Bartlet Enters Leo's Office: A Grave Late-Night Greeting
In the quiet intensity of night, President Bartlet strides into Leo's office, his simple utterance of 'Leo' cutting through the silence like a summons to battle. Leo rises to the occasion with measured respect, replying 'Good evening, sir.' This minimalist exchange—formal yet laced with unspoken trust—establishes their profound professional bond and signals the gravity of the unfolding filibuster crisis, transitioning from the President's earlier indulgent dinner to urgent strategic deliberation on health reform and Senator Stackhouse's obstruction.
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet enters Leo's office, signaling the start of a critical conversation.
neutral to anticipation
["Leo's office"]
Bartlet addresses Leo with a simple greeting, setting the tone for their interaction.
anticipation to formal acknowledgment
["Leo's office"]
Leo responds with a respectful greeting, indicating the formal nature of their relationship.
formal acknowledgment to mutual respect
["Leo's office"]
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Goals in this moment
- • initiate urgent strategic deliberation on the filibuster crisis
- • express initial frustration with Stackhouse's obstruction
Character traits
protective
resolute
self-aware
principled
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
What this causes
2
Emotional Echo
medium
"Bartlet's initial frustration with Stackhouse's filibuster echoes his later emotional vulnerability and protectiveness upon learning the truth about Stackhouse's grandson."
Bartlet Confides One-Term Deal with Abbey to Leo
S2E17 · The Stackhouse Filibuster
Emotional Echo
medium
"Bartlet's initial frustration with Stackhouse's filibuster echoes his later emotional vulnerability and protectiveness upon learning the truth about Stackhouse's grandson."
C.J.'s Call Reveals Stackhouse's Autistic Grandson
S2E17 · The Stackhouse Filibuster
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: Leo."
"LEO: Good evening, sir."