The West Wing
S2E5
· And It's Surely To Their Credit

Bartlet's Humorous Plea for Bedroom Privacy

Outside the President's bedroom, two Secret Service agents stand guard as Bartlet approaches, exchanging a greeting. He lightens the tension with a playful, deadpan request that no one try to kill him in the next hour, underscoring his eager anticipation of intimate time with Abbey amid the episode's political and personal crises. The agent responds affirmatively, and Bartlet enters, humanizing the President and providing comic relief before deeper emotional beats.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Bartlet jokes with Secret Service agents about his safety, setting a light-hearted tone before entering his bedroom.

formal to playful ["Just outside the President's bedroom"]

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

7
Secret Service Officer
primary

Professionally detached with subtle amusement at the President's levity

Stands rigid guard with a colleague outside the bedroom door, delivers professional greeting to approaching President, and affirmatively responds 'Yes sir' to his humorous privacy request, posture unwavering in nocturnal vigilance.

Goals in this moment
  • • Maintain unbreached security perimeter
  • • Accommodate President's request within protocol bounds
Active beliefs
  • • Presidential safety overrides all other priorities
  • • Humor from the protectee does not compromise duty
Character traits
professional stoic dutiful
Follow Secret Service …'s journey
Abigail Bartlet
primary

playful and passionate

seated on couch, questions Bartlet's whereabouts, teases about romance and undressing, goes to bathroom to change into special garment but reappears only without shoes, takes drink, educates on Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Blackwell

Goals in this moment
  • • initiate romantic intimacy
  • • shift focus to overlooked historical women
Character traits
supportive poised strategically vital
Follow Abigail Bartlet's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

playful and eager

approaches agents with humorous plea for privacy, enters bedroom, banters flirtatiously with Abbey about intimacy and delays, sits and removes shoes, loosens tie, fixes drinks, discusses Nellie Bly dedication

Goals in this moment
  • • secure an hour of privacy to avoid crises
  • • engage in intimate time with Abbey
Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey
Charlie Young
primary

referenced by Bartlet as potential handler for historical society invitations

Character traits
playful dutiful composed empathetic
Follow Charlie Young's journey
Dolores Landingham
primary

jokingly referenced by Bartlet as someone he threatens to get drunk if Abbey delays

Character traits
warm welcoming friendly approachable
Follow Dolores Landingham's journey
Nellie Bly
primary

extensively discussed by Abbey as pioneering investigative journalist who exposed mental institutions, traveled the world in record time, and had a statue dedicated in Cochran's Mills

Character traits
fearless trailblazing tenacious innovative
Follow Nellie Bly's journey
Elizabeth Blackwell
primary

mentioned by Abbey as the first American woman awarded an M.D. who founded the Women's Medical College

Character traits
pioneering resilient visionary
Follow Elizabeth Blackwell's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
The Residence

The Residence's threshold outside the President's bedroom frames this charged interstitial moment, transforming a guarded portal into a liminal space where institutional duty yields briefly to personal longing, agents' presence underscoring the perpetual siege on privacy.

Atmosphere Hushed late-night tension laced with wry presidential humor
Function Guarded gateway to intimate sanctuary
Symbolism Emblem of power's isolation—public leader craving human connection
Access Strictly secured by Secret Service, accessible only to President
Dimly lit corridor shadows Closed bedroom door as barrier Agents' rigid postures evoking silent threat

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
U.S. Secret Service

Secret Service manifests as twin sentinels outside the bedroom, their protocol-bound exchange with Bartlet highlighting the organization's omnipresent shield against peril, enabling his fleeting personal reprieve while embodying the inescapable vigilance of executive protection.

Representation Through uniformed agents posted at the door
Power Dynamics Exerting protective authority subservient to President's whims
Impact Reinforces the presidency's armored isolation amid human needs
Neutralize immediate threats to President's safety Uphold decorum in responding to leader's directives Physical deterrence via stationed personnel Institutional protocol affirming requests

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 3
Causal

"Abbey's discussion of Nellie Bly directly inspires Bartlet's radio address about overlooked women in history, linking personal conversation to public action."

Bartlet's Triumphant Radio Tribute to Overlooked Women Pioneers
S2E5 · And It's Surely To Their …
Causal

"Abbey's discussion of Nellie Bly directly inspires Bartlet's radio address about overlooked women in history, linking personal conversation to public action."

Abbey and Bartlet's Flirty Banter Interrupted by CJ
S2E5 · And It's Surely To Their …
Causal

"Abbey's discussion of Nellie Bly directly inspires Bartlet's radio address about overlooked women in history, linking personal conversation to public action."

Bartlet Grants Barrie Meet the Press Freedom and Rushes to Abbey
S2E5 · And It's Surely To Their …

Key Dialogue

"AGENT: "Good evening, Mr. President.""
"BARTLET: "Guys, it's very important that nobody tries to kill me in the next hour or so.""
"AGENT: "Yes sir.""