The West Wing
S4E1
· 20 Hours in America Part I

Hallelujah and the Hangup

President Bartlet abruptly ends a phone call, his face going grave, and quietly withdraws from the backstage throng as a choir delivers the triumphant last lines of the hymn. The contrast between public celebration and the President's private dread creates a sharp turning point: the campaign's rhythm is cut short and authority becomes solitary. The moment functions as a tonal pivot—music swells and fades while Bartlet shoulders the unseen national-security and political burden that will drive the day into crisis-management.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Bartlet ends a troubling phone call, his demeanor shifting to grave concern as he moves away during the choir's finale.

concern to gravity

The choir concludes their song with 'Glory, glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on,' contrasting with Bartlet's somber exit.

The scene fades out, marking the end of Act One.

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Choir
primary

Triumphant and solemn in performance; unaware of the President's internal crisis, the choir sustains communal uplift.

The Choir sings the closing lines of the hymn, delivering a sustained, reverent musical statement that fills the space as Bartlet exits, providing ceremonial closure to the public moment even as private alarm intrudes.

Goals in this moment
  • • To provide a stirring, unifying musical end to the rally segment.
  • • To elevate public sentiment and lend ceremonial weight to the President's appearance.
Active beliefs
  • • That ritual music consolidates public unity and reinforces the event's tone.
  • • That performance should continue uninterrupted regardless of backstage disturbances.
Character traits
reverent synchronized ceremonial emotionally amplifying
Follow Choir's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

Controlled outward composure masking immediate internal dread and urgent concern — a leader absorbing bad news and preparing to act without alarming the public.

President Josiah Bartlet ends a phone conversation, registers a grave look of concern, and quietly walks away from the backstage crowd — a small, controlled exit that signals the arrival of a private problem he must carry alone.

Goals in this moment
  • • To remove himself from the public eye so he can process or respond to urgent information.
  • • To contain the political and security implications of the call by preserving public calm and not fracturing the rally.
Active beliefs
  • • That the information on the line is consequential and requires his personal attention.
  • • That visible alarm would damage the campaign's momentum and possibly national calm; better to shoulder the burden privately.
Character traits
restrained authoritative stillness private stoicism situational awareness
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Donna's Campaign Site Phone

A phone serves as the immediate narrative pivot: Bartlet terminates the call on it and that single action converts the scene from public celebration to private alarm. The device functions as the physical trigger that externalizes incoming bad news and precipitates his withdrawal.

Before: In active use as the President is on …
After: Call terminated — phone is no longer in …
Before: In active use as the President is on a call; being held/used to receive communication.
After: Call terminated — phone is no longer in active use (hung up/placed down), signifying the end of the conversation and the start of private action.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Backstage Room

The backstage room functions as the liminal zone between public spectacle and private decision-making: crowded with staff and buzzing with the rally's energy, it becomes the place where the President's solitary responsibility separates him from the celebratory throng.

Atmosphere Simultaneously celebratory and suddenly tense — music and applause filter through while a quietly mounting …
Function Transitional space for the President's withdrawal and the immediate containment of urgent information away from …
Symbolism Represents the divide between public performance and the isolation of command; the backstage becomes a …
Access Restricted primarily to staff and performers — a backstage area not open to the general …
Choir voices singing the hymn's final lines, creating a swell of sound. Dimmed or less theatrical backstage lighting compared to the stage; muffled crowd noise seeping in. Clustered staff and movement that contrasts with the president's composed exit.

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Choir

The Choir, as an organization, provides the ceremonial soundtrack that frames the public face of the rally. Their sustained hymn both sanctifies the political moment and, by continuing unabated, highlights the disjunction between communal celebration and the President's sudden private crisis.

Representation Through collective performance — sustained vocal delivery of the hymn's closing lines that shape audience …
Power Dynamics Not a political power per se, but exerts soft power by setting emotional tone; its …
Impact The choir's role underscores how ritual and spectacle shape political perception, allowing leadership transitions from …
Internal Dynamics None explicit in the scene — the organization functions as a unified, disciplined performance unit …
To lend ceremonial gravitas and unity to the rally through musical performance. To maintain the uninterrupted flow and public dignity of the event. Emotional resonance of the hymn's lyrics and melody. Auditory dominance — singing covers or softens backstage noises and directs crowd attention.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"CHOIR: "Glory, glory hallelujah,"
"CHOIR: "His truth is marching on.""