Twenty Five (The West Wing)
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"Twenty-Five" | |
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The West Wing episode | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 88 |
Written by | Aaron Sorkin |
Directed by | Christopher Misiano |
Production no. | 175323 |
Original airdate | May 14, 2003 |
Guest stars | |
Mary-Louise Parker | |
Season 4 episodes | |
| |
List of The West Wing episodes |
"Twenty-Five" is episode 88 of The West Wing.
The season four finale to The West Wing centers around a storyline begun in the previous episode, concerning the kidnapping of President Bartlet's youngest daughter, Zoey. A massive manhunt begins, but the Secret Service's only clue is provided when Charlie Young remembers that Zoey's boyfriend Jean-Paul wanted her to take ecstacy at Zoey's graduation party; the Secret Service discovers that what Jean-Paul thought was ecstacy was actually GHB.
While the White House senior staff attempts to rally around the President and First Lady, the President's advisors immediately clash over how to handle the situation: Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Fitzwallace believes the kidnapping to be an act of terrorism and advises a military response, while National Security Advisor Nancy McNally theorizes that Zoey's abduction may be a standard (albeit high-profile) kidnapping, and cautions that military action may hinder the investigation and antagonize political enemies. The question of whether Zoey's abduction is an act of terrorism or a simple kidnapping is heightened by a faxed ransom note, which indicates that the crime has elements of both.
Confusion over how to handle the situation is exacerbated by a false alarm when an unidentified aircraft violates the emergency no-fly zone; a last-second revelation that the plane is piloted by frat boys playing a prank does nothing to alleviate the President's fear that he has lost control over the situation. Privately, he confesses to Leo McGarry that his concern for Zoey is so distracting that he is unable to pay attention to vital national security concerns. (This moment is depicted in the still photo to the right.)
Meanwhile, Toby Ziegler is at the hospital, bonding with his new-born babies; he names his daughter "Molly," after the Secret Service agent who was killed in the previous episode. Toby's love for his children makes him realize that the President suffers from a severe conflict of interest as a father and as a head of state, and Toby rushes to the White House to advise the President to step down, only to discover that Bartlet has already invoked the Twenty-fifth amendment.
With the office of Vice-President vacant after John Hoynes's resignation over a sex scandal, the Amendment requires that following the line of succession, prominent Republican Speaker of the House Glen Allen Walken take over the presidency.
Production
The episode marks the departure of creator/writer/producer Aaron Sorkin and producer/director Thomas Schlamme, who left after overruns with budgets, script deadlines and conflicts with the NBC president, Jeff Zucker.
The episode's director, Christopher Misiano, won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2003 for this episode. The episode was also nominated for, but did not win, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series at the Emmys that year.
Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen's son, has an uncredited cameo as the young Jed Bartlet in news footage shown in the White House, along with Renee Estevez as young Zoey Bartlet.
External links
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