The Drop-In

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Drop-In
Series = The West Wing


Caption =
Season = 2
Episode = 34
Airdate = January 242001
Production = 226212
Writer = Aaron Sorkin (teleplay)
Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. (story)
Director = Lou Antonio
Guests = Roger Rees
David Graf
Kathryn Joosten
Renee Estevez
NiCole Robinson
Robert Clotworthy
Rocky Carroll
Episode list = List of "The West Wing" episodes
Season list = Infobox The West Wing season 2 episode list
Prev =
Next ="The Drop-In" is the 34th episode of "The West Wing".

Plot

Leo tries to convince President Bartlet of the importance of supporting a missile defense plan. The episode begins with an important test where all of the technical systems work but the interceptor system misses the target missile--by 137 miles. This further sours President Bartlet on the notion of missile defense work while pro-missile defense Leo continues to push for the program to move forward. As the President meets with appointed Ambassadors from Thailand, Sweden and Argentina in the Oval Office, Lord John Marbury is appointed British ambassador to the United States, much to Leo's horror. Lord Marbury is anti-missile defense and outlines his objections (ruins the 1972 ABM treaty, costs a fortune, doesn't work) but Leo's comments as well as his own military experience earn respect from Marbury. In the end, the issue is not settled.

Sam and Toby end up having a clash over an environmental speech. Sam has been working especially hard on the address to a major natural defense lobbying group, but Toby and Leo decide to add a segment without informing Sam: a section where the President strongly condemns eco-terrorism. Sam is aghast at the "drop in" and says it ruined the speech. He confronts Toby about this, and Toby is unusually kind in not pointing out that he is, well, Sam's boss and had Leo's support. Sam says that Toby feels bad about attacking a friendly group for political gain and Toby doesn't really deny it. In the end, the issue is also not settled.

C.J. has to get a controversial comedian to turn down an invitation to host a dinner the President's will be attending. The comedian, who was a huge supporter of the first run for President by Jed Bartlet, was branded a typical Hollywood sleaze when he made a joke about cops beating up black motorists that the President denied laughing at. C.J. gets him to not blast the President to the press, then later admits that the President did laugh at the joke. In the end, surprisingly enough, the issue is settled.

Trivia

Aaron Sorkin previously used the Global Defense Council, the fictitious environmental group Bartlet speaks at, as Annette Bening's employers in "The American President".

Lord John Marbury mentions the five year old Edward, Earl of Ulster to Donna as the son of The Duke of Gloucester. In reality, the son of the present Duke is Alexander, Earl of Ulster, who was 26 at the time the episode was broadcast.

C.J. mentions the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, as the longest-serving diplomat in Washington. At the time the episode aired in 2001, that was fact. Prince Bandar has since left the ambassadorship and returned to the Kingdom.

External links

* [http://epguides.com/WestWing/ The West Wing Episode Guide]