Josh and Toby's Exhausted Abbey Jabs and Haiti Messaging Pact
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh and Toby share a moment of exhaustion and dark humor about checking the First Lady's temperature, then soberly discuss the need for careful public messaging on Haiti.
The scene ends with Josh and Toby leaning silently on the desk, underscoring their shared fatigue and the weight of unresolved tensions.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Fatigued and smirking through gallows humor masking deeper worry
Raises invasion optics fears to Bartlet pre-exit, then lingers to banter darkly about Abbey's temperature with smirking agreement, nods to Toby's Haiti messaging directive, and slumps silently against desk embodying team strain.
- • Warn of political fallout from Haiti actions
- • Coordinate restrained team posture on crisis
- • Abbey's wrath threatens re-election unity
- • Public missteps could foreclose diplomacy
Exhausted and pragmatic, laced with wry deflection
Echoes Josh's optics warning to Bartlet, notes universal tiredness post-exit, quips 'you first' on Abbey probe, directs careful public Haiti posture to preserve options, then leans silently on desk with Josh.
- • Acknowledge and humanize staff fatigue
- • Enforce disciplined messaging on Haiti diplomacy
- • Diplomacy exhaustible before invasion viable
- • Abbey's fury requires cautious navigation
Resolute but irritated, fraying under persistent challenges
Dismisses Josh and Toby's Haiti optics concerns with biting retorts on political motivations, strength, sanctions' futility, police corruption, and Dessaline's plight; picks up papers and storms out, leaving advisors deflated.
- • Reassert unyielding commitment to Haiti resolution
- • Shut down staff doubts to maintain forward momentum
- • Sanctions fail against corrupt Haitian forces
- • Democratic legitimacy and past aggressions demand action
urgent and concerned
Greets President via VO, supports military display of force to intimidate Bazan, warns of refugee crisis from Haitian cutters off Florida Keys potentially overwhelming Guantanamo Bay.
- • Advocate for action to prevent refugee crisis
confident
Proposes buzzing Port-au-Prince with an Alpha strike formation of five F-18s as a display of force.
- • Intimidate Haitian leadership with show of military force
skeptical
Confirms State is exploring immediate sanctions but notes past failures with Haiti.
- • Evaluate viability of sanctions as alternative to military action
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bartlet's sanctions file, opened earlier in meeting, implicitly anchors the dismissal debate on Haiti policy; Bartlet grabs related papers from desk as parting gesture, symbolizing abrupt pivot from discussion to action amid fraying patience.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Port-au-Prince referenced in Toby's directive as buzz target and diplomatic flashpoint, its chaos fueling restraint orders to avoid tainting options.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
USS Enterprise invoked as Dessaline's refuge versus his stolen office, emblemizing coup's injustice in Bartlet's retort reinforcing intervention imperative.
State Department echoed in Toby's 'diplomatic options' mandate, prior sanctions skepticism framing need for untainted public posture.
Haitian National Police cited by Bartlet as sanctions-evading profiteers gorging on contraband, underscoring policy futility and justifying resolve in dismissal phase.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Bartlet's concern for civilian casualties in Haiti parallels his later questioning of military plans for Haiti."
"Josh and Toby's warning about political perception of Haiti parallels Bartlet's dismissal of those concerns in favor of principled action."
"Josh and Toby's warning about political perception of Haiti parallels Bartlet's dismissal of those concerns in favor of principled action."
"Josh and Toby's warning about political perception of Haiti parallels Bartlet's dismissal of those concerns in favor of principled action."
"Josh and Toby's warning about political perception of Haiti parallels Bartlet's dismissal of those concerns in favor of principled action."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"JOSH: "You know, at some point we're going to have to check the First Lady's temperature." TOBY: "Okay, you first.""
"TOBY: "On Haiti, tell your people to be careful with public posture - not to say or do anything that could taint any of the options.""
"TOBY: "Nobody wants to contemplate invading until we've exhausted diplomatic options." JOSH: "Yeah.""