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CRISIS BREWS IN SEASON FINALE -- The Haitian army besieges the American Embassy there and Bartlet (Martin Sheen) continues his campaign to sufficiently fund the Justice Department's case against Big Tobacco. Additionally, Toby (Richard Schiff) gets a surprising job offer and the President gets some sage advice from an unexpected corner.

Summary[]

Opening[]

Two members of Congress are in Leo's office, upset at only just finding out about the President's illness.  They want to know if the President is planning to run for reelection.

Act I[]

Toby is frantically preparing for the interview with the President and the First Lady with Sam - "the show must go on."  Ginger tells Toby that Leo's office put an appointment back on Toby's schedule for the afternoon.  C.J. tells Carol to go get three reporters and bring them to her office to start leaking the MS story.  Josh brings C.J. a draft press release about the tobacco suit that while strongly worded and well-written, C.J. tells him that it has be shelved for a while in the light of the MS story and the situation in Haiti.  Sam is holding a meeting with party strategists about what would happen if Bartlet chooses not to run.

Leo and the President are in the Situation Room with staff discussing Haiti.  The President is not focused on the briefing and, in flashback, he recalls the first time he met Mrs. Landingham, who was hired to be his father's secretary at the boarding school where Jed attended.  Back in the Situation Room - the President decides to send Fitzwallace to Haiti to try and negotiate a resolution.

The President walks back to the Oval Office with Charlie and they talk about an early-season tropical storm that has formed and is moving up the East Coast.  They then talk about National Cathedral and the upcoming service.  When asked by Charlie if there is anything else he needs, the President replies, "I need pallbearers."

Act II[]

C.J. is giving a briefing to the press primarily focusing on Haiti.  Carol calls the three reporters back to C.J.'s office.  As C.J. walks back to her office - Sam stops to tell her they need to move the press conference from the East Room and they have to prepare a list of alternatives.  In C.J.'s office, she leaks the MS story to the three reporters.

In the Oval Office the President and Leo are getting a briefing on what impact the MS story may have on the financial markets.  Margaret comes in to tell Leo and the President the motorcade is ready.  She mentions to Leo that it is going to be a non-denominational service, which leads the President to another flashback, remembering a conversation with Mrs. Landingham about non-denominational services and his relationship with his father.

In the car on the way to the cathedral, Abby and Jed talk about the drunk driver that killed Mrs. Landingham.  They arrive at the cathedral and the service begins.  While listening, the President has another flashback, remembering another conversation with Mrs. Landingham, where he went to his father at her request to seek salary parity for female teachers at the school.  He tells her that, "if you want to convince me - show me numbers."

Act III[]

The service concludes and the President continues to recollect the series of conversations he had with Mrs. Landingham - she realizes that he is going to talk to his father - he asks her why she thinks that - she tells him, "you stuck your hands in your pockets, looked away and smiled."

Following the end of the service, Leo and the President talk - the President asks for the cathedral to be sealed.  The President, walking toward the altar, proceeds to rant at God in both English and Latin.  He then doubles back to the transept, lights a cigarette, takes a drag, and then crushes it out under his foot.  The last thing he says in the cathedral is, "You get Hoynes!"

Act IV[]

Back at the White House, Sam, Toby, Josh, and C.J. are planning for the responses to the reelection question.  Toby has his meeting - he is offered a job as a news director at a new cable news channel.  In Josh's office, he and Donna are talking about how the decision is being made, when Leo calls - the President has made up his mind.  Toby comes to Josh to rant about Leo getting him a job offer - when Josh tells him the President has decided not to run.

Later, the interview has just completed and the White House staff is awaiting the start of the Press Conference.  Leo brings the President back to the Oval Office to rest for a few minutes before leaving for the press conference.  Toby appears insulted that Leo got him a job offer -- a "life boat" -- and asks if Leo thought there was any chance he would take it.  Leo says no, he didn't think so -- it was "to show him [the President] that" Toby wouldn't take it.  Toby asks Leo if he thinks the President is going to change his mind.  Leo does not answer, instead confirming again that "CJ's in her office."

C.J. comes to see the President to tell him to call on a medical reporter first to avoid the reelection questions right off the bat.  In his final flashback - the President recalls a conversation with his father at the school, where Jed had written an article in the school newspaper about banning books.  The two argue and Jed's father strikes him.

Back in the Oval Office, the President has one final "meeting" with Mrs. Landingham - they go back and forth about numbers and statistics - and the President changes his mind.  The President steps out into the rain on the portico and Charlie comes to get him - it's time for the Press Conference.  The staff leave for the Press Conference in silence - at the locale - C.J. is fielding questions.  Upon the President's arrival - Carol nods to C.J. to tell her the President is there.

The President takes the podium and asks if there are any questions.  Instead of calling on the medical reporter, he asks another reporter - who immediately asks if he is planning to run for reelection.  Leo realizes what is happening and tells the other staff to "watch this."  The President puts his hands in his pockets, looks away, and smiles.

Cast[]

Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn
Dulé Hill as Charlie Young
Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg
Janel Moloney as Donna Moss
Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler
John Spencer as Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman
and Martin Sheen as President Bartlet

Special Guest Star

Stockard Channing as Abigail Bartlet

Guest Starring

Anna Deavere Smith as Nancy McNally
Kirsten Nelson as Young Dolores Landingham
Jason Widener as Young Josiah Bartlet
Don McManus as Greg Summerhays
NiCole Robinson as Margaret Hooper
Lawrence O'Donnell as Dr. Bartlet
Gregalan Williams as Robbie Mosley
John Bennett Perry as Bill Wakefield
Kathryn Joosten as Dolores Landingham
Fred Ornstein as Congressman Harry Wade
Bill Gratton as Advisor #1

Co-Starring

Melissa Fitzgerald as Carol Fitzpatrick
Devika Parikh as Bonnie
William Duffy as Larry
Peter James Smith as Ed
Kim Webster as Ginger
Patrick Thomas O'Brien as Hanson
Christopher Murray as Tony Phillips
Shelley Malil as Renfro
Angelo Tiffe as Greenway
Jane Lynch as Lucy, Reporter
Charles Noland as Steve, Reporter
E.E. Bell as Advisor #2
Robert A. Becker as Monohan
Trevor Eddy as Young Bartlet's Friend
Doris McMillon as Sandy, Reporter
Ivan Allen as Roger Salier
Lewis Grenville as Reporter
Wendy Poole as Staffer

Quotes[]

Harry, Bill, there's gonna be a press conference tonight. I'd watch
—Leo
Notebooks, no tape recorders, the story's embargoed for an hour, and you'll identify me as a Senior White House Official.  [closes door to her office]
—C.J.
Look at you. You're a boy king. You're a foot smarter than the smartest kids in the class. You're blessed with inspiration. You must know this by now
—Young Dolores Landingham
You're a son of a b****, you know that? She bought her first new car and you hit her with a drunk driver.  What, is that supposed to be funny? "You can't conceive, nor can I, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God," says Graham Greene. I don't know whose ass he was kissing there, because I think you're just vindictive. What was Josh Lyman, a warning shot? That was my son. What did I ever do to Yours but praise His glory, praise His name? There's a tropical storm that's gaining speed and power. They say we haven't had a storm this bad since you took out that tender ship of mine in the North Atlantic last year. 68 crew - you know what a tender ship does? It fixes the other ships - doesn't even carry guns - it just goes around and fixes the other ships, delivers the mail - that's all it can do. Gratias tibi ago, domine. Yes, I lied. I committed a sin, I've committed many sins. Have I displeased you, you feckless thug? 3.8 million new jobs - that wasn't good? Bailed out Mexico, increased foreign trade? 30 million new acres for conservation? Put Mendoza on the bench? We're not fighting a war - I've raised three children - that's not enough to buy me out of the doghouse? Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto, a deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem. Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui. Officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem!  You get Hoynes!
—President Bartlet
You know, if you don't want to run again, I respect that. But if you don't run cause you think it will be too hard or you think you're going to lose, well, God, Jed, I don't even want to know you
—Dolores Landingham

Trivia[]

  • English translation of the President's Latin rant:
”I give thanks to you, O Lord. Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a holy God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth, your messenger. I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you!”
  • In an apparent echo of his actions in the school chapel four decades earlier, Jed lights up in the cathedral, then grinds out the cigarette on the floor.

ERRORS

  • Due to security concerns, the President would not likely walk to his seat in the cathedral down the main aisle. He would likely be brought in a side entrance - after everyone has been seated. The same for the end of the service - the President would leave first before anyone else would be allowed to leave.
  • In the closing scene - the President is traveling to the Press Conference, as a custodian finds the cigarette butt on the floor of the cathedral - the motorcade passes by. The motorcade would not pass the cathedral on its way from the White House to the State Department.
  • In the beginning part of the episode the President's motorcade heads northwest on Pennsylvania avenue with the Capitol in the background when the President is in transit to the National Cathedral. The motorcade would not travel by the Capitol on its way from the White House to the National Cathedral.

Music[]

brothers in arms | DIRE STRAITS
end of the episode


EPISODES
I PilotPost Hoc, Ergo Propter HocA Proportional ResponseFive Votes Down
The Crackpots and These WomenMr. Willis of OhioThe State DinnerEnemiesThe Short List
In Excelsis DeoLord John MarburyHe Shall, from Time to Time...Take Out the Trash Day
Take This Sabbath DayCelestial Navigation20 Hours in L.A.The White House Pro-Am
Six Meetings Before LunchLet Bartlet Be BartletMandatory Minimums
Lies, Damn Lies and StatisticsWhat Kind of Day Has It Been?
II In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part I)In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part II)The Midterms
In This White HouseAnd It's Surely to Their CreditThe Lame Duck CongressThe Portland Trip
ShibbolethGalileoNoëlThe Leadership BreakfastThe Drop-In
Bartlet's Third State of the UnionThe War at HomeEllie
Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to JailThe Stackhouse Filibuster
17 PeopleBad Moon RisingThe Fall's Gonna Kill You18th and PotomacTwo Cathedrals
III Manchester (Part I)Manchester (Part II)Ways and MeansOn the Day BeforeWar CrimesGone QuietThe Indians in the LobbyThe Women of QumarBartlet for AmericaH.Con - 172100,000 AirplanesThe Two BartletsNight FiveHartsfield's LandingDead Irish Writers
The U.S. Poet LaureateStirredEnemies Foreign and DomesticThe Black Vera Wang
We Killed YamamotoPosse Comitatus
IV 20 Hours in America (Part I)20 Hours in America (Part II)College KidsThe Red Mass
Debate CampGame OnElection NightProcess StoriesSwiss DiplomacyArctic Radar
Holy NightGuns Not ButterThe Long GoodbyeInauguration (Part I)
Inauguration: Over There (Part II)The California 47thRed Haven's on FirePrivateers
Angel MaintenanceEvidence of Things Not SeenLife On MarsCommencementTwenty-Five
V 7A WF 83429The Dogs of WarJefferson LivesHanA Constituency of OneDisaster ReliefSeparation of PowersShutdownAbu el BanatThe Stormy PresentThe Benign PrerogativeSlow News DayThe Warfare of Genghis KhanAn KheFull DisclosureEppur Si Muove
The SupremesAccessTalking PointsNo ExitGazaMemorial Day
VI NSF ThurmontThe Birnam WoodThird-Day StoryLiftoffThe Hubbert PeakThe Dover TestA Change Is Gonna ComeIn The RoomImpact WinterFaith Based Initiative
Opposition Research365 DaysKing CornThe Wake Up CallFreedoniaDrought ConditionsA Good DayLa PalabraNinety Miles AwayIn God We TrustThings Fall Apart2162 Votes
VII The TicketThe Mommy ProblemMessage of the WeekMr. FrostHere Today
The Al Smith DinnerThe DebateUndecidedsThe WeddingRunning Mates
Internal DisplacementDuck and CoverThe ColdTwo Weeks OutWelcome to Wherever You Are
Election Day (Part I)Election Day (Part II)RequiemTransitionThe Last Hurrah
Institutional MemoryTomorrow
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