The West Wing
S2E2
· In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part 2

Bartlet's Victory Speech Fury, Abbey's Protective Reveal

President Bartlet storms into the hotel suite, erupting in fury over Sam's generic victory speech draft—lashing out at its impersonal tone and accusing the team of 'handling' him like amateurs. He drags Leo away for revisions, his voice-over rant exposing raw impatience. Abbey defends him to Josh, validating the vent ('Your husband's a real son of a bitch'), attributing the outburst to terror over the crushing weight of victory and readiness, while fiercely assuring he'll deliver and offering herself as a surrogate target. This beat excavates Bartlet's vulnerability beneath his intellect, heightening emotional stakes for the team on the cusp of triumph.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Bartlet enters angrily, criticizing Sam's draft of the victory speech, revealing his disdain for being handled.

humor to frustration

Abbey defends Bartlet's behavior to Josh, explaining his fear and terror, hinting at deeper personal struggles.

frustration to understanding

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

7
C.J. Cregg
primary

excited

standing by the TV with Sam and Toby, announcing 'Here it comes!' before the victory call

Goals in this moment
  • • watch for the primary victory announcement
Character traits
resilient strategic poised terse dutiful
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Sam Seaborn
primary

excited

reporting exit poll results from various counties, standing by the TV with Toby and C.J., celebrated and pointed at by Josh

Goals in this moment
  • • inform the team of favorable poll numbers
  • • celebrate the primary victory
Character traits
fiercely loyal emotionally perceptive decisive principled resolute amid grief
Follow Sam Seaborn's journey
Toby Ziegler
primary

anticipatory

standing by the TV with Sam and C.J. as results are announced

Goals in this moment
  • • monitor TV for primary results
Character traits
methodical sarcastic resolute irascible loyal
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey
Abigail Bartlet
primary

Fiercely protective empathy for her husband's vulnerability

Approaches the group post-outburst, encourages Josh to voice his criticism of Bartlet freely, defends her husband's aversion to being 'handled' by revealing his terror, staunchly assures his readiness and offers herself as a frustration outlet.

Goals in this moment
  • • Humanize Bartlet's rage to preserve team unity
  • • Redirect Josh's ire productively
Active beliefs
  • • Victory's weight terrifies even the strongest leaders
  • • Bartlet will inevitably conquer his fears
Character traits
protective candid resolute
Follow Abigail Bartlet's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

Furious impatience veiling profound terror of victory's burdens

Storms into the suite very grumpy, snatches Sam's draft and erupts in fury over its generic phrasing without naming the opponent, demands Leo join him to overhaul it entirely, continues ranting via voice-over as they exit the room.

Goals in this moment
  • • Personalize the victory speech for authenticity
  • • Reassert dominance over campaign messaging
Active beliefs
  • • Generic speeches undermine his personal voice
  • • Team is reverting to manipulative amateur tactics
Character traits
temperamental perfectionist assertive
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey
Donna Moss
primary

apprehensive

approaching Josh apprehensively to inform him of his father's death amid the celebration

Goals in this moment
  • • deliver the news of Josh's father's death
Character traits
diligent observant resilient exasperated
Follow Donna Moss's journey
Press Pool
primary

announcing Bartlet's victory in the Illinois primary on TV with 17% precincts reporting

Goals in this moment
  • • report election results
Follow Press Pool's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Sam's Draft of Victory Remarks

Serves as the explosive catalyst when Bartlet snatches it, savaging its impersonal line congratulating an unnamed opponent as 'old crap' and amateurish, propelling his demand for Leo to revise it entirely—symbolizing the chasm between staff caution and Bartlet's demand for raw authenticity amid victory's edge.

Before: Present in the suite, likely on a table …
After: Carried out by Bartlet and Leo for immediate …
Before: Present in the suite, likely on a table or in circulation among staff
After: Carried out by Bartlet and Leo for immediate revisions

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Sheraton Centre Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

The crowded hotel suite frames Bartlet's stormy entrance and verbal assault on the speech draft, with staff clustered amid primary buzz, amplifying the personal eruption's disruption of collective anticipation—transforming a nascent victory hub into a pressure cooker of leadership vulnerability.

Atmosphere Tense and charged, excitement fracturing into interpersonal confrontation
Function Campaign nerve center for real-time strategy and outburst containment
Symbolism Microcosm of political high-stakes intimacy where facades crack
Background TV flickering primary results Fried food aromas underscoring casual chaos Crowded space with staff movement heightening intrusion

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

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Key Dialogue

"BARTLET: "What the hell is this?""
"BARTLET: "I congratulate my opponent on a well-fought campaign in Illinois? Yes, I want to congratulate him, but I'd like to call him by his name! Are we back to this old crap again?""
"ABBEY: "He's not ready yet, Josh. He's terrified." / JOSH: "Well, is he going to be ready?" / ABBEY: "You bet your ass he will. In the meantime, you want to kick something, kick me.""