David Arbor's Car Keys (Six Meetings Before Lunch)

Involved in a scene that emphasizes a plot inconsistency highlighted by C.J. Cregg.

3 appearances

Purpose

To lock and unlock David Arbor's car and to engage the vehicle's ignition.

Significance

The keys act as a tangible clue that converts personal contact into political exposure: possession undermines Zoey's account, catalyzes C.J.'s questioning, and ties Zoey materially to David Arbor, escalating risk to reputation and prompting investigative follow-up.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S1E18 · Six Meetings Before Lunch

First Daughter Ambush — C.J. Moves to Contain

David Arbor's car keys are referenced concretely as the object Zoey had confiscated and intended to return — a small but telling physical clue that humanizes the incident and confirms Zoey's protective role rather than culpability.

Before: In Zoey's possession (confiscated previously from David Arbor) and being carried by her to return.

After: Unresolved in this scene — still in the narrative as an explanatory detail; possession implied to remain with Zoey until she returns them or hands them off.

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S1E18 · Six Meetings Before Lunch

Hallway Kiss and C.J.'s Quiet Confrontation

David Arbor's car keys function as the crucial, physical piece of evidence C.J. uses to expose inconsistency in Zoey's account—Zoey is asked directly why she possessed them, converting rumor into a tangible, investigable fact.

Before: In Zoey's possession as she walks the hallway; carried visibly or implied to be on her person.

After: Still in question at scene end; possession is not relinquished on-screen and remains an unresolved indicator of potential culpability.

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S1E18 · Six Meetings Before Lunch

Keys Reveal: C.J. Confronts Zoey

David Arbor's car keys function as the pivotal, physical clue that collapses Zoey's defensive story. C.J. points to possession of the keys to demonstrate an objective contradiction to Zoey's claim she didn't know Arbor would be at the party, converting a private detail into evidence with political implications.

Before: Implied to be in Zoey's possession shortly before and during her arrival in the hallway (untended but carried).

After: Remains narratively with Zoey (she does not hand them over or explain), but their revelation changes their narrative meaning from personal prop to evidentiary leverage.

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