Poolside Pratfall and Recruitment Tease
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. discovers Toby in her backyard, confused and startled by his unexpected presence.
C.J. slips and falls into the pool, adding a moment of physical comedy and disorientation to the tension.
Toby attempts to maintain decorum as C.J. emerges from the pool, revealing her discomfort with the situation.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Embarrassed vulnerability laced with defensive skepticism and intrigued curiosity
Enters backyard cautiously, slips into pool in shock at Toby's presence, surfaces sputtering and blind without glasses, demands he avert eyes while climbing out with clinging wet clothes, wrings hair, grabs towel from house, banters defensively about firing and Emily's List, probes Bartlet's character and her qualifications skeptically before agreeing to indoor talk.
- • Assess Toby's unexpected visit and intentions
- • Evaluate the Press Secretary offer despite salary cut and inexperience doubts
- • Hollywood firings are brutally status-driven
- • True opportunities demand character validation beyond credentials
Amused confidence veiling strategic determination
Lounges casually poolside, waves wildly to identify himself, chuckles at her fall and offers dry-land quips, averts eyes on command, reveals firing knowledge with humor, pitches Bartlet's admiration for Emily's List, discloses Leo's instructions and low pay, affirms her potential and Bartlet's goodness, redirects her to the house.
- • Recruit C.J. for Press Secretary despite her doubts
- • Diffuse awkwardness to build rapport and secure commitment
- • C.J.'s talent transcends Hollywood and warrants national stage
- • Bartlet campaign elevates principled communicators
referenced as studio client whose drop in Hollywood power ranking led to C.J.'s firing
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Mexican-tiled pool serves as comedic catalyst when C.J. missteps along its edge in shock, plunging fully clothed into its depths; she surfaces sputtering, heightening physical vulnerability and clinging-wet exposure that demands averted eyes, transforming private oasis into stage for recruitment amid literal immersion in career upheaval.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Sunlit backyard hosts surprise encounter with Toby poolside, slick concrete edges precipitating C.J.'s pratfall; wet vulnerability clashes with recruitment pitch, stairs lead to house towel grab and indoor pivot, blending comedy, exposure, and career seismic shift in this intimate Hollywood haven turned origin pivot point.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"C.J.'s recruitment by Toby, emphasizing Bartlet's integrity, mirrors her reclaiming her public voice in the crisis, both highlighting her resilience and commitment."
"C.J.'s recruitment by Toby, emphasizing Bartlet's integrity, mirrors her reclaiming her public voice in the crisis, both highlighting her resilience and commitment."
"C.J.'s recruitment by Toby, emphasizing Bartlet's integrity, mirrors her reclaiming her public voice in the crisis, both highlighting her resilience and commitment."
"C.J.'s recruitment by Toby, emphasizing Bartlet's integrity, mirrors her reclaiming her public voice in the crisis, both highlighting her resilience and commitment."
Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "Avert your eyes!" TOBY: "What?" C.J.: "I'm climbing out of the pool, my clothes will be clingy, avert your eyes!""
"C.J.: "How much does it pay?" TOBY: "How much were you making before?" C.J.: "$550,000 a year." TOBY: "This pays $600 a week." C.J.: "So this would be less.""
"C.J.: "Is Jed Bartlet a good man?" TOBY: "Yeah.""