C.J.'s Diplomatic Plea Met with Corey's Fiery Rebuke
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. approaches Cornelius Sykes with diplomatic pleasantries, masking her true mission about the Will Rogers dinner.
C.J. broaches the sensitive topic of the Will Rogers dinner, revealing the White House's discomfort with Sykes hosting due to past controversies.
Sykes counters with a sharp rebuke, listing his past support and calling out the White House's hypocrisy for distancing themselves over a non-issue.
C.J. attempts damage control as Sykes demands she make her case, leaving the power dynamic unsettled before his comedy set.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Diplomatic poise cracking into defensive anxiety under Corey's rebuke
C.J. sits with Corey, politely thanks him for his time, declines staying for his show due to shuttle, orders club soda, then diplomatically explains the Will Rogers hosting request and press risks, insisting no disrespect amid his growing anger, shifting to defensive pleas.
- • Persuade Corey to decline hosting to shield President's image
- • Preserve personal rapport despite awkward request
- • Press will inevitably exploit the NYPD joke, harming Bartlet
- • Her appeal honors Corey's value without true disrespect
Casual warmth exploding into righteous anger and wounded pride
Corey (Cornelius Sykes) greets C.J. casually, invites her to his show and a drink, anticipates her request about Will Rogers dinner, sharply rebukes it by listing his fundraising, voter work, commercials, and vote for Bartlet, accuses arrogance, thanks waitress for drinks, demands she make her case before his set.
- • Defend his contributions and demand respect from administration
- • Challenge perceived hypocrisy in political image management
- • His NYPD joke was not wrong, unworthy of punishment
- • Loyal supporters like him deserve unwavering inclusion, not exclusion
called by Corey to get a club soda, brings drinks to the table for C.J. and Corey
significantly mentioned as attending the Will Rogers dinner where Corey is asked to host
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
C.J. specifically orders a club soda as a light refreshment to ease into the tense discussion; it arrives chilled amid the escalating argument, its fizzing bubbles contrasting the verbal barbs, symbolizing aborted civility while hands brush it amid fraying composure, underscoring the interruption of confrontation.
Alicia delivers the round of drinks—including C.J.'s club soda—directly onto the table mid-argument, ice clinking sharply as Corey's rebuke peaks; the cluster sits as passive witnesses to unraveling alliance, droplets pooling while accusations fly, heightening the moment's aborted politeness and propelling Corey to refocus on his impending set.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The polished hotel lobby serves as neutral ground for C.J.'s high-stakes intervention with Corey, its vast windows flooding daylight over marble floors where suitcase wheels rumble distantly; this transient space amplifies the pressure cooker intimacy of their clash, turning casual seating into a battleground for political goodwill amid hurried transients.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The press corps looms as an invoked specter when C.J. warns Corey they'll revive his two-year-old NYPD joke if he hosts with Bartlet, driving her damage-control plea; their ravenous scrutiny forces preemptive concessions, highlighting how media predation dictates White House alliances and exposes image vulnerabilities.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "We think the press'll go back two years and bring up the whole...""
"COREY: "I've raised money for you. I've registered voters for you. I've done commercials for you. And I voted for you. Because of something I never did wrong two years ago, you don't want to be on the dais with me?""
"COREY: "It takes a special kind of arrogance not to think that that's not disrespectful.""