The West Wing
S3E1
· Manchester Part I

Leo Penetrates the Bartlet Family Sanctuary

A black Lincoln bearing Chief of Staff Leo McGarry approaches the guarded Bartlet family farm, its gravel driveway lined with parked SUVs signaling the intrusion of campaign machinery into this private retreat. At the guardhouse, Leo—stoic in the backseat—learns the President is out by the pasture. Nodding silently, he proceeds slowly toward the house, embodying the inescapable pull of re-election crises, MS fallout, and Abbey's fury on Bartlet's defiant seclusion, bridging Washington turmoil to personal confrontation.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

A black Lincoln arrives at the guarded entrance to the Bartlet farm, greeted by a guard who informs Leo McGarry of the President's location.

anticipation to direction ['gravel driveway', 'wooden fence', 'pasture']

Leo acknowledges the guard's instructions and the car proceeds slowly up the driveway toward the main house.

direction to anticipation ['driveway']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Abigail Bartlet
primary

Isolated resolve inferred from his chosen retreat position

President Jed Bartlet is referenced by the Guard as currently located out by the pasture, away from the house, drawing Leo's approach into his secluded rural defiance.

Goals in this moment
  • • Seek momentary respite from Washington pressures
  • • Prepare mentally for re-election confrontation
Active beliefs
  • • Personal space fortifies command amid scandal
  • • Crises demand unflinching leadership from exile
Character traits
secluded defiant
Follow Abigail Bartlet's journey
Leo McGarry
primary

Stoic calm veiling urgent resolve amid encroaching crises

Leo sits stoically in the backseat of the black Lincoln with the window rolled down, receiving the guard's greeting and directive, then nods silently as the car creeps forward up the driveway toward the President's location.

Goals in this moment
  • • Gain access to confer with President Bartlet on re-election and Haiti matters
  • • Bridge the political siege back to Bartlet's personal seclusion
Active beliefs
  • • Duty demands intrusion into private spaces during national emergencies
  • • The President requires his unyielding counsel despite tensions
Character traits
stoic resolute loyal
Follow Leo McGarry's journey
Guard
primary

Professionally composed and routinely authoritative

The White House Guard stands at the guardhouse, greeting Leo McGarry by name with professional courtesy, informing him of the President's pasture location, and explicitly granting permission to proceed up the driveway.

Goals in this moment
  • • Verify and authorize Leo's entry per security protocol
  • • Direct visitor to the President's exact position efficiently
Active beliefs
  • • Protocol ensures protection even for high-level insiders
  • • Leo McGarry merits trusted access to the President
Character traits
professional vigilant deferential
Follow Guard's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Driveway of the Bartlet Family Farm

The gravel driveway serves as the threshold where Leo's Lincoln halts at the guardhouse for clearance, lined with parked SUVs and cars that visually intrude campaign machinery into the farm's pastoral quietude, propelling the narrative from external approach to intimate presidential access amid re-election tensions.

Atmosphere Tense rural hush pierced by political vehicles and security scrutiny
Function Security checkpoint and approach path to the house and pasture
Symbolism Threshold bridging Washington's turmoil with Bartlet's personal defiance
Access Guarded perimeter requiring explicit permission for entry
Long gravel surface crunching under tires Flanked by wooden fence and overhanging trees Parked black SUVs and cars signaling intrusion Distant large white house barely visible

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

"GUARD: "Good morning, Mr. McGarry. You can go on up. He's out by the pasture.""