Fabula
S2E7 · The Portland Trip
S2E7
· The Portland Trip

C.J. Stunned: Danny Still Holds Speech Draft

In Air Force One's dimly lit hallway, C.J. briskly intercepts Carol to confirm retrieval of the old education speech drafts, essential for controlling the narrative around Bartlet's revolutionary initiative. Carol affirms success—except for Danny Concannon's copy—forcing C.J. to whirl back in alarmed disbelief. This concise revelation catapults C.J. into crisis, exposing the press's lingering threat to the administration's meticulously managed policy rollout and amplifying her high-wire balancing act between secrecy and scrutiny.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

C.J. urgently seeks confirmation from Carol about retrieving the education speech drafts, her body language tight with professional tension.

urgency to mild relief ['Air Force One hallway']

Carol's revelation that Danny Concannon still possesses a draft snaps C.J.'s focus to crisis mode, her body pivoting sharply.

relief to alarm

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Danny Concannon
primary

Implied opportunistic alertness

Danny Concannon is invoked by name as the sole holder of an unretrieved old education speech draft, his possession detonating tension without physical presence.

Goals in this moment
  • • Retain draft to probe administration's policy shift
  • • Leverage exclusive info for impactful reporting
Active beliefs
  • • Unretrieved documents fuel journalistic pursuit of truth
  • • White House secrecy demands persistent press scrutiny
Character traits
tenacious elusive
Follow Danny Concannon's journey
C.J. Cregg
primary

Transient relief shattering into alarmed disbelief

C.J. strides purposefully down the dimly lit hallway, hails Carol, probes for confirmation on retrieving old education speech drafts, nods satisfied and turns to depart, then whips back sharply upon the revelation of Danny's copy, voicing incredulous surprise.

Goals in this moment
  • • Secure confirmation that sensitive old drafts are retrieved to prevent leaks
  • • Maintain tight control over narrative ahead of policy rollout
Active beliefs
  • • Retrieval operation has neutralized threats from outdated conservative rhetoric
  • • Any unretrieved draft endangers the administration's revolutionary education initiative
Character traits
authoritative vigilant reactive
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Carol
primary

Calmly factual with neutral efficiency

Carol stands ready in the hallway, responds promptly to C.J.'s query clarifying the education speech drafts, affirms full retrieval success, then drops the critical caveat about Danny's copy just as C.J. begins to leave.

Goals in this moment
  • • Deliver accurate status report on draft retrieval to superior
  • • Highlight incomplete aspects of the mission without delay
Active beliefs
  • • Complete transparency on exceptions upholds operational integrity
  • • Danny's retention represents a targeted press vulnerability
Character traits
dutiful precise unflinching
Follow Carol's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Danny Concannon's Copy of the Old Education Speech Draft

Danny Concannon's copy of the old education speech draft emerges as the pivotal unretrieved exception in Carol's report, transforming a routine confirmation into crisis; it embodies the lingering conservative rhetoric threatening Bartlet's radical pivot, amplifying C.J.'s high-stakes media containment battle.

Before: In Danny Concannon's possession, unretrieved from press packets
After: Still securely held by Danny Concannon, posing ongoing …
Before: In Danny Concannon's possession, unretrieved from press packets
After: Still securely held by Danny Concannon, posing ongoing leak risk

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Air Force One, Staff Cabin

Air Force One's dimly lit hallway at night facilitates a hushed, urgent staff intercept between C.J. and Carol, its confined space mirroring the compressed tension of mid-flight secrecy amid policy churn; engine hum and isolation underscore the precarious narrative firewall.

Atmosphere Dimly lit, tense confinement laced with nocturnal urgency
Function Confidential corridor for rapid operational check-in
Symbolism Encapsulates the White House's airborne vulnerability to leaks
Access Restricted to cleared White House staff
Dim overhead lighting casting shadows Nighttime aircraft vibration and hum Narrow passageway limiting escape from confrontation

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"C.J.: "Did you get the old drafts back?""
"CAROL: "Yeah.""
"CAROL: "Except Danny's." C.J.: "Excuse me?""