This episode starts with a quaint argument about the start of the new millennium- 2000 or 2001? Sam is very pro-2000, while Toby is very pro-2001. For the record, Toby is correct- 2000 would be the last year of the previous millennium.
We also learn that CJ's Secret Service Code Name is Flamingo.
Hold on, what did he say?
That's right- CJ's Secret Service Code Name is Flamingo. Let that process for a bit.
Got it? Good, because I'm now going to transition as quickly, abruptly and heartbreakingly as this episode does. Full disclosure- I cry at at least 3 different points in this episode.
1- When Charlie tells the President that Lowell Lydell has died. Leo told Josh about him earlier in the episode: "A gay high school senior. He got beaten up, then they stripped him naked, tied him to a
tree and threw rocks and bottles at his head. You know how old the assailants were? Thirteen." The President is in the middle of an endearingly cute exchange with elementary-aged students when he is told of his death, and the visible effort it takes him to gather himself before returning to the kids gets me every time.
2- When Mrs. Landigham tells Charlie about the death of her two sons. Something about the way she continues to look at her computer suggests that she needs to keep some focus so she doesn't fall apart, and when she says that her boys must have been so scared and needed their mother, I just stare at my computer and try to keep my focus so I don't fall apart.
3- Mrs. Landingham joins Toby at the military funeral that Toby (using the President's name) has arranged for the homeless Korean War veteran who died while wearing a coat Toby donated to the Goodwill. At the conclusion of the ceremony, flowers are laid on the coffin by the veteran's brother.
These moments are separated by lighter moments:
- Jessica Hodges- this kid came from Central Casting- they asked for the cutest child imagineable.
- President Bartlet at "Rare Books," where he clearly knows a lot about types of binding.
- Donna wants ski pants, ski boots, ski hat, ski goggles, ski gloves, ski poles for Christmas. And Skis.
- Gail the Goldfish's fishbowl has a Christmas tree in it.
- CJ made an actual list of reasons why they shouldn't date. Danny made a list of why he and CJ should date. It's a mental list. Then gives her some fish food, and tells CJ he has a crush on her.
There are also a few touching moments in between the lighter moments and heartbreaking ones:
- After Toby says that he's a powerful and influential person (and looks absolutely ashamed doing it), he tries to give two homeless men money, but they won't take it, because he doesn't live around here and they're worried he won't get home alright.
- Laurie (Sam's friend who is a law-student by day and call-girl by night) reminds Sam and Josh that they're supposed to be the good guys, and shouldn't stoop to the level of the people attacking Leo.
- Josh got Donna a rare and old book about skiing for Christmas. She's disappointed (maybe she didn't appreciate the molted calf cover and original drab boards), until she reads the inscription. She's touched, and when Josh goes into his office, he looks back to see her reaction again- we realize that there is something more than clever banter between these two.
So, in an attempt to take advantage of your empathy, I'm going to place two links below where you can help with some of the issues raised in this episode. Support, share and give.
The story of Lowell Lydell was based on that of Matthew Shepard. On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, Wyo. and left to die. On October 12, Matt succumbed to his wounds in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. In the aftermath of Matt’s death, Judy and Dennis Shepard started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor his life and aspirations. Because of the tragedy endured by the Shepards, the beginning principle of the Foundation was to teach parents with children who may be questioning their sexuality to love and accept them for who they are, and to not throw them away.
There are an average of 50,000 homeless Veterans on any given night. Wounded Warrior Homes is a grassroots charitable non-profit chartered to provide transitional housing to single post-9/11 combat veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).
BARTLET- Toby, if we start pulling strings like this, you don’t think every homeless veteran
would come out of the woodworks?
TOBY- I can only hope, sir.
What's Next? S1e11- Lord John Marbury
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