The Long Goodbye (The West Wing)
Encyclopedia
"The Long Goodbye" is episode 78 of The West Wing
. Due to its unconventional story located mostly outside of the White House, it is the first episode of the entire series not to feature Martin Sheen
as President Josiah Bartlet
and Janel Moloney
as Donna Moss
.
goes home to Dayton
—and finds herself in the middle of an achingly sad family crisis—in this poignant change-of-pace episode. She's making the trip to speak at her 20th high-school reunion, but when she arrives at her father's house, she discovers that his new wife (her old English teacher) has left him. That is troublesome enough, but the fact that her father has Alzheimer's
makes it almost unbearably heartbreaking. C.J. does find a soulmate at Dayton's airport, though, a classmate named Marco, who was a punk rocker in high school and now repairs watches.
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...
. Due to its unconventional story located mostly outside of the White House, it is the first episode of the entire series not to feature Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
as President Josiah Bartlet
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...
and Janel Moloney
Janel Moloney
Janel Moloney is an American actress, best known for her role as Donnatella "Donna" Moss on the television series The West Wing.-Personal life:...
as Donna Moss
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...
.
Plot
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...
goes home to Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
—and finds herself in the middle of an achingly sad family crisis—in this poignant change-of-pace episode. She's making the trip to speak at her 20th high-school reunion, but when she arrives at her father's house, she discovers that his new wife (her old English teacher) has left him. That is troublesome enough, but the fact that her father has Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
makes it almost unbearably heartbreaking. C.J. does find a soulmate at Dayton's airport, though, a classmate named Marco, who was a punk rocker in high school and now repairs watches.