Leo's Deflection: The Josh Question Left Hanging
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Leo, frustrated and on the phone with the Times crossword editor, asserts his correctness with a mix of sarcasm and authority, revealing his detailed knowledge and personal stakes in the matter.
C.J. interrupts Leo's phone call, signaling the urgency and constant demands of their roles, as Leo laments being hung up on.
C.J. briefs Leo on immediate issues like Nightline and a potential press leak, but he deflects each with curt, decisive responses, showcasing their efficient yet strained dynamic.
C.J. presses Leo about Josh's precarious position, but Leo deflects with uncertainty about the President's unpredictable nature, revealing the deeper tension and stakes.
Leo abruptly exits, leaving the unresolved tension about Josh's fate hanging, underscoring the uncertainty and pressure within the administration.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Determined urgency tempered by deference and dawning frustration
C.J. waves to Margaret upon entering, urgently briefs Leo on Nightline's East Asia slot and A3-C3 leak concerns, presses gently on Josh amid deflections, absorbs Leo's Presidential caveat with resigned 'Yeah,' left standing as he departs—embodying the press secretary's poised pursuit of clarity.
- • Secure Leo's insight on leaks and Josh to shape press strategy
- • Gauge Presidential reaction to brewing scandals
- • Leo's proximity to the President yields predictive value
- • Proactive damage control prevents media escalation
Neutral attentiveness
Margaret is present off-frame as C.J. waves to her upon entry, serving as silent gatekeeper to Leo's office but not engaging verbally or actively in the exchange.
- • Facilitate smooth staff access
- • Routine greetings maintain operational flow
Leo starts on the phone in a bombastic, pseudo-anonymous rant about the crossword puzzle, hangs up abruptly upon C.J.'s entry, …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The kitchen landline is the instrument of tonal contrast: it carries the caller's belligerent crossword rant, is lifted and then hung up by Leo, and marks the shift from private domestic ritual to urgent professional business.
The New York Times crossword is the conversational prop that humanizes Leo and triggers the caller's tirade; it establishes Leo's domesticity and provides ironic contrast to the sudden institutional crisis.
The A3‑C3 Leak Coordinate Note is the compact clue that catalyzes the crisis conversation; invoked verbally by C.J., it crystallizes the leak's location and forces naming of Hutchison and rapid response actions.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Leo's office is the intimate administrative space where domesticity (crossword, kitchen phone) collides with institutional urgency. It serves as the immediate stage for the interruption, decision naming (Hutchison), and the refusal to speculate about Josh, compressing private voice and public machinery.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"C.J.: There might be a press leak on A3-C3."
"LEO: Please don't ask me about Josh."
"LEO: I've known him forty years, C.J. And all I can promise you is that on any given day there's really no predicting what he's going to choose to care about."