here it is! Okay. He is gonna say this: “The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” Okay? Now, when he SAYS that — ALL of you — all at once — together — are gonna yell: “YOU LIE!!”
[ everyone nods in agreement ]
Okay, good. This is gonna be good! That’ll send a message to him. [ Sen. Roberts motions ] Uh, yes. Senator Roberts.
Pat Roberts: I’m just worried this might come off as a major breach of Congressional decorum.
Mitch McConnell: Mmm-hmm. Now, normally, I would agree. I mean, if only one guy yelled, “You lie!” I imagine they would call him out on it. But, all of us? [ he chuckles ] You know! Remember school? If we all do it, we can’t get in trouble? I mean, it’s been a long time for some of us, right! [ Bachmann raises her hand ] So — yes! Representative Bachmann.
Michele Bachmann: How about we yell… “You lie, you freedom-hating, secret half-Muslim!” [ she beams proudly ]
Mitch McConnell: You know… I think, just “You lie!” will send a message. Yeah. Alright, let’s practice! alright? Now, someone has to be Obama. Who here can do an Obama?
[ all eyes turn to Cantor ]
Eric Cantor: [ raising his hand ] I can.
[ the audience laughs in recognition ]
Mitch McConnell: Really? Okay, that’s great! Okay, uhhh — here you go, right there. [ he shows Cantor the speech ] Just read right there, there you go.
Eric Cantor: [ reading as Obama ] “Uhhh… uhhh… it would not apply… to those who are here illegally.”
Mitch McConnell: [ whispering ] 1… 2… 3…
Everyone: YOU LIIIIIEEE!!!
Mitch McConnell: Aw, that was terrific! [ they applaud themselves ] Good yelling! Real good yell! Yeah, that’ll do it!
Joe Wilson: Eh — excuse me?
Mitch McConnell: Uh, yeah. Congressman Joe Wilson.
Joe Wilson: Yeah. If there’s nothing else, I’m just gonna duck into the bathroom for a moment.
Mitch McConnell: Okay, we’ll see you on the floor!
Joe Wilson: See you on the floor. [ he exits ]
Mitch McConnell: Alright! There he goes! Okay, gang — we’ve got showtime!
Pat Roberts: Alright!
[ they all proceed to exit to the floor ]
Eric Cantor: Hold on, hold on! [ everyone stops ] I’m starting to have, uh, second thoughts about this.
Mitch McConnell: [ thinking ] You know what? You may be right. Let’s not do it. You know, all of a sudden, I’m realizing we could come off VERY badly! Okay? So we’re all in agreement? [ they all nod ] We’re NOT doing it! Nobody’s doing it! Nobody’s doing it! Everybody hear that? Nobody! Good? You’re gonna be quiet? Good listtle listeners? [ they all agree ] Good! Let’s get out there, come on!
[ they all exit to the floor ]
[ dissolve to exterior, Congress ]
Joe Wilson V/O: YOU LIE!!
[ the sound of boos can be heard ]
[ SUPER: “One Hour Later” ]
[ dissolve back to interior, as the Republicans re-enter ]
Joe Wilson: You guuuuys!! McConnell! Cantor! What the heck?! We were all gonna do it! And you didn’t do it!
Mitch McConnell: Oh, I know. Sorry about that, Joe, uh — we forgot you went to the bathroom.
Joe Wilson: You guys! That didn’t feel good out there! Now, be honest with me: Do you think a lot of people heard me yelling?
[ everyone tries not to give an honest, brutal answer ]
Joe Wilson: [ desperately ] I-I-I mean, a lot of it was drowned out, right? When people were booing Obama?
Pat Roberts: I think they might have been booing you, Joe!
Joe Wilson: Aww! Oh, God! This is gonna come off real bad! RE-EAL bad!
Mitch McConnell: Now, now — not necessarily, Joe. I mean, let’s think about this, alright? Now, where are you from?
Joe Wilson: South Carolina.
[ the room reacts ]
Pat Roberts: Yikes!
Mitch McConnell: Hey, hey. everybody! Now, calm down! Calm down! That is not the WORST answer, okay! Mississippi would have been the WORST answer! Alright? Mississippi. We all agree.
Joe Wilson: Ohhhhhh, HOT CORN!! People are gonna remember this thing! Now, I don’t know if you know this about me, but… I’m not known for any… other… thing!
Mitch McConnell: Okay, well, now, come on!
Joe Wilson: NOTHING!
Mitch McConnell: No! Joe! Joe, there’s gotta be some legislation you championed! I mean, SOME cause!
Joe Wilson: There was one.
Mitch McConnell: Yeah?
Pat Roberts: What was it?
Joe Wilson: [ meekly ] Protecting the Confederate flag.
Mitch McConnell: Oh, boy… That’s worse than Mississippi. That’s a bad one.
Joe Wilson: [ crying ] You guys! McConnell! Cantor! You’ll stand by me, right? I mean, you’ll explain how we were all gonna do it, except I went to the john? [ everyone tries to keep their distance ] I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS?!!
Mitch McConnell: Okay, look — you don’t worry. Okay? You do NOT worry! Here’s what you’re gonna do, alright? Now, you apologize once to the President, alright? And, if anyone asks you to do it again… you look ’em right in the face, and you say: “Live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
