C.J.'s Recoil Tumble Sparks Flirty Bet with Simon
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J., fresh from a workout, spots Simon at the shooting range and impulsively demands to try his gun, showcasing her adventurous yet naive side.
Simon warns C.J. about the .357 Magnum's recoil, but she dismisses his concern, leading to her being knocked to the floor by the gun's force.
Simon demonstrates his sharpshooting skills, landing three bull's-eyes, which impresses C.J. and shifts their dynamic.
C.J. playfully compliments Simon's height, revealing a flirtatious vulnerability, and exits to change, leaving Simon amused.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
playful, flirtatious, vulnerable
approaches Simon post-workout at the shooting range, demands to try his .357 Magnum, fires it and is knocked down by recoil, proposes a flirtatious bet on his marksmanship, reacts with surprise and compliments his height after his perfect shots, admits vulnerability
- • to try shooting a real gun and challenge her movie-based bravado
- • to engage Simon flirtatiously through a bet and wager
- • to shift from professional to personal interaction, echoing prior vulnerability
Amused confidence laced with flirtatious enjoyment, relishing the chance to impress amid her challenge.
Simon cautions C.J. against the powerful .357 Magnum, offers a milder alternative, backs away as she fires and helps her up post-recoil; accepts her wager, fires three precise bullseyes with surgical calm, reveals the perforated target, and holsters the hot gun with a flashy movie-style gesture, bantering playfully throughout.
- • Demonstrate superior marksmanship to win the bet and her compliment
- • Build personal rapport through shared vulnerability and banter
- • Firearms demand respect due to their dangerous power and kick
- • Precision shooting symbolizes unerring protection of those under guard
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
C.J. seizes Simon's .357 Magnum, cocks and fires it once, experiencing brutal recoil that flattens her and shifts her view on guns; Simon then wields it masterfully for three bullseye shots, its thunderous reports making her recoil and cover ears, before he stylishly shoves the steaming barrel into his waistband—narratively bridging bravado to humility and flirtation.
Simon retrieves the fresh bull's-eye target post-shots via range clip button, revealing three tightly clustered .357 holes dead-center, mocking C.J.'s doubt and validating his prowess; it serves as tangible proof in their wager, igniting her impressed concession and flirtatious vulnerability.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Secret Service Gym's shooting range transforms from post-workout training annex to charged flirtation arena where C.J. approaches Simon, demands his gun, endures humiliating recoil on the floor, and witnesses his pinpoint marksmanship; gunfire echoes underscore vulnerability beneath duty's armor, providing tonal breather from diplomatic crises.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Simon's revelation of a hacker's intimate surveillance of C.J. echoes in her later vulnerability when handling his .357 Magnum, showing her shift from professional to personal interactions with him."
Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "Tough talk. I like that. Give me your gun.""
"C.J.: "That thing practically broke my arm. I've been wrong about guns. Just hand these out to the criminals.""
"C.J.: "Yes. Yes. I like that you're tall." SIMON: "You do?" C.J.: "It makes me feel more feminine.""