Josh Badgers Joey for Post-SOTU Polling Numbers
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh demands immediate polling numbers from Joey, who dismisses him with curt authority.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Anxiously frustrated with undercurrents of jealousy and political skepticism
Barrels up behind Joey and Kenny demanding poll numbers urgently, banters defensively with Donna's tease, follows Amy to deserted hallway for tense argument on Tandy's motives, shakes hands skeptically with Tandy while muttering doubt.
- • Secure immediate post-SOTU polling data on cancer pledge
- • Challenge Amy's relationship with Tandy as political ploy
- • Polls are essential to validate Bartlet's bold SOTU gamble
- • Tandy's courtship of Amy is strategically cynical
Calmly supportive amid confrontation
Walks alongside Joey signing in conversation, facilitates her signed retorts voiced to Josh during tense exchange, departs with her after rebuff.
- • Accurately interpret and voice Joey's responses
- • Uphold Joey's polling timeline
- • Joey's expertise dictates data release
- • Professional boundaries protect analysis quality
Confidently friendly and politically assured
Approaches from opposite end of deserted hallway, greets Josh and Amy casually, compliments night as 'great for us,' shakes Josh's hand, invites Amy for Mural Room photos with President, calls her to follow, congratulates Josh.
- • Leverage Amy for high-profile presidential photo-op
- • Smooth over tensions with Josh via rapport
- • SOTU success bolsters administration allies like himself
- • Public optics strengthen electoral position
Annoyed defensiveness flaring into passionate advocacy
Passes behind Josh smacking him hard on head, drags him to deserted hallway, whispers fierce defense of Tandy's feminist legislative record citing specific bills and whips, spars with Josh's insinuations, exchanges loaded looks before joining Tandy.
- • Vindicate Tandy's feminist bona fides against Josh's cynicism
- • Prioritize photo-op alliance over personal spat
- • Tandy's record surpasses White House on key women's issues
- • Josh's critique stems from jealous projection
Amusedly playful with underlying loyalty
Approaches quietly from behind Josh post-Joey departure, delivers teasing barb on his charm deficit with women, pitches simplifying government manuals as missed political winner.
- • Lighten Josh's tension with personal jab
- • Advocate policy tweak for political gain
- • Josh's romantic ineptitude is chronic and humorous
- • Bureaucratic reforms like readable manuals win public favor
Sardonically authoritative, relishing control over needy Josh
Walks down hallway signing intently with Kenny, responds to Josh's demand with sarcastic sign language voiced as 'You are a pleasure to work for,' asserts 'When I say so,' and walks away decisively.
- • Withhold polling data until analytically ready
- • Rebuke Josh's impatience sharply
- • Rushing data undermines integrity and accuracy
- • Bartlet staff desperation post-censure is palpable but premature
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Referenced by Tandy as immediate photo-op destination with President, luring Amy away mid-argument, underscoring optics' pull over personal drama and tying hallway tensions to broader political theater.
Serves as primary artery for post-party traffic where Josh intercepts Joey and Kenny for polls amid echoing footsteps, Donna ambushes with teases, and Amy's smack launches the group toward isolation—contrasting festive distant revelry with raw professional and personal friction.
Deserted spur off main hallway where Amy hauls Josh for whispered ideological clash over Tandy's credentials, tension peaks until Tandy's entrance redirects to photo-ops, bare walls amplifying betrayal barbs and abrupt relational pivot.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Hosts the SOTU afterparty fueling hallway chaos, where staff scramble for poll validation of Bartlet's cancer pledge amid censure fallout; interpersonal rifts mirror institutional high-wire act of bold redemption gambles and alliance cultivation like Tandy photo-ops.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Toby's revelation about Amy's relationship with Tandy foreshadows Tandy's later appearance to whisk Amy away, confirming Josh's suspicions about the political nature of their relationship."
"Toby's revelation about Amy's relationship with Tandy foreshadows Tandy's later appearance to whisk Amy away, confirming Josh's suspicions about the political nature of their relationship."
"Josh's initial confrontation with Amy about her relationship with Tandy escalates into a more heated defense of Tandy's feminist credentials, showing the deepening personal and political conflict."
"Josh's initial confrontation with Amy about her relationship with Tandy escalates into a more heated defense of Tandy's feminist credentials, showing the deepening personal and political conflict."
"Joey's initial skepticism about the cancer-cure pledge's viability sets up her later role in delivering the polling numbers that confirm or deny its impact."
Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"JOSH: "Listen... When the hell are we getting numbers?""
"KENNY (for JOEY): "You are a pleasure to work for.""
"JOSH: "I hear that a lot. When are we getting numbers?""
"JOEY: "When I say so.""