The West Wing
S2E22
· Two Cathedrals

Janitor Unearths Bartlet's Defiant Cigarette as Motorcade Converges

In the sacred hush of the National Cathedral, a janitor scrubbing the stone floor pauses, lifting a discarded cigarette butt—Bartlet's furtive emblem of rage-fueled defiance amid grief for Mrs. Landingham. He gazes through the open doors as presidential sirens wail closer, limousines and flashing lights flooding the frame. This silent interlude collides spiritual sanctuary with worldly power, symbolizing frailty invading sanctity, paralleling Mrs. Landingham's absent desk, and foreshadowing Bartlet's turbulent reclaiming of duty amid MS secrecy and reelection strife.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

A janitor finds a discarded cigarette while washing the cathedral floor, pausing to watch as presidential motorcade sirens wail outside.

routine to awe ['cathedral floor', 'open cathedral doors']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Janitor (National Cathedral)
primary

Calm curiosity tinged with subtle awareness of converging worlds

Methodically washing the cathedral's stone floor, the janitor pauses upon stumbling across a discarded cigarette butt, lifts it with quiet inspection, and gazes pensively through the open doors toward the approaching presidential sirens, limousines, and flashing lights.

Goals in this moment
  • • Maintain the sanctity and cleanliness of the cathedral space
  • • Assess the significance of the unusual discarded item
Active beliefs
  • • Daily rituals endure amid transient external chaos
  • • Sacred spaces inevitably intersect with profane powers
Character traits
Observant Steadfast Unperturbed by intrusion
Follow Janitor (National …'s journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

defiant

motorcade passing by the cathedral, announced by sirens; discarded cigarette butt symbolizing defiance

Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Washington National Cathedral Pulpit

The Washington National Cathedral's nave, with its vaulted hush and open doors, frames the janitor's routine maintenance as presidential sirens shatter the post-mourning stillness, limousines visible beyond, symbolizing the frail intrusion of worldly authority into spiritual refuge amid Bartlet's grief for Mrs. Landingham.

Atmosphere Solemn silence pierced by distant sirens and flashing lights, heavy with ritual aftermath
Function Sanctuary for solitary maintenance juxtaposed against motorcade passage
Symbolism Embodies collision of divine sanctuary and presidential power, echoing frailty in sacred spaces
Access Open doors allow visual intrusion from exterior motorcade
Stone floors slick from washing Open doors framing limousines and lights Echoing sirens announcing approach

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 2
Symbolic Parallel medium

"The lingering shot of Mrs. Landingham's untouched desk and the janitor finding Bartlet's discarded cigarette both serve as silent, powerful symbols of absence and defiance."

Bartlet Authorizes Fitzwallace Intervention Amid Mounting Grief
S2E22 · Two Cathedrals
Symbolic Parallel medium

"The lingering shot of Mrs. Landingham's untouched desk and the janitor finding Bartlet's discarded cigarette both serve as silent, powerful symbols of absence and defiance."

Bartlet's Displaced Grief: Storm Obsession and Pallbearer Request
S2E22 · Two Cathedrals