The West Wing
S2E16
· Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail

Ginger Jolts Exhausted Sam with NSA Call Alert

Exhausted from relentless White House pressures, Sam enters the Communications Office seeking brief respite in Toby's office, instructing Ginger to field calls. Ginger urgently reveals the caller was the National Security Advisor, shattering his momentary relief and thrusting him back into the escalating Gault espionage crisis. This pivotal interruption underscores the merciless pace of crises, transforming a personal beat of vulnerability into a high-stakes turning point that foreshadows shattering revelations.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Sam enters the Communications Office, intending to rest, but Ginger urgently informs him of a call from the National Security Advisor.

fatigue to alertness ['Communications Office']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5
National Security Advisor
primary

Commanding imperative

National Security Advisor referenced offscreen via Ginger's relay as the recent caller, their proactive summons injecting espionage gravity into Sam's respite bid without physical presence.

Goals in this moment
  • • Pull Sam into Gault spy crisis deliberations
  • • Sync communications with national security imperatives
Active beliefs
  • • Pardon push risks exposing Soviet betrayal
  • • Truth overrides compassion in state secrets
Character traits
targeted urgency executive vigilance
Follow National Security …'s journey
Sam Seaborn
primary

Crumbling exhaustion pierced by jolting urgency

Sam enters the lobby with Charlie, absorbs news of the President's library frustration, then pivots into Communications Office; pleads with Ginger to field calls while he seeks collapse in Toby's office, but snaps alert at NSA mention, his body language shifting from slump to tense readiness.

Goals in this moment
  • • Secure momentary rest to recharge amid grind
  • • Defer interruptions to preserve fragile sanity
Active beliefs
  • • Crises will wait briefly for human limits
  • • Senior staff like Toby offer rare refuge
Character traits
exhausted vulnerability dutiful resilience wry deflection
Follow Sam Seaborn's journey
Charlie Young
primary

Neutral professionalism veiling concern

Charlie strides into Northwest Lobby alongside Sam, delivers concise update on President's library site loss and resultant bad mood, continues walking as Sam veers toward Communications Office—his steady presence a brief anchor before parting.

Goals in this moment
  • • Inform Sam of Bartlet's disposition promptly
  • • Maintain seamless relay of Oval intel
Active beliefs
  • • President's moods demand preemptive awareness
  • • Site setbacks compound re-election pressures
Character traits
deferential efficiency quiet competence
Follow Charlie Young's journey
Ginger
primary

Insistent professionalism overriding deference

Ginger intercepts Sam at Communications Office threshold, urgently flags the incoming call despite his plea to screen, insists on revealing the caller's identity—her poised insistence transforming the bullpen into crisis vector.

Goals in this moment
  • • Ensure critical security intel reaches Sam undelayed
  • • Block Sam's retreat amid operational frenzy
Active beliefs
  • • NSA summonses demand instant senior staff action
  • • Bullpen cannot afford downtime in crises
Character traits
sharp-eyed urgency duty-hardened immediacy
Follow Ginger's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

frustrated

Reportedly lost his first choice of site for the library due to an 18th century farmhouse and is in a mood.

Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
Northwest Lobby

Northwest Lobby serves as swift transit nexus where Sam and Charlie exchange Oval intel on Bartlet's library ire, its marble expanse echoing their clipped walk-and-talk before Sam diverts to bullpen—framing vulnerability amid vigilant hush as crises encroach.

Atmosphere Efficiently tense with purposeful strides
Function transit and conversation space
Symbolism Threshold between outer duties and inner sanctums
Access Restricted to cleared White House personnel
Rebounding marble floors under boots Shadowed doorways hinting at lurking fractures
Communications Bullpen

Communications Office bullpen erupts as interruption epicenter: Sam invades seeking Toby's refuge, but Ginger's NSA reveal detonates his rest, underscoring the space's role as relentless crisis nerve where exhaustion collides with duty's drumbeat.

Atmosphere Frantic hush pierced by urgent summons
Function site of pivotal interruption
Symbolism Emblem of White House's merciless pace
Access Senior staff and aides only
Cluttered desks under fluorescent glare Implied shrilling phones in bustle

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

"GINGER: "Sam, you just got a call.""
"SAM: "Ginger, do me a favor and catch the calls. I'm going to lie down in Toby's office for a few minutes.""
"GINGER: "Sam, it was the National Security Advisor.""