The West Wing
S2E2
· In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part 2

Josh Awakens: 'What's Next?'

In the hushed tension of Josh Lyman's hospital room, he slowly opens his eyes, muttering incoherently as President Bartlet, Leo McGarry, and Dr. Holbrook surround his bedside. Bartlet leans in intimately, straining to hear, then relays Josh's faint but defiant whisper—'What's next?'—to Leo. Placing a paternal hand on Josh's head, Bartlet transforms raw vulnerability into galvanizing resolve. This pivotal beat reveals Josh's unbreakable fighter spirit, echoes their mentor-protégé bond from past crises, and propels the team from paralysis to unified action, serving as the episode's emotional climax and forward thrust.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Josh opens his eyes slowly and mutters something, surrounded by Leo, doctors, and Bartlet.

unconsciousness to awakening ['hospital bed']

Bartlet leans in closer to hear Josh's words, then pulls back to relay them to Leo.

curiosity to revelation

Bartlet reveals Josh's question, "What's next?" and lays his hand on Josh's head, signaling resolve and forward momentum.

revelation to resolution

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Hospital Doctors
primary

Calm professionalism veiling high-stakes pressure

Cluster silently around Josh's bedside in tight formation with Leo and Bartlet, eyes fixed on his awakening form, providing clinical backdrop to the emotional exchange without interrupting the vigil.

Goals in this moment
  • • Monitor vitals during awakening
  • • Support lead physician's directives
Active beliefs
  • • Collective vigilance optimizes patient outcomes
  • • Silent presence reassures high-profile patient
Character traits
professional vigilant coordinated
Follow Hospital Doctors's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

Paternal tenderness fused with steely resolve

Leans intimately over Josh's bedside to hear faint mutter, relays 'He said, "What\'s next?"' to Leo after straining closer, then places paternal hand on Josh's head, transforming agony into resolve.

Goals in this moment
  • • Comfort and rally his wounded protégé
  • • Harness the moment to unify the inner circle
Active beliefs
  • • Mentor-protégé bonds forge unbreakable strength
  • • Defiance defines leadership in adversity
Character traits
paternal resolute empathetic
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey
Holbrook
primary

Focused intensity masking underlying tension

Voice commands off-screen 'I want you to wake up' to rouse Josh from unconsciousness, anchoring the clinical urgency as the medical team clusters bedside during his stirring awakening.

Goals in this moment
  • • Prompt Josh's consciousness for assessment
  • • Coordinate with team for immediate stabilization
Active beliefs
  • • Direct verbal stimulus accelerates recovery
  • • Vital signs demand swift medical intervention
Character traits
authoritative urgent precise
Follow Holbrook's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Josh's Hospital Bed

Serves as the central stage cradling Josh's gunshot-ravaged body under crisp sheets and fluorescents; Josh lies upon it stirring awake, enabling the intimate bedside convergence of Bartlet, Leo, and doctors, symbolizing transition from medical peril to emotional rallying point.

Before: Occupied by unconscious Josh, rails up, under monitoring …
After: Occupied by newly awakened Josh, hand-touched by Bartlet, …
Before: Occupied by unconscious Josh, rails up, under monitoring in sterile hush.
After: Occupied by newly awakened Josh, hand-touched by Bartlet, amid team encirclement.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 4
Symbolic Parallel

"Bartlet comforting Josh at the airport after his father's death parallels his presence at Josh's hospital bed, both symbolizing mentorship and resolve."

Bartlet Delivers Solace and Unyielding Loyalty to Grieving Josh
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Symbolic Parallel

"Bartlet comforting Josh at the airport after his father's death parallels his presence at Josh's hospital bed, both symbolizing mentorship and resolve."

Bartlet Declares 'I'm Ready' and Delivers Victory Speech
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Temporal medium

"Bartlet's 'What's next?' in the campaign flashback is mirrored in his repetition of it by Josh's hospital bed, linking past and present resolve."

Bartlet's Brusk Rejection of the South Carolina Pivot
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Temporal medium

"Bartlet's 'What's next?' in the campaign flashback is mirrored in his repetition of it by Josh's hospital bed, linking past and present resolve."

Josh and Leo's Candid Exchange on Bartlet's Gruff Charm
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
What this causes 4
Callback

"Bartlet echoing Josh's 'What's next?' at the hospital is a callback to him seeking Josh out at the airport, reinforcing their bond and forward drive."

C.J. Reclaims Her Voice
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Callback

"Bartlet echoing Josh's 'What's next?' at the hospital is a callback to him seeking Josh out at the airport, reinforcing their bond and forward drive."

Toby's Tormented Demand for Memo Accountability
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Callback

"Bartlet echoing Josh's 'What's next?' at the hospital is a callback to him seeking Josh out at the airport, reinforcing their bond and forward drive."

Leo Enlists Danny for Hospital Ride
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …
Callback

"Bartlet echoing Josh's 'What's next?' at the hospital is a callback to him seeking Josh out at the airport, reinforcing their bond and forward drive."

Bartlet's Vigil: Trauma Forged into 'What's Next?' Resolve
S2E2 · In the Shadow of Two …

Key Dialogue

"BARTLET: I couldn't hear you, Josh."
"LEO: What did he say?"
"BARTLET: He said, "What's next?""