An American submarine goes silent in North Korean waters, and the President has to decide on a course of action. Cranky State Department relic, Albie Duncan, counsels him on the relative merits of a secret rescue or notifying the hostile government. Abbey learns from Oliver Babish that she may end up taking the fall for her husband's concealment of his illness. CJ is ecstatic when a potential Republican challenger fumbles an important statement on why he wants to be president. She's less excited, even downright disconcerted, when she realizes the President hasn't come up with a decent answer to that question. Toby, who supports the NEA despite not being a fan of musicals, debates the merits of funding controversial artists with representatives of the appropriations committee.

Starring:

ROB LOWE as Sam Seaborn
STOCKARD CHANNING as First Lady Abigail Bartlet
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