Fabula
S3E9 · Bartlet for America (Restructured)
S3E9
· Bartlet for America (Restructured)

Leo and Jordan's Snotty Aside and Disclosure Ultimatum

Amid Congressman Erickson's smug interrogation on constitutional succession, Leo and Jordan share a hushed, conspiratorial whisper mocking his 'snotty' demeanor, revealing their informal alliance and providing levity in the high-stakes hearing. Leo flirtatiously floats a dinner invitation to deflect her probing, but Jordan pivots sharply, demanding full candor for her $650/hour fee or she'll quit, exposing Leo's guarded secrets and personal vulnerability. Leo returns to the mic, affirming his familiarity with Article II. This interstitial beat humanizes the duo, builds relational tension as setup for Leo's impending relapse confession, and contrasts partisan hostility with private rapport.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Leo and Jordan subtly mock Erickson's snotty demeanor, revealing their private alliance and Leo's attempt to deflect with humor.

tension to amusement

Jordan presses Leo for full disclosure, refusing to entertain his dinner deflection, exposing her professional rigor and his evasiveness.

amusement to seriousness

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5
Cliff Calley
Majority Counsel
 primary

Suppressed annoyance at partisan posturing

Seated among committee members, sighs visibly and restrains annoyance during Erickson's questioning and the witnesses' whispered aside.

Goals in this moment
  • • Maintain professional composure amid hearing dynamics
  • • Observe for opportunities to steer inquiry productively
Active beliefs
  • • Partisan sniping hinders substantive truth-seeking
  • • Balanced probing yields better political outcomes
Character traits
restrained analytical frustrated
Follow Cliff Calley's journey
Congressman Erickson
Congressman
 primary

Smug confidence in partisan advantage

Clasps hands smugly, initiates interrogation on Article II succession, VP selection, and implies heightened mortality risk for Bartlet due to MS, prompting the witnesses' aside before Leo responds.

Goals in this moment
  • • Pressure Leo into admissions on executive health secrecy
  • • Undermine Bartlet's leadership via constitutional framing
Active beliefs
  • • Bartlet's MS disclosure failures justify aggressive scrutiny
  • • VP selection process was tainted by withheld health info
Character traits
smug probing politically opportunistic
Follow Congressman Erickson's journey
Jordan Kendall
Legal Advisor
 primary

Annoyed frustration masking deeper concern for Leo's evasiveness

Turns her microphone away, leans into Leo's whisper confirming Erickson's snotty tone, then annoyedly demands full candor for her $650/hour fee or threatens to quit, enforcing professional boundaries amid the hearing.

Goals in this moment
  • • Extract full honesty from Leo to prepare effective testimony
  • • Uphold her professional value and threaten withdrawal if unmet
Active beliefs
  • • Truthfulness is essential for her advisory role in crisis
  • • Leo's partial disclosures risk catastrophic exposure
Character traits
assertive loyal no-nonsense annoyed
Follow Jordan Kendall's journey
Shanahan
primary

Amused defiance laced with vulnerability under pressure

Places hand over his microphone, turns to Jordan for hushed whispers mocking Erickson's snotty demeanor, flirts with dinner suggestion to deflect her probing, then removes hand from mic to lean in and affirm familiarity with Article II emphatically before defending Bartlet.

Goals in this moment
  • • Diffuse tension with Jordan through humor and flirtation
  • • Reassert control in testimony by correcting Erickson's implications
Active beliefs
  • • Loyalty to Bartlet demands fierce defense of his choices
  • • Personal secrets must be selectively guarded even from allies
Character traits
witty defiant guarded flirtatious
Follow Shanahan's journey
Leo Thomas McGarry (Chief of Staff)
White House Chief of Staff
 primary
Character traits
partisan reserved creative sardonic dismissive decisive pragmatic resolute optimistic engaged informed impatient bewildered controversial disputed authoritative professional incisive loyal blunt attentive protective inquisitive skeptical historical
Follow Leo Thomas …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Microphone

Serves as a privacy shield for Leo and Jordan's conspiratorial whispers mocking Erickson and debating candor, enabling intimate exchange amid public scrutiny; Leo removes his hand to resume amplified testimony, shifting from private deflection to public defiance, heightening dramatic tension between personal rapport and political exposure.

Before: Active at witness table, positioned for testimony
After: Hand removed by Leo, open for direct address …
Before: Active at witness table, positioned for testimony
After: Hand removed by Leo, open for direct address to committee

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Capitol Hill Hearing Room

Hosts the charged congressional hearing where Erickson's smug probe triggers Leo and Jordan's microphone-muffled aside for levity and friction, contrasting public partisan hostility with private alliance; daylight through windows illuminates the witness table, amplifying the intimacy of whispers against formal scrutiny.

Atmosphere Tense with partisan undertones, punctuated by hushed conspiratorial levity
Function Arena for constitutional interrogation and testimonial defense
Symbolism Embodies institutional power clashing with personal vulnerability
Access Restricted to committee members, witnesses, and select observers
Daylight filtering through tall windows Echoes of whispers muffled by microphones Rows of seated committee members watching intently

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Senate Judiciary Committee

Conducts the hearing through Erickson's smug constitutional probing on succession and Bartlet's VP pick amid MS nondisclosure, framing Leo's defiant response and aside with Jordan; underscores partisan leverage in investigating executive health secrecy.

Representation Via questioning by member Congressman Erickson and seated counsel like Cliff Calley
Power Dynamics Exercising oversight authority over White House witness under public glare
Impact Heightens national scrutiny on executive transparency and succession protocols
Uncover irregularities in presidential health disclosures and VP selection Assert congressional primacy in constitutional accountability Rigorous member-led questioning Public platform amplifying political pressure

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 2
Thematic Parallel medium

"Erickson's challenge about succession parallels Hoynes' reaction to Bartlet's MS revelation, both questioning the implications of Bartlet's health."

Bartlet’s Rallying Roll Call to Senior Staff
S3E9 · Bartlet for America (Restructured)
Thematic Parallel medium

"Erickson's challenge about succession parallels Hoynes' reaction to Bartlet's MS revelation, both questioning the implications of Bartlet's health."

Bartlet Reveals MS Secret to Hoynes, Demands Instant VP Loyalty—Furious Rejection
S3E9 · Bartlet for America (Restructured)

Key Dialogue

"LEO: "We're gonna have to do this again.""
"JORDAN: "He's being snotty?" LEO: "Yeah.""
"JORDAN: "Listen to me. I don't like this. You pay me six hundred and fifty dollars an hour. You tell me everything." LEO: "Well, what do I have to pay to only tell you some things?" JORDAN: "I don't know. But you have to pay it to another lawyer.""