The West Wing
Object

Toby's Office Television

Night shadows cloak Toby's office where the TV drones softly from desk's edge, its screen flaring to life with MAN's stark report—one in 500 Americans gripped by autism—shattering ball's relentless thud against plaster. Toby freezes mid-toss, crumpled pads spilling from trash as broadcast yanks his spiraling fixation into stunned halt, pixels etching prescient chill across furrowed brow.
3 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments
S2E18 · 17 People
Toby's Obsessive Nights Propel Suspicion Toward Leo

Positioned on Toby's desk amid night shadows, the television interrupts his obsessive ball-throwing with the Autism Expert's broadcast on 1-in-500 prevalence and funding shortfalls, yanking external crisis into his Hoynes fixation and symbolizing broader unseen fractures piercing West Wing isolation.

Before: On, softly droning in Toby's office
After: Still on, continuing broadcast as Toby departs
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S2E18 · 17 People
Toby Presses Leo on Rumors of Dropping Hoynes

Toby's Office Television drones from desk edge, broadcasting the Autism Expert's alarming stats on prevalence and funding—abruptly freezing Toby's stress-throwing rhythm, serving as narrative pivot yanking personal fixation toward external crisis before his Leo confrontation.

Before: On, softly playing in Toby's night office
After: Presumably still on, background to ongoing obsession
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S2E18 · 17 People
Toby's Obsessive Ball Ritual and Leo Confrontation

Positioned on Toby's desk, it broadcasts the Autism Expert's stark report on a disease afflicting one in 500—mirroring MS prevalence—interrupting Toby's ball ritual with thematic foreshadowing, yanking his obsession into stunned pause amid crumpling papers and laptop frenzy.

Before: Powered on, softly droning in Toby's night office
After: Still on, background hum persisting through nights
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