C.J. Recruits and Rehearses Sloane for Media Redemption
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Officer Sloane watches Mark Gottfried on TV discussing the length of Bartlet's State of the Union address, establishing the post-speech context.
C.J. enters abruptly and pitches Sloane on doing a television interview to capitalize on his State of the Union appearance.
Sloane resists with weary reluctance while C.J. counters with media inevitability, demonstrating her press secretary expertise.
C.J. coaches Sloane through anticipated interview questions about both his heroism and past troubles, shaping his narrative.
C.J. arranges Sloane's transportation while asserting sartorial control (coat/tie), completing her media packaging of the officer.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Animated enthusiasm for broadcast dissection
Appears via TV broadcast in C.J.'s office, delivering live post-SOTU commentary on speech length with witty historical comparisons, inadvertently fueling Sloane's tension until C.J. intervenes.
- • Entertain and inform national audience on SOTU metrics
- • Highlight speech's historic scale
- • Precise trivia underscores political spectacle
- • Viewership thrives on insider speech analysis
Wary reluctance laced with resignation, eyes the media glare with haunted caution
Seated in C.J.'s office, intently watching TV commentary on the SOTU, interjects defensively about word count trivia, voices strong reluctance to appear on TV preferring to go home, participates in her rehearsal by asking about uniform, ultimately acquiesces to coaching.
- • Avoid unwanted media exposure and scrutiny of past
- • Seek safe return to hotel amid escalating fame
- • Media will inevitably dredge up his 1980s excessive force incident
- • White House experience predicts news cycles accurately
Determined intensity veiling crisis urgency, laser-focused on narrative control
Bursts into office with urgent energy, grabs remote to silence TV, perches on desk pitching satellite interview, expertly rehearses responses blending heroism and past defense, overrides Sloane's objections with predictive savvy, yells for Carol to handle logistics, exits decisively.
- • Preempt media scandals by scripting Sloane's redemption arc
- • Integrate Sloane into White House media defense against broader tempests
- • Proactive spin shapes news cycles before they erupt
- • Personal candor rehearsed disarms past allegations effectively
Calm professionalism, unflappable amid late-night frenzy
Promptly enters office at C.J.'s yell, affirms readiness with simple 'Yeah,' agrees without hesitation to escort Sloane back to his hotel, embodying efficient support in the Press Office hierarchy.
- • Execute C.J.'s logistical directive seamlessly
- • Ensure Sloane's safe transit preserving operational flow
- • Team coordination maintains crisis momentum
- • Guest handling upholds White House protocol
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Dominates the office as Sloane watches Mark Gottfried's Capitol Beat commentary shredding the SOTU, its glow amplifying post-speech scrutiny; C.J. grabs the remote to abruptly silence it, shifting focus from chaotic punditry to controlled rehearsal—symbolizing media's double-edged threat now neutralized for narrative hijack.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Embodies the Press Office's nerve center where C.J. and Carol orchestrate Sloane's transformation into a media asset, countering scandals through rehearsed heroism amid national hostage frenzy—White House machinery grinds media chaos into controlled spin, protecting Bartlet's image in unwinnable drug war shadows.
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
"C.J.: "Officer Sloane? Would you be willing to go on television tomorrow?""
"SLOANE: "I think I'd really rather just go home.""
"C.J.: "This is going to be a part of the news cycle tomorrow whether you go home or not.""
"C.J.: "You'll do a very quick satellite interview. [rehearsing] 'What was it like being at the State of the Union?' 'Did you meet the President'... It was a thrill and an honor. Talk about your act of heroism... 'Now, I understand you had some trouble back in the early 80's...'""