Commencement
President Josiah Bartlet and his senior staff juggle a public commencement address and the exposure of a covert assassination, then race to find the First Daughter after a linked terrorism plot escalates into her abduction—threatening national security and family.
The episode interweaves two pressures on the Bartlet White House: the ceremonial demands of a Georgetown commencement and an escalating national-security crisis that turns personal when the President's eldest daughter disappears. The staff begins the day engaged in routine business—Josh Lyman compiles a vice-presidential short list while Donna, Amy and Charlie handle logistics and small, urgent crises—until President Bartlet abruptly reveals that he ordered a Special Ops hit on Abdul Shareef the previous May. Bartlet tells his senior aides that the operation was carried out and framed as reported; he also orders Threat Condition Bravo after intelligence shows five suspected Bahji sleepers under surveillance have vanished. That admission reframes daily routines into an urgent hunt for retribution and raises questions about the legal and diplomatic fallout of covert action.
Meanwhile the press threatens to break a related story. Danny Concannon returns with what he calls a link between the U.S. government and Shareef’s plane—naming its pilot—which puts C.J. Cregg into a tactical negotiation with the press. C.J. stalls publication long enough to win limited cooperation from Danny by offering an exclusive on the missing sleepers, buying the White House a narrow window to manage the operational response.
Bartlet commits to giving a Georgetown speech about creativity and the limits of reason, and staffers marshal last-minute edits with Will and Abbey. Personal life intrudes repeatedly: Toby and Andy confront the fragile state of their marriage in a confrontation that ends with Andy’s labor beginning unexpectedly; Leo and Margaret fuss over a small gift for Zoey; Josh and Charlie try to dig up a buried bottle of champagne at the National Arboretum as a graduation ritual, while Charlie awkwardly courts Zoey. The episode uses these private moments to contrast ordinary family anxieties with the extraordinary burdens of the presidency.
Security for Zoey takes center stage. Bartlet meets the Secret Service agents assigned to her Paris detail—Wesley Davis, Molly O’Connor, Randy Weathers, Jamie Reed and Ron Butterfield—and demands "overwhelming force" to protect his daughter. The agents assemble and test procedures; Wesley establishes perimeter control and routine checks. Zoey, torn between leaving for three months in France with her boyfriend Jean-Paul and staying home, sneaks out the Arboretum at night and later goes to a techno nightclub. Charlie, Josh and the Secret Service trail parts of her evening: Charlie arrives at the Arboretum and shares a charged kiss with Zoey before she heads to the party; Josh and Wesley coordinate protection outside the club.
The security posture collapses when a carefully executed grab hits the nightclub. Wesley discovers Zoey’s panic button in the alley and then finds Molly shot dead—a single, precise gunshot between the eyes. Wesley radios that the detail has been compromised and declares "we're black." The Situation Room escalates instantly. Leo, Nancy McNally and Fitzwallace receive briefings on the missing ship container and the five vanished sleepers; FBI and Coast Guard teams sweep leads, and the White House contends with the near-term operational choice to close ports and restrict traffic. Ron Butterfield interrupts Leo to deliver the worst possible update: Zoey Bartlet is missing and an agent is dead. Leo sprints through the West Wing toward the Residence, and the episode ends on a stark, cinematic cliffhanger: the First Daughter abducted, a Secret Service agent killed, and the President’s public responsibilities colliding with a family emergency.
Thematically the episode contrasts public artifice and private vulnerability. Bartlet prepares a crafted, philosophical address on creativity even as the administration scrambles to contain fallout from its covert actions. Staffers display ordinary human needs—reconciliation, celebration, career ambitions—while national-security decisions produce immediate human danger. The episode also emphasizes the costs of power: covert operations produce tactical gains and legal ambiguity, and the presidency forces Bartlet and his team to manage both policy consequences and the intimate terror of a threatened family member.
Character arcs punctuate the crisis. Josh and Donna keep managing policy logistics while Charlie's long-developing feelings for Zoey surface in a kiss and a failed romantic gesture; Toby confronts his emotional distance with Andy as labor begins suddenly; C.J. balances press containment with national security; Leo reacts with decisive, personal urgency when the kidnapping reaches the Oval. The narrative refuses tidy resolution, ending instead with mobilization: law enforcement, the Coast Guard, the FBI and the White House shift into full emergency mode. The episode closes by making the costs concrete—an agent dead, a daughter gone—forcing the administration to reconcile the secrecy of past actions with the immediate need to save a life.
Events in This Episode
The narrative beats that drive the story
The episode opens with Josh Lyman engrossed in the complex task of vetting potential Vice Presidential candidates, a board behind him laden with photos and names, as he methodically crosses off a name due to health concerns. Charlie Young interrupts, inquiring about old vetting files for a Vice President, and then shifts the conversation to a personal, nostalgic mission. Charlie reminds Josh of a champagne bottle they buried at the National Arboretum three and a half years prior, a symbolic gesture intended to be dug up and shared with Zoey Bartlet upon her graduation. However, Charlie expresses reluctance to retrieve it, citing Zoey's imminent departure for France with her boyfriend, Jean-Paul, and his own unrequited feelings. Josh, ever the pragmatist with a touch of sentiment, encourages Charlie to retrieve the bottle, suggesting he present it to Zoey as a friendly graduation gift, ensuring she leaves without thinking he is angry. This brief exchange highlights Charlie's enduring affection for Zoey and Josh's subtle attempt at emotional mediation. The scene concludes with Josh pinning a picture of President Bartlet and Leo McGarry on his VP candidate board, subtly hinting at the high stakes of political succession and the close relationship between the President and his Chief of Staff. This teaser establishes a blend of high-level political strategizing and intimate personal anxieties, setting a foundational tone for the episode's dual narrative pressures.
While methodically vetting potential vice-presidential picks, Josh culls names for health and confirmation viability. A domestic, quieter beat—Charlie confessing to burying a $14 bottle of champagne for Zoey—plays against the …
Charlie interrupts Josh's VP vetting to confess a small, aching ritual: years earlier he buried a cheap bottle of champagne between the Paeonia Japonica and the bamboo at the Arboretum …
In the Situation Room Nancy reports the FBI has located the suspects' van abandoned in Sacramento. The discovery, combined with a note about a torrential downpour in the Pacific Northwest, …
In the Situation Room the tone pivots from analysis to action: Nancy delivers the FBI update — the suspects' van was found abandoned in Sacramento — and urges the administration …
In the Outer Oval Office Toby paces, visibly unnerved, as C.J. gently teases him until he admits he's hiding something about a 'house' — a private, romantic gambit. Will's casual …
Toby's private anxiety and the staff's teasing about his secret 'house' gesture are abruptly cut short when Charlie appears and announces they may enter the Oval. The moment functions as …
In the Oval, President Bartlet abruptly confesses he ordered a covert Special Ops strike that killed Abdul Shareef and acknowledges the administration masked the operation. Leo immediately frames the action …
In a single, breathless stretch in the Oval, private and public crises collide. Leo and Toby share a clipped, intimate exchange about Andy's imminent induction — Leo's joking, fatherly prodding …
In the Oval, President Bartlet abruptly confesses to his senior staff that he ordered a Special Ops hit on Abdul Shareef, framing the political and legal fallout even as the …
President Bartlet confronts the intimacy of his office's protective mission when he inspects the Secret Service team assigned to his daughter Zoey. He demands 'overwhelming force' in a half-teasing, half-terrified …
In a tight, character-driven sequence, the President inspects Zoey's new Secret Service detail—an urgent, slightly comic demonstration of 'overwhelming force' that exposes Bartlet's fierce paternal anxiety (he even jokingly orders …
In a private moment after the protective-detail demonstration and a tense port-closure briefing, Leo slips in a small, human piece of news: in ten days Toby and Andy can choose …
Act One plunges the White House into a national security crisis as President Bartlet convenes his senior staff in the Situation Room. He delivers a shocking confession: he ordered a covert Special Operations unit to assassinate Abdul Shareef the previous May, an operation successfully executed and subsequently covered up to appear as reported. This revelation immediately shifts the atmosphere from routine political management to urgent damage control, with Leo McGarry confirming the legality within U.S. law but acknowledging potential international law violations. Simultaneously, Bartlet orders Threat Condition Bravo, prompted by intelligence indicating five suspected Bahji sleepers, under surveillance in Central New York, have vanished. This development raises immediate concerns about retribution for Shareef's death, as Josh Lyman explicitly questions the link. The narrative then pivots to the more personal, yet equally high-stakes, matter of Zoey Bartlet's security. Bartlet meets the Secret Service agents assigned to his daughter's upcoming three-month detail in France, demanding "overwhelming force" for her protection. Agent Molly O'Connor impressively demonstrates her combat skills, flipping Agent Wesley Davis to the ground, underscoring the President's intense personal anxiety. Bartlet attempts to persuade Zoey to cancel her trip, proposing she stay home for the summer, revealing a father's deep-seated worry. The act culminates with Leo and Bartlet receiving an urgent update: a cargo container is missing from a Syrian-owned ship in Portland, Oregon. Connecting this anomaly to the "torrential rain" chatter and the vanished sleepers, Bartlet makes the executive decision to immediately close the Port of Portland, despite the immense economic cost, prioritizing national security over financial implications. This act masterfully intertwines the public and private burdens of the presidency, establishing the profound consequences of covert actions and the immediate, escalating threat to national security.
C.J. walks in to find Danny asleep on her office couch — a jolt of personal intimacy that briefly disarms both of them — before Danny, freshly returned from Europe, …
An intimate, combustible confrontation in C.J.'s office becomes a political crucible: Danny bursts in with what he calls incontrovertible evidence tying the U.S. government (via pilot Jamil Bari) to Abdul …
Toby stages an extravagant surprise — blindfolding Andy and bringing her to the Jefferson Wyler house he secretly bought — then proposes in the sunroom. What should be a romantic …
Toby stages an extravagant, literal 'dream house' proposal at Jefferson Wyler's home to bridge the emotional gap with Andy. The gesture fails: Andy confronts the steady sorrow she says Toby …
Margaret presents Leo with a gift‑wrapped pen intended for Zoey. Leo insists it's "not just a pen," elevating a mundane object into a tender, paternal gesture. As they move toward …
A small, humanizing moment — Margaret presents Leo with a gift-wrapped pen for Zoey — is abruptly undercut when C.J. bursts in with a lead: "He's meeting us in the …
In the cramped privacy of the copier room C.J. informs Danny and Leo that the administration has elevated the Threat Condition to Bravo. Leo delivers the stark intelligence: five Bahji …
In a locked copier room C.J. abruptly raises the stakes — the administration is at Threat Condition Bravo — and Leo and C.J. quietly negotiate with reporter Danny Concannon. Danny …
Act Two opens with a direct confrontation between the White House and the press, as investigative reporter Danny Concannon surprises C.J. Cregg in her office. Danny reveals he has finally secured irrefutable evidence linking the U.S. government to Abdul Shareef's plane, specifically identifying the pilot, Jamil Bari, as a U.S. asset. He informs C.J. of his intention to publish the story immediately, putting immense pressure on the administration. C.J. attempts to stall publication, appealing to national security concerns and citing the immediate danger to lives, but Danny demands concrete proof of these threats. This high-stakes negotiation sets the stage for a critical information battle. Meanwhile, the narrative shifts to Toby Ziegler's deeply personal and emotionally charged attempt to reconcile with Andy Wyatt. Toby, having purchased Andy's dream house, blindfolds her and brings her to the property, intending it as a grand romantic gesture and a marriage proposal. However, Andy rejects his proposal, articulating her long-held concerns about Toby's pervasive "sadness" and "anger," which she fears would negatively impact their children. The raw, honest conversation exposes the fragile state of their relationship and Toby's deep hurt. The emotional intensity is abruptly broken when Andy's water unexpectedly breaks, signaling the premature onset of labor. This sudden medical emergency forces a dramatic shift in their immediate priorities, transforming a deeply personal marital crisis into an urgent dash to the hospital. The act effectively contrasts the external pressures of political and press management with the internal, intimate struggles of the characters, highlighting how personal lives are inextricably intertwined with the demanding roles they play.
At the top of Georgetown's staircase Bartlet and Will make last-minute edits to the commencement address, briefly sparring over whether to lead with Eudora Welty or Gandhi. Will praises the …
Bartlet and Will make last-minute choices about a commencement quotation while Will quietly names the speech a "home run" yet admits it won't keep Zoey from leaving — exposing the …
On the staircase outside Georgetown's hall, President Bartlet and Will trade last-minute tonal choices for a commencement speech while Bartlet's light humor masks a deeper paternal anxiety. Will notes the …
Under the Arboretum's dark canopy, a drunken, anxious Josh and determined Charlie fumble through water and bamboo hunting a buried champagne bottle intended for Zoey. Their bumbling banter (Josh's 'I'm …
At the Arboretum, the comic, slightly desperate midnight caper collapses into a charged private moment. Josh and Charlie fumble through the dark until Charlie finds Zoey alone by the brook. …
Nancy delivers the first concrete progress — the FBI has located the crew of the container ship — and the room pivots from missing facts to what to do with …
In a clipped status meeting in the Situation Room, Leo asks the procedural question that forces a moral disclosure: Nancy lists detention rules — seven days, isolation, a ‘well‑light’ room …
Zoey slips into a blue-lit nightclub under the watchful eyes of her Secret Service detail. Agents call in positions and clear her entry while she performs casual social rituals—hugging friends, …
Under strobing blue lights and pounding techno, Zoey arrives at the club and melts into the crowd with Jean‑Paul while her Secret Service detail snaps into position over comms. Agents …
Act Three focuses on the immediate aftermath of the previous act's crises, showcasing the staff's efforts to manage both public perception and personal emergencies. Will Bailey and Abbey Bartlet work intensely with President Bartlet to finalize his Georgetown commencement speech, a task made challenging by Bartlet's initial lack of preparation and last-minute thematic shifts. Bartlet, while presenting Abbey with a beautiful pearl necklace, decides to change the speech's core message from "the internal muse" to "the limits of reason, and about passion and intuition in American life," demonstrating his intellectual agility even under pressure. Concurrently, C.J. Cregg and Leo McGarry engage in a tense negotiation with Danny Concannon. To prevent Danny from immediately publishing his story linking the U.S. government to Shareef's assassination, they offer him an exclusive on the five missing Bahji sleepers and the associated national security threat, securing a crucial three-day delay. This tactical concession buys the White House a brief window to manage the unfolding crisis. In a more intimate storyline, Toby Ziegler accompanies Andy Wyatt to the hospital, supporting her through the unexpected and premature onset of labor. Their earlier emotional conflict is temporarily set aside as they face the imminent arrival of their twins, with Toby offering comfort and shared anticipation. The act culminates with President Bartlet delivering his commencement address, a moment of public gravitas and philosophical reflection. As he speaks, he shares a tender, unspoken moment with his daughter, Zoey, in the audience, subtly underscoring the personal stakes beneath his public persona. This act demonstrates the administration's capacity to navigate complex political and personal challenges simultaneously, setting up the calm before the storm.
Act Four rapidly escalates the episode's intertwining crises, culminating in a devastating personal and national emergency. Charlie Young and Josh Lyman venture into the National Arboretum at night to retrieve the champagne bottle, a mission that takes an unexpected turn when Charlie finds Zoey Bartlet already there. They share a charged kiss, and Zoey, grappling with her impending departure for France and her boyfriend Jean-Paul's suggestion of taking ecstasy, expresses confusion about her future and her feelings for Charlie. Despite the moment, she decides to attend a techno nightclub party. Meanwhile, the Secret Service detail assigned to Zoey, including Wesley Davis and Molly O'Connor, struggles to maintain surveillance in the chaotic, crowded nightclub environment. Josh and Wesley discuss the challenges of protecting the First Daughter in such a setting. Concurrently, Donna Moss reveals Josh's deep-seated emotional vulnerabilities to Amy Gardner, explaining how past traumas, including the death of his sister and the President's shooting, fuel his constant anxiety about protecting those he cares for, offering insight into his intense dedication. Inside the club, Jean-Paul surreptitiously gives Zoey ecstasy, further disorienting her. When Zoey retreats to the restroom, the Secret Service loses track of her. A frantic search ensues, leading Wesley to discover Zoey's discarded panic button in a back alley. The situation turns horrifying as Wesley then finds Agent Molly O'Connor lying dead, shot precisely between the eyes. He radios a chilling alert: "Bookbag's been taken. We're black." In the Situation Room, Leo McGarry, about to conclude his day, is interrupted by a breathless Ron Butterfield, who delivers the catastrophic news: Zoey Bartlet is missing, and a Secret Service agent is dead. Leo, absorbing the gravity of the situation, sprints through the White House towards the Residence, as the episode ends on a stark, cinematic cliffhanger, leaving the First Daughter's fate uncertain and the administration reeling from a direct, personal attack. This act delivers the climax of the episode, demonstrating the brutal costs of power and the sudden, terrifying vulnerability of even the most protected individuals.
While attempting to maintain overwatch at a distance, Wesley reacts to lost visual contact with Zoey by switching from passive surveillance to immediate, on-the-ground action. He enlists a waitress to …
Wesley moves from routine surveillance to full-blown crisis: after enlisting a waitress to check the ladies' room he spots a back door ajar, finds Zoey's discarded panic button in the …
A routine Situation Room briefing fractures. Nancy delivers a bureaucratic intelligence update about the Agile crew and a suspicious manifest discrepancy, grounding the scene in procedural detail. Leo answers with …
A routine Situation Room briefing fractures into a personal and national emergency when Ron Butterfield bursts in with breathless, procedural protocol: the First Daughter, Zoey Bartlet, is missing and a …