Narrative Web

Simon Discovers Stalker's Death Threat Email

After C.J. departs her office following their brief exchange, Simon lingers at her desk and checks her email. He opens a message titled 'Vera Wang,' revealing a stalker's eerie surveillance: praise for the gown she bought, followed by the chilling promise of her imminent death if she wears it soon. Simon's face contorts in horror before he unleashes a violent fist slam on the desk—a raw eruption of his trauma-fueled protectiveness. This silent revelation personalizes the stalker threat, transforming distant danger into intimate peril and igniting Simon's fierce guardianship amid White House chaos.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Simon discovers the chilling death threat targeting C.J. in her email, igniting protective fury.

routine to rage

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5
C.J. Cregg
primary

grateful

walks into her office with Simon, asks him about his prior conversation with Hogan, thanks him for his past protection detail work, and then leaves.

Goals in this moment
  • seek clarification on Simon's interaction with Hogan
  • build rapport with Simon amid his protectiveness
Character traits
resilient strategic poised terse dutiful
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey

Visceral horror surging into uncontained rage

Simon sits at C.J.'s desk alone, navigates her email interface, selects and opens the 'Vera Wang' message, intently reads its surveillance praise and death threat, then unleashes a violent fist slam on the desk in visceral reaction.

Goals in this moment
  • Scrutinize C.J.'s communications for stalker indicators
  • Internally commit to escalated protection protocols
Active beliefs
  • Stalker's surveillance demands immediate, unyielding response
  • Past failures like Rosslyn cannot repeat on his watch
Character traits
vigilant intensely protective impulsive under pressure trauma-haunted
Follow Simon Donovan's journey
Supporting 1
Jamie
secondary

waits by the door of C.J.'s office on the phone relaying 'This is Dawson, 8:09. I've got Flamingo', and is dismissed by C.J. to provide privacy.

Goals in this moment
  • handle incoming communications
Character traits
professional dutiful vigilant compliant
Follow Jamie's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
C.J.'s Vera Wang Death Threat Email

Simon proactively accesses C.J.'s inbox and clicks the 'Vera Wang' email, exposing the stalker's eerie proof of gown surveillance—'The Vera Wang looked great on you. I'm glad you bought it. You should wear it... because you're going to be dead soon'—catapulting abstract threat into hyper-personal horror, galvanizing his guardianship amid White House tensions.

Before: Unread email in C.J.'s inbox, lurking undiscovered
After: Opened on screen, contents read by Simon, now …
Before: Unread email in C.J.'s inbox, lurking undiscovered
After: Opened on screen, contents read by Simon, now flagged as critical threat intel

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 7
Character Continuity

"Simon's disabling of C.J.'s Mustang establishes his overprotective nature, which culminates in his rage upon discovering the death threat."

Sam Unveils Anonymous Attack Ad Targeting Bartlet's Secrets
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Character Continuity

"Simon's disabling of C.J.'s Mustang establishes his overprotective nature, which culminates in his rage upon discovering the death threat."

C.J. Rebels Against Simon's Overprotectiveness, Discovers Sabotaged Mustang
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Emotional Echo weak

"Bruno's thoughtful gift to Margaret and Simon's revelation of his past trauma both reveal hidden depths beneath professional exteriors."

Bruno Warns Leo of Damaging Tape and Transcript Risks
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Emotional Echo weak

"Bruno's thoughtful gift to Margaret and Simon's revelation of his past trauma both reveal hidden depths beneath professional exteriors."

Bruno's Coy Necklace Gift to Margaret
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Symbolic Parallel weak

"C.J.'s involvement in selecting a gown for her niece's prom contrasts with the deadly threat targeting her in her own elegant attire."

Simon Guards C.J. and Niece's Tender Gown Shopping
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Thematic Parallel medium

"C.J.'s self-consciousness about aging while shopping for her niece's prom dress contrasts with the deadly threat targeting her in the same elegant attire."

C.J. Confides Prom-Correction Insecurity to Carol
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang
Thematic Parallel medium

"C.J.'s self-consciousness about aging while shopping for her niece's prom dress contrasts with the deadly threat targeting her in the same elegant attire."

C.J. Banters with Simon Over 'Flamingo' Protocols, Confides Aging Insecurities to Carol
S3E19 · The Black Vera Wang

Part of Larger Arcs