Gobbling Turkeys Disrupt the Dark Office
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Donna orchestrates an absurd turkey delivery interruption, thrusting farmhand Morton Horn and caged birds into the political fray.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
confused
enters office, inquires about historical society invitation, banters about history and Thanksgiving
- • clarify details of invitation from historical group
Troubled operational intensity (inferred remotely).
Commander Cale referenced off-screen via Bonnie's report as speaking to Situation Room watch commander, his refugee crisis call indirectly punctuating the turkey farce.
- • Coordinate harbor response
- • Escalate to White House command
- • Bureaucratic chains must activate swiftly
- • Frontline chaos requires higher intervention
Urgent professionalism underscoring crisis gravity.
Bonnie approaches Josh from behind post-turkey huddle as they move to bullpen area, urgently informs him of the Situation Room call involving Commander Cale, pulling him toward crisis.
- • Relay critical summons promptly
- • Escalate staff to refugee response
- • Hierarchy demands immediate compliance
- • Interruptions signal escalating priorities
Startled amusement cutting through prior playfulness.
Sam exits the dark office into the hallway with Josh and Toby, observes the turkey spectacle silently, joins the brief huddle leading to decision to redirect birds to C.J., then returns inside.
- • Quickly process and redirect the anomaly
- • Preserve banter momentum post-interruption
- • White House unpredictability demands flexibility
- • Traditions provide levity in tension
Bemused exasperation blending irritation with absurd humor.
Toby exits office to hallway, reacts with confusion to turkeys querying 'What are, uh...?', acknowledges Morton's repetition with 'Yeah', participates in quick consensus to send birds to C.J.'s office.
- • Resolve the interruption efficiently
- • Maintain workflow amid distractions
- • Absurdities must be compartmentalized
- • Holiday rituals persist regardless of crises
Resigned determination, impervious to surrounding frenzy.
Morton Horn stands stoically in the hallway with caged turkeys, repeatedly stating his purpose 'I'm dropping off the turkeys' in deadpan monotone, unmoved by staff bafflement as he fulfills his farm delivery duty.
- • Complete turkey drop-off mission
- • Adhere strictly to instructions without deviation
- • Duty demands repetition until acknowledged
- • Farm obligations override urban chaos
Efficiently composed amid absurdity, masking mild exasperation at lack of instructions.
Donna appears at the door, motions Morton and turkeys into the hallway, introduces him to the staff, explains his purpose and the pass, facilitating the awkward delivery while herding the chaotic intrusion smoothly.
- • Successfully deliver the turkeys per protocol
- • Coordinate smooth handoff to appropriate staff
- • Protocol must be followed despite chaos
- • White House logistics require quick adaptation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Donna cites Morton's Northwest Entrance Pass as justification for his unannounced entry, validating the intrusion amid lack of instructions and enabling the turkey handoff, underscoring protocol's role in blending rural delivery with Beltway security.
Morton Horn hauls the wire cages rattling with gobbling turkeys into the hallway, their frantic squawks and snapping beaks erupting as chaotic visual and auditory punchline, catalyzing staff bafflement and redirection decision for pardon ritual, heightening comedic contrast to policy grind.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
West Wing hallway hosts the core confrontation, Donna ushering Morton and turkeys to confront Josh, Sam, Toby; site of baffling dialogue and hasty pardon redirection, embodying hectic transit where holiday farce collides with crisis undertones.
The dark office serves as launchpad for the interruption, with staff spilling into hallway from its shadowed banter haven, its late-night intimacy shattered by turkey chaos, amplifying the jarring shift from levity to absurdity.
Josh's bullpen area draws Josh post-huddle as Bonnie summons him, transitioning turkey levity to refugee urgency via phone relay, cluttered desks witnessing pivot from comedy to command.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Coast Guard referenced via Bonnie's summons of Commander Cale's call from San Diego Harbor refugee crisis, injecting maritime urgency that bookends the turkey farce, foreshadowing geopolitical pivot.
Jasper Farms manifests through Morton Horn's delivery of turkeys—one for pardon, one for sale—thrusting rural protocol into White House chaos, sparking staff improvisation and highlighting logistical tensions in presidential traditions.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
Key Dialogue
"DONNA: This is Morton Horn. He's from Jasper Farms, Virginia. [to Morton] Tell them what you're doing here, Morton."
"MORTON HORN: I'm dropping off the turkeys."
"DONNA: He's dropping off the turkeys."
"MORTON: I'm dropping off the turkeys."
"TOBY: Yeah."