Leo Quietly Makes Morris Permanent
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Captain Morris Tolliver arrives and exchanges pleasantries with Nancy and Mrs. Landingham, establishing his presence and the morning's busy atmosphere.
Leo pulls Morris aside for a private conversation, shifting the tone to a more personal interaction as they discuss Morris's family and upcoming trip to Jordan.
Margaret interrupts with a logistical question, but Leo redirects her attention to Morris's family photo, momentarily lightening the mood before returning to business.
Leo formally offers Morris a permanent position as the President's physician, revealing the President's personal trust in Morris, before Morris mentions his imminent trip to Jordan.
Leo reassures Morris of his value to the President, emphasizing the personal connection over rank, before returning to his duties, leaving Morris with the photo of his family.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Flattered and familial pride mixed with modest hesitation over rank and travel
Morris accompanies Leo on the walk, proudly produces and explains his baby photo, humbly accepts the job offer while disclosing his low rank and imminent Jordan deployment, receiving the photo back from Margaret as Leo exits.
- • Acknowledge and respond to the job offer positively
- • Disclose travel obligations transparently
- • His junior rank may disqualify him from permanence
- • Military duties precede White House extensions
Cordially engaging with underlying professional determination to secure key talent
Leo initiates a private walk with Morris amid outer Oval traffic, warmly inquires about the baby, examines and passes the photo to Margaret during her interruption, then delivers a direct job offer emphasizing the President's personal preference and Morris's calming influence, before briskly departing with instructions to return the photo.
- • Permanently retain Morris as presidential physician
- • Leverage personal rapport to foster deeper loyalty
- • Morris uniquely lightens the President's emotional load
- • The President's personal affinity trumps formal rank
Irked by informational oversight yet softened by the endearing photo
Margaret interrupts Leo and Morris upon their entry to the Communications Office to chide him for bypassing her on council office notification, briefly admires the handed-over baby photo while they resume walking, then returns it to Morris per Leo's order before following him away.
- • Secure confirmation on council briefing communication
- • Execute Leo's photo-handling instruction promptly
- • Leo must loop her into key administrative tells
- • Small personal gestures deserve brief appreciation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The 'Hilton Head' draft is referenced in nearby staff conversation as Sam blocks writing time; it functions as ambient administrative pressure during Leo's aside, illustrating competing priorities in the room even as personnel decisions occur.
A single cup of coffee is offered to Morris by Nancy to extend courtesy; Morris declines. The cup punctuates the brief hospitality ritual that frames his arrival, underlining the ceremonial domesticity of the Outer Oval and the unobtrusive attentiveness of staff.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Outer Oval Office and adjacent corridor serve as the stage for the encounter: arrivals, quick administrative exchanges, and the private aside into the Communications Office area. The space allows public rituals (greeting, coffee offering) to collapse into a private recruitment conversation without leaving the executive suite.
Jordan is referenced as Morris's imminent destination, an offstage location that creates immediate scheduling friction and complicates the practicalities of Leo's offer; it functions narratively as the external constraint on Morris's availability.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"LEO: Listen, quickly. I know you were just supposed to be filling in till Terry Wyatt came back, but the President likes you, and he'd like to keep you on if you don't have any objections."
"MORRIS: I don't have any objections."
"LEO: He likes you, Morris. He feels better after he's talked to you. I think there have been days when you've lightened the load a little."