Object

Abbey's Book

Abbey slumps in a chair in the President's private study, the book splayed open across her lap as sleep overtakes her from late-night reading. Bartlet finds her this way upon entering and gently wakes her, the volume anchoring the scene of her exhaustion amid domestic teasing about candy sneaked to the children and girls.

2 appearances

Purpose

Personal reading material

Significance

Explains Abbey's sleepiness and frames the brief warm exchange with Bartlet, contrasting their intimacy against his pull toward duty—he quotes Frederick the Great and stays up to read news instead of joining her in bed.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Candy Confession and Quiet Duty

Abbey's book explains why she is asleep in the chair; it is the immediate prop that shows domestic fatigue and anchors the intimacy of the moment when Bartlet wakes her.

Before: Open across Abbey's lap as she has fallen asleep while reading.

After: Still present in her lap as she rouses and converses, indicating she did not fully wake to put it away.

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S4E15 · Inauguration Part II: Over There

Defend Everything, Defend Nothing

Abbey's book is the immediate prop that establishes her exhausted state: she has fallen asleep reading with the book splayed open in her lap. It narratively signals domestic weariness and anchors her presence without need for stage business.

Before: Open in Abbey's lap; she is asleep while reading.

After: Remains with Abbey (she wakes and then leaves for bed), presumably closed or left behind when she goes to bed.

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