After President Bartlet cuts short his California trip, he spends two long days monitoring the dangerous situation in Kundu, where a black ops team is attempting to rescue three American soldiers held hostage. The situation grows more complicated when Leo has to tell the soldiers' families that their loved ones are safe, but 17 Americans involved in the rescue effort have been killed by a suicide bomb attack in Africa. In the West Wing, Josh's egotism gets on the First Lady's nerves, but his unwitting suggestion nets him some potential retribution when Abbey hires Amy Gardner as her new Chief of Staff. Will's nerves get the best of him when the writing staff quits, Toby stays in California, and many, many speeches need to be rewritten to include language on the Democratic tax plan. After making bail, Toby and Charlie remain in Orange County. Toby is Sam's new campaign manager, and he keeps Sam on message while Sam processes the idea that he's not going to be able to pull off a win. The old friends stop momentarily for commiseration and alcohol, and then they get back to work.

Starring:

ROB LOWE as Sam Seaborn
STOCKARD CHANNING as First Lady Abigail Bartlet
DULÉ HILL as Charlie Young
ALLISON JANNEY as C.J. Cregg
JOSHUA MALINA as Will Bailey
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

Charlie:  Yo, man, that's totally whacked.

Toby:  Yeah, Charlie's trying to throw down with the streets.  It's kind of a sad sight to see.

Charlie:  I've got American Express.  I've got Visa.  I could've posted bond and gotten miles, dammit.

Abbey:  Because you're a political snob who doesn't think the First Lady belongs on the starboard side of the building.

Josh:  Wrong.

Abbey:  Wrong, what?

Josh:  Wrong, ma'am.

Abbey:  Damn right.

Josh:  I don't know.  Donna, did I proofread it?

Donna:  Yeah, but you proofread it to make sure capital was spelled with an "A" and not an "O."  You didn't proofread it--

Josh:   To make sure it reflected what we agreed to?  I didn't do that?

Donna:  Not as such, no.

Charlie:  You want me to tell Mrs. Bartlet she's gonna look like a dilettante?

CJ:  I once had to tell the President he was wearing two different shoes.

Charlie:  That's roughly the same.

Sam:  The story's gonna be it's over.

Toby:  No, the story's gonna be that you had the guts to stick up for what you believe and you didn't cut and run.  And people are going to remember that.  I'm gonna make sure of it.

Sam:  I'm gonna lose?

Toby:  Yeah.

Sam:  There's no chance of a miracle?

Toby:  No.

Sam:  Then why are you here?

Toby:  You're gonna lose, and you're gonna lose huge.  They're gonna throw rocks at you next week, and I wanted to be standing next to you when they did.