C.J. Bursts In with Urgent Turkey Pardon Plea
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. reasserts absurdity's demands—the pardoning turkey won't wait—as Bartlet prepares to administer a biblical litmus test.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
distracted
standing over desk reviewing and writing on papers, admires carving knife from Charlie, discusses San Diego and refugee crisis with Josh and Sam, decides to fly in a Chinese refugee for shibboleth test, distractedly acknowledges C.J.'s turkey concern
- • to distinguish genuine Christian refugees from impostors using a biblical shibboleth test
- • to multitask presidential duties including refugee crisis and ceremonial preparations
Exasperated and frazzled, torn between crisis urgency and ceremonial absurdity
C.J. rushes breathlessly into the Oval Office mid-briefing, interrupting Bartlet's refugee strategy reveal to urgently implore him against postponing the turkey pardon indefinitely, her plea injecting exasperation into the high-stakes dialogue before exiting abruptly.
- • Prevent indefinite delay of the Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony
- • Reclaim President's focus for Press Secretary-managed traditions
- • White House rituals cannot be sacrificed to crises without consequence
- • Her role demands balancing diplomacy with public-facing duties
Attentively focused, absorbing the unfolding presidential ingenuity amid interruption
Sam stands alongside Josh in the Oval Office, having just contributed key briefing on Chinese embassy arguments about illegal departures disqualifying refugees, silently present as Bartlet announces the shibboleth plan and C.J. interrupts with her turkey plea.
- • Support accurate conveyance of diplomatic counterarguments to inform decision
- • Collaborate on verifying refugee authenticity to resolve crisis
- • Illegal actions undermine legitimate asylum claims under law
- • Presidential wisdom will pierce coached deceptions effectively
enters with open knife box, presents and opens box containing carving knife, banters with Bartlet about knives
- • to present the carving knife to the President
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
INS agents' warnings, relayed by Josh, highlight refugees' common tactic of feigning faith after coaching—directly prompting Bartlet's biblical test innovation, their procedural skepticism woven into the Oval briefing that precipitates the refugee fly-in decision.
U.N. refugee conditions are cited by Josh alongside U.S. law, reinforcing Chinese embassy claims that non-persecuted individuals lack status—escalating the evidentiary burden that Bartlet sidesteps with his shibboleth ploy during this decisive Oval exchange.
Chinese Embassy position is invoked by Sam during the immediate briefing, emphasizing illegal departure voids refugee eligibility and Christians face no persecution—fueling Bartlet's shibboleth counter-strategy, their stance hardening opposition to asylum amid the Oval's pivotal planning.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The INS agents' revelation about coached religious persecution claims leads to Bartlet's consideration of the shibboleth test."
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
"Sam's 'Pilgrim Detectives' concept humorously contrasts with Bartlet's serious biblical interrogation, both exploring themes of faith and authenticity."
"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."
"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."
"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."
Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "Mr. President, I can't, you know, indefinitely, with the turkey.""
"BARTLET: "Yep.""
"JOSH: "Excuse me, Mr. President, what are you going to ask the Chinese refugee?""
"BARTLET: "I'm going to ask him to say 'Shibboleth.'""