Narrative Web
S2E13
ยท Bartlet's Third State of the Union

Toby Ruthlessly Cuts 'Vigorously' from SOTU Draft

As the clock strikes 9:00 PM outside the Capitol, Toby Ziegler, flanked by speechwriters Pettit and others, makes a critical last-second edit to the State of the Union address. He directs the excision of 'vigorously' from the campaign finance passage to neutralize potential Republican backlash, embodying his pragmatic intensity under crushing deadline pressure. This beat amplifies backstage frenzy, reveals Toby's surgical command of language as a political weapon, and setups the speech's high-wire delivery amid escalating crises.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Toby Ziegler rushes to finalize the State of the Union speech, cutting the word 'vigorously' from campaign finance lines to avoid political backlash.

urgency to precision ['Capitol Building']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

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Toby Ziegler
primary

Intense focus laced with raw deadline anxiety

Toby Ziegler stands resolute outside the Capitol at 9:00 PM, voice steady and commanding as he recites a refined SOTU draft passage aloud, embodying surgical precision in the face of deadline vise, his presence a lone beacon of pragmatic fury amid shadowed steps.

Goals in this moment
  • • Finalize and test SOTU wording to neutralize Republican backlash
  • • Project unyielding confidence in speech delivery under pressure
Active beliefs
  • • Precise language disarms political traps and seizes moral high ground
  • • Bold rhetoric transcends partisanship to forge future unity
Character traits
pragmatic intensity surgical command of language combative fire cynical resolve
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

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United States Capitol Building

The Capitol Building's exterior steps frame Toby's urgent SOTU recitation at 9:00 PM, their moon-pale marble amplifying the guillotine-like toll of the clock, a powder-keg expanse where pragmatic fury clashes with re-election dread, symbolizing the threshold to national power and impending address.

Atmosphere Chill shadows and tolling clock evoke crushing deadline tension
Function Staging ground for final speech rehearsal
Symbolism Embodies institutional power and bipartisan fractures under night skies
9:00 PM night skies with tolling clock Moon-pale marble steps surging toward stern facade

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Key Dialogue

"TOBY: "Those of us in the future will demand boldly putting aside our partisan...""