17 People
Encyclopedia
"17 People" is the 40th episode of The West Wing
. The episode was written as a "bottle episode
" to save money as the series had run up large over time costs. The episode starts the same night as the Stackhouse Filibuster, and takes place entirely within the West Wing main set. Other than the main cast only Ainsley Hayes, Ed
and Larry
guest star. For the first time in the series, CJ
does not appear, as the press has gone home and the bulk of the episode takes place after the "lid" has been put on, making it also the only episode in the first four seasons not to feature CJ.
's investigation of the Vice President
's activities leads to him asking Leo
why the Vice President does not believe that the President
will seek reelection. Leo tells the President that Toby is figuring out the story and they need to tell him the truth, and Toby becomes the seventeenth person, as far as Leo and Bartlet know, to learn that the President has MS
. He is also the first senior staffer to learn the news. After an initial period of horror and shock, Toby becomes angry at the President for covering up this information, and the President in turn becomes fiercely angry at Toby. Toby explains his concerns about the Presidential line of succession, and about the gray area in Presidential authority in the wake of the shooting at Rosslyn when the president was under a general anesthetic. Toby goes on the explain that he is willing to bet that Leo, and not the Vice President, was giving the orders in the situation room that night, stating that, "For 90 minutes that night there was a coup d'état in this country!" The President, now furious, tells Toby to shut up, and demands to know, "Are you pissed because I didn't say anything or are you pissed that 15 people knew before you did?"
Toby and Leo then talk, and Toby says that they need to prepare for the news to become public and for the Democratic Party to learn that the sitting President may not seek re-election (Toby doesn't know at this point that President Bartlet made a deal with the First Lady to only run for one term as President) and that impeachment hearings are a certainty. The President does not apologize to Toby for getting angry at him, but does apologize for not revealing sooner about his MS. They agree that they need to consult with legal authorities, and Toby leaves the Oval Office in a barely concealed state of shock.
As Toby's world is being shaken to the core, Josh
and Sam
gather people to punch up the jokes for the Correspondents' Dinner. The jokes are pretty bad across the board. Toby arrives from the most gut-wrenching meeting he's ever had and sits down to work with them, but no one notices the look on his face.
Sam and Ainsley debate the need for the Equal Rights Amendment
to the constitution. Sam is very surprised that Ainsley is not a fan of the ERA. She says that the amendment says implicitly that she's an inferior citizen and notes her view isn't popular at her alma mater of Smith, then noting that as a straight, outspoken Republican she wasn't very popular there in the first place.
Donna
tells Josh the story of how she came back to work for him. She says that she was dating a med student at the University of Wisconsin and she was in a car crash one night, but the guy stopped at a bar to have a drink with his friends before coming to see if she was OK. While her injuries were minor, Donna found out he'd waited before coming to the hospital and immediately broke up with him and left college, after which she drove out to join the Bartlet for America team. Josh said that if he heard Donna was hurt, he wouldn't stop for a drink. She says if she heard Josh was hurt "I wouldn't stop for red lights".
The President tells Toby that Toby is the 16th person to find out, but Toby points out that the President wasn't counting himself. The total, therefore, is 17 people. It is revealed in the following episode that 18 people knew, since, unbeknownst to the President, Zoey had told Charlie Young
.
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
. The episode was written as a "bottle episode
Bottle episode
The term bottle episode is used in episodic television to refer to episodes which are produced using the least money, and restricted in their scope to use as few, or no, non-regular cast members, effects, and sets as possible...
" to save money as the series had run up large over time costs. The episode starts the same night as the Stackhouse Filibuster, and takes place entirely within the West Wing main set. Other than the main cast only Ainsley Hayes, Ed
Ed and Larry
Ed and Larry are fictional characters on the television series The West Wing, played by Peter James Smith and William Duffy. They are secondary characters, both of whom work in the White House...
and Larry
Ed and Larry
Ed and Larry are fictional characters on the television series The West Wing, played by Peter James Smith and William Duffy. They are secondary characters, both of whom work in the White House...
guest star. For the first time in the series, CJ
C. J. Cregg
Claudia Jean "C. J." Cregg is a fictional character played by Allison Janney on the television serial drama The West Wing. From the beginning of the series until the sixth season, she is White House Press Secretary in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet...
does not appear, as the press has gone home and the bulk of the episode takes place after the "lid" has been put on, making it also the only episode in the first four seasons not to feature CJ.
Plot
TobyToby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
's investigation of the Vice President
John Hoynes
John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
's activities leads to him asking Leo
Leo McGarry
Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
why the Vice President does not believe that the President
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
will seek reelection. Leo tells the President that Toby is figuring out the story and they need to tell him the truth, and Toby becomes the seventeenth person, as far as Leo and Bartlet know, to learn that the President has MS
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. He is also the first senior staffer to learn the news. After an initial period of horror and shock, Toby becomes angry at the President for covering up this information, and the President in turn becomes fiercely angry at Toby. Toby explains his concerns about the Presidential line of succession, and about the gray area in Presidential authority in the wake of the shooting at Rosslyn when the president was under a general anesthetic. Toby goes on the explain that he is willing to bet that Leo, and not the Vice President, was giving the orders in the situation room that night, stating that, "For 90 minutes that night there was a coup d'état in this country!" The President, now furious, tells Toby to shut up, and demands to know, "Are you pissed because I didn't say anything or are you pissed that 15 people knew before you did?"
Toby and Leo then talk, and Toby says that they need to prepare for the news to become public and for the Democratic Party to learn that the sitting President may not seek re-election (Toby doesn't know at this point that President Bartlet made a deal with the First Lady to only run for one term as President) and that impeachment hearings are a certainty. The President does not apologize to Toby for getting angry at him, but does apologize for not revealing sooner about his MS. They agree that they need to consult with legal authorities, and Toby leaves the Oval Office in a barely concealed state of shock.
As Toby's world is being shaken to the core, Josh
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
and Sam
Sam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
gather people to punch up the jokes for the Correspondents' Dinner. The jokes are pretty bad across the board. Toby arrives from the most gut-wrenching meeting he's ever had and sits down to work with them, but no one notices the look on his face.
Sam and Ainsley debate the need for the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
to the constitution. Sam is very surprised that Ainsley is not a fan of the ERA. She says that the amendment says implicitly that she's an inferior citizen and notes her view isn't popular at her alma mater of Smith, then noting that as a straight, outspoken Republican she wasn't very popular there in the first place.
Donna
Donna Moss
Donnatella "Donna" Moss is a fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the television serial drama The West Wing. Donna is a recurring character during the first season, although she appears in every episode, making her a de facto regular...
tells Josh the story of how she came back to work for him. She says that she was dating a med student at the University of Wisconsin and she was in a car crash one night, but the guy stopped at a bar to have a drink with his friends before coming to see if she was OK. While her injuries were minor, Donna found out he'd waited before coming to the hospital and immediately broke up with him and left college, after which she drove out to join the Bartlet for America team. Josh said that if he heard Donna was hurt, he wouldn't stop for a drink. She says if she heard Josh was hurt "I wouldn't stop for red lights".
The 17 people
- The 17 people are:
- President Bartlet
- Abbey BartletAbbey BartletDr. Abigail Anne "Abbey" Barrington Bartlet, MD, is a fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the television serial drama, The West Wing. In the show, she is the First Lady of the United States, the wife of President Josiah Bartlet.-Overview:...
- The President's daughters ElizabethElizabeth BartletElizabeth "Lizzie" Anne Bartlet Westin is a fictional character played by Annabeth Gish on the television serial drama The West Wing. Elizabeth is the oldest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters.She is a married mother of two—daughter Annie and son Gus. Her husband is...
, Ellie, and ZoeyZoey BartletZoey Patricia Bartlet is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the television serial drama The West Wing. Zoey is the youngest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters, and is more prominently featured in the series than either of her sisters.Zoey and... - The President's brother Jonathan
- The six doctors and radiologists involved in the initial diagnosis
- Leo McGarryLeo McGarryLeo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
, the White House Chief of StaffWhite House Chief of StaffThe White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:... - Vice President John HoynesJohn HoynesJohn Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
- Admiral FitzwallacePercy FitzwallaceAdmiral Percy "Fitz" Fitzwallace, played by John Amos, is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing. In the universe of the show, he is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff....
, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense... - Doctor David Lee, the anesthesiologistAnesthesiologistAn anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
at George Washington University Hospital, who was told by Abbey Bartlet on the nightIn the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I"In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I" is the 23rd episode of The West Wing and the first episode of the second season.-Plot:After the shooting at Rosslyn President Bartlet is rushed back towards the White House … but the limo has to turn around quickly when it's discovered he's been hit in the side...
the President was shot - Toby ZieglerToby ZieglerTobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
, the White House Communications DirectorWhite House Communications DirectorThe White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States, and is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the President and leading its media campaign...
The President tells Toby that Toby is the 16th person to find out, but Toby points out that the President wasn't counting himself. The total, therefore, is 17 people. It is revealed in the following episode that 18 people knew, since, unbeknownst to the President, Zoey had told Charlie Young
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
.