Danny's Covert Competence — Woken and Deployed
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Leo and C.J. approach Danny, who is sitting with sunglasses on, appearing asleep.
Leo attempts to engage Danny in conversation, revealing the urgency of the situation.
C.J. slams a stack of papers on the table to wake Danny, emphasizing the seriousness.
Danny claims he was aware the whole time, showcasing his covert skills, and Leo directs him to follow.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Quietly assured — composed on the surface, these remarks mask a purposeful readiness and controlled urgency.
Seated at his laptop wearing sunglasses and initially appearing unresponsive, Danny calmly states that he heard everything, converting the room's suspicion into confidence in his field-readiness and accepting Leo's instruction to follow immediately.
- • Establish that he was actively working and not negligent or asleep
- • Signal that he can be deployed immediately as a trusted field asset
- • Protect the integrity of his investigation while preserving access
- • He believes immediate, measured disclosure of capability will secure trust and assignment
- • He believes the material he gathered (from Augsburg and the Gulfstream lead) is of urgent national-security importance
- • He believes the White House needs his on-the-ground reporting rather than a public confrontation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
C.J. seizes a stack of papers and slams them onto the table to create an audible, theatrical punctuation that forces attention and frames the situation as a national-security emergency. The papers function as a demonstrative prop, converting spectacle into command and catalyzing Leo's immediate operational decision.
Danny's laptop is his active workstation and the visual cue of his ongoing investigation; it anchors his presence, signifying that he is 'on the job' despite the appearance of sleep. It also implies access to the reporting he collected in Augsburg and underwrites his claim of having heard everything.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Augsburg is referenced as the city Danny came from; it functions as contextual evidence of his recent fieldwork and gives weight to his claim of being active rather than asleep, tying his presence to overseas investigation that matters to national security.
The Upper Press Room is the contained, institutional space where private crisis conversations collide with the press apparatus. It serves as the immediate arena for confrontation, triage, and rapid deployment decisions, enabling senior staff to turn a journalist's presence into an operational resource.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"C.J.: "Wake up.""
"DANNY: "I heard every word you said. My covert skills are honed.""
"LEO: "Good for you. Follow me.""