Toby Grills Leo on Hoynes' Veiled Primary Challenge
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Toby confronts Leo with a direct accusation about Vice President Hoynes challenging President Bartlet, setting the tense tone of the scene.
Toby probes Leo about Hoynes's itinerary, specifically mentioning a speech in Nashua, New Hampshire, hinting at political maneuvering.
Leo reacts visibly by removing his glasses, a physical cue of discomfort, as Toby details Hoynes's suspicious activities.
Leo attempts to dismiss Toby's concerns logically but falters, revealing his own unease about Hoynes's actions.
Toby presses further, linking Hoynes's 'camping trip' to Killington with his Nashua speech, exposing the thinly veiled political campaign.
The scene ends with Toby's unanswered question hanging in the air, the sound of his rubber ball against the wall underscoring the unresolved tension.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Calculated confidence in his veiled maneuvers (inferred from itinerary)
Hoynes is not physically present but invoked through Toby's dissection of his itinerary, positioning him as the scheming VP whose Nashua speech and Killington trip signal anticipation of Bartlet's non-re-election.
- • Test waters for 2002 presidential run
- • Exploit perceived Bartlet vulnerability
- • Bartlet will not seek re-election due to hidden issues
- • Subtle New Hampshire forays position him advantageously
Insistent frustration bordering on righteous anger, fueled by suspicion of betrayal
Toby paces relentlessly across the office, staring intently at Leo while methodically presenting evidence of Hoynes' suspicious Nashua speech amid a Killington camping trip, culminating in a direct accusation and rhythmic ball slams against the wall to heighten pressure.
- • Extract truth from Leo about Hoynes' motives
- • Expose potential administration cover-up of VP disloyalty
- • Hoynes is covertly challenging Bartlet via masked campaigning
- • Leo knows and is withholding critical information
referenced as sitting President whom Hoynes suspects will not run again
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Leo removes his glasses upon hearing 'Nashua, New Hampshire,' a telling gesture signaling faltering composure and raw vulnerability amid Toby's accusations; it functions as a narrative tell of discomfort, stripping his authoritative facade and underscoring the personal toll of guarded secrets.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Nashua, New Hampshire is referenced as the site of Hoynes' semiconductor plant speech titled 'Clean air industry in the high-tech Corridor,' framed by Toby as suspiciously overt for a masked political maneuver, heightening paranoia over VP ambitions in this pivotal primary state.
Killington is cited as the cover for Hoynes' three-day camping trip enveloping the Nashua speech, dissected by Toby as a 'benign excuse' for New Hampshire scouting, amplifying the interrogation's tension by exposing the itinerary's duplicitous structure.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Toby's initial confrontation with Leo about Hoynes' actions leads to his more direct accusation about Hoynes challenging Bartlet."
"Toby's initial confrontation with Leo about Hoynes' actions leads to his more direct accusation about Hoynes challenging Bartlet."
"Toby's initial confrontation with Leo about Hoynes' actions leads to his more direct accusation about Hoynes challenging Bartlet."
"Toby's initial questioning about Hoynes' polling leads to his deeper investigation into Hoynes' itinerary and political maneuvering."
"Toby's initial questioning about Hoynes' polling leads to his deeper investigation into Hoynes' itinerary and political maneuvering."
"Leo's discomfort and deflection in both scenes indicate his unease about Toby's probing into Hoynes' actions."
"Leo's discomfort and deflection in both scenes indicate his unease about Toby's probing into Hoynes' actions."
"Leo's discomfort and deflection in both scenes indicate his unease about Toby's probing into Hoynes' actions."
"Leo's consistent deflection and discomfort when questioned about Hoynes' actions."
"Leo's consistent deflection and discomfort when questioned about Hoynes' actions."
"Toby's challenge to Leo's explanation escalates to his direct linking of Hoynes' 'camping trip' to political campaigning."
"Toby's challenge to Leo's explanation escalates to his direct linking of Hoynes' 'camping trip' to political campaigning."
"Toby's ambush of Leo in the dark office follows his earlier confrontation about Hoynes' polling activity."
"Toby's ambush of Leo in the dark office follows his earlier confrontation about Hoynes' polling activity."
"The unresolved tension in both scenes is echoed by the sound of Toby's rubber ball hitting the wall."
"The unresolved tension in both scenes is echoed by the sound of Toby's rubber ball hitting the wall."
"The unresolved tension in both scenes is echoed by the sound of Toby's rubber ball hitting the wall."
Key Dialogue
"TOBY: "He's giving a speech at a semiconductor plant. The title of the speech is, Clean air industry in the high-tech Corridor of the Industrial Northeast." LEO: "Where?" TOBY: "Nashua, New Hampshire.""
"LEO: "Toby, nobody, and particularly not Hoynes would be naOve enough... what I mean to say is if he's going to New Hampshire for the reason you're thinking he would mask it with something.""
"TOBY: "Because it comes in the middle of a three-day camping trip to Killington. [beat] Why does Hoynes think the President isn't going to run again? [beat, while the sound of Toby's ball, slamming into the wall, is heard] What's going on, Leo?""