Fabula
S2E19 · Bad Moon Rising
S2E19
· Bad Moon Rising

Sam Uncovers Charlie's Hidden Academic Brilliance

In the bustling Outer Oval Office amid White House crises, Sam Seaborn casually quizzes personal aide Charlie Young about his summer college registration. Stunned, Sam learns Charlie is taking Theology 201 and English 201, armed with extensive high school AP credits—six each in English and math/calculus, three in European history and French—allowing him to enter as a junior with a strong GPA after just two classes. Charlie's wry 'I've got some game' reveals his understated intellectual prowess, humanizing the loyal aide and contrasting his humble role with unrecognized talent, providing a poignant character beat before crises escalate.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Sam questions Charlie about his college registration, revealing Charlie's unexpected academic prowess.

curiosity to surprise

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

6
Charlie Young
Presidential Personal Aide
 primary

Wry amusement masking quiet pride in his intellectual prowess

Charlie fields Sam's questions with precise details on Theology 201, English 201, and extensive AP credits, smiles wryly confirming junior status and strong GPA, caps with self-aware quip 'I've got some game' amid ongoing duties.

Goals in this moment
  • • Satisfy Sam's curiosity while downplaying achievements
  • • Address President's pressure by committing to required courses
Active beliefs
  • • His 'game'—raw smarts—fuels quiet competence in high-stakes role
  • • Formal education appeases authority figures without defining him
Character traits
humble wryly confident precise self-deprecatingly sharp
Follow Charlie Young's journey
Emily Lowenbrau
First Lieutenant
 primary

professional

meets Sam in dress uniform, provides detailed technical explanation of the Indio's malfunction, anchor failure, towing attempt by Tallahassee, weather impacts, and the severe oil spill response challenges

Goals in this moment
  • • brief Sam on the Indio oil spill incident and offer ongoing updates
Character traits
technically precise calm authoritative technically precise (perceived) professional
Follow Emily Lowenbrau's journey
Ginger
Speechwriting Staff Assistant
 primary

Calmly urgent, focused on seamless coordination

Ginger strides up to Sam immediately after Charlie's quip, utters 'Sam?' to gain attention, confirms Lieutenant Lowenbrau's arrival with 'Yeah,' prompting Sam's thanks and pivot to impending briefing.

Goals in this moment
  • • Alert Sam to critical visitor's arrival without delay
  • • Bridge personal moment to operational crisis response
Active beliefs
  • • Timely interruptions maintain White House momentum
  • • Aides enable principals by handling logistics flawlessly
Character traits
efficient direct professional attentive to protocol
Follow Ginger's journey
Sam Seaborn
Deputy Communications Director
 primary

Surprised delight laced with genuine awe at Charlie's underestimated potential

Sam approaches Charlie amid Outer Oval bustle, initiates casual inquiry into summer college registration and courses, escalates to probing AP credits, expresses mounting surprise and admiration at Charlie's junior-level entry, setting up Ginger's interruption.

Goals in this moment
  • • Uncover details of Charlie's academic pursuits to mentor and connect
  • • Lighten tense day with personal engagement before diving into crises
Active beliefs
  • • Charlie's humility conceals exceptional intellect worth nurturing
  • • Personal growth like college matters even for indispensable aides
Character traits
curious mentoring impressed playfully incredulous
Follow Sam Seaborn's journey
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

referenced by Charlie as having been bugging him about taking classes

Character traits
politically pragmatic jocular policy‑driven paternal commands institutional authority relational — centers staff and family centralizing (commands staff attention and schedules) centralized authority figure strategically vital intelligent politically consequential (actions and associations create immediate risk) protocol-driven calculating principled in public rhetoric vulnerable emotionally forceful institutionally minded performative control of public optics candid principled politically vulnerable (per party strategists and press) strategic witty/jocular under pressure vulnerable-to-proxy-actions collegial poised decisive principled but electorally mindful resolute constitutional protective (paternal focus on family safety) deliberative ruthless burdened decisive when confronted with moral stakes authoritative/managerial paternal/protective regionally grounded politically strategic supportive traditional weary/resolute authoritative public-facing decisive in crisis loyal blunt protective politically consequential measured committed politically shrewd risk‑aware consequential self-aware witty institutional (symbolic center of staff effort) ceremonial
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey
Unnamed Indio Captain
Captain
 primary

referenced as having dropped anchor on the Indio after steering loss

Character traits
proactive gravitas-invoking belligerent disciplined reflective cooperative prudent detached formidable politically conservative observant efficient investigative cautious collegial strategic decisive politically connected purposeful pragmatic historically significant dutiful procedural supportive professional concerned conservative-appealing forthright well-informed initiative-taking joyful influential discreet resilient revered
Follow Unnamed Indio …'s journey

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"SAM: "How many AP credits do you have from high school?""
"CHARLIE: "I have six in English six in math and calculus, three in European history, and three in French.""
"SAM: "You're telling me you've never been to college and after taking two classes this summer you're going to be, like, a junior?""
"CHARLIE: "(smiles wryly) With a pretty decent GPA.""
"SAM: "Charlie, just how smart are you?""
"CHARLIE: "I've got some game.""