Object

Western .38 Revolver (FBI evidence — S1E03: "A Proportional Response")

A compact .38‑caliber double‑action revolver: short serviceable barrel, six‑shot cylinder, dark blued‑metal finish and a worn wooden grip. Its surfaces read as utilitarian and handled rather than decorative, carrying scratches and patina consistent with use. The gun is not physically present in the hallway but exists in FBI records and a hallway computer query; characters respond to its identification with visible recoil and sober restraint, translating private pain into procedural focus.

3 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S1E3 · A Proportional Response

Steadying Charlie — Bartlet Recruits Him Amid Crisis

The Western .38 revolver exists not physically in the room but as forensic information referenced by Bartlet and attributed to the FBI's quick pull; it supplies the moral and evidentiary weight behind the promise of legislative and enforcement action.

Before: Not physically present; exists in FBI records and database entries consulted by staff.

After: Remains a piece of investigative data cited publicly and privately; its identification propels promised policy action.

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S1E3 · A Proportional Response

From Grief to Duty — Bartlet Recruits Charlie

The Western .38 revolver is not physically present but is narratively active as the identified murder weapon in FBI findings; it catalyzes Bartlet's promise of legislative action and converts Charlie's private loss into a tangible policy grievance.

Before: Recorded in FBI files and ballistic databases; not in the room physically.

After: Remains part of the investigative record cited publicly and used to justify the administration's legislative intent.

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S1E3 · A Proportional Response

A Quiet Joke, Then the President's Strike

The Western .38 Revolver is invoked as forensic evidence in Bartlet's explanation to Charlie — a narrative catalyst that converts grief into policy momentum and justifies the promise to pursue legislative restrictions.

Before: Not physically present in the room; exists as forensic identification in FBI records and computer output.

After: Remains an evidentiary referent in the conversation; its identification helps rationalize administration action and Charlie's recruitment.

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