Toby Confesses Memo Authorship, Ron Defends the Service
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Toby approaches Ron Butterfield, who is conducting a security check outside the hospital, initiating a conversation about Josh's condition.
Ron delegates security instructions to a cop, reinforcing the tense atmosphere around the hospital.
Toby expresses concern about Ron's injured hand and tries to shift the conversation to the Secret Service's handling of the President's security.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Steadfast resolve masking quiet pain from injury and crisis
Ron conducts a vigilant security sweep outside the hospital, casually updates Toby on Josh while issuing crisp orders to the sergeant for crowd control, brushes off hand injury concerns, firmly refuses memo release citing non-comment on procedure, robustly defends his team's flawless 9.2-second response to 'madmen' shooters, references protecting key figures successfully, dismisses all fault including Toby's, and walks away after Toby's praise.
- • Uphold Secret Service procedural secrecy and institutional defense
- • Reassure Toby and affirm team's heroic efficacy
- • No protocol change like a canopy could stop irrational madmen
- • Agents' rapid takedown exemplifies unassailable professionalism
Overwhelmed by remorseful desperation, yielding to defeated resignation
Toby strides up to Ron during his security check, opens with concern for Josh then pivots to confess authoring and urging the President to sign the no-canopy memo, expresses deep guilt over Ron's bandaged hand and potential Secret Service blame, repeatedly pushes for its release to the press via Treasury, relents after refusals, praises the team's work, then sits heavily on a bench with a profound sigh.
- • Deflect press scrutiny and blame from Secret Service
- • Seek personal atonement by owning the memo's consequences
- • Secret Service agents deserve protection from unfair criticism
- • Transparency about the memo will restore moral balance
Calmly professional under pressure
The police sergeant stands ready as a cop during Ron's security check, promptly acknowledges and receives direct orders to push back the corner crowd another 200 feet and handcuff resisters to parking meters, executing local enforcement in support of federal perimeter amid the brewing confrontation.
- • Maintain secure distance for hospital perimeter
- • Enforce Ron's crowd control directives without hesitation
- • Chain of command ensures effective crisis response
- • Strict measures prevent threats in high-stakes environments
facing press questions about why President's Rosslyn exit wasn't covered
referenced by Ron as not at fault for the incident
referenced by Ron as not at fault for the incident
recipient of memo preferring open-air entry/exit without tent or canopy, signed the memo
referenced by Ron as having been gotten into the car safely during the shooting
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Toby explicitly confesses authoring Toby Ziegler’s Presidential Incapacity Protocol Memo post-inauguration, detailing its content banning tents/canopies for open-air presidential movement per Bartlet's preference, and urges Treasury handover to press for transparency; Ron acknowledges prior receipt but categorically refuses release, making it the explosive core of their standoff—symbolizing policy hubris now fueling guilt and institutional clash.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Daylit exterior of G.W. Hospital serves as stark stage for Ron's prowling security sweeps amid swelling media and cornered crowds, where Toby barrels in for raw confrontation over the memo; Ron commands perimeter extensions here, Toby collapses on its bench in defeat—exposing frayed tensions between personal remorse and protective opacity in crisis's unforgiving daylight.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Toby's guilt over his memo leads directly to his confrontation with Ron Butterfield, showing his commitment to accountability."
"Toby's guilt over his memo leads directly to his confrontation with Ron Butterfield, showing his commitment to accountability."
"Toby's guilt over his memo leads directly to his confrontation with Ron Butterfield, showing his commitment to accountability."
"Toby's guilt over his memo leads directly to his confrontation with Ron Butterfield, showing his commitment to accountability."
Key Dialogue
"TOBY: "I wrote that memo, and the President signed it at my urging.""
"TOBY: "I don't think it's right that the Secret Service get blamed for what happened last night, I want the Treasury Department to hand over my memo to the Press.""
"RON: "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't Gina's fault, it wasn't Charlie's fault, it wasn't anybody's fault, Toby. It was an act of madmen. You think a tent was going to stop them? [...] Anyway, the Secret Service doesn't comment on procedure.""