Narrative Web
S2E15
· Ellie

Carol Alerts C.J. to Sam's Arrival

As C.J. exits the podium amid persistent reporter shouts following her deft deflection of the fake ad controversy, assistant Carol approaches efficiently, handing her papers and relaying that Sam Seaborn is waiting. C.J. responds with a curt 'Thank you.' This terse bridge beat pivots from public briefing chaos to private strategy huddle, propelling C.J. toward Sam's counsel on the movie producer feud while sustaining the episode's high-stakes rhythm amid layered White House crises.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Carol informs C.J. that Sam is waiting for her, signaling a transition to the next scene.

closure to anticipation

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5
C.J. Cregg
White House Press Secretary
 primary

Curtly focused, masking briefing fatigue with forward momentum

Strides away from the podium amid reporters' persistent shouts of her name, extends hand to receive papers from Carol, responds with clipped 'Thank you' to news of Sam's wait, propelling her exit into hallway strategy.

Goals in this moment
  • • End the press barrage decisively
  • • Transition immediately to consult with Sam on escalating crises
Active beliefs
  • • Public briefings must conclude on her terms
  • • Sam's strategic input is vital for damage control
Character traits
dismissive efficient composed under pressure
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Carol Fitzpatrick
Assistant to the Press Secretary
 primary

Calm and purposeful, attuned to operational flow

Approaches C.J. efficiently through reporter shouts as she leaves podium, hands over stack of papers in swift exchange, delivers concise relay 'Sam's here' to bridge her to next engagement.

Goals in this moment
  • • Facilitate C.J.'s rapid pivot from briefing
  • • Ensure seamless relay of Sam's availability
Active beliefs
  • • Timely information handoffs sustain crisis response
  • • C.J. needs immediate access to key advisors
Character traits
efficient professional unflappable
Follow Carol Fitzpatrick's journey
Reporter 3rd
Reporter
 primary

Insistently eager, frustrated by abrupt cutoff

Persistently call out 'C.J.! C.J.!' as she exits the podium post-quip, their shouts echoing in futile pursuit, underscoring the press corps' hunger for more on the ad controversy.

Goals in this moment
  • • Extract final details on President's movie stance
  • • Prolong the briefing for competitive scoops
Active beliefs
  • • C.J. holds back key facts on the ad ploy
  • • Relentless pursuit yields White House truths
Character traits
persistent aggressive pack-driven
Follow Reporter 3rd's journey
Sam Seaborn
Deputy Communications Director
 primary

Anticipatory readiness (inferred)

Off-stage presence invoked by Carol's relay 'Sam's here' as C.J. exits podium, positioning him as immediate strategic ally amid ad fallout and broader crises.

Goals in this moment
  • • Confer urgently with C.J. on producer feud
  • • Coordinate response to layered White House pressures
Active beliefs
  • • Unified staff strategy neutralizes external attacks
  • • Direct intervention tempers reactive impulses
Character traits
wry principled resourceful partisan confident resolute amid grief collegial sly affable adaptable improvisational decisive authenticity-seeking pragmatic resilient emotionally perceptive fiercely loyal politically attuned
Follow Sam Seaborn's journey
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

referenced in reporters' questions as having allegedly denounced the movie Prince of New York, but C.J. states he has not done so publicly.

Character traits
politically pragmatic jocular policy‑driven paternal commands institutional authority relational — centers staff and family centralizing (commands staff attention and schedules) centralized authority figure strategically vital intelligent politically consequential (actions and associations create immediate risk) protocol-driven calculating principled in public rhetoric vulnerable emotionally forceful institutionally minded performative control of public optics candid principled politically vulnerable (per party strategists and press) strategic witty/jocular under pressure vulnerable-to-proxy-actions collegial poised decisive principled but electorally mindful resolute constitutional protective (paternal focus on family safety) deliberative ruthless burdened decisive when confronted with moral stakes authoritative/managerial paternal/protective regionally grounded politically strategic supportive traditional weary/resolute authoritative public-facing decisive in crisis loyal blunt protective politically consequential measured committed politically shrewd risk‑aware consequential self-aware witty institutional (symbolic center of staff effort) ceremonial
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
White House Press Briefing Room Podium

C.J. releases its scarred oak grip and strides away amid shouts, podium standing as silent sentinel marking briefing's end; its residual mic hum and wood grain anchor the pivot from spotlight confrontation to shadowed counsel.

Before: Occupied and gripped by C.J. during final remarks
After: Vacant, echoing with fading reporter calls
Before: Occupied and gripped by C.J. during final remarks
After: Vacant, echoing with fading reporter calls
Carol's Papers for C.J.

Carol thrusts the compact stack into C.J.'s palm during her podium exit, fingers brushing in rapid handoff; acts as tangible bridge from public chaos to private intel, symbolizing the Press Office's logistical backbone amid scandal churn.

Before: Held by Carol, approaching C.J.
After: Gripped by C.J., carried toward strategy huddle
Before: Held by Carol, approaching C.J.
After: Gripped by C.J., carried toward strategy huddle

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
White House Mess (Staff Dining Room)

Buzzing epicenter where C.J. exits podium under reporter barrage, Carol intercepts with papers and relay; embodies White House's pressure cooker, channeling public scrutiny into internal gears as shouts chase the handoff.

Atmosphere Electrified chaos of lingering shouts and abrupt transition
Function Venue for press gauntlet yielding to staff coordination
Symbolism Flashpoint of administration transparency under siege
Access Press corps contained, staff fluid access
Echoing reporter shouts pursuing C.J. Podium's scarred oak and humming mic residue

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"CAROL: "Sam's here.""
"C.J.: "Thank you.""