Two Cathedrals
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| “Two Cathedrals” | |
|---|---|
| The West Wing episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 44 |
| Written by | Aaron Sorkin |
| Directed by | Thomas Schlamme |
| Guest stars | Stockard Channing Anna Deavere Smith Kirsten Nelson Jason Widener Don McManus NiCole Robinson Lawrence O'Donnell Gregalan Williams John Bennett Perry Kathryn Joosten Fred Ornstein Bill Gratton |
| Production no. | 226222 |
| Original airdate | May 16, 2001 |
| Season 2 episodes | |
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| List of The West Wing episodes | |
"Two Cathedrals" is the 44th episode, and second season finale of The West Wing.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
President Bartlet is beset by memories of Mrs. Landingham as her funeral approaches. Meanwhile, the staff deals with a crisis in Haiti and questions from congressional Democrats regarding the President's health, following his disclosure that he suffers from MS. But the question on everybody's lips remains the same – will Bartlet seek reelection?
[edit] Plot
Leo is talking to two Democrats who are convinced that the MS cover-up will be impossible to campaign with. When asked whether the President will run for re-election Leo says that they should watch the press conference that night.
Toby is preparing the Mural Room for the President's statement when Sam asks if he is ready, so soon after Mrs. Landingham's death. Toby tells him that they have no choice and despite her funeral they will be proceeding with the plan. As he walks off he is told that Leo's office put a meeting with Greg Summerhays back on his schedule.
CJ asks Carol to gather reporters from several news agencies in her office. Josh gives her a brief for a press briefing about the tobacco lawsuit.
Bartlet and his staff attend Mrs. Landingham's funeral. Afterwards, Bartlet remains alone in the cathedral, cursing God in Latin. Later, in the Oval Office, he has a vision of Mrs. Landingham, advising him to run for reelection. He then travels to the State Department to give a press conference – and is asked if he will seek a second term…
[edit] Trivia
- The song "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits is used in the closing sequence.
- In his Inside the Actors Studio episode, Martin Sheen is told by host James Lipton that this episode was the best hour of television ever made.
- About eleven minutes into the episode, Bartlet puts a pair of glasses into his left shirt pocket. Two very quick camera shots later, the glasses are in his right pocket.
- In the sequence in which Bartlet travels from the White House to the State Department, we see his motorcade passing the National Cathedral. In real life, the Presidential motorcade would come nowhere close to the National Cathedral. The State Department is approximately 6 blocks west of the White House while the National Cathedral is about 3.3 miles northwest.
- This episode is the highest-rated of the series on TV.com.
[edit] Latin translations
- Gratias tibi ago, domine
- Thank you, Lord.
- Haec credam a deo pio, a deo justo, a deo scito?
- Am I to believe these things from a righteous God, from a just God, from a wise God?
- Cruciatus in crucem
- To Hell with your punishments (literally "(put/send) punishments onto a cross")
- Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui; officium perfeci
- I was your messenger, your servant on the earth, I did my duty.
- Cruciatus in crucem (with a dismissive wave of the hand) eas in crucem
- The Hell with your punishments! And to Hell with you! (literally, "may you go to a cross")[1]
[edit] Awards and Nominations
- This episode won an Emmy in 2001 for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Series (Bill Johnson, A.C.E.).
- Martin Sheen was nominated for the 2001 Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode
- Won 2001 Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series along with several other episodes from the season
- Nominated for 2002 Banff Rockie Award for Continuing Series
- Nominated for 2001 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night
- Won the 2002 Humanitas Prize in the 60 Minutes category
- Nominated for 2002 WGA Award in the category of Episodic Drama
[edit] Allusions
- Bartlet: "You can't conceive, nor can I, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God," says Graham Greene. This line is from Graham Greene's book Brighton Rock.
- Toby: "The last time they didn't know. The President taped an Easter message that looked like it was lit by Ed Wood!" Ed Wood was a filmmaker heralded as "the worst of all time" for the complete lack of conventional filmmaking ability in his work.
