Donna's Persistent Pitch for Teacher Proclamation Meets Josh's Vetting Resistance
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh searches for a folder while Donna hands it to him, initiating their walk-and-talk conversation.
Donna presents her case for a presidential proclamation honoring her retiring teacher, Molly Morello.
Josh resists Donna's request, citing the need for vetting and the importance of the President's reputation.
Donna counters Josh's objections by mocking the triviality of past proclamations, highlighting the inconsistency in his stance.
Josh insists on vetting Molly Morello, humorously suggesting she might be a bicycle thief, and challenges Donna to prove otherwise.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Not applicable; invoked as symbol of protocol
President Bartlet is referenced repeatedly as the authority issuing proclamations, with Josh emphasizing risks to his name and reputation; no physical presence but pivotal to the debate's stakes.
- • Maintain proclamation standards (defended by Josh)
- • Proclamations protect presidential reputation (per Josh)
Resistant and skeptical, laced with fond exasperation toward Donna's persistence
Josh receives the 'Southeast Targets' folder from Donna behind him, thanks her briefly, then walks with her while firmly resisting her pitch through sharp dialogue on protocols, vetting needs, reputation risks, and staff favoritism hypotheticals like bicycle theft.
- • Uphold White House proclamation protocols
- • Deflect personal favor requests to protect optics
- • Presidential proclamations demand vetting for reputation
- • Staff perks undermine important causes
Determined and buoyant, fueled by personal loyalty despite pushback
Donna approaches from behind to hand Josh the folder, initiates the walk-and-talk by presenting her own folder on proclamation requirements, pitches fiercely for Molly Morello with counterexamples like National Sewing Month, and persists against his resistance with confident retorts.
- • Secure presidential proclamation for Molly Morello
- • Overcome Josh's procedural objections with precedent
- • Molly's 41 years merit recognition like trivial holidays
- • Proclamations require no formal barriers
Not present; idealized as deserving through Donna's advocacy
Molly Morello is vividly invoked by Donna as her 12th-grade public school English teacher of 41 years retiring, central to the pitch for a proclamation, humanizing the debate without physical presence.
- • Receive presidential honor (inferred via Donna)
- • Long service warrants recognition (championed by Donna)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Donna hands Josh the labeled 'Southeast Targets and...' folder from behind as an ambush entry to her pitch, its military-strategy title ironically contrasting the personal plea; it serves as a physical prop transitioning from work crisis to personal banter, crinkling under his grip while she reveals her own proclamation folder.
Narrative Connections
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Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"JOSH: "No I'm saying he can't just because you want him to. What's next, executive clemency if you're having a bad hair day?""
"DONNA: "I never have a bad hair day and Molly Morello was a public school teacher for 41 years.""
"JOSH: "You're saying that if she's a lesbian... If she were a lesbian we could talk. I'm saying what if she's a bicycle thief?""