S1e8- Enemies (It's a Birthday Message.)

It's 1:30am, and Pres. Bartlet won't let Josh leave, because he wants to talk about his trips to all 54 of the National Parks.  Why?  He's a National Park buff.

(above, Josh learns about National Parks)

For the record, since this episode was written, there have been five more National Parks added to the system, bringing the total to 59.  By now, President Bartlet probably would have made time to visit Pinnacles, Great Sand Dunes, Congaree, Cuyahoga Valley, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

The main conflict of this episode arises when two Republican congressmen named Broderick and Eaton (and/or Crane) add a Land Use Rider to strip mine Big Sky Federal Reserve to a Banking Bill, which was supposed to be a big victory.  A bit of parliamentary education: a rider is a provision added to an existing piece of legislation- usually because it wouldn't pass on its own, or because it will stop the bill from passing.  The president has to decide whether to sign or veto the bill with the rider attached; unless Josh can save the day.

Mini-Conflicts of the episode:

1. President Bartlet is a bit of a jerk to Vice-President Hoynes, and the stenographer talks to a reporter.
2. That reporter is Danny Concannon, who is a lively conversationalist, enjoys music and movies, will ice skate if needed, can kayak, and would like to have dinner with CJ.
3. Josh and Toby can't find their talent, though they know it's somewhere in the building.
4. Leo's daughter Mallory asks Sam to join her for a night at Kennedy Center, to see the Beijing Opera.  It's not a date, because there will be no sex for Sam at the end (Mallory's words, not mine).  Sam would like to join Mallory- in his words: "Well, uh... like most people, I’m an absolute nut for Chinese opera. The Chinese being known the world over for their soaring and romantic melodies, and what with your guarantee that there won’t be sex, I don’t see how I could say no." 
5. Leo and the President give Sam the task of writing a Birthday Card Message for the Assistant Secretary of Transportation's 50th birthday, and Sam is having a hard time, because, if you refer to mini-conflict #3, he is missing his talent.  Bartlet is an obvious choice for co-conspirator, as he also has a daughter, and understands the need to mess with the subordinate who is trying to date your daughter.  

(Sam, taking out his frustration on draft #42 of the Birthday Message)

So, does Josh save the day?  Yes- the President will create a new National Park out of the Big Sky Federal Reserve, thereby nullifying the rider, and allowing the President to sign the Banking Bill into law.  It is as Chekov said- if you hang a pistol on the wall in the first act, it should be fired before the end of the play.  We begin the episode with the President torturing Josh with his obsession with National Parks, and Josh's solution for the problem at hand is for the President to create another National Park.  Pres. Bartlet is correct when he remarks that "this is simplicity itself."  The truth is a bit less simple- unfortunately, the Antiquities Act would only allow the President to turn Big Sky National Reserve into a National Monument.

So, big celebration!  Josh is victorious over Republicans, the President get's to be a bigger National Park buff, presumably this birthday message will be completed at some point; surely we can all have a nice laugh as we start the credit sequence, right?

Wrong- it takes until the last minute until we understand the meaning of the episode's title: "Enemies."  Running out onto the portico outside the Oval Office, Josh tells the President that they talk about enemies more than they use to; echoing what Mandy pointed out earlier when she told Josh earlier that they were fighting the wrong fights for the wrong reasons.  The President visibly deflates as he agrees with Josh, and the mood has is significantly more somber than before.  Will we find the right fights and the right reasons next week?  ::insert dramatic cliff-hanger music here::

What's Next?  S1e9- The Short List

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