C.J.'s Frantic Official Hunt Ends in Leo Escalation

On Thanksgiving eve, a harried C.J. bursts into her office, pacing restlessly as she interrogates Carol about contacting the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Deputy of Acquisition—all unavailable due to the holiday exodus. Her frustration peaks with the indignant retort that she, the lobby activists, and Carol remain dutifully present, revealing her isolation amid the Native American sit-in crisis. Undaunted, she pivots decisively to Leo, marking a key escalation in her determined push against bureaucratic inertia and historical injustice.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

C.J. urgently seeks the assistant secretary for Indian affairs, pacing in her office before coming to the door.

urgency to frustration ["C.J.'s office"]

Carol informs C.J. that the assistant secretary is away, prompting C.J. to verify if Carol tried contacting him.

frustration to persistence ["C.J.'s office"]

C.J. continues her desperate search for someone to address the Indian affairs issue, listing various deputies.

persistence to exasperation ["C.J.'s office"]

Carol bluntly reminds C.J. that it's Thanksgiving and most officials are unavailable.

exasperation to resignation ["C.J.'s office"]

C.J. declares her intention to go to Leo's office, determined to find a solution.

resignation to determination ["C.J.'s office"]

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

Carol

primary

Resigned to holiday realities yet sympathetically aligned with C.J.'s frustration

Carol is leaving C.J.'s office when C.J. enters; she responds calmly and factually to repeated queries about officials' unavailability due to Thanksgiving, adds detail on additional deputies, emphatically agrees with C.J.'s indignation, poised to relay the message to Leo's office.

Goals in this moment

• Accurately update C.J. on bureaucrats' status
• Facilitate C.J.'s escalation by notifying Leo's office

Active beliefs

• Thanksgiving exodus is inevitable and standard in government
• Loyal support for C.J. means enduring crisis scrambles together

Character traits

resigned loyal efficient empathetic

Follow Carol's journey

Leo McGarry

primary

Neutral (not present; inferred unflappable readiness for crises)

Leo is not physically present but invoked as the escalation target; C.J. instructs Carol to inform his office of her imminent visit, positioning him as the next authority to confront over the unresolved Native activist crisis.

Goals in this moment