Bartlet Erupts Over Danny, Learns Ellie's Defiance, Summons Her
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet erupts in anger upon returning to the Oval Office, demanding to know why Danny Concannon contacted his daughter.
C.J. reveals the shocking truth that Ellie initiated the call to Danny Concannon, defying Bartlet's strict rules.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Calm and corrective, steadying the room's chaos with professional poise masking underlying tension.
Greets returning President calmly, repeatedly interrupts his tirade to correct that Danny did not call Ellie but vice versa, confirms details amid his shock, thanks him politely before exiting with Josh.
- • Accurately inform President of facts to prevent misguided actions
- • De-escalate his anger through clarification
- • Truth and protocol must prevail over assumptions
- • Presidential decisions require complete information
Neutral and attentive, unfazed by escalating paternal fury.
Interrupts briefly to announce Sam is waiting, receives Bartlet's initial polite then escalated order to summon Ellie immediately, acknowledges and exits promptly.
- • Relay waiting staff without delay
- • Execute summons order swiftly
- • Personal assistant role demands immediate responsiveness
- • Presidential directives override convenience
Off-screen rebel, embodying betrayal in father's eyes.
Revealed as defiant initiator of call to Danny, stunning Bartlet; targeted for immediate summons from 'earliest convenience' to urgent demand, escalating family confrontation.
- • Publicly defend Surgeon General publicly
- • Challenge paternal authority on issue
- • Personal convictions outweigh family protocol
- • Marijuana stance merits bold advocacy
professional
enters and greets President, briefs on opposing congressional committees and pro-marijuana groups defending Griffith, notes Leo is seeing her tomorrow, thanks and exits
- • brief Bartlet on bizarre political alliances forming in Griffith's defense
angry, stunned, sarcastic
enters angrily accusing Danny Concannon of calling his daughter, reacts with shock upon learning Ellie called Danny, sits at desk, engages in sarcastic banter while receiving political briefing from Josh, dismisses staff, orders Charlie to summon Ellie immediately
- • express outrage over perceived protocol breach by Danny
- • absorb revelation of Ellie's defiance and escalate to direct confrontation
- • obtain update on political alliances defending Surgeon General Griffith
Anticipatory, queued off-screen.
Briefly noted by Charlie as waiting to see Bartlet, amid sarcasm over movie denunciation.
- • Gain presidential audience on pending matters
- • Timely access advances staff agenda
Implicated but uninvolved, target of misplaced ire.
Invoked in Bartlet's opening rage as protocol breacher for allegedly calling Ellie, swiftly clarified by C.J. as recipient of her call, fueling presidential shock.
mentioned as seeing 'her' (Griffith) tomorrow
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bartlet pivots to it in stunned silence after learning of Ellie's call, sinking behind its expansive bulk to reclaim authority amid betrayal and briefings; symbolizes presidential power swallowing personal hurt, grounding fury in institutional weight.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Hailed sarcastically by Bartlet as improbable supporter secured alongside stoners, crystallizing staff's 'political first' in scandal-weary Oval.
Cited by Josh as lead congressional foe surging against Surgeon General Griffith, amplifying backlash in Oval briefing that fuels Bartlet's strategic sarcasm amid family crisis.
Highlighted by Josh for controlling Griffith's budget, provoking Bartlet's sharp query as key weapon in congressional assault detailed amid personal shock.
Named alongside Judiciary and Appropriations in Josh's tally of foes hammering Griffith's budget and stance, heightening Oval stakes during Bartlet's stunned pivot.
Listed by Josh among bizarre defenders rallying for Griffith against committee onslaught, contributing to Bartlet's ironic alliance commentary.
Part of Josh's improbable defender lineup for Griffith, amplifying Oval irony over stoner-Christian mashup.
Concluding Josh's roll call of Griffith backers, fueling Bartlet's quip on freak alliances amid turmoil.
Bartlet derides it with Christian Right as twin bizarre backers, punctuating political absurdity in his staff critique.
Enumerated in Josh's pro-Griffith roster countering foes, underscoring political freakshow in Bartlet's sarcastic recap.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Leo's revelation about Ellie's defiance leads directly to Bartlet's outburst in the Oval Office, escalating the personal stakes."
"Leo's revelation about Ellie's defiance leads directly to Bartlet's outburst in the Oval Office, escalating the personal stakes."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"CJ's revelation prompts Bartlet to summon Ellie, setting up their pivotal confrontation."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's initial anger at Danny Concannon intensifies upon learning Ellie initiated the call, deepening the family rift."
"Bartlet's order to summon Ellie leads directly to their tense reunion in the Oval Office."
Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: What the hell is Danny Concannon doing calling to my kid? C.J.: Mr. President, Danny didn't call her. BARTLET: I was told it was Danny. C.J.: Yes, sir. She called him."
"BARTLET: ([pause]) She called him?"
"BARTLET: Charlie? Would you arrange for my middle daughter to come see me at her earliest possible convenience? BARTLET: Ah, screw her convenience. Get her ass down here."