The West Wing
S3E15
· Dead Irish Writers

Marbury Extracts Toby's Concession on McGann

In a dimly lit bar thick with cigar smoke, Lord Marbury intones a haunting monologue likening America's 'original sin' of slavery to England's centuries-long Irish oppression, framing both as inherited shadows. Toby counters pragmatically, citing Irish-American political clout and the necessity of dialogue—even with controversial Sinn Fein figure Brendan McGann—to heal wounds. Marbury abruptly draws the line, barring McGann from the White House as a non-negotiable British red line. Toby, after a weighted pause, yields with a reluctant 'Understood,' resolving the standoff but exposing raw fractures in U.S.-Irish diplomacy and the burdens of historical guilt. This turning point sacrifices short-term optics for long-term alliance, deepening Toby's arc of pragmatic compromise.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Marbury delivers a haunting monologue about 'original sins,' equating America's slavery and treatment of Native Americans with England's historical oppression of Ireland.

reflective to confrontational

Toby counters Marbury's grim historical perspective with pragmatic contributions of Irish-Americans, lightening the mood briefly.

defensive to playful

Marbury reignites tension by insisting Brendan McGann—linked to Irish Republican sentiment—cannot be welcomed at the White House, invoking diplomatic imperative.

resigned to authoritative

Toby reluctantly concedes to Marbury's demand, their cigar smoke and unfinished drinks marking the uneasy resolution of the Irish diplomatic standoff.

defiant to acquiescent

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Brendan McGann
primary

Polarizing specter embodying diplomatic poison

Brendan McGann is repeatedly invoked as the flashpoint Sinn Féin leader whose proposed White House visit Toby champions for peace talks, only for Marbury to veto it outright as inseparable from IRA violence, crystallizing the dispute's core fracture.

Goals in this moment
  • • Gain U.S. legitimacy through White House invitation
  • • Advance Sinn Féin dialogue to outflank IRA hardliners
Active beliefs
  • • Inclusion in talks is key to splintering extremists
  • • U.S. mediation can jolt stalled peace processes
Character traits
controversial terror-linked moderate
Follow Brendan McGann's journey
John Marbury
primary

Commanding assurance laced with lucid gravity, culminating in triumphant satisfaction

Marbury intones a poetic monologue on national 'original sins,' rebuffs Toby's dialogue pleas with wry historical litany, firmly declares McGann barred from the White House as Ambassador, finishes his drink with satisfaction, pays the bill, and strides out, dominating the exchange with aristocratic resolve.

Goals in this moment
  • • Equate historical sins to caution U.S. overreach in Irish affairs
  • • Enforce non-negotiable British red line excluding McGann from White House access
Active beliefs
  • • McGann remains inextricably linked to IRA terrorism, unfit for U.S. legitimacy
  • • England's Irish oppression mirrors America's sins but demands protective vetoes on dialogue
Character traits
assertive aristocratically provocative unyielding diplomat wryly eloquent
Follow John Marbury's journey
Toby Ziegler
primary

Determined pragmatism yielding to weighted reluctance and resigned acceptance

Toby smokes a cigar steadily, counters Marbury's historical indictments with pragmatic arguments highlighting Irish-American political influence and the imperative of dialogue—even with McGann—pauses reflectively after the veto, concedes 'Understood,' and watches Marbury pay and depart, embodying reluctant diplomatic retreat.

Goals in this moment
  • • Advocate for inclusive peace talks by inviting McGann to the White House
  • • Leverage U.S. intervention to pressure British concessions on Irish dialogue
Active beliefs
  • • Dialogue with controversial figures like McGann is essential to splinter extremists and advance peace
  • • Irish-American political clout justifies American mediation in Anglo-Irish conflicts
Character traits
pragmatic persistent intellectually combative reluctantly compromising
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Dr. Millgate's Cigar

Toby's cigar—echoing Millgate's defiant prop—pulses with embers and exhales thick smoke that chokes the bar's air, amplifying the scene's intimate tension and historical gravity; Toby puffs it during counters and post-concession, symbolizing brooding contemplation amid diplomatic smoke screens.

Before: Lit and held by Toby at scarred counter
After: Still smoldering in Toby's hand as he watches …
Before: Lit and held by Toby at scarred counter
After: Still smoldering in Toby's hand as he watches Marbury exit

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
Bar

The dimly lit bar with scarred counter and sweating drinks provides clandestine neutral turf for Toby and Marbury's verbal thrust-parry over Irish policy, cigar haze thickening the air as historical ghosts and concessions unfold in hushed isolation, distilling Oval realpolitik to raw interpersonal stakes.

Atmosphere Thick cigar smoke, dim glow, electric tension in heavy breaths and clinking glasses
Function Private venue for off-record diplomatic negotiation
Symbolism Dim sanctuary where empires' shadows collide and compromises are forged away from public eyes
Access Secluded, late-night access limited to insiders like White House staff and ambassadors
Cigar smoke coiling thickly Sweating drinks on counter Dim night lighting Hushed intimacy with clinking glasses
The White House Mess

The White House looms as the contested symbol of U.S. diplomatic endorsement, explicitly barred to McGann by Marbury's decree, transforming the bar talk into a proxy battle over its thresholds—elevating the concession's cost amid the episode's gala chaos.

Atmosphere Remote but palpably charged as forbidden prestige ground
Function Symbolic prize in the negotiation over Irish talks access
Symbolism Bastion of American legitimacy now weaponized as British red-line battleground
Access Vetoed to Sinn Féin leaders like McGann per Her Majesty's insistence
Referenced as Oval Office threshold Site of denied photo-op legitimacy

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 2
Causal medium

"Marbury's disruptive entrance and IRA accusations against McGann escalate into the diplomatic standoff resolved with Toby's concession, showing how initial provocation leads to political resolution."

Josh & Amy's Teasing Birthday Wishes, Donna's Absence Noted
S3E15 · Dead Irish Writers
Causal medium

"Marbury's disruptive entrance and IRA accusations against McGann escalate into the diplomatic standoff resolved with Toby's concession, showing how initial provocation leads to political resolution."

Marbury's Crude Breast Compliment Intrudes
S3E15 · Dead Irish Writers

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Irreverent Diplomacy Defusing Tension
5
Lord Marbury's boisterous irreverence—crude compliments to Abbey, bawdy interruptions, and poetic monologues on Ireland's 'original sin'—extracts concessions from Toby on blocking IRA leader McGann's White …

Part of Larger Arcs

Toby Ziegler's diplomatic push to invite Sinn Féin leader Brendan McGann to the White House, clashing with British Ambassador John Marbury's firm opposition rooted in IRA history and security concerns.

Key Dialogue

"MARBURY: "The darkness in our sunshine, the shadow in our souls, the biblical sins of the fathers. For Americans, it's slavery. Slavery is your original sin. That and your unfortunate history with your aborigines.""
"TOBY: "Well, they've given us a couple of U.S. Presidents, a lot of Boston Democrats, and half of the New York City's Police Force.""
"MARBURY: "Not to talk to Brendan McGann." TOBY: "Brendan McGann cannot come to the White House." MARBURY: "Yes." TOBY: "Understood, Mr. Ambassador.""