The West Wing
S2E14
· The War At Home

Josh's Poll Outburst Met with Donna's Calm Reassurance

In the dimly lit confines of Josh's office at night, amid the broader crisis of the botched raid and moral dilemmas, Josh leans dejectedly over dismal polling results on his desk. Pollster Joey Lucas sits across from him, with her interpreter Kenny at her side. Josh erupts in raw frustration—'Son of a bitch'—voicing the campaign's mounting pressures. Donna, ever his emotional anchor, stands beside him and counters with steady reassurance: 'That's okay.' This terse exchange cements their intimate support dynamic, offering a fleeting moment of humanity and connection that sustains Josh through professional despair, while subtly nodding to prior teasing about his interest in Joey.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Josh reacts with frustration to the polling results, his expletive cutting through the tension in the darkened office.

frustration to resignation ["Josh's darkened office"]

Donna attempts to soothe Josh's frustration with a calm reassurance, creating a moment of connection amidst the political storm.

tension to attempted comfort

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Kenny Lucas
primary

Quiet attentiveness, empathetic to the shared campaign strain.

Kenny stands next to Joey across the desk, serving as her interpreter while vigilantly witnessing Josh's slump and curse over the polls, contributing silent solidarity to the charged moment.

Goals in this moment
  • • Support Joey in the polling review
  • • Maintain group cohesion through presence
Active beliefs
  • • Silent reliability strengthens partnerships
  • • Data challenges demand collective endurance
Character traits
supportive vigilant camaraderie-driven
Follow Kenny Lucas's journey
Joey Lucas
primary

Composed concern, professionally detached yet attuned to the group's frustration.

Joey sits across the desk from Josh, positioned as the polling expert whose data has triggered the dejection, silently observing the exchange with Kenny at her side amid the office's tense night atmosphere.

Goals in this moment
  • • Gauge Josh's reaction to her polling data
  • • Facilitate data-driven strategy discussion
Active beliefs
  • • Accurate polls guide effective campaigning
  • • Team chemistry aids crisis navigation
Character traits
professional observant reliable
Follow Joey Lucas's journey
Donna Moss
primary

Calm and reassuring, projecting unshakeable steadiness to mask underlying concern for Josh's morale.

Donna stands directly beside Josh, embodying steadfast support as she counters his frustrated outburst with the calm, grounding reassurance 'That's okay,' fortifying his emotional orbit amid dismal polls and broader crisis shadows.

Goals in this moment
  • • Bolster Josh's emotional resilience
  • • Sustain team focus despite polling setbacks
Active beliefs
  • • Josh's setbacks are surmountable with support
  • • Personal connection trumps data-driven despair
Character traits
loyal empathetic resilient politically astute
Follow Donna Moss's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Joey Lucas' Dismal Polling Results

The dismal polling results dominate Josh's desk, drawing his dejected lean and catalyzing his frustrated 'Son of a bitch' outburst; they embody swing-district threats to the crime bill, fueling emotional tension and underscoring the raid's political bleed in this raw human beat.

Before: Strewn across Josh's desk in the dimly lit …
After: Unchanged, still sprawled on the desk post-outburst
Before: Strewn across Josh's desk in the dimly lit office
After: Unchanged, still sprawled on the desk post-outburst

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 1
Character Continuity medium

"Donna's playful teasing about Joey Lucas continues her role as Josh's emotional anchor, later soothing his frustration with polling data, showing her consistent supportive dynamic."

Josh's Hold Hell and Donna's Joey Tease
S2E14 · The War At Home

Key Dialogue

"JOSH: "Son of a bitch.""
"DONNA: "That's okay.""