The West Wing
S3E2
· Manchester Part II

Abbey Erupts at C.J. Over Unnamed Marital Rumors, Revokes Cider

C.J. arrives at the Bartlet family farm seeking a photo-op with Abbey to counter damaging rumors of marital discord, sparked by photos of the President arriving alone. Abbey politely offers fresh cider and deflects, but when C.J. cites 'unnamed sources,' Abbey explodes in fury, demanding names and lambasting such journalism as the product of 'tweaky little ill-informed chicken-ass wannabes.' She revokes the cider and storms off, exposing the First Couple's raw vulnerabilities and intensifying C.J.'s re-election pressures as a pivotal revelation of personal fractures threatening campaign unity.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

C.J. arrives at the farm and greets Abbey, attempting to initiate a conversation about a photo-op.

neutral to tension ['Bartlet Family Farm']

Abbey deflects C.J.'s request with an offer of cider, subtly avoiding the photo-op discussion.

tension to frustration ['Bartlet Family Farm']

C.J. persists, bringing up the press's unnamed sources about marital issues, provoking Abbey's anger.

frustration to anger ['Bartlet Family Farm']

Abbey storms off after berating C.J. about unnamed sources, denying her cider and ending the conversation.

anger to resolution ['Bartlet Family Farm']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Elizabeth Bartlet-Westin
primary

N/A (mentioned only)

Elizabeth 'Liz' Bartlet is noted by Abbey as arriving soon for a family hike, invoked in context of proposed photo-op—not yet present or active.

Goals in this moment
  • • N/A (not active)
Active beliefs
  • • N/A (not active)
Character traits
anticipated family anchor
Follow Elizabeth Bartlet-Westin's journey
Eleanor Bartlet
primary

N/A (mentioned only)

Eleanor 'Ellie' Bartlet is casually confirmed by Abbey as already present at the farm with Zoey, part of the family gathering targeted for photo-op—not physically appearing in the interaction.

Goals in this moment
  • • N/A (not active)
Active beliefs
  • • N/A (not active)
Character traits
familial presence
Follow Eleanor Bartlet's journey
Abigail Bartlet
primary

N/A (referenced only)

President Jed Bartlet is referenced in rumors discussed by C.J. and Abbey, specifically photos of him arriving alone on the plane fueling discord speculation—not physically present.

Goals in this moment
  • • N/A (not active)
Active beliefs
  • • N/A (not active)
Character traits
absent but central to tension
Follow Abigail Bartlet's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
C.J.'s Car at Bartlet Farm

C.J.'s car pulls up to the farm entrance, serving as her transportation into this private family space; it hulks silently in daylight as backdrop to the tense exchange, symbolizing intrusion of White House pressures into personal refuge.

Before: Approaching farm on gravel road
After: Parked at farm entrance, unattended
Before: Approaching farm on gravel road
After: Parked at farm entrance, unattended
Abbey's Basket of Apples

Abbey carries the rustic basket bulging with fresh apples toward the house during the conversation, embodying farm hospitality and normalcy; she grips it fiercely as tension rises, taking it with her when storming off, underscoring rejected domestic idyll.

Before: Held by Abbey, full of apples from the …
After: Carried away by Abbey toward the house
Before: Held by Abbey, full of apples from the hill orchard
After: Carried away by Abbey toward the house

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Bartlet Family Farm Barn

The Bartlet family farm exterior serves as the intimate site of confrontation where campaign spin invades family sanctuary; gravel crunches under C.J.'s car, open daylight exposes vulnerability as Abbey heads to the house, heightening irony of rural peace amid political rumors.

Atmosphere Deceptively serene daylight masking brewing fury and personal exposure
Function Site of private political negotiation and familial rebuke
Symbolism Embodies fragile personal haven threatened by public scrutiny
Access Informal family grounds, accessible but intrusion unwelcome
Gravel driveway Daylight glare Proximity to house

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Part of Larger Arcs

Strained marital bond between Jed and Abigail Bartlet, exacerbated by campaign secrecy (MS), avoidance, rumors, and professional clashes, thawing through tentative reconnections leading to public unity display.

Key Dialogue

"C.J.: Ma'am, this is uncomfortable territory and obviously, I... The press has sources that say that you and the President..."
"ABBEY: Do we have names? / C.J.: I'm sorry? / ABBEY: The sources."
"ABBEY: Unnamed sources make me crazy... Don't ever come to me again with unnamed sources, C.J. You don't get any cider."