The West Wing
S3E14
· Hartsfield's Landing

C.J. Outmaneuvers and Publicly Taunts Charlie Over D12 Schedule

In the bustling White House corridors, Charlie relentlessly presses C.J. for his missing D12-stamped private schedule, a casualty of their escalating prank war. C.J. evades with sly deflection, threatening bureaucratic fallout if reporters discover it, then shocks by casually referencing the 'D12' code Charlie never disclosed—exposing her insider knowledge. Halting before onlookers Ed and Larry, she lands a crude, triumphant zinger about its location 'under A for anal' in his filing cabinet. This comic escalation provides levity amid Taiwan crisis and primary pressures, revealing C.J.'s sharp wit, Charlie's frustration, and staff's juvenile dynamics as tension release.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Charlie demands the whereabouts of an unspecified item, hinting at a mystery.

curiosity to accusation

C.J. dodges Charlie's inquiry and subtly threatens him with bureaucratic consequences.

defiance to mock threat

C.J. reveals she knows the item's designation is D12, escalating the power play.

amusement to challenge

C.J. reveals the item is hidden, taunting Charlie with juvenile humor in front of Ed and Larry.

taunting to shared discomfort

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4
C.J. Cregg
primary

amused

Evading Charlie's questions with deflection and laughter, revealing her knowledge of the D12 stamp, and publicly taunting him about the schedule's location in his filing cabinet.

Goals in this moment
  • • outmaneuver Charlie in their prank war
  • • publicly taunt Charlie
Character traits
resilient strategic poised terse dutiful
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Charlie Young
primary

Frustrated persistence yielding to shocked embarrassment

Charlie relentlessly pursues C.J. through corridors, demanding the missing D12 schedule with clipped urgency, reacts with deadpan surprise to her undisclosed knowledge of the code, then stalks off stone-faced after her public humiliation before Ed and Larry.

Goals in this moment
  • • Recover the critical D12 private schedule immediately
  • • Extract confession from C.J. on its location
Active beliefs
  • • C.J. is withholding information about the schedule due to prank rivalry
  • • Strict protocols around D12 sign-outs must be enforced to prevent leaks
Character traits
persistent dutiful sarcastic under pressure prank-weary
Follow Charlie Young's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
White House Portico

The Northwest Lobby's grand columns frame the chaotic staff scrum as Charlie corners C.J., their banter halting amid Ed and Larry's witness, transforming historic portico bustle into impromptu arena for prank showdown. Its etched resilience echoes amid crisis frenzy, heightening the clash of protocol and play.

Atmosphere Bustling with frantic energy, laced with laughter cutting crisis tension
Function Site of public confrontation and comic escalation
Symbolism Embodies White House's unburnt endurance clashing with unraveling staff hijinks
Access Restricted to White House staff, buzzing with insider movement
Elegant columns and pale stone etched with historic soot scars Humid air thick with whispers of distant Taiwan crisis

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"CHARLIE: Give it up, Tiny."
"C.J.: Think you're going to want to talk nicer to me than that, because when a reporter finds it, they're going to come to me, and that thing is stamped D12, and you signed out D12, and rules are rules."
"CHARLIE: Funny. I never told you it was D12. C.J.: How about that? You'll find it in your filing cabinet under 'A' for 'anal.'"