Pilot

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The entire White House staff bristles with activity when it's learned that the President injured himself during a bicycle accident, and his absence becomes a factor as chief of staff Leo McGarry must juggle a host of impending crises, including a mass boat lift of Cuban refugees approaching the Florida coast and the reaction of conservative Christians to a controversial televised comment by Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman. Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn , the trouble-prone Deputy White House Communications Director, unknowingly spends the night with a call girl and then makes another critical error during a children's White House tour. [1]

Contents 1 Summary 2 Cast 2.1 Starring 2.2 Guest Starring 2.3 Co-Starring 3 Trivia 4 Goofs 5 Quotes 6 References

[edit] Summary

Sam Seaborn is sitting at a table talking with reporter Billy Kentworthy, whose questions Sam is avoiding answering. Billy asks him if Josh is on his way out, and Sam says no. Sam persists, saying it's a non-story. Billy presses him, saying he's lying, and Sam sarcastically asks why he would lie to a reporter. Billy asks why Sam keeps looking over his shoulder. Sam says he thinks a woman is looking at him. Billy, very obviously, turns around to look at the woman, who spots Billy. He confirms it for Sam, and Sam thanks him for his slyness. He shares a smile with the woman.

Leo McGarry is complaining to his maid Ruth about an error in the New York times crossword puzzle. The phone rings and Jenny answers it. She says that it's a call about POTUS.

C.J. Cregg is in a gym exercising. She is talking to a man who seems rather disinterested about her life. As she suggests that she could find a good man sometime, he informs her that her pager is going off. She checks it and proceeds to slip on the treadmill.

Josh Lyman is asleep on his desk. Janitors are vacuuming in the background. His pager goes off, waking him. He picks up his phone and begins to make phone calls.

Toby Ziegler is on a plane working on his laptop. A flight attendant comes up to him and asks him to turn off his computer. He ignores her, and another flight attendant comes up and informs him that she has a message: POTUS in a bike accident. He pulls out his cell phone, but she informs him he must wait until the plane lands. He goes on a rant about the equipment in the plane, but begrudgingly agrees to turn off his phone. He then says he never got his peanuts.

The woman, Laurie, is laying in bed smoking pot. Sam Seaborn is in the bathroom, impressed by the water pressure. Laurie offers Sam the joint, and Sam makes a cataracts joke. She holds up two beepers, and comments on their similarity. Sam enters the room and tells him he got a message: POTUS in bike accident. Sam says he has to leave, and Laurie protests. Sam says he really liked her and will call her sometime. She says okay and writes his number. She tells him to tell your friend POTUS that he has a funny name and he should learn to ride a bike. Sam says it's not a friend, it's his boss, and POTUS is his title: President of the United States.

Leo walks into the West Wing of the White House and has a brief word with the security guard, Mike. He is approached by Bonnie, who requests he not kill the messenger. Leo says good morning to Emma, Wilson and Jeffrey, but calls Jeffrey Joe. Leo doesn't seem to care. He is going to the desk of Donna Moss, who he asks if Josh is in yet. She says yes, and calls for him. Donna asks about the accident, but Leo insists it was a mild sprain, and that he will be back later.

Josh exits his office and walks up to Leo. Leo asks about the status of the Cubans, and Josh says that a number of Cuban refugees are coming over in anything they could find, but is unable to provide any more information. Josh wants the Coast Guard or D.A. to go in to help the refugees.

Josh finally asks if he said anything, and Leo says the President is pissed and so is he. Leo says they need these people, and while Josh says that they need Al Caldwell, they don't need Mary Marsh or John Van Dyke. Leo makes a reference to football and walks off. Josh admits it was stupid, but says he was right. Leo agrees.

Leo walks into a room where Delores Landingham, the President's personal secretary, is waiting. She asks about an X-Ray as they enter the Oval Office, and Leo says the only thing that is broken is the bike he loaned to the President. He then calls the President a klutz, to which Mrs. Landingham requests he keep that talk out of the Oval Office. He walks into his office, and talks to Bonnie about some meetings. He then asks Margaret to call the New York Times about the misspelling in the crossword puzzle.

The senior staff begins to enter Leo's room, where they begin a meeting. C.J. asks if there's anything else she can say about the President's accident, to which Leo says he has nothing. They discuss the situation with the Cubans, to which Josh still wants to help them while Toby is more concerned about what happens once they land. Sam suggests they send in the military, and the staff is shocked. Toby said it's a miracle they got elected, and Sam leaves to talk to his guy from the Center for Disease Control. Leo says they have to talk about Josh.

Billy walks up to Bobbi in the briefing room and tells her that Josh is going to be fired. Bobbi says he won't fire Josh, but Billy says he has to. C.J. walks in and begins a briefing. She says that Dr. Randall Haymen looked at the President's ankle and diagnosed it as a mild sprain. She then passes out photos of the President refusing help from the Secret Service, then falling down again. Chris tries to ask a question, but C.J. says to wait for the end of the briefing.

Josh is in his office watching the tape of him on the show telling Mary and him arguing on Capitol Beat. Donna walks in and is bringing him coffee. Josh seems confused by this and shuts the door. She admits that she just wants to know if he's fired. Josh says he doesn't know, but will have to live with the decision regardless. The door knocks, it's Toby. Donna asks if Josh thinks he'll get fired, and Josh says no.

Toby walks in and yells at Josh for "being cute with Mary Marsh," but offers him a way to save his job, and mentions a Presidential address of family values. Josh is upset that the event is even scheduled, but Toby says it's his fault. Toby says that Mary and Al are coming for coffee, and that Josh should come and be nice. Josh protests, but Toby says that it's the only way for Josh to keep his job. Toby hands Josh a newspaper clipping about someone they obviously both know. She's starting a job in town. Josh says that the photo is a good one.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Starring

• Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn
• Moira Kelly as Mandy Hampton
• Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg
• Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler
• John Spencer as Leo McGarry
• Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman
• and Martin Sheen as Jed Bartlet

[edit] Guest Starring

• Annie Corley as Mary Marsh
• Lisa Edelstein as Laurie
• Suzy Nakamura as Cathy
• Allison Smith as Mallory O'Brien
• Marc Grapey as Bill Kenworthy
• Janel Moloney as Donna Moss
• F. William Parker as Reverend Al Caldwell

[edit] Co-Starring

• Kathryn Joosten as Delores Landingham
• NiCole Robinson as Margaret Hooper
• Devika Parikh as Bonnie
• David Sage as John Van Dyke
• Jana Lee Hamblin as Bobbi
• Mindy Seeger as Chris
• Ossi Taylor as College Student #1
• Tressa DiFiglia as Jennifer
• Wendell Wright as Fred
• Hamilton Mitchell as Luther
• Molly Schaffer as Senior Staffer
• Melissa Fitzgerald as Carol
• Wendy Blair as Flight Attendant 2
• Elizabeth Greer as Flight Attendant 3
• Peter James Smith as Ed
• Bill Duffy as Larry
• Marlene Warfield as Ruth
• Dean Biasucci as Man
• Diane Michelle as Woman's Voice Over
• Marcus Boddie as D.C. Cop
• Dafidd McCracken as USS Officer Mike

[edit] Trivia

Rob Lowe says the line, "Alger Hiss just walked in with my secret pumpkin." Hiss was a State Department official in the 1940s accused of spying for the Soviet Union. His accuser was Whittaker Chambers, who hid copies of government files in a pumpkin on his farm before giving them to then Rep. Richard Nixon, a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee. The line most likely refers not to the original incident, but to North by Northwest (1959), in which Cary Grant's character asks, "Did you get the pumpkin?" [2]

The Lambs of God are based on a real life group "The Lambs of Christ." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Press Briefing Room shown early in the Pilot is a different set than the one used in subsequent episodes.

[edit] Goofs

It is mentioned that the Roosevelt Room is named after Theodore Roosevelt. The Roosevelt Room is, in fact, named after both Presidents Roosevelt. [3]

Honor Thy Father is the fifth commandment.

Near the very start of the episode Josh and Leo are talking and walking. They then stop and Josh rests his arm on the glass wall. The next shot is of Leo, through the glass and over Josh's arm, but when the shot changes again (into a wider one) Josh's arm has changed position into a higher one that would have blocked Leo's face.

[edit] Quotes

Toby Ziegler: We're flying in a Lockheed Eagle Series L-1011. Came off the line twenty months ago. Carries a Sim-5 transponder tracking system, and you're telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?

Leo McGarry: How many are there?

Josh Lyman: We don't know.

Leo McGarry: What time, exactly, did they leave?

Josh Lyman: We don't know.

Leo McGarry: Do we know when they get here?

Josh Lyman: No.

Leo McGarry: True or False: If I were to stand on high ground in Key West with a good pair of binoculars, I would be as informed as I am right now.

Josh Lyman: That's true.

Leo McGarry: The intelligence budget's money well spent, isn't it?

John Van Dyke: If our children can buy pornography on any street corner for five dollars, isn’t that too high a price to pay for free speech?

President Bartlet: No.

John Van Dyke: Really?

President Bartlet: On the other hand, I do think that five dollars is too high a price to pay for pornography.

C.J. Cregg: Why don’t we all sit down?

President Bartlet: No. Let’s not, C.J. These people won’t be staying that long. May I have some coffee, Mr. Lewis? Al, how many times have I asked you to denounce the practices of a fringe group that calls itself The Lambs of God?

Al Caldwell: Sir, it’s not up to me to...

President Bartlet: Crap. It is up to you, Al. You, know, my wife, Abbey, she never wants me to do anything while I’m upset. [a staffer hands him coffee] Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Twenty eight years ago, I come home from a very bad day at the State House. I tell Abbey I’m going out for a drive. I get in the station wagon, and put it in reverse, and pull out of the garage full speed. [Leo and Sam appear in the doorway and quietly enter into the room.] Except I forgot to open the garage door. Abbey told me to not drive while I was upset and she was right. She was right yesterday when she told me not to get on that damn bicycle while I was upset, but I did it anyway, and I guess I was just about as angry as I’ve ever been in my life. It seems my granddaughter, Annie, had given an interview in one of the teen magazines. And somewhere between movie stars and make-up tips, she talked about her feelings on a woman’s right to choose. Now Annie, all of 12, has always been precocious, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders and I like it when she uses it, so I couldn’t understand it when her mother called me in tears yesterday. I said, "Elizabeth, what’s wrong?" She said, "It’s Annie." Now I love my family and I’ve read my bible from cover to cover so I want you to tell me, from what part of the Holy Scripture do you suppose the Lambs of God drew their Divine inspiration when they sent my 12 year-old granddaughter a Raggedy Ann doll with a knife stuck through its throat? [pause] You’ll denounce these people, Al. You’ll do it publicly. And until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my White House. [Everyone is frozen.] C.J., show these people out.

Mary Marsh: I believe we can find the door.

President Bartlet: Find it now.

C.J. Cregg: Is there anything I can say except 'The President rode his bicycle into a tree.'?

Leo McGarry: He hopes never to do it again?

C.J. Cregg:Seriously, they're laughing pretty hard.

Leo McGarry: He rode his bicycle into a tree, CJ. What do you want me... 'The President, while riding a bicycle on his vacation in Jackson Hole, came to a sudden arboreal stop'? What do you want from me?

C.J. Cregg: A little love, Leo.

Leo McGarry: He was swerving to avoid a tree.

Donna Moss: What happened?

Leo McGarry: He was unsuccessful.

Sam Seaborn: I'm just saying, isn't this more of a military area?

Leo McGarry: Military?

Sam Seaborn: Yeah.

Toby Ziegler: You think the United States is under attack from 1200 Cubans in rowboats?

Sam Seaborn: I'm not saying I don't like our chances.

Caldwell: Why does he insist on demonizing us as a group?

Leo McGarry: Because your group has plenty of demons.

Caldwell: Every group has plenty of demons.

Leo McGarry: You don't have to tell me about it, Reverend. I'm a member of the Democratic Party.

Laurie: Tell your friend POTUS he's got a funny name, and he should learn how to ride a bicycle.

Sam Seaborn: I would, but he's not my friend, he's my boss. And it's not his name, it's his title.

Laurie: POTUS?

Sam Seaborn: President of the United States.

Mrs. Landingham: I don't understand. How did he...?

Leo McGarry: He's a klutz, Mrs. Landingham. Your President's a geek.

Mrs. Landingham: Mr. McGarry, you know how I feel about that kind of talk in the Oval Office.

Leo McGarry: I apologize.

Mrs. Landingham: Just in this room, Mr. McGarry. That's all I'm asking.

Leo McGarry: [on the phone with the New York Times] 17 across. Yes, 17 across is wrong... You're spelling his name wrong... What's my name? My name doesn't matter. I am just an ordinary citizen who relies on the Times crossword for stimulation. And I'm telling you that I met the man twice. And I recommended a pre-emptive missile strike against his air force, so I think I know how...

C.J. Cregg: Leo.

Leo McGarry: They hang up on me every time.

C.J. Cregg: That's almost hard to believe.

Sam Seaborn: The 76 year old grandmother doesn't defend herself with a modified AK-47 Assault Rifle, Larry. Not unless she's defending herself against Turkish rebels.

Sam Seaborn: Ms. O'Brien, I understand your feelings, but please believe me when I tell you that I'm a nice guy having a bad day. I just found out the Times is publishing a poll that says a considerable portion of Americans feel the White House has lost energy and focus. A perception that's not likely to be altered by the video footage of the President riding his bicycle into a tree. As we speak, the Coast Guard is fishing Cubans out of the Atlantic Ocean while the Governor of Florida wants to blockade the Port of Miami. A good friend of mine's about to get fired for going on television and making sense, and it turns out I accidentally slept with a prostitute last night. Now would you please, in the name of compassion, tell me which one of those kids is my boss's daughter?

Mallory O'Brien: That would be me.

Sam Seaborn: You.

Mallory O'Brien: Yes.

Sam Seaborn: Leo's daughter's fourth grade class.

Mallory O'Brien: Yes.

Sam Seaborn: Well, this is bad on so many levels.

President Bartlet: Mrs. Landingham, what's next?

[edit] References

"The West Wing" Pilot (1999)
The West Wing Episode Guide

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