Bartlet's Dawn Radio Flub and Abbey Chase Fizzle
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet attempts to record the radio address with children as his audience, showcasing his frustration and exhaustion with the repeated takes.
Bartlet abandons the radio taping in a frantic, futile attempt to meet Abbey, revealing his personal desperation and the absurdity of the situation.
Charlie informs Bartlet that Abbey is already in Pennsylvania, dashing Bartlet's hopes and forcing him to return to the Oval Office, humor masking his disappointment.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Optimistic anticipation curdling into resigned empathy for Bartlet's frustration
Donna stands vigilantly with Charlie, expressing buoyant optimism for the take before Bartlet's flub shifts her to resigned concern, gently protesting his abrupt exit while following him to the portico, embodying steadfast support amid unraveling presidential poise.
- • Encourage successful radio address completion
- • Support Bartlet through mounting exhaustion and personal distraction
- • This take will finally succeed despite prior failures
- • Bartlet's impatience stems from deeper personal pressures
Amused detachment veiling loyal protectiveness
Charlie sharply cuts the flubbed take, clarifies the 5:45 AM timing sparking Bartlet's frenzy, trails him to the portico to deliver the crushing news of Abbey's departure, then absorbs playful threat with a smile before reentering the Oval.
- • Enforce accurate timing to halt flawed recording
- • Gently manage Bartlet's personal disappointment
- • Duty requires blunt honesty even to the President
- • Humor diffuses presidential tension effectively
Calm professionalism amid controlled chaos
Technician initiates the critical countdown for the radio address take with professional precision, poised amid the Oval's tension, underscoring procedural rigor even as Bartlet's flub and abrupt halt disrupt the recording process.
- • Execute flawless recording countdown
- • Facilitate clean audio capture despite fatigue
- • Strict protocol ensures broadcast quality
- • Interruptions are inevitable in high-stakes Oval sessions
Wide-eyed fascination mixed with polite bewilderment
A dozen children sit silently in the Oval as captivated audience to Bartlet's exhausted radio attempts, their wide-eyed presence amplifying the pathos of his 'Good evening' flub and hasty exit apology, humanizing the Oval's high-stakes ritual.
- • Observe presidential recording process
- • Await promised autographed photo
- • President's work is important and magical
- • Adults' sudden departures are part of the show
frustrated
attempts to record radio address, flubs 'Good evening' due to time confusion, abruptly exits citing a special government meeting, learns Abbey has left, playfully threatens Charlie before reentering
- • successfully record the radio address
- • meet with Abbey Bartlet
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The portico (East Colonnade) becomes the liminal threshold for Bartlet's desperate pursuit of Abbey, where Charlie delivers the deflating revelation of her Pennsylvania departure amid trailing aides, transforming hopeful interception into comic deflation before their Oval reentry.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
No narrative connections mapped yet
This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: "Good evening." CHARLIE: "Cut." BARTLET AND DONNA: "What?" CHARLIE: "It's morning.""
"BARTLET: "It's evening. It's dark outside, Charlie." CHARLIE: "It's evening now, Mr. President. It's morning tomorrow." BARTLET: "What time is it?" CHARLIE: "It's 5:45 sir.""
"BARTLET: "Kids, I am so sorry. I have to go now, to a special meeting... of the government. I will mail you all an autographed copy of the picture we took together. And one day, you will all understand.""
"CHARLIE: "She's not there, sir." BARTLET: "I'm going to a special meeting..." CHARLIE: "...of the government. Yes, sir. She had to go to Pennsylvania early.""
"BARTLET: "Sure. Would you like to get that smile off your face before I send you on special assignment to the Yukon?" CHARLIE: "Yes, sir.""