Charlie Corners C.J. Over Missing Diplomatic Cat Statue
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Charlie urgently catches up with C.J. in the hallway, signaling important news.
C.J. deflects with humor, calling Charlie various nicknames, delaying the serious matter.
Charlie reveals Hassan Ali's upcoming visit and a missing diplomatic gift.
C.J. reluctantly acknowledges possession of the statue, stalling for time.
C.J. sharply dismisses Charlie, revealing her panic about the missing artifact.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Playful deflection masking spiraling panic and embarrassment
Striding through hallway, C.J. banters nicknames to deflect Charlie's urgency, feigns ignorance with sarcasm about the statue, sighs deeply in mounting panic, dismisses him abruptly, acknowledges Toby briefly, then summons Carol sharply for aid in evasion.
- • Delay accountability for the missing statue
- • Initiate immediate cover-up by enlisting Carol
- • Humor and deflection can buy time in crises
- • Protocol oversights must be contained internally
Preoccupied determination
Hurries past in hallway, responds curtly to C.J.'s hail confirming his meeting with Hoynes and deferring talk.
- • Reach Hoynes without delay
- • Acknowledge C.J. minimally
- • Prior commitments override interruptions
- • Conversations can wait
Determined urgency laced with polite insistence
Catches up to C.J. mid-stride, persists through banter with urgent details on Ali's visit, statue's origin, Protocol's hunt, and Sherry's testimony, questions her knowledge directly before accepting dismissal.
- • Alert C.J. to the protocol breach
- • Secure information on the statue's whereabouts
- • Chain of accountability must be followed rigorously
- • C.J. holds key to resolving the issue
Alert readiness
Present in hallway, snaps to attention at C.J.'s urgent summons, queried on providing information, disguise, and getaway car before being pulled inside office.
- • Assist C.J. with immediate needs
- • Follow boss's directive swiftly
- • C.J.'s crises demand instant support
- • Discretion is paramount in staff ops
N/A (mentioned only)
Referenced off-screen as imminent visitor whose Cairo gift—the cat statue—triggers the protocol crisis detailed by Charlie.
- • N/A (mentioned only)
- • N/A (mentioned only)
N/A (mentioned only)
Invoked by Charlie as the gift officer who handed the statue to C.J. in Cairo, per Protocol's account.
- • N/A (mentioned only)
- • N/A (mentioned only)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Central MacGuffin referenced urgently by Charlie as Hassan Ali's Cairo gift to the President—a small ceramic cat statue—that Protocol cannot locate but traces to C.J. via Sherry Halpurn; its absence ignites diplomatic panic, symbolizing cultural courtesy turned White House liability amid banter and deflection.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Bustling West Wing corridor serves as ambush site where Charlie corners C.J. amid her stride toward office, banter erupts into revelation, Toby passes, and Carol is summoned—its open flow amplifies exposure risk, blending comic chaos with vulnerability in high-stakes staff traffic.
Flash-referenced as origin of the diplomatic gift during President's trip, where Sherry handed the statue to C.J., fueling current hallway crisis and underscoring time-lapsed negligence.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Office of Protocol drives the confrontation via Charlie's relay: unable to find statue, they consulted gift officer Sherry Halpurn, convicting C.J. as holder—enforcing display for Ali's visit, their hunt exposes internal mishandling in comedic protocol breach.
State Department mandates statue's display for Ali's visit, alerting Protocol and sparking the urgent hallway pursuit—elevating a trinket to diplomatic imperative amid White House frenzy.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"CHARLIE: "They say you have it.""
"C.J.: "I'm sorry?""
"C.J.: "Well, I have to think about it, Charlie. It was a year ago, and it's not like I have instant recall of every ceramic cat statue I've ever been handed in Cairo.""
"C.J.: "Some information, possibly a disguise, and a fast getaway car. Come inside.""