dianora2

Sorry that this was delayed for a week. Life got in the way. :) Anyway, today we have 1x17, "The White House Pro-Am," which is one of those episodes for which the title does not immediately bring anything to mind. But hey, that's what transcripts are for. *g*

All caps from screenmusings.net.

Mrs. Bartlet goes on TV to talk about child labor issues with Urkel.

Mrs. Bartlet's chief of staff, played by that chick from ~~Mad About You~~ Ned and Stacey, wants the President to "give up the news cycle" for the First Lady. Because, you know, what the President does isn't actual news or anything.

Toby busts in with an actual problem and actual news: the Chairman of the Fed died. Oh, so this was the episode that Alan Greenspan thought was sad because the Chairman of the Fed died and no one was broken up about it. Hee.

Well, Jed's a little broken up about it. But only a little. I think he's more concerned that the market is going to open 200 points down. That's cold. Anyway, Leo thinks Bartlet should name this guy named Erlich as a replacement right away, but as usual Hamlet is on the dime.

Meanwhile, Donna fills Josh in on a book she's reading about what the world was like 100 years ago. Fact: 100 years ago, I would not have the capabilities to do a West Wing picspam for you all. Isn't that sad?

For some reason Josh doesn't think this is as important as his phone call. But he's on hold, so what does he care?

JOSH: When do you have time to read these books?
DONNA: It's important to make time just for yourself, Josh.
JOSH: I notice you're able to do it right here at the office.
DONNA: I'm adaptable.
JOSH: Among other things.

Even though the trade bill is sewn up, Josh wants to get some more Congressfolk on board because it will look good. Interestingly, they are going after some resistant liberal Congressmen, a nice reminder that Bartlet was not as liberal as media articles about the show liked to say that he was. But I digress. Josh has a strategy.
JOSH: No, we're gonna do good cop, bad cop.
TOBY: No...we're really not.
JOSH: Why not?
TOBY: 'Cause this isn't an episode of Hawaii 5-0. How about you be the good cop, I'll
be the cop who didn't go to the meeting.

Toby munches antacids. Yeah, I know how that goes, buddy.

Danny tells CJ in a press conference that Mrs. Bartlet has already gone ahead and expressed her desire for Erlich to replace the dead Fed guy.

I always love the expression CJ gets when she's completely blindsided.

Unfortunately, this is a crisis that will cut into Sam's gym time, which is a crisis for straight women everywhere. Also, I just wanted to show Ginger. Hi Ginger!

Sam goes and rips Abbey's CoS a new one. And I must now ignore the Santos administration plot idea that gives me.

CJ thinks maybe they should try to steer Abbey in the appropriate direction, but Bartlet thinks that's a bad idea.
BARTLET: CJ, we don't handle my wife. When we try, do you know what happens at the other
end of this building?
CJ: You get a little punishment.
BARTLET: I get a little punishment.

But enough of that, because Zoey is here. Yay, Zoey!

Zoey can't bring Charlie to a club opening because the White House has been getting mail from white supremacists about Zoey dating a black guy. Wow, way to harsh her buzz, there, KKK.

Look at Toby's ardent interest in and dedication to kissing up to Congressmen.

TOBY: You're concerned about American labor and manufacturing?
CONGRESSMAN: Yeah.
TOBY: What kind of car do you drive?
CONGRESSMAN: Toyota.
TOBY: Then shut up.
Hee.

CJ fills in the boys on the Mrs. Bartlet situation.
TOBY: Mrs. Bartlet should slide in and step in the back door. "Ron Ehrlich is an old friend but she supports whatever..."
CJ: Yeah. She's not going to unless someone tells her to.
TOBY: Well, that sounds an awful lot like your job, CJ.
CJ: Well, I was just in there and he doesn't want me to handle the First Lady.
JOSH: Did he say he didn't want you to handle the First lady cause he didn't want you to or did he say it like "handle the First Lady but I'm not the one who told you to?"
CJ: That's what I don't know.
JOSH: You gotta learn the signs.
CJ: I've got most of the signs.
JOSH: You don't have that one!
CJ: I'm learning that one.
I'm going to guess she learned that one before Bartlet decided she was the absolutely best person to be his new Chief of Staff. Oh, look, bitterness. I thought I'd lost that underneath the sofa cushion.

Congresswoman Reeseman tells Sam at the gym that she's going to add a child labor amendment to the trade bill. She claims she was inspired by the First Lady. And of course this character is a woman, because god forbid a man get inspired by the First Lady about child labor law. But I digress, again.

Sam fills in Josh and Toby. Mostly I just really like this shot for some reason.

Sam's on the case. Do a job, Sam!

Zoey tells Charlie he can't come to the club with her. Man, Charlie was really looking forward to breaking out the Cabbage Patch. Not cool.

Sara Sidle agrees.
CHARLIE: Hey, look. It says here that a 100 years ago a black guy couldn't show up to a club opening with a white girl for fear he'd be killed.
OK, Zoey read the same book as Donna, and took notes. That is the funniest thing ever.

Sam heads into the dragon's lair, I mean, goes to see Mrs. Bartlet.

Mrs. Bartlet agrees to talk to Congresswoman Whoever. Wow, that was easy. Almost...too easy.

Danny hangs out outside the Oval Office waiting to see the President. I love this scene because he just sits there and gets into it with different people.
DANNY: You keep glancing over like you're afraid I'm gonna steal something.
MRS. LANDINGHAM: No, I'm just not used to having members of the print media in here.
DANNY: I'll try not to get ink on the furniture.
MRS. LANDINGHAM: Aww, Danny. and I was just about to offer you a cookie.

Next up, the First Lady, but their conversation is boring, so we'll move along.

Next is Charlie, who's still bummed about the Zoey thing. He thinks the real issue is that the Secret Service doesn't like that he's black.

DANNY: I know what you're saying. But I don't think the problem is you're black. I think the problem is you're stupid.
CHARLIE: Well, thanks, Danny. You picked me right up.
DANNY: You bet. Listen, the Hardy Boys in the letters they're talking about, they may be heavily armed, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on their marksmanship. One of these days they're gonna miss her and hit me. Two thousand marriage proposals, 2,000 death threats, a dozen bodyguards. Everyone wants to get close. Everyone wants a thing. Plus, and I say this standing fifteen feet from the Oval Office, life with father couldn't have been a real company picnic, you know. If it was me, just for now, I'd make sure I was the one guy in her life who was hassle free. That's just me.
(And considering how things end up with him and CJ, that is just...so perfect, in retrospect. Love it.)

Time to see the Wizard, I mean, the President. Hi.

Hi.

Oi.

Bartlet oh so innocently asks Danny who his sources were for the story about Mrs. Bartlet supporting Erlich. Look at him. The picture of innocence, I tell you.

Leo reacts. Dia giggles.

DANNY: I'd be revealing someone else's source.
BARTLET: We're off the record.
DANNY: Also, I'd get in trouble with the First Lady!
BARTLET: Welcome to the club, Danny. We had some jackets made.
LEO: Let him go.
BARTLET: Albany...Tulsa, Wichita. I'm not kidding...a personal bond here, Danny.
DANNY: Sir, if makes you feel any better I just gave some very sage dating advice to Charlie
Young.
BARTLET: You're coaching my personal aide on how to best score with my daughter? Yes, Danny, that does make me feel better.
DANNY: Well, anything I can do to help, Mr. President.
BARTLET: Go away.
DANNY: Thank you, Mr. President.

DONNA: It's an interesting book.
JOSH: The hundred years ago thing?
DONNA: Some medical authorities warned that professional seamstresses were apt to become sexually aroused by the steady rhythm of foot pedals. They recommended slipping bromide, which was thought to diminish a woman's sexual desire, into their drinking water.
JOSH: Why would anyone want to diminish a woman's sexual desire?
DONNA: We can get out of hand.
JOSH: *gulp*
(Okay, I may have added that last line myself.)

Mrs. Bartlet swallows her pride and asks Congresswoman whatshername not to attach the amendment. I suspect the Congresswoman swallows her gum.

Now Leo is reading the hundred years ago book. I love that. I just like to sit here and wonder how Donna started reading it, then Zoey, now Leo. A west wing book club, perhaps. Hee.

Mrs. Bartlet shows up and she and her husband are all smiles, but I don't think that's going to last.

See?

ABBEY: I'm talking about you. I'm talking about you sending people to me. And I tell you what else I'm talking about. I'm talking about you waiting a day to name a new fed chair, because thirty years ago the new fed chair was my boyfriend for six months.
Oooh, burn.

Awww, Mom and Dad made up.

Charlie follows Danny's advice and shows up at Zoey's with an apology and flowers. Guys, take note: an apology and flowers? Almost never not a good idea.