In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II
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| “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II” | |
|---|---|
| The West Wing episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 24 |
| Written by | Aaron Sorkin |
| Directed by | Thomas Schlamme |
| Guest stars | Stockard Channing Timothy Busfield Elisabeth Moss Michael O'Neill NiCole Robinson Grace Zabriskie Allen Garfield Peter White Ernie Lively Jody Wood |
| Production no. | 226202 |
| Original airdate | October 4, 2000 |
| Season 2 episodes | |
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| List of The West Wing episodes | |
"In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part II" is the 24th episode of The West Wing.
[edit] Plot
The episode opens with one the surviving member of the trio of gunmen from the Rosslyn assassination attempt eating at a diner in West Virginia. He steps outside and is immediately caught in a spotlight and surrounded by dozens of Federal agents, quickly forced to surrender and is arrested and carted off for a certain prison sentence for the rest of his life. Charlie later comes by as the President is awake and recovering from his surgery. He tells the President he can't believe someone tried to kill him, but Secret Service Agent Butterfield tells him "the President wasn't the target". Charlie asks who was, and with no answer, is horrified to realize they were trying to murder him. Toby is upset because the President exited the Newseum in the open air, which was a security change from the previous method of having him leave buildings under a tent or canpoy. Toby was the main proponent of this change and wants to reveal this fact to the media. Agent Butterfield refuses to allow him to do so, saying Toby was not responsible for an act of madmen, that the Secret Service would never let anyone prevent them from protecting the President, and that the Secret Service does not comment on security procedures at any time. While Josh continues to undergo surgery, further flashbacks show how the entire main Bartlet team came together and pulled off a miracle:
- Sam became disillusioned with his corporate law job and particularly with putting together the purchase of Korean oil-carrying vessels, trying to torpedo the deal and earning a harsh rebuke from his firm's chairman. When Josh returns to the office and points to his face, Sam realizes his friend saw the real deal in New Hampshire, and quits his job on the spot to join him on the trip to Manchester.
- C.J. had a very high-paying job at a Hollywood PR firm. When she wasn't able to get a lot of award nominations for a studio's bad films, the studio chairman told her boss that he'd pull all his business from them if C.J. didn't get fired. C.J. then got fired. When she got home, Toby was waiting for her and watched while she accidentally fell in the pool (she didn't have her glasses or contacts on). He then said that Leo McGarry was impressed with her work on EMILY'S LIST and they wanted to have her come work for them.
- Donna was a volunteer in Manchester. She listed her checkered and uncompleted undergraduate work to a skeptical Josh, who told her they couldn't afford to bring her to South Carolina. She said she'd go for free and sleep in her car. Impressed by her talk about finding her place again, Josh found her a staff volunteer badge so she could begin her work on the campaign.
- The team has a hard time dealing with Jed Bartlet's hyperfocused style, but they get momentum after a suprising third-place finish in an early primary. They then discuss a plan to stay close to John Hoynes and earn delegates and donors from another candidate, banking on a win in Illinois that will lead them to run the table on the way to the nomination. On primary night in Illinois, Josh finds out that Jed has won there but is then told by Donna that his father has passed away. Jed tells Josh his father was proud of him and to come back only when he was ready. He then tells Leo "I'M ready" and makes a stirring victory speech...
...as we return to the present time, and Josh wakes up for the first time having survived his surgery.
