Bullpen Banter: Hollywood Privilege vs. Political Calculation
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Mandy follows C.J. into the bullpen, shifting to casual conversation about the Malibu fundraiser venue.
C.J. questions if this is the same venue from the primary, probing Mandy's information with wary amusement.
Mandy clarifies that Posner bought a new property, reinforcing the fundraiser's exclusivity.
C.J. recalls a chaotic memory involving Roberto Benigni, deflecting with humor to expose the absurdity of Hollywood politics.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Cool, controlled and wryly amused on the surface; privately calculating and intent on preserving communications unity while minimizing moral debate.
C.J. exits the Press Room carrying papers, avoids direct eye contact, politely deflects Mandy's moral framing toward Toby, then issues a short tactical commitment — 'I'm in.' She punctuates the acceptance with a wry anecdote about Roberto Benigni, using humor to diffuse tension and close the exchange.
- • Provide a clear, public-facing commitment so Mandy can count her as a vote.
- • Avoid getting embroiled in a moral argument about the fundraiser and redirect conflict toward Toby.
- • Maintain professional composure and use humor to neutralize potential awkwardness among staff.
- • Hollywood-driven fundraisers are politically necessary even if personally distasteful.
- • Toby is the real obstacle to this vote, not C.J.'s allegiance.
- • A quick, confident commitment preserves the communications team's appearance of unity and competence.
Eager and slightly anxious but upbeat — she projects confidence while urgently seeking commitments to assemble a majority.
Mandy approaches C.J. in the hallway with upbeat urgency, pressing for a definitive stance. She shows C.J. pictures of the Malibu place and frames the fundraiser as necessary, attempting to shore up support by converting personal anecdotes and visuals into political leverage.
- • Secure C.J.'s explicit commitment so she can count another vote for the fundraiser.
- • Build a coalition of visible support to blunt anticipated resistance from Toby.
- • Use Hollywood imagery and celebrity anecdotes to make the logistical/political case persuasive.
- • Larry Posner's fundraiser is worth pursuing despite the President's reservations.
- • Celebrity access and Hollywood venues yield political capital that justifies ethical discomfort.
- • Gathering visible staff support will pressure dissenters and smooth the decision-making process.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
A slim stack of papers is physically handled by C.J. as she walks — she carries and re-places them, signaling motion, business-as-usual professionalism, and a desire not to linger. The papers act as a prop that both anchors her movement through space and underscores her refusal to be drawn into extended debate.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The West Wing Hallway is the initial site of interception: a transitional, public-but-not-open space where quick confrontations and tactical recruitments occur. It facilitates an on-the-move, efficient encounter that forces decisions out of people who are otherwise occupied.
The Secretaries' Bullpen serves as the immediate follow-through space: after the hallway commitment, both women enter the bullpen where Mandy continues the pitch, using the semi-public office to display pictures and press for clarity amid casual coworkers.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"MANDY: "I know the President's not wild about Larry Posner's fund-raiser on the California trip, but I think we can't pass. And I want to know where you were on this.""
"C.J.: "I'm in.""
"C.J.: "Which would be fine if Roberto Benigni can vote in our elections, but since he's Italian, that makes me a six foot wet girl in a Donna Karan dress.""