Will's 498-Word Inaugural Speech Draft

Bartlet grabs the pages from Will's desk in his office and scans the interventionist language. He presses Will and Toby on its claim that American lives outweigh Khundunese ones, turning the draft into a test of conscience and loyalty. Earlier, Will set this tight 498-word stack on the White House Mess table; Toby read it closely, its clarity snapping him out of his stall and prompting joint work.

2 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E10 · Arctic Radar

The 498-Word Rescue: Toby's Block Broken

Will's 498-word draft is tossed onto the table as a practical provocation: concise, confident, and readable. It functions narratively as the catalytic object that forces Toby to confront his slump, compare voices, and accept help.

Before: In Will's possession, folded or on a pad as he approaches the table.

After: On the Mess table, read by Toby, serving as the immediate template and reassurance for collaboration; Will leaves with the draft but later returns to offer to start now.

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S4E10 · Arctic Radar

Confession in the Mess — Toby Breaks Open

Will's 498-word draft is physically tossed onto the table and reads as a compact, confident alternative to Toby's bloated draft. It functions narratively as catalyst: its quality exposes Toby's slump, models a workable voice, and provides the concrete proof that prompts Toby's confession and willingness to collaborate.

Before: In Will's possession off-screen or in his bag, written and complete.

After: Placed on the Mess table; read by Toby and left as the immediate template for future work.

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