Commencement (The West Wing)

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Commencement
The West Wing episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 87
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Directed by Alex Graves
Guest stars Mary-Louise Parker
Timothy Busfield
John Amos
Taye Diggs
Anna Deavere Smith
Kathleen York
Elisabeth Moss
Michael O'Neill
NiCole Robinson
Arye Gross
Trent Ford
Production no. 175322
Original airdate May 7, 2003
Season 4 episodes
  1. 20 Hours in America, Part I
  2. 20 Hours in America, Part II
  3. College Kids
  4. The Red Mass
  5. Debate Camp
  6. Game On
  7. Election Night
  8. Process Stories
  9. Swiss Diplomacy
  10. Arctic Radar
  11. Holy Night
  12. Guns Not Butter
  13. The Long Goodbye
  14. Inauguration, Part I
  15. Inauguration Over There
  16. The California 47th
  17. Red Haven's on Fire
  18. Privateers
  19. Angel Maintenance
  20. Evidence of Things Not Seen
  21. Life on Mars
  22. Commencement
  23. Twenty Five
List of The West Wing episodes

"Commencement" is episode 87 of The West Wing.

[edit] Plot

Danny Concannon has finally pieced together the puzzle about the killing of Abdul ibn Shareef after learning his pilot was a U.S. operative working under an alias, but C.J. and Leo persuade him to hold off on the story for a week, because five Qumari nationals who were under FBI surveillance in upstate New York have gone missing. The trail of a potential terrorist threat involves cryptic language about "torrential rains in the Pacific Northwest" and a missing crate on a Syrian-flagged ship that leads to a shutdown at the Port of Porland, OR. The President also officially tells his senior staff that the U.S. did in fact assassinate Shareef the previous year.

In parallel storylines, Amy and Donna have a heart-to-heart about Josh when they're considering who the new Vice President will be in the aftermath of John Hoynes' resignation, resulting in Amy asking Donna if she is in love with Josh, while Toby tries to win back Andi by buying a house. Andi refuses Toby's entreaties because he's too sad, but before they can talk much about it she goes into labor and Toby's left with his own broken heart.

Meanwhile President Bartlet gives the commencement speech for Zoey's graduation at Georgetown University. Zoey is having second thoughts about going to France with Jean Paul after she and Charlie share some champagne and a kiss at the National Arboretum, but a night out celebrating at a club changes everything. The Secret Service head agent can't find Zoey and then goes outside and sees one of her protective agents has been shot and killed, and he calls out an alert saying that she's missing...

[edit] External links