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The West Wing Season 3 Episode 3

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8.6

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AIRED: 10/24/01

The Special Prosecutor sets his probe in motion; Sam and Bruno are concerned about the loyalty of a powerful labor leader; Toby and Josh are preoccupied with a congressional battle over the estate tax; Ainsley fixes up Donna with a Republican.

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

A purging burn.

8.5

By kickdoor, Jun 16, 2010

Donna's complete mental breakdown, after hours of fruitlessly searching boxes, was, as Josh put it, pretty fun to watch.

Donna: "You know what they do to a girl like me on that cell block? I've seen those movies."

Josh: "Yeah me too."

Donna: "I'll bet you have."

Josh: "Look-"

Donna: "Sell my farm girl ass for a carton of Lucky's."

Josh and Toby dealing with the republicans trying to repeal the estate tax made for some interesting scenes. I swear politicians can smell when there's blood in the water better than sharks can. I can definitely see why Josh was just a little upset with them.

Josh: "That's a bad rap, I'm sweet as pecan pie."

Leo: "Yeah?"

Josh: "I hate these people, Leo. And when this thing is done, I'm gonna personally screw 'em with their pants on."

I was completely on board with Doug's idea to veto the repeal, lets everyone know that Bartlet's not going to shrink from a fight or kowtow to republicans just because every person on his staff is being subpoenaed.

I loved CJ's plot with getting a new prosecutor. It was quite impressive how she was able to manipulate the press and the republicans themselves. If Babish was right about her trying to get back in the game in the game with one swing, I think she succeeded. Though I did feel a little bad for Rollins, who basically got replaced because he was too fair, impartial, and professional. It was nice seeing Ainsley again also, feels like it's been awhile. Though I was hoping her and Sam would get more screen time together. Not that CJ trying to teach her the right way to shake her head in disbelief wasn't hilarious.

Bartlet looking for a pen was an emotional storyline. The scene out on the patio when Charlie tells Bartlet it was Mrs. Landingham that put a pen in his pocket each day was really moving, as was the scene when Bartlet searches her desk for a pen. The way he first touches her desk in reverence, had me close to tearing up.

I'm convinced that no one blends drama and comedy better than Sorkin, this episode was a fine example of that.moreless
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Those old good pencils..

8.4

By Parricida, Oct 02, 2008

It looks like they are trying to get themselves some votes and that are they doing - and it is not easy. And there is problem with those courts. And Donna has a box problem. I think I loved those scenes with her and Ashley and she trying to explain the box system. It was funny. And then she getting that date and being so much late and the way it ended. It was weird.

I think the scene I remember most is the one where President's goes to the desk of mrs. Landingham and opens the shelves to get the pencil and before that he had been yelling why there is no more good pencils.moreless
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Average sounds bad, but it's really not... it was just...an average episode.

9.4

By cookaberry, Aug 23, 2006

*I love the scene with Donna and the boxes! Haha! She was so funny and hysterical, but I would be too if I stayed up all night looking through those boxes. Ainsley was sweet fixing her up, although I don't like the guy very much, it was kind of weird to see Donna out socially with other people besides WW staffers.

*CJ was pretty amazing, she worked her way back up after the Haiti things. It was so mind blowing how she planted all these little things leading up to Congress starting the hearings early... imagine having that much power and influence! The end shot of everyone gathered is really special.

*The estate tax thing wasn't my favorite story line... but it was okay. It's showing how everything is changing, and people no longer think of the White House as highly as before. Times They are a-changin.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Martin Sheen	President Jed Bartlet
Dule Hill	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
Rob Lowe	Sam Seaborn (Episodes 1-84)
Richard Schiff	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	Leo McGarry

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Nicholas Pryor	Clement Rollins	Guest Star
Tom McCarthy	Randall Thomas	Guest Star
Evan Handler	Doug Wegland	Guest Star
Oliver Platt	Oliver Babish	Recurring Role
Emily Procter	Ainsley Hayes	Recurring Role
Nicole Robinson	Margaret	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- As the Special Prosecutor reads off the names of the people being subpoenaed, he uses everybody's full name, but he nevertheless says "Toby Zachary Ziegler" instead of "Tobias Zachary",
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QUOTES (7)
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- Donna: You know what they do to a girl like me on that cell block? I've seen those movies.
  Josh: Yeah me too.
  Donna: I'll bet you have.
  Josh: Look-
  Donna: Sell my farm girl ass for a carton of Lucky's.
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- Donna: I had a plan. Each box is numbered. There's a piece of paper with a number and a corresponding description of the contents of each box.
  Josh: Well, where's the piece of paper?
  (Donna gives him a meaningful look.)
  Josh: (catching on) It's ... in ... one of these boxes.
  Donna: (morosely) I had a plan.
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- Sam: There's a fire in Yellowstone National Park.
  Josh: Well, put it out.
  Sam: Technically, I'm not a professional firefighter, though there was a time I wanted to be.
  Josh: When?
  Sam: When I was four.
  Josh: When I was four, I wanted to be a ballerina.
  Sam: Yeah?
  Josh: I don't like to talk about it.
  (Later)
  Sam: Ballerina?
  Josh: I'd kinda like that not to get around.
  Sam: Yeah. No chance of that.
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- Connie: Bruno and Doug know that I can handle the tough meetings. That's why they're sending me with you to meet Victor Campos.
  Sam: Yeah.
  Connie: I have an exceptional mind.
  Sam: But?
  Connie: I don't know who Victor Campos is.
  Sam: Yeah.
  Connie: Look, pal, I went to Oxford, okay? Which is in England.
  Sam: Hey, you weren't kidding about that exceptional mind.
  Connie: Sam....
  Sam: England's in Europe, right?
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- Bartlet: Letting this [forest] fire burn is good for the environment. You know how I know?
  Leo: How?
  Bartlet: 'Cause smart people told me. Please, God, Leo, let them be right!
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- Ainsley: What do you need?
  C.J.: I want you to get together with one of your friends in the press room from a conservative paper.
  Ainsley: You really think we have a secret handshake, don't you?
  C.J.: Do you?
  Ainsley: Yes.
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- Leo (pulled aside by C.J.): What have you got?
  C.J.: (having learned that Special Prosecutor Rollins is likely to be fair and impartial): Nothing. And you know why?
  Leo: Rollins likes us.
  C.J.: Well, I don't know if he likes us, but he doesn't hate us.
  Leo: Well, that's just because he doesn't know us.
  C.J.: Leo, we need to be investigated by someone who wants to kill us, just to watch us die. We need someone perceived by the American people to be irresponsible, untrustworthy, partisan, ambitious and thirsty for the limelight. Am I crazy or is this not a job for the U.S. House of Representatives?
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NOTES (2)
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- Aaron Sorkin based the character of Josh Lyman on politician and later to be chief of staff to President Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel.
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- Sam and Connie joke about her going to Oxford. Rob Lowe starred in the movie Oxford Blues.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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