Object

C.J.'s '65 Mustang Timing Belt

Simon brandishes confession: timing belt ripped from C.J.'s '65 Mustang's heart alongside spark plug, battery, fuel pump—engine gutted to stall her midnight dash. Black rubber teeth, grease-smeared and coiled like a severed nerve, it dangles as proof of his iron guardianship, C.J.'s fury igniting as autonomy slips through oily fingers, Sam frozen in the crossfire.

2 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang

C.J. Rebels Against Simon's Overprotectiveness, Discovers Sabotaged Mustang

The grease-smeared timing belt, ripped from the Mustang's heart, joins Simon's sabotage inventory, its coiled form implied as a severed nerve in the engine; narratively, it deepens the violation theme, chaining C.J.'s rebellion amid the White House's peril web.

Before: Functional in Mustang's timing system

After: Removed by Simon, paralyzing engine synchronization

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S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang

Sam Unveils Anonymous Attack Ad Targeting Bartlet's Secrets

The timing belt, grease-smeared and severed from C.J.'s Mustang, factors into Simon's exhaustive sabotage confession outside the office, its coiled form metaphorically snapping her independence as Sam's arrival with the ad tape layers on broader threats.

Before: Ripped out and held apart from car

After: Persists in disabled state, narrative yields to tape

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