Toby Capitulates to Leo's Override on Summerhays Meeting
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Ginger informs Toby that Leo's office has reinstated Greg Summerhays on his schedule, despite Toby's previous removal.
Toby reluctantly accepts the rescheduled appointment with Greg Summerhays, despite the day's heavy schedule.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Anxious frustration over Bartlet's fragility amid unrelenting duty
Intercepts Toby in hallway to voice urgent worries over President's post-tragedy readiness for 8 PM address, presses for prep delay or postponement, receives curt dismissal as Toby walks away into Ginger encounter.
- • Advocate for President's emotional recovery before public exposure
- • Secure time buffer in jammed schedule for proper preparation
- • Bartlet's grief demands protective pause from staff pressures
- • Rushing unprepared risks deeper MS-fueled unraveling
Bone-weary exasperation yielding to ingrained loyalty, grief simmering beneath dutiful compliance
Striding through the hallway after brushing off Sam's concerns, Toby halts to challenge Ginger's news of the reinstated meeting, protests citing funeral and crises, then pats her arm in weary acceptance before continuing on.
- • Push back against overloading schedule to preserve bandwidth for crises
- • Uphold chain of command by acquiescing to Leo's directive
- • Leo's authority overrides personal or logistical objections
- • Administration survival demands endurance beyond exhaustion
Regretful deference tinged with resolve to execute orders faithfully
Approaches Toby apologetically in the hallway, relays Leo's office order to reinstate 4 PM Summerhays slot, specifies time firmly despite his protests, stands as conduit for hierarchy.
- • Deliver Leo's reinstatement directive without escalation
- • Synchronize Toby's schedule amid White House chaos
- • Subordinates must relay superior commands unfiltered
- • Even in grief, operational continuity prevails
Referenced as having given press conference to the network, locking it in.
Referenced to sit on President's right during press conference setup.
Invoked by name as the external news director whose 4 PM 'lifeboat' job meeting Toby canceled but Leo forces back on schedule, symbolizing tempting defection amid turmoil.
Referenced in setup instructions for seating and lighting during press conference prep.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Toby instructs Sam on the pitcher of water as a press conference prop to be kept off-screen during hallway exchange, underscoring his multitasking logistics obsession amid broader crisis juggling that frames the Summerhays override tension.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The West Wing hallway serves as chaotic transit artery where Toby fields Sam's readiness pleas then absorbs Ginger's schedule bombshell, its relentless flow amplifying exhaustion and hierarchy's inexorable pull in grief-shrouded frenzy.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
American news networks loom via Toby's reference to C.J. locking in the 8 PM slot, chaining the schedule and fueling Toby's no-options retort that segues into the Summerhays override, heightening external pressures.
Leo's office exerts command through Ginger, overriding Toby's cancellation to reinstate 4 PM Summerhays meeting, enforcing contingency planning amid funeral grief and MS shadows, testing staff loyalty.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"GINGER: "I'm sorry, but I had to put Greg Summerhays back on your schedule.""
"TOBY: "No, I took him off." GINGER: "Leo's office had me put him back on.""
"TOBY: "We've got her funeral today. We've got these..." GINGER: "I said four o'clock." TOBY: "Yeah, all right.""