The Black Vera Wang
Encyclopedia
"The Black Vera Wang" is episode 63 of The West Wing
. The title refers to a black dress by the designer Vera Wang
.
(Secret Service code name: "Flamingo") gets used to being tailed by Secret Service
Special Agent Simon Donovan (Mark Harmon
), the President must deal with a terrorist threat on a military installation. The threat begins with a general assessment of risk for overseas bases, but then shifts to some installations on the East Coast—including the White House. A lead on a possible terrorist operative also puts the Supreme Court on a security alert. When a terrorist is arrested outside Oakland, the President and his senior staffers realize the terrorists had targeted the Golden Gate Bridge. As shocking as this information is, the true stunner comes when information from Russian sources leads to the possibility that a high-ranking Middle Eastern diplomat is the terrorists' leader, and the President says they need to get more data to make a definite assessment.
Meanwhile, the networks are threatening to cut coverage of the upcoming conventions and Toby must deal with it. After some back and forth about the value of the civic process and the low ratings/lack of surprises, Toby uses anti-trust law to make his case. Sam
receives a copy of a TV commercial attacking the President. Sam has a Republican friend he wants to tell about the video they received. Bruno counsels him against it, but he goes ahead and does it anyway. This results in an act of betrayal that leaves Sam reeling. Bruno tells him: "When are you going to listen?"
Josh
, back from the Helsinki
summit, gives Donna
a box of cured moose meat. It turns out to be even more unappetizing than it appears. Worse than that, it shows up on eBay and Donna realizes an unpaid West Wing intern she gave the stuff to sold it. Josh wants the intern's name in order to fire him, but Donna refuses to let him do that. She then finds the intern, is not impressed by his excuses and says he won't be fired but will be transferred out of the West Wing and will have to pay back the money he got when Donna personally bought the moose meat in order to get it off eBay.
Tailed by Donovan, C.J. goes shopping with her niece to buy her a junior prom dress, however, she ends up buying the "Black Vera Wang" of the title. We also learn that Donovan shot and killed at least one of the men who tried to kill Charlie in Rosslyn. The significance of this shopping trip is revealed at the end of the episode, when Donovan learns that he may have had C.J.'s stalker in his sights and didn't realize it.
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 title refers to a black dress by the designer Vera Wang
Vera Wang
Vera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
.
Plot
While C. J. CreggC. 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...
(Secret Service code name: "Flamingo") gets used to being tailed by Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
Special Agent Simon Donovan (Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon is an American actor who has been starring in American television programs and films since the mid-1970s, after a career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS.-Early life:Harmon was born Thomas...
), the President must deal with a terrorist threat on a military installation. The threat begins with a general assessment of risk for overseas bases, but then shifts to some installations on the East Coast—including the White House. A lead on a possible terrorist operative also puts the Supreme Court on a security alert. When a terrorist is arrested outside Oakland, the President and his senior staffers realize the terrorists had targeted the Golden Gate Bridge. As shocking as this information is, the true stunner comes when information from Russian sources leads to the possibility that a high-ranking Middle Eastern diplomat is the terrorists' leader, and the President says they need to get more data to make a definite assessment.
Meanwhile, the networks are threatening to cut coverage of the upcoming conventions and Toby must deal with it. After some back and forth about the value of the civic process and the low ratings/lack of surprises, Toby uses anti-trust law to make his case. 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...
receives a copy of a TV commercial attacking the President. Sam has a Republican friend he wants to tell about the video they received. Bruno counsels him against it, but he goes ahead and does it anyway. This results in an act of betrayal that leaves Sam reeling. Bruno tells him: "When are you going to listen?"
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...
, back from the Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
summit, gives 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...
a box of cured moose meat. It turns out to be even more unappetizing than it appears. Worse than that, it shows up on eBay and Donna realizes an unpaid West Wing intern she gave the stuff to sold it. Josh wants the intern's name in order to fire him, but Donna refuses to let him do that. She then finds the intern, is not impressed by his excuses and says he won't be fired but will be transferred out of the West Wing and will have to pay back the money he got when Donna personally bought the moose meat in order to get it off eBay.
Tailed by Donovan, C.J. goes shopping with her niece to buy her a junior prom dress, however, she ends up buying the "Black Vera Wang" of the title. We also learn that Donovan shot and killed at least one of the men who tried to kill Charlie in Rosslyn. The significance of this shopping trip is revealed at the end of the episode, when Donovan learns that he may have had C.J.'s stalker in his sights and didn't realize it.