The West Wing
S2E9
· Galileo

Josh-Toby Banter: Martian Sols and the Green Bean Leak

In the White House Mess, amid anticipation for the Galileo V Mars probe landing, Josh puzzles over Martian time zones—questioning how it's 2:37 on Mars at noon Eastern—prompting Toby's casual explanation of the planet's 24-hour-37-minute sol rotation. Toby then pivots to flag a Milwaukee Journal story citing an unnamed White House source claiming President Bartlet dislikes green beans, which Josh dismisses as trivial. This witty exchange juxtaposes cosmic wonder with petty scandal, exposing the administration's vulnerability to minor leaks that threaten their inspirational narrative, setting up political embarrassment.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Josh puzzles over Martian time zones while Toby casually explains Mars' rotation, showcasing their dynamic and Josh's curiosity.

confusion to clarity ['White House Mess table']

Toby alerts Josh to a Milwaukee Journal report about Bartlet disliking green beans, hinting at brewing political fallout.

casual to concerned

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Toby Ziegler
primary

Casually informative shifting to concerned vigilance over scandal, then bemused resignation to bureaucratic duty

Toby reads newspaper at the table, casually explains Mars' sol rotation to puzzled Josh, looks up to flag the Milwaukee Journal's green beans leak story quoting an unnamed White House source, expresses concern with 'Josh...', questions the stamp selection process upon Leo's assignment, and accepts the task with Josh.

Goals in this moment
  • • Alert Josh to potential political embarrassment from the leak
  • • Grasp and prepare for Leo's unexpected stamp assignment
Active beliefs
  • • Even trivial leaks can erode administration credibility amid high-stakes inspiration like Galileo
  • • White House staff must pivot instantly from whimsy to policy execution
Character traits
wryly knowledgeable vigilant about leaks dutiful under pressure
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

referenced by unnamed source as not liking green beans

Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Toby's Milwaukee Journal Newspaper

Toby reads Toby's Milwaukee Journal Newspaper at the table during Mars banter, then thrusts it forward implicitly by quoting its front-page story on an unnamed White House source revealing President Bartlet's green bean aversion, pivoting the conversation from cosmic trivia to leak damage control and underscoring narrative tension between grandeur and gossip.

Before: Unopened or freshly spread on Mess table under …
After: Left on table or carried as they exit, …
Before: Unopened or freshly spread on Mess table under Toby's grip
After: Left on table or carried as they exit, pages marked by Toby's handling
Josh's Coffee Cup (White House Mess)

Josh picks up his coffee cup from the Mess table and drinks from it while casually dismissing Toby's green beans leak concern, using the prop to underscore his amused nonchalance amid the juxtaposition of Martian wonder and petty scandal, grounding the witty exchange in everyday informality.

Before: Positioned on the table near Josh, steaming and …
After: Set back down on table post-sip as Josh …
Before: Positioned on the table near Josh, steaming and accessible
After: Set back down on table post-sip as Josh rises to follow Leo

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
White House Mess

The White House Mess serves as an informal staff hub where busy chefs' clanging pots frame Josh and Toby's table-bound banter on Mars times and green bean leaks, shattered by Leo's entrance; it embodies the grind of policy colliding with whimsy, propelling the trio out amid probe anticipation.

Atmosphere Bustling and casual with kitchen clamor, laced with witty tension turning to urgent redirection
Function Casual respite for senior staff banter interrupted by command-level tasks
Symbolism Microcosm of administration's lofty aspirations undercut by trivial fractures
Access Restricted to White House staff and personnel
Busy chefs flashing knives and clanging pots in open kitchen Harsh fluorescents over scarred tables during daytime bustle

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

2
Bartlet Administration (Executive Office of the President)

The White House is invoked as the origin of the unnamed source leaking Bartlet's green bean aversion to the Milwaukee Journal, with its Mess as the physical site of banter and Leo's task assignment, revealing institutional leaks clashing with staff's Galileo-inspired duties.

Representation Through unnamed internal source and senior staff (Toby, Josh, Leo) in Mess
Power Dynamics Internal hierarchies tested by leaks while exerting command over staff tasks
Impact Exposes bandwidth strain from petty issues amid high-stakes exploration push
Internal Dynamics Leak vulnerabilities amid chain-of-command efficiency
Contain trivial scandals to protect inspirational probe narrative Execute bureaucratic tasks like stamp selection for policy symbolism Chief of Staff directives mobilizing personnel Insider anonymity fueling external media scrutiny
Milwaukee Journal

The Milwaukee Journal manifests through Toby quoting its article citing an unnamed White House source on President Bartlet's green bean dislike, injecting petty scandal into Mars hype and highlighting media's power to amplify leaks that distract from inspirational narratives like Galileo.

Representation Via published news report referenced and quoted by Toby
Power Dynamics External media outlet exposing internal White House vulnerabilities
Impact Underscores fragility of political optics amid cosmic ambitions
Publish scoops on presidential quirks to drive readership Scrutinize administration for any insider revelations Journalistic sourcing from anonymous officials Regional amplification threatening national pickup

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 5
Character Continuity medium

"Leo's assignment of the stamp issue to Toby and Josh culminates in C.J.'s passionate defense of honoring Marcus Aquino, influencing Josh's decision."

Bartlet Startles Staff, Probes Galileo Silence, Embraces Perseverance
S2E9 · Galileo
Character Continuity medium

"Leo's assignment of the stamp issue to Toby and Josh culminates in C.J.'s passionate defense of honoring Marcus Aquino, influencing Josh's decision."

C.J. Confesses Green Bean Truth and Defends Aquino Stamp
S2E9 · Galileo
Thematic Parallel medium

"Josh's curiosity about Martian time zones parallels Sam's later impassioned speech about humanity's drive for exploration, both reflecting the episode's core theme of curiosity and discovery."

Sam Refines Galileo Briefing with Josh as Mallory Tests His Exploratory Passion
S2E9 · Galileo
Thematic Parallel medium

"Josh's curiosity about Martian time zones parallels Sam's later impassioned speech about humanity's drive for exploration, both reflecting the episode's core theme of curiosity and discovery."

Mallory Tests Sam's Fiery Defense of Exploration
S2E9 · Galileo
Thematic Parallel medium

"Josh's curiosity about Martian time zones parallels Sam's later impassioned speech about humanity's drive for exploration, both reflecting the episode's core theme of curiosity and discovery."

C.J. Snaps Sam Back to Galileo Crisis from Mallory Truce
S2E9 · Galileo

Key Dialogue

"JOSH: I don't understand how if it's noon in the East, and 9 Pacific, how it's 2:37 on Mars."
"TOBY: Mars rotates on it's own axis every 24 hours and 37 minutes."
"TOBY: The Milwaukee Journal is quoting an unnamed White House source as saying the President doesn't like green beans."
"JOSH: That's a pretty slow news day in Milwaukee. TOBY: Josh..."