Ticking Clock: October 20th, Three Weeks to Election Day

The scene fades in on the White House exterior at night, overlaid with a stark title card: 'OCTOBER 20TH THREE WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.' This time jump propels the narrative forward, crystallizing the midterm election's urgency as a relentless countdown. It frames the senior staff's high-stakes push to leverage the post-assassination approval surge into House gains, while foreshadowing ethical clashes over tragedy exploitation and a tainted candidate, transforming abstract tension into visceral dramatic pressure.