WEST WING, THE: A PROPORTIONAL RESPONSE (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas about the day-to-day running of the White House and the lives of its staff. In this episode, C.J. is dealing with the potential disaster in Sam's recent friendship with a call girl. Sam finds himself defending what he considers an inoffensive and private personal relationship. Meanwhile, President Bartlet is dissatisfied with the Joint Chiefs' plan for a "proportional" retaliatory strike in regard to the Syrian bombing of an American plane. The president demands a strike scenario that will offer a more considerable punishment to Syria. Josh interviews a young African American, Charlie Young, who has applied for a messenger position at the White House. Charlie is caught off guard by Josh's pervasive interview questions, and Josh finally explains that Charlie is being considered for a different position: personal aide to the president. Upon Josh's inquiry, Charlie reveals that he has postponed college to care for his younger sister, and that their mother was a police officer who was recently shot and killed while on duty. President Bartlet is presented with a new retaliation scenario. He is warned by the Chairman of his Joint Chiefs of Staff that this new scenario will be seen as an overreaction on his part. He bows to the experience of the Joint Chiefs and decides on the proportional response. A reporter who is friendly with C.J. presents her with his knowledge of Sam's association with the call girl. The President prepares to give a televised statement on the military attack. Josh brings a very uncertain Charlie in to meet the President, and the President tensely brushes him. Nerves are on edge as the President prepares to go on air, and Leo McGarry takes him aside, warning him to calm down. The atmosphere relaxes. Before beginning his statement, the President approaches Charlie and offers to join him in the battle against the "cop-killer" bullets that killed Charlie's mom. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 6, 1999 Wednesday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59591
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Presidents - Staff - Drama; U S - Presidency - Drama; White House, Washington, D.C.
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV Series, 1999-2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Thomas Schlamme … Executive Producer
- John Wells … Executive Producer
- Aaron Sorkin … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Kristin Harms … Producer
- Llewellyn Wells … Producer
- Michael Hissrich … Co-Producer
- Rick Cleveland … Co-Producer
- Glass, Robert W., III … Associate Producer
- Jeff Reno … Consulting Producer
- Ron Osborn … Consulting Producer
- Marc Buckland … Director
- W.G. Snuffy Walden … Music by
- Rob Lowe … Cast, Sam Seaborn
- Moira Kelly … Cast, Madeline "Mandy" Hampton
- Dule Hill … Cast, Charlie Young
- Allison Janney … Cast, C.J. Cregg
- Richard Schiff … Cast, Toby Ziegler
- John Spencer … Cast, Leo McGarry
- Bradley Whitford … Cast, Joshua Lyman
- Martin Sheen … Cast, President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- John Amos … Cast, Admiral Percy Fitzwallace
- Renee Estevez … Cast, Nancy
- Janel Moloney … Cast, Donna Moss
- Suzy Nakamura … Cast, Kathy
- Kathryn Joosten … Cast, Mrs. Landingham
- Nicole Robinson … Cast, Margaret
- Rose Rollins … Cast, Suzanne
- Kim Webster … Cast, Kim
- Devika Parikh … Cast , Bonnie
- Chad McKnight … Cast, Staffer #2
- Jack Montoya … Cast, Floor Manager
- Ivan Allen … Cast, Newscaster
- Victor Love … Cast, Mike
- Jana Lee Hamblin … Cast , Bobbi
- Mindy Seeger … Cast, Chris
- Andrew Shaifer … Cast, Reporter #4
- Marvin Krueger … Cast, Officer #1
- George McDaniel … Cast, Officer #2
- Christopher Kriesa … Cast, Officer #3
- Hunter Von Leer … Cast, Officer #4