Narrative Web
S1E13
· Take Out The Trash Day

Leo Confronts Simon's Betrayal

In Leo's office Simon delivers a cold political ultimatum: hearings are inevitable and Leo should resign for the good of the party. Leo refuses to be lectured, quickly exposes Simon's own compromise—his ties to Atlantic Oil—and forces the long-time friend from the room. The scene crystallizes the episode's central rupture: private loyalty collides with public calculation. It's a turning point that externalizes Leo's moral fury, fractures staff trust, and heightens the political danger while leaving Leo emotionally drained and isolated.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Leo directly confronts Simon's agenda, exposing his hypocrisy through pointed accusations about Atlantic Oil lobbying.

anger to triumph

Leo violently ejects Simon, the confrontation leaving him emotionally drained as the act closes.

fury to exhaustion

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Leo Thomas McGarry (Chief of Staff)
primary

Righteously furious in the moment, but afterward emotionally drained and isolated—anger masking deep weariness and pain.

Leo listens coldly to Simon's warning, refuses to be lectured about stepping down, exposes Simon's ties to Atlantic Oil as a personal compromise, physically stands to end the meeting and orders Simon out, then collapses into visible exhaustion.

Goals in this moment
  • • To refuse a coerced resignation and protect his dignity and role
  • • To neutralize Simon's leverage by exposing the speaker's own compromised motives
Active beliefs
  • • That personal loyalty to the President and the institutional agenda matters more than public theatrics
  • • That calling out hypocrisy is an effective way to disarm political attacks
  • • That surrendering would harm the President and the party more than weathering scandal
Character traits
incisive morally indignant protective of the President's agenda emotionally raw beneath procedural command
Follow Leo Thomas …'s journey
Simon Blye (private political operator, Leo McGarry acquaintance)
primary

Defensive and anxious under the surface; attempting to appear authoritative but showing vulnerability when his motives are questioned.

Simon arrives with a folded copy of a Post op‑ed, delivers a blunt political ultimatum urging Leo to resign for the party, attempts to plead and interrupt, and is forced to stand and leave when confronted.

Goals in this moment
  • • To convince Leo to resign to contain the scandal and protect the President and party
  • • To warn/soften Leo about the imminent op‑ed and position himself as a concerned friend and political realist
Active beliefs
  • • That a public call for his resignation would limit institutional damage and is politically necessary
  • • That his long personal relationship with Leo entitles him to give frank, corrective advice without reproach
  • • That his work for Atlantic Oil does not undermine his standing to give moral counsel
Character traits
calculating self‑preserving obsequious when necessary surprised by a forceful moral counterattack
Follow Simon Blye …'s journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Leo McGarry's Office (Chief of Staff's Office)

Leo's Office functions as the intimate chamber where private loyalties collide with public calculation: the close-set desk and personal photographs turn a political confrontation into a betrayal felt as a personal wound. The room concentrates power, memory, and the tactical briefing materials that make the stakes concrete.

Atmosphere Tense, claustrophobic, and morally charged; an atmosphere of contained fury that breaks into emotional exhaustion.
Function Battleground for a private confrontation that has immediate public and institutional consequences.
Symbolism Represents institutional custody and personal sacrifice—where the private life and political office of Leo intersect …
Access Privileged space for senior staff and trusted confidants; not open to general staff or press.
Close-set desk and low chair that compress the conversation Muted television and briefing folders hinting at broader administrative demands Photographs and domestic clutter underscoring the personal stakes Lighting contrasted between narrow daylight and lamplight, adding to intimacy and severity

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 2
Character Continuity

"Leo's personal crisis escalates as his past becomes political ammunition."

Bad Timing: The Sex‑Ed Report and Leo's Tradeoff
S1E13 · Take Out The Trash Day
Character Continuity

"Leo's personal crisis escalates as his past becomes political ammunition."

Bruno's Ultimatum: Leo's Private Past Goes Public
S1E13 · Take Out The Trash Day

Key Dialogue

"SIMON: "There's going to be a hearing Leo, and it'll take months and it'll be awful. We're gonna hear stories about booze, and pills, and God knows what you did...""
"LEO: "Simon, did you come here to tell me you think I should resign?""
"LEO: "Tell me something - where's your grave concern for country, party, and President, when you're out whoring for Atlantic Oil?""
"LEO: "I think you should walk out of here now. As a matter of fact, I think you should run.""