The West Wing
S3E2
· Manchester Part II

Toby's Defiant Altered-Sign Interruption

While C.J. and Josh scout the high school classroom as a green room and vent frustration over Josh's stalled RU-486 intervention with the FDA, Toby interrupts aggressively, brandishing a tampered 'Bartlet for President' sign—'FOR' crossed out and replaced with 'IS THE.' He insists this proves why he opposed the announcement event, rejecting C.J.'s reassurance and declaring he's handling it himself. This disruptive act excavates Toby's ideological fury against superficial campaign optics, escalating staff tensions and asserting his control amid brewing divisions.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Toby interrupts with a modified campaign sign, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the announcement strategy, asserting his control over the situation.

frustration to confrontation

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Josh Lyman
primary

Frustrated and exasperated by blocked influence and interpersonal dodges

Enters classroom with C.J., questions its typical use skeptically, persistently probes her mood, vents explosive frustration over Leo's FDA block while gesturing arms open emphatically en route to stage area.

Goals in this moment
  • • Uncover C.J.'s hidden concerns
  • • Rally support against FDA timing obstacle
Active beliefs
  • • Personal favors and connections trump rigid bureaucracy
  • • Campaign urgency justifies bending rules slightly
Character traits
frustrated persistent impulsive network-reliant
Follow Josh Lyman's journey
Toby Ziegler
primary

Righteously furious and defiant against perceived pandering

Interrupts via voice-over then physically approaches holding tampered sign aloft, declares it irrefutable evidence against the announcement event, rejects C.J.'s reassurance outright, asserts solo control over the issue.

Goals in this moment
  • • Validate opposition to superficial event optics
  • • Reassert personal authority over campaign messaging
Active beliefs
  • • Authentic substance trumps glitzy announcements
  • • Saccharine slogans betray Bartlet's principles
Character traits
defiant furious ideological assertive
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
High School Classroom

Hosts C.J. and Josh's entry, green room designation, mood-probing exchange, and initial RU-486 venting before transition to stage; its mundane classroom setup amplifies makeshift tensions, framing staff fractures amid doodle-scarred desks and expectant blackboard.

Atmosphere Tense and expectant under fluorescent buzz, laced with chalk dust and interpersonal friction
Function Green room scouting and private staff venting space
Symbolism Impromptu arena for raw staff divisions mirroring campaign soul-searching
Rigid rows of scarred desks Looming chalky blackboard Fluorescent lighting hum
High School Stage Area

Site of bustling preparations where C.J. and Josh continue FDA dialogue and Toby launches sign confrontation; urgent worker activity underscores event pressure, transforming platform into flashpoint for Toby's optics rebuke.

Atmosphere Chaotically urgent with hustling workers and erupting confrontation
Function Announcement stage preparation and confrontation zone
Symbolism Throbbing heart of the spectacle Toby weaponizes against
Busy workers in setup frenzy Platform transforming for public event Echoes of adjacent room tensions

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Food and Drug Administration

Looms as regulatory roadblock in Josh's frustrated venting, with Leo enforcing its independence against personal influence attempts on RU-486 approval; embodies bureaucratic firewall clashing with campaign pragmatism, amplifying staff strains tied to re-election gambles.

Representation Invoked via Josh's failed intervention narrative and legal constraints cited by C.J.
Power Dynamics Wields unyielding regulatory autonomy, resisting White House insider pressure
Impact Highlights post-MS scandal vulnerabilities to perceived manipulation
Uphold independence from political interference Adhere strictly to approval protocols for RU-486 Legal subordination to HHS with operational firewalls Stonewalling via chain-of-command edicts from Leo

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Key Dialogue

"TOBY: Hey, see this? This why I didn't want to do an announcement."
"C.J.: We're taking care of it."
"TOBY: No, I'm taking care of it."