In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II
Encyclopedia
"In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II" is the 24th episode of The West Wing
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. He steps outside for a smoke, and is immediately caught in a spotlight and surrounded by dozens of Federal agents, quickly forced to surrender, and arrested.
Charlie later comes by as the President is awake and recovering from his surgery. After being informed that the attackers were white supremacists, Charlie expresses surprise that they tried to kill the President because of Zoey's relationship with Charlie. Secret Service Agent Butterfield clarifies that "the President wasn't the target," and Charlie is horrified to realize the shooters were trying to murder him.
Toby is upset because the President exited the venue in the open air, which was a security change from the previous method of having him leave buildings under a tent or canopy. Toby was the main proponent of this change and wants to reveal this fact to the media. Agent Butterfield refuses to allow him to do so, saying Toby was not responsible for an act of madmen, that the Secret Service would never let anyone prevent them from protecting the President, and that the Secret Service does not comment on security procedures at any time.
While Josh continues to undergo surgery, further flashbacks show how the entire main Bartlet team came together and pulled off a miracle:
As we return to the present time, Josh wakes up for the first time after his surgery, and whispers "what's next?" to the President.
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...
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Plot
The episode opens with the surviving member of the trio of gunmen from the Rosslyn assassination sitting in the Dixie Pig restaurant in Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. He steps outside for a smoke, and is immediately caught in a spotlight and surrounded by dozens of Federal agents, quickly forced to surrender, and arrested.
Charlie later comes by as the President is awake and recovering from his surgery. After being informed that the attackers were white supremacists, Charlie expresses surprise that they tried to kill the President because of Zoey's relationship with Charlie. Secret Service Agent Butterfield clarifies that "the President wasn't the target," and Charlie is horrified to realize the shooters were trying to murder him.
Toby is upset because the President exited the venue in the open air, which was a security change from the previous method of having him leave buildings under a tent or canopy. Toby was the main proponent of this change and wants to reveal this fact to the media. Agent Butterfield refuses to allow him to do so, saying Toby was not responsible for an act of madmen, that the Secret Service would never let anyone prevent them from protecting the President, and that the Secret Service does not comment on security procedures at any time.
While Josh continues to undergo surgery, further flashbacks show how the entire main Bartlet team came together and pulled off a miracle:
- Sam becomes disillusioned with his corporate law job and particularly with protecting an oil company from liability in their plan to purchase out-dated, single-hull oil tankers. In the end, he has a change of heart and tries to convince the oil company to purchase state-of-the-art tankers, only to be harshly rebuked by his firm's chairman. When Josh returns to Sam's office and points to the grin on his face, Sam realizes that his friend saw "the real thing" at Josiah BartletJosiah BartletJosiah 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...
's rally in New Hampshire, and quits his job on the spot to join him on the trip to ManchesterManchester, New HampshireManchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. - C.J. has a very high-paying job at a Hollywood PR firm. When she isn't able to secure award nominations for a studio's bad films, comparing them to New CokeNew CokeNew Coke was the reformulation of Coca-Cola introduced in 1985 by The Coca-Cola Company to replace the original formula of its flagship soft drink, Coca-Cola...
and calling them "just bad", the studio chairman (played by Allen Garfield whose costume in the episode was the actor's actual clothing) tells her boss that he will pull all of his business from them if C.J. is not fired. The newly unemployed C.J. returns home to find Toby waiting for her. She promptly falls into her swimming pool, and while she dries off, Toby tells her that 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...
was impressed with her work with EMILY's ListEMILY's ListEMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
and wants her to come work for them. - Donna is a campaign volunteer in Manchester. She lists her checkered and uncompleted undergraduate work to a skeptical Josh, who tells her they can't afford to bring her to South Carolina. She says she will go for free and sleep in her car. Impressed by her talk about finding her place again, Josh gives her his staff badge so she can begin her work on the campaign.
- The team has a hard time dealing with Jed Bartlet's hyperfocused style, but they gain momentum after a surprising third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. They then discuss a plan to stay close to John Hoynes and earn delegates and donors from another candidate, banking on a win in Illinois that will lead them to run the table on the way to the nomination. Jed is irritable throughout these discussions, consistently asking, "What's next?" When one of his staff insists on elaborating, Jed snaps,"When I say 'what's next?" it means I'm ready to move on to other things."
- On primary night in Illinois, Josh finds out that Jed has won, but his celebrations are interrupted when Donna gives him the news that his father has died. As Josh waits for a flight home for the funeral, Jed meets him at the airport, assuring him that his father was proud of him. Jed acknowledges that he has failed to make his staff feel appreciated, and offers to join Josh on his trip home. Josh reminds Jed to focus on the campaign but thanks him for the offer. As he watches Josh board the plane, Jed, who had been doubting himself until that night, tells Leo "I'm ready," and makes a stirring victory speech in voiceover.
As we return to the present time, Josh wakes up for the first time after his surgery, and whispers "what's next?" to the President.