The West Wing
S2E1
· In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I

Abbey's Frantic Interrogation of Agents Before Convoy Rush

In a tense White House hallway collision, Secret Service agents intercept the rushing First Lady Abbey Bartlet, delivering urgent updates: President Bartlet is conscious with entry/exit wounds in his side, en route to pre-op; Zoey is secure and heading to George Washington Hospital. Amid her protective maternal fear, Abbey presses for family details before agents hustle her into a screeching convoy, amplifying her personal terror against the backdrop of national crisis and bridging to hospital chaos, where her advocacy will intensify.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Abbey urgently demands information about President Bartlet's condition as agents confirm he's conscious and being moved to pre-op with entry and exit wounds.

urgency to partial relief ['White House hallway']

Abbey shifts focus to Zoey's safety as agents assure her the First Daughter is secure and en route to George Washington Hospital.

concern to reassurance ['outside White House']

Agents rush Abbey into a waiting car as the convoy screeches away from the White House under emergency protocols.

urgency to motion ['White House driveway']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4
Unnamed Secret Service Agent
primary

Controlled urgency masking operational strain

Agents converge to block and brief Abbey mid-stride—first addressing her directly, confirming Zoey's secure transport; second detailing Bartlet's wounds and pre-op movement, then barking urgent departure commands as they escort her outside to screeching cars.

Goals in this moment
  • • Brief First Lady efficiently to maintain chain of command
  • • Secure and expedite her transport to hospital
Active beliefs
  • • Rapid information flow prevents panic escalation
  • • Perimeter security demands immediate evacuation
Character traits
Protocol-driven urgency Professional detachment under pressure Concise communicator
Follow Unnamed Secret …'s journey
Abigail Bartlet
primary

Frantic maternal terror laced with steely resolve

Rushing down the hallway flanked by agents, Abbey halts to demand urgent updates on her husband's consciousness and daughter's safety, her voice slicing through chaos before being propelled outside toward the waiting convoy.

Goals in this moment
  • • Extract critical family health and safety details
  • • Reach the hospital to support President and Zoey
Active beliefs
  • • Family overrides all protocol in crisis
  • • Secret Service holds vital real-time intel
Character traits
Maternal ferocity Frantic determination Physician's precision in questioning
Follow Abigail Bartlet's journey
Eleanor Bartlet
primary

secure in a car, heading to G.W. Hospital

Character traits
ambitious nervous independent beloved
Follow Eleanor Bartlet's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

conscious with entry and exit wounds in his side, being moved to pre-op

Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Secret Service Convoy Car

The blacked-out Secret Service convoy car waits poised outside the hallway exit, serving as immediate armored transport; agents hustle Abbey into it amid barked orders, its engine snarling to life as tires screech away, symbolizing the brutal transition from White House to hospital crisis frontlines.

Before: Stationed outside White House entrance, engines idling in …
After: Screeching away from White House, speeding toward George …
Before: Stationed outside White House entrance, engines idling in readiness
After: Screeching away from White House, speeding toward George Washington Hospital with Abbey aboard

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
George Washington Hospital

George Washington Hospital (G.W.) is referenced as the converging crisis hub—Zoey en route, Bartlet to pre-op—pulling Abbey's focus forward, transforming the hallway exchange into a bridge to unfolding medical and familial showdowns amid assassination shadows.

Atmosphere Implied clinical dread looming beyond
Function Stated destination anchoring evacuation momentum
Symbolism Beacon of vulnerability stripping political armor
Access Fortified perimeter under Secret Service lockdown
Anticipated trauma bays and monitors Sirens and convoys racing toward it

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Key Dialogue

"ABBEY: "Is he conscious?""
"AGENT 2ND: "He's conscious and they're moving him to pre-op. He was hit in the side, entry and exit.""
"ABBEY: "What about Zoey?""
"AGENT 1ST: "They got her in the car. She's cool. She's on her way to G.W.""