C.J. Shreds General Barrie's 'Ring and Run' TV Plot
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. confronts Carol and Lieutenant Buckley about General Barrie's absence, immediately sensing evasion.
C.J. dismantles Buckley's deflection about Barrie's planned TV appearance, cutting through military protocol.
C.J. exposes Barrie's true intent to trash the President on national television, invoking unity of command.
C.J. brands Barrie's actions as 'Ring and Run' cowardice, delivering a stinging verdict through his aide.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Implied defiant and aggrieved (via defense), soon to face rebuke
Absent but pivotal—General Barrie dispatched Buckley as proxy; his scheme to critique military readiness and the administration on morning TV right before retirement is ruthlessly exposed and condemned by C.J. as cowardly 'Ring and Run,' with explicit instructions for Buckley to deliver her verdict personally.
- • Execute 'Ring and Run' media ambush on President unscathed
- • Voice expert critiques on armed forces readiness pre-retirement
- • Administration endangers military readiness
- • Patriotic duty overrides retirement protocol for public warnings
Righteously indignant with sarcastic edge, fueled by fierce protectiveness
C.J. strides purposefully down the hallway, intercepts waiting Carol and Buckley, barrages with incisive questions piercing deflections, exposes Barrie's TV ambush scheme, deploys sarcasm on 'Ring and Run,' asserts unified presidential loyalty, and authoritatively dispatches Buckley with her direct cowardice rebuke.
- • Expose and neutralize General Barrie's evasive media attack
- • Reimpose White House discipline and loyalty on military dissent
- • True patriotism demands direct confrontation, not hit-and-run tactics
- • The President commands absolute loyalty from the armed forces
Calm and composed, professionally deferential
Carol stands waiting in the hallway alongside Buckley, greets arriving C.J. with her name, succinctly explains the general sent an aide instead, and motions to introduce Lieutenant Buckley as his representative.
- • Brief C.J. on the general's proxy arrival
- • Facilitate smooth handover to Buckley's introduction
- • Aides represent principals effectively in chain of command
- • C.J. must be informed promptly of deviations in expectations
Initially defensive and composed, fracturing into stunned disbelief
Buckley waits poised with Carol, greets C.J., identifies as General Barrie's staff aide, repeatedly deflects her probes on the general's whereabouts and TV plans, defends the criticisms as patriotic duty, absorbs her 'Ring and Run' sarcasm and loyalty demand, stares shocked at the coward label, then walks off to relay it.
- • Shield General Barrie from direct engagement
- • Justify the general's media criticisms as expert patriotism
- • Military leaders have a duty to voice readiness concerns publicly
- • Aides can adequately represent superiors in confrontations
target of General Barrie's planned public criticisms on TV, defended fiercely by C.J. who reasserts 'my President—yours too' (significantly mentioned)
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Pentagon looms as General Barrie's stronghold and Buckley's mandated return destination, invoked by C.J. to route her scorching cowardice message through chain-of-command channels, heightening civil-military friction as White House resolve pierces defense walls.
Narrative Connections
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Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "Is Ed Barrie doing the morning shows?""
"C.J.: "I would know and I do know. And so do you so cut the crap.""
"C.J.: "It's called 'Ring and Run'. Go back to the Pentagon right now. Tell General Barrie, C.J. Cregg says he's a coward.""