The West Wing
S3E9
· Bartlet for America (Restructured) Flashback

Leo's Strained Sobriety Amid Donor Drinks

In the cigar-smoke-filled haze of his St. Louis hotel suite during a flashback fundraising gathering, Leo McGarry's jovial facade cracks as he fixates on donors' scotch glasses, his sobriety fracturing under temptation. He awkwardly pivots to business to evade cravings, but CEO 1 directly tempts him with a '$30 sip.' Leo resists with a forced nonchalance, claiming he must 'stay sharp,' exposing his vulnerability and the personal cost of political maneuvering in a pivotal setup for his relapse secrecy.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Leo struggles with temptation as he watches the donors drink, forcing a smile while clearly battling his urge to join them.

tension to strained control ['Cigar smoke-filled hotel suite']

Leo attempts to redirect the gathering's focus away from drinking by suggesting they 'get to it', masking his discomfort.

discomfort to attempted diversion

CEO 1 directly tempts Leo with expensive scotch, heightening his internal struggle as he visibly fixates on the drink.

temptation to heightened tension

Leo resists the offer with a forced explanation about needing to stay sharp, his strained demeanor revealing his true struggle.

strained control to visible vulnerability

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4
Shanahan
primary

Strained joviality veiling intense temptation and internal torment over sobriety

Chuckles jovially with donors but facial strain betrays his fixation on scotch glasses; awkwardly changes subject to business with 'Should we get to it?'; stares intensely at CEO 2's glass while struggling internally, then nods and responds nonchalantly 'Naw... I gotta stay sharp for tonight' to resist temptation.

Goals in this moment
  • • Deflect temptation by pivoting to business
  • • Preserve sobriety to remain sharp for the campaign
Active beliefs
  • • Alcohol undermines professional sharpness
  • • Political duty demands personal sacrifice
Character traits
Resilient Vulnerable Disciplined Evasive
Follow Shanahan's journey
Democratic Donor
primary

Unburdened joviality oblivious to Leo's inner struggle

Chuckles jovially with Leo and others, drinks scotch, contributing to the lull in conversation that heightens Leo's fixation on their glasses; present as part of the tempting donor group in the smoke-filled suite.

Goals in this moment
  • • Enjoy the fundraising social atmosphere
  • • Support campaign through relaxed camaraderie
Active beliefs
  • • Shared indulgence cements loyalty to Bartlet
  • • Casual gatherings advance political funding
Character traits
Jovial Partisan Socially influential
Follow Democratic Donor's journey
CEO 2
primary

Playfully jovial with underlying awareness of Leo's tension

Chuckles jovially while sipping scotch, holds up his glass to tempt Leo with 'You don't wanna find out what a thirty dollar sip of scotch tastes like?'; then sets drink down and stands up, shifting the dynamic.

Goals in this moment
  • • Tempt Leo into sharing a drink to build camaraderie
  • • Test Leo's resolve amid fundraising banter
Active beliefs
  • • Luxury indulgences like scotch foster donor bonds
  • • Light provocation strengthens political alliances
Character traits
Jovial Provocative Casual Assertive
Follow CEO 2's journey
Leo McGarry
primary
Character traits
stoic assertive resolute loyal compassionate
Follow Leo McGarry's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Scotch (Prohibited Beverage — Oval Office Mention)

The glass of scotch in CEO 2's hand becomes the focal point of Leo's temptation, held up provocatively as a '$30 sip' lure that exposes his sobriety battle; it symbolizes luxury's pull against restraint, driving Leo's evasion and underscoring the event's emotional stakes in his relapse arc.

Before: Held and sipped by CEO 2 during jovial …
After: Set down on a surface as CEO 2 …
Before: Held and sipped by CEO 2 during jovial laughter
After: Set down on a surface as CEO 2 stands

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
St. Louis (City)

Leo's intimate hotel suite in St. Louis serves as the hazy backdrop for this flashback fundraiser, where cigar smoke obscures details and amplifies tension; it confines the action to a pressure-cooker of temptation, joviality masking Leo's vulnerability amid donor pressures pivotal to his political maneuvering.

Atmosphere Thick cigar-smoke haze blending jovial laughter with underlying strain and temptation
Function Private venue for high-stakes donor schmoozing
Symbolism Sanctuary turned site of personal moral peril and sobriety trial
Access Exclusive to Leo and select donors, shielded from public scrutiny
Dense cigar smoke veiling identities and intensifying intimacy Scotch glasses scattered among laughing men

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

"LEO: Should we get to it?"
"CEO 1: ([holding up his glass]) You don't wanna find out what a thirty dollar sip of scotch tastes like?"
"LEO: ([nods]) Naw... I gotta... stay sharp for tonight."