Twenty Five
Encyclopedia
"Twenty-Five" is episode 88 of The West Wing.
The season four finale to The West Wing centers around a storyline begun in the previous episode, concerning the abduction of President
Bartlet's youngest daughter, Zoey
. A massive manhunt begins, but the Secret Service's only clue is provided when Charlie Young
remembers that Zoey's boyfriend Jean-Paul wanted her to take ecstasy at her graduation party. The Secret Service discovers that what Jean-Paul thought was ecstasy was actually GHB
.
While the White House senior staff attempts to rally around the President and First Lady, the president's advisers immediately clash over how to handle the situation: Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Fitzwallace believes the abduction to be an act of terrorism
and advises a military response, while National Security Advisor
Nancy McNally theorizes that Zoey's abduction may be a standard (albeit high-profile) kidnapping, and cautions that military action may hinder the investigation and antagonize political enemies. The question of whether Zoey's abduction is an act of terrorism or a simple kidnapping is heightened by a faxed ransom note found by Donna, which indicates that the crime has elements of both.
Confusion over how to handle the situation is exacerbated by a false alarm when an unidentified aircraft violates the emergency no-fly zone. A last-second revelation that the plane is piloted by frat boys playing a prank does nothing to alleviate the president's fear that he has lost control over the situation. Privately, he confesses to Leo McGarry
that his concern for Zoey is so distracting that he is unable to pay attention to vital national security concerns. (This moment is depicted in the still photo to the right.)
Meanwhile, Toby Ziegler
is at the hospital, bonding with his new-born babies; he names his daughter Molly after the Secret Service agent who was killed in the previous episode. Toby's love for his children makes him realize that the president suffers from a severe conflict of interest
as a father and as a head of state, and Toby rushes to the White House to advise the president to step down, only to discover that Bartlet has already invoked the Twenty-fifth amendment
.
With the office of Vice-President vacant after John Hoynes
's resignation over a sex scandal, the amendment requires that following the line of succession
, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
, Glen Allen Walken
, take over the presidency.
and producer/director Thomas Schlamme, who left after overruns with budgets, script deadlines and conflicts with the NBC
president, Jeff Zucker
.
The episode's director, Christopher Misiano
, won a Primetime Emmy Award
for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
in 2003 for this episode. The episode was also nominated for, but did not win, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series at the Emmys that year.
Emilio Estevez
, Martin Sheen
's son, has an uncredited cameo as the young Jed Bartlet in news footage shown in the White House, along with Renee Estevez
as young Zoey Bartlet.
The season four finale to The West Wing centers around a storyline begun in the previous episode, concerning the abduction of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bartlet's youngest daughter, Zoey
Zoey Bartlet
Zoey Patricia Bartlet is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the television serial drama The West Wing. Zoey is the youngest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters, and is more prominently featured in the series than either of her sisters.Zoey and...
. A massive manhunt begins, but the Secret Service's only clue is provided when Charlie Young
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
remembers that Zoey's boyfriend Jean-Paul wanted her to take ecstasy at her graduation party. The Secret Service discovers that what Jean-Paul thought was ecstasy was actually GHB
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid , also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and sodium oxybate when used for medicinal purposes, is a naturally occurring substance found in the central nervous system, wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all animals in small amounts. It is also categorized as an illegal...
.
While the White House senior staff attempts to rally around the President and First Lady, the president's advisers immediately clash over how to handle the situation: Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Fitzwallace believes the abduction to be an act of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and advises a military response, while National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
Nancy McNally theorizes that Zoey's abduction may be a standard (albeit high-profile) kidnapping, and cautions that military action may hinder the investigation and antagonize political enemies. The question of whether Zoey's abduction is an act of terrorism or a simple kidnapping is heightened by a faxed ransom note found by Donna, which indicates that the crime has elements of both.
Confusion over how to handle the situation is exacerbated by a false alarm when an unidentified aircraft violates the emergency no-fly zone. A last-second revelation that the plane is piloted by frat boys playing a prank does nothing to alleviate the president's fear that he has lost control over the situation. Privately, he confesses to Leo McGarry
Leo McGarry
Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
that his concern for Zoey is so distracting that he is unable to pay attention to vital national security concerns. (This moment is depicted in the still photo to the right.)
Meanwhile, Toby Ziegler
Toby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
is at the hospital, bonding with his new-born babies; he names his daughter Molly after the Secret Service agent who was killed in the previous episode. Toby's love for his children makes him realize that the president suffers from a severe conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
as a father and as a head of state, and Toby rushes to the White House to advise the president to step down, only to discover that Bartlet has already invoked the Twenty-fifth amendment
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution deals with succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, as well as responding to Presidential disabilities...
.
With the office of Vice-President vacant after John Hoynes
John Hoynes
John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
's resignation over a sex scandal, the amendment requires that following the line of succession
United States presidential line of succession
The United States presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office of a sitting president or a president-elect.- Current order :This is a list of the current presidential line of...
, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
, Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken is a fictional character on The West Wing played by John Goodman....
, take over the presidency.
Production
The episode marks the departure of creator/writer/producer Aaron SorkinAaron Sorkin
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin is an Academy and Emmy award winning American screenwriter, producer, and playwright, whose works include A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Social Network, and Moneyball.After graduating from Syracuse...
and producer/director Thomas Schlamme, who left after overruns with budgets, script deadlines and conflicts with the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
president, Jeff Zucker
Jeff Zucker
Jeffrey "Jeff" Zucker is an American television executive and former President and CEO of NBCUniversal.-Personal life:Zucker was born to Jewish-American parents in Homestead, Florida, near Miami. His father was a cardiologist, and his mother, Arlene, was a school teacher...
.
The episode's director, Christopher Misiano
Christopher Misiano
Christopher Misiano is an American television director and producer known most notably for his work on ER, The West Wing and more recently Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip....
, won a Primetime Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is an Emmy presented to the best directing of a television drama series.-Best Direction of a Single Program of a Drama Series:*1959: Jack Smight – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre ...
in 2003 for this episode. The episode was also nominated for, but did not win, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series at the Emmys that year.
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
, Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
's son, has an uncredited cameo as the young Jed Bartlet in news footage shown in the White House, along with Renee Estevez
Renée Estevez
-Early years:Estevez was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of artist Janet and actor Martin Sheen. Her father is of Spanish and Irish descent. Her three brothers are also actors: Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez and Charlie Sheen. Her husband, Jason Thomas Federico, has been a...
as young Zoey Bartlet.