Marcus Cancels the Fundraiser — The Ultimatum
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Marcus escalates his financial leverage, threatening Josh with the cancellation of the fundraiser unless Bartlet publicly denounces the anti-gay military bill.
Marcus calls off the fundraiser to prove his seriousness, forcing Josh to react and engage with the real stakes of political donor leverage.
Josh attempts to placate Marcus with reassurances about the President's stance, only for Marcus to demand a public statement as a condition for continuing the fundraiser.
Marcus delivers his ultimatum with finality, asserting his political and financial dominance, leaving Josh with no immediate recourse.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Uncomfortable but efficient — focused on minimizing chaos and following his employer's directive.
Carmine stands beside Marcus and handles logistics questions, asking what happens to 'the food, the flowers?' and immediately begins executing Marcus's order to redistribute supplies to workers, translating Marcus's political decision into operational action.
- • Carry out Marcus's instructions quickly to minimize disruption.
- • Protect staff and property during the abrupt cancellation.
- • Preserve the event company's reputation by managing the fallout.
- • Marcus's orders are final and must be executed without question.
- • Operational calm can limit the political and social damage of a canceled event.
Coldly composed and contemptuous — anger cloaked in polite certainty; exerting power rather than losing temper.
Ted Marcus deliberately adopts a controlled, theatrical posture: he announces the resolution, orders workers to pack up, and uses visible action (trucks loading) as proof of cancellation. He refuses argument, demands a televised repudiation from the President, and weaponizes his donor power as leverage.
- • Force a public, on‑air repudiation of HR 973 from the President as political insurance for his constituents.
- • Punish perceived disrespect by the administration and assert donor leverage.
- • Demonstrate to others (and himself) that his money can change behavior and messaging.
- • Donor money buys access and public assurances; leverage should be used decisively.
- • The Democratic Party and the President are politically vulnerable to donor pressure and optics.
- • Public, symbolic gestures (a repudiation on TV) are necessary to appease his network and protect his interests.
Surface calm and businesslike but privately anxious and embarrassed — trying to defuse a crisis while watching his leverage (and credibility) evaporate.
Joshua Lyman arrives by taxi, attempts to placate and reason with Ted Marcus, makes declarative reassurances that the bill will not pass and the President would not sign it, and reacts with mounting embarrassment as Marcus cancels the fundraiser and insists on a public on‑air repudiation.
- • Salvage the fundraiser and keep Marcus's financial commitment intact.
- • Protect the President's political standing and avoid forcing a public repudiation.
- • Convince Marcus that HR 973 poses no real threat (procedurally or as presidential policy).
- • Most House resolutions never proceed to binding law; procedure will blunt Cameron's move.
- • The President would not sign legislation banning gays in the military.
- • Retaining donor confidence is essential to campaign/party stability and can be managed with persuasion.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The taxi functions as both Josh's point of arrival and a physical threat/exit strategy; Marcus uses Josh's cab waiting outside as leverage and a subtle signal that Josh can be sent away if he cannot deliver results.
A line of supply trucks becomes the visual proof of cancellation: workers begin loading tables, linens, and place-settings into these vehicles at Marcus's command, converting private logistics into a public statement and a lever of humiliation.
The living-room television is referenced as the future audience for the President's statement; Marcus demands to know when he should be tuned to hear an on‑air repudiation, using the TV as the medium for public performance and verification.
House Resolution 973 is invoked verbally as the flashpoint: Marcus cites its introduction as justification for his cancellation and as the moral/political lever he expects the President to publicly repudiate.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Ted Marcus's Bel Air mansion functions as the staged battleground where private wealth meets public power; its manicured exterior and prepared tents frame a donor confrontation that turns logistical bustle into theater and a donor's anger into political leverage.
The mansion's 'back of the house' service area is the operational heart of the scene: folding tables, catering crates, and staff are mid-preparation until Marcus's command converts busy setup into quick teardown, making backstage logistics into the public proof of cancellation.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The team's debate about the upcoming bill's impact on Ted Marcus foreshadows Marcus's ultimatum to cancel the fundraiser unless Bartlet publicly denounces the anti-gay military bill."
"The team's debate about the upcoming bill's impact on Ted Marcus foreshadows Marcus's ultimatum to cancel the fundraiser unless Bartlet publicly denounces the anti-gay military bill."
"The team's debate about the upcoming bill's impact on Ted Marcus foreshadows Marcus's ultimatum to cancel the fundraiser unless Bartlet publicly denounces the anti-gay military bill."
"Marcus's initial ultimatum to Josh escalates into a direct confrontation with Bartlet, demanding a public veto threat against the anti-gay bill."
"Marcus's initial ultimatum to Josh escalates into a direct confrontation with Bartlet, demanding a public veto threat against the anti-gay bill."
Key Dialogue
"TED MARCUS: "House Resolution 973.""
"TED MARCUS: "Banning gays in the military.""
"JOSH: "No one is going to pass a bill banning gays in the military. And if the House ever passed such a bill, if the Senate every passed such a bill, the President would never sign such a bill.""
"TED MARCUS: "As soon as I hear the President say what you just said to me.""
"TED MARCUS: "Then we've got a problem. Don't screw around with me, Josh. I've been President a lot longer than he has.""