It's Thanksgiving, and CJ, to her dismay, is in charge of the turkeys. Eric and Troy vie to be the lucky turkey featured in the annual Presidential pardoning ceremony, while CJ is appalled to learn that the loser is headed for the chopping block. The President faces a tough situation when Chinese evangelical Christians arrive in San Diego and ask for asylum in the U.S. Toby urges the President to name Leo's sister to an education post not in spite of but because of her controversial past opposition to school prayer. Charlie tirelessly searches for an appropriate carving knife for the present and is rewarded with a priceless gift. And Toby, Josh, and Sam finally get around to inviting CJ to their Thanksgiving Day football fest.

Starring:

ROB LOWE as Sam Seaborn
DULÉ HILL as Charlie Young
ALLISON JANNEY as C.J. Cregg
JANEL MOLONEY as Donna Moss
RICHARD SCHIFF as Toby Ziegler
JOHN SPENCER as Leo McGarry
BRADLEY WHITFORD as Josh Lyman
and MARTIN SHEEN as President Josiah Bartlet

Toby:   Sam...

Sam:   It'd be good.

Toby:   Read the thing.

Sam:   By day, they churn butter and worship according to their own beliefs and by night, they solve crimes.

Toby:   Read the thing.

Sam:   Pilgrim detectives.

Toby:   Do you see me laughing?

Sam:   I think you're laughing on the inside.

Josh:  Yeah.  Leo, do me a favor, would you?  Don't tell the President we're just watching football.  He'll want to invite us for dinner.

Leo:  Well, yes, I'm sure upon hearing the news that you're free the President of the United States will insist that you join him for dinner.

Josh:  I'm just saying, we've been working hard and we'd prefer to watch football rather than listen to a history of the yam in Latin.

Charlie:  I think I've got it this time.

Mrs. Landingham:  Well I wouldn't get your hopes up, dear.

Charlie:  Nope, this is a very good knife.

Mrs. Landingham:  He's very particular.

Charlie:  That's one word for it.

Mrs. Landingham:  I heard that!

Sam:   A man in a threatened to blow up a theatre in the name of God!

Josh:  Yes.

Sam:   A theatre with people in it.

Josh:  Yes.

Sam:   But sending illegal Chinese immigrants back to China is objectionable.

Josh:  Don't bring it up at the meeting.

Sam:   It might slip out.

Josh:  Shove it back in.

Charlie:  Okay, Mr. President.  I say this with all possible respect, but each of these knives cut, you know, meat.  Why is it important?

Bartlet:  Because it's something we pass on.  Something with a history so we can say, "My father gave this to me.  His father gave it to him, and now I'm giving it to you."

Charlie:  Well, okay sir, but if that's true, then why don't you already have one?

Bartlet:  I do have one.

Charlie:  Why do you need a new one?

Bartlet:  I'm giving mine away.

CJ:  I'm sorry to ask you this, sir.

Bartlet:  Not too late to stop yourself.

CJ:  I need you to pardon a turkey.

Bartlet:  I already pardoned a turkey.

CJ:  I need you to pardon another one.

Bartlet:  Didn't I do it right?

CJ:  You did it great, but I need you to come out here and pardon another one.

Bartlet:  Aren't I gonna get a reputation for being soft on turkeys?