Cutting the Tie — Breaking the Spell
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Abbey dramatically cuts off Bartlet's tie with scissors, forcing the staff into a frantic scramble to replace it, breaking Bartlet's superstition and energizing him.
The stage manager announces the two-minute warning for the debate, prompting Bartlet and his team to prepare for his appearance.
The staff successfully replaces Bartlet's tie with Josh's just in time for the debate, showcasing their teamwork and quick thinking under pressure.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Frustrated urgency combined with supportive determination; he is willing to sacrifice his own comfort for the President's readiness.
Josh reacts instantly by removing his own tie and making it available as a replacement — a practical, sacrificial gesture to salvage the superstition and get the President ready under a looming time cut-off.
- • Provide a replacement tie immediately to maintain the President's ritual.
- • Keep the pre-debate schedule intact and push President to the stage.
- • Superstitions, even if irrational, can have practical effect on performance.
- • In crisis, quick, visible actions reassure both principal and team.
Pleasant and unflappable, unaffected by the quick crisis unfolding around him.
Albie stands in the background taking a picture with Abbey, providing light, social energy to the backstage mix — a pleasant presence amid the mounting tension.
- • Be available as a visible surrogate and support presence.
- • Maintain composure to reflect well on the campaign.
- • Presence and optics matter for campaign credibility.
- • Staying composed is itself a form of support.
Composed and focused on his opening remarks and the debate format.
Governor Ritchie is onstage and acknowledged by the moderator; his presence and handshake with Bartlet mark the public turn of the private backstage drama into the formal debate arena.
- • Open the debate strongly per coin toss advantage.
- • Frame issues in terms favorable to his platform.
- • Public debate performance is decisive for voters.
- • Speaking first can set the agenda for the exchange.
Concerned and focused: worried about television optics but steady in prioritizing what must be fixed before air.
C.J. bursts into the side door, asks what happened and highlights missed camera tests; she moves to the side of the stage to manage optics and ensures press and technical concerns are acknowledged in the scramble.
- • Make sure camera tests and press preparations are handled.
- • Keep the President cosmetically and technically presentable for live broadcast.
- • Television presentation materially affects public perception.
- • Technical readiness can derail even a strong performance.
Stressed and briskly authoritative: singularly focused on timing and order for the live broadcast.
The Stage Manager calls the two-minute/30/15-second warnings, orders the candidates to the stage and scolds the backstage for noise, enforcing broadcast timing while staff scramble.
- • Keep the debate on schedule.
- • Ensure candidates are onstage and microphones are set for live transmission.
- • Broadcast timing and discipline are non-negotiable.
- • Production constraints must be enforced to avoid on-air failure.
Flustered and hurried but resolutely helpful; trying to multitask between communication and a hands-on fix.
Sam arrives on his cellphone and, when the tie is cut, fumbles to accept Josh's removed tie and attempts to knot it on Bartlet amid the rush and the stage manager's countdowns.
- • Secure and fasten a replacement tie on the President.
- • Keep the sequence moving so the debate starts on time.
- • Practical action beats lament in last-minute crises.
- • Maintaining appearances matters for public confidence.
Nervous earnestness with a pragmatic focus on technical readiness and message delivery.
Toby is in the room earlier crunching on a carrot, later acknowledges camera-test concerns and follows C.J. to the side of the stage, contributing to technical and preparatory urgency amid the scramble.
- • Ensure camera tests and technical details are not overlooked.
- • Support the President's performance through behind-the-scenes readiness.
- • Small technical details affect broader campaign messaging.
- • Staff must control what they can, even under chaos.
Urgent and businesslike; laser-focused on moving the President and resolving the wardrobe emergency quickly.
Charlie notifies Bartlet it's time, calls for Josh's tie, helps direct the President out into the hallway, and coordinates the immediate logistics of getting the President onstage.
- • Get the President to the stage promptly.
- • Provide whatever immediate assistance is necessary (tie replacement, collar adjustment).
- • Time is the overriding constraint in live events.
- • The President's composure is the team's priority.
Calm, procedural; focused on running the debate within established rules and timeslots.
Moderator Alexander Thompson appears over the OS sound and later formally introduces the candidates and rules, creating the institutional frame into which the backstage scramble must resolve.
- • Start the debate on time and follow rules.
- • Maintain neutrality and order for the broadcast.
- • Adherence to format ensures a fair debate.
- • Moderator's authority anchors the proceedings.
Surprised and mildly indignant at first, quickly shifting to amused, then focused and energetically resolute as he prepares to perform.
Bartlet is the target of Abbey's impulsive gesture: he registers surprise, admonishes and laughs, allows his collar to be fixed, playfully slaps Abbey, and strides onstage with renewed composure and purpose.
- • Get to the stage on time to begin the debate.
- • Regain composure and replace ritual with deliberate focus.
- • Project confidence to the audience and staff.
- • Small rituals (like a tie) can provide psychological readiness.
- • Public performance matters more than personal superstition.
- • Staff will act quickly and competently to support him.
Impersonal and steady; voice of institutional process amid human scramble.
The PA Announcer's earlier public notices and introductions frame the live nature of the event and emphasize restrictions on reentry, underscoring the stakes and finality as backstage panic unfolds.
- • Communicate rules and schedule to the audience.
- • Maintain orderly flow of the broadcast environment.
- • Procedural clarity reduces chaos in live events.
- • Public information must be delivered consistently.
Calmly observant, offering steadiness in the crowd of flurried staff.
Vice President Hoynes stands near Josh and the group, physically present as quiet executive support while backstage rituals are disrupted and the President is hustled onstage.
- • Stand ready to support the President if needed.
- • Maintain decorum and a reassuring presence backstage.
- • Visible senior-level calm helps steady the team.
- • The President's public performance is of paramount importance.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bartlet's 'lucky' tie functions as the narrative catalyst: Abbey cuts it off to forcibly end the President's reliance on ritual. The removal triggers the frantic attempt to replace the talisman and propels the team into action.
Scissors are the instrument of disruption: Abbey grabs them from backstage and cleanly shears the tie, converting private superstition into a public, visible act that forces the administration to reframe readiness.
Sam's cellphone bridges earlier travel and backstage logistics: he is on it when the crisis occurs, illustrating divided attention between outside coordination and the hands-on demands of the moment.
Toby's carrot provides diegetic color and rhythmic sound: his loud crunching punctuates the calm before the cut and underscores the contrast between mundane backstage habits and the sudden emergency.
Josh's personal tie becomes a makeshift presidential prop: he rips it off and offers it so the team can preserve the look/ritual, transforming a private garment into a functional tool to steady the President before air.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
A short hallway connects the backstage room to the side stage and is the physical route Bartlet and staff sprint through; it compresses time, turning the tie-cut into an on‑the‑move ritual of reconstitution.
The Debate Stage is the destination whose imminence structures the event: the public forum transforms the backstage incident into a high-stakes moment as the President crosses into full visibility and responsibility.
The side/backstage area functions as the cramped crucible for the moment: it's where Abbey cuts the tie, staff scramble, doors open, and the team pivots from private prep to public performance.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The University of California, San Diego operates as the institutional host of the debate, providing venue, moderation protocol, and production standards that constrain backstage behavior and demand punctual, television-ready appearances.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Bartlet's insistence on wearing his lucky tie leads to Abbey cutting it off, breaking his superstition."
"Bartlet's insistence on wearing his lucky tie leads to Abbey cutting it off, breaking his superstition."
"Bartlet's insistence on wearing his lucky tie leads to Abbey cutting it off, breaking his superstition."
"Bartlet's resolved confidence crisis enables his strong debate performance against Ritchie."
"The tie incident energizes Bartlet, contributing to his confident debate performance."
"Bartlet's resolved confidence crisis enables his strong debate performance against Ritchie."
"The tie incident energizes Bartlet, contributing to his confident debate performance."
"Bartlet's resolved confidence crisis enables his strong debate performance against Ritchie."
"The tie incident energizes Bartlet, contributing to his confident debate performance."
"The tie incident energizes Bartlet, contributing to his confident debate performance."
Key Dialogue
"ABBEY: "Just 'cause.""
"BARTLET: "Oh, my God. You're insane. Are you...? You're insane! Charlie!""
"CHARLIE: "Josh, we need your tie.""